Posted: 2/23/2005 9:09:59 PM EDT
|
Building some gates the kicker is they need to open over 90 degrees. I have been kicking around some homemade options. One I thought of was to use an automotive starter with limit switches, the other was a gearbox out of a boat used for lifting the outdrive. Any other ideas? |
|
Steering gearbox Chain drive garage door opener ____________________________________ The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you are already dead. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you will be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function, without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. |
|
You are all over with the home repair and upgrade questions. If security is your goal, don't put up swinging gates. They have a tendency to open whenever enough pressure is applied to them. A sliding gate is much more secure and swinging operators are prone to breakage because of the force required to open the gate as well as supporting all of the weight on one end. Sliding gates roll on a track and the weight isn't an issue and you can build a much sturdier gate that can't be pushed open without some major damage to whatever is pushing. |
|
Springtime up here man! Well the gates are almost finished, hopefully they will be done tomorrow. So they are definantely swinging, security is not the big problem. This is just to keep the honest people out. Ease on this lazy bastard is the issue at hand. I know if they are not automated they won't ever get shut. |
Yes but, the mechanical geometry of trying to get it to move 115 degrees would be more than I am wanting to try and figure out. 
|
Upon further review and drawing, this idea won't work. You need something that can move in an arc and that is why the gate operators have an elbow joint so they can pivot as the gate swings. You're on your own. That is why I have a rolling gate. 
|
|
www.homeautomation.com.sg/Hindi880.pdf Well at least my idea was sound after all. Here is a brochure on them complete with pictures and diagrams. |
4-bar link  attached to an electric motor of your choice will give you the travel you need. As far as control goes, limit switches are OK, but proximity switches are better as there are no moving parts to break or burn up. The type of electric motor (AC vs DC) will depend upon whether you are worried about power outages at your site and availability of power lines. I'll post a suggestion for a DC motor when I get home. Gears or chains can be used for speed reduction/torque increase with chains being easier to impliment and marginally cheaper.CW |
|
We have an automatic gate at work that uses a piston or some kind of telescoping rod on two pivots to move the gate. I know it opens a little more than 90 degrees, and depending on how long your piston is and how you position it, I'd think you could open the gate about 160 deg. Here's a rough sketch: 
|
Well it doesn't look like I can find them in US. |
Gates are just under 10' wide and need to open more than 90 deg. |
.. Fullclip
| I have been in the business for 30 years. Contact a Door King rep. These openers are good quality. Best advice is to go big or stay at home. Keep the surface area of the gate to a minimum, use a magnetic lock to keep it closed, loop detectors and electric eyes to keep from being sued. Going cheap is a liability. Quality is an asset |
|
If you use a chaindrive garage door opener, you're going to have to build a tray to support the chain to keep it from sagging. Unless you fix the motor directly to the gate by extending the top hinge pin and using it to attach to. How heavy are these gates? The openers that I just looked at use about 1/3hp to open 10' ,400# gates. They cost about $1200for one, to$1900 for a pair. |
|
Use a modified Industral Door opener that stops the gate when it gets to a preset position of your choosing. Imagine a garage door on it"s side. These units lift with a electric motor with chain drive and a gear reduction box. Bolt the gear box on the corner post and rig a sproket on the gate itself. Set the travel with switches just like a garage door has when it reaches the top and bottom travel limit. Control with remote control. Simple, really. Fullclip |
No no the opener will drive to a sprocket mounted on the corner of the gate about 6" away. |
Simple to ajust degrees of travel for gate. You know how a crankshaft works to make the piston in your engine cycle? the length of throw on the crank determines how far the connecting rod travels. Length of wristping arm on gate can also determine travel and amount of force, look at an older windshield wiper system to get an idea of construction, all you need is to have the motor half cycle for open or closed. Manuel momentary switch on each side the gate for from vehicle operation. |