Patent Grant
7410325
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to guides for sliding gates and more particularly to a modular guide frame that may be easily adapted for use with gates having different or slightly irregular thicknesses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Simple mechanical gates, such as slide gates, stop gates and weir gates have been used for countless years in fields such as agriculture, municipal water systems, wastewater systems, and the like. Such systems are typically comprised of a single, planar gate that slides between open and closed positions within an elongated guide or channel, which is shaped to conform to the shape and size of the gate. These gates and their guides have been previously fabricated from numerous different materials, including wood, steel, galvanized steel, extruded aluminum, reinforced polymers, and the like. Clearly, one of the most common methods of fabricating such a system is to prepare a gate, having a particular size and shape, and then fabricating a gate guide to fit the gate. The gate guide may be provided in the form of one or more elongated, one-piece channels that may be cut to size and reconfigured into a particular shape that will slidably receive the gate. The gate guide may then be mechanically secured in position or imbedded within concrete or other suitable material, depending upon the particular application.
However, a problem frequently encountered in the assembly and installation of a gate system occurs when a gate is selected that has an uncommon or slightly irregular thickness. In these instances, pre-fabricated gate guide materials may provide a channel width that is too broad to provide an adequate sealing engagement between the gate and the gate guide, or the channel may be too narrow, preventing the gate from being received within the gate guide. In either situation, the installer is forced to custom fabricate a gate guide to adequately receive the gate, if a new gate, having standard dimensions cannot be used. Unfortunately, custom fabricating gate guides can be costly and time consuming. This is especially true in large-scale settings that require a plurality of gates having one or more unique gate sizes or configurations.
Accordingly, what is needed is a modular gate guide frame that may be fabricated using efficient, extrusion methods while being quickly and easily adapted for use with one or more gates having unusual or slightly irregular dimensions.
The gate guide frame of the present invention is preferably provided in a modular configuration, having separate first and second side portions. Each side portion is provided with elongated first and second wing members that extend outwardly from the rearward portion of a hub. Each hub is shaped to have at least to side faces that extend forwardly from the backsides of each hub. At least two mating faces extend inwardly from the distal ends of the side faces, forming a forward end portion for each hub. The mating surfaces are shaped and positioned so that the mating faces from opposing side portions may be operatively coupled with one another. Side faces from each hub combined to define the width of the channel that is formed when the two side portions are coupled with one another. In a preferred embodiment, the side faces of each hub are provided with different widths. Accordingly, the hubs from the opposing side portions may be selectively joined with one another in different configurations to provide a gate guide with one of various different widths.
Each side portion of the gate guide is provided with at least two wing members that extend along the length of the gate guide. The wing members are positioned with respect to the hub so that, depending upon the manner in which the opposing hubs are coupled with one another, one wing member from each side portion will combine to form a pair of spaced-apart frame rails, while the remaining wing members provide anchors for stabilizing the gate guide.
In one preferred embodiment, elongated channels are formed within the wing members. Resilient sealing members may be secured to the wing members within the elongated channels inside the spaced-apart frame rails, to provide a smooth sliding motion and a snug, sealing fit for the gate in a closed position.
It is therefore a principle object of the present invention to provide a modular guide frame for gates that may be easily adapted for gates having various thicknesses and configurations.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a modular guide frame for gates of various thicknesses that may be fabricated from a single extrusion form.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modular guide frame for gates that may be formed using a single pair of frame halves to form a guide channel having one of at least three different, pre-selected, channel widths.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular guide frame for a gate that is formed from a single pair of identically shaped frame halves and an optional expansion plate to easily accommodate at least four different, pre-selected gate widths.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a modular guide frame for gates that is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modular guide frame for gates that may be easily adapted in the field for use with gates having a wide range of thicknesses and further provide the option of using resiliently deformable sealing members to engage the opposing surfaces of the gate as it moves between open and closed positions.
These and other objects will be apparent to those having skill in the relevant art.
In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, reference is made to accompanying
The modular guide frame 10 of the present invention may be used with sliding gates of various shapes and sizes and in a wide array of different applications. In its preferred embodiment, the guide frame 10 is provided with a first side portion 12 and a second side portion 14. While it is contemplated that the first and second side portions 12 and 14 could be provided with various structural differences to accommodate specific applications, it is preferred that they be nearly identical in size and shape. Accordingly, both first and second side portions 12 and 14 are provided with a first wing member 16 and a second wing member 18 that extend outwardly from the rearward portion of a hub 20. The hubs 20 are each multi-facetted, being provided with at least a first side face 22 and a second side face 24 that extend forwardly from the rearward portions of each hub 20. Each hub is further provided with at least a first mating face 26 and a second mating face 28. As depicted in the accompanying figures, the first and second mating faces 26 and 28 should extend outwardly and inwardly from the distal end portions of the first and second side faces 22 and 24. While only two side faces and two mating faces are shown for each hub, it is contemplated that certain applications may permit the hubs 22 to have a geometry that utilizes additional side faces and/or mating faces to accommodate the needs of the particular applications.
The first and second mating faces 26 and 28 on the hubs 20 are shaped and positioned so that they may be coupled with a first mating face 26 or second mating face 28 from an opposing hub 20 in various configurations, as depicted in
In a preferred embodiment, the first and second side faces 22 and 24 on each hub 20 have different widths, one being shorter than the other. In this manner, when the first and second side faces 22 and 24 are coupled adjacent one another, a gate guide frame 10 may be provided having one of two or more different gate channel widths when the first side portion 12 and second side portion 14 are coupled with one another. For example,
In one preferred embodiment, elongated channels 40 are formed along the lengths of at least one side of the first wing members 16 and second wing members 18. The channels 40 should be sized and shaped to securably receive elongated sealing members 42. The sealing members 42 should extend outwardly from the channels 40 so that, when the channels 40 are disposed along inner walls of generally parallel, spaced-apart frame rails formed by either the first wing members 16 or second wing members 18, a portion of the sealing members 42 will slidably engage the outer surfaces of a gate 30 as it is moved between open and closed positions. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing members are formed to have a generally curved cross section, such that the portion that engages a surface of the gate 30 will present few, if any flat surfaces or corners that may be exposed to and snagged by edge portions of the gate 30. However, it is contemplated that the sealing members 42 can be provided in a wide variety of shapes, having curved features, flat features, or a combination of the two. The deformably resilient nature of the material used in forming the sealing members 42 will further accommodate the fit of a gate 30 having a thickness that is slightly more or less than desirable for the channel width provided. Moreover, the sealing engagement between the sealing members 42 and the gate 30 will help to inhibit the passage of fluids between the guide frame 10 and the gate 30. Although several natural and synthetic materials, such as rubber and certain closed cell foam products, an ultra high-molecular weight (UHMW) polymer will be preferred due to its ability to minimize friction between the gate 30 and the sealing members 42, which will ultimately reduce the operating force required to move the gate 30 between open and closed positions.
Another preferred embodiment of the modular guide frame 10 is depicted in
In the drawings and in the specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and although specific items are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and proportion of parts, as well as a substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.
Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
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