How do you build an auto mechanical gate

[ns_in_tex]

Brad, I want to thank you and all the others for your help

with my gate. I have had it working for a few weeks now

and love it.

Attached is a picture of the hinge end with the hold open latch

in the background. I chose a hinge setup similar to your

drawing because I could make it adjustable for the amount of

gravity needed for closing.

 

[ns_in_tex]

The screen door closer for the hold open latch works great also. Here is an uncovered view.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

THAT is nice work!
An idea is one thing. A working gate is quite another.
Hey, I get plenty of ideas but only a few make it here: /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=0&f=S&l=50&d=PG01&OS=IN%2F"blazer"&RS=IN%2F"blazer"&TD=5&Srch1=%2528%2522blazer%2522.IN.%2529&StartNum=&Refine=Refine+Search&Query=IN%2F"blazer%2C+bradley"

Maybe we should put together an ROI! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Brad

 

[Brad_Blazer]

My link above only seems to work if pasted into the address bar. It worked in preview. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[pekabu]

When you insert a link, click the "URL" text right next to the smileys. You can then give a nice title to the link, and it doesn't blow out the page so now scrolling is needed.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Thanks!
my inventions

 

[slydog]

I figured out a latch for the gate, using a spring return cam to pull a rod from a gravity type latch. When you hit the bumper, it pushes on and rotates a cam made from a metal plate. Cam has a circular groove cut in it, and a return spring attached to the gate rail. As the groove in the cam rotates, the 1/4 inch latch rod is slid out of one of those gravity type gate latches that is attached to the fence post. The gate opens..... the cam spring returns the cam...the rod spring slides the rod back out and as the gate closes, the rod latches in the latch. The only problem is, it only works in one direction. Going the other way, you'd have to get out and manually open the gate. Maybe someone can improve on this idea so it would work in both directions. Will have to scan this rude drawing I did in. Hopefully you can understand my concept from my drawing. I think it would work.....looks good in my mind anyway.

 

[slydog]

Here's a crude drawing...hope it shows up ok on here.

 

[slydog]

In my drawing...you are looking at the rod and latch from the front view... The cam arrangement would be as looking down on it from the top. The two inch upturn on the rod would go in the groove cut in the cam. Sorry I had to overlap from two different perspectives, but I think you'll get the picture.

Aha...a double latch, with two of them, back to back mounted off the face of the post. It would unlatch and swing clear in either direction, then relatch in either direction. Add a second bumper on the other side of the gate to rotate the cam from either side.... ???? thoughts???

 

[ns_in_tex]

Hi Ken,

This is the way I did mine.