As you can see, the motor is combined with one of the carriages.
2010/07/12
Cantilever gate automation
An unusual cantilever gate automation is available from the Italian firm mitec Srl. The interesting part is that the 24 VDC motor used is positioned inside the gate rail. The end result is comparable with underground operators for swing gates in the sense that the operator is completely invisible.
As you can see, the motor is combined with one of the carriages.
As you can see, the motor is combined with one of the carriages.
2010/07/01
Solar warning light for gates & barriers
This is a clever idea: a solar charged warning light for gates & barriers that requires no connection with the operator (either for power or for activation) and installs in seconds.
The product is called SOL-GATE, is produced by GAMA SONIC and is available in a number of models. A built in night sensor activates the light at dusk and the batteries, when fully charged, provide power for 200 - 300 hours of operation depending on the model.
This is a screenshot from the GAMA SONIC video for the sliding gate version:
This is a screenshot from the GAMA SONIC video for the barrier gate version:
The product is called SOL-GATE, is produced by GAMA SONIC and is available in a number of models. A built in night sensor activates the light at dusk and the batteries, when fully charged, provide power for 200 - 300 hours of operation depending on the model.
This is a screenshot from the GAMA SONIC video for the sliding gate version:
This is a screenshot from the GAMA SONIC video for the barrier gate version:
2010/06/17
Capacitive proximity safety sensors
An interesting type of non-contact safety sensors are the capacitative proximity sensors.
This type of sensor creates an invisible electric field around it and can detect the presence of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, people and objects made of various material in their vicinity. The sensor can be installed along the edge of a moving leaf or beam thus offering protection in areas that are difficult to cover with conventional sensors.
The sensor has a limited detection field (a few tens of centimeters - depends on size of object) but this is still a marked improvement over contact sensors (ie safety edges).
One manufacturer of such gate safety sensors is Invisa, Inc.. Be sure to view their Invisa, Inc. on YouTube to get an idea of how this sensor works.
This type of sensor creates an invisible electric field around it and can detect the presence of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, people and objects made of various material in their vicinity. The sensor can be installed along the edge of a moving leaf or beam thus offering protection in areas that are difficult to cover with conventional sensors.
The sensor has a limited detection field (a few tens of centimeters - depends on size of object) but this is still a marked improvement over contact sensors (ie safety edges).
One manufacturer of such gate safety sensors is Invisa, Inc.. Be sure to view their Invisa, Inc. on YouTube to get an idea of how this sensor works.
2010/06/15
Pop Up Gates
Installation space is usually a big issue when selecting a gate type (for example a sliding or a swing gate). Therefore there have been a number of attempts to find ways to move the gate leaf on a vertical trajectory in order to save space. In most implementations the leaf is lifted above the passage but in this particular case, the leaf is retracted into the ground.
The following 2 videos from YouTube demonstrate the way this type of gate works.
Pop Up Gates: Timber Finish
pop up gates 1
As you can see in this example, the gate leaf is in 2 long pieces:
The gate is now retracting:
The gate has retracted almost completely:
The user can now drive over the gate:
There are some disadvantages that seem obvious with this approach:
1) The pit into which the gate retracts must have perfect drainage and not fill with dirt.
2) It seems difficult to avoid accidents when the gate leaf is close to ground level (ascending, descending or even stopped) because, in this position it is not very visible (and practically invisible once you are close or over it). Moreover, the speed of the gate appears to be low and this means that even an immediate descend movement commanded by typical safety devices (ie photocells) may do little to avoid an accident. Add this to the fact that such a gate may cause significant damage to the underside of a car and you will come to the conclusion that this type of gate must be treated with special care in regards with safety.
The following 2 videos from YouTube demonstrate the way this type of gate works.
Pop Up Gates: Timber Finish
pop up gates 1
As you can see in this example, the gate leaf is in 2 long pieces:
The gate is now retracting:
The gate has retracted almost completely:
The user can now drive over the gate:
There are some disadvantages that seem obvious with this approach:
1) The pit into which the gate retracts must have perfect drainage and not fill with dirt.
2) It seems difficult to avoid accidents when the gate leaf is close to ground level (ascending, descending or even stopped) because, in this position it is not very visible (and practically invisible once you are close or over it). Moreover, the speed of the gate appears to be low and this means that even an immediate descend movement commanded by typical safety devices (ie photocells) may do little to avoid an accident. Add this to the fact that such a gate may cause significant damage to the underside of a car and you will come to the conclusion that this type of gate must be treated with special care in regards with safety.
2010/06/11
LIM (Linear Induction Motor) operators
Ever heard of LIM (Linear Induction Motors) ? This is a type of electric motors the produces a linear force along a line. If you want to know more, the WikiPedia article 'Linear motor' is a good start. One practical application is for moving high speed trains, starting from the late 1980s.
Recently, the VMAG LLC company of Texas, introduced a high speed sliding gate operator specifically designed for security-priority locations.
In this case, high speed means 6 to 8 feet per second (1.8 to 2.4 meters per second). This is really impressive as it is roughly 10 times faster than typical sliding gate operators and 2 to 3 times faster than conventional high speed sliding gate operators.
Furthermore, the operator has no moving parts and this should make for increased reliability. Actually, the company states that a test installation at the San Antonio International Airport has managed more than 250,000 operation cycles no equipment problems and no signs of wear.
You can find more information and videos at the site of VMAG
These are some screen captures from one of the VMAG introduction videos:
Apparently (A) is the winding and (B) is the passive conductor plate. You can think of (A) as the motor and (B) as the rack of a conventional sliding gate operator installation, but in reality the "motor" in this case is composed of both (A) and (B).
Anyways, the important thing is that the winding can move the conductor plate and, along with it, the gate.
This is a closeup view of the winding. Notice that it is in close proximity to the conductor plate.
Also note that the conductor plate is perforated at the bottom. This should relate to the encoder that the operator obviously employs for the soft-start and soft-stop functions (in the world of gate operators an encoder is a device that identifies relative or absolute position of the gate)
Recently, the VMAG LLC company of Texas, introduced a high speed sliding gate operator specifically designed for security-priority locations.
In this case, high speed means 6 to 8 feet per second (1.8 to 2.4 meters per second). This is really impressive as it is roughly 10 times faster than typical sliding gate operators and 2 to 3 times faster than conventional high speed sliding gate operators.
Furthermore, the operator has no moving parts and this should make for increased reliability. Actually, the company states that a test installation at the San Antonio International Airport has managed more than 250,000 operation cycles no equipment problems and no signs of wear.
You can find more information and videos at the site of VMAG
These are some screen captures from one of the VMAG introduction videos:
Apparently (A) is the winding and (B) is the passive conductor plate. You can think of (A) as the motor and (B) as the rack of a conventional sliding gate operator installation, but in reality the "motor" in this case is composed of both (A) and (B).
Anyways, the important thing is that the winding can move the conductor plate and, along with it, the gate.
This is a closeup view of the winding. Notice that it is in close proximity to the conductor plate.Also note that the conductor plate is perforated at the bottom. This should relate to the encoder that the operator obviously employs for the soft-start and soft-stop functions (in the world of gate operators an encoder is a device that identifies relative or absolute position of the gate)
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Welcome to Gates And Stuff.
The purpose of this site is discussing interesting designs of gates, gate operators and related accessories.
The purpose of this site is discussing interesting designs of gates, gate operators and related accessories.
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