briceburg
Electrical
- Jun 29, 2014
- 5
Some folks installed a rolling gate on a 7% grade. To open it, it rolls uphill. To close it, it rolls downhill.
The gate rolls along a 20' track between a brick house and the end-post of a fence along an alleyway. It rests against the fence end-post (6x6 pine) when closed, and against the house when all the way open. The track is anchored to a concrete driveway, and the gate is made of a 10' x 6' steel frame with cedar planks affixed to it. Needless to say; it is VERY heavy (300lbs?), hard to open, and very dangerous if left to close alone. If it were accidentally let go I imagine the impact would topple the end-post it rests against while closed, and end up in the alley.
I would like to minimize the damage done by the closing gate if let go. My idea is to slow the velocity of the gate -- but not sure what the best method is.
Some ideas are;
1. Counter weight - Fix an eye ring to the home, attach a rope to gate, run through ring and attach to some clock weights. Not sure if these will have enough slowing effect... and may allow the gate to be too easily opened? Could change with weather/rain?
2. A tension spring that works similarly to the above. Again, would it slow the gate in time?
3. A hydraulic fixture with a telescoping arm that when pulled on, will only pull out at a fixed, slow rate. This seems ideal but does anyone make them and what are they called?
Any suggestion are welcome!
The gate rolls along a 20' track between a brick house and the end-post of a fence along an alleyway. It rests against the fence end-post (6x6 pine) when closed, and against the house when all the way open. The track is anchored to a concrete driveway, and the gate is made of a 10' x 6' steel frame with cedar planks affixed to it. Needless to say; it is VERY heavy (300lbs?), hard to open, and very dangerous if left to close alone. If it were accidentally let go I imagine the impact would topple the end-post it rests against while closed, and end up in the alley.
I would like to minimize the damage done by the closing gate if let go. My idea is to slow the velocity of the gate -- but not sure what the best method is.
Some ideas are;
1. Counter weight - Fix an eye ring to the home, attach a rope to gate, run through ring and attach to some clock weights. Not sure if these will have enough slowing effect... and may allow the gate to be too easily opened? Could change with weather/rain?
2. A tension spring that works similarly to the above. Again, would it slow the gate in time?
3. A hydraulic fixture with a telescoping arm that when pulled on, will only pull out at a fixed, slow rate. This seems ideal but does anyone make them and what are they called?
Any suggestion are welcome!
