Remote control gate

[Jeff]

I'll be going back up north soon to work on the bridge we are building to cross a ditch and into our property for the quad. I've been thinking about a barrier or gate to keep other atv's from simply wheeling in there when they see it.   I've come up with an idea, and drew a little animation with photoshop to help explain, and I am wondering if ya'll might not give me some input on whether you think it will work or not.  I want it to be simple. I'm thinking now this is what I need to build this. A remote control 12 volt d.c. switch. (I bought one on ebay today for $11.95)


A 12 volt motor, possible a windshield wiper motor. A 12 volt garden tractor battery and one of those little solar 12 volt battery trickle chargers.  I would make the frame from cedar, and the cam on the motor, out of something or other. I think if the gate is either counter weighted or spring loaded on the pivot end, the motor will need very little power to open the gate. My reason for coming upo with this configuration is to simplify the components. If I can make the gate open and close by having the motor only turn in a single direction it eliminated the need for a reverse on the motor and or the remote. You simpy start it, then stop it when it gets to the top. Start it again to continue the cycle to close, then stop it again.
 Whatdaya think?

[Steve]

 8)Hey Jeff-- I think it is a clever design . To me it seems that the counter weight or spring loading is the key. How you going to fabricate the cam?

Steve

[Jeff]

I guess it depends on what I end up with as a motor.    I'm thinking the Cam needs to be pretty good size, so I may disguise it. 

[isawlogs]

 Kewl .. You could also use an electric window opener froma car ... youget forward and reverse if need be . A wiper motor is strong too ....  I have visions for that cam ... 

[Nailhead]

Jeff
Instead of the cam on the gate, think about using a drag link. This way you can adjust the "throw" by changing the location of the link, both on the gate arm and on the motor disc. Think of the way the old locomotive's connected  to the drive wheels. The motor could be located below the cross arm.

[Jeff]

Gotcha.  Much easier!  Thanks Pat!

[thecfarm]

Sounds good.Give some thought on hiding the battery and what ever else might be kinda out in the open.Some people like to remove items that don't belong to them.

[Jeff]

Yep hiding will be part of the plan. Just in case someone decides to play, Maybe I should add a capacitor into the mix eh?

[WDH]

Add some remote control african bees for those who don't respect the gate .

That looks real slick.  I would have never thought of that because I have too much wood on the brain .

[sawguy21]

Is there enough cover to keep 'unauthorized personnel' from simply driving around it?

[Jeff]

I'm going to build it right at the end of the bridge, and the bridge is over a ditch and there are trees on either side, one side quite close and the other side, maybe 3 or 4 feet away so it ?shouldnt? be a problem.  This is where it will go.



I have some pressure treated blocks I am going to place under the spruce poles.

[beenthere]

Jeff
Just thinkin, maybe a drawbridge, that you raise when you leave (using the winch on the quad) and lower when you return to use the trail (again, using the winch on the quad, or gravity and counterbalance).

I am assuming the ditch is deep and not easy to get around (through) without the bridge, or the trees are too close to make it from the road to the trail without the bridge crossing (ie trespassers who will skirt around the crossing and gate).

I guess I am missing why a remote is needed (although I do like them to get the garage door up and down  ).  I tend to think too many curious and mischievious minds will investigate the gate if there is a bridge to easily cross. Then may fool with your clever gate opener/closer and cause you grief.

[submarinesailor]

Jeff,

I hope you just thinking out load about the capacitor. 

Yep hiding will be part of the plan. Just in case someone decides to play, Maybe I should add a capacitor into the mix eh?

There’s a big liability issue here.




AND - I remember when they tried to put me under the jail after I did it to an English teacher in high school.  They couldn’t absolutely prove it was me is the only reason I’m not still under it.

Bruce

[sawguy21]

  Those were fun.

[sawdust]

Jeff,we have those cattle crossing pipe bridges, they can pivot up. This effectively leaves a wall of pipe and a trench on whichever side you want. Using a counter balance you could still pivot it easily enough.

sawdust

[KGNC]

Jeff:
It's hard to find a inexpense motor geared slow enough for what your are doing. With a cam or a crank you are only using about 1/2 of a rotation to raise the gate. If you find a motor geared to 30 RPM that's 1 second to raise the gate. You are going to have to be pretty quick on the button to get it stopped at the right place.
Something that I have seen that works well for that type of motion would be to set up a short loop of roller chain with a drive and idler sprocket mounted vertically. You would have an attachment on the chain that is attached to the crank arm. Depending on your drive sprocket size and the length of chain you can set up whatever speed you need.
 I can draw it out but I don't have any cool software to put it into a jpg.

[stonebroke]

Jeff

Do you really need a remote control gate? On the right of ways in NY most people put a metal farm gate up and don't even lock it. This signifies that you don't want the general public to come on your land but it allows the power company access.

Stonebroke

[Dave Shepard]

Surplus Center has electric (12vdc) actuators that might be better suited to this application, I don't remeber the cost though.


Dave

[Jeff]

Jeff

Do you really need a remote control gate? On the right of ways in NY most people put a metal farm gate up and don't even lock it. This signifies that you don't want the general public to come on your land but it allows the power company access.

Stonebroke

    Nope, I sure don't need one other then for the "cool" factor.

[Mooseherder]

How are Convertible Top motors geared

[Jeff]

I found a motor for my gate.  Its a 12 volt 6 RPM gear reduction used in moving big tractor mirrors. I've almost got everything collected that I need to try to make this work next time I go North.

Here is what it will be opening and closing.

[Jeff]

THe Cedar tree in the photo is leaning towards the camera and the gate bar pivots on a lag bolt that goes into the tree. There should be plenty of room to hide the hardware behind the trees and the gate should look just like a cedar post crossing it.

[Jeff]

Well, looks like my 12 volt remote switch is defective.    Hopefully they will let me return it for a replacement.

[pigman]

...... a lag bolt that goes into the tree.

An old sawyer putting metal in trees. 



Bob

[Jeff]

Its not a tree, Its a gate post with roots and foliage and its not metal, its an adjustable threaded ferrous hinge point.

[farmerdoug]

That could only come from a old sawyer.

[Furby]

Let's see if he changes his tune in about 5 years and forgets that lag is there!

[Jeff]

I just tested my gate motor for opening a makeshift gate here. It looks like its going to work! I was going to take pictures but I have to wait now. My drag link was way to lite and bent. I'll make a new one out of the leg parts of that old wheelbarrow I tore apart.

[Jeff]

I put a mock up together in the backyard just to make sure this was going to work, and I think it will work fine. I have it all together other then wiring in the little solar 12 volt trickle charger to maintain the battery.

The motor has all kinds of torque. It has a 1/4 inch square drive, so for part of the drag link I used a 1/4" drive socket (METRIC  ) and welded it to the chunk of light steel strap. It slides right on the motor shaft snug, and I just drilled a hole through it for a cotter pin to hold it on. The box is a little square D box.  The motor and the remote switch module are in the box. The battery and the solar charger will be remote from the drive. I plan on taking a ladder down and placing it about 12 feet up in the tree. That will keep someone from walking off with it real easy.  The drive box is lockable and I will lag that from the insdie of the box to secure it, then lock it.  I know, if someone wants it, that wont stop em, but at least they will have to mess it up to take it.  Hopefully, as small as it is, and where I will put it, no one will even know that cedar post is anything other then that.

Ive used a bungee cord as the adjustable link for the crossbar to the motor.

 




I stuck my hand in this shot for scale. The box aint very big.


Here is a movie clip of our backyard preliminary test. The remote works from up to 50 feet away.

[Nailhead]

You know, it doesn't take much to keep some people busy!!

[Paul_H]

Works good eh? 

[asy]

Hey Jeff!

What a COOL gate! Looks like it'll work really well!

Do you guys have BUMP GATES over there?

asy

[Reddog]

Asy, I have bumped a gate, but it never opened like that.

Most times I had to fix something on it. 

Jeff, looking pretty slick.

[Mooseherder]

Do you guys have BUMP GATES over there?
asy

No, But we got this feller named Bill Gates who put Windows Up to keep everyone else out.

[Jeff]

Its all installed, tweaked, and works very well.     I had to mess with several configurations but finally got one that works real good. The video clip link below shows a malfunction during testing.  The gate now goes up much easier due to increased spring load (tighter bungee) .  And comes down slower (shorter bungee)    Since the photo the solar collector has been installed and the whole thing camouflaged with strategically placed bark and branches.

 

[ga.player]

how about a wheel chair motor, i have a friend that's in a w.chair,...  i have gotten an old chair from him and am in the process of making a system to open and close a solid shop door (12' x 12') just a thought, I have another friend who is trying to create a gate opener using a pool pump and bucket (water for weight), and spring loading the gate.

[Jeff]

so far my gate is still working nicely and I have not had anyone try o fiddle with it.  With gun deer season opening in 3 days the fiddlrs will probably be out in force

[SwampDonkey]

Hope everything weathers the storm. 

[Firebass]

Good Job Jeff, 

Looks like you too like to piddle with mechanical things.  So I thought I'd share some of my favorite piddling inspirations.
 
Old Hospital bed's have very powerful reversible motor with acme threaded shafts in them with a up down controller.  Actions often sell them cheap.  The only drawback to these is that there mostly 120 volt.

Old Satellite dish's have a great weather resistant DC Acme thread drive with limit switches and tie rod ends.  Getting harder to find..  these are DC voltage so you can use batteries or remote sites.

Old motorcycle engines have a 4 ,5 or 6 speed transmissions with a wet clutchs-  remove the cylinder barrel and head, tear it apart and take the crank to a machine shop tell them to turn a straight shaft to take the place of the crank with a 1" key on the end where the flywheel was mounted.  You can then put any source of engine or motor to the 1" keyed shaft you like.   Gives you a nice transmisioin with clutch that has a thousand uses.  These little jem are great because you can find old motorcycles everywhere, they're lightwiegt and can handle easily handle 30hp or more.   I have a 250 Yamaha dirt bike engine it weighs around 20 or 30 lbs. set up like this.

Back to your gate:   I like the electric fence (Capacitor) Idea.

Firebass

[pineywoods]

re  piddling inspirations

Add to that list.. rear axle out of riding lawn mowers. Open it up and weld up the spider gears. Makes a real nice reduction gearbox with 3, 4, or 5 speeds plus reverse. I put one in a home built concrete mixer. Only disappointment...reverse gear don't un-mix the concrete