Adapting a chain type garage door opener to your type of gate would be a
fairly straightforward operation; farmers do it all the time to avoid
getting on and off tractors while moving feed etc. in and out of cattle
lots. They are set up with lugs on the chain that hit limit switches for
end of travel. The chains are not continuous, since they only have to
run one cycle of about 7', but I am sure that they use standard link
chain that you would buy at MSC or Grainger. Since your gate is wider
than 7', you would need to lengthen the strut supporting the pulleys,
but that is just a matter of finding some similar scrap steel and
bolting/welding it up and adding sufficient chain in the middle of the
existing chain. Because of the additional length of the boom/strut, you
might want to support it mid span. The only problem I see is
weatherproofing the housing, as they are, of course, intended for inside
use. The release mechanism is a pull rope that disconnects the follower
from the chain. There are also photocell devices in all modern openers
which are supposed to prevent the door from closing when objects are
blocking the path. They would have to be dealt with somehow, but
probably with a little ingenuity.
I would imagine that a screw type (Genie) opener would also work, but
you would have to purchase another screw and weld it on to the original
to get the additional length. That would be a more elegant solution, but
might require more sophisticated machining than the chain drive approach.
Mike
Bob Nogueira wrote:
> Folks,
> Need to run an idea by you and see if it flies;
>
> About two years ago I installed a gate on my driveway. Its a slider with a
> metal track that crosses over the drive and metal wheels on the gate. It has
> a 16 foot opening.
> The electric openers for this type of gate use a chain attached to both ends
> of the gate and a drive motor with a sprocket that sits inside the gate. When
> the sprocket is turned via the motor. it pulls the chain and opens or closes
> the gate depending on which direction the motor is running The problem is
> these opener are rather pricey at 800 to 1200 dollars.
>
> While at Sam's last week I saw a electric garage door opener (1/2 hp) on sale
> for 135.00.
> The thing that caught my attention was that it was a chain operated opener.
> The wheels started turning and what I've come up with is the idea of buying
> the opener and building a case which would allow me to convert it to open the
> gate. I'd have to mount it vertically and install a couple of idler
> sprockets.
> 1. What I'm not sure of is how these chain driven garage door openers know
> when to stop or how they reverse ( does the chain simply loop thus the motor
> always runs in one direction or does the chain and motor actually reverse
> direction?).
> 2. Are the chains used in this type application standard chains or one of a
> kind ?
> 3. How do chain openers deal with disconnecting the door from the opener for
> manual operation?
> As always thanks for any advise .
> Bob Nogueira
--
________________________________________________________________
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
Email:(msloane@att.net)
Website: <http://www.geocities.com/mikesloane>
Tractor images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>
"If the human race wishes to have a prolonged and indefinite period of
material prosperity, they have only got to behave in a peaceful and
helpful way toward one another."
-- Winston Churchill
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