Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for a barrier gate designed to control vehicular travel through a passageway. The invention disclosed employs a barrier arm, a housing, a motor and transmission, a rotary encoder, and a torque limiter assembly. The torque limiter assembly comprises a hub, spindle, brake disk, rotor, and a gland nut. The torque limiter assembly is mounted to the motor and transmission as well as connected to the barrier arm. The torque limiter assembly provides sufficient friction to rotate the barrier arm and also protects the internal gears and linkages of the transmission and motor from costly repair/replacement by preventing any unwanted rotation. In the event an outside force rotates the barrier arm, the rotary encoder in cooperation with a controller instantly recognizes the position of the barrier arm and further acts as a limit switch to send a signal to the motor to stop when the barrier arm is in place.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for decelerating moving vehicles. A set of two novel pylons is disclosed employing a simple, durable and reliable braking mechanism. Each braking mechanism comprises a spindle assembly including a brake disk and a spool assembly comprising a rotor and two caliper disks adjacent the brake disk. The spool assembly is pivotally mounted on the spindle assembly. As the strap is deployed a ratchet and pawl mechanism fixed to the base of the spindle assembly prevents the spindle assembly from rotating with respect to the spool assembly. The sliding friction between the caliper disks and the brake disk impedes the rotation of the spool assembly and restrains deployment of the strap. After impact, the strap can be rewound via a ratchet nut located on the spool assembly. During rewind the spindle assembly rotates with the spool assembly. An additional embodiment connects a sacrificial barrier between the two pylons mounted to a gantry.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for a barrier gate designed to control vehicular travel through a passageway. The invention disclosed employs a barrier arm, a housing, a motor and transmission, a rotary encoder, and a torque limiter assembly. The torque limiter assembly comprises a hub, spindle, brake disk, rotor, and a gland nut. The torque limiter assembly is mounted to the motor and transmission as well as connected to the barrier arm. The torque limiter assembly provides sufficient friction to rotate the barrier arm and also protects the internal gears and linkages of the transmission and motor from costly repair/replacement by preventing any unwanted rotation. In the event an outside force rotates the barrier arm, the rotary encoder in cooperation with a controller instantly recognizes the position of the barrier arm and further acts as a limit switch to send a signal to the motor to stop when the barrier arm is in place.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for decelerating moving vehicles. A set of two novel pylons is disclosed employing a simple, durable and reliable braking mechanism. Each braking mechanism comprises a spindle assembly including a brake disk and a spool assembly comprising a rotor and two caliper disks adjacent the brake disk. The spool assembly is pivotally mounted on the spindle assembly. As the strap is deployed a ratchet and pawl mechanism fixed to the base of the spindle assembly prevents the spindle assembly from rotating with respect to the spool assembly. The sliding friction between the caliper disks and the brake disk impedes the rotation of the spool assembly and restrains deployment of the strap. After impact, the strap can be rewound via a ratchet nut located on the spool assembly. During rewind the spindle assembly rotates with the spool assembly. An additional embodiment connects a sacrificial barrier between the two pylons mounted to a gantry.

Abstract: A hydraulic vent valve for use on ship cargo tanks is disclosed which is utilized to maintain a constant head of pressure or vacuum on containerized fluid and to provide leakproof isolation between the stored fluid and the atmosphere. The valve features a reservoir, a divider for dividing the reservoir into two chambers, an aperture in the divider through which liquid can flow, reservoir liquid in each of the chambers in an amount sufficient to cover the aperture when pressures inside of the chambers are equal, an intake connected to the reservoir for communicating pressures on the stored fluid to the surface of the reservoir liquid in one of the chambers and an exhaust for communicating atmospheric pressure to the surface of the liquid in the other chamber.