US3111346A - Tilting dumping vehicle plural gate latch operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

N v- 1963 H. c. HARBERS EIAL 3,111,346

TILTING DUMPING VEHICLE PLURAL GATE LATCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 1'7, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1H 1?! 6: fiarbers, Dona d A. Marc/7017f, V EN TORS- Nov. 19, 1963 H. c. HARBERS ETAL 3,111,346

TILTING DUMPING VEHICLE PLURAL GATE LATCH OPERATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 17, 1957 m m m m m 0 y H a 5 MM #0 BY 64% Af/ormy United States Patent Gur invention relates to dump trucks of the type in which the dump body is designed more particularly, althrough not necessarily, for transporting dry, pre-mixed materials for making concrete, to a site to be paved, and when tilted, to dump the materials into a concrete mixer supported for progressive movement over a concrete form by a track-laying type of vehicle, to mix, wet and pour the concrete into the form as the vehicle moves along the latter.

Dump bodies of this character are provided wi h a plurality of gates spaced one from the other along the length of the body and between any two of which is confined a batch of dry and pre-mixed concrete. Hence, such gates are referred to in the art as batch gates, and normally they are latched in closed position individually to maintain the batches therebetween for transport. By opening the batch gates successively from the rear to the front end of the dump body when the latter is in dumping position, causes the batches to be discharged from the rear end of the body successively. In practice, the dump truck follows the concrete mixer carrying vehicle to pour the batches into the mixer as needed and as the vehicle advances over the concrete form. The amount of concrete materials constituting any one batch is usually commensurate with the capacity of the drum of the mixer, and thus after one batch is delivered to the drum, then mixed and poured from the drum into the form, another batch from the dump body is discharged into the drum upon opening the next gate above and so on until all the batches have been discharged.

Heretofore the batch gates have been manually unlatched individually and independently one of the other, through the provision of various means, such as individual ropes adapted to be pulled by the operator while standing on the ground at one side of the dump truck, but relatched in closed position only by the gates themselves as they swing, under the action of gravity, to closed position as the dump body is restored to horizontal position. This gate unlatching means, as well as the others, has been found undesirable for a number of reasons. One is that since it permits unlatching of any one gate independently of the others there is no assurance that the gates will be unlatched in predetermined sequence as necessary to effect discharge of the batches individually and successively from the rear end to the front end of the dump body. Another reason is that since there is no means for positively relatching the gates, one or more of the gates may remain unlatched when the dump body is restored to horizontal position. Thus when the dump body is reloaded the concrete materials between any two adjacent gates are free when the body is moved to dumping position to flow between the pair of gates next below, thereby increasing the amount of that particular batch beyond the capacity of the drum. Thus the materials cannot be discharged in batches of predetermined amounts for a concrete mixer of a corresponding capacity.

It is a purpose of our invention to provide mechanisms for operating batch-gate latches in a manner to positively latch and unlatch the gates, and also to visibly indicate to the operator the open and closed positions of the gate so that at all times he is apprised of which gaes are open or closed.

it is also a purpose of our invention to provide control means for the latch-operating mechanisms, whereby they can be individually operated only in a predetermined sequence such that the batch gates are unlatched successively from the rearmost to the foremost in respect to their series arrangement lengthwise of the dump body, thereby effecting discharge of the materials from the body when tilted in the prescribed batches successively as and when required.

A further purpose of our invention is to provide latchoperating mechanisms including elements responsive to fluid under pressure from a common source for effecting individual operation of the mechanisms to move the latches to gate-latching positions, and wherein manually operated valves are provided for controlling the supply of fluid individually to the elements, in a manner such that as to effect and compel operation of the mechanisms in a predetermined order which produces unlatching of the batch gates beginning with the rearrnost to the foremost of the series and not otherwise.

We will describe only one form of batch gate latchoperating mechanisms for dump trucks and control means therefor, and will then point out the novel features thereof in the claims.

drawings:

RIG. 1 is a View showing in side elevation one form of batch gate latch-operating mechanisms and control means therefor embodying my invention, in association with one form of dump truck.

FlG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on theline 22 of FIG. 1.

PEG. 3 is a side elevational view partly broken away and talten substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and showing the batch gate closed and latched.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the batch gate open and unlatched.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on theline 55 of MG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view showing diagrammatically the batch gates, the latches, the latch-operating mechanisms, and the air pressure system for actuating the mechanisms.

FIG. 7 is a detail vertical sectional View of one of the control valves of the system.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in Fl. 1 is shown a dump truck comprising a truck generally indicated at 15 which is self-powered and of the type commonly used in connection with semi-trailers. This truck includes a frame is supported in part by a wheel assembly 17 and on which is afifth wheel 18. Arear wheel assembly 1? is pivotally connected by trunnions 2-9 to asupport 21 for the rear end of aframe 22 for adump body 23 having a bottom wall and side Walls with a tail gate 24 pivoted as at 25 to the side walls at the rear end of thedump body 23 and adapted to be releasably secured in closed position by a latch 26. A pair ofdraft links 27 are pivotally connected as at 28 to theframe 22, and as at 29 to thefifth wheel 18. A hydraulic jack (it) of the telescopic type is pivotally connected to thefifth wheel 18 and to theframe 22 as at 31.

it will be understood that to tilt thedump body 23 from the horizontal position to the inclined position, such as shown in PEG. 1, hydraulic fluid under pressure is supplied to the lower end of the jack 3t) from a suitable source located in the cab of the truck, through conduits Etta, causing the parts of the jack to be extended. Under the action of thedraft links 27 the wheel assemblies 17 and 19 are caused to approach each other allowing the dump body to swing upwardly about thepivot 29 to dumping position.

Within thedump body 23 are a series ofbatch gates 32 hingedly mounted on the inner side walls of the body at regularly spaced intervals along the length thereof,

3 the two end-most gates bein similarly spaced in relation to the front wall 23:: of the body, and tail gate 24. These batch gates have, in PEG. 6, been designated 32, 32a, 32b, 320, 2d, 32c and 32; beginning with the rearmost gate to the foremost of the series to facilitate describing later herein the operatioin of the invention.

Each batch gate 32-321 inclusive may be of the construction shown in FIG. 3, and it is mounted for pivotal movement to occupy the closed position shown in FIG. 3, and in the open position shown in FIG. 4, by means ofstub shafts 33 fixed to the upper end of the gate at the forward side thereof so as to be rotatable inclevises 3 welded toplates 35 secured to the top edges of the dump body.Stops 36 are formed on the sides of thebody 23 at locations to prevent swinging movement of the gate past closed position to an appreciable extent.

At the bottom edge and to the rear side of each gate is fixed a keeper 5'7 which may have the inclined form shown for engagement by thebill 38 of alatch 39 for securing the gate in closed position. helatch 39 is fixed at one end to a shaft extending crosswise beneath thedump body 23 and journalled in twobearings 41 formed in an inverted U-shaped fralie 42 welded to the bottom wall on the underside of the body, and a third bearing 43 formed on ahanger 44 secured to the underside of the body. A handle arm is fixed to the shaft til adjacent thebearing 43 and to the outer side of one of the side beams of theframe 22.

Through rotation of theshaft 40 in one direction or the other thelatch 3% can be moved upwardly or downwardly throughopenings 3% inframe 42 and the bottom wall ordump body 23, to engage or disengage thekeeper 38.

The latch-operating mechanism for each batch gate 32-32, inclusive includes the shaft it) and anarm 46 which is an extension of the latch To the free end of thearm 46 is pivoted, by means of apin 47, a bifurcatedconnection 43 secured to one end or" arod 49. The other end of therod 49 extends through a suitable opening in a bracket St), and then through an opening in acasing 51 of a diaphragm unit Thecasing 51 is secured to thebracket 54 and the latter, in turn, is welded to theframe 42.

To facilitate describing later herein the operation of the invention, the diaphragm units of the several mechanisms have been individually designated in FIG. 6 from 5252 inclusive to correspond to the designations for the batch gates.

Across pin 53 is welded to thearm 46 adjacent theivot 47, and asecond pin 54 is mounted incars 55 of the bracket 59. A pair of coiledcontractile springs 56 connect thepins 53 and 54 for urging thearm 46 to the position shown in FIG. 3 wherein thelatch 39 is in gate-latching position.

Contained Within thecasing 51 is a diaphragm 57 to which the adjacent end of the rod is secured. A coiled expansible spring 58 is interposed between the diaphragm 57 and that side of thecasing 51 secured to thebracket 5%.

While the spring 5'8 aids thesprings 56 in urging thelatch 39 to gate-latchin position, it is primarily designed to maintain therod 4% centered in its movement with respect to the diaphragm 57, and also to insure return of the diaphragm to non-flexed position once it is relieved of fluid pressure at the other side thereof.

For actuating thediaphragm units 52, 52a, 52b, 520,

2d, 52@ and 52] to operate the mechanisms for moving oflatch 39 to gate-releasing position and in a manner such that the operator is compelled to effect their opera tion successively, but, of course, intermittently beginning with the lower or rearmost gate and ending with the upper or foremost gate, the pneumatic system shown in FIG. 6 is provided.

This system comprises a tank 6i} in which air under pressure is stored from an air pump fi'ila operated by a motor M. By conduits to be described later herein air under pressure can be supplied to all of the diaphragm units 52-52f inclusive through two-way control valves 6'1, 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, file and :51 one for each of the diaphragm units. All of the valves are mounted in a casing 21:: secured on one side of theframe 21 adjacent the rear end thereof, and with the operating levers for the valves projecting from the casing for convenient actu ation by the operator while standing at one side of therear wheel assembly 29.

valve -51, 61a, 61b, 610, did, (ale and 61f is of the conventional construction shown in FIG. 7 wherein it will be seen that it comprises abody 62 formed With aninlet passage 63 leading through :aport 6% tolateral pa sages 65 and 66. A va.ve 67 having a sealing disc 68, is urged upw :ly to close theport 64 by a spring 69'.

in the valve body above the passages is mounted a plunger 7-9 urged upwardly to exposebleed ports 71 therein, by a sring 72 surrounding a stem '73 which is tubular so as to interiorly conununicate with a bore a of he plunger, and the latter in turn with the bleed ports. Ateam 4 is pivoted as at '75 on the top of thebody 62, and through a handle or lever '76 the cam can be turned to the right to depress the plunger and open thevalve 67 against the tension of thespring 69, or to the left to allow the plunger to rise under the action of the spring '72 permitting the valve to close and placing the bleed ports '71 in communication with atmosphere.

in PEG. 6, the lever-s for the respective valves have been designated 76, 76a, 76b, 76c, 76:1, 766 and 76 For s plying air under pressure from the tank 68* to he individual diaphragm units 52-521 inclusive under control of therespective valves 61, 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, Me and 61], a conduit connects thetank 69 toinlet passage 63 of thevalve 61. Asecond conduit 81 connectspassage 65 of thevalve 61 with the casing of theunit 52. Connected topassage 65 ofvalve 6:. is one end of aconduit 32, the other end being connected toinlet passage 63 or" thenext valve 61a. Thepassage 65 ofvalve 61a is connected to the casing ofdiaphragm unit 52a by a conduit Ella.

From the preceding description, it should be clear that the other valves 61b, 61c, 6115, 612 and dif are connected tovalve 61a, and to each other in the same manner as described in connection withvalves 61 and 61a, and that they are connected to thediaphragm units 5212, 52c, 520', 52c and 52; by conduits in the same manner as described in connection withunit 52a. Reference numerals with exponents corresponding to theunits 5212, 52c, 52d, 5-22 and 527' have ben employed to designate these conduits.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

To ready the dump truck for transporting of concrete materials to the job site for dumping of the same in batches into a concrete mixer, thedump body 23 is adjusted to occupy a horizontal position, the tail gate 24 latched in closed position, and the batch gates 32-32 inclusive all secured in closed position by thelatches 39 through movement of all of the valves 61-611 inclusive to closed position causing any air under pressure previously supplied to any of the diaphragm units to be exhausted to atmosphere throughbleed ports 71 thus permittingsprings 56 to move the latches to keeper-engaging position.

Upon the dump truck reacl1in the job site, the dump body is first raised to tilted position through operation of thejack 36, and then tail gate 24 is unlatched allowing the batch of material between the tail gate and thebatch gate 32 to be dumped into the concrete mixer.

To dump that batch of material between thegates 32 and 321:, thevalve 61 is opened through movement of thelever 76, thereby causing air under pressure fromtank 69 to be supplied to conduit 86, thence through passages to and 65 ofvalve 61, into theconduit 81, and finally to casing 51 ofunit 52. This results in actuation of diaphragm 57 to movelatch 23% to disengagekeeper 37 ofgate 32. Upon release ofgate 32 the batch of material between it andgate 32a, will gravitate from the dump body.

To dump the batch of material betweengates 32a and 32b,valve 61a is opened, and withvalve 61 remaining in open position, air under pressure from tank 6-1 can be supplied to the diaphragm ofunit 52a for moving therespective latch 39 to release thegate 32a, throughconduit 89,passages 63 and 66 ofvalve 61 into and throughconduit 82 topassage 63 ofvalve 61a from whence, throughpassage 65 and conduit 81a, air is supplied to the casing ofunit 52a.

It will be evident from the preceding description that the other gates of the series can be unlatched through opening or" their respective valves to permit discharge of the other batches of material from therebetween, so that ultimately all batches can be dumped from the rear end of the dump body. It is important to note that the several valves 61-61f inclusive are so connected by the conduits to each other, to the tank, md to the diaphragm units, that in order to supply air under pressure to all of the units to unlatch all of the batch gates, such air must pass progressively through all of the valves beginning truth thevalve 61 and ending with thevalve 61f. Manifestly, therefore, an operator is compelled to open the vflves in this prescribed order which, of course, in turn effects unlatching of the gates successively from the rear-most to the foremost of the series as intended by our invention, and as necessary to effect dumping of the batches of material in a successive order from the dump body.

Once all batches of material have been dumped in the manner above described, the dump body is restored to horizontal position causing all batch gates to swing to closed position. By the operator now closing all of thevalves 61, 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 61e, 61f, by pivoting the operating handles 75, 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d, 76c, 76 to their initial positions, the units 52-52 inclusive, are exhausted of air under pressure through thevent passages 70a, 71, thereby allowing thesprings 55 to contract and rotate theshaft 46 so as to move thelatches 39 into engagement with thekeepers 37 and thus secure the batch gates in closed position. With all gates now latched in closed position the dump body is readied for reloading with the materials at the source of supply, and the division or" the materials into batches by the gates.

As fixed to each shaft dis, each arm 4-5 provides a dual purpose. It can he used as a handle to manually turn the shaft for moving the latch 3-9 to latch or release the batch gate should the mechanism fail in its intended function, or :as an indicator to the operator of Whether the latch is in gate-latching or unlatching position.

Although we have herein shown and described only one form of batch gate latch-operating mechanisms for dump trucks and control rneans therefor embodying our invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a vehicle of the type having a tilting dump body formed with a bottom wall and side walls including a plurality of independently supported pivoting gates thereacross and spaced fro-m one another; the improvement comprising: gate latch operating mechanism for each of said gates including a shaft mounted on one of said dump body walls adjacent the plane of the gate when in its closed position, a latch connected to said shaft and movable through an opening formed in one of said walls into and out of locking engagement with an edge of an associated one of said gates, yieldable spring means connected to said latch for actuating said latch in a direction to latch said gate closed, and fluid-actuated means connected to said latch for moving the latch in the other direction and against the action of said spring to unlocl said latch thereby releasing the gate for movement to its open position.

2. In a vehicle of the type having a tilting dump body formed with a bottom and side walls including a plurality of independently supported pivoting Igates thereacross and spaced from one another; the improvement comprising: gate latch operating mechanism for each of said gates including a shaft mounted transversely on said dump body bottom adjacent the plane of the gate when in its closed position, a latch connected to said shaft and moveable through an opening formed in said bottom into and out of locking engagement with an edge of an associated one of said gates, yieldable spring means connected to said latch for actuating said latch in a direction to latch said gate closed, and fluid-actuated means connected to said latch for moving the latch in the other direction and against the action of said spring to unlock said latch thereby releasing the gate for movement to its open position.

3. In a power-driven vehicle of the type having a dump body formed with a bottom and side walls including a plurality of independently supported pivoting batch gates thereacross and spaced from one another lengthwise of said dump body; that improvement which comprises, batch gate latch operating mechanism for each of said gates including a shaft mounted transversely beneath said dump body bottom adjacent the plane of the gate when in its closed position, a latch fixed to said shaft movable through an opening formed in said bottom into and out of locking engagement with an edge of an associated one of said batch gates as the shaft is rotated in one direction or the other, a crank arm fixed to the shaft, yieldable spring means connected to said arm for rotating said shaft in a direction to latch said gate closed, and pneumatically-actuated means connected to said arm for rotating the shaft in the other direction and against the action of said spring to unlo k said latch thereby to release the gate for movement to its open batch-releasing position.

4. The subject matter defined inclaim 3 characterized in the provision of a member fixed to said shaft and visible from the side of said dump body and eiiective to indicate the rotational position of said shaft and whether said latch is in its gate-locking or gate-releasing position.

5. In a dump truck of the type employed in transporting a plurality of batches of material separated by batch gates pivotally supported along their upper edges transversely of the truck body and normally latched closed and operable when released and the truck body is inclined upwardly to open and allow the single batch of material therebehind to discharge by gravity; that improvement which comprises a separate latch operator operatively associated with each one of said batch gates, and means for activating said latch operators sequentially only in a single predetermined order beginning with the rearmost one of said gates and including means for positively preventing operation of said gates in any other than said single predetermined order.

6. In a dump truck as defined inclaim 5 characterized in that said latch operators include power driven means for moving the same away from the closed positions thereof to release said batch gates.

7. In a dump truck as defined inclaim 6 characterized in that said power driven means is responsive to iiuid pressure, md means for supplying pressurized fluid to said means for activating said power driven latch operators.

8. in a dump truck of the type employed in transporting a plurality of batches of material separated by batch gates pivotally supported along their upper edges transversely of the truck body and normally latched closed and operable when released and the truck body is inclined upwardly to open and allow the single batch of material therebehind to discharge by gravity; that improvement which comprises a separate fluid pressure actuated latch operator for each of said batch gates, a separate control governing the supply of pressurized fluid to an associated one of said latch operators including means for conditioning a predetermined one only of said latch operators for the gate opening movement whereby the batch behind the gate must be the next one to be released.

9. in a dump truck of the type employed in transporting a plurality of batches of material separated by batch gates pivotally supported along their upper edges transversely of the truck body and normally latched closed and operable when released and the truck body is inclined upwardly to open and allow the single batch of material ther behind to discharge by gravity; that improvement which comprises a separate manually activated latch operator mechanism for each of said batch gates, said mechanism including means operatively interconnecting the same and effective to prevent said batch gates from opening except by the unlatching thereof in predetermined sequential order even though the manual operator inadvertently tries to operate said latch operator mechanisms in a different sequence.

10. In a dump truck as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said latch operator mechanisms each include a manual control m mber located at a common operator control station.

11. In a dump truck as defined in claim 10 characterized in that said manual control members are arranged in a row and in the same sequence among themselves as are the batch gates controlled thereby to facilitate the activation of said control members in the desired sequence.

12. in a dump trucl: of the type employed in transporting a plurality of batches of material separated by batch gates pivotally supported along their upper edges transversely of the truck body and normally latched closed and operable when released and the truck body is inclined upwardly to open and allow the single batch of material therebehind to discharge by gravity; that irn rovement which comprises a latch mechanism for holding each of said batch gates selectively 10.. :ed against opening including means normally biasing said latch mechanism to its gate locking position, a fluid operated power unit operatively connected to each latch mechanism to move the latter to its unlocked position, and .1 cans connecting said power units to a source of pressurized fluid through a series connection including separate control valve means for each of said latch mechanisms, said control valve means eing operable when opened in sequence beginning with the valve means closest to the source of pressurized fluid to admit fluid simultaneously to the power unit of a firs latch mechanism and to the valve means controlling the operation of the next one or" said latch mechanisms whereby it is impossible to obtain a supply of pressurized fluid for said separate mechanisms unless said valve means are operated sequentially in a predetermined order.

13. In a dump truck having a rear end dump body provided therein with plurality of transverse batch gates spaced apart lengthwise of said body, said gates being individually pivoted transversely and horizontally on said body to occupy closed position or open position according as said body occupies load-carrying position or loaddumping position; individual latches for latching sa d gates positively in closed position, said latches movably mounted on said body to occupy gate-latching and gate-releasing positions; means connected to said body and to said latches for individually urging said latches to gate-latching position; individual fluid-pressure-actuated mechanisms, one

for each of said latches mounted on said body and connected to said latches for moving the latter to gate-releasing positions against the action of said urging means, each of said mechanisms including a fiuid-pressure-responsive unit connected to the respective latch; a source of fluid pressure; conduits connecting said source to all of said units; valves in the conduits manually operable to control the supply of fluid pressu e from said source to said units, the conduits being so connected to said unit, said source and said valves that the valves can be ope-rated to supply fiuid pressure from said source to said units only in a predetermined sequence.

14. In a dump truclc having a rear-end dump body pro vided therein with batch gates in a series extending lengthwise of said body, said gates individually pivoted horizontally on said body and transversely along the length thereof to occupy a closed position perpendicular to the bottom of said body when the latter is horizontal, and an open position at an oblique angle to said bottom when the latter is inclined to a body-dumping position; individual latches for latching said gates in closed position, said latches pivotally mounted on and at the lower side of said body bottom to occupy gate-latching and gate-releasing positions; springs connected to said body and to said latches for individually urging said latches to gate-latching position; lluid-pressure-actuated means, one for each of said latches, mounted on and at the lower side of said body bottom and so connected to the respective latch as to move the same when actuated to gate-releasing positions against the action of the respective spring; a source of fluid pressure; conduits connecting all of said means to said source; and valve means in the conduits manually o erable to supply fluid pressure from said source to said means to move said latches to gate-releasing positions only in a predetermined sequence beginning with the lowermost gate of the series and ending with the uppermost gate when said body is in dumping position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 16,593 1857 58,575 1866 709,210 1902 821,528 1906 838,510 1906 977,876 Ingoldsby Dec. 6, 1910 1,271,334 Lindstrom July 2, 1918 1,295,056 Otterson e'b. 18, 1919 1,376,146 Kahn et al. Apr. 26, 1921 1,503,889 Fendner Aug. 5, 1924 1,527,626 Borchardt Feb. 24, 1925 1,555,594 Macloskie Sept. 29, 1925 1,743,094 Barrett Jan. 14, 1930 1,816,042 Eisenberg July 28, 1931 1,867,699 Hell July 19, 1932 2,023,233 Kuchar Dec. 3, 1935 2,206,744 Loecher July 2, 1940 2,220,202 Bohne Nov. 5, 1940 2,237,299 Benbow et a1 Apr. 8, 1941 2,241,056 Chilton May 6, 1941 2,653,847 Helsel Sept. 29, 1953 2,738,808 Hartzell et al. Mar. 20, 1956 2,856,233 Boyce et a1 Oct. 14, 1958

Claims (1)

1. IN A VEHICLE OF THE TYPE HAVING A TILTING DUMP BODY FORMED WITH A BOTTOM WALL AND SIDE WALLS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENTLY SUPPORTED PIVOTING GATES THEREACROSS AND SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: GATE LATCH OPERATING MECHANISM FOR EACH OF SAID GATES INCLUDING A SHAFT MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID DUMP BODY WALLS ADJACENT THE PLANE OF THE GATE WHEN IN ITS CLOSED POSITION, A LATCH CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT AND MOVABLE THROUGH AN OPENING FORMED IN ONE OF SAID WALLS INTO AND OUT OF LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH AN EDGE OF AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID GATES, YIELDABLE SPRING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LATCH FOR ACTUATING SAID LATCH IN A DIRECTION TO LATCH SAID GATE CLOSED, AND FLUID-ACTUATED MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LATCH FOR MOVING THE LATCH IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING TO UNLOCK SAID LATCH THEREBY RELEASING THE GATE FOR MOVEMENT TO ITS OPEN POSITION.

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