Plausible: Garage door opener as a gate opener??

Question

Please help a software engineer and an old buddy from high school, with a mechanical design.

Mom is a retired widow. Her driveway gate is 4’ tall gate that is about 14’ wide. It slides open on wheels. I guess the gate weighs about 200-300 pounds.

We would like to modify a $200, ¾ HP garage door opener to operate the gate. The following factors have already been considered:

The width of the chain and sprocket, used on a gate opener, is almost twice that of a typical garage door opener. In addition the chain will have to be 14’ long.

We have already considered replacing the wheels with larger 15” wheels, that use lubricated bearings to make the gate easier to move.

The garage door opener will have to be mounted on its side. This may be an issue because bearing/sprocket assembly is designed to operate upright.

The garage door opener will require a weatherproof housing.

Cost is very much an issue. If this cost more than about $600, then it is better to just buy the right tool for the job.

Labor cost is just lunch and lemonade.

Do you think this is an economically feasible project? What do you think about a battery backed garage door opener (typically on ½ horsepower)?

Thank you;

Answer 1

It sounds like something you could do with a little work. The problem will be coming up with the design. There is a web site offering a design with a list of parts that are supposedly easily available. Check out: http://silverpennys.com/gate/

...Good Luck...

Answer 2

Sounds like the sort of thing you really want to do just to see if you can get it to work. It's a pretty heavy gate so you'll have to use the 3/4 hp motor, especially since it will have to operate for twice the normal amount of time(extra length). 15 inch wheels sounds like a good idea. Mounting on its side should not be a problem, I've used these motors for several different things, like dumbwaiters, and they hold up just fine. The big issue seems to be how to create your weatherproof housing. If you can do that in a cost effective way, it sounds like you can get the job done at less cost than your limit. Make sure about that before you start the project though.

Best of luck, I hope it works out well for you.

Answer 3

20 years ago i bought a self made kit by a clever garage door guy. In the kit was the v-groove wheels, the chain, 1/2 hp chain drive opener with custom bracket to mount opener vertically, a sheet metal housing and all the brackets and bolts to complete the job. All I had to do was fab up a 1/4"x3"x14' plate with 1-1/2" angle iron laying flat for the v-groove wheels to ride on. weld in together with some angle iron underneath to imbed in a small concrete footing. I also built a housing for a keypad on the outside of gate just in case remote didn't work. Whats nice is that you only need one remote to open your gate,garage door and turn on a light.



Tim

Answer 4

pay the 600$ and get the right part. you will have to modify/fix what you build so over some time it might cost the same.