Railroad crossing gate having a universal crossing gate arm with a rack and pinion counterweight adjustment system

Abstract

A railroad crossing gate comprising a crossing gate arm having a counterweight support structure and one or more counterweights supported by the counterweight support structure. The counterweight support structure includes a gear rack provided along a first portion of the crossing gate arm and a pinion gear operatively coupled to and selectively movable along the gear rack.

1 . A railroad crossing gate, comprising:
 a crossing gate arm having a counterweight support structure, said counterweight support structure including a gear rack provided along a first portion of said crossing gate arm and a pinion gear operatively coupled to and selectively movable along said gear rack; and   one or more counterweights supported by said counterweight support structure;   wherein said one or more counterweights are operatively coupled to said pinion gear and wherein said one or more counterweights may be selectively moved along said first portion of said crossing gate arm by selectively moving said pinion gear along said gear rack.   
     
     
         2 . The railroad crossing gate arm according to  claim 1 , wherein said first portion of said crossing gate arm includes an elongated aperture therethrough, wherein said counterweight support structure includes at least one elongated shaft received through said aperture and operatively coupled to said pinion gear, and wherein said one or more counterweights are supported by said at least one elongated shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The railroad crossing gate arm according to  claim 2 , wherein said gear rack is provided adjacent to a first side of said elongated aperture, and wherein said counterweight support structure includes a beam provided along said first portion of said crossing gate arm adjacent to a second side of said elongated aperture that is opposite said first side of said elongated aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The railroad crossing gate arm according to  claim 2 , wherein said counterweight support structure includes a plate, wherein said pinion gear is operatively coupled to said plate and wherein said plate operatively couples said pinion gear to said elongated shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The railroad crossing gate arm according to  claim 4 , wherein said plate is positioned between said one or more counterweights and said at least one elongated shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The railroad crossing gate arm according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one elongated shaft extends through said plate and is secured to said crossing gate arm by at least one mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         7 . A universal crossing gate arm for use in a railroad crossing gate, said railroad crossing gate having a motor for selectively rotating said universal crossing gate arm about an axis of rotation, said motor having a driveshaft and a hub operatively coupled to said driveshaft, said universal crossing gate arm comprising:
 a first face;   a second face opposite said first face;   a first hub receiving element provided on said first face, said first hub receiving element being structured to receive and engage with said hub of said motor; and   a second hub receiving element provided on said second face, said second hub receiving element being structured to receive and engage with said hub of said motor.   
     
     
         8 . The universal crossing gate arm according to  claim 7 , wherein said first hub receiving element comprises a first recessed web provided in said first face and said second hub receiving element comprises a second recessed web provided in said second face. 
     
     
         9 . The universal crossing gate arm according to  claim 7 , further comprising a first gear rack provided along said first face and a second gear rack provided along said second face, said first gear rack and said second gear rack being structured to mechanically engage a pinion gear of a counterweight support structure of said railroad crossing gate, wherein one or more counterweights may be operatively coupled to said pinion gear and may be selectively moved along said universal crossing gate arm by moving said pinion gear along one of said first gear rack and said second gear rack. 
     
     
         10 . A counterweight support structure for movably supporting one or more counterweights in a railroad crossing gate having a crossing gate arm, comprising:
 a gear rack provided along a first portion of said crossing gate arm,   a pinion gear operatively coupled to and selectively movable along said gear rack; and   means operatively coupled to said pinion gear for supporting said one or more counterweights;   wherein said one or more counterweights may be selectively moved along said first portion of said crossing gate arm by selectively moving said pinion gear along said gear rack.   
     
     
         11 . The counterweight support structure according to  claim 10 , wherein a first portion of said crossing gate arm includes an elongated aperture therethrough and wherein said means for supporting said one or more counterweights includes at least one elongated shaft received through said elongated aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The counterweight support structure according to  claim 11 , wherein said gear rack is provided adjacent to a first side of said elongated aperture and wherein said counterweight support structure further comprises has a beam provided along said portion of said crossing gate arm adjacent to a second side of said elongated aperture that is opposite said first side of said elongated aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The counterweight support structure according to  claim 11 , wherein said counterweight support structure includes a plate, wherein said pinion gear is operatively coupled to said plate and wherein said plate operatively couples said pinion gear to said elongated shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The counterweight support structure according to  claim 13 , wherein said plate is positioned between said one or more counterweights and said at least one elongated shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The counterweight support structure according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one elongated shaft extends through said plate and is secured to said crossing gate arm by at least one mechanical fastener.