Spring-assist module for boom barrier, boom barrier system, and associated methods

Abstract

A boom barrier includes a boom arm and a spring-assist module configured to assist with pivoting the boom arm. The boom arm can be pivoted upwardly to an upper position in response to torque being applied in a first direction to the boom arm. The boom arm can be pivoted downwardly to a lower position in response to torque being applied in a second direction to the boom arm. The spring-assist module can apply torque in the first direction to the boom arm when the boom arm is in the lower position and an adjacent range of intermediate positions to assist with pivoting the boom barrier upwardly and/or the spring-assist module can apply torque in the second direction to the boom arm when the boom arm is in the upper position and an adjacent range of intermediate positions to assist with pivoting the boom arm downwardly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A boom barrier system configured for selectively obstructing passage of a vehicle, the boom barrier system comprising:
 a boom barrier comprising a pivotably mounted boom arm configured to be pivoted about an axis of rotation:
 upwardly to an upper position in response to torque being applied in a first direction to the boom arm, and 
 downwardly to a lower position in response to torque being applied in a second direction to the boom arm, wherein the first and second directions are opposite from one another; 
   a spring-assist module connected to the boom barrier and comprising at least one spring, the spring assist module being configured to:
 apply torque in the first direction to the boom arm when the boom arm is in the lower position to assist with pivoting the boom arm upwardly, and 
 apply torque in the second direction to the boom arm when the boom arm is in the upper position to assist with pivoting the boom arm downwardly; 
   a secondary arm connected to the boom barrier; and   at least one handle connected to the secondary arm,   wherein at least the secondary arm and the at least one handle are cooperatively configured so that the boom arm is manually pivotable about the axis of rotation by way of the at least one handle, and   wherein the axis of rotation is positioned between the spring-assist module and the at least one handle.   
     
     
         2 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 1 , comprising a base to which the boom arm is pivotably mounted for being pivoted about the axis of rotation, wherein:
 the base includes opposite first and second openings between which the axis of rotation is positioned; and   the boom barrier system is operatively configured so that:   when the boom barrier is in the upper position, at least a portion of the secondary arm is positioned in the first hole, and at least a portion of the spring-assist module is positioned in the second hole, and   when the boom barrier is in the lower position, the secondary arm is positioned outside of the first hole, and at least a portion of the spring-assist module is positioned in the second hole.   
     
     
         3 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the boom arm is mounted for pivoting about the axis of rotation; and   the spring assist module is connected to the boom arm at a position distant from the axis of rotation to:
 apply an upwardly directed force at the position when the boom arm is in the lower position, and 
 apply a downwardly directed force at the position when the boom arm is in the upper position. 
   
     
     
         4 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring-assist module comprises:
 a housing that at least partially contains the at least one spring; and   a rod operatively associated with the housing and the at least one spring for reciprocating in response to the boom arm being pivoted upwardly and downwardly.   
     
     
         5 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the boom arm is mounted to be pivoted upwardly from the lower position through a range of at least 50 degrees; and   the spring assist module is configured to apply torque in the first direction to the boom arm from the lower position through an angular range of at least 10 degrees.   
     
     
         6 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 5 , wherein the spring assist module is configured to apply torque in the first direction to the boom arm from the lower position through an angular range of at least 20 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 5 , wherein the spring assist module is configured to apply torque in the first direction to the boom arm from the lower position through an angular range of at least 45 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the boom arm is mounted to be pivoted downwardly from the upper position through an angular range of at least 50 degrees; and   the spring assist module is configured to apply torque in the second direction to the boom arm from the upper position through an angular range of at least 10 degrees.   
     
     
         9 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 8 , wherein the spring assist module is configured to apply torque in the second direction to the boom arm from the upper position through an angular range of at least 20 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 8 , wherein the spring assist module is configured to apply torque in the second direction to the boom arm from the upper position through an angular range of at least 30 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring is configured to:
 store a first amount of potential energy when the boom arm is in the lower position; and   store a second amount of potential energy when the boom arm is in the upper position, wherein the second amount is different from the first amount.   
     
     
         12 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first amount is greater than the second amount. 
     
     
         13 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the boom barrier system is configured so that a predetermined amount of torque is required to be applied to the boom arm in the first direction to pivot the boom arm upwardly out of the lower position; and   when the boom arm is in the lower position, the spring-assist module is configured to apply, to the boom arm in the first direction, no more than the predetermined amount of torque.   
     
     
         14 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 13 , wherein when the boom arm is in the lower position, the spring-assist module is configured to apply, to the boom arm in the first direction, less than the predetermined amount of torque. 
     
     
         15 . A boom barrier configured for selectively obstructing passage of a vehicle, the boom barrier comprising:
 a pivotably mounted boom arm configured to be pivoted about an axis of rotation:
 upwardly to an upper position, and 
 downwardly to a lower position; 
   a spring-assist module comprising at least one spring and a mechanical linkage between the at least one spring and the boom arm, the boom barrier and the spring-assist module being cooperatively configured so that force from the at least one spring is transmitted by the linkage and applied as an upwardly directed force at a position along a length of the boom arm when the boom arm is in the lower position;   a secondary arm connected to the boom barrier; and   at least one handle connected to the secondary arm,   wherein at least the secondary arm and the at least one handle are cooperatively configured so that the boom arm is manually pivotable about the axis of rotation by way of the at least one handle, and   wherein the axis of rotation is positioned between the spring-assist module and the at least one handle.   
     
     
         16 . The boom barrier system according to  claim 15 , comprising a base to which the boom arm is pivotably mounted for being pivoted about the axis of rotation, wherein:
 the base includes opposite first and second openings between which the axis of rotation is positioned; and   the boom barrier system is operatively configured so that:   when the boom barrier is in the upper position, at least a portion of the secondary arm is positioned in the first hole, and at least a portion of the spring-assist module is positioned in the second hole, and   when the boom barrier is in the lower position, the secondary arm is positioned outside of the first hole, and at least a portion of the spring-assist module is positioned in the second hole.   
     
     
         17 . The boom barrier according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the boom barrier and the spring-assist module are cooperatively configured so that
 force from a first compressed portion of the at least one spring is transmitted by the linkage and applied as an upwardly directed force at the position along a length of the boom arm when the boom arm is in the lower position, and 
 force from a second compressed portion of the at least one spring is transmitted by the linkage and applied as a downwardly directed force at the position along the length of the boom arm when the boom arm is in the upper position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The boom barrier according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least one spring comprises first and second coil springs;   the spring-assist module comprises:
 a housing at least partially containing the first and second coil springs, 
 a rod extending outwardly from within the housing, and 
 at least one spring seat fixedly connected to the rod; 
   the first coil spring is positioned between the at least one spring seat and a first end of the housing; and   the second coil spring is positioned between the at least one spring seat and a second end of the housing.   
     
     
         19 . A boom barrier for selectively obstructing passage of a vehicle, the boom barrier comprising:
 a pivotably mounted boom arm configured to be pivoted about an axis of rotation:
 upwardly to an upper position, and 
 downwardly to a lower position; 
   a rod extending outwardly from within a housing;   a mechanical linkage connected between the rod and the boom arm;   at least one spring seat fixedly connected to the rod;   at least one coil spring that is at least partially contained by the housing, wherein:
 at least a portion of the at least one coil spring is positioned between the at least one spring seat and a first end of the housing, and 
 the boom barrier is configured so that at least the portion of the at least one coil spring is compressed when the boom arm is in the upper position; 
   a secondary arm connected to the boom barrier; and   at least one handle connected to the secondary arm,   wherein at least the secondary arm and the at least one handle are cooperatively configured so that the boom arm is manually pivotable about the axis of rotation by way of the at least one handle, and   wherein the axis of rotation is positioned between the at least one handle and the mechanical linkage, which is connected between the rod and the boom arm.   
     
     
         20 . The boom barrier according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least one coil spring comprises:
 a first coil spring at least partially contained by the housing and positioned between the at least one spring seat and the first end of the housing, and 
 a second coil spring at least partially contained by the housing and positioned between the at least one spring seat and a second end of the housing; and 
   the boom barrier is configured so that:
 the first coil spring is compressed when the boom arm is in the upper position, and 
 the second coil spring is compressed when the boom arm is in the lower position.