Drop arm vehicle barrier

Abstract

A vehicle gate assembly includes a base having a lateral width defining a vehicle passage and a depth extending from a front edge to a back edge of the base, a first post and a second post extending from the base on opposing lateral sides of the vehicle passage, a slot formed in a face of the second post, a beam having a first beam end connected to the first post, the beam movable between an open position to allow vehicles to drive through the vehicle passage and a closed position blocking the vehicle passage, and a latch pin extending from a second beam end and disposed in the slot when the beam is in the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle gate assembly, comprising:
 a base having a width extending laterally to define a vehicle passage and a depth extending perpendicular to the width from a front edge of the base to a back edge of the base;   a hinge post extending vertically from the base on a first lateral side of the vehicle passage;   a latch post assembly extending vertically from the base on a second lateral side of the vehicle passage, wherein the latch post assembly includes first and second latch posts each having an inner face, the first and second latch posts spaced apart from each other to form a latch post gap between the inner faces, the inner faces extending parallel with the width;   a first slot formed in the inner face of the first latch post, the first slot comprising a first primary vertical slot extending from an open top end of the first primary vertical slot at a top side of the first latch post to a first bottom end of the first primary vertical slot and a first horizontal slot extending from the first bottom end toward the hinge post;   a second slot formed along the inner face of the second latch post, the second slot comprising a second primary vertical slot extending from an open top end of the second primary vertical slot at a top side of the second latch post to a second bottom end of the second primary vertical slot and a second horizontal slot extending from the second bottom end toward the hinge post;   a beam having a first beam end connected to the hinge post and a second beam end, the beam movable between an open position to allow vehicles to drive through the vehicle passage and a closed position blocking the vehicle passage;   a first pin end extending from the second beam end; and   a second pin end extending from the second beam end, wherein when the beam is in the closed position the first pin end is disposed in the first slot and the second pin end is disposed in the second slot.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle gate assembly has at least a P3 rating in accordance with ASTM F2656. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle gate assembly has a M30-P3 rating in accordance with ASTM F2656. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the beam is positioned vertically above the base proximate the back edge when the beam is in the closed position; and
 the first pin end and the second pin end extend orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the beam.   
     
     
         5 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first pin end and the second pin end are opposing ends of a single continuous member. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the depth is approximately 47-inches or greater. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the beam is metal and comprises a cable extending inside of the beam. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first pin end and the second pin end are opposing ends of a single continuous pin member;   the beam is metal and positioned proximate the back edge; and   the beam comprises a cable extending from the single continuous pin member to a connection of the first beam end to the hinge post.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first pin end is located in the first primary vertical slot and the second pin end is located in the second primary vertical slot when the beam is in the closed position; and   the first pin end is located in the first horizontal slot and the second pin end is located in the second horizontal slot when the beam is in the closed position and impacted by a vehicle with sufficient force to draw the second beam end toward the hinge post.   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle gate assembly has at least a P3 rating in accordance with ASTM F2656. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle gate assembly has a M30-P3 rating in accordance with ASTM F2656. 
     
     
         12 . A vehicle gate assembly, comprising:
 a base having a width extending laterally to define a vehicle passage and a depth extending perpendicular to the width from a front edge of the base to a back edge of the base;   a first post extending vertically from the base on a first lateral side of the vehicle passage;   a second post extending vertically from the base on a second lateral side of the vehicle passage;   a slot formed in a face of the second post, the slot comprising a primary vertical slot extending from an open top end of the primary vertical slot at a top side of the second post to a bottom end of the primary vertical slot and a horizontal slot extending from the bottom end toward the first post;   a beam having a first beam end connected to the first post and a second beam end, the beam movable between an open position to allow vehicles to drive through the vehicle passage and a closed position blocking the vehicle passage; and   a latch pin extending from the second beam end and disposed in the slot when the beam is in the closed position.   
     
     
         13 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the latch pin is disposed in the primary vertical slot when the beam is in the closed position; and   the latch pin is disposed in the horizontal slot when the beam is in the closed position and impacted by a vehicle with sufficient force to draw the second beam end toward the second post.   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the beam is positioned vertically above the base proximate the back edge; and   the latch pin extends orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the beam.   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the beam is positioned vertically above the base proximate the back edge;   the latch pin extends orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the beam;   the latch pin is disposed in the primary vertical slot when the beam is in the closed position; and   the latch pin is disposed in the horizontal slot when the beam is in the closed position and impacted by a vehicle with sufficient force to draw the second beam end toward the second post.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the beam is metal and comprises a cable extending inside of the beam. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a pivot pin connecting the first beam end to the first post; and   a cable connected to the pivot pin and the latch pin.   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the cable is positioned inside of the beam. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the beam is positioned vertically above the base proximate the back edge. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle gate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the cable is positioned inside of the beam;   the beam is positioned vertically above the base proximate the back edge;   the latch pin is disposed in the primary vertical slot when the beam is in the closed position; and   the latch pin is disposed in the horizontal slot when the beam is in the closed position and impacted by a vehicle with sufficient force to draw the second beam end toward the second post.