Barrier arm operator

Abstract

A barrier arm operator includes a bracket operably coupled to a drive, wherein the drive rotates the bracket about an axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction; and an arm coupled to the bracket and driven between a lowered position and a raised position by rotation of the bracket about the axis, wherein the arm is rotatably coupled to the bracket about a pivot axis orthogonally oriented with respect to the axis, wherein the bracket comprises a detent configured to retain the arm in a first position relative to the bracket in an in-use state, and wherein the arm rotates about the pivot axis from the first position to a second position in response to impact of an object against the arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrier arm operator comprising:
 a bracket operably coupled to a drive, wherein the drive rotates the bracket about a rotational axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction; and   an arm coupled to the bracket and driven between a lowered position and a raised position by rotation of the bracket about the rotational axis,   wherein the arm is rotatably coupled to the bracket about a pivot axis orthogonally oriented with respect to the rotational axis,   wherein the bracket comprises a detent configured to retain the arm in a first position relative to the bracket in an in-use state, and   wherein the arm rotates about the pivot axis from the first position to a second position in response to impact of an object against the arm.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is an arm assembly comprising a first arm segment and a second arm segment, wherein the first arm segment is coupled to the bracket, and wherein the first and second arm segments articulate relative to one another about a pivot axis oriented parallel with respect to the rotational axis. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 2 , further comprising a forcing rod assembly coupled between the second arm segment and a housing of the barrier arm operator, the forcing rod assembly configured to articulate the second arm segment relative to the first arm segment in response to the bracket rotating about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 3 , wherein the forcing rod assembly is rotatably coupled to the housing about a rotational axis oriented parallel with the rotational axis, and wherein at least a portion of the forcing rod assembly rotates when the arm assembly rotates about the pivot axis from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier arm operator further comprises an arm reset mechanism that resets the arm from the second position to the first position in response to moving the bracket about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 5 , wherein the arm reset mechanism comprises:
 a follower coupled to a proximal end of the arm; and   a cam coupled to a housing of the operator,   wherein the follower engages with a surface of the cam to pivot the arm from the second position to the first position as the bracket is rotated by the drive.   
     
     
         7 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier arm operator further comprises:
 a controller;   an arm detection sensor configured to detect disengagement of the arm from the bracket; and   an indicator light,   wherein the controller receives a signal from the arm detection sensor in response to the arm disengaging from the bracket, and   wherein the controller causes illumination of the indicator light in response to the received signal.   
     
     
         8 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier arm operator is convertible between at least two breakaway orientations, wherein the second position of the arm is different for each of the at least two breakaway orientations. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 1 , wherein the detent comprises an upper spring plate and a lower spring plate each having lugs that together define a pocket for receiving the arm, and wherein disengaging the arm from the first position comprises urging the upper and lower spring plates apart from one another. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 9 , wherein the lugs each comprise a polymeric material. 
     
     
         11 . A forcing rod assembly for articulating an articulating arm of a breakaway arm assembly of a barrier arm operator, the forcing rod assembly comprising:
 a first segment rotatably coupled to an operator about a first axis; and   a second segment coupled between the first segment and the articulated arm,   wherein the first and second segments of the forcing rod assembly manipulate an articulated position of the articulated arm as the first segment rotates about the first axis, and   wherein the second segment is rotatable relative to the first segment about a second axis, the second axis orthogonally oriented relative to the first axis.   
     
     
         12 . The forcing rod assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the second axis is defined at an interface between the first and second segments. 
     
     
         13 . The forcing rod assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the second segment is rotatably coupled to the articulated arm about an engagement axis oriented parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         14 . The forcing rod assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the forcing rod assembly comprises a stop feature that prevents over-rotation of the second segment relative to the first segment when the articulating arm is moved from a breakaway state to an in-use state. 
     
     
         15 . The forcing rod assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first segment comprises a C-shaped channel, and wherein the second segment comprises a rod disposed at least partially within the C-shaped channel. 
     
     
         16 . A barrier arm operator comprising:
 a drive that rotates about a rotational axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction;   an arm coupled to the drive and driven between a lowered position and a raised position by rotation of the drive about the rotational axis, wherein the arm is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is an in-use position, and wherein the second position is a breakaway position; and   an arm reset mechanism that resets the arm from the second position to the first position in response to moving the drive about the rotational axis, wherein the arm reset mechanism comprises:
 a follower coupled to a proximal end of the arm; and 
 a cam coupled to a housing of the operator, 
 wherein the follower engages with a surface of the cam to pivot the arm from the second position to the first position as the arm is rotated by the drive. 
   
     
     
         17 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 16 , wherein the arm reset mechanism is coupled to a housing of the barrier arm operator. 
     
     
         18 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 17 , wherein the cam is configured on adjacent surfaces of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 16 , wherein the barrier arm operator further comprises an arm detection sensor that detects disengagement of the arm from the first position and communicates the disengagement of the arm to a controller, and wherein the controller operates the drive to engage the follower with the surface of the cam to pivot the arm from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         20 . The barrier arm operator of  claim 19 , wherein the barrier arm operator further comprises an indicator light, and wherein the controller causes a particular illumination of the indicator light in response to receiving a signal from the arm detection sensor indicative of disengagement of the arm from the first position.