Sliding gate and slope

[jimbo1962]

A potential customer is enquiring about a sliding / rolling gate to the front of her house but across the 4m opening and the same width behind the garden wall where the gate would roll to in the open position, there is a fall of about 100mm over 2 metres.
Does this rule out the sliding gate idea?

 

[voipio]

Is the slope constant, or could it be made to be constant along all 8 metres of the track on which the gate would run? If so, then the answer is probably yes. A bespoke gate, accommodating the slope in its design, would be necessary. If the gate was manually operated, then a counterbalance wight and stainless steel rope over a pulley would make operating the gate easier. A 4m wide gate could be quite heavy, so pushing it up a 1 in 20 slope, might require some effort. Every 100kg of gate mass would require 5kg of lengthways force, plus the force required to overcome friction. Some sort of buffers would be required on the bottom end, and a damped pulley would limit the energy dissipated in the "crash" at the bottom. A motorised gate would make things easier, but some sort of safety device would be necessary, in case the mechanism failed.

 

[addjunkie]

Assuming the opening is flat/ level, could a supported track not take out the slope

 

[Ace Paul]

Not quite awake.

Agree with supporting a track.

Think like rail way. With pillars

 

[Agrismith]

A cantilever gate would be fine. As the gate would still slide level.

 

[Agroshield]

As the gate would still slide level.

I am not undesrtanding the 'slide level'. Does the gate not need to be (and slide) parallel to the ground or there will be a gap under it?

 

[Ace Paul]

I am not undesrtanding the 'slide level'. Does the gate not need to be (and slide) parallel to the ground or there will be a gap under it?

I’m thinking “this”. Not as big

 

[Mark 2]

I’m thinking “this”. Not as big


View attachment 509356

Let's not be hasty, let's get some dimensions first.

 

[Agrismith]

I am not undesrtanding the 'slide level'. Does the gate not need to be (and slide) parallel to the ground or there will be a gap under it?

No the gate doesn't have to slide parallel to the ground. As long as the gate slides in the direction of the down hill gradient then a cantilever gate depending on the roller design can have the roller frame slide level and an infill panel that sits lower than the rollers but offset to the front of them that will fill the excess space. Do different to any other type of gate. The gate frame always sits level and the hinges plum. And then any un even terrain is corrected by a frame or cladding or similar below the frame.
You could also slightly scallop the drive at the high point and and then have the gate sit 75-100mm above ground at the low point depending on how tight a fit you need.

 

[Onoff]

My sliding gate runs in a slot cut in the ground.

 

[Agroshield]

As long as the gate slides in the direction of the down hill gradient

In one of its directions (opening or closing), the gate will always slide in the direction of the downhill gradient.

Would it be true to say that if the ground _rises_ as the gate closes, a tapered infill panel would work?

It might be useful to make a fag packet drawing of the 8m total width, with 50mm fall per metre (400mm total) and see what the options are, as well as alternatives if the slope is opposite to the favourable direction.

 

[Agrismith]

Would it be true to say that if the ground _rises_ as the gate closes, a tapered infill panel would work?

Yes.
If it's the other way round it is doable but needs the infill panel to be mechanically folded or lifted as the gate slides. Plenty of designs for this online.