Need a draw bridge or lift gate motor for a section of my deck

[ArtDeck-O]

I doubt any city inspector would have an example to go by or a code on such a structure to begin with. Most are completely clueless even to the rules they are supposed to know.

[CableRigger]

Instead of an electric motor, you might consider adding a couple of pneumatic cylinders to assist in the lifting of the deck section - not unlike a hatchback on a car.
Trick is to figure out how much force you need - enough to make it easy to lift, but not so much that you need to use a catch to hold it down and no so little that you're exerting too much effort to raise it.

I seem to remember reading something in either JLC or FHB recently (in last 1/2 year) on someone who did something very similar inside a home. The author even went to one of my favorite supply houses for the cylinders (www.mcmaster.com).

Good luck.

[Laurie Elden]

I don't know if it's the article you're referring to, but there was an article in the March 2009 issue of JLC titled Hidden Hatch that described a hatch built above a stairway inside a house. The architect used paper honeycomb packing material as a core and a pair of gas springs to open and shut the hatch. The paper core would obviously present some challenges outside, but the design is pretty interesting nonetheless.

[CJ-8_Jim]

FWIW, I think adding counter weights without any motors would be the safest/easiest and most maintenance free.

Instead of the counterweights found on a bascule bridge, what about a counterweight design similar to that used in elevators or in old double-hung window sashes?
http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/project_...rd/replac1.jpg


In your application, perhaps mount some pulleys underneath the above handrailing with a weight on each side that in the closed position is suspended immediately under the deck.

As the deck is lifted, the weights drop to aid lifting the deck. (Hard to tell distances in the photos, but you might need to excavate two small 6"-12" holes immediately below each weight in order to provide sufficent verticle lift. Also, you could box around the pulleys to keep the weather out and make it more visually appealing.)

Just my 2 cents,
Jim