You want to install an automatic driveway gate but don't have enough side room for a sliding gate to open and don't want to lose driveway space with a swing gate what can be done?. 

Trackless (Cantilevered) Bi-Folding gates have two panels hinged together that fold up like a concertina, with a pair each side forming a double Bi-folding gate there is four panels taking up 1/4 of the room of a single panel swing gate. 

The best part is the drive mechanism between panels is on the bottom rail of the gate so can barely be seen and there's no track needed on the driveway or overhead, they can be used on driveways that slope across and slope up from the road and the gate can be set behind a fence so the full driveway width can be used with no height restrictions.

Other advantages of Bi-folding gates are: they aren't effected by the wind, they can open faster more safely, they can span wider driveways than a swing gate and can be tailored to fit any driveway.

Check out the following video on Trackless Bi-folding Gates, it compares a two and four panel bi-folding gate to swing, sliding and telescopic gates. Four panel Bi-folding gates that open in one direction are still currently in development.

Folding Mechanism

If a Bi-folding gate is to be made automatic a standard swing gate motor can be used on the first panel and a Power Fold Mechanism is used to move the other panels in opposite directions so the gate folds up like a concertina in one direction.

Power Fold works without any track on driveways that slope across and won't restrict the height of the gate opening (like overhead tracks do). The basic principal is best explained by the following drawing:

Outward Opening Bi-Folding Gates

To use all space on the driveway Bi-folding gates may open outwards although this does require the motors being fitted to the outside of the gates not the inside. 

Double Bi-Folding Gates 

To reduce space even further a double Bi-folding gate halves the amount of space again than a single one does, although these require two motors, a cable across the driveway and two sets of folding mechanisms.

Rising Bi-Folding Gates

If you have a driveway that slopes up from the street and there's limited space then a rising bi-folding gate is a possible solution requiring less space. See more on: Rising Swing Gates