RACK AND PINION ROLLER GATE SYSTEM FOR A LIVESTOCK TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE, AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF

A roller gate system for a livestock transportation vehicle includes a rack and pinion gate movement system, with a roller gate assembly having toothed rollers connected by a rotatable roller shaft positioned in line with the center of gravity of the roller gate assembly when hanging substantially vertically. The pinion is a roller having a plurality of teeth, and the rack is a track having a plurality of openings for receiving the roller teeth. At each end of the rotatable roller shaft, the toothed roller is fixedly mounted thereto for travel along the track. The toothed rollers operate in unison to move the roller gate assembly in a uniform and smooth manner. By having the toothed rollers and the rotatable roller shaft positioned in line with the center of gravity of the roller gate assembly when hanging substantially vertically, the roller gate assembly remains in a substantially vertical orientation during travel.