"...Picture's worth a thousand words" applies quite well here. Based on the rust, looks like maybe the crowd of cows [and/or guys] over the years may have had full bladders, and had to “break loose” waiting for the gate timer a few times.
As far as controls, the timer and limit switches have some states that understanding can simplify troubleshooting. Here’s a basic lesson, applied to the crowd gate. Normally-Open [NO] and Normally-Closed [NC] contacts are usually well understood, and are the basis for initiating most machine controls. Being able to describe operation in terms used by many helps an electrician visualize operation, and, {dare we say} explain it to others
Limit switches can be visualized as NO or NC, but sometimes as-found or powered-down states are different. NOHC is a Normally-Open\Held-Closed condition. NCHO is a Normally-Closed\Held-Open condition.
Time-delay relay contacts can often be described as having four states. “On delay” [most common] can be described as Normally-Open\Timed-Closed [NOTC] state, or it can be in a Normally-Closed\Timed-Open [NCTO] state. “Off delay” [less common] can be described as Normally-Open\Timed-Open [NOTO] state, or it can be in a Normally-Closed\Timed-Closed [NCTC] state.
Lesson Two will cover: Tape—Friction or Plastic? Take two aspirin now.
