Automotive door with hydraulically locking repositionable immobilizer

• US 20080309118A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kohlstrand, Kelly M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/003 Power-actuated devices for limiting the opening of vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/203 concealed, e.g. for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/08 Friction devices between relatively-movable hinge parts E05D7/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1007 with positive locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/00 Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices E05F3/00; braking devices, buffers or end stops on drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture A47B88/473; combined with devices for holding wings open E05C17/00; devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing E05C17/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/025 specially adapted for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/256 with pistons or vanes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/26 Mechanical friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/266 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/488 Traction springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/326 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/514 of speed
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/532 Emergency braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/45 in or on the fixed frame
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

An automotive vehicle includes one or more swinging doors which may be immobilized in a number of positions, so as to allow the doors to be used to assist passengers upon entering and leaving the vehicle. The motion of the door may be damped, or stopped entirely, either at the discretion of a vehicle occupant, or automatically, in the event that the door is driven by external forces to swing at a high rate.

Claims

1. An automotive door, comprising:

a door hinged to a vehicle body, so as to permit ingress and egress of the vehicle; and

a door immobilizer positioned between the door and the body of a vehicle, with said immobilizer comprising;

a first member which is moved rotationally by said door when said door is moved rotationally; and

a second member, attached to the body of the vehicle, for hydraulically and selectively inhibiting rotational motion of said first member.

2. An automotive door according to claim 1, further comprising a controller for operating said second member.

3. An automotive door according to claim 2, wherein said controller is responsive to a switch mounted upon a door trim panel.

4. An automotive door according to claim 2, wherein said controller is responsive to a key switch mounted upon an exterior surface of the door.

5. An automotive door according to claim 1, wherein said first member comprises a vane which rotates synchronously with said door, and with said second member comprising a hydraulic working chamber surrounding said vane, such that said vane divides said working chamber into a plurality of sub-chambers.

6. An automotive door according to claim 5, wherein said second member further comprises a valve, operated by said controller, for controlling a flow of hydraulic fluid between said sub-chambers when said vane is rotating within said working chamber.

7. An automotive door according to claim 5, further comprising a rotary position sensor, operatively associated with said vane, for providing a vane position signal to a controller operating a valve connecting said sub-chambers.

8. An automotive door according to claim 7, wherein said controller operates said valve to damp the motion of the door in the event that said vane position signal indicates that the swing speed of the door exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

9. An automotive door, comprising:

a door hinged to a vehicle body, so as to permit ingress and egress of the vehicle; and

a door immobilizer positioned between the door and the body of a vehicle, with said immobilizer comprising;

a vane which is movable rotationally by said door when said door is moved rotationally; and

a working chamber, sealingly engaged by said vane, with said working chamber having a valve for controllably restricting a flow of hydraulic fluid from one side of said vane to another side of said vane, whereby rotational motion of the door may be selectively damped.

10. An automotive door according to claim 9, wherein said door is hydrostatically lockable in a selected position by completely closing said valve, whereby hydraulic fluid will be confined within said working chamber on both sides of said vane.

11. An automotive door according to claim 9, further comprising a sensor for determining the rotational position of said door, with said sensor being operatively connected with a controller for operating said valve to hydrostatically lock said vane when a predetermined position has been reached, whereby further rotational movement of the door will be prevented until the valve has been opened by the controller.

12. An automotive door according to claim 9, further comprising a sensor for determining the speed of rotation of the door, with said sensor being operatively connected with a controller for operating said valve to hydrostatically inhibit rotation of said vane and said door in the event that the door achieves a rotational speed in excess of a predetermined threshold value.

13. An automotive door, comprising:

a door hinged to a vehicle body, so as to permit ingress and egress of the vehicle; and

a door immobilizer positioned between the door and the body of a vehicle, with said immobilizer comprising;

a vane which is movable rotationally by said door when said door is moved rotationally;

a working chamber, sealingly engaged by said vane, with said working chamber having a valve for controllably restricting a flow of hydraulic fluid from one side of said vane to another side of said vane, whereby rotational motion of the door may be selectively damped; and

a sensor for determining the rotational position of said door, with said sensor being operatively connected with a controller for operating said valve to hydrostatically lock said vane when a selected position has been reached, whereby further rotational movement of the door will be prevented until the valve has been opened by the controller.

14. An automotive door according to claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises a rotary position sensor operatively associated with said vane.

15. An automotive door according to claim 13, wherein said controller is further responsive to a key switch mounted upon an exterior surface of the door.