AUTOMOTIVE DOOR WITH REPOSITIONABLE IMMOBILIZER

• US 20080309120A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kohlstrand, Kelly M., Brzuch, Ronald J., Dunlavy, Brian L., Van Gilder, James L., Vinarcik, Michael J., Sammut, Christina M.
• Application Number:
  US12/118,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309120A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/146.11
• 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 door to be used, for example, to assist passengers in entering and leaving the vehicle.

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 moves relative to said door when said door is moved rotationally; and

a second member for permitting an occupant of the vehicle to selectively inhibit rotational movement of the door by inhibiting relative movement of said first member with respect to said door.

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 further responsive to a key switch mounted upon an exterior surface of the door.

4. An automotive door according to claim 1, wherein said second member is attached to the body of the vehicle.

5. An automotive door according to claim 1, wherein said second member is attached to the door.

6. An automotive door according to claim 1, wherein said first member moves linearly with respect to said door when said door is moved rotationally.

7. An automotive door according to claim 1, wherein said first member moves rotationally with respect to said door when said door is moved rotationally.

8. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first member comprises a strap having a plurality of apertures, and said second member comprises a lock pin, driven selectively by a linear actuator, for engaging said apertures.

9. An automotive door according to claim 8, wherein said linear actuator comprises a solenoid.

10. An automotive door according to claim 8, wherein said linear actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

11. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first member comprises a strap having a plurality of teeth which are engagable by a second member comprising a sprag driven selectively by a linear actuator, with said sprag and actuator being attached to said door.

12. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first member comprises a strap which is selectively pinched between friction pads applied by a linear actuator.

13. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first member comprises a strap having a structural core and an elastomeric cover, with said second member comprising a rotationally lockable nut operationally connected with said door, so that rotation of the door is accompanied by sliding of the strap through the nut, with said nut being rotatable to a position in which sliding of the strap through the nut is inhibited by the nut.

14. An automotive door according to claim 13, wherein said nut and said strap have mating non-circular cross sections.

15. An automotive door according to claim 13, wherein said nut has a non-circular, toothed bore which is configured to slide selectively upon a mating non-circular surface of said strap when said nut is indexed with said strap, with said teeth being configured to lock said nut upon said strap when said nut has been rotated to a position at which said teeth project into said elastomeric cover.

16. An automotive door according to claim 13, wherein said nut has a non-circular, toothed bore which is configured to slide selectively upon a mating non-circular surface of said strap when said nut is indexed with said strap, with said teeth being configured to lock said nut upon said strap to varying degrees characterizing a plurality of positions at which said teeth project into said elastomeric cover.

17. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first member comprises a strap having a plurality of teeth which are engagable by a second member comprising a plurality of sprags driven selectively by a rotary actuators, with said sprags and actuators being attached to said door.

18. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first member comprises a strap which is position-controlled by a second member comprising a fluidic device mounted within said door and having a piston contained upon an end of the strap and mounted for reciprocation within a cylinder containing electrorheological fluid and electrodes connected with a controller for applying an electric potential across said electrodes, whereby the viscosity of the electrorheological fluid may be increased selectively, impeding the swinging motion of door 14.

19. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first member comprises a strap which is position-controlled by a second member comprising a fluidic device mounted within said door and having a piston contained upon an end of the strap and mounted for reciprocation within a cylinder containing hydraulic fluid, with the flow of hydraulic fluid from spaces extending within the cylinder on either side of the piston being controlled by a valve, whereby swinging motion of door 14 may be controlled selectively by operating said valve.

20. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first member comprises a strap which is position-controlled by a second member comprising opposing cam members positioned by a linear actuator, with said cam members and said linear actuator being mounted upon said door.

21. 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 selectively inhibiting rotational motion of said first member.

22. An automotive door according to claim 21, wherein said first member comprises a brake rotor attached for synchronous rotation with said door, with said second member comprising a braking device for selectively inhibiting rotation of said rotor.

23. An automotive door according to claim 22, wherein said second member comprises a locking pin for engaging a plurality of apertures formed in said brake rotor, with said locking pin being mounted to a linear actuator.

24. An automotive door according to claim 22, wherein said second member comprises a lock pin for engaging a plurality of apertures formed in said brake rotor, with said lock pin being mounted to a linear actuator.

25. An automotive door according to claim 22, wherein said second member comprises a plurality of brake pads operated by a linear actuator.

26. An automotive door according to claim 22, further comprising a controller for operating said second member.

27. An automotive door according to claim 22, wherein said controller is further responsive to a key switch mounted upon an exterior surface of a vehicle.