Powered sliding door system

• US 5,076,016 A
• Filed: 08/13/1990
• Issued: 12/31/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ASC Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ASC Incorporated
• Inventors: Alexander, Michael P., Adams, Allan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KANNAN, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US07/566,614
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 49/280, 49/215, 49/214, 49/213, 49/212, 49/216, 49/362, 49/360, 49/349, 49/30, 49/28, 49/449, 49/394
• US Class Current: 49/360
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/062 for utility vehicles or public transport B60J5/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 19/02 for carriages B61D19/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/21 with means preventing or detecting pinching of objects or body parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/236 using force or torque
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/26 Racks

Abstract

The present invention is a powered sliding door system for a vehicle including a semi-rigid cable adapted to be affixed to the sliding door of a vehicle and a powered electromagnetic clutch for driving the cable longitudinally for opening and closing the sliding door.

Claims

1. A powered sliding door system for a vehicle, comprising:

a cable mounted for generally longitudinal movement and having a first longitudinally forwardly disposed free end and a second longitudinally rearwardly disposed free end, and means adjacent said first end for securing said cable to the vehicle door;

driving means drivingly engaging said cable intermediate said first and second ends;

motor means for powering said driving means; and

clutch means for operatively interconnecting said motor means and said driving means, whereby actuation of said motor means and engagement of said clutch means will cause said driving means to move said cable longitudinally for opening and closing the sliding door.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cable is semi-rigid.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said motor means and said clutch means are always simultaneously energized.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clutch means is an electromagnetic clutch which is engaged when electrically actuated.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said electromagnetic clutch means comprises a rotatable drive member operatively connected to said motor means, a coil disposed adjacent said drive member for producing a magnetic field and an armature engageable with said drive member in response to the magnetic field and connected to said driving means to move said cable.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said drive member comprises a shaft having a first end operatively engageable with said motor means and a second end, and a clutch member secured to said second end.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said armature comprises an annular armature member disposed about said shaft and mounted between said clutch member and said coil for limited axial movement, said driving means including a gear driven by said armature member, said gear being disposed on the other side of said coil from said armature member.

8. System as set forth in claim 7 wherein said electromagnetic clutch means includes a bracket member surrounding said gear and shaft and adapted to mount said electromagnetic clutch means to the vehicle.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said bracket member includes a centrally disposed aperture, said gear being disposed in said aperture, and a passageway extending through said bracket and communicating with said aperture, said cable extending through said passageway.

10. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cable comprises a helically wound wire with spaced coils.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said helically wound wire has a core of longitudinally extending wires.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said core of wires is twisted.

13. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said helically wound wire has a core including a helically wound second wire of opposite hand than said first wire.

14. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said helically wound wire has a core of longitudinally extending wires, and a helically wound second wire of opposite hand than said first wire wound around said core of longitudinally extending wires.

15. A system as set forth in claim 10 including lubricant-holding bristles extending outwardly between adjacent coils of said wire.

16. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cable is slidably disposed in a tube affixed to said vehicle.

17. A system as set forth in claim 1 including striker means located near a rearward end of the sliding door for moving the rearward end thereof inwardly and outwardly relative to the body of the vehicle.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17 wherein said striker means comprises a striker member mounted operatively to the body of said vehicle and means for pivotally moving said striker member.

19. A system as set forth in claim 18 including a striker pivot link having one end pivotally connected to the vehicle body and means for securing said striker member to said striker pivot link.

20. A system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said moving means comprises a projection operatively engaging said striker pivot link and a striker motor for operatively cooperating with said projection to rotate said projection.

21. A system as set forth in claim 1 including a control circuit for controlling the opening and closing of the sliding door.

22. A system as set forth in claim 21 wherein said control circuit includes a pressure sensitive switch to disconnect electrical power to said driving means when an object is caught between the sliding door and body of the vehicle.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said control circuit includes an alarm electrically connected to said pressure sensitive strip to produce sound whenever said pressure sensitive switch is tripped.

24. A system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said control circuit includes a manually actuatable operating switch and a timer electrically interconnecting said operating switch and said driving means to provide a predetermined time delay once said operating switch is activated before operating said motor means.

25. A powered sliding door system for a vehicle, comprising:

a cable mounted for generally longitudinal movement and having a first longitudinally forwardly disposed free end and a second longitudinally rearwardly disposed free end, and means adjacent said first end for securing said cable to the vehicle door;

driving means drivingly engaging said cable intermediate said first and second ends;

motor means for powering said driving means, whereby actuation of said motor means will cause said driving means to move said cable longitudinally for opening and closing the sliding door; and

sensing means operatively engaging said cable for sensing the speed of said cable when moved.

26. A system as set forth in claim 25 wherein said sensing means comprises a rotary generator for producing an output signal proportional to the speed of said cable.

27. A system as set forth in claim 26 wherein said rotary generator includes a shaft having a gear at one end for engaging said cable.

28. A system as set forth in claim 27 including a guide tube attached to said driving means, said cable extending through said guide tube.

29. A system as set forth in claim 28 wherein said guide tube includes means defining an aperture extending through a wall thereof, said gear having a portion extending through said aperture and engaging said cable.

30. A powered sliding door system for a vehicle, comprising:

a cable mounted for generally longitudinal movement and having a first longitudinally forwardly disposed free end and a second longitudinally rearwardly disposed free end, and means adjacent said first end for securing said cable to the vehicle door;

driving means drivingly engaging said cable intermediate said first and second ends;

motor means for powering said driving means, whereby actuation of said motor means will cause said driving means to move said cable longitudinally for opening and closing the sliding door; and

a rotary generator including a shaft having a gear at one end for engaging said cable to produce an output signal proportional to the speed of said cable when moved.