Transit car power door obstruction sensing system and device

• US 5,280,754 A
• Filed: 07/02/1992
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark IV Transportation Products Corp.
• Original Assignee: Mark IV Transportation Products Corp.
• Inventors: Udelhofen, Patrick J., Flanagan, Daniel J., Gutierrez, Robert M., Patsch, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rutherford, Kevin D.
• Application Number:
  US07/908,645
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 187/57, 187/52 R, 187/DIG. 1, 105/341, 105/339, 105/331, 105/343, 49/26, 49/28, 49/29, 49/473.4, 49/475, 318/266, 318/284, 318/285, 318/468, 318/469
• US Class Current: 105/341
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/42 Detection using safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/354 End positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/51 of position, of back drive
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/51 for railway cars or mass transit vehicles

Abstract

A system for detecting objects in the path of a power operated, movable door operating in a mass transit vehicle, which would obstruct door closing. The system also includes an integral method for detection of a "free wheeling" door occasioned by failure of the door mechanical drive. Method and apparatus disclosed utilize door handle locating devices such as electrical switches located at predetermined points along the door closure track. A combination of door locations along the closure track centrally define positions signaling either door linkage failure with attendant "free wheeling" door, and/or door obstruction, in each case, the system disclosed prevents train motion until the improper door condition is remedied. The combination provides a reduction in passenger hazards occasioned by train movement with defective operator linkage and/or door obstruction due to trapped passengers or other impediments to door closure.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having integral tractive power and power operated doors, a system for detecting an uncontrolled door and providing selective removal of an obstruction encountered in the path of a power operated vehicular door, in travel from open to closed positions, the improvement comprising:

an opening in a vehicle side wall, said opening having essentially parallel, vertical edges;

a door panel mounted on said side wall for travel across said opening;

means for driving said panel, said driving means moving said door in travel from open to closed and closed to open positions across said opening;

means in said driving means for locking said door on reaching said door closed position;

a first leading edge on said panel, said panel edge traversing said opening for door travel from open to closed, and closed to open positions;

a second and adjacent edge on said side wall cooperating with said first panel edge for sealing said opening when said panel is in a closed position;

a switch actuator on said car side wall and operated by said door for closing door travel to a first door position, said first door position intermediate said door open and door closed positions, said first door position and said edges defining an obstruction withdrawal spacing between said first and second edges, said spacing selectively allowing withdrawal of semi-rigid obstructions prior to said door movement to a door closed and locked position;

a first switch operated by said actuator for closing door travel, said switch having a first operational state during said door closing travel to said first door position, and a second operational state for said travel from said first door position to said closed position, said first switch first state generating a door obstruction signal;

a second door position intermediate door open and first door position;

a second switch on said switch actuator operable by said door on reaching said second position during said door travel from open to closed, said switch having a first operational state during said door closing travel from said door open position to said second door position, and a second operational state for door travel from said second door position to said door closed position, said second switch first state generating a freewheeling door signal;

means in said drive means responsive to said obstruction and free wheeling door signals to inhibit said vehicle traction power;

thereby preventing vehicle motion and actuation of said lock until said obstruction is removed.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said cooperating edges further comprise:

a resilient first edge having a first portion abutting said door and a leading or operating tongued edge; and

a resilient second adjacent edge having a cavity, said first edge and second edge co-acting for door positions within said obstruction withdrawal spacing to allow removal of an obstruction.

4. Improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

an actuating pin on said panel trailing edge, said pin movable with door open and door closed positions; and

,

said switch actuator further comprising;

a switch operating member having forked projections and diametrically opposed switch cam means, said member rotatably mounted on said car side wall; and

,

a first projection on said member having one weighted end and a first distal stop surface;

a second projection on said member having a distal switch operating end, said end defining a second stop surface, and a switch cam extending circumferentially therefrom;

a pin actuating slot defined by said projections having internal pin contact surfaces, said surfaces and actuating pin cooperating to rotate said member for door motion from open to closed;

an stop on said side wall, said stop cooperating with said stop surfaces to limit member rotation during rotation from door open to door closed; and

,

lever means on said first and second switches for transferring said switches from said first to second operational states on contact with said switch cam during said switch operating member rotation.

3. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said first and second edges further comprise resilient material having a durometer of 75.;

and

operating edge includes a tongued extension having an effective length of 0.75 inches, and has a narrowing 8 degree base-to-edge taper; and

a cavity in said second edge, a base in said cavity, said cavity having an effective depth of 0.843 inches, and a widening 8 degree base-to-edge taper; and

an interstice defined by said tongued extension and cavity for a door closed position.

5. In an obstruction sensing system for power operated vehicular doors of the type having means for driving a sliding door through an intermediate mechanical linkage, said system responsive to door position for preventing vehicle movement for predetermined door locations, the improvement comprising:

an opening in a car side wall;

at least one door panel mounted for reciprocal motion, thereby covering and uncovering said opening;

a power operator having a control system for enabling vehicular movement subsequent to generation of first, second and third signals;

linkage means intermediate said operator and door panel for moving said panel to cover and uncover said car side wall opening, said covering and uncovering corresponding to open and closed positions of said side wall openings;

a first switch in said operator control system operable by said operator for generating a first signal when said door is in a closed and locked position; and

a switch actuator on said car side wall, said actuator, operable by said panel for generating signals indicative of panel positions during said closed door motion from an open position to a position adjacent to said closed and locked position;

a second switch in said control system operable by said actuator, said second switch generating a second signal for a first door position intermediate said door panel open and door panel closed and locked position;

a third switch in said control system operable by said actuator, said switch generating a third signal for a second door position intermediate said door open and first door panel positions;

means whereby vehicle motion is inhibited for predetermined door positions.

6. Improvement of claim 5 wherein said actuator further comprises:

a cam having a forked projections and diametrically opposed switch cam means, said cam rotatably mounted on said car side wall;

a first projection on said actuator having one weighted end and a first distal stop surface;

a second projection on said actuator having a distal switch operating end, said end defining a second stop surface, and a cam lobe extending circumferentially therefrom;

cam actuating slot defined by said projections;

cam actuating means on said door, said actuating means and actuating slot cooperating to rotate said cam during door motion;

an actuator stop on said side wall, said stop cooperating with said stop surfaces to limit actuator rotation, said stop surfaces and actuator stop defining cam rotation from first to second positions corresponding to door open and door closed positions;

wherein said can lobe actuates said second and third switches corresponding to said door positions.

7. A switch actuator for use in a power operated vehicular door operating system for detecting free-wheeling doors and obstructions to door closing comprising:

a mounting plate attached to the side wall of a vehicle;

a shaft extending outwardly from said plate;

a cam rotatably mounted on said shaft for motion therearound, said cam further comprising;

a first projection on said cam having a weighted end and an opposite end defining a first stop surface;

a second and adjacent projection on said cam having an opposite end defining a second stop surface, and an arcuate projection extending circumferentially below said first and second stop surfaces, said stop surfaces and projection further defining a travel limit groove;

a switch actuating cam lobe further extending from and below said projection;

a cam stop on said plate, positioned internal of said groove, said stop co-acting with said first and second stop surfaces to limit cam rotation around said shaft;

switch means on said mounting plate actuatable by said cam lobe for predetermined cam positions within cam rotation as limited by said travel limit groove;

means on said door, co-acting with said cam projections to rotate said cam, thereby actuating said switch means for various door positions.