Method and apparatus for automatically driving an open/close body

• US 6,199,322 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Fukumoto, Ryoichi, Suzuki, Shintaro, Itami, Eiji, Yamada, Katsuhisa, Ohhashi, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US09/449,623
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 491/39, 491/40, 493/60, 495/06, 192/12.D, 192/18.B, 746/25
• US Class Current: 49/139
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/638 allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by auxiliary motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

At the time of changing over an open/close body from a manual operation to an automatic operation, a reliable clutch connection is established in a power transmission system between a drive source and the open/close body thus enhancing the operability of the open/close body. An open/close body automatic drive equipment comprises a clutch mechanism which connects or interrupts a power transmission system between a motor for driving a slide door which constitutes the open/close body and the slide door, wherein a clutch of a clutch mechanism is interrupted in a manual manipulation, and in an automatic drive, a clutch is connected to operate the slide door. In such an equipment, a brake mechanism for restricting the movement of the slide door is disposed in the midst of the power transmission system, the moving speed of the slide door is detected, and in case the moving speed is higher than a given speed, the movement of the slide door is restricted by the brake mechanism BK, and then the clutch connection of the clutch mechanism is performed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a member forming an opening;

an open/close body movably mounted on the member for opening and closing the opening; and

a mechanism for controlling movement of the open/close body comprising;

a drive source,

a power transmission system for connecting the drive source with the open/close body for automatically opening and closing the open/close body, and including a clutch disengageably interrupting a drive transmission to the open/close body thereby permitting manual opening and closing of the open/close body, and

a speed detector detecting a speed of the open/close body, and a braking mechanism connected to the speed detector so as to restrict a speed of the open/close body in response to a detected speed being higher than a reference speed, even when the open/close body is forcefully closed by manual manipulation, facilitating an engagement of the clutch.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the clutch mechanism includes a toothed clutch element.

3. A method of controlling an open/close body which opens and closes an opening of a member, comprising the steps of:

A. disengaging a clutch of a power transmission system between a drive source and the open/close body;

B. manually moving the open/close body from one of an open position and a closed position toward the other of the open position and the closed position with the clutch disengaged;

C. detecting a manually-induced speed of the open/close body generated in step B;

D. activating a brake to reduce the speed of the open/close body when the speed detected in step C exceeds a reference speed even when the open/close body is forcefully closed by manually moving the open/close body; and

E. engaging the clutch to connect the drive source with the open/close body to automatically finish the movement of the open/close body, following step D.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein step E includes engaging a toothed clutch element.

5. A slide mechanism of a vehicle comprising:

a slide element movably mounted on a vehicle for movement between an open position and a closed position;

a motor;

a power transmission system connecting the motor with the slide element to automatically move the slide element between the open and closed positions;

a disengageable clutch which when engaged interrupts drive transmission from the motor to the slide element to permit the slide element to be moved between the open and closed positions through manual manipulation;

a speed detector detecting a speed of movement of the slide element; and

a braking mechanism connected to the speed detector restricting movement of the slide element when the speed of movement of the slide element detected by the speed detector, during movement of the slide element in response to said manual manipulation, is greater than a reference speed.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the clutch mechanism includes a toothed clutch element.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the slide element is a slide door.