Motor control for slide-out room in mobile living quarters

• US 6,900,603 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Technology Components Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dicor Corporation, Inc. (Thor Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Del Vecchio, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US10/612,316
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 318/16, 318/286, 318/282, 318/280, 318/466, 318/468, 318/375, 318/581, 180/11, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 318/16
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A wireless DC control device including a radio frequency transmitter, receiver, and switching circuit controls the current and polarity of the current that is used to power DC motors used in mobile living quarters. The control device has particular application for controlling the extension and retraction of slide-out rooms in a mobile living quarters.

Claims

1. A motor control for a mobile living quarters having a slide-out room, said control comprising a remote transmitter for emitting a coded radio frequency signal, a receiver mounted to said mobile living quarters for receiving said signal and in response thereto activating a switching device, an actuator responsive to an electrical current for causing said slide-out room to shift between a retracted position within said mobile living quarters and an extended position projecting from the mobile living quarters, said switching device for controlling the input and polarity of said electrical current into said actuator, said polarity determining whether said slide-out room is urged by said actuator into its extended position or its retracted position.

2. The motor control of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is for emitting a second coded radio frequency signal, said receiver for receiving said second signal and in response thereto for activating a second switching device to activate a second actuator responsive to another electrical current for causing a second slide-out room to shift between a retracted position within said mobile living quarters.

3. The motor control of claim 1 and a bypass switch connected to said switching device, said bypass switch for activating said switching device independently of said receiver.

4. The motor control of claim 3, said switching device for activating a safety cutoff switch to prevent said slide-out room from shifting between its extended and retracted positions if said switch is in a predefined state.