Door opening/closing apparatus for operating multiple doors with one driving unit

• US 7,644,540 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company Limited
• Inventors: Ichinose, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Strimbu; Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US10/939,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 493/60, 49339-342, 296/50, 296/55, 296/146.1, 296/146.8, 296/155
• US Class Current: 49/360
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/627 operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables using flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/619
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/646 allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• 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 2201/654 Cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/664 Drums
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/21 of identical elements, e.g. of identical compression springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

A door opening/closing apparatus is provided with a motor, a first clutch which transmits power from the motor to a door opening/closing mechanism of a slide door when current is applied to the motor while breaking transmission of power to the door opening/closing mechanism of the slide door when current is not applied, and a second clutch which transmits power from the motor to a door opening/closing mechanism of a back door when current is applied while breaking transmission of power from the motor to the door opening/closing mechanism when current is not applied.

Claims

1. A door opening and closing apparatus, comprising:

a driving unit arranged in a vehicle;

a first door opening and closing mechanism connected to the driving unit via a first clutch; and

a second door opening and closing mechanism connected to the driving unit via a second clutch,

wherein said first door opening and closing mechanism operates an opening and closing of at least a first door, and wherein said second door opening and closing mechanism operates an opening and closing of at least a second door, wherein said first and second doors are disposed separately from each other so as to open and close separate openings, wherein the second door is a door for closing an opening formed in a rear of the vehicle,

wherein both of the first and second clutches are capable of transmitting power simultaneously from the driving unit to the first and second door opening and closing mechanisms corresponding thereto when current is applied to the driving unit, while power transmission from the driving unit to at least one of the first and second door opening and closing mechanisms is broken when current is not applied in the driving unit,

wherein the driving unit includes a motor having an output shaft fixed to a worm gear, a first worm wheel contacting with the worm gear and the first clutch, and a second worm wheel contacting with the worm gear and the second clutch, wherein when the motor is rotated, the worm gear engagingly rotates the first worm wheel and the second worm wheel simultaneously

wherein said first door is a side sliding door which selectively slides in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, for closing the opening which is formed in a side of the vehicle, and said second door is a tail gate, which is supported by hinges mounted at the opening of the rear of the vehicle, such that said second door pivots about a pivot axis of said hinges as said second door closes the opening formed in the rear of the vehicle.