Vehicle door system

A system for use in opening and closing a vehicle door comprising:

• a door actuation mechanism including:
• a swing arm assembly pivotally coupled between a vehicle structure and a slide support carriage;
• said slide support carriage being mounted to an elongate rail assembly attached to said vehicle door for movement there along;
• and
• wherein said mechanism further includes a motion control surface attached to or integral with said door assembly and a follower assembly to regulate relative pivotal motion of said swing arm according to the position and motion of said slide support carriage along said rail assembly according to the shape of said motion control surface;
• a first pneumatic actuator coupled to drive pivotal motion of said swing arm assembly;
• a second pneumatic actuator coupled to drive linear motion of said rail assembly relative to the slide support carriage;
• and
• a control means arranged to operate said first and second pneumatic actuators simultaneously.

A door assembly for a vehicle having a structure defining an access aperture, said door assembly comprising:

• a door movable between a closed position covering at least a portion of said aperture and an open position substantially clearing at least said portion of said aperture;
• a door actuation mechanism coupling said door to said structure, said door actuation mechanism including:
• a swing arm assembly mounted to said structure adjacent said aperture and pivotally coupled to a slide support carriage, said slide support carriage mounted to an elongate rail assembly attached to said door for movement there along, wherein said door actuation mechanism includes a motion control surface to regulate simultaneous pivotal motion of said swing arm according to the position and motion of said slide support carriage along said rail assembly;
• a first pneumatic actuator coupled to drive pivotal motion of said swing arm assembly;
• a second pneumatic actuator coupled to drive linear motion of said rail assembly relative to said slide support carriage;
• and
• a control means arranged to operate said first and second pneumatic actuators.

A roadway vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body structure defining an access aperture;
• a door assembly including a door movable between a closed position covering at least a portion of said aperture and an open position substantially clearing at least said portion of the aperture;
• a door actuation mechanism coupling said door to said vehicle body structure, said door actuation mechanism including:
• a swing arm assembly mounted to said vehicle body structure adjacent said aperture and pivotally coupled to a slide support carriage, said slide support carriage being mounted to an elongate rail assembly attached to said door for movement there along, wherein said door actuation mechanism includes a motion control surface attached to integral with said door assembly and a follower assembly to regulate relative pivotal motion of said swing arm according to the position and motion of said slide support carriage along said rail assembly;
• a first pneumatic actuator coupled to drive pivotal motion of said swing arm assembly;
• a second pneumatic actuator coupled to drive linear motion of said rail assembly relative to said slide support carriage;
• and
• a control means arranged to operate said first and second pneumatic actuators simultaneously.

A roadway vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body structure defining at least first and second access apertures, said first and second access apertures being adjacent to each other on the same side of said vehicle body structure;
• each of said first and second access apertures having a respective first and second door assembly;
• said first door assembly including a first door movable between a closed position covering at least a portion of said first access aperture and an open position substantially clearing at least said portion of said first access aperture;
• a door actuation mechanism coupling said first door to said vehicle body structure, said door actuation mechanism including:
• a swing arm assembly mounted to said vehicle body structure adjacent said first access aperture and pivotally coupled to a slide support carriage, said slide support carriage being mounted to an elongate rail assembly attached to said first door for movement there along, wherein said door actuation mechanism includes a motion control surface attached to integral with said first door assembly and a follower assembly to regulate relative pivotal motion of said swing arm according to the position and motion of said slide support carriage along said rail assembly;
• a first pneumatic actuator coupled to drive pivotal motion of said swing arm assembly;
• a second pneumatic actuator coupled to drive linear motion of said rail assembly relative to said slide support carriage;
• and
• a control means arranged to operate said first and second pneumatic actuators simultaneously.