US 4,337,596 A · Sliding door actuating mechanism

Abstract

An actuating mechanism for sliding doors provided on the passenger side of conventional panel-type trucks, commonly called vans, is intended to be either installed in the vehicle at the time of its original manufacture, or installed at any later time, without substantial modification of the vehicle. A winch assembly (44) including two separate winding drums (74, 86) on a common shaft (87) and driven by the shaft through springs (162, 174) and a positive driver (170), is mounted over the rear wheel well of such a vehicle. A guide assembly (50) including a pulley (54) and a pivoting guide member (62) is installed in an aperture cut in the door frame. A single pulley (56) is installed at the lower rear corner of the door opening, and a guide tube (58) is installed in the door. A flexible cable (52) is connected to an arm added to the latch operating mechanism, and extends through the guide tube (58), around the pulley (56), through the guiding assembly (50) to the winch assembly (44), for opening the door. A second cable (60) is attached to the rear edge of the door, passed around the pivoting guide (62) of the guide assembly, and fastened to the winch assembly (44) for closing the door. As the door closes, the pivoting guide (62) guides the flexible cable (60) to a position perpendicular to the rear edge of the door to pull the rear edge of the door into latched position. A switch (55) operated by the pivoting guide (62) connects an additional winding on an electric motor (138) to provide a high force for latching the door, allowing low force to be used for sliding the door to reduce the chance of personal injuries while closing the door.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A system for opening and closing a sliding door in a door frame, said door being moveable forward in a first direction to slide said door open and moveable backward in said first direction to close said door and moveable forward and backward in a second direction to respectively unlatch and latch said door in said frame, comprising:

opening and closing means for exerting a first force on said door to open said door forward in said first direction and for exerting said first force on said door to close said door backward in said first direction to slide said door to a substantially closed position relative to said door frame, and exerting a second force backward in said second direction to latch said door within said door frame;
said first force and said second force being continuously applied to slide said door backwards in said second direction to close said door and to move said door backward in said second direction to latch said door;
said opening and closing means including winch means and electrical motor means mechanically coupled to said winch means;
said system including differential means for allowing compound movement of said door;
said system including switch means responsive to said door being in said substantially closed position for controlling said electrical motor means to provide said second force for latching said door.

2 more elements

A system for opening and closing a sliding door in a door frame, and movable in at least a first direction forward and backward to slide said door open and closed respectively, and movable in a second direction forward, and backward in said second direction to latch said door in a closed position, comprising opening and closing means, exerting a force on said door to open said door in said first forward direction and exerting a force on said door to close said door in said first backward direction and wherein said means for exerting said force to close said door moves said door backwards in said first direction to slide said door to a substantially closed position relative to the door frame in said second direction backward to latch said door within said door frame;

said opening and closing means including differential means for allowing compound movement of said door;
said force for closing said door is continuously applied to slide said door closed in said first direction and to latch said door in said second direction;
said means for exerting said force for closing said door includes a cable and a winch for winding said cable, said cable having a first end attached to the door and a second end attached to said winch, said cable being directed from said winch in a first direction for exerting a force on said door for sliding said door closed and in a second separate direction for latching said door;
said system including means for guiding said cable from said first direction to said second direction, said guiding means being operable in response to said door being opened;
a part of said cable being attached to said door at one end, whereby said door being open exerts a force on said cable, said guiding means being in contact with said cable and being forced by said cable to a position where said guide means is operable to guide said cable from said first direction to said second direction.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sliding door actuating mechanism

Life of this patent

Sliding door actuating mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30