Electric device for opening or shutting automative doors

An apparatus for opening and closing vehicle doors, comprising in combination:

• a means for opening a door lock;
• a means for moving a vehicle door;
• said means for moving being mounted in a vehicle door;
• said means for operating a door lock being mounted in the door;
• said means for moving the door including a rack member;
• said rack member having a pinned end and a free end;
• said pinned end being pinned to a frame which does not move with the door;
• said means for moving the vehicle door including an electrically operated motor connected to said rack;
• said motor being fixed to the door;
• said motor having an output gear which is in toothed engagement with said rack;
• a means for retaining said rack in engagement with said gear during angular motion of said rack relative to said motor;
• a control means for controlling operation of said motor and operation of said door lock;
• said control means having 3 states;
• in a first state, power is supplied to said means for controlling said door lock to open said door lock;
• an electromagnetically operated clutch connected to said motor to transmit rotary motion from said motor to said output gear only when said clutch is energized;
• in said first state, said control means also supplying power to said motor and to said clutch, whereby said motor operates in a forward direction to cause opening of the vehicle door;
• in a second state, said control means cuts off power to said motor, said clutch, and said means for operating said door lock;
• in a third state, said control means supplying power of a reversed polarity to said motor;
• said control means in said third state supplying power to said clutch but not to said means for opening said door lock;
• whereby said reversed polarity causes reversed movement of said motor to cause closing of the vehicle door;
• in said second state, said clutch is disengaged from said output gear so as to permit manual operation of the vehicle door.