Step stall prevention for vehicle steps
AssigneeDometic Corporation
InventorLarry DeHart, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for extending and retracting a step, such as a step of a recreational vehicle, includes an electric motor coupled to extend and retract the step, and a circuit for energizing the motor. The circuit comprises a first circuit including a circuit breaker and connected to selectively energize the motor via the circuit breaker in one rotation direction to extend and retract the step, and a second circuit responsive to opening of the circuit breaker for energizing the motor in an opposite rotation direction to retract the step.
Claims11
In a system for extending and retracting a step, including an electric motor, coupling means connecting said step and motor operable to extend and retract the step, and a circuit for energizing the motor, the improvement wherein said circuit comprises a first circuit means including a circuit breaker and connected to selectively energize said motor via said circuit breaker in one rotation direction to cause said coupling means to extend and retract said step, and second circuit means operative during an open condition of said circuit breaker for energizing said motor in an opposite rotation direction to cause said coupling means to retract said step.
The system of claim 6, wherein said second circuit means comprises normally closed contacts of said relay connected to apply current of a polarity opposite said one polarity to said motor.
In a system for extending and retracting a step of a vehicle, including an electric motor, coupling means connecting said motor and step to move the step between extended and retracted positions, and a circuit for energizing the motor, the step being positioned adjacent a door of the vehicle, the improvement wherein the circuit comprises a circuit breaker, a door switch having "door open" and "door closed" contacts and a center contact adapted to be connected to a source of current, first and second cam switches connected respectively between said "door open" and "door closed" contacts and one terminal of said circuit breaker, first circuit means for selectively connecting said motor to the other terminal of said circuit breaker for energizing said motor with a current of a first polarity for causing said coupling means to extend and retract said step, and second circuit means operative during an open condition of said circuit breaker for energizing said motor with a current of a second polarity opposite said first polarity for retracting said step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.