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AssigneeFreightliner Corporation
InventorsPaul J. Delurey, David J. Johnston, Michael K. Smith, Nasser Zamani, William G. Massey, III, Luis A. Novoa, Michael von Mayenburg, Charles H. Blakewood, Jr., Paul M. Menig
Estimating the term…
A method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle includes monitoring at least one vehicle status condition such as (a) whether the vehicle is stopped, (b) whether the parking brake is set, (c) whether the cab is tilted in excess of a threshold, and (d) whether excess current is being required by a motor used to shift the stairway between stowed and deployed positions in the event an electric motor is used for this purpose. In the event any of these monitored conditions are not in a predetermined state, deployment of the stairway from a stowed position is blocked. Deployment and stowing of the stairway may also be interrupted depending upon vehicle status and other conditions. Interior and exterior vehicle alarms may be activated depending on vehicle status conditions and the mode of operation of the stairway.
A method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle having a cab, the cab having an exterior and an interior, the cab also having a cab sidewall within which a doorway and door is positioned, access through the doorway being provided for ingress and egress into and out of the cab interior when the door is open, the retractable stairway being shiftable from a stowed position to a deployed position, when deployed the stairway is positioned for climbing along the stairway to and from the doorway, the method comprising:
A method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle having a cab, the cab having an interior and an exterior, the cab also having a cab sidewall within which a doorway and door is positioned, access through the doorway being provided for ingress and egress into and out of the cab interior when the door is open, the retractable stairway being shiftable from a stowed position to a deployed position, when in the deployed position the stairway is exposed for climbing along the stairway to and from the doorway, the method comprising the steps of determining whether the vehicle is tilted from horizontal in excess of a threshold and blocking the deployment of the stairway from a stowed position toward a deployed position if the cab is tilted in excess of the threshold.
A method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle having a cab, the cab having an exterior and an interior, the cab also having a cab sidewall within which a doorway and door is positioned, access through the doorway being provided for ingress and egress into and out of the cab interior when the door is open, the retractable stairway being shiftable from a fully or partially deployed position to a stowed position, when in the fully deployed position the stairway is exposed for climbing along the stairway to and from the doorway, the method comprising the steps of shifting the stairway from the deployed or partially deployed position toward a stowed position at a first rate and increasing the rate at which the stairway shifted toward the stowed position in the event the vehicle starts moving as the stairway is being shifted toward the stowed position.
A method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle having a cab, the cab having an exterior and an interior, the cab also having a cab sidewall within which a doorway and door is positioned, access through the doorway being provided for ingress and egress into and out of the cab interior when the door is open, the retractable stairway being shiftable from a stowed position to a deployed position and from a deployed position to a stowed position, an electric motor being provided to shift the stairway between the stowed and deployed positions, when in a fully deployed position the stairway is positioned for climbing along the stairway to and from the doorway, the method comprising:
A method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle having a cab, the cab having an exterior and an interior, the cab also having a cab sidewall within which a doorway and door is positioned, access through the doorway being provided for ingress and egress into and out of the cab interior when the door is open, the retractable stairway being shiftable from a stowed position to a deployed position, when deployed the stairway is positioned for climbing along the stairway to and from the doorway, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.