GB2261916A

GB2261916A - Remotely controlled operation of vehicle doors

Info

Publication number: GB2261916A
Application number: GB9125555A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Angelo Guerrini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-11-30
Filing date: 1991-11-30
Publication date: 1993-06-02
Also published as: GB9125555D0

Abstract

Remotely controlled apparatus for opening, closing, locking and unlocking a vehicle door comprises an actuator 1 mounted in the door, which acts against the vehicle frame to open or close the door in response to a control signal. A locking mechanism is provided to lock the door in its closed position. The opening of the door by the actuator may be initiated by a signal from the locking mechanism when the door is unlocked. The locking of the door by the locking mechanism may be initiated by a signal from the actuator when the door is fully closed. Signals may cause more than one door to be opened simultaneously. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE Remotely controlled operation of vesicle doors DESCRIPTION Background Progress made in the manufacturing techniques of cars and their bodywork has made them increasingly comfortable and convenient.

These improvements relate to a multiplicity of areas including car and boot locking devices. These have progressed from the simple need to provide easier access to the car, to the possibility of locking it almost hermetically resulting in wholly comfortable car interiors and providing doors which better meet the needs of car users.

Throughout this development process, locking components have been added to existing elements giving the highest performance required; robust, convenient and generously dimensioned instruments and equipment are being produced which are capable of achieving safe and protective locking systems.

Summary of the Invention The purpose of this invention is to design equipment capable of carrying out the opening and closing action of car doors and to provide the means necessary to ensure that this is achieved without the use of hands or muscular force.

This purpose is achieved by means of apparatus which has been found to be capable of automatically carrying out all unlocking, opening, closing and locking actions on front and rear doors of cars or lorries, either individually or simultaneously. This apparatus is composed mainly of actuators which perform the function of holding the said components to allow them to move by rotating on their hinges and makes it possible for these components to be controlled at a distance from the car by means of radio pulses or by pushbuttons inside the car.

The apparatus offers the following advantages: - it allows the opening and closing of all the doors of a vehicle; - it allows the opening and closing of front or rear doors at a distance; - it achieves truly effective safety locks; - it allows the opening of all doors simultaneously by hand.

Drawings To illustrate better the invention in question there follows a more detailed description showing a preferred design as an example and which relates to the attached drawings, in which: FIG.1 represents a car door seen from the inside, without its protective coverings and coatings and complete with the apparatus in question; FIG.2 shows a drawing of the same door seen in a closed position and from above; FIG.3 shows a drawing of the same door seen in an open position and from above; FIG.4 shows an enlargement of the area in the circle indicated as A in FIG.1; FIG.5 shows an enlargement of the area in the circle indicated as B in FIG.2; FIG.6 shows an enlargement of the area in the circle indicated as C in FIG.3.

Detailed Description The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, from which it can be inferred that the invention can generally be applied to the doors of any car. As shown by the Figure 1, the device includes hydraulic actuator 1, which operates against a projection 2, which is secured to the rigid structure 9 of the inside of the car.

The actuator 1 is fixed into the framework of the door 4 and includes a motor, a reservoir and a cylinder, which controls a shaft 5. The shaft 5 moves into and out of its cylinder causing movements of door 4.

The actuator 1 is joined to the rigid structure 9 of the car by means of the link element 3, usually comprising dual links, which operates between the fixed component 2 and the shaft 5, to which it is connected by means of gudgeon pins.

Door 4, which like other car doors moves on hinges 7, is opened and closed only through the movements of the piston shaft 5 of actuator 1, the movements of which are controlled by the motor and the pump which this contains.

The apparatus further comprises a component 8 which is necessary to lock door 4; this operates with the locking system which keeps the doors closed and which applies to all the doors both front and rear of the car.

As in the case of other components, this component 8 may be hydraulic, electromagnetic or mechanical. However it is always in a position to carry out its function before or after the operation of actuator 1, to which it must therefore remain coordinated.

A normal electric or electronic appliance (not illustrated) completes the apparatus in this embodiment. It needs to be placed in the most suitable position where it cannot cause any inconvenience or problems and includes the radio control pushbutton which is responsible for the movement and locking action of all the components which lock the doors of the car.

Only by operating this control can these movements or locking actions be achieved. The remote control can be set for a specific series of functions, to achieve: opening and closure of the individual components, opening at different moments in a given period of time, etc.

There follows a list of the stages of operation of one of the doors on a car fitted with this device. These stages are: - In the case of a car with its doors closed, a person operating the control buttons when choosing to open one of the doors presses the pushbutton indicated for this door.

- As a first step, the control unlocks component 8 which causes the components holding the doors locked to move from a locked to a released position.

- To complete the opening operation, component 8 supplies the start-up pulse for the motor of actuator 1.

- With the movement transmitted from shaft 5, through the link 3 and fixed component 2, actuator 1 causes door 4 to move about its hinges 7.

- Door d opens, its speed depending on the regulation of the oil flow to the hydraulic cylinder.

- At the end of this process or if any emergency should arise, door 4 stops and remains open ready to be closed again.

- To override the sequence of events, should the need arise, the necessary pushbutton should be pressed.

- The doors can be opened and closed from the inside of the car by means of either the mobile pushbutton or a fixed pushbutton.

- Actuator 1 is manoeuvred in the opposite direction to close the door until this process has been fully completed.

- At the end of the closing movement, the actuator controls the locking system to insert the necessary clamp/lock driven by component 8. This is to preclude all possibility of opening the doors from the outside without pressing the pushbutton on the remote control. For special cases and if there is a possibility of danger, keys or emergency handles can be provided as appropriate.

Claims

1. Remotely controlled apparatus for opening, closing, locking and unlocking a vehicle door, comprising an actuator mounted in the door and acting against a rigid structure of the vehicle frame to rotate the door about a hinge, a locking mechanism for locking the door to the frame in a closed position of the door, and a control device for remotely controlling the operation of the actuator and the locking mechanism.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the actuator has rotated the door to its closed position, the actuator sends a signal causing the locking mechanism to lock the door.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, when the locking mechanism has unlocked the door in response to a signal from the remote control device, the locking mechanism sends a signal causing the actuator to open the door.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator is hydraulically operated.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator drives a shaft that is connected to the rigid structure of the vehicle frame via a pair of link elements in parallel.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the control device controls the actuator and the locking mechanism using radio signals.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the control device is an electronic device fixed inside the vehicle.

8. Apparatus substantially as described herein with respect to the drawings.

9. A vehicle including apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein opening the vehicle door causes at least one further actuator to open at least one further door of the vehicle simultaneously.