GB872783A - Improvements in and relating to doors for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

872,783. Doors for passenger vehicles. TATTER, J. W. Oct. 15, 1957 [Oct. 16, 1956], No. 32236/57. Class 103(2). [Also in Group XXV] A hinge connecting a vehicle door with a vehicle body comprises a member hinged to the door and the body on separate hinge axes, means being provided for releasably locking the member to the door or the body. The member 14, Fig. 3, is hinged to the body 11 at A and to the door 13 at C and normal hinging occurs about the axis A only, the member being locked to the door by a keeper 14d, Fig. 10, which enters a slot 30 in the edge plate 20 of the door and is held therein by a spring-loaded latch bolt 34. The door is carried by two similar hinge members 14, 15, and the bolts 34 are simultaneously released by a cable 37 attached between them which passes over pulleys 38 and is pulled by a rod 40 which extends across the width of the door and is adjustably connected to a link 46, Fig. 12, pivoted to a bracket 45 forming part of a guide 43 secured to the other edge 44 of the door. The link 46 is actuated by pressing a button 42 slidable in the guide. A similar push button actuator is provided on the inner panel 13a of the door and engages an intermediate part of the rod 40. Alternatively, Fig. 14 (not shown) the hinge members may be locked by a pair of latch bolts connected to the rod 40 through bellcranks. An electrical release mechanism is also described in which the cable 37 or the bellcranks are operated by a solenoid. A stay bar 61, Fig. 9, pivoted at one end to the vehicle body, enters a slot 63 in the edge plate 20 of the door and passes between a spring loaded locking pin 70 and a lug 71 which engage in top and bottom grooves 68, 67, in the other end of the bar to hold the door open during normal hinging about the axis A. A cable 64 wound on a spring loaded reel within the door is attached to the grooved end of the bar. When the hinge member 15 is unlocked and begins to move. away from the plate 20 one arm of a bellcrank 75 which normally abuts the hinge member through a slot 77 in the plate is forced by a spring 76, which is stronger than the spring loading the pin 70, to extend through the slot while the other arm 78 of the bellcrank lifts a link 79 to disengage the pin 70 from the groove 68. The stay bar 61 can then pass out through the slot 63. On closing the door the stay bar is guided back into the slot by the cable 64. In a modification the hinge members are locked to the vehicle body and normal hinging occurs about the pivot between the door and the members. A small body panel is mounted on each hinge member to cover the opening through which the hinge member projects in the unlocked position.