JP2002038816A - Automatic sliding door opening and closing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease the complexity of an automatic sliding door opening and closing system. SOLUTION: A system combined component moves the sliding door of an automobile over the operating range as providing the safeties of users. The automatic sliding door opening and closing system is provided with the drive system of a continuous electric belt provided in the main body of a vehicle and a clamp position. A clamp device enables a door to be fixedly installed on the belt drive system so that the door of the vehicle is moved automatically along the predetermined route and can be released under the predetermined condition. An electric belt drive system is provided so as to be combined with the one of three main body tracks of the standard hinge system of the door of a van. The clamp device may be a rotation device biased to work for the both side of a belt with a cam and a spring device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of automotive door opening and closing systems, and more particularly to a combined system of components that transports a sliding door of an automobile over its operating range while providing sufficient safety for the user. About.

(Description of the Prior Art) Sliding doors are widely used in a class of vehicles generally called vans. Vans typically have a normal swinging front door and one or more sliding side doors. A sliding door of this type translates from an opening in the side of the vehicle, making it easier to get on / off than turning (which is a more common operation of vehicle closures). The most common and widely used sliding door system comprises three body mounted trucks (3) and three hinge / roller assemblies mounted on corresponding doors, as shown in FIGS. (15). Trucks mounted on the body
Typically located in the middle position on the roof, floor, and side of the vehicle, the roof position component and the floor position component are located alongside the door opening, and the middle position (center) truck is located in the side opening. Located behind. It is common practice to utilize the lower and center tracks to support the vertical weight of the door. Thus, the path of travel of the door is defined by the shape of the truck and the connection of the hinge / roller assembly.

[0003] The electric opening and closing of sliding door systems in motor vehicles has become a common feature. Current state of the art includes the use of electric drive systems, which power doors over a range of motion defined by a conventional hinge / roller / track system. Most of such systems operate on a central hinge / roller / track assembly, but some are combined with a lower hinge / roller / track assembly. Both belt drive and cable drive are used. In addition to powering the door over its operating range, these systems provide protection against damage in the event of interference during motorized operation, and the ability to perform normal manual operation when needed. Must be prepared.

Current state-of-the-art sliding door motorized opening and closing systems use sophisticated electronic hardware and software algorithms to achieve a satisfactory level of interference detection. The most common protection methods are
The current sensing of the drive motor is used to indicate the presence of a person or other object in the path of the closing door, if any. The associated software algorithms are becoming increasingly sophisticated, coordinating open-hold latches, motorized retract latches, and other additional features. The main drawback of all existing technologies is that the performance of manual operation is equal to that of passive systems, since some additional power related components are always involved, even when the sliding door is operated manually. Is not provided. Although clutch disengagement upstream of cable or belt drive is the most common manual mode of operation, it adds significant operating load due to the friction that such mechanisms and operations provide.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it would be advantageous to create a sliding door opening and closing system that does not suffer from the resistance and friction of using power-related components, even when the door is in manual operation.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce the complexity of an automatic sliding door opening and closing system. The present invention specifically eliminates electronic interference detection by utilizing mechanical devices, and also provides risk-free manual performance by completely isolating the power system.

In a principal aspect of the present invention, an automatic sliding door opening and closing system includes a continuous electric belt drive system located on a vehicle body and a door for automatically moving a vehicle door along a predetermined path. And a clamping device that can be fixedly attached to the belt drive system and can be released under predetermined conditions.

In a further aspect, an electric belt drive system is positioned to mate with one of the three body tracks of a standard hinge system. In a further aspect, the clamping device is mounted directly to one of the standard door hinge / roller assemblies on the door. In a further aspect, the clamping device is a rotating device, the device being biased to exert a pinching action on the belt by a cam and spring arrangement, and the rotating device having a predetermined force threshold. It is configured to move away from the belt by value. In a further aspect, the electric belt drive system includes two belt tensioning devices located on opposite sides of the clamping device, the belt tensioning devices facilitating the operation of the rotary clamping device pinching and engaging the belt. The belt can give the necessary slack of the belt.

[0009] Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 1, a three-body continuous belt drive system (1) is utilized in a conventional automotive sliding door system. It is positioned to mate with one of the mounted tracks (3) (see also FIGS. 2, 4 and 5). The drive system has a continuous loop belt (5), an electric motor (7) and a drive pulley (9), two belt tensioning devices (11) and a number of idlers (13), which idler belt path. Used to determine Idlers are typically unpowered rotatable pulleys. The belt drive system is configured such that the belt (5) travels supported by rollers (21), and
It is exposed outside the track (3), adjacent to the corresponding door mounted hinge / roller assembly (15). The belt drive system is configured to be driven in both directions by an electric motor (7).

The clamp (17) is mounted on the hinge / roller assembly (15) and interacts with the track (3) containing the belt drive system (1). The clamp is configured such that the belt can be biased to clamp the roller against the roller (21) so that, when the belt is driven by the motor (7), the hinge / roller / track. The door (19) is pulled along the path defined by the configuration. The clamp (17) is biased so as to be held in a pinched state until a predetermined belt load is exceeded, and when the load is exceeded, the clamp (17) exits the pinched state and the belt drive system (1). ) To release the door (19). When the clamp (17) is in the unclamped state, the door (19) is moved along the path defined by the hinge / roller / track configuration without interacting with the belt drive system (1). Can be moved. An electric actuator (not shown) is configured to move the clamp (17) to return to a state where the belt (5) is sandwiched. The belt drive system has the ability to pull the door to the first position of the main door latch (i.e., the secondary latch position), and the motorized retraction latch (not shown) will provide sufficient primary latch. Used to achieve. An electronic control system and associated sensing transducers (not shown) are used to coordinate and actuate the belt drive motor (7), clamp actuator, and main latch.

In a preferred embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, the clamp (17) includes a rotating device, which comprises a ball (25) and a compression spring (27).
And the cam (22) interacting with the belt is biased to the belt clamping position. The compression spring (27) presses the ball (25) into the cam pocket (23), which is integral with the rotating clamp that holds the device in the pinching position.
The surface of the clamp (17), which engages the belt (5) in the clamping position, includes saw teeth (29) which facilitate the clamping action and which engage the belt (5) and the clamp (17). ) To minimize the possibility of slipping between.
The rotating clamp (17) disengages from the belt (5) if the belt load exceeds a predetermined threshold due to obstruction in the path of the door (19). The threshold load is defined by the cam profile, spring force and spring precompression. The electric actuator is a hinge /
Attached to a roller assembly, the actuator is operated by an electromagnetically transmitted command (eg, from a push button located in a van, or a key fob).
b) Upon receipt of the button), rotate the clamp (17) to return the belt (5) to the sandwiched state. The belt drive system must be able to provide the necessary belt slack so that the rotating clamp (17) can rotate sufficiently to the clamping position. This slack in the belt is provided by two belt tensioning devices (11) located on either side of the clamping device, these belt tensioning devices may provide belt slack if the system does not move the door. Yes, but can be locked (tightened) if necessary to transmit the belt load. A further function of these tensioners is to compensate for belt stretch when the system is subjected to prolonged use.
Rotary clamping systems may also be utilized with motorized retraction latches, electronic control systems and their associated sensing transducers.

[0013] The clamping system is designed so that when the door reaches its fully open or fully closed position, it reacts and disengages in response to an overload condition as if it were an obstruction. The system remains in manual mode until it receives a signal for automatic operation. This signal will first disengage the main latch (if it is in the closed position), then cause the actuator to engage the belt clamp in the pinching position, and finally, either disturb or full (maximum) operation. The belt drive motor is operated until the clamp is released.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view of the fully automatic sliding door opening and closing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partially cut away, showing the hinge / roller assembly and clamp of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the clamping device of the present invention in an unclamped position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially cut away, showing a typical automotive sliding door system in a closed configuration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially cut away, showing a typical automotive sliding door system in an open configuration;

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Sean Clare Canada, Ontario M2N6J4, Toronto, 202A, Young Street 5444 (72) Inventor Douglas G. Broadhead Canada, Ontario El 6Zie 4P1, Brampton, Penrows Court 4F Term (Reference) 2E034 FA01 GA01 GB15 2E050 QA02 QA03 QA05 QB01 QC04 QD02 QE04

Claims (9)

[Claims] An automatic sliding door opening and closing system comprising: (a) a continuous electric belt drive system located in a vehicle body; and (b) a vehicle door that is automatically moved along a predetermined path. An automatic sliding door opening and closing system comprising: a clamping device capable of fixing the door to the belt drive system and releasing the door under predetermined conditions. 2. The automatic sliding door opening and closing system according to claim 1, wherein the electric belt drive system is positioned to mate with one of three body tracks of a standard hinge system. 3. The automatic sliding door opening and closing system according to claim 2, wherein the clamping device is mounted directly on one of the standard door hinge / roller assemblies on the door. 4. The clamping device is a rotating device,
The device is biased to exert a pinching action on the belt by a cam and spring arrangement;
The automatic sliding door opening and closing system according to claim 1, wherein the rotating device is configured to move away from the belt at a predetermined force threshold. 5. The clamping device is a rotating device,
The device is biased to exert a pinching action on the belt by a cam and spring arrangement;
3. The automatic sliding door opening and closing system of claim 2, wherein the rotating device is configured to move away from the belt at a predetermined force threshold. 6. The clamping device is a rotating device,
The device is biased to exert a pinching action on the belt by a cam and spring arrangement;
4. The automatic sliding door opening and closing system according to claim 3, wherein the rotating device is configured to move away from the belt at a predetermined force threshold. 7. The electric belt drive system includes two belt tensioning devices located on opposite sides of the clamping device, the belt tensioning device facilitating the action of the rotary clamping device pinching and engaging the belt. 5. The automatic sliding door opening and closing system according to claim 4, wherein the automatic sliding door opening and closing system is capable of providing a slack of a belt required for the following. 8. The electric belt drive system includes two belt tensioning devices located on opposite sides of the clamping device, the belt tensioning device facilitating the action of the rotary clamping device pinching and engaging the belt. 6. The automatic sliding door opening and closing system according to claim 5, which can provide a slack of the belt required for the following. 9. The electric belt drive system includes two belt tensioning devices located on opposite sides of the clamping device, the belt tensioning device facilitating the action of the rotary clamping device pinching and engaging the belt. 7. The automatic sliding door opening and closing system according to claim 6, wherein the automatic sliding door opening and closing system can provide a required slack of the belt.