US2698466A - Vehicle body door of flush type - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 4, 1955 E. F. M HNRY 2,693,466

VEHICLE BODY DOOR OF FLUSH TYPE Filed May 2, 1952 INVENTOR, ELMER F. HENRY, 25 110 L/ A Q BY/ United States Patent VEHICLE BODY DOOR 0F FLUSH TYPE Elmer F. McHenry, St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 2, 1952, Serial No. 285,677

3 Claims. (Cl. 20-23) This invention relates to vehicle body doors of flush type, and more particularly to a sliding door and door frame assembly providing a closure for a vehicle body portal, and which when closed, lies flush with the side or end of the closure, with obvious advantages in better sealing effects and improved appearance.

This applicant is aware of numerous attempts heretofore made toward the design of sliding doors of those types intended to lie flush with the side of the structure served thereby, when the door is in closed position. Doors of this general type are of advantage particularly in certain railway cars, truck bodies and in other vehicles wherein it is desirable to bring the door to a flush position when closed, with numerous recognized advantages. However, those assemblies heretofore commercially available have presented many disadvantages, among which may be noted a practical difiiculty of seating the door firmly into a flush position when closed; frequent difiiculties in manually releasing the door from fully closed position, to initiate its opening movement; an inability to effect an air tight relation between the door and frame members when the door is closed, and particularly under icing conditions, difiiculty has been experienced in releasing the door for free opening or closing move ment, in any position. The invention accordingly has, as a general and principal objective, to overcome the aforesaid difiiculties by means of an improved sliding door construction of flush type which is low in cost, may be produced entirely of readily obtainable materials of rugged construction, and will operate service-free over long periods of time.

More particularly stated, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved low cost, fixed camming device acting on the leading edge of the door as same is brought to a closed position, for causing a translator-y movement of at least the leading edge of 30 the door, into a position flush with the adjacent wall of the enclosing structure.

An additional and highly valuable object of the present improvements is attained in an improved manually actuated door-shifting device for effecting a translatory I;

movement of the trailing part of the door selectively into and out of a flush, door-closed position.

Yet another object of the invention is realized in a generally improved, low-cost, rigid, vibration free metal frame structure for a sliding door of flush type, in which the door and frame assembly may be produced and sold as a package unit, for installation as a facility to be added to existing vehicle bodies, or optionally, as original equipment.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the present improvements will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment and a minor variant thereof, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the rear portion of one side of a motor truck in which the body is equipped with present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a considerably enlarged sectional view as taken along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fi 3 is a sectional view taken in a horizontal plane identified as to location by line -5 of Fig. l. and showing a portion of the door, frame and guide elements related as same would appear when the door opening Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the door as same would appear when door-opening movement is initiated, or door closing movement completed, but for a final translatory shift of the door;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the parts as disclosed by Figs. 3 and 4 but with the door in fully closed position, flush with the sides of the vehicle body;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section as taken along line 6-6 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view in a horizontal plane through the trailing margin of the door and adjacent guide channel, showing a vertical door frame element carrying a compressive door-sealing strip.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to Fig. 1, there is shown a rear portion of the right hand side of a truck body which of itself may be of conventional type, and which is equipped with the subject door assembly. Besides the sliding door generally indicated at 10, Fig. 1 shows a body side wall SW, a sill S and certain other conventional elements of structure. The door 10 is of slidable type. As recognized in the trade, this designation more usually than not contemplates provision for rolling support of the door above or below the door, as is provided in the present case through rollers 11 set into the lower margin of the door as will appear from Fig. 2, and providing for rolling engagement with a subjacent support later described.

In order to enable the door and door frame assembly to be produced, adjusted, packaged and sold as a useful article of manufacture ready for installation in existing truck or other vehicle bodies, or similarly adapted for installation in new vehicle bodies, it is a preference to provide a frame for the door of definite dimensions in relation to the door. In the present example this frame structure includes a channel member 12 located horizontally below the door, the base of which is engaged by the rollers 11, and which provides a firm guiding support for the door throughout its range of travel between fully open position and fully closed position, the latter shown by Figs. 1 and 5. A counterpart of the channel 12 is shown in inverted relation at 13, extended horizontally along the top of the path of the door 10, the channels 12 and 13 hearing a definite guiding relation to the lower and upper margins of the door respectively. Each of the channels 12 and 13 is provided with an external longi tudinal securement web 14 which may be secured as by welding or bolting to the upper portion of the body structure as shown by Fig. 2, and to the floor, deck or sill structure of the truck body, being shown as attached in Fig. 2, to the floor FL.

The channels 12 and 13 also constitute the bottom and top respectively of the metal door frame. The side verticals or stiles of this frame will be seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and are there shown as metal angles of a Z shaped section designated at 15 and 16, the latter being welded or otherwise secured to the channel members 12 and 13. The door opening D0 is thus of rectangular aspect. assuming this to be the shape of the door 10, but the opening proper is of lesser dimensions than the width and height of the door, with the effect that the mar ins of the door overlap and firmly abut the adjacent faces of the elements 12, 13, 15 and 16 when the door is closed.

It is a preference so to form the door-frame portion of each of the channels 12 and 13, that each presents a channel of approximately double width, in this case an inside width slightly greater than twice the thickness of the door. That portion of each of the channels 12 and 13 which lies to the left (in the drawings) of the door frame, is referred to as of single width, i. e. of a width to accommodate and guidingly to receive, of course with reasonable tolerances, the upper and lower margins of the door as same is moved into or out of its fully open position.

Located in the double-width portion of each of the channels 12 and 13, and at that end of each channel opposite the leading margin 17 of the closed door 10, is a fixed camming ramp 18 in the channel 12, and an inmovement is initiated, or the closing movement of the etted counterpart 20 in the inverted top channel 13.

door almost completed;

Each such ramp presents a camming face to the leading edge of the door as same is moved to the right (Fig. 1) toward its fully closed position, whichcamming action results, as will appear from acomparison of Figs. 3 and 4, in a definite translatory movement of this door margin into a fully closed position flush with the side wall structure SW of the vehicle body.

A convenient low cost and economical construction of the cammin ramps is exemplified by Figs. 3, 4, and 6, and particularly from Fig. 6, wherein it is seen that this element consists of a horizontal, substantially triangular base 21, depending from which in a right angled relation is a vertical flange 22. Thus the pair of ramps may be economically formed either of an angle stock, or by appropriate division of a channel element of suitable width. Assembly of the ramps such as 18 and 20 into the double width channel portions is conveniently effected as by bolts or rivets 23, or by welding if desired. It may here be noted that the double width portion of each of the channel elements 13 may be economically realized by selection of a channel stock such that, by transverse incision of one of the side flanges, and the flattening of such flange into the plane of the base, the double width portion is readily produced.

Reference is now made to the unique manual camming provision carried by and particularly serving the trailing portion of the door, the rearmost or trailing margin of which is identified for reference at 25 (Fig. 1). This provision consists in the present disclosure of a vertical rod or rock shaft 26, located vertically, preferably within the door, in about the position shown by Fig. l. The top face and bottom face of the door in the region about the ends of the rod 26 are recessed to provide cam pockets 27, and located within each of these pockets is a double end or double arm cam indicated at 28. This double end element is conveniently formed with a square center aperture overfitting a squared end at each extremity of the rod 26, or may alternately be welded or otherwise rigidly afiixed to the rod so that the cams 28 may each be moved as by partial rotation in a horizontal plane adjacent the base of the adjacent channel 12 or 13.

The door is provided between its upper and lower margins and at a height for convenient manual access, with a handle cavity or recess opening to the outside of the door and indicated at 30. So mounted as to be retractable within the recess 30 and when in an out-of-use position, to be substantially shrouded by the recessed portion, is a cam actuating handle 31 pivoted as at 32 to the rod 26. Thus the handle 31 may, for use, be lifted and angularly shifted so as to effect a partial rotation of the cams 28 through the rock shaft. The handle 31 may also serve, when needed, directly as a door-actuating element incident to its sliding or rolling movement, and to assist in such movement both sliding and translatory, there is provided a handle 33 (Fig. 1) which as shown, preferably bears a somewhat oblique relation to the face of the door 10.

The action of the camming device as described may be fully apparent, but it may be noted for completeness that, assuming the door to be fully closed and in its flush position as shown by Fig. 5, with the handle 31 retracted, the cams 28 will lie substantially in the midplane of the door. When the rod 26 is rotated through 90 degrees, the engagement of the extremity of one of the arms of each member 28 with a fixed projection 34 which may consist of a fragmentary portion of the original side flange of the double width channel, will effect a positive translatory movement of the trailing portion of the door 10 in a dislodging, outward direction, thus bringing the trailing margin of the door to a position such that it may be freely rolled toward open position. This facility is of a considerable advantage in breaking an ice seal, as under conditions of freezing rain, sleet or snow. Under certain conditions also it may be desired to utilize the cams 28 to complete the flush relation of the door when brought opposite the door opening. Thus it will appear, with the parts related for example, as shown by Fig. 4, that appropriate rotation of the rod 26 will also effect a positive camming action of the door into its fully seated and closed position.

A minor modification of the structure heretofore described is here noted as of particular value when the improved door assembly is utilized to serve refrigerated vehicle bodies, such as a refrigerated truck for example, in which augmented door sealing provisions are desirable. Such a modification is shown by Fig. 7, wherein one of 4 the vertical angle members defining the door frame opening is indicated at 49, this numeral designating the web portion of a metal strip of angle characteristics and of a generally Z shaped section. At one extremity of the web 40 is a flange 41 which is employed for attachment to the top and bottom channels. The oppositely extending flange 42 results with the web, in a U shaped channel which receives a strip, shown as of rectangular section,

of a highly compressive rubber or rubber-like material,

such as a cellular or foam stock, this strip being indicated at 43. The remaining door frame members may of course be similarly provided with compressive sealing strips.

It will now have become obvious that, as the door is brought fully into closed and flush position, the strip 43 being of suitable depth, same will be held under at least a moderate compression by the closed door, thus providing an effective marginal air seal in this zone.

Assuming now that the door 10 is fully closed and flush t as shown by Fig. 5, and it be desired to open same, the first operation consists of a partial rotation of the rod 26 say through 90 degrees, with the aid of handle 31. This will occur with the parts as shown by the drawing, in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 5), thus bringing one of the arms 28 against the abutment 34, positively prying and dislodging particularly the trailing portion of the door, outwardly of the door frame to bring same into the outermost part of the double width portions of channels 12 and 13. The handle 31 is then moved to bring I the elements 28 back into the confines of the door, and

through manipulation of the handle 33, aided if desired, by grasping the handle 31, the door is slidably moved to the left in the drawings. As the leading end 17 of the door is brought outwardly as permitted by the slope of the ramps 18 and 20, the door moves linearly when clearing the ramps, to the left (Fig. 1) through the single-width portions of the guide channels.

Closure of the door involves merely a reverse order of the sequence described. The door is moved to the right from open to closed positions, to that region wherein the margin 17 first engages the elements 22 of the camming ramps 18 and 20. Continued movement toward closed position causes the ramp to deflect the margin 17 back against the flange of the frame member 1a, the latter 1 serving also as a stop to terminate the'siiding, closing movement of the door. With or without the aid of the cams 28, the trailing margin of the door is given an inward translatory movement either by direct push, as is usually sufficient, or by appropirate rotation of the cams I which in this case, abut in wiping engagement, the inner face of the outer flange of each of the double width channels. As soon as the trailing edge of the door is fully seated in flush position, the abutments '34 will engage the ends of the cams 28 if projected inwardly of the door, and will thus automatically restore the rod 26 and handle 31 to an out-of-action position.

It will now have appeared that the structure described will serve to realize fully each of the several objectives hereinabove expressed, and others implied from the de-' A script1on of structure and function. Although the inven- 60 .able door, a bottom channel which receives and supports the lower margin of the door in guiding relation thereto, an inverted top channel located to receive and guide the upper margin of the door, the channels being of a length to engage the door throughout a path including a fully open position and a fully closed door position, a pair of vertical angle members attached to and bridging the channel members to define therewith a rectangular door opening and frame, in which the door opening is of lesser width and height than the door so that when the door is closed, the frame elements are marginally overlapped by the door, the channel members forming the top and the bottom of the door frame and being, in the region of the door frame, of a width substantially equal to twice the thickness of the door, the channel members being provided over at least a substantial portion of the length of each, with an intermediate, longitudinal, external web portion,

the web portion of the lower channel being adapted for attachment to a vehicle floor or sill adjacent the channel, and the web of the upper channel being adapted for attachment to an upper longitudinal fixed element of the vehicle body, a camming ramp set into and attached to each of the double-width channel portions, and adapted to coact with the leading vertical margin of the door as same is brought toward and into closed position, to effect a translatory movement of the leading door margin into a flush position against the adjacent vertical member of the door frame structure, a manual door-camming device carried by the door, located forwardly of its trailing margin, said camming device including a vertical rod operable about its axis and located within the door, a pair of camming arms attached to the lower end of said rod, a similar pair of camming arms attached to the upper end thereof, the rod and arms being movable to positions such that the arms may be brought within the confines of the door and selectively movable to effect a positive translatory displacement of the trailing margin of the door into and out of a flush, door-closed position, the door being provided with a handle recess, a handle extending into said recess and having an operative connection with said rod, a pair of rollers set into the lower marginal portion of the door and projecting therefrom into rolling engagement with the bottom channel, and a door handle fixed to the door close to its vertical leading margin and bearing an acuteangle relation to the surface of the door.

2. A door assembly of flush type for use as a vehicle body closure, the assembly including a slidable door, a bottom channel which receives the lower margin of the door, an inverted top channel located to receive the upper margin of the door, the channels being of a length to engage the door throughout a path including a fully open position and a fully closed door position, a pair of vertical angle members bridging the channel members to define a rectangular door frame, the channel members being, in the region of the door frame, of a width substantially equal to twice the thickness of the door, the channel members being provided over at least a substantial portion of the length of each, with an intermediate, longitudinal, external web portion, the web portion of the lower channel being adapted for attachment to a lower element of the vehicle body adjacent the channel, and the web of the upper channel being adapted for attachment to an upper element of the vehicle body, a carnming ramp attached to each of the double-width channel portions, and adapted to coact with the leading vertical margin of the door as same is brought toward and into closed position, to effect a translatory movement of the leading door margin against the adjacent vertical member of the door frame, a manual door-camming device carried by the door, located near its trailing margin, said camming device including a vertical rod located within the door, a pair of camming arms attached to the lower end of said rod, a similar pair of camming arms attached to the upper end thereof, the rod and arms being movable to positions such that the arms may be brought within the confines of the door and being selectively movable to effect a positive translatory displacement of the trailing margin of the door into and out of a door-closed position, the door being provided with a handle recess, a handle extending into said recess and having an operative connection with said rod, and rollers set into the lower marginal portion of the door and projecting therefrom into rolling engagement with the bottom channel.

3. In a sliding door assembly for vehicle bodies, the assembly comprising a door, a bottom channel which receives the lower margin of the door, an inverted top channel located to receive the upper margin of the door, a pair of vertical angle members bridging the channel members to define a door frame, each of the channel members being provided with an intermediate web portion, the web portions being adapted for attachment to the vehicle body, cam means in the channels for directing the leading margin of the door against the adjacent vertical member of the door frame, a manual door-camming device carried by the door, said camming device including a vertical rock shaft located within the door near its trailing margin, a pair of camming arms attached to the lower and to the upper ends of said shaft, the shaft and arms being movable so that the arms may be brought within the confines of the door, and being selectively movable to effect a positive translatory displacement of the trailing margin of the door into and out of a door-closed position, the door being provided with a handle recess, and a handle extending into salidf recess and having an operative connection with said s a t.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,015,405 Schroyer Jan. 23, 1912 1,077,798 Burgoon Nov. 4, 1913 1,152,261 Andrus Aug. 31, 1915 2,114,743 Lohrman Apr. 19, 1938 2,228,711 Steuber Jan. 14, 1941

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