Abstract:
A mechanism and method for operating a track-mounted door is disclosed. The mechanism includes a pair of side drums that are connected by first cables to the bottom of the door. The side drums are coaxially mounted on a shaft for simultaneous rotation with a pair of cable drums. The cable drums are connected to high pressure gas struts by second cables. Each second cable is carried around a shiv wheel that slides along a guide track as the second cable moves. Each shiv wheel is operatively connected to one of the gas struts. As the shiv wheel moves along the guide track toward the cable drum, the gas strut is charged. As the shiv wheel moves away from the cable drum, the gas strut is discharged. A standard electric motor and screw driven lift-arm is used to initiate the opening and closing of the door. The charged gas strut stores sufficient energy to overcome friction and gravity to assist the electric motor and lift-arm to open the door.
Abstract:
A hinge assembly (28) for coupling a sliding door (14) of a vehicle (10) to a drive unit (42) for sliding the sliding door from an open position to a closed position, the drive unit causing the hinge assembly (28) to slide within a guide track (26) as the door moves between the open position and the closed position, the hinge assembly comprising: a first hinge portion (32); a second hinge portion (36), the first hinge portion being pivotally secured to the second hinge portion; a cable attachment (35) being secured to the second hinge portion; and a guide surface (74) disposed on a surface of the first hinge portion, the guide surface being configured to make contact with a portion of a cable (39) having an end secured to the cable attachment when the second hinge portion is in a first orientation with respect to the first hinge portion position and the cable no longer makes contact with the guide surface as the second hinge portion moves from the first orientation to a second orientation with respect to the first hinge portion.
Abstract:
A hinge assembly (28) for coupling a sliding door (14) of a vehicle (10) to a drive unit (42) for sliding the sliding door from an open position to a closed position, the drive unit causing the hinge assembly (28) to slide within a guide track (26) as the door moves between the open position and the closed position, the hinge assembly comprising: a first hinge portion (32); a second hinge portion (36), the first hinge portion being pivotally secured to the second hinge portion; a cable attachment (35) being secured to the second hinge portion; and a guide surface (74) disposed on a surface of the first hinge portion, the guide surface being configured to make contact with a portion of a cable (39) having an end secured to the cable attachment when the second hinge portion is in a first orientation with respect to the first hinge portion position and the cable no longer makes contact with the guide surface as the second hinge portion moves from the first orientation to a second orientation with respect to the first hinge portion.
Abstract:
A window regulator, e.g., for a vehicle window, which includes opposing block and pulley arrangements that interact via a lift pulley (36) mounted to a lift plate (16) that slides along a rail (22). Operative movement of a crank assembly (44) in a first sense tensions a cable (32a) to move the lift plate (16) towards a first end (34a) of the rail (22), and operative movement of the crank assembly (44) in a second sense, opposite the first sense, tensions a cable (32b) to move the lift plate (16) towards a second end (34b) of the rail (22). The regulator enables the reduction of the operating torque requirements without affecting the packaging of the crank assembly.
Abstract:
An internal entrapment system for a garage door operator (30), comprising a motor, a pulse counter (62) for detecting a speed of the garage door (12), a potentiometer (56) for determining a plurality of positional locations of the garage door (12), and a control circuit (50) for calculating a motor torque value from the speed for each of said locations to compare with door profile data points, wherein said control circuit (50) takes corrective action if the difference between the motor torque value for each of said locations and said door profile data points exceeds a predetermined threshold, and otherwise updates said door profile data points to the motor torque values. In another embodiment both speed and position are detected by a slider element (58) which is connected to the control circuit (50). A closed loop lift cable system (100) may be employed.
Abstract:
A cable control device (10) for a sectional overhead door (11) having a motor-driven counterbalance system (30) including, a spring-drive shaft (31), cable drums (33) carried by the drive shaft, cables (C) attached to and interconnecting the cable drums and the door and forming and releasing cable wraps on the cable drums upon raising and lowering of the door, and retainers (60) associated with the cable drums engaging a portion of at least one cable wrap to maintain engagement of the cable wrap with the cable drums in the event of the development of slack in the cables.
Abstract:
A drive unit for driving an open-and-close body and a method for attaching the drive unit to the open-and-close body. The drive unit includes a cable, a drum, a pulley, a fix member, an elastic member, and a limiting member. The cable has a portion connected to the open-and-close body and another portion wound on the drum. The pulley is movable between a first position, where the pulley does not tension the cable, and a second position, where the pulley engages the cable and applies tension to the cable. The fix member is capable of fixing the pulley in the first position. The elastic member urges the pulley towards the second position. The limiting member is provided between the drum and the fix member, and the limiting member allows or limits rotation of the drum in accordance with the position of the pulley.
Abstract:
A door drive device for adjusting and/or locking a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body including an adjustment member, a drive element operatively coupled to the adjustment member such that the adjustment member is movable with respect to the drive element for moving the vehicle door, a sensor device for measuring a measuring quantity indicative of a movement of the vehicle door to provide a sensor signal, a brake device operatively connected to the drive element for braking a movement of the vehicle door, and a control device for controlling operation of the door drive device. The control device is configured to compute, from the sensor signal obtained from the sensor device, an acceleration value indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle door and evaluate the acceleration value to distinguish movement of the vehicle door caused by a gravity force from movement caused by a user action.
Abstract:
A window lifter for a motor vehicle contains a plastic component and a metal component. The plastic component is at least in sections in mechanical contact with the metal component on a bearing surface, and wherein microcapsules are embedded into the plastic material of the plastic component at least in the region of the bearing surface. The microcapsules are filled with a lubricant.
Abstract:
A console assembly for use in a vehicle provided with a floor. The console assembly includes a guide member, coupled to the vehicle floor, a moving portion, a gearbox assembly, a transmission assembly, and a disengaging device. The gearbox assembly includes a gear configured to rotate about a rotational axis in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction to move the moving portion between a first position and a second position. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a number of operating states, including an engaged state and a disengaged state. The disengaging device is configured to change the operating state of the transmission assembly between the engaged state and the operating state so that the moving portion is movable while the transmission assembly is in the disengaged state.