Patent · US Expired

Automotive vehicle body with powered sliding side door

US5536061A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
4References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 1994
Grant dateJul 16, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE05Y2900/531
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An automotive vehicle body has a side opening that is opened and closed by a sliding door. The door is operated with a power drive mechanism that is pivotally mounted thereon and extends through the side opening. The power drive mechanism includes a reversible electric motor driven friction drive wheel and is spring biased to forcibly engage this wheel with a drive/guide track that is located beneath the vehicle floor and attached to the vehicle body. The friction drive wheel rides on the drive/guide track to open and close the door and also helps guide and stabilize its sliding movement. The spring load on the friction drive wheel is limited so as to provide sliding door operation with the motor under normal conditions and allow slippage at the friction drive wheel to cease door movement when the door encounters a physical object in the door opening.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.