U.S. patent application number 12/118119 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-18 for automotive door with repositionable immobilizer.
Invention is credited to Ronald J. Brzuch, Brian L. Dunlavy, Kelly M. Kohlstrand, Christina M. Sammut, James L. Van Gilder, Michael J. Vinarcik.
Application Number | 20080309120 12/118119 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40131596 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080309120 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kohlstrand; Kelly M. ; et
al. |
December 18, 2008 |
AUTOMOTIVE DOOR WITH REPOSITIONABLE IMMOBILIZER
Abstract
An automotive vehicle includes one or more swinging doors which
may be immobilized in a number of positions, so as to allow the
door to be used, for example, to assist passengers in entering and
leaving the vehicle.
Inventors: |
Kohlstrand; Kelly M.;
(Wyandotte, MI) ; Sammut; Christina M.;
(Northville, MI) ; Brzuch; Ronald J.; (Canton,
MI) ; Van Gilder; James L.; (Canton, MI) ;
Dunlavy; Brian L.; (Canton, MI) ; Vinarcik; Michael
J.; (Belleville, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dickinson Wright PLLC
38525 Woodward Avenue, Suite 2000
Bloomfield Hills
MI
48304
US
|
Family ID: |
40131596 |
Appl. No.: |
12/118119 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60944339 |
Jun 15, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/146.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05Y 2201/21 20130101;
E05Y 2201/266 20130101; E05Y 2400/514 20130101; E05D 11/08
20130101; E05Y 2400/532 20130101; E05C 17/003 20130101; E05Y
2201/256 20130101; E05Y 2600/45 20130101; E05Y 2201/488 20130101;
E05C 17/203 20130101; E05F 5/00 20130101; E05F 5/025 20130101; E05Y
2400/326 20130101; Y10T 16/61 20150115; E05Y 2201/462 20130101;
E05Y 2900/531 20130101; E05D 11/1007 20130101; E05Y 2201/246
20130101; E05Y 2600/46 20130101; Y10T 16/54 20150115; E05Y 2201/26
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/146.11 |
International
Class: |
B60J 5/00 20060101
B60J005/00 |
Claims
1. An automotive door comprising: a door hinged to a vehicle body,
so as to permit ingress and egress of the vehicle; and a door
immobilizer positioned between the door and the body of a vehicle,
with said immobilizer comprising: a first member which moves
relative to said door when said door is moved rotationally; and a
second member for permitting an occupant of the vehicle to
selectively inhibit rotational movement of the door by inhibiting
relative movement of said first member with respect to said
door.
2. An automotive door according to claim 1, further comprising a
controller for operating said second member.
3. An automotive door according to claim 2, wherein said controller
is further responsive to a key switch mounted upon an exterior
surface of the door.
4. An automotive door according to claim 1, wherein said second
member is attached to the body of the vehicle.
5. An automotive door according to claim 1, wherein said second
member is attached to the door.
6. An automotive door according to claim 1, wherein said first
member moves linearly with respect to said door when said door is
moved rotationally.
7. An automotive door according to claim 1, wherein said first
member moves rotationally with respect to said door when said door
is moved rotationally.
8. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first
member comprises a strap having a plurality of apertures, and said
second member comprises a lock pin, driven selectively by a linear
actuator, for engaging said apertures.
9. An automotive door according to claim 8, wherein said linear
actuator comprises a solenoid.
10. An automotive door according to claim 8, wherein said linear
actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder.
11. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first
member comprises a strap having a plurality of teeth which are
engagable by a second member comprising a sprag driven selectively
by a linear actuator, with said sprag and actuator being attached
to said door.
12. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first
member comprises a strap which is selectively pinched between
friction pads applied by a linear actuator.
13. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first
member comprises a strap having a structural core and an
elastomeric cover, with said second member comprising a
rotationally lockable nut operationally connected with said door,
so that rotation of the door is accompanied by sliding of the strap
through the nut, with said nut being rotatable to a position in
which sliding of the strap through the nut is inhibited by the
nut.
14. An automotive door according to claim 13, wherein said nut and
said strap have mating non-circular cross sections.
15. An automotive door according to claim 13, wherein said nut has
a non-circular, toothed bore which is configured to slide
selectively upon a mating non-circular surface of said strap when
said nut is indexed with said strap, with said teeth being
configured to lock said nut upon said strap when said nut has been
rotated to a position at which said teeth project into said
elastomeric cover.
16. An automotive door according to claim 13, wherein said nut has
a non-circular, toothed bore which is configured to slide
selectively upon a mating non-circular surface of said strap when
said nut is indexed with said strap, with said teeth being
configured to lock said nut upon said strap to varying degrees
characterizing a plurality of positions at which said teeth project
into said elastomeric cover.
17. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first
member comprises a strap having a plurality of teeth which are
engagable by a second member comprising a plurality of sprags
driven selectively by a rotary actuators, with said sprags and
actuators being attached to said door.
18. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first
member comprises a strap which is position-controlled by a second
member comprising a fluidic device mounted within said door and
having a piston contained upon an end of the strap and mounted for
reciprocation within a cylinder containing electrorheological fluid
and electrodes connected with a controller for applying an electric
potential across said electrodes, whereby the viscosity of the
electrorheological fluid may be increased selectively, impeding the
swinging motion of door 14.
19. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first
member comprises a strap which is position-controlled by a second
member comprising a fluidic device mounted within said door and
having a piston contained upon an end of the strap and mounted for
reciprocation within a cylinder containing hydraulic fluid, with
the flow of hydraulic fluid from spaces extending within the
cylinder on either side of the piston being controlled by a valve,
whereby swinging motion of door 14 may be controlled selectively by
operating said valve.
20. An automotive door according to claim 6, wherein said first
member comprises a strap which is position-controlled by a second
member comprising opposing cam members positioned by a linear
actuator, with said cam members and said linear actuator being
mounted upon said door.
21. An automotive door comprising: a door hinged to a vehicle body,
so as to permit ingress and egress of the vehicle; and a door
immobilizer positioned between the door and the body of a vehicle,
with said immobilizer comprising: a first member which is moved
rotationally by said door when said door is moved rotationally; and
a second member, attached to the body of the vehicle, for
selectively inhibiting rotational motion of said first member.
22. An automotive door according to claim 21, wherein said first
member comprises a brake rotor attached for synchronous rotation
with said door, with said second member comprising a braking device
for selectively inhibiting rotation of said rotor.
23. An automotive door according to claim 22, wherein said second
member comprises a locking pin for engaging a plurality of
apertures formed in said brake rotor, with said locking pin being
mounted to a linear actuator.
24. An automotive door according to claim 22, wherein said second
member comprises a lock pin for engaging a plurality of apertures
formed in said brake rotor, with said lock pin being mounted to a
linear actuator.
25. An automotive door according to claim 22, wherein said second
member comprises a plurality of brake pads operated by a linear
actuator.
26. An automotive door according to claim 22, further comprising a
controller for operating said second member.
27. An automotive door according to claim 22, wherein said
controller is further responsive to a key switch mounted upon an
exterior surface of a vehicle.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional
application having Ser. No. 60/944,339 filed on Jun. 15, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a hinged vehicle door which
may be selectively immobilized in a number of locations ranging
from fully open to fully closed.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Hinged doors are frequently used by vehicle occupants to
assist during ingress and egress of the vehicle. In essence, the
vehicle door is utilized as a steady rest to enable the vehicle
occupant to move himself or herself either into or out of a
vehicular space, such as a seat. The present inventors have
determined that usage of a vehicular door in this manner would be
enhanced by the ability to immobilize the door in mid-swing. As
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,444, it is known to provide an
apparatus which allows the door to be checked in any one of a
number of positions, from fully opened to fully closed. However,
the system of the '444 patent does not immobilize the door; rather,
the system of the '444 patent merely increases the amount of force
needed to move the door, while clearly providing that this force
may be overridden and the door closed against the action of the
door check. This renders the system of the '444 patent inapposite
to solution of the present problem, because a door which swings
free after the application of an indeterminate amount of force
could inhibit the ingress/egress process by starting to swing at an
inopportune time.
[0006] It would be desirable to provide an automotive door with a
repositionable immobilizer permitting the door to be placed in any
position and rotationally locked against further movement, so as to
resist a reasonably predictable level of force imposed by a
motorist using the door to assist in entering or leaving a
vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle
having a swinging door includes a door mechanism with a fixed hinge
half attached to a structure such as an A-pillar or hinge pillar.
The fixed hinge half has a lower support leg and an upper support
leg. A moveable hinge half is secured between the upper and lower
support legs. The moveable hinge half has a center section which is
attached to the inner panel of the door.
[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention a
repositionable immobilizer includes a rotor having indexing
apertures which may be engaged by a lock pin attached to a linear
actuator.
[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, a rotor which
rotates synchronously with a hinged door is braked to a
door-immobilizing state by means of an upper brake pad and a lower
brake pad which are positioned adjacent to the rotor, with the
upper brake pad being attached to a linear actuator. According to
another aspect of the present invention, the linear actuator may be
either a solenoid type device or a pneumatic or hydraulic device,
or a motor driven device drawn from the various classes of such
devices known to those skilled in the art and suggested by this
disclosure.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
switch attached to a vehicle, either on an interior part such as a
door trim panel, or associated with an exterior locking device such
as a lock cylinder, or at both locations, is attached to a
controller which locks the immobilizer device when the switch is
activated. Alternatively, a remote controller embodied in a key fob
may be used to trigger immobilization of a door according to an
aspect of the present invention.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
repositionable immobilizer includes a strap which is attached
between a hinged door and a stationary structure, such as an
A-pillar or B-pillar. The strap may include, in a first embodiment,
a number of apertures which are engagable by a lock pin controlled
by a linear actuator. Alternatively, the strap may include teeth
formed integrally with it and engaged by a plurality of sprags,
which are motor driven. As yet another alternative, the strap may
be equipped with a piston, with the piston being mounted within a
cylinder which is either filled with an electrorheological fluid or
with hydraulic fluid. As yet another alternative, the piston may be
housed for reciprocating movement within an air cylinder. In the
case of an electrorheological system, a voltage is applied to the
electrorheological fluid so as to change its viscosity, thereby
inhibiting movement of the strap, so as to immobilize the door. In
the case of a hydraulic or pneumatic arrangement, the movement of
fluid from one side of the piston to the other will be controlled
by a valving system operated by a controller, so that the location
of the piston and, hence, the location of the door, may be
hydraulically or pneumatically locked.
[0012] Yet another embodiment according to an aspect of the present
invention includes a strap having an elastomeric cover and a
structural core, which could be formed from various metallic and
nonmetallic materials known to those skilled in the art and
suggested by this disclosure. In a preferred embodiment, a
composite strap has an ovoid section, which matches an ovoid
section of a rotatable nut, which is itself attached to, for
example, an A-pillar, or a B-pillar, or a door, so that as the door
moves from its open to closed position and vice versa, the strap
passes through the nut. The nut is partially threaded so that its
rotational position with respect to the strap causes the strap to
either be inhibited by the threads or to move freely as the door
swings. With this arrangement, the nut may be positioned so as to
lock the movement of the strap, thereby immobilizing the door.
[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, a pair
of cams is attached to the door so that the position of the cams,
as determined by a tension spring and a linear actuator, allow a
strap, or a rod functioning as a strap, to either move freely
through the cams so as to thereby allow the door to move, or to
tightly grip the rod, so as to lock, or immobilize, the door in a
selected position.
[0014] It is an advantage of a system according to the present
invention that a vehicle door may be selectively immobilized at the
discretion of the vehicle's driver merely by triggering a switch
mounted to the door trim panel or upon a key fob or upon an outside
surface or mechanism of the vehicle, such as a lock cylinder.
[0015] It is yet another advantage of a system according to the
present invention that a vehicle door may be immobilized without
the need for extensive additional hardware, and without the need
for repackaging the door hinge assemblies.
[0016] Other advantages, as well as features of the present
invention, will become apparent to the reader of this
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a
repositionable immobilizer according to an aspect of the present
invention. FIG. 1A is a partial block diagram showing component
parts of a door system according to an aspect of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a sectional view, partially in elevation, of a
portion of a door having a repositionable immobilizer according to
an aspect of the present invention. FIG. 2 is taken in the
direction of the arrows labeled `2` in FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but shows the repositionable
immobilizer of FIG. 2 in a locked position.
[0020] FIG. 4 is similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, but shows a second
embodiment of a repositionable immobilizer according to an aspect
of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a linear repositionable immobilizer according
to an aspect of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but shows the immobilizer of
FIG. 5 in a locked position.
[0023] FIG. 7 shows another type of linear repositionable
immobilizer, according to an aspect of the present invention, in an
unlocked position.
[0024] FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, but shows the repositionable
immobilizer of FIG. 7 in a locked position.
[0025] FIG. 9 illustrates a friction type of linear repositionable
immobilizer according to an aspect of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 10 illustrates a repositionable immobilizer having a
cam-type locking device according to an aspect of the present
invention.
[0027] FIGS. 11A-11D show the selective locking, or immobilizing,
action of the cam-type device of FIG. 10.
[0028] FIG. 12 shows a linear type of repositionable immobilizer
having a sprag mechanism according to an aspect of the present
invention.
[0029] FIG. 13 illustrates a repositionable immobilizer, according
to an aspect of the present invention, having a fluid operating
system.
[0030] FIG. 14 illustrates a fluid operating system according to
FIG. 13, and employing electrorheological fluid.
[0031] FIG. 15 illustrates a fluid operating system according to
FIG. 13, and employing hydraulic fluid.
[0032] FIG. 16 illustrates a multiple locking cam mechanism for use
with an embodiment of a repositionable immobilizer according to an
aspect of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 17 illustrates a cam member included in the mechanism
of FIG. 16.
[0034] FIG. 18 is an elevational view, partially in section of a
repositionable immobilizer according to FIG. 16, taken along the
line 18-18 of FIG. 16.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, vehicle 10 has a swinging door, 14,
which is equipped with a repositionable immobilizer according to
the present invention. FIG. 1A shows an interior trim panel, 94,
which is mounted upon an inner surface of door 14. Trim panel 94
provides a mounting surface for a manual switch, 98, which is
operatively connected with a controller, 102. Controller 102, which
may be configured as either a microprocessor controller, or a
programmable logic controller, or other type of controller known to
those skilled in the art and suggested by this disclosure, operates
immobilizer 106 to fix the door position at a point selected by the
vehicle's passenger. Added control capability may be achieved by
incorporating a door immobilization function within a key switch,
103, incorporated in an outer surface of door 14. Such switch may
be combined, for example, with a door lock cylinder. Switch 103 may
be configured as either a conventional key switch or as a touch pad
key switch. Thus, as used herein, the term "key switch" refers to
either configuration.
[0036] Moving now to FIG. 2, door 14 is shown as being hinged to an
A-pillar, 22, of vehicle 10 by means of a hinge having a fixed
hinge half, 18, with a base, 20, to which two support legs, namely
upper support leg, 30, and lower support leg, 26, are attached.
Fixed hinge half 18 may be mounted to A-pillar 22 by means of
welding or by threaded fasteners or by adhesives, by any one or any
combination of commonly known fastening methods.
[0037] A repositionable immobilizer according to an aspect of the
present invention further includes a moveable hinge half, 34,
having a center section, 36, which is bored or cored for a hinge
pin, 40. Moveable hinge half 34 is attached to door inner panel 42
by means of cap screws, 38, it being understood that,
alternatively, moveable hinge half 34 may be attached to door inner
panel 42 by means of welding, adhesives, and other types of
fastening methods known to those skilled in the art and suggested
by this disclosure.
[0038] A rotor, 46, is attached to hinge pin 40, as well as to
center section 36 of moveable hinge half 34. Rotor 46 has a
plurality of indexing apertures, 50, formed therein. Apertures 50
are engagable by a lock pin, 58, which is mounted to a linear
actuator, 54. As shown in FIG. 1A, linear actuator 54 is controlled
by means of switch 98, which sends a signal to controller 102,
which in turn operates immobilizer 106, which includes actuator 54.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate in view of this disclosure
that linear actuator 54, as well as linear actuator 118, and yet
other linear actuators disclosed herein, may be configured as
either solenoid actuators, or fluid power actuators, typically
pneumatic or hydraulic, or electro-drive actuators, or other types
of actuators suggested by this disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows lock pin 58 in an engaged position with one of
apertures 50, so as to effectively immobilize door 14 and thereby
prevent door 14 from swinging. When switch 98 is placed in a
released position, linear actuator 54 will withdraw lock pin 58
from one of apertures 50, allowing door 14 to swing. Those skilled
in the art will appreciate in view of this disclosure that
apertures 50 may be engaged by using linear actuator 54 to preload
lock pin 58 into the upper surface 46a of rotor 46, such that
locking pin 58 engages the desired one of apertures 50 when rotor
46 has been positioned by door 14 so as to be indexed with lock pin
58.
[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a repositionable
immobilizer according to the present invention in which upper brake
pad 64 and lower brake pad 72 engage rotor 46. The mounting of
lower brake pad 72 is facilitated by bracket 68, which is itself
mounted to bracket 52. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, bracket 52
generally allows the mounting of linear actuator 54 upon upper
support leg 30 of fixed hinge half 18.
[0041] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, when controller 102 receives a
locking signal from a line attached to switch 98, linear actuator
54 will press brake pad 64 into contact with rotor 46 and, because
rotor 46 is a sliding fit upon hinge pin 40, the force of linear
actuator 54 will cause both sides of rotor 46 to be squeezed by
brake pads 64 and 72, thereby immobilizing door 14.
[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates a linear immobilization device in which a
strap, 110, is attached by means of a pivot, 126, to a structure,
106, of vehicle 10. Structure 106 may be either an A-pillar, or a
B-pillar, or yet another structure having sufficient strength and
rigidity to support proper functioning of the immobilization
device. Strap 110 is normally free to move into and out of the
interior of door 14. Linear actuator 118 is mounted by means of
bracket 120 to door inner panel 130. Strap 110 contains a number of
apertures, 114, which are engagable by a lock pin, 122, driven
selectively by linear actuator 118.
[0043] FIG. 6 illustrates lock pin 122 in its driven, or locked,
position, immobilizing door 14. Lock pin 122 will remain in its
locked position until controller 102 provides an appropriate signal
to linear actuator 118.
[0044] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment, according to an aspect of
the present invention, in which a strap, 142, has a plurality of
teeth, 146, which are engagable by a sprag, 138, carried upon the
plunger of a linear actuator, 118. When sprag 138 is in the
position illustrated in FIG. 7, door 14 is free to move.
[0045] FIG. 8 shows sprag 138 in an engaged position, which
immobilizes door 14.
[0046] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment, according to an aspect of
the present invention, in which a linear actuator, 118, applies a
friction pad, 154, which is mounted to a plunger, 153, carried
within linear actuator 118. Friction pad 154, as well as a second
friction pad, 158, which is mounted to solenoid bracket 120 by
bracket 162, are applied selectively to strap 150 so as to
effectively pinch strap 150 between the two friction pads,
selectively preventing motion of door 14. Strap 150 is constructed
with sufficient compliance to accommodate wear of friction pads 154
and 158.
[0047] FIGS. 10 and 11A-11D illustrate an aspect according to the
present invention in which a strap, 166, has a structural core,
170, with an elastomeric cover, 174. Core 170 may be formed from
various metallic or nonmetallic or composite materials known to
those skilled in the art and suggested by this disclosure. Cover
174 is shown in FIGS. 11A-11D as having an ovoid shape, which
cooperates with a rotationally lockable nut, 178, to control
movement of door 14. As shown in FIG. 10, nut 178 is rotationally
positioned by means of a linear actuator, 182. Nut 178 abuts door
inner panel 130 such that door 14 is free to move with respect to
structure 106 only if nut 178 is unlocked from strap 166. As shown
in FIGS. 11A-11D, nut 178 is mounted to door inner panel 130 by
means of a retainer, 179, which is itself maintained in contact
with inner panel 130 by means of fasteners 181. Retainer 179
permits nut 178 to rotate with respect to both strap 166 and inner
panel 130, while preventing nut 178 from moving axially with
respect to panel 130. Structure 106 may comprise either an A-pillar
or B-pillar, or another structure having similar performance
characteristics. Alternatively, nut 178 could be positioned on
structure 106, thereby allowing strap 166 to pass into and out of
structure 106.
[0048] When nut 178 has been positioned by actuator 182 in the
rotational position illustrated in FIG. 11A, strap 166 is free to
move through nut 178 without hindrance, it being observable from
FIG. 11A that the ovoid inner diameter of nut 178 is matched, or
indexed, with the ovoid outer diameter of cover 174. When, however,
nut 178 has been positioned as shown in FIG. 11B, a number of
serrations, or teeth, 190, impinge lightly upon elastomeric cover
174, with the result that the movement of strap 166 through nut 178
will be slightly inhibited. When, however, nut 178 has been rotated
to the position shown in FIG. 11C, serrations 190 begin to impinge
significantly upon elastomeric cover 174, with the result that
movement of door 14 will be greatly inhibited. Finally, when nut
178 is positioned as shown in FIG. 11D, movement of door 14 will be
effectively prohibited because serrations 190 will be heavily
locked into cover 174 of strap 166. In other words, serrations, or
teeth, 190 are configured to lock nut 178 upon strap 166 to varying
degrees characterizing the several rotational positions at which
said teeth project, to a greater or lesser extent, into elastomeric
cover 174.
[0049] FIG. 12 illustrates an aspect of the present invention in
which strap 194, having an end, 194a, attached by pin 126 to an
A-pillar, a B-pillar, or other structure shown at 106, has a number
of serrations, 198, formed thereupon. A pair of pawls, 202, which
are position-controlled by motors, 206, engage serrations 198 so as
to immobilize strap 194 and, hence, door 14 at any selected
position. Motors 206 are operated by controller 102, as previously
explained.
[0050] FIG. 13 illustrates an aspect according to the present
invention, in which a strap, 210, is position-controlled by means
of a fluidic device, 221, mounted within door 14 upon the reverse
side of panel 130. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, device
221 includes a piston, 214, contained upon an end of strap 210
mounted within a cylinder, 224, containing electrorheological
fluid, 226. Linear electrodes 218 and 222 are connected with
controller 102, which imposes a voltage across electrodes 218 and
222, thereby controlling the viscosity of electrorheological fluid
226, so as to selectively impede the movement of piston 214 through
cylinder 224, while impeding the swinging motion of door 14.
[0051] FIG. 15 illustrates an aspect according to the present
invention, in which strap 210 is equipped with a piston, 234, which
is mounted for reciprocation within a cylinder, 238, which is
filled with hydraulic fluid. The flow of hydraulic fluid from the
spaces on either side of piston 234 is controlled by a valve, 250,
which is operated by controller 102 so as to control the flow of
fluid through ports 246. In this manner, strap 210 and, therefore,
door 14, may be locked in place. A fluid accumulator (not shown),
accommodates the volume differential occasioned by the presence of
strap 210 within cylinder 238.
[0052] FIG. 16 illustrates a multiple locking cam mechanism for use
with an embodiment of a repositionable immobilizer according to an
aspect of the present invention. Bracket 277, which is mounted to
door inner panel 130, contains two generally similar, but opposing,
cam members, 254, which control the sliding action of strap or rod
270. FIG. 17 illustrates one of cam members 254. Each of cam
members 254 has a pair of hinge members, 262, and a spring
retainer, 266. Each of cams 254 further has an ovoid aperture, 258,
through which strap 270 extends. Movement of strap 270 through
apertures 258 is inhibited when cams 254 are rocked over to
positions in which the portions of cams 254 surrounding apertures
258 bear upon, and thereby grip, strap 270.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 18, tension spring 274 pulls the lower
portions of cams 254 to a normally released position. However, on
receipt of a signal from controller 102, linear actuator 278 will
pull the upper portions of cams 254 together, against the force of
spring 274, into a position in which rod 270 is effectively
immobilized against sliding movement. This causes door 14 to also
become immobilized until linear actuator 278 is moved to a position
in which cams 254 have released rod 270. As employed in this
embodiment, linear actuator 278 may include, for example, an
electrodrive ball screw driven by a stepper motor, or another type
actuator known to those skilled in the art and suggested by this
disclosure.
[0054] The foregoing invention has been described in accordance
with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is
exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and
modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to
those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the
invention. Accordingly the scope of legal protection afforded the
invention can only be determined by studying the following
claims.
* * * * *