U.S. patent application number 13/424921 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-12 for double door system for vehicles.
Invention is credited to Takashi Yano.
Application Number | 20120174486 13/424921 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39536348 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120174486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yano; Takashi |
July 12, 2012 |
DOUBLE DOOR SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES
Abstract
A door device for vehicles, comprising a door arranged at a side
of a body of a vehicle, the door having two end portions in a
horizontal direction of the body. A first connecting member is
arranged at the one end portion of the door, a second connecting
member is arranged at the other end portion of the body; and a
third connecting member arranged at a lower end portion of the door
in a height direction of the body. The first, second and third
connecting members arranged at the door are connectable with the
body. The first and second connecting members have upper ends with
these upper ends and the third connecting member arranged to
provide a truss structure which connects the door and the body and
provide rigidity against stress applied from the body to the door
in a state where the door is closed.
Inventors: |
Yano; Takashi; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Family ID: |
39536348 |
Appl. No.: |
13/424921 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12808805 |
Jun 17, 2010 |
8162379 |
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PCT/JP2007/074435 |
Dec 19, 2007 |
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13424921 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
49/246 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05Y 2600/46 20130101;
E05D 15/50 20130101; E05Y 2400/44 20130101; E05F 15/70 20150115;
E05Y 2900/531 20130101; E05Y 2800/113 20130101; E05Y 2400/856
20130101; B60J 5/047 20130101; E05F 15/63 20150115; E05Y 2201/68
20130101; E05Y 2900/50 20130101; E05D 3/127 20130101; E05Y 2400/852
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
49/246 |
International
Class: |
B60J 5/06 20060101
B60J005/06 |
Claims
1. A door device for vehicles, comprising: a door arranged at a
side of a body of a vehicle, the door having two end portions in a
horizontal direction of the body; a first connecting member
arranged at the one end portion of the door; a second connecting
member arranged at the other end portion of the body; and a third
connecting member arranged at a lower end portion of the door in a
height direction of the body, wherein the first, second and third
connecting members arranged at the door are connectable with the
body, the first connecting member has an upper end, the second
connecting member has an upper end, the upper ends of the first and
second connecting members and the third connecting member are
arranged to provide a truss structure which connects the door and
the body and provide rigidity against stress applied from the body
to the door in a state where the door is closed.
2. The door device of claim 1, wherein the first and second
connecting members are configured to enable the door to perform a
first operation including at least one of rotation and translation
relative to the body and a second operation which connects the door
and the body and unlocks the connection between the door and body,
the third connecting member is configured to enable the door to
perform the second operation, one of the first and second
connecting members is assigned to the first operation, and the
other of the first and second connecting members and the third
connecting member are assigned to the second operation when the one
of the first and second connecting members is in the first
operation.
3. The door device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second
connecting members is configured to enable the door to perform a
first operation including at least one of rotation and translation
relative to the body, the other of the first and second connecting
members and the third connecting member are configured to enable
the door to perform a second operation which connects the door and
the body and unlocks the connection between the door and body, and
the other of the first and second connecting members and the third
connecting member are configured to perform the second operation
when the one of the first and second connecting members is in the
first operation.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to vehicle doors.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] The present invention relates to a technique associated with
a door mode for four-seat coupes. With this door arrangement, the
rear-seat occupant can readily get off/on the vehicle while the
front-seat occupant is seated. Two conventional techniques will be
explained. The first technique relates to long double-hinge doors.
The Renault Avantime (France; production stopped in 2004) can be
taken as an example of the vehicle using this door mode. The second
technique relates to long gull-wing doors. The Renault Nepta
(France; released in 2006) can be taken as an example of the
vehicle using this door mode. This vehicle has roofless-type long
gull-wing doors.
[0003] However, in the case of the long double-hinge doors as well,
the doors are required to have a good length in order that the
rear-seat occupant can get off/on the vehicle while the front-seat
occupant is seated. In generally used parking areas, such long
doors tend to cause difficulty when the doors are opened/closed
(the space between adjacent double-parked car is insufficient even
for a double-hinge door). In the case of the long gull-wing doors,
the solid mechanism of vertically opening/closing the heavy large
doors problematically increases the weight of the vehicle. Also,
such doors are imposed with limitation by the systems of parking
areas (insufficient height of mechanical parking systems).
[0004] Double doors for vehicles disclosed in patent documents will
be explained. The doors disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are
aimed to be opened/closed in narrow and crowded places and not
aimed for the rear-seat occupant to get off/on the vehicle while
the front-seat occupant is seated. The illustrations indicate the
normal (not long) doors of a normal two-door sedan. Patent Document
2 also essentially gives the same description.
[0005] Patent Document 3 describes an aim of resolving the issue
that no measures could have been taken against the occurrence of
necessity of opening each door from the opposite side. Further,
FIG. 4 illustrates the doors of a truck having no rear seats. None
of these three patent documents discloses a technique with which
the rear-seat occupant can get in/out of the vehicle while the
front-seat occupant is seated. [0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese
Patent Publication No. 61-12071 [0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese
Patent Publication No. 61-58629 [0008] Patent Document 3: Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 63-284383
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0009] Four-seat coupes with front-hinge doors have suffered from a
problem of inconvenience caused when the rear-seat occupants get
in/out of the vehicle while front-seat occupants are seated.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0010] In order to solve the problem, the present invention uses
long double doors. Use of such long double doors may allow the
rear-seat occupants to get off/on the vehicle with rear-side
opening/closing motion while the front-seat occupants are seated.
Use of the long double doors may also allow the front-seat
occupants to get off/on the vehicle with a front-side
opening/closing motion.
[0011] Use of the long double doors may raise problems of
insufficient rigidity of the doors, which is revealed in
opening/closing the doors and ascribed to the large length of the
doors. As countermeasure against this problem, the long double
doors are each provided with a second opening/closing means (second
linking means) at the center portion thereof so as to ensure
support by a first opening/closing means (first linking means)
provided at the front- or rear-end portion of the door and by the
second opening/closing means. Further, use of the long double doors
may raise another problem of insufficient rigidity of the vehicle
body, which is revealed during the traveling of the vehicle and
ascribed to the large openings necessitated by the doors. In order
to solve this problem, a triangular truss structure is ensured to
be configured by upper end portions of the two first
opening/closing means and a lower end portion of the second
opening/closing means.
Effects of the Invention
[0012] Use of the long double doors may allow the rear-seat
occupants to get off/on the vehicle while the front-seat occupants
are seated. Also, the long double doors may promise new designs for
four-seat coupes. In addition, each of the long double doors has a
length equal to the total length of the front and rear doors of a
four-door vehicle, with the absence of a so-called B pillar that
would otherwise be present between the front and rear doors, and
with the integration of the window glass. Thus, an open boarding
space can be ensured by the use of such long double doors.
[0013] The long double doors, each being provided with the second
opening/closing means at the center thereof, can exert high
rigidity against the stress that would be caused by persons in
opening/closing the doors or by wind pressure. Also, the long
double doors, each being provided with the second opening/closing
means constituted of a folding link mechanism, can ensure strong
link between the doors and the vehicle body at the center lower end
of each of the doors. Accordingly, the vehicle body and each of the
long double doors are strongly linked by the first opening/closing
means provided at the front and rear ends and the second
opening/closing means provided at the center, and can integrally
exert high rigidity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates appearance diagrams of a four-seat coupe
installing a door system (hinge mechanism and link mechanism)
(first and second embodiments);
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates structure diagrams of a door system
(hinge mechanism and link mechanism) (first, second and third
embodiments);
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of a control system
of a door system (hinge mechanism, link mechanism and motion
restriction mechanism) (first embodiment);
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a control system
of a door system (hinge mechanism, link mechanism and automatic
drive mechanism) (second embodiment);
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of a control system
of a door system (hinge mechanism, link mechanism and
power-assistance drive mechanism) (third embodiment);
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates appearance diagrams of a four-seat coupe
installing a door system (double-hinge mechanism and folding link
mechanism) (fourth embodiment);
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates structure diagrams of a door system
(double-hinge mechanism and folding link mechanism) (fourth
embodiment);
[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates by (a) a schematic diagram of a control
system of a door system (double-hinge mechanism, folding link
mechanism and automatic drive mechanism), and by (b) a
characteristics diagram of a function 432A (fourth embodiment);
[0022] FIG. 9 specifically illustrates second opening/closing
means, i.e. FIG. 9 illustrates by (a) the motion restriction
mechanism (first embodiment), by (b) the automatic drive mechanism
(second embodiment), by (c) the power-assistance drive mechanism
(third embodiment), and by (d) the folding link mechanism (fourth
embodiment);
[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates retractable door handles and appearance
diagrams of a vehicle mounting the retractable door handles (first
and third embodiments); and
[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates an appearance diagram of a remote
control means (second and fourth embodiments).
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS
[0025] 1 Vehicle body [0026] 2 Front seat [0027] 3 Rear seat [0028]
5 Retractable door handle [0029] 6 Remote control means [0030] 10
Long double door [0031] 11 Detachable first opening/closing means
[0032] 12 Second opening/closing means [0033] 40 Long double door
(double-hinge mechanism, folding link mechanism) [0034] 41
Detachable first opening/closing means (double-hinge mechanism,
folding link mechanism) [0035] 42 Second opening/closing means
(double-hinge mechanism, folding link mechanism) [0036] 44 Door
fastening means [0037] 51 Door handle switch [0038] 52 Door force
angle sensor [0039] 52a Opening button [0040] 52b Closing button
[0041] 61 Door switch [0042] 61a Opening button [0043] 61b Closing
button [0044] 62 Safety switch [0045] 71 Motion restriction
mechanism [0046] 72 Automatic drive mechanism [0047] 73
Power-assistance drive mechanism [0048] 74 Rotary actuator
(automatic drive mechanism) [0049] 101 Door-side bracket [0050] 111
Vehicle body-side bracket 111 [0051] 112 Pin [0052] 113 Solenoid
[0053] 121 Link [0054] 131 Door position sensor [0055] 132
Operation unit [0056] 133 Control unit [0057] 134 Door lock
solenoid [0058] 401 Door-side bracket (double-hinge mechanism,
folding link mechanism) [0059] 411 Vehicle body-side bracket
(double-hinge mechanism, folding link mechanism) [0060] 412 Pin
(double-hinge mechanism, folding link mechanism) [0061] 413 Door
lock solenoid (double-hinge mechanism, folding link mechanism)
[0062] 414 Double-hinge link (double-hinge mechanism, folding link
mechanism) [0063] 415 Hinge actuator (double-hinge mechanism,
folding link mechanism) [0064] 421 First link-attaching bracket
(double-hinge mechanism, folding link mechanism) [0065] 422 First
link-attaching pin (double-hinge mechanism, folding link mechanism)
[0066] 423 First link (double-hinge mechanism, folding link
mechanism) [0067] 424 Second link (double-hinge mechanism, folding
link mechanism) [0068] 425 Second link-attaching pin (double-hinge
mechanism, folding link mechanism) [0069] 431 Door position sensor
(double-hinge mechanism, folding link mechanism) [0070] 432
Operation unit (double-hinge mechanism, folding link mechanism)
[0071] 433 Control unit (double-hinge mechanism, folding link
mechanism) [0072] 441 Fastening pin (double-hinge mechanism,
folding link mechanism) [0073] 442 Fastening bracket (double-hinge
mechanism, folding link mechanism) [0074] 443 Truss structure for
linking vehicle body and door [0075] 711 Case [0076] 712 Shaft
[0077] 713 Stopper [0078] 714 Friction brake [0079] 721 Case
(automatic drive mechanism) [0080] 722 Shaft (automatic drive
mechanism) [0081] 723 Stopper (automatic drive mechanism) [0082]
724 Friction brake (automatic drive mechanism) [0083] 725 Linear
motor (automatic drive mechanism) [0084] 731 Case (power-assistance
drive mechanism) [0085] 732 Shaft (power-assistance drive
mechanism) [0086] 733 Stopper (power-assistance drive mechanism)
[0087] 734 Friction brake (power-assistance drive mechanism) [0088]
735 Linear motor (power-assistance drive mechanism)
BEST MODE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION
[0089] Long double door system for four-seat coupes. The length of
a long double door corresponds to the total length of the front and
rear doors of a four-door vehicle. In the case of the long double
door, the rear-seat occupant gets off/on the vehicle while the
front-seat occupant is seated, with the rear-side opening/closing
motion of the door. Also, the front-seat occupant gets off/on the
vehicle with the front-side opening/closing motion of the long
double door.
First Embodiment
[0090] A first embodiment is a long double door system
corresponding to claims 1 and 2. The long double door system
includes hinged detachable first opening/closing means 11 and
second opening/closing means 12 having a motion restriction
mechanism 71. FIG. 1 illustrates appearance diagrams of a four-seat
coupe installing the long double door system of the first
embodiment. FIG. 1 illustrates by (a) a plan view of the vehicle at
the time of performing rear-side opening/closing, by (b) a plan
view of the vehicle at the time of performing front-side
opening/closing and by (c) is a front view. FIG. 1 perspectively
illustrates a long double door 10, the detachable first
opening/closing means 11 each configured to have a hinge mechanism,
the second opening/closing means 12, a front seat 2 and a rear seat
3. The second opening/closing means 12 is positioned at a lower
rear part of the front seat 2, so that the comfort of the front-
and rear-seat occupants will not be deteriorated and that the
occupants will not be prevented from getting off/on the
vehicle.
[0091] FIG. 2 illustrates structure diagrams of the detachable
first opening/closing means 11 and the second opening/closing means
12. FIG. 4 illustrates by (a) a front view of the means as viewed
from outside the long double door 10, by (b) a plan view of the
means as viewed from below the long double door 10 in a closed
state, and by (c) is a plan view of the means as viewed from below
the long double door 10 in an opened state. The first
opening/closing means 11 each includes a solenoid 113, an operating
pin 112 and a vehicle body-side bracket 11. The second
opening/closing means 12 includes the vehicle body-side bracket
111, a link 121 and the motion restriction mechanism 71. A
door-side bracket 101 is assembled into the long double door 10 and
the vehicle body-side bracket 111 is assembled into a vehicle body
1.
[0092] Firstly, the solenoid 113 of the detachable first
opening/closing means 11 takes the pin 112 out of the vehicle
body-side bracket 111 to enable opening/closing of the door-side
bracket 101. The solenoids 113 at the front end portion and the
rear end portion of the door-side bracket 101 cannot be
simultaneously operated but only one of them can be operated at a
time. Accordingly, the long double door 10 will not drop. Secondly,
the door opened by the operator is supported at an optional
opening/closing position by the motion restriction mechanism 71 and
the link 121 of the second opening/closing means 12, with the
amount of opening/closing of the door being restricted. The second
opening/closing means 12 prevents the long double door 10 from
being broken by wind pressure and prevents the occupants from being
hurt when the door is abruptly closed.
[0093] FIG. 9 illustrates by (a) a cross-sectional view of the
motion restriction mechanism 71. A friction brake 714 has a
function of supporting the door at an optional opening/closing
position and restricting the opening/closing speed of the door. A
stopper 713 has a function of restricting the amount of
opening/closing.
[0094] FIG. 10 illustrates retractable door handles 5 and
appearance diagrams of a vehicle mounting the retractable door
handles. FIG. 10 illustrates by (a) a plan view of the vehicle, by
(b) a front view of the vehicle and by (c) a plan view of the door
handle 5 mounting a door handle switch 51. The door handle switch
51 senses the stress caused when the operator has attempted to open
the door.
[0095] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of a control system
of the first embodiment. Upon pressing of any of the right-front,
left-front, right-rear or left-rear door handle switch 51 by the
operator, the signal is processed in an operation unit 132 and
transmitted to a control unit 133. The control unit 133 controls a
corresponding door lock solenoid 134 to enable opening/closing of
the long double door 10. When the right-front and right-rear, or
the left-front and left-rear door handle switches 51 are
simultaneously pressed, the operation unit 132 selects one door
handle switch 51 which is supposed to have been pressed the
earliest. When the long double door 10 is closed by the operator,
it is sensed by all of right-front, left-front, right-rear and
left-rear door position sensors 131. Then, the control unit 133
controls the door lock solenoids 134 to lock the long double doors
10.
Second Embodiment
[0096] A second embodiment is a long double door system
corresponding to claims 1, 2 and 3. The long double door system
includes hinged detachable first opening/closing means 11 and
second opening/closing means 12 having an automatic drive mechanism
72. The automatic drive mechanism 72 is a mode of a power drive
mechanism in which opening/closing is automatically performed with
the operation of a switch. The appearance diagrams of a four-seat
coupe installing the long double door system of the second
embodiment are common to those of the first embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0097] Referring to the structure diagrams of FIG. 2, the motion
restriction mechanism 71 of the first embodiment can be replaced,
in the second embodiment, by the automatic drive mechanism 72.
[0098] FIG. 9 illustrates by (b) a cross-sectional view of the
automatic drive mechanism 72. A linear motor 725 drives a shaft
722.
[0099] FIG. 11 illustrates an appearance diagram of remote control
means 6. Door switches 61 are seesaw switches each consisting of an
opening button 61a and a closing button 61b. The remote control
means 6 has a grip where a safety switch 62 is mounted. When the
remote control means is not correctly held by the operator, the
safety switch 62 invalidates the signal from the door switches.
[0100] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a control system
of the automatic drive mechanism 72. When the operator has pressed
the opening button 61a of any of the right-front, left-front,
right-rear or left-rear door switch 61 mounted on the vehicle
console or the remote control means, the signal is processed in an
operation unit 132 and transmitted to a control unit 133. Then, the
control unit 133 controls a corresponding door lock solenoid 134
and drives the linear motor 725 of the automatic drive mechanism 72
to thereby open the long double door 10 up to a predetermined
position. When a plurality of the door switches 61a are pressed
simultaneously, the operation unit 132 selects one door switch 61
which is supposed to have been pressed the earliest. Upon pressing
of the closing button 61b of the door switch 61 by the operator,
the signal is processed in the operation unit 132 and transmitted
to the control unit 133. Then, the control unit 133 drives the
linear motor 725 of the corresponding automatic drive mechanism 72
to move the long double door 10 to a closing position. This is
sensed by all of right-front, left-front, right-rear and left-rear
door position sensors 131, and then the control unit 133 controls
door lock solenoids 134 to lock the long double doors 10.
Third Embodiment
[0101] A third embodiment is also a long double door system
corresponding to claims 1, 2 and 3. The automatic drive mechanism
72 of the second embodiment has been replaced by a power-assistance
drive mechanism 73. The power-assistance drive mechanism 73 is also
a mode of power drive mechanism which senses force imposed on the
door handle to give assistance to the operator so that the door can
be opened/closed with a small force by the operator. The appearance
diagrams of a four-seat coupe installing the long double door
system of the second embodiment are common to those of the first
and second embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0102] Referring to the structure diagrams of FIG. 2, the automatic
drive mechanism 72 of the second embodiment can be replaced, in the
third embodiment, by the power-assistance drive mechanism 73.
[0103] FIG. 9 illustrates by (c) a cross-sectional view of the
power-assistance drive mechanism 73. A linear motor 735 drives a
shaft 732. Compared to the linear motor 725 of the second
embodiment, the linear motor 735 in use has a small drive force but
is suitable for variable speed control.
[0104] FIG. 10 illustrates by (d) an appearance diagram of a
retractable door handle 5 mounting a door handle force-angle sensor
52. The force-angle sensor 52 has two pressure receiving portions,
i.e. an opening button 52a and an opening button 52b, and senses
stress and its direction.
[0105] FIG. 5 is illustrates schematic diagram of a control system
of the power-assistance drive mechanism 73. When the right-front,
left-front, right-rear or left-rear door force-angle sensor 52 is
pressed in the opening direction by the operator, the signal is
processed in an operation unit 132 and transmitted to a control
unit 133. Then, the control unit 133 controls a corresponding door
lock solenoid 134 and drives the linear motor 735 of a
corresponding linear actuator 73 with a force or speed suitable for
the pressing force against the door force-angle sensor 52 to
thereby open the long double door 10 up to a predetermined
position. When a plurality of door force-angle sensors 52 are
pressed simultaneously, the operation unit 132 selects one door
force-angle sensor 52 which is supposed to have been pressed the
earliest. When the door force-angle sensor 52 is pressed in the
closing direction by the operator, the signal is processed in the
operation unit 132 and transmitted to the control unit 133. Then,
the control unit 133 drives the linear motor 735 of a corresponding
linear actuator 73 with a force or speed suitable for the pressure
against the door force-angle sensor 52 to thereby move the long
double door 10 to a closing position. This is sensed by all of
right-front, left-front, right-rear and left-rear door position
sensors 131, and the control unit 133 controls door lock solenoids
134 to lock the long double doors 10.
Fourth Embodiment
[0106] A fourth embodiment is a long double door system
corresponding to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4. The long double door system
includes a detachable double-hinge first opening/closing means 41
and a second opening/closing means 42 having a folding link
mechanism. FIG. 6 illustrates appearance diagrams of a four-seat
coupe installing the long double door system of the fourth
embodiment. FIG. 6 illustrates by (a) a plan view of the vehicle in
the state where the door is closed, by (b) a plan view of the
vehicle at the time of performing rear-side opening/closing, by (c)
is a plan view of the vehicle at the time of performing front-side
opening/closing and by (d) is a front view of the vehicle. The
second opening/closing means 42 consisting of a folding link
mechanism is a pantograph mechanism consisting of two links. The
pantograph mechanism is adapted to open/close the door by changing
the relative angle between the two links. The second
opening/closing means 42 consisting of a folding link mechanism is
accommodated in a recessed portion of the door in the state where
the door is closed, so that the comfortability will not be
deteriorated.
[0107] FIG. 7 illustrates structure diagrams of the double-hinge
detachable first opening/closing means 41 and the second
opening/closing means 42 consisting of a folding link mechanism.
FIG. 7 illustrates by (a) a front view of the means as viewed from
outside a long double door 40, by (b) a plan view of the means as
viewed from below the long double door 40 in a closed state and by
(c) is a plan view of the means as viewed from below the long
double door 40 in an opened state. A door-side bracket 401 is
connected to the long double door 40. A vehicle body-side bracket
411 is connected to a vehicle body 1. A link-attaching bracket 421
is connected to the vehicle body. Also, the detachable double-hinge
first opening/closing means 41 consists of a double-hinge link 414
and a hinge actuator 415. The second opening/closing means 42
consisting of a folding link mechanism consists of a first link
423, a second link 424 and a rotary actuator 74 located at a hinge
portion of the second link 424.
[0108] Firstly, a solenoid 413 of the detachable double-hinge first
opening/closing means 41 at a front- or rear-end portion of the
door-side bracket 401 takes a pin 412 out of the vehicle body-side
bracket 211 to enable opening/closing of the door-side bracket 401.
Secondly, the rotary actuator 74 of the second opening/closing
means 42 consisting of a folding link mechanism allows the first
link 423 and the second link 424 to rotate and expand. Accompanying
this, the hinge actuator 415 of the detachable double-hinge first
opening/closing means 41 allows the double-hinge link 414 to
rotate. With these two interlocked motions, the second and first
opening/closing means 42 and 41 open the door on the rear side
while allowing the door-side bracket 201 to move forward with
respect to the vehicle body, or open the door on the front side
while allowing the door-side bracket 201 to move rearward with
respect to the vehicle body.
[0109] FIG. 9 illustrates by (d) the details of the second
opening/closing means 42 consisting of a folding link mechanism.
The rotary actuator 74 has a rotary shaft secured to the first link
423 and has a body secured to the second link 424. The other end
portion of the first link 423 is connected to the vehicle body 1
via a first link-attaching pin 422 and a first link-attaching
bracket 421. The other end portion of the second link 424 is
connected to the door 40 via a second link-attaching pin 425 and
the door-side bracket 401.
[0110] FIG. 8 illustrates by (a) a schematic diagram of a control
system of an automatic door mechanism (power drive mechanism). When
the operator presses an opening button 61a of a right-front,
left-front, right-rear or left-rear door switch 61 mounted on the
vehicle console or on the remote control means, the signal is
processed with a function 432B in an operation unit 432 and
transmitted to a control unit 433. Then, the control unit 433
controls a corresponding door lock solenoid 413 and drives a
corresponding rotary actuator 74 and a corresponding hinge actuator
415 to open the long double door 40 up to a predetermined position.
When a plurality of door switches 61 are pressed simultaneously,
the operation unit 432 selects one door switch 61 which is supposed
to have been pressed the earliest. When the closing button 61b of
the door switch 61 is pressed by the operator, the signal is
processed in the operation unit 432 and transmitted to the control
unit 433. Then, the control unit 433 drives the corresponding
rotary actuator 74 and the hinge actuator 415 to move the long
double door 40 to a closing position. This is sensed by all of the
right-front, left-front, right-rear and left-rear door position
sensors 431, and the control unit 433 controls the door lock
solenoids 413 to lock the long double doors 40.
[0111] FIG. 8 illustrates by (b) a characteristics diagram of the
function 432A. The x-axis indicates the amount of driving of the
rotary actuator 74 and the .theta.-axis indicates the driving
rotation angle of the hinge actuator 415. With respect to the line
connecting a mass start point and an end point (dash line in the
figure), the hinge actuator 415, when P1>x.gtoreq.9 constitutes,
performs the operations of the full processes and when
P2.gtoreq.x.gtoreq.P1 constitutes, performs no operation.
[0112] Modifications of the fourth embodiment will be described.
The second opening/closing means 42 consisting of a folding link
mechanism may be replaced by a pantograph mechanism consisting of
four links. Also, the detachable double-hinge first opening/closing
means 41 may be replaced by such a mode as the simple hinge
mechanism of the first embodiment or a slide mechanism. Further,
the automatic door mechanism (power drive mechanism) may be
replaced by the motion restriction mechanism of the first
embodiment or the power-assistance drive mechanism of the third
embodiment.
[0113] With reference to (d) of FIG. 7 and (d) of FIG. 9, the
rigidity of the vehicle body of the fourth embodiment will be
described. In order to enhance the road-holding performance of a
vehicle in high-speed cornering, the torsional rigidity of the
vehicle body must be enhanced so that correct operation of the
suspension can be ensured. Since the vehicle body having long doors
such as of the present invention will have large door openings, it
is not easy to enhance the torsional rigidity of the vehicle
body.
[0114] In the fourth embodiment, the vehicle body 1 is adapted to
have an integrated structure including the long double doors 40.
The double-hinge link 414 of the first opening/closing means 41
becomes parallel to the door plane in the vicinity thereof, in the
state where the door is closed. The first and second links 423 and
424 of the second opening/closing means 42 are folded so as to be
parallel to the door plane in the vicinity thereof, in the state
where the door is closed. The first and second link-attaching pins
422 and 425 are both located in the vicinity of the door plane, and
the first link-attaching bracket 421 is also located in the
vicinity of the door plane. In this way, the detachable
double-hinge first opening/closing means 41 and the second
opening/closing means consisting of a folding link mechanism are
unlikely to be applied with the moment caused by the torsional
stress imposed on the vehicle body 1. Accordingly, as illustrated
by (d) in FIG. 7, the vehicle body 1 and the long double door 40
will be connected with high rigidity via the detachable
double-hinge first opening/closing means 41 at the front and rear
ends of the long double door 40 and the second opening/closing
means 42 consisting of a folding link mechanism at the center lower
end thereof. As indicated by the thick lines, a truss structure 443
will be formed connecting the vehicle body and the door.
[0115] With reference to (d) of FIG. 7, a system for further
enhancing the rigidity of the vehicle body in the fourth embodiment
will be described. A fastening pin 441 is provided at the center
lower end of the door-side bracket 401. Also, a fastening bracket
442 that mates with it is provided at the vehicle body 1. The
fastening pin 441 is fastened to the fastening bracket 442 in the
state where the door is closed. The fastening bracket 442 is also
located in the vicinity of the door plane to reinforce the
connection established at the center lower end of the door between
the long double door 40 and the vehicle body 1.
INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY
[0116] The long double door of the present invention may be very
effectively used in four-seat cabriolets and promises new design.
Due to the necessity of supporting the door when opened, the
detachable first opening/closing means 11, 21, 31 and 41 of the
long double doors 10, 20, 30 and 40, respectively, of the present
invention are each configured to have a fastening mechanism that
can endure heavy load. In the state where the door is closed, the
fastening mechanism can exert high rigidity in the form of a
structure in which the mechanism is integrated with the vehicle
body. In the ninth embodiment and in the second modification of the
ninth embodiment, high rigidity can be obtained by connecting the
vehicle body with the door and forming the truss structure 443. In
the four-seat cabriolets of the conventional door system, rigidity
has been principally realized by reinforcing the floor structure of
the vehicle bodies. The four-seat cabriolets installing the long
double doors 10, 20, 30 and 40 of the present invention can promise
high-rigidity and light-weight designs using the doors as parts of
the vehicle body structure.
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