Vehicle Door Mounting

Abstract

This mounting for a door of vehicle adapted to open by pivoting to an upper position about a fixed pivot shaft extending transversely to the main plane of the door is characterized in that the door engaging a frame structure of the vehicle body in the closed position is operatively connected to a ring member slidably fitted on, and rotatably rigid with, a socket rotatably mounted on, but axially fixed in relation to, said pivot shaft receiving said door in overhanging relationship, said door carrying in the vicinity of the fastening of said shaft a plate adapted to support control members pivoted between said plate, said door and said ring member, whereby the actuation of said control member will cause a movement of translation of said ring member on said socket to free the door from its frame structure or reinserting the door into said frame structure before or after its pivotal movement.

Description

The present invention relates in general to the mounting of doors of automotive vehicles and has specific reference to the mounting of a vehicle door adapted to open by pivoting to a raised position about a fixed axis extending transversely to the main plane of the door.

It is the essential object of this invention to solve the difficult problems inherent to the parking of motor vehicles in towns and in public or private closed or covered garages.

A solution has already been proposed which consists of a door adapted to be raised by simply pivoting same about an axis located substantially at the level of the instrument panel. Now this method is applicable only to a particular body style and also to a very particular body stamping pattern, in order to provide the taper or clearance necessary to permit the pivoting movement of the door. Basically, the roof must be cut out to a substantial degree, thus depriving the passengers of the vehicle of the shelter which they normally have in case of bad weather in a conventional vehicle. Moreover, in the case of a two-door, four-seat vehicle having necessarily relatively long doors the vertical clearance required when opening these doors is very considerable and may give rise to difficulties when operating these doors in underground or covered garages.

It is the essential object of the present invention to avoid the inconveniences set forth hereinabove by providing a door mounting wherein the door, in the closed position, engages a frame structure and is adapted to be opened by pivoting to an upper position as mentioned hereinabove, this mounting comprising pivot means and control members so associated that the door is movable on the one hand by translation parallel to its plane and on the other hand according to the aforesaid pivoting movement.

To this end, the mounting according to this invention for a door adapted to be opened by pivoting about a fixed shaft extending transversely to the main plane of the door is characterized essentially in that the door normally engaging a frame structure in its closed position is connected to a ring member slidably mounted on, and rotatably rigid with, a socket mounted in turn for rotation about but axially stationary in relation to, said pivot shaft receiving said door in overhanging relationship, said door carrying in the vicinity of the zone in which said shaft is secured thereto a plate supporting control members pivotally mounted between said plate, said door and said ring, whereby the actuation of said control members is attended by a movement of translation of said ring on said socket in order to either free the door from said frame structure or refit the door into this frame structure, said door being thus adapted, when released from said frame structure, to pivot about said shaft to its open position, a spiral compensator spring being interposed between said shaft and said supporting plate.

Other features characterizing the door mounting according to this invention will appear as the following description of a typical form of embodiment thereof proceeds with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic general view of a motor vehicle equipped with a door according to this invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the various steps of the door opening and closing movements;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the door, taken at the level of its pivotal mounting and of its control members, the door being shown in its closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the door spaced from its frame structure;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detail views of the control members, shown in sections taken along the lines V-V and VI-VI of FIG. 3, respectively;

FIGS. 7 to 10 are other detail sections taken along the lines VII-VII, VIII-VIII, IX -IX and X-X of FIG. 4, respectively, and

FIG. 11 is a section taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 9 and illustrating a detail.

Referring first to FIG. 1, this general, simplified view shows on a vehicle a door mounting according to this invention; the door 1 is shown in its closed position (thick lines) in which it fits in a conventional door frame structure, and also in its open position (dash and dot lines), the door being to pivot from to the other position about a pivot axis shown diagrammatically at 2, which extends transversely to the main plane of the door, the door being also adapted, as will be explained presently, to be moved in translation along this axis for either releasing the door from its frame structure during the opening movement, or reengaging the door into this frame structure during the closing movement.

As illustrated more in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, the door panel 1 shown only partially (like the frame structure 3) comprises pivot means including an overhanging pivot shaft 4 having one of its ends rigidly secured, for example by riveting, to a baseplate 5 for mounting the pivot means; this baseplate 5 is secured in turn to a stress-distributing plate 6 riveted to a lateral body member 7 of the vehicle. The baseplate 5 is secured in a manner permitting its adjustment as a function of the desired door position by means of bolts 8 engaging with their screw shanks adjustable holes 9 of greater cross-sectional dimensions, their nuts being tightened against counterplates 10 to prevent any sliding movement of the mounting.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 4 by means of end bearings 11 and 12 is a socket 13 axially retained on said shaft by a shoulder formed on end bearing 12 and also by a stop washer 14 associated with this bearing and retained by a diametral pin 15 extending through the outer end of shaft 4. The socket 13 has a splined external surface and has fitted thereon a ring member 16 formed with corresponding internal splines so that this ring member can slide on, but is rotatably rigid with, said socket 13. This ring member 16 is connected on the other hand to the door panel through a plate 17 riveted to said panel and connected preferably with a resilient clearance to said ring member 16, for a reason to be explained presently, through the medium of a pair of trunnions 18 mounted in opposite relationship in said ring and through a pair of opposite lateral bent lugs 19 of plate 17, the resilient clearance being obtained in this case by means of a pair of rubber pads 20 clamped between the plate 17 and projections 21 of ring 16 on which they are fitted while leaving a certain air-cushion therebetween.

The trunnions 18 having a substantially vertical orientation in the closed-door position are also effective for securing the door control members comprising two parallel links 22 pivoted on the one hand to said trunnions 18 and on the other hand, with the assistance of pins 23, to the ends of parallel arms of a bellcrank lever 24 fulcrumed by means of a pivot pin 25 to a strap 26 secured to a plate 27 rigid in turn with the socket 13. The parallel arms of lever 24 are interconnected by a rod 24a and one of these arms having a perpendicular extension is pivoted through the medium of a pivot pin 28 to a link 29 pivoted in turn, through a pivot pin 30, to a control lever 31. The latter is pivoted to the door panel via a support 32 and pivot pin 33, and comprises an inner control handle 34, and is connected on the other hand to the external door handle 35 and to the corresponding lock (see FIG. 1), through the medium of a linkage system mounted within the door panel, as shown diagrammatically at 36 in FIGS. 3 and 4, and pivotally connected at 37 to one portion of lever 31 which extends within the door panel.

A spiral spring 38 for compensating the weight of the door 1 has its central portion rigidly anchored to the pivot shaft 4 by engaging a pair of flat faces thereof FIG. 9, and its outer or free end is shaped to constitute a connecting eyelet or loop associated with a pin 39 adapted to be secured to plate 27 by engaging this spring eyelet or loop in the free or unstressed condition, this step being carried out in an open door position corresponding to a slight overstepping of the raised position of the door in which the latter is in an unstable equilibrium, for safety reasons, the spring 38 being effective to retain the door beyond this position by unwinding, and to retain the door in the closing direction by winding.

The plate 27 is formed with a pair of integral lugs 40 and having bent edges adapted to engage a stop member 42 of resilient material carried by a support 43 adjustably secured to plate 5 by means of a pair of bolts 44 passing through elongated holes 45 formed in said plate 5.

This pivotal mounting and control system for vehicle doors operates as follows:

In the closed-door condition shown in FIG. 3, it will be noted that any force tending to push the door out from its frame structure is attended by a tractive effort in the direction T which is exerted by the trunnions 18 on links 22 and tends to pivot the bellcrank lever 24 in the counterclockwise direction producing at the pivot point 30 a thrust exerted by the link 29 in the direction P, this point being at an overcenter position in relation to pivot pin 33 of control lever 31, in the direction to urge the latter in its closed position in which it is already in abutting engagement at 31a with said link 29. Under these conditions, it is clear that an efficient locking action counteracting any undesired or accidental opening is obtained, this action corresponding to an overcenter condition or knee-action of the door-closing system; in other words, during the final portion of its movement the pivot pin 30 oversteps the imaginary line interconnecting the axes of pivot pins 28 and 33.

The door can be opened from within the vehicle by moving the control lever 31, during a first period, in the direction of the arrow 0, i.e. from the position shown in FIG. 3 to that shown in FIG. 4 (in which the lever 31 abutes at 31b against its mounting bracket or like support 32), thus causing on the one hand the initial opening of the door lock by pulling the linkage 36, this opening movement being facilitated by overstepping the dead center condition of members 31 and 29 in the closed position. On the other hand, the bellcrank lever 24 is caused to pivot in the counterclockwise direction and to push through links 22 the trunnions 18 of ring 16, whereby the latter is caused to slide axially along the socket 13 and thus push the door panel 1 out from its frame structure to an extent providing a clearance J (FIG. 4 and phase II OF FIG. 2). This door-releasing movement of translation permits, upon completion, of opening the door during a second period consisting, still by actuating the handle 34 of lever 31, in pivoting the door about the shaft 4 to the raised or fully open position shown in dash and dot lines in FIG. 2 (step III), due to the provision of the rotating socket 13 and plate 27 rigid therewith, this movement being facilitated by the compensator spring 38; furthermore, the lug 41 of plate 27 engages the resilient stop member 42 in the fully open door position. It will be noted that at the end of the movement of tanslation causing the door to be released from the frame structure of the vehicle body, any transverse force tending to reinsert the door into this frame structure, i.e. moving the ring 16 back along the socket 13, is positively counteracted by the positions assumed by the door control members.

In fact, any effort exerted in the direction R against the ring 16 is attended by a thrust exerted against the links 22 carried by pivot pins 18 and 33, which tends (considering the particular angular position of these links 22 in relation to the fulcrum 25 of the bellcrank lever 24) to pivot this bellcrank 24 in the counterclockwise direction, thus "confirming" the open door position shown in FIG. 4 whereby the lever 31 is already in abutting relationship at 31b with its support 32. Under these conditions it is clear that a locking action preventing any untimely backward movement of translation of the door is produced, as a consequence of the overstepping of the dead center position of the opening control members; in other words, during this movement the pivot pin 23 passes from one to the other side of the imaginary line interconnecting the pivot pins 18 and 25.

To close the door the operation comprises the steps of firstly pivoting the door about the shaft 4 in the opposite direction to restore the door to its lower position in which it registers with the frame structure 3; this movement is obtained by actuating either the inner handle 34 or the external handle 35, the compensator spring 38 ensuring an easy control of this movement, and the lug 40 of plate 27 ensures a convenient limitation of this movement by engaging the resilient and adjustable abutment member 42, in order properly to position the door in relation to its frame structure (step IV of FIG. 2).

Due to the resilient mounting of ring 16 in the door panel, the latter can pivot slightly to move the lock side outwards, so that the door can be slammed; in other words, the door is thus caused to pivot about the trunnions 18 as illustrated in step of FIG. 2, before beginning its movement of translation for reinserting or refitting the door into its frame structure, this movement of translation being obtained by either raising the inner handle 34 (i.e. in the direction opposite to that shown by the arrow 0), or inserting a corresponding action on the external handle 35 to obtain the closed condition illustrated in step VI of FIG. 2.

It will be readily apparent to those conversant with the art that in this form of embodiment the door may be provided with all its necessary operating and mounting elements before fitting the door in its frame structure, this fitting consisting in securing, and adjusting the position of, the baseplate 5 to plate 6, the anchor pin 39 between the supporting plate 27 and the compensator spring 38 being subsequently fitted after opening and raising the door as already explained in the foregoing.

Of course, various modifications and variations may be brought to the specific form of embodiment of the present invention which is shown and described herein, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

What I claim as new is:

1. A vehicle door mounting for opening the door by a pivoting same towards an upper position about a fixed pivot shaft extending transversely to the main plane of the door, characterized in that the door engaging a frame structure in the closed position is connected to a ring member slidably fitted on, but rotatably solid with, a socket rotatably mounted on, but axially fixed in relation to, said shaft on which the door is mounted in overhanging relationship, said door carrying in the vicinity of the fastening of said shaft a plate acting as a support of control members pivotally mounted between said plate, said door and said ring, whereby the actuation of said control members is attended by a movement of translation of said ring of said socket in order to either free the door from said frame structure or refitting the door into this frame structure, said door being thus adapted, when released from said frame structure, to pivot about said shaft to its open position, a spiral compensator spring being interposed between said shaft and said supporting plate.

2. Door mounting according to claim 1, characterized in that said control members comprise at least one first link pivoted to said ring member and a driven bellcrank lever fulcrumed to said supporting plate and to said link, said bellcrank lever and said link coacting to provide a knee-action such that an overcenter position is obtained at the end of the movement of translation of said door away from its frame structure, in order to provide a safety catch and locking action in this position.

3. Door mounting according to claim 2, characterized in that said bellcrank lever is pivotally connected to another link also pivoted to a control lever pivotally mounted to the door panel, the relationship between said control lever and said other link being such that an overcenter position is obtained at the end of the movement of translation of said door in its frame structure, in order to obtain a safety catch and locking action in this position.

4. Door mounting according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the door and the ring member comprises resilient members adapted to provide a certain resilient clearance of the door panel and thus permit of slamming the door to its closed condition.

5. Door mounting according to claim 4, characterized in that said connection comprises a pair of trunnions disposed between said ring member and the door panel, said trunnions being aligned to a substantially vertical axis.

6. Door mounting according to claim 1, characterized in that a fixed adjustable stop member is provided on the vehicle and adapted to be engaged by said supporting plate in the endmost positions of the pivotal movements of said door about said pivot shaft.