Motorized vehicular system with automated door assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9605466-B2
Application number	US-201514645877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2015
Priority date	Feb 17, 2015
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A door assembly for a motorized vehicle includes a door configured to move between an open position and a closed position, a first member defining a first axis, and a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis. A linkage assembly includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm are pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot. A cross member has a first end and a second end. The first end has a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member. The door is movable between the open and closed positions as the first member pivots about the first axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motorized vehicle, comprising:
a body frame mounted on a chassis, where the chassis is adapted to support a vehicle powertrain and a plurality of wheels;
a vehicle floor coupled to the body frame and chassis;
a ramp assembly coupled to the vehicle floor, the ramp assembly being configurable in at least a stowed position and a deployed position to enable the wheelchair-occupied passenger ingress and egress to and from the interior;
a door coupled to the body frame, the door configured to move between an open position and a closed position to provide access to an interior of the vehicle;
a door assembly including:
a first member defining a first axis;
a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis;

a linkage assembly including a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm being pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot; and
a cross member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member;
wherein, the door is movable between the open and closed positions as the first member pivots about the first axis.

2. The motorized vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket defining a second slot therein, the bracket being pivotably coupled to the first member at a first location and the first arm at a second location, where the first location is spaced from the second location.

3. The motorized vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the second slot comprises a profile having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion defined by a first radius and the second portion defined by a second radius;
wherein the first radius and second radius are different from one another.

4. The motorized vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second support member defining a third axis, the third axis being spaced from and parallel to the first and second axes; and
a connecting arm pivotally coupled to the first support member and the second support member.

5. The motorized vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the connecting arm is pivotally coupled to the first support member about the second axis and pivotally coupled to the second support member about the third axis.

6. The motorized vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising:
a third arm defining a third slot and including a second pin;
wherein, the connecting arm includes a third pin;
further wherein, the third pin is slidably disposed within the third slot and the second pin is slidably coupled to the second slot.

7. The motorized vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of pillars forming part of the body frame, the plurality of pillars including at least a first pillar, a second pillar, and a third pillar, where the first pillar is disposed near a front end of the vehicle and the third pillar is disposed near a rear end thereof; and
at least a second door coupled to the body frame and providing access to an interior of the vehicle.

8. A motorized vehicle, comprising:
a chassis;
a powertrain and a plurality of wheels supported by the chassis;
a body frame mounted on the chassis;
a door coupled to the body frame, the door configured to move between an open position and a closed position to provide access to an interior of the vehicle;
a first member defining a first axis;
a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis;
a linkage assembly including a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm being pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot;
a cross member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member; and
a drive assembly operably coupled to the first member;
wherein, the door is movable between the open and closed positions as the drive assembly operably drives the first member about the first axis.

9. The motorized vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising:
a vehicle floor coupled to the body frame and chassis; and
a ramp assembly coupled to the vehicle floor, the ramp assembly being configurable in at least a stowed position and a deployed position to enable the wheelchair-occupied passenger ingress and egress to and from the interior.

10. The motorized vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the drive assembly comprises:
a motor;
a gear set coupled to the motor; and
a clutch assembly being disposable in an engaged position and a disengaged position,
wherein, the motor is operably coupled to the first member in the engaged position and decoupled therefrom in the disengaged position.

11. The motorized vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the drive assembly comprises:
a first sprocket coupled to the clutch assembly;
a second sprocket coupled to the first member; and
a drive chain coupled between the first sprocket and the second sprocket;
wherein the motor operably drives the first and second sprockets via the drive chain in the engaged position.

12. The motorized vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising:
a bracket including a pin, the bracket being coupled to the door;
a cinching head having an open end that defines a first angled portion and a second angled portion; and
an actuator coupled to the first member at a first end and the cinching head at a second end, where a movement of the actuator moves the cinching head in a first axial direction;
wherein, the movement of the cinching head in the first axial direction induces a movement of the bracket in a second axial direction, wherein the second axial direction is substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction.

13. The motorized vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising a spring mechanism coupled to the first member;
wherein, the spring mechanism is disposable on a first side of the first axis to provide a force to maintain the door in the closed position;
further wherein, the spring mechanism is disposable on a second side of the first axis to provide a force to maintain the door in the open position.

14. A vehicular system, comprising:
a body frame defining an interior;
a door coupled to the body frame, the door configured to move between an open position and a closed position to provide access to the interior;
a door assembly including:
a first member defining a first axis;
a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis;
a linkage assembly including a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm being pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot; and
a cross member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member;

a control system including a controller having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;
wherein, the door is movable between the open and closed positions as the first member pivots about the first axis.

15. The vehicular system of claim 14 , further comprising a pivot arm sensor coupled to the first arm and configured to detect a position of the door relative to a current position of the first arm;
wherein, the pivot arm sensor is disposed in electrical commun

Assignees

• Braun Corp

Inventors

• Wojdyla Adam
• Pugh Michael R
• Dosenbach Sajed
• Wegner Christopher
• Perkins Greg

Classifications

• E05F1/14

  with double-acting springs, e.g. for closing and opening or checking and closing {no material} · CPC title

• B60J5/047

  characterised by the opening or closing movement · CPC title

• E05F15/649

  operated by swinging arms · CPC title

• E05F15/632 Primary

  for horizontally-sliding wings · CPC title

• B62D47/00

  Motor vehicles or trailers predominantly for carrying passengers (superstructures B62D31/00) · CPC title