GB2376445A

GB2376445A - Door opening and closing mechanism for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2376445A
Application number: GB0114315A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Howard Gee; Robert Cooper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-13
Filing date: 2001-06-13
Publication date: 2002-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-13
Also published as: GB2376445B; GB0114315D0

Abstract

The assembly includes a door 4 that moves from a closed position to an open position through an initial outward movement around supports (8 fig 2) on horizontal pivots 2 near the top of the door opening and then slides upwards towards the upper part of the vehicle body on the same supports. The door is counter balanced to bias its movement towards the open position by either a spring or hydraulic rods (12). The door is provided with locking mechanisms for when it is closed.

Description

Title: DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE Description of Invention This invention relates to motor vehicles.

The invention has been devised with the object in view of providing a mechanism for opening and closing a motor vehicle door in such a way that the lateral displacement of any part of the door, when open, may be minimiser. It is considered to be particularly suitable for small cars or light commercial vehicles, the dimensions of which preclude fitting mechanisms already known and used on larger vehicles.

Many motorists frequently find that the only available parking place is slightly too narrow to enable a conventional, front hinged, car door to open far enough to permit egress without difficulty. Moreover, they may sometimes park and alight without much difficulty only to find, on returning to the car, that a vehicle has since been parked alongside so close that entry to their own car is difficult or even impossible. The thickness and length of many car or light commercial vehicle doors is such that the space required between the closed door and the nearest lateral obstruction-usually another vehicle or a pillar in a multi-storey car park-is typically approximately double the space that the person trying to get in or out would need in order to stand and walk alongside the car and, even with such space, entry or egress is still difficult because the door can only open through a small angle.

Various motor manufacturers have produced models that overcome this problem on their particular models. Possibly the most common solution is a door arranged to open outwards by approximately its own thickness and then slide, usually rearwards. This arrangement is found on many vans, mini-buses and several multi-purpose vehicles such as the Nissan Prairie, Toyota Previa and Renault Espace. Another solution is the arrangement, commonly known as"gull-wing", of which the best known example is probably the Mercedes-Benz 300SL coupe introduced in the 1950s. A third possible solution is for the door to pivot around a horizontal pivot at or near the top (ignoring the door window) of the

front edge of the door so that it moves in an essentially vertical plane: this arrangement is found on the Lamborghini Countach and Diablo. A fourth possible solution is for the door to move downwards into the iower side bodywork onhe car, as in me BMW Il sports car. A further possibility, which does not yet appear to have been adopted for series production, has been proposed by Townsend in US4, 801, 172,4, 940,282, 5,378, 036 and 5,921, 611.

Townsend envisages"an upwardly retracting vehicle door, such as for use on the rear of a mini-van. The door includes a lower primary door panel and an upper secondary door panel, such as a glass window, that is retractable into the primary door panel. The primary door panel includes rollers on both side edges for slidably mounting the primary door panels on channels located on the vehicle body. When the primary door panel is opened, the window retracts into the primary door panel while the primary door panel travels upward toward the window and along an arcuate path preferably into a pocket within the vehicle roof" There are, however, practical disadvantages and geometrical constraints on the possible size, shape and location of any of the five arrangements cited above in relation to the dimensions of the vehicle in which it is to be fitted. If the width of a sliding door is greater than the distance from its rear edge (when closed) to the rear of the vehicle, it would extend beyond the rear of the vehicle when fully open, possibly creating a traffic hazard. This generally makes it unsuitable for use a the only side door of a passenger vehicle having more than one row of seats. If a"gull-wing"door were fitted to a car that is narrow in comparison with the door opening measured vertically, it would extend laterally well beyond the side of the car while it is being opened. Furthermore, it could be very difficult to escape from a car with"gull-wing"doors if it had overturned. The mechanism employed on the Lamborghini Countach and Diablo dictates a rear edge to the door opening compatible with the arc through which the trailing edge of the door is constrained to move-a constraint that may not be acceptable in less specialised vehicles. The mechanism in the BMW Zl permits a door opening (measured vertically, excluding any retractable door window) that cannot be greater than the depth of the bodywork below it: this is also unlikely to be acceptable in less specialised vehicles. Finally, the arrangement proposed by Townsend requires a door with edges which-if not vertical as he proposes-must at least be parallel to each other. This requirement would make it difficult to incorporate either as a front side door, where the combination of front wheel arch and windscreen pillar would typically dictate a more

rearward location than desirable, or as a rear side door where the rear wheel arch would dictate a more forward location than is desirable.

The present invention comprises, in essence, a mechanism which permits the door, when closed, to move outwards around supports on horizontal pivots near the top of the door opening and also to slide upwards and inwards through such supports. Angular motion around the pivots and linear motion through the pivots may be simultaneous or sequential, as controlled by the person using the door.

At the time of this application there are no vehicles in volume production with this feature. It seems that the closest relevant prior art in the field of motor vehicles is the "gull wing"arrangement described above and the arrangement proposed by Townsend. In another field, the combination of pivot and slide used in some retractable loft ladders may be regarded as relevant although, as will be apparent, the present invention incorporates additional features that distinguish it from such ladders, in addition to the inventive step of an entirely different application.

With these desiderata in view, according to one aspect of the present invention, we provide an assembly for use in a motor vehicle comprising: a body structure incorporating a roof or, if there is no root structural members at a height above the heads of passengers in a seated position to which other elements of the assembly may be attached, and one or more door apertures which may be at either side, the front, or the rear of the vehicle, one or more doors each of which, singly or in combination with another door panel, fit into each relevant door aperture when closed and which, if desired, may incorporate windows which, if desired, may be partially or fully retractable into the non-glazed part of each door, in respect of each door (if more than one of the type described herein), pivotally attached supports mounted on the roof or other structural member at an appropriate height and close to the upper edge of the relevant door aperture with the axis of each pivot generally horizontal,

in respect of each door (if more than one of the type described herein), guides, each of which is rigidly attached to that part of the corresponding pivotal support which is & ee to rotate reiative to the roof or other structural member, in respect of each door (if more than one of the type described herein), generally vertical elements, forming part of the door structure, each such element having a cross-section such that it may move slidably within or around the corresponding guide, in respect of each door (if more than one of the type described herein), a means of approximately counterbalancing the weight of the door by, for example, one or more metal springs, of which various types are possible, and/or by hydraulic rams, in respect of each door (if more than one of the type described herein), a means of locking and unlocking the door to or from the door frame in respect of each door (if more than one of the type described herein), means of sealing the door when closed in order to prevent ingress of water or draughts.

Alternatively, the hinged supports and guides may be integral elements pivotally mounted on a generally horizontal roof support.

Alternatively, in vehicle without a fixed roof, the slidable elements could be attached to mounting points on the windscreen frame and a transverse "roll-bar".

Preferably the centre of gravity of each door should be sufficiently high to enable it to move to a position above the roof when fully open, thereby ensuring that the door is then in stable equilibrium If a door is equipped with a downward opening window, preferably this condition should still hold when the window is fully open.

Preferably there should be two guides, at least 30cm apart, for each door of this type.

Preferably the means of counterbalancing the weight of each door with respect to angular movement should be by one or more torsion bar springs having attachments to both the roof structure and to the sliding guides.

Preferably the means of counterbalancing the weight of each door with respect to linear movement through the guides should be by one or more reel-type springs with the reel part attached to a suitable part of the roof and the free end attached to the lower part of the door.

Preferably the guides should be coated with a low-friction substance or be fitted with ball or roller bearings.

Preferably the or each door has deadlocks such that the door cannot open accidentally as, for example, might otherwise occur when the vehicle passes over a severe bump in the road.

If desired, the or each door could be equipped with power assistance for opening and/or closing, such power assistance being provided by electric motors, electric solenoids, hydraulic pressure or other means.

If desired, in a vehicle with dimensions such that fully open doors on both sides of the vehicle could otherwise foul each other, means could be provided, mechanically or electronically, to restrict the extent of opening of one of the doors. Alternatively, if the doors have framelcss windows that automatically retract downwards as the doors open-as suggested by Townsend-only the door supports that slide through the guides need to be considered and any possibility of fouling can be eliminated by slightly asymmetric location of the two side doors. Further, if the height of the vehicle is such as to eliminate the possibility of an occupants head coming into contact with a door that is nearly, but not quite, fully open, the doors may be provided with stops to prevent either opening far enough to touch the other.

The door may be operated, from inside or outside the vehicle, by the driver or a passenger. Starting from the closed position, the lock is released and the lower part of the door is pushed (from inside) or pulled (from outside) slightly outwards. The springs or rams will cause the door to start to rise. The operator may continue to push or pull the door further outwards, or can assist the springs or rams to raise the door further, or do both

simultaneously. As the door rises the force of the springs or rams will diminish but the door will reach a more nearly horizontal position, enabling the operator to push the door to a posiuon where, provided the door's centre of gravity satisfies the condition noted above, it will rest in stable equilibrium in a near-horizontal position mainly above the roof To close the door, the operator first pulls the door slightly outwards until gravity causes it to rotate about and slide through its guides towards the closed position. The strength of the springs or rams, and the friction between the door and the guides, should be chosen such that this process does not occur too suddenly. When the door approaches the closed position, it is necessary for the operator to pull it (from inside) or push it (from outside) inwards and simultaneously push it slightly downwards against the force of the springs or rams in order to secure it in the closed position.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which :-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a lateral cross-section of a motor vehicle having a door of this type at each side, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a part of one of the roof supports and door, together with one part of the counterbalancing mechanism.

Figure 3 is a more detailed diagrammatic view of that part of the cross-section shown in Figure 1 that contains a roof support and pivotally mounted guide, together with another part of the counterbalancing mechanism.

Note that, for clarity, some elements are omitted from some diagrams.

Referring first to Figure 1, the roof structure includes a transverse member 1 and longitudinal members 2. Guides 3 are pivotally attached, directly or indirectly, to longitudinal members 3, the pivot axes being generally horizontal. Doors 4 incorporate generally vertical members 8. The cross-section of the hinged guides 3 and the door

members 8 are such that members 8 are able to slide within guides 3 but are not able to move significantly in other directions. Handles 5, one on the inside and another on the outside of each door, facilitate opening and closing by the operator and, if no separate locking mechanism is provided, are connected to the door locking mechanism. Inner handles 5 are recessed within the thickness or the doors. Solid lines depict the relevant structural members of the vehicle and the doors in the closed position. Broken lines depict several possible positions of the inner surface of each door between nearly closed. One door is shown in positions AA to GO as would occur if opening is mainly outward, Le. by rotation of the guides, prior to a mainly sliding movement through them. The other door is shown in positions HH to MM as would occur if opening is mainly upward, i. e. by sliding through the guides, prior to movement mainly by rotation of the guides.

Figure 2 shows a section of longitudinal member 2 to which are rigidly attached brackets 9 and 11. A torsion bar 10 is rigidly clamped into brackets 11 but is able to rotate within brackets 9. Most of torsion bar 10 may be of any desired cross-section but, where it passes through brackets 9, it should be of circular cross section and the inner surface of brackets 9 should likewise be of circular cross-section. Guide 3 is rigidly attached to torsion bar 10 between brackets 9. Torsion bar 10 is attached in such a way that there is minimal torsion in it when guide 3 is at its nearest to a horizontal position and maximum torsion when guide 3 is at its nearest to a vertical position. Member 8, which is rigidly attached to, or part of, door 4 has a cross-section such that it can slide within guide 3.

Figure 3 is a cross-section through, for example, line AA of Figure 2. Guide 3 is rigidly attached to torsion bar 10 and can rotate to the extent that this part of torsion bar 10 can rotate. Generally vertical member 8 can slide within guide 3. A spring 12, not necessarily of the type shown in Figure 3, is attached to longitudinal member 2 and to member 8 (or to another part of door 4) such that tension in the spring is at its maximum when the door is closed and at its minimum when it is fully open.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A door, door frame and opening and closing mechanism incorporated within a motor vehicle comprising: an assembly including a door having two or more generally vertical structural members which can slide within guides that are rigidly attached to that part of a generally horizontal torsion bar that is able to rotate about its own axis, other parts of such torsion bar being rigidly attached to a generally horizontal part of the vehicle roof structure, said guides being coated with a low-friction substance, said assembly also including one or more reel-type springs with the reel part attached to the roof structure and the free end attached to the lower part of the door, said assembly also including means for unlocking and opening, and closing and locking, the door from both inside and outside the vehicle, said assembly also including means of sealing the door when closed to prevent ingress of water or draughts.
2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the door incorporates a window that is retractable into the non-glazed part of the door.
3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the guides, instead of being rigidly attached to a torsion bar, are rigidly attached to supports which are pivotally mounted on a generally horizontal part of the roof structure and separate means are provided of counterbalancing the weight of the door with respect to angular movement, such means including a torsion bar rigidly attached to the roof structure at one point and rigidly attached to the door at another point.

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4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the means of counterbalancing the weight of the door with respect to angular movement is by hydraulic pressure acting on a piston and crank mechanism that converts linear movement of the piston to angular movement of the guide, instead of a torsion bar.
5. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the means of counterbalancing the weight of the door with respect to linear movement through the guides is by one or more coil springs instead of reel-type wound springs.
6. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the means of counterbalancing the weight of the door with respect to linear movement through the guides is by one or more hydraulic struts.
7. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the guides are fitted with ball or roller bearings instead of being coated with a low-friction substance.
8. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the door has deadlocks or other means for preventing accidental opening.
9. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the door is equipped with power assistance for opening.
10. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the door is equipped with power assistance for closing.
11. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10 except that, for use in a vehicle that does not have a fixed roof structure, the guides and springs or hydraulic rams are attached to mounting points on the windscreen frame and a transverse "roll-bar".
12. A plurality of assemblies as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11 incorporated within a single motor vehicle.

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13. In a vehicle as claimed in Claim 12, means for preventing one open door from fouling another.