US2348306A - Vehicle door closing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

y 1944-v J. B. PARSONS 2 ,348,306 VEHICLE DOOR CLOSING MEOH'ANIIISM Original Filed. Jan. '12, 1942 Ill/II.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Original applicationJanuary 12.19.42, Serial No.1} 1 426,438. Divided and this application'February 7 24, 1943, Serial No. 476,887

4 Claims. (Cl; Z68'3) 1 This invention relates to vehicles such as automobiles but more particularly to fluid pressure systems for vehicles for actuating the doors thereof.

An object is to produce new and improved means for closing a vehicle door through the medium of pressure fluid, the arrangement being such that the door can be opened and closed manually independently of the fluid pressure means.

Another object is to produce a door closure for vehicles by which the ordinary check strap is utilized, means being associated with thecheck strap by which the door may, if desired, be closed by fluid pressure means, thereby enabling the door to be closed either manually or by power controlled means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing in which 1 Figure l is a fragmentary sectional View of the door closing mechanism, the door being indicated in its closed position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the parts shown in Figure 1, showing particularly the mounting of the power operated bell crank arm;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the door closure mechanism showing the door in its open position; and

Figure 4 is a plan view partly in section of the valve mechanism controlling the operation of the door closing unit.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a door 37 which is mounted in the usual manner to swing about hinges 52. Vehicle body doors of this character are ordinarily provided with stops to limit the outward swinging movement thereof. As shown, a check strap 53 is pivoted at 54 to the door jam and extends inside the door as indicated particularly on Figure 3. A Washer 55 at the end portion of the check strap provides an abutment for one end of a coil spring 56, a second washer 51 being disposed at the opposite end of the spring 56 and being slidable relative to the strap 53. The washer 51 is adapted to abut against a stop plate 58 provided Within the door. It will be manifest that when the door is swung open to a predetermined eX-' tent, the washer 5'! will abut against the plate 58 and the spring 56 will thereafter cushion the door movement and limit further swinging of the door. Such conventional check strap arrangementis employed in this connection, but tothe outer end of the usual check strap 53 is pivotally connected an extension 59 having a head at the outer end thereof. The exten#- sion 53 passes throughan opening 6| in an arm 52 of a bell crank 63. The bell crank 63 is pivoted on a stud or and the other arm 65 of the bell crank has pivotally connected to it 'a piston rod 66 on which is mounted a piston 61 slidable within a cylinder 68. The lowenend of the cylinder E8 is pivotally mounted on'apin' fi and from the cylinder leads a tube 19' which'i'sadapted to communicate with the pump l9 as well as throughflsuitablevalve mechanism (Figure 4;),

the reservoir 23 so that fluidunder pressuremay be forced into the cylinder 68 to drive the piston 61 in one direction and also to allow the liquid within the cylinder to be returned to the reservcir as hereinbefore explained.

It will be apparent that when it is desired'to close the door 37,- fluid under pressure maybe introduced into the cylinder 58 todrive the piston upwardly thereby to cause' the' bell crank 58 to rock in a clockw'isedirection (Figure l). The head 55 in the open position of the door 36 will be substantially in abutment with the edge porl tion of the opening 6! so that the clockwise movement of the bell crank will cause the head 60, extension 59 and check strap 53 to move to the left of Figure 4, thereby swinging the door to its closed position. After the door is closed, the tube is opened to the reservoir 29, the liquid is forced from the cylinder 68 by counterclockwise movement of the bell crank 63 caused by the spiral spring H which has one end anchored to the stud 54 and the opposite end to a pin 12 on the bell crank arm 65.

One feature of the above described construction is that in addition to the power control, it enables the door to be manually opened and closed in the normal manner. It will be apparent that when the door closure mechanism is in its normal position as indicated in Figure 1, the door may be opened and closed manually, the strap extension 59 sliding through the opening 6|. However, when the door is in open position, it may be closed by power means as above explained and after closure has been effected, the spring H returns the parts .to their normal position. I

On Figure 4, one form of solenoid operated valve for use in connection with the door closure mechanism above described, is illustrated. In this form, the valve mechanism comprises a tubular casing 13, a portion of which is sur- 2 rounded by a solenoid coil 14. Extending from one end of the casing 13 is a hose attaching nipple 15 which is connected to the tube whereas the nipple 16 on the opposite end of the casing 13 is connected to the pump side. Within the casing 13 is a valve 11 which has a part 18 to close the nipple opening 15, there being a passage 19 through the valve terminating in lateral ports 80. Itwill be apparent that fluid under pressure is admitted to the casing .13 through the nipple 16, but so long as the portion I8 is seated against the nipple opening 15, no

fluid can pass to the cylinder 68. However, by energizing the solenoid 14, the valve 11 is moved upwardly to allow pressure fluid to pass through the ports 80 and out through the nipple to the cylinder 68. When the pump I9 is stopped,

it will be apparent that the pressure of the liquid created by the spiral spring II will unseat the valve 11 and thereby allow egress of the liquid from the cylinder.

This application constitutes a. division of my co-pending application Serial No. 426,438, filed Jan. 12, 1942.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in theappended claims.

fWhat'I claim'is: V

1'. A device of the class described comprising in combination with a vehicle door mounted in a door frame for swinging movements 'to and from closed position, a check strap pivoted to the door frame, spring means associated with said strap to cushion the door opening movement, an extension on said strap, fluid pressure actuated arm connected to engage said extension for effecting door opening movement, and means enabling lost motion between said arm and extension to afford manual opening and closing movements of the door.

2. A device of the class described comprising spring means for normally holding said arm in a predetermined position.

3. A device of the class described comprising in combination with a vehicle door mounted in a door frame for swinging movements to and from closed position, a check strap pivoted to the door frame, spring means associated with .said strap to cushion the door opening movement,

an extension on said strap, a bell crank having an opening in one arm through which said extension is slidable, a stop on said extension with which said arm is engageable when the door is in open position, pressure fluid means connected to the other arm of said bell crank for actuating same, and spring means for normally holding said arm in a predetermined position.

4. A device of the class described comprising in combination with a vehicle door mounted in the door frame for swinging movements to and to and from closed position.

from closed position, a check strap connected to the door frame, a cushion associated with said strap for cushioning the door opening movement, an extension on said strap having a stop at the outer end portion thereof, a bell crank having an opening in one arm through which said extension is slidable, said stop being engageable with said bell crank arm when the door is moved to open position, power operated means .connected to the other arm of said bell crank for actuating same, and means for normally holding said bell crank in a predetermined position whereby the door may be manually moved JOHN B. PARSONS.

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