United States Patent [t9J
`Zuckerman
`
`[l T] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,069,000
`Qec. 3, 1991
`
`[54] REVERSING APPARATUS FOR PO\\'ERED
`VEIDCLE DOOR SYSTEMS
`[75]
`Inventor: Lawrence H. Zuckerman, Easton, Pa.
`[73] Assignee: Masco lodustries, Inc., T aylor, Mich.
`[21] . Appl. No.: 497,546
`[22) Filed:
`MJlr. 22, 1990
`[5!J Int. a.s .............................................. EOSF 15/02
`(52] u.s. a. .......................................... 49/ 28; 49/214;
`49/360
`[58] Field of Search ................. 49/214, 213, 362, 360,
`49/28, 29, 30
`
`[56]
`
`References ~ted
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2,628,091 2/1953 Rapp1 .
`3,069,151 12/1962 Cook et al. .
`3,124,344 3/1964 Mano .
`3,141,662 7/1964 Wise .
`3.202,414 8/1965 Simmons et a!. .
`3,344,554 10/1967 Misaka et al ..
`3,398,484 8/1968 Katsumura et al ..
`3,479,767 11/1969 Gardn~r et al. .
`3,653,154 411972 Hayday .
`3,844,062 10/ 1974 Daugirdal .......... ___ ......... 49/ 214 X
`3,893,260 7/1975 Cadiou .
`4,121,382 10/1978 Dietrich et al. .
`4.183,177 1/ 1980 Kurdziel .
`4,314,692 2/1982 Brauer et a1 ..
`4,422,521 12/ 1983 Mochida .
`4,462,185 7/1984 Shibuki et al. .
`4,489,640 12/198-1 Olson .
`4,530,185 7/ 1985 Moriya et al. .
`4,546,845 10/1985 M«.>yer era! ..
`4, 549.369 10/ 1985 Foley, Jr ..
`4,612,n9 9/ 1986 Sato .
`4,617.757 10/ 1986 Kagiyama et al. .
`~621.21.> 11/ 1986 Murakami et at. ................. 49/28 X
`
`4,640,050 2/1987 Yamagishi et a] ..
`4.644,692 2/ 1987 SchindehUtte .
`4,644,693 2/1987 Wang .
`4,686,598 8/1987 Herr .................................... 49/28 X
`4,775,178 10/1988 Boyko ,
`4,831,509 5/ 1989 Jones et aJ.. ......................... 49/ 28 X
`4,842,313 6/l 989 Boyko et al ..
`4,862,640 9/1989 Boyl<o et al ..
`4,887.390 12/1989 Boyko et al ..
`FOREIGN PATENT D OCUMENTS
`0017515 10/1980 European Pat. Off ..
`3523261 1/1986 Fed. Rep. o!' Germany .
`2578078 8/1986 France •
`620336 3/1949 United Kingdom .
`
`Pn'mary Examiner-Philip C. Kannan
`Attorney. Agem, or Firm-Harness, Dickey & Pierce
`
`[57)
`ABSTR.4CT
`An obstruction detecting reversing apparatus is dis(cid:173)
`closed for a motor driven device, such as a powered
`vehicle door or window system, wherein the device
`undergoes varying loads, and consequentJy varying
`current draws, during normal operation. In order to
`accurately detect the presence of an obstruction, in light
`of such normally varying currents, the apparatus circujt
`logic monitors instantaneous motor current and com(cid:173)
`pares it with the time average of motor current over a
`very short preceding time interval, which ''tracks''
`normal current draw in order to sense an obstruction(cid:173)
`caused rise in motor current at virtually any stage of the
`door closing operation, and thus also accommodates
`normal changes in current draw caused by different
`gravity effects w hen the device is oriented in different
`grade-caused orientations.
`
`18 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1009
`Page 1
`
`

`

`lJ .S. Patent
`
`Dec. 3, 1991
`
`Sheet 1 of 16
`
`5,069,000
`
`-
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1009
`Page 2
`
`

`

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`sneet 2 of 16
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`nee. 3, 1991
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`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1009
`Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 3, 1991
`
`Sheet 3 of 16
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`5,069,000
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`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1009
`Page 4
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`Dec. 3, 1991
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`Dec. 3, 1991
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`Dec. 3, 199!
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`Sheet 6 of 16
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`5,069,000
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`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1009
`Page 7
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`Dec. 3, 1991
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`Dec. 3, 1991
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`Sheet 11 of 16
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`5,069,000
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1009
`Page 12
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 3, 1991
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`Dec. 3, 1991
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`US. Patent
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`Dec.3,1991
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`Sheet 14 0116
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`5,069,000
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`

`1
`
`5,069,000
`
`REVERSING APPARATUS FOR POWERED ·
`VEHJCLE DOOR SYSTEMS
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS
`AND APPLICATIONS
`This invention is related to the inventions disclosed
`and claimed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,887,390; 4,862,640;
`4,842,313; and 4, 775,178, all of which are assigned to the
`same assignee as the present invention, and the disclo(cid:173)
`sures which are hereby incorporated by reference
`herein. This invention is also related to the inventions
`disclosed and described in related copending applica(cid:173)
`tionS for U.S. Patents, entitled "VARYING RADIUS
`HELICAL CABLE SPOOL FOR POWERED VE- 15
`HICLE DOOR SYSTEMS", "CONTROL APPARA·
`TUS FOR POWERED VEHICLE DOOR SYS-
`TEMS", and "POWERED CLOSING ASSIST
`MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE DOORS OR LID
`MEMBERS", all of which are filed on the same date as 20
`this application-and are assigned to the same assignee as
`the. present invention, and the disclosures of which are
`hereby incorporated ~Y reference bereio.
`BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE
`INVENTION
`This invention relates to a reversing apparatus for ·
`motor-actuated dev1ces for detecting a predetermined
`abnormal load on such devices and for stopping and
`reversing tbe drive motor in response to the presence of 30
`such abnormal load, such as the presence of an obstruc·
`tion: The reversing apparatus is especially applicable to
`powered sliding door operating systems for vehicles
`and, more particularly, to such powered sliding door
`operating systems for van type vehicles having a door 35
`opening in a side wall oft he van. In such applications of
`the invention, the sliding door i!> moved generally paral-
`lel to the van side wall during its initial closing move(cid:173)
`ment and for a major portion of its full closing move·
`ment as well as during a major portion of its full opening 40
`movement, including its !mal opening movement. Typi(cid:173)
`cally, the sliding door moves generally toward and
`generally away from the plane of the door opening
`during a portion of its respective final closing and initial
`opening movements, so as to be flush with tbe side wall 45
`when fully closed, and so as to be alongside of, and
`parallel to, the side wall, generally rear of the door
`opening, when fully opened.
`In sliding door systems of the type mentioned above,
`upper and lower forward guide rails are attached to the SO
`top and bottom portions, respectively, of the door open(cid:173)
`ing, and a rear guide rail is attached to ·the exterior of
`the side wall, at an elevation approximately midway
`between the elevation of the upper and lower forward
`guide rails. The respective forward end portions of t.be SS
`various guide rails are curved inwardly of the body of
`the van, and bracket and roller assemblies are fastened
`to the respective upper and lower forward ends of the
`sliding door, as well as to an intermediate position at the
`rear end of the sliding door. Such bracket and roller 60
`assemblies are slidingly supported in the guide rails to
`guide the door through its opening and closing move(cid:173)
`ments,
`Various portions of the opening and closing move(cid:173)
`ments of van sliding doors have different power re- 65
`quiremen1s. Thus, the initial door closing movement
`and a major portion of the subsequent door closin.g
`movement are high displacement/low force transla-
`
`·
`
`2
`tiona! movements, during which little force is required
`to achieve large door movements since only frictional
`resistance and grade-caused gravity resistances must be
`overcome. Similarly, the final opening movement and a
`5 major portion of the preceding opening movement are
`also high displacement/low force translational move·
`ments for the same reasons. In contrast however, a
`portion of the final closing movement of the door is a
`low displacement/high force movement. This is be-
`10 cause during final closing, an elastomeric weather seal
`surrounding the door opening must be compressed, and
`an unlatched latch bolt on the door must engage and be·
`rotated to a latched position by a striker pin at the rear
`of the van body door opening. D uring manual opera(cid:173)
`tion, sliding van doors are typically moved with great
`momentum through their entire closing movements in
`order to assure full weather strip compression and latch
`bolt operation at the end of such movement.
`Various powered van door systems have been devel(cid:173)
`oped in the past, including those described in the above(cid:173)
`mentioned related U.S. patents. Another such system is
`illu~trated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,729, issued to Sato. In
`the Sato patent, a motor driven pinion carried by the
`25 lower front .bracket and roller ru;sembly of the door
`cooperates with a rack gear carried by the lower front
`guide r.~il:in the door opening to move the door be(cid:173)
`tween .its fully open and fully closed positions. In this
`arrangemeiu, as in the case of the manual door opera(cid:173)
`tion discu~sed above, a high momentum is still required
`during the entire closing movement
`to
`issued
`Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,757,
`Kagiyama et al, and U.S. Pat. No 4,640,050, issued to
`Yamagishi et al also represents additional examples of
`powered van door systems. The systems employ cable
`drives coupled to the lower front bracket and roller
`assemblies of the doors for opening and closing ~ove-
`ments However, these systems also rely on high mo·
`mentum during the entire closing movement.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,185 issued to Shibuki et al de(cid:173)
`scnl>es still another powered van door system. ln this
`system, a friction wheel engages the bottom portion of
`the door and drives the door through t~e major por- .
`tions of its opening and closing movements·par:alle1 to
`the side wa1l of the van. Turntable arms are pivotably
`connected end-to-end between the friction wheel and
`the floor of the door openin.g and draws the rear of the
`door inwardly to compress the weather strip, While this
`prior art design appears to operate with lower momen(cid:173)
`tum forces during closing movement than those dis(cid:173)
`cussed above, it requires a complicated, costly mecha"
`nism that is difficult to install and difficult to repair in
`the event of a breakdown. Moreover, retrofiring this
`mechanism to a vehicle not originally equipped with a
`powered door system would be inordinately difficult.
`I.JI addition to the foregoing prior art systems, fmal
`closing dev1ces or clamping mechanisms for powering
`the final, low-displacement/bigh-foroe movement of
`sliding van doors have been developed by the assignee
`of the present invention and are described in the above..
`mentioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,775,178 and 4,842,313, the
`disclosures of which are incorporated by reference
`herein. In each of these systems, the door includes a
`latch bolt member moveable between latched and un(cid:173)
`latched positions, as well as a handle or a lock member
`movable between open and closed positions. The fmal
`closing device or clamping mechanisms each includes a
`striker support plate mounted on the vehicle body at the
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1009
`Page 18
`
`

`

`5,069,000
`
`25
`
`3
`rear of the door opening for rotational movement about
`a perpendicular axis, a striker pin projecting from the
`st.riker support plate at a position offset from the allis,
`and means carried by the vehicle body for rotating the
`striker support plate. The striker pin is movable be· 5
`tween extended and retracted positions so that when the
`striker pin is engaged by the latch member bolt the
`striker support plate is rotated, and the sliding door is
`moved between a partially open position away from the
`door opening and a fully closed position. In addition to 10
`disclosing the foregoing structure, U.S. Pat. No
`4,842,313 also discloses a crashworthiness feature that
`adds a pawl and ratchet mechanism to prevent the
`striker support plate from being reversely rotated in
`response to high door opening forces from the inside of 15
`the vehicle.
`Although U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,775,178 and 4,842,313
`illustrate excellent final dosing systems for sliding van
`doors, they do not include provisions for powering van
`doors through the major portions of opening and clos- 20
`ing movements, nor do they include provisions for pow(cid:173)
`ering van doorS during late closing movements to the
`point where the latch bolt mechanisms engage with, and
`close about, the striker pins of the clamping mecha-
`nisms.
`Improved powered sliding door operator systems for
`van type vehicles are disclosed in the above-mentioned
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,640. with the disclosed systems
`having provisions (i) for powering sliding van doors
`through the major portions of opening and closin,g 30
`movements, (ii) for powering sliding van doors during
`late closing movements to engage the latch bolt mecha.
`nisrns with the striker pins, and (iii) for finally clamping
`sliding van doors to a fully closed position. In such
`patent the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated 35
`by reference, the door is supported adjacent its forward
`end by forward brackets slidable in upper and lower
`forward guide members carried by the vehicle body,
`and is supported adjacent its rear end by a rear bracket
`slidable in a mid-level rear guide member carried on the 40
`outside of the vehicle side panel. Motor driven cable
`members are attached to the rear bracket and supported
`adjacent opposite ends of the rear guide member and
`are employed to move the door through its opening
`movement through its initial closing movement, and 45
`through an initial portion of its final closing movemenL
`The final portion of its closing movement is accom(cid:173)
`plished using a final clamping mechanism of the type
`in
`disclosed
`the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No.
`4,842,313.
`It is therefore, a primary object of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion to provide an improved powered sliding door oper·
`ator system for van type vehicles in which the sliding
`door is moved with low momentum between its fully
`open position and its nearly closed position, and which 55
`completely closes the sliding door in a slow controlled
`marmer.
`Another object of this invention is to provide an
`improved powered sliding door operator system in
`which the manual effort required to open and close the 60
`sliding door is substantially reduced, in which near-nor(cid:173)
`mal manual operation of the sliding door is preserved in
`the event of a failure of the powered system, and in
`which the powered system can be actuated from either
`the vehicle driver's seat or the door itself.
`A primary object of the present invention is to pro(cid:173)
`vide a mechanism or system capable of detecting an
`obstruction encountered by a moving door, or other
`
`4
`moving member in other powered actuating devices,
`such as powered vehicle windows, for example, and
`then stopping and/or reversing such motion in order to
`prevent damage to·the obstruction, to the moving door
`or other member. or to the powered actuating equip(cid:173)
`ment.
`Still another related object of the invention is to ac(cid:173)
`complish the above-mentioned obstruction detection
`and motion reversing within a predetermined, accept(cid:173)
`able time, within a predetermined obstruction resistance
`force when the moving door or member is disposed
`within a predetermined range of angular positions (such'
`as those resulting from a vehicle situated on an up(cid:173)
`wardly or downwardly inclined grade), and within a
`predetermined temperature range likely to be encoun(cid:173)
`tered by the powered vehicle door system or other
`powered actuating system.
`In accordance with one exemplary embodiment or
`application of the invention, a powered door operator
`system is provided for a door slidingly supported rela(cid:173)
`tive to a door opening in a side panel of a vehicle body.
`The door is supported adjacent its forward end by at
`least one forward bracket that is slidable in a forward
`guide member and adjacent its rear end by a rear
`bracket that is slidable jn a rear guide member. The
`guide members guide the door (i) through an initial
`closing movement generally parallel to the side panel
`(ii) through a final opening movement generaJJy parallel
`to the side panel, (iii) through at least a portion of its
`final closing movement generally toward the plane of
`the door opening, and (jv) through at least a portion of
`its initial opening movement generally away from the
`plane of the door opening. The door operator system
`includes cable members coupled to the forward and rear
`ends of the door for driving the door along the guide
`members to thereby move the door through its initial
`and final opening and closing movements, substantially
`without tbe need for cable spool assembly tensioning
`mechanisms.
`An improved cable spool arrangement is provided in
`such exemplary application of the invention for a cab1e(cid:173)
`actua.ted device, such as for a powered van door systt;m,
`for e.xample, having a drive mechanism for selectively
`rotating the cable spool about an axis in either direction
`and one or more cables each having one end intercon(cid:173)
`nected with a movable member, such as a sliding door.
`The cable spool includes a cable attachment arrange(cid:173)
`ment for securing the opposite end or ends of the cable
`or cables to the cable spool. A groove, slot, or other
`open channel-like opening is formed along a generally
`helical path on. a circumferential portion of the cable
`spool. The groove is adapted for windingly receiving or
`taking up at least one of the cables therein as the cable
`spool is rotated in one direction, and for unwif!dingly
`releasing or paying out at least one of the cables there(cid:173)
`from as the cable spool is rotated in the opposite direc(cid:173)
`tion. The helical configuration of the cable spool
`groove eliminates the undesirable constantly changing
`effective spool radius that results from cable wrap-up or
`stacking on cable spools having one or more circular or
`non-helical grooves. Thus, the cable take-up and pay(cid:173)
`out rates relative to cable spool rotation., can be more
`closely defined and controlled.
`In addition, in the preferred cable spool in suoh exem(cid:173)
`plary application, the radial depth (and thus the wrap(cid:173)
`up and pay-out radius) of tbe helical groove varies
`along at least a portion of the helical path in order to
`cause at least one of the cables to be wound onto, and
`
`50
`
`65
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1009
`Page 19
`
`

`

`5
`paid out from, the varying-depth portion of the helical
`groove at a correspondingly varying rate with respect
`to caBle spool rotation. This effect can be used to cause
`movement of at least a portion of the sliding door, or
`other suoh movable member, at a correspondingly vary- 5
`ing rate with respect to cable spool rotation. If desired
`in a given application, the cable spool .can have a gener·
`ally constant radial depth of the helic;il groove along
`second portio.n of the helical path in order to cause at
`least one of the cables to be wound onto, and paid out 10
`from, the constant-depth portion of the helical groove
`at a .generally constant rate with respect to cable spool
`rotation. This effect can be used to cause movement of
`at least a portion of the sliding door or other movable
`member, at a generally constant rate with respect to
`cable spool rotation,
`In accordance with the present invention, a reversing
`apparatus is provided for detecting the presence of an
`obstruction encountered by the movable door, or other
`movable member such as a power window, for example, 20
`and causing a stoppage and/or reversal of its motion in
`order to substantially prevent damage to the obstruc(cid:173)
`tion, the door or other movable member, or the pow(cid:173)
`ered actuating system. The reversal apparatus uses
`changes in drive motor currents during door actuation 25
`that indicate the presence of an obstruction by compar(cid:173)
`ing the instantaneous motor current with a reference
`current that is averaged over a predetermined short
`time interval This feature makes the reversing apparatus
`independent of the normally varying drive motor ·c ur· 30
`rent, with such normal variance resulting from the
`changes in the types of door closing movements de(cid:173)
`scribed above. Thus, the reversing apparatus properly
`senses or detects the presence of an obstruction even for
`van-type sliding doors or other movable powered- 35
`actuated members, that undergo varying or complex
`movements, or changing relationships between travel
`speed and force at various stages of their operation, and
`that draw different amounts of drive motor current
`when disposed in different angular, or grade-caused, 40
`orientations.
`Additional objects, advantage$, and features of the
`present invention will become apparent from the fol(cid:173)
`lowing description and appended claims, taken in con-
`junction with the accompanying drawings.
`
`6
`bracket and roller assembly carried at the rear end of
`the door.
`FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the interior of the van,
`similar to that of FIG. 6, but viewed from a different
`point inside the vehicle and showing the door in a par-
`tially open position.
`·
`F JQ. 9 is an enlarged perspective view, illustrating
`one preferred embodiment of a cable spool assembly
`according to the present invention.
`FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cable spool and
`portions of associated cables of FIG. 9.
`FIG. 11 is a top view of the cable spool, and portions
`of associated cables, of FIGS. 9 and 10.
`FIG. 12 is a radially-cut, cross-sectional view of tbe
`IS cable spool of FIGS. 9 through 11.
`FIG. 13 is a plot of effective groove radius versus
`angular position of one preferred exemplary cable spool
`of FIGS. 9 through 12.
`FIG. 14 is a sectional view, taken along the line
`14-14 of FIG. 8, showing the locations of push button
`switches used in controlling the operation of the sliding
`door in one form of the powere.d door system.
`FIGS .. lSA and lSB are fragmentary perspective
`views of a limit switch arrangement in the upper for(cid:173)
`ward guide of the sliding door, which is actuated and
`deactuated when the door reaches a predetermined
`intermediate point during its movement between its
`fully opened and closed positions.
`FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of one form
`of a final closure or clamping mechariism employed to
`move the nearly closed sliding door to its fully closed
`position.
`FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 are enlarged sectional views,
`taken through a mechanism in FIG. 16 for precluding
`reverse rotation of the striker plate, and showing the
`relationship of a pawl to a single tooth ratchet wheel
`thereof when the striker pin is in its extended position.
`in its retracted position., and between its retracted and
`extended positions, respectively.
`FIGS. 20, 21, and 22 are diagrammatic elevation
`views, taken through a latch. bolt mechanism of the
`door and the fmal closing mechanism on the door frame
`showing the relationship of the latch bolt member and
`striker pin to the weather strip on the vehicle body
`during various respective stages of door closing.
`FIG. 23 is a schematic circuit diagram of an electrical
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`system that may be employed in controlling the opera-
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with pans broken away
`tion of the powered sliding door operating system.
`for clarity, of a van-type vehicle having a powered
`sliding door operating system in accordance with the 50
`FIG. 24 is a schematic circuit diagram of an electrical
`door reversing apparatus for causing the closing door to
`present inve.n.tion.
`stop and reverse to an opening movement when the
`FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with partS broken
`apparatus detects the presence of an obstruction.
`away for clarity, showing the sliding door of the van in
`a partially open position.
`FIG. l5 is a typicl!l plot of drive motor current versus
`FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are each diagrammatic views, illus- ss time during a door closing operation.
`trating the path of movement followed by the sliding
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`door relative to its supporting guide rails during closing
`PREFERRED EMBODIM~NTS
`of the door.
`FJG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the inte-
`FIGS. 1 through 25 show one preferred embodiment
`tior of the van shown in PIGS. 1 and 2 with partS bro- 60 of the present invention, as applied to a powered door
`ken away for clarity, illustrating an embodiment oftbe
`operating system for a vehicle sliding door, for purposes
`invention in which a cable or cables are coupled to the
`of illustration only. One sKilled in the art will readily
`forward end of the sliding door and tc;> the rear end of
`recognize from the following discussion that the princi-
`the sliding door, and are actuated by an improved cable
`pies of the present invention are equally applicable to
`spool assembly according to the invention.
`65 powered door operating systems for applications other
`FIG. 7 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of a
`than the vehicular application illustrated in the draw-
`portion of the system illustrated in FIG. 6 showing the
`ings, as well as to non-door or non-vehicular cable-
`preferred manner in which a cable is fasteneCI to a rear
`actuated devices having one or more actuating cables.
`
`~s
`
`BNA/Brose Exhibit 1009
`Page 20
`
`

`

`5,069,000
`
`8
`7
`rollers 30 of the rear bracket and roller assembly 26
`In FIGS. 1 through 8, a van type of vehicle 10 is
`illustrated. and a powered door operator and door oper-
`move through the inwardly-curved, forward end por·
`ating system according to the invention is used to open
`tion of the guide member 31, the final closing movement
`of the door 12 Is accompanied by movement of the rear
`and close a sliding door 12. The sliding door 12 is sup·
`ported on the body of the van 10 at three points. The 5 portion of the door Into the door openjng 19, as shown
`fust point of support includes a forward upper bracket
`in FIG. 5.
`and roller assembly shown generally at reference nu-
`In FIGS. 6 through 13, a powered door operator or
`meral14 (FIGS. 2 and 8), which in turn includes an ann
`drive assembly 235 is shown and moves the sliding door
`15 one enp of which is fastel)ed ro the upper forward
`12 through its irutial and final operung and closing
`end of door 12, and the other end of which carries one 10 movements. The door operator 235 includes a cable
`or more rollers 16 on its upper surface. A,. number of
`spool drive motor 202M interconnected with a mount-
`rollers 16 engage and ride in a curved upper forward
`ing bracket 244, which is attached to the inside of the·
`guide rail or guide member 17 is fixedly carried on the
`side wall 20 by way of one or more mounting tabs 36.
`lower surface of a vehicle body member 18, which When selectively energized, the motor 202M driving
`surrounds a door opening 19 formed in a side wall 20 of 15 rotates a drive pulley or cable spool 238, through a
`the van 10.
`clutch mechanism (not shown) coupled to the motor's
`Tbe second point of attachment comprises a forward
`gearing and output shaft (not shown). When the clutch
`lower bracket and roller assembly, shown generally at
`mechanism is de-energized, or in an electrical system
`reference numeral 21, which includes an arm 22 having
`failure, the motor 202M and its associated gearing are
`one end fixedly attached to the lower forward end of 20 disengaged from the cable spool 238, thus allowing
`the door U and one or more rollers 23 carried at the
`manual operation of"the door 12. Optionally an on-
`other end. The rollers 23 engage and ride in a curved
`clutched, high efficiency, back-driveab]e spur gear
`lower forward guide rail or guide member 24 attached
`drive mechanism (not shown) may be employed with
`to a vehicle body member 25, which surrounds the
`the motor 202M to rotate the cable spool 238, while still
`lower portion of the door operung 19.
`25 allowing for manual operation oftbe door.
`The third point of attachment includes a rear rrud-
`A lower Oexible sheath or conduit 40 extends from a
`level, bracket and roller assembly shown generally a.t ·
`clamp 249 adjacent the cable spool238 to a clamp mem-
`reference numeral 26, which includes an arm 27 (FIG.
`ber 149 attached lO the lower portion of the inside wall
`7), with one end of the arm 21 being fixedly attached to
`45 of the van JO, generally adjacent the forward end of
`the rear end of the door 12 pivotally attached at the 30 the wheel well, and securely retains the forward end of
`other end 28 to one end of a link 29. The other end of
`the fle>dble sheath 40. The sheath 40 protects and guides
`the link 29 carries a plurality of rollers 30. The rollers 30
`a lower cable member 41 extending around the wheel
`engage and ride in a curved rear guide rail or member
`well between the cable spool 238 and an idler pulley
`31 that is carried on the outside of the side wall 20, at an
`152. One end of the cable member 41 is anchored on the
`intermediate level, approximately midway between the 35 cable spool 238, as shown in FlGS. 10 through 12,
`preferably by way of an enlarged cable retainer member
`levels of the upper and lower guide rails 17 and 24,
`respectively. The guide members 17, 24, and 31 curve
`321 which is received and anchored in an opening 313
`adjacent their forward ends toward the inside of the van
`formed in a flange 311 of the cable spool 238. The open-
`10.
`ing 313 communicates with a series of helical grooves
`The above-discussed three points of support allow 40 316 and 312, by way of a slot 314 which allows the cable
`41 to be wound onto a groove portion 312. The other
`the slide door 12 to be slidably moved. forwardly and
`rearwardly along the guide members 17, 24, and 31.
`end of cable member 41 passes around an idler pulley
`with the door 12 being guided by the guide membe.rs J 7,
`152, and then proceeds through the lower guide mem·
`24, and 31, through initial closing and fmaf opening
`ber 24, over a wear strip 46 in the guide member 24. to
`movements that are generally parallel to the side wall 45 an anchor point (not shown) on the forward lower
`bracket or ann 22 of the door U , generally adjacent to
`20 of the van 10, as shown in FIG. 3, and through final
`closing and initial opening movements that are gener·
`roller 23.
`all