Movable or removable closures – Optionally moved – manually – or by motor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-03-13
Redman, Jerry (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Optionally moved, manually, or by motor
C049S360000, C049S506000, C192S12500A, C192S0120BA
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199322
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
This invention relates to an open/close body automatic drive method and equipment which performs an automatic opening and closing of an open/close body (e.g., a door or sunroof of a vehicle) relative to a fixed body by electrically operating the open/close body, and more particularly, to the clutch connection timing of the clutch mechanism for electrically connecting or interrupting the power transmission system between a drive source for driving the open/close body and the open/close body by way of a clutch.
In the field of vehicles, this type of equipment is provided for improving the boarding and alighting of a crew and is represented, for example, by an equipment which electrically drives a slide door (open/closure body) mounted on the rear portion of a vehicle so as to perform an open/close operation of the slide door.
For example, with respect to a vehicle of the one-box type or the like, the slide door is mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle and a power slide door equipment which enables a manual open/close operation of the slide door or an electrical automatic driving of the slide door is adopted.
The provision for changing between a manual manipulation and an electrical automatic driving of the slide door is constituted by a clutch mechanism interposed in a power transmission system extending between the slide door and a motor for driving the slide door. In performing the manual manipulation of the slide door, a clutch of the clutch mechanism is turned off so as to interrupt the drive train extending from the slide door to the motor, while in performing the automatic open/close operation of the slide door by the automatic driving, the clutch of the clutch mechanism is turned on so that the power transmission drive train between the motor and the slide door is connected and hence, the slide door is operated by the power of the motor. The slide door control equipment which is provided with the clutch mechanism capable of changing between the manual and the automatic manipulation is disclosed on pages 53-62 of the manual 4 of new type Granvia (published in August, 1995 by Toyota Motor Corporation.)
Furthermore, in case an object to be moved (a slide door, here) is large and heavy, a toothed form of electromagnetic clutch is usually used as the clutch for connecting the power transmission system. This toothed form electromagnetic clutch is provided with a clutch face (constituting an engaging face when the clutch is connected) which is formed in a toothed shape and can have a firm engaging due to the teeth formed on the engaging face at the time of clutch connection.
If the slide door is forcefully moved manually in a closing direction from the fully opened condition, so that the moving speed of the slide door is excessively high after removing a hand from the slide door, then when the mode of operation is automatically changed over to an automatic drive, the rotational speed of the clutch mechanism becomes high. Accordingly, because of the high speed, at the time of changing over the mode of operation from the manual mode to the automatic mode, it becomes impossible to smoothly connect the toothed type of electromagnetic clutch.
In case the clutch cannot be smoothly connected at the time of switching the mode of operation, it gives rise to a stiffness or awkwardness in the operability of the slide door so that smooth shifting from the manual manipulation to the automatic driving cannot be obtained.
The present invention is made in view of the abovementioned problems and it is a technical task of the present invention to assure a reliable clutch connection between a drive source which drives the open/close body and the power transmission system of the open/close body at the time of changing over from the manual manipulation to the automatic driving and to perform the operation of the open/close body with an improved operability.
The technical means provided for solving the abovementioned tasks involves an open/close body automatic drive device which includes a clutch mechanism which connects or interrupts the power transmission system between a drive source for driving the open/close body and the open/close body wherein a clutch of the clutch mechanism is interrupted in a manual manipulation, but in an automatic drive mode the clutch is connected so as to operate the open/close body thus performing an automatic opening and closing of the open/close body relative to a fixed member. A brake mechanism for restricting the movement of the open/close body is disposed in the midst of the power transmission system. The moving speed of the open/close body is detected. In case the moving speed is higher than a given speed, the movement of the open/close body is restricted by the brake mechanism, and then the clutch connection of the clutch mechanism is performed.
Due to such a constitution, even in case the moving speed of the open/close body is higher than the given speed, the movement speed of the open/close body is reduced by means of the brake mechanism so that the clutch can be engaged. Hence, even in case a toothed form of electromagnetic clutch is used as the clutch mechanism, the speed of the open/close body is assuredly decreased so that it becomes possible to make the clutch have the reliable meshed condition.
Furthermore, here, even in case the open/close body is forcefully closed by the manual manipulation, the moving speed of the open/close body can be decreased by the application of the brake and the clutch is engaged so as to enable the shifting of the mode of operation to the automatic drive in the midst of the operation and hence, the movement of the moving body becomes smooth and the operability is enhanced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3599764 (1971-08-01), Daab
patent: 4040508 (1977-08-01), Sunada et al.
patent: 4870875 (1989-10-01), Morishita
patent: 5105131 (1992-04-01), Schap
patent: 5434487 (1995-07-01), Long et al.
A brochure published by Toyota Co. Ltd. regarding the Granvia vehicle, Aug. 1995, pp. 53-62.
Fukumoto Ryoichi
Itami Eiji
Ohhashi Masao
Suzuki Shintaro
Yamada Katsuhisa
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Redman Jerry
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