Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Barrier or major section mounted for in situ repositioning;... – Telescoping sub and main enclosures
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-10
2001-07-31
Callo, Laura A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Barrier or major section mounted for in situ repositioning;...
Telescoping sub and main enclosures
C296S165000, C296S175000, C296S026010, C296S026130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266931
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an improved room slideout assembly, and more particularly to a room slideout design using a screw drive mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Room slideout assemblies are used where it is desirable to have a room or compartment which is retractable and extendable, and can be found in recreational vehicles including, for example, Class A motor homes and some towable vehicles. A room slideout assembly can provide the occupant with the choice of additional space within the vehicle, often when the vehicle is parked. Then, when the vehicle is to be moved, the room slideout assembly can retract the room so that the vehicle is sufficiently narrow to permit driving the vehicle on normal highways.
Room slideout assemblies for control of a telescoping room have been constructed using a wide variety of designs. Known approaches include a rack and pinion design as well as the similar sprocket and hole design. In such designs elongate members, often referred to as rams or tubes, are attached to a sliding floor. A motor imparts rotary motion to a drive member such as the pinion or the sprocket, and the drive member urges the rams to move between a closed position and an extended position. The rams are typically attached to a sliding floor which is mounted over a fixed floor. The sliding floor may have walls of the room attached to it. An outer housing is typically provided in which the ram travels. The outer housing is attached to the fixed floor, often at or near a support frame.
Another known room slideout design uses a motor driven drive screw mounted in a central position between a pair of rams, with a motor mounted near one of the rams. Rotation of the drive screw moves a crosslink. The crosslink is rigidly connected to the rams so that the rams travel with the crosslink. A connecting shaft and gearbox link the motor to the drive screw. A cross shaft has gear teeth on it which engage openings on the ram. However, instead of acting as a driving member, the gear teeth and cross shaft are merely stabilization members.
Such known room slideout assemblies are relatively expensive and difficult to assemble. Moreover, space under the fixed floor for the room slideout assembly is restricted by, for example, outrigger overhanging, frame width and plumbing locations, etc. The location of the screw drive, the gears or the sprockets can interfere with such other components and vice versa. It would be highly advantageous to provide a room slideout assembly of compact design which is relatively insensitive to customer variations in componentry mounted below the floor.
In addition to problems with cost, complexity and customer variation in the location of under-floor mounted hardware, known room slideout assemblies, or slideouts, typically have other problems. Known rack and pinion slideout designs require a secondary brake to hold the room slideout assembly in position when the motor is shut off. It would be highly advantageous to provide a room slideout assembly which does not require a secondary brake, thereby providing smooth operation at reduced overall cost.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a room slideout assembly of compact and low cost design. It is yet another related object of the present invention to provide a low friction, smooth running room slideout device which is highly reliable in operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with these and other objects, there is provided a room slideout assembly comprising at least one drive motor having a motor output pinion which rotates about a first axis, a drive screw operatively connected to the motor output pinion and also rotatable about the first axis, and an elongate ram adapted to be attached to a sliding element such as a sliding floor, wherein the ram travels along the first axis between extended and retracted positions in response to rotation of the drive screw. The motor output pinion is preferably coupled with a speed reducing gearbox such as a planetary gearbox. The speed reducing gearbox has a coupling shaft assembly which also rotates about the first axis, and is coupled to the drive screw. Preferably the ram travels in an outer housing attached to a fixed floor or a structural frame positioned below the fixed floor, and the motor and speed reducing gearbox are positioned within the outer housing, significantly reducing the amount of space required for the room slideout assembly.
In accordance with another aspect, a gearbox is connected between the drive screw and the speed reducing gearbox and is provided with a first gear rotatable about the first axis and a second gear which rotates perpendicular to the first axis. The second gear can, in certain preferred embodiments, connect the gearbox via a cross shaft to a second gearbox which is in turn attached to a second drive screw. The second drive screw drives a second ram attachable to the sliding floor. In this manner operation of the motor or motors drives both rams substantially simultaneously. Each gearbox can comprise a series of bevel gears. Preferably, the first and second 90 degree gearboxes are identical and one is rotated 180 degrees from the other so that the bevel gears which each rotate coaxially with a corresponding drive screw rotate in the same direction with respect to one another.
In accordance with another aspect of at least certain preferred embodiments, a room slideout assembly is provided wherein the outer housing is eliminated and the ram extends above the structural frame into a channel in the fixed floor.
From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology and art of room slideout systems. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing a high quality, low cost room slideout assembly of compact design. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.
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Bulthaus Bryce Joel
Erickson John Scott
Shaw Damon Dirk
Atwood Industries , Inc.
Banner & Witocoff
Callo Laura A.
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