Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2001-08-21
Lieu, Julie (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S686400, C180S286000, C049S117000, C049S118000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278376
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to control systems for motorized doors and, more particularly, the present invention relates to control systems for passenger transit type vehicle doors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Transit vehicle door systems must meet a number of conflicting requirements. They must operate quickly, to meet the pressures of urban mass transit, and they are subject to a number of safety requirements. One such requirement is that a passenger must not be able to fall out of the transit vehicle when it is in motion. Another requirement is that a passenger who has a body part, or clothing, caught by closing doors must be able to extricate the trapped body part or clothing. On a typical passenger transit train, the doors are not directly observed by the operator of the train.
It is known to provide transit vehicle doors which have resilient means disposed between the door, or doors, and a lock for the door(s) so that if a body part or garment of a passenger is caught by closing door(s), the passenger can force the door(s) open a small amount to a pushback position in order to extract the body part or garment. To do this, the passenger must overcome resilient forces, as well as the weight and friction of the door(s). With these prior art systems, the passenger may not exert enough force to open the door(s) sufficiently to extract the body part or garment. Serious injury or death may result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention is a method of facilitating release of an object caught by one or more closing transit vehicle door(s) in a motorized door system having a two stage lock, the two stage lock having a fully locked position and a pushback lock position. The method includes detecting the presence of the object by the effect of the object on either the position or the velocity of the door(s). The method also includes determining whether the door(s) are in a pushback range between the fully locked position and the pushback lock position. If an object is detected and the door(s) are in the pushback range, then one or more signals are supplied to a motor of the door(s) to move the door(s) in the door opening direction to or toward the pushback lock position.
In another aspect, the present invention is an apparatus for facilitating release of an object caught by one or more closing transit vehicle door(s) in a motorized door system having a two stage lock, the two stage lock having a fully locked position and a pushback lock position. The apparatus includes means disposed in a control system of the motorized door for detecting the object by the effect of the object on either the position of the door(s) or the velocity of the door(s). It also includes means for determining whether the door(s) are in a pushback range between the fully locked position and the pushback lock position. It further includes means for supplying one or more signals to the motor of the door system to move the door(s) in the door opening direction to or toward the pushback lock position, if the door(s) are in the pushback range and the object is detected.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a transit vehicle door system which operates quickly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a trapped object release system for a transit vehicle door.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of releasing a passenger's body part or garment portion which has been caught by closing transit vehicle doors.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of reducing the force needed to move transit vehicle door(s) from the closed position to a pushback position.
An additional object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a passenger to overcome resilient forces to open a closed door sufficiently to extract a garment or trapped body portion.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a powered assist for moving transit vehicle door(s) from the closed position to a position which is sufficiently open that a person may extract a garment or trapped body portion.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a powered assist for moving transit vehicle door(s) from a closed position to a pushback position.
Yet another object of the present invention is to allow a controlled distance, upon pushback re-open, only large enough that the head of a child cannot pass through the resulting opening.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention which have been generally described above, there will be various other objects and advantages of the invention that will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when the detailed description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5076016 (1991-12-01), Adams et al.
patent: 6032416 (2000-03-01), Springer et al.
James Ray & Associates
Lieu Julie
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
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