Movable or removable closures – With operator for movably mounted closure – Operator drives closure along guide
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-12-04
Strimbu, Gregory J. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
With operator for movably mounted closure
Operator drives closure along guide
C049S360000, C049S409000, C049S118000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324789
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to motorized sliding doors and, more particularly, the instant invention relates to a suspension and drive mechanism for transit vehicle doors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Overhead sliding door operators presently on the market consist of two basic systems.
(1) They have a load bearing system which supports the weight of the door panel or panels and allows movement of the door. This is normally accomplished by using a precision shaft and linear bearings, or rollers, supported in a C-shaped, bent or extruded, member. Doors are generally supported by door hangers which are free to move along horizontal rods or tracks.
(2) Door operators also have mechanisms for moving the doors. A belt and pulley system, for example, may be used to move the doors. Alternatively, overhead door operators may employ a helical drive member which engages a drive nut attached to a door hanger. A motor is used to rotate the helical drive and this causes movement of the nut along the drive.
These two systems are normally placed parallel to each other, necessitating a linkage between the two systems. For a system employing a helical drive member, the linkage connects the drive nut to the door hanger. This linkage presents design problems because it must transmit a drive force to the door panel and it must accommodate misalignment between the two systems.
Systems presently on the market are also open to dust, dirt, metal chips etc, causing contamination of the screw mechanism and/or of the linear bearings.
In many systems, a 1″ diameter precision shaft is used to support the door panels. This limits the available span between supports. Generally, full linear bearings are preferred over split bearings.
For application to a transit vehicle, the two systems may be separately attached to the vehicle or the system may include a base to which the two systems are attached. The base is attached to the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus for supporting and driving a door mounted either over or in a door opening in a transit vehicle or other structure. The apparatus includes a tube which has a longitudinal slot and a mounting means attached to the tube for mounting it to the structure over the door opening in a position such that the tube is substantially horizontal and the slot is positioned along a lower portion of the tube. The apparatus further includes at least one door hanger which has an upper portion movably disposed within the tube and a depending portion passing through the slot for attachment of the door. A drive nut is attached to the door hanger and a drive screw is positioned in the tube and engages a threaded inner portion of the drive nut. The drive screw is connectable to a rotary power means to be rotated thereby. Rotation of the drive screw causes longitudinal movement of the drive nut and the hanger to which the drive nut is attached, so that the door is moved longitudinally.
In another aspect, the invention is an apparatus for supporting and driving a door mounted over or in a door opening in a transit vehicle or other structure. The apparatus supports and moves the door. It includes a tube which has a longitudinal slot and mounting means attached to the tube for mounting it to the structure over the door opening in a position such that the tube is substantially horizontal and the slot is along a lower portion of the tube. The apparatus includes two door hangers. Each of the door hangers has an upper portion movably disposed within the tube and a depending portion passing through the slot. The depending portions are for attachment of the door. A drive nut is attached to one of the door hangers and a drive screw is positioned in the tube in a position to engage a threaded inner portion of the drive nut. The drive screw is connectable to a rotary power means to be rotated thereby. Rotation of the drive screw causes longitudinal movement of the drive nut and the hanger to which the drive nut is attached, so that the door is moved longitudinally.
In a further aspect, the present invention is an apparatus for supporting and moving a door mounted either over or in a door opening in a transit vehicle or other structure. It includes a tube which has a longitudinal slot and a mounting means attached to the tube for mounting it to the structure over the door opening in a position such that the tube is substantially horizontal and the slot is along a lower portion of the tube. There is at least one door hanger having an upper portion movably disposed within the tube and a depending portion passing through the slot. The depending portion is for attachment of the door. The apparatus includes a drive nut attached to the door hanger and a drive screw positioned in the tube engaging a threaded inner portion of the drive nut. The drive screw is connected to a rotary power means to be rotated thereby. Rotation of the drive screw causes longitudinal movement of the drive nut and the hanger to which the drive nut is attached, so that the door is moved longitudinally.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a modular door suspension and drive mechanism for supporting and driving a sliding door.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular door suspension and drive mechanism which is compact and light weight.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a motorized door drive in which the motor, door suspension and drive connection are all incorporated into a single module.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a motorized door drive for a door that covers and uncovers a door opening which requires a minimal number of attachments to structures adjacent the door opening.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a motorized door drive for a door that covers and uncovers a door opening which requires a minimum number of fasteners to attach it to structures adjacent the door opening.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a motorized door drive for a transit vehicle door which requires attachment only at its ends so that load induced camber of the vehicle does not affect the door drive.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a motorized door drive having mounts which may be rotated to facilitate engagement with structures adjacent the door opening.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a door drive having a drive mechanism which is protected from environmental elements.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a door drive having a drive mechanism which is protected from dust, dirt and metal chips.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a concentric configuration for a door drive and hanger.
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.
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James Ray & Associates
Strimbu Gregory J.
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
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