Patent Application
20130119694
In general, the present invention relates to a drive assembly for a slide out in an expandable enclosure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a drive assembly that includes a belt drive system. Most particularly, the present invention relates to a drive assembly having a belt attachable to a slide out at either end of the belt, the belt having teeth formed thereon and a drive wheel that has cogs formed on it that engage the teeth and move the slide out by pulling the belt in one direction or another.
Expandable enclosures are often used in connection with recreational vehicles or trailers that have portions that extend and retract to allow the enclosure to be transported in a compact configuration and extended to a more spacious configuration when stationary. To that end, these recreation vehicles and trailers are provided with slide outs including slidable rooms and other structures that increase or reconfigure the usable space. Existing slidable rooms and other slide outs may be time consuming to install and their operating mechanisms may include components that add a great deal of weight and complexity to the enclosure. Since most enclosures having slide outs are used in applications where they need to be transported, it is desirable to reduce the weight of the enclosure as practically as possible. Likewise, reducing the complexity of the slide out drive assembly is desirable in terms of the labor needed to install the drive assembly and operation of the drive assembly by the user.
The present invention generally includes drive system for an expandable enclosure having a slide out, the drive system including a first guide, a second guide spaced from the first guide, a drive wheel supported between the first and second guides and inward thereof, and a belt operatively engaging the drive wheel and having a first end and a second end, where the first end extends outward from the drive wheel and over the first guide and the second end extends outward from the drive wheel and over the second guide, each of the ends being attachable to the slide out, where the drive wheel is rotatable to move the belt to move the slide out. The present invention also includes a drive system for an expandable enclosure. The drive system includes a cartridge having a pair of sidewalls with a first pin and a second pin extended between the sidewalls. A first roller slideably supported on the first pin, where the first pin has a length greater than a length of the first roller. A second roller slideably supported on the second pin, where the second pin has a length greater than a length of the second roller. A drive wheel supported between the first and second rollers and outward thereof. A belt operatively engaging the drive wheel and having a first end and a second end, where the first end extends outward from the first roller and the second end extends outward from the second roller. Each of the ends are attachable to the expandable enclosure. The drive wheel is rotatable to move the belt.
In accordance with another embodiment, a cartridge and a drive system having a belt for an expandable enclosure is provided. The cartridge includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall; a first pin extended between the first sidewall and a second sidewall; a first roller defining a first roller bore through which the first pin is received, wherein the first roller is slideable along the first pin between the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and a drive wheel supported between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the drive wheel being engagable with the belt and rotatable to effect movement of the expandable enclosure via the belt.
In another embodiment of the invention, an expandable enclosure includes a main enclosure defining an opening; a slide out received in the opening; a jamb defining a side of the opening, the jamb including a face, a first wall and a second wall extending outward from the face, defining a channel there between wherein the face defines a first belt opening. A cartridge is mounted within the channel adjacent to the first belt opening, a cartridge having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, a first pin extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, a first roller mounted on the first pin and slideable between the first wall and the second wall, and a drive wheel supported between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the drive wheel having an axis of rotation parallel to the first roller, where in the drive wheel is mounted outward of the first roller. The cartridge also includes a belt operatively engaging the drive wheel, wherein a portion of the belt extends from the drive wheel and over the first roller before existing the belt opening. The portion of the belt is attached to the slide out.
An “enclosure” as used herein may include any partially or completely enclosed space. The enclosure may be stationary or mobile. Mobile enclosures may be self-powered or towable, and include but are not limited to mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and trailers. The term “expandable enclosure” refers to an enclosure that has the ability to alter its configuration and in some cases create more interior space. For example, an expandable enclosure may include one or more portions that extend and retract to selectively reconfigure the space defined by the enclosure. These portions are often referred to as “slide outs” or “slideable rooms.” A slide out may include a portion that is moved relative to the enclosure to change the configuration of the enclosure including but not limited to increasing the space available within the enclosure. Slide outs may be of various size and shape as required by a given enclosure. Also, slide outs may expand and retract in any known manner including, but not limited to pivoting and telescoping relative to the main portion of the enclosure. The example shown in the accompanying drawings, therefore, should not be considered limiting.
With reference to
The drive assembly 50, shown, includes a motor 52 operatively connected to a drive wheel 54 that engages belt 40 and rotates to pull belt 40 in one direction or the other depending on the direction of rotation. In the example shown, the drive wheel 54 includes cogs 56 on its outer surface 58 adapted to engage corresponding teeth 60 formed on belt 40. To that end, belt 40 may be of a type used as a timing belt in other applications. For example, a polyurethane belt having a steel core was found to be suitable. Other suitable materials may include but are not limited to polypropylene and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The belt may be constructed of other suitable flexible materials or be constructed of non-flexible members pivotally linked to form a chain-like belt.
While motor 52 and drive wheel 54 may be directly connected to each other, to facilitate location of motor 52, motor 52 may be located remotely of drive wheel 54 and connected thereto by a coupler such as a drive shaft 62, as shown. Moreover, a gear box 64 or other transfer mechanism may be provided to mount motor 54 at an angle to drive shaft 62 or to provide a mechanical advantage through the gearing. In the example shown, motor 52 is mounted at a right angle to jamb 15 in which the drive wheel 54 in housed. In this way, motor 52 may be located within the frame 14 of enclosure 10 beneath opening 12. This may facilitate access to motor 52 for providing service and/or replacement. In addition, in the event of a motor failure, the motor 52 and gear box 64 may be removed to expose a stub shaft 69 extending from the drive shaft 62 to manually drive the slide out 20.
Gear box 64 is supported adjacent to motor 52 and connects to a portion of drive shaft 62 extending axially outward from jamb 15 on which the drive wheel 54 is mounted. A hex-shaped stub shaft 69 (
As shown, a drive shroud 66 may cover the portion of drive shaft 62 extending between gear box 64 and a cartridge 70 within which drive wheel 54 is mounted. As shown multiple drive wheels 54 may be mounted on a common drive shaft 62. Alternatively, each drive wheel 54 may be driven separately. Also, while a motor 52 is used arrive the drive wheel 54 in the depicted example, drive wheel 54 may be driven manually or a manual driver may be provided as discussed above.
With reference to
Spacing of sidewalls 81,82 may be set by their mounting within jamb 15 or other spacer located between sidewalls 81,82. In the example shown, a pair of pins 92 act as a spacer and also connect the sidewalls 81,82 to each other. Pins 92 may be located outward of drive wheel 54 relative to belt opening 85 as best seen in
The cartridge 70 may further include one or more guides that guide belt 40 to facilitate linear movement of slide out 20 and attachment of belt 40 to slide out 20. Guide may be any surface used to direct the belt 40. In the example shown, a first and second guides are provided in the form of a first roller 101 and a second roller 102. As shown, rollers 101,102 may have a spool-like form with outward extending edges at each axial extremity that help retain belt 40 on the rollers 101,102. Rollers 101,102 are spaced from each other and may be mounted on pins 94. Rollers 101,102 are located inward of drive wheel 54 and may extend through belt opening 85 in jamb 15. The first roller 101 and second roller 102 have axes of rotation located laterally outward of the drive wheel's axis of rotation to route belt 40 laterally outward through belt opening 85. In the example shown, rollers 101,102 define bores 103,104 that receive first and second pins 95,96 and allow rollers 101,102 to rotate. It will be appreciated, however, that rollers 101,102 may be otherwise rotatably mounted. As with drive wheel 54 rollers 101,102 are slideable, and may move along the respective axes of pins 94 to allow relative vertical movement between slide out 20 and enclosure 10.
The walls of slide out 20 are not always regular and the distance between the wall of slide out 20 and jamb 15 may vary as slide out 20 is moved. To allow for such variation, cartridge 70 may be slideably mounted within jamb 15. To that end, inward/outward movement of drive wheel 54 and rollers 101,102 may be permitted. In the example shown, cartridge 70 is slideably mounted on jamb 15 on a mounting assembly 110 to permit such movement. Mounting assembly 110 includes a first mounting block 111 and second mounting block 112 supported on opposite sides of jamb 15 adjacent to belt opening 85. Each mounting block 111 defines a pair of grooves 115. The lateral outward edges 116,118 of sidewalls 81,82 are received in these grooves 115 and are permitted to slide therein.
To restrict movement of cartridge 70 and to bias the cartridge 70 toward belt opening 85, a biasing assembly, generally indicated by the number 125, may engage cartridge 70. Alternatively, if no cartridge 70 is used, biasing assembly 125 may act on drive wheel 54 and/or rollers 101,102 to the same effect when drive wheel 54 and rollers 104,102 are permitted to move inward or outward relative to slide out 20. It will be appreciated that the ends 43,44 of belts 41,42 may be secured at other locations on slide out 20 and through the use of other belt mounting mechanisms, including, but not limited to simple fasteners, clamps, and the like. In operation, motor 52 is driven in one direction to rotate drive wheel 54 in one direction causing drive wheel 54 to engage belt 40 and pull slide out 20 in one direction. Motor 52 may be driven in another direction or appropriate gearing used to cause drive shaft 62 to rotate in another direction to pull slide out 20 in the opposite direction. Motors 52 may be connected to a switch (not shown) that allows the user to selectively drive slide out 20 inward and outward relative to enclosure 10 as needed.
Biasing assembly 125 may include one or more biasing members including but not limited to springs, hydraulic and pneumatic members, elastomeric members, and the like. In the example shown, a pair of coil springs 126 are attached to jamb 15 at one end and to one of the sidewalls 81,82 of cartridge 70 at another end to urge cartridge 70 toward belt opening 85. To that end, jamb 15 is provided with a pair of receivers 128 through which a hook like extension 130 from spring 126 is received. Likewise, sidewall 81,82 includes a pair of spring receivers 132 at the outward edge 134 of the sidewall to receive hook-like ends 130 of springs 126 therein. The receivers 132 may be slots formed on the sidewall, and located laterally outward of the pins for the first and second rollers 101,102 it will be appreciated that a single spring may be used in place of the two springs. The pair of springs, shown, facilitates mounting of cartridge 70 when using a drive shaft 62 that extends through the cartridge 70. As best seen in
Mounting blocks 111 may be held by the contour of walls 18 of jamb 15. As best seen in
Optionally, as shown in
Mounting block 111 may include a nose portion 140 that is received in channel 136 to hold the mounting block 111 in a direction transverse to the axis of jamb 15. Mounting block 111 may slide axially within jamb 15 to facilitate installation of mounting block 111 relative to belt opening 85. To fix the axial position of mounting blocks 111 relative to belt opening 85, jamb 15 may be provided with a pair of bendable tabs 142 on either side of belt opening 85. As shown, once mounting block 111 is positioned, tabs 142 bend inward at either end of mounting block 111 to fix its axial position by contacting the axial outward edges 144 of mounting block 111. Other structures may be used to fix the axial position of mounting blocks 111 including stops, pins, fasteners, and the like.
The mounting blocks 111 may be made of any material including but not limited to natural materials including wood, plastics, metals, or other composite materials. In the example shown, the mounting blocks are constructed of a plastic.
As depicted in
Ends 43,44 of belt 40 are routed from each drive wheel 54 over rollers 81,82 and laterally outward through belt opening 85 at each end of jamb 15. The ends 43,44 of each belt 41,42 are secured to portions of slide out 20 as by brackets 30. As discussed above, each end 43,44 of a belt 40 may be clamped by bracket 30 between a base plate 32 and an angle portion 34. In the example shown, base plate 32 is not fastened to slide out 20 and may slide within a range of motion limited by its attachment to angle portion 34. As one side of belt 40 is being pulled by drive wheel 54, some slack may form at the opposite end of belt 40. As best shown in
The foregoing written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, including making and using many devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is, however, defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims provided that the structural elements are within the literal language of the claims or include equivalent structural elements that are insubstantially different from the literal language of the claims.
