Vehicle entrance-door safety-system

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to entrance-door safety systems that cause power actuated closing of a door panel to cease when a contact-sensing door-edge attachment mounted to a door edge of the door panel contacts an object or individual disposed within an entrance-door opening.

DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon perusal of the detailed description thereof and upon inspection of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1

shows an entrance-door system according to the present invention with some components thereof represented schematically.

FIG. 2

shows an entrance-door interface between two door panels with first and second embodiments of contact-sensing door-edge attachments according to the present invention mounted to the door edges of the door panels.

FIG. 3

shows third and fourth embodiments of contact-sensing door-edge attachments according to the present invention mounted to the door edges of door panels and with the leading faces thereof highlighted as a result of being drawn with a unique line style.

FIG. 4

shows a fifth embodiment of a contact-sensing door-edge attachment according to the present invention attached to a door panel and disposed upon an opposite side of an entrance-door interface from a door-interface structure that is of a type other than a contact-sensing door-edge attachment and that has a shape in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5

is a schematic representation of one embodiment of an entrance-door control-system, a door-safety-logic system, and a powered actuator constructed and communicatively linked to one another in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6

shows one embodiment of a vehicle and an entrance-door system thereof in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7

shows the transverse cross-section of a sixth embodiment of a contact-sensing door-edge attachment according to the present invention.

DETAILS OF INVENTION

Referring now to

FIGS. 1-7

there are shown various embodiments of the present invention. The present invention includes a novel entrance-door safety-system

11

for the entrance-door system

49

of a vehicle

12

. The present invention also includes vehicles

12

that comprise entrance-door safety-systems

11

in accordance with the present invention. As can best be seen in

FIGS. 1 and 6

, an entrance-door system

49

of a vehicle

12

includes an entrance-door frame

50

that defines an entrance-door opening

54

through which objects and individuals may pass between an interior side

67

and an exterior side

68

of the entrance-door opening

54

. An entrance-door system

49

of a vehicle

12

also includes one or more door panels

13

that are mounted adjacent the entrance-door frame

50

in such a manner that they are moveable through translation and/or pivoting between a closed position in which the door panels

13

extend across and prevent passage through the entrance-door opening

54

and an open position in which the door panels

13

leave the entrance-door opening

54

unobstructed so that objects and/or individuals may pass through it. Entrance-door systems

49

in accordance with the present invention further comprise a powered actuator

29

such as an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic rotary or linear motor that is engaged to the door panels

13

and also actuator-mounting structure

56

of the vehicle

12

in such a manner that when the powered actuator

29

is activated it actuates the door panels

13

toward either their closed or their open position. A vehicle

12

in accordance with the present invention further comprises an entrance-door control-system

16

that comprises entrance-door controls

57

and which is communicatively linked to said powered actuator

29

such that an operator of the vehicle

12

can manipulate the entrance-door controls

57

to selectively cause the powered actuator

29

to actuate the door panel(s)

29

toward their closed or their open position.

During the operation of an entrance-door system

49

and entrance-door control-system

16

thereof as described above, door edge(s)

60

of the door panels

13

or components mounted to them will contact objects and/or individuals that are disposed within the entrance-door opening

54

when an operator of the vehicle

12

operates the entrance-door control-system

16

to cause the powered actuator

29

to actuate the door panels

13

toward their closed position. The entrance-door safety-system

11

of the present invention includes at least one contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

mounted to a door edge

60

of a door panel

13

of the entrance-door system

49

. The entrance-door safety-system

11

of the present invention is constructed and interacted with the entrance-door system

49

and the entrance-door control-system

16

in such a manner that, when the powered actuator

29

is actuating the door panels

13

toward their closed position and a contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

that is mounted to the door edge

60

of a door panel

13

contacts an object or individual disposed in the entrance-door opening

54

, the powered actuator

29

is caused to cease actuation of the door panels

13

toward their closed position. In order to effect such a functionality, each of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

of the entrance-door safety-system

11

is constructed and communicatively linked to a door-safety-logic system

17

of the entrance-door safety-system

11

in such a manner that, when the contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

contacts an object it sends a “contact-sensed” signal to the door-safety-logic system

17

. Dependent upon what medium the contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

communicates with the door-safety-logic system

17

through, a “contact-sensed” signal could be embodied in a change in any of a number of different parameters including but not limited to electrical current flow, electrical voltage, fluid pressure, and light transmission. The door-safety-logic system

17

is, in turn, constructed and communicatively linked to the entrance-door control-system

16

and/or the powered actuator

29

in such a manner that, when a “contact-sensed” signal is received from a contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

and the powered actuator

29

is actuating the door panels

13

toward their closed position, the door-safety-logic system

17

sends signals to the entrance-door control-system

16

and/or the powered actuator

29

that cause the powered actuator

29

to cease actuating the door panels

13

toward their closed position. In some embodiments of the present invention the door-safety-logic system

17

is an integral part of the entrance-door control-system

16

and in other embodiments the door-safety-logic system

17

and the entrance-door control-system

16

will have been created separately from one another and subsequently communicatively linked to one another. There are many well-known variations of entrance-door safety-systems

11

and it is anticipated that there will be many future-conceived variations of entrance-door safety-systems

11

that are constructed as described above and to which a person of ordinary skill in the art could readily adapt the novel features of the present invention and, thus, construct an entrance-door safety-system

11

in accordance with the present invention.

When the door panels

13

of an entrance-door system

49

are in their closed position, portions of adjacent components of the entrance-door system

49

meet at entrance-door interfaces

61

. As can be seen in

FIG. 1

, which depicts an entrance-door system

49

with the door panels

13

thereof in their closed positions, entrance-door interfaces

61

exist between adjacent door panels

13

and between door panels

13

and the entrance-door frame

50

. The components of an entrance-door system

49

comprise door-interface structures

62

each of which is disposed adjacent an entrance-door interface

61

when the door panels

13

of the entrance-door system

49

are in their closed position. Door-interface structures

62

that are complimentary to one another are the door-interface structures

62

that are disposed upon opposite sides of a particular entrance-door interface

61

when the door panels

13

of tile entrance-door system

49

are closed. The door-interface structures

62

of an entrance-door system

49

can include door edges

60

of the entrance-door system

49

and also structures, such as contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

, mounted to door edges

60

of the entrance-door system

49

. It should be pointed out that, for purpose of this disclosure, a door edge

60

of an entrance-door system

49

is considered to be the portion of a door panel

13

or the entrance-door frame

50

that is nearest to an entrance-door interface

61

.

The door-interface structures

62

that are disposed upon opposite sides of a given entrance-door interface

61

may be of the same type or they may be of different types.

FIG. 4

shows an embodiment of the present invention in which a contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

and a door edge

60

of the entrance-door frame

50

constitute complimentary door-interface structures

62

disposed upon opposite sides of an entrance-door interface

61

.

FIGS. 1

,

2

,

3

, and

6

show embodiments of the present invention in which contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

constitute complimentary door-interface structures

62

disposed upon opposite sides of an entrance-door interface

61

.

One novel aspect of some embodiments of the present invention is the shape and orientation relative to other components of the entrance-door system

11

of the leading face

64

of one or more of the door-interface structures

62

. The leading face

64

of a door-interface structure

62

is a portion of the outer surface of the door-interface structure

62

that is disposed adjacent the entrance-door interface

61

, when the door panels

13

of the entrance-door system are in their closed positions. For purposes of this disclosure, the leading face

64

of a door-interface structure

62

is considered to have finite bounds. For purposes of this disclosure the leading face

64

of a door-interface structure

62

is considered to include those portions and only those portions of the outer surface of the interface structure

62

that project perpendicularly onto an interface-bisection plane

65

when the door panels

13

are in their closed position. This is best shown in

FIG. 3

, which illustrates an entrance-door interface

61

, its interface-bisection planes

65

, and the door-interface structures

62

adjacent thereto with the leading faces

64

of those door-interface structures

62

distinguished from other portions thereof through the use of different line styles and the leading faces

64

additionally demarcated by leading-face boundary lines

66

. The interface-bisection plane

65

of an entrance-door interface

61

between two door panels

13

is a plane that is disposed at the same angle relative to each of the door panels

13

on opposite sides of the entrance-door interface

61

. The interface-bisection

65

plane of an entrance-door interface

61

between a door panel

13

and the entrance-door frame

50

is a plane that is perpendicularly oriented to the plane of the door panel

13

that is adjacent that entrance-door interface

61

.

In some embodiments of the present invention the shape and orientation of the leading face

64

of one or more of the door-interface structures

62

enables the door-interface structure

62

to function as a particularly effective weather barrier when the door panels

13

are in their closed position and to also have considerable tolerance for variance in relative positioning of the door-interface structure

62

to which it is complementary. In some embodiments of the present invention one or more of the door-interface structures

62

is constructed and oriented relative to the other components of the entrance-door system

49

such that, when the door panels

13

are in their closed positions, within transverse cross-sections (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the door-interface structure

62

) of the door-interface structure

62

, at least three quarters of the leading face

64

is slopes in a same general direction at an angle of between twenty and seventy degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

of the entrance-door interface

61

adjacent the door-interface structure

62

. It should be noted that, by stating that one portion of the leading face

64

slopes in the same general direction as another it is meant that the two portions extend in the same direction from the entrance-door interface

61

as they extend away from the interior side

67

of the entrance-door opening

54

. In some, such embodiments, such as the ones shown in

FIGS. 4 and 7

, the leading face

64

of such a door-interface structure

62

is disposed at the same angle relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

along substantially its entire extent. In other embodiments of the present invention, such as the one shown in

FIG. 2

, the angle of the leading face

64

of the door-interface structure

62

varies along its extent, but stays between twenty and seventy degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

. In some embodiments of the present invention one or more of the door-interface structures

62

that has at least three quarters of its leading face

64

that slopes in a same general direction at an angle of between twenty and seventy degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

is a contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

. A door-interface structure

62

that has three quarters or more of its leading face sloping in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

is more tolerant to variation in positioning relative to its complimentary door-interface structure

62

because a given amount of misalignment of the complimentary door-interface structure

62

in directions parallel or perpendicular to the interface-bisection plane

65

results in considerably less misalignment between the complimentary door-interface structures in directions perpendicular to the leading faces

64

thereof. A door-interface structure

62

that has at least three quarters of its leading face

64

sloping in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

also presents a particularly effective weather barricade because air and moisture has a relative long, torturous path to travel past the leading face

64

of the door-interface structure

62

if it is going to pass through the adjacent entrance-door interface

61

. It should be mentioned that, for the purposes of this disclosure, the fraction of the leading face

64

of a transverse cross-section of a door-interface structure

62

that is considered to have a given angle is equal to the length of that portion compared to the entire length of the leading face

64

through the transverse cross-section of the door-interface structure

62

. A door-interface structure

62

that has three quarters or more of its leading face disposed at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

is more tolerant to variation in positioning relative to its complimentary door-interface structure

62

because a given amount of misalignment of the complimentary door-interface structure

62

in directions parallel or perpendicular to the interface-bisection plane

65

results in considerably less misalignment between the complimentary door-interface structures in directions perpendicular to the leading faces

64

thereof. For example, the door-interface structure

62

shown in

FIG. 3

on the left side thereof, has a leading face

64

with one portion thereof disposed at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

and another portion of the leading face

64

that is parallel to the interface-bisection plane

65

. As can be seen in

FIG. 3

, the portion of the leading face

64

that is disposed at a 45 degree angle to the interface-bisection plane

65

has a length of L

1

and the portion of the leading face

64

that is parallel to the interface-bisection plane

65

has a length of L

2

, resulting in a total length of the leading face

64

equal to the sum of L

1

and L

2

. The resulting fraction of the leading face

64

of the door-interface structure

62

shown in

FIG. 3

that has an angle of 45 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

is L

1

/(L

1

+L

2

).

In some embodiments of the present invention both complimentary door-interface structures

62

disposed upon opposite sides of an entrance-door interface

61

have at least three quarters of their leading faces

64

sloping in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

of the entrance-door interface

61

. Such embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in

FIGS. 1

,

2

,

3

,

4

,

5

, and

7

. Such complimentary pairs of door-interface structures

62

provide for an even better weather barricade and are even more tolerant to variance in relative positioning than are complimentary pairs of door-interface structures

62

that include only one door-interface structure

62

that has a leading face

64

at least three quarters of which slopes in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

. One or both door-interface structures

62

of a pair of complimentary door-interface structures

62

disposed upon opposite sides of an entrance-door interface

61

that have at least three quarters of their leading faces

64

sloping in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

of the entrance-door interface

61

may be contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

.

FIG. 4

illustrates a pair of complimentary door-interface structures

62

disposed upon opposite sides of an entrance-door interface

61

that have at least three quarters of their leading faces

64

sloping in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

of the entrance-door interface

61

including one door-interface structure

62

that is a contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

and one door-interface structure

62

that is a door edge

60

.

FIGS. 1

,

2

, and

3

illustrate a pair of complimentary door-interface structures

62

that are both contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

that are disposed upon opposite sides of an entrance-door interface

61

that have at least three quarters of their leading faces

64

sloping in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane

65

of the entrance-door interface

61

.

As was mentioned above, there are many different types of contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

that may be utilized in the present invention. Some types of contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

have electrical switching components that are caused to change state (open or closed) when they contact an obstruction and are compressed. An example of a contact-sensing door-edge attachment that includes such electrical switching components is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,825 to Miller Edge, Inc. which patent is incorporated herein by reference. Of course it will be understood that innumerable other variations of contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

that comprise electrical switching components that are compressed when the contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

is compressed may be utilized in embodiments of the present invention. In embodiments of the entrance-door safety-system

11

of the present invention in which contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

that comprise electrical switching components are utilized the electrical contacts of the electrical switching components of those contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

are connected to the door-safety-logic system

17

of the entrance-door safety-system

11

and a change of state of the electrical switching components when the contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

is compressed results in an electrical signal that may be interpreted as a “contact-sensed” signal is sent to the door-safety-logic system

17

. Some types of contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

are fluid-chamber contact-sensing

20

that have a fluid bladder

69

that extends along the longitudinal axis thereof and that defines within itself an internal fluid chamber

21

. Embodiments of contact-sensing door-edge attachments that have such fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments

20

are shown in

FIGS. 1

,

2

,

3

,

4

,

5

, and

7

and also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,984 to Miller Edge, Inc. which patent is incorporated herein by reference. In most embodiments of the present invention in which a fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachment

20

is utilized, the internal fluid chamber

21

thereof is placed in fluid communication, through means such as tubing, with a pressure activated switch

70

that changes state when it is subjected to a spike in fluid pressure. In such constructions of an entrance-door safety-system

11

according to the present invention, when the fluid-chamber

21

of a contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

is compressed as a result of the fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachment contacting an object in the entrance-door opening

54

, a spike in fluid pressure, which may be interpreted as a “contact-sensed” signal is transmitted to the pressure-activated switch

70

which thereupon changes state. In some embodiments of the present invention fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments

20

have internal fluid chambers

21

that are totally sealed except for their communication with the pressure-activated switch

70

of the door-safety-logic system

17

. In other embodiments of the present invention, such as those shown in

FIGS. 2 and 7

, a bleed hole

23

is present in the outer wall of the internal fluid chamber

21

of one or more fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

. Such a bleed hole

23

in the outer wall of the internal fluid chamber

21

of a fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachment

15

allows the pressure inside the internal fluid chamber

21

to adjust to atmospheric pressure in order to ensure that a pressure spike which would be interpreted as a “contact-sensed” signal would only occur as a result of a compression of the internal fluid chamber

21

of the fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachment

20

. Many different variations of the details of constructing and interacting contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

with door-safety-logic system

17

in order to effect the general functionality of an entrance-door safety-system

11

as described above are generally well-known and well documented in publications such as the above-mentioned patents that have been incorporated by reference and will not, therefore be discussed at greater length within this disclosure.

The entrance-door control-system

16

and the door-safety-logic system

17

of an entrance-door system

49

according to the present invention may produce signals that exist in one or more of a number of different mediums. In any given embodiments of an entrance-door systems

49

and entrance-door safety-system

11

according to the present invention the entrance-door control-system

16

, the door-safety-logic system

17

and components of these systems may be configured to communicate through the transmission of electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and/or optical signals. In those embodiments of the present invention in which the entrance-door control-system

16

, door-safety-logic system

17

, and/or components thereof are configured to communicate with one another through electrical or optical signals the logical operations of the entrance-door control-system

16

and the door-safety-logic system

17

may be executed by discrete components such as resistors, switches and transistors, by microcomputer components executing software programs, or by some combination thereof.

As was mentioned above, an entrance-door system

49

according to the present invention includes an entrance-door control-system

16

that is communicatively linked to and controls the operation of the powered actuator

29

of the entrance-door system

49

. Additionally, as was mentioned above, the door-safety-logic system

17

of an entrance-door system

49

according to the present invention is communicatively linked to the entrance-door control-system

16

and/or the powered actuator

29

in such a manner that, when one of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

of the entrance-door safety-system

11

contacts an obstruction in the entrance-door opening

54

, the door-safety-logic system

17

can send signals to the entrance-door control-system

16

and/or the powered actuator

29

that cause the powered actuator to cease actuating the door panel(s)

13

toward their closed position. The entrance-door control-system

16

, the door-safety-logic system

17

and the powered actuator

29

of an entrance-door system

49

according to the present invention may be communicatively linked to one another in any of innumerable different ways. In some embodiments of the present invention, such as the one schematically illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the entrance-door control-system

16

is communicatively linked to the powered actuator

29

entirely through the door-safety-logic system

17

, such that all control signals that are transmitted from the entrance-door control-system

16

to the powered actuator

29

are transmitted through the door-safety-logic system

17

. In some embodiments of the present invention, such as the one illustrated schematically in

FIG. 5

, some of the communicative linkages between the entrance-door control-system

16

, the door-safety-logic system

17

and/or the powered actuator

29

are effected through multi-terminal connector components

71

. A multi-terminal connector component

71

being a component that comprises a connector body

26

to which multiple connection terminals

27

are mounted in an array for simultaneous connection to multiple connection terminals

27

of a complimentary connector component. Many different types of multi-terminal connector components

71

for connecting electrical, optical, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic circuits are well-known. Examples of multi-terminal connector components for connecting electrical circuits are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,328,388, 5,100,336, and 5,167,522 which patents are incorporated herein by reference. Examples of multi-terminal connector components

71

for connecting optical circuits are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,600,747, 5,222,168, and 5,675,681 which patents are incorporated herein by reference. Examples of multi-terminal connector components for connecting pneumatic or hydraulic circuits are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,316,347, 5,342,098, and 5,507,530 which patents are incorporated herein by reference. Communicatively linking the entrance-door control-system

16

, the door-logic-safety system

17

and/or the powered actuator

29

to one another by using multi-terminal connector components

71

provides for easy, quick, and error-free connection to and disconnection from one another of these components/systems.

in some embodiments of the present invention, such as the one schematically illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the door-safety-logic system

17

is communicatively linked to the entrance-door control-system

16

entirely through a complimentary pair of multi-terminal connector components

71

. In such embodiments, the door-safety-logic system

17

comprises a safety-system control-signal input connector

24

that is complimentary to and connected to a door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

. In some embodiments of the present invention, such as the one schematically illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the entrance-door control-system

16

communicates with the door-safety-logic system

17

entirely through electrical signals, which consist of door-close signals and door-open signals, which may alternatively be sent to the door-safety-logic system

17

. In some such embodiments of the present invention, including the one schematically represented in

FIG. 5

, the door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

comprises a door-close terminal

43

that is connected to a door-close terminal

34

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

and door-close signals are transmitted between these two respective terminals. In some such embodiments of the present invention, including the one schematically represented in

FIG. 5

, the door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

further comprises a door-open terminal

44

that is connected to a door-open terminal

33

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

and door-open signals are transmitted between these two respective terminals. In some such embodiments of the present invention, including the one schematically represented in

FIG. 5

, the door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

further comprises a common terminal

45

that is connected to a common terminal

35

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

. In such embodiments either a positive voltage signal, such as 12 volts DC, or a ground voltage signal is communicated between the entrance-door control-system

16

and the door-safety-logic system

17

through the common terminal

45

of the door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

and the common terminal

35

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

. Such a three-terminal connection and communication setup between an entrance-door control-system

16

and a door-safety-logic system

17

is cost effective and relatively easy to troubleshoot.

In some embodiments of the present invention, such as the one illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

is constructed in such a manner that, in addition to the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

, it can be connected to the actuator control-signal input connector

42

in such a manner that all communicative linking between the entrance-door control-system

16

and the powered actuator

29

is effected through the connection of the door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

to the actuator control-signal input connector. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in

FIG. 5

such a connection of the door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

to the actuator control-signal input connector

42

would include connection of the door-open terminals

44

,

47

thereof to one another, connection of the door-close terminals

43

,

46

thereof to one another, and connection of the common terminals

45

,

48

thereof to one another. Of course in other embodiments of the present invention the door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

and the actuator control-signal input connector

42

could very well have different numbers and types of connectors from the ones of the embodiment shown in

FIG. 5

that must be connected to one another in order to effect full, direct, communicative linking of the entrance-door control-system

16

to the powered actuator

29

. Such a construction of the door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

, the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

, the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

, and the actuator control-signal input connector

42

enables operation of the entrance-door system

49

with the entrance-door control-system

16

directly communicatively linked to the powered actuator

29

. Operation of the entrance-door system

49

in such a manner without the door-safety-logic system

17

can be beneficial when the door-safety-logic system

17

is inoperative and it is still desired to operate the vehicle

12

and, thus, the entrance-door system

49

. Connecting the entrance-door control-system

16

directly to the powered actuator

29

can also be an effective troubleshooting aid when diagnosing malfunction of the entrance-door system

49

and construction of an entrance-door system

49

with a door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

and an actuator control-signal input connector

42

that can be directly connected enables expedited employment of this troubleshooting aid.

In some embodiments of the present invention, such as the one schematically illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the door-safety-logic system

17

is communicatively linked to the powered actuator

29

entirely through a complimentary pair of multi-terminal connector components

71

. In such embodiments, the door-safety-logic system

17

comprises a safety-system control-signal output connector

28

that is complimentary to and connected to an actuator control-signal input connector

42

. In some embodiments of the present invention, such as the one schematically illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the door-safety-logic system

17

communicates with the powered actuator

29

entirely through electrical signals, which consist of door-close signals and door-open signals, which may alternatively be sent to the powered actuator

29

. In some such embodiments of the present invention, including the one schematically represented in

FIG. 5

, the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

comprises a door-close terminal

37

that is connected to a door-close terminal

46

of the actuator control-signal input connector

42

and door-close signals are transmitted between these two respective terminals. In some such embodiments of the present invention, including the one schematically represented in

FIG. 5

, the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

further comprises a door-open terminal

36

that is connected to a door-open terminal

47

of the actuator control-signal input connector

42

and door-open signals are transmitted between these two respective terminals. In some such embodiments of the present invention, including the one schematically represented in

FIG. 5

, the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

further comprises a common terminal

38

that is connected to a common terminal

48

of the actuator control-signal input connector

42

. In such embodiments either a positive voltage signal, such as 12 volts DC, or a ground voltage signal is communicated between the door-safety-logic system

17

and the powered actuator

29

through the common terminal

38

of the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

and the common terminal

48

of the actuator control-signal input connector

42

. Such a three-terminal connection and communication setup between an door-safety-logic system

17

and a powered actuator

29

is cost effective and relatively easy to troubleshoot.

As was mentioned above, a door-safety-logic system

17

according to the present invention may be constructed and interacted with an entrance-door control-system

16

, a powered actuator

29

, and one or more contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

in any of a number of different ways as long as the door-safety-logic system

17

functions to cause the powered actuator

29

to cease actuating the door panel(s)

13

toward their closed position when one or more of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contact an obstruction. In the interest of ensuring that the reader is familiar with the details of construction and interaction of the door-safety-logic system

17

, the entrance-door control-system

16

, the powered actuator

29

, and the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

of an entrance-door system

49

, the details of construction and interaction of the components of

FIG. 5

will be described herein below. The door-safety-logic system

17

illustrated schematically in

FIG. 5

communicates with the powered actuator

29

and the entrance-door control-system

16

through electrical signals. Specifically, in this embodiment the entrance-door control-system

16

, the door-safety-logic system

17

, and the powered actuator

29

communicate door-close signals between one another by communicating positive voltage signals between the door-close terminals

34

,

37

,

43

, and

46

of their respective control-signal connectors

24

,

28

,

41

, and

42

. The door-safety-logic system

17

shown in

FIG. 5

includes a close-stop switch

30

with an input terminal

31

and a door-close output terminal

32

. The close-stop switch

30

shown in

FIG. 5

has an input terminal

30

that is connected to the door-close terminal

34

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

and the close-stop switch

30

has a door-close output terminal

32

that is connected to the door-close terminal

37

of the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

. In the door-safety-logic system

17

illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the close-stop switch

30

is constructed and interacted with the rest of the components of the door-safety-logic system

17

in such a manner that, unless one of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacts an obstruction and communicates a “contact-sensed” signal to the door-safety-logic system

17

, the input terminal

31

and the door-close output terminal

32

of the close-stop switch

30

are connected to one another. Thus, unless one of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacts an obstruction and communicates a “contact-sensed” signal to the door-safety-logic system

17

, the door-close terminal

43

of the door-control-system control-signal output connector

41

is connected through the door-close terminal

34

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

, the close-stop switch

30

, and the door-close terminal

37

of the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

to the door-close terminal

46

of the actuator control-signal input connector

42

. Thus, a complete path for transmission of door-close signals is defined between the entrance-door control-system

16

and the powered actuator

29

through the close-stop switch

30

, unless and until one of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacts an obstruction and communicates a “contact sensed” signal to the door-safety-logic system

17

.

There are many ways that are well-known to and/or easily imaginable by a person of ordinary skill in the art in which a close-stop switch

30

could be incorporated into a door-close signal pathway of a door-safety-logic system

17

of an entrance-door safety-system

11

according to the present invention in order to effect functioning of the close-stop switch as described above. In the particular embodiment of present invention that is illustrated in

FIG. 5

the close-stop switch

30

is a relay that connects its input terminal

31

to its door-close output terminal

32

when its energizing coil

40

is not energized and which disconnects its input terminal

31

from its door-close output terminal

32

, when its energizing coil is energized. Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention that is illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the energizing coil

40

of the close-stop switch

30

is connected within circuitry of the door-safety-logic system

17

in such a manner that, when one of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacts an obstruction and sends a “contact-sensed” signal to the door-safety-logic system

17

, the energizing coil

40

of the close-stop switch

30

is energized and the pathway for the communication of a door-close signal from the entrance-door control-system

16

to the powered actuator

29

is broken. It will of course be understood that there are many ways that are well-known to and/or easily imaginable by a person of skill in the art that the circuitry of a door-safety-logic system

17

could be constructed and connected to the energizing coil

40

of a close-stop switch

30

of a door-safety-logic system

17

according to the present invention such that, when one or more of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacts an obstruction and sends a “contact-sensed” signal to the door-safety-logic system

15

the energizing coil

40

is either energized or de-energized and the pathway for communication of a door-close signal from the entrance-door control-system

16

to the powered actuator

29

is broken. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 5

the energizing coil

40

of the close-stop switch

30

and a pressure-activated switch

70

that is fluidly communicated with one or more fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments

20

are connected in series between the door-close terminal

34

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

and the common terminal

35

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

. As a result, during operation of the door-safety-logic system

17

shown in

FIG. 5

, if a door-close signal is being communicated to the door-safety-logic system

17

, the door-close signal is further communicated from the door-safety-logic system

17

to the powered actuator until one of the fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacts an obstruction and sends a “contact-sensed” signal (a pressure spike) to the pressure-activated switch

70

of the door-safety-logic system

17

. However, when a door-close signal is sent to the door-safety-logic system

17

by the entrance-door control-system

16

and such a “contact-sensed” signal is received by the pressure-activated switch

70

, the pressure-activated switch

70

(which is normally open) closes, the energizing coil of the close-stop switch

30

is energized, and the close-stop switch

30

disconnects its door-close output terminal

32

from its input terminal and ceases communication of the door-close signal to the powered actuator

29

.

In the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 5

the door-safety-logic system

17

comprises a close-stop-maintenance switch

72

that is constructed and interacted with the other components of the door-safety-logic system

17

in such a manner that, once the close-stop switch

30

has been caused to disconnect its input terminal

31

from its door-close output terminal

32

, the close-stop switch

30

is prevented from reconnecting its input terminal

31

to its door-close output terminal

32

unless and until communication of a door-close signal from the entrance-door control-system

16

ceases. In the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the close-stop-maintenance switch

72

is a relay that has its energizing coil

73

connected in series with the pressure-activated switch

70

between the door-close terminal

34

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

and the common terminal

35

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

. Thus, when a door-close signal is being communicated to the door-safety-logic system

17

and one or more of the fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

sends a “contact-sensed” signal to the pressure-activated switch

70

and causes the pressure activated switch

70

to assume a closed operational state, the energizing coil

73

of the close-stop-maintenance switch

72

is energized. In such circumstances, when the energizing coil

73

of the close-stop-maintenance switch

72

, which is normally open relay, is energized, the close-stop-maintenance switch

72

connects the energizing coil

40

of the close-stop switch

30

to the door-close terminal

34

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

through a circuit that is parallel to the one through which the pressure-activated switch

70

directly connects the energizing coil

40

of the close-stop switch

30

to the door-close terminal

34

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

. By virtue of its output terminal

74

also being connected to its energizing coil

73

the close-stop-maintenance switch

72

is self-latching and maintains its energizing coil

73

in an energized state as long as power is applied to its input terminal

75

as a result of a door-close signal being communicated to the door-safety-logic system

17

. Thus, once, during the communication of a door-close signal to the door-safety-logic system

17

, the pressure-activated switch

70

is closed and the energizing coil

73

of the close-stop-maintenance switch

72

is energized, the energizing coil

73

of the close-stop-maintenance switch

72

remains energized and maintains the energizing coil

40

of the close-stop switch

30

energized and the door-close output terminal

32

of the close-stop switch

30

disconnected from the input terminal

31

of the close-stop switch

30

unless and until the door-close signal ceases to be communicated to the door-safety-logic system

17

. As a result, during operation of the embodiment shown in

FIG. 5

, if one of the fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacts an obstruction, the powered actuation of the door panels

13

toward their closed position is ceased and resumption of powered actuation of the door panels

13

toward their closed position is prevented unless and until an operator of the vehicle

12

manipulates the entrance-door controls

57

in such a manner that the entrance-door control system

16

no longer communicates a door-close signal to the door-safety-logic system

17

, such as by manipulating the entrance-door controls

57

to command the powered actuator

29

to actuate the door panels

13

toward their open position. Of course, it will be understood that there are many ways that are well-known to and/or easily imaginable by a person of skill in the art to construct and interact with one another a door-safety-logic system

17

, an entrance-door control-system

16

, contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

, and a powered actuator

29

of an entrance-door system

49

according to the present invention, that upon one or more of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacting an obstruction, powered actuation of the door panels

13

toward their closed position is interrupted unless and until an operator of the vehicle

12

subsequently manipulates the entrance-door controls

57

to command some action by the powered actuator

29

other than actuation of the door panels

13

toward their closed position.

The embodiment shown in

FIG. 5

, is further constructed such that when one of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacts an obstruction, the powered actuator

29

is caused not only to cease actuation of the door panels

13

toward their closed position, but is caused to initiate actuation of the door panels

13

toward their open position. Of course there are many ways that are well-known to and/or easily imaginable by a person of skill in the art to construct and interact a door-safety-logic system

17

, an entrance-door control-system, contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

, and a powered actuator

29

with one another according to the present invention such that, when one or more of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacts an obstruction, the power actuator is not only caused to cease actuation of the door panels

13

toward their closed position, but is also caused to actuate the door panels

13

toward their open position. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in

FIG. 5

, the close-stop switch

30

has, in addition to its door-close output terminal

32

, a door-open output terminal

75

that is connected to the door-open terminal

36

of the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

. In this embodiment of the present invention the close-stop switch

30

is constructed in such a manner that, when its energizing coil

40

is energized, it connects its input terminal

31

to its door-open output terminal

75

and, thus, connects the door-close terminal

34

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

to the door-open terminal

36

of the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

. In such a situation where the door-close terminal

34

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

24

is connected to the door-open connector

36

of the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

, a positive voltage signal communicated to the door-close terminal

34

of the safety-system control-signal input connector

28

, which is a door-close signal by virtue of having been communicated to the door-close terminal

34

, is effectively converted to a door-open signal as a result of being transferred to the door-open terminal

36

of the safety-system control-signal output connector

28

and is thusly communicated to the powered actuator as a door-open signal. Accordingly, during operation of the embodiment shown in

FIG. 5

, when the energizing coil

40

of the close-stop switch

30

is energized as a result of one of the contact-sensing door-edge attachments

15

contacting an obstruction as is described in greater detail above, any door-close signal communicated to the door-safety-logic system

17

is effectively converted into a door open signal and communicated to the powered actuator

29

as such by the door-safety-logic system

17

, causing the powered actuator

29

to actuate the door panels

13

toward their open position.

A vehicle

12

according to the present invention may be of many different constructions that are well-known to and/or easily imaginable by a person of skill in the art. A vehicle

12

according to the present invention obviously has one or more body structures

76

one or more of which define entrance-door frames

50

and have door panels

13

and powered actuators

29

of entrance-door systems

49

mounted to them. A vehicle

12

according to the present invention also generally comprises one or more frame structures

77

that are of relatively rigid and strong construction and to which a majority of the other components of the vehicle

12

, including the one or more body structures

76

thereof, are directly or indirectly engaged and from which those components derive support directly or indirectly. A vehicle

12

according to the present invention generally also comprises a suspension system

78

to which the one or more frame structures

77

of the vehicle

12

are engaged and from which the one or more frame structures

77

of the vehicle

12

derive support above the ground. In addition to providing support for the one or more frame structures

77

and, thus the majority of components of the vehicle

12

the suspension system

78

of the vehicle

12

is constructed in such a manner to provide the vehicle

12

with a relatively low resistance to movement along the ground.

It will, of course, be understood that an entrance-door safety-system

11

and a vehicle

12

that comprises it could be of any of a number of different constructions within the guidelines set forth above and that some features of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features.

Claims

1. An entrance-door safety-system for a vehicle that comprises a door panel that comprises a first door edge and wherein said entrance-door system comprises a second door edge that is disposed upon an opposite side of an entrance-door interface and the interface-bisection plane thereof from the first door edge when the door panel is in its closed position which vehicle comprises a powered actuator that actuates said door panel to and between open and closed positions when commanded to do so by an entrance-door control-system of the vehicle, said entrance-door safety-system comprising:(a) a first contact-sensing door-edge attachment that is adapted to be mounted to the first door edge that the door panel comprises; (b) a door-safety-logic system that is adapted to be communicatively linked to said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment, the entrance-door control-system of the vehicle, and the powered actuator of the vehicle and that is constructed in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is actuating said door panel toward its closed position, if said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment meets an obstruction and communicates a “contact sensed” signal to said door-safety-logic system, said door-safety-logic system causes said powered actuator to cease actuation of said door panel toward its closed position; and (c) wherein said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment defines a first leading face at least three quarters of which through a transverse cross-section of said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment slopes in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane of the entrance-door interface adjacent which the first door edge is disposed when the door panel is in its closed position.
2. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 1, further comprising:(a) a second contact-sensing door-edge attachment that is adapted to be mounted to the second door edge of the vehicle; (b) wherein said door-safety-logic system is further adapted to be communicatively linked to said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment, the entrance-door control-system of the vehicle, and the powered actuator of the vehicle and is constructed in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is actuating said door panel toward its closed position, if said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment meets an obstruction and communicates a “contact-sensed” signal to said door-safety-logic system, said door-safety-logic system causes said powered actuator to cease actuation of said door-panel toward its closed position; and (c) wherein said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment defines a second leading face at least three quarters of which through transverse cross-sections of said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment slopes in a same general direction as does said first leading face and at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane of the entrance-door interface adjacent which said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment is disposed.
3. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 2, wherein:(a) at least one of said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment and said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment is a fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachment that defines an internal fluid chamber; and (b) said door-safety logic-system comprises a pressure-activated switch that is adapted to be fluidly communicated with an internal fluid chamber of at least one of said at least one fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments and that is constructed in such a manner that, when the powered actuator is actuating the door panel toward its closed position and a pressure impulse is communicated to said pressure-activated switch from said fluid chamber of said fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachment, said fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachment is considered to have communicated a “contact-sensed” signal to said pressure-activated switch and said pressure-activated switch at least momentarily changes operational state and thereby directly or indirectly causes the powered actuator to cease actuating the door panel toward its closed position.
4. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 3, wherein:(a) each of said fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments defines a bleed-hole through which said internal fluid chamber thereof is in fluid communication with the surrounding atmosphere.
5. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 4, wherein:(a) said door-safety-logic system is adapted to be connected to the entrance-door control-system and the powered actuator of the vehicle in such a manner that any door-control signals that are communicated between the entrance-door control-system and the powered actuator are communicated through said door-safety-logic system.
6. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 5, wherein:(a) said door-safety-logic system comprises a safety-system control-signal input connector that comprises a connector body with multiple connection terminals mounted to and fixed in an array by said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector; and (b) said multiple connection terminals mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector include all connection terminals necessary to communicatively link said door-safety-logic system to the entrance-door control-system.
7. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 6, wherein:(a) said door-safety-logic system comprises a safety-system control-signal output connector that comprises a connector body with multiple connection terminals mounted to and fixed in an array by said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector; and (b) said multiple connection terminals mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector include all connection terminals necessary to communicatively link said door-safety-logic system to the powered actuator.
8. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 7, wherein:(a) said door-safety-logic system is adapted to communicate with the entrance-door control system and the powered actuator entirely through electrical control signals.
9. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 8, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector comprise a door-open terminal, a door-close terminal, and a common terminal.
10. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 9, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body said of safety-system control-signal output connector comprise a door-open terminal, a door-close terminal, and a common terminal.
11. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 10, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector consist of said door-open terminal, said door-close terminal, and said common terminal.
12. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 11, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector consist of said door-open terminal, said door-close terminal, and said common terminal.
13. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 12, wherein:(a) said door-safety-logic system comprises a close-stop switch with an input terminal that is connected to said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector; (b) said close-stop switch has a door-close output terminal that is connected to said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal output connector; (c) said close-stop switch and said door-safety-logic system are constructed and interacted with one another in such a manner that, subsequent to initiation of operation of said door-safety-logic system, unless and until said pressure-activated switch changes operational state as a result of one of said at least one fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments contacting an obstruction and communicating a “contact-sensed” signal thereto, said close-stop switch has an operational state in which its input terminal and its door-close output terminal are connected to one another such that a door-close control signal can be communicated between said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector and said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal output connector through said close-stop switch; and (d) said close-stop switch and said door-safety-logic system are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that, subsequent to initiation of operation of said door-safety-logic system, when said pressure-activated switch changes operational state as a result of one of said at least one fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments contacting an obstruction and communicating a “contact sensed” signal thereto, said close-stop switch assumes an operational state in which its input terminal and its door-close output terminal are disconnected from one another such that a door-close control signal cannot be communicated between said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector and said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal output connector through said close-stop switch.
14. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 13, wherein:(a) said close-stop switch is a relay that connects its input terminal to its door-close output terminal when its energizing coil is not energized and which disconnects its input terminal from its output terminal when its energizing coil is energized; and (b) said energizing coil of said close-stop switch is connected with circuitry of said door-safety-logic system in such a manner that, when a door-close signal is transmitted to said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector and either of said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment and said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment contacts an obstruction, communicates a “contact-sensed” signal to said pressure-activated switch, and causes said pressure-activated switch to change operational state said energizing coil of said door-close switch is energized.
15. The entrance-door safety system of claim 14, wherein:(a) said close-stop switch has a door-open output terminal that is connected to said door-open terminal of said safety-system control-signal output connector; and (b) said close-stop switch is of a construction such that, when its energizing coil is energized, its input terminal and its door-close output terminal are connected to one another.
16. The entrance-door safety system of claim 15, wherein:(a) said energizing coil of said close-stop switch is connected in series with said pressure-activated switch between said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector and said common terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector.
17. An entrance-door safety-system for a vehicle that comprises a door panel that comprises a first door edge and a second door edge that are disposed upon opposite sides of an entrance-door interface and the interface-bisection plane thereof when the door panel is in its closed position which vehicle comprises a powered actuator that actuates said door panel to and between open and closed positions when commanded to do so by an entrance-door control-system of the vehicle, said entrance-door safety-system comprising:(a) a first contact-sensing door-edge attachment that is adapted to be mounted to the first door edge that the door panel comprises; (b) a door-safety-logic system that is adapted to be communicatively linked to said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment, the entrance-door control-system of the vehicle, and the powered actuator of the vehicle and that is constructed in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is actuating said door panel toward its closed position, if said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment meets an obstruction and communicates a “contact sensed” signal to said door-safety-logic system, said door-safety-logic system causes said powered actuator to cease actuation of said door panel toward its closed position; (c) wherein said door-safety-logic system comprises a safety-system control-signal input connector that comprises a connector body with multiple connection terminals mounted to and fixed in an array by said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector; (d) wherein said multiple connection terminals mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector include all connection terminals necessary to communicatively link said door-safety-logic system to the entrance-door control-system; (e) wherein said door-safety-logic system comprises a safety-system control-signal output connector that comprises a connector body with multiple connection terminals mounted to and fixed in an array by said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector; and (f) wherein said multiple connection terminals mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector include all connection terminals necessary to communicatively link said door-safety-logic system to the powered actuator.
18. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 17, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector comprise a door-open terminal, a door-close terminal, and a common terminal.
19. The entrance-door safety-system of claim 18, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body said of safety-system control-signal output connector comprise a door-open terminal, a door-close terminal, and a common terminal.
20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein:(a) said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment defines a first leading face at least three quarters of which through a transverse cross-section of said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment slopes in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane of the entrance-door interface adjacent which the first door edge is disposed when the door panel is in its closed position.
21. The vehicle of claim 20, further comprising:(a) a second contact-sensing door-edge attachment that is adapted to be mounted to the second door edge of the vehicle; (b) wherein said door-safety-logic system is further adapted to be communicatively linked to said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment, the entrance-door control-system of the vehicle, and the powered actuator of the vehicle and is constructed in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is actuating said door panel toward its closed position, if said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment meets an obstruction and communicates a “contact-sensed” signal to said door-safety-logic system, said door-safety-logic system causes said powered actuator to cease actuation of said door-panel toward its closed position; and (c) wherein said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment defines a second leading face at least three quarters of which through transverse cross-sections of said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment slopes in a same general direction as does said first leading face and at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to the interface-bisection plane of the entrance-door interface adjacent which said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment is disposed.
22. A vehicle, comprising:(a) one or more frame structures that to which a majority of other components of said vehicle are engaged directly or indirectly and from which a majority of other components of said vehicle derive support directly or indirectly; (b) a suspension system to which said one or more frame structures of said vehicle are engaged and from which said one or more frame structures derive support above said ground; (c) one or more body structures that are mounted to said one or more frame structures; (d) wherein one or more of said body structures comprises an entrance-door frame structure that surrounds an entrance-door opening; (e) wherein one or more door panels are mounted to said body structure adjacent said entrance-door frame structure in such a manner that said one or more door panels are moveable through some combination of pivoting and/or translating between closed positions in which said door panels extend across and obstruct passage through said entrance-door opening and an open position in which said door panels leave said entrance-door opening unobstructed allowing passage of objects and/or individuals through said entrance-door opening; (f) wherein one of said door panels comprises a first door edge that is disposed upon an opposite side of an entrance-door interface and an interface-bisection plane thereof from a second door edge when said door panel is disposed in its closed position; (g) a powered actuator that is connected directly or indirectly to said door panel and also to actuator-mounting structure of said vehicle in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is commanded to do so it can actuate said door panel between said closed position and said open position thereof; (h) an entrance-door control-system that is communicatively linked to said powered actuator in such a manner that said entrance-door control-system can be operated by an operator of said vehicle to command said powered actuator to actuate said door panel between said closed position and said open position thereof; (i) an entrance-door safety-system; (j) wherein said entrance-door safety-system comprises a first contact-sensing door-edge attachment that is mounted to said first door edge that said door panel comprises; (k) wherein said entrance-door safety-system comprises a door-safety-logic system that is communicatively linked to said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment, said entrance-door control-system of said vehicle, and said powered actuator of said vehicle and that is constructed in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is actuating said door panel toward its closed position, if said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment meets an obstruction and communicates a “contact sensed” signal to said door-safety-logic system, said door-safety-logic system causes said powered actuator to cease actuation of said door panel toward its closed position; and (l) wherein said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment defines a first leading face at least three quarters of which through a transverse cross-section of said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment slopes in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to said interface-bisection plane of said entrance-door interface adjacent which said first door edge is disposed when said door panel is in its closed position.
23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein:(a) said vehicle comprises a door-interface structure that is complimentary to and that is disposed upon an opposite side of said entrance-door interface from said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment; and (b) said door-interface structure defines a second leading face at least three quarters of which through a transverse cross-section of said door-interface structure slopes in a same direction as said first leading face at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to said interface-bisection plane.
24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein:(a) said door-interface structure that defines said second leading face is a second contact-sensing door-edge attachment that is mounted to a second door edge; and (b) said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment, said door-safety-logic system, said entrance-door control system, and said powered actuator are constructed and interacted with one another in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is actuating said door panel toward its closed position and said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment meets an obstruction and communicates a “contact-sensed” signal to said door-safety-logic system, said powered actuator is caused to cease actuating said door panel toward its closed position.
25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein:(a) at least one of said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment and said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment is a fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachment that defines an internal fluid chamber; and (b) said door-safety logic-system comprises a pressure-activated switch that is fluidly communicated with an internal fluid chamber of at least one of said at least one fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments and that is constructed in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is actuating said door panel toward its closed position and a pressure impulse is communicated to said pressure-activated switch from said fluid chamber of said fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachment, said fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachment is considered to have communicated a “contact-sensed” signal to said pressure-activated switch and said pressure-activated switch at least momentarily changes operational state and thereby directly or indirectly causes said powered actuator to cease actuating said door panel toward its closed position.
26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein:(a) each of said fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments defines a bleed-hole through which said internal fluid chamber thereof is in fluid communication with said surrounding atmosphere.
27. The vehicle of claim 26, wherein:(a) said door-safety-logic system comprises a safety-system control-signal input connector that comprises a connector body with multiple connection terminals mounted to and fixed in an array by said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector; (b) said entrance-door control-system comprises a door-control-system control-signal output connector that comprises a connector body with multiple connection terminals mounted to and fixed in an array by said connector body of said door-control-system control-signal output connector; and (c) all communicative linking of said entrance-door control-system to said door-safety-logic system is effected by connection of said connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said door-control-system control-signal output connector to said connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector.
28. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein:(a) said door-safety-logic system comprises a safety-system control-signal output connector that comprises a connector body with multiple connection terminals mounted to and fixed in an array by said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector; (b) said powered actuator includes an actuator control-signal input connector that comprises a connector body with multiple connection terminals mounted to and fixed in an array by said connector body of said actuator control-signal input connector; and (c) all communicative linking of said door-safety-logic system to said powered actuator is effected by connection of said connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector to said connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said actuator control-signal input connector.
29. The vehicle of claim 28, wherein:(a) said door-control-system control-signal output connector and said actuator control-signal input connector are constructed in such a manner that they could be connected to one another in such a manner that all communicative linking between said door-control system and said powered actuator may be effected through connection of said connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said door-control-system control-signal output connector to said connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said actuator control-signal input connector.
30. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector comprise a door-open terminal, a door-close terminal, and a common terminal; (b) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said door-control-system control-signal output connector comprise a door-open terminal, a door-close terminal, and a common terminal; (c) said door-open terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said door-control-system control-signal output connector is connected to said door-open terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector; (d) said door-close terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said door-control-system control-signal output connector is connected to said door-close terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector; and (e) said door-close terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said door-control-system control-signal output connector is connected to said door-close terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector.
31. The vehicle of claim 30, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector comprise a door-open terminal, a door-close terminal, and a common terminal; (b) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said actuator control-signal input connector comprise a door-open terminal, a door-close terminal, and a common terminal; (c) said door-open terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector is connected to said door-open terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said actuator control-signal input connector; (d) said door-close terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector is connected to said door-close terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said actuator control-signal input connector; and (e) said common terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector is connected to said common terminal that is mounted to said connector body of said actuator control-signal input connector.
32. The vehicle of claim 31, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector consist of said door-open terminal, said door-close terminal, and said common terminal; and (b) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said door-control-system control-signal output connector consist of said door-open terminal, said door-close terminal, and said common terminal.
33. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector consist of said door-open terminal, said door-close terminal, and said common terminal; and (b) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said actuator control-signal input connector consist of said door-open terminal, said door-close terminal, and said common terminal.
34. The vehicle of claim 33, wherein:(a) said door-safety-logic system comprises a close-stop switch With an input terminal that is connected to said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector; (b) said close-stop switch has a door-close output terminal that is connected to said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal output connector; (c) said close-stop switch and said door-safety-logic system are constructed and interacted with one another in such a manner that, subsequent to initiation of operation of said door-safety-logic system, unless and until said pressure-activated switch changes operational state as a result of one of said at least one fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments contacting an obstruction and communicating a “contact-sensed” signal thereto, said close-stop switch has an operational state in which its input terminal and its door-close output terminal are connected to one another such that a door-close control signal can be communicated between said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector and said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal output connector through said close-stop switch; and (d) said close-stop switch and said door-safety-logic system are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that, subsequent to initiation of operation of said door-safety-logic system, when said pressure-activated switch changes operational state as a result of one of said at least one fluid-chamber contact-sensing door-edge attachments contacting an obstruction and communicating a “contact sensed” signal thereto, said close-stop switch assumes an operational state in which its input terminal and its door-close output terminal are disconnected from one another such that a door-close control signal cannot be communicated between said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector and said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal output connector through said close-stop switch.
35. The vehicle of claim 34, wherein:(a) said close-stop switch is a relay that connects its input terminal to its door-close output terminal when its energizing coil is not energized and which disconnects its input terminal from its output terminal when its energizing coil is energized; and (b) said energizing coil of said close-stop switch is connected with circuitry of said door-safety-logic system in such a manner that, when a door-close signal is transmitted to said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector and either of said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment and said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment contacts an obstruction, communicates a “contact-sensed” signal to said pressure-activated switch, and causes said pressure-activated switch to change operational state said energizing coil of said door-close switch is energized.
36. The vehicle of claim 35, wherein:(a) said close-stop switch has a door-open output terminal that is connected to said door-open terminal of said safety-system control-signal output connector; and (b) said close-stop switch is of a construction such that, when its energizing coil is energized, its input terminal and its door-close output terminal are connected to one another.
37. The vehicle of claim 36, wherein:(a) said energizing coil of said close-stop switch is connected in series with said pressure-activated switch between said door-close terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector and said common terminal of said safety-system control-signal input connector.
38. A vehicle, comprising:(a) one or more frame structures that to which a majority of other components of said vehicle are engaged directly or indirectly and from which a majority of other components of said vehicle derive support directly or indirectly; (b) a suspension system to which said one or more frame structures of said vehicle are engaged and from which said one or more frame structures derive support above said ground; (c) one or more body structures that are mounted to said one or more frame structures; (d) wherein one or more of said body structures comprises an entrance-door frame structure that surrounds an entrance-door opening; (e) wherein one or more door panels are mounted to said body structure adjacent said entrance-door frame structure in such a manner that said one or more door panels are moveable through some combination of pivoting and/or translating between closed positions in which said door panels extend across and obstruct passage through said entrance-door opening and an open position in which said door panels leave said entrance-door opening unobstructed allowing passage of objects and/or individuals through said entrance-door opening; (f) wherein one of said door panels comprises a first door edge that is disposed upon an opposite side of an entrance-door interface and an interface-bisection plane thereof from a second door edge when said door panel is disposed in its closed position; (g) a powered actuator that is connected directly or indirectly to said door panel and also to actuator-mounting structure of said vehicle in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is commanded to do so it can actuate said door panel between said closed position and said open position thereof; (h) an entrance-door control-system that is communicatively linked to said powered actuator in such a manner that said entrance-door control-system can be operated by an operator of said vehicle to command said powered actuator to actuate said door panel between said closed position and said open position thereof; (i) an entrance-door safety-system; (g) wherein said entrance-door safety-system comprises a first contact-sensing door-edge attachment that is mounted to said first door edge that said door panel comprises; (h) wherein said entrance-door safety-system comprises a door-safety-logic system that is communicatively linked to said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment, said entrance-door control-system of said vehicle, and said powered actuator of said vehicle and that is constructed in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is actuating said door panel toward its closed position, if said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment meets an obstruction and communicates a “contact sensed” signal to said door-safety-logic system, said door-safety-logic system causes said powered actuator to cease actuation of said door panel toward its closed position; (i) wherein said door-safety-logic system comprises a safety-system control-signal input connector that comprises a connector body with multiple connection terminals mounted to and fixed in an array by said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector; (j) wherein said multiple connection terminals mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector include all connection terminals necessary to communicatively link said door-safety-logic system to said entrance-door control-system; (k) wherein said door-safety-logic system comprises a safety-system control-signal output connector that comprises a connector body with multiple connection terminals mounted to and fixed in an array by said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector; and (j) wherein said multiple connection terminals mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal output connector include all connection terminals necessary to communicatively link said door-safety-logic system to said powered actuator.
39. The vehicle of claim 38, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body of said safety-system control-signal input connector comprise a door-open terminal, a door-close terminal, and a common terminal.
40. The vehicle of claim 39, wherein:(a) said multiple connection terminals that are mounted to said connector body said of safety-system control-signal output connector comprise a door-open terminal, a door-close terminal, and a common terminal.
41. The vehicle of claim 40, wherein:(a) said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment defines a first leading face at least three quarters of which through a transverse cross-section of said first contact-sensing door-edge attachment slopes in a same general direction at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to said interface-bisection plane of said entrance-door interface adjacent which said first door edge is disposed when said door panel is in its closed position.
42. The vehicle of claim 41, further comprising:(a) a second contact-sensing door-edge attachment that is mounted to said second door edge of said vehicle; (b) wherein said door-safety-logic system is further communicatively linked to said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment, said entrance-door control-system of said vehicle, and said powered actuator of said vehicle and is constructed in such a manner that, when said powered actuator is actuating said door panel toward its closed position, if said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment meets an obstruction and communicates a “contact-sensed” signal to said door-safety-logic system, said door-safety-logic system causes said powered actuator to cease actuation of said door-panel toward its closed position; and (c) wherein said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment defines a second leading face at least three quarters of which through transverse cross-sections of said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment slopes in a same general direction as does said first leading face and at an angle of between 20 and 70 degrees relative to said interface-bisection plane of said entrance-door interface adjacent which said second contact-sensing door-edge attachment is disposed.

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Vehicle entrance-door safety-system

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US Referenced Citations (16)