Door checks

Description

[0001] This invention relates to door checks particularly, but not exclusively, door checks intended for use on the doors of motor vehicles.

[0002] Vehicle manufacturers and Government bodies are devising increasingly stiff tests which door checks must survive in orderto be considered suitable for use. For example, one current test procedure consists of subjecting an unlubricated mechanism to 100,000 operations with the mechanism periodically dusted with desert soil.

[0003] Whilst there has been a multitude of previous proposals for door checks most of them would not stand up to such arduous tests, or at least the modifications required to meet the tests would be prohibitively expensive.

[0004] The major problem facing a door check designer is therefore to produce a check which will perform satisfactorily in use yet be inexpensive to manufacture.

[0005] One relatively inexpensive door check arrangement was proposed in our GB-A-1247755 in which a contoured check arm extends between a pair of rollers mounted in a bracket, and one of the rollers is resiliently biassed towards the other roller by being mounted on one arm of a torsion bar.

[0006] Whilst that arrangement has been very successful in practice there is now a requirement for a compact door check which is less costly to produce yet meets the current regulations.

[0007] A door check which is rather similar to that of GB-A-1247755 is shown in GB-A-1171576, the principal difference being that the main, torsional limb of the torsion bar of the earlier design is substantially longer than that of the later design, and instead of having a straight lateral arm to anchor the anchored end of the torsion bar, the earlier design has a U-shaped portion, one limb of the U providing in effect an extension to the main torsional limb.

[0008] GB-A-795867 shows a yet older design of door check which employs a bar arranged to act as a bow spring. The bar has a U-shaped portion lying in a plane normal to the axes of rollers which are journalled on respective legs of the bar which depend from the opposite free ends of the U-shaped portion. The rollers are guided in a channel-shaped mounting bracket, and the free ends of the U-shaped portion are effectively unrestrained against movement apart to enable the U-shaped portion to provide the bow-spring action.

[0009] EP-A-109136 represents prior art under Article 54(3) and (4) only. This shows various constructions of door check in which one roller is mounted at an intermediate position on one leg of a spring bar, the free end of the leg being restrained to a bracket. The opposite end of the leg is continuous with a U-shaped portion of the bar in some constructions, and in one such construction the U-shaped portion lies in a horizontal plane in use.

[0010] According to the invention a door check of the type disclosed in GB-A-1171576 comprises a contoured check arm adapted to be pivotally secured to a door or door pillar, and a bracket adapted to be secured to a door pillar or door respectively, first and second rollers mounted on or in the bracket with the check arm extending between the rollers, a torsion bar carried by the bracket and comprising substantially parallel first and second legs interconnected by way of a substantially U-shaped portion of the bar, the first roller being journalled on the first leg and being urged towards the second roller by torsion in the bar, and the bracket being provided with first abutment means acting on the barto provide a fulcrum for pivotal movement of the first leg, characterised in that the second roller is journalled on the second leg of the bar, the U-shaped portion of the bar extends substantially in a plane which is normal to the axes of the legs, the opposite ends of the U-shaped portion are connected directly by respective angle portions of the bar to the adjacent ends of the respective legs, the first abutment means acts on the bar at or adjacent to the angle portion associated with the first leg, and by second abutment means on the bracket acting on the bar at or adjacent to the angle portion associated with the second leg, the first and second abutment means being arranged to resist relative movement apart of the angle portions whereby the U-shaped portion of the bar is not subjected to substantial bending stresses in use caused by deflection of the first roller.

[0011] The abutment means ensure that the torsion bar is constrained so that its operating characteristics are closely controlled. In the absence of such abutment means the U-shaped portion of the bar would be subjected to bending stresses in addition to torsional stresses, and this could lead to premature failure of the bar in certain circumstances.

[0012] Since the second roller is mounted on the second leg of the bar it is unnecessary to provide a separate mounting pin for that roller, and this reduces the assembly costs.

[0013] The abutment means preferably each comprise a hook-shaped portion of the mounting bracket.

[0014] The hook-shaped portions are preferably arranged also to retain the torsion bar against movement relative to the bracket in the axial direction of the legs.

[0015] The bracket is conveniently formed from sheet material that is bent into an angular S-shape, the rollers are held captive between two of the horizontal limbs of the S, and the hook-shaped portions are parts of the third horizontal limb of the S.

[0016] The second leg of the bar may be restrained to the bracket against lateral movement so that the second roller is held against lateral movement, but if desired the second leg may be permitted to pivot in the manner of the first leg, the second abutment means providing a fulcrum for pivotting of the second leg.

[0017] A door check for a vehicle in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the check in the condition in which the door is closed;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the check looking in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1, and without the check arm;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the check looking in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 1, but for clarity omitting the check arm; and

Figure 4 is an underplan view of a modified check shown mounted in a vehicle.

[0018] The check comprises a bracket 1 formed from a rectangular strip of sheet metal by bending about five transverse lines so as to be substantially of angular S-shape, as shown in Figure 2, comprising three parallel, horizontally extending walls 2, 3 and 4, and vertical walls 5 and 6 for connection by studs 8 engaging holes 7 to a door or door pillar. The walls 2 and 3 of the bracket 1 are connected by a further vertical wall 9 which is apertured at 10 to receive a contoured horizontal check arm 11 provided with a pivot hole 12 for attachment to a door pillar or door respectively.

[0019] First and second plain cylindrical rollers 13 and 14 respectively are journalled on parallel first and second legs 15 and 16 respectively of a torsion bar 17 and are located vertically between bracket walls 2 and 3. The torsion bar further comprises a U-shaped portion 18 extending in a plane which is normal to the axes of the legs 15 and 16 and contains the bracket wall 4, the opposite ends 19, 20 of the U portion 18 being connected to the upper ends of the respective legs 15, 16 by respective right-angle bend portions 21, 22.

[0020] The portions 21, 22 are restrained to the bracket by respective abutment means on the bracket in the form of respective hooks 23, 24. The hooks 23, 24 are formed as laterally spaced projections depending from the free end of wall 4 and, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the hooks are inclined at an angle of approximately 45° to the axes of the legs 15, 16 with the hook ends directed substantially towards each other. The angling of the hooks helps to retain the torsion bar 17 against movement relative to the bracket in the direction of the axes of the legs 15, 16.

[0021] The first leg 15 extends through slotted holes 25, 26 provided in the walls 3, 2 respectively to enable the first roller 13 to be deflected in the direction away from the second roller 14, the second leg 16 extending through corresponding round holes 27, 28 in the walls 3, 2 respectively, to hold roller 14 against lateral movement.

[0022] In Figure 3 the first leg 15 of the torsion bar is shown in full outline in the position it occupies when the rollers engage with the narrow portion of the check arm 11 as shown in Figure 1, and in dotted outline in the deflected position when the rollers engage with a wide portion 29 of the check arm 11. It will be seen that the first leg 15 is pivotally deflected about a fulcrum point provided by the hook 23, by the action of the check arm on the first roller 13. Pivotal deflection of the arm 15 increases the torsional stress in limb 30 of the U portion 18 of the bar.

[0023] The torsion bar is arranged to have a torsional pre-loading on assembly to the bracket 1. In its free state the lower ends of the legs 15, 16 are arranged almost touching so as to provide on assembly the necessary pre-loading of the roller 13 towards roller 14.

[0024] Since the portions 21, 22 of the bar are held against relative movement apart by the hooks 23, 24, the U portion 18 of the bar is not subjected to substantial bending stresses in use.

[0025] The hook 23 controls the pivotal movement of the first leg 15 and this control assists in providing a consistent performance in use. This is in contrast to arrangements where the deflecting leg of a spring bar is provided on a relatively unrestrained loop or bend of the bar.

[0026] The axial spacing of roller 13 from the hook 23 assists in minimising tilting of the roller 13 in use.

[0027] The deflectable roller 13 is preferably arranged to engage with the smoother side of the arm 11, as shown, but the reverse would be possible.

[0028] As shown in Figure 1, the wide portion 29 of the check arm 11 is provided with a recess 31 which is engaged by the roller 14 when the door reaches the fully open condition. However, the recess 31 is spaced from stop faces 32 on the arm such that when the roller 14 is seated in recess 31 the stop faces 32 are spaced slightly from the bracket wall 9. This enables the door to be pushed slightly beyond the normal open condition against resilient biassing of the rollers, to provide a cushioned action when the door opening movement is arrested by the check.

[0029] Figure 4 shows a modification of the check of Figures 1 to 3, in which parts corresponding to those of Figures 1 to 3 have been given corresponding reference numerals. For convenience of mounting the bracket 1 in a vehicle door of a particular shape the axes of the rollers 13 and 14 are spaced slightly differently from the plane of vertical walls 5, 6. The pivotal axis of the door is indicated at 35.

[0030] The slotted holes 25, 26 of the previous arrangement are replaced by open-ended slots, only the slot 26' in wall 2 being shown.

[0031] In order to provide two hold-open positions of the door the check arm 11 is provided with two spaced apart recesses 31a and 31b.

[0032] A mounting bracket 33 is secured to the vehicle body and is pivotally connected at 12 with the check arm 11 which carries a small stop pin engageable with the free end of the bracket 33 to restrict the pivotal movement of the check arm relative to the bracket 33.

[0033] In a further modification, not shown, the second roller 14 and leg 16 are permitted to deflect in an identical manner to the first roller 13 and leg 15.

Claims

1. A door check comprising a contoured check arm (11) adapted to be pivotally secured to a door or door pillar, and a bracket (1) adapted to be secured to a door pillar or door respectively, first and second rollers (13, 14) mounted on or in the bracket with the check arm extending between the rollers, a torsion bar (17) carried by the bracket and comprising substantially parallel first and second legs (15,16) interconnected by way of a substantially U-shaped portion (18) of the bar, the first roller (13) being journalled on the first leg (15) and being urged towards the second roller (14) by torsion in the bar, and the bracket being provided with first abutment means (23) acting on the bar to provide a fulcrum for pivotal movement of the first leg (15), characterised in that the second roller (14) is journalled on the second leg (16) of the bar, the U-shaped portion of the bar extends substantially in a plane which is normal to the axes of the legs (15, 16), the opposite ends of the U-shaped portion are connected directly by respective angle portions (21, 22) of the bar to the adjacent ends of the respective legs (15, 16), the first abutment means (23) acts on the bar at or adjacent to the angle portion (21) associated with the first leg, and by second abutment means (24) on the bracket acting on the bar at or adjacent to the angle portion (22) associated with the second leg, the first and second abutment means (23, 24) being arranged to resist relative movement apart of the angle portions (21, 22) whereby the U-shaped portion of the bar is not subjected to substantial bending stresses in use caused by deflection of the first roller.

2. A door check as claimed in claim 1 in which the first and second abutment means each comprise hook-shaped portions (23, 24) of the mounting bracket (1).

3. A door check as claimed in claim 2 in which each hook-shaped portion is shaped to retain the torsion bar (17) against movement relative to the bracket in the axial direction of the legs.

4. A door check as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the bracket is formed from sheet material that is bent into an angular S-shape, the rollers are held captive between two of the horizontal limbs (2, 3) of the S, and the hook-shaped portions (23, 24) are parts of the third horizontal limb (4) of the S.

5. A door check as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the second leg (16) of the bar is restrained to the bracket against lateral movement so that the second roller (14) is held against lateral movement.

Ansprüche

1. Türfeststeller,

mit einem kontinuierten, schwenkbar an einer Tür oder einem Türpfosten befestigbaren Feststellarm (11),

mit einem an einem Türpfosten bzw. einer Tür befestigbaren Haltestück,

mit ersten und zweiten Rollen (12, 13), die an oder in dem Haltestück derart befestigt sind, daß sich der Feststellarm zwischen den Rollen hindurch erstreckt,

mit einem von dem Haltestück gehaltenen Torsionsstab (17), der einander im wesentlichen parallele erste und zweite Schenkel (15, 16) umfast, die durch einen im wesentlichen U-förmigen Abschnitt (18) des Stabes miteinander verbunden sind, wobei die erste Rolle (13) auf dem ersten Schenkel (15) gelagert und durch Torsion in dem Stab gegen die zweite Rolle (14) gedrückt ist,

und mit einer an dem Haltestück vorgesehen ersten Anschlageeinrichtung (23), die auf den Stab einwirkt und ein Schwenklager für die Schwenkbewegung des ersten Schenkels (15) bildet,

dadurch gekennzeichnet,

daß die zweite Rolle (14) auf dem zweiten Schenkel (16) des Stabes drehbar gelagert ist,

daß der U-förmige Abschnitt des Stabes sich im wesentlichen in einer zu den Achsen der Schenkel (15, 16) senkrechten Ebene erstreckt,

daß die einander gegenüberliegenden Enden des U-förmigen Abschnittes jeweils durch Winkelabschnitte (21, 22) des Stabes unmittelbar mit den benachbarten Enden der jeweiligen Schenkel (15, 16) verbunden sind,

daß die erste Anschlageinrichtung (23) an oder nahe bei dem dem ersten Schenkel zugeordneten Winkelabschnitt (21) wirkt,

daß an dem Haltestück eine zweite Anschlageinrichtung (24) vorgesehen ist, die auf den Stab an oder nahe bei dem dem zweiten Schenkel zugeordneten Winkelabschnitt (22) wirkt,

und daß die erste und zweite Anschlageinrichtung (23, 24) derart angeordnet sind, daß sie einer Auseinanderbewegung der Winkelabschnitte (21, 22) widerstehen, wodurch der U-förmige Teil des Stabes im Betrieb durch die Auslenkung der ersten Rolle keiner wesentlichen Biegebeanspruchung unterworfen ist.

2. Türfeststeller nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die erste und zweite Anlageeinrichtung jeweils hakenartige Teile (23, 24) des Haltestücks (1) umfaßt.

3. Türfesteller nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jeder hakenartige Teil so geformt ist, daß er den Torsionsstab (17) gegen eine Bewegung gegenüber dem Haltestück in der Axialrichtung der Schenkel festhält.

4. Türfeststeller nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Haltestück aus Blech geformt ist, welches in eine abgewinkelte S-Form gebogen ist, wobei die Rollen zwischen zwei der horiztonalen Schenkel (2, 3) des "S" festgehalten sind und die hakenartigen Teile (23, 24) Teile des dritten horizontalen Schenkels (4) des "S" sind.

5. Türfeststeller nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der zweite Schenkel (16) des Torsionsstabes an dem Haltestück gegen seitliche Bewegung abgestützt ist, so daß die zweite Rolle (14) gegen seitliche Bewegung festgehalten ist.

Revendications

1. Arrêt de porte comportant un bras profilé (11) apte à être fixé, de façon à pouvoir pivoter, sur une porte ou un montant de porte, et une console (1) apte à être fixée respectivement à un montant de porte ou à une porte, des premier et second galets (13, 14) montés sur ou dans la console et entre lesquels s'étend le bras de l'arrêt de porte, une barre de torsion (17) portée par la console et compartant essentiellement des première et seconde branches parallèles (15, 16) inter- connectées au moyen d'une partie essentiellement en forme de U (18) de la barre, le premier galet (13) étant tourillonné sur la première branche (15) et étant repoussé vers le second galet (14) sous l'effet d'une torsion dans la barre, et la console étant munie d'un premier moyen de butée (23) agissant sur la barre de manière à former un pivot pour le mouvement de pivotement de la première branche (15), caractérisé en ce que le second galet (14) est tourillonné sur la seconde branche (16) de la barre, la partie en forme de U de la barre s'étend essentiellement dans un plan qui est perpendiculaire aux axes des branches (15, 16), les extrémités opposées de la partie en forme de U sont raccordées directement par les éléments coudés respectifs (21, 22) de la barre aux extrémités voisines des branches respectives (15, 16), le premier moyen de butée (23) agit sur la barre au niveau ou au voisinage de la partie coudée (21) associée à la première branche, et il est prévu un second moyen de butée (24) situé sur la console et agissant sur la barre au niveau ou au voisinage de la partie coudée (22) associée à la second branche, les premier et second moyens de butée (23, 24) étant agencés de manière à resister à une écartement relatif des parties coudées (21, 22), ce qui a pour effet que la partie en forme de U de la barre n'est pas soumise à des contraintes importantes de flexion provoquées, en cours d'utilisation, par la déviation du premier galet.

2. Arrêt de porte selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les premier et second moyens de butée comprennent chacun des parties en forme de crochets (23, 24) de la console de montage (1).

3. Arrêt de porte selon la revendication 2, dans lequel chaque partie en forme de crochet est conformée de manière à retenir la barre de torsion (17) contre tout déplacement par rapport à la console suivant la direction axiale des branches.

4. Arrêt de porte selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la console est formée à partir d'un matériau en forme de feuille, qui est coudée avec une forme angulaire en S, les galets étant maintenus captifs entre deux des éléments horizontaux (2,3) du S, et les parties en forme de crochets (23, 24) font partie du troisième élément horizontal (4) du S.

5. Arrêt de porte selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la seconde branche (16) de la barre est retenue sur la consoleen étant bloquée contre tout déplacement latéral de sorte que le second galet (14) est retenue en étant bloqué contre tout déplacement latéral.

Drawing