GB2132686A - Door checks - Google Patents

Description

SPECIFICATION Door checks This invention relatesto doorchecks particularly but not exclusively, door checks intended for use on the doors of motor vehicles.

Vehicle manufacturers and Government bodies are devising increasingly stifftests which door checks must survive in orderto be considered suitable for use. For example, one currenttest procedure consists of subjecting an uniubricated mechanismto 100,000 operations with the mechanism periodically dusted with desert soil.

Whilstthere has been a multitude of previous proposals for doorchecks most of them would not stand upto such arduoustests, or at leastthe modifications required to meet the tests would be prohibitively expensive.

The major problem facing a doorcheck designer is thereforeto produce a checkwhich will perform satisfactorilyin useyet be inexpensiveto manufac ture.

One relative inexpensive door check arrangement was proposed in our U. K. Patent Specification No.

1247755 in which a contoured check arm extends between a pairof rollers mounted in a bracket, and one ofthe rollers is resiliently biassed towards the other roller by being mounted on one arm of a torsion bar.

Whilstthat arrangement has been very successful in practice there is now a requirementfor a compact door checkwhich is less costlyto produce yet meets the current regulations.

According to the invention a door check 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 bythe bracket and urging the rollers relatively towards each other, in which thetorsion bar comprises substantially parallel first and second legs on which are respectively journalled thefirst and second rollers and a substantially U-shaped portion of the bar extending substantially in a planewhich is normal to the axes ofthe legs, theoppositeends ofthe U-shaped portion being connected by respective angle portions ofthe barto the adjacent ends of the respective legs, the arrangement being such that at leastthe first roller is capable of deflection relative to the bracket, and the bracket is provided with abutment means acting on the bar at or adjacentto the angle portion associated with the first leg to provide a fulcrum for pivotal movementofthefirst leg.

The abutment means ensures thatthe torsion bar is constrained so that its operating characteristics are closely controlled. In the absence of such an abutment meansthe U-shaped portion ofthe barwould be subjected to bending stresses in addition to torsion stresses, and this could lead to premature failure of the bar in certain circumstances.

Sincethe second roller is mounted on the second leg of the bar it is unnecessary to provide a separate mounting pinforthat roller, andthis reducesthe assembly costs.

The abutment means preferably comprises a hookshaped portion of the mounting bracket.

The hook-shaped portion is preferably arranged also to retain the torsion baragainst movement relative to the bracket in the axial direction of the legs.

The bracket is conveniently formed from sheet material that is bent into an angular S-shape, and the rollers are held captive between two of the horizontal limbs ofthe S.

The hook-shaped portion mayform partofthethird horizontal limb ofthe S, butthat limb may support a furthervertical limb of the bracketof which the hook-shaped portion forms a part. The hook-shaped portion then preferably engages with one end of the U-shaped portion adjacentto said angle portion of the bar.

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 ofthefirst leg, a second abutment means being provided on the bracketto restrain the angle portion associated with the second leg.

Various vehicle door checks in accordance with the invention will now be described, byway of example only, with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which :- Figure 1 is a plan view of a first check in the condition in which the door is closed ; Figure 2is a side elevation of the check of Figure 1 looking in the direction ofthe arrowAin Figure 1, and withoutthe check arm; Figure3 is a rearview of the check of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 1, but for clarity omitting the check arm ; and Figure4is an underplan view of a modified, second check shown mounted in a vehicle.

Figure 5is a view corresponding to Figure 2 but of a modified, third check; Figure 6 is a rear view of the bracket of the check of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrow C in Figure 5 ; Figure 7is a plan view of the bracket of Figure 6 ; and Figure 8shows a detail.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the check comprises a bracket 1 formed from a rectangular strip of sheet metal by bending about five transverse lines so as to besubstantiallyofangularS-shape, asshown in Figure 2, comprising three parallel, horizontally extending walls2, 3 and 4, and vertical walls 5 and 6for connection by studs 8 engaging holes 7 to a door or door pillar. Thewalls 2 and3 ofthe bracket 1 are connected by a furthervertical wall 9which is apertured at 10 to receive a contoured horizonta) check arm 11 provided with a pivot hole 12 for attachmentto a door pillar or door respectively.

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 bracketwalls 2 and 3. The torsion barfurthercomprises a U-shaped portion 18 extending in a planewhich 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.

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 thefree end of wall 4 and, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the hooks are inclined at an angle of approx- imately 45 to the axes ofthe legs 15,16 with the hook ends directed substantially towards each other. The angling ofthehooks helpsto retainthetorsion bar17 against movement relative to the bracket in the direction of the axes of the legs 15,16.

Thefirst leg 15 extends through slotted holes 25,26 provided in the walls 3,2 respectivelyto enable the first roller 13 to be deflected in the direction awayfrom the second roller 14, the second leg 16 extending through corresponding round holes 27,28 in the walls 3,2respectively, toholdroller14againstlateral movement.

In Figure 3 the first leg 15 of thetorsion 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 bythe hook23, bythe action of the check arm on thefirst roller 13. Pivotal deflection of the arm 15 increases the torsional stress in limb 30 of the U portion 18 of the bar.

The torsion bar is arranged to have a torsional pre-loading on assembly to the bracket 1. In its free statethe lower ends of the legs 15,16 are arranged almosttouching so asto provide on assemblythe necessary pre-loading ofthe roller 13towards roller 14.

Sincethe portions 21 of the barare held against relative movement a pa rt by the hooks 23,24, the U portion 18 of the bar is not subjected to substantial bending stresses in use.

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 contrastto arrangementswherethedeflecting leg of aspring bar is provided on a relative unrestrained loop or bend of the bar.

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

The deflectable roller 13 is preferably arranged to engagewiththesmootherside ofthe arm 11, as shown, but the reverse would be possible.

As shown in Figure 1, thewide portion 29 of the check arm 11 is provided with a recess 31 which is engaged bythe roller 14when the door reachesthe 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 slightlyfrom 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 bythe check.

Figure 4shows 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 differentlyfrom the plane of vertical walls 5,6. The pivotal axis of the door is indicated at 35.

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

In orderto provide two hotd-open positions of the doorthe checkarm 11 is provided with two spaced apart recesses 31 a and 31 b.

A mounting bracket is securedto thevehicle body and is pivotaliy connected at 12 with the check arm 11 whici carries a small stop pin engageable with the free end ofthe bracket33to restrictthe pivotal movement of the check arm relative the bracket33. in a further modification, not shown, the second roiler 14 and a leg 16 are permitted to deflect in an identical mannerto the first roller 13 and leg 15.

Figures 5 to 8 show a further modified check which differs from the checks of Figures 1 to 4 in the shape of the bracken i. Parts corresponding to the checks of Figures 1 to 4 have been given corresponding reference numerals. this construction, the bracket 1 is bentth six rigi t angie bends, and thereby differs from the previcus brackets in the provision of a furtnerveriicaiwat ! 3ocontinuouswithwa) ! 4, the Ihooks 23"', being de ned in wall 35 by a cut-out 36.

The hooks 23, 24 in this case locate the free ends 19 of the U-shaped portion i8, instead of engaging with the bend portions 21, 22 in the previous constructions. xt is preferred to arrange the hooks in this way since the bent portions 21, 21 are pre-stressed are pre-stressed ling the torsion bar to the bracket, and this arrange- ment avoids further unnecessary stress on the bent portions 21, 22. It will be appreciated, however, that the hooks 23, 24 will hold the torsion bar 17 against vertical movement relative to the bracket 1, and hook 24 will provide a fuicrum for pivoting of one leg, the ieg 16 in this case.

In orderto enable the mounting holes 7 to be the same distance apart as with the previous construc tions, the wait 5 is of reduced height, and priorto bending of the bracket an aperture 37 of the shape shown in Figure 8 is pressed from the bracket blank to define a mounting lug 38 which is left in the plane of watt 5 on bending of the bracket blank, the lug 38 containing part of the upper hole 7 in the finished bracket.

Aswiththeconstructions of Figures 1. o4, thechecic of Figures 5to 8 may be modified to permit deflection of both legs 15,16 relative to the bracket.

Claims (11)

1. A door check comprising 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 bracketand urging the rollers relativelytowards each other, in which the torsion bar comprises substantially parallel first and second legs on which are respectively journalled the first and second rollers, and a substantally U-shaped portion of the bar extending substantially in a planewhich is normal to the axes of the legs, the opposite ends of the U-shaped portion being connected by respective angle portions of the barto the adjacentends of the respective legs, the arrangement being such that at leastthe first roller is capable of deflection relative to the bracket, and the bracket is provided with abutment means acting on the bar at or adjacentto the angle portion associated with the first leg to provide a fulcrum for pivotal movement of the first leg.

2. Adoorcheck as claimed in claim 1 in which the abutment means comprises a hook-shaped portion of the mounting bracket.

3. Adoorcheckasclaimedinclaim2inwhichthe hook-shaped portion is so arranged as to retain the torsion bar 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 of which a substantial part is bent into an angular S-shape, and the rollers are held captive between two of the horizontal limbs of the S.

5. Adoorcheckas claimed in claim 4 in which the hook-shaped portion is partofthethird horizontal limb ofthe S.

6. Adoorcheckasclaimedinclaim4inwhichthe bracket comprises a further vertical limb supported by one of the horizontal limbs, and the hook-shaped portion is part of the further limb.

7. Adoorcheckas claimed in claim 6 in which the hook-shaped portion engages with one end of the U-shaped portion adjacentto said angle portion of the bar.

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

9. A door check substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

10. Adoorcheckas claimed in claim 8 but modified substantially as described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A door check substantially as described with referenceto Figures 5to 8 of the accompanying drawings.