Guidance assembly for a vehicle door

Abstract

A guidance assembly (1, 1') includes a cam (2) coupled to a vehicle (200) having a sliding door (201) and a roller track (4) oriented along an axis (X1). The cam (2) has a cam track (3) extending into the cam (2). The guidance arm (6) is coupled with the sliding door (201) and has a plugging roller (7) and a sliding roller (80). The sliding roller (80) is positioned on the guidance arm (6) to move within a roller track (4) during movement of the door (201) along the roller track (4). The cam track (3) includes an entry slot (35) positioned to accept the plugging roller (7) into the cam (2) and a plugging slot (30) elongated along the axis (X1) such that the plugging roller (7) moves along or parallel to the axis (X1) in the plugging slot (30).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to French patent application FR 1904533, which was filed on 20-April-2019.BACKGROUNDTechnical Field.

[0002] The inventive subject matter relates to the field of sliding doors for transport vehicles, such as trains, metros, trams, trolley buses, tourist buses, or other buses. One aspect of the inventive subject matter includes a guidance assembly that guides plugging movement of doors on the vehicle. The inventive subject matter also includes a transport vehicle door including such a guidance assembly, a process of assembling the guidance assembly, as well as a transport vehicle equipped with at least one such guidance assembly.Discussion Of Art.

[0003] Some vehicles include plugging doors that open and close to allow and prevent entry and exit from the vehicle. For example, plugging doors mounted on passenger trains need guidance assemblies to perform plugging movement of the doors. The tops of the doors can be guided by an operator while the bottom is either guided by coordinating bars or swinging arms associated with a cam.

[0004] The swinging arms have a small footprint and are lighter than the bars, however, the arms usually do not withstand heavy loads. The current swinging arms are made of one roller that follows a door or roller track and guides the door during the plugging phase of the movement, and one or two rollers that roll on a lower leaf transom and guide the leaf during the sliding phase of the movement.

[0005] As the door slides, a plugging roller rolls against the door or roller track, which forces the swinging arm to rotate and the leaf to shift from the vehicle body. The movement of the bottom of the leaf away from the car body is determined by the geometry of the door or roller track.

[0006] The swinging arms may not be able to withstand high loads due to the orientation of the contact surface between the door or roller track and the plugging roller. The heaviest loads during the life of a vehicle may be perpendicular to the leaves in the Y direction. This causes heavy contact forces between the plugging roller and the door or roller track when the door is closed.

[0007] This contact creates a reaction force perpendicular to the door or roller track which is composed of a Y-axis component and an X-axis component. The X-component created by this contact is transmitted through the leaf and has to be counterbalanced by the door mechanism at the top. As the lever arm between the door operator and the bottom of the leaf amplifies this effort, however, it quickly becomes unsustainable for the door operator.

[0008] The coordinating bars aim to synchronize the guiding systems at the top and at the bottom of the leaves through a column. The top arm moves due to a corresponding roller fitted inside a groove that is mounted on the mobile part of door operator. As the groove moves along the Y direction, the top arm rotates which in turn rotates the lower arm.

[0009] The coordinating bars ability to withstand efforts is greater than the regular guiding arms but, it still stresses the door operator because the effort applied on the lower arm is transmitted through the bars to the upper arm and its groove. Furthermore, the space needed to install the bars and the weight of the bars compared to regular swinging arms are major drawbacks.

[0010] Additionally, it is known to equip transport vehicles with sliding doors, the fronts of which have a combined movement. In essence, the latter has a longitudinal displacement component, or sliding along the vehicle's body, as well as a cross-moving component. Each door has a functional configuration called closed, in which it obstructs a passage in this case, as well as an open functional configuration in which it opens this passage. In service this door moves first from its closed position. The displacement is generally oblique to the body of the door. Then, when this shifted position is reached, the door continues to move longitudinally until the door is opened. This movement is done in reverse to close the door.

[0011] In the state of the art, it is planned to equip these sliding doors with a means of moving the door, such as a motor. This drive means is usually placed in the vicinity of a first end of the door, depending on the vertical direction, typically its upper end. When setting the valve or device in motion, this means also ensures, via a link, the guidance of this valve at the aforementioned upper part.

[0012] It is conceivable that, when mobilizing the valve between the functional configurations mentioned above, its opposite end by means of drive, typically its lower extremity, does not benefit from such guidance. Therefore, the mobility of this opposite end can be subject to displacement and therefore mechanical deformations that can be permanent, which are to be prohibited as they can be the cause of various malfunctions. These include the blocking of the door.

[0013] In order to remedy this deformation phenomenon, consideration could be given to using another device at the lower end of the valve similar to that fitted to the upper end. However, this possibility would have a clear drawback, particularly due to the extra costs associated with these two synchronized training devices.

[0014] With this in mind, a first known solution is to provide a coordination bar, extending vertically. The latter mechanically connects the drive medium, placed at the top end, and a lower arm capable of sliding in relation to the door. One example, as an illustrated document, is in the European patent application 0 643 190 on behalf of BODE. The coordination bar, mentioned above, is particularly visible on Figure 4 of this document where it is assigned from reference 5.

[0015] However, this coordination bar solution has some drawbacks, as the coordination bar is often heavy and causes significant congestion. Moreover, this mechanical set tends to generate relatively high stresses on the drive medium, since the stress applied to the lower arm is transmitted to this device via the coordination bar.

[0016] A known alternative solution, which allows to get rid of this heavy coordination bar, is to provide a guidance device that ensures both guidance, which is only provided at the end of the door. This guidance device includes a mounting deck on the body, as well as a guide and arm, which is articulated on this deck around a vertical axis.

[0017] In the closed configuration, a roller is received at one end of a cam-shaped path, in the vicinity of the outer face of the guidance device. Then, when the means of driving the guidance device is operated, this roller rolls along the walls of the cam-shaped path. This action of the roller tends to spread the guidance device sideways, which can interfere with the plugging movement of the roller. During this phase, the articulated arm rotates in relation to a mounting plate. Then, once the roller has come out of the cam path, the guidance device moves longitudinally in the vicinity of the outer wall of the vehicle.

[0018] The latter solution, however, has some limitations, in terms of mechanical resistance. Indeed it has been found that doors equipped with this kind of guidance device can be mechanically affected irreversibly, when the end of the guidance device opposite the driving means undergoes deformations caused by external stresses. This results in the risk of premature breakage and / or permanent deformation, which requires oversizing the building blocks of the door. This is detrimental, not only in terms of clutter, but also in terms of the overall mass of the door.

[0019] Finally, to illustrate another known state of the art, the German patent application 22 20 701 on behalf of BODE. According to the teaching of this document, the valve is driven by a cylinder piston, provided at the high end of this valve. There is also a guidance device that provides only a guidance function, also provided for in the upper part of this guidance device. The guidance device alone, disclosed in this document, is equipped with a roller. The latter cannot, however, be equated with the plugging roller.

[0020] Indeed, in this German patent application, this roller does not contribute to the plugging, since its sole function is to prevent rattling, at the end of the movement to close the door. It should be noted that the action of plugging itself is generated, in DE 22 20 701, by the curved shape of the rails provided at both ends of the guidance device or door. In contrast, the plugging roller, as intended in the inventive subject matter, is likely to generate a driving force on the door that contributes to the latter's plugging. Again expressed otherwise, in the absence of such a roller, the correct plugging of the door is not assured.

[0021] Document DE3107434A1 discloses an example of a guidance assembly for a vehicle.BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0022] In light of the above, one objective of the inventive subject matter is to remedy, at least in part, the disadvantages of earlier art mentioned above.

[0023] Another objective of the inventive subject matter is to propose a system including a door and its guidance assembly, whose mechanical resistance is significantly improved compared to previous art.

[0024] Another objective of the inventive subject matter is to propose such a system, whose structure has a simplicity similar to that of the solutions of previous art.

[0025] Another objective of the inventive subject matter is to propose such a system, which allows to reliably fulfill the aforementioned functions.

[0026] According to the inventive subject matter, at least one of the above objectives is achieved by means of a guidance assembly according to claim 1, for the sliding door (201) of a transport vehicle (200), including train, tram, metro, bus or trolleybus. In particular, the door is mobile between a closed position, in which the door obstructs a passage opening (202) in the vehicle's opening, as well as an open position in which the door releases the opening of passage into the vehicle. The door is able to be driven by a driving means (110, 110') located at the first end of the passage opening, depending on the vertical direction, especially its upper end. The driving means (110, 110') can be one or more motors in one embodiment. The guidance is provided at the opposite end of the vehicle opening, in particular its lower end, this guidance assembly including means of assembly (50, 52) (e.g., a notched plate) on the vehicle's body, as well as a guidance arm (6). This guidance arm also can be referred to as a swinging arm, and is articulated on the notched plate (50, 52). The swinging arm includes a plugging roller axle (70) in a plugging roller (7) as well as a sliding roller (80) that rotates around a sliding roller axle (8). The roller axle (70) and the sliding roller (80) are mounted to swivel in relation to the swinging arm around mutually parallel axes (e.g., the roller axles). The door includes a longitudinal sliding path (4) defined by a track formed by opposing leaves (14, 16) and that cooperates with the sliding roller of the guidance assembly, as well as a cam track (3) cooperating with the plugging roller axle of the guidance assembly. The cam track (3) can be referred to as a cam track or a cam path as the path (3) extends into and at least partially through the cam (2). The cam track (3) presents such a profile that, when the roller axle (70) is received in this cam track (3), in the closed position of the door, an external effort (F1) exerted on the door, significantly according to a cross-sectional direction (Y1) of the door, induced an effort (F70), exerted by the roller axle on the walls of the cam track, which is only oriented substantially according to this same cross direction of the door, thus allowing the contact, located between the roller axle and the cam track, to transmit substantially no longitudinal effort to the drive mechanism or means.

[0027] According to other features of the guidance assembly: the elongated plugging slot (30) can be bordered by outer walls (31) and interior walls (32), facing respectively towards the inner and outer sides of the guidance assembly, these walls extending parallel to the main plane of the guidance assembly. the useful length (L32) of the inner wall (32) of the plugging slot (30) can be approximately between 1 and 5 millimeters. this plugging slot (30) is extended by a plugging entry slot (35) that leads to the inside of the guidance assembly. the plugging entry slot can extend generally according to the cross direction (Y1) of the guidance assembly (1). the plugging entry slot (35) can have an overall shape of the letter S. the guidance assembly also can include a fork yoke (9), which along with the swinging or guidance arm, can be pierced with holes (25, 62), placed in front of each other, these through holes being intended for the passage of a pin to make it easier to position the swinging arm and cam when mounting the guidance assembly. this set also includes a drive mechanism (110, 110') provided at the first end of this door, especially the upper end of the door, such as a motor. the guidance assembly can be mechanically dissociated from the door or vehicle.

[0028] These additional features can be implemented with the main object above, individually or in combinations of any, technically compatible.

[0029] The inventive subject matter can be used in connection with a transport vehicle, especially the type of train, tram, metro, bus or trolley bus, this transport vehicle being equipped with at least one door.

[0030] It should be noted first of all that it is of the merit of the Applicant to have apprehended the origin of the disadvantages associated with the use of known guidance assemblies, as described above. In essence, the Applicant has identified that, in the state of the art, the orientation of the cam path tends to transmit high contact forces between the roller and the walls of that path when the door is closed. In particular, this contact force is generally oblique, i.e. it has a component according to the longitudinal axis of the door.

[0031] On the contrary, the inventive subject matter provides that this contact force is exercised substantially according to the cross-cutting axis of the door. In these conditions, the contact between the roller and the cam track does not transmit significantly any longitudinal effort that makes it more difficult to open or close the door. In other words, the latter undergoes no longitudinal effort, or very little longitudinal effort in comparison to cross-cutting efforts, because of the aforementioned contact. This reduces the overall load applied to the various components of the door, consistent with the inventive subject matter. As a result, this door has an increased service life compared to previous art, without the need to substantially strengthen its structure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The advantage of the inventive subject matter, as presented above, as well as other benefits of the inventive subject matter will be clearer in light of the description that will follow, given only as non-limiting examples in reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view, schematically illustrating a transport vehicle equipped with a sliding door, which includes a guidance assembly according to one embodiment of the inventive subject matter; Figure 2 is a perspective view that particularly illustrates the inside of the door, as well as the guidance assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, illustrating a guidance device of the guidance assembly consistent with one embodiment of the inventive subject matter; Figure 4 is a perspective view, partially illustrating the guidance device, as well as an insert equipping the door in accordance with one embodiment of the inventive subject matter; Figure 5 is a cross-section view, according to Plan V of Figure 3, illustrating the cooperation of the guidance device and a door or roller track of the guidance assembly of the vantage point of the previous figures, in the closed position of the door; Figure 6 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, illustrating a plugging path, arranged in the door, on a larger scale; Figure 7 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the cooperation of the guidance device and the door or roller track, at the beginning of the plugging or closure of the door in relation to the vehicle's body; Figure 8 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the cooperation of the guidance device and the door or roller track, in a later phase of the plugging or closing of this door; Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the guidance assembly and the door in a position close to that of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the cooperation of the guidance device and the door or roller track, in a second later phase of the unplugging or opening of the door; Figure 11 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the cooperation of the guidance device and the door or roller track, at the end of the unplugging or opening of the door; Figure 12 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, but on a smaller scale than Figure 5, illustrating the guidance assembly and the entire door or roller track in the closed position; Figure 13 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 12, illustrating the guidance device and the door or roller track, in a configuration similar to that shown in Figure 10; Figure 14 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 12, illustrating the guidance device and door or roller track, in an intermediate phase of the longitudinal sliding of the guidance device; Figure 15 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 12, illustrating the guidance device and the door or roller track, in the open position of the door; Figure 16 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, but on a larger scale, illustrating the forces exerted on the door or roller track and those transmitted on the walls of a plugging roller (70), along which moves a sliding roller (2) of the guiding device according to one embodiment of the inventive subject matter; Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 16, illustrating the forces exerted on the door or roller track and the walls of the cam track in a guidance assembly which is not covered by the claims; Figure 18 is a view from below, illustrating a swinging arm belonging to the guidance device of one embodiment of the inventive subject matter, in a folded position of this swinging arm in relation to the chassis of the vehicle, this position corresponding to the closed state of the door; and Figure 19 is a view from below, similar to Figure 18, illustrating the folded and stop position of the swinging arm in relation to the vehicle's chassis, this position corresponding to the open state of the door. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a transport vehicle 200, seen sideways from the outside, such as a bus, a tram, a trolleybus, or even a train. This vehicle is equipped with a sliding door, consistent with the inventive subject matter. The door 100 has two functional configurations, namely first a closed configuration in full lines in which it closes a passage opening 202 in the vehicle. Furthermore, in the open dotted-line configuration, this door frees the above passage, so as to allow passengers access to the vehicle, or the exit of the passengers out of that vehicle.

[0034] This door includes at least one guidance assembly, as well as a device to drive each guidance assembly. In the illustrated example, there are guidance assemblies 1 and 1', one of which will be described in more detail in the following. However, some doors may only have a single guidance assembly. In the closed configuration mentioned above, the opposite vertical edges 10, 10' and 12, 12' of each door cooperate with the respective vertical walls 204 and 206, bordering the passage opening 202 into the vehicle 200. A respective drive means 110,110' (e.g., a motor) is usually provided in the upper part of the passage, in the vicinity of each of the walls 204, 206. Each drive means is powered by a drive mechanism. This drive mechanism, which is assigned from reference 120 on Figure 1 by being schematically represented by dotted lines, consists for example of an electric motor, one or more drive belts and a suspension. There is also a respective guidance device in accordance with the inventive subject matter, which will be described in more detail in the following. Each guidance device (as a whole as reference 5 and 5') is provided substantially at the aplomb of a respective drive mechanism, i.e. in the lower part of the body and in the vicinity of wall 204 and / or 206.

[0035] Figures 5 and 11, which more accurately describe a guidance assembly 1 and the longitudinal and cross-cutting axes X1, Y1 of the guidance assembly 1, which are significantly parallel to the longitudinal and cross-cutting axes of the transport vehicle. The guidance assembly 1 first includes leaves 14 and 16, respectively external and interior in reference to the guidance assembly once mounted on the vehicle. These leaves delineate a path known as door or roller track 4, which will be described in more detail in the following.

[0036] The outer leaf 14 protrudes towards the vertical wall 204, compared to the inner leaf 16. In this protruding area, there is a cam 2 whose nature of the profile defines the movement of the guidance assembly 1 in the opening of the door, as will be seen in the following. This cam 2 can be made of tempered steel, for example, by machining. As a non-limiting example, the cam 2 can be fixed on each of the leaves 14 and 16 by fastening (e.g., with one or more screws). In particular, in reference to Figure 4, this cam 2 includes a body 20, in the lower part of which is spared a cut or arm slot 22, intended for the passage of a swinging arm 6, described below. In the upper part of the body, the latter is dug from a path 3, called a cam track or a cam track. This path 3 leads, downwards, into the aforementioned arm slot 22 while it is bordered, upwards, by an upper wall 24 of the cam body 20.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6, which illustrates the cam track 3 on a larger scale, the cam track 3 includes an elongated plugging slot 30, which is elongated along and extends parallel to the X1 longitudinal axis, as well as a so-called plugging entry opening or slot 35, which extends into the elongated slot 30 from parallel to the transverse axis Y1. The elongated slot 30 has two parallel walls 31 and 32, as well as a closed end wall 33 significantly in the shape of a semicircle. This elongated slot 30 has a single entrance or opening, i.e. it leads to the plugging entry slot 35 at the first end, while its opposite end is closed by the plugging end wall 33. The plugging entry opening or slot 35 also has two opposing plugging walls 36 and 37 having mutually opposed concavities. These walls are shifted from each other, according to the Y1 axis, so that the entry slot 35 has a general shape of the letter S. This entry slot 35 is therefore open. For example, the entry slot 35 is open at one and open at another end that leads to the elongated slot 30 , as well as to the inside of the cam, at its other end.

[0038] In the vicinity of the wall 37, the cam 2 is pierced with a through hole or orifice 25 that extends vertically when the cam 2 is mounted on the vehicle 200. As will be seen in more detail in the following, this orifice 25 allows the passage of a pin intended to improve the mutual positioning between the cam 2 and the swinging arm 6, when mounting on the vehicle. In the vicinity of the wall 36 of the entry opening or slot 35, an end or shoulder 26 of the inner leaf 16 is disposed, which allows for reception of a protective sheet 18 that covers the inner face of the inner leaf 16. Finally, in contrast to this shoulder 26, this protective sheet 18 can form an edge that allows for reception of a profile body 40 (see Figure 5). This profile body 40 can fix, secure, or form a seal 42 between the assembly and the door.

[0039] In particular, in reference to Figure 3, it is noted first of all that the guidance assembly 1 can be mechanically dissociated from the driving means 110, 110'. For example, the guidance assembly 1 that guides opening and closure of a door, and the motor that drives opening and / or closing of the same door, may not be mechanically connected to each other, such as by a rigid body (e.g., a coordination bar). The guidance device 5 includes a notched plate 50 that can be mounted in the wall 204 of the vehicle. This allows for the guidance assembly 1 to be removable, such as by using fasteners 52 (e.g., screws). This notched plate 50 supports the swinging or guidance arm 6 and allows the arm 6 to rotate around a vertical articulation axis A6.

[0040] The guidance or swinging arm 6 can be pierced with a hole or orifice 62 that may be lined up with (so as to be coaxial with) the orifice or hole 25 in the cam 2, described above. Moreover, in the vicinity of the opposite end to the articulation axis A6, the guidance or swinging arm 6 is equipped with two axles 8, 70, forming physical axes for rollers 7, 80. For example, a plugging roller 7 may be mounted on a vertical plugging axle 70 so as to rotate around a vertical axis A70.

[0041] During operation, the plugging roller 7 moves along the cam track 3, as described above. The outer diameter of the plugging roller 7 is slightly smaller or shorter than the width of the plugging slot 30 (which can be defined as the shortest distance l30 between the opposing walls 31 and 32 (as shown in Figure 6)). Moreover, the radius of curvature of the plugging roller 7 can be shorter than the radius of curvature of the plugging end wall 33 of the plugging slot 30. This can avoid jamming of the plugging roller 7 at the end wall 33 in the elongated slot 30.

[0042] The sliding roller 80 is mounted on the sliding axle 8 and rotates on the sliding axle 8 around a vertical axis A80, which is parallel to the axis A70 described above. In operation, the sliding roller 80 moves along a sliding path defined by the door or roller track 4, as described above. The outer diameter of the sliding roller 80 can be slightly less than a width l4 of the door or roller track 4 (shown in Figure 5), and may be defined as the shortest distance between the leaves 14 and 16 on opposite sides of the door or roller track 4.

[0043] The guidance device 5 can be equipped with a leg 9, extending from a fork yolk 54 of the device 5 along the Y1 cross axis. This leg is able to cooperate with an end stop 90 that is mounted on the guidance arm 6. In addition, a resilient body 92 (e.g., a spring or traction spring) is disposed between and coupled with protrusions 94 and 96, attached to the arm 6 and fork yolk 54, respectively. Due to this position, this spring confers two stable positions to the arm 6.

[0044] The installation of the guidance assembly is facilitated due to the holes 25, 62. The plate 50 is placed onto the body of the vehicle so that the holes 25, 62 are aligned to receive a pin therethrough (e.g., along the vertical dashed line shown in Figure 4). The cam 2 and guidance arm 6 are then positioned correctly in relation to each other, with the plate 50 then fixed with screws, for example.

[0045] In the closed position shown in Figures 5 and 12, the plugging roller 7 is received in the end section of the cam track 3 (see Figure 5). This plugging roller 7 is located at a distance from the bottom of this section, so as to avoid contact. In addition, the sliding roller 80 is received in the sliding path (e.g., the door or roller track 4). It should be noted that there is a functional play or room for movement 19 separating the sliding roller 80 from the end of the door or roller track 4. This avoids or reduces the likelihood of contact between the sliding roller 80 and the leaves 14, 16 that define the sliding path of the door or roller track 4.

[0046] It is then assumed that the assembly is set in motion by means of drive mechanism, overall according to the f1 arrow (see in particular Figure 13). This induces a corresponding displacement of the sliding roller 80 along the path of the door or roller track 4. At first, this sliding roller 80 moves in a direction significantly parallel to the X1 axis. As a result, the guidance device is significantly stationary along the Y1 axis. Note that, in Figure 5, there is a functional play between the leaves of the door or roller track and the cam so as to avoid contact between the leaves and the cam during movement. At the end of initial translational movement, shown in Figure 7, the plugging roller is at the end of the plugging slot 30 opposite the bottom wall 33 of the plugging slot 30. During this initial phase of longitudinal translation of the cam, the sliding roller 80 progressed slightly along the door or roller track 4.

[0047] In reference to Figure 6, L32 represents a useful length of a wall 32 of the plugging slot 30. The useful length is defined as the length of contact between the wall 32 and the plugging roller 70. Consistent with an advantageous feature of the inventive subject matter, when the cam 5 is in a closed position (when the door to which the cam 5 is coupled is closed), the respective arrangements of the plugging roller 7 and the cam track 3 are set so that the point of contact of this roller 7 along this wall 32 is located between the two ends of the useful length L32. In this regard, the extreme positions 70' and 70" that the plugging roller 7 can adopt along this wall 32 have been illustrated in Figure 6. For non-limiting examples, this length is advantageously between one and five millimeters.

[0048] Then, as the cam 5 moves, as Figures 8 to 10 show, the sliding roller 80 progresses along the door or roller track 4. Since the latter is generally oriented according to the Y1 direction, the plugging roller 7 cooperates with this intermediate section, so as to outsource a small movement to the cam 5. Therefore, the movement of the cam in has a cross-sectional or transverse component.

[0049] The overall movement of the cam 5, represented by the f1 arrow, is then oblique. This allows the leaves of the door or roller track to not hit the cam during this displacement. Since the plugging roller is no longer aligned, according to the X1 axis, with the sliding roller remaining within the path of the door or roller track, the arm 6 rotates in relation to the cam, along to the f6 arrow. It should also be noted that, when moving the plugging roller along its cam track, the sliding roller is not in contact with the cam, since it is placed below this path (see Figure 4).

[0050] Figures 11 and 13 illustrate the guidance arm 6 when the plugging roller has just exited the elongated plugging slot and the plugging entry slot. At this point, the guidance arm 6 has completed a pivoting motion (e.g., around or about the vertical axis A80 of the sliding roller 80) aided by the resilient body 92. The stop 90 comes into contact with the leg 9, allowing an effective stabilization of the guidance arm 6. Additionally, the plugging roller 7 is next to the end or shoulder 26 of the leaf 16. As the cam 2 moves, the sliding roller 80 moves (e.g., slides) along the door or roller track 4, and the plugging roller 7 can contact and roll along the leaf 16. For example, the sliding roller 80 may contact and rotate along the inner surfaces of the leaf 14 and / or the leaf 16 as the axle 8 of the roller 80 linearly moves along the door or roller track 4. The plugging roller 7 may concurrently contact and rotate along the opposite, outer surface of the leaf 16 as the axle 70 of the plugging roller 7 linearly moves in a direction parallel to the axle 8 of the roller 80 but outside of the door or roller track 4. It should be noted that, as shown in Figures 12 to 15, the guidance assembly 1 is generally drawn motionless, with the aim of clarity of the drawings. In operation, the plate 50 is stationary with respect to the door to which the plate 50 is coupled, while the guidance assembly 1 moves along the door or roller track 4. Both the door and the guidance assembly 1 move together and relative to the vehicle. For this purpose, on these figures 12 to 15, an X0 marker was illustrated denoting the origin of the movement, which corresponds to the position of wall 204 or 206 of the vehicle.

[0051] Figure 16 illustrates, on a larger scale, the guidance assembly 1 according to one embodiment of the inventive subject matter and in the closed position of Figures 5 and 11. In addition, Figure 17 represents a partially illustrated guidance assembly 1, which is not covered by the claims. In Figure 17, the elements similar to those shown in Figure 16 are assigned to the same reference numbers but increased by the number 100.

[0052] During the movement of the transport vehicle, relatively marginal forces are exerted by passengers, luggage, and / or other cargo. Additionally, the forces caused by pressure waves induced when crossing tracks or moving near other vehicles, especially at high speeds, as well as when passing through tunnels. These forces may generally extend along the cross axis, from the inside to the outside of the vehicle, are represented by the respective arrows F1 and F101. These forces generate resulting forces that are exerted by the sliding and plugging rollers 70 and 170 on the walls and leaves of the respective paths taken by these rollers. These resulting forces are represented by the respective arrows F70 and F170 in Figures 16 and 17.

[0053] In some known door systems, the resulting F170 force can be large enough to damage components of the door. For example, as Figure 17 shows, this resulting force is oriented obliquely, i.e. the force can have a significant component along the longitudinal axis X101. This helps to apply longitudinal forces to the bottom of the guidance assembly, which, due to the rigidity of the guidance assembly, are transmitted transversely through the top of the guidance assembly.

[0054] By comparison, as shown in Figure 16, the resulting F70 force generated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the inventive subject matter is oriented in a significantly cross-sectional manner due at least in part to the geometry of the elongated plugging slot 30 of the cam track 3, which imposes the cross direction on contact between the plugging roller and an inner wall 32 (shown in Figure 6) of the elongated plugging slot 30. Stated differently, this F70 force has a main component according to the cross-axis, while the potential component on the longitudinal axis is very small compared to the transverse component of the force. Therefore, this allows the door to withstand higher cross-cutting external efforts than in previous art. Thus, due to the inventive subject matter, the driving means equipped with motors, as well as the guidance assembly, are also preserved with less wear and tear.

[0055] Figures 18 and 19 illustrate additional features of one or more embodiments of the inventive subject matter. These Figures show that the resilient body 92 has two stable positions, when the guidance arm 6 is unfolded (Figure 18) and when the guidance arm 6 is folded (Figure 19). The elastic action of the resilient body, in the unfolded position of the guidance arm, prevents untimely movement of this guidance arm (e.g., when the door is closed). Additionally, this resilient body ensures that the guidance arm rotates completely toward the folded position, especially if the vehicle tilts or if an external force is applied to the guidance assembly. As these figures illustrate, during the rotation of the guidance arm, the direction of the torque generated by the force of the resilient body, which is exercised according to the axis A92, changes in relation to the pivot axis A6 of the guidance arm around the door or roller track 4. Therefore, this change of direction allows for two stable positions, one when the axis A6 is on one side of the axis A92, and the other when the axis A6 is on the other side of the axis A92 or even on the axis A92 (e.g., coextensive with the axis A92).

[0056] The inventive subject matter is not limited to the examples described and represented above. In particular, it may be planned to arrange the plugging entry slot 35 so that the plugging entry slot 35 has a different profile or shape from the shape of the letter S and different from the profile or shape is shown on the figures. The shape of the plugging entry slot 35 can be selected so that, when the guidance assembly is stuck, the seal 42 does not come into contact with the edge 12 of the vehicle. In addition, the profile of the cam track 3 for the plugging roller 70 may vary or be changed based or depending on the layout and dimensions of the guidance assembly 1, as well as the precise trajectory selected for the guidance assembly 1.

[0057] The swinging arms of the inventive guidance assemblies described herein can withstand higher loads than the guiding arms described previously. This is achieved at least in part by making the surfaces of the cam (the surfaces in the plugging slot that engage the plugging roller coupled with the arm) parallel to the leaves on opposite sides of the door or roller track in the closed position. This prevents or reduces the reaction forces along the axis X1 (along the direction in which the door or roller track is elongated) which discharges the door operator and allows the door to withstand higher loads than the versions with regular swinging arms. The cam is sized to provide a clearance gap between the sliding roller and the surface of the cam that faces the sliding roller to ensure that the sliding roller does not encounter the end of the door or roller track when the leaf or the vehicle body moves.

[0058] In the closed position or state where the door to the vehicle is closed, the plugging roller of the guidance arm is disposed in the elongated plugging slot, and may be disposed past the intersection of the plugging slot and the entry slot into the plugging slot (as represented by 70" in Figure 6). During the start of the unplugging phase of movement (during the initial movement to open the door), the guidance arm moves in the direction of the axis X1 with the plugging roller moving away from the end wall 33 of the plugging slot between the opposing side walls 31, 32 of the plugging slot (shown in the transition from Figure 7 to Figure 8). The plugging slot is elongated in the same direction (e.g., along the axis X1) as the door or roller track. The guidance arm, sliding roller, and plugging roller move away from the end wall 33 of the plugging slot and toward the opposing wall 36 along the axis X1. As the plugging roller moves closer to and / or reaches the opposing wall 36 of the plugging slot, continued movement of the sliding roller and the guidance arm in this same direction can cause the plugging roller to engage and roll along the opposing wall 36. As shown in Figure 6, the curvature of this opposing wall 36 can cause the plugging roller to roll along the curved wall 36 into the entry slot 35 that intersects the plugging slot 30. This movement of the plugging roller can cause the guidance arm to pivot as the axles on which the plugging roller and the sliding roller are disposed are both fixed to the arm. This pivoting of the arm can be seen in the transition from Figure 7 to Figure 8.

[0059] Continued movement in this manner causes the plugging roller to continue rolling along the concave curved wall 36 and optionally along the opposing curved wall 37 of the plugging entry slot. The resilient member 92 can apply a force that urges the plugging roller to move toward the opposing wall 37. The curved, opposing walls 36, 37 provide the shape of the letter S to the entry slot. As shown in Figure 7, although not all of the wall 37 opposes (e.g., faces) the entirety of the wall 36, a substantial portion (e.g., at least a third) of the length of the wall 37 (from the intersection of the walls 32, 37 to the end of the wall 37 at the entry of the entry slot) opposes the wall 36. Similarly, although not all of the wall 36 opposes the entirety of the wall 33, a substantial portion of the length of the wall 36 opposes the wall 33.

[0060] Unplugging is complete once the plugging roller exits the entry slot and is outside of the cam 2, as shown in Figure 11. The sliding roller remains within the door or roller track, but the plugging roller may engage the outer surface or face of the leaf 16. As the door continues to move with the guidance arm after unplugging is complete, the sliding roller may engage and roll along one or more interior, opposing surfaces of the leaves 14, 16 within the door or roller track 4 while the plugging roller may engage and roll along the exterior surface of the leaf 16, as shown in the transition from Figure 11 and / or Figure 13 to Figures 14 and 15.

[0061] Figure 20 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method 2000 for unplugging and opening a door using one or more embodiments of the guidance assemblies 1, 1' described herein. The method 2000 can be performed by the guidance assembly 1, 1' as manually moved by an operator and / or driven by a motor. At 2002, a plugging roller of a guidance arm that is coupled with a closed door is moved along and within a plugging slot in a cam track in a cam that is coupled with a stationary body. For example, the cam can be coupled with a wall of a vehicle that bounds an opening to the vehicle. This opening can be accessed by opening the door as described herein. The door and guidance assembly move together while the cam remains stationary relative to the vehicle. The plugging roller moves along the plugging slot away from an end wall in the slot toward a first curved wall that at least partially opposes the end wall.

[0062] At 2004, the plugging roller moves along this first curved wall in the plugging slot that opposes the end wall of the same slot. For example, the plugging roller may rotate around an axle and roll along the first curved wall. At 2006, the plugging roller continues to move along the first curved wall while the guidance arm pivots relative to the fixed cam.

[0063] At 2008, the plugging roller moves from the first curved wall to an opposing, second curved wall. The plugging roller can roll along this second curved wall in an entry slot in the cam. The entry slot intersects the plugging slot. The curved walls define the shape of the entry slot, which can be the shape of the letter S. The plugging roller continues to roll or otherwise move along this second curved wall until the plugging roller exits the cam and the cam track in the cam that is formed by the entry slot and the plugging slot.

[0064] At 2110, the guidance arm continues to move with the door along a door or roller track while the door is opened. The guidance arm can move with a sliding roller that is coupled with the arm moving within the door or roller track that is fixed in position on the vehicle. The door or roller track and cam may be fixed to the vehicle such that the door and guidance assembly move relative to the door or roller track and cam during opening of the door.

[0065] Figure 21 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method 2100 for plugging and closing a door using one or more embodiments of the guidance assemblies 1, 1' described herein. The method 2100 can be performed by the guidance assembly 1, 1' as manually moved by an operator and / or driven by a motor. At 2102, a guidance arm that is coupled to an open door is moved along a door or roller track toward a fixed cam. The door or roller track and cam may be coupled with a vehicle with the guidance arm coupled with the door such that the arm moves with the door relative to the door or roller track and the cam. The guidance arm may have a sliding roller that rotates around an axle as the sliding roller moves with in the door or roller track.

[0066] At 2104, a plugging roller of the guidance arm is moved into an entry slot of a cam track that extends into the cam. The plugging roller can be another roller on another axle of the guidance arm. During movement of the guidance arm along the door or roller track, the sliding roller may move within the door or roller track while the plugging roller moves outside of the door or roller track.

[0067] At 2106, the plugging roller moves along a first curved wall of the cam within the entry slot. This first curved wall partially opposes the plugging roller during movement of the plugging roller toward the cam. The plugging roller can roll along this first curved wall while the guidance arm pivots relative to the cam.

[0068] At 2108, the plugging roller moves from the first curved wall to a second curved wall of the cam that partially opposes the first curved wall. At 2110, the plugging roller moves along the second curved wall. This movement can cause the guidance arm to pivot relative to the cam. The plugging roller moves along the second curved wall from the entry slot of the cam into a plugging slot of the cam.

[0069] At 2112, the plugging roller moves in the plugging slot away from the second curved wall in the cam toward an end wall of the plugging slot. The first curved wall of the method 2100 can be the second curved wall described above in connection with the method 2000, and the second curved wall of the method 2100 can be the first curved wall described above in connection with the method 2000. Once the plugging roller is moved toward the end wall of the plugging slot, the plugging roller is seated within the cam with the door to the vehicle closed.

[0070] The singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description may include instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it may be related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as "about," "substantially," and "approximately," may be not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and / or interchanged, such ranges may be identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.

[0071] This written description uses examples to disclose the embodiments, including the best mode, and to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The claims define the patentable scope of the disclosure, and include other examples that occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0033]Figure 1 schematically illustrates a transport vehicle 200, seen sideways from the outside, such as a bus, a tram, a trolleybus, or even a train. This vehicle is equipped with a sliding door, consistent with the inventive subject matter. The door 100 has two functional configurations, namely first a closed configuration in full lines in which it closes a passage opening 202 in the vehicle. Furthermore, in the open dotted-line configuration, this door frees the above passage, so as to allow passengers access to the vehicle, or the exit of the passengers out of that vehicle.

[0034]This door includes at least one guidance assembly, as well as a device to drive each guidance assembly. In the illustrated example, there are guidance assemblies 1 and 1', one of which will be described in more detail in the following. However, some doors may only have a single guidance assembly. In the closed configuration mentioned above, the opposite vertical edges 10, 10' and 12, 12' of each door co...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to French patent application FR 1904533, which was filed on 20-April-2019.BACKGROUNDTechnical Field.

[0002] The inventive subject matter relates to the field of sliding doors for transport vehicles, such as trains, metros, trams, trolley buses, tourist buses, or other buses. One aspect of the inventive subject matter includes a guidance assembly that guides plugging movement of doors on the vehicle. The inventive subject matter also includes a transport vehicle door including such a guidance assembly, a process of assembling the guidance assembly, as well as a transport vehicle equipped with at least one such guidance assembly.Discussion Of Art.

[0003] Some vehicles include plugging doors that open and close to allow and prevent entry and exit from the vehicle. For example, plugging doors mounted on passenger trains need guidance assemblies to perform plugging movement of the doors. The tops of the doors can be guided by an operator while the bottom is either guided by coordinating bars or swinging arms associated with a cam.

[0004] The swinging arms have a small footprint and are lighter than the bars, however, the arms usually do not withstand heavy loads. The current swinging arms are made of one roller that follows a door or roller track and guides the door during the plugging phase of the movement, and one or two rollers that roll on a lower leaf transom and guide the leaf during the sliding phase of the movement.

[0005] As the door slides, a plugging roller rolls against the door or roller track, which forces the swinging arm to rotate and the leaf to shift from the vehicle body. The movement of the bottom of the leaf away from the car body is determined by the geometry of the door or roller track.

[0006] The swinging arms may not be able to withstand high loads due to the orientation of the contact surface between the door or roller track and the plugging roller. The heaviest loads during the life of a vehicle may be perpendicular to the leaves in the Y direction. This causes heavy contact forces between the plugging roller and the door or roller track when the door is closed.

[0007] This contact creates a reaction force perpendicular to the door or roller track which is composed of a Y-axis component and an X-axis component. The X-component created by this contact is transmitted through the leaf and has to be counterbalanced by the door mechanism at the top. As the lever arm between the door operator and the bottom of the leaf amplifies this effort, however, it quickly becomes unsustainable for the door operator.

[0008] The coordinating bars aim to synchronize the guiding systems at the top and at the bottom of the leaves through a column. The top arm moves due to a corresponding roller fitted inside a groove that is mounted on the mobile part of door operator. As the groove moves along the Y direction, the top arm rotates which in turn rotates the lower arm.

[0009] The coordinating bars ability to withstand efforts is greater than the regular guiding arms but, it still stresses the door operator because the effort applied on the lower arm is transmitted through the bars to the upper arm and its groove. Furthermore, the space needed to install the bars and the weight of the bars compared to regular swinging arms are major drawbacks.

[0010] Additionally, it is known to equip transport vehicles with sliding doors, the fronts of which have a combined movement. In essence, the latter has a longitudinal displacement component, or sliding along the vehicle's body, as well as a cross-moving component. Each door has a functional configuration called closed, in which it obstructs a passage in this case, as well as an open functional configuration in which it opens this passage. In service this door moves first from its closed position. The displacement is generally oblique to the body of the door. Then, when this shifted position is reached, the door continues to move longitudinally until the door is opened. This movement is done in reverse to close the door.

[0011] In the state of the art, it is planned to equip these sliding doors with a means of moving the door, such as a motor. This drive means is usually placed in the vicinity of a first end of the door, depending on the vertical direction, typically its upper end. When setting the valve or device in motion, this means also ensures, via a link, the guidance of this valve at the aforementioned upper part.

[0012] It is conceivable that, when mobilizing the valve between the functional configurations mentioned above, its opposite end by means of drive, typically its lower extremity, does not benefit from such guidance. Therefore, the mobility of this opposite end can be subject to displacement and therefore mechanical deformations that can be permanent, which are to be prohibited as they can be the cause of various malfunctions. These include the blocking of the door.

[0013] In order to remedy this deformation phenomenon, consideration could be given to using another device at the lower end of the valve similar to that fitted to the upper end. However, this possibility would have a clear drawback, particularly due to the extra costs associated with these two synchronized training devices.

[0014] With this in mind, a first known solution is to provide a coordination bar, extending vertically. The latter mechanically connects the drive medium, placed at the top end, and a lower arm capable of sliding in relation to the door. One example, as an illustrated document, is in the European patent application 0 643 190 on behalf of BODE. The coordination bar, mentioned above, is particularly visible on Figure 4 of this document where it is assigned from reference 5.

[0015] However, this coordination bar solution has some drawbacks, as the coordination bar is often heavy and causes significant congestion. Moreover, this mechanical set tends to generate relatively high stresses on the drive medium, since the stress applied to the lower arm is transmitted to this device via the coordination bar.

[0016] A known alternative solution, which allows to get rid of this heavy coordination bar, is to provide a guidance device that ensures both guidance, which is only provided at the end of the door. This guidance device includes a mounting deck on the body, as well as a guide and arm, which is articulated on this deck around a vertical axis.

[0017] In the closed configuration, a roller is received at one end of a cam-shaped path, in the vicinity of the outer face of the guidance device. Then, when the means of driving the guidance device is operated, this roller rolls along the walls of the cam-shaped path. This action of the roller tends to spread the guidance device sideways, which can interfere with the plugging movement of the roller. During this phase, the articulated arm rotates in relation to a mounting plate. Then, once the roller has come out of the cam path, the guidance device moves longitudinally in the vicinity of the outer wall of the vehicle.

[0018] The latter solution, however, has some limitations, in terms of mechanical resistance. Indeed it has been found that doors equipped with this kind of guidance device can be mechanically affected irreversibly, when the end of the guidance device opposite the driving means undergoes deformations caused by external stresses. This results in the risk of premature breakage and / or permanent deformation, which requires oversizing the building blocks of the door. This is detrimental, not only in terms of clutter, but also in terms of the overall mass of the door.

[0019] Finally, to illustrate another known state of the art, the German patent application 22 20 701 on behalf of BODE. According to the teaching of this document, the valve is driven by a cylinder piston, provided at the high end of this valve. There is also a guidance device that provides only a guidance function, also provided for in the upper part of this guidance device. The guidance device alone, disclosed in this document, is equipped with a roller. The latter cannot, however, be equated with the plugging roller.

[0020] Indeed, in this German patent application, this roller does not contribute to the plugging, since its sole function is to prevent rattling, at the end of the movement to close the door. It should be noted that the action of plugging itself is generated, in DE 22 20 701, by the curved shape of the rails provided at both ends of the guidance device or door. In contrast, the plugging roller, as intended in the inventive subject matter, is likely to generate a driving force on the door that contributes to the latter's plugging. Again expressed otherwise, in the absence of such a roller, the correct plugging of the door is not assured.

[0021] Document DE3107434A1 discloses an example of a guidance assembly for a vehicle.BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0022] In light of the above, one objective of the inventive subject matter is to remedy, at least in part, the disadvantages of earlier art mentioned above.

[0023] Another objective of the inventive subject matter is to propose a system including a door and its guidance assembly, whose mechanical resistance is significantly improved compared to previous art.

[0024] Another objective of the inventive subject matter is to propose such a system, whose structure has a simplicity similar to that of the solutions of previous art.

[0025] Another objective of the inventive subject matter is to propose such a system, which allows to reliably fulfill the aforementioned functions.

[0026] According to the inventive subject matter, at least one of the above objectives is achieved by means of a guidance assembly according to claim 1, for the sliding door (201) of a transport vehicle (200), including train, tram, metro, bus or trolleybus. In particular, the door is mobile between a closed position, in which the door obstructs a passage opening (202) in the vehicle's opening, as well as an open position in which the door releases the opening of passage into the vehicle. The door is able to be driven by a driving means (110, 110') located at the first end of the passage opening, depending on the vertical direction, especially its upper end. The driving means (110, 110') can be one or more motors in one embodiment. The guidance is provided at the opposite end of the vehicle opening, in particular its lower end, this guidance assembly including means of assembly (50, 52) (e.g., a notched plate) on the vehicle's body, as well as a guidance arm (6). This guidance arm also can be referred to as a swinging arm, and is articulated on the notched plate (50, 52). The swinging arm includes a plugging roller axle (70) in a plugging roller (7) as well as a sliding roller (80) that rotates around a sliding roller axle (8). The roller axle (70) and the sliding roller (80) are mounted to swivel in relation to the swinging arm around mutually parallel axes (e.g., the roller axles). The door includes a longitudinal sliding path (4) defined by a track formed by opposing leaves (14, 16) and that cooperates with the sliding roller of the guidance assembly, as well as a cam track (3) cooperating with the plugging roller axle of the guidance assembly. The cam track (3) can be referred to as a cam track or a cam path as the path (3) extends into and at least partially through the cam (2). The cam track (3) presents such a profile that, when the roller axle (70) is received in this cam track (3), in the closed position of the door, an external effort (F1) exerted on the door, significantly according to a cross-sectional direction (Y1) of the door, induced an effort (F70), exerted by the roller axle on the walls of the cam track, which is only oriented substantially according to this same cross direction of the door, thus allowing the contact, located between the roller axle and the cam track, to transmit substantially no longitudinal effort to the drive mechanism or means.

[0027] According to other features of the guidance assembly: the elongated plugging slot (30) can be bordered by outer walls (31) and interior walls (32), facing respectively towards the inner and outer sides of the guidance assembly, these walls extending parallel to the main plane of the guidance assembly. the useful length (L32) of the inner wall (32) of the plugging slot (30) can be approximately between 1 and 5 millimeters. this plugging slot (30) is extended by a plugging entry slot (35) that leads to the inside of the guidance assembly. the plugging entry slot can extend generally according to the cross direction (Y1) of the guidance assembly (1). the plugging entry slot (35) can have an overall shape of the letter S. the guidance assembly also can include a fork yoke (9), which along with the swinging or guidance arm, can be pierced with holes (25, 62), placed in front of each other, these through holes being intended for the passage of a pin to make it easier to position the swinging arm and cam when mounting the guidance assembly. this set also includes a drive mechanism (110, 110') provided at the first end of this door, especially the upper end of the door, such as a motor. the guidance assembly can be mechanically dissociated from the door or vehicle.

[0028] These additional features can be implemented with the main object above, individually or in combinations of any, technically compatible.

[0029] The inventive subject matter can be used in connection with a transport vehicle, especially the type of train, tram, metro, bus or trolley bus, this transport vehicle being equipped with at least one door.

[0030] It should be noted first of all that it is of the merit of the Applicant to have apprehended the origin of the disadvantages associated with the use of known guidance assemblies, as described above. In essence, the Applicant has identified that, in the state of the art, the orientation of the cam path tends to transmit high contact forces between the roller and the walls of that path when the door is closed. In particular, this contact force is generally oblique, i.e. it has a component according to the longitudinal axis of the door.

[0031] On the contrary, the inventive subject matter provides that this contact force is exercised substantially according to the cross-cutting axis of the door. In these conditions, the contact between the roller and the cam track does not transmit significantly any longitudinal effort that makes it more difficult to open or close the door. In other words, the latter undergoes no longitudinal effort, or very little longitudinal effort in comparison to cross-cutting efforts, because of the aforementioned contact. This reduces the overall load applied to the various components of the door, consistent with the inventive subject matter. As a result, this door has an increased service life compared to previous art, without the need to substantially strengthen its structure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The advantage of the inventive subject matter, as presented above, as well as other benefits of the inventive subject matter will be clearer in light of the description that will follow, given only as non-limiting examples in reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view, schematically illustrating a transport vehicle equipped with a sliding door, which includes a guidance assembly according to one embodiment of the inventive subject matter; Figure 2 is a perspective view that particularly illustrates the inside of the door, as well as the guidance assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, illustrating a guidance device of the guidance assembly consistent with one embodiment of the inventive subject matter; Figure 4 is a perspective view, partially illustrating the guidance device, as well as an insert equipping the door in accordance with one embodiment of the inventive subject matter; Figure 5 is a cross-section view, according to Plan V of Figure 3, illustrating the cooperation of the guidance device and a door or roller track of the guidance assembly of the vantage point of the previous figures, in the closed position of the door; Figure 6 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, illustrating a plugging path, arranged in the door, on a larger scale; Figure 7 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the cooperation of the guidance device and the door or roller track, at the beginning of the plugging or closure of the door in relation to the vehicle's body; Figure 8 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the cooperation of the guidance device and the door or roller track, in a later phase of the plugging or closing of this door; Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the guidance assembly and the door in a position close to that of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the cooperation of the guidance device and the door or roller track, in a second later phase of the unplugging or opening of the door; Figure 11 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the cooperation of the guidance device and the door or roller track, at the end of the unplugging or opening of the door; Figure 12 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, but on a smaller scale than Figure 5, illustrating the guidance assembly and the entire door or roller track in the closed position; Figure 13 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 12, illustrating the guidance device and the door or roller track, in a configuration similar to that shown in Figure 10; Figure 14 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 12, illustrating the guidance device and door or roller track, in an intermediate phase of the longitudinal sliding of the guidance device; Figure 15 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 12, illustrating the guidance device and the door or roller track, in the open position of the door; Figure 16 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 5, but on a larger scale, illustrating the forces exerted on the door or roller track and those transmitted on the walls of a plugging roller (70), along which moves a sliding roller (2) of the guiding device according to one embodiment of the inventive subject matter; Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 16, illustrating the forces exerted on the door or roller track and the walls of the cam track in a guidance assembly which is not covered by the claims; Figure 18 is a view from below, illustrating a swinging arm belonging to the guidance device of one embodiment of the inventive subject matter, in a folded position of this swinging arm in relation to the chassis of the vehicle, this position corresponding to the closed state of the door; and Figure 19 is a view from below, similar to Figure 18, illustrating the folded and stop position of the swinging arm in relation to the vehicle's chassis, this position corresponding to the open state of the door. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a transport vehicle 200, seen sideways from the outside, such as a bus, a tram, a trolleybus, or even a train. This vehicle is equipped with a sliding door, consistent with the inventive subject matter. The door 100 has two functional configurations, namely first a closed configuration in full lines in which it closes a passage opening 202 in the vehicle. Furthermore, in the open dotted-line configuration, this door frees the above passage, so as to allow passengers access to the vehicle, or the exit of the passengers out of that vehicle.

[0034] This door includes at least one guidance assembly, as well as a device to drive each guidance assembly. In the illustrated example, there are guidance assemblies 1 and 1', one of which will be described in more detail in the following. However, some doors may only have a single guidance assembly. In the closed configuration mentioned above, the opposite vertical edges 10, 10' and 12, 12' of each door cooperate with the respective vertical walls 204 and 206, bordering the passage opening 202 into the vehicle 200. A respective drive means 110,110' (e.g., a motor) is usually provided in the upper part of the passage, in the vicinity of each of the walls 204, 206. Each drive means is powered by a drive mechanism. This drive mechanism, which is assigned from reference 120 on Figure 1 by being schematically represented by dotted lines, consists for example of an electric motor, one or more drive belts and a suspension. There is also a respective guidance device in accordance with the inventive subject matter, which will be described in more detail in the following. Each guidance device (as a whole as reference 5 and 5') is provided substantially at the aplomb of a respective drive mechanism, i.e. in the lower part of the body and in the vicinity of wall 204 and / or 206.

[0035] Figures 5 and 11, which more accurately describe a guidance assembly 1 and the longitudinal and cross-cutting axes X1, Y1 of the guidance assembly 1, which are significantly parallel to the longitudinal and cross-cutting axes of the transport vehicle. The guidance assembly 1 first includes leaves 14 and 16, respectively external and interior in reference to the guidance assembly once mounted on the vehicle. These leaves delineate a path known as door or roller track 4, which will be described in more detail in the following.

[0036] The outer leaf 14 protrudes towards the vertical wall 204, compared to the inner leaf 16. In this protruding area, there is a cam 2 whose nature of the profile defines the movement of the guidance assembly 1 in the opening of the door, as will be seen in the following. This cam 2 can be made of tempered steel, for example, by machining. As a non-limiting example, the cam 2 can be fixed on each of the leaves 14 and 16 by fastening (e.g., with one or more screws). In particular, in reference to Figure 4, this cam 2 includes a body 20, in the lower part of which is spared a cut or arm slot 22, intended for the passage of a swinging arm 6, described below. In the upper part of the body, the latter is dug from a path 3, called a cam track or a cam track. This path 3 leads, downwards, into the aforementioned arm slot 22 while it is bordered, upwards, by an upper wall 24 of the cam body 20.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6, which illustrates the cam track 3 on a larger scale, the cam track 3 includes an elongated plugging slot 30, which is elongated along and extends parallel to the X1 longitudinal axis, as well as a so-called plugging entry opening or slot 35, which extends into the elongated slot 30 from parallel to the transverse axis Y1. The elongated slot 30 has two parallel walls 31 and 32, as well as a closed end wall 33 significantly in the shape of a semicircle. This elongated slot 30 has a single entrance or opening, i.e. it leads to the plugging entry slot 35 at the first end, while its opposite end is closed by the plugging end wall 33. The plugging entry opening or slot 35 also has two opposing plugging walls 36 and 37 having mutually opposed concavities. These walls are shifted from each other, according to the Y1 axis, so that the entry slot 35 has a general shape of the letter S. This entry slot 35 is therefore open. For example, the entry slot 35 is open at one and open at another end that leads to the elongated slot 30 , as well as to the inside of the cam, at its other end.

[0038] In the vicinity of the wall 37, the cam 2 is pierced with a through hole or orifice 25 that extends vertically when the cam 2 is mounted on the vehicle 200. As will be seen in more detail in the following, this orifice 25 allows the passage of a pin intended to improve the mutual positioning between the cam 2 and the swinging arm 6, when mounting on the vehicle. In the vicinity of the wall 36 of the entry opening or slot 35, an end or shoulder 26 of the inner leaf 16 is disposed, which allows for reception of a protective sheet 18 that covers the inner face of the inner leaf 16. Finally, in contrast to this shoulder 26, this protective sheet 18 can form an edge that allows for reception of a profile body 40 (see Figure 5). This profile body 40 can fix, secure, or form a seal 42 between the assembly and the door.

[0039] In particular, in reference to Figure 3, it is noted first of all that the guidance assembly 1 can be mechanically dissociated from the driving means 110, 110'. For example, the guidance assembly 1 that guides opening and closure of a door, and the motor that drives opening and / or closing of the same door, may not be mechanically connected to each other, such as by a rigid body (e.g., a coordination bar). The guidance device 5 includes a notched plate 50 that can be mounted in the wall 204 of the vehicle. This allows for the guidance assembly 1 to be removable, such as by using fasteners 52 (e.g., screws). This notched plate 50 supports the swinging or guidance arm 6 and allows the arm 6 to rotate around a vertical articulation axis A6.

[0040] The guidance or swinging arm 6 can be pierced with a hole or orifice 62 that may be lined up with (so as to be coaxial with) the orifice or hole 25 in the cam 2, described above. Moreover, in the vicinity of the opposite end to the articulation axis A6, the guidance or swinging arm 6 is equipped with two axles 8, 70, forming physical axes for rollers 7, 80. For example, a plugging roller 7 may be mounted on a vertical plugging axle 70 so as to rotate around a vertical axis A70.

[0041] During operation, the plugging roller 7 moves along the cam track 3, as described above. The outer diameter of the plugging roller 7 is slightly smaller or shorter than the width of the plugging slot 30 (which can be defined as the shortest distance l30 between the opposing walls 31 and 32 (as shown in Figure 6)). Moreover, the radius of curvature of the plugging roller 7 can be shorter than the radius of curvature of the plugging end wall 33 of the plugging slot 30. This can avoid jamming of the plugging roller 7 at the end wall 33 in the elongated slot 30.

[0042] The sliding roller 80 is mounted on the sliding axle 8 and rotates on the sliding axle 8 around a vertical axis A80, which is parallel to the axis A70 described above. In operation, the sliding roller 80 moves along a sliding path defined by the door or roller track 4, as described above. The outer diameter of the sliding roller 80 can be slightly less than a width l4 of the door or roller track 4 (shown in Figure 5), and may be defined as the shortest distance between the leaves 14 and 16 on opposite sides of the door or roller track 4.

[0043] The guidance device 5 can be equipped with a leg 9, extending from a fork yolk 54 of the device 5 along the Y1 cross axis. This leg is able to cooperate with an end stop 90 that is mounted on the guidance arm 6. In addition, a resilient body 92 (e.g., a spring or traction spring) is disposed between and coupled with protrusions 94 and 96, attached to the arm 6 and fork yolk 54, respectively. Due to this position, this spring confers two stable positions to the arm 6.

[0044] The installation of the guidance assembly is facilitated due to the holes 25, 62. The plate 50 is placed onto the body of the vehicle so that the holes 25, 62 are aligned to receive a pin therethrough (e.g., along the vertical dashed line shown in Figure 4). The cam 2 and guidance arm 6 are then positioned correctly in relation to each other, with the plate 50 then fixed with screws, for example.

[0045] In the closed position shown in Figures 5 and 12, the plugging roller 7 is received in the end section of the cam track 3 (see Figure 5). This plugging roller 7 is located at a distance from the bottom of this section, so as to avoid contact. In addition, the sliding roller 80 is received in the sliding path (e.g., the door or roller track 4). It should be noted that there is a functional play or room for movement 19 separating the sliding roller 80 from the end of the door or roller track 4. This avoids or reduces the likelihood of contact between the sliding roller 80 and the leaves 14, 16 that define the sliding path of the door or roller track 4.

[0046] It is then assumed that the assembly is set in motion by means of drive mechanism, overall according to the f1 arrow (see in particular Figure 13). This induces a corresponding displacement of the sliding roller 80 along the path of the door or roller track 4. At first, this sliding roller 80 moves in a direction significantly parallel to the X1 axis. As a result, the guidance device is significantly stationary along the Y1 axis. Note that, in Figure 5, there is a functional play between the leaves of the door or roller track and the cam so as to avoid contact between the leaves and the cam during movement. At the end of initial translational movement, shown in Figure 7, the plugging roller is at the end of the plugging slot 30 opposite the bottom wall 33 of the plugging slot 30. During this initial phase of longitudinal translation of the cam, the sliding roller 80 progressed slightly along the door or roller track 4.

[0047] In reference to Figure 6, L32 represents a useful length of a wall 32 of the plugging slot 30. The useful length is defined as the length of contact between the wall 32 and the plugging roller 70. Consistent with an advantageous feature of the inventive subject matter, when the cam 5 is in a closed position (when the door to which the cam 5 is coupled is closed), the respective arrangements of the plugging roller 7 and the cam track 3 are set so that the point of contact of this roller 7 along this wall 32 is located between the two ends of the useful length L32. In this regard, the extreme positions 70' and 70" that the plugging roller 7 can adopt along this wall 32 have been illustrated in Figure 6. For non-limiting examples, this length is advantageously between one and five millimeters.

[0048] Then, as the cam 5 moves, as Figures 8 to 10 show, the sliding roller 80 progresses along the door or roller track 4. Since the latter is generally oriented according to the Y1 direction, the plugging roller 7 cooperates with this intermediate section, so as to outsource a small movement to the cam 5. Therefore, the movement of the cam in has a cross-sectional or transverse component.

[0049] The overall movement of the cam 5, represented by the f1 arrow, is then oblique. This allows the leaves of the door or roller track to not hit the cam during this displacement. Since the plugging roller is no longer aligned, according to the X1 axis, with the sliding roller remaining within the path of the door or roller track, the arm 6 rotates in relation to the cam, along to the f6 arrow. It should also be noted that, when moving the plugging roller along its cam track, the sliding roller is not in contact with the cam, since it is placed below this path (see Figure 4).

[0050] Figures 11 and 13 illustrate the guidance arm 6 when the plugging roller has just exited the elongated plugging slot and the plugging entry slot. At this point, the guidance arm 6 has completed a pivoting motion (e.g., around or about the vertical axis A80 of the sliding roller 80) aided by the resilient body 92. The stop 90 comes into contact with the leg 9, allowing an effective stabilization of the guidance arm 6. Additionally, the plugging roller 7 is next to the end or shoulder 26 of the leaf 16. As the cam 2 moves, the sliding roller 80 moves (e.g., slides) along the door or roller track 4, and the plugging roller 7 can contact and roll along the leaf 16. For example, the sliding roller 80 may contact and rotate along the inner surfaces of the leaf 14 and / or the leaf 16 as the axle 8 of the roller 80 linearly moves along the door or roller track 4. The plugging roller 7 may concurrently contact and rotate along the opposite, outer surface of the leaf 16 as the axle 70 of the plugging roller 7 linearly moves in a direction parallel to the axle 8 of the roller 80 but outside of the door or roller track 4. It should be noted that, as shown in Figures 12 to 15, the guidance assembly 1 is generally drawn motionless, with the aim of clarity of the drawings. In operation, the plate 50 is stationary with respect to the door to which the plate 50 is coupled, while the guidance assembly 1 moves along the door or roller track 4. Both the door and the guidance assembly 1 move together and relative to the vehicle. For this purpose, on these figures 12 to 15, an X0 marker was illustrated denoting the origin of the movement, which corresponds to the position of wall 204 or 206 of the vehicle.

[0051] Figure 16 illustrates, on a larger scale, the guidance assembly 1 according to one embodiment of the inventive subject matter and in the closed position of Figures 5 and 11. In addition, Figure 17 represents a partially illustrated guidance assembly 1, which is not covered by the claims. In Figure 17, the elements similar to those shown in Figure 16 are assigned to the same reference numbers but increased by the number 100.

[0052] During the movement of the transport vehicle, relatively marginal forces are exerted by passengers, luggage, and / or other cargo. Additionally, the forces caused by pressure waves induced when crossing tracks or moving near other vehicles, especially at high speeds, as well as when passing through tunnels. These forces may generally extend along the cross axis, from the inside to the outside of the vehicle, are represented by the respective arrows F1 and F101. These forces generate resulting forces that are exerted by the sliding and plugging rollers 70 and 170 on the walls and leaves of the respective paths taken by these rollers. These resulting forces are represented by the respective arrows F70 and F170 in Figures 16 and 17.

[0053] In some known door systems, the resulting F170 force can be large enough to damage components of the door. For example, as Figure 17 shows, this resulting force is oriented obliquely, i.e. the force can have a significant component along the longitudinal axis X101. This helps to apply longitudinal forces to the bottom of the guidance assembly, which, due to the rigidity of the guidance assembly, are transmitted transversely through the top of the guidance assembly.

[0054] By comparison, as shown in Figure 16, the resulting F70 force generated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the inventive subject matter is oriented in a significantly cross-sectional manner due at least in part to the geometry of the elongated plugging slot 30 of the cam track 3, which imposes the cross direction on contact between the plugging roller and an inner wall 32 (shown in Figure 6) of the elongated plugging slot 30. Stated differently, this F70 force has a main component according to the cross-axis, while the potential component on the longitudinal axis is very small compared to the transverse component of the force. Therefore, this allows the door to withstand higher cross-cutting external efforts than in previous art. Thus, due to the inventive subject matter, the driving means equipped with motors, as well as the guidance assembly, are also preserved with less wear and tear.

[0055] Figures 18 and 19 illustrate additional features of one or more embodiments of the inventive subject matter. These Figures show that the resilient body 92 has two stable positions, when the guidance arm 6 is unfolded (Figure 18) and when the guidance arm 6 is folded (Figure 19). The elastic action of the resilient body, in the unfolded position of the guidance arm, prevents untimely movement of this guidance arm (e.g., when the door is closed). Additionally, this resilient body ensures that the guidance arm rotates completely toward the folded position, especially if the vehicle tilts or if an external force is applied to the guidance assembly. As these figures illustrate, during the rotation of the guidance arm, the direction of the torque generated by the force of the resilient body, which is exercised according to the axis A92, changes in relation to the pivot axis A6 of the guidance arm around the door or roller track 4. Therefore, this change of direction allows for two stable positions, one when the axis A6 is on one side of the axis A92, and the other when the axis A6 is on the other side of the axis A92 or even on the axis A92 (e.g., coextensive with the axis A92).

[0056] The inventive subject matter is not limited to the examples described and represented above. In particular, it may be planned to arrange the plugging entry slot 35 so that the plugging entry slot 35 has a different profile or shape from the shape of the letter S and different from the profile or shape is shown on the figures. The shape of the plugging entry slot 35 can be selected so that, when the guidance assembly is stuck, the seal 42 does not come into contact with the edge 12 of the vehicle. In addition, the profile of the cam track 3 for the plugging roller 70 may vary or be changed based or depending on the layout and dimensions of the guidance assembly 1, as well as the precise trajectory selected for the guidance assembly 1.

[0057] The swinging arms of the inventive guidance assemblies described herein can withstand higher loads than the guiding arms described previously. This is achieved at least in part by making the surfaces of the cam (the surfaces in the plugging slot that engage the plugging roller coupled with the arm) parallel to the leaves on opposite sides of the door or roller track in the closed position. This prevents or reduces the reaction forces along the axis X1 (along the direction in which the door or roller track is elongated) which discharges the door operator and allows the door to withstand higher loads than the versions with regular swinging arms. The cam is sized to provide a clearance gap between the sliding roller and the surface of the cam that faces the sliding roller to ensure that the sliding roller does not encounter the end of the door or roller track when the leaf or the vehicle body moves.

[0058] In the closed position or state where the door to the vehicle is closed, the plugging roller of the guidance arm is disposed in the elongated plugging slot, and may be disposed past the intersection of the plugging slot and the entry slot into the plugging slot (as represented by 70" in Figure 6). During the start of the unplugging phase of movement (during the initial movement to open the door), the guidance arm moves in the direction of the axis X1 with the plugging roller moving away from the end wall 33 of the plugging slot between the opposing side walls 31, 32 of the plugging slot (shown in the transition from Figure 7 to Figure 8). The plugging slot is elongated in the same direction (e.g., along the axis X1) as the door or roller track. The guidance arm, sliding roller, and plugging roller move away from the end wall 33 of the plugging slot and toward the opposing wall 36 along the axis X1. As the plugging roller moves closer to and / or reaches the opposing wall 36 of the plugging slot, continued movement of the sliding roller and the guidance arm in this same direction can cause the plugging roller to engage and roll along the opposing wall 36. As shown in Figure 6, the curvature of this opposing wall 36 can cause the plugging roller to roll along the curved wall 36 into the entry slot 35 that intersects the plugging slot 30. This movement of the plugging roller can cause the guidance arm to pivot as the axles on which the plugging roller and the sliding roller are disposed are both fixed to the arm. This pivoting of the arm can be seen in the transition from Figure 7 to Figure 8.

[0059] Continued movement in this manner causes the plugging roller to continue rolling along the concave curved wall 36 and optionally along the opposing curved wall 37 of the plugging entry slot. The resilient member 92 can apply a force that urges the plugging roller to move toward the opposing wall 37. The curved, opposing walls 36, 37 provide the shape of the letter S to the entry slot. As shown in Figure 7, although not all of the wall 37 opposes (e.g., faces) the entirety of the wall 36, a substantial portion (e.g., at least a third) of the length of the wall 37 (from the intersection of the walls 32, 37 to the end of the wall 37 at the entry of the entry slot) opposes the wall 36. Similarly, although not all of the wall 36 opposes the entirety of the wall 33, a substantial portion of the length of the wall 36 opposes the wall 33.

[0060] Unplugging is complete once the plugging roller exits the entry slot and is outside of the cam 2, as shown in Figure 11. The sliding roller remains within the door or roller track, but the plugging roller may engage the outer surface or face of the leaf 16. As the door continues to move with the guidance arm after unplugging is complete, the sliding roller may engage and roll along one or more interior, opposing surfaces of the leaves 14, 16 within the door or roller track 4 while the plugging roller may engage and roll along the exterior surface of the leaf 16, as shown in the transition from Figure 11 and / or Figure 13 to Figures 14 and 15.

[0061] Figure 20 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method 2000 for unplugging and opening a door using one or more embodiments of the guidance assemblies 1, 1' described herein. The method 2000 can be performed by the guidance assembly 1, 1' as manually moved by an operator and / or driven by a motor. At 2002, a plugging roller of a guidance arm that is coupled with a closed door is moved along and within a plugging slot in a cam track in a cam that is coupled with a stationary body. For example, the cam can be coupled with a wall of a vehicle that bounds an opening to the vehicle. This opening can be accessed by opening the door as described herein. The door and guidance assembly move together while the cam remains stationary relative to the vehicle. The plugging roller moves along the plugging slot away from an end wall in the slot toward a first curved wall that at least partially opposes the end wall.

[0062] At 2004, the plugging roller moves along this first curved wall in the plugging slot that opposes the end wall of the same slot. For example, the plugging roller may rotate around an axle and roll along the first curved wall. At 2006, the plugging roller continues to move along the first curved wall while the guidance arm pivots relative to the fixed cam.

[0063] At 2008, the plugging roller moves from the first curved wall to an opposing, second curved wall. The plugging roller can roll along this second curved wall in an entry slot in the cam. The entry slot intersects the plugging slot. The curved walls define the shape of the entry slot, which can be the shape of the letter S. The plugging roller continues to roll or otherwise move along this second curved wall until the plugging roller exits the cam and the cam track in the cam that is formed by the entry slot and the plugging slot.

[0064] At 2110, the guidance arm continues to move with the door along a door or roller track while the door is opened. The guidance arm can move with a sliding roller that is coupled with the arm moving within the door or roller track that is fixed in position on the vehicle. The door or roller track and cam may be fixed to the vehicle such that the door and guidance assembly move relative to the door or roller track and cam during opening of the door.

[0065] Figure 21 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method 2100 for plugging and closing a door using one or more embodiments of the guidance assemblies 1, 1' described herein. The method 2100 can be performed by the guidance assembly 1, 1' as manually moved by an operator and / or driven by a motor. At 2102, a guidance arm that is coupled to an open door is moved along a door or roller track toward a fixed cam. The door or roller track and cam may be coupled with a vehicle with the guidance arm coupled with the door such that the arm moves with the door relative to the door or roller track and the cam. The guidance arm may have a sliding roller that rotates around an axle as the sliding roller moves with in the door or roller track.

[0066] At 2104, a plugging roller of the guidance arm is moved into an entry slot of a cam track that extends into the cam. The plugging roller can be another roller on another axle of the guidance arm. During movement of the guidance arm along the door or roller track, the sliding roller may move within the door or roller track while the plugging roller moves outside of the door or roller track.

[0067] At 2106, the plugging roller moves along a first curved wall of the cam within the entry slot. This first curved wall partially opposes the plugging roller during movement of the plugging roller toward the cam. The plugging roller can roll along this first curved wall while the guidance arm pivots relative to the cam.

[0068] At 2108, the plugging roller moves from the first curved wall to a second curved wall of the cam that partially opposes the first curved wall. At 2110, the plugging roller moves along the second curved wall. This movement can cause the guidance arm to pivot relative to the cam. The plugging roller moves along the second curved wall from the entry slot of the cam into a plugging slot of the cam.

[0069] At 2112, the plugging roller moves in the plugging slot away from the second curved wall in the cam toward an end wall of the plugging slot. The first curved wall of the method 2100 can be the second curved wall described above in connection with the method 2000, and the second curved wall of the method 2100 can be the first curved wall described above in connection with the method 2000. Once the plugging roller is moved toward the end wall of the plugging slot, the plugging roller is seated within the cam with the door to the vehicle closed.

[0070] The singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description may include instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it may be related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as "about," "substantially," and "approximately," may be not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and / or interchanged, such ranges may be identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.

[0071] This written description uses examples to disclose the embodiments, including the best mode, and to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The claims define the patentable scope of the disclosure, and include other examples that occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0033]Figure 1 schematically illustrates a transport vehicle 200, seen sideways from the outside, such as a bus, a tram, a trolleybus, or even a train. This vehicle is equipped with a sliding door, consistent with the inventive subject matter. The door 100 has two functional configurations, namely first a closed configuration in full lines in which it closes a passage opening 202 in the vehicle. Furthermore, in the open dotted-line configuration, this door frees the above passage, so as to allow passengers access to the vehicle, or the exit of the passengers out of that vehicle.

[0034]This door includes at least one guidance assembly, as well as a device to drive each guidance assembly. In the illustrated example, there are guidance assemblies 1 and 1', one of which will be described in more detail in the following. However, some doors may only have a single guidance assembly. In the closed configuration mentioned above, the opposite vertical edges 10, 10' and 12, 12' of each door co...

Claims

1. A guidance assembly (1, 1') comprising: a guidance arm (6) configured to be coupled to a vehicle (200) having a sliding door (201), said sliding door (201) having an elongated roller track (4) oriented along an axis (XI) along which the sliding door (201) moves during opening or closing of the door (201), and a cam (2) configured to be coupled with the sliding door (201) and to move with the sliding door (201), the guidance assembly including the elongated roller track (4), the cam (2) having a cam track (3) extending into the cam (2); the guidance arm (6) having a plugging roller (7) and a sliding roller (80), the sliding roller (80) being positioned on the guidance arm (6) to move within the roller track (4) while the plugging roller (7) moves outside of and along the roller track (4) during movement of the sliding door (201), wherein the cam track (3) in the cam (2) includes an entry slot (35) and an elongated plugging slot (30), the entry slot (35) positioned to accept the plugging roller (70) into the cam (2) from outside of the elongated roller track (4), the plugging slot (30) elongated along the axis (X1) such that the plugging roller (70) moves along or parallel to the axis (X1) in the plugging slot (30), characterized in that the plugging slot (30) is elongated along the axis (X1) such that the plugging roller (7) moves along the axis (X1) in the plugging slot (30) away from the roller track (4) to move the sliding door (201) to a closed position.

2. The guidance assembly (1, 1') of claim 1, wherein the plugging slot (30) is elongated along the axis (X1) such that a contact force imparted on the plugging roller (7) by the sliding door (201) is reduced relative to the plugging slot (30) being elongated along another direction.

3. The guidance assembly (1, 1') of claim 1, wherein the entry slot (35) extends into the cam (2) and merges with the plugging slot (30) in the cam (2).

4. The guidance assembly (1, 1') of claim 1, wherein the entry slot (35) is formed by partially opposing curved walls (36, 37) of the cam (3).

5. The guidance assembly (1, 1') of claim 4, wherein the partially opposing curved walls (36, 37) include a first curved wall (37) that faces toward the roller track (4) and a second curved wall (36) that faces away from the roller track (4).

6. The guidance assembly (1, 1') of claim 5, wherein the first curved wall (37) and the second curved wall (36) are positioned such that the plugging roller (7) moves along a first curved wall (37) and then along a second curved wall (36) of the partially opposing curved walls (36, 37) and into the plugging slot (30) during closing of the sliding door (201).

7. The guidance assembly (1, 1') of claim 1, wherein the roller track (4) extends to the cam (2), and the plugging roller (7) and the sliding roller (80) are spaced apart from each other on the guidance arm (6) such that the sliding roller (80) remains in the roller track (4) while the plugging roller (7) is in the plugging slot (30) in the cam (2) without the sliding roller (80) contacting the cam (20).

8. The guidance assembly (1, 1') of claim 1, wherein the plugging roller (70) and the sliding roller (80) are spaced apart from each other on the guidance arm (6) such that, while the sliding roller (80) moves in the roller track (4) away from the cam (2) during opening of the sliding door (201), the plugging roller (70) exits the cam track (3) and moves along but outside of the roller track (4).

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