Abstract:
A wireless DC control device including a radio frequency transmitter, receiver, and switching circuit controls the current and polarity of the current that is used to power DC motors used in mobile living quarters. The control device has particular application for controlling the extension and retraction of slide-out rooms in a mobile living quarters.

Description:
This Application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/406,270, filed 27 Aug. 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to mobile living quarters such as recreational vehicles with one or more slide-out rooms. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Slide-out rooms are a desirable feature of a recreational vehicle because the interior space is greatly increased by the extension of the rooms, and when retracted the exterior width of the vehicle allows for travel on public roads. Presently, extending and retracting a slide-out room is accomplished either with a manual mechanical device, such as a hand crank for example, or by an electrically powered system. With a manual system, the operator releases a mechanical locking mechanism on the slide-out room and then manually urges it into the desired position. The mechanical locking mechanism is then re-engaged to prevent further movement of the slide-out room. With the electrically powered systems, the operator must generally initiate the movement of the slide-out room by activating a switch located on the interior of the mobile living quarters. The switch causes an electric current to be directed to an electric motor or hydraulic solenoid valves and pumps. The electro-mechanical or electro-hydraulic drive devices then cause the slide-out room to be shifted between its extended and retracted positions. 
   A problem with the presently known electrical control systems, however, is that the operator often can not effectively monitor the movement of the slide-out room relative to exterior objects, such as trees or other vehicles. This creates a risk that the slide-out room could detrimentally impact on exterior object because the operator misjudged a distance. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a way to electrically control the extension or retraction of a slide-out room in a mobile living quarters from a position in which the operator may readily monitor the position of the slide-out room relative to exterior objects. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A motor control for a mobile living quarters having a slide-out room includes a radio transmitter for emitting signals, a receiver for receiving signals sent by the transmitter, a switching device activated in response to the receiver, and an electrical actuator for causing the slide-out room to extend or retract. The switching device controls the power for activating the actuator. In one embodiment, the switching device also controls the polarity of the current to the actuator to determine whether the actuator urges the slide-out room into its extended position or its retracted position. In another embodiment, the motor control is adapted to control the extension and retraction of a plurality of slide-out rooms. 
   An object of the invention is to allow the operator to monitor the motion of the slide-out room from either the interior or exterior of the mobile living quarters at a position the operator chooses as most advantageous. 
   Another object of the invention is to allow the electrical control circuits for operating the slide-out room to be installed before the vehicle structure is assembled, and to provide a control apparatus that is simpler and less time consuming to install. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an electric activation switch for a slide-out room that may be permanently located in a larger variety of locations without being restricted by the requirements of a wiring harness between the switch and the actuator for shifting the slide-out room. 
   Anther object of the invention is to provide a safety mechanism by which the slide-out room cannot be shifted with the electric activation switch when the ignition switch of the vehicle is on. 
   Another object of the invention is to eliminate the electrical faults that often occur in slide-out room control systems between the operator switch and the drive motor as a result of the electrical conductors being damaged by mechanical fasteners. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a slide-out room control system that allows both electrical operation and manual mechanical operation of the devices that urge the slide-out room between its extended and retracted positions. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a control system which may be installed as the sole control system for the slide-out room or may be installed as an additional control system to a previously installed conventional control system. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of the control system adapted for use with a slide-out room driven between its extended and retracted positions by a worm screw, the slide-out room in its extended position; 
       FIG. 2  shows the control system of  FIG. 1  with the slide-out room in its retracted position; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the control system adapted for use with a slide-out room driven between its extended and retracted positions by a gear or cog, the slide-out room in its extended position; 
       FIG. 4  shows the control system of  FIG. 3  with the slide-out room in its retracted position; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the control system adapted for use with a slide-out room driven between its extended and retracted positions by a hydraulic system, the slide-out room in its extended position; 
       FIG. 6  shows the control system of  FIG. 5  with the slide-out room in its retracted position; 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram of the control system as it would typically be installed on a typical towed recreational vehicle having the slide-out room drive systems of any of  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , or  5 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of the circuitry in the receiver used with a two-button transmitter for controlling the systems in  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of the circuitry in the receiver used with a four-button transmitter for controlling the systems in  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of the circuitry in the receiver used with a two-button transmitter for controlling the system in  FIGS. 5-6 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of the circuitry in the receiver used with a four-button transmitter for controlling the system in  FIGS. 5-6 ; and 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of the control system of  FIG. 1  adapted for use with a pair of slide-out rooms. 
   

   Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a recreational vehicle  2  is shown with a slide-out room  4  securely attached to the outboard ends of slide support tubes  24 ,  34 . A linear actuator  22  uses a threaded rotating shaft driven by an electric motor  8  to urge slide-out room  4  between its extended and retracted positions. When sufficient electrical current is supplied to motor  8 , the motor rotates the screw shaft within linear actuator  22 . A movable inner sleeve  32  in linear actuator  22  threadedly engages the screw shaft and is secured to a slide support tube  24 . As the screw shaft within linear actuator  22  rotates, movable inner sleeve  32  is extended or retracted within the linear actuator, depending on the direction the screw shaft is rotating. The rotational direction of the shaft is determined by the polarity—positive or negative—of the electrical current in the circuit supplying power to motor  8 . Slide-out room  4  is shifted from its extended position to its retracted position by reversing the polarity in the circuit from the power cycle used to extend slide-out room  4 . 
   A fixed slide-out alignment shaft  28  transmits movement of slide support tube  24  to the opposite slide support tube  34  in order to move slide-out room  4  in a uniform manner. Support tube  24  includes a rack gear which engages and rotates pinion gear  30  connected to slide-out alignment shaft  28  to generate a torsional force in the slide-out alignment shaft when support tube  24  is linearly shifted. The torsional force is carried by shaft  28  to another pinion gear  36  connected to the opposite end of the shaft. Pinion gear  36  engages a rack gear carried by slide support tube  34  to move it in synchronized motion with slide support tube  24 . 
   A transmitter  10  and a receiver-switching unit  18  are used to control the extension and retraction of slide-out room  4 . In order to control the movement of slide-out room  4 , DC current from a battery  6  is switched either on or off, and the polarity of the current to motor  8  may be selected to cause the motor to rotate in one direction or the other. When switch  12  on a remote transmitter  10  is closed, a radio frequency (RF) signal  14  is emitted from the transmitter&#39;s antenna to an antenna  16  located on a receiver-switching unit  18 . Signal  14  is directed from antenna  16  to a logic circuit with receiver-switching unit  18  where the output channel and polarity are determined based on the signal received. The output channel from the logic circuits activates power relays in receiver-switching unit  18 , which allows current from battery  6  to be carried through conductors  20  to motor  8 , thereby causing shifting of linear actuator  22 . When switch  12  on remote transmitter  10  is opened, the transmitter stops transmitting signal  14 . Receiver-switching unit  18  then terminates the current to motor  8 , thereby causing linear actuator  22  to stop shifting. 
   The power relays located within receiver-switching unit  18  are connected to both conductors of motor  8 . When switch  12  on remote transmitter  10  is closed a second time, the same sequence of events as previously described occurs, except that the logic circuit in receiver-switching unit  18  reverses the polarity of the current sent to motor  8  from the previous power cycle, which causes the motor to move slide-out room  4  in the opposite direction. In this manner, each successive power cycle initiated from transmitter  10  cause the slide-out room to alternatingly extend or retract. 
   In addition to the above described radio control of motor  8 , slide-out room  4  may be extended or retracted by activating the motor with bypass switch  38 . When bypass switch  38  is closed, current is carried by conductors  40  into receiver-switching unit  18 , where it bypasses the RF signal receive function and activates the logic circuit in the same manner as the receiver output circuit. 
   In order to control more than one slide-out room, transmitter  10  may be adapted for controlling another slide-out room  4 ′ as depicted in FIG.  12 . Additional switches  42 ,  44 , and  46  on transmitter  10  are each adapted to transmit a different RF signal having a discrete code or signal signature, and receiver-switching unit  18  is adapted to identify each different signal. When the appropriate RF signal is received by receiver-switching unit  18  by pressing one of switches  42 ,  44 ,  46 , a current is transmitted through conductors  20 ′ to a motor  8 ′ which in turn causes a linear actuator  22 ′ to extend or retract an inner sleeve  32 ′. A rack gear on inner sleeve  32 ′ causes pinion gear  30 ′ to rotate a shaft  28 ′ with a second pinion gear  36 ′ engaging a rack gear on support tube  34 ′, which then simultaneously extends or retracts the support tube  34 ′. The components for the second slide-out room  4 ′ designated by a number with a prime correspond to the same numbered components as in FIG.  1 . Additional slide-out rooms or other devices could be controlled, with the other of the switches  42 ,  44 ,  46  being adapted for controlling the additional devices in a similar manner. Alternatively, a separate receiver-switching unit could be used for the additional slide-out room, with each of the receiver-switching units being tuned to receive a different one of each of the different signals transmitted by transmitter  10 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another slide-out room  4  is shown as already described, except that slide tube  24  is driven by a pinion gear  26  driven by motor  8  and engaged with the rack gear carried by slide tube  24  instead of a screw shaft and sliding sleeve. As before, motor  8  is driven either in forward or reverse rotation as dictated by the polarity of the current supplied from battery  6 . Transmitter  10  and receiver-switching unit  18  interact in the same manner as herein before described to cause motor  8  to either extend or retract slide-out room  4 . Additional switches  42 ,  44 ,  46  on transmitter  10  may be adapted to activate additional motor control circuits for other control systems as already described. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a third slide-out room  4  is shown as already described, except that extension and retraction of the slide-out room is driven by a hydraulic system instead of a mechanical system. In this embodiment, an electrically driven hydraulic pump  48  actuates a hydraulic cylinder  23  through interconnecting hydraulic hoses or lines  50 . Electric current supplied to motor  8  causes the motor to drive hydraulic pump  48 , which pumps hydraulic fluid through lines  50  to either extend or retract a movable shaft or piston  33  within hydraulic cylinder  23 . The direction of motion of shaft  33  depends on the direction of flow of the hydraulic fluid through lines  50 . For example, when hydraulic fluid is pumped in one direction, piston  33  will extend; when hydraulic fluid is pumped in the opposite direction, piston  33  will retract. When motor  8  is electrically powered, the attached hydraulic pump  48  pressurizes hydraulic lines  50 . A pair of solenoid valves  52 ,  54  in hydraulic lines  50  are electrically activated to control the direction of flow within the hydraulic lines. Piston  33  of hydraulic cylinder  23  is secured to slide support tube  24 . As piston  33  is extended or retracted, slide support tube  24  also extends or retracts. In this manner, slide-out room  4  is either extended or retracted by hydraulic cylinder  23  and piston  33 . 
   In order to control the actuation of the hydraulic system, DC power from battery  6  must be switched on and off to control hydraulic pump  48 , and hydraulic solenoid valves  52 ,  54  must be opened and closed as required to provide the necessary direction of flow of the hydraulic fluid within hydraulic lines  50  for extending or retracting piston  33 . As before, transmitter  10  transmits an RF signal  14  to receiver antenna  16  when switch  12  is closed. When signal  14  is received, the logic circuit within receiver-switching unit  18  causes the proper output channels to be activated to power the appropriate relays for powering motor  8  and the appropriate connection of one hydraulic solenoid valve  52 ,  54  to the outlet of pump  48  and the connection of the other hydraulic valve  52 ,  54  to the inlet of the pump. As before, the logic circuit causes each successive power on cycle shift slide-out room  4  in the opposite direction as the previous power on cycle. This is accomplished by alternating which hydraulic solenoid valve is connected to the outlet and inlet of pump  48  during each successive power on cycle, thereby causing the direction of flow of the hydraulic fluid to alternate. Additional motor control circuits for additional slide-out room actuators may be controlled by transmitter  10  and receiver-switching unit  18  as herein before described. 
   In  FIG. 7 , a preferred arrangement of the components in a recreational vehicle  2  is shown. Transmitter  10  is located exterior of recreational vehicle  2 . Transmitter  10  may be either secured to an associated object, such as the towing vehicle, or it may be remote. Receiver-switching unit  18  is preferably carried inside recreational vehicle  2  to protect it from the elements, although it could be carried outside the vehicle if sealed from the elements. Battery  6  is carried by the vehicle. Appropriate wiring of conductors  20  connects battery  6  to receiver-switching unit  18  and motor  8  to allow the slide-out room  4  to be extended and retracted as herein before described. Transmitter  10  and antenna  16  must be located near enough each other to allow RF signal  14  to be adequately received by receiver-switching unit  18  to activate its logic circuits. 
   Various embodiments of receiver-switching unit  18  are schematically detailed in  FIGS. 8-11 . Inputs  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  allow various electrical signals to enter receiver-switching unit  18 . Power from battery  6  enters input  60 . Inputs for several wired switches are provided in receiver-switching unit  18  at  62 ,  64 . Safety and convenience switches at input  62  include a manual override switch and ignition and storage trunk safety switches. The manual override switch allows the slide-out room to be extended or retracted by manually rotating motor  8 , such as with a hand crank for example. The ignition and storage trunk safety switch inputs provide for a safety interlock that disables the activation of motor  8  in the event the ignition on the towing vehicle is on or a trunk door on the towing vehicle is positioned such that normal operation of the slide-out room is impeded. Inputs at  64  include manual switches wired directly to receiver-switching unit  18  in order to operate one or two slide-out rooms independently of transmitter  10  by bypassing the receiver circuitry at switch  38  as previously described. Inputs at  66  in receiver-switching unit  18  receive input from transmitter  10 . Switches  12 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  on transmitter  10  provide this input through discrete RF inputs at input  66 . 
   The power to output relays  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80  from battery  6  is controlled by the programmed logic contained within receiver-switching unit  18 . Relays  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and  78  determine the power and polarity to the specific motors used to move the slide-out rooms. Relay  80  enables those systems using an electro-mechanical brake associated with motor  8  for the slide-out room. When power is sent to a motor through the activation of one of the motor relays  72 ,  74 ,  76 , or  78 , the electro-mechanical brake will be disengaged to allow extension or retraction of the slide-out room. 
   Additional motor channels can be added to receiver-switching unit  18  as shown in FIG.  9 . Appropriate programmed logic contained within receiver-switching unit  18  allows different signals sent from the different switches  12 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  on transmitter  10  to control different motors on different slide-out rooms. 
   Receiver-switching unit  18  can also be adapted as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  to operate a hydraulic slide-out room actuation system as described above. Receiver-switching unit  18  may be adapted for controlling a single slide-out room as shown in  FIG. 10 , or it may be adapted for controlling multiple slide-out rooms as shown in FIG.  11 . In the electro-hydraulic systems, relays  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and  78  are used to activate the necessary solenoid valves rather than the motors as described for the previous embodiments. Relay  80  is used to switch power on and off to the motor for the hydraulic pump rather than an electro-mechanical brake. 
   The detailed description hereinbefore related is only meant to exemplify the invention to enable those skilled in the art to make and use it. It is not intended to be a limitation from other minor and obvious variations on the embodiments described, all of which variations are expressly included herein. Although the detailed description only addresses motors used to extend and retract slide-out rooms, the control system is not limited to being used solely for slide-out rooms. Adaptation of the control system for use with other systems requiring activation/deactivation control is also anticipated.