Abstract:
The invention relates to a sliding door system for a vehicle, in particular, a motor vehicle. The system comprises at least one sliding door ( 33 A,  35 B) that can be displaced along a track. The system is equipped with at least one power conduction device ( 1, 34, 35 ), which is connected at one end ( 3 ) to the sliding door ( 33 A,  35 B) and at the other end ( 2 ) to a fixed part of the vehicle. At least one section ( 4, 36 ) comprising articulated elements ( 5, 36 ), is situated between the two ends ( 1, 2 ) of the power conduction device. The system is equipped with at least one support ( 6, 13, 16, 18, 21, 38 ), along which the section or sections ( 4, 36 ) of the power conduction device are horizontally displaced.

Description:
The object of the invention refers to a sliding door system for a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Passenger cars in the form of, for example, vans or minivans have enjoyed great popularity in recent times. Such passenger cars, because of their structural design, have at least one sliding door which permits easier access to the inside of the vehicle. Vans should provide a comfort which is comparable to that known for passenger cars. Therefore, components should be incorporated into the sliding door, for example, electrically opening windows, lights, loudspeaker boxes or closing mechanisms of a central locking system. 
   A sliding door system for a vehicle, especially for a motor vehicle, preferably for a passenger vehicle, has become known from EP 1 010 558 A2. This sliding door system comprises a sliding door which can be displaced along a track and at least one power conduction device which is joined at one end to the sliding door and at the other end to a fixed part of the chassis. The power conduction device is formed by articulated members. The power conduction device has an upper strip and a lower strip which are joined together by a curved section. A power conduction device which is suitable for use in a sliding door system is known from WO-A1-00/12913. The power conduction device is formed by components, each of which has two brackets at a distance from one another, lying opposite and extending in the longitudinal direction of the power conduction device, and these are connected with one another by at least one traverse. Each bracket has a joint body and a joint seat which run essentially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the power conduction device. A joint body of a bracket engages in the joint seat of a neighboring bracket. The joint body has two outer mantle areas which lie diametrically opposite. Similarly, the joint seat has two diametrically opposed inner mantle regions. The outer mantle regions and the inner mantle regions provide mobility of the chain links around an axis which runs essentially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the power conduction device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Based on this, the present invention has the goal to provide a sliding door system which can be realized with simple means. 
   This goal is achieved by a sliding door system for a vehicle, especially for a motor vehicle, preferably for a passenger car, with the characteristics of Claim  1 . Advantageous further developments and embodiments of the sliding door system are the objects of the dependent claims. 
   The sliding door system according to the invention has at least one sliding door which can be displaced along a track. Furthermore, a power conduction device is provided which is connected at one end to the sliding door and at the other end to a fixed part of the vehicle. Between the two ends of the power conduction device, there is at least one section provided which has elements that are joined together in an articulated manner. In the sliding door system according to the invention furthermore a support is provided on which at least the section of the power conduction device is movably positioned. 
   By this design of the sliding door system according to the invention, it is ensured that through the movement of the power conduction device, during the movement of the sliding door and the movement of the power conduction device as well, this device is moved only on a support. Thus, essentially the power conduction device is not in direct contact with the chassis of the vehicle at all. As a result of this, it is ensured that wearing away, for example of the coating layers of the chassis of the vehicle, is avoided in the region of movement of the power conduction device. 
   With the sliding door system according to the invention it is also achieved that known standard solutions or series of constructed power conduction devices can be utilized, because due to the supported arrangement of at least one section of the power conduction device, the joint regions do not require any special design. 
   If the power conduction device in a preferred embodiment is arranged so that it lies essentially in a horizontal plane, then the space requirement with regard to the height of construction is essentially determined only by the height of the elements of the power conduction device. This also provides the possibility of employing the design according to the invention in sliding door systems in which only a minimal height is available for installation. 
   The support is preferably a support which has at least two support elements arranged at a distance from one another. The support elements can have different cross-sectional shapes and profiles. Thus, for example, there can be limits on the sides through which the power conduction device is guided, at least over a part of its path. The support can also be made of one piece or one part. 
   According to a preferred embodiment of the sliding door system, it is proposed that these at least two support elements be arranged displaced with respect to one another. As a result of this measure, the cost for the design of the support is reduced. Hereby, as a result of this displaced arrangement of the support elements, the support elements used can be the same or different. The support can be built modularly by the support elements. Thus, for example, the supporting surface can be varied by several support elements arranged behind one another. 
   A design of a sliding door system is preferred in which the at least two support elements have a different length. By this measure it is achieved that even in the traveled state, that is in the extended state of the power conduction device, it will lie on the support. 
   In order to reduce wear as well as to facilitate handling of the sliding door system, according to a still further advantageous embodiment of the sliding door system, it is proposed that the support have a contact area with the power conduction device, whereby the support and/or the power conduction device are designed so that the frictional coefficient is low. 
   The contact area is preferably formed by a coating. As a result of this measure it is not absolutely necessary to provide the entire surface of the support element or support with a coating which has a low frictional coefficient. The power conduction device can also be provided with a corresponding coating. This is not absolutely necessary. There is also a possibility that the power conduction device be provided with means, at least partly, which reduce the friction between the power conduction device and the support. 
   According to a still further advantageous embodiment of the sliding door system, it is proposed that the support be formed by at least one profile. The profile can be, for example, an extruded profile. 
   In order to simplify the accessibility to components of the vehicle in the region of the power conduction device, according to a still further advantageous embodiment of the sliding door system, it is proposed that the support be joined to the vehicle separably. The separable joint can be produced, for example, by a mechanical joint. For this purpose, for example, the support can have fishbone-shaped bolts, which engage in corresponding openings in the chassis. 
   During the movement of the sliding door, the power conduction device is either under pressure or tension. Especially under a pressure load the power conduction device can under certain circumstances exhibit uncontrolled movement. In order to ensure that such uncontrolled movements of the power conduction device do not occur, according to an even further advantageous embodiment of the sliding door system, it is proposed that the power conduction device be guided in a guide channel. With this measure it is achieved that when the sliding door is closed the power conduction device is brought to a specific position. 
   The guide channel can be joined to the support. This is not absolutely necessary. A design is preferred in which the support is an integral part of the guide channel. 
   The end members of the power conduction device are preferably designed so that they have securing means. At least one end member of the power conduction device is preferably designed corresponding to the end member known from WO 00/12913. Such an end member has the advantage that it can be connected to the sliding door in a swivelable manner. 
   The line guidance unit is moved in a manner corresponding to the sliding movement of the sliding door. During this movement the lines which are arranged in the line guidance unit are exposed to tension. In order to minimize such tensional load, it is proposed that the line guidance unit have at least one tension release device for the line or lines which is or are guided in the power conduction device. If the line guidance unit is designed so that it has a relatively small cross section, then an embodiment is preferred in which the tension release device is positioned before the respective end of the line guidance unit. 
   The line guidance unit is arranged preferably in the floor or roof region of the chassis of the vehicle. The decision about whether the line guidance unit should be arranged in the floor or in the roof area, depends on the structure of the vehicle. Hereby attention should be paid to the fact that any lines should be able to be exchanged or additional lines should be able to be introduced for other components in the line guidance unit. There is also the possibility of providing the line guidance unit correspondingly with lines which have all the connection possibilities for possible users within the sliding door. 
   Further advantages and details of the invention are explained with the aid of the practical examples shown in the drawing, without the object of the invention being limited to these concrete practical examples. 
   The following are shown: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic top view of a first practical example of a power conduction device with a support for a sliding door system, 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic top view of a second practical example of a power conduction device with support, 
       FIG. 3  is a third practical example of a power conduction device with support for a sliding door system, 
       FIG. 4  is a fourth practical example of a power conduction device with support for a sliding door system, 
       FIG. 5  is a fifth practical example of a power conduction device with support for a sliding door system, 
       FIG. 6  is a vehicle in a side view, 
       FIG. 7  shows the vehicle according to  FIG. 5  in a top view with line guidance units, 
       FIG. 8  is a vehicle with a second arrangement of a line guidance unit in a side view, 
       FIG. 9  is the top view of the vehicle according to  FIG. 8 , 
       FIG. 10  is a third practical example of an arrangement of a line guidance unit in a vehicle, 
       FIG. 11  shows the vehicle according to  FIG. 9  schematically in top view with line guidance units, 
       FIG. 12  shows a line guidance unit with the sliding door closed, and 
       FIG. 13  shows a line guidance unit with the sliding door open with an arrangement in the vehicle according to  FIG. 10 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a first practical example of a power conduction device with a support of a sliding door system. For the sake of clarity, the sliding door, as well as the vehicle and the chassis of the vehicle are not shown. 
   The power conduction device  1  has a first end  2  and a second end  2  [sic—should be 3]. Between ends  2 ,  3  a section  4  is provided which has linked-together elements  5 . The articulated elements can be formed by links. 
   The first end  2  is connected to a fixed part of the vehicle. The second end  3  is connected to the sliding door, which is not shown. 
   According to the representation in  FIG. 1 , a support  6  is provided which is formed by two support elements  7 ,  8 . The support elements  7 ,  8  are arranged at a distance from one another. The support element  7  is designed to be shorter than support element  8 . This support element  8  has a curved section  9  on which the power conduction device also slides. The power conduction device  1  and the support  6  are arranged so that at least section  4  of the power conduction device  1  can be moved in the lying position. 
   The arrow shown in  FIG. 1  indicates the direction of movement of the power conduction device  4  [sic—should be 1] together with the sliding door which is not shown. The power conduction device  1  has a curved region  10 . In the closed state of the sliding door, the curved region  10  lies in the left section of  FIG. 1 . In the open state of the sliding door the curved section  10  lies in the right portion of  FIG. 1 . 
   During an opening process, the power conduction device  1  experiences pressing forces. In order to ensure that the power conduction device does not perform any uncontrolled movement or come into contact with other parts, especially with the structural components of the vehicle, a guide channel  11  is provided. The guide channel  11  is delineated by side walls  12 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a second practical example of a power conduction device with a support for a sliding door system. The power conduction device  1  is shown schematically.  FIG. 2  shows the two end positions of the power conduction device  1 , which it assumes when the sliding door, which is not shown, is opened or closed. During this process, the power conduction device  1 , which has at least one section  4  formed by articulated elements, slides the power unit  1  on a support  13 . Preferably, the support  13  is separably connected to a chassis of the vehicle. 
   In order to reduce the frictional forces, the support  13  has ribs  14  which protrude from a base body  15  of the support  13 . Support  13  is designed essentially horizontally. 
   In the practical example shown, in each case two pairs of ribs  14  are shown in  FIG. 2 . The distance between the two ribs  14  which form a pair of ribs and the thickness of the ribs  14  is chosen so that the power guide chain  1  always lies on it. 
     FIG. 3  shows a third practical example of a power conduction device with a support of a sliding door system. In this practical example, a support  16  is provided which has ribs  14 . The power conduction device slides on these ribs  14 . The width of support  16  is smaller than the width B of the power conduction device. In the open state, the strip  17  of the power conduction device is hangs free. A part of the curved region  10  lies on support  16  when the sliding door is open, and this is shown in the right part of  FIG. 3 . Optionally, under the strip  17 , supporting elements can be present which support the power conduction device  1  locally. 
   Instead of local supporting elements, another supporting element can be provided. Such a design in shown in  FIG. 4 . The support  18  is formed by a supporting element  19 , which corresponds essentially to the support  16  according to  FIG. 3 . 
   A supporting element  20  corresponds from the constructional point of view essentially to the supporting element  19  whereby the supporting element  20  is designed to be shorter and narrower in comparison to supporting element  19 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a still further practical example of a power conduction device  1  in combination with a support  21 . The support  21  is formed by supporting elements  22 ,  23 . The supporting elements  22 ,  23  are designed as profile bodies. They have ribs  14  which run parallel to one another on which the power guidance device lies and is moved during a sliding process of the sliding door. The supporting elements  22 ,  23  are made of a profiled part and are cut to the desired length by deflecting the profile.  FIG. 5  also shows the power conduction device  1  in the two end positions. 
   The practical examples shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5  can also have guide channels through which the power conduction device  1  is guided at least partly. 
     FIG. 6  shows a vehicle  30 , as an example, which as a chassis  31  as well as two sliding doors  33 A,  33 B that can be slid in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, as can be seen from  FIG. 7 . In the region of floor  32  a line guidance unit  35  is arranged for each sliding door  33 A,  33 B. The line guidance unit  35  has a section which is designed in the form of a chain with several links joined together. The links can be swiveled around the axis of the joint. The line guidance unit  35  is arranged essentially in a horizontal plane. The links can be swiveled around the axes of the joints, which run essentially perpendicular to the horizontal plane. 
   The line guidance unit has a first end which is connected to the chassis. The first end forms a fixed connection. The second end is connected to the sliding door  33 A or  33 B. This second end forms a moveable connection. In order to connect the first end to the chassis, the power guidance device has a connecting link. To connect the second end to a sliding door  33 A,  33 B, the power guidance device has a correspondingly designed connecting link. In the practical example shown, the power guidance devices for the two sliding doors  33 A,  33 B are designed identically. This is not absolutely necessary. 
     FIG. 7  shows the right sliding door  33 B looking in the direction of the vehicle, in the closed state. In the closed state of the sliding door, the power guidance device  34  assumes a position which is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   Looking in the direction of the vehicle, the left sliding door  33 A is in an open position. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  show another arrangement of a power guidance device in a vehicle  30 . The power guidance device  35  is arranged in a side wall  36  of the vehicle&#39;s chassis  32 . It extends essentially in a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of vehicle  30 . 
   During an opening process of a sliding door, the sliding door is moved transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This movement is transferred to the power conduction device  35  arranged in the lying position. The power conduction device  35  also moves transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Then an essentially straight line movement of the sliding door takes place in the longitudinal direction. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  show yet another possible arrangement of a power conduction device. The power conduction device is preferably designed corresponding to the practical example shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     FIGS. 10 ,  11  show the position of the power conduction device. The power conduction devices are positioned behind sliding doors  33 A,  33 B. Alternatively, the power conduction device of sliding door  33 A,  33 B can be arranged in the front, as it is shown in  FIG. 10  with the dotted lines. In such an arrangement of the power conduction device  35 , the representation of the power conduction device  35  in  FIG. 12  corresponds essentially to the closed state of sliding door  33 B, while  FIG. 13  would show an open state of the sliding door  33 A. The arrangement of the power conduction device  35  behind sliding door  33 A,  33 B, as shown in  FIG. 10 , is to be preferred, because in such an arrangement, links  37  of section  36  can be designed so that they have to be swivelable only in one direction from an essentially extended horizontal position. 
   The power conduction device slides on a support  38  during the opening and closing process. 
   The power conduction devices shown in the drawing are formed of elements joined together in a linked manner, whereby the elements consist of links. This is not absolutely necessary. It is also possible that the section of the power conduction device be formed between the ends by a flexible cord with a polygonal cross section. The flexible cord has a channel which extends in the longitudinal direction of the cord. The cord is divided by gaps. The gaps run essentially parallel to one another. They completely separate a side wall and partially a top wall and a bottom wall. They end some distance in front of a back wall. Due to the gap and the flexible design of the cord, it is bendable, whereby adjacent elements can be swiveled around a common axis. In order to facilitate the introduction of lines, cables or similar into the channel, one side wall can be designed with a slit. 
   The support on which the power guidance device slides can be made of different materials. Preferably the support is designed from plastic. Optionally the support can have contact regions with the power conduction device which are coated. 
   As a result of the power conduction device being arranged in the lying position, the power conduction device does not require a special design, so that standard solution of known power conduction devices can be used, which can result in economical advantages. 
   REFERENCE LIST 
   
       
         1  Power conduction device 
         2  First end 
         3  Second end 
         4  Section 
         5  Element 
         6  Support 
         7  Support element 
         8  Support element 
         9  Section 
         10  Curved region 
         11  Guide channel 
         12  Side wall 
         13  Support 
         14  Rib 
         15  Base body 
         16  Support 
         17  Strip 
         18  Support 
         19  Support element 
         20  Support element 
         21  Support 
         22  Support element 
         23  Support element 
         30  Vehicle 
         31  Chassis 
         32  Floor 
         33 A,  33 B Sliding door 
         34  Power conduction device 
         35  Power conduction device 
         36  Section 
         37  Links 
         38  Support