Patent Publication Number: US-2018051746-A1

Title: Operating mechanism for movable compartment

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/376,211, filed on Aug. 17, 2016, and incorporates by reference the disclosure thereof in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure is directed to an operating mechanism for reciprocating a movable compartment, for example, a slide out room, through an opening in a wall of a structure, for example, a recreational vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of an apparatus for reciprocating a movable room through an opening in a wall of a structure according to the present disclosure, the apparatus including a shell and a slide, the slide fully retracted within the shell; 
         FIG. 2  is a lower perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the slide partially extended from the shell; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a shell of the slide of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a slide frame of the slide of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a slide cover of the slide of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a first cross member of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a glide block bracket of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second cross member of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a room attachment bracket of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an end view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is another upper perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in phantom; 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the shell removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the shell removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 15  is another sectional perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 12 ; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings show an illustrative embodiment of an apparatus  10  for reciprocating a movable compartment, for example, a slide out room (not shown), with respect to a structure (not shown), for example, a recreational vehicle, in which the movable compartment may be installed. The apparatus has a first (or outboard) end O and a second (or inner) end I. 
     The apparatus  10  includes an elongated shell  12 , an elongated slide  14  slidingly engaged and received within with the shell, and an actuator  16  operably connected to the slide and the shell and operable to reciprocate the slide with respect to the shell. The shell  12  may be operably connected to the structure, and the slide  14  may be operably connected to the movable compartment. So connected, the apparatus  10  is operable to reciprocate the movable compartment with respect to the structure. 
     The shell  12  includes a web  18 , a first flange  20  depending from a first side of the web, a second flange  22  depending from a second side of the web opposite the first side of the web, a first lip  24  extending from the first flange toward the second flange, and a second lip  26  extending from the second flange toward the first flange. As shown, the web  18  is generally planar; the first and second flanges  20 ,  22  are generally planar, perpendicular to the web, and parallel to each other; and the first and second lips  24 ,  26 , are generally planar, coplanar with each other, and parallel to the web. The shell  12  has a first (or outboard) end O and a second (or inboard) end I. 
     A first (or outboard) cross member  28  is connected to the first lip  24  and the second lip  26  of the shell  12  near the first end of the shell. The first cross member  28  is shown as including an elongated web  30 , a first flange  32  extending in a first direction from a first elongated edge of the web, and a second flange  34  extending in a second direction from a second elongated edge of the web. The first and second directions may be the same such that the first flange  32  is parallel to and opposite the second flange  34 . 
     The first cross member  28  is shown as being connected to respective outer surfaces of the first lip  24  and the second lip  26  of the shell  12  by mechanical fasteners extending through corresponding apertures  30 A,  24 A,  26 A in the web  30  of the first cross member and in the first lip and the second lip, respectively. In other embodiments, the first cross member  28  may be connected to respective inner surfaces of the first lip  24  and the second lip  26  or to another portion of the shell  12 , and the first cross member may be connected to the shell by other means, for example, by welding. 
     A glide block bracket  36  is connected to the first lip  24  and the second lip  26  of the shell  12  near the first end of the shell. The guide block bracket  36  is shown as an elongated angle having a first leg  38  disposed within the shell  12  and parallel to the web of the shell, and a second leg  40  generally perpendicular to the first leg and extending away from the web of the shell  12 . In other embodiments, the glide block bracket  36  may be configured in other ways. 
     The glide block bracket  36  is shown as being connected to inner surfaces of the first lip  24  and the second lip  26  of the shell  12  by mechanical fasteners extending through corresponding apertures  38 A,  24 A,  26 A in the glide block bracket and in the first lip and the second lip, respectively. Indeed, the glide block bracket  36  is shown as being connected to the first lip  24  and the second lip  26  using the same fasteners connecting the first cross member  28  to the first lip and the second lip. So connected, the first lip  24  and the second lip  26  are sandwiched between the first cross member  28  and the glide block bracket  36 . In other embodiments, the glide block bracket  36  may be connected to outer surfaces of the first lip  24  and the second lip  26  or to another portion of the shell  12 , it may be connected to the shell independent of the first cross member  28 , and it may be connected by other means, for example, by welding. 
     First and second glide blocks  42 ,  44  are disposed on first surface of the glide block bracket  36  facing the web  18  of the shell  12 . The first and second glide blocks  42 ,  44  may be made of DELRIN® plastic or another suitable material capable of bearing a high load under sliding engagement. The first and second glide blocks  42 ,  44  may be removably attached to the glide block bracket  36  to facilitate their replacement. For example, a head or another portion of at least one mechanical fastener (not shown) may be embedded within each of the first and second glide blocks  42 ,  44 . A shank of the mechanical fastener (not shown) may extend through a corresponding aperture in the glide block bracket  36  and engage with a mating mechanical fastener or otherwise be secured to the glide block bracket. 
     One or more shims may be installed between the first and second glide blocks  42 ,  44  and the glide block bracket  36 , or between the glide block bracket and the first cross member  28 . 
     A second (or inboard) cross member  46  is connected to the first lip  24  and the second lip  26  of the shell  12  near the second end of the shell  12 . The second cross member  46  is configured as a flying U, having a web  48 , first and second flanges  50 ,  52  extending in the same direction from opposite ends of the web, and first and second lips  54 ,  56  extending outwardly in opposite directions from the ends of the first and second flanges opposite the web. The first and second lips  54 ,  56  of the second cross member  46  may be connected to outer surfaces of the first lip  24  and the second lip  26  of the shell  12 . The web  48  of the second cross member  46  may be attached to the web  18  of the shell  12 . The second cross member  46  may be attached to the shell  12 , for example, using mechanical fasteners or by welding. The web  48  may define an aperture  48 A. The first and second flanges  50 ,  52  of the second cross member  46  may define collinear apertures  50 A,  52 A there through configured to receive a pin  58  extending there through, as will be discussed further below. The second cross member may be made in two pieces, the two pieces being symmetrical about a line bisecting the web  48  and parallel to the first and second flanges  50 ,  52 . 
     The first and second cross members  28 ,  46  may further be configured as mounting brackets for attachment to a structure, for example, to a floor of the structure. For example, the web  30  of the first cross member  28  may define one or more apertures (not shown) for receiving mechanical fasteners engageable with the structure. Similarly, the first and second lips  54 ,  56  of the second cross member  46  may define respective apertures  54 A,  56 A for receiving mechanical fasteners engageable with the structure. Alternatively, separate mounting brackets or other means (not shown) may be provided for attaching the shell  12  to the structure. 
     The slide  14  includes a slide frame  60  and a cover  62 . Each of the slide frame  60  and the cover  62  has a first (or outboard) end O and a second (or inboard) end I. The slide frame  60  is an elongated structure having a generally W-shaped cross section. More specifically, the slide frame  60  includes a first web  64 , a first flange  66  extending in a first direction from the first web, and a second flange  68  extending in a second direction from the first web. The first direction and the second direction may be identical such that the second flange  68  is parallel to the first flange  66 . The slide frame  60  also includes a second web  70  extending in a third direction from an end of the first flange  66  opposite the first web  60 , the third direction generally parallel to the plane of the first web  64 , and a third web  72  extending in a fourth direction from an end of the second flange  68  opposite the first web  64 , the fourth direction generally parallel to and opposite the third direction. The slide frame  60  further includes a third flange  74  extending in a fifth direction from an end of the second web  70  opposite the first flange  66 , the fifth direction general perpendicular to the third direction, and a fourth flange  76  extending in a sixth direction from an end of the third web  72  opposite the second flange  68 , the sixth direction general perpendicular to the fourth direction. As shown, the first, second, and third webs  64 ,  70 ,  72  are generally planar and parallel to teach other, the second and third webs  70 ,  72  are co-planar with other, and the first, second, third, and fourth flanges  66 ,  68 ,  74 .  76  are generally planar and parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first, second, and third webs  64 ,  70 ,  72 . 
     The first web  64 , the first flange  66 , and the second flange  68  cooperate to define a first channel  78 . The second web  70 , the first flange  66  and the third flange  74  cooperate to define a second channel  80 . The third web  72 , the second flange  68  and the fourth flange  76  cooperate to define a third channel  82 . 
     An actuator mounting bracket  84  is disposed in the first channel  78 . The actuator mounting bracket  84  may be embodied as a plate secured to the first web  64 , first flange  66 , and/or second flange  68  of the slide frame. The actuator mounting bracket  84  may be configured to securely engage with a first (or outboard) end of the actuator  16 . 
     The cover  62  is a generally rectangular, thin sheet of material configured for attachment to the slide frame  60  so as to cover the second channel  80  and the third channel  82 . The cover  62  may be attached to the slide frame  60 , for example, using mechanical fasteners extending through corresponding apertures in the cover and the first web  64  of the slide frame. In an embodiment, the cover  62  could be welded to the slide frame  60 . For example, the cover  62  could be spot welded to the first web  64  and/or welded to the third flange  74  and the fourth flange  76 . 
     A first compartment (or room) attachment bracket  86  is disposed in the second channel  80  proximate the first end thereof. The first room attachment bracket  86  includes a rectangular web  88 , a first flange  90  extending in a first direction from a first edge of the web, a second flange  92  extending in the first direction from a second edge of the web, a third flange  94  extending in the first direction from a third edge of the web, and a fourth flange  96  extending in the first direction from the fourth edge of the web. The first room attachment bracket  86  is secured to the slide  14 . In an embodiment, the web  88  of the first room attachment bracket  86  may define an aperture  88 A alignable with a corresponding aperture  62 A in the cover  62 . The first room attachment bracket  86  may be secured to the cover  62  by a mechanical fastener extending through the corresponding apertures therein. The first flange  90  of the room attachment bracket  86  may define one or more apertures  90 A configured to receive fasteners for attaching the room attachment bracket to the structure. 
     A second compartment (or room) attachment bracket  86 ′ having a similar structure may be disposed in the third channel  82  proximate the first end thereof in a similar manner. 
     Third and fourth glide blocks  98 ,  98 ′ are attached to an upper surface of the cover  62  proximate the inboard end I of the slide  14 . The third and fourth glide blocks  98 ,  98 ′ may be similar to the first and second glide blocks  42 ,  44 , and they may be attached to the cover  62  in a manner similar to that in which the first and second glide blocks are attached to the glide block bracket  36 . 
     Wear buttons  87  may be attached to one or the other (or both) of side surfaces of the shell  12  and the slide  14  to further facilitate sliding of the slide with respect to the shell. For example, as best shown in  FIG. 10 , wear buttons  87  may be attached to outward-facing side surfaces of the slide  14  and inward-facing side surfaces of the shell  12 . The wear buttons  87  attached to the slide  14  may slidingly engage with complementary facing surfaces of the shell  12 , and the wear buttons attached to the shell may slidingly engage with complementary facing surfaces of the slide. 
     The slide  14  is slidably received within the shell  12  so that the second and third webs  70 ,  72  of the slide are slidably supported by the first and second glide blocks  42 ,  44 , and such that the third and fourth glide blocks  98 ,  98 ′ are slidably engaged or engageable with the inner surface of the web  18  of the shell  12 . The actuator  16  is connected at a first end to the actuator mounting bracket  84  of the slide  14 , and at a second end to the second cross member  46 . More specifically, the actuator  16  is shown as a linear actuator, for example, a hydraulic actuator comprising a hydraulic cylinder, a piston slidably received within the cylinder, and a piston rod extending from the piston and out of the cylinder. The free end of the piston rod may be threaded. The threaded portion may be attached to the actuator mounting bracket  84 . The cylinder may include a boss at the free end thereof, the boss defining an aperture there through. The boss may be disposed between the first and second flanges  50 ,  52  with the aperture thereof aligned with apertures  50 A,  52 A of the first and second flanges of the second cross member  46 , and the actuator pin  58  may be inserted through the respective apertures to attach the actuator to the second cross member. Alternatively, the actuator  16  could be connected between the shell  12  and the slide  14  in other ways. 
     The shell  12  may be attached, for example, to the floor of a structure (not shown). A slidable compartment may be attached to the slide  14  via the room attachment brackets  86 ,  86 ′. The weight of the room bearing on the room attachment brackets  86 ,  86 ′ would tend to force the second and third webs of the slide  14  against the first and second glide blocks, and it also would tend to force the third and fourth glide blocks against the web of the shell  12 . 
     In use, the actuator  16  may be selectively extended and retracted. For example, the actuator  16  may be extended to thereby extend the room from the structure. Similarly, the actuator  16  may be retracted, thereby retracting the room toward the interior of the structure. As the actuator  16  is extended and retracted, the second and third webs  70 ,  72  of the slide frame  60  slide against the first and second glide blocks  42 ,  44 , and the third and fourth glide blocks  98 ,  98 ′ slide against the web of the shell  12 . In the event any of the glide blocks wears excessively through use, it may be replaced as set forth above. 
     The apparatus  10  generally may be made of steel or another suitable material unless otherwise specified. 
     The embodiment shown and described herein is illustrative and may be modified to the greatest extent possible while remaining within the scope of the appended claims.