Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses an electric wire routing arrangement operable to enclose and route an electric wire arrangement from a first electric arrangement in a chassis of a vehicle to a second electric arrangement in a movable member pivotally connected in relation to the chassis, wherein said electric wire routing arrangement comprises a first channel part operatively connected to the chassis; and a second channel part operatively connected to the movable member so that a center of the first channel part and a center of the second channel part substantially coincide with an axis of rotation for the movable member along a section so that the wire arrangement operatively enclosed and routed by the first channel part and the second channel part is twisted around said axis of rotation when the movable member is pivotally moved in operation relative to the chassis. Generally, a construction machine may include a cabin. A door may be rotatably connected with the cabin via a hinge. The door may include a manual type locking apparatus and an automatic type locking apparatus. Particularly, an automatic type locking apparatus may be operated by signals of a smart key. The above-mentioned function may be operated by a smart door apparatus. The smart door apparatus may include an actuator driven by the signals of the smart key, and a harness configured to supply electricity to the actuator.

According to related arts, the harness may be installed at the door. Thus, the harness may be repeatedly bent by rotations of the door. The repeatedly bent harness may be disconnected. As a result, a lifespan of the harness may be reduced.

The present invention provides a smart door apparatus according to claim <NUM>. Example embodiments provide a smart door apparatus of a construction machine that may be capable of increasing a lifespan of a harness.

In example embodiments, the upper clamp may include an upper guide hole configured to receive the upper end of the harness, and an upper guide groove extended from the upper guide hole to guide the harness in the axial direction.

In example embodiments, the upper guide hole may be shifted from the axial direction. A lower end of the upper guide groove may be positioned on the axial direction.

In example embodiments, the lower clamp may include a lower guide hole configured to receive the lower end of the harness, and a lower guide groove extended from the lower guide hole to guide the harness in the axial direction.

In example embodiments, the lower guide hole may be shifted from the axial direction. An upper end of the lower guide groove may be positioned on the axial direction.

In example embodiments, the smart door apparatus may further include an upper cover configured to cover the upper clamp, and a lower cover configured to cover the lower clamp.

In example embodiments, the smart door apparatus may further include a sealant configured to fill a space between the lower cover, the lower clamp and the lower end of the harness to fix the harness.

In example embodiments, the harness may be arranged on an outer surface of the door in the axial direction. The harness may enter into the door to be connected to the actuator.

In example embodiments, the smart door apparatus may further include at least one clip configured to fix the harness in the door to an inner surface of the door.

According to example embodiments, the harness may be arranged in the axial direction of the hinge mechanism so that only torsion may be applied to the harness regardless of rotation angles of the door. Thus, the harness may not be bent by a rotation of the door to prevent a disconnection of the harness. As a result, a lifespan of the harness may be increased.

Example embodiments will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. <FIG> represent non-limiting, example embodiments as described herein.

Various example embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some example embodiments are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "connected to" or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized example embodiments (and intermediate structures). Thus, example embodiments should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binary change from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried region formed by implantation may result in some implantation in the region between the buried region and the surface through which the implantation takes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Hereinafter, example embodiments will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a cabin of a construction machine with a smart door apparatus in accordance with example embodiments, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of the smart door apparatus in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a harness of the smart door apparatus in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a door D may be installed at a cabin C of a construction machine. The construction machine may not be restricted within a specific construction machine. The door D may be locked to the cabin C by a locking apparatus L. One side surface of the door D may be rotatably connected with the cabin C via a hinge mechanism. Thus, the door D may be rotated with respect to an axial direction X of the hinge mechanism, i.e., a vertical axis.

In example embodiments, the hinge mechanism may include an upper hinge UH configured to rotatably connect an upper end of one side surface of the door D with the cabin C, and a lower hinge LH configured to rotatably connect a lower end of one side surface of the door D with the cabin C. The upper hinge UH may include an upper hinge pin UHP arranged in the axial direction X. The lower hinge LH may include a lower hinge pin LHP arranged in the axial direction X. The upper hinge pin UHP and the lower hinge pin LHP may be positioned on a same line along the axial direction X. Alternatively, the hinge mechanism may include one or at least three hinges.

The smart door apparatus may operate the locking apparatus L of the door D by signals of a smart key. The smart door apparatus may include an actuator <NUM> and a harness <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> may be installed at an inner surface of the door D. The actuator <NUM> may receive the signals of the smart key to operate the locking apparatus L.

The harness <NUM> may be configured to supply electricity to the actuator <NUM>. The harness <NUM> may include an outer portion <NUM> extended from a battery and arranged on an outer surface of the door D, and an inner portion <NUM> extended from the outer portion <NUM> into the door D and connected with the actuator <NUM>.

The outer portion <NUM> may be extended from an upper surface of the cabin C to a lower end of the door D. In example embodiments, the outer portion <NUM> may have a linear shape extended in the axial direction X of the hinge mechanism. That is, the outer portion <NUM> may be positioned on a vertical line substantially the same as the axial direction X of the hinge mechanism. Particularly, the outer portion <NUM> may be extended between the upper hinge UH and the lower hinge LH in the axial direction X. Thus, the outer portion <NUM> may be rotated with respect to the axial direction X of the hinge mechanism. As a result, when the door D may be opened, only torsion may be applied to the outer portion <NUM> regardless of opening angles of the door D. That is, the outer portion <NUM> may not be bent regardless of the opening angles of the door D.

The inner portion <NUM> may be extended from the outer portion <NUM> through the door D. The inner portion <NUM> may be extended along the inner surface of the door D. The inner portion <NUM> may be fixed to the inner surface of the door D using a plurality of clips <NUM>. The inner portion <NUM> may be connected to an upper end <NUM> and a lower end <NUM> of the actuator <NUM>.

<FIG> are perspective views illustrating an upper end of the harness of the smart door apparatus in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the smart door apparatus may further include an upper clamp <NUM> and an upper cover <NUM>.

The upper clamp <NUM> may be installed at a portion of the door D adjacent to the upper hinge UH. The upper clamp <NUM> may include an upper guide hole <NUM> and an upper guide groove <NUM>.

The upper guide hole <NUM> may be horizontally formed through a portion of the upper clamp <NUM> right shifted from the axial direction X of the hinge mechanism. An upper end of the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM> may be drawn out to the outer surface of the door D through the upper guide hole <NUM>.

The upper guide groove <NUM> may be downwardly extended from the upper guide hole <NUM>. The upper guide groove <NUM> may have an upper end connected to the upper guide hole <NUM>, and a rounded lower end downwardly extended from the upper end. The lower end of the upper guide groove <NUM> may be positioned on the axial direction X of the upper hinge UH. That is, the lower end of the upper guide groove <NUM> may have an axial direction substantially the same as the axial direction X of the upper hinge UH. Thus, the upper end of the outer portion <NUM> drawn out through the upper guide hole <NUM> may be guided to be positioned on the axial direction X of the upper hinge UH along the upper guide groove <NUM>.

The upper cover <NUM> may be configured to cover the upper clamp <NUM> and the upper end of the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM>. The upper cover <NUM> may be fixed to the upper clamp <NUM> and the door D using at least one bolt.

<FIG> are perspective views illustrating a lower end of the harness of the smart door apparatus in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the smart door apparatus may further include a lower clamp <NUM> and a lower cover <NUM>.

The lower clamp <NUM> may be installed at a portion of the door D adjacent to the lower hinge LH. The harness <NUM> may be divided into the outer portion <NUM> in the door D and the inner portion <NUM> outside the door D with respect to the lower clamp <NUM>. The lower clamp <NUM> may include a lower guide hole <NUM> and a lower guide groove <NUM>.

The lower guide hole <NUM> may be horizontally formed through a portion of the lower clamp <NUM> left shifted from the axial direction X of the hinge mechanism. A lower end of the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM> may be drawn out to the inner surface of the door D through the lower guide hole <NUM>.

The lower guide groove <NUM> may be upwardly extended from the lower guide hole <NUM>. The lower guide groove <NUM> may have a lower end connected to the lower guide hole <NUM>, and a rounded upper end upwardly extended from the lower end. The upper end of the lower guide groove <NUM> may be positioned on the axial direction X of the lower hinge LH. That is, the upper end of the lower guide groove <NUM> may have an axial direction substantially the same as the axial direction X of the lower hinge LH. Thus, the lower end of the outer portion <NUM> extended through the lower end of the upper guide groove <NUM> to enter into the lower guide groove <NUM> may be positioned on the axial direction X of the lower hinge LH.

The lower cover <NUM> may be configured to cover the lower clamp <NUM> and the lower end of the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM>. The lower cover <NUM> may be fixed to the lower clamp <NUM> and the door D using at least one bolt.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of the lower end of the harness in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a sealant <NUM> may be configured to fill an inner space of the lower clamp <NUM>. The sealant <NUM> may be supplied to the inner space of the lower clamp <NUM> through a hole of the lower clamp <NUM>. Particularly, the sealant <NUM> may fill the inner space between the lower clamp <NUM>, the lower cover <NUM> and the lower end of the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM>. The inner portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM> extended into the door D through the lower clamp <NUM> may be fixed by the sealant <NUM>. In contrast, because the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM> on the axial direction X of the hinge mechanism may not be fixed, only the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM> may be twisted when opening the door D. In example embodiments, the sealant <NUM> may include silicon. However, the sealant <NUM> may include other materials as well as the silicon.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a closed door in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an opened door in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the door D may be closed, the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM> may be positioned on the axial direction X of the hinge mechanism. As shown in <FIG>, although the door D may be opened, the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM> may also be positioned on the axial direction X of the hinge mechanism. That is, the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM> may be always positioned on the axial direction X of the hinge mechanism regardless of the rotation angles of the door D. Therefore, a bending force may not be applied to the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM>. Only the torsion may be applied to the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM> regardless of the rotation angles of the door D. As a result, the outer portion <NUM> of the harness <NUM> may not be disconnected to increase the lifespan of the harness <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A smart door apparatus of a construction machine, the smart door apparatus comprising:
an actuator (<NUM>) installed at a door (D), which is rotatably connected with a cabin (C) of the construction machine via a hinge mechanism, to operate a locking apparatus (L) of the door (D) by signals of a smart key; and
a harness (<NUM>) arranged in an axial direction (X) of the hinge mechanism to supply electricity to the actuator (<NUM>);
wherein the hinge mechanism comprises an upper hinge (UH) connected to an upper end of the door (D) and a lower hinge (LH) connected to a lower end of the door (D), and the harness (<NUM>) is extended between the upper hinge (UH) and the lower hinge (LH) along the axial direction (X);
further comprising:
an upper clamp (<NUM>) installed at the upper end of the door (D) adjacent to the upper hinge (UH) to fix an upper end of the harness (<NUM>); and
a lower clamp (<NUM>) installed at the lower end of the door (D) adjacent to the lower hinge (LH) to fix a lower end of the harness (<NUM>).