Patent ID: 8528961

Claim:
An electric swing plug door operator for use on light to medium duty utility vehicles, said plug door operator comprising: a door operator and base plate assembly affixed to the vehicle structure, said door operator including a drive linkage; a shaft and arm assembly associated with the door operator drive linkage, said shaft and arm assembly adapted for rotation about a vertical axis, said shaft and arm assembly associated with a vehicle door panel such that rotation thereof causes opening and closing of the vehicle door panel; a guide rod assembly associated with the door operator, said guide rod assembly adapted for controlling the angular orientation of the vehicle door panel with respect to a side of the vehicle during opening and closing; a catch mounted to a leading edge or the vehicle door panel adapted for engaging a catch pad mounted to a vehicle portal opening, said catch adapted to constrain lateral displacement of the door panel leading edge in an outboard direction when the door panel is in a fully closed and locked position; and a remotely powered auxiliary lock mechanism.