A new door system and related technology for a passenger carrying rail vehicle, such as a President's Conference Committee (PCC) streetcar rail vehicle, and a method for retrofitting a rail vehicle door system with the new door system. In some embodiments, the new door system includes an electro-mechanical angle drive motor, a solid door control pivot rod, a door leaf panel clamp that is permanently connected to the solid door control pivot rod, a lever arm that includes a positive locking device and that is coupled to the solid door control pivot rod, and a connecting rod that is attached to the electro-mechanical angle drive motor and to the lever arm to enable the connecting rod to impart motion generated by the electro-mechanical angle drive motor to the lever arm.

A door operation method, apparatus and system for a portable module for operating a door. The door operating method includes sensing a reason to at least one of open or close the door, processing the at least one of opening or the closing of the door based on the sensing, engaging a door operation mechanism, and at least one of opening or closing the door by the portable module, wherein the portable module is coupled the door.

A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

A mechanical adaptation to a vehicle power window controls is provided that require less hand/finger coordination and less force to actuate, therefore becoming useful for persons with limited control of their hands (e.g., arthritis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury, among others). A power window control includes four levers, one on each control switch. Two of the levers are long and the other two are shorter. The long levers are provided on the two switches further away from the user (which control the front and rear left side windows). The short levers are attached to the two switches closer to the user (which control the front and rear right side windows). The base of each lever can be attached to the corresponding switch through a heavy-duty double-sided tape, where for flat switches, the lever is attached directly to the switch surface and for contoured switches, an adapter can be provided between the base of the lever and the surface of the power window switch.

A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modem barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

A chain support mechanism for use with an openable frame component and a method of using such a chain support is provided, where a chain actuator is provided in a housing, the chain actuator including a push-pull chain which chain can bend in one direction only, the housing mounted with its longitudinal extent along one frame component with the chain attached to the openable frame component where the chain actuator may be manipulated to extend or withdraw the chain from the housing, thereby moving the openable frame component, and where the chain support mechanism includes a first arm pivotably fastened to the housing and a second arm pivotably fastened to the openable frame component, where the distal end of the first arm and the distal end of the second arm are pivotably connected by a sliding member, against which sliding member the chain may slide.

A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

The present invention relates to a drive arrangement having a hinge which comprises a first hinge arm and a second hinge arm which can be rotated with respect to the first hinge arm about a hinge axis, wherein the first hinge arm is arranged by means of a bolt on a support means which is provided to support a torque when the hinge arms are rotated relative to one another, in that the bolt engages through an aperture in the first hinge arm and is fixed by means of an elastic press fit in a through-hole of the support means. The present invention additionally relates to a motor vehicle having such a drive arrangement, to a bolt for such a drive arrangement, and to a method for mounting the drive arrangement.

The present invention is a preventive maintenance system and kit that can prolong the life of the regulators and motors. In performing repairs to automobile power window regulators and motors, it is often the case that the repair is required due to a breakdown of the lubricant. This breakdown can be due to several factors, such as age, temperature, dirt, and salts. The window regulators and motors, without appropriate lubrication, will fail and lead to more costly repairs. A kit has been developed to service the electric windows of an automobile without disassembling the door is presented. The kit provides for access to the door interior and for lubricating the interior parts. The kit and method is designed to lubricate the many window parts in order to extend their life and maintain functionality.

A power boost assembly is disclosed that can be used with a door actuator, such as a door closer. The power boost assembly is structured to store an energy during a first movement of a door and release the stored energy during a second movement of the door. In one form the power boost assembly can be structured as a module that can be added to an existing door and door closer installation. In one form the power boost assembly is used to increase a closing force imparted to a door to ensure a latching event.