An automatic door opening apparatus for a vehicle. Two and three hinge joint embodiments with motors at each hinge joint to control motion of the door opening apparatus relative to the vehicle at that hinge joint. The motors are individually programmable to customize the door opening apparatus and movement to different vehicles. The motors can be in alignment or out-of-alignment with the hinge joints, but in either case the motor controls motion of the hinged components at the associated hinge joint. When a motor is out-of-alignment with the hinge joint it controls, then pulley wheels and belts can be used to connect the motor to the hinge joint. The door opening apparatus can also include a floor track, and a door arm that connects the door to the floor track.

The invention relates to a door arrangement (1) for a door with a first enclosed volume, the arrangement permitting a sealed connection between the first enclosed volume and a second enclosed volume, and comprising a flange (2) defining passage opening and a passage axis (O) perpendicular to the opening plane, a door (4) pivotably mounted on the flange (2) and a chute for discharging (10) components which is movable between a discharge position in which the chute is positioned opposite the passage opening and a position in which the chute is spaced apart from the passage opening, the chute being attached to the flange (2) by means of a first double-jointed link mechanism (11) comprising a first link (12) arranged to permit a rotational movement about an axis (C) parallel to the passage axis (O) of the passage opening and a second link (13) arranged to permit a rotational movement about an axis (D) perpendicular to the passage axis (O) of the passage opening.

A vehicle roof has a roof opening system comprising a lid element displaceable between a closed and open position displacement kinematics for displacing the lid, each of the displacement kinematics comprising a guide rail, a first and second kinematic unit guided in a guide rail, and a set of drive cables for the kinematic units, the second kinematic unit comprising a tilting lever, to which a gliding element is pivotably connected on which a guide track of a lid carrier of the lid element is guided when the lid element is displaced. The first kinematic unit is driven via a first drive cable by a first drive motor and the second kinematic unit has a control rod which is hinged to the tilting lever and to a drive slide which is driven via a second drive cable by a second drive motor.

A domestic appliance includes: an appliance housing which provides an appliance compartment and has a loading opening for access to the appliance compartment; an appliance door mounted so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis for closing the loading opening; a motor unit in operative connection with the appliance door and by which the appliance door is transferrable from an open position to a closed position closing the loading opening; and a clutch device arranged between the motor unit and the appliance door and in operative connection with the motor unit on a drive side thereof and with the appliance door on a driven side thereof. The clutch device has a clutch that is switchable and transferrable from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa, the clutch causing an automatic switching from the disengaged position to the engaged position during operation of the motor unit.

A spindle drive assembly for opening or closing a vehicle flap, having a spindle drive assembly housing extending along a spindle drive axis and a spindle drive motor arranged in the spindle drive assembly housing. The motor shaft of the spindle drive motor is arranged substantially coaxially with the spindle drive axis. Furthermore, the spindle drive motor is supported in the spindle drive assembly housing in a rotationally fixed manner in relation to the spindle drive axis by an interlocking fit. In addition, a vehicle flap with such a spindle drive assembly.

The present invention relates to a garage door emergency ventilation system primarily comprised of at least one track, at least one screen assembly, and at least one control module. The system can be attached to a panel of a garage door, wherein the control module has at least one sensor that preferably detects carbon monoxide. Once the sensor has detected carbon monoxide above a threshold value, the control module communicates with a motor to retract a fastener from an inner track within the track that is attached to the screen assembly. At the same time, the control module communicates with a garage door opener of the garage door to open the garage door. The screen assembly falls downward to cover the opening left by the opened garage door. The screen assembly further prevents individuals from getting into the garage while allowing carbon monoxide gas to vent from the garage.

Systems and methods include providing an aircraft with a fuselage having a sliding door system disposed on at least one side of the fuselage. The sliding door system includes a forward sliding door having an upper slide rail and a lower slide rail, a rearward sliding door having an upper slide rail and a lower slide rail, an upper rail coupled to each of the upper slide rail of the forward sliding door and the upper slide rail of the rearward sliding door, a lower rail coupled to each of the lower slide rail of the forward sliding door and the lower slide rail of the rearward sliding door, and a plurality of actuators coupled to each of the upper rail and the lower rail and configured to displace and retract the forward sliding door and the rearward sliding door linearly with respect to the fuselage.

A system and method for controlling motion of a door are provided. The door is moveable between an open position and a closed position and has a balanced position whereat the door does not move towards the open position nor the closed position under an effect of gravity. The system includes a power actuator for moving the door to a partially open position between the open position and the closed position. The power actuator is adapted to allow the door to move to the balanced position after the power actuator has moved the door to the partially open position.

A robotic vehicle includes: a robotic vehicle body defining a storage compartment; a lid for closing the storage compartment; and an opening mechanism installable on an exterior of the robotic vehicle body connecting the lid to the robotic vehicle body for actuating the lid between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the opening mechanism comprising: a semi-tubular body coupled to an outer surface of the lid, the semi-tubular body including a first rotational plate disposed at a first edge thereof; and an actuator disposed inside of the semi-tubular body and coupled to the exterior of the robotic vehicle body, the actuator being operatively coupled to an inner surface of the first rotational plate, the actuator being configured to impart a torque onto the first rotational plate, thereby causing the semi-tubular body to pivot and actuate the lid for providing access to the storage compartment.

A piezoelectric energy harvester system for collecting kinetic energy is provided, wherein the kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy, and wherein at least a portion of the converted electrical energy is utilized to operate a load. The system comprises an energy input portion and an energy harvesting portion. The energy input portion includes an input member configured to be actionable by an outside force. The energy harvesting portion includes a capture member, a sprocket portion, and a piezoelectric energy harvester. The capture member is adapted for receiving mechanical input from the input member. The sprocket portion is disposed for movement with the capture member. The sprocket portion includes at least one radially disposed sprocket actuator configured for making contact with and exciting the piezoelectric energy harvester. The piezoelectric energy harvester is excited by the contact to produce the kinetic energy.