| Author |
Message |
dbohanno (204.249.195.229)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 11, 2002 - 11:54 am: | |
I have seen a prevost with a automatic sliding door.This door was operated from either side. I have got this wild idea of installing one in my 85 eagle. I was thinking of using a universal window lift motor and bracket from jc whitney. But my problem is that I only want to push a button once to close the door and again to open. I do not want to hold the button down to operate it. Has anyone ever attemted this. I know it can be done. Just need to know what type of switch or relays is needed to make this work. |
Ian Giffin (Admin) (64.228.43.137)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 11, 2002 - 12:24 pm: | |
I drive a coach with one that was put together by Vulcan Coach Corp, 101 Vulcan Pk Dr, Hueytown, AL 35023, 205-491-0081 or 877-2-VULCAN.
Ian
www.busnut.com |
Scott Whitney (24.205.238.126)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 11, 2002 - 1:00 pm: | |
At one point I had considered this idea just for the 'wow' factor. But have decided against it. My thinking is that unless the pocket door opened or closed quite quickly, it would get annoying after the novelty wore off. I am thinking to be useful and not annoying you'd want the door to go from full open to full closed and vice versa in a second or less. Anything longer, in my opinion, would feel a bit cumbersome. Maybe there are devices to do this job, but I could not think of a way to rig something that activated that quickly and smoothly. Would be interested to hear of such devices. Seems to me it would need to be either air or hydraulic operated to get the speed necessary. Pullies, cables, gears or a rack etc. would just be too slow - I think.
Scott |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.147.165.148)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 11, 2002 - 1:06 pm: | |
Most of these are done with an air cylinder and a 3 port 2 position air solenoid. Push close and the air holds it closed till open is pushed, etc. My wife got stuck in one of our friend's bathroom who forgot to turn on his compressor to keep the air up. It took a few minutes for the air to come up to get the door open. As has been said, after the "wow" wears off its a pain. How about just a hand operated slider? Works for me. I use Hettich America slide hardware. Good stuff.
Jim |
Jim Nelson (166.90.108.147)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 12, 2002 - 9:43 pm: | |
You can use a latching relay to cycle the air cylinder, but as was said earlier, air-operated doors are a real pain. Another problem is that it puts a whole lot of stress in the frame under the dash - 102DL3's with the air cylinder tend to break the cylinder mount clean off after heavy use. If you are going to do it, some structural reinforcement and good, solid mounts for the cylinder, damper, and door hinges are in order. My 2 cents. |
Ian Giffin (Admin) (64.228.55.38)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 12, 2002 - 10:49 pm: | |
Hi Scott,
No need to spoil the "wow" factor:
Put the opener switches about three paces away from either side of the pocket door, as that's about how long it takes to get there!
Beam me up, ... !
Ian
www.busnut.com |
WEC4104 (65.128.160.168)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 12:12 am: | |
I remember a story about a hospital design team that was looking to install automatic pocket doors at the entrance to an operating room. After searching high and low, they contacted the designers of the set for the show Star Trek. They were very disappointed to learn that the Star Trek doors onthe Enterprise were physically moved by someone off camera. Sorry. |
Scott Whitney (24.205.238.126)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 2:10 pm: | |
That illustrates a good point. In my opinion, to be effective, they need to slide as fast and smoothly as the doors on Star Trek. Motion sensing and automatic would be good except for when the bathroom was occupied. So you would need some good heat sensing (or other) device to know whether a person was in the bathroom or not.
Scott |