Automotive vehicle body with powered sliding side door

摘要

An automotive vehicle body has a side opening that is opened and closed by a sliding door. The door is operated with a power drive mechanism that is pivotally mounted thereon and extends through the side opening. The power drive mechanism includes a reversible electric motor driven friction drive wheel and is spring biased to forcibly engage this wheel with a drive/guide track that is located beneath the vehicle floor and attached to the vehicle body. The friction drive wheel rides on the drive/guide track to open and close the door and also helps guide and stabilize its sliding movement. The spring load on the friction drive wheel is limited so as to provide sliding door operation with the motor under normal conditions and allow slippage at the friction drive wheel to cease door movement when the door encounters a physical object in the door opening.