Freightliner Corporation

Williams Control Industries Inc.

David J Johnston

Michael Von Mayenburg

Michael K Smith

Luis A Novoa

Charles H Blakewood, Jr

Nasser Zamani

Paul M Menig

William G Massey, Iii

Paul J Delurey

A stairway assembly is pivoted between deployed and stowed positions. The stairway in one form includes a sliding support from which the stairway is suspended at a location spaced from a stairway pivot. A link, which may be adjustable in length, couples the coupler to the stairway. A snubber is provided to limit vibration of the stairway when stowed. An actuator, which may comprise an electric motor, is positioned above and overlies a portion of a platform of the stairway. Extension and retraction of the actuator pivots the stairway between stowed and deployed positions.

Retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle

A method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle includes monitoring at least one vehicle status condition such as (a) whether the vehicle is stopped, (b) whether the parking brake is set, (c) whether the cab is tilted in excess of a threshold, and (d) whether excess current is being required by a motor used to shift the stairway between stowed and deployed positions in the event an electric motor is used for this purpose. In the event any of these monitored conditions are not in a predetermined state, deployment of the stairway from a stowed position is blocked. Deployment and stowing of the stairway may also be interrupted depending upon vehicle status and other conditions. Interior and exterior vehicle alarms may be activated depending on vehicle status conditions and the mode of operation of the stairway.

Method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly

A device for providing a pedal operator with tactile indication that a pedal (32) has been depressed to a preselected position includes a cup-like housing (50), a ring-shaped magnet (52) mounted within the housing (50) and a displaceable member (54) provided with a pin (56) engageable by the pedal (32). The pin (56) extends through aligned openings in the magnet (52) and housing (50) and mounts the displaceable member (54) for linear sliding movement on the housing (50). Depression of the pedal (32) to the preselected position results in shifting of the displaceable member (54) away from the influence of the magnet (52) to provide the operator with a snap-like tactile indication of pedal position. The cup (50), magnet (52) and displaceable member (54) are each made of unitary, one-piece construction and of simple, circular geometry.

Device for providing tactile indication of pedal position

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Portland, OR, United States of America

David J Johnston