Flat floor room extension

Abstract

A system for extending and retracting moveable rooms that expand the useable living space in recreational vehicles and the like. The system includes a pair of hydraulic extension cylinders positioned within the main structural members, each hydraulic extension cylinder powering a double tube arrangement which is combined with a rail assembly. When in the fully retracted position, the moveable floor rests on the stationary floor and is locked in position by a mechanical catch that locks the outer tube of the dual tube arrangement with the rail assembly. When the room is to be extended, the inner tube is advanced under power of the hydraulic cylinders moving the floor outwardly while maintaining it at the same level above the stationary floor. As the inner end of the moveable floor approaches its final position but before lowering, the rear or inner edge of the moveable floor engages a floor support tube that is attached to the outer tube of the dual tube arrangement. At this time, the outer tube begins moving outwardly along with the inner tube with the moveable floor being supported on the floor support tube. At this time, the catch that previously locked the outer tube to the rail assembly pivots to unlock the outer tube from the rail assembly and to lock the inner and outer tubes together, thus allowing them to move as a unit relative to the rail assembly. Rail bearings attached to the outer tube slide down inclined ramps on the rail assembly thereby permitting the cylinders to swing the inner and outer tubes downwardly until the moveable floor is level with the stationary floor.