Method for installing actuation mechanism for extending and retracting retractable room for recreational vehicle
View Patent ↗A slide-out or retractable room for a mobile living quarters, such as a recreational vehicle, is provided with actuating assemblies mounted on opposite side walls of the slide-out room and the adjacent wall of the main living area. The actuating assemblies include a pair of parallel gear racks mounted on the side wall, which are engaged by pinions rotated by torque shafts mounted on the main living quarters. Each torque shaft is rotated by a separate motor. A roller engages a bearing surface on the lower portion of the gear racks. Accordingly, the slide-out room is extended and retracted by rotating the torque shafts to cause the gear racks and the attached slide-out room to extend and retract. The weight of the slide-out room is supported by the rollers, thereby supporting the slide-out room off of the floor of the main living quarters as it extends and retracts. A synchronizing control operates the motors.
1. A method for installing an actuating mechanism for extending and retracting a slide-out room, said actuating mechanism including an actuation assembly having an upper rack and a lower rack, said actuation assembly further including temporary assembly straps for parallel alignment of the upper and lower racks, the method comprising the steps of:
engaging a horizontal flange of the lower rack of said actuation assembly against a lower side of a floor of said slide-out room to locate said actuation assembly vertically on a side wall of the slide-out room;
engaging a projecting flange of one of the temporary assembly straps of said actuation assembly against a front wall of said slide-out room to locate said actuation assembly horizontally on the side wall of the slide-out room;
fastening said upper and lower racks to the side wall of the slide-out room; and
removing said temporary assembly straps from said actuation assembly.
2. The method of installing an actuating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said slide-out room is installed in a mobile living quarters and further comprising the steps of:
inserting said slide-out room and actuating mechanism into an opening in said mobile living quarters; and
fastening said actuating mechanism to said mobile living quarters.
3. The method of installing an actuating mechanism as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said actuating mechanism includes a cover having a projecting flange, and wherein the step of fastening said actuating mechanism comprises fastening said projecting flange to said mobile living quarters.