# US 10,246,920 B2 · Torsion rod loading device and assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,920 B2 - Document ID: US10246920B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/176,475 - Filed: 2016-06-08 - Published: 2017-12-14 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-08 - Assignees: Fca US LLC - Applicants: Christopher Sytek; Thomas A Czapski; Christopher J Duke; Alexander J Stanton; Christopher J Antenucci; Randy Ihrke - Inventors: Christopher Sytek; Thomas A Czapski; Christopher J Duke; Alexander J Stanton; Christopher J Antenucci; Randy Ihrke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246920B2 ## CPC - E05F 1/1238: {specially adapted for vehicles} - F03G 1/02: characterised by shape or material of spring, e.g. helical, spiral, coil - F03G 1/08: for winding - E05Y 2900/548: Trunk lids - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract In at least one implementation, a torsion rod preload device, includes a body, a driver and a retainer. The body may have a base adapted to be connected to a vehicle and at least one stop. The driver is carried by the body for movement relative to the body, and is adapted to engage a torsion rod so that movement of the driver relative to the body increases a torsion force within the torsion rod. The retainer is carried by one or both of the body and the driver, and is movable by the driver as the driver moves relative to the body. The retainer is engageable with the stop to inhibit or prevent movement of the driver when the retainer is engaged with the stop to maintain a desired torsion force in the torsion rod. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A torsion rod preload device, comprising: a body having at least one stop and a base adapted to be connected to a vehicle; a driver carried by the body for movement relative to the body, the driver adapted to engage two torsion rods so that movement of the driver relative to the body increases a torsion force within both torsion rods, and a retainer carried by one or both of the body and the driver, the retainer being movable by the driver as the driver moves relative to the body and the retainer being engageable with the stop to inhibit or prevent movement of the driver when the retainer is engaged with the stop to maintain a desired magnitude of stored energy in the torsion rods. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the body includes two and the driver is pivoted to the body between the two walls. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one stop includes two stops, each wall includes one of the stops and the retainer may be engaged with the stop of both walls at the same time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the body includes multiple stops and the retainer is selectively engageable with the stops as the driver moves relative to the body so that the retainer engages a first one of the stops when the driver is moved a first amount relative to the body to provide a first torsion force within the torsion rod and the retainer engages a second one of the stops when the driver is moved a second amount relative to the body to provide second torsion force within the torsion rod, wherein the second amount is greater than the first amount and the second force is greater than the first force. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 which also includes a support carried by the body and adapted to engage a portion of the torsion rod, and wherein driver is adapted to engage the torsion rod at a location spaced from the portion of the torsion rod engaged with the support. ### Claim 6 A torsion rod preload device, comprising: a body having at least one stop and a base adapted to be connected to a vehicle; a driver carried by the body for movement relative to the body, the driver adapted to engage a torsion rod so that movement of the driver relative to the body increases a torsion force within the torsion rod, and a retainer carried by one or both of the body and the driver, the retainer being movable by the driver as the driver moves relative to the body and the retainer being engageable with the stop to inhibit or prevent movement of the driver when the retainer is engaged with the stop to maintain a desired magnitude of stored energy in the torsion rod, wherein the driver includes a slot and the retainer extends into the slot so that the retainer moves relative to the body as the driver moves, and wherein a portion of the stop may displace the retainer within the slot and relative to the driver. ### Claim 7 A torsion rod assembly for a vehicle panel, comprising: a body having at least on stop and a base adapted to be connected to a vehicle; a driver carried by the body for movement relative to the body; a first torsion rod coupled to the driver so that movement of the driver relative to the body increases a torsion force within the first torsion rod; a second torsion rod coupled to the driver so that movement of the driver relative to the body increases a torsion force within the second torsion rod; and a retainer carried by one or both of the body and the driver, and being movable by the driver and relative to the stop as the driver moves relative to the body, wherein the retainer is engageable with the stop to inhibit or prevent movement of the driver when the retainer is engaged with the stop to maintain a desired torsion force in the torsion rod. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the body includes two walls, and the driver is pivoted to the body between the two walls. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8 wherein the at least one stop includes two stops, each wall includes one of the stops and the retainer may be engaged with the stop of both walls at the same time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the body includes multiple stops and the retainer is selectively engageable with the stops as the driver moves relative to the body so that the retainer engages a first one of the stops when the driver is moved a first amount relative to the body to provide a first torsion force within the first torsion rod and the second torsion rod, and the retainer engages a second one of the stops when the driver is moved a second amount relative to the body to provide second torsion force within the first torsion rod and the second torsion rod, wherein the second amount is greater than the first amount and the second force is greater than the first force. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 which also includes a first support carried by the body so that the first support engages a portion of the first torsion rod and a second support carried by the body so that the second support engages a portion of the second torsion rod, and wherein driver engages the first torsion rod at a location spaced from the portion of the first torsion rod engaged with the first support and driver engages the second torsion rod at a location spaced from the portion of the second torsion rod engaged with the second support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11 wherein the portion of the first torsion rod engaged with the first support remains essentially stationary as the driver is moved, and the portion of the second torsion rod engaged with the second support remains essentially stationary as the driver is moved. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein the driver includes a slot and the retainer extends into the slot so that the retainer moves relative to the body as the driver moves, and wherein a portion of the stop may displace the retainer within the slot and relative to the driver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 which also includes a shaft carried by the body and about which the driver rotates, and wherein the driver has a free end and the retainer is received between the free end and the shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14 which also includes a biasing member coupled to the shaft and to the retainer to yieldably bias the retainer toward the shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 which also includes a shaft carried by the body and about which the driver rotates, and wherein the driver has a free end and the retainer is received between the free end and the shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16 which also includes a biasing member coupled to the shaft and to the retainer to yieldably bias the retainer toward the shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6 which also includes a shaft carried by the body and about which the driver rotates, and wherein the driver has a free end and the retainer and slot are located between the free end and the shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18 which also includes a biasing member coupled to the shaft and to the retainer to yieldably bias the retainer toward the shaft.