US 10,590,691 B2Granted

Vehicle door system with power drive module

AssigneeMultimatic Inc.

InventorsRudolf Gruber, Andrew R. Daniels, Balathas Nagamany

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Abstract

An automotive door system includes a hinge that supports a door. A switch provides a first input in response to a user request to automatically open or close the door. An output shaft of a power drive module is connected to the door and a gearbox to provide an output torque that corresponds to a desired motion of the door about the hinge. A brake assembly is connected to a shaft member and has a normally closed position in which the shaft member is grounded to the housing and an open position that corresponds to one of a door closing mode and a door opening mode. A position sensor detects rotation of the output shaft and provides a second input in response thereto, which corresponds to a manually initiated movement of the door that exceeds a slip torque of the brake assembly in the normally closed position.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An automotive door system comprising:

a door;
a hinge configured to support the door;
a switch configured to provide a first input in response to a user request to automatically open or close the door;
a power drive module including:
a housing;
a motor;
a gearbox operatively coupled to the motor by a shaft member;
an output shaft operatively connected to the door and the gearbox, the output shaft configured to provide an output torque that corresponds to a desired motion of the door about the hinge;
and
a brake assembly operatively connected to the shaft member, the brake assembly having a normally closed position in which the shaft member is grounded to the housing, the brake assembly includes an open position, the brake assembly being in the open position in a door closing mode and a door opening mode, the shaft member configured to be rotatable relative to the housing in the open position, the brake assembly including a holding torque in the normally closed position, and being configured such that a torque applied to the brake assembly above the holding torque permits the shaft member to rotate in either direction;
a position sensor configured to detect rotation of the output shaft and to provide a second input in response thereto, the second input corresponding to a manually initiated movement of the door pivoting about the hinge that exceeds the holding torque of the brake assembly in the normally closed position.

8 more elements

An automotive door system comprising:

a hinge configured to support a door;
a switch configured to provide a first input in response to a user request to automatically open or close the door;
a power drive module including:
a housing;
a motor;
a gearbox operatively coupled to the motor by a shaft member;
an output shaft operatively connected to the door and the gearbox, the output shaft configured to provide an output torque that corresponds to a desired motion of the door about a hinge;
and
a brake assembly operatively connected to the shaft member, the brake assembly having a normally closed position in which the shaft member is grounded to the housing, the brake assembly includes an open position corresponding to one of a door closing mode and a door opening mode, the shaft member configured to be rotatable relative to the housing in the open position;
a position sensor configured detect rotation of the output shaft and to provide a second input in response thereto, the second input corresponding to a manually initiated movement of the door pivoting about the hinge that exceeds a slip torque of the brake assembly in the normally closed position;
and
wherein the brake assembly includes a permanent magnet grounding the shaft member to the housing in the normally closed position, and a coil is configured to overcome a magnetic flux of the permanent magnet to provide an open position that permits the shaft member to freely rotate relative to the housing.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.