US 10,767,412 B2 · Electromechanical strut with power actuator having supplemental friction control

Abstract

An electromechanical strut is provided for moving a pivotal closure member between open and closed positions relative to a motor vehicle body. The electromechanical strut includes a drive mechanism having a motor-gearbox assembly, flex coupling assembly, and a spring-loaded supplemental friction assembly that are operable to drive a rotatable power screw. The drive mechanism converts rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of an extensible member to move the extensible member between a retracted position corresponding to the closure member closed position and an extended position corresponding to the closure member open position. The motor-gearbox assembly includes a motor and a geartrain having an output component driven at a reduced speed relative to the motor speed. The flex coupling assembly is operably disposed between the output component and the power screw. The spring-loaded supplemental friction assembly generates and applies a supplemental frictional force to the flex coupling assembly.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electromechanical strut for moving a pivotal closure member between an open position and a closed position relative to a motor vehicle body, the electromechanical strut, comprising:

a housing operably connected to one of the pivotal closure member and the motor vehicle body;
an extensible member operably connected to the other one of the pivotal closure member and the motor vehicle body, said extensible member being moveable in response to rotation of a drive member between a retracted position relative to the housing which corresponds to the closed position of the pivotal closure member and an extended position relative to the housing which corresponds to the open position of the pivotal closure member;
a motor-gearbox assembly including an electric motor having a rotary output member configured to drive an input component of a geartrain with an output component of the geartrain being driven at a reduced speed relative to the input component;
a coupling assembly operably coupling the output component of the geartrain to the drive member;
and
a supplemental friction mechanism configured to apply a supplemental frictional force to at least one of the geartrain and the coupling assembly.

3 more elements

An electromechanical strut for moving a pivotal closure member between an open position and a closed position relative to a motor vehicle body, the electromechanical strut, comprising:

a housing operably connected to one of the pivotal closure member and the motor vehicle body;
an extensible member operably connected to the other one of the pivotal closure member and the motor vehicle body, said extensible member being moveable axially in response to rotation of a drive member between an axially retracted position relative to the housing which corresponds to the closed position of the pivotal closure member and an axially extended position relative to the housing which corresponds to the open position of the pivotal closure member;
a motor-gearbox assembly including an electric motor having a rotary output member configured to drive an input component of a geartrain with an output component of the geartrain being driven at a reduced speed relative to the input component;
a coupling assembly operably coupling the output component of the geartrain to the drive member;
and
a supplemental friction mechanism disposed between the geartrain and the coupling assembly, the supplemental friction mechanism including a biasing member compressed axially between the geartrain and the coupling assembly to apply a supplemental frictional force to at least one of the geartrain and the coupling assembly.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electromechanical strut with power actuator having supplemental friction control

Life of this patent

Electromechanical strut with power actuator having supplemental friction control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20