Vehicle hinge driving apparatus

A vehicle hinge driving apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• an actuator;
• a housing connected to the actuator;
• an output shaft having an axis aligned with an axis of the housing;
• a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a torque from the actuator to the output shaft;
• a brake unit configured to provide a brake torque to the output shaft, wherein the brake unit comprises a first friction disk mounted on the output shaft and a second friction disk mounted on the housing, the first friction disk contacting the second friction disk;
• and
• a hinge rod connected to the output shaft, wherein the hinge rod extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the output shaft;
• wherein the hinge rod includes a through hole through which the output shaft extends;
• wherein the hinge rod has a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections alternately arranged on an inner circumferential surface of the through hole in a circumferential direction thereof;
• wherein the output shaft has a plurality of second projections and a plurality of second recesses alternately arranged in a circumferential direction thereof;
• wherein the second projections of the output shaft are fitted into the recesses of the hinge rod, respectively;
• and
• wherein the projections of the hinge rod are fitted into the second recesses of the output shaft, respectively.

A method of providing a vehicle hinge driving apparatus, the method comprising:

• connecting a housing to an actuator;
• providing an output shaft having an axis aligned with an axis of the housing;
• providing a transmission mechanism that transmits a torque from the actuator to the output shaft;
• and
• providing a brake unit that provides a brake torque to the output shaft;
• wherein the brake unit comprises a first friction disk mounted on the output shaft, a second friction disk mounted on the housing, a spring configured to provide a spring force to maintain contact between the first friction disk and the second friction disk;
• wherein the first friction disk contacts the second friction disk;
• wherein the spring is held on the output shaft by a first spring holder and a second spring holder;
• wherein the first spring holder is adjacent to the first friction disk and the second friction disk;
• wherein the second spring holder is spaced away from the first friction disk and the second friction disk;
• and
• wherein the spring is interposed between the first spring holder and the second spring holder.