Linear actuator
AssigneeTK Holdings Inc.
InventorsJeremy Henck, Steven Rehak, Larry Wilmot, Rachid Hammoud
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hood lifting mechanism according to various implementations includes a housing and a piston. A distal end of the piston is urged away from a distal end of the housing to lift a hood upwardly away from a vehicle body in response to the vehicle hitting a pedestrian. To prevent the piston from rattling or moving within the housing while in a stored position, a portion of the piston and a portion of the housing form an interference fit in the stored position. A gas generator in fluid communication with a proximal end of the housing provides sufficient force to overcome the interference fit and urge the distal end of the piston out of the housing.
Claims20
A hood lifting mechanism comprising:
- a housing defining at least one opening;
- and
- a piston axially movable within the opening from a stored position to an extended position, the piston having an engagement area adjacent an outer surface of the piston;
- wherein a mating surface of the opening faces the engagement area of the piston in the stored position, the mating surface and the engagement area forming an interference fit that prevents lateral, rotation, and axial movement of the piston in the stored position and allows the piston to move axially away from the mating surface to the extended position in response to the piston receiving a threshold actuating force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.