Door presenter with toothed clutch

An actuator comprising:

• a lead screw coupled to a clutch assembly, wherein the clutch assembly has an engaged state and a disengaged state;
• a motor operatively coupled to the clutch assembly and configured to rotate the clutch assembly when the clutch assembly is in the engaged state, wherein rotation of the clutch assembly in the engaged state rotates the lead screw;
• and
• a drive nut coupled to the lead screw, the drive nut being rotationally fixed, wherein rotation of the lead screw causes translation of the drive nut;
• wherein a predetermined axial force on the drive nut toward the clutch assembly provides an axial and rotational force on the lead screw such that the clutch assembly is disengaged;
• wherein rotation of the lead screw when the clutch is disengaged decouples the motor from the lead screw such that the lead screw rotates freely relative to the motor.

A method of operating an actuator with overload protection, the method comprising:

• providing a clutch assembly between an actuator and a motor;
• applying a predetermined axial load to the clutch assembly that exceeds a clutch engagement threshold;
• disengaging the clutch assembly in response to applying the predetermined axial load;
• and
• rotating a first portion of the clutch assembly relative to a second portion of the clutch assembly and, in response thereto, re-engaging the clutch assembly.