Power actuating system for four-bar hinge articulated vehicle closure element field of the invention

In an automotive vehicle having a pivotable vehicle closure element for opening and closing an access opening of a storage compartment of the vehicle, wherein the closure element is movable between open and closed positions and is supported by a hinge assembly having a pair of swinging links operably coupled between the closure element and the vehicle body, the improvement in combination therewith of a power actuating system for automatically opening and closing the closure element comprising:

• an electro-mechanical power drive unit stationarily mounted on the vehicle adjacent said hinge assembly, said drive unit having an output shaft rotatable about an axis under the control of an electric motor of said drive unit, and
• a power transmission for applying swinging torque to said hinge assembly and being operably connected to said drive unit such that rotation of the output shaft applies swinging torque to said hinge assembly and is bi-directionally operable through an angular range of travel corresponding to a swing travel of said hinge assembly as the closure element is moved between open and closed positions and vice versa, said hinge assembly being disposed adjacent the storage compartment closed by the closure element and being located on a weather side of a weather sealing system provided between the vehicle body and the closure element, and wherein said drive unit is provided on an interior weather sealed side of the weather sealing system and mounted to the vehicle body in a storage space of the storage compartment, and wherein said power transmission is constructed and arranged to extend through a sealed opening in the vehicle body for operably drive coupling to said hinge assembly.