US 6,550,839 B2Granted

Vehicle pivoting closure power operating assembly

AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.

InventorsLloyd Walker Rogers, Jr., Ann P McCarthy-Garland, Douglas Dombrowski, Theodore J Lindsay, Ian Martin, Howard Warren Kuhlman, Michael Antonio Ciavaglia

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Abstract

A vehicle pivoting closure assembly has a concealed power actuator remotely operated by a controller to open and close a closure or liftgate. A hinge member of the power actuator is engaged pivotally to a vehicle structure about a hinge axis, and rigidly to the closure. An armature extends pivotally from an elongated linear moving rack about a rack pivot axis and to the hinge member. The armature also pivotally engages the hinge member about a secondary pivot axis disposed parallel to the hinge axis and rack pivot axis. The rack is driven by a pinion gear train powered by a motor through a clutch. The hinge, the rack, the gear train and the motor are all supported by a reinforcement tray forming a modular engaged to the vehicle structure. The tray isolates the extreme dynamic loads placed upon the hinge by the motor, thereby eliminating the need to further reinforce the vehicle structure.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An automotive pivoting closure assembly comprising:

a vehicle structure;
a hinge member having a first portion, a second portion, a hinge axis, and an opposite secondary pivot axis, the first portion engaged pivotally to the vehicle structure about the hinge axis and extended between the hinge axis and secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis remaining stationary to the vehicle structure, the second portion extended rigidly from the first portion at the secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis being parallel to the secondary pivot axis;
a closure engaged to the second portion of the hinge member;
an armature engaged pivotally about the secondary pivot axis of the first portion of the hinge member;
an elongated toothed rack disposed perpendicular to the hinge axis, the rack constructed and arranged to move slideably with respect to the vehicle structure and transversely toward and away from the hinge axis, the rack having a rack pivot axis disposed parallel to the hinge axis of the hinge member, the armature engaged pivotally to the rack pivot axis and extended between the rack pivot axis and the secondary pivot axis of the hinge member;
a pinion gear train supported by the vehicle structure and constructed and arranged to drive the toothed rack;
an elongated rack housing engaged to the vehicle structure, the rack disposed slideably within the housing, the housing having a slot extended longitudinally along the rack housing;
the rack having a fin extended from the rack along the rack pivot axis and through the slot of the rack housing, the armature engaged pivotally to the fin;
an electric motor arranged and constructed to drive the pinion gear train;
a clutch engaged between the motor and the pinion gear train,
the pinion gear train having a pinion gear engaged operatively to the toothed rack, and
an intermediate gear disposed concentrically and engaged rigidly to the pinion gear.

9 more elements

An automotive pivoting closure assembly comprising:

a vehicle structure;
a hinge member having a first portion, a second portion, a hinge axis, and an opposite secondary pivot axis, the first portion engaged pivotally to the vehicle structure about the hinge axis and extended between the hinge axis and secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis remaining stationary to the vehicle structure, the second portion extended rigidly from the first portion at the secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis being parallel to the secondary pivot axis;
a closure engaged to the second portion of the hinge member;
an armature engaged pivotally about the secondary pivot axis of the first portion of the hinge member;
an elongated toothed rack disposed perpendicular to the hinge axis, the rack constructed and arranged to move slideably with respect to the vehicle structure and transversely toward and away from the hinge axis, the rack having a rack pivot axis disposed parallel to the hinge axis of the hinge member, the armature engaged pivotally to the rack pivot axis and extended between the rack pivot axis and the secondary pivot axis of the hinge member;
a pinion gear train supported by the vehicle structure and constructed and arranged to drive the toothed rack;
and
an elongated rack housing engaged to the vehicle structure, the rack disposed slideably within the housing, the elongated rack having a planar bell shaped end, the armature constructed and arranged to move longitudinally in and out of the housing through the bell shaped end while pivoting laterally within the imaginary plane of the bell shaped end.

5 more elements

An automotive pivoting closure assembly comprising:

a vehicle structure;
a tray engaged to the vehicle structure;
a hinge member having a first portion, a second portion, a hinge axis, and an opposite secondary pivot axis, the first portion engaged pivotally to the tray about the hinge axis and extended between the hinge axis and secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis remaining stationary to the vehicle structure, the second portion extended rigidly from the first portion at the secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis being parallel to the secondary pivot axis;
a closure engaged to the second portion of the hinge member;
an armature engaged pivotally about the secondary pivot axis of the first portion of the hinge member;
an elongated rack housing engaged to the tray;
an elongated toothed rack disposed perpendicular to the hinge axis, the rack constructed and arranged to move slideably within the rack housing and transversely toward and away from the hinge axis, the rack having a rack pivot axis disposed parallel to the hinge axis of the hinge member, the armature engaged pivotally to the rack pivot axis and extended between the rack pivot axis and the secondary pivot axis of the hinge member;
and
a pinion gear train supported by the tray and constructed and arranged to drive the toothed rack.

6 more elements

An automotive pivoting closure assembly comprising:

a vehicle structure;
a hinge member having a first portion, a second portion, a hinge axis, and an opposite secondary pivot axis, the first portion engaged pivotally to the vehicle structure about the hinge axis and extended between the hinge axis and secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis remaining stationary to the vehicle structure, the second portion extended rigidly from the first portion at the secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis being parallel to the secondary pivot axis;
a closure engaged to the second portion of the hinge member;
an armature engaged pivotally about the secondary pivot axis of the first portion of the hinge member;
an elongated toothed rack disposed transverse to the hinge axis, the rack constructed and arranged to move slideably with respect to the vehicle structure and transversely toward and away from the hinge axis, the rack having a rack pivot axis disposed parallel to the hinge axis of the hinge member, the armature engaged pivotally to the rack pivot axis and extended between the rack pivot axis and the secondary pivot axis of the hinge member;
a pinion gear train supported by the vehicle structure and constructed and arranged to drive the toothed rack,
an elongated rack housing engaged to the vehicle structure, the rack disposed slideably within the housing, the housing having a slot extended longitudinally along the rack housing;
the rack having a fin extended from the rack along the rack pivot axis and through the slot of the rack housing, the armature engaged pivotally to the fin,
an electric motor arranged and constructed to drive the pinion gear train,
the pinion gear train having a pinion gear engaged operatively to the toothed rack, and
an intermediate gear disposed concentrically and engaged rigidly to the pinion gear.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/849,779Filed 4 May 2001 · us provisional application
Priority: 11 May 2000
Published: US 2002/0005650 A117 Jan 2002
Granted: 22 Apr 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B60J 5/105
For non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans: comprising door or part of door being pivotable about vertical axis
E05F 15/619
Operated by push-pull mechanisms: using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
E05F 15/63
For swinging wings: operated by swinging arms
E05Y 2201/434
Motors: electromotors; Details thereof