US 6,889,578 B2 · Electro-mechanical actuator

Abstract

An electro-mechanical actuator including a plurality of motors for driving an output shaft. The actuator may be incorporated into a window lift mechanism, such as a mechanism including a dual rack and pinion assembly. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a variety of anti-back-drive mechanisms, e.g. clutches. A clutch according to one embodiment includes locking pawls that resist back-drive. In another embodiment, locking cams rotate relative to a carrier to resist back-drive. An actuator consistent with the invention may incorporate an impact mechanism including a flexible carrier. The carrier flexes to prevent impact forces at an output gear train from coupling to an input gear train.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An actuator for a window lift mechanism, said actuator comprising:

an output shaft for driving said mechanism;
an output gear coupled to said output shaft;
a plurality of motors coupled to said output gear for simultaneously driving said output gear and said output shaft, wherein said plurality of motors comprises a first motor having a first torque ripple characteristic and a second motor having a second torque ripple characteristic, wherein said first torque ripple characteristic is at least partially out of phase with said second torque ripple characteristic to reduce vibration imparted to said actuator by said plurality of motors.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/765,899Filed 18 Jan 2001 · us provisional application

Priority

19 Jan 2000

Published

US 2001/0027146 A14 Oct 2001

Granted

10 May 2005

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

H02K 7/1166
Where at least two gears have non-parallel axes without having orbital motion: comprising worm and worm-wheel
E05F 15/6918
Specially adapted for vehicle windows: crank gear with clutches or retaining brakes, for operating window mechanisms
E05F 15/697
Specially adapted for vehicle windows: motor units therefor, e.g. geared motors
F16H 37/065
With a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts: with a plurality of…

Electro-mechanical actuator

Life of this patent

Electro-mechanical actuator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6