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US 8,006,817 B2Granted
Power strut assembly
AssigneeDura Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRonald J. Hanna, Michael A. Slumba
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power drive assembly for a rear lift gate assembly of a vehicle includes a screw drive having a screw member and a clutch supported by the screw member.
Claims22
A powered drive assembly for a rear lift gate assembly of a vehicle comprising:
- a screw drive having a screw member;
- a vehicle body supporting the screw drive;
- a clutch supported about the screw member and coupled to a lift gate, the clutch including at least one bearing member, the at least one bearing member being actuable to engage and disengage the screw member wherein the clutch travels longitudinally relative to the screw drive when the at least one bearing member is in the disengaged position and wherein the clutch moves the lift gate when the at least one bearing member is in the engaged position and the screw drive is activated.
A power strut assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a first strut member having joined outer walls defining an interior cavity, the first strut member extending from a first end to a second end, the first end including a base wall joined to the outer walls;
- a second strut member moveable relative to the first strut member, the second strut member including joined outer walls defining an interior cavity, the second strut member extending from a first end to a second end, the second strut member telescopically disposed within the interior cavity of the first strut member;
- a screw drive;
- a clutch positioned on the screw drive;
- wherein the clutch is movable between a disengaged position where the clutch travels freely longitudinally relative to the screw drive and an engaged position where activation of the screw drive moves the second strut member relative to the first strut member.
2 more elements
A clutch assembly comprising:
- a screw drive;
- a housing having a central aperture receiving the screw drive, the housing having guide elements formed therein;
- at least two contact members disposed within the housing, the contact members including an inner contact surface, and top and bottom surfaces, the top and bottom surfaces having corresponding guide elements formed thereon;
- at least one friction member disposed on the housing and about the screw drive, the at least one friction member associated with the contact members;
- wherein rotation of the screw drive causes rotation of the contact members wherein the corresponding guide elements of the contact members interact with the guide elements of the housing causing the inner contact surfaces of the contact members to engage and disengage the screw drive wherein the clutch assembly travels freely longitudinally relative to the screw drive in the disengaged position.
2 more elements
A drive assembly comprising:
- a first drive member, the first drive member extending from a first end to a second end, the first end including a base wall joined to an outer wall;
- a second drive member moveable relative to the first drive member, the second drive member having a joined outer wall defining an interior cavity, the second drive member extending from a first end to a second end, the second drive member telescopically disposed within an interior cavity of the first drive member;
- a screw drive;
- a clutch retained by the second drive member and positioned on the screw drive;
- wherein the clutch is movable between a disengaged position relative to the screw drive where the clutch travels freely longitudinally relative to the screw drive and an engaged position where rotation of the screw drive translates to longitudinal motion of the second drive member relative to the first drive member.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.