US 9,174,517 B2 · Power swing door actuator

Abstract

In an aspect, a swing door actuation system is provided for moving a door about a vertical axis between open closed positions relative to a vehicle body. The system includes a housing connectable to one of the swing door and the vehicle body, an extensible member that moves relative to the housing, and connects to the other of the swing door and the vehicle body, a motor connected to a gear train that is non-backdrivable, and a normally engaged clutch. The motor is operatively connected to a clutch input end through the gear train. The output end is operatively connected to the extensible member. The clutch is disengageable to disconnect the motor from the extensible member. The clutch has a slip torque that is sufficiently high to prevent movement of the door when the door is exposed to less than a selected external torque and the motor is stopped.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A swing door actuation system for moving a vehicular swing door about a substantially vertical axis, between an open position and a closed position relative to a vehicle body, the swing door actuation system comprising:

a housing connectable to one of the swing door and the vehicle body;
an extensible member that is extendible and retractable relative to the housing, and is connectable to the other of the swing door and the vehicle body;
a motor operatively connected to a gear train, wherein the gear train is non-backdrivable;
and
a clutch having an input end and an output end, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the input end through the gear train, and wherein the output end is operatively connected to the extensible member, wherein the clutch operatively connects the motor to the extensible member without the application of electrical power and wherein the clutch operatively disconnects the motor from the extensible member with the application of electrical power to the clutch, wherein the clutch has a selected slip torque that is sufficiently high to prevent movement of the door when the door is exposed to an external torque that is less than a selected value and the motor is stopped.

2 more elements

a housing connectable to one of the swing door and the vehicle body;
an extensible member that is extendible and retractable relative to the housing, and is connectable to the other of the swing door and the vehicle body;
a motor operatively connected to a gear train, wherein the gear train is non-backdrivable;
a clutch having an input end and an output end, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the input end through the gear train, and wherein the output end is operatively connected to the extensible member, wherein the clutch is engageable so as to operatively connect the motor to the extensible member and wherein the clutch is disengageable so as to operatively disconnect the motor from the extensible member, wherein the clutch has a selected slip torque that is sufficiently high to prevent movement of the door when the door is exposed to an external torque that is less than a selected value and the motor is stopped;
a control system configured to drive the motor while the clutch is engaged so as to move the door in response to indication that a user wishes to initiate a powered opening or powered closing of the swing door, and is configured to disengage the clutch in response to an indication that a user wishes to manually move the swing door;
and
further comprising a position sensor positioned to send signals to the control system that are indicative of the position of the extensible member, wherein the control system is configured to determine that the user wishes to manually move the swing door in response to receiving signals from the position sensor indicating movement of the extensible member at a time when the motor is unpowered.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Power swing door actuator

Life of this patent

Power swing door actuator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13