Linear drive actuator for a movable vehicle panel
AssigneeStrattec Power Access LLC
InventorsJeffrey S. Hamminga, Waldemar Wawrzyniec Gmurowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for opening and closing a deck lid of a vehicle body includes a jack-screw type drive unit having two elongated relatively rotatable drive elements which are threadably engaged for controlled bi-directional displacement. An electric motor engages the rotatable drive element. A first mounting device pivotally connects the rotatable drive element to a relatively fixed point on the vehicle. A second mounting device pivotally connects the non-rotatable drive element to the deck lid, or vice versa. The motor is energized to affect bi-directional control of the drive unit while enabling low back-drive effort. A concentric spring counters loading due to the weight of the deck lid.
Claims13
A drive actuator for use on a motor vehicle having a body and a moveable panel, the drive actuator comprising:
- a first drive element coupleable to one of the body and the moveable panel;
- a drivescrew coupled to the first drive element, the drivescrew defining a first axis and having a spiral gearform with a pitch angle selected to be backdrivable;
- a second drive element coupleable to the other of the body and the moveable panel, the second drive element coupled to the drivescrew and moveable with respect to the first drive element along the first axis between an open position and a closed position;
- a worm gear drivingly coupled to the drivescrew and defining a second axis, wherein the worm gear offset angle between the first axis and the second axis is less than 90 degrees;
- a motor coupled to the first drive element and operatively coupled to the worm gear;
- and
- wherein the drive actuator is operable in a power assist mode, where the motor imparts a torque onto the worm gear causing the first drive element to move with respect to the second drive element along the first axis between the open position and the closed position, and a manual operation mode, where a user imparts force onto the movable panel causing the first drive element to move with respect to the second drive element along the first axis between the open position and the closed position while rotating an output shaft of the motor.
A drive actuator for use on a motor vehicle having a body and a moveable panel, the drive actuator operable in a power assist mode and a manual operation mode, the drive actuator comprising:
- a first drive element coupleable to one of the body and the moveable panel;
- a drivescrew coupled to the first drive element, the drivescrew defining a first axis and having a spiral gearform with a pitch angle selected to be backdrivable;
- a second drive element coupleable to the other of the body and the moveable panel, the second drive element coupled to the drivescrew and moveable with respect to the first drive element along the first axis between an open position and a closed position;
- a motor coupled to the first drive element and operatively coupled to the drivescrew gear;
- a slip clutch releasably interconnecting the motor and the drivescrew, wherein the slip clutch transmits a first level of torque between the motor and drive screw during a power assist mode, and wherein the slip clutch transmits a second level of torque less than the first level of torque during a manual operation mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.