Assembly and method to slow down and gently close door
First Claim
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1. A motor vehicle door comprising:
- a controller for controlling a motor selectively coupled to the door and a clutch interposed between a drive shaft and a motor shaft, each having an angular velocity, whereby the motor is operatively coupled with and decoupled from the door; and
a brake assembly disposed to synchronize the angular velocities of the drive shaft and the motor shaft allowing the clutch to operatively couple the motor with the door.
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Abstract
An improved selective power assist device includes a controller for controlling a motor selectively coupled to the door and a clutch interposed between a drive shaft and a motor shaft, each having an angular velocity, whereby the motor is operatively coupled with and decoupled from the door. A brake assembly is disposed to synchronize the angular velocities of the drive shaft and the motor shaft allowing the clutch to operatively couple the motor with the door.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle door comprising:
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a controller for controlling a motor selectively coupled to the door and a clutch interposed between a drive shaft and a motor shaft, each having an angular velocity, whereby the motor is operatively coupled with and decoupled from the door; and a brake assembly disposed to synchronize the angular velocities of the drive shaft and the motor shaft allowing the clutch to operatively couple the motor with the door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A motor vehicle door assembly comprising:
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a door; and a selective power assist device having a manual mode and a power mode, the selective power assist device comprising; a motor selectively operatively coupled to the door when in the power mode; a clutch interposed between the motor and the door; a brake assembly; and a controller for controlling the motor, the clutch, and the brake assembly; wherein the controller actuates the brake assembly upon an occurrence of a predetermined door angular velocity or a predetermined door angular position to thereby alternate the selective power assist device between the manual mode, wherein the clutch is actuated to an disengaged position and the motor is operatively decoupled from the door, and the power mode, wherein the clutch is actuated to an engaged position and the motor is coupled from the door. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling a door swing of a motor vehicle door, the method comprising the steps of:
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selectively and operatively coupling a door of a motor vehicle to a power assist motor; sensing the angular velocity of the door during a door opening or closing event and the angular velocity of the power assist motor; providing the angular velocity of the door during a door opening or closing event and the angular velocity of the power assist motor to a controller; interposing a clutch between a drive shaft and a motor shaft for alternating the motor vehicle door between a power mode, wherein the power assist motor is operatively coupled to the door, and a manual mode, wherein the power assist motor is decoupled from the door, and wherein each of the drive shaft and the motor shaft has an angular velocity; and interposing a brake assembly between the power assist motor and the door, wherein the brake assembly synchronizes the angular velocity of the drive shaft and the motor shaft when in the manual mode to allow the clutch to place the motor vehicle door in the power mode.
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Specification