Drive system of powered doors or gates for vehicles

• US 20040010974A1
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Okada, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,929,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/341
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/42 with pivoted arms and horizontally-sliding guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/619 using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by auxiliary motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/722 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards

Abstract

A drive system for a hinged gate of a vehicle, which includes: a motor unit, a rack and pinion mechanism, a link member connected to a point of the hinged gate, and a shaft member fixed to the rack, to which the link member is rotatably connected. The motor unit includes a motor, gears, and a casing accomodating the gears. The rack and pinion mechanism includes a pinion driven by the motor unit and the rack movably supported on the casing of the motor unit. The casing has a guide casing, which extends in a longitudinal direction of the rack. The guide casing is formed to have a closed section surrounding the shaft member and is provided therein with a guide member configured for guiding the rack.

Claims

1. A drive system for a hinged gate of a vehicle, comprising:

a motor unit including a motor, gears for reducing speed of the motor, and a casing for accomodating the gears;

a rack and pinion mechanism including a pinion driven by the motor unit and a rack movably supported on the casing of the motor unit;

a link member connected to a point of the hinged gate of the vehicle; and

a shaft member fixed to the rack, to which the link member is rotatably connected, wherein

the casing is provided with a guide casing extending in

a longitudinal direction of the rack, and wherein

the guide casing is formed to have a closed section surrounding the shaft member and is provided therein with a guide member configured for guiding the rack.

2. The drive system according to claim 1, wherein

the guide member is fixed on an inner surface of the guide casing and is provided with a guide groove into which an end portion of the shaft member is slidably fitted.

3. The drive system according to claim 1, wherein

the shaft member is provided with a roller rotatably supported thereon and the guide casing is formed to have a track for the roller.

4. The drive system according to claim 2, wherein

the guide member is made of a synthetic resin and is configured to be in sliding contact with a side face of the rack.

5. The drive system according to claim 1, wherein

the shaft member is provided with a joint member by which the link member is connected, and the joint member allows the link member to rotate about an axis that crosses the shaft member.

6. The drive system according to claim 5, wherein

the guide casing is provided therein with a cushion member for receiving the link member rotated about the axis that crosses the shaft member.