Powered actuating device for a closure panel of a vehicle

• US 20070261310A1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Closures Company Limited (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Closures Company Limited (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vasilescu, Eduard, Vitale, Salvatore, Mrkovic, Dragan, Porat, Alex, Paton, Gordon, Mitchell, Stephen, Niskanen, Jason, Daniels, Andrew, Oxley, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,648,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/340
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/622 using screw-and-nut mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/11 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/40 Mounting location; Visibility of the elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/29 forming a unitary piece with another element
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids

Abstract

An actuating device is provided for moving a closure panel between an open position spaced apart from a vehicle body and a closed position abutting the vehicle body to close an access opening thereof. The actuating device includes a telescopic arm having a first member coupled to one of the closure panel and the vehicle body and a second member coupled to the other of the closure panel and the vehicle body. The first and second members are slidable relative to one another to move the actuating device between a retracted position corresponding with the closed position and an extended position corresponding with the open position. A screw is rotatable relative to the first member. The screw includes a cavity formed therewithin. A nut is secured to the second member and threadingly engages the screw such that rotation of the screw moves the second member towards and away from the first member to move the actuating device between the respective retracted and extended positions. A gas spring is at least partially disposed within the cavity of the screw for urging the actuating device into the extended position to move the closure panel into the open position.

Claims

1. An actuating device for moving a closure panel between an open position spaced apart from a vehicle body and a closed position abutting the vehicle body to close an access opening thereof, said actuating device comprising:

a telescopic arm including a first member coupled to one of the closure panel and the vehicle body and a second member coupled to the other of the closure panel and the vehicle body, said first and second members slidable relative to one another to move said actuating device between a retracted position corresponding with the closed position and an extended position corresponding with the open position;

a screw rotatable relative to said first member, said screw including a cavity formed therewithin;

a nut secured to said second member and threadingly engaging said screw such that rotation of said screw moves said second member towards and away from said first member to move said actuating device between said respective retracted and extended positions; and

a gas spring at least partially disposed within said cavity of said screw for urging said actuating device into said extended position to move the closure panel into the open position.

2. An actuating device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gas spring includes a cylinder filled with pressurized fluid formed within said cavity of said screw.

3. An actuating device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gas spring includes a piston movable within said cylinder.

4. An actuating device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said gas spring includes a piston rod having one end fixedly secured to said piston within said cylinder and an opposing end extending out of said cylinder.

5. An actuating device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cylinder is fixedly secured to said screw.

6. An actuating device as set forth in claim 5 including a motor assembly operably coupled to said screw for rotating said screw in opposing first and second directions.

7. An actuating device as set forth in claim 6 including a cable extending between said motor assembly and said screw.

8. An actuating device for moving a closure panel between an open position spaced apart from a vehicle body and a closed position abutting the vehicle body to close an access opening thereof, said actuating device comprising:

a telescopic arm including a first member coupled to one of the closure panel and the vehicle body and a second member coupled to the other of the closure panel and the vehicle body, said first and second members slidable relative to one another to move said actuating device between a retracted position corresponding to the closed position and an extended position corresponding to the open position;

a screw rotatable relative to said first member;

a nut secured to said second member and threadingly engaging said screw such that rotation of said screw moves said second member towards and away from said first member to move said actuating device between said respective retracted and extended positions; and

a gas spring disposed within said telescopic arm and spaced apart from said screw for urging said actuating device into said extended position to move the closure panel into the open position.

9. An actuating device for moving a closure panel between an open position spaced apart from a vehicle body and a closed position abutting the vehicle body to close an access opening thereof, said actuating device comprising:

a telescopic arm including a first member coupled to one of the closure panel and the vehicle body and a second member coupled to the other of the closure panel and the vehicle body, said first and second members slidable relative to one another to move said actuating device between a retracted position corresponding to the closed position and an extended position corresponding to the open position;

a screw rotatable relative to said first member;

a nut secured to said second member and threadingly engaging said screw such that rotation of said screw moves said second member towards and away from said first member to move said actuating device between said respective retracted and extended positions; and

a gas spring disposed within said telescopic arm for urging said actuating device into said extended position to move the closure panel into the open position, said gas spring and screw spaced apart and generally parallel to one another within said telescopic arm.

10. An actuating device as set forth in claim 9 wherein one of said first and second members includes a first cylindrical enclosure receiving said screw therewithin.

11. An actuating device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said one of said first and second members includes a second cylindrical enclosure receiving said gas spring therewithin.

12. An actuating device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first and second cylindrical enclosures are arranged in a parallel orientation.

13. An actuating device as set forth in claim 9 including a motor assembly operably coupled to said screw for rotating said screw in opposing first and second directions.

14. An actuating device as set forth in claim 13 including a cable extending between said motor assembly and said screw.

15. An actuating device as set forth in claim 14 including a clutch assembly for decoupling said cable from said motor assembly in order to minimize back drive for manual movement of the closure panel into the open and closed positions.

16. An actuating device as set forth in claim 15 including a pivot mount disposed at one end of said first member for pivotally coupling said actuating device to one of the closure panel and the vehicle body.

17. An actuating device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said pivot mount includes a first pulley connected to said cable, a second pulley connected to said screw, and a belt wrapped around said first and second pulleys to transmit rotational movement of said cable into rotational movement of said screw.

18. An actuating device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said nut includes at least one key fin.

19. An actuating device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said second member includes at least one slot receiving said at least one key fin to prevent rotation of said nut relative to said second member.

20. An actuating device for moving a closure panel between an open position spaced apart from a vehicle body and a closed position abutting the vehicle body to close an access opening thereof, said actuating device comprising:

a telescopic arm including a first member coupled to one of the closure panel and the the vehicle body and a second member coupled to the other of the closure panel and the vehicle body, said first and second members slidable relative to one another to move said actuating device between a retracted position corresponding with the closed position and an extended position corresponding with the open position;

a gas spring disposed within said telescopic arm for urging said actuating device into said extended position to move the closure panel into the open position;

a rotatable screw disposed in said telescopic arm; and

a nut threadingly engaging said screw such that rotation of said screw moves said first and second members towards and away from one another to move said actuating device between said respective retracted and extended positions,

one of said first and second members includes an annular space and an inner space separated from one another by an inner cylindrical wall, said annular space slidably receiving said gas spring and said inner space housing said rotatable screw.

21. An actuating device as set forth in claim 20 wherein one of said first and second members includes an outer cylindrical wall spaced apart from said inner cylindrical wall to define said annular space therebetween.

22. An actuating device as set forth in claim 21 wherein said gas spring includes a cylinder filled with pressurized fluid formed in said annular space.

23. An actuating device as set forth in claim 22 wherein said gas spring includes a piston slidable within said annular space against said outer and inner cylindrical walls in a fluid-tight manner.

24. An actuating device as set forth in claim 23 including an end cap fixedly secured to one of said first and second members for maintaining said outer and inner cylindrical walls in a concentric relationship.

25. An actuating device as set forth in claim 24 including a gas spring cylinder cap fixedly secured to one end of said gas spring and a corresponding end of one of said first and second members to attach said gas spring to one of said first and second members.

26. An actuating device as set forth in claim 25 including a motor assembly operably coupled to said screw for rotation thereof.

27. An actuating device as set forth in claim 26 wherein said nut is a ball nut.