POWER DOOR ACTUATION SYSTEM

• US 20150059250A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Closures Company Limited (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Closures Company Limited (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miu, Traian, Mitchell, J. R. Scott, Sabatini, Gabriele Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 9,353,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/349
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0413 Inner panel, e.g. characterised by carrying components
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0472 the door having a hinge axis in horizontal direction transverse to vehicle longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/614 operated by meshing gear wheels, one of which being mounted at the wing pivot axis; operated by a motor acting directly on the wing pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/655 specially adapted for vehicle wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/36 Speed control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A power door actuation system for moving a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body between an open position and a closed position includes a motor assembly connectable to one of the vehicle door and the vehicle body that is configured to generate a rotational force. A drive shaft is interconnected to the motor assembly and extends from a first end disposed adjacent the motor assembly to a second end. The second end of the drive shaft is rigidly attached to one of a body strap or a door strap of a hinge for transferring the rotational force from the motor assembly to the respective rigidly attached strap to rotate the respective rigidly attached strap relative to the other of the door strap and the body strap for automatically moving the vehicle door between the open and closed positions.

Claims

1. A power door actuation system for moving a passenger door of a motor vehicle between open and closed positions relative to a vehicle body, the power door actuation system comprising:

a power-operated actuator mechanism secured within an internal cavity of the passenger door; and

a rotary drive mechanism driven by the power-operated actuator mechanism and directly coupled to a body-mounted hinge component of a first door hinge.

2. The power door actuation system of claim 1 wherein said power-operated actuator mechanism is secured in proximity to a door-mounted hinge component of a second door hinge, and wherein said first and second door hinges define a pivot axis about which the passenger door pivotably swings relative to the vehicle body.

3. The power door actuation system of claim 2 wherein said power-operated actuator mechanism includes an electric motor and geartrain assembly secured to a mounting bracket, and wherein said mounting bracket is secured adjacent to said door-mounted hinge component of said second door hinge.

4. The power door actuation system of claim 3 wherein said rotary drive mechanism includes a drive shaft having a first end drivingly coupled to an output member of said electric motor and geartrain assembly and a second end drivingly coupled to said body-mounted hinge component of said first door hinge.

5. The power door actuation system of claim 4 wherein said rotary drive mechanism further includes a first coupler interconnecting said first end of said drive shaft to said output member of said electric motor and geartrain assembly and a second coupler interconnecting said second end of said drive shaft to said body-mounted hinge component of said first door hinge.

6. The power door actuation system of claim 5 wherein said first coupler includes a first universal joint and said second coupler includes a second universal joint.

7. The power door actuation system of claim 3 wherein said rotary drive mechanism includes a flexible drive shaft having a first end 44 drivingly coupled to an output member of said electric motor and geartrain assembly 34 and a second end 46 drivingly coupled to said body-mounted hinge component of said first door hinge 18.

8. The power door actuation system of claim 3 wherein said rotary drive mechanism permits change in relative orientation between said pivot axis A and said power-operated actuator mechanism.

9. The power door actuation system of claim 3 wherein said rotary drive mechanism includes a multi-piece drive shaft assembly 43 having a first end shaft 68 coupled to an output member of said electric motor and geartrain assembly 34, a second end shaft 70 coupled to said body-mounted hinge component of said first door hinge 18, and an intermediate shaft 72 coupled to said first end shaft 68 by a first U-joint 45 and coupled to said second end shaft 60 by a second U-joint 48.

10. The power door actuation system of claim 2 wherein said first door hinge is a lower door hinge and said second door hinge is an upper door hinge, wherein each of said upper and lower door hinges includes a body hinge strap adapted to be secured to the vehicle body, a door hinge strap adapted to be secured to the passenger door, and a pivot post interconnecting said door hinge strap to said body hinge strap for pivotal movement about said pivot axis, and wherein said power-operated actuator mechanism is secured adjacent to said door hinge strap of said upper door hinge and said rotary drive mechanism is adapted to be secured directly to said body hinge strap of said lower door hinge.

11. The power door actuation system of claim 1 further comprising an electronic control system for controlling actuation of said power-operated actuator mechanism so as to control rotation of said rotary drive mechanism and the location of the passenger door between its open and closed positions.

12. A power door actuation system for moving a passenger door of a motor vehicle between open and closed positions relative to a vehicle body, the power door actuation system comprising:

a first door hinge having a first door hinge strap secured to the passenger door, a first body hinge strap secured to the vehicle body, and a first pivot pin pivotably connecting said first door hinge strap to said first body hinge strap;

a second door hinge having a second door hinge strap secured to the passenger door, a second body hinge strap secured to the vehicle body, and a second pivot pin pivotably connecting said second door hinge strap to said second body hinge strap;

a power-operated actuator mechanism secured within a cavity of the passenger door adjacent to said first door hinge strap of said first door hinge and having a rotary output component; and

a rotary drive mechanism having a first portion drivingly coupled to said rotary output component of said power-operated actuator mechanism and a second portion drivingly coupled to said second body hinge strap of said second door hinge, said rotary drive mechanism operable for transferring a rotational force generated by said power-operated actuator mechanism from said rotary output component to said second door hinge strap for causing pivotable movement of the passenger door relative to the vehicle body.

13. The power door actuation system of claim 12 further comprising a control system operable for controlling actuation of said power-operated actuator mechanism so as to control the direction and amount of rotation of said rotary output member for controlling the position of the passenger door between its open and closed positions.

14. The power door actuation system of claim 12 wherein said rotary drive mechanism includes a drive shaft having a first end coupled to said rotary output member and a second end coupled to said second body hinge strap of said second door hinge.

15. The power door actuation system of claim 14 wherein said rotary drive mechanism further includes a first coupler interconnecting said first end of said drive shaft to said rotary output member and a second coupler interconnecting said second end of said drive shaft to said second body hinge strap of said second door hinge.

16. The power door actuation system of claim 15 wherein said first coupler includes a first universal joint and said second coupler includes a second universal joint.

17. The power door actuation system of claim 12 wherein said rotary drive mechanism includes a flexible drive shaft coupled to said rotary output component and to said second body hinge strap 30.

18. The power door actuation system of claim 12 wherein said first and second door hinges 16, 18 define a pivot axis A about which the passenger door 12 pivotably swings relative to the vehicle body 14, and said rotary drive mechanism permits change in relative orientation between said pivot axis A and said power-operated actuator mechanism.

19. The power door actuation system of claim 12 wherein said rotary drive mechanism includes a multi-piece drive shaft assembly 43 having a first end shaft 68 coupled to said rotary output component and a second end shaft 70 coupled to said second body hinge strap 30, and an intermediate shaft 72 coupled to said first end shaft 68 by a first U-joint 45 and coupled to said second end shaft 60 by a second U-joint 48.

20. The power door actuation system of claim 12 wherein said power-operated actuator mechanism is an electric motor and gear reduction assembly.

21. The power door actuation system of claim 12 wherein said first door hinge is an upper door hinge and said second door hinge is a lower door hinge.

22. The power door actuation system of claim 14 for swinging the passenger door between its open and closed position and holding the passenger door in any intermediate position therebetween.