Hydraulic closure system for a motor vehicle

• US 5,851,050 A
• Filed: 10/04/1996
• Issued: 12/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atoma International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atoma International, Inc.
• Inventors: Bigoszewski, Maciej, Selfe, Gareth J., Squire, Eric D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US08/726,354
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.4, 296/76, 296/146.8, 296/106, 296/56, 49/324, 49/26, 49/28, 49/139, 49/140, 49/279, 49/280, 49/282, 49/298, 49/339, 49/340, 60/417, 60/418
• US Class Current: 296/146.4
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/41 Detection by monitoring transmitted force or torque E05F15/48 takes precedence; Safety couplings with activation dependent upon torque or force, e.g. slip couplings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/42 Detection using safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/49 specially adapted for mechanisms operated by fluid pressure, e.g. detection by monitoring transmitted fluid pressure E05F15/47 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/416 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/448 Fluid motors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3015 Power assistance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3016 Overriding existing wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/55 by using load sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/57 Disabling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/50 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20561 reversible

Abstract

A hydraulic closure system is disclosed for use in a motor vehicle that enables automatic opening and closing, as well as manual closing, of a closure pivotably mounted to an opening frame defining a closure opening in the motor vehicle. The system includes at least one hydraulic actuator assembly attached at opposite ends thereof to the closure and the opening frame, respectively. A motorized hydraulic pump inputs energy to the actuator to move the closure from the opened position to the closed position, and a biased energy storage system inputs energy to the actuator to move the closure from the closed position to the opened position. In a preferred embodiment, the pump is activated by manually generated movement of the closure from the opened position toward the closed position for a prescribed distance in more than a prescribed time. An obstacle detection mechanism detects obstacles interfering with closing of the closure based on monitored pressure in the system. A level detection and compensation feature adjusts the amount of energy stored in the biased energy storage system for opening the closure based on the detected inclination or declination of the vehicle so that the amount of energy stored is commensurate with the amount required to open the closure. An energy monitoring and control system maintains the amount of energy stored in the biased energy storage system for opening the closure within a predetermined range.

Claims

1. A hydraulic closure system for use in a motor vehicle and constructed and arranged to cooperate with a closure opening defined by an opening frame of the motor vehicle body, said system comprising:

a closure constructed and arranged to be pivotally mounted on the opening frame for movement between a closed position in which said closure closes the closure opening and an opened position in which said closure is oriented to permit access through the closure opening;

a latching structure constructed and arranged to latch said closure in said closed position and to unlatch said closure to permit said closure to move from said closed position to said opened position; and

a manually overridable power control system including at least one hydraulic actuator assembly, a motorized hydraulic pump, and a biased energy storage system, said manually overridable power control system being constructed and arranged to enable automatic opening and closing of said closure and to permit manual closing of said closure,

said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly being coupled at one end thereof to said closure and coupled at an opposite end thereof to said opening frame,

said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly including a cylinder and a piston rod assembly, said piston rod assembly including a piston and a rod member connected to said piston, said piston being moveable within said cylinder in slidably sealed relation with inner walls of said cylinder, said rod member extending outwardly from a rod extension end of said cylinder,

said piston rod assembly being moveable between an extended condition in which said rod member has a relatively large extent thereof extending outwardly from said rod extension end of said cylinder so as to create a distance between said one end and said opposite end of said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly sufficient to maintain said closure in said opened position and a contracted condition in which said rod member has a relatively smaller extent thereof extending outwardly from the rod extension end of said cylinder in comparison with said extended condition to create a distance between said one end and said opposite end of said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly that enables said closure to be disposed in said closed position,

said biased energy storage system being constructed and arranged to store energy therein, said biased energy storage system applying a biasing force to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly sufficient to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position when said energy stored therein is expended,

said motorized hydraulic pump being operable to input energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect said closing of said closure by creating hydraulic fluid flow in one direction with respect to said cylinder on a first side of said piston to force said piston away from said rod extension end of said cylinder and move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly against said biasing force from said extended condition to said contracted condition and said closure from said opened position to said closed position,

said biased energy storage system being constructed and arranged to store a portion of the energy input to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly by said motorized hydraulic pump when said closure is moved by operation of said pump from said opened position to said closed position, said biased energy storage system being constructed and arranged to expend energy stored therein on a second side of said piston and thus apply said biasing force when said closure is unlatched to move the piston toward said rod extension end of said cylinder and hence create hydraulic fluid flow in an opposite direction with respect to said cylinder on said first side of said piston and thereby move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said contracted condition to said extended condition and move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position,

said manually overridable control system being constructed and arranged to permit manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position to force said piston away from said rod extension end of said cylinder and move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly against said biasing force from said extended condition to said contracted condition to create hydraulic fluid flow in said one direction with respect to said cylinder on said first side of said piston when said pump is in an inoperative state, said biased energy storage system being constructed and arranged to store a portion of energy input to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly by said manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position to enable said energy storage system to subsequently move said closure from said closed position to said opened position when said stored energy is expended.

2. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 wherein said manually overridable power control system is further constructed and arranged to permit manually expedited movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position after closing of said closure is commenced by operation of said motorized hydraulic pump.

3. The hydraulic closure system of claim 2 wherein said motorized hydraulic pump continues to operate to input energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly during said manually expedited movement of said closure.

4. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 wherein said biased energy storage system comprises a hydraulic fluid accumulator assembly in communication with said cylinder on the second side of said piston.

5. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1, further comprising a pull down valve constructed and arranged to communicate said at least one actuator with said motorized hydraulic pump when said motorized hydraulic pump operates to effect movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position, said pull down valve being further constructed and arranged to communicate said at least one actuator with a reservoir of hydraulic fluid to enable said closure to be moved from said opened position to said closed position when said pump is in said inoperative state.

6. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 wherein said motorized hydraulic pump is activated to input said energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect said closing of said closure in response to manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position toward said closed position for a prescribed distance in more than a prescribed time.

7. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 further comprising:

an obstacle detection mechanism comprising a pressure transducer constructed and arranged to monitor hydraulic pressure resulting from said hydraulic fluid flow created by operation of said motorized hydraulic pump,

said obstacle detection mechanism constructed and arranged to detect an obstacle interfering with said closing of said closure based upon the hydraulic pressure monitored by said pressure transducer and to terminate operation of said motorized hydraulic pump when the interfering obstacle is detected.

8. The hydraulic closure system of claim 6 further comprising:

an obstacle detection mechanism comprising a pressure transducer constructed and arranged to monitor hydraulic pressure resulting from said hydraulic fluid flow by operation of said motorized hydraulic pump,

said obstacle detection mechanism constructed and arranged to detect an obstacle interfering with said closing of said closure based upon the hydraulic pressure monitored by said pressure transducer and to terminate operation of said motorized hydraulic pump when the interfering obstacle is detected.

9. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 further comprising:

a vehicle level detection and compensation system including a vehicle level detector constructed and arranged to detect inclination or declination of the motor vehicle, said vehicle level detection and compensation system being constructed and arranged to control the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system based upon a detected inclination or declination of the vehicle as detected by said vehicle level detector so that the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system is generally commensurate with an amount of energy required to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position for the detected inclination or declination.

10. The hydraulic closure system of claim 6 further comprising:

a vehicle level detection and compensation system including a vehicle level detector constructed and arranged to detect inclination or declination of the motor vehicle, said vehicle level detection and compensation system being constructed and arranged to control the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system based upon a detected inclination or declination of the vehicle as detected by said vehicle level detector so that the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system is generally commensurate with an amount of energy required to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position for the detected inclination or declination.

11. The hydraulic closure system of claim 7 further comprising:

a vehicle level detection and compensation system including a vehicle level detector constructed and arranged to detect inclination or declination of the motor vehicle, said vehicle level detection and compensation system being constructed and arranged to control the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system based upon a detected inclination or declination of the vehicle as detected by said vehicle level detector so that the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system is generally commensurate with an amount of energy required to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position for the detected inclination or declination.

12. The hydraulic closure system of claim 8 further comprising:

a vehicle level detection and compensation system including a vehicle level detector constructed and arranged to detect inclination or declination of the motor vehicle, said vehicle level detection and compensation system being constructed and arranged to control the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system based upon a detected inclination or declination of the vehicle as detected by said vehicle level detector so that the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system is generally commensurate with an amount of energy required to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position for the detected inclination or declination.

13. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1,6,7,8,9,10,11,or 12 further comprising:

an energy monitoring device constructed and arranged to monitor the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system; and

an energy control system in communication with said energy monitoring device and constructed and arranged to control the amount energy stored in said biased energy storage system so that said amount of energy stored remains within a predetermined range which is generally commensurate with the amount of energy required to move said closure from the closed position to the opened position.

14. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 wherein:

said closure is pivotally mounted on an upper horizontal portion of said opening frame by a pair of laterally spaced hinges, and

said latching structure comprises a pair of electrically operated latching mechanisms disposed at opposite lower interior portions of said closure and cooperable with associated striker members.

15. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 wherein said manually overridable control system comprises:

a hydraulic fluid reservoir;

a hydraulic line connecting said motorized hydraulic pump to said hydraulic fluid reservoir and to said cylinder on said first side of said piston; and

a pull down valve disposed in said hydraulic line between said motorized hydraulic pump and said cylinder on said first side of said piston, said pull down valve being constructed and arranged to be movable between (i) a first position in which said pull down valve permits said cylinder on said first side of said piston to communicate with said reservoir thus enabling hydraulic fluid flow between said cylinder on said first side of said piston and said hydraulic fluid reservoir, and (ii) a second position in which said valve permits said motorized hydraulic pump to communicate with said cylinder on said first side of said piston thus permitting said motorized hydraulic pump to create said hydraulic fluid flow with respect to said cylinder on said first side of said piston and in which said communication between said cylinder on said first side of said piston and said reservoir is closed thus preventing hydraulic fluid flow between said cylinder on said first side of said piston and said reservoir,

said pull down valve being biased into said first position when said motorized hydraulic pump is inoperative to permit hydraulic fluid flow between said cylinder on said first side of said piston and said reservoir and thus permit said manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position,

said pull down valve being constructed and arranged to be moved against said bias into said second position during operation of said motorized hydraulic pump to enable said motorized hydraulic pump to create said hydraulic fluid flow with respect to said cylinder on said first side of said piston to move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said extended condition to said contracted condition and move said closure from said opened position to said closed position.

16. The hydraulic closure system of claim 15 wherein said pull down valve comprises a two position three-way valve.

17. The hydraulic closure system of claim 15 wherein said motorized hydraulic pump is a positive discharge pump and operation of said motorized hydraulic pump creates hydraulic fluid flow into said cylinder on said first side of said piston to increase hydraulic pressure in said cylinder on said first side of said piston relative to hydraulic pressure in said cylinder on said second side of said piston to force said piston away from said rod extension end of said of said cylinder and move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said extended condition to said contracted condition and move said closure from said opened position to said closed position.

18. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 wherein said biased energy storage system stores positive hydraulic pressure and expenditure of said energy on said second side of said piston creates hydraulic fluid flow into said cylinder on said second side of said piston.

19. The hydraulic closure system of claim 2 wherein said manually overridable control system comprises:

a hydraulic fluid reservoir;

a hydraulic line connecting said motorized hydraulic pump to said hydraulic fluid reservoir and to said cylinder on said first side of said piston;

a pull down valve disposed in said hydraulic line between said motorized hydraulic pump and said cylinder on said first side of said piston, said pull down valve being constructed and arranged to be movable between (i) a first position in which said pull down valve permits said cylinder on said first side of said piston to communicate with said reservoir thus enabling hydraulic fluid flow between said cylinder on said first side of said piston and said hydraulic fluid reservoir, and (ii) a second position in which said valve permits said motorized hydraulic pump to communicate with said cylinder on said first side of said piston thus permitting said motorized hydraulic pump to create said hydraulic fluid flow with respect to said cylinder on said first side of said piston and in which said communication between said cylinder on said first side of said piston and said reservoir is closed thus preventing hydraulic fluid flow between said cylinder on said first side of said piston and said reservoir,

said pull down valve being biased into said first position when said motorized hydraulic pump is inoperative to permit hydraulic fluid flow between said cylinder on said first side of said piston and said reservoir and thus permit said manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position, and

a one-way valve disposed in said hydraulic line between said hydraulic fluid reservoir and said cylinder on said first side of said piston constructed and arranged to permit fluid flow therethrough in one direction between said hydraulic fluid reservoir and said cylinder on said first side of said piston when said pull down valve is in said second position,

said pull down valve being constructed and arranged to be moved against said bias into said second position during operation of said motorized hydraulic pump to enable said motorized hydraulic pump to create said hydraulic fluid flow with respect to said cylinder on said first side of said piston to move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said extended condition to said contracted condition and move said closure from said opened position to said closed position,

said one-way valve permitting hydraulic fluid flow therethrough in said one direction between said cylinder on said first side of said piston and said hydraulic fluid reservoir and thus permitting movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position during said closing of said closure by operation of said motorized hydraulic pump.

20. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 wherein said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly comprises two hydraulic actuator assemblies, said hydraulic actuator assemblies each being coupled at one end thereof to respective opposite sides of said closure and at an opposite end thereof to respective opposite sides of said opening frame.

21. The hydraulic closure system of claim 4, further comprising:

a flow restrictor disposed in a hydraulic line between said hydraulic fluid accumulator assembly and said at least one actuator, said restrictor restricting the amount of hydraulic fluid flow permitted to flow through said hydraulic line in a first direction during movement of said closure from said closed position to said opened position to thus restrict the speed at which said closure moves from said closed position to said opened position, and a one-way valve bypass valve disposed in parallel with said flow restrictor to permit flow of hydraulic fluid in a second direction opposite to said first direction during manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position to thus permit said closure to be manually moved from said opened position to said closed position at a speed faster that the speed at which said closure is moved from said closed position to said opened position.

22. A hydraulic closure system according to claim 1, wherein said latching structure is constructed and arranged to be electrically unlatched in response to an input signal received from a remote control device, and wherein said biased energy storage system releases said stored energy once said latching structure is unlatched to effect movement of said closure from said closed position to said opened position.

27. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 wherein:

said closure is pivotally mounted on an upper horizontal portion of said opening frame by a pair of laterally spaced hinges, and

said latching structure comprises a pair of electrically operated latching mechanisms disposed at opposite lower interior portions of said closure and cooperable with associated striker members.

28. The hydraulic closure system of claim 1 wherein said motorized hydraulic pump is a positive discharge pump and operation of said motorized hydraulic pump creates hydraulic fluid flow into said cylinder on said first side of said piston to increase hydraulic pressure in said cylinder on said first side of said piston relative to hydraulic pressure in said cylinder on said second side of said piston to force said piston away from said rod extension end of said of said cylinder and move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said extended condition to said contracted condition and move said closure from said opened position to said closed position.

23. A hydraulic closure system for use in a motor vehicle and constructed and arranged to cooperate with a closure opening defined by an opening frame of the motor vehicle body, said system comprising:

a closure constructed and arranged to be pivotally mounted on the opening frame for movement between a closed position in which said closure closes the closure opening and an opened position in which said closure is oriented to permit access through the closure opening;

a latching structure constructed and arranged to latch said closure in said closed position and to unlatch said closure to permit said closure to move from said closed position to said opened position;

at least one hydraulic actuator assembly being coupled at one end thereof to said closure and coupled at an opposite end thereof to said opening frame, said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly including a cylinder and a piston rod assembly, said piston rod assembly including a piston and a rod member connected to said piston, said piston being moveable within said cylinder in slidably sealed relation with inner walls of said cylinder, said rod member extending outwardly from a rod extension end of said cylinder,

said piston rod assembly being moveable between an extended condition in which said rod member has a relatively large extent thereof extending outwardly from said rod extension end of said cylinder so as to create a distance between said one end and said opposite end of said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly sufficient to maintain said closure in said opened position and a contracted condition in which said rod member has a relatively smaller extent thereof extending outwardly from the rod extension end of said cylinder in comparison with said extended condition to create a distance between said one end and said opposite end of said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly that enables said closure to be disposed in said closed position;

an automated closure opening system constructed and arranged to effect automatic movement of said closure from said closed position to said opened position when said latching structure is unlatched, said automated closure opening system comprising a biased energy storage system constructed and arranged to store energy therein and apply a biasing force to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly sufficient to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position when said energy stored therein is expended, and wherein said biased energy storage system expends said stored energy to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position when permitted to do so by unlatching of said latching structure; and

a motorized hydraulic pump constructed and arranged to effect automated closing of said closure by creating hydraulic fluid flow with respect to said cylinder to force said piston away from said rod extension end of said cylinder and move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said extended condition to said contracted condition and said closure from said opened position to said closed position,

said motorized hydraulic pump being activated to effect said closing of said closure in response to manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position toward said closed position.

24. The hydraulic closure system of claim 23 wherein said motorized hydraulic pump is activated in response to said manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position toward said closed position for a prescribed distance in more than a prescribed time.

25. The hydraulic closure system of claim 23, wherein said automated closure opening system comprises an electrically operable remote control device constructed and arranged to unlatch said latching structure from a remote location.

26. The hydraulic closure system of claim 23 wherein said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly comprises two hydraulic actuator assemblies, each hydraulic actuator assembly being coupled at said one end thereof to respective opposite sides of said closure and at said opposite end thereof to respective opposite sides of said opening frame.

29. The hydraulic closure system of claim 24, further comprising a position feedback device constructed and arranged to detect the position of the closure, and a control module which calculates the time that it takes the closure to reach a predetermined position detected by the feedback device, said control module generating a signal to activate said motorized hydraulic pump in response to said control module determining that said closure has reached said predetermined position in more than said prescribed time.

30. A hydraulic closure system for use in a motor vehicle and constructed and arranged to cooperate with a closure opening defined by an opening frame of the motor vehicle body, said hydraulic closure system comprising:

a closure constructed and arranged to be pivotally mounted on the opening frame for movement between a closed position in which said closure closes the closure opening and an opened position in which said closure is oriented to permit access through the closure opening;

a latching structure constructed and arranged to latch said closure in said closed position and to unlatch said closure to permit said closure to move from said closed position to said opened position;

at least one hydraulic actuator assembly coupled at one end thereof to said closure and coupled at an opposite end thereof to said opening frame,

said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly including a cylinder and a piston rod assembly, said piston rod assembly including a piston and a rod member connected to said piston, said piston being moveable within said cylinder in slidably sealed relation with inner walls of said cylinder, said rod member extending outwardly from a rod extension end of said cylinder,

said piston rod assembly being moveable between an extended condition in which said rod member has a relatively large extent thereof extending outwardly from said rod extension end of said cylinder so as to create a distance between said one end and said opposite end of said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly sufficient to maintain said closure in said opened position and a contracted condition in which said rod member has a relatively smaller extent thereof extending outwardly from the rod extension end of said cylinder in comparison with said extended condition to create a distance between said one end and said opposite end of said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly that enables said closure to be disposed in said closed position,

an automated closure opening system constructed and arranged to effect automatic movement of said closure from said closed position to said opened position when said latching structure in unlatched,

a motorized hydraulic pump constructed and arranged to input energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position by creating hydraulic fluid flow with respect to said cylinder on a first side of said piston to force said piston away from said rod extension end of said cylinder and move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said extended condition to said contracted condition and said closure from said opened position to said closed position; and

an obstacle detection mechanism comprising a pressure transducer constructed and arranged to monitor hydraulic pressure resulting from said hydraulic fluid flow created on said first side of said piston by operation of said motorized hydraulic pump,

said obstacle detection mechanism constructed and arranged to detect an obstacle interfering with said automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position by operation of said motorized hydraulic pump based upon the hydraulic pressure monitored by said pressure transducer and to terminate operation of said motorized hydraulic pump when the hydraulic pressure monitored by said pressure transducer exceeds a prescribed threshold value which varies as a function of position of said closure with respect to the closure opening.

31. The hydraulic closure system of claim 30 wherein said obstacle detection mechanism comprises a piston rod extension measuring device for measuring extension of said rod member to ascertain a position of said closure with respect to said closure opening for varying said threshold value.

32. The hydraulic closure system of claim 31 wherein said piston rod extension measuring device comprises a potentiometer operatively coupled with said piston rod.

33. The hydraulic closure system of claim 30 wherein said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly comprises two hydraulic actuator assemblies, each hydraulic actuator assembly being coupled at said one end thereof to respective opposite sides of said closure and at said opposite end thereof to respective opposite sides of said opening frame.

34. The hydraulic closure system of claim 30 wherein:

said closure is pivotally mounted on an upper horizontal portion of said opening frame by a pair of laterally spaced hinges, and

said latching structure comprises a pair of electrically operated latching mechanisms disposed at opposite lower interior portions of said closure and cooperable with associated striker members.

35. The hydraulic closure system of claim 30 wherein said motorized hydraulic pump is a positive discharge pump and operation of said motorized hydraulic pump creates hydraulic fluid flow into said cylinder on said first side of said piston to increase hydraulic pressure in said cylinder on said first side of said piston relative to hydraulic pressure in said cylinder on said second side of said piston to force said piston away from said rod extension end of said of said cylinder and move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said extended condition to said contracted condition and move said closure from said opened position to said closed position.

36. The hydraulic closure system of claim 30 wherein said motorized hydraulic pump is activated to input said energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect said automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position in response to manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position toward said closed position for a prescribed distance.

37. The hydraulic closure system of claim 30, wherein said automated closure opening system comprises an electrically operable remote control device constructed and arranged to unlatch said latching structure from a remote location and a biased energy storage system, said biased energy storage system being constructed and arranged to store energy therein and apply a biasing force to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly sufficient to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position when said energy stored therein is expended, and wherein said biased energy storage system expends said stored energy to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position when permitted to do so by unlatching of said latching structure.

38. The hydraulic closure system of claim 37, further comprising a vehicle level detection and compensation system including a vehicle level detector constructed and arranged to detect inclination or declination of the motor vehicle, said vehicle level detection and compensation system being constructed and arranged to control the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system based upon a detected inclination or declination of the vehicle as detected by said vehicle level detector so that the energy stored in said biased energy storage system is generally commensurate with an amount of energy required to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position for the detected inclination or declination.

39. The hydraulic closure system of claim 37 further comprising:

an energy monitoring device constructed and arranged to monitor the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system; and

an energy control system in communication with said energy monitoring device and constructed and arranged to control the amount energy stored in said biased energy storage system so that said amount of energy remains within a predetermined range so that said amount of energy remains generally commensurate with the energy required to move said closure from the closed position to the opened position.

40. The hydraulic closure system of claim 39 further comprising a vehicle level detection and compensation system including a vehicle level detector constructed and arranged to detect inclination or declination of the motor vehicle, said vehicle level detection and compensation system being constructed and arranged to control the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system based upon a detected inclination or declination of the vehicle as detected by said vehicle level detector so that the energy stored in said biased energy storage system is commensurate with an amount of energy required to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position for the detected inclination or declination.

41. A hydraulic closure system for use in a motor vehicle and constructed and arranged to cooperate with a closure opening defined by an opening frame of the motor vehicle body, said hydraulic closure system comprising:

a closure constructed and arranged to be pivotally mounted on the opening frame for movement between a closed position in which said closure closes the closure opening and an opened position in which said closure is oriented to permit access through the closure opening;

a latching structure constructed and arranged to latch said closure in said closed position and to unlatch said closure to permit said closure to move from said closed position to said opened position;

at least one hydraulic actuator assembly coupled at one end thereof to said closure and coupled at an opposite end thereof to said opening frame, said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly including a cylinder and a piston rod assembly, said piston rod assembly including a piston and a rod member connected to said piston, said piston being moveable within said cylinder in slidably sealed relation with inner walls of said cylinder, said rod member extending outwardly from a rod extension end of said cylinder,

said piston rod assembly being moveable between an extended condition in which said rod member has a relatively large extent thereof extending outwardly from said rod extension end of said cylinder so as to create a distance between said one end and said opposite end of said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly sufficient to maintain said closure in said opened position and a contracted condition in which said rod member has a relatively smaller extent thereof extending outwardly from the rod extension end of said cylinder in comparison with said extended condition to create a distance between said one end and said opposite end of said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly that enables said closure to be disposed in said closed position;

a biased energy storage system constructed and arranged to expend energy stored therein on a first side of said piston when said closure is unlatched to move said piston toward said rod extension end of said cylinder and thereby move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said contracted condition to said extended condition and move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position; and

a vehicle level detection and compensation system including a vehicle level detector constructed and arranged to detect inclination or declination of the motor vehicle, said vehicle level detection and compensation system being constructed and arranged to control the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system based upon a detected inclination or declination of the vehicle as detected by said vehicle level detector so that the energy stored in said biased energy storage system is commensurate with an amount of energy required to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position for the detected inclination or declination.

42. The hydraulic closure system of claim 41 wherein said vehicle level detection and compensation system includes a motorized hydraulic pump constructed and arranged to input energy to said biased energy storage system by creating hydraulic fluid flow with respect to said biased energy storage system to increase the energy stored in said biased energy storage system when an orientation of the motor vehicle detected by said vehicle level detector is such that additional energy is required to be expended by said biased energy storage system on said first side of said piston when said closure is unlatched to move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said contracted condition to said extended condition and move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position,

said motorized hydraulic pump being further constructed and arranged to input energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position, said motorized hydraulic pump inputting said energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect said automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position by creating hydraulic fluid flow with respect to said cylinder on a second side of said piston to force said piston away from said rod extension end of said cylinder and move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said extended condition to said contracted condition and said closure from said opened position to said closed position.

43. The hydraulic closure system of claim 42 wherein said vehicle level detection and compensation system comprises a stored energy releasing device constructed and arranged to release energy from said biased energy storage system by permitting fluid flow with respect to said biased energy storage system to decrease the amount energy stored in said biased energy storage system when an orientation of the motor vehicle detected by said vehicle level detector is such that less energy is required to be expended on said first side of said piston when said closure is unlatched to move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said contracted condition to said extended condition and move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position.

44. The hydraulic closure system of claim 41 wherein said biased energy storage system comprises a hydraulic fluid accumulator assembly in communication with said first side of said piston and wherein said stored energy releasing device comprises a pressure relief valve in communication with said hydraulic fluid accumulator and in communication with said vehicle level detector.

45. The hydraulic closure system of claim 44 wherein said hydraulic fluid accumulator assembly comprises a gas-charged accumulator.

46. The hydraulic closure system of claim 41 wherein said vehicle level detector comprises a pendulum switch.

47. The hydraulic closure system of claim 41 wherein said vehicle level detector comprises a mercury switch.

48. The hydraulic closure system of claim 41 wherein said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly comprises two hydraulic actuator assemblies, each hydraulic actuator assembly being coupled at one end thereof to respective opposite sides of said closure and at opposite ends thereof to respective opposite sides of said opening frame.

49. The hydraulic closure system of claim 41 wherein:

said closure is pivotally mounted on an upper horizontal portion of said opening frame by a pair of laterally spaced hinges, and

said latching structure comprises an electrically operated latching mechanism disposed at a lower interior portion of said closure and constructed and arranged to be latched to an associated striker member connected to the opening frame.

50. The hydraulic closure system of claim 41 wherein said vehicle level detection and compensation system includes an energy monitoring device constructed and arranged to monitor the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system to enable said vehicle level detection and compensation system to control the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system based upon the detected inclination or declination of the vehicle as detected by said vehicle level detector and based upon an amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system as monitored by said energy monitoring device.

51. The hydraulic closure system of claim 50 wherein said biased energy storage system comprises a hydraulic fluid accumulator assembly in communication with said first side of said piston and wherein said energy monitoring device comprises a pressure transducer in communication with said hydraulic fluid accumulator.

52. The hydraulic closure system of claim 51 wherein said hydraulic fluid accumulator assembly comprises a gas-charged accumulator.

53. The hydraulic closure system of claim 41 wherein said biased energy storage system stores positive hydraulic pressure and expenditure of said energy on said second side of said piston creates hydraulic fluid flow into said cylinder on said second side of said piston.

54. The hydraulic closure system of claim 41, wherein said motorized hydraulic pump is activated to effect said automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position in response to manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position toward said closed position.

55. The hydraulic closure system of claim 54 wherein said motorized hydraulic pump is activated to input said energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect said automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position in response to said manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position toward said closed position for a prescribed distance in more than a prescribed time.

56. A hydraulic closure system for use in a motor vehicle and constructed and arranged to cooperate with a closure opening defined by an opening frame of the motor vehicle body, said system comprising:

a closure constructed and arranged to be pivotally mounted on the opening frame for movement between a closed position in which said closure closes the closure opening and an opened position in which said closure is oriented to permit access through the closure opening;

a latching structure constructed and arranged to latch said closure in said closed position and to unlatch said closure to permit said closure to move from said closed position to said opened position;

at least one hydraulic actuator assembly including a cylinder and a piston rod assembly, said piston rod assembly including a piston and a rod member connected to said piston, said piston being moveable within said cylinder in slidably sealed relation with inner walls of said cylinder, said rod member extending outwardly from a rod extension end of said cylinder,

said piston rod assembly being moveable between an extended condition in which said rod member has a relatively large extent thereof extending outwardly from said rod extension end of said cylinder so as to create a distance between said one end and said opposite end of said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly sufficient to maintain said closure in said opened position and a contracted condition in which said rod member has a relatively smaller extent thereof extending outwardly from the rod extension end of said cylinder in comparison with said extended condition to create a distance between said one end and said opposite end of said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly that enables said closure to be disposed in said closed position;

a biased energy storage system constructed and arranged to expend energy stored therein on a first side of said piston when said closure is unlatched to move the piston toward said rod extension end of said cylinder and thereby move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said contracted condition to said extended condition and move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position;

an energy monitoring device constructed and arranged to monitor the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system; and

an energy control system in communication with said energy monitoring device and constructed and arranged to control the amount energy stored in said biased energy storage system so that said amount of energy remains within a predetermined range so that said amount of energy remains commensurate with the energy required to move said closure from the closed position to the opened position.

57. The hydraulic closure system of claim 56, wherein said energy control system includes a motorized hydraulic pump constructed and arranged to input energy to said biased energy storage system by creating fluid flow with respect to said biased energy storage system to increase the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system when the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system detected by said energy monitoring device is less than a predetermined amount of energy required to be expended on said first side of said piston when said closure is unlatched to move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said contracted condition to said extended condition and move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position,

said motorized hydraulic pump being further constructed and arranged to input energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position, said motorized hydraulic pump inputting said energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect said automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position by creating hydraulic fluid flow with respect to said cylinder on a second side of said piston to force said piston away from said rod extension end of said cylinder and move said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly from said extended condition to said contracted condition and said closure from said opened position to said closed position.

58. The hydraulic closure system of claim 56 wherein said energy control system comprises a stored energy releasing device constructed and arranged to release energy from said biased energy storage system when the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system detected by said energy monitoring device exceeds said predetermined range of energy so that the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system remains commensurate with the amount of energy required to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position.

59. The hydraulic closure system of claim 58, wherein said energy releasing device comprises a pressure relief valve, and wherein said biased energy storage system comprises a pressure accumulator assembly, said pressure relief valve being constructed and arranged to relieve pressure from said pressure accumulator assembly and hence to release energy from said biased energy storage system when the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system detected by said energy monitoring device amount of energy exceeds said predetermined range so that said amount of energy stored remains commensurate with the energy required to move said closure from the closed position to the opened position.

60. The hydraulic closure system of claim 57, wherein said energy control system comprises a stored energy releasing device constructed and arranged to release energy from said biased energy storage system by permitting hydraulic fluid flow with respect to said biased energy storage system to decrease the energy stored in said biased energy storage system when the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system detected by said energy monitoring device exceeds said predetermined amount of energy required to be expended on said first side of said pistons when said closure is unlatched to move said pair of hydraulic actuator assemblies from said contracted condition to said extended condition and move said closure from said closed position to said opened position and maintain said closure in said opened position.

61. The hydraulic closure system of claim 56 further comprising a vehicle level detection and compensation system including a vehicle level detector constructed and arranged to detect inclination or declination of the motor vehicle, said vehicle level detection and compensation system being constructed and arranged to vary said predetermined range based upon a detected inclination or declination of the vehicle as detected by said vehicle level detector so that the amount of energy stored in said biased energy storage system is commensurate with the amount of energy required to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position for the detected inclination or declination.

62. The hydraulic closure system of claim 56 wherein said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly comprises two hydraulic actuator assemblies, each hydraulic actuator assembly being coupled at said one end thereof to respective opposite sides of said closure and at said opposite end thereof to respective opposite sides of said opening frame.

63. The hydraulic closure system of claim 58 wherein said biased energy storage system comprises a hydraulic fluid accumulator assembly in communication with said first side of said piston, said energy monitoring device comprises a pressure transducer in communication with said hydraulic fluid accumulator, and said stored energy releasing device comprises a pressure relief valve in communication with said hydraulic fluid accumulator and in communication with said pressure transducer.

64. The hydraulic closure system of claim 56 wherein:

said closure is pivotally mounted on an upper horizontal portion of said opening frame by a pair of laterally spaced hinges, and

said latching structure comprises a pair of electrically operated latching mechanisms disposed at opposite lower interior portions of said closure and cooperable with associated striker members.

65. The hydraulic closure system of claim 56 wherein said biased energy storage system stores positive hydraulic pressure and expenditure of said energy on said second side of said piston creates hydraulic fluid flow into said cylinder on said second side of said piston.

66. The hydraulic closure system of claim 56, wherein said motorized hydraulic pump is activated to input said energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect said automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position in response to manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position toward said closed position.

67. The hydraulic closure system of claim 56 wherein said motorized hydraulic pump is activated to input said energy to said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to effect said automatic movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position in response to said manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position toward said closed position for a prescribed distance in more than a prescribed time.

68. A hydraulic closure system for use in a motor vehicle and constructed and arranged to cooperate with a closure opening defined by an opening frame of the motor vehicle body, said system comprising:

a closure constructed and arranged to be mounted on an upper portion of the opening frame and pivoted for movement about a horizontal axis between a closed position in which said closure closes the closure opening and an opened position in which said closure is oriented to permit access through the closure opening;

an electrically operated latching structure constructed and arranged to latch said closure when said closure is moved to said closed position and to unlatch said closure in response to a first electrical signal to permit said closure to move from said closed position to said opened position;

a manually overridable power control system including at least one hydraulic actuator assembly, said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly coupling said closure with said closure opening and being capable of effecting movement of said closure between said opened and closed positions in response to hydraulic fluid flow generated by said manually overridable power control system,

said manually overridable power control system including an energy storage system constructed and arranged to store energy therein and to expend energy stored therein to effect hydraulic fluid flow that causes said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position when said latching structure is unlatched in response to said first electrical signal, said manually overridable power control system being constructed and arranged to effect hydraulic fluid flow that causes said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to move said closure from said opened position to said closed position in response to a second electrical signal;

a remote control device; and

an electrical controller responsive to selective activation of said remote control device to generate said first electrical signal to unlatch said latching structure and thereby permit said manually overridable power control system to effect hydraulic fluid flow that causes said at least one actuator to move said closure from said closed position to said opened position, said electrical controller being responsive to selective activation of said remote control device to generate said second electrical signal so that said manually overridable power control system effects, hydraulic fluid flow that causes said at least one hydraulic actuator assembly to move said closure from said opened position to said closed position,

said manually overridable power control system permitting manually generated movement of said closure from said opened position to said closed position.