Power liftgate cable drive with position stop

• US 6,092,336 A
• Filed: 02/11/1999
• Issued: 07/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wright, Kevin, Priest, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US09/248,618
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 49/339, 49/340, 49/341, 49/352, 49/348, 192/48.2, 192/48.92, 296/146.8, 296/56
• US Class Current: 49/339
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/627 operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables using flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/619
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/22 Locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/232 by automatically acting means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/416 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/654 Cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/664 Drums
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/672 Tensioners, tension sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/302 during electromotoric braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/458 in or on a transmission member
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/11 Manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids

Abstract

A vehicle power liftgate cable drive has a cable drive housing. An electric motor with a motor housing and an output shaft is secured to the cable drive housing. A clutch pack with a first clutch driven by the output shaft and a second clutch driven by the first clutch, is mounted in the cable drive housing. One of the clutches in the clutch pack is a one way clutch and the other clutch is an electromagnetic clutch. A pinion gear is driven by the second clutch. An output gear is rotatably journaled on a fixed shaft and driven by the pinion gear. The cable drum is attached to the output gear. A coil spring has one end fixed to the fixed shaft and its other end attached to the cable drum. The fixed shaft is rotated to preload the coil spring in a direction that tends to wind a cable on the cable drum and then the fixed shaft is fastened to the cable drive housing. A cable is attached to the cable drum and to the liftgate. A solenoid plunger cooperates with the output gear to stop the liftgate in an intermediate position.

Claims

1. A vehicle power liftgate cable drive comprising:

an electric motor having an output shaft,

a clutch pack including a first clutch driven by the output shaft, a second clutch driven by the first clutch and wherein one of said first clutch and said second clutch is a one way clutch and the other of said first clutch and said second clutch is an electromagnetic clutch;

a cable drum driven by the second clutch;

a cable connected to and driven by the cable drum and connected to a vehicle power liftgate; and

a stop interrupting movement of the cable drum in a first direction to hold the liftgate in an intermediate position.

2. The vehicle power liftgate cable drive as defined in claim 1 wherein the stop comprises a solenoid plunger.

3. A vehicle power liftgate cable drive comprising:

a cable drive housing;

an electric motor having an output shaft,

a clutch pack including a first clutch driven by the output shaft, a second clutch driven by the first clutch and wherein one of said first clutch and said second clutch is a one way clutch and the other of said first clutch and said second clutch is an electromagnetic clutch;

a pinion gear driven by the second clutch;

an output gear driven by the pinion gear;

a cable drum driven by the output gear and journaled on a fixed shaft journaled in the cable drive housing;

a cable connected to and driven by the cable drum and connected to a vehicle power liftgate,

a spring connected to the fixed shaft and to the cable drum; and

a mechanical fastener connected to the cable drive housing and the fixed shaft that holds the fixed shaft in a position in which the spring biases the cable drum in a direction that urges the cable drum to rotate in a direction that winds the cable onto the cable drum, and

a stop selectively interrupting movement of the cable drum when the cable drum rotates in an opposite direction.

4. The vehicle power liftgate cable drive as defined in claim 3 wherein the stop comprises a solenoid plunger and a plurality of stop shoulders on the output gear.

5. The vehicle power liftgate cable drive as defined in claim 4 wherein the stop includes a retainer attached to the solenoid plunger, an offset post and a return coil spring that is disposed about the post and engaged by the retainer.