Power operator for motor-vehicle trunk lid
First Claim
1. A power operator for opening and closing a pivotal panel of a motor vehicle, the operator comprising:
- spring means engaged between the vehicle and the panel for urging the panel from a closed position into an open position;
a rod having an outer end connected to the door and an inner end;
a clutch rotatable about a clutch axis and having an output member connected to the rod inner end and an input member;
drive means including a drive motor connected to the input member and energizable for rotating the clutch elements and thereby displacing the rod and door;
biasing means in the clutch for rotationally decoupling if the clutch elements from each other only when a torque applied to the input element exceeds a predetermined limit; and
control means for energizing the motor for a predetermined amount of time.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power operator for opening and closing a trunk lid of a motor vehicle has a spring engaged between the vehicle and the lid for urging the lid from a closed position into an open position, a rod having an outer end connected to the door and an inner end, and a clutch rotatable about a clutch axis and having an output member connected to the rod inner end and an input member. A drive motor connected to the input member is energizable for rotating the clutch elements and thereby displacing the rod and door. Another spring in the clutch rotationally decouples the clutch elements from each other only when a torque applied to the input element exceeds a predetermined limit. A controller energizes the motor for a predetermined amount of time.
43 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A power operator for opening and closing a pivotal panel of a motor vehicle, the operator comprising:
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spring means engaged between the vehicle and the panel for urging the panel from a closed position into an open position;
a rod having an outer end connected to the door and an inner end;
a clutch rotatable about a clutch axis and having an output member connected to the rod inner end and an input member;
drive means including a drive motor connected to the input member and energizable for rotating the clutch elements and thereby displacing the rod and door;
biasing means in the clutch for rotationally decoupling if the clutch elements from each other only when a torque applied to the input element exceeds a predetermined limit; and
control means for energizing the motor for a predetermined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification