Vehicle pivoting closure power operating assembly

• US 6,550,839 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Strattec Power Access LLC (Strattec Security Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kuhlman, Howard Warren, Martin, Ian, Dombrowski, Douglas, McCarthy-Garland, Ann P, Rogers, Lloyd Walker Jr., Ciavaglia, Michael Antonio, Lindsay, Theodore J
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US09/849,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20020005650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 296/56, 296/76, 296/146.4, 296/146.11, 296/146.12, 296/223, 296/106, 296/146.8, 493/39--44
• US Class Current: 296/56
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/105 comprising door or part of door being pivotable about vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/619 using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/722 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/242 arranged in parallel relationship
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/532 Back doors or end doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards

Abstract

A vehicle pivoting closure assembly has a concealed power actuator remotely operated by a controller to open and close a closure or liftgate. A hinge member of the power actuator is engaged pivotally to a vehicle structure about a hinge axis, and rigidly to the closure. An armature extends pivotally from an elongated linear moving rack about a rack pivot axis and to the hinge member. The armature also pivotally engages the hinge member about a secondary pivot axis disposed parallel to the hinge axis and rack pivot axis. The rack is driven by a pinion gear train powered by a motor through a clutch. The hinge, the rack, the gear train and the motor are all supported by a reinforcement tray forming a modular engaged to the vehicle structure. The tray isolates the extreme dynamic loads placed upon the hinge by the motor, thereby eliminating the need to further reinforce the vehicle structure.

Claims

1. An automotive pivoting closure assembly comprising:

a vehicle structure;

a hinge member having a first portion, a second portion, a hinge axis, and an opposite secondary pivot axis, the first portion engaged pivotally to the vehicle structure about the hinge axis and extended between the hinge axis and secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis remaining stationary to the vehicle structure, the second portion extended rigidly from the first portion at the secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis being parallel to the secondary pivot axis;

a closure engaged to the second portion of the hinge member;

an armature engaged pivotally about the secondary pivot axis of the first portion of the hinge member;

an elongated toothed rack disposed perpendicular to the hinge axis, the rack constructed and arranged to move slideably with respect to the vehicle structure and transversely toward and away from the hinge axis, the rack having a rack pivot axis disposed parallel to the hinge axis of the hinge member, the armature engaged pivotally to the rack pivot axis and extended between the rack pivot axis and the secondary pivot axis of the hinge member;

a pinion gear train supported by the vehicle structure and constructed and arranged to drive the toothed rack;

an elongated rack housing engaged to the vehicle structure, the rack disposed slideably within the housing, the housing having a slot extended longitudinally along the rack housing;

the rack having a fin extended from the rack along the rack pivot axis and through the slot of the rack housing, the armature engaged pivotally to the fin;

an electric motor arranged and constructed to drive the pinion gear train;

a clutch engaged between the motor and the pinion gear train,

the pinion gear train having a pinion gear engaged operatively to the toothed rack, and

an intermediate gear disposed concentrically and engaged rigidly to the pinion gear.

2. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pinion gear train has a drive gear engaged rigidly to the clutch and operatively to the intermediate gear.

3. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a support tray engaged to the vehicle structure, the rack housing engaged rigidly to the tray, the hinge member engaged pivotally to the tray about the hinge axis, and the pinion gear train supported and encased by the tray.

4. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the teeth of the rack are disposed on an opposite side of the rack from the fin and wherein the pinion gear has a rotational axis disposed perpendicular to the rack pivot axis.

5. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the drive gear has a rotational axis parallel to the pinion gear rotational axis.

6. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the fin has a channel and a pin, the pin traversing the channel, disposed concentrically to the rack pivot axis, and extended through a hole in the armature, the armature engaged pivotally about the pin within the channel.

7. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the hinge axis is horizontal, wherein the vehicle structure is a roof, and wherein the closure is a liftgate.

8. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the hinge axis is vertical.

9. An automotive pivoting closure assembly comprising:

a vehicle structure;

a hinge member having a first portion, a second portion, a hinge axis, and an opposite secondary pivot axis, the first portion engaged pivotally to the vehicle structure about the hinge axis and extended between the hinge axis and secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis remaining stationary to the vehicle structure, the second portion extended rigidly from the first portion at the secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis being parallel to the secondary pivot axis;

a closure engaged to the second portion of the hinge member;

an armature engaged pivotally about the secondary pivot axis of the first portion of the hinge member;

an elongated toothed rack disposed perpendicular to the hinge axis, the rack constructed and arranged to move slideably with respect to the vehicle structure and transversely toward and away from the hinge axis, the rack having a rack pivot axis disposed parallel to the hinge axis of the hinge member, the armature engaged pivotally to the rack pivot axis and extended between the rack pivot axis and the secondary pivot axis of the hinge member;

a pinion gear train supported by the vehicle structure and constructed and arranged to drive the toothed rack; and

an elongated rack housing engaged to the vehicle structure, the rack disposed slideably within the housing, the elongated rack having a planar bell shaped end, the armature constructed and arranged to move longitudinally in and out of the housing through the bell shaped end while pivoting laterally within the imaginary plane of the bell shaped end.

10. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 9 the pinion gear train has a pinion gear having a rotational axis disposed parallel to the rack pivot axis.

11. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the hinge member has a goose-neck shape.

12. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a pair of rotating wheels mounted on both ends of the elongated rack, the wheels riding on the housing to reduce frictional forces between the housing and the moving rack.

13. An automotive pivoting closure assembly comprising:

a vehicle structure;

a tray engaged to the vehicle structure;

a hinge member having a first portion, a second portion, a hinge axis, and an opposite secondary pivot axis, the first portion engaged pivotally to the tray about the hinge axis and extended between the hinge axis and secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis remaining stationary to the vehicle structure, the second portion extended rigidly from the first portion at the secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis being parallel to the secondary pivot axis;

a closure engaged to the second portion of the hinge member;

an armature engaged pivotally about the secondary pivot axis of the first portion of the hinge member;

an elongated rack housing engaged to the tray;

an elongated toothed rack disposed perpendicular to the hinge axis, the rack constructed and arranged to move slideably within the rack housing and transversely toward and away from the hinge axis, the rack having a rack pivot axis disposed parallel to the hinge axis of the hinge member, the armature engaged pivotally to the rack pivot axis and extended between the rack pivot axis and the secondary pivot axis of the hinge member; and

a pinion gear train supported by the tray and constructed and arranged to drive the toothed rack.

14. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

the rack housing having a slot extended longitudinally along the housing;

and;

the rack having a fm extended from the rack along the rack pivot axis and through the slot of the rack housing, the armature engaged pivotally to the fin.

15. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein the vehicle structure is a roof and the closure is a liftgate engaged to the second portion of the hinge member.

16. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein the shape of the hinge member is an inverted “

question mark”

, and wherein the first portion is straight and the second portion, being larger than the first portion, is curved near the secondary pivot axis.

17. An automotive pivoting closure assembly comprising:

a vehicle structure;

a hinge member having a first portion, a second portion, a hinge axis, and an opposite secondary pivot axis, the first portion engaged pivotally to the vehicle structure about the hinge axis and extended between the hinge axis and secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis remaining stationary to the vehicle structure, the second portion extended rigidly from the first portion at the secondary pivot axis, the hinge axis being parallel to the secondary pivot axis;

a closure engaged to the second portion of the hinge member;

an armature engaged pivotally about the secondary pivot axis of the first portion of the hinge member;

an elongated toothed rack disposed transverse to the hinge axis, the rack constructed and arranged to move slideably with respect to the vehicle structure and transversely toward and away from the hinge axis, the rack having a rack pivot axis disposed parallel to the hinge axis of the hinge member, the armature engaged pivotally to the rack pivot axis and extended between the rack pivot axis and the secondary pivot axis of the hinge member;

a pinion gear train supported by the vehicle structure and constructed and arranged to drive the toothed rack,

an elongated rack housing engaged to the vehicle structure, the rack disposed slideably within the housing, the housing having a slot extended longitudinally along the rack housing;

the rack having a fin extended from the rack along the rack pivot axis and through the slot of the rack housing, the armature engaged pivotally to the fin,

an electric motor arranged and constructed to drive the pinion gear train,

the pinion gear train having a pinion gear engaged operatively to the toothed rack, and

an intermediate gear disposed concentrically and engaged rigidly to the pinion gear.

18. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 17 further comprising a support tray engaged to the vehicle structure, the rack housing engaged rigidly to the tray, the hinge member engaged pivotally to the tray about the hinge axis, and the pinion gear train supported and encased by the tray.

19. The closure assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein the vehicle structure is a roof and the closure is a liftgate engaged to the second portion of the hinge member.