Electro-mechanical actuator
First Claim
1. A window lift mechanism comprising:
- a dual rack assembly having first and second opposed racks;
first and second pinions in meshing engagement with said first and second racks, respectively; and
an actuator assembly comprising an output shaft coupled to said first pinion; and
a plurality of motors, each of said motors being coupled through an associated gear train to said output shaft for driving said first pinion, said first pinion being in meshing engagement with said second pinion for driving said first and second pinions along said first and second racks, said actuator further comprising a housing having first and second arms, each of said arms having a portion slidably disposed in an associated groove in an associated one of said first and second racks, said actuator translating along said racks as said pinions are driven along said racks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-mechanical actuator for a window lift mechanism including a plurality of motors for driving an output shaft. The actuator may be incorporated into a window lift mechanism including a dual rack and pinion assembly, for driving the pinions along the racks. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a variety of anti-back-drive mechanisms, e.g. clutches. A clutch according to one embodiment includes locking pawls that resist back-drive. In another embodiment, locking cams rotate relative to a carrier to resist back-drive. An actuator consistent with the invention may incorporate an impact mechanism including a flexible carrier. The carrier flexes to prevent impact forces at an output gear train from coupling to an input gear train.
79 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A window lift mechanism comprising:
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a dual rack assembly having first and second opposed racks; first and second pinions in meshing engagement with said first and second racks, respectively; and an actuator assembly comprising an output shaft coupled to said first pinion; and
a plurality of motors, each of said motors being coupled through an associated gear train to said output shaft for driving said first pinion, said first pinion being in meshing engagement with said second pinion for driving said first and second pinions along said first and second racks, said actuator further comprising a housing having first and second arms, each of said arms having a portion slidably disposed in an associated groove in an associated one of said first and second racks, said actuator translating along said racks as said pinions are driven along said racks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A window lift mechanism comprising:
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a dual rack assembly having first and second opposed racks; first and second pinions in meshing engagement with said first and second racks, respectively; and an actuator assembly comprising a plurality of motors for driving said first and second pinions along said first and second racks, and a housing having first and second arms, each of said arms having a portion slidably disposed in an associated groove in an associated one of said first and second racks, said actuator capable of translating along said racks with translation of said pinions along said racks. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification