Power tailgate system and method

• US 9,636,978 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Warburton, Andrew, Loveday, Duncan, Thomas, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): REPHANN, JUSTIN B
• Application Number:
  US14/426,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 296 50, 296 51, 296 56, 296 571
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/103 where lower door part moves independently from other door structures, e.g. by being hinged on the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/53 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/622 using screw-and-nut mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/415 for multiple wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/544 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening downwards
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards

Abstract

A door system for a vehicle comprises a first vehicle door (16) hingedly mountable to a vehicle for articulation about a pivot axis (123) between a closed position and an open position, the door comprising a cavity; an actuator mechanism (100) disposed within the cavity, the actuator mechanism being pivotally coupleable to the vehicle at a position offset from the pivot axis; and drive means for driving the actuator mechanism to articulate the first vehicle door between said closed and said open positions.

Claims

1. A split power door system for a vehicle comprising:

an upper door arranged to articulate between a closed position and an open position;

a lower door hingedly mountable to a vehicle for articulation about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position, the lower door comprising a cavity;

an actuator mechanism disposed within the cavity, the actuator mechanism being pivotally coupleable to the vehicle at a position offset from the pivot axis; and

drive means for driving the actuator mechanism to articulate the lower door between said closed and said open positions;

wherein the actuator mechanism comprises an actuator and a bell crank, and wherein the actuator provides linear motion and is coupled at a first end thereof to a hinge via the bell crank, the bell crank being pivotally mounted to the lower door within the cavity, the actuator being pivotally coupled at a second end thereof to the lower door.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the pivot axis about which the lower door articulates is disposed within the cavity.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the drive means is disposed within the cavity.

4. A system according to claim 1, comprising a hinge having a first part fixed to the lower door and a second part fixable to the vehicle, a pivot axis of the hinge defining the pivot axis about which the lower door articulates.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the actuator mechanism is pivotally coupled to a support structure of the vehicle, wherein said support structure of the vehicle comprises the second part of the hinge.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the bell crank is coupled to the hinge by a link arm disposed within the cavity.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is mounted in a first orientation and the bell crank changes an orientation of the linear motion.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the drive means comprises at least one electric motor.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the motor is positioned within a watertight interior of the lower door.

10. A system according to claim 1, comprising a controller for controlling the drive means so as to cause the actuator mechanism to articulate the lower door between the open and closed positions.

11. A system according to claim 10, comprising a further mechanism for moving the upper door, wherein the controller is arranged to independently control the drive means and the further mechanism, and the upper and lower vehicle doors being arranged such that the upper door must be at least partially opened to allow opening or closing of the lower door.

12. A system according to claim 1, comprising a further mechanism for moving the upper door.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the system is a power split tailgate system for a vehicle having a rear storage area.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the lower door is a lower tailgate door and the upper door is an upper tailgate door.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein the lower door comprises a retractable suspension means for bearing a load applied to the lower door, wherein the retractable suspension means comprises a retraction device which counterbalances the weight or turning moment of the lower door about the pivot axis.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the retraction device is disposed within a cavity in the interior of the lower door.

17. A vehicle having a door system as claimed in claim 1.