Abstract: A power drive assembly for a rear lift gate assembly of a vehicle includes a screw drive having a screw member and a clutch supported by the screw member.

Abstract: A power strut assembly for a vehicle includes a first strut member having joined outer walls that define an interior cavity. The first strut member extends from a first end to a second end. The first end includes a base wall joined to the outer walls. A second strut member also having joined outer walls defining an inner cavity extends from a first end to a second end. The second strut member is telescopically disposed within the interior cavity of the first strut member. A lead screw extends from a first end to a second end and is rotatively retained at the first end of the first strut member. The lead screw extends into the interior cavities of the first and second strut members. A clutch is retained by the second strut member and the lead screw is positioned to interact with the clutch.

Abstract: A drive unit is provided for driving a liftgate of a motor vehicle between closed and open positions. The drive unit includes an outer tube having an end configured to couple the drive unit to one of the liftgate or the motor vehicle. The drive unit also includes an inner tube having an end configured to couple the drive unit to the other of the liftgate or the motor vehicle. The inner tube is telescopically engaged with the outer tube. The inner tube is movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the outer tube. An actuator is operative for actuating the inner tube relative to the outer tube between the retracted position and the extended position and causing movement of the liftgate between closed and open positions, respectively. The motor drive is housed within the outer tube. A biasing member is connected between the outer tube and the inner tube.

Abstract: A power strut assembly for a vehicle includes a first strut member having joined outer walls that define an interior cavity. The first strut member extends from a first end to a second end. The first end includes a base wall joined to the outer walls. A second strut member also having joined outer walls defining an inner cavity extends from a first end to a second end. The second strut member is telescopically disposed within the interior cavity of the first strut member. A lead screw extends from a first end to a second end and is rotatively retained at the first end of the first strut member. The lead screw extends into the interior cavities of the first and second strut members. A clutch is retained by the second strut member and the lead screw is positioned to interact with the clutch.

Abstract: A power drive assembly for a rear lift gate assembly of a vehicle includes a screw drive having a screw member and a clutch supported by the screw member.

Abstract: An actuating assembly for an electronic parking brake includes a housing and motor secured to the housing and having an output shaft. A cable assembly is rotatably driven by the motor. A cable is anchored at a first end to the cable assembly and wraps around the cable assembly as the cable assembly rotates in a first direction. A first spring is secured to the cable assembly such that it is rotatable with the cable assembly. A drum receives the first spring, which is engageable with an interior surface of the drum to prevent rotation of the cable assembly. A plurality of grooves is formed on a surface of the drum. At least one roller element is positioned in a groove of the drum. A spring housing receives the drum and is secured to the housing. Each of a plurality of apertures in the spring housing receives a roller element.

Abstract: An actuating assembly for an electronic parking brake includes a housing and motor secured to the housing and having an output shaft. A cable assembly is rotatably driven by the motor. A cable is anchored at a first end to the cable assembly and wraps around the cable assembly as the cable assembly rotates in a first direction. A first spring is secured to the cable assembly such that it is rotatable with the cable assembly. A drum receives the first spring, which is engageable with an interior surface of the drum to prevent rotation of the cable assembly. A plurality of grooves is formed on a surface of the drum. At least one roller element is positioned in a groove of the drum. A spring housing receives the drum and is secured to the housing. Each of a plurality of apertures in the spring housing receives a roller element.

Abstract: An electrically powered actuator mechanism for operating a vehicle parking brake including a reversible electrical motor having output gearing driving a sector gear. A wrapped spring clutch drivingly connects the sector gear to an intermediate operator cable wind up wheel. The intermediate cable is connected to the brake cable to set the brakes when the operator cable is wound up by energization of the motor in one direction, with a load sensor turning off the motor when a predetermined tension load is reached. Locking motor gearing holds the brake in the set condition. Reversal of the motor upwinds the cable to release the parking brake. A self adjusting feature is provided by a pretensioned clock spring creating a torsional bias on the wind up wheel tending to maintain a predetermined tension in the brake cable. A spring clutch is released by engagement of a release arm to allow the clock spring to adjust the wind up wheel.

Abstract: A self adjusting parking brake system which automatically removes slack from a parking brake cable includes a fixed support and a hand-operated lever pivotably connected to the support for movement between brake-releasing and brake-engaging positions. A locking mechanism releasably maintains the lever in the brake-engaging position. The locking mechanism includes a main ratchet having a plurality of ratchet teeth and a main pawl having a pawl tooth engaging the plurality of ratchet teeth. A self-adjust mechanism connects the cable with the lever. The self-adjust mechanism includes an adjuster ratchet having a plurality of ratchet teeth and an adjuster pawl having a plurality pawl teeth. Only one of the plurality of pawl teeth fully engages the ratchet teeth at any one time. The adjuster pawl pivots about a pivot axis and has an approach angle of greater than forty-five degrees.

Abstract: An electric parking brake includes a motor and a transmission coupling a threaded lead screw to the output shaft of the motor. The transmission preferably includes a plurality of helical gears such that the lead screw and the output shaft are coaxial. A guide shaft extends substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the lead screw. A drive nut threadably receives the lead screw and slidingly receives the elongate guide shaft. A brake cable is connected to the drive nut at a position preferably located midway between the lead screw and the guide shaft. In operation, rotation of the lead screw causes linear motion of the drive nut along the lead screw and the guide shaft which causes tensioning and untensioning of the brake cable. The assembly preferably includes a manual override device operatively connected to the lead screw for manual rotation of the lead screw.

Abstract: A parking brake system of the self-adjust type for automatically removing slack from a parking brake cable includes a fixed support and a hand-operated lever pivotably connected to the support for movement between brake-releasing and brake-engaging positions. A locking mechanism releasably maintains the lever in the brake-engaging position. The locking mechanism includes a main ratchet fixed relative to the support and having a plurality of ratchet teeth and a main pawl pivotably connected with the lever and having a pawl tooth releasably engaging the plurality of ratchet teeth of the main ratchet. A self-adjust mechanism releasably connects the cable with the lever. The self-adjust mechanism includes an adjuster ratchet connected with the cable and having a plurality of ratchet teeth and an adjuster pawl pivotably connected with the lever and having one of three pawl teeth releasably engaging the ratchet teeth of the adjuster ratchet. The adjuster pawl is pivotable relative to the lever about a pivot axis.

Abstract: An electric parking brake assembly includes an electric motor having an output shaft, a control module coupled to the electric motor for controlling the electric motor and a transmission coupling a threaded lead screw to the output shaft of the electric motor. The transmission preferably includes a gear train having a plurality of helical gears and the lead screw and the output shaft are preferably coaxial. A stationary elongate guide shaft extends substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the lead screw. A drive nut has a lead screw bore threadably receiving the lead screw therein and a guide shaft bore slidingly receiving the elongate guide shaft therein. The drive nut also has a cable attachment for attaching a brake cable to the drive nut. The cable attachment has a central axis offset from a central axis of the lead screw and is preferably located midway between the lead screw bore and the guide shaft bore.