Abstract: A friction based counterbalance mechanism for coupling with a closure panel of a vehicle to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel, the counterbalance mechanism including: a first housing having a first pivot connection mount for connecting to one of a body of the vehicle and the closure panel; an extension member coupled to the first housing at one end and being extendable and retractable with respect to a second housing coupled adjacent to the first housing along an axis, the second housing for connecting by a second pivot connection mount to the other of the body and the closure panel; a sliding friction mechanism having: a shaped sleeve mounted on an exterior surface of the extension member, the shaped sleeve providing an exterior friction surface; and a resilient friction element mounted to the second housing in a fixed location on the axis, the resilient friction element positioned between second housing and the shaped sleeve and biased into contact with the exterior friction surface; wherei

Abstract: A counterbalance mechanism for coupling with a closure panel to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel between a fully closed position and a fully open position of the closure panel, the counterbalance mechanism including: a housing coupled at one end to one of the closure panel and a body of a vehicle by a first connector and at another end by a second connector to the other of the body and the closure panel, the housing containing an extension member and a spring positioned along a longitudinal axis, the spring positioned adjacent to the first connector; the first connector having a body with a connection portion coupled by a connection to an end of the housing positioned at the one end; and a spring retention mechanism for inhibiting extension of the spring out of the one end of the housing, the spring retention mechanism including: a spring retainer positioned between the spring and the end; and a retainer pin positioned between the spring retainer and the end; wherein upon decoupling of the c

Abstract: A method for constructing an extension mechanism for a closure panel of a vehicle, the extension mechanism including an extension member housed in a body housing, such that the extension member extends and retracts with respect to the body housing as the closure panel is opened and closed, the extension mechanism having a first connection at one end for connecting the extension member to the vehicle and a second connection at the other end for connecting the body housing to the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: overlapping a tube wall of the body housing with an end portion of the body housing, the end portion having a receiving indentation; receiving a deformed portion of the tube wall into the receiving indentation in order to form a crimp connection between the tube wall and the end portion; and positioning a clamping member having a body by at least a portion of the body over the tube wall, such that the deformed portion is sandwiched between the portion of the body and the receiving indentatio

Abstract: An extension mechanism for coupling with a closure panel to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel of a vehicle between a fully closed position and a fully open position of the closure panel, the extension mechanism including: an inner tube having an outer surface; an outer tube having an inner surface and overlapping the inner tube for at least a portion of the outer surface along an extension axis, such that the inner surface and the outer surface are adjacent to one another when overlapped; a first spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the outer tube; a second spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the inner tube; a seal positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface; and a stopper to engage the first spring at one end and engage the second spring at an opposite end such that the first spring and the second spring are in series with one another along the extension axis; wherein the one end and the opposite end are spaced apart from one an

Abstract: A friction based counterbalance mechanism for coupling with a closure panel of a vehicle to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel, the counterbalance mechanism including: a first housing having a first pivot connection mount for connecting to one of a body of the vehicle and the closure panel; an extension member coupled to the first housing at one end and being extendable and retractable with respect to a second housing coupled adjacent to the first housing along an axis, the second housing for connecting by a second pivot connection mount to the other of the body and the closure panel; a sliding friction mechanism having: a shaped sleeve mounted on an exterior surface of the extension member, the shaped sleeve providing an exterior friction surface; and a resilient friction element mounted to the second housing in a fixed location on the axis, the resilient friction element positioned between second housing and the shaped sleeve and biased into contact with the exterior friction surface; wherei

Abstract: An electromechanical strut is provided for moving a pivotal closure member between open and closed positions relative to a motor vehicle body. The electromechanical strut includes a drive mechanism having a motor-gearbox assembly, flex coupling assembly, and a spring-loaded supplemental friction assembly that are operable to drive a rotatable power screw. The drive mechanism converts rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of an extensible member to move the extensible member between a retracted position corresponding to the closure member closed position and an extended position corresponding to the closure member open position. The motor-gearbox assembly includes a motor and a geartrain having an output component driven at a reduced speed relative to the motor speed. The flex coupling assembly is operably disposed between the output component and the power screw. The spring-loaded supplemental friction assembly generates and applies a supplemental frictional force to the flex coupling assembly.

Abstract: A friction mechanism coupled to a drive system for mounting in a housing of a counterbalance mechanism for a closure panel of a vehicle, including: a shaft having an axis; a friction member positioned on the axis; a pinion with a friction body positioned on the shaft and adjacent to the friction member, the pinion rotatable about the axis relative to the friction member during rotation of the shaft to generate friction between the friction member and the friction body; a pusher body positioned on the axis; an actuator of the drive system connected to the pusher body in order to affect an axial position of the pusher body on the axis; and a resilient element positioned on the axis between the pusher body and the friction member, such that the resilient element exerts an axial force on the friction member to force the friction member against the friction body; wherein operation of the actuator causes a change in the axial position of the pusher body on the axis and thus a degree of compression of the resilient

Abstract: A motor-less counterbalance strut for selectively braking pivotal movement of a closure member includes a housing connected to one of closure member and a motor vehicle body and an extensible member slideably moveable relative to housing connected to the other of closure member and motor vehicle body. The extensible member has a rotary drive member configured to drive a driven member and cause movement of extensible member between retracted and extended positions. A gearbox unit has an input operably driven by a rotary output of the rotary drive member and an output operably driven in response to the movement of the input. The output is fixed to a friction plate configured for operable communication with a brake rotor. An electro-mechanical actuator is operable to move brake rotor into and out of braking engagement with friction plate to establish a braking and non-braking condition of extensible member.

Abstract: A friction based counterbalance mechanism for coupling with a closure panel of a vehicle, the counterbalance mechanism including: a housing having a first pivot mount for connecting to one of a body of the vehicle and the closure panel; an extension member coupled to the housing and being extendable and retractable with respect to the housing, the extension member for connecting by a second pivot mount to the other of the body and the closure panel; a variable friction mechanism mounted in the housing having: a shaft having an axis; a washer positioned on the axis; a pinion with a friction body positioned on the shaft and adjacent to the washer, the pinion rotatable about the axis relative to the washer during rotation of the shaft to generate friction between the washer and the friction body; and a slider body positioned on the axis.

Abstract: A method for constructing an extension mechanism for a closure panel of a vehicle, the extension mechanism including an extension member housed in a body housing, such that the extension member extends and retracts with respect to the body housing as the closure panel is opened and closed, the extension mechanism having a first connection at one end for connecting the extension member to the vehicle and a second connection at the other end for connecting the body housing to the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: overlapping a tube wall of the body housing with an end portion of the body housing, the end portion having a receiving indentation; receiving a deformed portion of the tube wall into the receiving indentation in order to form a crimp connection between the tube wall and the end portion; and positioning a clamping member having a body by at least a portion of the body over the tube wall, such that the deformed portion is sandwiched between the portion of the body and the receiving indentatio

Abstract: An extension mechanism for coupling with a closure panel to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel of a vehicle between a fully closed position and a fully open position of the closure panel, the extension mechanism including: an inner tube having an outer surface; an outer tube having an inner surface and overlapping the inner tube for at least a portion of the outer surface along an extension axis, such that the inner surface and the outer surface are adjacent to one another when overlapped; a first spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the outer tube; a second spring positioned along the extension axis in an interior of the inner tube; a seal positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface; and a stopper to engage the first spring at one end and engage the second spring at an opposite end such that the first spring and the second spring are in series with one another along the extension axis; wherein the one end and the opposite end are spaced apart from one an

Abstract: An electromechanical strut is provided for moving a pivotal closure member between an open position and a closed position relative to a motor vehicle body. The electromechanical strut includes a drive mechanism having a motor-gearbox assembly and a flex coupling assembly that are operable to drive a rotatable power screw. The drive mechanism is operable to convert rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of an extensible member to move the extensible member between a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of the closure member and an extended position corresponding to the open position of the closure member. The motor-gearbox assembly includes a motor and a planetary geartrain that is driven by the motor. The planetary geartrain includes an output component driven at a reduced speed relative to the motor speed and which has a drum segment. The flex coupling assembly is operably disposed in a radial orientation between the drum segment and the power screw.

Abstract: An electromechanical strut is provided for moving a pivotal closure member between open and closed positions relative to a motor vehicle body. The electromechanical strut includes a drive mechanism having a motor-gearbox assembly, flex coupling assembly, and a spring-loaded supplemental friction assembly that are operable to drive a rotatable power screw. The drive mechanism converts rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of an extensible member to move the extensible member between a retracted position corresponding to the closure member closed position and an extended position corresponding to the closure member open position. The motor-gearbox assembly includes a motor and a geartrain having an output component driven at a reduced speed relative to the motor speed. The flex coupling assembly is operably disposed between the output component and the power screw. The spring-loaded supplemental friction assembly generates and applies a supplemental frictional force to the flex coupling assembly.

Abstract: A extension mechanism for coupling with a closure panel to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel for at least a portion of a path including a housing member, an extension member and one or more bushings for positioning the extension member within the housing member. The bushings can provide friction for assisting in hold positions of the extension mechanism. The extension mechanism can be incorporated as part of a biasing strut such as a spring configured strut.

Abstract: An electromechanical strut for moving a closure member between open and closed positions relative to a vehicle body includes a housing having an inner surface bounding a cavity extending along a central axis between opposite first and second ends. A power screw is disposed in the cavity in operable communication with a motor, with a gear assembly operably connecting the motor to the power screw. An extensible member has an outer cover tube received in the housing cavity and a drive mechanism for converting rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of the extensible member. An annular gap extends between the inner surface of the housing and an outer surface of the outer cover tube. An annular bushing is disposed within the annular gap to minimize laterally play between the housing and the outer cover tube.

Abstract: An electromechanical strut is provided for moving a pivotal closure member between an open position and a closed position relative to a motor vehicle body. The electromechanical strut includes a housing connected to one of the closure member and the motor vehicle body. An extensible shaft is connected to the other of the closure member and the motor vehicle body for slidable movement relative to the housing. A motor-gear assembly operably drives a rotatable power screw. A drive mechanism converts rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of the extensible shaft to move the extensible shaft between a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of the closure member and an extended position corresponding to the open position of the closure member. A clutch/coupling assembly is operably disposed between the motor-gear assembly and the power screw and integrates a slip clutch device and a flexible coupling into a common unit.

Abstract: An electromechanical strut for moving a closure member between open and closed positions relative to a vehicle body includes a housing having an inner surface bounding a cavity extending along a central axis between opposite first and second ends. A power screw is disposed in the cavity in operable communication with a motor, with a gear assembly operably connecting the motor to the power screw. An extensible member has an outer cover tube received in the housing cavity and a drive mechanism for converting rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of the extensible member. An annular gap extends between the inner surface of the housing and an outer surface of the outer cover tube. An annular bushing is disposed within the annular gap to minimize laterally play between the housing and the outer cover tube.

Abstract: An electromechanical strut is provided for moving a pivotal closure member between an open position and a closed position relative to a motor vehicle body. The electromechanical strut includes a housing connected to one of the closure member and the motor vehicle body. An extensible shaft is connected to the other of the closure member and the motor vehicle body for slidable movement relative to the housing. A motor-gear assembly operably drives a rotatable power screw. A drive mechanism converts rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of the extensible shaft to move the extensible shaft between a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of the closure member and an extended position corresponding to the open position of the closure member. A clutch/coupling assembly is operably disposed between the motor-gear assembly and the power screw and integrates a slip clutch device and a flexible coupling into a common unit.

Abstract: A power drive mechanism (10) for a motor vehicle liftgate includes a linking arm (18) pivotally connected with the liftgate, a crank arm (12) drivable for pivotal movement and connected with the linking arm (18), and a gear train (20) operatively engaging the crank arm (12). A drive motor (34) is operatively connected with the crank arm (12) through the gear train (20) to provide power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate. The gear train (20) is disengagable from the drive motor (34) to permit manual opening and closing of the liftgate without backdriving the drive motor (34). An actuator (74) is operatively connected with the gear train (20) to move the gear train into and out of engagement with the drive motor. A holding linkage (60, 62) is operatively associated with the gear train (20) to maintain the gear train (20) in engagement during power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate.

Abstract: A power drive mechanism (10) for a motor vehicle liftgate includes a linking arm (18) pivotally connected with the liftgate, a crank arm (12) drivable for pivotal movement and connected with the linking arm (18), and a gear train (20) operatively engaging the crank arm (12). A drive motor (34) is operatively connected with the crank arm (12) through the gear train (20) to provide power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate. The gear train (20) is disengagable from the drive motor (34) to permit manual opening and closing of the liftgate without backdriving the drive motor (34). An actuator (74) is operatively connected with the gear train (20) to move the gear train into and out of engagement with the drive motor. A holding linkage (60, 62) is operatively associated with the gear train (20) to maintain the gear train (20) in engagement during power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate.