Abstract: A vehicle hinge and counterbalance assembly (34) for pivotally mounting a lateral end of a vehicle tailgate (26) at a lower extremity thereof for movement of the tailgate on an associated vehicle between an upper closed position and a lower opened position and for also providing counterbalancing of the tailgate.

Abstract: A secondary latch (38) for a vehicle hood (34) includes a secondary latch member (90) that is mounted on the vehicle body (22) by a pin and slot mounting connection (98) for pivotal movement between latched and unlatched positions with respect to an associated striker (40) on the hood and for translational movement between a lower retracted position and an upper extended position.

Abstract: A vehicle latch assembly (10) includes a release member (40) pivotally mounted on a housing (20) for movement from a start position where a catch (24) secures a closure member striker (18) and a released position where a pawl (32) permits the catch to move to a released position. An actuating portion (42) of the release member holds the pawl (32) in a released position if the catch (24) after being released by the pawl does not move to its released position because the associated closure member remains closed. A positioning member (66) cyclically positions a drive portion (62) of an output gear (60) of a worm gear drive (54).

Abstract: A vehicle latch assembly (16) has a catch (24) released by a pawl (32) upon actuation of a release member (40) by operation of an electric motor worm gear drive (54). A drive portion (62) of an output gear (60) of the worm gear drive (54) is cyclically positioned in a start position thereof by a positioning member (66) by movement thereof between start and blocking positions thereof in response to the movement of the pawl (32) upon releasing the catch (24).

Abstract: A latch (36) for a vehicle body closure member (24) includes a release lever (58) supported by a pin and slot mounting connection (60) on a housing (44) for translational movement between freewheeling and operating positions. The release lever (58) through a pin and slot control connection (62) with a latching pawl (54) and its positioning in either the freewheeling or operating position prevents or permits unlatching of the closure member.

Abstract: A latch (36) for a vehicle body closure member (24) includes a release lever (58) supported by a pin and slot mounting connection (60) on a housing (44) for translational movement between freewheeling and operating positions. The release lever (58) through a pin and slot control connection (62) with a latching pawl (54) and its positioning in either the freewheeling or operating position prevents or permits unlatching of the closure member.

Abstract: An adjunct actuator including an electric actuator motor and associated gear train providing motive power for remotely operating an output arm of the adjunct actuator. A lost motion clutch mechanism is provided between the gear train and the output arm. The lost motion clutch mechanism includes a floating sector gear driven by the gear train. The sector gear rides upon an arcuate rail formed on the actuator frame. The sector gear is driven to a neutral position by a spring when the electric motor is deenergized. The spring of the adjunct actuator is not preloaded during assembly of the adjunct actuator. The sector gear is disposed to drive an arcuate carriage which is pivotally mounted on the actuator frame to move about a common rotational axis with the sector gear. A pair of driving faces of the sector gear are interposed between a pair of driven faces on the carriage in a manner providing lost motion between the sector gear and the carriage.

Abstract: A power actuator is used with a door latch having a threaded spindle, a nut axially displaceable by the spindle, and a coupling element connected to the nut and displaceable thereby to lock and unlock the latch. The actuator has a reversible electric motor having an output shaft defining a main axis and rotatable in either direction thereabout, an input wheel fixed on the shaft and provided with an eccentric coupling pin, and an intermediate wheel rotatable about the main axis and provided with an eccentric pivot. An output wheel rotatable about the main axis has a gear meshing with a gear of the threaded spindle and is provided with a pair of angularly offset abutments defining an orbit on rotation of the output wheel. A coupling element mounted on the intermediate-wheel pivot is provided with respective angularly offset coupling formations engageable with the output-wheel abutments and has a formation angularly engaging the input-wheel coupling pin.

Abstract: A transmission includes a plurality of shift rails, each of which is axially movable forwardly and rearwardly from a center neutral position to respective gear engaging positions. The lower shift rails are provided for manual shifting among the lower gear ratios of the transmission. The highest shift rail is provided for selective manual or automatic shifting among the highest two gear ratios of the transmission. An idler rail is disposed adjacent to the highest shift rail. For manual shifting, the idler rail is connected to the highest shift rail, and a manually operable shift lever is used to move both the idler rail and the highest shift rail. For automatic shifting, the idler rail is disconnected from the highest shift rail, and an automatic shift member is moved into cooperation with the highest shift rail. Rotation of the automatic shift shaft causes corresponding movement of the automatic shift member.

Abstract: A transmission includes a plurality of shift rails, each of which is axially movable forwardly and rearwardly from a center neutral position to respective gear engaging positions. The lower shift rails are provided for manual shifting among the lower gear ratios of the transmission. The highest shift rail is provided for selective manual or automatic shifting among the highest two gear ratios of the transmission. An electronic controller is provided for controlling the automatic shifting of the transmission in response to sensed operating conditions of the vehicle. A circuit is provided for sensing the rotational position of the automatic shift shaft and for generating an electrical signal which is representative of the actual position thereof, which is also representative of the actual position of the highest shift rail, to the electronic controller. The transmission also includes a shift lever having an end which extends through an opening formed in a case.

Abstract: An improved structure for an actuator for the lock mechanism of a latch assembly, such as a vehicle door latch assembly. The actuator includes a housing having an output arm moveable relative thereto between a lock position and an unlock position, to lock and unlock, respectively, the latch mechanism. An output gear having a pawl formed thereon is rotatably mounted adjacent the output arm. The output gear is adapted to rotate about an axis to cause the pawl to engage a first one of the pair of drive surfaces to urge the output arm toward the lock position. The output gear may be rotated in a second direction to cause the pawl to engage the other of the pair of drive surfaces to urge the output arm toward the unlock position. The output arm is coupled to a blocking member adapted for movement relative thereto. The blocking member may be moved to a blocking position when the output arm is in the lock position.

Abstract: A transmission includes a plurality of shift rails, each of which is axially movable forwardly and rearwardly from a center neutral position to respective gear engaging positions. The lower shift rails are provided for manual shifting among the lower gear ratios of the transmission. The highest shift rail is provided for selective manual or automatic shifting among the highest two gear ratios of the transmission. An idler rail is disposed adjacent to the highest shift rail. For manual shifting, the idler rail is connected to the highest shift rail, and a manually operable shift lever is used to move both the idler rail and the highest shift rail. For automatic shifting, the idler rail is disconnected from the highest shift rail, and an automatic shift member is moved into cooperation with the highest shift rail. Rotation of the automatic shift shaft causes corresponding movement of the automatic shift member.

Abstract: A vehicle mechanical transmission includes a conventional shift lever which enables the vehicle driver to manually select lower gear ratios, and an automatic shifting mechanism which provides automatic shifting between selected higher ratios once the driver has moved the shift lever to an "automatic" position. The transmission includes a plurality of shift rails which are individually and selectively moveable from a neutral position to two different gear positions. In accordance with the present invention, the shift lever is only coupled to mechanically shift a portion of the shift rails, typically those shift rails corresponding to the lower gear ratios. Once all the lower ratios have been selected, the driver can move the shift lever to an "automatic" position. When in this position, the shift lever actuates an electronic control, which in turn automatically controls the shifting of at least one shift rail in accordance with the status of various monitored vehicle operating parameters.