Abstract: A powered sliding door system for a vehicle can include a flexible cable having at least one helically wound gear tooth formed on a flexible core or an elongated tape with longitudinally spaced apertures, for generally longitudinal movement along a fixed path. The tape or cable can have a first longitudinally disposed end connected to a movable closure, such as a vehicle sliding door, window, or roof panel. A rotatable drive member drivingly engages the cable or tape intermediate the first and second longitudinal ends. A reversible motor powers the rotation of the rotatable member. A clutch in the form of an axially shiftable transmission gear is operable to selectively interconnect the motor to the rotatable drive member, such that actuation of the motor and engagement of the clutch will cause the rotatable drive member to move the cable or tape longitudinally for opening and closing the portal with the movable closure.

Abstract: An infinite hydraulic check for use with a door that maintains the door in any position until an appropriate check effort is applied to release the door from the position. The check includes an annular needle cavity with a closed first portion and a second portion, the second portion including a by-pass port along an inner circumference. An annular needle is received in the needle cavity. The by-pass port is obstructed when the needle is in a partial open position. Hydraulic fluid driven through an inlet orifice gradually displaces fluid from the closed first portion of the cavity, forcing the needle further into the cavity, unobstructing the by-pass port and permitting increased fluid flow. The controlled activation of the damped check release reduces noise.

Abstract: A power striker for door latch employed on the sliding side door of a van type vehicle includes a power driver rotary drive member which upon rotation through 180.degree. is operable to drive a slide member in linear movement between opposite end limits. A striker pin may be mounted directly on the slide or coupled by linkage to the slide to be located in a ready position when the slide is at one end limit and in an actuated position when the slide is at its other end limit. When in its ready position, the pin is latched to the closing door before the door reaches its fully closed position. The pin is then driven to its actuated position to power the door to its fully closed position against the resistive force exerted by the compressible door seal. The rotary to linear drive coupling develops a sinusoidally increasing door closing force during the final door closing movement and provides a positive retention of the striker pin in its ready and actuated positions.

Abstract: A power drive system for a sliding door, such as those employed on van type vehicles, enables a positive drive powered operation of the door by a control switch remote from the door and a programmed electronic control unit while accommodating manual operation of the door without mechanical interference or resistance from the drive or altering of the drive control program. A push/pull cable connected to the door is in positive meshed engagement at all times with a rotary drive gear whose rotative displacement from a rest position is continuously transmitted to the electronic control unit as a door position input signal. During powered operation of the door, the control unit is programmed to actuate or control a reversible drive motor or associated devices when the door is at selected positions along its path of movement.

Abstract: A power striker pin mechanism utilizes a base plate having a horizontal guide slot in its front side surface and a vertical guide slot in its rear side surface. A striker pin carrying slider is slidably received in the horizontal slot and is formed with a cylindrical post portion which projects rearwardly of the slider through a clearance opening in the base plate and through the vertical slot at the rear side of the base plate. A circular cam is located in the vertical slot and formed with an eccentric bore which rotatively receives the post portion of the slider. The circular cam is mounted upon a guide member for rotation relative to the guide member about its center and the guide member in turn is mounted for movement vertically relative to the base plate within the vertical slot. A flexible cable fixed at one end to the cam is tensioned to apply a torque to the cam.

Abstract: A power drive for a sliding door includes a slider for guided sliding movement along a fixed path between first and second end limits of movement. The slider operably engages with a sliding door to impart motion from the slider to the sliding door when traveling in a first direction. A reversible power drive is provided for driving the slider along the fixed path between the first and second end limits of movement in first and second directions of travel. A latch release, coupling the slider to the sliding door, initially releases a latch mechanism and, after release of the latch mechanism, transfers motion from the slider to the sliding door when traveling in the second direction.

Abstract: A position encoder for a sliding door power drive system, such as those employed on van type vehicles, enables a positive drive powered operation of the door by a control switch remote from the door while accommodating manual operation of the door without mechanical interference or resistance from the drive or altering of the drive control program. A push/pull cable connected to the door is in positive meshed engagement at all times with a rotary drive gear whose rotative displacement from a rest position is continuously read by the position encoder and transmitted to a control unit as a door position input signal. During powered operation of the door, the control unit controls a bidirectional drive motor which is coupled to the drive gear via a normally disengaged clutch to drive the door to selected positions along its path of movement.

Abstract: A power striker for door latch employed on the sliding side door of a van type vehicle includes a power driver rotary drive member which upon rotation through 180.degree. is operable to drive a slide member in linear movement between opposite end limits. A striker pin may be mounted directly on the slide or coupled by linkage to the slide to be located in a ready position when the slide is at one end limit and in an actuated position when the slide is at its other end limit. When in its ready position, the pin is latched to the closing door before the door reaches its fully closed position. The pin is then driven to its actuated position to power the door to its fully closed position against the resistive force exerted by the compressible door seal. The rotary to linear drive coupling develops a sinusoidally increasing door closing force during the final door closing movement and provides a positive retention of the striker pin in its ready and actuated positions.

Abstract: A power drive system for opening and closing the sliding side door of a van type vehicle includes an inclination detector controlled control circuit for adjustably regulating the closing force applied to the door in approximate proportion to the inclination of the vehicle to provide sufficient power to close the door when the vehicle is parked on an uphill grade while providing a reduced amount of power to close the door when the vehicle is on level ground.

Abstract: An electrically operated parking brake actuator for use with vehicles includes a motor operated driver member and an associated driven member. Each of the driver member and driven member is mounted for rotation about the same pivot pin and each is connected to a cable. Each cable is associated with a parking brake member. The motor operates the driver to drive the driven member which, in turn, tensions its associated cable to apply its associated parking brake member. This cable tension reacts through the actuator and drives the driver member in the opposite direction to tension the other cable and apply its associated brake.