Atoma International Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Andre Olivier

Andrew R Daniels

Peter Lance Oxley

Thomas P Frommer

Wieslaw Nowicki

Grzegorz Baniak

Robert Brady Mooney

Frederick C Butler

Victor Gusev

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

Power drive mechanism for a motor vehicle liftgate having a disengageable gear train

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

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Andre Olivier