Magna Exteriors Gmbh

Magna International Inc.

Martin Robert Matthews

Anthony John Povinelli

Jeffrey B Manhire

Braendon Robert Lindberg

Yao Wang

Michael McAfee

Jeffry J Zielinski

Thomas E Cobb

Michael James Cowan

Benjamin R Ruppert

Michael Mandl

Larry R Erickson

Daniel Vander Sluis

Mark Peter Birka

Michael William Crane

Ross J Parpart

Michael A West

Ameil A Kapadia

Braendon R Lindberg

Thomas Pilette

Gari Schalte

Michelle Vanbuskirk

Daniel Vandersluis

Ted E Peterson

Hao Chen

Jeffrey E May

Jeffrey Bruce Manhire

Antony J Povinelli

Michael Crane

A modular gate combined with multiple functions which can be easily employed with existing tailgates without any hardware or mounting modifications to existing truck beds. There is provided a modular tailgate system having a tailgate portion in combination with a plurality of functions. The modular tailgate system integrates any combinations of at least two of the plurality of features without affecting existing body sides and/or existing truck beds. Integrated features include a multi-functional gate (e.g., swing, drop, etc), storage (e.g., normal, sealed, refrigerated, heated, etc), step(s), lighting (e.g., ingress/egress, bed interior, removable, trailer hitch, parking, etc), bed extension(s), power (e.g., 12 v and/or 110 v), tie downs (e.g., ratchets, anchors, etc), sawhorse, magnet(s), table(s), bench(es), seat(s), net(s), any other predetermined desired function, etc., and combinations thereof.

Modular tailgate

An active side panel assembly having at least one deployable panel () and at least one actuator (). The deployable panel deploys and retracts based on vehicle requirements and provides valueable reduction in vehicle drag, thereby reducing emissions and improving fuel economy. Additionally, it allows for the system to retract so the vehicle can still meet ground clearances, ramp angles, off-road requirements, etc. The active side panel provides a fully deployable system with object detection, declutching of the actuator to help prevent damage, and communication with the vehicle to determine proper deployment and function.

Deployable aerodynamic side panel system

An injection molded slide actuator assembly which has a frame, a slide carrier and a slide track member. The injection molded slide actuator has an X, Y, and Z axis with the slide track member having at least one track slot extending along they and the Z direction and said slide carrier having at least one cooperating outwardly extending side members for engaging the at least one track slot.

Linear slide mechanism

An active aero panel assembly including at least one deployable panel, at least one drive mechanism, and at least one actuator. The active aero panel assembly improves aerodynamics.

Active aero panel

An active liftgate spoiler used on a liftgate of a vehicle. The liftgate has an upper surface and is typically a rear liftgate or hatch on the rear side of the vehicle. A housing is connected to the upper surface of the liftgate. There is a moveable panel connected to the housing using a connection. The connection is formed by a four bar linkage that forms a portion of the connection between the moveable panel and the housing. An actuator, which in one embodiment is a single rotary actuator is connected to the four bar linkage and causes the movement of the moveable panel.

Active aerodynamics liftgate spoiler design with multi 4 bar kinematic linkages

An active front deflector assembly having a deflector panel, actuator, and linkage assemblies each with a predetermined geometry and ratio of links to each other for movement of the active front deflector assembly between at least a deployed position and a retracted position. The deflector panel is positionable at multiple heights. The assembly deploys and retracts based on vehicle requirements, and, when deployed, redirects the air flow in the front of the vehicle to improve the vehicle aerodynamics for either fuel economy or performance characteristics. Additionally, it allows for the deflector panel to retract so the vehicle meets ground clearances, etc. The deflector panel is also both rigid and semi-rigid to absorb impact energy. A drive shaft transmits the drive from one side to the other side. The deflector is both rigid and semi rigid to absorb impact energy.

Active front deflector

An active front wheel deflector assembly () including a deflector panel () moveable between a stowed position and at least one deployed position wherein the deployment of the deflector panel () moves the deflector panel () into an airflow to direct air and improves aerodynamics. The active front wheel deflector assembly () combines linear actuation with rotational motion.

Active front wheel deflector assembly

An active underbody panel system having a frame arrangement mounted under the vehicle and at least one deployable panel moveable between stowed and deployed positions to improve aerodynamics under the vehicle. A deployment/retraction mechanism is provided having a pair of linkage assemblies and driven by an actuator, which allows the deployable panel(s) to be moved automatically downward into the air flow as needed.

Active underbody panel systems

An active rear airfoil arrangement () for a trailing area of a vehicle having a turbulence creating area. The arrangement () is for connection with a static rear horizontal spoiler () associated with the rear portion of a vehicle and includes an active rear horizontal spoiler (). The active rear horizontal spoiler () moves to a deployed position and forms a flow passage () that extends horizontally across the top of a liftgate (). In another aspect of the invention the active rear airfoil arrangement () includes vertical left and right active spoilers () that move to create a flow passage () on the left side and right side of a liftgate ().

Active deployable bi-level spoiler architecture enabling full vehicle drag reduction

A non-backdrivable clutched module for a bi-directional actuator such as actuators used for active aerodynamics on vehicles. The module has both a stopper mode and a clutch mode. During the stopper mode a back-driving force gets diverted away from the actuator using a locking bearing member. If the force is too great a clutch mode will disengage the back-driving force completely from the shaft connected to the actuator, thereby preventing damage to the actuator.

Active aerodynamics non-backdriveable clutch device

An active front deflector assembly for a vehicle capable of moving between an extended position and a retracted position or any position there between. The active front deflector assembly has a cross member for attaching to an underbody of a vehicle. The frame member also includes a plurality of slip joint connections for connecting to the underbody of the vehicle. The cross member is a fixed link of an actuator link assembly that has an actuator, drive link, floating link and a blade.

Active front deflector-flat panel

An active front deflector assembly having a deflector panel, actuator, and linkage assemblies each with a predetermined ratio of the links to each other for motion of the deflector panel. The assembly deploys and retracts based on vehicle requirements, and, when deployed, redirects the air flow in the front of the vehicle to improve the vehicle aerodynamics for either fuel economy or performance characteristics. Additionally, it allows for the deflector panel to retract so the vehicle meets ground clearances, etc. The deflector panel is also both rigid and semi-rigid to absorb impact energy. The drive shaft transmits the drive from the actuator coupled to one linkage assembly to the other linkage assembly for moving the deflector panel between the deployed/retracted positions. The actuator is clutched to prevent damage to the system.

An active liftgate spoiler () used on a liftgate () of a vehicle (). The liftgate has an upper surface () and is typically a rear liftgate or hatch on the rear side of the vehicle. A housing () is connected to the upper surface of the liftgate. There is a moveable panel () connected to the housing using a connection. The connection is formed by a four bar linkage (') that forms a portion of the connection between the moveable panel and the housing. An actuator (), which in one embodiment is a single rotary actuator is connected to the four bar linkage and causes the movement of the moveable panel.

An active aerodynamic application torque link system including a four bar linkage having a fixed link, driven link, follower link and coupler. The fixed link has a follower link aperture and a driven link aperture. The follower link has a first end rotatably connected to the follower link aperture of the fixed link and a second end of the follower link is connected to the coupler. The driven link is rotatably connected at a first end to the coupler and coupled at a second end to a torque transfer tube that has a cross sectional shape of a four sided polygon with four radial facets. The four sided torque transfer tube is rotatably connected to the driven link aperture of the fixed link. The four bar linkage is used in a number of different applications by connecting the coupler with different components.

Active aerodynamic application torque driven links

An active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism. The active grille system has vanes connected to a link arm. The vanes rotate between an open position and a closed position using force transmitted by the link arm. Connected to the frame is an actuator that has a mover that provides force to a linear actuation mechanism that is connected to the link arm.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Martin Robert Matthews