United Technologies Electro Systems, Inc.

Robert P Thrasher, Jr

Ronald F Mayer

Gerald R Stinson

An improved sealing and attachment means between a rubber boot (20) for a powdered door lock (4) and its actuator rod (10), which allows, not only radial, linear movement of the rod with respect to its power motor, but also rotational movement of the rod within its attachment to the boot, allowing such rotation without significantly distorting the boot. Two, axially spaced grooves (13 & 14) are located on the exterior surface of the rod at the area (15) to which the boot is to be attached, while two longitudinally spaced annular beads (22 & 23) are provided on the interior surface of the end portion (21) of the boot, which beads will be located between, but not in, the grooves. Two ring clips (16 & 17), serving as radially extended retainers, are placed in the rod grooves, fixedly positioning the attachment end portion of the boot longitudinally between the grooves. A gap (18) allows the ring clip to be laterally clipped onto its respective groove. A non-liquid lubricant is preferably included within the interior pocket (24) defined by the interior surface of the boot end between the beads and the confined exterior surface (15) of the rod between the grooves and the beads. During rotation, the curved, distal tips of the beads move around the smooth, cylindrical surface of the rod, preventing any distortion of the boot during such rotation, while maintaining a water-tight seal with the rod.

Boot sealing and attachment means for automotive door lock actuators and

An electric motor actuator (10) has an armature shaft (18) with a damper (28) comprising a collar (30) fit tightly into a housing (14) and slid over the shaft (18). The damper (28) has a plurality of spring-like fingers (32) protruding from the collar (30) supporting tghe shaft (18) intermediate to its journaled extreme ends (24, 26) by exerting sufficient force to damp vibrations caused by rotation of the shaft and counter-act the tendency of the shaft to move radially. The damper (28) is formed of a resilient, self-lubricating material impervious to grease, so as to isolate electrical motor parts from greased gears driven by the armature shaft.

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Columbus, MI, United States of America

Robert P Thrasher, Jr