Vehicle liftgate power operating system

U.S. Patent Number: 6453614

Abstract: A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate has a pair of drive units supported on the respective vehicle pillars at the sides of the liftgate opening. Each drive unit includes a vertically oriented channel and a rack member that moves in the channel. The rack member comprises a rack bar and a plurality of rack links that are pivotally connected end-to-end. A transfer link is universally attached to the rack bar at one end and universally attached to the liftgate at the opposite end. The rack member is raised and lowered by a power unit that has a motor driven pinion gear that meshes with teeth of the rack bar and the rack links in succession. Raising and lowering the rack member opens and closes the liftgate via the transfer link.

Inventors: Rogers, Jr.; Lloyd Walker (Shelby Township, MI), Kuhlman; Howard Warren (Rochester Hills, MI), Dombrowski; Douglas (Troy, MI)

Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Troy, MI)

Application Number: 09/848,453

Issued: 2002-09-24

Expired: 2006-09-24

Classes: 49/340 ; 296/56

Field of search: 49/339,340,341,342 296/56

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