Adjunct actuator for vehicle door lock
US5855130A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 5, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 18, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T292/1082
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An adjunct actuator including an electric actuator motor and associated gear train providing motive power for remotely operating an output arm of the adjunct actuator. A lost motion clutch mechanism is provided between the gear train and the output arm. The lost motion clutch mechanism includes a floating sector gear driven by the gear train. The sector gear rides upon an arcuate rail formed on the actuator frame. The sector gear is driven to a neutral position by a spring when the electric motor is deenergized. The spring of the adjunct actuator is not preloaded during assembly of the adjunct actuator. The sector gear is disposed to drive an arcuate carriage which is pivotally mounted on the actuator frame to move about a common rotational axis with the sector gear. A pair of driving faces of the sector gear are interposed between a pair of driven faces on the carriage in a manner providing lost motion between the sector gear and the carriage. The output arm of the adjunct actuator is operatively connected to the carriage for rotation therewith.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.