System including bi-directional drive mechanism with reverse drive limit

Claim 2

In combination a reversible operator, a closure and a linkage system operatively interposed therebetween for moving the closure between a lower position and a raised position by the operator, an input member drivingly connected to said operator, an output member drivingly connected to said linkage system, a lost motion driving connection between said input member and said output member, a first limit stop in the path of movement of said input member in one direction and in the path of movement of said output member in the opposite direction, a second limit stop in the path of movement of said input member in said opposite direction and out of the path of movement of said output member in said one direction, braking means normally holding said spaced limit stops in a fixed position, means including said limit stops respectively disengaging said brake means in response to movement in either direction by said input member whereby said input member drives the output member in said one direction to raise said closure and in said opposite direction to lower said closure in response to said operator, and further means including said first stop disengaging said brake means in response to movement in said one direction by said output member whereby said closure may be raised manually but is prevented from being lowered manually or under its own weight.

Claim 3

In a vehicle body having a reversible operator, a tailgate and a linkage system operatively interposed therebetween for moving the tailgate between a lower open position and a raised closed position by the reversible operator, a bi-directional drive mechanism comprising, a housing secured to said vehicle body, an input member journaled in said housing and drivingly connected to said operator, an output member journaled in said housing and drivingly connected to said linkage system, a lost motion driving connection between said input member and said output member, a coil spring tightly engaging a peripheral surface on said housing, a first tab at one end of said spring, said first tab being in the path of rotation of said input member in one direction and in the path of rotation of said output member in the opposite direction, said input member when rotated by said operator in said one direction engaging and moving said firSt tab in a direction which releases said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface and driving said output member in said one direction through said lost motion driving connection to raise said tailgate, said output member engaging said first tab and further tightening said coil springs on said peripheral surface in response to rotation by said linkage system in said opposite direction to prevent the manual lowering of said tailgate, a second tab at the opposite end of said spring, said second tab being in the path of rotation of said input member in said opposite direction and out of the path of rotation of said output member in said one direction, said input member when rotated by said operator in said opposite direction engaging and moving said tab in a direction which releases said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface and driving said output member in said opposite direction through said lost motion connection to lower said tailgate, and said output member engaging said input member in response to rotation by said linkage system in said one direction and driving said input member in said one direction through said lost motion connection thereby releasing said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface thereby permitting the manual raising of said tailgate.

Claim 4

In a vehicle body having a reversible operator, a tailgate and a linkage system operatively interposed therebetween for moving the tailgate between a lower open position and a raised closed position by the reversible operator, a bi-directional drive mechanism comprising, a housing secured to said vehicle body, an input member journaled in said housing and drivingly connected to said operator, an output member journaled in said housing and drivingly connected to said linkage system, a lost motion driving connection between said input member and said output member, a coil spring tightly engaging a peripheral surface on said housing, a first tab at one end of said spring, said first tab being in the path of rotation of said input member in one direction and in the path of rotation of said output member in the opposite direction, said input member when rotated by said operator in said one direction engaging and moving said firSt tab in a direction which releases said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface and driving said output member in said one direction through said lost motion driving connection to raise said tailgate, said output member engaging said first tab and further tightening said coil springs on said peripheral surface in response to rotation by said linkage system in said opposite direction to prevent the manual lowering of said tailgate, a second tab at the opposite end of said spring, said second tab being in the path of rotation of said input member in said opposite direction and out of the path of rotation of said output member in said one direction, said input member when rotated by said operator in said opposite direction engaging and moving said tab in a direction which releases said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface and driving said output member in said opposite direction through said lost motion connection to lower said tailgate, and said output member engaging said input member in response to rotation by said linkage system in said one direction and driving said input member in said one direction through said lost motion connection thereby releasing said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface thereby permitting the manual raising of said tailgate.

Claim 5

A bi-directional drive mechanism comprising: a housing having an input member and an output member substantially coaxially journaled therein, a pair of circumferentially spaced driving shoulders on said input member, a generally axial tongue on said output member, said tongue being disposed between said driving shoulders and having a circumferential dimension less than the spacing between said driving shoulders whereby there is provided a lost motion driving connection between said input and output members in either direction of rotation, a coil spring tightly engaging a peripheral surface on said housing, and first and second generally radial tabs on said coil spring adjacent the ends thereof respectively, said first tab being disposed between one of said driving shoulders and said tongue, said input member when rotated in one direction engaging said first tab and moving said first tab in a direction which releases said spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface and driving said output member in said one direction through said tongue, said output member when rotated in an opposite direction engaging said first tab and further tightening the engagement of said coil spring with said peripheral surface and preventing the driving of said input member by said output member in said opposite direction, said second tab confronting said other driving shoulder and located out of the path of movement of said tongue, said input member when rotated in said opposite direction engaging said second tab and moving said second tab in a direction which releases said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surfaces and driving said output member in said opposite direction through said tongue, said output member when rotated in said one direction engaging said other shoulder and driving said input member in said one direction, said input member engaging said first tab and moving it in a direction releasing said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface.

Claim 6

A bi-directional drive mechanism comprising: a housing having an input member and an output member substantially coaxially journaled therein, a pair of circumferentially spaced driving shoulders on said input member, a generally axial tongue on said output member, said tongue being disposed between said driving shoulders and having a circumferential dimension less than the spacing between said driving shoulders whereby there is provided a lost motion driving connection between said input and output members in either direction of rotation, a coil spring tightly engaging a peripheral surface on said housing, and first and second generally radial tabs on said coil spring adjacent the ends thereof respectively, said first tab being disposed between one of said driving shoulders and said tongue, said input member when rotated in one direction engaging said first tab and moving said first tab in a direction which releases said spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface and driving said output member in said one direction through said tongue, said output member when rotated in an opposite direction engaging said first tab and further tightening the engagement of said coil spring with said peripheral surface and preventing the driving of said input member by said output member in said opposite direction, said second tab confronting said other driving shoulder and located out of the path of movement of said tongue, said input member when rotated in said opposite direction engaging said second tab and moving said second tab in a direction which releases said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surfaces and driving said output member in said opposite direction through said tongue, said output member when rotated in said one direction engaging said other shoulder and driving said input member in said one direction, said input member engaging said first tab and moving it in a direction releasing said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface.

Claim 7

A bi-directional drive mechanism with a one-way reverse lock comprising in combination, a housing having a composite input gear including an annular rubber like element and an output gear substantially coaxially journaled therein, a cup-like stamping non-rotatably secured to said input gear, a pair of circumferentially spaced flanges on said cup-like stamping extending generally axially into the interior of said housing, a stamped cup disc non-rotatably secured to said output gear, a short circumferential wall on said stamped cup disc at a greater radial distance than said flanges, a tongue extendinG generally axially from said stamped cup disc at substantially the same radial distance as said flanges, said cup like stamping being nested in said circumferential wall of said stamped cup disc with said flanges thereon being on opposite sides of said tongue, said tongue having a circumferential dimension less than the spacing between said flanges whereby there is provided a lost motion driving connection between said composite input gear and said output gear, an insert having a minimum diameter greater than the maximum diameter of said cup-like stamping pressed into said housing concentric with said gears, a coil spring located radially outwardly of said flanges and tongue and tightly engaging an internal peripheral surface on said insert, and first and second generally radial tabs on said coil spring adjacent the ends thereof respectively, said first tab extending radially inwardly between one of said flanges and said tongue, said one flange engaging said first tab and said tongue when said input gear is rotated in one direction releasing said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface and driving said output gear in said one direction, said tongue engaging said first tab and further tightening the engagement of said coil spring with said peripheral surface in response to rotation of said output gear in the opposite direction thereby preventing said output gear from driving said input gear in the opposite direction, said second tab confronting said other flange and located out of the path of rotation of said tongue, said other flange engaging said second tab and said tongue when said input gear is rotated in said opposite direction releasing said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface and driving said output gear in said opposite direction, said tongue engaging said other flange when said output gear is rotated in said one direction and driving said input gear in said one direction with said one flange engaging said first tab and releasing said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface.

Claim 8

A bi-directional drive mechanism with a one-way reverse lock comprising in combination, a housing having a composite input gear including an annular rubber like element and an output gear substantially coaxially journaled therein, a cup-like stamping non-rotatably secured to said input gear, a pair of circumferentially spaced flanges on said cup-like stamping extending generally axially into the interior of said housing, a stamped cup disc non-rotatably secured to said output gear, a short circumferential wall on said stamped cup disc at a greater radial distance than said flanges, a tongue extendinG generally axially from said stamped cup disc at substantially the same radial distance as said flanges, said cup like stamping being nested in said circumferential wall of said stamped cup disc with said flanges thereon being on opposite sides of said tongue, said tongue having a circumferential dimension less than the spacing between said flanges whereby there is provided a lost motion driving connection between said composite input gear and said output gear, an insert having a minimum diameter greater than the maximum diameter of said cup-like stamping pressed into said housing concentric with said gears, a coil spring located radially outwardly of said flanges and tongue and tightly engaging an internal peripheral surface on said insert, and first and second generally radial tabs on said coil spring adjacent the ends thereof respectively, said first tab extending radially inwardly between one of said flanges and said tongue, said one flange engaging said first tab and said tongue when said input gear is rotated in one direction releasing said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface and driving said output gear in said one direction, said tongue engaging said first tab and further tightening the engagement of said coil spring with said peripheral surface in response to rotation of said output gear in the opposite direction thereby preventing said output gear from driving said input gear in the opposite direction, said second tab confronting said other flange and located out of the path of rotation of said tongue, said other flange engaging said second tab and said tongue when said input gear is rotated in said opposite direction releasing said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface and driving said output gear in said opposite direction, said tongue engaging said other flange when said output gear is rotated in said one direction and driving said input gear in said one direction with said one flange engaging said first tab and releasing said coil spring from tight engagement with said peripheral surface.