Patent US3874722A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3874722A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sun roof gear box
Assignee: Excel Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-03-20
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A power actuator for a sliding sun roof panel comprising an electric motor connected to an output worm, a worm gear, and gear assembly comprising a pinion in mesh with the worm gear, and a drive gear coupled to the pinion and in mesh with the flexible actuating elements of two Teleflex devices coupled to the sliding panel. In a preferred form, the worm gear and pinion are spiral bevel gears.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Pickles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:58
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/02; B60J7/04; B60J7/057; B60J7/0573; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/19679
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
A drive assembly for a sliding sun top panel comprising a transmission housing comprising a flat housing member having a bottom wall and an upwardly open recess, a removable cover, a worm in said housing, a worm gear in mesh with said worm, a pinion in mesh with said worm gear, a drive shaft connected to said pinion to be driven thereby upon rotation of said worm and extending upwardly from said cover, and an output drive gear on said shaft outside said housing, said housing member having a permanently fixed stub shaft extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said worm gear being rotatably mounted on said stub shaft, said cover having a recess in which the upper end of said stub shaft is journaled, said bottom wall having a narrow bearing flange surrounding said stub shaft, said cover having a narrow flange surrounding said recess, said worm gear being rotatable on said stub shaft and stabilized by its engagement with both of said narrow bearing flanges, said cover having an opening therethrough which receives the inner end of said drive shaft, an upwardly extending guide sleeve surrounding said opening and receiving said drive shaft, and a narrow bearing flange surrounding said opening at the underside of said cover, said housing member having an opening it its bottom wall aligned with the opening in said cover, a narrow bearing flange surrounding the opening in the bottom wall of said housing member, the portion of said drive shaft within said housing being reduced and providing a shoulder, said pinion being rotatable on the reduced portion of said drive shaft, and friction means coupling said pinion to said drive shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
278 words
A drive assembly for a sliding sun top panel comprising a transmission housing comprising a flat housing member having a bottom wall and an upwardly open recess, a removable cover, a worm in said housing, a worm gear in mesh with said worm, a pinion in mesh with said worm gear, a drive shaft connected to said pinion to be driven thereby upon rotation of said worm and extending upwardly from said cover, and an output drive gear on said shaft outside said housing, said housing member having a permanently fixed stub shaft extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said worm gear being rotatably mounted on said stub shaft, said cover having a recess in which the upper end of said stub shaft is journaled, said bottom wall having a narrow bearing flange surrounding said stub shaft, said cover having a narrow flange surrounding said recess, said worm gear being rotatable on said stub shaft and stabilized by its engagement with both of said narrow bearing flanges, said cover having an opening therethrough which receives the inner end of said drive shaft, an upwardly extending guide sleeve surrounding said opening and receiving said drive shaft, and a narrow bearing flange surrounding said opening at the underside of said cover, said housing member having an opening it its bottom wall aligned with the opening in said cover, a narrow bearing flange surrounding the opening in the bottom wall of said housing member, the portion of said drive shaft within said housing being reduced and providing a shoulder, said pinion being rotatable on the reduced portion of said drive shaft, and friction means coupling said pinion to said drive shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1, both said worm gear and pinion are formed of low friction material and are located and held in operating position by the pairs of the surfaces of the narrow bearing flanges at opposite sides thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
A drive assembly for a sliding sun top panel comprising a transmission housing comprising a flat housing member having a bottom wall and an upwardly open recess, a removable cover, a worm in said housing, a worm gear in mesh with said worm, a pinion in mesh with said worm gear, a drive shaft connected to said pinion to be driven thereby upon rotation of said worm and extending upwardly from said cover, and an output drive gear on said shaft outside said housing, said housing member having a permanently fixed stub shaft extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said worm gear being rotatably mounted on said stub shaft, said cover having a recess in which the upper end of said stub shaft is journaled, said worm gear and pinion being bevel gears.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
A drive assembly for a sliding sun top panel comprising a transmission housing comprising a flat housing member having a bottom wall and an upwardly open recess, a removable cover, a worm in said housing, a worm gear in mesh with said worm, a pinion in mesh with said worm gear, a drive shaft connected to said pinion to be driven thereby upon rotation of said worm and extending upwardly from said cover, and an output drive gear on said shaft outside said housing, said housing member having a permanently fixed stub shaft extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said worm gear being rotatably mounted on said stub shaft, said cover having a recess in which the upper end of said stub shaft is journaled, said worm gear and pinion being bevel gears.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly as defined in claim 3 in which said bevel gears are spiral bevel gears.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |