A valve mechanism according to certain embodiments includes an adjustment screw and a rotatable control knob coupled with the adjustment screw. The valve mechanism includes a feedback mechanism operable to provide at least one of visual feedback, audible feedback, or tactile feedback to indicate movement and/or a positon of the adjustment screw within a door closer body.

The invention relates to a hinge (10) comprising a swivellable hinge part (12), a stationary hinge part (14) and a tensionable spring element (34), wherein the stationary hinge part (14) is designed with a first bearing (16) as well as a second bearing (18), wherein the bearings (16, 18) have swivel axes (S1, S2) that are offset to one another. According to the invention, the swivellable hinge part (12) is mounted on the stationary hinge part (14) via the first bearing (16) such that it can swivel about a swivel axis (S1), and the tensionable spring element (34) is arranged on the stationary hinge part (14) via the second bearing (18).

A device and method for automatically closing a tailgate of a motor vehicle having a body and a tailgate closing device, is described. The tailgate closing device comprises first and second closing elements. A suspension strut is situated on a first side of the tailgate and a power strut is situated on a second side of the tailgate opposite the first side. The suspension strut and the power strut are both connected to the tailgate and to the body. The first closing element is situated on the tailgate and the second closing element is situated on the body. The first and second closing elements are designed to engage into each other during the closing of the tailgate to effectuate the closure of the tailgate. The torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate is reduced during the closing of the tailgate when the distance between the first and second closing elements is less than a threshold value.

A variable output torque rod system for panel counterbalance includes a telescoping torque rod having a solid inner rod with a first end concentrically disposed in a tubular outer rod, wherein the tubular outer rod includes a first end fixed relative to a storage area, and wherein the solid inner rod includes a second end secured in a slider block relative to the panel. The telescoping torque rod is configured to store energy by being twisted when the panel is pivoted in a first direction relative to the storage area, and wherein the slider block is operative to adjust an overall length and cross-sectional area of the telescoping torque rod when the slider block is moved from a fully extended position to at least one other position that is less than the fully extended position.

A drive device for a pivoting vehicle flap, includes a first housing part (3), a second housing part (4), wherein the first housing part (3) and the second housing part (4) are designed to be movable toward each other in the direction of the axial extension (x) of the drive device (1), a spindle rod (12) rotatably arranged on one of the first housing part (3) and the second housing part (4) and a spindle nut (13) arranged in a rotatably fixed manner on the other of the first housing part (3) and the second housing part (4), a braking device (19), comprising a first brake element, which is connected to the spindle rod (12) in a rotatably fixed manner, a second brake element, which is connected to one of the first housing part (3) and the second housing part (4) in a rotatably fixed manner, wherein the first brake element can interact with the second brake element in order to generate a brake force, and a magnet arrangement for generating a magnetic field. The drive device (1) is for a pivoting vehicle flap, to provide automatic pivoting and a flexible holding force for the vehicle flap, such that at least one of the first brake element and the second brake element can be displaced in the axial direction (x) of the spindle rod (12) by the magnetic field.

A friction mechanism coupled to a drive system for mounting in a housing of a counterbalance mechanism for a closure panel of a vehicle, including: a shaft having an axis; a friction member positioned on the axis; a pinion with a friction body positioned on the shaft and adjacent to the friction member, the pinion rotatable about the axis relative to the friction member during rotation of the shaft to generate friction between the friction member and the friction body; a pusher body positioned on the axis; an actuator of the drive system connected to the pusher body in order to affect an axial position of the pusher body on the axis; and a resilient element positioned on the axis between the pusher body and the friction member, such that the resilient element exerts an axial force on the friction member to force the friction member against the friction body; wherein operation of the actuator causes a change in the axial position of the pusher body on the axis and thus a degree of compression of the resilient element positioned between the pusher body and the friction member.

The disclosure relates to a frictionally locking arrangement for a drive, which drive has an advancing gear mechanism, the frictionally locking arrangement having a carrier and at least one frictionally locking unit. In some embodiments at least one frictionally locking unit has a frictionally locking lever which is mounted with a first lever end pivotably on the carrier, which frictionally locking lever, on a first lever section which is spaced apart from the first lever end, has a force introduction device which is mounted on the carrier and is configured to introduce a force into the frictionally locking lever in a manner which is spaced apart from the first lever end, and which frictionally locking lever, on a second lever section which is arranged between the first lever end and the first lever section, has a first frictional element.

An adjusting device for a door closer having a worm screw intended to be engaged with the door closer, a drive wheel solidly attached to the worm screw, a connection element and an indicator, wheel, where the connection element includes a first wheel meshed with the drive wheel and a second wheel which is solidly attached with the first wheel, and the indicator wheel is meshed with the second wheel.

A variable output torque rod system for panel counterbalance includes a telescoping torque rod having a solid inner rod with a first end concentrically disposed in a tubular outer rod, wherein the tubular outer rod includes a first end fixed relative to a storage area, and wherein the solid inner rod includes a second end secured in a slider block relative to the panel. The telescoping torque rod is configured to store energy by being twisted when the panel is pivoted in a first direction relative to the storage area, and wherein the slider block is operative to adjust an overall length and cross-sectional area of the telescoping torque rod when the slider block is moved from a fully extended position to at least one other position that is less than the fully extended position.

A vehicle trunk opening and closing control device includes a bracket secured to an inner panel of a trunk, a hinge arm rotatably hinged at a first side thereof to the bracket and connected at a second side thereof to a trunk lid, a sliding rail disposed adjacent to one side of the hinge arm and coupled to the hinge arm, and a torsion bar, which is fixed in position by being caught in a slot formed in the bracket and is configured to rotate the hinge arm by applying tension to the sliding rail through contact with the sliding rail.