A damping device includes a housing and a piston. The housing has an inner wall, and a chamber is defined by the inner wall. The chamber has a damping medium filled therewith. The piston is movable in the chamber, wherein the inner wall has a plurality of inner diameters.

An apparatus for automatic movement of sliding windows in a motor vehicle, comprising a d.c. electric motor that moves a window (F) so that it slides along guides, including an electronic control module for controlling the d.c. electric motor, in particular a microprocessor. The electronic control module measures a current (I) of the motor and a position (X) of the window (F), and drives reversal of operation of the electric motor if it is verified that the current (I) is higher than a threshold current (I.sub.th) and the position (X) of the window (F) falls within a given zone (APZ) of a path (P) of movement of the window (F). The anti-pinch circuit device measures a back electromotive force (E; E.sub.m) of the motor, and the electronic control module calculates the position of the window (F) as a function of the back electromotive force (E; E.sub.m) of the motor.

An load adaptive lift assist for a pivoting stowage bin includes an assembly housing having an interior and a pair of opposing end fittings. A piston rod is disposed within the assembly housing and operatively coupled to one of the end fittings, the piston rod being configured to move between extended and retracted positions based on the movement of the pivoting stowage bin. A spring retainer is attached to a structure that retains at least one lift assist spring and a latch mechanism is operatively coupled to the other of the end fittings. The latch mechanism includes at least one mechanical feature for retaining the spring retainer until a predetermined load has been exceeded in the stowage bin. The load adaptive lift assist automatically resets itself and does not require use of sensors or feedback controls.

The invention controls a power cinching function of a motor vehicle door latch in order to improve door seal performance under conditions wherein vibrations could otherwise reduce seal effectiveness. With the door latched closed in a flush condition, the vehicle speed is compared to a slow-speed threshold. When the vehicle speed is greater than the slow-speed threshold, then a vehicle vibration parameter is compared to a vibration threshold. When the vibration parameter is greater than the vibration threshold, then the power cinching function is activated to move the door to to a subflush condition which increases a compression of the seal between the door and a vehicle door frame. When the door is in the subflush condition, the vehicle speed continues to be compared to the slow-speed threshold, and when the vehicle speed is less than the slow-speed threshold then the door is released back to the flush condition.

A power closure actuator for powering a movable closure includes an output member configured to drive movement of the movable closure, a motor coupled through a gear reduction to drive the output member, and an integrated brake-clutch unit having an input configured to receive drive power from the electric motor. The brake-clutch unit provides independent braking and clutching between the electric motor and the output member via an electric brake actuator and an electric clutch actuator, respectively. Brake and clutch portions of the brake-clutch unit act on a rotor, and brake force can be maintained on the rotor without powering the brake actuator. A clutch disc is biased disengaged from the rotor. The integrated brake-clutch unit provides a drive state between the electric motor and the output member when the brake portion is released concurrently with the clutch portion establishing a power coupling between the clutch disc and the rotor.

A motor drive device for moving a vehicle sliding door is provided. The device includes an electric motor, a force transmission mechanism operationally connectable to the vehicle sliding door and the electric motor to transmit a drive force provided by the motor to the sliding door, sensors at least for determining an instantaneous position of the vehicle sliding door, an electronic control unit for activating at least the motor, and a shift clutch coupled to the force transmission mechanism and couplable to the motor for load-independent coupling of the motor to the force transmission mechanism. The control unit, in the event of application of a sufficient force to the sliding door during a power-driven movement, either elevates a speed of the vehicle sliding door by elevating the transmitted drive force or decouples the force transmission mechanism and the motor with the shift clutch.

The invention controls a power cinching function of a motor vehicle door latch in order to improve door seal performance under conditions wherein vibrations could otherwise reduce seal effectiveness. With the door latched closed in a flush condition, the vehicle speed is compared to a slow-speed threshold. When the vehicle speed is greater than the slow-speed threshold, then a vehicle vibration parameter is compared to a vibration threshold. When the vibration parameter is greater than the vibration threshold, then the power cinching function is activated to move the door to to a subflush condition which increases a compression of the seal between the door and a vehicle door frame. When the door is in the subflush condition, the vehicle speed continues to be compared to the slow-speed threshold, and when the vehicle speed is less than the slow-speed threshold then the door is released back to the flush condition.

A drive device for a movable furniture part includes an ejection force accumulator which can be tensioned, and an ejection element mechanically loaded by the ejection force accumulator and used to carry out an ejection movement of the moveable furniture part from a closed position into an open position. The ejection movement can be initiated by a compression movement of the movable furniture part into a compression position which is behind the closed position. The drive device also comprises a tensioning device for tensioning the ejection force accumulator with energy which can be emitted by the ejection movement. During the compression movement, at least 50% of the energy emitted by the ejection force accumulator during the ejection movement can be introduced into the ejection force accumulator by the tensioning device.

A vehicle includes: a frame, a rotatable door; an inhibitor comprising: an arm extending through a selective gate including: upper and lower springs respectively biasing upper and lower rollers against the arm; upper and lower stoppers configured to, upon activation, compress the upper and lower rollers against the arm, thus stopping rotation of the door; sensors, processor(s) configured to: activate and deactivate the stoppers based on sensed events.

A movement control device is provided comprising a housing (11) with an elongate push rod (10) mounted therein for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis (x). One end of the push rod extends out of the housing. A spring (12) is arranged between the housing and the push rod to provide a biasing force on the push rod in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. A damping device (15) is arranged between the housing and the push rod to provide a damped resistive force in a direction opposite to said first direction. An indexing mechanism (18) controls movement of the push rod relative to the housing. The damping device is arranged to act along an axis (y) that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the push rod and spaced apart from it.