A clutch mechanism for coupling and uncoupling an electric motor and leadscrew has dog-clutch gears that can be engaged by a linear actuator, bell crank, and linkage shaft. Uncoupling force due to narrowed dog teeth are resisted by the alignment of the linkage shaft with the central portion of the bell crank.

A door operator system for moving a door of a vehicle between open and closed positions includes a track defined in a base, the track having a curved portion at an end thereof; a drive bracket configured to suspend the door from the base, the drive bracket being slidably movable along the track between an open position and a closed position adjacent to the curved portion; a drive mechanism configured to cause movement of the drive bracket between the open and closed positions; and a locking system configured to retain the drive bracket in the closed position. When the drive bracket is in the closed position, the curved portion engages a cam follower of the locking system to retain the cam follower in a locked position that is over center with respect to a plane perpendicular to the track and a plane parallel to the track.

A door operator system for moving a door of a vehicle between open and closed positions includes a track defined in a base, the track having a curved portion at an end thereof; a drive bracket configured to suspend the door from the base, the drive bracket being slidably movable along the track between an open position and a closed position adjacent to the curved portion; a drive mechanism configured to cause movement of the drive bracket between the open and closed positions; and a locking system configured to retain the drive bracket in the closed position. When the drive bracket is in the closed position, the curved portion engages a cam follower of the locking system to retain the cam follower in a locked position that is over center with respect to a plane perpendicular to the track and a plane parallel to the track.

A spindle drive for a member to be driven includes a driven spindle with a longitudinal axis extending through a spindle nut. The spindle drive includes the spindle nut having a pusher dog with first and second contact surfaces for driving the member. The contact surfaces are oriented in opposite directions to each other along the longitudinal axis of the spindle. First and second drive surfaces are provided, facing each other and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the spindle. A distance between the two drive surfaces exceeds a distance between the contact surfaces. The spindle drive further includes an actuator provided connected to the spindle nut for actuating another device, when the pusher dog between the drive surfaces is being displaced.

A spindle drive for a member to be driven includes a driven spindle with a longitudinal axis extending through a spindle nut. The spindle drive includes the spindle nut having a pusher dog with first and second contact surfaces for driving the member. The contact surfaces are oriented in opposite directions to each other along the longitudinal axis of the spindle. First and second drive surfaces are provided, facing each other and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the spindle. A distance between the two drive surfaces exceeds a distance between the contact surfaces. The spindle drive further includes an actuator provided connected to the spindle nut for actuating another device, when the pusher dog between the drive surfaces is being displaced.

The twist axle assembly includes a pair of trailing arms that are spaced apart from one another in a first direction. The twist axle assembly also includes a twist beam, which has an open shaped cross-sectional shape, that extends in the first direction between a pair of opposing end portions. The open cross-sectional shape of the twist beam includes a base and a pair of side walls. The end portions of the twist beam are fixedly attached with the trailing arms. A pair of beam reinforcements are fixedly attached with the trailing arms and with the base of the twist beam. The beam reinforcements are fixedly attached with the twist beam through at least one of fasteners, adhesives, resistance spot welding, cold metal transfer welding, laser welding, and brazing.

The twist axle assembly includes a pair of trailing arms that are spaced apart from one another in a first direction. The twist axle assembly also includes a twist beam, which has an open shaped cross-sectional shape, that extends in the first direction between a pair of opposing end portions. The open cross-sectional shape of the twist beam includes a base and a pair of side walls. The end portions of the twist beam are fixedly attached with the trailing arms. A pair of beam reinforcements are fixedly attached with the trailing arms and with the base of the twist beam. The beam reinforcements are fixedly attached with the twist beam through at least one of fasteners, adhesives, resistance spot welding, cold metal transfer welding, laser welding, and brazing.

An automated window shutter assembly includes a pair of shutters that is each movably positioned on an exterior wall of a building. Each of the shutters is positionable in an open position or a closed position. A housing is coupled to the exterior wall of the building and the housing is positioned above the window. A pair of screws is each rotatably positioned within the housing and each of the screws is rotatable in a closing direction or an opening direction. A drive unit is positioned within the housing and the drive unit engages each of the screws. The drive unit is turned on to rotate each of the screws in the closing direction or the opening direction. A plurality of engagements each threadably engages a respective one of the screws. Each of the engagements is coupled to a respective one of the shutters for opening and closing the shutters.

An automated window shutter assembly includes a pair of shutters that is each movably positioned on an exterior wall of a building. Each of the shutters is positionable in an open position or a closed position. A housing is coupled to the exterior wall of the building and the housing is positioned above the window. A pair of screws is each rotatably positioned within the housing and each of the screws is rotatable in a closing direction or an opening direction. A drive unit is positioned within the housing and the drive unit engages each of the screws. The drive unit is turned on to rotate each of the screws in the closing direction or the opening direction. A plurality of engagements each threadably engages a respective one of the screws. Each of the engagements is coupled to a respective one of the shutters for opening and closing the shutters.

A door system (1) includes a door leaf (3) for closing off an entrance opening (4) and a suspension rod (10) having two opposite ends (11, 12) supported by a support structure (13). A suspension member (14) connects the door leaf (3) to the suspension rod (10) and can slide together with the door leaf (3) along the suspension rod (10) from an initial position corresponding to a closed position of the door leaf (3), to a final position corresponding to an open position of the door leaf (3). The two opposite ends (11, 12) of the suspension rod (10) are slidable in a horizontal direction transverse to the entrance opening (4). The suspension member (14) is slidably coupled to and guided by a non-linear upper guide (17) positioned above the suspension rod (10).