A system for exerting torque on a shaft includes: a spring assembly having; a spring; a companion member to the spring, wherein at least one of the spring and the companion member is in compression and the other of the spring and companion member is in tension; connecting structure for transmitting a force associated with the spring outside of the gear assembly; and a gear train for connecting the connecting structure to the shaft to apply torque to the shaft. A method of exerting torque on a shaft includes: arranging a plurality of spring assemblies arranged in an array around the shaft, each spring assembly having; a spring; connecting structure for transmitting a force associated with the spring; attaching a gear train to the connecting structure; and configuring the gear train to apply the force associated with the spring to the shaft in the form of torque on the shaft.

A lid controlling apparatus includes a casing having a target region, a lid, and a rod driving mechanism connected between the casing and the lid. The rod driving mechanism includes a first rod pivoted to the casing, a non-rotatable gear fixed to the casing, a driven gear pivoted to a side of the first rod and connected to the lid, and a planetary gear device pivoted to the side of the first rod and engaged with the non-rotatable gear and the driven gear for rotating between lifting and closed positions. When the planetary gear device rotates to the lifting position, the first rod pivots with rotation of the planetary gear device to have a first included angle relative to the casing, and the planetary gear device rotates the driven gear to make the lid have a second included angle relative to the first rod for exposing the target region.

A spindle drive assembly for opening and/or closing a vehicle hatch is described. This comprises a spindle extending along a spindle drive axis and a spindle drive motor coupled to the spindle in terms of drive, the motor shaft of which is arranged substantially coaxially with respect to the spindle drive axis. The spindle drive motor is coupled to the spindle via a two-stage epicyclic gearing. Furthermore, a vehicle hatch with such a spindle drive assembly is presented. A method for installing an epicyclic gearing of such a spindle drive assembly is additionally specified.

A door drive assembly including: a drive arm including a first end configured to be rotatably coupled to the body and a second end configured to be rotatably coupled to the door. The door drive assembly also includes a drive mechanism coupled to the drive arm and configured to rotate the drive arm between an open position and a closed position. The door drive assembly also includes a control arm including a first end configured to be rotatably coupled to a vehicle body and a second end configured to be rotatably coupled to the door. The door drive assembly also includes a race configured to be disposed between the body and the first end of the control arm where the first end of control arm is configured to translate by a first distance along the race as the drive arm rotates between the open and closed positions.

A spindle drive assembly for opening and/or closing a vehicle flap is described, having a spindle extending along a spindle drive axis and a spindle drive motor which is drivingly coupled to the spindle via a gearing and the motor shaft of which is arranged substantially coaxially with the spindle drive axis, wherein a coupling compensating an axial offset and a hysteresis brake are drivingly interposed between the spindle drive motor and the gearing. In addition, a vehicle flap with such a spindle drive assembly is presented.

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 spindle drive assembly for opening and/or closing a vehicle flap is described, having a spindle and a spindle drive motor coupled thereto by means of a two-stage epicyclic gearing. A ratio of a number of teeth of each planet gear of a first epicyclic gearing stage to a number of teeth of each planet gear of a second epicyclic gearing stage is selected such that, in operation, a first sound frequency that is emitted by the first epicyclic gearing stage differs by an integer multiple of a semitone from a second sound frequency that is emitted by the second epicyclic gearing stage. In addition, a vehicle flap with such a spindle drive assembly is presented.

A powered vehicle closure system includes a controller that is configured to control a force of a powered actuator to provide smooth opening and/or closing operations.

An electromechanical strut is provided for moving a pivotal closure member between open and closed positions relative to a motor vehicle body. The electromechanical strut includes a drive mechanism having a motor-gearbox assembly, flex coupling assembly, and a spring-loaded supplemental friction assembly that are operable to drive a rotatable power screw. The drive mechanism converts rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of an extensible member to move the extensible member between a retracted position corresponding to the closure member closed position and an extended position corresponding to the closure member open position. The motor-gearbox assembly includes a motor and a geartrain having an output component driven at a reduced speed relative to the motor speed. The flex coupling assembly is operably disposed between the output component and the power screw. The spring-loaded supplemental friction assembly generates and applies a supplemental frictional force to the flex coupling assembly.

A retention assembly may comprise a motor assembly and a self-locking worm drive coupled thereto. A cam may be fixed to a worm gear of the worm drive. The retention assembly may further comprise an actuation shaft including a follower. The actuation shaft may be displaceable over a displacement range via rotation of the cam. The retention assembly may further comprise a securement member with a securement member follower, the securement member coupled to a portion of the actuator shaft. The retention assembly may further comprise a housing cam included as part of the retention assembly housing and against which the securement member follower may be biased. The securement member may be in an open state when the actuation shaft is in a first position. The securement member may swing outward to a retaining position as the actuation shaft is moved to a second position.