An actuator includes first and second structural units arranged independently of one another. An engagement means is arranged in the first structural unit. A drive motor is in driving relationship to the engagement means and arranged in the first structural unit. An anti-backbend chain is in engagement with the engagement means, and a chain depot is arranged in the second structural unit.

A vehicle side door opening/closing device includes a motor, a gear case to which the motor is fixed and which is fixed to a side door, a speed reducer built in the gear case, an output gear provided to the speed reducer, a rack of which an end portion is pivotably supported to a vehicle body and which is provided with a rack gear, and an engagement holding unit connected with the gear case and movably supporting the rack while constantly keeping an engagement allowance between the rack and the output gear. The side door is moved in an opening direction by pushing the rack and in a closing direction by pulling the rack respectively following the rotation of the output gear. The engagement holding unit rotates around a rotation center of the output gear by a swing of the rack following the opening/closing operation of the side door.

A vehicle side door opening/closing device includes a motor, a gear case to which the motor is fixed and which is fixed to a side door, a speed reducer built in the gear case, an output gear provided to the speed reducer, a rack of which an end portion is pivotably supported to a vehicle body and which is provided with a rack gear, and an engagement holding unit connected with the gear case and movably supporting the rack while constantly keeping an engagement allowance between the rack and the output gear. The side door is moved in an opening direction by pushing the rack and in a closing direction by pulling the rack respectively following the rotation of the output gear. The engagement holding unit rotates around a rotation center of the output gear by a swing of the rack following the opening/closing operation of the side door.

One embodiment relates to a door operator including an operator body including a rotatable pinion, an arm connected to the pinion, an inductive sensor mounted adjacent the arm, and a controller in communication with the inductive sensor. The inductive sensor includes an inductor comprising a plurality of nested coils, and each of the coils is curved about the pinion. The controller is configured to provide the inductive sensor with a varying power signal, and the inductive sensor is configured to inductively link the inductor to the arm in response to the varying power signal. The inductive sensor has a characteristic which varies in response to the rotational position of the arm when the inductor is inductively linked with the arm. The controller is further configured receive information relating to the characteristic, and to determine the rotational position of the arm based upon the received information.

One embodiment relates to a door operator including an operator body including a rotatable pinion, an arm connected to the pinion, an inductive sensor mounted adjacent the arm, and a controller in communication with the inductive sensor. The inductive sensor includes an inductor comprising a plurality of nested coils, and each of the coils is curved about the pinion. The controller is configured to provide the inductive sensor with a varying power signal, and the inductive sensor is configured to inductively link the inductor to the arm in response to the varying power signal. The inductive sensor has a characteristic which varies in response to the rotational position of the arm when the inductor is inductively linked with the arm. The controller is further configured receive information relating to the characteristic, and to determine the rotational position of the arm based upon the received information.

The invention relates to an actuator with an anti-backbend chain, a drive motor, and a worm which can be driven by the drive motor and which comprises a helical groove. The anti-backbend chain has engagement means and is guided along the worm, and the chain is in engagement with the worm by means of the engagement means and the helical groove to drive the anti-backbend chain. Such an actuator should have a more compact design and should optionally exhibit less wear. For this purpose, the core diameter of the worm is larger than twice the distance from the motor axis to the motor exterior along which the anti-backbend chain is guided, and the anti-backbend chain is guided at least partly along the drive motor by means of the engagement means.

A door opening and closing device for a refrigerator includes a door coupled by means of a hinge unit to a main body defining a storage compartment therein, a gasket disposed between the door and the main body to provide a hermetic seal therebetween, and an opening and closing unit for opening and closing the door with respect to the main body, wherein the opening and closing unit includes a drive unit for generating a driving force, a gasket separation mechanism for pushing the main body using rotational force transmitted from the drive unit to separate the gasket from the main body or the door, and a door rotating mechanism for rotating the door using the rotational force transmitted from the drive unit.

A door opening and closing device for a refrigerator includes a door coupled to a main body, an opening and closing unit including a drive unit for generating rotational force by means of a motor and a door rotating mechanism for opening or closing the door, a device for measuring a back electromotive force generated from the motor, a power circuit connected for supplying power to the motor, a circuit for transmitting back electromotive force of the motor to the device, a control switch for selectively connecting the motor to the circuit or the power circuit, and a control unit for connecting the control switch to the power circuit when the motor is activated, and connecting the control switch to the circuit and opening or closing the door when the motor is deactivated, wherein the control unit closes the door when a predetermined back electromotive force is input to the device.

A door opening and closing device for a refrigerator includes a door coupled to a main body, an opening and closing unit including a drive unit for generating rotational force by means of a motor and a door rotating mechanism for opening or closing the door, a device for measuring a back electromotive force generated from the motor, a power circuit connected for supplying power to the motor, a circuit for transmitting back electromotive force of the motor to the device, a control switch for selectively connecting the motor to the circuit or the power circuit, and a control unit for connecting the control switch to the power circuit when the motor is activated, and connecting the control switch to the circuit and opening or closing the door when the motor is deactivated, wherein the control unit closes the door when a predetermined back electromotive force is input to the device.

A closure arrangement for closing a fuel inlet compartment of a motor vehicle body, including a guide device fixed to the vehicle, a cover element displaceably guided on the guide device between a closed position in which the fuel inlet compartment is closed and an open position in which the fuel inlet compartment is open. The guided displacement of the cover element between the closed and open positions includes reciprocating movement and longitudinal movements. The closure arrangement has a drive device operatively connected to the cover element and drives same between the closed and open positions. The drive device has a drive rod element acting axially indirectly on the cover element so as to transmit pulling and pushing forces. The cover element is displaceable between the closed and the open positions by an axial drive movement of the drive rod element with reciprocating and longitudinal movement.