Patent ID: 6378392
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: E05F,E05Y,Y10T

Abstract:
A drive assembly for use in a vehicle having a closure panel that swings between an open and closed position, said drive assembly comprising:a link having a first end attachable to the closure panel and an opposed second end that is driven back and forth along a defined axis; a power actuator; a channel track having an end to end extent oriented along said defined axis and an inner surface with a regular cross section along it length; a drive member aligned with said channel track and drivingly engaged with said power actuator, for axially back and forth movement within said channel track; a pair of axially opposed stops on said drive member, a yoke-shoe assembly having a rigid inner portion that is pivotally attached to said link second end and which is closely captured between said drive member stop members to maintain a clearance between said rigid inner portion and the rest of said drive member, said yoke-shoe assembly also having an outer bearing layer that is closely slidably captured within the inner surface of said channel track, whereby, as said power actuator moves said drive member axially back and forth within said channel track, axial loads are transferred between from said drive member to said yoke-shoe assembly rigid inner portion and link by said axially spaced stop members, while non axial reactive loads from said link into said yoke shoe assembly inner portion are isolated from said drive member by said maintained clearance.