Patent ID: 6435075
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: B60Q,F16J,G09F

Abstract:
A fluid actuator for attaching a hinged safety device to a vehicle and pivoting the hinged safety device between retracted and extended positions comprising:a housing having a right cylinder attached to the housing inside the housing, the right cylinder having a closed end and an open end, a piston that slides in the right cylinder and forms a fluid chamber between the piston and the closed end of the right cylinder, a passage that extends into the housing and opens into the fluid chamber, a lever arm pivot support inside the housing that defines a pivot axis, a lever arm pivotally attached to the lever arm pivot support at one end for pivotal movement about the pivot axis between retracted and extended positions, the lever arm extending over the cylinder and having a lip at an opposite end that is spaced from the right cylinder, a pivot arm that engages an upper surface of the piston at one end and that engages the lever arm at an opposite end, a rotor that is rotationally mounted in the housing for movement between retracted and extended positions, the rotor having a spool at one end and an eccentric arm engaging the lip of the lever arm, and a torsion spring encircling the spool with one end engaging the rotor and an opposite end engaging a stop in the housing so that the eccentric arm is biased against the lip of the lever arm, and the rotor and the lever arm are biased to their respective retracted positions.