Patent ID: 6298604
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B62D,E05F,E05Y

Abstract:
In a vehicle having a closure panel that pivots up and down between open and closed positions about a main pivot axis, said panel having separated first and second sides, a closure panel actuator comprising;only one powered actuator link, said link being located proximate to the panel first side and being movable up and down to move the panel between said open and closed positions,a torque tube having a central stem and first and second spaced apart integral arms extending substantially perpendicular from the central stem, the arms being oriented substantially coplanar in a free, unstressed state but capable of moving relative to one another out of said free state to resiliently twist the stem, said stem being journaled to said closure panel to define a turning axis for said stem substantially parallel to said main pivot axis with said first arm extending generally along said panel first side and said second arm extending generally along the panel second side, with an end of said first arm being attached to said powered actuator link and an end of the second arm being fixed to the panel second side, andmeans for enabling said powered actuator link to apply a lifting force to said second side of said closure panel before applying a lifting force to said first side of said closure panel.