US 7,320,198 B2
Integrated gas spring actuator strut assembly with threaded nut in gas spring
Louis William Berklich, Jr., Lake Orion, Mich. (US); Jose Maria Garcia, Troy, Mich. (US); Gregory Alan Miller, Oxford, Mich. (US); Bradley William Semp, Macomb, Mich. (US); and Charles Leroy Hazel, Wolverine, Mich. (US)
Assigned to Hi-Lex Controls, Inc., Troy, Mich. (US)
Filed on Oct. 15, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/966,782.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/604147, filed on Aug. 24, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0042166 A1, Mar. 02, 2006
Int. Cl. E05F 11/24 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 49—343  [49/339; 49/340] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An integrated spring and actuator assembly for controlling the motion of a closure panel of a motor vehicle comprising:
a hollow cylinder having a closed end and an open end, the closed end forming a first vehicle mount, the hollow cylinder defining a longitudinal axis,
internal threads formed along the inside of the hollow cylinder,
a drive nut located within the hollow cylinder and having external threads meshing with the internal threads,
a rod coaxially positioned on the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder and extending within the cylinder, the rod having a first end rigidly coupled with the drive nut and an opposite second end engaging a second vehicle mount,
a gas seal cooperating with the hollow cylinder to define a gas chamber within the hollow cylinder, the gas chamber being charged with a pressurized gas with the rod passing through and sealingly engaging the gas seal, the drive nut and at least a portion of the rod disposed within the gas chamber, and
an actuator for causing rotation of the rod, thereby causing the drive nut to move in the cylinder within the gas chamber along the longitudinal axis, moving the rod longitudinally through the gas seal, and causing the distance between the first and second vehicle mounts to change, thereby moving the closure panel.