IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0153714
(2008-05-22)
|
등록번호 |
US-8226146
(2012-07-24)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Duffy, Michael
- McIntyre, Andrew
- Austin, Donald M.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
A tailgate dampening system for a vehicle including a tailgate lift assist system including a torque rod rotationally grounded between the tailgate at a first end and a first side of the vehicle's frame at a second end is disclosed. The dampening system includes a coupling shaft attached to one end
A tailgate dampening system for a vehicle including a tailgate lift assist system including a torque rod rotationally grounded between the tailgate at a first end and a first side of the vehicle's frame at a second end is disclosed. The dampening system includes a coupling shaft attached to one end of the torque rod, a bell crank arm attached to the coupling shaft, and a dampening strut attached between the vehicle's frame and the bell crank arm. The crank arm compresses the dampening strut as the crank arm is rotated by the torque rod through the coupling shaft as the torque rod is twisted in response to the tailgate being opened, so as to reduce the rate at which the tailgate falls.
대표청구항
▼
1. A tailgate dampening system for a vehicle including a frame and a tailgate lift assist system including a torque rod rotationally grounded between the tailgate at a one end and the vehicle's frame at another end, the dampening system comprising: a coupling shaft attached to one end of the torque
1. A tailgate dampening system for a vehicle including a frame and a tailgate lift assist system including a torque rod rotationally grounded between the tailgate at a one end and the vehicle's frame at another end, the dampening system comprising: a coupling shaft attached to one end of the torque rod,a bell crank arm attached the coupling shaft on a side opposite the torque rod, anda dampening strut attached between the vehicle's frame and the bell crank arm,the bell crank arm moving the dampening strut as the bell crank arm is rotated by the torque rod through the coupling shaft as the torque rod is twisted in response to the tailgate being opened, the moved dampening strut reducing the rate at which the tailgate falls,the dampening strut including a metered piston within a body of the dampening strut, the metered piston including at least one orifice through which a fluid moves from a first side of the piston to a second side of the piston as the piston is moved within the body of the dampening strut by the crank arm as the tailgate is moved to an open position,the dampening strut containing an internal check valve, through which an un-metered flow of the fluid from the second side of the piston to the first side of the piston occurs, thereby reducing the dampening by the dampening strut in a direction corresponding to the tailgate being closed, so as to allow the tailgate to be closed with minimal resistance,the dampening system performing a dampening function only in connection with the opening of the tailgate, such that it provides no effect in lifting the tailgate. 2. The tailgate dampening system of claim 1, wherein the size of the at least one orifice controlling the amount of fluid that can move from the first side to the second side of the piston at any given time to thereby absorb and dissipate energy resulting from the tailgate opening and reduce the rate at which the tailgate falls when it is opened. 3. The tailgate dampening system of claim 1 further comprising a post and a body bracket attached to the side of the vehicle's bed/frame, the coupling shaft passing through post and body bracket and then being attached to the bell crank arm. 4. The tailgate dampening system of claim 1, further comprising a spacer for providing clearance to the sidewall of the vehicle's body to which the body bracket is attached. 5. The tailgate dampening system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a hydraulic fluid. 6. The tailgate dampening system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a pneumatic fluid. 7. A tailgate dampening system for a vehicle including a tailgate lift assist system including a torque rod rotationally grounded between the tailgate at a one end and the vehicle's frame at another end, the dampening system comprising: a termination post attached at one end to the torque rod, the termination post having an elongated other end engaging a slot in a pivot body within a bushing attached to a body bracket, the body bracket being mounted to the vehicle's frame,a bell crank arm attached to a shaft protruding from one side of the pivot body and extending through the bushing and a hole in the body bracket, anda dampening strut attached between the vehicle's frame and the bell crank arm,the bell crank arm moving the dampening strut as the bell crank arm is rotated by the torque rod through the termination post and pivot body shaft as the torque rod is twisted in response to the tailgate being opened, the moved dampening strut reducing the rate at which the tailgate falls,the dampening strut including a metered piston within a body of the dampening strut through which a fluid to move from a first side of the piston to a second side of the piston as the piston is moved within the body of the dampening strut as the tailgate is moved to an open position,the dampening strut containing an internal check valve, through which an un-metered flow of fluid from the second side of the piston to the first side of the piston occurs, thereby reducing the dampening by the dampening strut in a direction corresponding to the tailgate being closed, so as to allow the tailgate to be closed with minimal resistance,the dampening system performing a dampening function only in connection with the opening of the tailgate, such that it provides no effect in lifting the tailgate. 8. The tailgate dampening system of claim 7, wherein the dampening strut includes a body and a piston protruding from the body that is attached to the vehicle's body, the piston being compressed into the body as the tailgate is opened. 9. The tailgate dampening system of claim 7, wherein the size of at least one orifice in the metered piston controls the amount of fluid that can move from the first side to the second side of the piston at any given time, thereby using viscous friction to absorb and dissipate energy resulting from the tailgate opening, to thereby reduce the rate at which the tailgate falls when it is opened. 10. The tailgate dampening system of claim 9, wherein a plurality of orifices in the metered piston control the amount of fluid that can move from the first side to the second side of the piston at any given time. 11. The tailgate dampening system of claim 7 further comprising a gate bracket mounted to a side of the tailgate, the termination post extending through a hole in a gate bracket whereupon the elongated end of the termination post engages a slot in the pivot body. 12. The tailgate dampening system of claim 7, wherein the shaft protruding from one side of the pivot body extends through the bushing and a hole in body bracket to the crank arm. 13. The tailgate dampening system of claim 7, wherein the fluid is a hydraulic fluid. 14. The tailgate dampening system of claim 7, wherein the fluid is a pneumatic fluid. 15. A tailgate dampening system for a vehicle including a tailgate lift assist system including a torque rod rotationally grounded between the tailgate at a one end and the vehicle's frame at another end, the dampening system comprising: a bushing having a stem through which the torque rod is inserted,a pivot body positioned within the bushing and about which the bushing rotates,a termination post on top of which is inserted a slot in the pivot body,a termination post attached at one end to the torque rod, the termination post having an elongated other end engaging a slot in a pivot body within a bushing attached to a body bracket, the body bracket being mounted to the vehicle's frame,a coupling shaft inserted through the termination post, the coupling shaft having a head corresponding in shape to an impression in the bushing so that the coupling shaft is driven by the bushing as it rotates about the pivot body,a bell crank arm attached at one end to the coupling shaft, anda dampening strut attached between the vehicle's frame and another end of the bell crank arm,the bell crank arm moving the dampening strut as the bell crank arm is rotated by the torque rod through the termination post and pivot body shaft as the torque rod is twisted in response to the tailgate being opened, the moved dampening strut reducing the rate at which the tailgate falls,the dampening strut including a metered piston within a body of the dampening strut through which a fluid to move from a first side of the piston to a second side of the piston as the piston is moved within the body of the dampening strut as the tailgate is moved to an open position,the dampening strut containing a check valve, through which an un-metered flow of fluid from the second side of the piston to the first side of the piston occurs, thereby reducing the dampening by the dampening strut in a direction corresponding to the tailgate being closed so as to allow the tailgate to be closed with minimal resistance,the dampening system performing a dampening function only in connection with the opening of the tailgate, such that it provides no effect in lifting the tailgate. 16. The tailgate dampening system of claim 15, wherein the dampening strut includes a body and a piston protruding from the body that is attached to the vehicle's body, the piston being compressed into the body as the tailgate is opened. 17. The tailgate dampening system of claim 15, wherein the size of an orifice in the metered piston controls the amount of fluid that can move from the first side to the second side at any given time, thereby using viscous friction to absorb and dissipate energy resulting from the tailgate opening, to thereby reduce the rate at which the tailgate falls when it is opened. 18. The tailgate dampening system of claim 15, wherein a plurality of orifices in the metered piston control the amount of fluid that can move from the first side to the second side of the piston at any given time. 19. The tailgate dampening system of claim 15, wherein the crank arm is attached to the dampening strut by a pivot pin. 20. The tailgate dampening system of claim 15, wherein the fluid is a hydraulic fluid. 21. The tailgate dampening system of claim 15, wherein the fluid is a pneumatic fluid.
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