Vehicle tailgate assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10145164-B2
Application number	US-201615335531-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2016
Priority date	Oct 27, 2016
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle tailgate assembly includes a tailgate adapted to pivotally latch to a vehicle cargo box. A hinge pivot is coupled to the tailgate and includes an electromagnetic cylinder and a vane hub positioned within the cylinder and coupled to at least one of the tailgate and the cargo box. The vane hub is configured to rotate within the cylinder. A vane is coupled to the vane hub. A magnetorheological fluid is positioned around the vane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle tailgate assembly comprising:
a vehicle cargo box; and
a hinge pivot coupling a tailgate to the vehicle cargo box and comprising:
a vane hub positioned within an electromagnetic cylinder and coupled to the tailgate, wherein the vane hub is configured to rotate within the cylinder;
a controller configured to not provide electrical energy to the cylinder when the tailgate pivots to a closed position; and
a magnetorheological fluid positioned around the vane hub.

2. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vane hub rotates as the tailgate pivots between closed and open positions.

3. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of vanes are coupled to the vane hub.

4. The tailgate assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a sensor positioned proximate the hinge pivot and configured to detect motion of the plurality of vanes.

5. The tailgate assembly of claim 4 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect a direction of motion of the plurality of vanes.

6. The tailgate assembly of claim 5 , wherein the electromagnetic cylinder is an electromagnet.

7. The tailgate assembly of claim 6 , wherein a power source is electrically coupled to the electromagnetic cylinder.

8. The tailgate assembly of claim 5 , wherein the magnetorheological fluid changes viscosity in response to motion of the plurality of vanes.

9. A vehicle tailgate assembly comprising:
a hinge pivot coupled to a tailgate and comprising:
a plurality of vanes coupled to a vane hub positioned in an electromagnetic cylinder, wherein a controller is configured to not supply electrical energy to the cylinder as the tailgate pivots to a closes position; and
a magnetorheological fluid positioned around the vanes; and

a sensor positioned proximate the cylinder and configured to detect motion of the vanes relative to the cylinder.

10. The tailgate assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cylinder rotates as the tailgate pivots between closed and open positions.

11. The tailgate assembly of claim 9 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect a direction of motion of the vanes.

12. The tailgate assembly of claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic cylinder is an electromagnet.

13. The tailgate assembly of claim 9 , wherein the magnetorheological fluid changes viscosity in response to motion of the vanes.

14. A vehicle tailgate assembly comprising:
a hinge pivot coupling a tailgate to a cargo box and comprising:
an electromagnetic cylinder;
a vane configured to rotate relative to the cylinder; and
a magnetorheological fluid positioned within the cylinder; and
a sensor positioned proximate the cylinder configured to detect motion of the vane and not energize the electromagnetic cylinder to generate a magnetic field within the magnetorheological fluid when the tailgate is pivoted to a closed position.

15. The tailgate assembly of claim 14 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect a direction of motion of the vane.

16. The tailgate assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a power source electrically coupled to the electromagnetic cylinder, wherein the power source is configured to provide electrical energy to the electromagnetic cylinder when the sensor detects motion of the vane.

17. The tailgate assembly of claim 16 , wherein providing electrical energy to the electromagnetic cylinder generates the magnetic field within the cylinder.

18. The tailgate assembly of claim 17 , wherein the cylinder rotates relative to the vane.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Singh Arjun
• Patel Bhupenda A
• Derbis Leszek

Classifications

• E05Y2900/546

  Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards · CPC title

• E05F5/00

  Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers (construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices E05F3/00; braking devices, buffers or end stops on drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture A47B88/473; combined with devices for holding wings open E05C17/00; devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing E05C17/04) · CPC title

• B62D33/0273 Primary

  Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D33/037

  Latching means therefor · CPC title

• E05Y2201/266

  rotary · CPC title