Torsion rod loading device and assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10246920-B2
Application number	US-201615176475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2016
Priority date	Jun 8, 2016
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

In at least one implementation, a torsion rod preload device, includes a body, a driver and a retainer. The body may have a base adapted to be connected to a vehicle and at least one stop. The driver is carried by the body for movement relative to the body, and is adapted to engage a torsion rod so that movement of the driver relative to the body increases a torsion force within the torsion rod. The retainer is carried by one or both of the body and the driver, and is movable by the driver as the driver moves relative to the body. The retainer is engageable with the stop to inhibit or prevent movement of the driver when the retainer is engaged with the stop to maintain a desired torsion force in the torsion rod.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torsion rod preload device, comprising:
a body having at least one stop and a base adapted to be connected to a vehicle;
a driver carried by the body for movement relative to the body, the driver adapted to engage two torsion rods so that movement of the driver relative to the body increases a torsion force within both torsion rods, and
a retainer carried by one or both of the body and the driver, the retainer being movable by the driver as the driver moves relative to the body and the retainer being engageable with the stop to inhibit or prevent movement of the driver when the retainer is engaged with the stop to maintain a desired magnitude of stored energy in the torsion rods.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body includes two and the driver is pivoted to the body between the two walls.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one stop includes two stops, each wall includes one of the stops and the retainer may be engaged with the stop of both walls at the same time.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the body includes multiple stops and the retainer is selectively engageable with the stops as the driver moves relative to the body so that the retainer engages a first one of the stops when the driver is moved a first amount relative to the body to provide a first torsion force within the torsion rod and the retainer engages a second one of the stops when the driver is moved a second amount relative to the body to provide second torsion force within the torsion rod, wherein the second amount is greater than the first amount and the second force is greater than the first force.

5. The device of claim 1 which also includes a support carried by the body and adapted to engage a portion of the torsion rod, and wherein driver is adapted to engage the torsion rod at a location spaced from the portion of the torsion rod engaged with the support.

6. A torsion rod preload device, comprising:
a body having at least one stop and a base adapted to be connected to a vehicle;
a driver carried by the body for movement relative to the body, the driver adapted to engage a torsion rod so that movement of the driver relative to the body increases a torsion force within the torsion rod, and
a retainer carried by one or both of the body and the driver, the retainer being movable by the driver as the driver moves relative to the body and the retainer being engageable with the stop to inhibit or prevent movement of the driver when the retainer is engaged with the stop to maintain a desired magnitude of stored energy in the torsion rod, wherein the driver includes a slot and the retainer extends into the slot so that the retainer moves relative to the body as the driver moves, and wherein a portion of the stop may displace the retainer within the slot and relative to the driver.

7. A torsion rod assembly for a vehicle panel, comprising:
a body having at least on stop and a base adapted to be connected to a vehicle;
a driver carried by the body for movement relative to the body;
a first torsion rod coupled to the driver so that movement of the driver relative to the body increases a torsion force within the first torsion rod;
a second torsion rod coupled to the driver so that movement of the driver relative to the body increases a torsion force within the second torsion rod; and
a retainer carried by one or both of the body and the driver, and being movable by the driver and relative to the stop as the driver moves relative to the body, wherein the retainer is engageable with the stop to inhibit or prevent movement of the driver when the retainer is engaged with the stop to maintain a desired torsion force in the torsion rod.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the body includes two walls, and the driver is pivoted to the body between the two walls.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the at least one stop includes two stops, each wall includes one of the stops and the retainer may be engaged with the stop of both walls at the same time.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the body includes multiple stops and the retainer is selectively engageable with the stops as the driver moves relative to the body so that the retainer engages a first one of the stops when the driver is moved a first amount relative to the body to provide a first torsion force within the first torsion rod and the second torsion rod, and the retainer engages a second one of the stops when the driver is moved a second amount relative to the body to provide second torsion force within the first torsion rod and the second torsion rod, wherein the second amount is greater than the first amount and the second force is greater than the first force.

11. The device of claim 7 which also includes a first support carried by the body so that the first support engages a portion of the first torsion rod and a second support carried by the body so that the second support engages a portion of the second torsion rod, and wherein driver engages the first torsion rod at a location spaced from the portion of the first torsion rod engaged with the first support and driver engages the second torsion rod at a location spaced from the portion of the second torsion rod engaged with the second support.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the portion of the first torsion rod engaged with the first support remains essentially stationary as the driver is moved, and the portion of the second torsion rod engaged with the second support remains essentially stationary as the driver is moved.

13. The device of claim 7 wherein the driver includes a slot and the retainer extends into the slot so that the retainer moves relative to the body as the driver moves, and wherein a portion of the stop may displace the retainer within the slot and relative to the driver.

14. The device of claim 1 which also includes a shaft carried by the body and about which the driver rotates, and wherein the driver has a free end and the retainer is received between the free end and the shaft.

15. The device of claim 14 which also includes a biasing member coupled to the shaft and to the retainer to yieldably bias the retainer toward the shaft.

16. The device of claim 7 which also includes a shaft carried by the body and about which the driver rotates, and wherein the driver has a free end and the retainer is received between the free end and the shaft.

17. The device of claim 16 which also includes a biasing member coupled to the shaft and to the retainer to yieldably bias the retainer toward the shaft.

18. The device of claim 6 which also includes a shaft carried by the body and about which the driver rotates, and wherein the driver has a free end and the retainer and slot are located between the free end and the shaft.

19. The device of claim 18 which also includes a biasing member coupled to the shaft and to the retainer to yieldably bias the retainer toward the shaft.

Assignees

• Sytek Christopher
• Czapski Thomas A
• Duke Christopher J
• Stanton Alexander J
• Antenucci Christopher J
• Ihrke Randy
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Sytek Christopher
• Czapski Thomas A
• Duke Christopher J
• Stanton Alexander J
• Antenucci Christopher J
• Ihrke Randy

Classifications

• F03G1/02

  characterised by shape or material of spring, e.g. helical, spiral, coil · CPC title

• E05Y2900/548

  Trunk lids · CPC title

• E05F1/1238 Primary

  specially adapted for vehicles · CPC title

• F03G1/08

  for winding · CPC title