Vehicle Rear Closure Assembly With Shared Liftgate-Tailgate Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle designs require separate actuators for liftgates and tailgates, leading to increased complexity, cost, weight, and electrical requirements.
Innovation Solution
A common actuator, such as a linear actuator incorporated into a strut, is used to move both the liftgate and tailgate, reducing the number of components and electrical architecture by coordinating their movements through a strut, carriage, and spring mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate actuators are used for liftgate and tailgate, then each gate can be independently controlled, but the device complexity, cost, weight, and electrical requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate actuator systems into a single actuator that controls both the liftgate and tailgate. The actuator is mechanically linked to both gates through a linkage system, allowing one actuator to perform the functions previously requiring two separate actuators, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining operational control.
Solution Approach 2:
The single actuator is designed to perform multiple functions: it can independently control the liftgate and independently control the tailgate. This multi-functional design allows one component to replace two, reducing overall system complexity while preserving the ability to operate each gate separately when needed.
2Reliability
If separate actuators are used for liftgate and tailgate, then each gate has dedicated actuation, but the cost and weight of the vehicle increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate actuator assemblies into one shared actuator unit. This single actuator is mechanically coupled to both the liftgate and tailgate through a linkage mechanism, eliminating the need for two separate motor assemblies, gearboxes, and mounting structures, thereby significantly reducing the total weight of the actuation system.
3Reliability
If separate actuators are used for liftgate and tailgate, then each gate has independent power supply, but the electrical architecture complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates the electrical architecture by using a single actuator with one motor, one control circuit, and one power supply connection to control both gates. This eliminates the need for duplicate electrical components and wiring harnesses, reducing overall electrical power consumption and simplifying the electrical system while maintaining the ability to operate each gate independently through control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
This relates to a vehicle including a rear closure assembly having a liftgate and a tailgate. The liftgate and the tailgate are moveable by a common actuator. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a liftgate moveable between a liftgate closed position and a liftgate open position to selectively cover and uncover a first portion of a rear opening in a body of the vehicle, a tailgate moveable between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position to selectively cover and uncover a second portion of the rear opening, and an actuator mechanically coupled to both the liftgate and the tailgate. The actuator is configured to move the liftgate between the liftgate closed position and the liftgate open position, and the actuator is configured to move the tailgate between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position.