VEHICLE LIFTGATE POWER OPERATING SYSTEM

摘要

A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate has a pair of drive units supported on the vehicle roof and connected to the liftgate for opening and closing the liftgate. Each drive unit includes a bracket that is secured to the vehicle body for supporting several parts including a reversible electric motor, a gear unit and a track. The electric motor drives a segmented sector inside the track via a gear reduction unit. The segmented sector includes an arcuate link that slides in an arcuate track portion of the track and a plurality of short sector links that are stored in a storage track portion when the liftgate is closed. The arcuate link has an outboard end that is pivotally connected to the liftgate to open and close the liftgate as the arcuate link is extended and retracted by the segmented rack.