Cable driven power tailgate system
A cable driven power tailgate system has at least one cable connected with a truck box for raising and lowering a tailgate of a vehicle. A motor/actuator drives the at least one cable to move the tailgate into a closed position. At least one nut on a spindle, the nut connected with the at least one cable. The spindle rotates in response to the at least one cable movement to move the tailgate into an open position.
1 . A tailgate for a vehicle having a cargo box, comprising:
a tailgate body defining a hollow interior; and
a cable driven power tailgate system positioned within the hollow interior of the tailgate body, the cable driven power tailgate system including:
a pair of cables, each of the cables having a first end configured to be attached to the cargo box and an opposite second end;
a spindle assembly including a spindle and a pair of nuts attached to and configured to move along the spindle, wherein the opposite second end of each of the cables is attached to a respective one of the pair of nuts;
a circular sleeve that is rotatable in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, each of the cables being engaged with the circular sleeve; and
a motor configured to rotate the circular sleeve in the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions,
wherein rotation of the circular sleeve by the motor moves the cables which moves the nuts along the spindle between a first position where the tailgate body is in a closed position relative to the cargo box and a second position where the tailgate body is in an open position relative to the cargo box.
2 . The tailgate according to claim 1 , wherein the cable driven power tailgate system includes a plurality of tensioners in contact with the cables and which tension on the cables as the tailgate body moves between the closed position to the open position.
3 . The tailgate according to claim 1 , wherein the cable driven power tailgate system includes a pair of gear boxes attached to opposing ends of the spindle, and the pair of gear boxes are configured to control a speed of rotation of the spindle as the tailgate body is moved between the closed position and the open position.
4 . The tailgate according to claim 3 , wherein the gear boxes are configured to be coupled to pivot hinges of the cargo box.
5 . The tailgate according to claim 1 , wherein the tailgate body includes a pair of bearing surfaces that permit the cables to slide therealong and exit the tailgate body.
6 . The tailgate according to claim 1 , wherein the circular sleeve is positioned at a center of the hollow interior of the tailgate body.