GB2174142A

GB2174142A - Vehicle window lifting mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2174142A
Application number: GB08510528A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lothar Hornivius
Original assignee: Kuester and Co GmbH; Kuster and Co GmbH
Current assignee: Kuester and Co GmbH; Kuster and Co GmbH
Priority date: 1984-02-20
Filing date: 1985-04-25
Publication date: 1986-10-29
Also published as: GB8510528D0; GB2174142B

Abstract

A cable window lifter for a vehicle window comprises a window-moving cable (7) fastenable to a window pane (1) or to an entrainer (6) fixedly connected with the pane. Fixedly connected with the lower edge of the pane (1) is a support member (11), which has guide slots (12 ,13) extending perpendicularly to the cable (7). Two support arms (18, 19) are arranged in V-shape symmetrically of the cable (7) and each support arm engages in the guide slots by way of pegs (18a, 19a) disposed on the upper ends of the support arms. The two support arms (18, 19) are connected at their lower ends of constrained opposite rotation in unison thereby to secure the pane against tilting. This connection may take the form of gears (16, 17), or of a pivotal joint so that the arms are like scissors (Figure 12, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle window lifting mechanism The present invention relates to a vehicle window lifting mechanism.

With window lifters utilising a cable, the window pane is fastened to an entrainer which slides on a guide rail. It is a disadvantage ofthis window lifter that the guidance of the entraineron the guide rail is not by itself sufficient to secure the pane against tilting in its plane. Cable window lifters are therefore primarily dnly suitable in applications where separate guide grooves are provided for the pane in the vehicle door over a substantial length.

However, this is the case only with divided windows. With modern undivided windows, the guide for the pane edge which leads in the vehicle travel direction is shortened to such an extent that the pane is no longer secured against tilting in its plane.

It would thus be desirable to eliminate this disadvantage and to secure a window pane against tilting even in the case of shortened guides.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle window lifting mechanism comprising a support member connectible to a lower edge of a window pane movably arranged in housing means, cable displacing means connected to the support member and operable to, in use, displace the support member and thereby such pane relative to such housing means, and guide means comprising two guide arms which are each so connected between the support member and, in use, means fixed relative to the housing means as to pivot relative to the support means during displacement thereof and which are intercoupled to so pivot synchronously during such displacement as to maintain the support member and thereby the pane in a constant orientation.

In one embodiment, the support member is provided with guide track means extending substantially perpendicularly to a given direction of said displacement of the support member and each of the guide arms is provided at one end with slide means slidably engaging the guide track means and at the other end is so coupled to the respective other arm that the arms are caused to pivot synchronously in mutually opposite rotational directions. The cable displacing means can comprise a cable having a length portion connectible to such pane and extending in said direction of displacement, the arms being arranged substantially symmetrically of that cable length portion. Preferably, each of the arms is provided at said other end thereof with toothed gear means fixed relative to the arm and meshing with the toothed gear means of the respecitve other arm thereby to intercouple the arms.The toothed gear means of each arm can be rotatably mounted on a guide element of the cable displacing means or, if the housing means is a door of such vehicle, the gear means can be arranged to be rotatably mounted in a fixed location on a panel of the door or a transverse reinforcement beam in the door. Equally the gear means can be rotatably mounted on a plate arranged to be mounted in a fixed location in such housing means, in which case the plate is preferably provided with mounting means to enable mounting to such housing means, the mounting means being disposed at the axes of rotation of the gear means.

The gear means of each arm can also be provided with a central bore to rotatably receive a drawn mounting sleeve of said means fixed relative to the housing means.

In another embodiment, the support member is provided with guide track means extending substantially perpendicularly to a given direction of said displacement of the support member and each of the guide arms is provided at one end with slide means engaging the guide track means and at the other end with further slide means slidably engaging further guide track means of a further member arranged to be mounted in a fixed location in said housing means, the guide arms being so rotatably intercoupled between their ends as to be caused to pivot synchronously in mutually opposite rotational directions. The further guide track means is preferably provided by a single straight slot or groove.

In yet another embodiment, the mechanism comprises a further member arranged to be mounted in a fixed location in said housing means and provided with guide track means extending substantially perpendicularly to a given direction of said displacement of the support member, each of the guide arms being provided at one end with slide means slidably engaging the guide track means and at the other end with toothed gear means fixed relative to the arm and meshing with the toothed gear means of the respective other arm thereby to so intercouple the arms that the arms are caused to pivot synchronously in mutually opposite rotational directions, the toothed gear means of each arm being rotatably mounted on the support member.The cable displacing means can comprise a cable having a cable length portion connectible to such pane and extending in said direction of displacement, the arms being arranged substantially symmetrically of the cable length portion.

In either of the two last-mentioned embodiments, the further member can be fixedly mounted on a guide element of the cable displacing means or, if the housing means is a door of such vehicle, the further member can be arranged to be fixedly mounted on a panel of the door or a transverse reinforcement beam in the door.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 7 is a schematic elevation of a vehicle door of an older type of construction, with lengthy pane guide grooves; Figure 2 is a schematic elevation of a vehicle door of modern construction, with a shorter pane guide groove at one side; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a first cable window lifter embodying the invention; Figure 4 is a cross-section along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view of a modified support bar of the lifter of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a cross-section along the line VI-VI of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a view of a second cable window lifter embodying the invention; Figure 8 is a cross-section along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7;; Figure 9 is a view of a third cable window lifter embodying the invention; Figure 10 is a cross-section of the mounting of toothed wheels of the lifter of Figure 9 directly on a door panel or a door transverse reinforcement beam; Figure 11 is a view of a fourth cable window lifter embodying the invention; and Figure 12 is a view of a fifth cable window lifter embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a vehicle door 2 in which a window pane is displaceable up and down in direction of the double arrow. Figure 1 shows a vehicle door of older construction with additional small tiltable quarterlight 3. In this construction the pane 1 is guided laterally in profiled guides 4. It can be clearly seen that the lateral guide length A is always equal, without regard to the height of the pane. The window lifter in this form of door has merely the task of moving the pane 1 up and down and the lifter does not require support or securing against lateral tilting ofthe pane.

Figure 2 represents a door 2 of new construction, in which the quarter-light 3 is dispensed with. In this door the pane 1 is secured only in its upper setting against tilting in the direction of arrow B, because in this setting the pane edge engages in the encircling profiled guide 4'.

If, however, the pane is lowered even only a small amount, then merely a guide length a of the pane remains on the righthand side in the representation.

It is obvious that the pane may be able to tilt in the direction of the arrow B.

This tilting may be able to be prevented by the cable window lifter shown in Figures 3 and 4. In Figures 3 and 4, a U-section guide rail of the cable window lifter is designated by 5, on which slides an entrainer 6 which is pulled by a cable 7 driven by a drive roller 8. These components are known constructional elements of cable window lifters and need no further explanation.

Connected with the entrainer 6 or with the pane 1 is a support bar 11, which on each side has a slot 12 or 13.

Fastened to the guide rail 5 by two spacer bolts 14 is a plate 15, on which are mounted two toothed wheels 16 and 17 meshing with each other. Each toothed wheel is fixedly connected with a support arm 18 or 19, the other end of which has a peg 8a or 19a engaged in the slot 12 or 13.

The pane 1 is supported by the pegs 18a and 19a and is thereby secured against tilting in the direction B. It is to be noted, however, that the toothed wheels and the support arms have nothing to do with the displacement of the pane. The drive of the pane is effected as usual by way of the cable 7 and the entrainer 5 and in a given case the support bar 11, in particular in the case where this is also fixedly connected with the pane and not only with the entrainer. The toothed wheels and the support arms thus serve merely to supportthe pane.

The support arms can also be divided into two parts, which are, for example, connected by a hinge at the height of the dot-dashed line 20. This is of advantage with curved panes which are displaced along an arc in their movement.

The engagement of the support arm ends in the support bar is not restricted to peg and slot connections. For example, there can be provided in the support bar, instead of the slots, a continuous groove in which balls or other shaped pieces, fastened to the support arm ends, engage, so that the support arm ends can be introduced into the groove from the side and are simultaneously secured against withdrawal perpendicularly to the displacement direction (see Figures 5 and 6).

Various other modifications are possible, especially with respect to which position the toothed wheels are fastened to the support arms and also to in which way the support arms are connected for constrained mutually opposite rotation in unison.

Further embodiments are schematically illustrated in Figures 7 to 12. Whereas in the embodiment according to Figures 3 and 4 the toothed wheels 16 and 17 were fastened to the guide rail 5, it is entirely possible to install the toothed wheels on a door panel, for example the door inner wall. This is shown in Figures 7 and 8. There a portion of a door wall is designated by 21, on which the plate 15 is fastened, so that the toothed wheels 16 and 17 are mounted separately from the guide rail 5.

Some vehicle doors contain a transverse beam, which serves as reinforcement and impact protection in the event of an accident If such a beam is present in the door, then the toothed wheels 16 and 17 can be mounted directly on the beam. Figure 9 schematically shows an embodiment of that kind. A transverse beam 22 is installed in a door 2a as reinforcement and on it are mounted the toothed wheels 16 and 17 with their support arms 18 and 19.

The latter are engaged at their free ends in the guide groove 23 of the support bar 11, which is fastened at the underside of the pane 1. The guide rail 5 is present as in all other examples of embodiment, but the drive cable and the cable drum have been omitted for simplification of the illustration.

Figure 10 shows one way in which the toothed wheels can be mounted on the transverse beam 22 or on the doorwall 21. A hole can be punched out of the door wall, the edge portions of which can be drawn out to form a bearing bush 22a, on which one of the toothed wheels 16 and 17 can be mounted between two washers 24.

The embodiment shown in Figure 11 represents the opposite of the embodiment of Figure 9. Whereas in Figure 9 the toothed wheels 16 and 17 are mounted on the transverse beam 22 and the guide groove 23 is associated with the pane 1, the arrangement in Figure 11 is exactly the opposite: the toothed wheels 16 and 17 are rotatably mounted on a member connected with the pane 1, and the guide groove 23 is disposed in the transverse beam 22.

The support base for the pane 1 is the same in both cases, because the base is defined by the spacing "d"of the rotational axes of the toothed wheels 16 and 17 and this base "d" is the same in Figure 9 as in Figure 11. It can be recognised from the two embodiments, however, that support of the pane is better the larger the spacing "d" is, from which follows that support with a larger toothed wheel diameter is better than with a smaller.

The embodiment of Figure 12 shows that the geared connection of the support arms 18 and 19 need not always be constrainedly effected by way of toothed wheels. Other forms of coupling can provide the desired connection of the support arms. In this embodiment, the support arms 18b and 19b are intercoupled at a rotational axis 25 and their upper and lower ends engage in guide grooves 23 and 26.

The guide groove 23 is fixedly associated with the pane 1, while the guide groove 26 is disposed in a plate or rail 27 in the door. The two support arms thus co-operate in the manner of a scissor gear. It is to be noted that the support arms are not driven but merely move in company with the pane and support the pane. The drive for the pane takes place, in all embodiments, by way of the cable 7.

Claims

1. A vehicle window lifting mechanism comprising a support member connectible to a lower edge of a window pane movably arranged in housing means, cable displacing means connected to the support member and operable to, in use, displace the support member and thereby such pane relative to such housing means, and guide means comprising two guide arms which are each so connected between the support member and, in use, means fixed relative to the housing means as to pivot relative to the support means during displacement thereof and which are intercoupled to so pivot synchronously during such displacement as to maintain the support member and thereby the pane in a constant orientation.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1,wherein the support member is provided with guide track means extending substantially perpendicularly to a given direction of said displacement of the support member and each of the guide arms is provided at one end with slide means slidably engaging the guide track means and at the other end is so coupled to the respective other arm that the arms are caused to pivot synchronously in mutually opposite rotational directions.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, the cable displacing means comprising a cable having a length portion connectible to such pane and extending in said direction of displacement and the arms being arranged substantially symmetrically of said cable length portion.

4. A mechanism as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3, the guide track means being provided by at least one slot or groove in the support member.

5. A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each of the arms is provided at said other end thereof with toothed gear means fixed relative to the arm and meshing with the toothed gear means of the respective other arm thereby to intercouple the arms.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 5, the toothed gear means of each arm being rotatably mounted on a guide element of the cable displacing means.

7. A mechanism as claimed in claim 5, the housing means being a door of such vehicle and the toothed gear means being arranged to be rotatably mounted in a fixed location on a panel of the door.

8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 5, the housing means being a door of such vehicle and the toothed gear means being arranged to be rotatably mounted in a fixed location on a transverse reinforcement beam in the door.

9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 5, the toothed gear means being rotatably mounted on a plate arranged to be mounted in a fixed location in such housing means.

10. A mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plate is provided with mounting means to enable mounting to such housing means, the mounting means being disposed at the axes of rotation of the toothed gear means.

11. A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 10, the toothed gear means of each arm being provided with a central bore to rotatably receive a drawn mounting sleeve of said means fixed relative to the housing means.

12. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member is provided with guide track means extending substantially perpendicularly to a given direction of said displacement of the support member and each of the guide arms is provided at one end with slide means engaging the guide track means and at the other end with further slide means slidably engaging further guide track means of a further member arranged to be mounted in a fixed location in said housing means, the guide arms being so rotatably intercoupled between their ends as to be caused to pivot synchronously in mutually opposite rotational directions.

13. A mechanism as claimed in claim 12, each guide track means being provided by at least one slot or groove in the respective member.

14. A mechanism as claimed in claim 13, the further guide track means being provided by a single straight slot or groove.

15. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, comprising a further member arranged to be mounted in a fixed location in said housing means and provided with guide track means extending substantially perpendicularly to a given direction of said displacement of the support member, each of the guide arms being provided at one end with slide means slidably engaging the guide track means and at the other end with toothed gear means fixed relative to the arm and meshing with the toothed gear means of the respective other arm thereby to so intercouple the arms that the arms are caused to pivot synchronously in mutually opposite rotational directions, the toothed gear means of each arm being rotatably mounted on the support member.

16. A mechanism as claimed in claim 15, the cable displacing means comprising a cable having a cable length portion connectible to such pane and extending in said direction of displacement and the arms being arranged substantially symmetrically of said cable length portion.

17. A mechanism as claimed in either claim 15 or claim 16, the guide track means being provided by at least one slot or groove in said further member.

18. A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the further member is fixedly mounted on a guide element of the cable displacing means.

19. A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, the housing means being a door of such vehicle and the further member being arranged to be fixedly mounted on a panel of the door.

20. A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, the housing means being a door of such vehicle and the further member being arranged to be fixedly mounted on a transverse reinforcement beam in the door.

21. A vehicle window lifting mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A vehicle window lifting mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A vehicle window lifting mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

24. Avehiclewindow lifting mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A vehicle window lifting mechanism substantially as herei nbefore described with reference to Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A vehicle window lifting mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.