JPH0541567B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle window and a method for manufacturing the same. More particularly, an automotive window consisting of two or more glass segments that when one molded segment is moved within another molded segment forms the automotive window and the segments are molded. Concerning a method of manufacturing from monolithic pieces.

[Conventional technology]

Automotive windows are typically molded monolithic pieces of glass mounted or movably attached to the frame structure of the vehicle, such as side glass mounted to allow movement into and out of a door cavity. (sidelite). Although current technology is acceptable for manufacturing windows in current vehicle designs, it is unsuitable for anticipated future vehicle designs. For example, it is envisaged that an automotive side glass concept would be in which one shaped glass segment is movable within an opening or groove formed in another shaped glass segment.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Current technology generally requires cutting two segments to size, forming, and then solidifying the segments, as is generally understood. Such techniques have the disadvantage that each shaped segment exhibits reflective distortion as a result of shaping. Furthermore, mismatches in curvature between the two molded segments are possible. Therefore, when the two segments are moved together, there will be a curvature mismatch across the window and a distortion that will cause reflections at least at the ends of the inner segments.

The distortion at the ends of the segments is a result of anticlasical bending of the ends during shaping of the segments. The discrepancy in segment curvature is a result of changes in segment shape during solidification.

A motor vehicle window consisting of two or more molded segments that when moved together form a motor vehicle window, and a novel technique for manufacturing the segments, which overcomes the disadvantages of currently available technologies. It is useful to provide technology that we do not have.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention relates to molded automotive windows or panels and methods of manufacturing the same. That is, the present invention includes a solidified outer segment having an opening for receiving a solidified inner segment, wherein the ends of the inner segment do not have anticlastic curvature relative to the central portion. , relates to a motor vehicle window in which an inner segment located in an opening of an outer segment provides a continuous curvature of the motor vehicle window. The method also includes the step of creating a glass piece having the shape of an automobile window. The glass piece is then cut into at least two segments, such as an inner segment as a first segment and an outer segment as a second segment. In one embodiment, the outer segment has a peripheral edge and an opening that corresponds to the peripheral edge of the molded window. The inner segment, when placed within the opening of the outer segment, provides a window with no significant local changes in profile other than at the junction of the segments.

〔Example〕

Although the invention will be described with respect to a side glass for a motor vehicle and its manufacture, it is clear that the invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred method of the present invention generally includes the steps of cutting a glass sheet to create a glass piece, forming the glass piece, and controllably cooling the glass piece. cutting the glass piece into at least two glass segments; chamfering selected ends of the segments;
and solidifying the segments, but are not limited thereto.

More specifically, the article of manufacture formed according to the present invention may be, for example, an automobile side glass 10 shown in FIG. 2 having a predetermined shape and perimeter dimensions, In the process, glass sheets are cut to create glass pieces having the minimum perimeter dimensions necessary to provide such products. When the glass piece is formed, the edges have a bend of opposite curvature to the center, resulting in a distortion of the edges that causes reflections. Although it is preferred that the glass piece has sufficient peripheral dimensions to remove the peripheral edge from the shaped piece in order to remove the glass portion having a bend of curvature opposite to the central portion, the present invention It is not limited to this.

Cutting of the sheet may be accomplished by any conventional method; examples of such methods include, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,345;
4,057,184, heating as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,695,497 and 3,792,989, or abrasion cutting as known in the art. Jet (abrasive)
An example is a method using a cutting jet. The aforementioned patents and techniques are incorporated herein by reference.

After being cut, the piece ends are preferably slightly chamfered by any conventional method to prevent damage during handling of the glass piece.

The glass piece is shaped to the desired profile, and shaping may be by any suitable method. When the peripheral dimension of the molded piece is larger than the peripheral dimension of the molded side glass 10, the molded side glass 10
Preferably, it is located in the center.

The glass piece may be formed by any suitable method. For example, US Patent No. 3573022
No. 3880686, No. 3992181 and No.
It may be molded by the method described in each specification of No. 4052188. These patent specifications are incorporated herein by reference.

After being formed, the heated formed glass piece is controllably cooled to slowly cool the formed glass piece. Since annealed glass is easier to cut than, for example, solidified glass, the formed glass piece is preferably annealed, but the invention is not limited thereto. do not have. The glass may be annealed by any suitable method, for example as described in US Pat. No. 3,301,650. Said patent specifications are incorporated herein by reference.

If the annealed molded glass piece has a larger perimeter dimension than the desired molded product, the piece is cut to size. Although shaped glass pieces may be cut in any suitable manner, since the glass is shaped,
Preferably, a cutting technique is employed that can follow the contour of the shaped glass piece. Preferred such cutting methods include laser cutting and abrasive jet cutting. After the shaped glass piece is cut to size, the piece is cut into at least two segments, e.g.
a first segment, the outer segment 12, and a first segment, the inner segment 14, with hardware for moving the segments relative to each other, if desired, such as placing the inner segment 14 into the cavity 16 of the outer segment 12. An opening is made in the segment by cutting. The segments may be apertured by any suitable method, e.g.
It may also follow the description in US Pat. No. 3,710,516. Said patent specifications are incorporated herein by reference.

After the segments are cut, the cut ends are chamfered to reduce damage from contact with sharp edges, but chamfering can be done by any method. Chamfering may be accomplished by cutting the piece by adjusting the angle of the wear jet during cutting to remove sharp edges of the segments, but the invention is not so limited. If the segments are to be used as side glass for automobiles, they must be hardened to meet safety requirements.

The formed segments may be solidified by any suitable method, although thermal solidification requires heating the glass to 598°C (1100°C) or higher, which can change the shape of the segments. chemically hardens (chemically
Preferably tempered. If deformation occurs, the product formed by closely fitting the molded segments will have a discontinuous profile or a profile different from the predetermined one.

Chemical tempering is commonly referred to as ion-exchange glass, U.S. Pat.
No. 3, which is carried out on glasses similar to the compositions disclosed in the respective specifications. Said specification is herein incorporated by reference. Chemical solidification of the glass segments may be carried out by any suitable method, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,287,200;
It may be carried out as described in the specifications of No. 33577876, No. 4055703, and No. 4119760. Said specification is herein incorporated by reference.

The solidified molded segment is then dressed. For example, if the outer segment is solidified into the frame of a car,
Plastic molding may be attached to the outer periphery of the outer segment and, if the inner segment is to be slid into and out of the space in the outer segment, by any suitable method. Tracks may be attached to the inner surface of the outer segment, and members may be provided that ride within the tracks secured to the outer segment.

Other portions of the segment may be coated by any suitable method, such as ceramic paste to provide designs or cover hardware.
paste) may also be used.

The automotive window and method for manufacturing the same of the present invention can be used as an integral part of an automotive window system;
For example, it may be a contoured piece with a windshield portion in the center and a side glass according to the invention at each end, and the method used to manufacture the same.
In this case, the front glass portion is not solidified and may be processed by any suitable method, such as that disclosed in US Pat.
3,453,161, 4,046,951 and 4,420,362, or by any suitable method, e.g., U.S. Pat.
4600653, an antilacerative layer may be applied to the windshield to prevent injury to people inside the vehicle. Said specification is herein incorporated by reference. If desired, ceramic pastes or paints may be used to cover the structure of the motor vehicle or to provide a visible distinction between the windshield and the side glass. The integral part may include a rear glass section with side glass sections at each end. After the rear glass has been chemically hardened, it can be chemically hardened, if desired, by any suitable method, e.g.
According to the description of specification No. 3721594, if necessary,
Similar heating wires may also be provided. Said specification is herein incorporated by reference.

Referring to FIG. 2, a side glass 10 for an automobile is provided in accordance with the present invention. The side glass 10 has a curved portion 18 at the upper part shown in FIG. 2, forming a part of the roof of the automobile, and also has a curved portion 20 at the left side shown in FIG. 2, forming a part of the windshield 22 of the automobile.
forms part of. The ion exchange glass was cut using a scoring wheel to create a glass piece with sufficient perimeter dimensions so that the formed glass piece had a trim of approximately 3 inches. . For safety of the glass piece during subsequent handling, the edges of the glass piece were slightly chamfered.

The glass piece is supported between scissors and moved through a heating furnace for heating the glass, using male and female molds mounted so that they can then be moved toward each other along a horizontal path. The glass piece was formed by molding. After molding, the piece was held between molds and slowly cooled to allow the molded glass piece to cool slowly. An abrasive water jet (model number 151, manufactured by Flow Systems) removes the trim and
It was used to provide a molded glass piece with the shape and desired perimeter dimensions of an automobile side glass. Then, the inner segment 14
and an inner segment 14 similar to that shown in FIG. 2 was cut from piece 10 to provide outer segment 12. inner segment 1
The ends of 4 were chamfered using an abrasion water jet. The ends of outer segment 12 were hand seamed. After that, 371℃ (700℃)
Chemical solidification was applied to the inner and outer segments by immersing the segments for 24 hours in a sodium nitrate salt bath heated to .
Outer segment 12 thus manufactured
can be attached to a car door, for example, by drilling a hole in the lower part of the outer segment 12 and then fixing the outer segment 12 to a metal part of the car door. On the other hand, inner segment 1
The lower part of 4 can be attached to the glazing elevator in the same way that glazings are currently attached. A gasket may be provided at the inner edge of the opening in the outer segment 12 to provide a seal between the segments 12,14. The gasket may have a groove for receiving the edge of the inner segment 14.

The foregoing detailed description is not intended to limit the invention. For example, the outer segment may have a U-shaped groove and the inner segment may be movable into and out of the legs of the U-shaped outer segment. Further, the number of segments is not limited to two, and may be three or more. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the side portion of an automobile may be configured by two side glasses 30 and an upper side glass 31 that receives them.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the main steps in the method of the invention, FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the automotive side glass of the invention, and FIG. 3 shows the number of segments is 3.
FIG. (Main symbols in the drawing) 10: Side glass, 1
2: outer segment, 14: inner segment.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A solidified outer segment having an opening for receiving a solidified inner segment, wherein the ends of the inner segment do not have bends of opposite curvature to the central portion, and An inner segment located at the opening of the segment provides a continuous curvature of the vehicle window. Automotive windows. 2. The window according to claim 1, wherein the window has side glass at the ends and a front glass at the center. 3. The window according to claim 1, wherein the window has side glass at the ends and a rear glass in the center. 4. The window of claim 1, wherein the window is a side glass having an opening in the outer portion and having the outer and inner segments chemically hardened. 5. A window according to claim 4, wherein the segments assembled together yield a side glass without significant local changes in profile except at the joints of the segments. 6 comprising the steps of creating a glass piece having a shape that matches the shape of the automobile, and cutting the glass piece into at least two glass segments defined as a first segment and a second segment, the second segment being having a shaped perimeter and configuration and opening similar to the shape and configuration of the corresponding perimeter of the molded window;
A window for a motor vehicle, wherein the first segment is insertable into an opening in the second segment, thereby providing a shaped window with no significant local changes in profile other than at the junction of the segments. How to manufacture. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of creating the glass piece includes the steps of cutting out the glass piece from a glass sheet and molding the glass piece. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of chamfering the edges of the glass piece. 9. Claim 8 in which the glass piece has a perimeter dimension that is larger than the corresponding perimeter dimension of the window.
The method described in section. 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of molding the glass piece includes the steps of heating the glass piece to a molding temperature, molding the glass piece, and heat-treating the molded glass piece. Method. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the heat treatment step involves slowly cooling the glass piece. 12. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of cutting comprises the step of abrasion cutting the glass piece to provide at least two glass segments. 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of solidifying the glass segment. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of solidifying the glass segment is accomplished by chemically solidifying the glass segment. 15. The method according to claim 6, wherein the window includes a side glass portion and the glass portion. 16. The method according to claim 6, wherein the window includes a side glass portion and a rear glass portion. 17 The window is a side glass for an automobile, the first segment is an inner segment, and the second segment is an outer segment, and the step of creating the glass piece includes cutting out the glass piece from a glass sheet and molding the glass piece. and cutting the glass piece shaped to provide an opening in the outer segment such that the inner segment can be inserted into the opening in the outer segment; and slowly cooling the glass segment. The method according to paragraph 16. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of chamfering the glass piece after each cutting step. 19. Claims in which the first cutting step results in a glass piece having a perimeter dimension larger than the corresponding window dimension, and the second cutting step includes removing excess perimeter edge. The method according to scope item 18. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of finishing the glass segment.