U.S. patent number 3,706,163 [Application Number 05/036,110] was granted by the patent office on 1972-12-19 for window regulator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ferro Manufacturing Corporation. Invention is credited to Joseph Pickles.
United States Patent |
3,706,163 |
Pickles |
December 19, 1972 |
WINDOW REGULATOR
Abstract
Window regulating mechanism for vehicle windows of the type
connected to a slightly curved vertically extending post for
vertical guided movement between open and closed positions.
Inventors: |
Pickles; Joseph (Birmingham,
MI) |
Assignee: |
Ferro Manufacturing Corporation
(Detroit, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
21886670 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/036,110 |
Filed: |
May 11, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/362; 49/348;
49/227; 49/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05F
11/426 (20130101); E05F 11/423 (20130101); E05Y
2900/55 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05F
11/38 (20060101); E05F 11/42 (20060101); E05f
011/42 () |
Field of
Search: |
;49/40,227,348,352,362
;74/89.17 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bell; J. Karl
Claims
What I claim as my invention is:
1. In combination, a vehicle frame construction having a window
opening, a window movable relative to said window opening, a
bracket rigidly secured to the lower edge portion of said window, a
rigid post fixedly mounted to said frame construction below said
window opening, guide and drive means on said bracket comprising a
pair of members movably engaging one side of said post at
substantially vertically spaced points and a third member movably
engaging the opposite side of said post at a point intermediate the
points of engagement between said post and said pair of members to
provide substantially complete guidance for said window for
generally vertical movement by said post and bracket, said post
having rack teeth along one side thereof, one of said members
comprising a pinion rotatably mounted in fixed position on said
bracket and in mesh with said rack teeth, means for rotating said
pinion to effect generally vertical guided movement of said window,
the means for rotating said pinion comprising a first bevel gear
connected to said pinion, an input drive shaft rotatable at a fixed
location remote from said pinion on said frame construction, a
second bevel gear in mesh with said first bevel gear, means
mounting said second bevel gear to said bracket for pivotal
movement about the axis of said first bevel gear, an elongated
shaft extending from said second bevel gear to the location of said
input drive shaft and in driving relation to said second bevel
gear, and gearing interconnecting said input drive shaft and said
elongated shaft, said elongated shaft having a spline gear
connection to accommodate variation in spacing between said second
bevel gear and the gearing connecting said input drive shaft and
said elongated shaft at said fixed location.
2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said gearing
comprises a third bevel gear on said elongated shaft and a fourth
bevel gear in mesh with said third bevel gear and carried by said
input drive shaft, and means mounting said fourth bevel gear to
said frame construction for angular movement about the axis of said
input drive shaft.
3. In combination, a vehicle frame construction having a window
opening, a window movable relative to said window opening, a
bracket rigidly secured to the lower edge portion of said window, a
rigid post fixedly mounted to said frame construction below said
window opening, guide and drive means on said bracket comprising a
pair of members movably engaging one side of said post at
substantially vertically spaced points and a third member movably
engaging the opposite side of said post to provide substantially
complete guidance for said window for generally vertical movement
by said post and bracket, said post having rack teeth along one
side thereof, one of said members comprising a pinion rotatably
mounted in fixed position on said bracket and in mesh with said
rack teeth, means for rotating said pinion to effect generally
vertical guided movement of said window, in which the means for
rotating said pinion comprises a first gear fixed thereto, a second
gear mounted for rotation on said frame construction at a fixed
location remote from said pinion, a flexible tube extending from a
point adjacent the periphery of said first gear to a point adjacent
the periphery of said second gear, a toothed flexible cable
slidable longitudinally in said tube, said tube having lateral
openings through with said gears mesh with the teeth on said cable,
and means fixing the portions of said tube adjacent said gears to
provide flexing of said tube upon movement of said window.
4. A window regulator for a window comprising a frame for rigid
attachment to the lower edge of a window, said frame constituting
the sole guidance and support means for said window, a
substantially vertical post mounted in a fixed position below the
window, guide means on said frame movably engaging opposite sides
of said post at substantially vertically spaced points, a rack on
said post, a pinion on said frame in mesh with said rack, and
actuating means comprising an input drive shaft at a fixed location
remote from said frame, and transmission means connecting said
input drive shaft and said pinion for rotating said pinion to
effect generally vertical guided movement of said frame and the
window carried thereby and arranged to provide for the necessary
variation in spacing between said input drive shaft and pinion.
5. A regulator as defined in claim 4 in which said input drive
shaft is parallel to the axis of said pinion, and said transmission
means comprises an elongated shaft, bevel gearing connecting said
elongated shaft to said drive shaft and to said pinion, said
gearing including one bevel gear splined to said elongated shaft
for movement longitudinally thereof.
6. A regulator as defined in claim 8 in which said input shaft
shaft is parallel to the axis of said pinion, and said transmission
means comprises rack and pinion means connecting said drive shaft
to said pinion, said rack and pinion means comprises a rack bar
extending generally between the location of said drive shaft and
the location of said pinion, transmission pinions at such locations
in mesh with said rack bar, and brackets pivotal about the axes of
said transmission pinions to maintain meshed relation between said
transmission pinions and said rack bar as said rack bar is inclined
by vertical movement of said frame.
7. A regulator as defined in claim 4 in which said input drive
shaft is parallel to the axis of said pinion, and said transmission
means comprises a gear fixed to said pinion, a second gear driven
by said drive shaft, a flexible tube extending substantially
tangentially of said gears, a toothed flexible cable movable
longitudinally in said tube, said tube, said tube having openings
adjacent said gears through which said gears mesh with the teeth on
said cable.
8. A window regulator for a vehicle window comprising a frame for
rigid attachment to the lower edge of a window and capable of
providing substantially the entire guidance and support for the
window during generally vertical movement thereof between open and
closed positions, a substantially vertical rigid post mounted in a
fixed position below the window, guide and drive means on said
frame comprising a pair of vertically spaced guide members on said
frame engageable with one side of said post at vertically spaced
zones and a rotary combined guide and drive member mounted for
rotation on said frame and engageable in driving relation with the
opposite side of said post at a point intermediate the points of
engagement between said post and said guide members, and actuating
means comprising an input drive shaft at a fixed location remote
from said frame and post, and transmission means connecting said
input drive shaft and said combined guide and drive member for
rotating said combined guide and drive member to effect generally
vertical movement of said frame and arranged to provide for the
necessary variation in spacing between said input drive shaft and
said combined guide and drive member.
9. A window regulator as defined in claim 8 in which said post has
rack teeth provided thereon, and in which said combined guide and
drive member is a pinion in mesh with said rack.
10. A window regulator as defined in claim 8 in which said input
drive shaft is parallel to the axis of said combined guide and
drive member, and said transmission means comprises a gear fixed to
said combined guide and drive member, a second gear driven by said
drive shaft, a flexible tube extending substantially tangentially
of said gears, a toothed flexible cable movable longitudinally in
said tube, said tube having openings adjacent said gears through
which said gears mesh with the teeth on said cable.
11. A window regulator as defined in claim 9 in which said input
drive shaft is parallel to the axes of said pinion, and said
transmission means comprises a gear fixed to said pinion, a second
gear driven by said drive shaft, a flexible tube extending
substantially tangentially of said gears, a toothed flexible cable
movable longitudinally in said tube, said tube having openings
adjacent said gears through which said gears mesh with the teeth on
said cable.
Description
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Recently, automobile construction has included windows which are
vertically movable between open and closed positions in which the
guided substantially vertical movement of the windows is
accomplished by mounting them on a carrier which is vertically
movable upon a post mounted within the vehicle or door construction
below the window opening. The edges of the window may be slidable
in sealing grooves but the guided movement of the window is
accomplished primarily by the action of the post on which the
window construction is mounted.
In accordance with the present invention the vertical guide post is
modified to have rack teeth extending along one side thereof and
vertical movement of the window is accomplished by connecting a
pinion of the carrier in mesh with the rack. Suitable means are
provided for effecting rotation of the pinion and accordingly,
generally vertical movement of the window.
As disclosed herein, this actuating means may take different forms.
One of these comprises a bevel gear connection from a manual
operator through a shaft which is suitably splined to provide for
movement of one of the bevel gears so as to accommodate the
vertical movement of the window.
In a second embodiment of the invention the manual actuator is
connected to the pinion by means of a flexible driving connection
available under the trade name "Teleflex".
Similarly, in a third embodiment of the invention the manual
operator drives a pinion which is in mesh with a first rack. This
rack in turn is in mesh with a pinion carried by the window, this
pinion being rigidly connected to the pinion which engages the
rack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating one
embodiment of a window and actuator therefor.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2--2, FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3--3, FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a different embodiment
of the window and regulating mechanism.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the connection between the
toothed post and driving pinion.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6, FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of yet another embodiment
of the invention.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 8--8, FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, the window is illustrated at 10 and has
generally vertical edges 12 and 14 which are received in vertical
portions 16 and 18 of a channel sealing frame, the frame including
the upper portion 20 in which the upper edge of the window 10 is
received in sealing relation.
Fixedly mounted to the lower end of the window glass is a rigid
supporting frame or bracket 22 carrying means adapted to support
and guide the window 10 in its vertical movement from a vertical
post 24. The post 24 may be vertical or curved as required by the
configuration of the window, its frame, and its required movement.
The post 24 is illustrated as comprising a foot or base portion 26
which may be rigidly attached to the vehicle, as for example within
the door or frame below the window opening. The connection between
the post 24 and the frame 22 is such that it constitutes a complete
support and guide for the window glass as contrasted to prior
constructions in which the window is generally guided by sliding
movement within the window frame.
The post 24 is provided at one edge with rack teeth 28 which are
engaged by a driving pinion 30 to effect vertical movement of the
window 10. Rollers 32 are carried by the frame 22 to engage against
the smooth edge surface of the post 24 opposite to the rack teeth
28. The entire window including the frame 22 is thus supported from
the post 24 by engagement between the two rollers 32 and the pinion
30. Means forming a part of the frame 22 engage the flat sides of
the post 24 to complete the connection and this means comprises a
channel 34 fixedly mounted within the frame 22 and having a flat
surface engaging one flat surface of the post 24.
In order to effect vertical movement of the window 10 there is
provided a manual operator indicated generally at 36 which includes
a bevel gear 38 mounted in fixed position on the vehicle and
connected to an operating crank 40. A bevel gear 42 is provided on
a pivot support bracket 44, the pivot mounting 46 of the support
being coaxial with the input drive shaft 48 connecting the crank 40
to the bevel gear 38. The bevel gear 42 is splined to a
transmission shaft 50, the splines being illustrated at 52.
At the upper end of shaft 50 carrier a bevel gear 54 which meshes
with a bevel gear 56 rigidly connected through a shaft 58 with the
pinion 30.
In order to maintain the bevel gear 54 in proper meshing relation
with the bevel gear 56, it is supported on a pivoted bracket 60
whose pivot axis is constituted by a spacer 62 on the shaft 58. The
bracket 60 is provided with the ears 64 which receive the end
portion of the shaft 50 at opposite sides of the bevel gear 54.
Accordingly, rotation of the crank 40 will drive the shaft 50
through the bevel gears 38, 42. This in turn will drive the pinion
30 through the bevel gears 54, 56. Since rotation of the pinion 30
effects vertical movement of the window 10, it is necessary to
compensate for the change in distance between bevel gears 54 and 42
and also the change in direction. Since the bevel gear 42 is
mounted on the bracket 44 for swinging movement about the axis of
the bevel gear 38, it is moved as the angularity of the shaft 50 is
changed. Moreover, the variation in distance between the bevel
gears 42 and 54 is permitted by the splined connection between the
shaft 50 and the bevel gear 42. At the same time the angularity of
the bevel gear 54 is permitted to change in accordance with changes
in inclination of the shaft 50 by reason of the pivot mounting
bracket 60.
If desired, a clutch of known type may be provided intermediate the
crank 40 and the shaft 48 so as to prevent opening of the window 10
by forces applied directly to the top of the window. Details of the
clutch form no part of the present invention and accordingly, the
clutch is not shown in FIG. 1.
Referring now to FIGS. 4-6 there is illustrated a second embodiment
of the present invention. In this case the window 10 is provided
with a frame or bracket 70 which constitutes a rigid supporting and
guiding structure for the entire window. The frame 70 includes
means cooperating with the generally vertical but slightly curved
post 72 which is provided with rack teeth 74. In order to insure
proper guiding action the frame 70 is provided with a pair of
rollers 76 engageable with the smooth rear edge surface of the post
while the driving connection between the post and window comprises
a pinion 78.
The means for effecting rotation of the pinion 78 and hence
vertical movement of the window 10, comprises a manual operator
including a housing 80 which includes a shaft 82 fixed to a crank
84, the crank having a gear 86 therein forming a part of a drive
mechanism available under the trade name "Teleflex" which will be
described in general terms subsequently. The connection between the
crank 84 and the gear 86 may if desired include a clutch 88 of
known construction, adapted to prevent opening movement of the
window 10 by forces applied directly thereto.
The "Teleflex" construction comprises a flexible tube 90, details
of which are better seen in FIG. 5. Within the tube 90 is a
flexible cable 92 provided with helical projections 94 such as may
be formed by a wire wound about the cable and fixed thereto. The
flexible cable is freely movable longitudinally within the tube
90.
In FIG. 5 there is illustrated the driving connection between the
cable 92 and the pinion 78 as comprising a gear 95 which is fixed
in driving relation to the pinion 78. It will be understood that a
similar arrangement is provided in the housing 80 to connect the
handle driven gear 86 and the cable 92. The tube 90 is provided
with an opening 96 at one side thereof to permit the teeth of the
gear 95 to mesh with the projections 94 formed on the flexible
cable 92. The tube 90 within the housing 80 is similarly apertured
to permit a drive connection between the teeth of the gear 86 and
the projections on the flexible cable 92.
It will of course be understood that while both the tube 90 and
cable 92 are flexible, nevertheless rotation of the gear 86 is
effective to move the flexible cable longitudinally within the tube
90 and hence, to impart rotation to gear 95 and pinion 78.
Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 there is illustrated a third
embodiment of the present invention. In this case the frame or
bracket 100 rigidly fixed to the window 10, carries a pair of
rollers 102 adapted to engage the smooth edge 104 of the post 106
opposite to the rack teeth 108 formed thereon. Vertical movement of
the window 10 is accomplished by rotating a pinion 110 in mesh with
the rack teeth 108.
This means comprises a manual operator including a pinion 112
carried by a fixedly located drive shaft 114 which may be rotated
by a crank or otherwise. An elongated rack bar 116 is provided
having teeth at opposite ends. The teeth indicated at 118 are
engaged by the teeth of the pinion 112 so that rotation thereof
effects longitudinal movement of the rack bar 116. Inasmuch as
vertical movement of the window 10 relative to the fixed location
of the pinion 112 calls for a tilting movement or change in
angularity of the bar 116, means are provided to permitting such
tilting while maintaining the teeth of the rack and pinion in mesh.
This means is illustrated more or less diagrammatically as
comprising a bracket 120 which is pivoted for swinging movement
about the axis of the shaft 114.
At the opposite end of the rack bar 116 there is provided a pinion
(not shown) which is fixedly connected to the pinion 110 and which
is retained in meshing engagement with the teeth 122 provided on
the rack bar 116 by a tilting bracket 124 which is similar to the
bracket 120.
Rotation of the shaft 114 accordingly effects longitudinal movement
of the rack bar 116 which in turn rotates the pinion connected
thereto and the pinion 110 which meshes with the post 106.
Again, if desired, a clutch may be interposed in the system to
prevent downward movement of the window 10 by forces applied
directly thereto.
When desirable, spring counterbalance means may be applied at an
appropriate position to the regulator. For example, as seen in FIG.
4, a compression spring 79 may be applied within tube 90 to bias
the cable 92 to the right, to apply forces tending to raise the
window.
While reference has been made throughout to manual operation, it
will of course be apparent that motor means may be substituted for
the manual operator.
* * * * *