EP0050065A1 - Reeling device for a push-pull cable and window regulator using such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

The drum (3) of this reeling device (1) consists of a disc, in one of the faces of which a generally spiral groove (5) is made. A retaining cover (4) in the form of a fixed plate is laid against this face of the disc. During reeling and unreeling, the cable (2) bears essentially on the side walls of the groove and virtually avoids rubbing against the cover, thus ensuring a high efficiency and making it possible to use the device (1) in motor-vehicle window lifters. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a winding device for traction and push cable; of the type comprising a rotary drum provided on one face with a groove having a general shape of a spiral and intended to receive the cable. This device is intended in particular to operate the window lifters of motor vehicles.

Patent DE 285066 shows a winding device of the aforementioned type, which has the advantage of being able to operate with smooth cables, for example steel cables sheathed in plastic material, which ensures a minimum of friction and noise and a low sensitivity to temperature variations. However, this known device cannot push a cable intended to transmit relatively large forces, as is the case in an automobile window regulator because, in such a case, the cable would come out of the groove by buckling.

The invention aims to provide a winding device of the same type having a high efficiency in both directions of operation and excluding any risk of cable buckling.

To this end, the invention relates to a winding device of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the drum is provided with a cable retaining cover in the groove, this cover comprising a fixed plate attached to said face of the disk.

If the groove has an undercut side wall section, the cable is always stressed towards the bottom of the groove when the drum rotates, which further reduces the friction of this cable on the fixed cover.

To reduce the radial size, the groove can be formed by concentric arcs of a circle connected by connection zones.

For the exit of the cable, one can use a tangential exit tube mounted sliding in a roughly radial direction on the hood, or, more simply, a chute tangential in Y fixed on the hood. According to another variant, a flexible cable guide sheath is anchored on the cover at a certain distance from the location where the cable exits from the groove and ends at this location.

In a particularly satisfactory embodiment, a thrust bearing is interposed between a peripheral track of the drum turned on the side opposite to the outlet of the cable and an adjacent track secured to the cover.

The subject of the invention is also a cable type window lifter connected to a slider, characterized in that the target is fixed, at its end opposite the slider, to a winding device as defined above. Preferably, for safety reasons, the direction of winding of the cable in the groove and the connection between the cable and the slider are such that in the closing position of the window corresponds a maximum radius of winding or unwinding. .

• - la Fig. 1 est une vue extérieure en plan d'un dispositif d'enroulement suivant l'invention ;
• - la Fig. 2 est une vue de ce dispositif prise en coupe suivant la ligne brisée 2-2 de la Fig. 1 ;
• - la Fig. 3 est une vue en plan correspondant à la Fig. l, le capot étant enlevé ;
• - la Fig. 4 montre un détail du dispositif ;
• - la Fig. 5 montre l'extrémité libre du câble dans l'application à un lève-glace du dispositif des Fig. 1 à 3 ;
• - les Fig. 6 et 7 sont des schémas de montage du dispositif des Fig. 1 à 4 dans son application à un lève-glace.
• - la Fig. 8 est une vue extérieure en plan d'un dispositif d'enroulement suivant un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• - la Fig. 9 est une vue de ce dispositif prise en coupe suivant la ligne 9-9 de la Fig. 8 ;
• - la Fig. 10 est une vue prise en coupe suivant la ligne brisée 10-10 de la Fig. 8 ;
• - les Fig. 11 et 12 montrent à plus grande échelle deux variantes de la section de la gorge ;
• - la Fig. 13 est une vue partielle analogue à la Fig.10, à plus grande échelle, d'une variante du dispositif des Fig.8 à 10, cette variante étant prise en coupe suivant la ligne 13-13 de la Fig. 14 ;
• - la Fig. 14 est une vue correspondante prise suivant la flèche 14 de la Fig. 13.

The invention is set out below in more detail with the aid of the appended drawings, which show only one embodiment. In these drawings:

• - Fig. 1 is an external plan view of a winding device according to the invention;
• - Fig. 2 is a view of this device taken in section along the broken line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
• - Fig. 3 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. l, the cover being removed;
• - Fig. 4 shows a detail of the device;
• - Fig. 5 shows the free end of the cable in the application to a window regulator of the device of FIGS. 1 to 3;
• - Figs. 6 and 7 are assembly diagrams of the device of FIGS. 1 to 4 in its application to a window regulator.
• - Fig. 8 is an external plan view of a winding device according to another embodiment of the invention;
• - Fig. 9 is a view of this device taken at the neck eg along line 9-9 of Fig. 8;
• - Fig. 10 is a view taken in section along the broken line 10-10 of FIG. 8;
• - Figs. 11 and 12 show on a larger scale two variants of the section of the groove;
• - Fig. 13 is a partial view similar to FIG. 10, on a larger scale, of a variant of the device of FIGS. 8 to 10, this variant being taken in section along line 13-13 of FIG. 14;
• - Fig. 14 is a corresponding view taken along arrow 14 in FIG. 13.

The device shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is intended for the actuation of a pulling and pushing cable 2, also called "push-pull cable". It essentially comprises a drum 3 and a retaining cover 4.

The drum 3 has the general shape of a flat disc whose radially outer part is hollowed out of a groove 5 in the general shape of a spiral. More precisely, from its outer end 6, close to the periphery of the disc, the groove 5 extends over a three-quarter circle 7 coaxial with the disc, then over a quarter circle 8 whose center O is offset by relative to that of the disc, then on a short line segment 9, then on another three-quarter of a circle 10, all these parts being tangentially connected to each other. This configuration ensures minimal radial dimensions of the drum 3 for a given length of the groove 5.

The radially inner region of the disc 3 forms a cup 11 with a rectangular section open on the same side as the groove 5. The peripheral wall of this cup is shaped into an internal toothing 12, and its center defines a hub 13.

As best seen in Fig.4, the groove 5 has an isosceles trapezoidal section, its side walls 5 being slightly undercut. The entry width of this groove is approximately equal to the outside diameter of the cable 2, one end of which is suitably fixed at a point 14 of the disc 3 close to the internal end of the groove 5, that is to say of the three-quarter circle 10.

The cover 4, shown only in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a rectangular plate intended to be fixed to a supporting structure, for example to a vehicle door, by means of screw holes 15, and attached to the face of the disc 3 provided with the groove 5.

The cover 4 has an eccentric cup 16 projecting from the outside and an axis 16a projecting from its inside face, the hub 13 of the drum 3 journalling on this axis 16a. The bottom of the bowl 16 is crossed by a drive shaft 17 at the inner end of which a pinion 18 is wedged in engagement with the teeth 12 of the drum 3.

In addition, the bowl 16 contains a unidirectional drive mechanism 19 known as the "auto-lock". This mechanism, shown diagrammatically by a helical spring in FIG. 2, is widely known per se and will not be described in more detail. Its role will appear below.

Near its periphery, the cover 4 has an approximately radial notch 20 as well as two studs 21. On this region slides a plate 22 provided with two buttonholes 23 which are crossed by the studs 21. On the plate 22 is fixed a tube tangential outlet 24 whose end portion 25 is inclined upward from its inlet orifice 26, which is open downward in the plane of the wafer 22. The cable 2 thus passes through the tube 24, which the guide, leaving the winding plane of the groove 5 (see Fig. 2). Figs. 2 and 3 show the cable fully wound in this groove, while FIG. 1 corresponds to the end of the unwinding of the cable, the plate 22 having slid inwards by a distance corresponding to the radial spacing of the two turns of the groove 5.

Cable 2 consists of a coated steel core 27 of a plastic sheath 28 (Fig. 5). The core 27 can be braided and threaded in its sheath 28, or the cable can be produced by co-extrusion. _b n service, this cable, after its exit from the tube 24, is guided in a channel 29 with circular section shown in FIG. 5. At its free end, the sheath 28 is removed and replaced over the same length by a sleeve 30 secured to the member to be moved. The sleeve 30 is connected to this member by a web 31 which slides in a longitudinal groove 32 of the channel 29. This method of fixing is simple and does not introduce any guide clearance at the end of the cable 2.

In operation, the rotation of the motor shaft 17, under the action of a crank or a motor (not shown) rotates the disc 3 in one direction or the other by causing winding or the unwinding of the cable 2. When the point where this cable leaves the groove 5 is on a three-quarter circle 7 or 10, the plate 22 remains fixed; when this point belongs to a transition zone 8 or 9, the plate moves radially under the effect of the cable itself.

In each direction of rotation, the cable, which tends either to contract or to expand radially, is applied to one of the two side walls 5 ^a of the groove 5 and, due to the undercut of these walls, it is biased towards the bottom of the groove; this, at the cost of a slight clearance between the cable and the groove, eliminates any friction between the cable and the fixed cover 4 and ensures that the cable is in contact only with the disc 3, which rotates at the same speed in all its points.

Thus, the cable only rubs in the outlet tube 24 and in its guide channel 29. In addition, the surface of the cable being made of smooth plastic, its coefficient of friction in these two members can be reduced. The device 1 therefore has a high efficiency and, as it ensures perfect guiding of the cable over its entire length, any risk of buckling is excluded. The device 1 is thus able to operate elements requiring relatively large forces such as the glass of motor vehicles.

In this application, it is not necessary that a manual action on the ice can bring it down. This is the role fulfilled by the "auto-lock" mechanism 19, as is well known in the art.

The device 1 also has an advantageous property in its application to window regulators: the fact that the unwinding radius of the cable 2 varies, the thrust or traction force exerted by this cable also varies for a constant motor torque over the 'shaft 17. It is therefore possible to directly obtain a minimum force in the high position of the glass, in particular at the end of closing, which is advantageous from the point of view of safety. For this, if the winding is as shown in Fig.3, the cable must attack from above the slider 33 secured to the bottom of the glass and sliding along a rail 34 fixed to the door (Fig.7) . Alternatively, the cable can attack the slider 33 from below (Fig. 6), but its direction of winding in the groove 5 must then be reversed, that is to say that its point of attachment 14 on the drum 3 must be adjacent to the outer periphery thereof; this is made possible by the change of plane of the cable at its exit from the groove 5. In both cases, it is easy to adapt the variation in radius to the variation in force desired.

As a variant, the plate 22 of the cable outlet device may have a finger (not shown) engaged, through a buttonhole (not shown) of the cover 3, in a groove (not shown) of the disc 3 parallel to the groove 5. The plate 22 is then moved positively during the winding and unwinding of the cable.

In another variant, the cable outlet device 22 to 26 can be replaced by a simple tangential Y-shaped outlet chute fixed to the cover 4. Such a gou monkfish 35, illustrated schematically in phantom in FIG. 3, comprises a converging inlet open downward and covering the entire radial extent of the groove 5, and a tubular outlet similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Of course, the drive in rotation of the disc 3 can be carried out by other means than those shown, for example by an external or conical toothing or a chain wheel integral with this disc. Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the same size, in particular in thickness, the drum 3 can carry one, two or more than two turns of cable, as required.

The device 41 shown in Figs. 8 to 10 is intended for actuating a cable 42 for pulling and pushing, also known as a "push-pull cable", consisting of a metal core 42A coated with a plastic sheath 42B. This device 41 essentially comprises a drum 43 and a casing 44.

The drum 43 has the general shape of a flat annular disc in one face 45 of which a groove 46 is hollowed out, having the same general shape of spiral of reduced radial size as in FIGS. 1 to 4. The cable 42 projects slightly out of the groove 46, as will be explained below.

The inner periphery of the drum 43 has, on the side of the face 45, an internal toothing 47, then widens to the opposite face 48. At the intersection of the outer periphery of this face 48 and the outer cylindrical surface 49 of the drum is provided a rolling track 50 with a quarter-circle section.

The casing 44 consists of a bowl 51 closed by a cover 52. The bowl 51 receives the drum, with the interposition of balls 53, interposed with separating members 54 (Fig. 10), between its rounded angle 55 and the track 50. The two contacts of each ball 53 are inclined at approximately 45 ° on the axis XX of the drum, so that the ball bearing thus formed is both a thrust bearing and a drum centering bearing in its casing.

The radially outer part of the cover 52 has a generally planar shape, with radial ribs for axial positioning of the drum located at 45 ° from each other and coming into contact with the external generator of the cable 42. The free edge of the bowl 51 is crimped on the periphery of the cover 52.

The cover 52 has at a point on its periphery a projection 56 open circumferentially in the direction of exit of the cable 42. This projection extends radially over the entire interval occupied by the groove 46, and it is provided in the plane of the cover a window 57 adjacent to the opening 58 of the projection 56.

The cover also comprises, roughly in the axis of the opening 58, a tangential appendage 59 which ends in two knurled jaws 60. These, crimped one on the other at 60A and 6QB (Fig. l), enclose and firmly block the flexible tubular sheath 61, of plastic material, which may in particular be constituted by the end part of the cable guide channel up to the bottom window cursor (not shown). The sheath 61 is free between the jaws 60 and the projection 56; it enters it and ends in a bevelled edge 62 situated in the general plane of the cover 52 and therefore perpendicular to the axis X-X of the drum 43.

In the example shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the cable 42 is anchored by its end to the radially inner end of the groove 46 and follows this groove until it penetrates into the sheath 61 to exit the projection 56 through the opening 58. When the drum rotates, the free end of the sheath 61 easily follows the variations in radius of the point of exit of the cable by moving by bending from one radial end to the other of the projection 56.

The drive shaft 63 of the device 41 is guided parallel to the axis XX by two bearings 64, 65, provided in aligned bosses of the cup 51 and the cover 52. The shaft 63 por te a motor pinion 66 in engagement with the teeth 47 of the drum, as well as a known mechanism 67 of the "auto-lock" type, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9 without the spring which is mounted between the drum and a bottom of the boss of the cup 51. The ar- _b er 63 protrudes out of the basin to be connected to an unillustrated actuator.

When the cable 42 passes from the groove 46 to the sheath 61, it changes planes. The forces exerted on this cable therefore have an axial component. When the cable operates in traction, it tends to be applied to the cover 52, which exerts the necessary reaction. When the cable operates in compression, it tends to push a peripheral point of the drum towards the bowl 51. It is then the bowl 51, to which the force is transmitted via the balls 53, which are located practically on the line of action of the cable, which exercises the necessary reaction. The drum therefore remains in all cases perfectly positioned, without any bending force being induced in the shaft 63, even if excessive forces, at the end of the race for example, are exerted on the cable by means of this tree.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the groove 46 has a section consisting of a semicircle with the diameter of the cable and two parallel straight segments. This solution is particularly simple and gives satisfactory results. However, if it is desired to reduce the friction between the cable and the cover 52, it is possible to use the section profile shown in FIG. 11. This profile comprises, in the bottom of the groove, an arc of circle 68 extending over a little more than 180 ° and whose radius R is a little greater than that r of the cable 42, then two tangent line segments 69, then two rounded 70s for connection to the face 45 of the drum. The inlet neck 71 of the groove is located, relative to the bottom thereof, between the diametral level 72 and the outer level 73 of the cable, which is outside the groove, which allows, relative to the trapezoidal profile shown in Fig. 4, to reduce the clearance j = 2 (Rr) between the cable and the groove and, consequently, to reduce the dead stroke of the shaft 63 at the start of actuation in each direction.

In Fig. 11, the width of the neck 71 is slightly greater than the diameter 2r of the cable, so that the latter freely enters and leaves the groove 46. In the variant of FIG. 12, on the contrary, the general profile of the groove is the same, but this width of the neck 71 is slightly less than the diameter of the cable, while the radius of the circular arc 68 is equal to that r of the cable. There is therefore no play in the cable in the groove, and consequently no dead stroke of the shaft 63, but, on the other hand, greater energy is necessary to make the cable penetrate into the groove and make it come out again, the cable snapping into the groove when the neck 71 passes.

While in Figs. 8 to 10, the end of the sheath 61 is simply bevelled, this end is reinforced in the variant of FIGS. 13 and 14 by a tubular metal sleeve 74 which passes through the opening 58 of the projection 56 and the adjacent window 57. The sleeve 74 extends outwards into a cradle 75 which maintains the necessary curvature of the sheath 61 in the direction parallel to the axis XX of the drum. At its other end, the sleeve 74 has a hook-shaped appendage 76 which crosses with clearance a window 77 on the face of the projection 56 opposite the drum, and, opposite this appendage 76, a guide chute 78 received in the groove 46 of the drum. The contact between the chute 78 and the bottom of the groove 46 is however prevented by the cooperation of the hook 76 with the projection 16.

Thus, the sheath 61 can be guided without intervention of the cable 42, which reduces friction. In addition, in the event of an excessive pushing force exerted on the cable, the tendency of the sheath 61 to buckle is positively stopped by the coming of the appendage 76 abutting on the outer radial edge of the window 77.

Note that, in each embodiment of the Fig. 7 to 14, the axis of the driving pinion 66 is, relative to the axis X - X of the drum, in an angular position close to the projection 56, that is to say of the location where the cable leaves throat 46 and enters it. This ensures an advantageous balancing by meshing pinion 66 - toothing 47 of the tangential action exerted by the cable on the drum and thus relieves the ball bearing 53.

Alternatively, the toothing 47 could also be provided on the outer periphery 49 of the drum; the pinion 66 would then pass through a window of the bowl 51 located in the same angular position as the pinion 66 shown.

Claims (21)

1 - Winding device for pulling and pushing cable, of the type comprising a rotary drum (3; 43) provided on one face with a groove (5; 46) having a general spiral shape and intended to receive the cable (2; 42), characterized in that the drum is provided with a cover (4; 52) for retaining the cable in the groove, this cover comprising a fixed plate attached to said face of the disc. 2 - Winding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove (5; 46) has a section with side walls in undercut. 3 - winding device according to claim 2, characterized in that the groove (5) has a trapezoidal section. 4 - Winding device according to claim 2, characterized in that the section of the groove (46) reaches its minimum width between the diametrical level (72) and the external level (73) of the cable (42). 5 - winding device according to claim 4, characterized in that said minimum width is slightly less than the diameter (2r) of the cable (42). 6 - winding device according to claim 5, characterized in that the maximum width (2R) of the groove section (46) is equal to the diameter (2r) of the cable (42). 7 - Winding device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the bottom of the groove (46) has over more than 180 ° a circular shape (68). 8 - winding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the groove (5; 46) is constituted by concentric arcs of a circle (7, 10) connected by connection zones (8, 9). 9 - winding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the cover (4) is slidably mounted in a direction roughly radia a tangential tube (24) for the cable outlet (2). 10 - winding device according to claim 9, characterized in that the outlet tube (24) is provided with a finger engaged in a groove parallel to the groove (5) of the drum (3). 11 - Winding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the cover (4) is fixed a tangential outlet chute (35) in Y whose inlet covers the entire radial amplitude of the groove (5) of the drum (3). 12 - Winding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a flexible sheath (61) for guiding the cable (42) is anchored on the cover (52) at a certain distance from the location where the cable exits from the groove (46) and ends at this location. 13 - Winding device according to claim 12, characterized in that the end (62) of the flexible sheath (61) is cut bevel perpendicular to the axis (X - X) of the drum (43). 14 - Winding device according to one of claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the end (62) of the flexible sheath (61) comprises a reinforcing element (74) normally free which abuts on the cover (52 ) when the pushing force exerted on the cable exceeds a predetermined value. 15 - Winding device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a thrust bearing (53) is interposed between a peripheral track (50) of the drum (43) turned on the side opposite to the outlet of the cable (42) and an adjacent track (55) secured to the cover (52). 16 - Winding device according to claim 15, characterized in that the bearing (53) also constitutes a centering bearing. 17 - Winding device according to claim 16, characterized in that the bearing (53) is a bearing angular contact ball bearings. 18 - Winding device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the drum (43) carries a toothing (47) driven by a drive pinion (66) at a point close to the location (56 ) where the cable (42) enters and exits the groove (46). 19 - Window-lifter, of the cable type connected to a slider, characterized in that the cable (2; 42) is fixed, at its end opposite the slider (33), to a winding device (1; 41) according to any one of claims 1 to 18. 20 - Window lifter according to claim 20, characterized in that the cable (2) consists of a steel core (27) sheathed in plastic, and in that the slider (33) is fixed on the cable (2) by a sleeve (30) whose wall thickness is equal to the thickness of the sheath (28), the latter being removed over the corresponding length. 21 - Window lift according to one of claims 19 and 20, characterized in that the direction of winding of the cable (2) in the groove (5) and the connection between the cable and the slider (33) are such that 'to the closed position of the window corresponds a maximum radius of winding or unwinding.

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