EP0578529B1 - Security device for electrical opening parts in vehicals with a drive cable for an opening member, in particular window winders and sliding roofs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electric vehicle opening according to the preamble of claim 1.

We know that there are currently three types of window regulators on motor vehicles: window regulators with rack cable, window regulators with twisted cable (Bowden cable) and window regulators with arms and toothed sector. The invention relates to these window regulators as well as to other electric windows having similar operating conditions, in particular the sun roofs which are driven by cables.

When an obstacle is on the closing path of the window (or sunroof), the system must recognize the presence of an abnormal phenomenon and, if the force on the window or the sunroof exceeds a limit value, the glass should not continue its trajectory, but stop and at least release the effort. This release of the force can be obtained either by releasing the window which descends under a low effort or under the effect of its own weight if the friction in the side seal allows it, or by reversing the movement of the window, which is then forced to descend.

To solve this problem, various safety devices have already been proposed, electronic and electromechanical, which have, among other disadvantages, that of being relatively expensive because of their complexity. This high manufacturing cost is obviously an obstacle to their dissemination in large series.

Furthermore, US-A 2,130,764 and FR-A 2,461,085 describe security devices for pivoting doors in which switches work to close. Therefore, if the wiring is defective, the security system does not work.

In addition, these two prior devices include springs whose working stroke is large, and therefore the sensitivity to tripping low.

The object of the invention is to propose an electric opening comprising an electromechanical safety device which is simple to manufacture, inexpensive, more reliable and more sensitive than the above-mentioned devices.

The opening referred to by the invention which is according to claim 1, comprises electromechanical means for coupling and force detection between a first driving element of said chain, and a second driven element, supporting the movable member, these means being arranged so as to automatically uncouple the two elements leading and led from each other in the event of detection of a force exceeding a predetermined value, opposing the travel of the window.

Thus, if in an electric window an obstacle interposes the closing of the window, for example a hand or another part of the body of a passenger, the electromechanical system detects this effort. If the latter exceeds a certain limit, the system reacts by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor, thus lowering the window by releasing the obstacle.

Such an electric opening is of relatively simple and inexpensive structure.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which follows, given with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate various embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting examples.

Figure 1 is a simplified partial elevational view of an electric opening of the rack cable type according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a simplified partial elevational view of an opening constituted by an electric window regulator according to the invention, of the Bowden cable type.

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 are elevation views of four embodiments of the electromechanical safety device according to the invention.

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view along 9/9 of Fig.6.

Figure 8 is an elevational view similar to Fig.1 to 6 of a fifth embodiment of the safety device according to the invention.

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are electrical diagrams illustrating four possible embodiments of the electrical circuit supplying the safety devices shown in Fig. 1 to 8.

The electric opening 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a window regulator of the sliding cable rack type 2 in a sheath 3. The cable 2 meshes with a pinion 4 output from a gear motor 5. To the rack cable 3 is fixed a driving carriage 6 connected to a driven carriage 7 supporting a window 8, the two carriages 6 and 7 able to slide along a guide rail 9.

These carriages are connected by electromechanical coupling and force detection means between the two carriages, several embodiments of which will be described below with reference to Figs. 3 to 15.

The window regulator 11 shown in FIG. 2 is of the Bowden cable type 12 wound around pulleys 13 for deflection and of a drum 14 secured to the toothed wheel 15 of the gear motor 5. To the cable 12 is fixed the carriage 6, mechanically linked to the carriage 7 supporting the window 8 by electromechanical coupling and force detection means between the two carriages, according to one of the embodiments which will be described below.

Fig.3 illustrates the simplest and most general operating diagram of the invention: the two carriages 6, 7 are coupled by an elastic element 16 prestressed in tension, constituted in the example represented by a helical spring, and one of the carriages, for example the carriage 6, is provided with an electric switch 17 arranged opposite the second carriage 7 so as to be able to cooperate with the latter. Due to the interposition of the spring 16 between them, the two carriages 6, 7 are spaced apart by a corresponding interval, used to place the switch 17 therein. Means for limiting the relative movement of the carriages 6, 7 are provided, for example as shown, a hook 18 fixed to one of the carriages (7 in Fig.3). The hook 18 extends along the other carriage 6 and its curved end 18a makes it possible to limit the clearance between the two carriages.

If the force on the movable member carried by the carriage 7 increases as a result of the interposition of an obstacle to closing, the cable 2 or 12 tends to pull the carriage 6 upwards, while the force on the movable member tends to push the carriage 7 downwards, the spring 16 retaining the two carriages between them. An increase in the force on the movable member, therefore between the two carriages 6, 7, causes a correlative elongation of the spring 16. As long as this elongation does not exceed a certain limit, the switch 17 is in a determined state: in Fig.3 it is in the pushed position or start position. Beyond this limit, an additional force, therefore an additional elongation of the spring 16, frees the switch 17 enough for it to change state. It then suffices to have a power supply circuit for the motor of the geared motor 5 which, in the case where the switch 17 changes state, reverses the direction of rotation of the motor and therefore brings the movable member down to '' at the level required to release the obstacle.

Figs. 9 and 10 show examples of suitable electrical supply circuits, called "electric memory". It is a usual circuit for controlling the window regulator (or sunroof) known per se, comprising a button 19 for raising / lowering, powered by a battery 21, and to which two relays 22, 23 d are combined. reversal of the direction of operation, controlled by the weighing switch 17 and connected to the motor 5a of the gear motor 5. In this type of circuit, it suffices to hold the weighing switch 17 just the time necessary to switch the relays . Then, even if the switch 17 is released, the relays remain by a self-supply system in this detection position and ensuring the descent of the window to the reset point. This power circuit being well known per se, does not require a more detailed description.

The relay holding system 22, 23 is supplied as long as the pressure on the control button 19 is maintained.

The supply circuit of Fig. 10 is another usual embodiment of a control circuit, and differs from the circuit of Fig. 9 only by the fact that the + and - of the battery 21 are continuously supplied to the inverter relays 22. The power supply to the security system is therefore independent of the position of the control button 19, so that after detection the movable member descends, even after the button 19 has been released, and this to a reset point. The circuit of Fig. 10 is therefore with electric memory with self-supply.

The safety device of FIG. 4 comprises means for coupling the two carriages 6, 7 comprising a system with two pawls 24, 25 articulated on respective axes 26, 27 fixed to one of the carriages, namely the carriage 7 in the example described. This coupling device also comprises a finger 28 integral with the carriage 6, carrying a terminal lug 29 engaged in a spout 31 of the pawl 24, and a spring 32, one end of which is fixed at 33 to the carriage 7 while its end is attached in 34 to the second pawl 27. The latter is thus elastically urged by the spring 32, in abutment against the first pawl 24, so that the finger 29 is kept snapped into the first pawl 24 as long as the force transmitted to the finger 29 the pawl 24 remains below a predetermined value. One of the carriages 6, 7, namely the carriage 6 in the example described, is equipped with an electric switch 17, which occupies the space between the two carriages and cooperates with the carriage 7 of so as to change state when the aforementioned force exceeds said predetermined value and the finger 29 emerges from the pawl 24.

The switch 17 is part of an electrical supply circuit for the motor of the geared motor 5, which can be either the circuit of FIG. 11 or that of FIG. 12, as for the safety illustrated in FIG. 3.

The embodiment of the safety device illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises, as a means of coupling between the carriages 6, 7, a magnet 35 fixed to one of the carriages and glued to a ferromagnetic plate, not shown, fixed to the other cart. A switch 17 is fixed to one of the carriages 6, 7 in their separation interval, and is part of an electrical supply circuit according to Fig.11 or Fig.12.

The carriage 7 carries a hook 18 for limiting the travel between the two carriages, similar to that of FIG. 3.

The attraction force of the magnet 35 keeps the two carriages 6, 7 assembled as long as the force undergone by the carriage 7 carrying the movable member to be moved remains less than the attraction force of the magnet 35. When this force exceeds said attractive force, the two carriages 6, 7 separate, the switch 17 changes state and the electrical supply circuit controls the reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 5a.

The security devices which have just been described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5 are said to have electrical memory, because for these embodiments it is necessary to provide an electrical diagram capable of keeping in memory the information that the system has triggered. , and therefore to react accordingly even when the effort has disappeared, to move the movable member (for example the window) to a given place, for example the low position to be sure that the obstacle has been completely released.

There will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 two other embodiments of security according to the invention, in which the latter has a "mechanical" memory. This means that even when the effort is no longer greater than the predetermined limit, for example after the intervention of the safety system and therefore the reversal of the movement of the movable member, the system keeps in mind that the phenomenon of exceeding the effort took place. The declutching position then remains until the device is deliberately reset, so put it back in the starting position.

Fig. 6 and 7 show a safety device in which the coupling means of the carriages 6, 7 comprise a tension spring 48 connecting the carriages 6, 7. One of these, for example the carriage 7 carrying the movable member, is provided with a magnet 49 movable between two stable positrons by drive and guide means carried by the carriage 6. The magnet can move between two plates 51, 52 of ferromagnetic material fixed on the carriage 7 , at a suitable spacing from each other on either side of the element 49.

The drive and guide means of the magnet 49 comprise, in the example shown, a finger 53 projecting from the carriage 6, extending opposite the magnet 49, which is provided with a rod 54 which can slide in a guide slot 55 formed in the finger 54. The two stable positions of the magnet 49 are those where it is glued to one or the other of the two plates 51 and 52. The magnet 49 further cooperates with an electric switch 56 which can take two states each corresponding to one of the stable positions of the magnet 49: the first stable position being that where the two carriages 6, 7 are coupled as shown in Fig.8, and its second stable position being that where they remain coupled, but more distant from each other, after detection of an effort greater than a predetermined value. The switch 56 is part of an electrical supply circuit capable of reversing the direction of rotation of the motor of the geared motor when the switch 56 changes state. This change of state is itself caused by the displacement of the magnet 49 from its position glued against the lower plate 52 to its position glued to the upper plate 51. In its position glued to the plate 52 (initial position) , the magnet pushes the rod of the switch 56, while in its position where it is glued to the plate 51, the contact between the magnet 49 and the switch 56 is interrupted.

The position of the switch 56 therefore informs what state the security system is in.

The tension spring 48 is prestressed and ensures the coupling of the two carriages 6, 7. The device will switch from its initial position, shown in FIG. 6, to its detection position if the elongation of the spring 48 is sufficient to that the rod 54 of the magnet 49 is driven in the upward movement by the carriage 6, and more precisely by the finger 53, the rod 54 then coming into abutment at the lower end of the slot 55. The latter has for function of authorizing a certain free movement of the carriage 6 relative to the carriage 7. Thus, as soon as the force on the movable member (window or sunroof) exceeds a certain predetermined limit, the rod 54 is driven by the carriage 6 and the magnet 49, which was glued against the plate 52, will come to stick against the plate 51. At the same time the magnet 49 releases the switch 56 which changes state. From this moment, the electrical supply circuit, of which switch 56 is a part, and which can be either that of FIG. 11, or that of FIG. 12, will reverse the direction of rotation of the motor of the motor-reducer 5. The carriage 6 will therefore be pushed down, while the slot 55 allows the magnet 49 to remain in its detection position, glued to the plate 51, despite the reversal of the direction of movement.

Fig.11 shows a usual electrical opening control circuit comprising like the circuits of Fig.9 and 10, a control button 19 powered by the battery 21, and two relays 22, 23. This circuit therefore does not require detailed description. As long as the weighing switch 56 is in the detection position, the excitation coils 23 of the relays 22 are supplied, the descent continuing without the need to maintain pressure on the control button 19. In fact, once the detection has been made by the change of state of the switch 56 caused by the movement of the magnet 49, the switch 56 remains in its new state until the system is "voluntarily rearmed". Consequently, the electrical circuit maintains the switch 56 in its position after detection, even after the movement is reversed and therefore the effort is eliminated.

The circuit of Fig.12 is similar to that of Fig.11, but it is further equipped with a bridge 57 of diodes which supplies the relays 22, 23. If the button 19 is stopped pressing, the system stops and the movable member ceases to descend, because the + terminals of the relays 22 are no longer supplied, taking into account the arrangement of the diodes of the bridge 57. Like the previous electrical circuits, the circuit of FIG. 12 is known per se therefore requires no detailed description.

The circuits of Fig. 11 and 12 are with mechanical memory, therefore not self-powered.

In the embodiment of the security of FIG. 8, the coupling of the two carriages 6, 7 is ensured by a prestressed spring 58 of traction and one of the two carriages, for example the carriage 7, is equipped with a part 59 articulated around an axis 61. The part 59 cooperates with an electric switch 56 and is biased by a spring 62, one end of which is fixed to the carriage 7, to a position corresponding to a first state of the switch 56 The carriage 6 is provided with a finger 70 whose end cooperates with the part 59 in order to maintain the latter, against the restoring force of the spring 62, in an angular position corresponding to the second state of the switch 56, as shown in Fig. 8. Maintaining the part 59 and the switch 56 in this state is ensured as long as the elastic element 58 does not undergo an elongation greater than that corresponding to a predetermined value. The switch 56 is part of a supply circuit of the gearmotor 5 capable of reversing the direction of rotation thereof when the switch 56 changes state, in order to release the movable member. This electrical circuit can be either that of Fig.11 or that of Fig.12.

Thus, if the two carriages 6, 7 move too far apart following an extension of the spring 58 itself caused by the interposition of an obstacle between the movable member and the frame which surrounds it, the part 59 will be released from any contact with the finger 70 which retracts and therefore will pivot around the axis 61 by releasing the switch 56. The latter changes state and the electrical system of FIG. 11 or Fig. 12 reverses the direction of motor rotation.

Safety realizations with a single stable position (Fig. 3 to 5) have no mechanical memory because they have only one stable position, and must therefore be associated with the circuits of Fig. 9 and 10. The embodiments of Fig.6 to 8 have two stable positions, therefore a mechanical memory, and are therefore associated with the circuits of Fig.11 or 12, not self-powered.

In the various embodiments of the invention, the switches and their control circuits constitute a current loop ("fail safe"), which makes it possible to ensure that the circuit is operating correctly, and can put the system in safety.

Furthermore, the different springs used, for example 16 in Fig. 3, 48 in Fig. 6 ... are prestressed, unlike the springs in the above-mentioned prior documents (for example that of FR-A 2,461,085). They can thus be released from the effort threshold with extreme sensitivity, which constitutes an appreciable advantage compared to the known prior devices.

The invention is susceptible of various variant embodiments. Thus it is evident in particular that the relative arrangement of the coupling and force detection elements on the carriages 6 and 7 can be reversed with respect to those shown. Likewise, a single properly arranged pawl can replace the two pawls 24 and 25 in Fig. 4.

In the various embodiments of the invention, the security system has the advantage of being relatively simple to manufacture and therefore inexpensive.

Claims (8)

1. Electric opener for vehicles, comprising a motor (5a), a movable member (8) which can be moved by a cable, a kinematic chain for moving the cable, and a safety device comprising electromechanical coupling and load-detection means (16, 17...; 24, 25, 28, 17...) between a first, driving element (6) of the said chain and a second driven element (7) supporting the movable member, these means being arranged so as to disconnect the two driving and driven elements from one another automatically in the event of the detection of a load exceeding a predetermined value opposing the travel of the movable member, characterized in that the electromechanical coupling and load-detection means (16, 17, 22, 23..) are formed between a first, driving traveller (6) fixed to the cable (9) and a second, driven traveller (7) fixed to the movable member, these means being arranged so as to disconnect the two travellers from one another automatically in the event of the detection of the said load exceeding a predetermined value.
2. Electric opener according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two travellers (6, 7) are coupled by a resilient element (16) prestressed in tension, one (6) of the travellers having an electrical switch (17) which is associated with the second traveller (7) so as to change state when the aforementioned load exceeds the said predetermined value and the resilient element undergoes an extension corresponding to the distance between the travellers, the switch forming part of an electrical motor-supply circuit which can reverse the sense of rotation of the motor in order to release the movable member when the switch changes state (Fig. 3).
3. Electric opener according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said coupling means include a system with two catches (24, 25) articulated on respective pins (26, 27) fixed to one (7) of the travellers (6, 7), a finger (28) fixed to the other traveller (6) and engaged in a notch (31) of a first catch (24), and a spring (32) of which one end is fixed to the traveller carrying the catches and the other end is fixed to the second catch (25) which it urges into abutment against the first catch (24) so that the finger is kept locked in the first catch as long as the load transmitted to the finger by the first catch remains below the said predetermined value, one (6) traveller having an electrical switch (17) associated with the second traveller (7) so as to change state when the aforementioned load exceeds the said predetermined value and the finger is released from the system of catches, the switch forming part of an electric motor-supply circuit which can reverse the sense of rotation of the motor in order to release the movable member when the switch changes state (Fig. 4).
4. Electric opener according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coupling means comprise a magnet (35) which is placed between armatures fixed to the travellers (6, 7) and the force of attraction of which keeps the two travellers together, whereas the load-detection means comprise an electrical switch (17) carried by one traveller (6) and associated with the second traveller so as to change state when the aforementioned load exceeds the said predetermined value the switch forming part of an electrical motor-supply circuit which can reverse the sense of rotation of the motor in order to release the movable member when the switch changes state (Fig. 5).
5. Electric opener according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coupling means comprise a resilient element (48) prestressed in tension and connecting the two travellers (6, 7), one traveller (7) having a magnet (49) which can be moved between two stable positions by entrainment and guide means (53, 55) carried by the other traveller (6), this magnet cooperating with an electrical switch (56) which can adopt two states each corresponding to one of the stable positions of the magnet, the first stable position being that in which the two travellers (6, 7) are coupled and the second stable position being that in which they are disconnected after the detection of a load greater than the said predetermined value, the switch forming part of a supply circuit of the motor (5a), which can reverse the sense of rotation of the motor in order to release the movable member when the switch (56) changes state (Figs. 6-7).
6. Electric opener according to Claim 5, characterized in that the means for entraining and guiding the magnet (35) comprise a finger (53) projecting from one (6) of the travellers (6, 7) and extending opposite the magnet which has a rod (54) sliding in a guide slot (55) formed in the finger, the stable positions of the magnet being determined by two plates (51, 52) of ferromagnetic material fixed to the traveller (7) carrying the magnet at a suitable distance on either side of the latter (Figs. 6-7).
7. Electric opener according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coupling means comprise a resilient element (58) prestressed in tension and connecting the two travellers (6, 7), one traveller (7) being equipped with an element (59) which is articulated to this traveller, cooperates with an electrical switch (56), and is urged by a spring (62) towards a position corresponding to a first state of the switch, the second traveller (6) having a finger (70) cooperating with the said articulated element in order to keep the latter in an angular position corresponding to the second state of the switch, against the biasing force of the spring, as long as the resilient element does not undergo an extension greater than that corresponding to the said predetermined value, the switch forming part of an electrical supply circuit of the motor (5a), which can reverse the sense of rotation of the motor in order to release the movable member when the switch changes state (Fig. 8).
8. Electric opener according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that means are provided for limiting the relative movement of the travellers (6, 7), for example, a hook (18) fixed to one of the travellers and extending along the other traveller in order to limit its clearance relative to the traveller carrying the hook.

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