EP0721044A1 - Carrier for mounting on a slide of a motor vehicle window raiser - Google Patents

Abstract

The support is mounted on the carriage of a winder in a car. The support has a wall (6) with a peg (5) which fits into a hole in the window (1). A clip (7) is hinged (8) on the support (3) so that the distance between the clip (7) and the wall (6) of the support enables the window pane to be inserted parallel to its final position. The clip may be formed by moulding and a thinner section forms the hinge. The clip has a hole (9) which the end of the peg (5) slots through. A flexible clip (10) forms a stop against a section (19) of the chassis (4) to immobilise the support (3) when the glass is being positioned. The clip (7) rests against the upper edge (18a1) of the carriage, close to the hinge (8) on the clip (7).

Description

The present invention relates to a support intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle window lifter carriage as well as a motor vehicle window lifting device equipped with such a support.

European patent No. 0 208 237 describes a support for connecting a sliding window for a motor vehicle door to a corresponding drive device. The support comprises a pin engaged in a hole made in the glass and integral with an elastically deformable tab in a direction perpendicular to the lateral surface of the glass to allow the pin to be engaged in the hole in the glass. The body of the support also comprises a number of elastically deformable vertical tabs extending in a direction parallel to the support tab of the spindle and intended to form means for retaining the glass.

However, the above known support does not allow direct mounting thereof in the vehicle door because the assembly of the glass on this support requires to direct outward the tab carrying the pin and also the tabs of positioning to allow the insertion of the lower part of the glass to engage the pin in the hole of the glass. Thus, the assembly described in this European patent can only be used after having mounted the support on the glass in a special place located near the vehicle assembly line, then by mounting the glass on the vehicle, where a waste of time with concomitant management of a certain number of parts. In addition, the arrangement described above of the known support does not allow mounting by robot.

The invention provides a support for connecting a sliding window for a motor vehicle door to a corresponding drive device eliminating the above-mentioned drawbacks of the known support.

For this purpose, the support of the invention, intended to be mounted on a window-lift carriage of a motor vehicle and on which the window is mounted, comprising a wall having a pin on which the window is fitted by a hole provided in this and a tab arranged to apply the glass to the wall of the support to fix the glass and the support together, is characterized in that in the mounting position of the glass, the fixing tab occupies a position relative to the support wall such that the distance between the fixing lug and the support wall is sufficient to allow the introduction of the glass parallel to its final mounting position.

The aforementioned fixing lug is articulated on the support by means of a hinge.

Preferably, the fixing lug has come from molding with the support and is connected to the latter by a thin part forming the hinge.

The fixing lug comprises a hole into which the end of the spindle penetrates when the assembly constituted by the carriage and the support is in the mounted position of the glass.

The support also comprises a flexible tab arranged to come into abutment against a part of the carriage with a profile corresponding to that of the flexible tab to immobilize the support on the carriage in the mounting position of the glass to which the fixing tab is resting on a rim of the carriage close to the hinge of the fixing lug.

The flexible tab is also capable of abutting against another part of the carriage with a profile corresponding to that of the flexible tab to immobilize the support on the carriage in the final mounting position.

The mounting of the support on the carriage is carried out by sliding a part of the support in a well of corresponding section of the carriage and the flexible tab as well as the abovementioned parts of the carriage have a shape such that the flexible tab can be erased during of a movement in the direction of introduction of the support and is blocked during a movement in the opposite direction.

When mounting the support in its final position on the carriage, the fixing lug is folded down automatically by the edge of the carriage against the glass.

The support also comprises a heel-forming part abutting against the carriage when the support is in the final mounting position.

A keying means is provided to ensure correct orientation of the support relative to the carriage.

Preferably, the polarizing means is constituted by a pan cut in one of the angles of the square or of the rectangle of the well of the carriage having a square or rectangular section.

The support further comprises means for removing play between the support and the window.

These clearance removal means comprise a piece in the form of a flexible log, for example made of rubber, housed in the support and on which an edge of the glass rests in the mounted position thereof.

The clearance removal means also comprise a flexible circular part, preferably molded with the support, surrounding the pin on the support wall and / or the fixing lug.

The invention also provides a motor vehicle window lifting device, comprising a movable carriage connected to drive means; a support mounted on the carriage, and means for fixing the glass to the support and which is characterized in that the support comprises the characteristics defined above of the latter.

The invention will be better understood and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended schematic drawings given solely by way of example illustrating an embodiment. of the invention and in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a support assembly and window lift carriage of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view showing the structure mounted on the carriage in the glass mounting position.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view showing the structure mounted on the carriage in the final mounting position of the glass.

Referring in particular to FIG. 1, the reference 1 designates a window glass for a motor vehicle door intended to slide in appropriate guide means (not shown) of the door. The window pane 1 includes a transverse through hole 2 located near its lower edge.

A support 3 intended to receive a lower part of the window pane 1 to fix it thereto is arranged to be mounted on a mobile carriage 4 connected to a corresponding drive device (not shown).

The connection between the structure 3 and the window 1 is effected by a cylindrical pin 5 secured to a vertical wall 6 of the support 3 and extending perpendicularly to it, and engaging through the hole 2 of the window 1. The support 3 comprises a tab 7 arranged to apply the glass 1 to the wall 6 of the support 3 and fix the glass 1 and the support 3 together as will emerge from the description which follows.

According to the invention, the tab 7 is mounted articulated on the support 3 by means of a hinge 8. Preferably, the tab 7 is molded with the support 3 and is connected to the latter by a thin part forming the hinge 8 and the support 3 is made, for example from a thermoplastic material, in a single molding operation so as to produce the tab 7 in the open position shown in FIG. 1 corresponding to a position allowing the engagement of the glass 1 between the wall 6 and the tab 7. The tab 7 has a transverse through hole 9 into which the end penetrates of the spindle 5 when the assembly constituted by the support 3 and the carriage 4 is in the mounted position of the window 1.

The support 3 further comprises, in the lower part thereof, a flexible tab 10 molded with the support 3 and articulated thereto by a flexible thin part 11. The flexible tab 10 is generally defined by two walls of an acute angle dihedral, namely a substantially vertical wall 10a and an inclined wall 10b ending, in the vicinity of the joint 11, by a wall 10c substantially perpendicular to the wall 10a and defining a lug d immobilization of the support 3 in the carriage 4 at two different positions, respectively for mounting the window 1 on the support 3 as shown in FIG. 2 and for permanently mounting the window 1 on the support 3 as shown in FIG. 3.

The support 3 also comprises a heel-forming portion 12 situated in the upper part of the wall 6 extending to this wall and opposite it. The heel part 12 is intended to abut against a corresponding upper part of the carriage 4 when the support 3 is definitively fixed in the carriage 4.

Means are provided for eliminating the clearances between the support 3 and the pane 1 in the mounted position of the pane 1. These means comprise a circular flexible piece 13 surrounding the spindle 5 and another circular flexible piece 14 surrounding the hole 9 of the tab 7 , the parts 13 and 14 preferably being molded with the support 3. Thus, in the mounted position of the window 1 on the support 3, the window 1 is prevented from moving in any direction perpendicular to the wall 6 of the support 3 The means of deleting games also include a piece in the form of a rod or log 15 made of a flexible material, such as rubber, housed in a substantially semi-cylindrical cavity 16 formed in a flat wall 17 of the support located below the pin 5 at a certain distance from this being perpendicular to the wall 6 of the support 3. When the window pane 1 is in the position mounted on the support 3, its lower edge elastically deforms the rod part 15 which exerts on this lower edge a force directed upwards by compared to the figures such that it permanently maintains the lower surface of the hole 2 in contact with the corresponding lower surface of the spindle 5.

The wall 6 is connected to the heel-forming part 12 by a portion of rounded surface and the tab 7 also has, in the upper part of its internal face, a rounded shape so as to facilitate the introduction of the pane 1 during its mounting on the support 3.

The carriage 4, which is produced by molding in a single piece, preferably made of thermoplastic material, comprises a well 18 of square or rectangular section and in which engages by sliding the lower part of conjugate shape of the support 3 comprising the flexible tab 10.

The carriage 4 comprises two upper parallel 19 and lower 20 notches made in one 18a of the walls of the well 18 and each having a shape combined with that of the flexible tab 10. In the assembled position of the assembly constituted by the carriage 4 and the support 3 on the vehicle door, the wall 18a is oriented towards the interior of the vehicle. During the introduction of the corresponding part of the support 3 into the well 18 of the carriage 4, the flexible tab 10 disappears by being pushed elastically by the internal face of the wall 18a of the carriage 4 and arriving at the upper notch 19, the flexible tab engages elastically in the notch 19 to come into abutment by its lug 10c against the wall 19a of the notch 19 perpendicular to the wall 18a so as to block the flexible tab 10 and therefore the support 3 in the opposite direction to that of introduction of the support 3 into the carriage 4. The notch 19 comprises a surface 19b inclined towards the bottom of the well 18 of the carriage 4 and cooperating with the corresponding wall 10b of the flexible tab 10 to push the latter out of the wall 18a during the movement of the support 3 in its direction of introduction into the carriage 4. Arrived at the level of the lower notch 20, the lug 10c of the flexible tab 10 engages in this notch and abuts against a wall 20a of the notch 20 perpendicular to the wall 18a of the well 18 so as to block the flexible tab 10 in the opposite direction to the direction of introduction of the support 3. The wall 10b of the flexible tab 10 bears on a face 20b of the notch 20 inclined towards the bottom of the well 18, which inclined face 20b is extended by another reverse inclined face 18b allowing the introduction of a tool 21, such as a screwdriver, into the free space defined between the inclined face 18b and the lower end portion of the wall 10b of the flexible tab 10. The introduction of the tool 21 into this free space allows the lug 10c to be released from the flexible tab 10 from the lower notch 20 and thus the unlocking of the support 3 from its final mounting position in the carriage 4.

To ensure correct orientation of the support 3 relative to the carriage 4 during its introduction into the latter, one of the angles of the square or of the rectangle of the well 18 of the carriage 4 has a cut-out panel 18c forming means keying cooperating with a clearance of the corresponding angle of the support 3.

The carriage 4 further comprises two vertical perforated parts 22 produced respectively in the two walls 18d, 18e of the carriage 4 extending from the wall 18a perpendicular to the latter. The openwork portions 22 allow the lower edge of the window to pass into the final mounting position.

The carriage 4 finally comprises a part located in the circle referenced at 23 in FIG. 1 and shaped to be connected to the drive device of the carriage 4 and support 3 assembly and which may for example be of the cable and guide rail type, known per se.

The use of the support and carriage assembly of the invention is already apparent in part from the above description and will now be described.

The support 3 and carriage 4 assembly is presented at the mounting station in the mounting position of the window 1 and in which the support 3 is housed in the well 18 of the carriage 4 as shown in FIG. 2, that is to say say that the flexible tab 10 is housed in the upper notch 19. FIG. 2 shows that the tab 7 is inclined relative to the wall 6 of the support 3 towards the interior of the vehicle while being in abutment on the upper edge 18al of the wall 18a of the well 18, this rim being close to the hinge 8. The tab 7 thus occupies a position relative to the wall 6 such that the distance between the tab 7 and the wall 6 is sufficient to allow the introduction of the window 1 parallel to its final mounting position. As shown in Figure 2, the window 1 is inserted in the direction indicated by the arrows so as to be put in place by the hole 2 on the spindle 5 with the lower edge of the pane 1 resting on the piece in the form of a log 15. By exerting a vertical pressure directed downwards on the pane 1, the support 3 slides towards the bottom of the well 18 so as to bring the lug 10c of the flexible tab 10 into the lower notch 20 as shown in FIG. 3. When the support 3 slides, the flange 18al flaps the tab 7 so that the end of the pin 5 engages in the hole 9 of the tab 7 for fixing the window 1 to the support 3. In the permanently mounted position of the window 1, the heel portion 12 is supported on the corresponding upper face of the carriage 4 so that the support 3 is permanently locked In this one.

If one wishes to dismantle the window 1, it suffices to introduce the tool 21 into the free space between the wall 10b of the tab 10 and the face 18b to release the flexible tab 10 from the notch 20 and pull the window 1 vertically upwards to unlock the support 3 of the carriage 4. It is possible to unlock the support 3 of the carriage 4 without it being necessary to dismantle the interior lining of the door by creating for this purpose a concealable passage in the bottom of the door authorizing the passage of the tool 21 with the window 1 in the maximum low position. If you wish to keep a traditional disassembly, the tool will pass through the interior of the door with the window 1 in the three-quarter high position.

The numerous advantages which flow from the invention are the following:

The carriage 4 and support 3 assembly locked to the latter in the mounting position of the window 1 shown in FIG. 2 has the advantage of being delivered to the production unit and brought to the mounting station as well. prepositioned without any prior preparation, which considerably reduces the management of parts on assembly sites compared to currently known solutions which use staples, specific tools, etc.

The method of positioning the window 1 on the support 3 in the manner described in FIGS. 2 and 3 allows rapid mounting with locking of the window without the use of tools while reducing the physical constraints of the operator during mounting .

The risk of reversing the mounting of the support 3 on the carriage 4 is impossible thanks to the coding means 18c, unlike current solutions. In addition, since the parts used in current solutions do not exist on the support 3 and carriage 4 assembly of the invention, the need for a workbench or model is eliminated at the edge of the line for the preparation of the glass. , which saves manufacturing time and no tools are required to lock the carriage.

In the event of improper locking of the window support and carriage assembly, even if it is not detected by the operator or the controllers for mounting, the simple act of mounting the window in the maximum high position will lock the support 3 on the carriage and will therefore ensure with certainty that the windows of the vehicles are effectively locked.

Once the support 3 is locked on the carriage 4, only a mechanical action on the flexible tab 10 will enable the support of the carriage to be unlocked. Vibrations or manipulations of the window 1 will have no effect on the unlocking of this assembly, unlike mounting current by stapling or quarter turn which offers no guarantee after assembly.

The type of mounting of the assembly of the invention also has the advantage of allowing the use of a through hole masked by a shutter in the bottom of the vehicle door to allow the introduction of the tool. 21. This allows the glass of a finished vehicle to be replaced following compliance problems or faults on the glass, by only dismantling the external wiper of the door and the glass slide, that is to say say without dismantling the door panel and its accessories, hence the reduction in the cost of intervention in parts and time.

Finally, the structure of the entire carriage and support is applicable on a very large number of current vehicles without modification other than the movable part of the window regulator.

Claims (16)

Support intended to be mounted on a window-lift carriage of a motor vehicle and on which the window is mounted, the support comprising a wall having a pin on which the window is fitted by a hole provided therein; and a tab arranged to apply the glass to the wall of the support for fixing the glass and the support together, characterized in that in the glass mounting position (1), the fixing tab (7) occupies a position relative to the wall (6) of the support (3) such that the distance between the fixing lug (7) and the wall (6) of the support (3) is sufficient to allow the introduction of the glass (1) parallel to its final mounting position. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing lug (7) is articulated on the support (3) by means of a hinge (8). Support according to claim 2, characterized in that the fixing lug (7) is molded with the support (3) and is connected to the latter by a thin part forming the hinge (8). Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing lug (7) comprises a hole (9) into which the end of the spindle (5) penetrates when the assembly constituted by the carriage (4) and the support (3) is in the mounted position of the window. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises a flexible tab (10) arranged to abut against a part (19) of the carriage (4) of a profile corresponding to that of the flexible tab (10) for immobilizing the support (3) on the carriage (4) in the glass mounting position (1) at which the fixing tab (7) is supported on a flange (18a1) of the carriage (4) close to the hinge (8) of the fixing lug (7). Support according to claim 5, characterized in that the flexible tab (10) is also able to abut against another part (20) of the carriage (4) with a profile corresponding to that of the flexible tab (10) for immobilize the support (3) on the carriage (4) in the final mounting position. Support according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the mounting of the support (3) on the carriage (4) is carried out by sliding a part of the support (3) in a well (18) of corresponding section of the carriage (4) and in that the flexible tab (10) and the aforementioned parts (19, 20) of the carriage (4) have a shape such that the flexible tab (10) can be erased during a movement in the direction of introduction of the support (3) and is blocked during a movement in the opposite direction. Support according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, when the support (3) is mounted in its final position on the carriage (4), the fixing lug (7) is folded down automatically by the flange (18al ) of the carriage (4) against the window (1). Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a heel-forming part (12) of the support (3) abutting against the carriage (4) when the support (3) is in the final mounting position. Support according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a keying means (18c) is provided to ensure correct orientation of the support (3) relative to the carriage (4). Support according to claim 10, characterized in that the coding means consists of a pan (18c) cut in one of the angles of the square or the rectangle of the well (18) of the carriage (4) having a square or rectangular section . Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (13, 14; 15) for removing the play between the support (3) and the window (1), Support according to Claim 12, characterized in that the clearance elimination means comprise a piece in the form of a flexible log (15), for example made of rubber, housed in the support (3) and on which an edge of the glass rests ( 1) in the mounted position thereof. Support according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the clearance elimination means comprise a circular flexible piece (13; 14), preferably molded with the support (3), surrounding the pin (5) on the wall (6) of the support (3) and / or the fixing lug (7). Motor vehicle window lifting device, comprising a movable carriage (4) connected to drive means; a support (3) mounted on the carriage (4); and means for fixing the window (1) to the support (3), characterized in that the support (3) conforms to any one of claims 1 to 14. Motor vehicle equipped with a window lifting device according to claim 15.

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