EP1783310A1 - Vehicle door with a slidable window pane and corresponding vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The door has a window panel (12) that is guided in sliding along a guiding rail (13) comprising bending zones (17). The panel has sliding and fixation elements (14, 15) that are integrated while presenting degree of freedom along axis perpendicular to axis of the rail so that the panel is maneuvered during its sliding from a blocking plane to a sliding plane and vice-versa. The degree of freedom is assured by an intermediate articulation piece between the sliding and fixation elements.

Description

The field of the invention is that of the bays in the vehicle doors. More specifically, the invention relates to closure devices of an array formed in a door of a motor vehicle and comprising a movable portion for example in a substantially vertical direction, capable of closing or releasing an opening.

The invention applies in particular, but not exclusively, to the side doors of motor vehicles. It can also be applied to the rear doors, tailgates, ...

Conventionally, to seal a bay of a vehicle, be it an automobile, a commercial vehicle, a truck, a bus or a railway car, there is a report window, maintained by a connecting frame. The latter has an inner portion and an outer portion, which simultaneously pinch the edges of the glass, with a seal.

The most commonly used technique for opening and closing the windows is to make it movable vertically in its own plane, by making it penetrate or leave the box or the trim of the side doors.

This technique is nowadays commonly used and solutions for automating it are known. The equipment of automobiles in electric windows is thus very widespread.

In parallel, another technique has been proposed by the Holder of the present patent application. This technique is described in particular in patent documents EP-0 778 168 and EP - 0 857 844 .

With this technique, we obtain devices called "flush berries" which have, aesthetically, seen from the outside, a smooth, flush.

According to the prior art proposed by the Holder of the present patent application, the "flush bays" comprise a fixed assembly and a part mobile, the fixed assembly being intended to be mounted in the housing defined for this purpose on the vehicle body.

However, the windows in the doors have relatively small dimensions that it is not appropriate to further reduce by bringing a fixed assembly according to the prior art.

Another disadvantage of the known flush bays is that they generally require seals extending partially outward, and thus altering the flush appearance.

However, it is desirable to be able to equip some vehicles, especially luxury vehicles such as minivans, flush bays.

Solutions of perfectly flush bays were then proposed for such vehicles, but their operation often has the disadvantage of requiring sophisticated mechanisms and complex, including many parts and links, then causing the risk of malfunction or blockage. In addition, these devices are generally bulky, which is not desirable in a motor vehicle context.

A particular difficulty is related to the fact that the displacement of the movable panel is not perfectly rectilinear, because of the particular shapes of the doors and / or the need to move the window slightly away from the seal, to avoid the deterioration of the this last.

Another problem is the existence of relatively large tolerances in the automotive field, which can lead to the presence of games or blockage.

The invention particularly aims to overcome these disadvantages of the state of the art.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a technique for closing effectively and flush a bay formed in a vehicle door by a movable panel.

The invention also aims to provide such a vehicle door whose assembly is simple and effective even in the presence of play.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a vehicle door, whose seal is reliable and durable. In particular, an object of the invention is to avoid wear and deterioration of the seals during sliding of the panel.

The invention also aims to provide such a closure device that allows for the realization of doors and vehicles with new features, particularly with regard to aesthetics and ergonomics. Thus, an object of the invention is to allow movement along a curve (or more) of the movable panel, while keeping it parallel to a starting plane.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a closure device which is simple in design and easy to implement.

In addition, an object of the invention is to provide a device ensuring a good maintenance of the movable panel, by a better distribution of forces and masses.

• Une intégration aisée et esthétique du panneau mobile ;
• Une sécurisation de l'obturation notamment contre d'éventuelles tentatives d'intrusion ;
• ...

The invention also aims, according to some embodiments, to provide such a vehicle door that allows:

• An easy and aesthetic integration of the mobile panel;
• Securing the closure, in particular against possible intrusion attempts;
• ...

These objectives, as well as others that will appear more clearly later, are achieved by means of a motor vehicle door comprising a lower box and a movable glass panel slidable inside said lower box, to pass from a closed position to an open position, the glazed panel being slidably guided along at least one guide rail along which moves a sliding member integral with a support member of the movable panel.

According to the invention, the guide rail comprises at least two bending zones, and the door comprises means for securing the element sliding member and the support member having at least one degree of freedom along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rail, so as to allow the glazing panel to mend while sliding from a shutter plane to a plane of sliding parallel to the shutter plane, and vice versa.

Thus, the invention proposes a new technique of swaying a glazed panel intended to be mounted on a vehicle door, and in particular on a door having at least one curve, and remaining flush with surrounding glass panels.

The guiding rail bending zones have the role of ensuring the transverse movement of the glazed panel, and thus allow the swaying of the latter.

More specifically, the technique of the invention proposes a new approach to securing the support of the glazing panel on the sliding element relative to a guide rail and allowing the glazing panel a transverse movement.

This technique thus allows the glass panel to slide while following the curve of the door, and to prevent blocking during up or down maneuvers along the guide rail. Advantageously, the sliding element and the support element of the glass panel are secured by elements forming a hinge.

Thus, it effectively ensures the darting.

Advantageously, a first of the articulation elements comprises a shaft and a second of the articulation elements comprises a nesting groove adapted to receive the shaft, so as to form a pivot connection.

In other words, the joint is formed by two elements, interconnected so as to form a pivot connection. Thus, the junction between the sliding element and the support of the glazed panel allows a rotation of the glazed panel around the sliding element. It is this rotation that confers the desired degree of freedom.

Advantageously, the shaft is integral with the support member and the interlocking groove is integral with the sliding element.

Thus, no additional element is necessary to form the joint: the axis of rotation is provided by the sliding element comprising a shaft, on which is directly engages the support element of the glazed panel via a groove provided for this purpose.

Advantageously, such a vehicle door comprises complementary means for guiding the glazed panel, acting on the latter so that it maintains a trajectory substantially parallel to its axis of opening or closing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sliding element comprises at least two guiding pins, ensuring its guiding along the guide rail.

Advantageously, the sliding element comprises means of catching play between the sliding element and the guide rail.

Thus, the sliding element is secured to the guide rail so that it slides along the latter without play (or with a small clearance).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the play catch means comprise an elastic blade.

Advantageously, the sliding of the sliding element along the guide rail is actuated by a window lifter cable or any other operating element.

Thus, a device for controlling the actuation of the window, such as a crank or an electric control, acts on a cable connected to the swaying device according to the invention and actuates the movement upwards or downwards of the glazed panel along of the guide rail.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sliding element comprises a housing substantially parallel to the guide rail, in which is maintained one end of the window lifter cable.

Thus, any control on the window lifter cable acts directly on the sliding element, secured to the glazed panel by the hinge means.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, comprising at least one door as described above.

• la figure 1A est une vue simplifiée et schématisée, en coupe, d'une porte de véhicule selon l'invention, le panneau mobile étant fermé ;
• les figures 1B, 1C et 1D présentent des sections de la vue de la figure 1A, respectivement dans les cas où le panneau mobile est fermé, en cours d'ouverture, et totalement ouvert ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en trois dimensions éclatée du dispositif permettant le louvoiement du panneau vitré ;
• les figures 3A et 3B présentent des vues en trois dimensions de l'élément coulissant ;
• les figures 4A et 4B présentent des vues en trois dimensions d'une pièce d'articulation selon un mode de réalisation particulier ;
• Les figures 5A et 5B illustrent en trois dimensions les moyens de liaison entre l'élément coulissant et la pièce d' articulation ;
• Les figures 6A et 6B présentent des vues en trois dimensions du rail de guidage selon ce même mode réalisation, associé à l'élément coulissant des figures 3A et 3B ;
• les figures 7A, 7B, 7C et 7D présentent en coupe les pièces assemblées mises en oeuvre pour le louvoiement du panneau vitré, à différents instants du coulissement en descente.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings among which:

• Figure 1A is a simplified schematic view, in section, of a vehicle door according to the invention, the movable panel being closed;
• Figures 1B, 1C and 1D show sections of the view of Figure 1A, respectively in cases where the movable panel is closed, being opened, and fully open;
• Figure 2 is an exploded three-dimensional view of the device for the swaying of the glass panel;
• Figures 3A and 3B show three-dimensional views of the slider;
• Figures 4A and 4B show three-dimensional views of a hinge part according to a particular embodiment;
• FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate in three dimensions the connection means between the sliding element and the articulation part;
• FIGS. 6A and 6B show three-dimensional views of the guide rail according to this same embodiment, associated with the sliding element of FIGS. 3A and 3B;
• 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D show in section the assembled parts used for the swaying of the glazed panel, at different times of sliding downhill.

The invention thus has a new technique for making motor vehicle doors having a flush appearance. According to the invention, it is possible to produce a door (side door, rear door, tailgate, cabin door ...) whose window is perfectly aligned and flush with the other glass panels located around, without even a seal appearing between the box and the glass panel, in the closed position.

Later, a side door is described whose window slides vertically inside the box. Of course, it is possible to adapt this technique to other doors or other bays to be closed, and to slide the panel horizontally, or more generally in any direction. There may also be several separate glazed panels, some of which may be fixed.

Figures 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D illustrate the general principle of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a schematic and deliberate schematic view of a door according to the invention, the window being closed. FIGS. 1B, 1C and 1D are views of a section of FIG. 1A, at the level of an upright, respectively when the window is in the closed position, during swaying and finally in the open position. The following explanations are based on these four figures.

• un caisson inférieur 11, ou panneau de porte ;
• un panneau vitré 12 pouvant coulisser à l'intérieur du caisson inférieur, pour passer d'une position de fermeture (panneau vitré remonté) à une position d'ouverture (panneau vitré au moins partiellement baissé), et si nécessaire un cadre de porte, 16.

The door is composed of:

• a lower box 11, or door panel;
• a glazing panel 12 slidable inside the lower box, to pass from a closed position (glazed panel raised) to an open position (glazed panel at least partially lowered), and if necessary a door frame, 16.

The lower casing 11 may comprise, conventionally, different reinforcements (against frontal impacts, lateral, ...), closing means (striker, pulling ...).

The lower casing is advantageously used to integrate or carry the swaying system according to the invention.

When it is opened, the glazed panel 12 follows a decomposable displacement in two distinct stages controlled by the swaying system according to the invention. It firstly makes a substantially horizontal shift towards the outside of the vehicle, to move slightly away from the seal, then it descends along a substantially vertical axis inside the box 11 of the vehicle door . The mechanism according to the invention then ensures the sliding glass panel to remain substantially parallel to the axis of opening, even during the horizontal offset step, thus avoiding any inclination unfortunate, unattractive and likely to cause jamming of the glazed panel.

The swaying system includes a guide rail 13 along which slides a sliding element 14 integral with at least one element 15 for fixing the glass panel.

The rail also comprises two bending zones 17 enabling the glass panel to be folded: in fact, to pass from its closed position to its open position, the glazed panel first shifts horizontally towards the outside ( E) of the vehicle, in the direction of the arrow 18. It goes from a plane called shutter plane to a plane called sliding plane, parallel to the shutter plane. It then slides vertically inside the box in the sliding plane. The rail sway zone ensures this horizontal offset between the shutter plane and the sliding plane.

These different steps take place in reverse order in the case of the closure of the glazed panel, and implement the same mechanism of invention described later.

FIGS. 1C and 1D illustrate the device when the glazed panel is in the intermediate position, that is to say during its horizontal displacement, and in the open position: the sliding glazing panel remains parallel to its up / down axis while along the moving steps.

The swaying system according to the invention also has the advantage of not requiring a fastening to the window at the two upper and lower ends thereof (in the case of vertical sliding), which is less restrictive than a system where the mobile device integral with the sliding panel is of the same size as the latter (for example a movable frame integral with the glazed panel and sliding in block inside the box, or even only movable bars).

The upper frame may for example allow to support the system of sway top of the window (not shown).

For clarity, this description is only concerned with the detail of the swaying system of the lower part of the glazed panel, but the invention can also be applied to the system of swaying the upper part of said glazed panel. Simply insert and fix a guide rail and the necessary parts in the upper frame of the door.

We now detail a particular embodiment of the invention, in connection with Figures 2 to 7.

According to this embodiment, provision is made for the connection between the sliding element 14 and the fastening element 15 of the glazed panel 12 to have a degree of freedom allowing there to be no blockage of the glazed panel when it is swayed. uphill or downhill, through room 22.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the sway device, in particular to view the parts that can be implemented to obtain the degree of freedom for the previously mentioned connection.

The degree of freedom of the fastening is provided by the articulation piece 22, intermediate between the fixing system 15 (known per se) of the glazed panel, and the sliding element 14. This articulation piece comprises a shaft, or axis 23, to come and fix the glass panel. One can of course imagine other means of fixation.

The articulation piece may comprise a second axis 24 which allows it to be fitted or inserted into a groove 25 of the sliding element, or shoe 14. According to this embodiment, a pivot connection 51 is thus obtained between the sliding element and the hinge piece (Figures 5A and 5B), to ensure the desired degree of freedom. We will see more precisely with the help of the following figures (7 ABCD) how such a pivot articulation allows the swaying the window.

Furthermore, it is possible to drive the runner upwards or downwards along the guide rail, for example by fixing a window lifter cable 21, in a sheath 26 or in a passage provided for this purpose, so as to the actuation of this cable controls the sliding of the glass panel outside (down) or inside (mounted) of the box. This cable can indifferently be operated by a motor or manually by a crank.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show an example of a sliding element. It comprises in particular guiding pins 31, associated with a specific form of the guide rail 61 as illustrated in FIG. 6B, designed to receive these guide lugs, all ensuring good sliding along the rail 13. It is noted that other means of ensuring quality sliding can be applied to the invention. One could for example consider setting wheels on the sliding element, which would roll along the guide rail having a suitable shape. The sliding element will then no longer be a pad but preferably a carriage causing the descent of the glass panel.

The pad further has an automatic play clearance device (32) as shown in Figure 3A. The catching of play could be achieved by other means, such as a system of springs.

Figs. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D are cross-sectional views of the assembled sway system of the present invention. They illustrate the evolution of the articulation system during the movement of the glass panel.

In Figure 7A, the glass panel is in the closed position (or high position). The assembly formed by the sliding shoe, and the hinge piece is located before the bending areas 17 of the rail.

When the window lifter is controlled to act on the descent of the window, it drives the entire system, including the glass panel, along the rail. The hinge part allows the glass to slide downward, without it being blocked during the passage along the bending zone. In addition, for reasons of ergonomics and aesthetics, the glass panel remains parallel to the axis of rise and descent (represented by the arrow 71), which is preferable.

When the sliding element reaches the first swaying area, it can be seen in connection with FIG. 7B that the horizontal offset according to the preceding characteristics (the glazed panel must remain in the downhill axis without being blocked) is carried out by means of the pivot connection 51, which "allows" the glass panel and its fastening system to remain parallel to the axis of descent 71 while at the same time, the sliding shoe travels through the first bending zone of the guide rail.

The passage of the second bending zone is illustrated in FIG. 7C. The axis followed by the window is now the axis 72, since it is necessary to follow the curve of the door which generally has a rounded in its upper part. It can be seen that the pivot connection allows the window to maintain this new axis while the sliding shoe follows the second bending zone. Finally, the glazed panel ends its descent along a rectilinear part (which can also be bent if necessary) of the guide rail (Figure 7D), in the axis 72.

Other forms of rail and bending can be defined, as needed.

• obtention d'une surface vitrée totale et affleurante avec les vitrages environnants, ce qui permet de définir de nouveaux styles pour les véhicules ;
• simplification de l'assemblage, par le pré-assemblage de l'ensemble formé par le rail, le patin coulissant, la pièce d'articulation, qu'il n'y a plus qu'à insérer dans le caisson (même les tests et les réglages peuvent être réalisés au préalable) ;
• réduction de l'usure des joints, qui ne sont pas en contact avec le panneau mobile lors de son coulissement ;
• maintien du panneau vitré parallèle à l'axe de montée et de descente, à tout instant de la manoeuvre, même lors du décalage horizontal vers l'extérieur de véhicule automobile ;
• équilibre des forces appliquées par le panneau vitré sur la porte nécessitant un dispositif peu encombrant et fiable.

It is clear that the new technique of the invention has many advantages:

• obtaining a total glazed surface flush with the surrounding glazing, which makes it possible to define new styles for the vehicles;
• simplification of the assembly, by the pre-assembly of the assembly formed by the rail, the sliding shoe, the articulation part, which it is only necessary to insert into the box (even the tests and settings can be made beforehand);
• reducing the wear of the seals, which are not in contact with the movable panel during its sliding;
• keeping the glass panel parallel to the axis of ascent and descent, any moment of the maneuver, even during the horizontal shift towards the exterior of a motor vehicle;
• balance of forces applied by the glass panel on the door requiring a compact and reliable device.

Many additions or variations to the embodiment described above can of course be considered.

For example, it is conceivable to replace the assembly formed by the slide shoe and the hinge piece by a single piece having the same characteristics, that is to say, to implement the same kinematics.

More generally, this function can be provided by any means that is movable relative to the fixed frame, capable on the one hand of pressing the window into its closed position, and allowing it to pass into a sliding position, allowing its approach with a fixed frame (or amounts).

Claims (11)

Motor vehicle door comprising a lower box (11) and a movable glazing panel (12) slidable inside said lower box, to move from a closed position to an open position,
said glazed panel being slidably guided along at least one guide rail (13) along which a sliding element (14) integral with a support member (15) of said movable panel moves,
characterized in that said guide rail comprises at least two bending zones (17)
and in that said door comprises means for securing said sliding element and said support member having at least one degree of freedom along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rail,
so as to allow said glazed panel (12) to weave when sliding from a shutter plane to a sliding plane parallel to said shutter plane, and vice versa. Motor vehicle door according to claim 1, characterized in that said sliding element (14) and said support member (15) of said glazed panel (12) are secured by elements forming a hinge. Motor vehicle door according to claim 2, characterized in that a first of said hinge elements comprises a shaft (24) and a second of said hinge elements comprises a nesting groove (25) provided for receiving said shaft, to form a pivot link. Motor vehicle door according to claim 3, characterized in that said shaft is integral with said support member and in that said interlocking groove is integral with said sliding member. Motor vehicle door according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises complementary means for guiding said glazed panel, acting on the latter so as to maintain a trajectory substantially parallel to its axis. opening or closing. Motor vehicle door according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said sliding element comprises at least two guide lugs (31), guiding it along said guide rail. Motor vehicle door according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said sliding element comprises means for compensating for play between said sliding element and said guide rail. Motor vehicle door according to claim 7, characterized in that said play compensating means comprise an elastic blade (32). Motor vehicle door according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sliding of said sliding element along said guide rail is actuated by a cable (21) window lifter. Motor vehicle door according to claim 9, characterized in that said sliding element comprises a housing substantially parallel to said guide rail, in which is held an end of said window lifter cable. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one door according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images