EP1936087B1

EP1936087B1 - Frameless window for passenger vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP1936087B1
Application number: EP06425845.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Salvatore Colicino; Saverio Lomartire; Sergio Pulcini; Jerome Lavernhe
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA; Pilkington Italia SpA
Current assignee: PSA Automobiles SA; Pilkington Italia SpA
Priority date: 2006-12-19
Filing date: 2006-12-19
Publication date: 2015-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-19
Also published as: EP1936087A1; ES2554923T3

Description

The present invention relates to a frameless window, in particular a mobile window for motor vehicles.
WO 01/98613 discloses a process and an apparatus for manufacturing frameless windows which comprise a glass pane, the lower edge of which is fixed by means of adhesives in the slot of one or more holders. These windows, already provided with said holders, are arranged onto a work-table in a substantially horizontal position. A portion of these holders is removed when the windows lie on the work-table, so as to compensate the shape variations of the glass pane with respect to its nominal shape. These shape variations can also be compensated by slightly modifying the mutual position of the pane with respect to the holders by exploiting the minimum gap which is comprised in the slot between the pane and the holders for applying the adhesives between them.
Similar windows and manufacturing arrangements are also disclosed in DE 4340363 , FR 2762350 e WO 2004/016894 .
However, in all the above mentioned known windows, the possibility of compensating the shape variations of the glass pane is very low since the high precision and the short manufacturing times required for mounting the window do not allow to employ holders with relatively wide slots.
EP-A-1617028 discloses a frameless window comprising a transparent pane, the lower edge of which is fixed in a relatively wide slot by means of a layer of adhesive.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to manufacture frameless windows by compensating in a simple and fast manner their shape variations with respect to the nominal shape. Said object is achieved with a window, the main features of which are disclosed in claim 1, while other features are disclosed in the remaining claims.
Thanks to the holders with relatively wide slots which are filled with an adhesive having a high elastic modulus, the window according to the present invention can be manufactured with a high assembly precision and without increasing the manufacturing times and/or complexity. As a matter of fact, said particular adhesive can keep the glass pane in the correct position with respect to the holders also when their slot is much wider than the thickness of the pane.
The manufacturing process of said windows is made simple and fast by means of an apparatus, which is provided with particular mobile supports for perfectly and quickly applying the holders to the glass pane arranged on the work-table. The latter can be rotated before applying the holders for inclining the glass pane in its final position of use, which is substantially vertical, so as to improve the manufacturing precision.
Therefore, said apparatus allows to precisely reproduce and transfer on its work-table the final positions of use of the holders and of the pane thanks to the relevant mobile supports and reference supports, the position of which with respect to the work-table is accurately determined according to said final positions, so as to perfectly assemble the pane even when the latter has shape variations with respect to its nominal shape.
According to a particular aspect of the invention, a strip of adhesive tape is preferably applied along the lower inner edge of the glass pane, so as to prevent its delamination when it is made up of several layers joined to each other.
Further advantages and features of the window according to the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting description of an embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a side view of the window obtained by means of said process;
figure 2 shows an enlarged view sectioned along plane II-II of figure 1;
figure 3 shows an enlarged view sectioned along plane III-III of figure 1;
figure 4 shows a schematic view of the window of figure 3;
figure 5 shows a top view of the apparatus according to a first operating step of the process;
figure 6 shows a side view of the apparatus of figure 5;
figure 7 shows a view perpendicular to the work-table of the apparatus during a second operating step of the process;
figure 8 shows a side view of the apparatus of figure 7;
figure 9 shows a view perpendicular to the work-table of the apparatus during a third operating step of the process; and
figure 10 shows a side view of the apparatus of figure 9.

Referring to figure 1, it is seen that the frameless window according to the present invention comprises in a known way a transparent pane, in particular a glass pane 1, generally bent inwards. the lower edge of which is inserted in the slot of one or more holders 2 which are suitable for supporting pane 1 and are provided with coupling members (not shown in the figures) for the mechanical connection to lifting devices, for example arranged in the door of a motor vehicle.
Referring to figures 2 and 3, it is seen that the lower edge of pane 1 is separated from the walls of groove 3 of holders 2 and is joined thereto by means of at least one layer of adhesive 4 applied in said slot before inserting pane 1 therein. A pair of closing members is inserted close to the edges of slot 3 before applying adhesive 4 for avoiding that the latter comes out. Said closing members comprise a U-shaped semirigid member 5, for example made of plastic, having a profile and dimensions complementary to the inner surfaces of slot 3. The ends of the semirigid member 5 are joined to a pair of clips 6 which protrude outside slot 3 and urge against the outer walls of holders 2 for keeping the closing member steady in slot 3. A pair of elastic spacers 7 is fixed in the slot of the semirigid member 5, so that they are pressed between the semirigid member 5 and pane 1 for preventing the leakage of adhesive 4 between them. At least one strip of adhesive tape 8 can be applied along the lower inner edge of the glass pane 1, before the latter is inserted into holders 2.
Referring to figure 4, it is seen that the width of slots 3 of holders 2 is at least twice the thickness of pane 1, so that the latter can be arranged in a variable position within a tolerance zone 9 (shown with broken lines) separated and distant from the inner walls of slots 3. In particular, with a pane 1 having a thickness comprised between 3 and 6 mm, the average width of the tolerance zone 9 is comprised between 6 and 10 mm, while the average width of slot 3 is comprised between 8 and 14 mm. The tolerance zone 9 further includes 1 mm of space downwards, while the average distance between the lower border of the tolerance zone 9 and the bottom of slot 3 is comprised between 1 and 3 mm. The depth of slot 3 is greater than 10 mm, in particular comprised between 31 and 33 mm.
Furthermore, for correctly fixing pane 1 in slot 3 provided with the above tolerance zone 9, adhesive 4 is suitably selected among the adhesives having an elastic modulus comprised between 10 and 90 MPa, preferably between 20 and 70 MPa, in particular between 30 and 50 MPa, at room temperature. Adhesive 4 is preferably a two-component adhesive which can be applied at room temperature, i.e. without heating it. Adhesive 4 has an open time comprised between 3 and 7 minutes and rate of cure lower than 20 minutes for obtaining at least 60% of the final strength, always at room temperature. The density of adhesive 4 is comprised between 1,1 and 1,3 g/cm³, its tensile strength is greater than 8 MPa and the elongation at break is greater than 120%, always at room temperature. Adhesive Sikafast^® 5215 of the firm Sika turned out to be particularly suitable for this purpose.
Referring to figures 5 and 6, it is seen that in a first operating step of the process according to the present invention, pane 1, already provided with strip 8, is arranged in a substantially horizontal position with the convex side turned upwards on the apparatus according to the present invention, which comprises in a known manner at least three reference supports 10, 11 and 12. The ends of these reference supports 10, 11 and 12 contacting pane 1 are arranged in three determined points which are in the same position in space of three reference points employed for mounting the window in a motor vehicle. In particular, two reference supports 10, 11 are arranged close to the lower edge of pane 1 along a substantially horizontal axis A, while the third reference support 12 is arranged close to an upper corner of pane 1. A fourth height-adjustable supplementary support 13 can be arranged close to the opposite upper corner of pane 1 for improving the support of pane 1. Supports 10, 11, 12 and 13 are mounted on a work-table 14 together with a plurality of rollers 15 which contain laterally the edges of pane 1. A plurality of lever vices 16 are mounted on work-table 14 for urging pane 1 onto the reference supports 10, 11 and 12. A further lever vice 17 can be mounted on work-table 14 for urging the lower edge of pane 1 toward rollers 15. Work-table 14 is mounted on an inclinable structure 18 on which two mobile supports 19, 20 suitable for moving holders 2 toward the lower edge of pane 1 are arranged. The mobile supports 19, 20 can also run horizontally in the direction of arrows B beside work-table 14 by means of threaded shafts 21 which can be rotated by cranks 22. Furthermore, the mobile supports 19, 20 can be pushed toward work-table 14 or moved away from the latter in the direction of arrows C by pushing or pulling, respectively, levers 23 in the direction of arrow D. The mobile supports 19, 20 are also provided with a plurality of reference supports and a lever vice 24 for locking in a determined position holders 2 on these reference supports. The inclinable structure 18 is in turn mounted on a base 25 in a rotating manner around a substantially horizontal axis, so that work-table 14 can be inclined by means of suitable actuators, for example a piston 26, which rotate the inclinable structure 18 around hinges 27.
Referring to figures 7 and 8, it is seen that in a second step of the process according to the present invention pane 1 is locked by vices 16 and 17 on work-table 14, which is rotated in the direction of arrow E by piston 26 together with the inclinable structure 18 and the mobile supports 19, 20 until pane 1 is substantially in the same position of the use position of the window, i.e. with the lower edge turned downwards, the upper edge turned upwards and with plane 28 tangent to the lower edge which forms an angle lower than 30°, in particular lower than 5°, with a vertical plane. For this purpose, work-table 14 is rotated with an angle α greater than 60° with respect to a horizontal plane.
Referring to figures 9 and 10, it is seen that in a third operating step of the process according to the present invention holders 2, already provided with the closing members and with adhesive 4, are locked by the lever vices 24 on the mobile supports 19, 20, after which the latter are moved towards pane 1 by operating levers 23. Thus, holders 2 are inserted astride the lower edge of pane 1 in the use position of the window. When adhesive 4 has reached a suitable cure time, i.e. when adhesive 4 can firmly support holders 2 in their position with respect to pane 1, work-table 14 is rotated in the horizontal position, vices 16, 17 and 24 are opened and pane 1, provided with holders 2, is separated from the apparatus, which is then ready for the manufacture of another window.

Claims

Frameless window (1, 2) which comprises a transparent pane (1), the lower edge of which is fixed in the slot (3) of one or more brackets (2) by means of at least one layer of adhesive (4), the adhesive (4) having an elastic module comprised between 10 and 90 MPa at room temperature and that the width of the slot (3) of at least one bracket (2) is at least twice the thickness of the pane (1), characterized in that one or more closing members (5, 6, 7) for housing the lower edge of the pane (1) and preventing the leakage of the adhesive (4) are inserted in the slot (3) of a bracket (2).
Window according to the previous claim, characterized in that the pane (1) is arranged in a variable position within a tolerance zone (9) separated and distant from the inner walls of the slot (3).
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said closing members (5, 6, 7) comprise a U-shaped semirigid member (5) having a profile and dimensions complementary to the inner surfaces of said slot (3).
Window according to the previous claim, characterized in that the ends of the semirigid member (5) are joined to a pair of clips (6) which protrude outside the slot (3) and urge against the outer walls of the bracket (2).
Window according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a pair of elastic spacers (7) is fixed in the slot of the semirigid member (5), so that they are pressed between the semirigid member (5) and the pane (1).
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one strip of adhesive tape (8) is applied along the lower inner edge of the pane (1).
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the average width of the tolerance zone (9) is comprised between 8 and 10 mm.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the average width of the slot (3) is comprised between 12 and 14 mm.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the average distance between the lower border of the tolerance zone (9) and the bottom of the slot (3) is comprised between 1 and 3 mm.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the depth of the slot (3) is greater than 29 mm, in particular comprised between 31 and 33 mm.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the adhesive (4) has an elastic module comprised between 20 5 and 70 MPa at room temperature.
Window according to the previous claim, characterized in that the adhesive (4) has an elastic module comprised between 30 and 50 MPa at room temperature.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the adhesive (4) is a two-component adhesive.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the adhesive (4) can be applied at room temperature.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the adhesive (4) has an open time comprised between 3 and 7 minutes at room temperature.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the adhesive (4) has a cure time lower than 20 minutes for obtaining at least 60% of the final strength at room temperature.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the density of the adhesive (4) is comprised between 1,1 and 1,3 g/cm3 at room temperature.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the tensile strength of the adhesive (4) is greater than 8 MPa at room temperature.
Window according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the elongation at break of the adhesive (4) is greater than 120% at room temperature.