GB2036842A - Apparatus for Fitting and Removing the Fixed Windows of Vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for fitting and removing a fixed window (2) from a vehicle (4) includes an adjustable support (7, 10) carrying a first structure (23). The first structure (23) mounts a second structure (42) movable relative thereto under the action of a pneumatic actuator (32). Arranged on the second structure (42) are a number of suckers (55) which are connected to a vacuum source and are arranged to firmly hold the vehicle window (2). The actual removal or insertion of a window (2) held in the suckers (55) is effected by operation of the actuator (32). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for Fitting and Removing the Fixed Windows of Vehicles The present invention relates to apparatus for fitting and removing the fixed windows of vehicles.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for fitting and removing the fixed windows of vehicles, comprising a first structure, a second structure mounted on the said first structure for movement relative thereto in a predetermined direction, actuating means operable to effect movement of the first and second structures relative to each other, and suction means carried on the said second structure and arranged to engage the outer surface of a said window, the suction means being connectable to a source of vacuum to firmly hold a said window with which the suction means is engaged.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an adjustable support pivotally mounting the said first structure for movement about a first axis, the said support including an arm of adjustable length pivotal about a second axis parallel to said first axis, first adjusting means for adjustably angularly positioning the arm as required about said second axis, and second adjusting means interposed between the said arm and the said first structure for adjustably angularly positioning the first structure about said first axis relative to the arm.

Apparatus embodying the invention, for fitting and removing the fixed windows of a motor vehicle, will now be particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of a detail of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an axial section of the detail shown in Figure 2.

The apparatus 1 for fitting and removing the fixed windows of vehicles, is shown in Figure 1 during removal of a pane of glass 2 (in this case that forming the rear window) from the bodywork 3 of a motor vehicle 4.

The apparatus 1 includes a base 5 mounted on wheels 6. Fixed to one end of the base 5 is a substantially vertical upright 7, braced by stiffening struts 8 connected to the base 5.

As is illustrated in detail in Figure 2, an adjustable-length arm 10 is pivoted on the upper end of the upright 7 about a horizontal pivot pin 9 the axis of which lies parallel to that of the wheels 6.

The arm 10 comprises a first portion 11 connected to the upright 7 by the pivot pin 9, and a second portion 12 telescopically engaged with the first portion 11. The first portion 11 has a hole through which extends a pin 13 parallel to the pivot pin 9. The pin 1 3 is rotatably mounted on the free end of a rod 14 of a pneumatic cylinder 1 5. At its lower end of the cylinder 1 5 is supported by a bracket 1 6 fixed to the upright 7. The pneumatic cylinder 1 5 enables adjustment of the angular position of the arm 10 relative to the upright 7 by pivoting the arm 10 about the pin 9.

Adjustment of the length of the arm 10 is effected by adjustment of the position of the arm portion 12 relative to the arm portion 11. To this end, the arm portion 12 is provided with a number of transverse through-holes 1 7 which extend parallel to the pivot pin 9 and which can be selectively engaged by a fixing pin 18 inserted through a transverse through-hole, not illustrated, in the arm portion 11. The fixing pin 1 8 is provided with a locking cotter pin 1 9 to secure it in place.

A support bar 20 depends from the free end of the arm portion 1 2 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to a support plate 22 by means of a pivot pin 21 parallel to the pin 9. The support plate 22 is secured to a structure 23.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the structure 23 comprises a flat, substantially rectangular frame 24 with a central reinforcing cross-piece 25. Two further cross-pieces 26 extend parallel to the cross-piece 25 and support, on the side of the frame 24 nearest the upright 7, a vacuum pump 27 operated by an electric motor 28.

As illustrated in detail in Figure 3, the crosspiece 25 mounts three sleeves arranged one above the another, the intermediate one of which is shown as 29, while the upper and lower ones are shown as 30. The sleeve 29 slidingly accommodates the rod 31 of a double acting pneumatic actuator 32 mounted on the crosspiece 25 and extending perpendicularly to the plane of the frame 24. The two opposing sides of the pneumatic actuator 32 are connected, by two connectors 33 fitted with adjustment mechanisms 34, to respective pipes 35. The pipes.

35 are connected to a manually operable control valve 36 which, in turn, is connected through a pipe 37 to a source of compressed air (not illustrated).

The free end of the rod 31 has a spherical head 38. Adjacent the head 38 the rod 31 is provided with an annular groove 39 which is engaged, with clearance by the edges of a radial notch 40 made in the end wall of a cup-shaped body 41 fixed to a second structure 42. The structure 42 comprises a flat plate 43 arranged parallel to and facing the frame 24. The plate 43 has two through-holes 44, each of which is engaged by the threaded end portion of a respective rod 45 fixed axially in relation to the plate 43 by means of two nuts 46.

The rods 45 extend through respective ones of the sleeves 30 mounted in the cross-piece 25.

A number of through-holes 47 are provided in the plate 43. In each hole 47 is fitted a tubular sleeve 48 which is provided at one end with a hexagonal flange 49 and at the other end with a threaded portion which protrudes beyond the plate 43 towards the frame 24. This threaded end portion is engaged by a fixing nut 50 which serves to secure the sleeve 48 to the plate 43. The end face of the threaded end portion of each sleeve 48 also acts as an abutment face arranged to cooperate with a nut 51 assembled on the threaded end of a short, substantially rigid, pipe 52 slidably mounted in the sleeve 48. The nut 51 is urged into contact with this abutment face of the sleeve 48 by the action of a spring 53 compressed between the flange 49 and a nut 54 threadedly engaging the pipe 62 at its end opposite to that carrying the nut 51.The nut 54 carries a sucker 55 which communicates via a central aperture 56 (Fig. 2) with the rigid pipe 52.

The end of each pipe 52 nearest the frame 24 is connected, by means of a threaded nut 57, to the end of a flexible pipe 58 which is connected at its other end to one of the outiets of a distributor 59 mounted on the plate 43. The distributor 59 communicates with the pump 27 via a flexible pipe 60. The suckers 55 jointly form suction means which upon operation of the vacuum source formed by the pump 27 can be used to firmly hold a pane of glass.

Depending from each of the two lower corners of the frame 24 are two brackets 62 between which extends a pivot pin 62 parallel to the pin 9.

A prismatic block 63 is pivotally supported on each pin 62 and rotatably mounts, in axially fixed position, a threaded nut 64. The nut 64 is engaged by a threaded rod 65 which terminates, on the side of the frame 24 away from the upright 7, in a bearing foot 66 generally interchangeable with other bearing feet (not illustrated) of different shape, or any other suitable fixing device (also not illustrated). The rods 65 serve as reaction means for the apparatus as will be explained hereinafter.

The two blocks 63 are interconnected by a crossbar 67.

For the purpose of adjusting the angular position of the assembly comprising the structures 23 and 42 relative to the arm 10, a bent rod 68 is interposed between the arm portion 12 and the frame 24. One end of the rod 68 is pivotally connected to a fork 69 fixed to the lower side of the frame 24, while the other end of the rod 68 extends through a diametrical hole provided in a cylindrical block 70 fixed to the arm portion 12 (see Figure 2). The cylindrical block 70 is provided with a locking device 71 for axially fixing the rod 68 relative to the arm 10.

Alternatively, as indicated by the dashed lines in Figures 2 and 3, the rod 68 may be replaced by a pneumatic cylinder 72 pivotally mounted on a bracket 73 fixed to arm portion 12 and connected by its piston rod to a bracket 74 secured to the end of the pneumatic actuator 32.

When the apparatus 1 is used for removing the glass of a fixed window (for example the rear windpw glass 2 in Figure 1), the whole assembly consisting of the structures 23 and 42 is placed in position facing the glass 2 to be removed with the plate 43 arranged substantially parallel to the aforesaid glass 2. This positioning of the assembly 23, 42 is achieved by initially moving the whole of the apparatus 1 on its wheel-mounted base 5 to an appropriate location relative to the vehicle and then operating the cylinder 1 5 until the assembly 23, 42 is at the required height; thereafter the rod 68, or, alternatively the cylinder 72, is acted upon to adjust the angular position of the assembly 23, 42 until parallelism is effected between the plate 43 and the window glass 2 to be removed.

By rotating the nuts 64 it is then possible to move the rods 65 axially so as to bring the feet 66 into the contact with the bodywork 3 of the motor vehicle 4 at points placed in proximity to the window 2.

Next, the control valve 36 is operated to cause the cylinder 32 to advance the plate 43 towards the glass 2 until the suckers 55 engage the glass 2. It should be noted that this forward movement does not have to be precisely controlled, inasmuch as the impact between the suckers 55 and the glass 2 is cushioned by the presence of the springs 53. Moreover the play which exists in the coupling formed between the rod 31 and the plate 43 by the engagement of the body 41 in the groove 39, compensates for possible errors in the initial parallel alignment of the plate 43 and the glass 2.

At this point, the motor 28 is started up to drive the pump 27, and the pneumatic actuator 32 is activated by operation of the control valve 36 to retract the rod 31. Due to the partial vacuum set up inside the suckers 55, the glass 2 is firmly held by the suckers 55 and is removed from its seat in the vehicle bodywork as the plate 43 is moved back by the rod 31. It should be noted that the force of the removal is not transmitted back along the arm 10 to the upright 7, but is transmitted to the bodywork 3 via the reaction rods 65.

The reverse operation of the apparatus 1 when used to fit a pane of glass 2 into the vehicle bodywork 3, will be readily appreciated from the foregoing and requires no further explanation except to say that, in this case, the feet 66 of the rods 65 have to be replaced by hooking mechanisms arranged to prevent the frame 24 from moving away from the bodywork 3 during the insertion of the window glass 2.

The described apparatus is especially suitable for use in vehicle body workshops and in the dismantling of scrapped motor vehicles.

The described apparatus allows the removal of fixed windows from the bodywork of motor vehicles, without breaking the windows which can then be re-used on other vehicles or else on the same vehicles after repair of the vehicles. By use of the apparatus it is possible to achieve a substantial reduction in the silicon-based waste produced from scrapped motor vehicles.

Claims (8)

Claims

1. Apparatus for fitting and removing the fixed windows of vehicles, comprising a first structure, a second structure mounted on the said first structure for movement relative thereto in a predetermined direction, actuating means operable to effect movement of the first and second structures relative to each other, and suction means carried on the said second structure and arranged to engage the outer surface of a said window, the suction means being connectable to a source of vacuum to firmly hold a said window with which the suction means is engaged.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reaction means arranged to be interposed between the said first structure and the bodywork of the said vehicle.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising an adjustable support pivotally mounting the said first structure for movement about a first axis, the said support including an arm of adjustable length pivotal about a second axis parallel to said first axis, first adjusting means for adjustably angularly positioning the arm as required about said second axis, and second adjusting means interposed between the said arm and the said first structure for adjustably angularly positioning the first structure about said first axis relative to the arm.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the said support further comprises a wheel-mounted base and an upright extending upwards from the base, said arm being pivoted on the upright for movement about said second axis and the said first adjusting means being interposed between the arm and the upright.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said second structure comprises a plate slidingly connected to the said first structure by means of at least one guide rod arranged perpendicular to the said plate and secured thereto.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said suction means comprises a plurality of suckers, each of which is supported in a position normally spaced from said second structure by means of a substantially rigid pipe which extends through the second structure and is connected to the said air intake means, said pipe being movable axially against the urging of resilient bias means to enable the sucker to yield towards the second structure as the sucker is engaged with a said vehicle window.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including a vacuum pump mounted on said first structure and connected to said vacuum means.

8. Apparatus for the removal and fitting of fixed windows of vehicles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.