GB2039087A

GB2039087A - A circuit arrangement for motor vehicle electrically operated window and central door locking systems

Info

Publication number: GB2039087A
Application number: GB7942693A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SWF Spezialfabrik fuer Autozubehoer Gustav Rau GmbH
Current assignee: SWF Auto Electric GmbH
Priority date: 1978-12-18
Filing date: 1979-12-11
Publication date: 1980-07-30
Also published as: IT7928152A0; IT1125940B; FR2444777A1; FR2444777B1; DE2854670A1; DE2854670C2; GB2039087B

Abstract

A circuit arrangement for driving a vehicle window lifter (11) includes a motor (10) whose direction of rotation is reversible and which can be switched on by means of a reversing switch (20). A predetermined part of the rotational range of the motor (10) is also used to drive a motor vehicle door locking element (12). The motor (10) is also controllable by means of an additional switch (40). When the vehicle is locked all of the windows are automatically shut. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A circuit arrangement for motor vehicle electrically operated windows and central door locking systems The invention relates to a circuit arrangement including an electric motor whose direction of rotation is reversible, which is connectible in use of the circuit arrangement to a voltage source and is used for driving a window lifter in a motor vehicle, which motor can be switched on by means of a window movement reversing switch having two operating positions and one rest position.

Electromotive window lifter installations and so-called central door locking installations are above all increasingly installed into motor vehicles of the luxury class. The electric motor for the window lifter installation is generally energised via the reversing switch which is arranged at the inside of the door. Electromagnetic adjusting elements of the door locking installation are energised via an additional switch which may be actuated by the key of the vehicle. Thus until now the two installations have been separated from each other which above all means considerable effort with respect to circuit engineering beside the effort relating to mechanical engineering.

However, this system does not meet today's usual requirements with respect does not meet today's usual requirements with respect to operational luxury and with respect to safety. Because locking of the motor vehicle is only reasonable when all windows are shut, the drivers of known motor vehicles in an extreme case would have to actuate four reversing switches in order to shut all windows and thereafter via a door switch lock the motor vehicle centrally.

The invention is based on the problem to simplify such installations with respect to the wiring efforts and to improve them with respect to operational luxury.

According to the present invention there is provided a circuit arrangement including an electric motor whose direction of rotation is reversible, which is connectible in use of the circuit arrangement to a voltage source and is used for driving a window lifter in a motor vehicle, which motor can be switched on by means of a window movement reversing switch, having two operating positions and one rest position, serves to drive a motor vehicle door locking element in a predetermined range of its rotational motion and is also controllable by means of an additional switch.

The invention is thereby based on the idea that the door locking element is actuable by the electric motor of the window lifter, if for instance a coupling is installed between motor and window lifter in such a way that the motor can continue its rotary motion when the window is blocked, for instance shut. This additional rotary motion can be utilized to drive the door locking element.

The electric motor is thereby energized via an additional switch, namely the door locking switch. This means that all motors of the window lifters are switched on simultaneously and thereby all windows are shut and thereafter all doors are locked. Thus the operation is simplified and the safety increased. In addition the wiring is considerably reduced, because the voltage is no longer conducted to a drive element.

In principle it is conceivable to provide the circuit arrangement in such a way that with each upward motion of the pane the vehicle is simultaneously locked and unlocked with a downward motion. Such an embodiment would indeed entail the disadvantage that the vehicle could be locked during the ride, which is not desired on grounds of safety.

Preferably the window motion and door locking operation are carried out, at least with respect to time, partially separated from each other. Thereby, for instance, the door locking element shall respond only in the last range of motion before the window is shut. Even better is the solution in which the door on principle is locked first, then the window is shut, and respectively in which the door is unlocked before the pane moves downwards.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment; Figure 2 shows a second embodiment; and Figure 3 shows a third embodiment.

In the drawings equivalent components are designated by the same reference numeral. In the schematic circuit diagram of Fig. 1 four electric motors, designated by 10, each serve for driving a respective window lifter installation such as 11, which is only shown schematically. In addition, each electric motor 10 serves for actuating a respective door locking element, such as 1 2. In our co-pending Application No. (M. Andrei-Alexandru 11-1-276) there is shown in detail how two adjusting elements can be driven by a single motor. In order to understand the function of the circuit arrangement according to the present invention it is only necessary to know that the motor output is coupled with the window adjusting mechanism until the window is blocked, for instance shut.Then coupling between the motor and the dour locking element is effected until the vehicle is again unlocked.

Only thereafter is the motor again operatively connected with the window lifter installation, so that the window can be lowered.

To each motor 10 a reversing switch 20 with two movable bridging contacts 21 and 22 and stationary contacts 23 to 28 is assigned. The stationary contacts 23 and 26 serve as make-contacts during the opening operation of the window, the stationary contacts 25 and 28 serve as make-contacts during the shutting operation. The contacts 23 and 28 are both connected to earth 1 4 and the contacts 25 and 26 are connected to the positive terminal 1 5 of a voltage source (not shown in detail).

In addition, the break-contact 24 is connected to the positive terminal 1 5 of the voltage source, whereas the other break-contact 27 is connected to a line 16. The movable bridging contacts 21 and 22 are connected by leads 1 8 and 1 9 conducted to the motor 10.

To the line 1 6 two additional switches 40 are connected which are designed as two-way unlocking switches with a zero position.

These switches are actuated via the door lock at the right hand and left hand side of the vehicle, and switch positive or negative potential to the line 1 6. In the zero position shown the line 1 6 is free from potential.

A position switch 50 is designed as a twoway snap switch with hysteresis. Said position switch 50 is directly or indirectly actuated by the motor 10. In the operating position shown the bridging contact 51 connects the bridging contact 21 with one terminal 10a of the motor. The position switch occupies this operating position during the motional operation of the window pane and during the locking operation. Only when the locking operation is terminated does the position switch 50 snap into its rest position in which earth 1 4 is conducted to the motor terminal 1 Oa. The position switch 50 retains this rest position until the unlocking operation is terminated.

In order to illustrate the mode of operation the conditions shown in the drawing are described at first. The line 1 6 is free from potential, the vehicle is unlocked, the window is at least partly opened. If now the reversing switch 20 is actuated in direction of arrow A, earth is applied to the motor terminal 1 Oa, and positive potential to the terminal 1 Ob.

The window pane is lowered. If the reversing switch 20 is reset into its neutral position the motor 10 slows down. In order to protect the motor a protective thermo-switch, or the like, may be provided so that the motor is not overioaded when the window pane is running against its lower stop and the reversing switch 20 is not reset. If the reversing switch 20 is adjusted in direction of arrow B positive potential is applied to the terminal 1 Oa and earth potential to the terminal 1 Ob. The motor 10 rotates in the other direction and the window pane is lifted. When the window is completely closed the door locking element 1 2 is then actuated, and the vehicle is thus locked. After the locking operation is terminated the position switch 50 snaps over, whereby the motor 10 is short-circuited.

If, when the vehicle is locked, the reversing switch 20 is again adjusted in direction of arrow A, positive potential is again applied to the motor terminal 1 Ob, and to the terminal 1 0a earth potential 14 is applied via the bridging contact 51 of the position switch 50.

The vehicle is unlocked. Then the position switch 50 again jumps into the operating position shown, whereby now earth is conducted to the motor terminal 1 Oa via the bridging contact 21. Thus in addition to the actual function of opening and shutting the window also the unlocking and locking operation can be initiated via the reversing switch 20.

A switching operation of the addition switch 40 only affects the electric motor 10 in the neutral position of the reversing switch 20.

When the window is opened and the position switch 50 thus occupies the position shown, positive potential is applied to the motor terminal 10a. If the switch 40 is now moved in direction of arrow A, positive potential is switched on the other terminal too. Thus the window cannot be opened via the switch 40.

If, however, the switch 40 is changed over in direction of arrow B, earth is applied to the terminal lOb and the motor 10 rotates in such a way that the window is shut and the door is subsequently locked. Because all of the motors are energised via the line 1 6 it is ensured that the vehicle is effectively locked, provided the switch 40 is actuated for long enough.

When the vehicle is locked the motor terminal 10a is connected to earth. During adjustment in direction of arrow A positive potential can be conducted to the motor terminal 1 Ob via the switch 40, so that an unlocking operation is initiated. When the unlocking operation is terminated the position switch 50 jumps over and short-circuits the motor. Thus the vehicle can only be locked or unlocked and the windows can be shut, but not be opened, via the additional switch 40.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the wiring is changed in the area of the reversing switch 20. Now the bridging contacts 21 and 22 are directly connected to respective terminals of the voltage source, whereas the leads 1 8 and 1 9 are connected to the stationary contacts 23 and 26 respectively. A further lead 1 3 is directly conducted from the makecontact 25 to the motor terminal 1 Ob. A further opening switch 60 is looped into the lead 1 9. Said opening switch is closed during the window motion, but opens, as soon as the window is shut. This version differs from that of Fig. 1 additionally in that a further bridging contact 61 is actuated by the reversing switch 20, which bridging contact 61 connects the additional switch 40 with the motor terminal lOb. Finally a timing element 62 is provided which takes care that upon adjustment of the switch 40 in direction of arrow A positive potential is connected through on the bridging contact 61 only for a short time. The function of the position switch 50 corresponds to that of Fig. 1.

In this version the function of the switch 60 is essential; said switch 60 takes care that the window can be opened or shut only by the reversing switch 20, but that the door cannot be locked by it. When the reversing switch is adjusted in direction of arrow B the motor circuit is interrupted by said switch 60 as soon as the pane runs on its upper stop. In order to provide that, when the reversing switch is adjusted in direction of arrow A for opening the window, this opened switch 60 can be bridged, the additional lead 1 3 is necessary between the make-contact 25 and the motor terminal 1 Ob. In the neutral position of the reversing switch 20 the door can be unlocked or locked and the window can be shut as already described with reference to Fig. 1. The window cannot, however, be opened via the switch 40.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 3 the circuit arrangement in connection with the reversing switch 20 substantially corresponds to that of Fig. 1, however both break-contacts 24 and 27 are connected to a control device 70 via respective lines 1 6 and 16'. Said control device 70 has two relays 71 and 72 whose one input is applied to negative potential and whose other terminals can alternatively be switched on positive potential via the additional switch 40. The relay energised at the time being via its bridging contacts 73 and 74 switches positive potential on the assigned lines or on break-contact 24 or 27, whereas the relay which is not energised switches through negative potential.Thus it can be seen that in the shown rest position of the reversing switch 20 the motor can be energised in both directions of rotation by actuating the additional switch 40 and thus the window can be as well opened and shut as also the door can be locked and unlocked.

The position switch 50 can be a time-delay switch which mechanically or electrically is designed in a way that it only responds to an unlocking operation and in its operating position short-circuits the motor for a short time.

At any other time it occupies the rest position shown in which the motor circuit is closed.

Thereby it is achieved that during an unlocking operation the current flow to the motor is interrupted for a short time as soon as the vehicle is unlocked. If the driver resets the switch 40 into the zero position in this moment the window remains shut. But because the position switch automatically jumps back into its rest position after expiration of a delay time, the driver can also initiate an opening of the window by actuating the switch 40 again or for a longer time, which above all is advantageous in the summer, when the air in the vehicle interior is considerably heated.

The switch 50 could be designed too in a way that it also responds for a short time, when the window is shut. If in this response time the switch 40 is reset into the zero position it can thus be achieved that the door is not locked unintentionally. Thus such a time-delay switch enables further variations in the mode of operation.

A timing element, indicated by 75, is triggered by the switch 40 during the locking operation and reset during the unlocking operation. This timing element ensures that all windows are shut and the motor vehicle is locked too in case the switch 40 is only actuated for a short time. Thus this timing element serves for purposes of operational luxury, because it stores the switching condition of the switch 40 for a given time.

In addition an inertia switch, indicated at 76, connects positive potential to the unlocking relay 72 as soon as the vehicle is excessively decelerated, for instance on the occasion of an accident. Thereby an unlocking operation is initiated immediately.

In Fig. 1 the motor 10' can serve for locking the boot or the bonnet.

Finally is should be mentioned that of course also in the versions according to Figs.

1 and 2 switching amplifiers, for instance by means of relays can be used, so that the contact load of these switches 40, which in the shown versions have to conduct the operating current of several motors, is diminished.

All the embodiments shown in the drawings solve the initially raised problem. They only differ in the mode of operation and in connection therewith in the wiring complexity. So for instance in Fig. 3 only two leads are necessary between the reversing switch and motor, in Fig. 1 an earthing connection is additionally necessary. In contrast thereto five leads are needed in the version according to Fig. 2, however in this embodiment perhaps the best separation of functions initiated by the reversing switch or respectively by the additonal switch is realized.

Of course all embodiments can be improved further, for instance in a sense that each motor is switched off via a current evaluation circuit as soon as the window is shut and the door locked. This saves power in comparison to the embodiments shown in which the individual motors receive the higher load current until all motors have terminated their motional operation.

Claims

1. A circuit arrangemen. including an electric motor whose direction of rotation is reversible, which is connectible in use of the circuit arrangement to a voltage source and is used for driving a window lifter in a motor vehicle, which motor can be switched on by means of a window reversing switch, having two operating positions and one rest position, serves to drive a motor vehicle door locking element in a predetermined range of its rota tional motion and is also controllable by means of an additional switch.

2. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the range of the rotational motion in which the door locking element is driven, at least partly follows the range of rotational motion in which the window lifter is actuated, or precedes it.

3. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein locking and unlocking of the door is only possible when the window is standing still, in particular only when it is shut.

4. A circuit arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the window can be shut and the door locked and unlocked by means of the additional switch.

5. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein by means of the reversing switch opening and shutting of the window and locking and unlocking of the door can be effected.

6. A circuit arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein by means of the reversing switch only the window lifter can be operated, and by means of the additional switch only the door locking element can be actuated.

7. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the window lifter and the door locking element can be actuated independently of each other by means of either the reversing switch or the additional switch.

8. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first terminal of the motor is connected to a position switch comprising a two-way snap switch with hysteresis, which position is directly or indirectly actuated by said motor, whereby during the window lifting motion said position switch occupies an operating position and after termination of the locking operation snaps over into a rest position and after termination of the unlocking operation again snaps over into its operating position, and wherein in use of the circuit arrangement, in the rest position of the reversing switch a second terminal of the motor, by means of the additional switch which comprises a two-way nonlocking switch with a zero position, and the first terminal of the motor, in dependence on the switching position of the position switch, are connected to one or the other of the terminals of the voltage source.

9. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein in the rest position of the reversing switch the second terminals of the motor is directly connected with the additional switch via one bridging contact of the reversing switch.

10. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reversing switch has a further bridging contact by means of which in the rest position of the reversing switch the second motor terminal is connected to the additional switch.

11. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 9, including a respective bridging contact associated with each operating position of the reversing switch, the two bridging contacts being connected with leads conducted to the motor, wherein make-contacts of the reversing switch are connectible to either of the terminals of the voltage source and wherein in use of the circuit arrangement one breakcontact is connected to one terminal of the voltage source and the other break-contact is connected to the additional switch and wherein in its rest position the position switch connects the other terminal, of the voltage source to the one motor terminal.

1 2. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 10, including a respective briding contact associated with each operating position of the reversing switch, the two bridging contacts being connected in use of the circuit arrangement to a respective terminal of the voltage source, wherein make-contacts simultaneously controlled by the two bridging contacts are interconnected and connected to leads conducted to the motor, and wherein a break-contact is connected to the one of the leads which is conducted to the position switch.

1 3. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1 2, wherein between the second terminal of the motor and a respective one of the make contacts of the reversing switch a further opening switch is looped, which opening switch is closed during movement of the window.

14. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, including a respective bridging contact associated with each operating position of the reversing switch wherein in the rest position of the reversing switch and by means of the two bridging contacts leads conducted to the motor are connected to a control device which either short-circuits the motor in dependence on the switching position of the additional switch or alternatively conducts positive or negative potential to the motor terminals.

1 5. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein a position switch is looped into the motor circuit and wherein said position switch responds during an unlocking operation and in its operating position shortcircuits the motor for a short time, but after expiration of a delay time automatically jumps back into its rest position in which the motor circuit is closed.

16. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the position switch responds also when the window is closed, and in its operating position short-circuits the motor for a short time.

1 7. A circuit arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one timing element may be triggered by the additonal switch, which timing element for a given time stores the switching signal released by the door locking switch.

1 8. A circuit arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein several motors are simultaneously controllable via at least one additional switch and wherein one reversing switch is assigned to each motor.

19. A circuit arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a door unlocking operation can be initiated by an inertia switch.

20. A circuit arrangement including an electric motor arranged to operate both a motor vehicle window lifter and a door locking element substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A motor vehicle including a circuit arrangement for operating a window lifter and unlocking and locking a door as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.