GB2078839A - Mounting system for the window panes of motorvehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A system is disclosed for direct attachment of a window pane (10, 11, 12) preferably by adhesive means, to the exterior of the either fixed or movable supporting structure in contiguous and coplanar relationship with adjacent window panes and/or with vehicle body parts (13) which are not covered by said window panes (10), to thus create a glazed surface which is free of raised and/or recessed surface breaks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Attaching and mounting system for the window panes of motorvehicles, in particular of passenger cars, adapted to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of vehicle bodies This invention relates to an attaching and mounting system for the window panes of motorvehicles, in particular of passenger cars, adapted to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of vehicle bodies, the inventive system applying equally well to fixed and movable window glass panes.

As is known, the glass panes of motorvehicle windows are currently mounted, with the interposition of elastomeric seals, in seats having a recessed edge and being formed in the vehicle body. Either types of window panes, that is fixed and movable ones, are generally framed along their entire periphery by a retaining and locating frame, which in the case of fixed window panes, comprises said elastomeric seal, and in the case of movable or sliding window panes, comprises a rigid grooved structure which encloses the window glass pane in sliding relationship with the interposition of a seal, generally formed from a flocculated elastomer.

Such known mounting systems have the disadvantage that they appreciably break the continuity of the vehicle surface presented to the apparent windflow while running, with attendant formation of eddies and detachment of streamlines. In fact, the glass panes are set back with respect to the lay surfaces of the body uprights and of the frames supporting them, with consequent formation of sharp corners, and more generally, of raised surface breaks which can also be oriented perpendicularly to the running direction. This, on one hand, substantially affects the coefficient CX of aerodynamic drag, sometimes nullifying even the most sophisticated design features of the vehicle body and, on the other hand, just as substantially affects the quietness and running comfort of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the cited sharp corners and generally raised breaks constitute adverse factors to the active and passive safety features of a motorvehicle configuration.

Also known are passenger cars, wherein the movable side windows are mounted unguided, that is cantilever-fashion and without any peripheral guiding frame. However, the above approach fails to eliminate the foregoing drawbacks in that, while improving the aerodynamic efficiency but marginally, owing to its retaining the surface breaks between the uprights and glass pane, it does introduces a substantial complication in the glass pane bearing structure, which must be made much stronger and, consequently, heavier and costier.

This invention sets out to eliminate the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior mounting systems.

Within the above general aim, it is possible to arrange that the attaching and mounting system for fixed and movable glass panes on motorvehicles according to this invention is such as to ensure a marked improvement in the surface continuity of the vehicle body, with attendant elimination of eddies, improvement of the aerodynamic efficiency, and increased running comfort.

It is further possible to arrange that the window pane mounting system of this invention can also provide an effective guiding and retention action for the window panes.

In particular, it is further possible to arrange that the inventive system is structurally simple, lightweight, and suitable to ensure, in the case of movable panes adapted to slide out of view, that the panes themselves can be guided throughout their path of movement, thus providing an effective retentive action even at intermediate opening and/or closing positions of the panes.

It is further possible to arrange that the system according to the invention provides an attaching system which is particularly effective as regards the prevention of water and air leaks.

Furthermore, it is possible for the inventive system to provide a form of attachment and mount of the window panes which is of pleasing appearance.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attaching and mounting system for the window panes of motorvehicles in particular of passenger cars, adapted to improve the efficiency of vehicle bodies, characterised in that the window glass pane is attached directly to the exterior of the fixed or movable bearing structure in contiguous and coplanar relationship with adjacent glass panes and vehicle body portions, if any, which are not covered by said glass panes and/or intervene therebetween.

Fixed window glass panes, such as front and rear ones, bear on the exterior of the fixed supporting uprights whereto they are attached with the interposition of an adhesive means, and being wrapped around said upright exterior, extend beyond them to merge with the side window panes. The latter, which may include a fixed portion, carry on their interior side sliding movement guides adapted for engaging corresponding sliding movement seats made rigid with the door load-bearing structures. Elastomeric seals are provided between the mutually movable parts of said load-bearing structure on the glass pane inside; a C-like gasket being arranged at the top with gutter functions, and in sealing contact with at least the upper periphery of its respective movable glass pane.

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, given herein by way of example and not of limitation, and where: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a passenger car incorporating window glass panes according to this invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of that same passenger car, showing a detail of a movable side window pane of the type arranged to slide out of view; and Figures 3 to 6 are cross-sectional views, to an enlarged scale, taken along respective lines Ill-Ill to VI-VI of Figures 1 and 2.

The drawings show a fixed front window pane 10, movable side window panes, front 11 and rear 12, and the side upright 13 in the roof panel 14 of a car body. The adjacent glass panes and exposed car body portions, such as the uprights 13 in the example shown, are arranged in mutual contiguity and coplanarity relationship in the sense that said glass panes and parts all extend on the same surface, on the extensions of the generatrices of the surface itself, to merge with one another without breaks, either of the raised or/and recessed types; the generatrices being only interrupted along the bordering lines of separation between the glass panes and body fixed elements and the movable glass panes.Thus, for example, Figure 3 illustrates the continuity of surface between the side window glass panes 11-12 and the middle upright 13; Figure 5 the surface continuity between the front glass pane 10, a non-sliding fixed portion ila of the side window 11, and the side window itself; Figure 6the surface continuity between the side window glass panes and the roof of the roof panel assembly 14.

Said Figures also show that said surface continuity is only interrupted by the bordering lines LC or contour of the fixed glass panes or of the fixed parts of the car body and movable glass panes. The surface continuity, as indicated, is achieved, according to the invention, by directly attaching to the exterior of the fixed and movable load bearing structure the related fixed glass panes and respective movable ones. To this aim, the front glass pane 10 is attached, as an example and preferably, with the interposition of an adhesive layer SA, to the front uprights 15 of the roof panel, which are located, accordingly, on the inside of the glass pane. Sais glass pane extends as far as the upright outline to merge with the non-slidable portion 1 1a of the side glass pane.Said non-slidable portion is in turn secured, by means of an adhesive layer SA, to the frame 16 of the door P, which frame may be restricted to just two side uprights or surround the window opening along the top as well, as in the example shown. Between the frame 16 and contour of the door opening, as bordered by the uprights 15, roof, and deck (not shown), of the car body, there intervenes a first tubular seal 17 of an elastomer material, which is attached to the car body and serves the conventional function of elastically retaining in sealed relationship the two elements, respectively the door and car body. A second seal 18 of the lip type, carried on the fixed parts of the roof panel assembly, is also provided to seal the space 19 included between the uprights 13-15 of the roof panel assembly and corresponding uprights of the doorframe 16.

At the upper or top contour of the door opening, said second lip seal is formed from a gasket material segment 18a bent in such a way as to form a gutter 20 for collecting and discharging the water from the roof. The free lip of said seal is caused to adhere, in forced contact engagement, against the upper contour of the corresponding glass pane 11-12 when the door is closed, thus forming substantially a pouch.

With the door opened, the lip protrudes outwardly to collect any water from the roof and convey it into the vertical channels formed by the segments 18.

The fixed portion 1 1a of the side window pane carries, on the inside face and directly attached by an adhesive means, a fixed sliding movement guide 21; having a C-like cross-section, in which there engages a corresponding movable slider 22 carried on the movable glass pane 11 and also attached directly to; the inside of the glass pane by an adhesive. Between the guide 21 and slider 22, there is interposed a seal or gasket 23 of the type formed from a flocculated elastomer. On its opposite side, the glass pane is provided with a movable C-like guide 24, also attached to the inner face by means of an adhesive.

With said guide, there cooperates a fixed slider or shoe 25, rigid with the frame 16; between the guide and slider or shoe there being interposed a seal 23a of the type indicated hereinabove. The movable slider 22 and movable guide 24 are preferably parallel to each other, thereby they can retain the glass pane along the entire path of relative closing and opening movements.

For the rear side windows, the same arrangement of movable slider and guide is provided, but of course, although advantageous, that arrangement is not limitative, and two C-like movable guides, or two movable sliders cooperating with fixed C-like guides may be provided instead.

It will be apparent from the drawings that the contours of the glass panes extend beyond the guides, or sliders, retaining them, to merge in accordance with the surface continuity criterion specified above -- with the adjacent glass pane or upright portion and roof panel assembly. In the example shown, the upright 13 is left exposed and the contours of the side glass panes merge with the surface of the upright. However, it is also contemplated that the surface of the upright may be set back and that the contours of the glass panes 11 and 12 may be extended to bring the glass panes adjacent to each other, thus overlapping said upright. In this case, the entire side surface of the roof panel assembly would become wrapped in the glass panes, thus achieving a particularly pleasing appearance.

Figure 4 shows how a tight seal against leakage is achieved at the slide-down slits of the glass pane on the inside of the door P; here the seal is quite conventional i.e. comprises a pair of opposite lip seals, respectively an inner one 26 and outer 27.

Such seals are formed from an elastomeric material and have their surfaces contacting the glass flocculated in order to facilitate the sliding movement of the glass pane.

Of course, within the scope of this invention principle, the actual details of construction and practical embodiments may vary largely from what has been described and illustrated herein by way of example and not of limitation, without departing from the purview of this inventive concept.

Claims (14)

1. An attaching and mounting system for the window panes of motorvehicles, in particular of passenger cars, adapted to improve the aerodyna mic efficiency of vehicle bodies, characterised in that the window glass pane is attached directly to the exterior of the fixed or movable bearing structure in contiguous and coplanar relationship with adjacent glass panes and possible vehicle body portions, which are not covered by said glass panes and/or are interposed therebetween.

2. An attaching and mounting system according to Claim 1, wherein the fixed glass panes bear on the exterior of corresponding fixed supporting uprights to which they are attached with the interposition of an adhesive means, said glass panes enclosing said uprights externally and being extended beyond said uprights to merge with the side glass panes.

3. An attaching and mounting system according to Claims 1 and 2, wherein the movable side glass panes carry, on their inside face and attached thereto by adhesive means, sliding movement sliders and/or guides adapted for engagement in corresponding sliding movement seats rigid with the door loadbearing structure.

4. An attaching and mounting system according to Claim 3, wherein said load-bearing structure of the doors comprises a frame surrounding at least in part the openings of the windows.

5. An attaching and mounting system according to the preceding claims, wherein a fixed side glass pane portion is provided between the fixed front glass pane and the movable portion of said side glass pane, and wherein said fixed portion carries a fixed sliding movement guide for a corresponding movable slider supported on the movable portion of the glass pane.

6. An attaching and mounting system according to the preceding claims, wherein the movable portions of the side glass panes are of the type that slides out of view, and wherein the sliding movement guides for said portions are parallel.

7. An attaching and mounting system according to the preceding claims, wherein each movable glass pane portion comprises a slider and a guide which are movable and engage correspondingly a fixed guide and fixed slider or shoe.

8. An attaching and mounting system according to the preceding claims, wherein there are provided a first elastomeric seal interposed between the fixed and movable parts of the car body and a second elastomeric seal interposed between the movable glass panes and fixed parts of the car body, said second seal being of the lip type.

9. An attaching and mounting system according to Claim 8, wherein said second seal comprises an upper portion forming a channel and being adapted to define a gutter for collecting and discharging water.

10. An attaching and mounting system according to Claims 8 and 9, wherein said second seal has a substantially C-like cross-sectional configuration.

11. An attaching and mounting system according to the preceding claims, wherein the lateral uprights of the roof panel assembly are in view and the side glass panes merge with the surfaces of said uprights.

12. An attaching and mounting system according to Claims 1 to 10, wherein the side glass panes overlap the surfaces of the lateral uprights and merge together.

13. An attaching and mounting system for the window panes of a motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. A motor vehicle having one or more window panes mounted by means of a system according to any one of the preceding claims.