GB2198181A

GB2198181A - Apparatus for operating a window

Info

Publication number: GB2198181A
Application number: GB8628277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Walters
Original assignee: Metallifacture Ltd
Current assignee: Metallifacture Ltd
Priority date: 1986-11-26
Filing date: 1986-11-26
Publication date: 1988-06-08
Also published as: GB8628277D0

Abstract

Apparatus for opening and/or closing a substantially vertically slidable window e.g. in a car, comprises a window-supporting rigid arm (2a Fig. 1) attached at a pivot point (3) for rotation about the pivot in an upright plane. Arm moving means, comprises a nut (5) slidable along the arm (2) and a cooperating threaded screw (7) rotatable by a motor (8). Alternatively a belt (10, Fig. 2) wrapped around a drum (12) arranged to be rotated by a motor, acts on the arms (2') to rotate it. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A WINDOW The present invention relates to apparatus for opening and/or closing a substantially vertically slidable window, such as the window in a door of a car.

Increasingly, particularly on more expensive cars, the door and side windows are operable electrically, rather than manually. A variety of mechanisms have been devised and used for such purposes. Many of these are relatively complicated, which tends to mean that they are more likely to malfunction or are relatively heavy or bulky.

The present invention is intended to at least mitigate such disadvantages and to provide a relatively simple window operating mechanism.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides apparatus for opening and/or closing a substantially vertically slidable window, the apparatus comprising a rigid arm attached at a pivot point for rotation about the pivot in an upright plane, a support portion of the arm being adapted to support the window, and an actuating means acting upon the arm between the pivot and the support portion, to rotate the arm as said.

It has been found that a convenient mechanical advantage is obtained if the actuating means acts on the arm at a point about one quarter of the distance from the pivot to the support portion.

In one preferred embodiment, the actuating means comprises a nut arranged, as the arm rotates, to slide along the arm whilst moving linearly in a direction generally parallel to the direction in which the window slides. This nut would normally be threadably engaged with a rotating member, such as a screw, such that rotation of the screw acts to rotate the arm.

In another preferred embodiment, the actuating means comprising a drive means fixed to the arm and adapted to engage tangentially a rotating member which is adapted to be driven by a motor. Preferably, the drive means is a belt, the term "belt" being used herein to include belts, chains and the like which are adapted to engage the rotating member in some suitable fashion, by being toothed, or having a chain and sprocket arrangement, or simply being sufficiently tightly wound around the rotating member to engage it by friction.

In order to provide a positive movement of the window in both directions, that is to say both opening and closing, with such a belt drive means, it is convenient for the rigid arm to have an extended portion extending beyond the pivot point in a direction away from the support portion of the arm, and to have a second end of the belt being attached to this extended portion of the arm.

Alternatively, the drive means may be a rigid member, for example provided with a series of spaced apart holes to engage sprocket teeth on the rotating member, in which case positive movement of the window in both directions can be achieved without having the extended portion of the arm.

The apparatus may additionally comprise a motor adapted to rotate the said rotating member, and is in any case preferably specifically adapted to be located within a car door in order to open and/or close the door window.

Two preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a first apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a second apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, the bottom edge 1 of a window is shown in the open position. A rigid arm 2 is shown as being directly bearing upon to the window at a point adjacent the bottom edge 1 thereof, although the arm 2 could be attached to the window via a channel member. As will become apparent, in the case of direct attachment, the arm must be able to slide sideways relative to the window in a direction generally parallel to the bottom edge 1 thereof.

The arm 2 extends upwardly at an angle of about 450 to terminate at a pivot point 3 which is fixed in relation to the car body. At a point 4 on the arm intermediate between the end which supports the window and the end attached to the pivot point 3, there is a nut 5 which is arranged to slide in a slot 6 arranged longitudinally of the arm 2 and threadedly engaged with a straight helical screw 7 which lies in a generally upright position. A conventional motor 8 acts to rotate the screw 7 in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

The motor 8 is shown in Figure 1 as being in line with the screw 7,.although in practice it may be convenient to have the motor 8 arranged at right angles to the screw 7 and linked to the screw 7 via a worm gear or other suitable arrangement.

Depending upon the sense of the thread on the screw 7, the screw will be rotated either clockwise or anticlockwise in order to rotate the arm 2 about the pivot point 3 and thereby place the arm in the dotted position 9 in which the window is closed. With such a nut 5 and screw 7 arrangement, the weight of the window will not be sufficient for it to open again without the screw 7 being rotated in the opposite sense to achieve a positive opening action.

It will be appreciated that the motor 8 could just as well be provided at the other end of the screw 7.

Figure 2 shows schematically a different arrangement working on the same principle as the apparatus of Figure 1. Once again the arm 2' supports the window adjacent the bottom edge 1' thereof and is pivoted about a point 3'. In this arrangement, however, the arm extends beyond the pivot 3' to provide an extended portion 2a. A flexible belt 10, for example a toothed plastics belt or a chain, is attached to the arm 2' at a point 11 and is wrapped once around a suitable toothed or similar drum 12 before terminating at a point fixed to the extended portion 2a of the arm 2'. The drum 12 is arranged to be rotated by a suitable motor (not shown).

In use, the drum 12 rotates and causes the belt 10 to pull either on the main portion of the arm 2' or on the extended portion 2a, thereby rotating the arm 2' in the anticlockwise or clockwise direction and hence opening or closing the window.

The belt 10 may engage the drum 12 in any suitable manner and, if the engagement is appropriate (for example with a chain passing over a sprocket gear), it may be unnecessary for the belt 10 to be wrapped around the drum 12; instead, it may pass over only a part of the circumference of the drum 12.

It will be appreciated that both of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings have relatively few parts and can be arranged to be very compact. In order to achieve further weight advantages and resistance to corrosion, one or more of the various parts, for example the arm 2, the belt 10 or the screw 7, may be formed of appropriate plastics materials.

Claims

1. Apparatus for opening and/or closing a substantially vertically slidable window, the apparatus comprising a rigid arm attached at a pivot point for rotation about the pivot in an upright plane, a support portion of the arm being adapted to support the window, and an actuating means, acting upon the arm between the pivot and the support portion, to rotate the arm as said.

2. Apparatus as in Claim 1 wherein the actuating means acts on the arm at a point about one quarter of the distance from the pivot to the support portion.

3. Apparatus as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the actuating means comprises a nut arranged as the arm rotates to slide along the arm whilst moving linearly in a direction generally parallel to the direction in which the window slides.

4. Apparatus as in Claim 3 wherein the nut is threadedly engaged with a rotating member, being a screw such that rotation of the screw acts to rotate the arm.

5. Apparatus as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the actuating means comprises a drive means fixed to the arm and adapted to engage tangentially a rotating member adapted to be driven by a motor.

6. Apparatus as in Claim 5 wherein the drive means is a belt.

7. Apparatus as in Claim 6 wherein the arm has an extended portion extending beyond the pivot point away from the support portion and the belt has two ends, one being fixed to the arm as said and the other being fixed to the said extended portion of the arm, the rotating member engaging the drive belt between the two ends thereof.

8. Apparatus as in any preceding claim additionally comprising a motor adapted to rotate the said rotating member.

9. Apparatus as in any preceding claim, adapted to be located within a car door to open and/or close the door window.

10. Apparatus as in Claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

11. Apparatus as in Claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.