GB2346930A

GB2346930A - Vehicle : frameless window : drive control

Info

Publication number: GB2346930A
Application number: GB9922518A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Trueman
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1998-10-28
Filing date: 1999-09-24
Publication date: 2000-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-24
Also published as: GB2346930B; GB9823568D0; GB9922518D0

Abstract

A window system suitable for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a frameless window arranged in use to be driven by a window motor into and out of engagement with a sealing means. The vehicle further includes a detection means and, substantially upon the detection by the detection means of an actual or potential crash or window system malfunction, the window motor is arranged to move the window at least far enough from a said engagement to substantially disengage the window from the sealing means. This may help a user to escape or be extracted from a vehicle in the event of an accident.

Description

A WINDOW SYSTEM This invention relates to window systems and more particularly to a window system which includes a frameless window and which is suitable for use in a vehicle.

It is known to provide a vehicle with a frameless window system in which a window is moved into a seal in the vehicle body shell or into a hood canopy. An example of a sealing arrangement for such a system is shown in European Patent Application No. 92304746.8 (Jaguar Cars Limited).

Furthermore, the specific operation of a frameless window is described in UK Patent Application No. 8400630 (Porsche). In general terms, the window is displaced into a seal located in the roof such that, when the door is closed, the window is held behind the seal. Upon opening the door, the window is automatically lowered to a position where it no longer engages the seal such that the door can open freely. Such systems may be preferred, for example, in convertible or coupe vehicles.

There is a danger that the displacement mechanism may be disabled or subject to malfunction and that it may not be possible to open the vehicle door easily. Such a situation could occur during an accident and might have severe consequences. While in some circumstances it is possible to push the window down and out of engagement with the seal, such an action may require considerable force and could prove inconvenient, particularly after an accident.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved window system.

Accordingly, the invention provides a window system for a vehicle, the system comprising a window included within a frameless door arrangement and being arranged in use to be moved by a window motor into and out of engagement with a sealing means disposed at least partially about the door, wherein the vehicle further comprises a detection means and, substantially upon the detection by the detection means of an actual or potential crash situation or window system malfunction, the window motor is arranged to move the window at least far enough from a said engagement to substantially disengage the window from the sealing means.

The detection means may include a collision detector such as an inertia switch and/or accelerometer and/or air bag deployment means. The detection means may detect a malfunction using a vehicle battery and/or electrical system monitoring means.

The window motor and the window may substantially disengage, upon indication by the detection means of an expected crash or displacement means malfunction or inoperability, such that the window moves at least far enough to substantially disengage the window from the sealing means. The window may be weighted or biased so as to assist in a disengaging.

The invention also provides a vehicle including a window system according to the invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only.

As indicated above, so-called frameless window systems in vehicles are relatively well known. Thus, the content of UK Patent Application No.

8400630 (Porsche) and European Patent Application No. 92304746.8 (Jaguar Cars Limited), along with other documents, should be referred to in order to understand the mechanism of such frameless window systems known to those skilled in the art.

In view of the above, it will be appreciated that typically an electrical motor is used to drive an actuator mechanism which normally displaces a pane of glass constituting a side window of a vehicle between an open condition and a closed position, where that window is driven into a receptive seal about a door frame of the vehicle.

Preferably, the window is retained within a seal for normal driving in order to ensure the window does not shatter due to vibration agitation along with the elimination of rattle noise, etc. Typically, the seal will comprise a rubber channel or surface to which the window is brought into compressive engagement in order to facilitate a weather seal along with the other window retention necessities described above. Once the window is held within the seal, it will be appreciated that a relatively robust configuration is achieved with a sufficient strength to provide vehicle occupant protection from both noise and weather ingress.

It will be appreciated that, in a frameless window system, it is typically necessary for the window to engage the seal incorporated into the vehicle roof frame or, in convertible vehicles, the hood canopy to achieve sufficient resilience. Unfortunately, such engagement with a seal will essentially couple the door through the window to the body structure and so prevent opening of the door. As indicated previously, this can be potentially dangerous with regard to vehicle collisions and at least inconvenient should the displacement motor fail or malfunction for any reason.

It is known within a vehicle to incorporate means for detection of a vehicle collision, for example so as to activate air bag mechanisms. These means for detecting vehicle collisions can be used in accordance with the present invention to control that displacement motor in order to precipitate sufficient withdrawal of the window from the seal to allow the door to be opened.

Clearly, the displacement means should, after detection of an actual or potential crash, substantially sufficiently withdraw the window from the seal to allow the door to be opened. Thus, the degree of withdrawal will depend upon the actual installation of the window system. Normally, a window will penetrate the seal about the vehicle roof or canopy to a depth of several millimetres and so the withdrawal of the window from that seal should reciprocally achieve at least retraction of the window to the depth of penetration into the seal.

In one example of the invention, the detection means may anticipate vehicle collision and the possibility that this might induce displacement means malfunction or inoperability. A control means could therefore control the displacement means to achieve the sufficient withdrawal around the point of collision and possibly prior to that malfunction or inoperability.

This could be achieved, for example, using a navigation system, convoy control system or radar. Alternatively, the detection means could detect impact directly, such as might be achieved using an inertia switch and/or air bag deployment sensors and/or accelerometers.

It will be understood that the detection means could, upon determination of a potential or actual vehicle collision situation, simply disengage the displacement connection between the window and the displacement means such that the window may fall under its own weight to completely open the window rather than only precipitate the minimum sufficient withdrawal of the window from the seal to allow the door to be opened. The window may be weighted to facilitate such withdrawal under gravity, or could also be biased into the open position using for example a spring-loading mechanism.

It is also possible to include a battery and or electrical system monitoring means to detect electrical system total or partial failure, so as to implement at least partial window retraction before the system potentially traps an user inside the vehicle, e. g. before the battery becomes too flat to operate the window motor.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A window system for a vehicle, the system comprising a window included within a frameless door arrangement and being arranged in use to be moved by a window motor into and out of engagement with a sealing means disposed at least partially about the door, wherein the vehicle further comprises a detection means and, substantially upon the detection by the detection means of an actual or potential crash situation or window system malfunction, the window motor is arranged to move the window at least far enough from a said engagement to substantially disengage the window from the sealing means.
2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the detection means includes a collision detector such as an inertia switch and/or accelerometer and/or air bag deployment means.
3. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the detection means detects a malfunction using a vehicle battery and/or electrical system monitoring means.
4. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the window motor and the window substantially disengage, upon indication by the detection means of an expected crash or displacement means malfunction or inoperability, such that the window moves at least far enough to substantially disengage the window from the sealing means.
5. A system according to Claim 4, wherein the window is weighted or biased so as to assist in a disengaging.
6. A window system for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. A vehicle including a window system according to any preceding claim.