US2259083A - Window regulator - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 14, 1941. ROETHEL 2,259,083

WQINDOW REGULATOR Original Filed March 2'7, 1937' I 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR QMQ h v-0 M ATTORN Y6.

1941- J. H. ROETHEL WINDOW REGULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 27, 1957 INVENTOR j ATTORNE 5.

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 WINDOW REGULATOR 7 John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Marvel Equipment Corporation, :Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 27, 1937, Serial No. 133,339 Renewed November '15, 1939' (.01. cas -12s) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to window regulators suitable for use generally in connection with windows designed to be raised and lowered, the invention being particularly although not exclusivel-y adapted-for application to various types of vehicles, especially motor vehicles. a

' An object-of the invention is-to provide an improved regulator mechanism for raising and lowering a window glass or transparent panel,

Which' me'chanism is relativelysimple, compact and-economical--to manufacture and inwhich the operation of thewindow is improved andgreater ease in actuating the mechanism manually is achieved.

A'further object of the invention is to provide a window regulatorhaving one or aplurality of swinging arms and inwhich the arm is connected to the lower edge of the window through the medium' of an improved roller and guide or glass retainer structure of' simple and economical construction efiective'to permit movement of the window-with greater ease through the reduction in'the friction between the relatively sliding parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a window control mechanism an improved metal retainer or guide rail structure adapted to besecure'd to' the lower edge of the-window glass or panel and comprising op-posed members hav-- ing'yieldable-longitudinal rail or guide portions engageable by a roller or rollers, as the case may be, carriedby the-swinging regulator arm or arms, the construction and operation being such that when upward ordownward pressure is applied to th rail or'guide portions upon raising or lowering thewindow therail portions will relatively yield or'flex under the'pressure'of the roller or rollers thereby permitting relativelysmooth unretarded travelof "th rollers along the guide rails and reducing the effort; required to operate the window. Moreover,=when' the regulator arm orarms are at rest-the yieldable portions of the guide rails, upon release of thepressure thereon; will spring back to normal position and yieldinglygrip'the roller or rollers thereby preventing chattering or rattling of theparts during operation of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention isto provide an eX'pansible and'contractible guide rail structurecomprising-- opposed flexible or yieldable track membersadapted to'be embracedby and interlockedwith spaced rollers carried by a window regulator arm, the track members being sufiicientlyyieldable to-be held under compression between the rollers and hence capable of automatically compensating for" manufacturing var-iations prevailing in large scale production while also'capable of suficient yield during operation of theregu-latortoprevent lockingof the rollers. As a consequence the rollers will rotate freely during their-travel along the tracks and slight resistance to their travel will be occasioned, thereby minimizing anytendency to shiftthe window transversely inits plane as has heretofore occurred on' account of high friction set upbetween the interlocking'parts of-the regulator arm andchann'el on thelower edge 'of the window.

- Other objects ofthis invention will appear-in the following description and appended claims, referencebeinghad tothe accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification wherein like reference clriaracters' designate corresponding parts in the several views. I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly-broken away and taken from the inside of an automobile door, illustrating oneembodiment of the invention-ap plied thereto for raising and lowering' the windowglass. v

Fig. 2 'is an enlarged vertical section taken through lines. 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. 7

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the connection between the window regulator and the retainer or guide rail structure secured to the lower edge of the window.

Fig.4'is a perspective-view of one of the guide rail members.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tubular compressible member which may be employed in connection with the flexible track members.

Fig. 6 is-a fragmentary side View illustrating the method of installing the window' with respect to the regulator.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary'section somewhat similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a second embodiment.

' Beforeexplaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited-in its application to the details of construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practicedor-carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology orterminology employed herein is for the purpose of descriptionand'not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein Letters Patents No. 1,986,532, patented January 1, 1935, and No. 2,008,517, patented July 16, 1935. It will be understood that the invention in its broader aspects may be utilized in connection with other preferred types of double arm window regulators, also ingle arm window regulators, and that the window regulator mechanism of the present invention may be used not only in connection with motor vehicle bodies but various other types of structures, vehicular or otherw1se.

In the drawings there is shown at ID a conventional front door of an automobil body having a main window opening closed by means of a glass and other transparent panel II. The forward and rear upright edges of the panel Il may be guided into and out of the window well by guides I2 and I3 extending thereinto. The window Well is formed below the window opening between the inner metal door panel I4 and the outer metal body panel I5.

Except as hereinafter described the parallel arm window regulator herein illustrated, by way of example, may be constructed substantially as shown and described in my above mentioned Patent No. 2,008,517. As shown it comprises a metal mounting plate I6 secured by screws I! to the panel I4. Mounted on the mounting plate I6 is a gear I9 which may be punched from a metal blank to provide a central opening. The gear of course may be otherwise fabricated. Gear |'9 is in the form of a sector having teeth |9a meshing with a driving pinion on handle shaft I8. Gear I9 is pivoted at 20 to rotate on the mounting plate IS. The regulator also com prises a pair of parallel swinging arms 2| and 22. The arm 2| is pivoted to swing on a stud or pivot 23 secured to the mounting plate l6 within the open area of gear IS. The arm or bar 22 is pivoted on the stud or pivot 20 upon which the gear I9 is pivoted, and this arm is fixed tothe gear I9 not only at the pivot 20 but by a rivet 24. The outer ends of the parallel arms 2| and 22 carry a bar or member 25 which, by way of example, is substantially T-shaped in form, and the outer ends of the arms are pivoted to the bar 25 at points 26 and 21, the pivot 21 being located in the lower end of the extension 25a of the bar 25. The vertical spacing of the pivots 20 and 23 corresponds to the vertical spacing of the pivots 26 and 21 whereby the arms swing in parallel relation during operation of the regulator. It will be understood that the connecting bar 25 may be designed in difierent ways and need not necessarily take the form of a T-shaped or L-shaped bar. 7

The window regulator mechanism, such as above described, is slidingly connected to the lower edge of the window panel |I through the medium of a guide and roller structure. There is fastened to the lower edge of the window panel II what is herein termed for convenience'a Window panel retainer structure or guide rail structure designated generally by the number 28 (Fig. 2).

This retainer of guide rail structure preferably comprises a longitudinal metal channel 29, which may be felt lined, rigidly secured to the lower edge of the panel. Spot welded to the rear face of the channel 29 and depending therefrom is a rail' structure herein shown for convenience as formed in two similar sections 30. Each guide rail section 30, as shown in Fig. 2, may comprise a strip formed of sheet metal, such as spring sheet steel, bent or folded upon itself spring together when the window is at rest so channel 29.

to provide vertical contiguous portions 30a and 302). These portions at their lower edges are turned inwardly at right angles to provide horizontal track sections 300 and 30:1. The track sections, as shown in Fig. 4, may be rolled longitudinally to provide curved reversely extending ribs 30c and 30f. The opposed track members 30c and 30d are preferably formed so as normally to extend parallel to each other and being spaced apart, and these members are sufficiently resilient or flexible so as to permit them to be compressed together to a greater or lesser extent and yieldable under compression at predetermined times. If desired, in order to increase the spring resistance of these members to compression forces, an elastic rubber cylinder or dowel 32 may be mounted within the cylindrical portion 3| formed by the arcuate ribs 3lle and 30 As herein shown the guide carried by the channel 29 is formed in two longitudinally spaced similar sections 30, each constructed as above described. It may, however, be formed in one length and notched out to provide a space for assembly purposes correspondingly to space 50. Cooperating with each of the track sections 30 are a pair of opposed grooved rollers 33 and 34 spaced apart in a vertical direction. Each pair of rollers is mounted at an end of the horizontal bar 25. The upper roller 33 of each pair is revolubly mounted upon a stud 35 riveted to bar 25 and each lower roller 35 of each pair is revolubly mounted upon a stud 36 riveted to the bar 25. Thus the grooved rollers of each pair engage the curved rail portions 30c and 301 at opposite sides of the track, these portions fitting into the annular grooves of the rollers and hence provide an interlocking connection between the tracks and rollers preventing displacement or disengagement of the rollers during operation.

The regulator may be assembled with the window panel II in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The regulator is cranked to its lowest position and the window is slid vertically upon the guides I2 and I3 to the bottom of the well causing one pair of rollers to pass vertically between the track sections 30 into the space and the other pair of rollers to pass by the end of one of the track sections 30 until the rollers are lined up with the rails 30c and 30f. Thereupon the window regulator is cranked upwardly so as to propel the rollers upon the rails. In practice after assembly of the regulator a suitable stop is provided on the regulator for limiting downward movement of the window to a position such as shown in Fig. 1 whereby the rollers are prevented from running off the ends of the tracks.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7 the bar 25 carries at each end a single roller 3'! revolubly mounted upon a stud riveted to the end of the bar 25. Each track section comprises a sheet metal or spring steel strip 38 bent upon itself to provide upper and lower horizontal track sections 4| and 39 respectively. The rolled metal strip 38 is spot welded to the back face of the The track section 39 is rolled to provide an upstanding groove orarcuate rib 40 and the track section 4| is rolled to provide a corresponding downwardly extending curved or arcuate rib 42. The ribs 40 and 42 are opposed to each other and vertically spaced so as to provide rails engaging opposite sides of each grooved roller 31. These track sections are resilient and yieldable under compression forces so as to be sprung apart during operation and adapted to geegose:

that. either 'o'r bothtrack sections will at all times yielding ly engage the roller under 'sufficient pressureto hold the parts" against rattling orvibrational noises.

I In the operation otthe device shown in Fig.

2', it will be seen that when the :a'rmsZl and 22- are swung down to lower" the windowdownward forces will b'e applied by rollers 33f-to"'the rail sections 306 thereby tending to compress the latter and 'yieldingly contract the parts 30c and 30); also tending to drop the roller-S 134: away from the ran sections 39'). The upper rollers will travel freely along the rails with practically no frictional resistance. are swung; upwards the compression forces willbe appliedby rollers 34" against the bottom rail sections 30]- and the reverse of the above operation will take place. It will 'alsobe seen that the compressible railf'siectionswill accommodate variations in-the clearance spaces between the grooved rollers. These-slight variations invariably occurin'large scale'production where tolerancesrare allowed and also where slight manufacturing inaccuracies occur. Therefore by virtue of this flexible track structure it is possible to fix the pivots of the rollers, but at the same time to secure a snug fit of the rails within the grooves of the rollers. This snug fit, however, is yieldable so as to prevent the rollers from becoming locked which in turn would prevent or impede the free rotation thereof as they move back and forth onto the track. Not only does this construction prevent locking of the rollers on the tracks but it permits an extremely smooth and easy operation of the regulator, avoiding the necessity of increasing the gear ratio as heretofore in order to give the necessary extra power to oifset the friction, as heretofore, of tight fitting studs travelling in guideways. The easy relatively frictionless operation of the rollers along the trackways also prevents shifting the window in its plane in an endwise direction which results in undue pressure of one edge of the glass on one of the guides l2 or l3 which heretofore has made the window harder to raise and lower.

In the operation of the device shown in Fig. '7 the upward pressure of the roller 31 when the window is raised, as shown by the arrow, tends to spring the rail 42 upwards sufficiently to separate the roller from the lower rail 46 thereby permitting the roller to travel freely along the track. The opposite action takes place when the window regulator is lowered, the roller at this time pressing downwardly upon the rail 40 and springing it slightly away from the upper rail 42. When the window regulator is at rest the track sections will tend to spring together and yieldingly hold the roller so that no rattling will take place. A similar action occurs in connection with the device of Fig. 2, which action may be amplified, if desired, by using the resilient rubber core 32. The use of the part 32 is, however, optional. When the regulator is at rest, the expansion of the track sections 300 and 30d tend to clamp the rollers and hold them against rattling during operation of the vehicle. Due to the yield of the members 42 and 49 it will also be seen that these members will accommodate slight variations in the diameter of the rollers 31 and also in the location thereof with respect to the guideways, particularly in cases where the rollers and guideways do not exactly line up when the regulator is installed due to variations incident to manufacturing tolerances or inaccuracies. This same When the arms 2i and 22 advantage is apparent in the: use'lof the embodi-. ment of: Figs. I to 6 inclusive.

11 m a window control mechanism, thecombination of a swinging regulator arm having a pair of vertically opposed rollers mounted thereon; anda guidemember adapted to be secured to the lower edge of the window and comprising opposed relativelyyieldable tracks held under compressionbetween said'rollers.

2. The combination with a window regulator comprising am'em'ber'having a sliding connec tionwiththe lower edge of a window, apair of parallelis'winging arms pivotally connected to -member at po-iI-its spaced one above the other"; and means for swinging the arms, said connectionbornp rising vertically opposed relatively yieldable track members on the window and longitudinally spaced-pair's of opposed rollers embracingflthetrack membersand eifective to hold thesame under compression.

3, A- window panel retainer structure comprising a m'etal' strip adapted to be securedto the lower edge of the panel and a roller guide member carried by said strip including a pair of vertically opposed relatively yieldable track members, and a compressible element interposed between said members.

4. A window panel retainer structure adapted. to be secured to the lower edge of the panel, comprising a longitudinally extending pair of substantially horizontal track members spaced apart to permit them to spring together or apart, said members being formed with longitudinal grooves facing each other, and a compressible element confined in said grooves.

5. The combination with a swinging regulator arm having roller means adjacent the outer end thereof, of a window panel retainer structure comprising a metal strip adapted to be secured to the lower edge of the panel and a roller guide member carried. by said strip including a pair of vertically opposed relatively yieldable track members grooved to provide interlocking alternate engagement with said roller means when the window panel is raised and lowered and to provide simultaneous relatively tight engagement with said roller means when the panel is at rest.

6. The combination with a swinging regulator arm having roller means adjacent the outer end thereof, of a window panel retainer structure comprising a metal strip adapted to be secured to the lower edge of the panel and a roller guide member carried by said strip including a pair of vertically opposed relatively yieldable track members spaced for the reception therebetween of said roller means and alternately engaged by said roller means when the window panel is raised and lowered, both of said track members providing a relatively tight yieldable engagement with said roller means when the panel is at rest.

7. In a window control mechanism, the combination of a swinging regulator arm having a pair of upper and lower spaced rollers mounted thereon, and a guide member adapted to be secured to the lower edge of the window and comprising opposed relatively yieldable tracks embraced by said rollers and alternately engaged by the rollers when the window is raised and lowered.

8. In a window control mechanism, the combination of a swinging regulator arm having a pair of upper and lower spaced grooved rollers mounted thereon, and a guide member adapted to be secured to the lower edge of the window and comprising vertically opposed relatively yieldable tracks embraced by said rollers and interlocked therewith, the upper roller engaging the upper track and the lower roller being free of the lower track when the window is lowered and vice versa.

9. In a window control mechanism, the combination of a swinging regulator arm having roller means mounted at its outer end, and a. retainer structure adapted to be secured to the lower edge of a window panel and comprising opposed tracks embracing said roller means and interlocked therewith, each track being yieldable in a vertical direction relative to the other and said tracks adapted to yieldingly grip said roller means when said panel is at rest, said roller means engaging the upper track only when the window is raised and engaging the lower track only when the window is lowered.

10. In a window control mechanism including a swinging arm and means for swinging the arm, the combination of a member having a sliding connection with the lower edge of a window panel and adapted to be pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm, said connection comprising vertically opposed track members and roller means cooperable with one track member only when the arm is swung to raise the window and with the other track member only when the arm is swung to lower the window, each track being yieldable in a vertical direction relative to the other and said tracks adapted to yieldingly grip said roller means when said panel is at rest.

11. In a window control mechanism including a swinging arm and means for swinging the arm, the combination therewith of a sliding connection between the outer end of said arm and the lower edge of a window panel, said connection comprising vertically opposed track members and roller means cooperable with one track member only when the arm is swung to raise the panel and with the other track member only when the arm is swung to lower the panel, each track being .yieldable in a vertical direction relative to the other and said tracks adapted to yieldingly grip said roller means when said panel is at rest.

JOHN H. ROETHEL.

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