US2285027A - Drive control mechanism for windows - Google Patents

Description

June 2, l942. F. Y. GATES' DRIVE coNTRL MECHAN'ISMAFOR wINDQWs FiledI eb. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented June Z, 1942 geen? DRIVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR WINDOWS Y Franklin Y. Gates, Salt Lake City, Utah Application February 9, 1939, Serial No. 255,541

(ci. 19a-s) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a window regulator and mechanism for operating the same, although the clutch is not necessarily restricted thereto. The principal' objects of the invention are to provide:

First. A mechanism adapted for operating a window regulator largely used in automobiles, which allows the window to be raised and lowered in the customarymanner, but at the same time, can be operated so as to cause the window to move in one direction, preferably down, instantaneously.

Second. A mechanism in which the manufacturing cost is reduced to a minimum.

Third. A window regulator and mechanism which is applicable to modern automobiles without requiring any change in the customary door and window design or details. v

Fourth. A mechanism that is positive in its holding action but which is just as positive in releasing its holding action in one direction.

In thev drawings,

Fig. 1 represents an elevation of an auto-mobile window regulator viewed from the inside, parts being broken away for convenience;

Fig. 2, a plan, largely in horizontal section, taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, but drawn to a scale considerably enlarged;

Fig. 4, a section taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a section taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4; and

VFigs. 6 and 7, fragmentary vertical sections taken on the lines 6-6 and 1 1 in Fig.Y 3, parts in the background being omitted.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral indicates an arm that is movable up and down for the purpose of moving an automobile window accordingly, the arms being of the proper length and having means (not shown) for engaging the window at its free extremity in the usual manner.

The arm may be rigidly attached to a gear sector 2|, and both the arm and the sector may be rigidly mounted on a stub shaft 24 which may be shouldered, and journaled at 23, all in the customary manner.

A spiral spring 25 may have its inner end engaged in a slot 26, and its outer end engaged by a stop 2l, so that when the spring is Wound up, it reacts .to revolve the arm 2li, in the'present instance in the direction of the arrow 28, which moves the window down. The upper position of the arm is indicated at 25, and the lower position is indicated in dotted lines at ZQ-L In mesh with the gear sector 2| is a pinion 29 which in turn is rotatable on a shaft 30, as well as being journaled in a collar 3|. The collar is held stationary in a protruding portion 32 which hcusesthe pinion 29 and preferably forms an integral part of a frame 22. Rigidly mounted on the pinion29 is a cup 34, and disposed within the cup is a coiled lock spring 35. This spring exerts its expansive force to normally cause the outside of the coils thereof to frictionally grip the inside cylindrical surface of the cup. The spring 35 has the inwardly projecting hooks 36 and 31 at the two extremities of the coil and spaced apart angularly from each other, as indicated in Fig. 4. Rigidly mounted on the shaft 35, for example by welding, is a lock release member 38 which may have an arcuate projection or wing 39 disposed concentrically within the lock coil 35, its curved face however, being free at all times from contact with the inside of the coil so that when the shaft 30 is slightly rotated, in this instance clockwise with reference to Fig. 4, the lock-release member engages the projection 3l and exerts its releasing capacity to slightly contract the coil 35, thereby releasing the coil and the cup 34 instantly from the normal frictional engagement with each other, and allowing the spring 25 to bring the arm 20 down.

At 4U is a member having the varcuate projections or wings 4il| and 40--2, these being angularly spaced apart from one another. The outer curved faces of the wings 4ll| are in close proximity to, but always free from, the inside surface of the lock coil 35, while the wings 40--2 are close to, but always free from the inside of another lock coil 4|. One of the wings dil-I has limited angular motion between the hooks 35 and 31 of lock coil 3'5, and one of the wings dil-2 has limited angular motion between hooks 42 and 43, which project inwardly from the lock coil 4| and are angularly spaced apart from each other. Moving the wing 4|l| against either of the hooks 36 or 31 expands and locks the coil 35 frictionally within the rotatable cup 34; and similarly, moving the wing 40-2 against either one of the hooks 42 or 43 causes the lock spring coil 4| to expand, and thereby to frictionally engage the interior cylindrical surface of a stationary housing 45. The housing 45 may have the circular flange 45 `by means of which it may be rigidly attached to the frame 22.

A member 4l, having the arcuate wing portions 4'|-| loosely encircled by the lock spring 4|, isrotatably mounted on the shaft 3U by means of the intermediate sleeve 48. This sleeve has the squared head 43| which engages the member 47, and the latter has a squared opening into which the head 48| fits snugly. Therefore, a rotation of the sleeve 48 carries with it the driver 41. Normally, the lock coil 4| is disposed to exert an expansive force which causes the coil to remain in frictional engagement with the stationary housing 45. 4'|--| are in close proximity to the respective The wing portions Y hooks 42 and 43 of the lock coil 4|, but when the member 41 is rotated in one direction or the other, either the hook 42 or the hook 43 as the case may be, is engaged by the respective wing 41-I, which causes the lock 4| to be contracted and therefore to release its frictional hold within the stationary housing.

The shank 48-2 of the sleeve 48 is squared to receive the hub 49| of a handle 49, while the sleeve itself is freely rotatable n the stem '39. A button 58 held fast on the shaft 38, for eX- ample by means of a pin may be ,grasped manually to rotate the shaft 39.

The window regulator frame 22 is supported by mounting it on a fixed portion (not shown) of an automobile door in the usual manner. When Aso mounted, the regulator occupies a position spaced somewhatl apart from the usual inside upholstered wall 52, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. The shouldered portion 49-2 of the hub 49| Ybears against an escutcheon 53, the latter providing a finish between the hub and the wall 52. It will be noted in Fig. 5 that a pin 5| which holds the button 50 on the shaft 39, is normally hidden by the front portion of the hub. In order to put the pin 5| in place when assembling, it is necessary that the hub be pushed back sufliciently to clear the hole into which the pin fits. This may `be easily accomplished because the upholstered wall 52 is ilexible and may be pushed slightly u inward when corresponding pressure is applied to the hub, since a space 54 between the hub and the sleeve 48 allows the hub to slide inwardly on the sleeve. In order however, to keep the upholstered wall 52 normally pressed snug against the shoulder 49-2 of the hub, a conical compression spring 56 is provided; this may bear again the flange 46 and react against the flexible upholstered wall 52.

In operation an automobile window may be raised or lowered in the usual manner, by turning the handle 49 clockwise 'or counterclockwise as the case may require. handle is rotated clockwise to move the window down and counterclockwise to move the window up. To accomplish the instantaneous opening of the window, the button 5U is slightly rotated, in this instance clockwise, as noted hereinbefore, the handle 49 remaining stationary.

In accomplishing these results the mechanism in the present instance, functions as follows: Turning the handle 49 counterclockwise causes the lef-t wing 41-| of the driver 41, Fig. 4, to contact the hook 42, and so long as the turning motion pressure continues, the lock coil 4| rotates freely within the stationary cup 45. The moment however, that pressure on the handle is relaxed, the lock coil 4| expands to its normal locking position, and holds the window stationary at the corresponding point of its travel, while the potential energy of the spring accentuates the locking tendency. Turning the handle 49 clockwise, causes the right wing i1-I of the driver 41, to contact the hook 43, thereby releasing the lock coil 4| so as to rotate accordingly until pressure on the handle 49 is relaxed, at which time the coil 4| expands and the window is held stationary as previously described.

A slight turn, in this instance clockwise, of the wing 39 of the member 38, as indicated in Fig. 4, causes the wing to move to the left into contact with the hook 31 of the lock coil 38. Further movement of the wing 39 exertsl a push on the hook 31, thereby contracting the coil 38 slightly and causing the release of its grip upon the rotat- In this instance the able cup 34. Since the cup is integral or rigid with respect to the pinion 29, and since this pinion when held stationary, offers the only opposition to the tensioned uncoiling of the motive spring 25, the aforesaid release of the coil 38, frees the spring 25 to instantly move the arm 28 down, and consequently to also move down, a window to which the arm may be attached.

Summarizing the invention and its operation:

The handle 49 mayV be regarded as a prime mover, and the pinion 29 as a driver rigid with respect to the prime mover. The rigidity between the two, however, may be regarded as breakable by means of a compound coil mechanism comprising in this instance, two mutually opposed double-acting gripping devices, one the coil 4|, and the other the coil 35, the break being elfected selectively by means of the lock release mechanism, the operation of which has just been described.

Normally, the compound coil mechanism, in the positions of its parts as herein illustrated, holds pinion 35 locked with respect to the rotative urge of spring 25. This is because the spring through gear sector 2|, tends to turn the pinion, in this instance, counterclockwise, and therefore to urge wing 49-2, Fig. 4, against coil 43, locking the latter against stationary housing 45.

The manner of transmitting rotary motion in unison from the prime mover or handle 49 to the driver or pinion 29, will presently be followed through in continued narrative, first keeping in mind, however, that handle 49, sleeve 48, member 48 and pinion 29 with its rigid cup 34, are all rotatable with respect to shaft 30, while lock release member 36 is the only part that is `fast on shaft 39. Handle 49 and member 48 are both fast on sleeve 48. Housing 45 and its protruding portion 32 with collar 3|, are stationary. Sleeve 48 is journaled in housing 45, and pinion 29, in collar 3|.

Now, if sufficient counterclockwise rotative urge is applied to handle 49, Fig. 1, to overcome the tension of spring 25, and if rotation of the handle is continued, the righthand wing 41| on member 41, moves against hook 43. This frees coil 4| from housing 45 and rotation of handle 49 continues. Meanwhile hook 43 bears against wing 49-2 and since wing 49| is integral with wing 49-2, and the latter bears against hook 36, locking coil 35 in cup 34, pinion 29 receives power to move gear 2| against the tensions of spring 25, thus winding the latter and raising arm 28.

If on the other hand, clockwise rotative urge is applied to handle 49, the left wing l1-l on member 41 moves against hook 42. This, again frees coil 4| from housing .45, while continued rotation of handle 49 moves hook 43 away from lower wing 49-2, and hook 42 against the opposite side of lower wing 48-2. Continued clockwise rotation of handle 49, moves wing 49| against hook 31, again locking coil 35 in cup 34, but causing cup 34 and its integral pinion 29 to rotate clockwise instead of counterclockwise as before. This lowers arml 29.

While a specific embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed, it is to be clearly understood that changes in the details thereof can be made without departing from the terms of the following claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, rotatable spring motive means tending to rotate a shaft in one direction.

and a brake device normally operative to prevent rotation of the said spring motive means, the said brake device comprising a stationary cup, a lock coil normally locked in the cup, rotatable means operative in either direction to selectively release the said lock coil from the stationary cup,

a rotatable cup, another lock coil normally locked in the rotatable cup, connecting means normally interlocked between the two lock coils, rotatable means connecting the rotatable cup to the said motive means, and means selectively operative to release the second-mentioned lock coil from the rotatable cup.

2. In combination, rotatable means including a cup, operable to turn a shaft against a potential counter-force, a lock coil normally locked in the said rotatable cup, a stationary cup substantially concentric with the rotatable cup, another lock coil normally locked in the stationary cup, connective means whereby the two said lock coils are normally interlocked with each other in pposition to the said potential counter-force, a driver rotatable in either direction and selectively operable to release thesecond-mentioned lock coil from the stationary cup and to drive the first-mentioned coil accordingly, and releasing means selectively operable to release the firstmentioned lock coil from the rotatable cup.

3. A clutch mechanism, including in combination, a stationary cup, a lock coil normally locked therein, a rotatable cup substantially concentric with the stationary cup, a lock coillocked in the rotatable cup, motive means exerting a potential force to rotate the rotatable cup, the first-mentioned lock coil being effective to normally prevent such rotation, and releasing means operative to selectively release the rotatable cup from the second-mentioned lock coil.

4. A clutch mechanism, including in combination, a rotatable cup, a lock coil normally locked therein, another lock coil concentric with the mst-mentioned lock coil, a stationary cup in which the second-mentioned lock'coil is normally locked, interlocking means between the two said lock coils, and means operative to selectively release the first-mentioned lock coil from the rotatable cup.

5. A control mechanism, including in combination, driven means rotatable in either direction, clutch means normally engaging the driven means, brake means in operative proximity to the first-mentioned clutch means, interlocking means effective to releasably connect the rstmentioned clutch means to the brake means; stationary means normally engaged by the brake means, driving means selectively operative to engage the brake means so as to rotate the same in either direction, and a lock release device operative to selectively free the driven means from the rst-mentioned clutch means.

6. A clutch, including in combination, a stationary cup, a lock coil expansively tensioned against the inside of the cup; a rotatable cup, another lock coil expansively tensioned against the inside of the rotatable cup, and rotative means operative clockwise or counterclockwise to unlock the iirst-mentioned coil from the stationary cup, and simultaneously to rotate the second-mentioned cup with the second-mentioned coil locked therein, in the corresponding direction.

7. A clutch, including in combination, a lock coil, a structure in which the coil is releasably locked; another lock coil, another structure in which the second-mentioned coil is releasably locked, and means rotative clockwise or counterclockwise to release therst coil from its locking structure, and simultaneously, to accentuate the corresponding locking of the second-mentioned coil with the second-mentioned structure.

8. A clutch, including `in combination, a stationary cup, a lock coil normally locked therein, a rotatable cup, another lock coil normally locked in the rotatable cup; interlocking means operatively disposed between the two said lock coils, and means operative to release the said rotatable cup selectively from the second-mentioned lock coil.

9. A window regulator having av rotatable driver, a cup integral therewith, a lock coil disposed to normally grip the said cup, a lock release operative to selectively release Jhe'grip of the lock coil on the cup, a driven member normally tending to accentuate the locking of the coil to the said cup, a second lock coil tending normally to be locked by the driven member, a stationary cup within which the second lock coil is normally locked, and a second driven member directly connected to the driver, the rst driven member being selectively rotatable in either direction to release the second lock coil from locking with the stationary cup, and through the iirst lock coil, rand simultaneously, to impart corresponding motion to the second'driven member. V

10. A window regulator having a rotatable member, a lock coil normally locked to the said rotatable member', a second lock coil, a stationary member to which the second lock coil is normally locked, connecting means between the two lock coils whereby they may be selectively locked to each other or selectively released from each other, and a releasing device selectively operative to free the irst-mentioned lock coil from the said rotatable member.

11. VA control mechanism, including in c ombination, driving means rotatable in both directions; lock coil means, and stationary means in which the lock coil means is normally locked, the said driving means being disposed to selectively engage the said lock coil means in either direction for'releasing the same from the stationary means; driven means in operative proximity to the said driving means, means including a second lock coil normally acting to interlockthe driven with the driving means, andrelease means selectively operative to release the second lock coil means from engagement with the driven means.

12H. A control mechanism, including in combination, rotatable driving means, rotatable driven means, and lock coil means selectively operative, and comprising a lock normally holding thedriving means and the driven means stationary relative to each other; a releasing device for permitting the lock coil means to be rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise and to simultaneously impart corresponding motion to the'driven means; and holding means disposed to normally hold the driven means stationary, and also adapted to be operated, to release the driven means so as to permit the latter to rotate independently of the driving means.

FRANKLIN Y. GATES.

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