US3816963A

US3816963A - Window regulator mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3816963A
Application number: US00358775A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Hartmeyer; E Ott
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1973-05-09
Filing date: 1973-05-09
Publication date: 1974-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-18
Also published as: BR7401473D0; GB1430329A; CA988125A; JPS5015221A; DE2419343A1; AU6428474A; AR199603A1

Abstract

A window regulator mechanism adapted to lower or raise a window panel into and out of a window well between vehicle body panels, the window panel being vertically divided into separately movable ventilation and visibility sections. With the window panel in raised condition, the mechanism first may be actuated to lower the ventilation section into the window well to provide a ventilation exhaust opening in the vehicle body and then, if desired, further actuated to lower the visibility section into the window well. From a lowered condition, the sequence of movements to raise the panel sections is reversed. The window regulator mechanism comprises a pair of window regulator arms coupled respectively to the ventilation and visibility sections of the window panel. The regulator arms are also coupled to a gear sector of the window regulator mechanism through cam slot and follower systems. The cam slot and follower system for the ventilation section is programmed so that upon rotation of the gear sector through a first phase of movement in window opening direction the ventilation section is lowered to a predetermined position. During further or second phase rotation of the gear sector, the follower moves in a lost motion section of the cam slot without causing further lowering movement of the ventilation section. The cam slot and follower system for the visibility section is programmed so that during first phase movement of the gear sector, i.e., movement causing lowering of the ventilation section, a latch plate means pivoted on the visibility section regulator arm engages a keeper device to hold the visibility section regulator arm against movement, the follower on the gear sector passing through a lost motion section of a cam slot in the latch plate means. Upon further or second phase movement of the gear sector, the follower is aligned with a section of the cam slot that permits the latch plate means to shift from keeper engaging position to a position in which the gear sector and regulator arm are locked to each other for up and down movement of the visibility section.

Description

United States Patent [191 Hartmeyer et al.

[ WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM [75] Inventors: John J. Hartmeyer, Redford Township; Errol J. Ott, Lincoln Park, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Ford Motor Company, Dearbom,

Mich.

[22] Filed: May 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 358,775

[52] US. Cl. 49/103, 49/227 [51] Int. Cl E05f 5/12 [58] Field of Search 49/103, 227, 348-350 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,659,381 5/1972 Frey et al 49/103 3,670,454 6/1972 Gebhard et a1.

3,733,748 6/1973 Heesch 49/103 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Keith L. Zerschling; John J.

Roethal 5 7 ABSTRACT June 18, 1974 the visibility section into the window well. From a low ered condition, the sequence of movements to raise the panel sections is reversed.

The window regulator mechanism comprises a pair of window regulator arms coupled respectively to the ventilation and visibility sections of the window panel. The regulator arms are also coupled to a gear sector of the window regulator mechanism through cam slot and follower systems. The cam slot and follower system for the ventilation section is programmed so that upon rotation of the gear sector through a first phase of movement in window opening direction the ventilation section is lowered to a predetermined position. During further or second phase rotation of the gear sector, the follower moves in a lost motion section of the cam slot without causing further lowering movement of the ventilation section.

, passing through a lost motion section of a cam slot in the latch plate means. Upon further or second phase movement of the gear sector, the follower is aligned with a section of the cam slot that permits the latch plate means to shift from keeper engaging position to a position in which the gear sector and regulator arm are locked to each other for up and down movement of the visibility section.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION US. Pat. No. 3,659,381 issued to Stewart M. Frey et al, on May 2, 1972 for Vent Window System for Vehicle Body Structure and US. Pat. No. 3,670,454 issued to Harold C. Gebhard et al on June 20, 1972 Vertical Drop Vent Window System each disclose variations of window regulator mechanisms for raising and lowering in a window opening in a vehicle body structure a win dow panel vertically divided into a ventilation section and a visibility section.

Each of the foregoing mechanisms utilize a single window regulator mechanism to raise and lower the panel sections in controlled sequence. The Frey et al and Gebhard et al systems have a somewhat cmplicated system of arms and links, and complex latch mechanisms are provided to hold the large visibility sections against movement in any position of the ventilation sections other than when the latter are fully lowered.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a single window regulator mechanism for lowering and raising the visibility and ventilation sections ofia window panel which represents a simplification of the systems disclosed in the cited patents. The mechanism embodying the present invention utilizes cam and follower systems for controlling the movements of the ventilation section and for controlling a latching device operable to hold the visibility section in raised position until the ventilation section has been lowered and then further operable to lock the visibility sector regulator arm to the gear sector for movement after the ventilation section has been lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a window regulator mechanism adapted to lower or raise a window panel into or out of a window well between vehicle body panels, the window panel being vertically divided into separately movable ventilation and visibility sections. The window regulator mechanism comprises a mounting plate secured to one of the body panels and a gear sector rotatably mounted for first and second phases of movement on a first pivot shaft journalled in the mounting plate. A first regulator arm is mounted at one of its ends for swinging movement on a second pivot shaft carried by the mounting plate in spaced relation to the first pivot shaft. The first regulator arm is coupled at its other end to the ventilation section.

A second regulator arm is mounted intermediate its ends for swinging movement about the gear sector pivot shaft and is coupled at one of its ends to the visibility section and has'a latch plate means pivotally supported on its other end. The latch plate means is engagable with a keeper device carried on the mounting plate to hold the second regulator arm in visibility section raised position during a first phase of movement of the gear sector when the latter is rotated in panel lowering direction.

A cam slot means on the first regulator arm extends substantially radially of the second pivot shaft and coacts with a first cam follower means carried bythe gear sector. The cam slot means has a first regulator arm movement controlling section and a lost motion section. Movement of the first cam follower means and the arm movement controlling section during the first phase of movement of the gear sector causes the first regulator arm to be driven from a ventilation section raised position to a predetermined lowered position. During the second phase of movement of the gear sector, the first cam follower means moves through the lost motion section of the cam slot means without causing further lowering movement of the visibility section.

A second cam follower means carried by the gear sector coacts with a cam slot means in the latch plate. The latch plate cam slot means has a lost motion section and a latch plate movement control section. During the first phase of movement of the gear sector the second cam follower means moves in the lost motion section of the latch plate cam slot means and the visibility section regulator arm remains immobile. Upon the gear sector entering its second phase of movement, the second cam follower means aligns with the movement control section of the latch plate cam slot means and permits thelatch plate means to move in unlatching di- DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle body structure, such as a vehicle door, having a sectional window panel mounted therein adapted to be raised and lowered by a window regulator mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the window regulator mechanism illustrating the parts thereof in window panel raised position;

FIG. 3 is a view in part similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the parts thereof in a relationship in which the ventilation section of the window panel has been lowered and the visibility section is ready to begin its downward movement; and

FIG. 4 is a view in part similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the parts of the window regulator mechanism when both the ventilation and visibility sections are in their lowermost positions within the vehicle body structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in dot-and-dash outline a portion of a vehicle body structure, such as a door,generally designated 1 l. The door has inner and outer panels 12 and 13, respectively, defining a window well. Between and on the panels 12 and 13 the various mechanical hardware items, such as a door latch mechanism (not shown), a window guide assembly 14, a door glass run and bracket assembly 15, and a window regulator'mechanism, generally designated 16, and embodying the present invention, are mounted.

The window panel, generally designated 17, is vertically divided into two separately movable sections, a small or ventilation section 18 and a much larger main or visibility section 19. As in a conventional vehicle installation, the window panel 17 is adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the window well defined by the inner and outer panels 12-13 of the door structure 11. ln accordance with the present invention, the window regulator mechanism 16 is constructed and arranged to raise and lower the window panel sections 18 and 19 in sequential movements.

The window regulator mechanism 16 comprises a horizontally elongated base or mounting plate 21 adapted to be mounted as by bolts 22 to the inner door panel 12. The gear sector 23 is rotatably journalled on a pivot shaft 24 positioned substantially centrally of the mounting plate, the gear sector 23 being freely rotatable on the pivot shaft. The gear sector 23 is illustrated as being drivable in window raising or lowering directions by a conventional hand crank window regulator drive pinion and clutch assembly 25.

The window regulator mechanism 16 utilizes a pair of window regulator arms. The first arm 26 is mounted at one of its ends 27 on a pivot shaft 28 located at one corner of the mounting plate 21. The second arm 29 is an elongated sinuous arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the gear sector pivot shaft 24. This second arm 29 is keyed to the pivot shaft 24 for rotation therewith.

The

free ends

31 and 32 of each

arm

26 and 29, respectively, carries a roller 33. The roller 33 on the end 31 of arm 26 rides in guide channel member 34 carried on a bracket 35 attached to the lower edge of the ventilation section 18 of the window panel 17. The roller 33 mounted on the free end of the arm 29 is engaged with and travels on the channel member 36 carried on the bracket 37 that is secured to the lower edge of the visibility panel section 19.

The bracket 37 is a part of the door glass run and bracket assembly which guides the rear portion of the window panel 1'7 as it is raised and lowered between the inner and outer body or door panels 12 and 13. The details of construction of the door glass run and bracket assembly form no part of the present invention. The ventilation section 18 is guided in part in its up and down movements relative to the visibility section 19 by a sealing channel 38 secured to the front edge of the visibility section 19.

Rotary movement of the gear sector 23 is translated into swinging movement of the ventilation section or first regulator arm 26 by a cam follower means 39 mounted on the gear sector 23. The cam follower means 39 projects laterally of the gear sector 23 into a cam slot means 41 extending radially of the first regulator arm 26. Cam slot means 41 has two sections, an angularly inclined, short, straight section 42 and an elon gated, curved section 43.

Rotary movement of the gear sector 23 is translated into swinging movement of the second or visibility section regulator arm 29 by a follower means 44. The follower means 44 coacts with a cam slot means 45 carried on a latch plate means 46 pivotally supported by a pivot 47 at the upper portion 48 of the end 49 of the second regulator arm 29. The cam slot means 45 has two sections 51 and 52. The section 51 is a lost motion section which permits the follower means 44 to traverse the length of the section 51 without causing any movement of the arm 29. It should be noted that the arm 29 has an arcuate slot 53 which underlies the cam slot section 51 and through which the cam follower means 44 projects. Both the arcuate slot 53 and the cam slot section 51 permit the free movement of the follower means 44 about the center of rotation defined by the pivot shaft 24.

The cam slot section 52 is angularly inclined with respect to the terminal or upper end of the slot section 51 and permits, under certain conditions, the latch plate means 46 to swing in a clockwise direction, as viewed in the drawings, into a locking position in which the follower means 44 and the latch plate means 46 coact to lock the arm 29 to the gear sector 23.

At its upper left-hand corner 54, as viewed in the drawings, the latch plate means 46 carries a latch pin 55. The latch pin 55 is engagable with a keeper device 56 mounted on an extension 57 of the mounting plate 21. The keeper device 56 has an arcuate recess 58 having a lip portion 59 adapted to catch the latch pin 55 as the latch plate means 46 bodily swings about a center of rotation which is the gear sector pivot shaft 24.

The window regulator mechanism includes several springs. A main spring 61 of the flat spiral type is coupled to the pivot shaft 24 and has its free end 62 anchored to the mounting plate 21. Since the second regulator arm 29 is keyed to the shaft 24, the spring 61 counterbalances the weight of the visibility section 19 of the window panel 17 as the latter is lowered and raised.

An auxiliary spring 63 of the same type as the main spring 61 is coupled to the pivot shaft 28 to which the first regulator arm 26 is keyed. The free end 64 of the spring 63 is anchored to the mounting plate 21 and counterbalances the weight of the arm 26 and ventilation section 18 of the panel 17 as the latter is raised and lowered.

Another spring utilized is a tension spring 65 which extends between the lower end 66 of the latch plate means 46 and an anchor point 67 on the second regulator arm 29. The spring 65 urges the latch plate means 46 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in the drawings.

OPERATION Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the window panel 17 is shown in a raised position relative to the window well in the vehicle body or door structure 11. That is, both the ventilation section 18 and the visibility section 19 are in their raised position and the related drive arms 26-29 are in corresponding raised positions.

If it is now desired to provide exhaust ventilation of the vehicle passenger compartment by lowering the ventilation section 18, this can be accomplished by rotating the drive pinion assembly 25 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in the drawings, to drive the gear sector 23 in a clockwise direction. Although the gear sector 23 may be rotated from one end to the other without interruption, it is preferable to consider the movement of the gear sector as being divided into two phases. The phase one movement is related to the lowering of the ventilation section 18 and the phase two movement is related to the lowering of the visibility section 19.

During the phase one movement of the gear sector 23, the first or ventilation window support arm 26 moves from the FIG. 2 position to the FIG. 3 position. That is, as the drive pinion 25 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the gear sector 23 rotates in a clockwise direction and carries the follower means 39 around the center of rotation defined by the pivot shaft 24. The follower means 39 moves downwardly in a counterclockwise direction around the pivot shaft 24. As it begins its downward movement from the position shown in FIG. 2, the follower means 39 engages the bottom edge of the cam slot section 42 causing the first regulator arm 26 to be swung in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot shaft 28. As the arm 26 swings in a counterclockwise direction, the roller 33 at the upper end of the arm 26 drives the ventilation section 18 downwardly.

The downward movement of the ventilation section 18 continues until the follower means 39 comes out of l the slot section 42 and enters the slot section 43 of the cam slot means 41. As best seen in FIG. 3, the slot section 43 is positioned so that it provides a true radius about the pivot shaft 24. As the follower means 39 continues its rotation about the pivot shaft 24, it has no further effect on the first regulator arm since it too is following a true radius path about the pivot shaft 24 as it moves from one end of the cam slot section 43 to the other. This, however, corresponds to the second phase of movement of the gear sector 23, as will be more fully explained.

During the first phase of movement of the gear sector 23 in which the ventilation section is lowered, there is no corresponding movement of the visibility section 19. Rather, the visibility section 19 is held in a locked, raised position. This is accomplished by the latch plate means 46 carried on the end 49 of the second or visibility regulator arm 29. The latch pin 55 is engaged with the walls of the recess 58 in the keeper device 56. It will be noted that the latch pin 55 is on a line below a horizontal line passing through the pivot point 47 of the latch plate means 46, thus setting up an overcenter relationship which blocks any movement of the second regulator arm 29. This overcenter relationship is maintained by the coaction between the second follower means 44 which is located at the lower end of the slot 53 in the regulator arm 29 and the slot section 51 of the cam slot means 45 in the latch plate means 46. During the first phase of movement of the gear sector 23, the follower means 44 moves along the slots 45 and 51 but maintains the latch plate means 46 in its latching engagement with the keeper device 56 during the full traverse of the follower means 44.

FIG. 3 illustrates the position of the various parts of the window regulator mechanism at the completion of the first phase of movement of the gear sector 23. To recapitulate, the first or ventilation section regulator arm 26 has been moved from its FIG. 1 position to a substantially horizontal position in which the ventilation section 18 is lowered below the upper edge of the window well. The second or visibility section regulator arm 29 has not moved and the visibility section remains in raised position. However, the latch plate means 46 is now conditioned to be released. That is, the cam follower means 44 has been moved from the lower ends of the arcuate slot 53 and the cam slot means 45 to the upper end of the arcuate slot 53 and to a transition point between the section 51 and 52 of the cam slot means 45. i

With the ventilation section 18 lowered, if it is now desired to lower the visibility section, it is necessary to continue rotation of the drive pinion 25 in a counterclockwise direction to cause continued rotation of the gear sector 23 in a clockwise direction. As the gear sector 23 moves into this second phase of movement, the follower means 39 traverses the slot means 41 of the first regulator arm 26 and, as noted above, no further downward movement of the arm 26 occurs. The cam follower means 44 moves up into alignment with the slot section 52 of the cam slot means 45. As this occurs, the downward pressure on the latch plate means 46 tending to seat the latch pin 55 in the keeper device 56 is eased. This permits the tension spring 65 to rotate the latch plate means 46 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot support 47. The latch plate means 46 moves relatively to the cam follower means 45 until the end of the slot section 52 is reached. At this point the cam follower means 44 coacts with the latch plate means 46 to lock the visibility section regulator arm 29 to the gear sector 23. As the gear sector 23 continues its second phase of rotation, it now swings the visibility section regulator arm 29 in a clockwise direction about the pivot shaft 24 causing the visibility section 19 to be lowered. The final lowered position of the visibility section regulator arm 29 is shown in FIG. 4.

When the ventilation and visibility panel sections 18 and 19, respectively, are in fully lowered position, the sequence of movements necessary to raise them is the reverse and occurs upon the gear sector 23 being rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the drive pinion 25. Since the regulator arm 29 is locked to the gear sector 23, counterclockwise rotation of the gear sector causes the regulator arm to be swung in a counterclockwise direction raising the visibility panel section. As the end 49 of the regulator arm 29 swings toward the keeper device 56, the latch pin 55 abuts the lip portion 59 of the recess 58 in the keeper device 56 causing the latch plate to be swung in a clockwise direction and aligning the lost motion section 51 of the cam slot means 45 with the follower means 44 (see FIG. 3). In the meanwhile, the cam follower means 39 has traversed the arcuate section 43 of the cam slot means 41 in the visibility section regulator arm 26. With the visibility section fully raised, the reverse second phase movement of the gear sector is completed. To raise the ventilation section, it is now necessary to continue rotating the gear sector 23 in a counterclockwise direction. The cam follower means 44 on the end 49 of the regulator arm 29 moves in the lost motion section 51 of the cam slot means 45 and causes no further movement of the second regulator arm 29. The cam follower means 39 enters the straight section 42 of the cam slot means 41 and picks up the first or visibility section regulator arm 26 causing the latter to be swung in an upward clockwise direction about its pivot axis 28. This movement continues until the visibility section is fully raised. The latch means 46, having; engaged the keeper device upon the completion of the reverse second phase of movement of the gear sector 23, latches the visibility section regulator arm 29 against movement in either an up or down direction.

Downward movement of the window panel in its re spective sections 18 and 19 may be interrupted at any time so that the ventilation section 18 may be partially opened or fully opened and the visibility section, after the ventilation section has been fully opened, may also be placed in a partially or fully opened condition. Conversely, during raising movement of the panel 17, the operation may be interrupted at any time so that the visibility section 19 may be partially or fully closed and subsequently, after the visibility section 19 is fully closed, the ventilation section 18 may be moved to a partially opened or fully closed position.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the exact construction illustrated and described above, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A window regulator mechanism adapted to lower or raise a window panel into or out of a window well between vehicle body panels,

the window panel being vertically divided into separately movable ventilation and visibility sections, the window regulator comprising:

a mounting plate secured to one of the body panels,

a gear sector rotatably mounted for first and second phases of movement on a first pivot shaft journalled in the mounting plate,

a first regulator arm mounted at one of its ends for swinging movement on a second pivot shaft carried by the mounting plate in spaced relation to the first pivot shaft,

the first regulator arm being coupled at its other end to the ventilation section,

a second regulator arm mounted intermediate its ends for swinging movement about the gear sector pivot shaft,

the second regulator arm being coupled at one of its ends to the visibility section and having a latch plate means pivotally supported on its other end,

the latch plate means being engagable with a keeper device carried on the mounting plate to hold the second regulator arm in visibility section raised position during a first phase of movement of the gear sector upon the latter being rotated in panel lowering direction,

spring means extending between the latch plate means and the second regulator arm urging the latch plate means toward engagement with the keeper device,

cam slot means on the first regulator arm extending substantially radially of the second pivot shaft coacting with a first cam follower means carried by the gear sector,

the cam slot means having a first regulator arm movement controlling section and a lost motion section,

movement of the first cam follower means in the arm movement controlling section during the first phase of movement of the gear sector causing the first regulator arm to be driven from a ventilation section raised position to a predetermined lowered position,

and during the second phase of movement of the gear sector the first cam follower means moving through the lost motion section without causing further lowering movement of the ventilation section,

a second cam follower means carried by the gear sector coacting with a cam slot means in the latch plate,

the latch plate cam slot means having a lost motion section and a latch plate movement control section,

during the first phase of movement of the gear sector the second cam follower means moving in the lost motion section of the latch plate cam means and upon the gear sector entering its second phase of movement the second cam follower means aligning with the movement control section of the latch plate cam slot means permitting the latch plate means to move in unlatching direction from keeper device engagement into a locking position coupling the second regulator arm to the gear sector for swinging movement,

and drive pinion means for rotating the gear sector through its first and second phases of movement and vice-versa about the first pivot shaft.

2. A window regulator mechanism according to claim 1, in which:

the second cam follower means during movement of the gear sector through its first phase moves through a lost motion slot in the end of the second regulator arm carrying the latch plate means.

Claims

1. A window regulator mechanism adapted to lower or raise a window panel into or out of a window well between vehicle body panels, the window panel being vertically divided into separately movable ventilation and visibility sections, the window regulator comprising: a mounting plate secured to one of the body panels, a gear sector rotatably mounted for first and second phases of movement on a first pivot shaft journalled in the mounting plate, a first regulator arm mounted at one of its ends for swinging movement on a second pivot shafT carried by the mounting plate in spaced relation to the first pivot shaft, the first regulator arm being coupled at its other end to the ventilation section, a second regulator arm mounted intermediate its ends for swinging movement about the gear sector pivot shaft, the second regulator arm being coupled at one of its ends to the visibility section and having a latch plate means pivotally supported on its other end, the latch plate means being engagable with a keeper device carried on the mounting plate to hold the second regulator arm in visibility section raised position during a first phase of movement of the gear sector upon the latter being rotated in panel lowering direction, spring means extending between the latch plate means and the second regulator arm urging the latch plate means toward engagement with the keeper device, cam slot means on the first regulator arm extending substantially radially of the second pivot shaft coacting with a first cam follower means carried by the gear sector, the cam slot means having a first regulator arm movement controlling section and a lost motion section, movement of the first cam follower means in the arm movement controlling section during the first phase of movement of the gear sector causing the first regulator arm to be driven from a ventilation section raised position to a predetermined lowered position, and during the second phase of movement of the gear sector the first cam follower means moving through the lost motion section without causing further lowering movement of the ventilation section, a second cam follower means carried by the gear sector coacting with a cam slot means in the latch plate, the latch plate cam slot means having a lost motion section and a latch plate movement control section, during the first phase of movement of the gear sector the second cam follower means moving in the lost motion section of the latch plate cam means and upon the gear sector entering its second phase of movement the second cam follower means aligning with the movement control section of the latch plate cam slot means permitting the latch plate means to move in unlatching direction from keeper device engagement into a locking position coupling the second regulator arm to the gear sector for swinging movement, and drive pinion means for rotating the gear sector through its first and second phases of movement and vice-versa about the first pivot shaft.

2. A window regulator mechanism according to claim 1, in which: the second cam follower means during movement of the gear sector through its first phase moves through a lost motion slot in the end of the second regulator arm carrying the latch plate means.