WO2006029913A1

WO2006029913A1 - Seal in particular for sealing the window panes of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2006029913A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/052803
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fritz Krause
Original assignee: Metzeler Automotive Profile Systems Gmbh
Priority date: 2004-06-18
Filing date: 2005-06-16
Publication date: 2006-03-23
Also published as: DE102004029425A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a seal, particularly serving for the sealing of window panes (13) of a motor vehicle (10), provided with a sealing section (20) having at least one sealing lip (21, 22). The seal is further provided with a fixing section (30) of U-shaped cross-section, comprising a first shoulder (31), a second shoulder (32), separated from the first shoulder (31) by a cavity (34) and a base piece (33) connecting the first shoulder (31) and the second shoulder (32). The seal furthermore comprises at least one spreader element (40), which may be connected to the fixing section (30) to narrow the cavity (34). The first shoulder (31) and the second shoulder (32) each comprise an inner surface (35) facing the cavity (34) and an outer surface (36) facing away from the cavity (34). According to the invention, a desired tension between the fixing section (30) and flange (14), onto which the fixing section (30), may be plugged may be achieved in a simple manner, whereby at least the first shoulder (31) is provided with a recess (37), opening on the outside surface (36), into which the spreader element (40) may be introduced. The spreader element (40) and the fixing section (30) are connected by at least one flexible connector element (41).

Description

Seal, in particular for sealing window panes of a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a seal which is used in particular for sealing window panes of a motor vehicle. The seal is provided with a sealing section which has at least one sealing lip. In addition, the seal is provided with a fastening section which is U-shaped in cross section and which has a first leg, a second leg spaced from the first leg by a space, and a first leg and has the base piece connecting the second leg to one another. The seal is also provided with at least one expansion element which can be connected to the fastening section in order to narrow the intermediate space. The first leg and the second leg each have an inner surface facing the intermediate space and an outer surface facing away from the intermediate space.

A seal that can be attached to a flange of the body of a motor vehicle is described in FR 2 824 611 A1. The seal has a sealing section formed by a hollow chamber and a fastening section which is U-shaped in cross section. The fastening section is composed of two legs spaced apart from one another by an intermediate space, which are connected to one another by a flexible base piece. The space between the legs serves to attach the seal to the flange of the body of a motor vehicle. In order to achieve a reliable fastening of the seal to the flange, the legs can be moved towards each other so that the space between the legs is constricts and the fastening portion of the seal is non-positively on the flange. For this purpose, a wedge-shaped expansion element is inserted into a recess in the base piece. The expansion element pushes the legs apart above the base piece and in this way causes the base piece to bend, so that the legs move toward one another below the base piece.

The sealing section, the fastening section and the expansion element are produced by coextrusion. The expansion element is arranged within the hollow chamber of the sealing section and can be inserted into the recess of the base piece by pressing the hollow chamber together. The central arrangement of the expansion element between the legs causes the legs to move uniformly towards one another and in this way a symmetrical tension of the fastening section with respect to the flange can be achieved. In practice, however, it has been found that asymmetrical tension is often more favorable for reliably fastening the seal to a flange.

Seals which are provided with a spreading element which produce a clamping action, a substantially U-shaped fastening section and a flange onto which the fastening section is attached are also described in GB 841, 029, US 3,002,783 and DE 1 555 062. These seals have in common that the expansion element is a separate component, which consequently requires a relatively complex production and storage.

The object of the invention is to develop a seal of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that a targeted tension between the fastening section is established in a relatively simple manner and a flange, onto which the fastening section can be plugged, can be achieved.

To achieve this object, according to the invention, in the case of a seal having the above-mentioned features in accordance with claim 1, at least the first leg is provided with an opening which opens out on the outer surface and into which the expansion element can be inserted. In addition, the expansion element and the fastening section are connected to one another by at least one flexible connecting element.

The seal according to the invention is based on the knowledge that the insertion of the expansion element into a recess not arranged on the base piece, as is known from FR 2 824 611 A1, but on at least one of the legs, is a variable one for the respective application adjustable tension of the fastening section with respect to the flange onto which the fastening section can be plugged on. Because the provision of the recess on one of the legs or on both legs offers a comparatively high degree of design freedom both with regard to the position and with regard to the size of the recess. The size of the recess and the dimensioning of the expansion element are matched to one another in such a way that the expansion element and the recess form an interference fit in the inserted state. The excess of the expansion element ensures that a part of the leg, on which the expansion element is arranged, moves in the direction of the other leg about a fulcrum, which lies in a web section between the recess and the inner surface of the leg in order to narrow the space between the legs.

In addition, the seal according to the invention is characterized by the flexible connecting element which connects the expansion element and the fastening section to one another. On the one hand, the connecting element enables the spreading element to be positioned in a predetermined manner onto the recess, so that a comparatively simple insertion of the expansion element into the recess is ensured. Furthermore, the connecting element ensures that the expansion element is captively connected to the seal and that this results in practical handling.

Advantageous embodiments of the seal according to the invention are defined in claims 2 to 12.

With regard to cost-effective production, it is therefore advantageous to manufacture the fastening section, the connecting element and the expansion element by extrusion, preferably coextrusion. Manufacturing by coextrusion offers the additional advantage that the physical properties, such as, for example, the hardness, the fastening section, the connecting element and the expansion element, can be different in order to ensure a functionally appropriate configuration. In this context, it has proven to be advantageous to make the sealing section and / or the fastening section and / or the connecting element and / or the expansion element from an elastomeric material, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber ( EPDM).

In order to achieve a flexible configuration, the connecting element is advantageously designed in the form of a band. The flexibility of the connecting element that results in this way contributes to simple insertion into the recess.

The connecting element is preferably provided with at least one predetermined breaking point. The predetermined breaking parts enable the expansion element to be torn off when it is inserted into the cutout and in this way facilitates assembly. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the expansion element is round in cross section, preferably circular or oval, or polygonal, preferably square, rectangular, triangular or trapezoidal. The suitable shape of the expansion element depends on the respective application.

In a preferred embodiment of the seal according to the invention, a decorative strip is provided, which is fastened to the fastening section. The decorative strip, which preferably consists of plastic or metal and is provided, for example, with a glossy surface, contributes to an aesthetically pleasing configuration. If, in an advantageous embodiment of the seal according to the invention, the decorative strip is arranged on the second leg, the decorative strip also serves to absorb part of the force exerted by the expansion element arranged on the first leg on the fastening section in the second leg. In this way, the second leg exerting the counterforce required for a reliable clamping action can be provided, for example, with a relatively small thickness or rigidity.

Due to the tension generated by the expansion element, the seal according to the invention does not in principle require a carrier which, as is known, for example, from EP 1 384 616 A2, reinforces the fastening section in order to secure the seal securely to a flange to achieve the required rigidity of the fastening section. For this reason, the seal according to the invention has a comparatively low weight and can be manufactured relatively inexpensively. The lack of a carrier, which is generally made of metal, also contributes to a recycling-compatible design of the seal. Depending on the application, it can however, it should be appropriate for the fastening section of the seal according to the invention to be reinforced by a carrier which at least partially surrounds the intermediate space. The support arranged, for example, in the second leg and / or the base piece enables a specific stiffening of the fastening section, so that, for example, the second leg can apply the counterforce required for a reliable clamping effect.

With regard to a reliable fastening of the fastening section attached to a flange, it is furthermore advantageous if at least one retaining lip is arranged on the inner surface of the first leg and / or the inner surface of the second leg, which provides an effective frictional connection contributes between the mounting portion and the flange.

In a preferred embodiment of the seal according to the invention, at least the first leg has a free end which is provided with a projection. If the flange onto which the fastening section is attached is provided with a recess assigned to the projection, then in the assembled state, due to the tension of the fastening section caused by the splay element, the projection pressed into the recess ensures a positive fit between the fastening gungsabschπitt and the flange,

In order to ensure that the fastening section is simply plugged onto the flange, in a preferred embodiment of the seal according to the invention at least the first leg has a free end which forms a widening opening for the intermediate space.

Details and further advantages of the seal according to the invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. In the drawings, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments only schematically, illustrate in detail;

1 shows a side view of a motor vehicle; Fig. 2 shows a section along the line II in Fig. 1, the first

Embodiment of the seal according to the invention shows; 3A shows a cross section through the seal according to the invention, which shows a fastening section of the seal and an expansion element in a first state;

FIG. 38 shows a cross section according to FIG. 3A, which shows the fastening section and shows the expansion element in a second state;

4 shows a cross section through a second embodiment of the seal according to the invention;

5 shows a cross section through a third embodiment of the seal according to the invention and FIG. 6A to

Fig. 6H different cross-sectional shapes of the expansion element.

The motor vehicle 10 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with an engine hood 16 and a door 11 _t which has a frame 12. A window pane 13 is movably arranged within the frame 12. The window pane 13 is sealed by a seal made of an elastomeric material, for example EPDM ₁ , which is composed of a seal section 20 and a fastening section 30, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 2. The sealing section 20 of the seal serving as a window shaft seal is provided with a sealing lip 21 which abuts the window pane 13 and, due to the movable arrangement of the window pane 13, can be provided with a friction-reducing flocking 23 or coating.

The fastening section 30 which is U-shaped in cross section has a first leg 31, a second leg 32 and a base piece 33 which connects the first leg 31 and the second leg 32 to one another. Between the first leg 31 and the second leg 32 there is a channel-shaped intermediate space 34, which serves to plug the seal onto a flange 14 of the body of the motor vehicle 10. The first leg 31 and the second leg 32 each have an inner surface 35 facing the intermediate space 34 and one from the intermediate space 34 facing away from the outer surface 36. Holding lips 44 are arranged on the inner surface 35 of the second leg 32. On the other hand, projections 45 are arranged on the inner surface 35 of the first leg 31, which form a contact surface for the window pane 13. The holding lips 44 and the projections 45 contribute to an effective frictional connection between the fastening section 30 and the flange 14. Furthermore, the first tavern! 31 and the second leg 32 each have a free end 38. The free ends 38 run inclined to the flange 14 and form a widening opening for the intermediate space 34. In this way, the fastening section 30 can be attached to the flange 14 comparatively easily, even in an automated assembly process.

As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the first leg 31 is provided with a recess 37 opening on the outer surface 36, into which a spreading element 40 is inserted. The expansion element 40, which is essentially round in cross section, is connected to the first leg 31 by a flexible connecting element 41. The essentially band-shaped connecting element 41 is sufficiently flexible to be able to insert the expansion element 40 into the recess 37 from a position outside the recess 37, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B also show that the size of the recess 37 in the extruded state is smaller than the diameter of the expansion element 40. This has the consequence that after the expansion element 40 has been inserted into the Recess 37 results in a press fit, which on the one hand ensures that the expansion element 40 is reliably seated in the recess 37. On the other hand, the excess of the spreading element 40 generates a torque which in the direction of the part of the first leg 31 located below the spreading element 40 about a pivot point 42, which lies in a web section 43 between the recess 37 and the inner surface 35 of the first leg 31 moves the second leg 32 and thus narrows the space 34. The narrowing of the space 34 calls one Tension of the fastening section 30 in relation to the flange 14 and in this way ensures an effective frictional connection between the fastening section 30 and the flange 14. The counterforce required for this is applied by the second leg 32, on the a decorative strip 50 made of metal, for example, is attached. The decorative strip 50, which on the one hand gives the seal an aesthetically appealing design, serves on the other hand to provide the second leg 32 with the rigidity required to apply the counterforce.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from the seal described above primarily in that the second leg 32 and the base piece 33 are reinforced by a support 46 made of metal, for example. The carrier 46 gives the second leg 32 the rigidity required to apply the counterforce. In addition, the seal shown in FIG. 4 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 2 in that the free end 38 of the first leg 31 is provided with a projection 39. The projection 39 is pressed against a shoulder 15 of the flanges 14 due to the pretensioning of the fastening section 30 caused by the expansion element 40 and in this way produces an additional positive connection between the fastening section 30 and the flange 14, which leads to a comparatively high pull-off force which has to be applied to remove the seal from the flange 14.

The seal shown in FIG. 5 serves to seal the bonnet 16 of the motor vehicle 10. For this purpose, the sealing section 20 is provided with a sealing lip 22, which is formed by a hollow chamber and is arranged on the first leg 31. The recess 37 and the expansion element 40 are located within the sealing lip 22. The connecting element 41 connecting the first leg 31 and the expansion element 40 ensures that the expansion element 40 is located on a front certain position is located within the sealing lip 22 so that it can be reliably inserted into the recess 37. The insertion of the expansion element 40 into the recess 37 is facilitated by predetermined breaking points of the connecting element 41, which cause the connecting element 41 to bite through when the expansion element 40 is inserted into the recess 37.

The previously described embodiments of a seal for sealing a closing element of the motor vehicle 10, in particular the window pane 13 and the bonnet 16, have in common that the expansion element 40 ensures a reliable clamping action between the fastening section 30 and the flange 14 Purpose have different cross-sectional shapes, as can be seen in FIGS. 6A to 6H. In addition, depending on the particular application, a plurality of spreading elements 40 can be provided, which are inserted into recesses 37, which can be located both on the first leg 31 and on the second leg 32. The flexible connecting element 41, which ensures a predetermined positioning of the expansion element 40 and a captive connection of the expansion element 40 to the seal that contributes to practical handling, has a width that extends between the outer surface 36 and the expansion element 40 and is dimensioned in this way that the expansion element 40 can be moved effortlessly from the predetermined position into the recess 37. Depending on the application, in terms of reliable positioning of the expansion element 40, it may be expedient to connect the fastening section 30 and the expansion element 40 to one another by means of two or more connecting elements 41.

The expansion element 40 can be inserted into the recess 37 either before or after the fastening section 30 is slipped onto the flange 14. In the former case, the fastening section 30 has a pretension, which increases the assembly force for fastening the Sealing on the flange 14 requires, but the insertion of the spreading element 40 into the recess 37 can be carried out particularly easily. In contrast, in the latter case, the tension which ensures an effective frictional connection between the fastening section 30 and the flange 14 is only generated after the fastening section 30 has been plugged onto the flange 14, so that the seal is fastened with a relatively low assembly force leaves. In order to insert the expansion element 40 into the recess 37 when the fastening section 30 is attached to the flange 14, a roller tool can be used, as is known from FR 2 824 611 A1. In any case, the spreading element 40 makes it possible to dispense with a support 46 reinforcing the fastening section 30, if necessary, so that, last but not least, inexpensive production and a lightweight and recycling-compatible design are taken into account.

Reference symbol list

Motor vehicle 45 lead

Door 46 carrier

frame

Window pane 50 trim

flange

paragraph

Engine Hood

Sealing section

Dlchtlippe

Sealing lip

Defilement

Fastening section of the first leg of the second leg

Base piece

Space

Inner surface

Outside surface

Recess free end

head Start

Spreading element

Fastener

pivot point

Web section

Holding lip

Claims

1. Seal, in particular for sealing window panes (13) of a motor vehicle (10), with a sealing section (20) which has at least one sealing lip (21, 22), a fastening section (30) with a U-shaped cross section. comprising a first leg (31), a second leg (32) spaced apart from the first leg (31) by an intermediate space (34) and a base piece (1) connecting the first leg (31) and the second leg (32) 33), and at least one expansion element (40) which can be connected to the fastening section (30) in order to narrow the intermediate space (34), the first leg (31) and the second leg (32) in each case one of the intermediate space ( 34) facing inner surface (35) and an outer surface (36) facing away from the intermediate space (34), characterized in that at least the first leg (31) with a recess (37) opening on the outer surface (36) is provided, in which the expansion element

(40) can be inserted, the expansion element (40) and the fastening section (30) being connected to one another by at least one flexible connecting element (41).

2. Seal according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening section (30) and the connecting element (41) and the expansion element (40) are manufactured by extrusion, preferably coextrusion,

3. Seal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing section (20) and / or the fastening section (30) and / or the connecting element (41) and / or the expansion element (40) made of an elastomeric material, preferably a thermo - plastic elastomer or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber.

4. Seal according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting element (41) is band-shaped,

5. Seal according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the Verbiπdungselement (41) is provided with at least one Soll¬ break point.

6. Seal according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the expansion element (40) is round in cross section, preferably circular or oval, or polygonal, preferably square, rectangular, triangular or trapezoidal.

7. Seal according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a decorative strip (50) which is fastened to the fastening section (30).

8. Seal according to claim 7, characterized in that the decorative strip (50) on the second leg (32) is arranged.

9. Seal according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized gekonnzeich¬ net that the fastening section (30) by a carrier (46) which at least partially surrounds the intermediate space (34) is reinforced.

10. Seal according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that on the inner surface (35) of the first leg (31) and / or the inner surface (35) of the second leg (32) at least one HalI- lip (44 ) is arranged 11. Seal according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that at least the first leg (31) has a free end (38) which is provided with a projection (39).

12. Seal according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that at least the first leg (31) has a free end (38) which forms a widening mouth for the space (34).