WO2023000051A1

WO2023000051A1 - Public service vehicle comprising a window section and method for fitting or replacing glass panes in windows

Info

Publication number: WO2023000051A1
Application number: PCT/BR2022/050267
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luciano Ricardo RESNER; Diego Miguel NUNES
Original assignee: Marcopolo S.A.
Priority date: 2021-07-19
Filing date: 2022-07-19
Publication date: 2023-01-26
Also published as: BR102021014192A2; AR126497A1

Abstract

The present invention describes a vehicle having a mechanism making it possible to articulate a movable segment of the window frame profile, so as to allow the rapid replacement or fitting of the glass panes without the need to completely remove the window. The present invention specifically comprises a frame having a mechanism (30) for the rapid replacement of glass panes, wherein the frame comprises a fixed portion (10) and a movable portion (20), which interact by means of the mechanism (30) for the replacement of glass panes, such that the mechanism allows the articulated movement of said portions. The present invention pertains to the field of mechanical engineering, and specifically solutions for public service vehicle windows.

Description

Invention Patent Descriptive Report

COLLECTIVE TRANSPORT VEHICLE INCLUDING A WINDOW SECTION AND PROCESS FOR ASSEMBLING OR CHANGING GLASS IN WINDOWS

Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention describes a vehicle having a mechanism that makes it possible to articulate a movable segment of the window frame profile, in order to allow the quick exchange or assembly of the glasses without the need to completely remove the window, as well as allowing the access to the window to be replaced/fitted is done from inside the vehicle. The present invention is located in the fields of mechanical engineering, focused on the area of solutions for windows of public transport vehicles.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Some public transport vehicles, such as buses, have windows with two movable sliding glasses, where these windows are attached to the bus bodies through a union and sealing rubber. If there is a need to replace or remove the glass, it is necessary to extract the complete bus window, that is, the entire structure or frame, to allow the replacement to take place.

[0003] In this way, the profile structures of the current windows bring several problems to the maintenance of the glasses and the windows, since when extracting the window from the seal, it is necessary to manually open the frame vertically, generating an additional gap between the glasses furniture and the frame, in order to make extraction possible.

[0004] Also, in this context, when replacing the movable glass, the reverse process is carried out and allows the installation of the complete window again. This process ends up having a direct impact on the dimensioning of the sealing gaps with the sliding glass installed in the frame, leaving the window “heavy” to open or too loose, in addition to possible problems of sealing arising from the replacement of the window in the bus.

[0005] Although there are state-of-the-art solutions for mechanisms for replacing/removing glass, such mechanisms still bring concepts that require many tools or greater disassembly of the structure to perform the exchange, increasing the time and complexity of the operation.

[0006] In the search for the state of the art in scientific and patent literature, the following documents were found that deal with the subject:

[0007] Document US6330765 presents a skid steer loader with movable glass whose frame has a movable section that supports the glass in the frame. This movable section is operated by means of a screw, which, when removed, allows the vertical displacement of the movable glass. However, to change the glass using the US6330765 method, it is necessary for the operator to disassemble a part of the window structure, in addition to requiring that, during assembly, there is a support holding the glass until the screw be connected again. Such a mechanism and method are not to be confused with the one presented in the present invention.

[0008] Document US2018147917 describes a window for vehicles that has a frame with a removable section, where this section fixes the glass to the frame. The detachable section is fixed to the frame by means of screws and, in order to replace it, it is necessary to remove this entire section to gain access to the glasses. In this sense, the solution of US2018147917 does not allow a quick change of glasses and, also, is not confused with what is presented in the invention. [0009] Document US2003089054 shows a solution for assembling glass in windows in the field of civil construction. To carry out the assembly, a folding latch is placed at the bottom of the structure and is responsible for fixing the glass in the frame. However, in this solution, the glass still needs to be attached to an internal frame structure.

[0010] Document GB2047311 shows a mechanism for changing glass in windows in the field of civil construction. The glass is fixed to a frame which is sliding with respect to the frame of the window frame. This structure has a lateral arrangement that slides in a profile implemented in the frame. This solution, however, requires removing the entire frame to replace the glass.

[0011] Thus, from what can be seen from the researched literature, no documents were found anticipating or suggesting the teachings of the present invention, so that the solution proposed here has novelty and inventive activity compared to the state of the art.

Summary of the Invention

[0012] In this way, the present invention solves the problems of the state of the art from a mechanism for quickly changing glass in a public transport vehicle, so that the mechanism makes it possible to articulate a mobile segment of the frame profile, making it possible to extract the glass without the need to remove all or part of the window. The glass is fitted or associated with said movable segment and, when the articulation takes place, the glass is exposed to be extracted. The same goes for installing new glass in the frame. Also, with this mechanism, it is possible for an operator to access the window to change or install it from the inside of the vehicle.

[0013] In a first object, the present invention presents a public transport vehicle comprising at least one section of windows, having a frame and glass, in which the frame has a quick-change glass mechanism (30). The frame comprises a fixed part (10) and a mobile part (20), which interact through the glass exchange mechanism (30), and the mobile part (20) houses at least one glass, in which said mechanism glass exchanger (30) allows the articulated movement of the mobile part (20) in relation to the fixed part (10).

[0014] In a second object, the present invention presents a frame of movable side windows, for a public transport vehicle, comprising a glass exchange mechanism (30), where the frame comprises a part fixed (10) and a mobile part (20), which interact through the glass exchange mechanism (30), and the mobile part (20) houses at least one glass, in which said glass exchange mechanism ( 30) enables the articulated movement of the mobile part (20) in relation to the fixed part (10).

[0015] In a third object, the present invention presents a process for assembling or changing glass in windows of public transport vehicles, where the window has a frame comprising a fixed part (10) and a moving part (20), that interact through a glass exchange mechanism (30), and the process comprises the steps: displacement of the mobile part (20), which receives or houses the glass, in an articulated way in relation to the fixed part (10); and assembly or replacement of the glass on the inner side of the public transport vehicle, so that the glass is associated with an inner region of the mobile part (20); wherein the glass-changing mechanism (30) comprises a fixed section (1) mounted on the fixed part (10) of the frame and a movable section (2) associated with the movable part (20) of the frame.

[0016] These and other objects of the invention will be immediately appreciated by those versed in the art and will be described in detail below.

Brief Description of Figures

[0017] In order to better define and clarify the content of this patent application, the following figures are presented:

[0018] Figure 1 shows a representative general view of a set of movable windows of a public transport vehicle.

[0019] Figure 2 shows a detail of the upper part of figure 1, where the mechanisms for changing the glass (30) are arranged along the structure. [0020] Figure 3 shows a diagram of the movement performed by the moving part of the window frame.

[0021] Figure 4 shows in detail the glass exchange mechanism (30).

[0022] The sequence of figures 5, 6 and 7 shows the process of moving the movable part (20) of the frame, also showing the detail of the mechanism (30).

[0023] Figure 8 shows a schematic view, in detail, of the profile of the mobile part (20) and the fixed part (10), indicating the interface (21) between said parts.

[0024] Figure 9 shows an embodiment of the window frame with the glass exchange mechanism (30).

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0025] The following descriptions are presented by way of example and not limiting the scope of the invention and will make the objects of the present patent application more clearly understood.

[0026] In a first object, the present invention presents a public transport vehicle comprising at least one section of windows, having a frame and glass, in which the frame has a quick glass exchange mechanism (30). The frame comprises a fixed part (10) and a mobile part (20), which interact through the glass exchange mechanism (30), and the mobile part (20) houses at least one glass, in which said mechanism glass exchanger (30) enables the articulated movement of the mobile part (20) in relation to the fixed part (10).

[0027] For purposes of the present invention, the windows may be side windows of the vehicle or any other part thereof. Still, the windows can be the so-called “mobile windows”, which move over the frame, allowing opening and closing, or static/fixed windows. [0028] The mechanism (30) allows the interaction between the fixed (10) and mobile (20) parts in order to have at least one pivoted element, where this element allows the articulated movement of the mobile part (20). Thus, in an "assembled" position, the mobile part (20) is aligned or parallel to the fixed part (10). To disassemble/change/remove the glass, the operator moves the mobile part (20), in an articulated way, moving away from the fixed part (10). Figure 3 can be used as an example of this movement. [0029] In one embodiment, the glass exchanger mechanism (30) comprises a fixed section (1) mounted on the fixed part (10) of the frame and a mobile section (2) associated with the mobile part (20) of the frame, in that the movable section (2) is articulated with respect to the fixed section (1). For this, the fixed section (1 ) and the movable section (2) can be mounted either on the upper part or on the lower part of the window frame. Still, an articulation pin (4) is placed between the fixed (1) and mobile (2) sections, to enable the articulated movement. For illustrative purposes, this configuration of the glass exchange mechanism generates a hinge effect between the connected parts.

[0030] Also, the assembly of the fixed section (1) on the fixed part (10) can be performed by means of permanent or non-permanent union, for example, non-limiting, screws, nuts, etc. Also, the association between the mobile section (2) and the mobile part (20) can be performed by means of permanent or non-permanent union, for example, non-limiting, screws, nuts, etc.

[0031] Additionally, in one embodiment, the mechanism (30) comprises a lock (3) on the movable section (2) for locking the articulated movement. Said lock (3) prevents both the glass from being released inappropriately and a passenger accidentally activating the mechanism (30). Thus, in order to carry out the exchange or assembly operation, an operator needs to unlock the lock (3) before moving the mobile part (20). In one embodiment, the lock (3) is a metric screw (3), which blocks the movement of articulation of the mobile part (20) of the frame.

[0032] The movable part (20) houses in its profile one of the movable glasses, which slides longitudinally in the profile for opening and closing movements by a passenger, for example. In one embodiment, the profile of the mobile part (20) has an 'IG' cross-sectional geometry, so that the glass moves within this internal region of the profile. This profile can be formed at the top, bottom, both or along the entire frame structure. [0033] Additionally, the 'I' profile of the mobile part (20) comprises an outer edge that has a connection interface (21) with the fixed part (10), so that said interface (21) allows the articulated movement performed by the mobile part (20). For purposes of the present invention, this interface (21) is understood as any part of the external surface of the profile of the mobile part (20) that is in contact with or closest to the external surface of the profile of the fixed part (10). The interface (21) has a suitable geometry so that, when performing the articulated movement, the mobile part (20) can move more freely.

[0034] With this, the present invention allows access to the glass to be made from the inside of the vehicle, so that it does not need to perform any operation from the outside of the vehicle, facilitating maintenance and assembly and disassembly of the hinge and assembly of the glasses. Alternatively, the present invention can operate in frames that have the movable part facing the outside of the vehicle, so that the exchange takes place on the external side.

[0035] Additionally, the present invention can operate on frames that have more than one moving part, for example, in the case of having two moving parts and a fixed part that separates the two moving parts. In this case, the glass replacement operation can be carried out both from the inside and from the outside.

[0036] It is also an object of the invention a frame of movable lateral windows, for a public transport vehicle, comprising a glass exchange mechanism (30), where the frame comprises a fixed part (10) and a movable part ( 20), which interact through the glass exchange mechanism (30), and the mobile part (20) houses at least one glass, in which said glass exchange mechanism (30) enables the articulated movement of the mobile part (20) in relation to the fixed part (10).

[0037] Another object of the invention is a process for assembling or changing glass in windows of public transport vehicles, where the window has a frame comprising a fixed part (10) and a moving part (20), that interact through a glass exchange mechanism (30), and the process comprises the steps: displacement of the mobile part (20), which receives or it shelters the glass, in an articulated way in relation to the fixed part (10); and assembly or replacement of the glass on the inner side of the public transport vehicle, so that the glass is associated with an inner region of the mobile part (20); wherein the glass-changing mechanism (30) comprises a fixed section (1) mounted on the fixed part (10) of the frame and a movable section (2) associated with the movable part (20) of the frame.

[0038] For the purposes of the present invention, the terms "exchange", "assembly", "disassembly", "extraction", "installation" of the glasses, in addition to any other synonyms that may be linked to the context, refer to the same concept of removing or fitting the glasses, without limiting the scope of the invention. [0039] Additionally, the exchange process has an additional step of unlocking the articulated movement, from a latch (3), so that the operator, in order to remove the glass, unlocks the part. Likewise, there is the process of assembling the glass in the profile of the mobile part (20), where the operator assembles the glass in the mobile part (20) and, after the articulated movement and leaving the glass in the “assembled” position, locks the latch (3) on the glass changer mechanism (30).

[0040] In this way, with the present invention, the assembly and disassembly of the window panes is facilitated, as well as optimized maintenance, since, by means of the mechanism of the present invention, the panes are removed from the frame profile of the windows without need to remove the window as a whole.

[0041] For illustrative purposes, the “public transport vehicle” or just “vehicle” is any vehicle in the road, rail, waterway or air modal segment, such as bus, minibus, train, VLT, subway, boats, aircraft, etc., not excluding passenger vehicles that can benefit from the same context of windows and movable glass.

Example [0042] The examples shown here are intended only to exemplify one of the many ways to carry out the invention, but without limiting its scope.

[0043] In this example, a mechanism (30) was developed to change the windows, being movable side windows (40) of buses or minibuses, so that with the mechanism (30) it is possible to change the movable glasses ( 40) without the need to remove the complete window.

[0044] Figure 1 exemplifies a frame with movable side windows used in the example, where the movable windows refer to the fact that the glass can be moved longitudinally over the profile of the frame by a passenger. Figure 2 shows the detail of the disposition of the mechanisms (30) for changing the glasses positioned in the uppermost part of the profile of the frame. As can be seen, there is a separation in the upper profile section of the frame that receives the mechanisms (30) to enable the articulated movement.

[0045] Said articulated movement is exemplified in figure 3, so that the movable part of the frame profile moves away from the fixed part performing a movement around an axis positioned above the fixed part.

[0046] For this, the mechanism (30) has a fixed section (1) and a mobile section (2), so that the fixed section (1) is mounted on the fixed part (10) of the frame profile, since the mobile section (2) is associated with the mobile part (20) of the frame profile, as can be seen in figure 4. In this example, the fixed section (1) was mounted on the mobile part (10) by means of a non-permanent joint . The same occurs for the mobile section (2) and mobile part (20).

[0047] The movement of the mechanism (30) operating the mobile part (20) is shown in the sequence of figures 5 to 7. The mobile part (20) is facing the inner side of the vehicle and has an extension (21), which it is part of the profile of the frame and can also be used by the operator to carry out the articulated movement. Thus, in order to carry out the articulated movement towards the internal side, the operator unlocks the metric screw (3) and moves the mobile part (20), which, due to the association with the mobile section (2) of the mechanism (30), moves in relation to the pin (4). This displacement allows that, at the end of the movement, the movable glass (40) to be changed is in an easily removed position, so that the operator can remove it. After removal, the operator fits a new glass in the U-shaped profile of the mobile part (20) and performs the articulated movement in the opposite direction to position the glass next to the fixed part (10) again and then performs the locking by means of of the metric screw (3).

[0048] Additionally, for the operation of displacement to remove the movable glass (40), both the movable section (2) and the movable part (20) may contain a stroke limiter arising from the geometry/structure of said component.

[0049] As can be seen, the mobile part (20) has a U-shaped profile, so that the mobile glass (40) is mounted in the inner region of this profile. This U profile can contain rubber or any means that seals and holds the movable glasses (40). Additionally, as can be seen in Figure 8, the U profile of the mobile part (20) has a connection interface (21) with the profile of the fixed part (10). This interface (21) has a geometry that allows articulated displacement and, eventually, operates as a travel limiter when returning or assembling the glass. In this example, the interface (21) has a recess in the upper part of the external edge of the U profile, comprising one of the sides with curved geometry, being compatible with the geometry of the upper external part of the profile of the fixed part (10). This arrangement makes it possible that, when carrying out the articulated movement, the profile of the mobile part (20) is not limited by the profile of the fixed part (10).

[0050] Based on the concept of the invention and the example now implemented, one of these embodiments is shown in figure 9, access to change the windows is promoted from inside the vehicle, that is, there is no need to access the outside vehicle to remove or replace the windows.

[0051] In this way, the present invention allows the quick exchange of glasses of the vehicle, overcoming the shortcomings of the state of the art that require the complete extraction of the window to change the movable glasses.

[0052] Those versed in the art will value the knowledge presented here and will be able to reproduce the invention in the modalities presented and in other variants and alternatives, covered by the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Collective transport vehicle comprising at least one section of windows, having frame and glass, in which the frame has a glass exchange mechanism (30), characterized in that the frame comprises a fixed part (10) and a mobile part ( 20), which interact through the glass exchange mechanism (30), and the mobile part (20) houses at least one glass, in which said glass exchange mechanism (30) enables the articulated movement of the mobile part (20) in relation to the fixed part (10).

2. Public transport vehicle, according to claim 1, characterized in that the glass exchange mechanism (30) comprises a fixed section (1) mounted on the fixed part (10) of the frame and a mobile section (2) associated with the mobile part (20) of the frame, in which the mobile section (2) is articulated with respect to the fixed section (1).

3. Collective transport vehicle, according to claim 2, characterized in that the glass exchange mechanism (30) comprises a pivot pin (4) between the mobile section (2) and the fixed section (1).

4. Collective transport vehicle, according to claim 2, characterized in that the glass exchange mechanism (30) comprises a lock (3) in the mobile section (2) for locking the articulated movement.

5. Public transport vehicle, according to claim 1, characterized in that the articulated movement is performed for an internal region of the public transport vehicle.

6. Public transport vehicle, according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile part (20) comprises a cross section in 'IG profile, forming a region that houses the glass, in which an outer edge of the cross section has an interface connection (21) with the fixed part (10), said connection interface (21) allowing articulated movement.

7. Movable side window frame, for public transport vehicle, comprising a glass exchange mechanism (30), characterized by comprise a fixed part (10) and a mobile part (20), which interact through the glass exchange mechanism (30), the mobile part (20) housing at least one glass, in which said exchange mechanism of glass (30) allows the articulated movement of the mobile part (20) in relation to the fixed part (10).

8. Movable side window frame, according to claim 7, characterized in that the glass exchange mechanism (30) comprises a fixed section (1) mounted on the fixed part (10) of the frame and an associated mobile section (2) to the mobile part (20) of the frame, in which the mobile section (2) is articulated in relation to the fixed section (1), the articulation being carried out by means of a articulation pin (4) between the mobile section (2) and the fixed section (1).

9. Process for assembling or changing glass in public transport vehicle windows characterized in that the window has a frame comprising a fixed part (10) and a moving part (20), which interact through a glass exchange mechanism (30), and the process comprises the steps: a. displacement of the mobile part (20), which receives or houses the glass, in an articulated way in relation to the fixed part (10); and b. assembly or replacement of the glass on the inner side of the public transport vehicle, so that the glass is associated with an inner region of the mobile part (20); wherein, the glass exchanger mechanism (30) comprises a fixed section (1) mounted on the fixed part (10) of the frame and a movable section (2) associated with the movable part (20) of the frame.

10. Process according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises an additional step of locking or unlocking the articulated movement between the mobile part (20) and the fixed part (10), this locking or unlocking step being performed by means of a a latch (3) on the window changing mechanism (30).