EP1262620A1 - Tensioning device for cable of vehicle window regulator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle window regulator (1) comprising a slider (2) of glass, a cable (7) driving the slider (2), at least one return (5, 6) of cable mounted on an axis (10), a tensioner (11, 12) mounted on the axis (10), directly stressing the cable (7) in tension.

The invention allows a simplified window lifter assembly.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling a window regulator.

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle window regulator, and more particularly to a vehicle window regulator which includes a slider driven by a cable passing through means of removal.

The take-up of clearances during operation or the wear of the window regulator is reduced the tension of the slider drive cable. In order to keep the cable in the return means, a tensioner of the drive cable is frequently used window.

The patent application for filing number FR-00-07994, filed before the this request but not published before this request, describes a window regulator comprising a slider secured to a window. This cursor is guided by a rail and driven by a cable. The cable slides in rotary pulleys mounted at rail ends. Two leaf springs support the cable and provide tension this cable. Each spring is fixed near a corresponding pulley.

Patent application for filing number FR-01-00855, filed before this request but not published before this request, describes a window regulator comprising a slider secured to a window. This window regulator has two pulleys arranged at the ends of the rail. The window regulator also has an elastic arm ending with a guide groove. The guide groove exerts a force on the cable towards the rail. The elastic arm is fixed by claws placed on a return to the end of the rail. Alternatively, two leaf springs are mounted on a plate attached to the motor.

Document US-4 235 046 describes a window regulator having a pulley of sliding cylindrical gear with respect to an eccentric axis with respect to its axis geometric. The pulley has a protruding arm on which a spring acts. Pulley exerts a tension force on the cable.

Document US-A-5,778,600 describes a window regulator comprising a cam rotatably mounted at the end of a cursor guide rail. The cam present at level of its periphery, a cable guide groove. The cam is actuated by a spiral spring. The cam exerts a tension force on the cable.

These window regulators have complex structures. Furthermore their assembly is long and not easy. In addition, the cable is sometimes poorly maintained in the references, this which can cause noise and possibly breakdowns in the window regulator.

There is a need for a simple assembly leaf spring ensuring the tension of a window regulator cable. There is also a need for a leaf spring securing a cable before mounting the window regulator and limiting cable movement and noise.

The invention thus relates to a vehicle window regulator comprising a slider window, a cable driving the slider, at least one cable return mounted on an axis, a tensioner mounted on the axle, directly stressing the tensioned cable.

According to a variant, the tensioner further has a groove, the sliding cable in this throat.

According to yet another variant, the tensioner further has a projection maintaining the cable in the groove.

According to another variant, the tensioner is a leaf spring.

According to yet another variant, the spring is provided with an attached end piece, the spring urging the cable through the end piece.

It can also be provided that the groove or the projection is formed by folds (26,27) from one end of the spring.

According to a variant, the tensioner comprises a flat surface crossed by the axis.

According to yet another variant, the tensioner further comprises an elastic blade folded around the periphery of the flat surface.

According to another variant, the window regulator has a plate on which the flat surface is fixedly mounted.

According to yet another variant, the flat surface has means for locking of the tensioner rotation relative to the plate.

The invention also relates to a method of assembling such a window regulator, including the steps of mounting the return and the tensioner on the axis, setting up the cable in the gearbox, tension the cable using the tensioner.

• figure 1, une vue d'ensemble de côté d'un lève-vitre selon l'invention;
• figure 2, une vue en perspective d'un tendeur de lève-vitre;
• figure 3, une vue en perspective d'une partie du lève-vitre dans deux positions de tension;
• figure 4, une vue éclatée de la partie de lève-vitre de la figure 3;
• figure 5, une vue en perspective d'un embout de ressort;
• figures 6 à 9, des schémas en perspectives de modes de réalisation d'extrémités de ressorts.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of embodiments of the invention, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings which show:

• Figure 1, an overall side view of a window regulator according to the invention;
• Figure 2, a perspective view of a window regulator;
• Figure 3, a perspective view of part of the window regulator in two tension positions;
• Figure 4, an exploded view of the window regulator part of Figure 3;
• Figure 5, a perspective view of a spring tip;
• Figures 6 to 9, perspective diagrams of embodiments of spring ends.

The invention provides a vehicle window regulator having a cable return and a cable tensioner mounted on the same axis. The tensioner directly solicits the cable in tension.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a window regulator 1 according to the invention. The window regulator 1 comprises a slider 2 secured to a window not represented. This cursor 2 slides on a guide rail 3 secured to a plate 4. This cursor 2 is placed between two references 5 and 6. The cursor 2 is driven by a cable 7 passing through references 5 and 6. References 5 and 6 are crossed by an axis respective 9 and 10. Cable tensioners 11 and 12 are mounted on the same axis 9 or 10 as references 5 and 6 respectively. These tensioners 11 and 12 directly stress the cable 7 in tension, by pressing transversely on the cable. The cable performs a loop and goes through the drive pulley 8 of a motor.

References 5 and 6 serve as support to modify the cable trajectory. So, through the upper return 6, the cable 7 can drive the cursor 2 up even if it comes from a lower location in the door. Similarly, in passing through the lower return 5, the cable 7 can drive the cursor 2 down even if it comes from a place higher in the door. Referrals can be made in the form of pulleys rotatably mounted on the plate 4. This limits friction with the cable and consequently wear on the cable and the pulley. The references can also be mounted fixed. References may present a substantially cylindrical shape with a groove 30 for guiding the cable. Referrals can also be produced in the form of half-cylinders.

The window regulator of Figure 1 has a cable tensioner 12 in the form of a leaf spring. This spring is shown more precisely in Figure 2. Although the spring described hereinafter, a leaf spring, we can of course consider to use a wire spring or any other suitable spring fixing on the same axis than a referral. The spring has a flat surface 13 for mounting on the axis. This surface 13 has an orifice 14 allowing passage and retention of the axis. This surface is flat, which makes it possible to arrange it stably against a surface of corresponding reception of the plate or of a reference. We can also consider a non-planar surface conforming to the geometry of the plate or of the return. This surface can be fixed to plate 4 or to a plate. The fixing of the spring allows it to exert elastic forces through the blade 15.

The blade 15 extends from the periphery of the mounting surface 13. This blade 15 exerts a force when it is moved away from its equilibrium position, because of its elastic deformation. The blade is not secured to the flat surface 13 on a much of its length and can thus be easily flexed. The blade is substantially perpendicular to the flat surface. The blade can thus exert an effort substantially perpendicular to the axis. The leaf spring can be formed for example by stamping a metal part. We can also consider training it by molding.

In FIG. 3, the reference 6 and the spring 12 are mounted on the axis 10. It is possible to thus plan to provide a bore 16 in the reference 6 to place it on the axis. The return and the spring are arranged on the same axis 10. The assembly of the window regulator is thus facilitated. The axis 10, the spring 12 and the reference 6 thus suffice to ensure the guiding and cable tension. The size of the window regulator is also reduced. We can plan to insert the mounting surface 13 of the spring between the gearbox and the plate as shown in Figure 3. The reference can thus ensure the maintenance of the comes out after assembly. One can also consider having the reference between the mounting surface and plate.

As shown in Figure 4, the axis may have a shoulder 17 of retention of the reference, for example at one of its ends. Axis 10 crosses the reference and the spring. The axis 10 can be fixed by screwing on the plate 4 or on the plate by example. It is therefore possible to make a threaded pin and a plate with a corresponding tapping. In general, an axis and any means of fixing to maintain the spring and the return in position relative to the plate. The axis 10 can be attached or produced in one of the parts of the window regulator. We can thus provide for sparing the axis in the spring, in the return or in the plate for example.

Figure 3 shows the tension spring in two tension positions of the cable. In a first position 18, the cable is already stretched and the spring does not change almost not his route. In a second position 19, the cable has a lower voltage. The spring 12 increases the tension of the cable by moving it. The cable is stressed directly in tension by the spring. The end of the blade presses transversely on the cable. The spring thus tends to increase the path of the cable. The cable is thus stretched.

A tip 20 can be attached to the end of the blade. Such a tip is shown in Figure 5. The cable can then be stressed by the spring by through the end piece 20. This end piece has a groove 21 providing guidance and cable sliding. The insert 20 can be made of a material different from that of the spring. The end piece 20 is preferably made of a material having a low coefficient of friction with the cable. We will also use preferably a material limiting noise when moving the cable. The tip may be fixed by any suitable means to the end of the spring 12. It may by example present a slot 22 in which the end of the blade is fixed by adhesion. The bottom 23 of the groove 21 exerts the tension force on the cable. The sides 24 of the groove guide the cable and prevent the cable from coming out the throat of the dismissal. The cable is thus held laterally by the spring. The tip may also have a projection 25 overhanging the groove 21. The projection allows limit the travel of the cable and keep this cable in the groove. The cable is thus normally maintained on the contact surface. Thus, during a shock or during cable movement, the cable cannot come out of the groove. This projection 25 can also be used to slide the cable into the groove during assembly, preventing it from come out of the groove during subsequent stages of mounting the window regulator. We can also provide that the projection permanently presses on the cable. The cable can thus be maintained between the projection and the contact surface to further limit a possible travel.

As shown schematically in Figures 6 to 9, it is also possible to make the groove 23 by folding the end of the blade or the wire of the spring. In the example of Figure 6, the end of the blade has two folds 26 and 27 forming the sides of a groove 23. These folds are formed substantially at an angle straight with respect to the contact surface with the cable. In the example in Figure 7, a projection is provided in one of the folds. This projection 25 is substantially parallel at the contact surface 23 with the cable. According to the variant of FIG. 8, a single fold 28 forms two sides 24 of groove 21 and a projection 25 preventing the cable from out of the throat. The variant of FIG. 9 presents a single fold forming two sides approximately 120 degrees from the contact surface with the cable. These flanks also act as a retaining projection in the throat.

It is possible to prohibit the rotation of the spring with respect to an axis normal to the mounting surface by providing this surface with a projection. This projection 29 can come to place in a recess of the plate. We can of course use everything adequate fixing device. One can for example use an axis having a form

The invention also relates to a method for assembling a window regulator. This process includes the steps of mounting the return and the spring on the axis. The cable is placed in a groove of the return. The cable is then energized at using the spring.

The various stages of the process can of course be carried out in a different order from that just described.

The present embodiments and examples should be considered as having been presented for illustrative and not restrictive purposes and the invention is not intended to be limited to the details provided here but may be changed while remaining within the scope of the scope of the appended claims. So although the direction of the effort exerted by the tensioner on the spring has been described in the direction of the rail, you can also consider arranging the spring so that it tends the cable in one direction opposite. The invention is also not limited to a window regulator having two cable tensioners.

Claims (11)

Vehicle window regulator (1) comprising: a glass slider (2); a cable (7) driving the cursor (2); at least one cable return (5, 6) mounted on an axis (10); a tensioner (11, 12) mounted on the axis (10), directly stressing the cable (7) in tension. The window regulator of claim 1, characterized in that the tensioner further has a groove (21), the cable sliding in this groove. The window regulator of claim 2, characterized in that the tensioner further has a projection (25) holding the cable in the groove. The window regulator of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tensioner is a leaf spring (12). The window regulator of claim 4, characterized in that the spring is provided with an attached end piece (20), the spring urging the cable through the end piece. The window regulator of claim 4, characterized in that the groove or projection is formed by folds (26,27) from one end of the spring. The window regulator of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tensioner comprises a flat surface (14) crossed by the axis. The window regulator of claim 7, characterized in that the tensioner further comprises an elastic blade folded at the periphery of the planar surface. The window regulator of claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the window regulator has a plate on which the flat surface is fixedly mounted. The window regulator of claim 9, characterized in that the flat surface has means for blocking (29) the rotation of the tensioner relative to the plate. Method for assembling a window regulator according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: mounting the return and the tensioner on the axle; installation of the cable in the return; tensioning the cable using the tensioner.

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