US2556737A - Window regulator mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 12, 1951 PARSONS 2,556,737

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed Oct. 13, 1945 INVENTOR. Joan E. PARSONS WMMQL Arromvzzr Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM John B. Parsons, Toledo, Ohio Application October 13, 1945, Serial No. 622,184

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a window regulator mechanism particularly adapted for controlling the movement of a vehicle window between the open and closed positions.

Not infrequently in vehicles of this type, the space available below the window panel is insufilcient to adequately house the necessary mechanism for the regulation of the window movement, especially when actuated by a linear motor. Expediency, therefore, indicates the desideratum for producing a regulator mechanism which may be located substantially next to, or ofiset from, the window panel where adequate space is generally available. However, smooth and balanced window operation is more diflicult to obtain by such offset means, and it is an object of this invention to produce a window regulator mechanism which may be offset from the window panel imparting the desired balanced window movement with minimum strain on the cooperating elements by the operation of spaced parallel bell crank levers having their free ends slidingly connected to the window panel and other portions interconnected.

Another object of this invention is the produc-, tion of a window regulator mechanism comprised of relatively few simply formed metallic elements which permit prior mass assembly, and the subsequent installation of the assembled unit into the vehicle body conformable to the assembly line production methods of the automobile industry.

Another object of this invention is the production of a window regulator mechanism of the above type which is adapted for smooth and faultless operation in view of the relatively few moving elements which may be actuated by a fluid motor. e Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of i1lus tration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a top View of the regulator mechanism and shows the window guides and window panel in transverse section; and

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation of the mechanism with the window panel in a lowered position substantially offset from the regulator.

The illustrated. embodiment of the invention comprises a vehicle window It adapted for vertical movement in guide channels I I, and supported by a cushioned channel member I2. Retainer members 13 depending from the channel member I2 have horizontal elongated slots 4 which are engaged by studs l5 and slidable therein. A pair of bell crank levers l6 and I7, each having similar long and short lever arms extending substantially atright angles to each other, are pivotally connected at their angular portions l8 and I9 to a mounting plate 20 such that the long and short lever arms are respectively in parallel relation to each other.' Each long lever arm is offset in sections as shown in Figure 1, to avoid adjacent elements of the mechanism which may interfere with their swinging movements. The studs l5 are attached to the end portion of each long lever arm, and the end portions of the short arms are interconnected for pivotal movement by a cross link 2| which is essentially parallel to a line through the angular connections 18 and I9 such that all lever arms retain their initial parallel relationship.

Mounting plate 20 is comprised of a rectangular metallic plate, the upper edge portion 20a of which is ofi'set to enable connection of the assembled unit to the vehicle body frame by bolts 20b insertable through bolt holes 200, and it also forms the upper portion of the rigid mounting frame having two vertical frame arms 22 and 23 attached at their upper end to said mounting plate intermediate of the pivotal lever arm connections [8 and I9, and said Vertical frame arms interconnected at their lower end by a cross channel 24. The lower end portion 26 of the frame arm 22 supports a pivotal bracket arm 25 which extends beyond the frame arm 23 which also supports a stop 21 limiting the upward movement of said bracket arms. The frame arm 22 is partiallyoffset as shown in Figure 2 to afford greater movement of the included elements as well as balance to the frame members.

A fluid motor 28 disposed between the vertical frame arms is connected at its base by a ball and socket joint 29 to a clamp 30 which is secured to an intermediate portion of the bracket arm 25. The fluid motor is comprised of a cylinder and piston with an attached piston rod 3|, and a fluid inlet and outlet port 32. The upper end of the piston rod 3| is connected by another ball and socket joint 33 to a clamp 34 attached in the region of the angular portion of the long lever arm of the bell lever 11. One end of a helical coil spring 35 is anchored to the free overhanging end portion of the bracket arm 25, the upper end attaching to the long arm of the bell crank lever 16 in the region of the angular portion thereof. The coil spring is inclined outwardly away from the frame arm 23.

In operation, the entrance of fluid under pressure into the cylinder of the fluid motor causes the piston and piston rod to move upwardly, imparting upward rotational movement to the long lever arm of the bell crank lever I1, corresponding movement of which is imparted to the other bell crank lever through the cross link 2|. The similar and parallel movement of both bell crank lever arms results in conjoint swinging movement of their ends. which coact in the usual manner with the slotted retainer members. l3 to raise the vehicle window panel. Upon release of the fluid from the cylinder, the potential forces of the extended spring acting against the long arm of the bell crank lever 15, cause a movement of the elements in the downward direction, thereby forcing liquid from the cylinder 28.

It is apparent that I have devised a means by which vehicle windows may be regulated through the interaction of parallel. acting bell crank levers which can be formed of simple metal stampings. The disposition and length of'the arms permit the location of the mechanism substantially alongside the window panel where space for such mechanism is more available. Also the simplicity of construction and action affords the advan tages of mass assembly of the mechanism prior to installation in the vehicle body which is amenable to present vehicle assembly lines.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement andoperation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims. It should also be under stood that instead of an hydraulic motor 28., other motors canbe substituted advantageously, for example an electric, compressed air or vacuum motor, and in this connection reference is made to my copending application Serial No.

519,617, filed January 25, 1944, which issued as Patent No. 2,400,527.

What-I claim is:

l. A regulator mechanism for a vehicle window panel comprising a. mounting plate, two spaced vertically disposed arms attached to said mounting plate, and a channel member connecting the lower ends of said vertical arms thus forming a rigid mounting frame, a pair of bell crank levers with arms extending substantially perpendicular to each other, pivotal connections between each bell crank lever and the mounting plate such that the arms extend in. parallel relation, link means pivotally connecting one end of each bell crank lever arm, means. on the other end of each bell crank lever arm for operative window engage- 7 ment, linear motor means disposed between said arms and operatively connected at one end to one of the levers, for effecting arm movement in one direction, a mounting extending between said arms for the other end of said linear motor means, and spring means for effecting arm movement in the opposite direction.

2. A regulator mechanism fora vehicle window panel comprising a mounting plate, an extension on the mounting plate for attachment to the vehicle frame, two substantially vertically spaced frame arms attached at their upper ends to the mounting plate, and a channel member interconnecting the lower end portions. of the frame arms forming a. rigid mounting frame, a pair of bell crank levers each havinga long and short lever arm extending substantially perpendicular to each other, pivotal connections between the angular portions of each bell crank lever and the mounting plate such that the lever arms extend in parallel relation, a link pivotally interconnecting the ends of each short bell crank lever arm, two longitudinally elongate guides depending from the lower edge of the window panel, studs on the free ends of each long bell crank lever arm slidingly engaging said guides, a bracket arm pivotally connected to the lower portion of one frame arm and extending beyond the other frame arm, a linear motor, ball and socket means connecting the lower portion of the linear motor to the bracket arm intermediate of the frame arms, a ball and socket means connecting the upper end of the linear motor to the near angular portion of one long bell crank lever arm, a coil spring inclined away from the mounting frame and connected. at its lower end to the free end of the bracket arm extendingbeyond the other frame arm and at its other end to the near angular portion of the other long lever arm, and means on the other frame arm limiting the upward rotational movement of the bracket arm.

3. A regulator mechanism for a vehicle window panel comprising a mounting plate, two substantially vertically spaced frame arms attached at their upper ends to the mounting plate, a channel member interconnecting the lower end portions of the frame arms forming a rigid mounting frame, a pair of bell crank levers each having a long and short lever arm extending substantially perpendicular to each other, pivotal connections between the angular portions of each bell crank lever and the mounting plate such that the lever arms extend in parallel relation, a link pivotally interconnecting the ends of each short bell crank lever arm, two longitudinally elongate guides depending from the lower edge of the window panel, studs on the free ends of each long bell crank lever arm slidingly engaging said guides, a bracket arm pivotally connected to the lower portion of one frame arm and extending beyond the other frame arm, a linear motor, means connecting the lower portion of the linear motor to the bracket arm intermediate of the frame arms, means connecting the upper end of the linear motor to the near angular portion of one long bell crank lever arm, a coil spring inclined away from the mounting frame and connected at its lower end to the free end of the bracket arm extending beyond the other frame arm and at its other end to the near angular portion of the other long lever arm, and means on the other frame arm limiting the upward rotational movement of the bracket arm.

JOHN B. PARSONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,666,912 Pritchard Apr. 24, 1928 2,282,240 Parsons May 5, 1942 2,346,387 Parsons Apr. 11, 1944 2,371,183 Parsons Mar. 13, 1945 2,383,154 Parsons Aug. 21, 1945 2,400,572 Parsons May 21, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 113,288 Australia June 9, 1941 398,873 Great Britain Sept. 25, 1933

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