Window lift assembly and method for assembling a cable drive housing

Abstract

Window lifter assembly (1) of a motor vehicle, comprising - a functional carrier (2) with a rail contour (8) on which a rail slider (9) is guided in a sliding manner, - a cable drive housing (5) mounted on the functional carrier (2), in which a cable drum (4) is rotatably mounted, and - a traction cable (6) which wraps around the cable drum (4) and is connected to the rail slider (9) by means of a spring element (11) producing a cable tension, - wherein the functional carrier (2) has at least one insertion ramp (12) onto which the cable drive housing (5) is placed in a pre-assembly position to form a hinge joint (13) and can be pivoted about a pivot axis (S) to produce the cable tension into a final assembly position, and - wherein the functional carrier (2) has two insertion ramps (12) or pairs of ramps (12a, 12b) arranged at a distance from one another along the pivot axis (S) for pivotably mounting the cable drive housing (5) in the hinge joint (13) in the pre-assembly position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a window lift assembly comprising a functional carrier (assembly carrier, carrier module) and a cable drive housing mounted or mountable thereon, with a cable drum around which a traction cable is wound. It further relates to a method for mounting a cable drive housing on a functional carrier of such a window lift assembly of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Movable vehicle windows are typically moved between a closed and an open position by electrically or electric-motor-operated actuating devices known as (vehicle) window lifts. Such a window lift comprises an (electric) actuator as a cable or actuator drive and an actuating mechanism that connects the actuator to the window pane, i.e., couples it for force transmission, and which is assigned to a vehicle door or vehicle body. The actuating mechanism is mechanically connected to the window pane to be moved by means of at least one driver. Each driver is guided for displacement on a guide rail of the actuating mechanism and is therefore also referred to as a rail slider.

[0003] To guide the rail slider along the guide rail, the adjustment mechanism includes a flexible traction mechanism, for example, in the form of a cable pull or pull cord, to move the window pane along the adjustment path between the closed and open positions. To guide the pull cord along the guide rail, deflection elements, such as pulleys, of the cable window lifter are provided. These, like the respective guide rail and the actuator, are arranged on or attached to a functional carrier or door module in the form of an inner door panel, also known as an assembly carrier. Window lifters with such cable pull mechanisms are also referred to as cable window lifters.

[0004] The adjustment mechanism typically also includes a cable drum driven in rotation by the cable drive, which is wrapped around the pull cable and has a helical cable groove in which the pull cable is inserted as a loop, typically with several axially spaced turns. As a result of the cable drum's rotation, one end of the pull cable is wound onto the cable drum and the other end is unwound from the cable drum. This shifts the loop formed by the pull cable, which in turn causes the rail slider to move along the guide rail and thus adjusts the window pane between the closed and open positions.

[0005] From DE 20 2009 008 226 U1, a cable drive housing with a bearing point for a cable drum around which a traction cable is wound and with cable guide areas extending from this or its bearing point for guiding the cable section of the traction cable extending from the cable drum is known for an adjustment device of a motor vehicle.

[0006] In a cable drive housing for a Bowden cable pull cable known from DE 20 2016 005 232 U1, these cable guide areas are designed to accommodate springs in order to compensate for cable slack in the actuating mechanism of a cable window lifter.

[0007] A window lifter assembly known from DE 10 2018 201 023 A1 has a cable drive housing in three-armed star shape with an axially raised housing contour - relative to the axis of rotation of the cable drum - and with an axially extending housing wall which partially encloses the cable drum and, together with the housing contour, forms an acute-angled inlet and outlet area for an inlet or outlet cable section of the traction cable.

[0008] From US 7 950 185 B2 a window lifter device is known with a rail having at least one projecting tab and with a plate having at least one tab as well as with a drive cable and with a cable drum arranged in a receptacle of the plate, wherein the plate is fastened to the rail by the joint action of the tensioned cable and the mutual nesting of the tabs of the plate and the rail.

[0009] The invention is based on the object of providing a suitable window lift assembly with a cable drive housing that can be mounted on a functional carrier as reliably and easily as possible. Furthermore, a suitable method for mounting a cable drive housing with a rotatably arranged cable drum on a functional carrier of a window lift assembly for a motor vehicle is to be provided.

[0010] With regard to the window lifter assembly, the object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 1 and with regard to the method with the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] The window lift assembly serves as an adjusting device for adjusting a window pane, in particular a side door, of a motor vehicle between an open position and a closed position. The window lift assembly has a preferably modular support structure in the form of a, in particular plate-shaped, functional carrier with a rail contour on which a rail slider is guided for sliding movement.

[0012] The functional carrier is, in particular, a carrier plate, provided, for example, as a plastic injection-molded part, serving as an assembly carrier for a door module of the motor vehicle. A cable drive housing is mounted or mountable on the functional carrier, in which a cable drum is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis. For this purpose, the cable drive housing suitably has a bearing pin coaxial with the rotational axis, onto which the cable drum is mounted.

[0013] The window lift assembly also has a pull cable that wraps around the cable drum and, in a final assembly position of the cable drive housing, is connected to the rail slider, creating a cable tension generated by a spring element. The functional carrier has at least one insertion ramp, onto or into which the cable drive housing is placed in a pre-assembly position, forming a hinge joint, in particular a detachable one, and can be pivoted about a rotation axis into the final assembly position, creating the cable tension.

[0014] In the method for assembling a cable drive housing with a cable drum rotatably arranged therein and wrapped by a traction cable on a functional carrier of a window lift assembly for a motor vehicle, the cable drive housing is first pivotally positioned in a pre-assembly position on the functional carrier without tension on the traction cable. The cable drive housing is then pivoted from the pre-assembly position into a final assembly position while establishing the tension. The tension of the traction cable, which wraps around the cable drum to form an incoming and an outgoing cable section, each connected to the rail slider, is suitably generated using at least one spring element, for example, a helical spring.

[0015] During the assembly step of pre-positioning the cable drive housing into the pivotable pre-assembly position on or at the functional carrier, the traction cable is suitably already wound with several turns (wraps) onto the cable drum arranged in the cable drive housing, and the cable ends of the traction cable are already inserted into existing cable deflection pulleys or elements on the functional carrier, in particular at both ends of a carrier-side rail contour, and are connected to the rail glider, which is guided in particular so as to be movable along the rail contour, preferably with the interposition of the spring element. In this case, no cable tension has yet been built up in the traction cable. If a spring element is present, it is still relaxed. The spring element is suitably arranged in the rail glider, in particular received in a receiving contour of the rail glider that is parallel to the rail contour.

[0016] The functional carrier has two insertion ramps spaced apart along the pivot axis for pivotally mounting the cable drive housing in the hinge joint in the pre-assembly position. The carrier-side insertion ramps are suitably designed as pairs of ramps, against which one side of the cable drive housing is pivotally supported. This mechanical interface between the cable drive housing and the functional carrier in the area of ​​the insertion ramps or pairs of ramps forms the separable hinge joint, particularly when, during pre-assembly, the cable drive housing is placed on the functional carrier and prepared for pivoting while establishing cable tension. Joint pins can also be formed on the cable drive housing or the functional carrier, which engage in joint openings on the carrier or housing, particularly in the area of ​​the insertion ramps or pairs of ramps, or engage into them during pre-assembly.

[0017] In order to avoid assembly errors during the pre-positioning of the cable drive housing and / or to achieve reliable repeatability of the desired positioning, the functional carrier expediently has a centering element adjacent to the insertion ramp for, in particular, lateral support of the cable drive housing in the area of ​​the hinge joint.

[0018] In a suitable embodiment, the cable drive housing is a molded part with housing sections. The pivot or rotation axis of the hinge joint runs between a first housing section and a second housing section. A particularly window-like inlet area for an incoming cable section of the traction cable is formed between the first housing section and a third housing section, and an outlet area for an outgoing cable section of the traction cable is formed between the second housing section and the third housing section. Joining pins or bolts are expediently provided, particularly molded onto, the housing sections; these engage in corresponding joining openings in the functional carrier when the cable drive housing is pivoted into the final assembly position.

[0019] The cable drive housing is suitably a three-arm molded part with housing sections oriented in a star shape. The angle between the housing sections is expediently (120 ± 10)°.

[0020] Preferably, the cable drive housing is at least partially open on the underside of the housing facing the functional carrier. The cable drum projects through this housing opening, into, or through a carrier-side opening. An electric motor drive is arranged on the carrier side of the functional carrier opposite the cable drive housing. This electric motor drive is coupled to the cable drum via the carrier-side opening to drive the drum rotationally. The incoming and outgoing cable sections of the traction cable are guided laterally out of the cable drive housing via the inlet and outlet areas and via the deflection elements to the rail slider.The cable drum suitably has a helical or screw-shaped cable groove (cable groove) on its outer circumference, in which the traction cable is inserted with a number of axially spaced turns, forming the incoming cable section and the outgoing cable section, which is axially spaced from the incoming cable section relative to the cable drum's rotation axis. A cable angle of between 120° and 250° is advantageously formed between the incoming and outgoing cable sections, with the cable sections projected into a common plane to which the cable drum's rotation axis is perpendicular and intersecting at the circumference of the cable pulley.

[0021] In the final assembly state of the cable drive housing, the incoming end of the traction cable is wound onto the cable drum during the electric motor drive, while simultaneously the outgoing end of the traction cable is unwound from the cable drum. In this way, the rail glider is moved along the support-side rail contour, preferably formed from the functional support, as a guide rail to move the window pane connected to the rail glider between the open and closed positions. For this purpose, the rail glider expediently has a driver contour for the window pane.

[0022] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. In the drawings: Fig. 1 in a plan view a window lifter assembly with a cable drive of a pull cable of a single-strand cable window lifter and with a cable drive housing mounted on a functional carrier (support structure, door module), Fig. 2 a partial perspective view of the window lift assembly with the cable drive housing in a pivoting pre-assembly position on the functional carrier, Fig. 3 the pre-assembly position of the rope drive housing according to Fig. 2 in a side view, Fig. 4 in a top view a section of the functional carrier with insertion ramps (ramp pairs) and centering elements for the assembly of the rope drive housing in the pre-assembly position on the functional carrier, Fig. 5 in perspective view the cable drive housing with a view of the housing side to be supported on the insertion ramps (ramp pairs) and centering elements, and Fig. 6 the window regulator assembly according to Fig. 1 with the rope drive housing pivoted into the final assembly position and the tension of the pull rope established, and

[0023] Corresponding parts and sizes are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0024] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 shows a single-strand window lift assembly 1 of a motor vehicle. The window lift assembly 1 has a functional carrier 2 as a support structure or module carrier plate, for example, of a door module, in particular of a vehicle door (not shown in detail). The window lift assembly 1 also has an electric motor drive (cable drive) 3 with a deflection gear (not shown in detail). The drive 3 rotates a cable drum 4, which is mounted in a cable drive housing 5, for example on a bearing pin, so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis D. A pull cable 6 of the window lift assembly 1 is moved by means of the cable drum 4.

[0025] The cable drum 4 is wrapped around the traction cable 6, forming an incoming and an outgoing cable section 6a and 6b, respectively. The designation 6a, 6b of the incoming and outgoing cable section refers here to one of the two directions of rotation of the cable drum 4. Fig. The rope angle (spread angle) α between the incoming rope section 6a and the outgoing rope section 6b illustrated in Figure 1 is approximately (145 ± 5) in the exemplary embodiment.

[0026] To guide the traction cable 6, deflection elements 7, designed, for example, as cable or deflection pulleys, are provided, which are arranged at the rail ends of a rail contour 8 of the functional carrier 2. A rail slider 9 of the window lifter assembly 1 with a clamping jaw-like driver contour 10 for a window pane (vehicle window) not shown is movably arranged on this rail contour 8, which acts as a guide rail.

[0027] The rail slider 9 is connected to the pull cable 6, so that a movement of the pull cable 6 causes the rail slider 9 to be adjusted along the rail contour 8. Furthermore, the rail slider 9 holds the window pane by means of its driver contour 10, which is driven and moved accordingly when the rail slider 9 is adjusted. The window lifter assembly 1 is Bowden-less in the illustrated embodiment, thus representing a cable window lifter with an open cable system.

[0028] The traction cable 6 is connected to the rail slider 9 via at least one spring element 11 in order to tension the traction cable 6 with a specific or predetermined tension. As can be seen from the Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, the spring element 11 is arranged in the rail slider 9. According to Fig. 5, both ends of the traction cable 6 are connected to the rail slider 6 via a spring element 11. The or each spring element 11 is a coil spring in the illustrated embodiment.

[0029] The following information regarding spatial directions is given in a motor vehicle coordinate system (vehicle coordinate system) with respect to the exemplary installation situation in a side door of the motor vehicle. The abscissa axis (x-axis) is oriented along the vehicle's longitudinal direction (direction of travel), the ordinate axis (y-axis) along the vehicle's transverse direction, and the applicate axis (z-axis) along the vehicle height. The y-axis runs in Fig. 1 normal (perpendicular) to the drawing plane.

[0030] Relative to this vehicle coordinate system, the plate-like functional support 2, for example, lies in the xz-plane, and the rotational axis D of the cable drum 4 is oriented orthogonally in the y-direction. The following specifications for the axial direction (axial) and radial direction (radial) refer to the rotational axis D of the cable drum 4 oriented in the y-direction.

[0031] As can be seen from the Fig. 2 to 4, the functional carrier 2 has insertion ramps 12 spaced apart from one another along a rotation axis for the cable drive housing 5, referred to below as the pivot axis S, onto which insertion ramps the cable drive housing 5 is placed in a pre-assembly position to form a preferably separable hinge joint 13 and can be pivoted about the pivot axis S into a final assembly position. In the pre-assembly position of the cable drive housing 5 with the cable drum 4 accommodated therein and the traction cable 6 looping around it, the respective spring element 11 is relaxed, so that the traction cable 6 has no cable tension.

[0032] In the course of the swing arrow 14 in Fig. 3 illustrated pivoting of the cable drive housing 5 from the position shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shown pre-assembly position into the position shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the final assembly position shown in Figure 6, the or each spring element 11 is tensioned and thus the cable tension of the traction cable 6 is established.

[0033] In other words, in the method for assembling the cable drive housing 5 with the cable drum 5 rotatably arranged therein and wrapped by the traction cable 6 on the functional carrier 2 of the window lift assembly 1 for a motor vehicle, the cable drive housing 5 is first pivotally positioned in the pre-assembly position on the functional carrier 2 without tension on the traction cable 6. Subsequently, the cable drive housing 5 is pivoted from the pre-assembly position into the final assembly position while establishing the cable tension. The cable tension of the traction cable 6, which wraps around the cable drum 5 to form an incoming cable section 6a and an outgoing cable section 6b and is connected to the rail slider 9, is generated by the or each spring element 11.

[0034] During the assembly step of pre-positioning the cable drive housing 5 into the pivotable pre-assembly position on or at the functional carrier 2, the traction cable 6 is already applied to the cable drum 4 arranged in the cable drive housing 5. For this purpose, the cable drum 4 has a helical or screw-shaped cable groove (cable groove) on its outer circumference, not further designated, in which the traction cable 6 lies with a number of turns (wraps) axially spaced apart with respect to the rotation axis D of the cable drum 4, forming the incoming cable section 6a, 6b and the outgoing cable section 6a, 6b axially spaced apart with respect to the rotation axis D.

[0035] The cable ends of the traction cable 6 are already inserted into the carrier-side cable deflection pulleys or deflection elements 7 and connected to the rail slider 9, which is guided along the carrier-side rail contour 8 with the interposition of the respective spring element 11. No cable tension has yet been built up in the traction cable 6, since the or each spring element 11 is still relaxed. This particularly advantageously simplifies the assembly of the cable drive housing 5 on or at the functional carrier 2.

[0036] The insertion ramps 12 of the functional carrier 2, arranged at a distance from one another along the pivot axis S, serve to pivotably hold or position the cable drive housing 5 in the hinge joint 13 in the pre-assembly position. The carrier-side insertion ramps 12 are designed as pairs of ramps 12a, 12b with wedge-shaped or inclined support edges or surfaces. The cable drive housing 5 rests on these or on the insertion ramps 12, 12a, 12b in the pre-assembly position with one housing side 15 ( Fig. 5) forming the hinge joint 13 when, during pre-assembly, the cable drive housing 5 is placed on the functional carrier 2 and positioned for pivoting while establishing the cable tension.

[0037] To avoid assembly errors during the pre-positioning of the cable drive housing 5, to ensure reliable repeatability of the desired positioning, and / or to further develop the hinge joint 13, the functional carrier 2 has a centering element 16 adjacent to the respective insertion ramp 12 or the respective ramp pair 12a, 12b for pre-centering the cable drive housing 5 in the pre-assembly position. The centering elements 16 laterally support the cable drive housing 5 in the hinge joint 13.

[0038] As from Fig.5, the cable drive housing 5 is a three-armed molded part with three housing sections 5a, 5b and 5c. The angle between the housing sections 5a to 5c is (120 ± 10)°. The pivot axis S of the hinge joint 13 runs between a first housing section 5a and a second housing section 5b. A window-like inlet region 17a for the incoming cable section 6a of the traction cable 6 is formed between the first housing section and a third housing section. An outlet region 17b for the outgoing cable section 6b of the traction cable 6 is formed between the second housing section 5b and the third housing section 5c. Axial joining pins 18 are formed on the housing sections 5a to 5c - relative to the axis of rotation D - which engage in corresponding joining openings 19 of the function carrier 2 when the cable drive housing 5 is pivoted into the final assembly position.

[0039] When the cable drive housing 5 with the cable drum 4 and the tension cable 6 looping around it is mounted in the final assembly position on the functional carrier 2 and fastened to it by means of the joining pins 18, the tension cable 6 is tensioned. During the electric motor drive, the inlet end 6a of the tension cable 6 is then wound onto the cable drum 4, while simultaneously the outlet end 6b of the tension cable 6 is unwound from the cable drum 4. In this way, the rail slider 9 is moved along the rail contour 8, formed, for example, from the functional carrier 2, as a guide rail in order to move the window pane connected to the rail slider 8 between the open and closed positions.

[0040] In summary, the invention relates to a window lifter assembly 1 of a motor vehicle, comprising a functional carrier 2 with a rail slider 9 guided thereon in a sliding manner and comprising a cable drive housing 5 mounted or mountable on the functional carrier 2, in which a cable drum 4 is rotatably received, as well as comprising a traction cable 6 which wraps around the cable drum 4 and is connected to the rail slider 9, wherein the functional carrier 2 has at least one insertion ramp 12 onto which the cable drive housing 5 is placed in a pre-assembly position to form a hinge joint 13 without tensioning the traction cable 6 and is pivoted about a pivot axis S to establish the cable tension into a final assembly position.

[0041] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above. Rather, other variants of the invention can also be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, all individual features described in connection with the exemplary embodiments can also be combined with one another in other ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0042] Thus, the hinge joint 13 can also be formed by pivot pins on the cable drive housing 5 or on the functional carrier 2 and corresponding joint openings on the functional carrier 2 or on the cable drive housing 5. Furthermore, the window lifter assembly 1 can also be secondary, with two parallel guide rails or rail contours and two deflection elements each, as well as with a traction cable with cable sections crossing between the guide rails, with one of the crossing cable sections of the traction cable then wrapping around the cable drum. Furthermore, the cable drive housing 5 can be a molded part deviating from the three-arm star shape, in particular with a different plug-in pin or screw connection pattern. List of reference symbols 1 window regulator assembly 2 officials 3 rope / drive 4 rope drums 5 cable drive housing 5a first housing section 5b second housing section 5c third housing section 6 Pull rope 6a incoming or outgoing rope section 6b outgoing or incoming rope section 7 Deflection element 8 Rail contour / guide rail 9 rail gliders 10 Driver contour 11 Spring element 12 insertion ramp 12a, 12b pair of ramps 13 Hinge joint 14 Swivel arrow 15 Housing side 16 Centering element 17a Inlet or outlet area 17b Exit or inlet area 18 joining pins 19 Joint opening 20 Opening α Rope / spread angle D axis of rotation S Pan / rotation axis

Claims

[1] Window lifter assembly (1) of a motor vehicle, comprising - a functional carrier (2) with a rail contour (8) on which a rail slider (9) is guided in a sliding manner, - a cable drive housing (5) mounted on the functional carrier (2), in which a cable drum (4) is rotatably mounted, and - a traction cable (6) which wraps around the cable drum (4) and is connected to the rail slider (9) by means of a spring element (11) producing a cable tension, - wherein the functional carrier (2) has at least one insertion ramp (12) onto which the cable drive housing (5) is placed in a pre-assembly position to form a hinge joint (13) and can be pivoted about a pivot axis (S) to produce the cable tension into a final assembly position, and - wherein the functional carrier (2) has two insertion ramps (12) or pairs of ramps (12a, 12b) arranged at a distance from one another along the pivot axis (S) for pivotably mounting the cable drive housing (5) in the hinge joint (13) in the pre-assembly position. [2] Window lifter assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the functional carrier (2) has a centering element (16) adjacent to the insertion ramp (12) for positioning the cable drive housing (5), in particular for its lateral support, in the hinge joint (13). [3] Window lifter assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the cable drive housing (5) is a molded part with housing sections (5a, 5b, 5c), - wherein the pivot axis (S) of the hinge joint (13) extends between a first housing section (5a) and a second housing section (5b), - wherein an inlet region (17a) for an incoming cable section (6a) of the traction cable (6) is formed between the first housing section (5a) and a third housing section (5c), and - wherein an outlet region (17b) for an outgoing cable section (6b) of the traction cable (6) is formed between the second housing section (5b) and the third housing section (5c). [4] Window lifter assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the cable drive housing (5) is at least partially open on the underside of the housing facing the function carrier (2). [5] Window lifter assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the cable drive housing (5) is designed as a three-armed molded part with housing sections (5a, 5b, 5c) oriented in a star shape. [6] Window lifter assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat an electric motor drive (3) is arranged on the support side of the functional carrier (2) opposite the cable drive housing (5), which is coupled or can be coupled to the cable drum (4). [7] Window lifter assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the spring element (11) is arranged in the rail slider (9). [8] Window lifter assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the rail slider (9) has a driver contour (10) for a window pane. [9] Method for mounting a cable drive housing (5) with a cable drum (4) rotatably arranged therein on a functional carrier (2) of a window lift assembly (1) for a motor vehicle, wherein the cable drum (4) is wrapped by a traction cable (6) which is connected to a rail slider (9) guided on the functional carrier (2) in a sliding manner, - in which the cable drive housing (5) is pivotally positioned in a pre-assembly position on the functional carrier (2) without tension of the pull cable (6), and - in which the cable drive housing (5) is pivoted from the pre-assembly position into a final assembly position while establishing the cable tension.

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