Window regulator assembly of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a window regulator assembly (1) of a vehicle, wherein the window regulator assembly (1) comprises a carrier element (2), wherein at least one pulley arrangement (3) for redirecting a cable (4) is mounted at the carrier element (2), wherein at least one guide rail (5) with a longitudinal axis (L) is mounted at the carrier element (2), wherein at least on slider (6) is movably arranged at the guide rail (5) along the longitudinal axis (L). To allow an easier and more cost effective design, the invention is characterized in that the at least one pulley arrangement (3) and the at least one guide rail (5) are mounted as separate parts at the carrier element (2) and have no contact to another.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a window regulator assembly of a vehicle, wherein the window regulator assembly comprises a carrier element, wherein at least one pulley arrangement for redirecting a cable is mounted at the carrier element, wherein at least one guide rail with a longitudinal axis is mounted at the carrier element and wherein at least on slider is movably arranged at the guide rail along the longitudinal axis.

[0002] A window regulator assembly of the generic type is known from EP 4 269 737 A1. Such an arrangement is used in a vehicle door. Here, several pulley arrangements are arranged on guide rails, wherein the guide rails have respective receiving section for the pulley arrangements. The guide rails in turn are mounted on a carrier element. Each of the pulley arrangements having a pulley which is rotatably mounted in order to guide and redirect a cable. The pulley is mounted rotatable on a pulley shaft, which in turn is attached to the reception on the guide rail. The pre-known design is characterized in that the guide rails are profiled elements (deep-drawn elements) for receiving the slider, so that the receiving sections for the pulley arrangements are formed on the guide rails (see figure 1 of the document).

[0003] This concept is also depicted in figures 1 and 2 below.

[0004] Figure 1 shows a top view of a previously known window regulator assembly 1. The guide rails 5 are mounted on a carrier element 2 (module plate). The guide rails 5 have mounts for the pulley arrangements 3, each of which has a pulley 11. A slider 6 can move in the direction of the longitudinal axis L on the guide rails 5. The movement of the slider 6 is initiated by cables 4.

[0005] Accordingly, in the previously known solution, the guide rail 5 (as shown in Figure 2) is designed as a receiving device for the pulley arrangements 3. Figure 2 shows that the design of the guide rail 5 is complex and requires a complex punching or deep-drawing process.

[0006] In this application, the guide rail must also be very robust to withstand the glass closing and opening force from the cables and the pulley interface (pulley arrangement). Thus, the production of the guide rail is quite complex and consequently expensive. Accordingly, the disadvantage of the pre-known solution is that the manufacturing costs are high due to the relatively high complexity of the components required.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the object of designing a generic window regulator assembly in such a way that an easier and more cost effective design is provided. Specifically, the manufacturing of the required parts should be cheaper.

[0008] The solution of this problem by the invention is characterized in that the at least one pulley arrangement and the at least one guide rail are mounted as separate parts at the carrier element and have no contact to another.

[0009] Preferably, the at least one pulley arrangement and the at least one guide rail are mounted directly at the carrier element.

[0010] The guide rail has preferably two connection sections at both ends for connecting the guide rail with the carrier element.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection sections comprise flanges for resting on the surface of the carrier element.

[0012] The guide rail can have at least partially a L-shaped design in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; in this case, the L-shaped design extends preferably along at least 80 %, specifically preferred at least 90 %, of the extension of the guide rail in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0013] The guide rail together with the mentioned flanges can have a Z-shaped design in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the region of the connection sections.

[0014] The flanges can be in contact with a section of the carrier element, which section has a surface normal which is substantial parallel to an axis of rotation of a pulley of the pulley arrangement.

[0015] Another embodiment of the invention provides that the connection sections are widened compared with a centre section of the guide rail, wherein the connection sections are in contact with a section of the carrier element, which section has a surface normal which is substantial orthogonal or skewed (out of square) to an axis of rotation of a pulley of the pulley arrangement.

[0016] For a precise alignment of the guide rail relative to the carrier element centring elements (guide rail locators) can be arranged at the connection sections or at the carrier element. The centring elements can consist of a boss which is arranged at the carrier element and a corresponding receiving hole in the connection section of the guide rail. Alternatively, the centring elements can consist of a protrusion which is arranged at the carrier element and a corresponding contact surface for the protrusion at the connection section. In the latter case the protrusion can be formed from the material of the carrier element.

[0017] The guide rail can consist of a deformed (especially deep-drawn) and / or punched sheet metal part.

[0018] The guide rail is preferably connected with the carrier element by means of screws.

[0019] With the proposed solution, it is possible to make the pulley arrangement simpler and to establish the same with cheaper parts. The required components have a simple design and are therefore inexpensive to manufacture.

[0020] The guide rail can be simplified by eliminating pulley interfaces. Instead, the pulleys are attached directly to the carrier plate (module plate), so that guide rail strength is not required to support the pulleys. This strength is given directly by the carrier plate. So, less material is required for the assembly due to a significant smaller guide rail.

[0021] The glass opening and closing forces which must be carried by the pulley arrangement are now directly borne by the carrier element and not any more by the guide rail. Consequently, a significant lighter and cheaper design is possible for the guide rail. There is no need any more for an interface for receiving the pulley arrangement.

[0022] Also, a weight reduction becomes possible by the proposed design.

[0023] The drawings show examples of embodiments of the invention. Fig. 1shows a top plan view of a window regulator assembly according to the state of the art, Fig. 2shows a perspective view of a guide rail according to the state of the art as used in the window regulator assembly of figure 1, Fig. 3shows a top plan view of a window regulator assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4shows a perspective view of a guide rail according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 5shows a section of a top plan view of a window regulator assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 6shows a perspective view of a sectional part of a guide rail according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 7shows an exploding view of a window regulator assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 8shows a perspective view of the assembled window regulator assembly according to figure 7, Fig. 9shows a perspective view of a part of a window regulator assembly according to another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 10shows a perspective view of a part of a window regulator assembly according to a further embodiment of the invention, Fig. 11shows a perspective view of the end section of a guide rail, used in the embodiment according to figure 10, and Fig. 12shows a perspective view of a part of a window regulator assembly according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0024] In Figure 3, a window regulator assembly 1 according to the invention is shown. It has a carrier element 2 (module plate) on which two guide rails 5 are mounted; the guide rails 5 extend along a longitudinal axis L.

[0025] On each guide rail 5 a slider 6 (window carrier) is arranged which is connected with a cable 4, The cable is driven by a drive unit 15. The slider 6 is movably arranged on the guide rail 5 and caused to travel up and down along the guide rail 5 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L.

[0026] In addition, the slider 6 includes a window clamp arrangement (not shown) which is engaged with the window. The slider 6 is attached or connected to the cable 4. Such attachments or connection may be made by clamps, fasteners, adhesives, press fitting, snap fittings, or any other means.

[0027] For guiding the cable 4 pulley arrangements 3 are mounted which have a pulley 11 for redirecting the cable 4.

[0028] It is essential to the present invention that the pulley arrangements 3 and the guide rails 5 are mounted as separate parts at the carrier element 2; the mentioned parts, i. e. the pulley arrangements 3 and the guide rails 5, have no contact to another.

[0029] This can best be seen in Figure 3 and Figure 5. Here, it can be seen that the guide rail 5 is fixed (screwed) directly to the carrier element 2 with respective connection sections 7, 8, which are located in the end areas of the guide rail 5, and that the pulley arrangement 3 is also fixed directly to the carrier element 2. There is no point of contact between guide rail 5 and pulley arrangement 3.

[0030] Figure 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the guide rail 5. The connection sections 7 and 8 are arranged in the two end areas of the guide rail 5, which have a flange 9 and 10 respectively, which are provided for screwing the guide rail 5 to the carrier element 2. Two holes can be seen in each of the flanges 9 and 10, one for a fastening screw or bolt and one for a centring element.

[0031] This is shown in Figure 5, where the connecting means are represented by a screw 14 and a centring element 13 is also shown.

[0032] Over almost its entire extension in the direction of the longitudinal axis L, the guide rail 5 according to one embodiment of the invention has an L-shaped form in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, as can be seen from Figure 6. However, if a section is made perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L in the area of the connection sections 7, 8, a Z-shaped structure results for the guide rail 5 together with the connection sections 7, 8. This can also be clearly seen in Figure 7, which shows an exploded view of the arrangement. The assembled state is shown in perspective in Figure 8.

[0033] As can be seen from the synopsis view of Figures 4, 5, 7 and 8, the connection sections 7, 8 rest on a contact surface of the carrier element 2, the surface normal of which is essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the pulleys 11. However, this is not mandatory.

[0034] Figures 9 to 12 illustrate various other ways of attaching the guide rail 5 to the carrier element 2 and, in particular, preferred ways of centring the guide rail 5 on the carrier element 2. The possibility is also shown here that the guide rail 5 rests on a surface of the carrier element 2 whose surface normal is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the pulleys 11 or is out of square.

[0035] Figure 9 shows that the height of the guide rail 5 is increased compared to a centre section 12 (see Figure 4) in the two end areas (preferably to a value of at least 150 % of the height in the centre section 12). This forms the connection sections 7, 8. With these sections, the guide rail 5 is screwed to the carrier element 2 by means of screws 14 (i.e. with one screw in each of the two end areas).

[0036] Figure 9 shows the connecting element (screw 14), but no centring element 13. However, such centring elements 13 are shown in Figures 10 to 12 in various embodiments.

[0037] Figure 10 shows how a centring element in the form of a boss 12' is arranged on the carrier element 2. The guide rail 5 has a corresponding receiving hole 13" in its end area (see Figure 11). This allows the guide rail 5 to be centred on the carrier element 2 during assembly, as shown in Figure 10.

[0038] Figure 12 shows an alternative design of the centring elements 13. Here, the carrier element 2 has a protrusion 13‴ (formed from the material of the carrier element 2), whereby a corresponding contact surface 13ʺʺ is incorporated on the guide rail 5 so that the guide rail 5 can be precisely aligned with the carrier element 2 (the fastening means, i.e. the screws 14, are not shown in Figures 10 to 12).List of References:

[0039] 1Window regulator assembly 2Carrier element 3Pulley arrangement 4Cable 5Guide rail 6Slider 7Connection section 8Connection section 9Flange 10Flange 11Pulley 12Centre section of the guide rail 13Centring elements 13'Boss 13"Receiving hole 13‴Protrusion 13ʺʺContact surface 14Screw 15Drive unit LLongitudinal axis

Claims

1. Window regulator assembly (1) of a vehicle, wherein the window regulator assembly (1) comprises a carrier element (2), wherein at least one pulley arrangement (3) for redirecting a cable (4) is mounted at the carrier element (2), wherein at least one guide rail (5) with a longitudinal axis (L) is mounted at the carrier element (2) and wherein at least on slider (6) is movably arranged at the guide rail (5) along the longitudinal axis (L), characterized in that the at least one pulley arrangement (3) and the at least one guide rail (5) are mounted as separate parts at the carrier element (2) and have no contact to another.

2. Window regulator assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one pulley arrangement (3) and the at least one guide rail (5) are mounted directly at the carrier element (2).

3. Window regulator assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide rail (5) has two connection sections (7, 8) at both ends for connecting the guide rail (5) with the carrier element (2).

4. Window regulator assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the connection sections (7, 8) comprise flanges (9, 10) for resting on the surface of the carrier element (2).

5. Window regulator assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the guide rail (5) has at least partially a L-shaped design in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L).

6. Window regulator assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the L-shaped design extends along at least 80 %, preferably at least 90 %, of the extension of the guide rail (5) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L).

7. Window regulator assembly according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the guide rail (5) together with the flanges (9, 10) has a Z-shaped design in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) in the region of the connection sections (7, 8).

8. Window regulator assembly according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the flanges (9, 10) are in contact with a section of the carrier element (2), which section has a surface normal which is substantial parallel to an axis of rotation of a pulley (11) of the pulley arrangement (3).

9. Window regulator assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the connection sections (7, 8) are widened compared with a centre section (12) of the guide rail (5), wherein the connection sections (7, 8) are in contact with a section of the carrier element (2), which section has a surface normal which is substantial orthogonal or skewed to an axis of rotation of a pulley (11) of the pulley arrangement (3).

10. Window regulator assembly according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that centring elements (13) are arranged at the connection sections (7, 8) or at the carrier element (2) for precise alignment of the guide rail (5) relative to the carrier element (2).

11. Window regulator assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the centring elements (13) consist of a boss (13') which is arranged at the carrier element (2) and a corresponding receiving hole (13") in the connection section (7, 8).

12. Window regulator assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the centring elements (13) consist of a protrusion (13‴) which is arranged at the carrier element (2) and a corresponding contact surface (13ʺʺ) for the protrusion (13‴) at the connection section (7, 8).

13. Window regulator assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the protrusion (13‴) is formed from the material of the carrier element (2).

14. Window regulator assembly according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the guide rail (5) consists of a deformed, especially deep-drawn, and / or punched sheet metal part.

15. Window regulator assembly according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the guide rail (5) is connected with the carrier element (2) by means of screws (14).

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