Window regulator and manufacturing method therefor

Abstract

In the present invention, a carrier plate for holding a window glass is provided to a guide rail so as to be movable upward and downward, and the carrier plate has attached thereto a cable that is for pulling the carrier plate. The cable for pulling the carrier plate and a direction changing member for changing the direction of movement of the cable have respectively formed thereto an accommodation recess, in which the upper end part of the guide rail is accommodated from the lateral side, and a locking claw which locks on the upper end part of the guide rail. With such a structure, it is possible to improve the efficiency of window regulator manufacturing work.

Description

Window regulator and manufacturing method thereof

[0001] The present invention relates to a window regulator and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002] A known prior art window regulator is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The configuration of the prior art window regulator will be briefly described as follows.

[0003] A window regulator according to the prior art includes a guide rail attached to a vehicle door panel, and a carrier plate that holds the window glass is attached to the guide rail so that it can be raised and lowered. The window regulator according to the prior art also includes a cable for raising and lowering the carrier plate, and the cable is connected to the carrier plate.

[0004] A drive unit that winds and unwinds the cable is provided at the lower end of the guide rail. A direction-changing member that changes the moving direction of the cable is provided at the upper end of the guide rail. The direction-changing member has an insertion recess (referred to as a guide rail connection portion in Patent Document 1) into which the upper end of the guide rail is inserted from one side in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. In other words, the direction-changing member can be attached to the upper end of the guide rail from one side in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail.

[0005] JP 2022-41137 A

[0006] However, in the prior art window regulator, the direction changer is formed with an insertion recess, and the direction changer is attached to the upper end of the guide rail from one longitudinal side of the guide rail. Therefore, after attaching the direction changer to the upper end of the guide rail, it is necessary to adjust the tension of the cable, which makes the manufacturing (assembly) of the window regulator more complicated.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a window regulator and a method for manufacturing the same that can improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process of window regulators.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the window regulator of the present invention comprises a guide rail, a carrier plate that is mounted on the guide rail so as to be able to rise and fall and that holds the window glass, a cable that is connected to the carrier plate and pulls the carrier plate, and a direction-changing member that is formed with an accommodating recess that accommodates the upper end of the guide rail from the side and an engaging claw that engages with the upper end of the guide rail, and that changes the direction of movement of the cable.

[0009] The method for manufacturing a window regulator according to the present invention involves accommodating the upper end of a guide rail, on which a carrier plate that holds the window glass is arranged so as to be able to rise and fall, from the side into an accommodating recess of a direction-changing member while tension is applied to a cable that pulls the carrier plate, and engaging the locking claw of the direction-changing member with the upper end of the guide rail.

[0010] According to the window regulator and the manufacturing method thereof of the present invention, the work efficiency of the manufacturing work of the window regulator can be improved.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a window regulator according to this embodiment installed on a vehicle door panel. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the window regulator according to this embodiment as viewed from the inside of the vehicle. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the window regulator according to this embodiment as viewed from the outside of the vehicle. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion IV in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of portion V in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of manufacturing the window regulator according to this embodiment, showing a state in which the engaging protrusion of the direction changing member is engaged with an engaging hole of the guide rail. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of manufacturing the window regulator according to this embodiment, showing a state in which the engaging protrusion of the direction changing member is engaged with an engaging hole of the guide rail, as viewed from the accommodation recess side of the direction changing member. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method for manufacturing a window regulator according to this embodiment, showing a state in which the locking claw of the direction-changing member is locked in the notch of the guide rail. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method for manufacturing a window regulator according to this embodiment, showing a state in which the locking claw of the direction-changing member is locked in the notch of the guide rail, as viewed from the accommodation recess side of the direction-changing member.

[0012] This embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the claims and specification of this application, the upper end of the guide rail refers to the end of the guide rail in the longitudinal direction that is located on the upper side when the window regulator is in normal use. The lower end of the guide rail refers to the end of the guide rail in the longitudinal direction that is located on the lower side when the window regulator is in normal use. The width direction of the guide rail refers to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail.

[0013] In the drawings, "FD" indicates the front direction of the vehicle, "RD" indicates the rear direction of the vehicle, "UD" indicates the upper direction, "DD" indicates the lower direction, "ID" indicates the inside of the vehicle, and "ED" indicates the outside of the vehicle. Furthermore, in the drawings, "LD" indicates the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, "WD" indicates the width direction of the guide rail, "WDa" indicates one side of the width direction of the guide rail, and "WDb" indicates the other side of the width direction of the guide rail.

[0014] The configuration of a window regulator 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the window regulator 10 according to this embodiment installed on a door panel P of a vehicle. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the window regulator 10 according to this embodiment as viewed from the inside of the vehicle. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the window regulator 10 according to this embodiment as viewed from the outside of the vehicle. Figure 4 is an enlarged view of portion IV in Figure 2. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of portion V in Figure 3. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Figure 4. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 4. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 4.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, a window regulator 10 according to this embodiment is a device for raising and lowering a window glass W of a vehicle, and is installed between an inner panel IP and an outer panel EP of a door panel P of the vehicle. In the following embodiment, a window regulator 10 for a vehicle will be described, but the window regulator according to the present invention is not limited to use in a vehicle.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the window regulator 10 includes a guide rail 12, which is attached to an inner panel IP via a bracket 14. The guide rail 12 extends in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction. In other words, the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 12 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. The guide rail 12 is made of a hard material such as stainless steel or an aluminum alloy. However, the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 12 may also be the vertical direction.

[0017] 4 to 6, the guide rail 12 has upright wall portions 16, 18 rising from both sides in the width direction, and an extension portion 20 extending outward in the width direction from the end of one of the upright wall portions 16. A rectangular engagement hole 12h and a rectangular cutout portion 12n are formed at the upper end of the guide rail 12. The cutout portion 12n of the guide rail 12 is continuous with the center of the engagement hole 12h, and the engagement hole 12h and the cutout portion 12n are T-shaped. Note that the cutout portion 12n of the guide rail 12 does not have to be continuous with the engagement hole 12h as long as it is adjacent to the engagement hole 12h.

[0018] 1 to 5 , a carrier plate 22 that holds the lower end of the window glass W is provided on the guide rail 12 and is capable of being raised and lowered. The carrier plate 22 is made of, for example, resin, aluminum alloy, etc. The window glass W can be raised and lowered by the carrier plate 22 being raised and lowered along the guide rail 12.

[0019] 2 to 4, the window regulator 10 is provided with a cable 24 that pulls the carrier plate 22. The cable 24 has an ascending cable 26 that pulls the carrier plate 22 in an ascending direction and a descending cable 28 that pulls the carrier plate 22 in a descending direction. One end of the ascending cable 26 is connected to a predetermined portion of the carrier plate 22. One end of the descending cable 28 is connected to another predetermined portion of the carrier plate 22. In addition, a cable supporter 30 that supports the ascending cable 26 is provided on the longitudinal center side of the guide rail 12.

[0020] 2 and 3, a drive unit 32 that winds and unwinds the cable 24 is provided at the lower end of the guide rail 12. The specific configuration of the drive unit 32 is as follows.

[0021] A drum housing 34 is provided at the lower end of the guide rail 12 and is made of, for example, resin, aluminum alloy, or the like. A drum 36 for winding and unwinding the cable 24 is provided within the drum housing 34 and is rotatable in forward and reverse directions. The other end of the ascending cable 26 is connected to a predetermined portion of the drum 36, and the other end of the descending cable 28 is connected to another predetermined portion of the drum 36. An electric motor 38 for rotating the drum 36 in forward and reverse directions is provided on the outer wall of the drum housing 34, and an output shaft (not shown) of the electric motor 38 is operatively connected to a rotating shaft (not shown) of the drum 36 via a reduction mechanism (not shown).

[0022] When the electric motor 38 is driven to rotate the drum 36 in the forward direction, the descending cable 28 is unwound from the drum 36 while the ascending cable 26 is wound onto the drum 36. This causes the carrier plate 22 to rise along the guide rail 12, thereby lifting the window glass W. On the other hand, when the electric motor 38 is driven to rotate the drum 36 in the reverse direction, the ascending cable 26 is unwound from the drum 36 while the descending cable 28 is wound onto the drum 36. This causes the carrier plate 22 to descend along the guide rail 12, thereby lowering the window glass W.

[0023] In addition, instead of the drive unit 32 raising and lowering the carrier plate 22 by driving the electric motor 38, the carrier plate 22 may be raised and lowered by manually operating an operating member (not shown) such as a handle that is interlocked with the rotating shaft of the drum 36.

[0024] 2 to 5, a direction-changing member 40 that changes the moving direction of the cable 24 is provided at the upper end of the guide rail 12. The direction-changing member 40 is made of, for example, resin, aluminum alloy, or the like. The direction-changing member 40 has a semicircular shape when viewed from both the outside and inside of the vehicle. A guide groove 42 is formed in the arc-shaped edge of the direction-changing member 40, through which the ascending cable 26 is slidably routed.

[0025] As shown in Figures 4 to 8, the direction change member 40 is formed with an accommodation recess 44 that accommodates the upper end of the guide rail 12 from the side (a direction perpendicular to the front or back surface of the direction change member 40). The direction change member 40 has an engagement protrusion 46 within the accommodation recess 44 that engages with the engagement hole 12h of the guide rail 12 so as to be movable in the width direction of the guide rail 12. The engagement protrusion 46 engages with the side edge of the engagement hole 12h of the guide rail 12 on the side opposite in the width direction to the side where the locking claw 48 engages, thereby restricting movement of the direction change member 40 to one side in the width direction. In addition, the side edge of the engagement hole 12h is clamped between the main body of the direction change member 40 and the engagement protrusion 46.

[0026] A locking claw 48 is formed within the accommodation recess 44 of the direction change member 40 to lock into a notch 12n, which is a part of the upper end of the guide rail 12. The direction change member 40 is movable relative to the guide rail 12 from one widthwise side of the guide rail 12 with the engaging protrusion 46 engaged with the engaging hole 12h of the guide rail 12. The locking claw 48 is elastic. When the direction change member 40 is moved relative to the guide rail 12 from one widthwise side of the guide rail 12, the locking claw 48 locks into the notch 12n of the guide rail on the other widthwise side of the guide rail 12 (see FIGS. 10 and 12 ). This prevents the direction change member 40 from moving relative to the guide rail 12 in the width direction.

[0027] A retaining groove 50 that retains the extension portion 20 of the guide rail 12 is formed on the inner wall of the accommodation recess 44 of the direction change member 40. When the direction change member 40 is moved relative to the guide rail 12 from one side in the width direction of the guide rail 12, the retaining groove 50 retains the extension portion 20 on one side in the width direction of the guide rail 12 (see FIGS. 10 and 12 ). This restricts relative movement of the direction change member 40 to one side in the width direction with respect to the guide rail 12. Furthermore, by fitting the extension portion 20 into the retaining groove 50, the tension of the cable 24 acting on the upper end of the guide rail 12 in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail 12 can be supported by the fitting portion between the extension portion 20 and the retaining groove 50, thereby improving the holding force of the direction change member 40 to the guide rail 12.

[0028] According to the configuration of the window regulator 10 of this embodiment, as described above, the direction changing member 40 is formed with an accommodation recess 44 that accommodates the upper end of the guide rail 12 from the side. A locking claw 48 that engages with the notch 12n of the guide rail 12 is formed within the accommodation recess 44 of the direction changing member 40. This allows the direction changing member 40 to be attached to the upper end of the guide rail 12 with tension applied to the cable 24. In other words, there is no need to adjust the tension of the cable 24 after the direction changing member 40 is attached to the upper end of the guide rail 12. As a result, the window regulator 10 of this embodiment can improve the work efficiency of the manufacturing (assembly) work of the window regulator 10.

[0029] According to the configuration of the window regulator 10 of this embodiment, as described above, the direction changing member 40 has, within the accommodating recess 44, an engaging protrusion 46 that engages with the engaging hole 12h of the guide rail 12 so as to be movable in the width direction of the guide rail 12. Therefore, by engaging the engaging protrusion 46 of the direction changing member 40 with the engaging hole 12h of the guide rail 12, the direction changing member 40 can be easily attached to the upper end of the guide rail 12. As a result, according to the window regulator 10 of this embodiment, the work efficiency of the manufacturing work of the window regulator 10 can be further improved.

[0030] In particular, when the direction changing member 40 is moved relative to the guide rail 12 from one side in the width direction of the guide rail 12, the locking claw 48 locks into the notch 12n of the guide rail on the other side in the width direction of the guide rail 12. Therefore, the direction changing member 40 can be attached to the upper end of the guide rail 12 with a single touch. Therefore, the window regulator 10 according to this embodiment can further improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process of the window regulator 10 and can firmly fix the direction changing member 40 to the guide rail 12.

[0031] As described above, with the configuration of the window regulator 10 according to this embodiment, the retaining groove 50 that holds the extension 20 of the guide rail 12 is formed on the inner wall of the accommodation recess 44 of the direction changing member 40. Therefore, the locking claws 48, the engaging protrusions 46, and the retaining groove 50 of the direction changing member 40 can clamp a portion of the upper end of the guide rail 12 from both sides in the width direction of the guide rail 12. As a result, with the window regulator 10 according to this embodiment, the attachment state of the direction changing member 40 to the guide rail 12 can be stabilized.

[0032] In particular, when the direction changing member 40 is moved relative to the guide rail 12 from one side in the width direction of the guide rail 12, the holding groove 50 of the direction changing member 40 holds the extension portion 20 from one side in the width direction of the guide rail 12. Therefore, with a one-touch operation, the extension portion 20 of the guide rail 12 can be held in the holding groove 50 of the direction changing member 40. As a result, according to the window regulator 10 of this embodiment, the work efficiency of the manufacturing work of the window regulator 10 can be further improved.

[0033] Next, a method for manufacturing the window regulator according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2, 3, and 9 to 12. Figures 9 to 12 are schematic diagrams for explaining the method for manufacturing the window regulator according to this embodiment. Figures 9 and 10 are diagrams showing the state in which the engaging protrusion 46 of the direction changing member 40 is engaged with the engaging hole 12h of the guide rail 12, and Figure 9 is a view from the side of the accommodation recess 44 of the direction changing member 40. Figures 11 and 12 are diagrams showing the state in which the locking claw 48 of the direction changing member 40 is engaged with the notch 12n of the guide rail 12, and Figure 11 is a view from the side of the accommodation recess 44 of the direction changing member 40.

[0034] 2, 3, and 9 to 12, the method for manufacturing a window regulator according to this embodiment is a method for manufacturing window regulator 10 and includes a first mounting step and a second mounting step. Specific details of each step in the method for manufacturing a window regulator according to this embodiment are as follows:

[0035] First Installation Step As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the carrier plate 22 that holds the lower end of the window glass W is attached to the guide rail 12 so that it can be raised and lowered. In addition, the drum housing 34 of the drive unit 32 that winds and unwinds the cable 24 connected to the carrier plate 22 is attached to the lower end of the guide rail 12. Furthermore, the cable supporter 30 that supports the ascending cable 26 is attached to the longitudinal center side of the guide rail 12. Note that Figures 2 and 3 show the state in which the direction-changing member 40 is attached to the upper end of the guide rail 12.

[0036] Second Installation Step: As shown in Figures 9 and 10 , after completing the first installation step, the upper end of the guide rail 12 is laterally accommodated in the accommodation recess 44 of the direction-changing member 40, with the cable 24 hung in the guide groove 42, with tension applied to the cable 24. The engaging protrusion 46 of the direction-changing member 40 is engaged with the engaging hole 12h of the guide rail 12. Then, as shown in Figures 11 and 12 , in this state, the direction-changing member 40 is moved relative to the guide rail 12 from one widthwise side to the other widthwise side of the guide rail 12. Furthermore, the locking claw 48 is engaged with the notch 12n of the guide rail 12 on the other widthwise side of the guide rail 12, and the holding groove 50 holds the extension 20 of the guide rail 12 on one widthwise side of the guide rail 12. This completes the installation of the direction-changing member 40 on the upper end of the guide rail 12 with tension applied to the cable 24.

[0037] According to the configuration of the manufacturing method for a window regulator of this embodiment, the upper end of the guide rail 12 is laterally accommodated in the accommodation recess 44 of the direction changing member 40 around which the ascending-side cable 26 is looped, and the locking claw 48 is engaged with the notch 12n of the guide rail 12. Therefore, the direction changing member 40 can be attached to the upper end of the guide rail 12 with tension applied to the cable 24. In other words, there is no need to adjust the tension of the cable 24 after attaching the direction changing member 40 to the upper end of the guide rail 12. As a result, the manufacturing method for a window regulator of this embodiment can improve the work efficiency (assembly work) of the manufacturing work for the window regulator 10.

[0038] According to the configuration of the manufacturing method for a window regulator of this embodiment, the direction changing member 40 can be easily attached to the upper end of the guide rail 12 by engaging the engaging protrusion 46 of the direction changing member 40 with the engaging hole 12h of the guide rail 12. As a result, according to the manufacturing method for a window regulator of this embodiment, the work efficiency of the manufacturing work for the window regulator 10 can be further improved.

[0039] In particular, by relatively moving the direction changing member 40 from one side in the width direction of the guide rail 12, the locking claw 48 is locked into the notch 12n of the guide rail 12 on the other side in the width direction of the guide rail 12. Therefore, the direction changing member 40 can be attached to the upper end of the guide rail 12 with a single touch. Therefore, the manufacturing method of the window regulator according to this embodiment can further improve the work efficiency of the manufacturing process of the window regulator 10.

[0040] As described above, the manufacturing method for the window regulator according to this embodiment has the holding groove 50 hold the extension 20 of the guide rail 12 on one widthwise side of the guide rail 12. Therefore, the locking claw 48 of the direction changing member 40 and the holding groove 50 can clamp a portion of the upper end of the guide rail 12 from both widthwise sides of the guide rail 12. As a result, the manufacturing method for the window regulator according to this embodiment can stabilize the attachment state of the direction changing member 40 to the guide rail 12.

[0041] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0042] The present invention can be applied to a window regulator for raising and lowering a window glass of a vehicle.

[0043] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Window regulator 12 Guide rail 12h Engagement hole 12n Notch 14 Bracket 16 Standing wall portion 18 Standing wall portion 20 Extension portion 22 Carrier plate 24 Cable 26 Ascending side cable 28 Descending side cable 30 Cable supporter 32 Drive portion 34 Drum housing 36 Drum 38 Electric motor 40 Direction change member 42 Guide groove 44 Storage recess 46 Engagement protrusion 48 Locking claw 50 Retaining groove W Window glass P Door panel IP Inner panel EP Outer panel

Claims

1. A window regulator comprising a guide rail, a carrier plate provided on the guide rail so as to be movable up and down and holding a window glass, a cable connected to the carrier plate and pulling the carrier plate, a housing recess for housing the upper end portion of the guide rail from the side, and a locking claw for locking to the upper end portion of the guide rail, and a direction changing member for changing the moving direction of the cable.

2. The window regulator according to claim 1, wherein an engaging hole is formed in the upper end portion of the guide rail, and the direction changing member further has an engaging convex portion that engages with the engaging hole in the housing recess.

3. The window regulator according to claim 2, wherein the direction changing member is relatively movable from one side to the other side in the width direction of the guide rail with respect to the guide rail in a state where the engaging convex portion engages with the engaging hole, and the locking claw locks to the upper end portion of the guide rail on the other side.

4. The guide rail has standing wall portions rising from both sides in the width direction, respectively, and an extending portion extending outward in the width direction from an end portion of one of the standing wall portions, and a holding groove for holding the extending portion is formed in an inner wall of the housing recess of the direction changing member. The window regulator according to claim 2.

5. The window regulator according to claim 4, wherein the direction changing member is relatively movable from one side to the other side in the width direction of the guide rail in a state where the engaging convex portion is engaged with the engaging hole, and the holding groove holds the extending portion on the one side.

6. A method of manufacturing a window regulator, wherein the upper end portion of a guide rail on which a carrier plate for holding a window glass is provided so as to be movable up and down is housed from the side in a housing recess of a direction changing member in a state where tension is applied to a cable for pulling the carrier plate, and a locking claw of the direction changing member is locked to the upper end portion of the guide rail.

7. The method of manufacturing a window regulator according to claim 6, wherein the direction changing member is relatively moved from one side to the other side in the width direction of the guide rail with respect to the guide rail, and the locking claw is locked to the upper end portion of the guide rail on the other side.

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