Slider Window Assembly With Guided Flexible Panel Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rear slider window assemblies for vehicles, such as pickup trucks, often require multiple panels and complex drive systems, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A rear slider window assembly utilizing a single flexible drive element, such as a cable or tape, that pulls and pushes the movable window panel along rails to open and close the window, with guide structures to limit flexing or bending of the drive element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single flexible drive element is used to pull and push the movable window panel, then the drive system complexity is reduced, but the drive element may flex or bend excessively during operation
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the flexible drive element and the movable window panel. This guide structure constrains the movement path of the drive element, preventing excessive flexing or bending while allowing the element to effectively transmit force for opening and closing the window panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a flexible cable or tape as the drive element, which is inherently flexible enough to navigate the window assembly's geometry but sufficiently rigid when guided to transmit force effectively. The flexibility allows the single element to perform both pulling and pushing functions without requiring separate components.
2Ease of manufacture
If the drive element is allowed to flex freely, then ease of installation is improved, but operational reliability deteriorates due to uncontrolled bending
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is designed to dynamically constrain the flexible drive element during operation. The guide allows the element to flex within controlled limits during installation and normal operation, but prevents excessive bending that would compromise reliability. This dynamic constraint adapts to the operational state of the window assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular slider window assembly includes a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail, a fixed window panel, and a movable window panel that is movable along the rails between an opened position and a closed position. A drive system is operable to move the movable window panel between the opened position and the closed position. The drive system includes a single flexible drive element that, when the drive system is actuated to move the window panel in one direction, the flexible drive element pulls the movable window panel along the rails, and when the drive system is actuated to move the window panel in the opposite direction, the flexible drive element pushes the movable window panel along the rails. The lower rail includes guide structure that limits flexing of the flexible drive element when the flexible drive element pushes the movable window panel along the rails.