Watertight Emergency Window Opening System for Vehicle Escape
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle window systems are prone to malfunction due to electrical or mechanical failures, leading to window blockage and potential danger during emergencies, especially in water submersion scenarios, hindering passenger escape.
Innovation Solution
An electrical system with a watertight emergency mechanism comprising an auxiliary battery, motor, and switch, allowing independent operation of the window winder to ensure window lowering even in system failures, featuring multiple operating modes and watertight connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the window winder device is powered directly by the vehicle battery and electrical control unit, then the window can be operated electrically with convenient control, but the system becomes vulnerable to malfunction during electrical failures or water submersion emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The window winder device is divided into two independent power systems: the primary electrical system (battery 12 and control unit 4) for normal operation, and a secondary manual system (hand crank 17 and gear mechanism 18) for emergency operation. This segmentation allows the window to be operated electrically under normal conditions while providing a reliable manual backup that is immune to electrical failures or water submersion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from purely electrical operation to manual mechanical operation when emergency conditions occur. The parameter change involves switching the power source from electrical (battery 12) to mechanical (hand crank 17), and changing the control mode from electronic control unit 4 to direct manual operation of the gear mechanism 18, ensuring continuous window operability despite electrical system failures.
2Reliability
If the window winder device uses a purely manual crank system, then the system remains operational during electrical failures, but the convenience and automation of window operation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrical window winder device (motor 13, control unit 4) with a manual crank system (hand crank 17, gear mechanism 18) into a hybrid system. The electrical components provide convenient automated operation during normal conditions, while the mechanical components ensure reliability during electrical failures. Both systems share common elements such as the gear mechanism 18 and window guide rails 20, allowing seamless transition between operational modes.
3Device complexity
If the electrical control unit and power system are integrated, then the system structure is simplified, but the system becomes a single point of failure during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The window system is segmented into independent functional modules: the electrical power system (battery 12, control unit 4, motor 13) and the manual operation system (hand crank 17, gear mechanism 18). This modular segmentation reduces overall system complexity by clearly defining boundaries between electrical and mechanical components, while simultaneously improving reliability through functional independence. Each module can operate autonomously without depending on the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear mechanism 18 serves as an intermediary component that can be actuated by either the electrical motor 13 or the manual hand crank 17. This intermediary element allows the system to switch between electrical and manual operation modes without requiring complete system redesign, maintaining structural simplicity while enabling dual operational pathways for improved reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures window operation in emergency conditions, preventing blockage and facilitating passenger escape by providing a reliable, waterproof emergency system that preserves battery charge for future use.
Implementation Method 1
an auxiliary battery (6), also configured to be watertight, for powering the watertight electric motor (5)
Implementation Method 2
an electric motor (5), which can also be connected to the window winder device (3) for automatically controlling the lowering of the window (2)
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Described is an electrical system (1) for opening a window (2) comprising a window winder device (3) for moving a window (2) of a motor vehicle being raised and/or lowered, and an electrical control unit (4). The electrical opening system (1) also comprises an emergency system comprising a watertight electric motor (5), an auxiliary watertight battery (6) and a watertight electric switch (7). The electric switch (7) is configured for switching said electrical opening system (1) at least in two operating configurations. In the first operating configuration the electric switch (7) allows the operation of said window winder device (3) with the aid of said electrical control unit (4). In the second operating configuration the electric switch (7) places the auxiliary battery (6) and the electric motor (5) in communication in such a way that said electric motor (5) commands by means of the window winder device (3) an automated lowering of the window (2).