Window Lifter Cable Drum Housing for Left-Right Door Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing window lifters require different cable drive housing designs for left and right vehicle doors, leading to high material and manufacturing costs due to asymmetries and varying mounting patterns.

Innovation Solution

A universally applicable cable drive device with a cable drum housing and a method for mounting a cable drum on a functional carrier, utilizing a plug-and-turn connection and positive locking mechanism to accommodate different vehicle door systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different cable drive housing designs are used for left and right vehicle doors to accommodate asymmetries and varying mounting patterns, then the window lifter can be properly adapted to different door systems, but material and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different door systemsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cable drive housing is designed with a universal mounting structure that can accommodate both left and right vehicle doors. The housing includes multiple mounting positions and patterns, allowing a single design to be adapted to different door systems without requiring mirror-image variants, thereby reducing material and manufacturing costs while maintaining versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting structure of the cable drive housing is segmented into modular components with standardized interfaces. This segmentation allows the same housing design to be configured for different door positions through repositioning of modular elements rather than requiring completely different housing designs for left and right doors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If different cable drive housing designs are used for left and right vehicle doors to accommodate asymmetries and varying mounting patterns, then the window lifter can be properly adapted to different door systems, but material requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different door systemsVSAvoidmaterial requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A single universal cable drive housing design serves both left and right vehicle doors, eliminating the need to manufacture separate housing variants. This universality reduces material requirements by producing only one type of housing instead of multiple mirror-image designs, while still accommodating different door systems through configurable mounting options

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If a universally applicable cable drive housing design is used for both left and right vehicle doors, then material and manufacturing costs are reduced, but the complexity of accommodating different mounting patterns increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidhousing design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing design incorporates segmented, modular mounting components with standardized interfaces. This modularity allows the same basic housing to be configured for different mounting patterns by repositioning modular elements rather than designing completely different housings, thus reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining manufacturing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The universal housing design includes adjustable and reconfigurable mounting features that can be dynamically positioned to accommodate different door asymmetries and mounting patterns. This dynamic configurability allows a single housing design to adapt to various installations without requiring complex custom designs for each case

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4251837B1Window lifter for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4251837B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4251837B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4251837B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a window lift (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a functional support (11) for at least one guide rail (2), which slidably guides a rail slider (3) for retaining a vehicle window (4), and a cable drive device (8), wherein: - the cable drive device (8) has an actuating drive (9) and a cable drive housing (10), into which a cable drum (16), which can be coupled to the actuating drive (9) and can be rotated about an axis of rotation (D), is or can be received, around which cable drum a pull cable (5) is or can be wrapped; - the cable drive housing (10) has a bottom plate (19) and a number of cylindrical wall elements (33) for receiving the cable drum (16); and - the functional support (11) has, at the periphery of a through-opening (29) for the coupling of the cable drum (16) to the actuating drive (9), a joining contour (15) for establishing a form-locking connection to the cable drum housing (10) when the cable drum (16) is inserted therein.