Window Regulator Carrier Plate Overlapping Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reduction in thickness and weight of vehicle doors has resulted in a narrower housing space for window regulators, necessitating a smaller and lighter design.
Innovation Solution
A window regulator with a guide rail, a carrier plate that slides on the rail, and cables for ascending and descending window movements, featuring spring housing holes and a holding hole aligned vertically, allowing for a reduced size by overlapping the holding hole with the descending-side spring housing hole in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If the housing space is reduced to accommodate thinner and lighter vehicle doors, then the window regulator can be integrated into the door panel, but the available space for the regulator components becomes narrower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the holding hole inside the projection area formed by the carrier plate and guide rail assembly. The holding hole is positioned within the longitudinal projection of the carrier plate, allowing it to occupy space that would otherwise be unused. This nested arrangement enables the window regulator to fit into the constrained housing space of thin vehicle doors while maintaining all necessary functional components.
2Ease of operation
If the holding hole is positioned to hold the window, then the carrier plate must accommodate this function, but adding space for the holding hole increases the overall regulator size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the holding hole function with the existing carrier plate structure. The holding hole is formed as an through-hole in the carrier plate, combining the window holding capability with the carrier plate's primary function of supporting the guide rail and cables. This integration eliminates the need for separate holding mechanisms, maintaining ease of operation while minimizing the regulator's overall volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding hole is nested within the longitudinal projection of the carrier plate, specifically positioned to overlap with the descending-side spring housing hole. This nested configuration allows the holding hole to utilize the same spatial envelope as other components, preventing increase in the regulator's external dimensions while providing the necessary window holding function.
3Volume of moving object
If the holding hole and descending-side spring housing hole are aligned vertically with overlapping portions, then the regulator size is reduced, but the structural complexity of the carrier plate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier plate is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both the structural support for the guide rail and cables, and as the component containing the holding hole for window attachment. The same carrier plate structure houses multiple functions: supporting the ascending-side and descending-side springs, guiding the cables, and providing the holding hole. This universal design reduces the need for additional components, minimizing structural complexity while achieving size reduction through vertical alignment of functional elements.
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
This configuration enables a smaller window regulator size, stabilizes the carrier plate during operation, and reduces the moment acting on it when raised, enhancing the regulator's efficiency and stability.
Implementation Method 1
an ascending-side spring provided to apply a tensile force to the ascending-side cable
Implementation Method 2
a descending-side spring provided to apply a tensile force to the descending-side cable
Data Source
AI summary
A window regulator includes a guide rail provided along an ascending/descending direction of a window of a vehicle, a carrier plate that slides on the guide rail and moves together with the window, and an ascending-side cable that pulls the carrier plate in the ascending direction and a descending-side cable that pulls the carrier plate in the descending direction. The carrier plate includes an ascending-side spring housing hole, a descending-side spring housing hole and a holding hole, the ascending-side spring housing hole housing an end of the ascending-side cable and an ascending-side spring, the descending-side spring housing hole housing an end of the descending-side cable and a descending-side spring. The holding hole and the descending-side spring housing hole are aligned in a vertical direction. A portion of the holding hole overlaps the descending-side spring housing hole in a vehicle longitudinal direction.