Window Regulator Elastic Contact for Narrow Flange Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing window regulator design can cause assembly defects when the width of the flange portion is small, as the front edge of the flange portion can get caught by the contact portion during assembly, and altering the shape of the second and third sliding fins to match the first sliding fin may result in inadequate pressure contact with the flange portion.
Innovation Solution
The window regulator incorporates a back surface sliding member with a contact portion that extends and is elastically deformed to allow the flange portion to enter during assembly, ensuring proper pressure contact with the flange portion even when it is narrow, and includes a base portion that presses the contact portion against the flange surface using elastic deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the contact portion has a turn-back section to prevent assembly defects, then the front edge of the flange portion is not caught during assembly, but the contact portion cannot be properly pressure-contacted with the flange portion when the flange width is small
Solution Approach 1:
The contact portion is designed with elastic deformation capability, changing its physical state from rigid to flexible. This allows the contact portion to adapt its shape during assembly - deforming to allow flange passage while maintaining pressure contact capability, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and contact reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The contact portion transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic elastic structure that can deform and recover. During assembly, it dynamically deforms to accommodate the flange, and during operation, it dynamically maintains pressure contact, solving both the assembly ease and contact reliability requirements
2Weight of moving object
If the guide rail is made from resin instead of metal, then the weight is reduced and strength is enhanced, but the manufacturing precision and assembly tolerance are more challenging to control
Solution Approach 1:
The resin guide rail incorporates elastic deformation parameters that allow for tolerance compensation. The elastic contact portion can deform to accommodate variations in assembly precision, enabling the use of lighter resin material while maintaining reliable contact and assembly feasibility
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 design prevents assembly defects by allowing proper pressure contact with the flange portion, even when the flange is narrow, and enhances the strength and reduces the weight of the guide rail, making it comparable to or better than metal guide rails while being lighter.
Implementation Method 1
the contact portion extends toward the back surface and is elastically deformed and bent on the end side to allow the flange portion to enter from a lateral side in an extending direction thereof when assembling the carrier plate to the guide rail
Implementation Method 2
a base portion that presses the contact portion against the back surface by a restoring force of elastic deformation
Data Source
AI summary
A window regulator includes a guide rail, a carrier plate, and a raising/lowering means to raise/lower the carrier plate along the guide rail. The carrier plate includes a front surface sliding member configured to slide on a front surface of a flange portion of the guide rail and a back surface sliding member configured to slide on a back surface of the flange portion. The back surface sliding member includes a contact portion coming into contact with the back surface and a base portion that presses the contact portion against the back surface by a restoring force of elastic deformation. The contact portion extends toward the back surface and is elastically deformed and bent on the end side to allow the flange portion to enter from a lateral side in an extending direction thereof when assembling the carrier plate to the guide rail.