Window Regulator Inclined Surface Reduces Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
In automobile window regulators with curved guide rails, the cushion rubber tends to avoid contact with the guide rail's right-angle contacting surface, leading to loud hitting sounds and potential shear force-induced cracks, as the moment rising the carrier plate causes direct collision with the housing, reducing the contacting area and durability.
Innovation Solution
The window regulator features an elastic member with an inclined surface contacting the guide rail, a triangle prism-shaped contacting part, and a chamfered surface, which increases the contacting area and applies compressive loads, suppressing the moment rising the carrier plate and reducing noise, while enhancing durability by avoiding shear forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the contacting surface is formed with a right angle against the guide rail, then the structure is simple, but the cushion rubber avoids contact leading to loud hitting sounds and reduced contacting area
Solution Approach 1:
The contacting surface is changed from a right-angle symmetric form to an asymmetric inclined surface that slopes upward from the guide rail. This asymmetric design allows the cushion rubber to maintain contact during the carrier plate's upward movement, preventing the avoiding contact and loud hitting sounds that occur with the right-angle design.
Solution Approach 2:
The contacting surface is extended in a new dimension by creating an inclined surface that slopes upward from the guide rail rather than being perpendicular to it. This dimensional change allows the cushion rubber to contact the surface at multiple points during movement, increasing the effective contacting area and eliminating the avoiding contact problem.
2Device complexity
If the cushion rubber contacts the housing directly, then the structure is simple, but the cushion rubber receives shear force causing cracks and reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined contacting surface creates an asymmetric contact geometry that changes the force distribution. Instead of direct perpendicular impact causing shear forces, the inclined surface distributes the force more favorably, preventing the shear force-induced cracks that reduce durability.
3Force
If the contacting area is reduced, then the collision force is concentrated, but the hitting sound becomes louder and the elastic member durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By extending the contacting surface along an incline rather than using a flat perpendicular surface, the contacting area is increased in a new dimensional direction. This distributes the collision force over a larger area, reducing the intensity of impact and eliminating the loud hitting sounds associated with concentrated force.
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
The solution effectively reduces the hitting sound and improves the durability of the elastic member by increasing the collision absorption and applying compressive loads, ensuring efficient suppression of the moment rising the carrier plate and extending the elastic member's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
the reverse moment against the moment which rises the bottom of the carrier plate, is generated to the bottom of the carrier plate from the inclined surface of the receiving part
Implementation Method 2
the elastical deformation of the contacting part is accelerated when the contacting part meets the housing of the driving unit, and prevents the hammering sound of the contact
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a window regulator that reduces thrust-down noises by minimizing the moment of rising even when the window glass reaches the lower edge, and improves the durability of an elastic member. The window regulator (10) is provided with: a carrier plate (12) that holds the window glass; a guide rail (11) that freely guides the carrier plate up and down; a direction switching member (13) disposed at the top end of the guide rail; inner cables (16, 17) that pass over the direction changing member, and are connected to the carrier plate (12); and a drive mechanism (14) that reciprocatingly drives the inner cables. An elastic member (28) is disposed on the lower edge of the carrier plate (12). A receiving section (27), which comes into contact with the elastic member (28) and controls the descent of the carrier plate, is disposed on the drive mechanism (14) housing (25). The receiving section (27) has an inclined surface (44) inclined in such a manner as to rise with increasing distance from the guide rail.