Window Regulator Positioner With Vertical Guide Rib
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window regulators face challenges in accommodating pitch deviations between slider bases and windowpane holders, leading to increased size, weight, and cost, as well as malfunctioning and noise due to non-parallel guide rails.
Innovation Solution
A window regulator design that includes a positioner between slider bases and windowpane holders, with vehicle-widthwise-directional walls and forward/rearward guide walls to define relative positions and accommodate pitch deviations, using circular fastening holes and guide ribs to secure components without elongated holes, allowing for miniaturization and reduced production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If elongated holes are formed in each slider base to accommodate pitch deviations, then the relative position between slider base and windowpane holder can be adjusted, but the size of slider base increases and requires larger work space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the fastening hole from the conventional horizontal (forward/rearward direction) to a vertical orientation. The guide rib is formed extending in the vertical direction, allowing pitch deviation accommodation through vertical adjustment rather than horizontal elongation. This dimensional change reduces the horizontal footprint and work space requirements while maintaining the ability to accommodate pitch deviations between slider base and windowpane holder.
2Manufacturing precision
If elongated holes are formed in slider bases, then pitch tolerance can be compensated, but the weight and cost of collars increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rib extends in the vertical direction rather than horizontally, allowing the collar to maintain a compact, near-circular cross-section. This vertical orientation enables pitch tolerance compensation through vertical positioning adjustment while keeping the collar's horizontal dimensions small, thereby reducing material usage, weight, and manufacturing cost compared to horizontally elongated collars.
3Device complexity
If guide rails are held by slider bases with no clearance, then the structure is compact, but malfunctioning and noise occur when guide rails are non-parallel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controlled clearance parameter between the guide rail and slider base in the vertical direction. This clearance allows the slider base to vertically adjust its position to accommodate non-parallel guide rails, preventing binding and reducing noise while maintaining structural compactness. The guide rib's vertical extension provides this adjustment capability without requiring large horizontal clearances.
Data Source
AI summary
In a window regulator, a positioner is provided between a pair of slider bases and a pair of windowpane holders and define a relative position therebetween in a forward/rearward direction of a vehicle; a vehicle-widthwise-directional wall is provided on each guide rail; and a pair of forward/rearward directional guide walls is provided on each slider base to hold an associated vehicle-widthwise-directional wall in the forward/rearward direction and to guide an associated slider base along an associated guide rail. A clearance in the forward/rearward direction between the vehicle-widthwise-directional wall of one guide rail and the forward/rearward-directional guide walls of one slider base is set smaller than that between the vehicle-widthwise-directional wall of the other guide rail and the forward/rearward-directional guide walls of the other slider base.