Vehicle Window Regulator Layout With Separated Pulley and Guide Rail

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing window regulator assemblies in vehicles have complex and costly guide rails due to their deep-drawn design, which increases manufacturing complexity and costs.

Innovation Solution

The pulley arrangements and guide rails are mounted as separate parts on the carrier element without direct contact, with connection sections and centring elements ensuring precise alignment, allowing for a simpler and cheaper design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the guide rail is designed as a deep-drawn receiving device for pulley arrangements, then the guide rail can support the pulley arrangements and withstand glass closing and opening forces, but the manufacturing complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide rail strengthVSAvoidguide rail manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional components: the guide rail (providing linear guidance) and the pulley arrangement (mounted separately on the carrier element). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the guide rail can be a simpler, cheaper profile element without deep-drawn receiving sections, while the pulley arrangement is mounted separately on the carrier element, eliminating the need for complex integrated guide rail designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the guide rail has integrated receiving sections for pulley arrangements, then the guide rail can provide structural support, but the guide rail design becomes complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural supportVSAvoidguide rail design
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail is separated from the pulley arrangement mounting function. The guide rail becomes a simple profile element providing linear guidance, while the pulley arrangement is mounted separately on the carrier element. This eliminates the need for integrated receiving sections in the guide rail, significantly reducing design complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting function for pulley arrangements is merged with the carrier element rather than the guide rail. The carrier element provides both structural support and mounting surfaces for pulley arrangements, while the guide rail focuses solely on providing linear guidance paths for sliders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces material requirements and manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for robust guide rail interfaces, enabling a lighter and more economical assembly.

Implementation Method 1

the connection sections comprise flanges for resting on the surface of the carrier element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

For a precise alignment of the guide rail relative to the carrier element centring elements (guide rail locators) can be arranged at the connection sections or at the carrier element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometry: Geometry

Implementation Method 3

at least one pulley arrangement for redirecting a cable is mounted at the carrier element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulley: Pulley

Data Source

PatentEP4707516A1Window regulator assembly of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 HI-LEX EUROPE GMBH
  • EP4707516A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4707516A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4707516A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a window regulator assembly (1) of a vehicle, wherein the window regulator assembly (1) comprises a carrier element (2), wherein at least one pulley arrangement (3) for redirecting a cable (4) is mounted at the carrier element (2), wherein at least one guide rail (5) with a longitudinal axis (L) is mounted at the carrier element (2), wherein at least on slider (6) is movably arranged at the guide rail (5) along the longitudinal axis (L). To allow an easier and more cost effective design, the invention is characterized in that the at least one pulley arrangement (3) and the at least one guide rail (5) are mounted as separate parts at the carrier element (2) and have no contact to another.