Electrically controlled window regulator

• US 4,074,463 A
• Filed: 09/15/1976
• Issued: 02/21/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RIV SKF Officine Di Villar Perosa SPA (ABet SKF)
• Original Assignee: RIV SKF Officine Di Villar Perosa SPA (ABet SKF)
• Inventors: Colanzi, Franco
• Primary Examiner(s): Downey, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US04/723,384
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 49/348, 49/349, 49/352, 49/227, 49/40, 49/325, 74/424.8 R, 74/501 R
• US Class Current: 49/352
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 11/405 for vehicle windows
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/689 specially adapted for vehicle windows
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/692 enabling manual drive, e.g. in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19716 Non-linear screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1973 Shaft thread is spirally wound wire
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2042 and hand operator

Abstract

An electrically controlled window regulator for raising and lowering a mobile window of a motor vehicle door, and in which a slide rigidly connectable to said window is slidably mounted on a guide rigidly connectable to a support of said window, and is reciprocated by a flexible screw consisting at least partially of a precompressed spring extending through a rigid tubular member connected rotatably to said window support. The tubular member is provided with an inner volute with circulating balls coupled to the precompressed spring, and electrical drive means are provided to rotate the tubular member about its axis relative to said window support in one direction and to other.

Claims

1. An electrically controlled window regulator, particularly for raising and lowering a window mounted in a motor vehicle door, the regulator comprising:

slide means rigidly connectable to said window;

a guide for said slide means, said guide being rigidly connectable to a support for said window;

a flexible screw connected to said slide means and arranged to make outward and return translatory movements to move said slide means along said guide between a closed and an open position, said flexible screw consisting at least partly of a precompressed spring;

a flexible sheath in which said flexible screw extends in slidable manner, said flexible sheath having an end portion which extends along said guide and is formed with a slot-form opening extending therealong;

an appendix connecting said slide means to said flexible screw and extending through said slot-form opening in said flexible sheath;

a recirculating ball nut through which the precompressed spring extends and which is coupled drivingly to said precompressed spring, whereby rotation of the ball nut brings about translation of the flexible screw; and

a reversible electric motor connectable to said support and having a central hollow through shaft which is rotated upon operation of the motor, the flexible screw extending through said shaft and said shaft being connected to said recirculating ball nut so that the ball nut rotates with said shaft.

2. A window regulator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a manually operable handle mounted for rotary movement, and a transmission for transmitting rotary movement of the handle to said shaft.

3. An electrically controlled window regulator, particularly for raising and lowering a window mounted in a motor vehicle door, the regulator comprising:

slide means rigidly connectable to said window;

a guide for said slide means, said guide being rigidly connectable to a support for said window;

a flexible screw connected to said slide means and arranged to make outward and return translatory movements to move said slide means along said guide between a closed and an open position, said flexible screw consisting at least partly of a precompressed spring;

a flexible sheath in which said flexible screw extends in slidable manner, said flexible sheath having an end portion which extends along said guide and is formed with a slot-form opening extending therealong;

an appendix connected said slide means to said flexible screw and extending through said slot-form opening in said flexible sheath;

a recirculating ball nut through which the precompressed spring extends and which is coupled drivingly to said precompressed spring, whereby rotation of the ball nut brings about translation of the flexible screw;

a rigid bracket or frame which is rigidly connectable to said support;

a rigid tubular member which is rotatably mounted in an axially fixed position on said bracket or frame and through which said flexible screw extends, said tubular member being connected to said recirculating ball nut so that the tubular member and the ball nut rotate together;

a reversible electric motor; and

transmission means connecting said motor to said tubular member to drive the tubular member to rotate.

4. A window regulator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said transmission means comprise a pair of mutually cooperating gear wheels, one keyed on to an exit shaft of said motor and the other keyed on to said rigid tubular member.

5. A window regulator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said transmission means comprise a pair of pulleys on which a belt is wound, and which are keyed one on to an exit shaft of said motor and the other on to said rigid tubular member.