Safety device for electrical openers for a vehicle

• US 5,461,826 A
• Filed: 07/02/1993
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Body and Chassis Systems BCS
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Body and Chassis Systems BCS
• Inventors: Bonduel, Pascal, Fin, Enrico, Gier, Achim R., Heckel, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US08/087,835
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 49/26, 49/28, 49/31, 49/348, 49/349, 49/350, 49/351, 49/352
• US Class Current: 49/28
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/41 Detection by monitoring transmitted force or torque E05F15/48 takes precedence; Safety couplings with activation dependent upon torque or force, e.g. slip couplings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/552 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/006 Switches operated by mechanical overload condition, e.g. transmitted force or torque becoming too high

Abstract

In a window lifter of the cable type, comprising a motor for driving the cable bearing a slide (6) linked to a second slide (7) supporting the window, the two slides (6, 7) may be coupled via an elastic tension element (16) and one (6) of the slides is fitted with an electrical switch (17), associated with the second slide (7) so as to change state when the load on the slide (7) carrying the window (8) exceeds a predetermined value and when the elastic element (16) undergoes an extension corresponding to the separation between the slides; the switch (17) forms part of an electrical supply circuit for the motor, capable of reversing its direction of rotation when this switch (17) changes state, so as to free the movable member from an obstacle in its path. This electromechanical safety device has a simple structure and a low manufacturing cost.

Claims

1. In a safety device for vehicular electrical openers having an electrical motor with an electrical supply circuit, said electrical motor controlled by a switch forming part of said electrical supply for said motor, a movable member driven by a cable, a kinematic chain for driving said cable, and electromechanical coupling and load-detecting means for coupling and detecting a load between a driving element of said kinematic chain and a driven element of said kinematic chain, said driven element fixed to said movable member, said coupling and detecting means effective to automatically uncouple said driving and driven elements from each other in the event said load exceeds a predetermined value, the improvement comprising:

a driving slide fixedly attached to said cable, a driven slide fixedly attached to said movable member, said electromechanical coupling and load-detecting means provided between said driving slide and said driven slide and being arranged so as to automatically uncouple said driving slide and said driven slide from each other in the event said load exceeds said predetermined value.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said electromechanical coupling and load- detecting means comprises:

prestressed elastic tension element coupling said driving slide and said driven slide, said prestressed elastic tension element undergoing an extension separating said driving and driven slides in response to said load, and said switch fixed to one of said slides and associated with the other of said slides so as to change state when the extension of said prestressed elastic tension element exceeds the extension caused by a load of said predetermined value, wherein the direction of rotation of said electrical motor reverses when said switch changes state.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said electromechanical coupling and load-detecting means comprises:

a) a first catch and a second catch, said first and second catches pivoted on respective pins fixed to one of said driving or driven slides;

b) a finger member fixed to the other of said driving or driven slides;

c) a recess formed in said first catch adapted to engage said finger member;

d) a spring, one end of said spring being fixed to said one of said driving or driven slides, the other end of said spring being fixed to said second catch;

e) said switch fixed to one of said driving or driven slides and associated with the other of said driving or driven slides so as to change state when said driving slide and said driven slide are uncoupled; and

f) wherein said second catch is urged by said spring into bearing contact against said first catch in such manner that said finger member remains engaged in said recess of said first catch thereby coupling said driving and driven slides so long as the load transmitted to said finger by said first catch remains below a value determined by the tension of said spring, wherein the direction of rotation of said electrical motor reverses when said switch changes state.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling and load-detecting means comprises:

a) a first armature fixed to one of said driving or driven slides;

b) a second armature fixed to the other of said driving or driven slides;

c) a magnet positioned between said first and second armatures, said magnet generating an attractive force such that said driving and driven slides are maintained in fixed relation to one another;

d) said switch carried by one of said driving or driven slides and associated with the other of said driving or driven slides so as to change state when said driving and driven slides are uncoupled; and

e) wherein when the load between said driving and driven slides exceeds the attractive force generated by said magnet, said slides are uncoupled, said switch changes state, and the direction of rotation of said electrical motor reverses.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling and load-detecting means comprises:

a) a prestressed elastic tension element connecting said driven slide and said driving slide, said prestressed elastic tension element undergoing an extension separating said driving and driven slides in response to said load;

b) a magnet fixed to one of said driving or driven slides;

c) first and second ferromagnetic plates located on either side of said magnet, said ferromagnetic plates defining first and second stable positions of said magnet;

d) magnet drive and guide means carried by said other of said driving or driven slide and adapted to move said magnet from one of said first or second stable positions to the other of said first or second stable positions when said extension of said prestressed elastic tension element exceeds the extension caused by a load of said predetermined value;

e) said switch interacting with said magnet so as to change state when said magnet changes from one stable position to the other; and

f) wherein the direction of rotation of said electrical motor reverses when said switch changes state.

6. Device according to claim 5 wherein said magnet guide and drive means comprises:

a) a finger member having a guide slot, said finger member projecting from one of said slides and extending opposite said magnet; and

b) a rod attached to said magnet and slidingly positioned in said guide slot.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling and load detecting means comprises:

a) a prestressed elastic tension element connecting said driving slide and said driven slide, said prestressed elastic tension element undergoing an extension separating said driving and driven slides in response to said load;

b) a component member pivoted on one of said slides, said component member interacting with said switch;

c) a spring having a return force, said spring urging said switch towards a position corresponding to a first state of said switch;

d) a finger member extending from the other of said slides interacting with said component member so as to force said component member to an angular position against said return force of said spring and maintaining said switch in a second state so long as the extension of said prestressed elastic tension element does not exceed the extension caused by a load of said predetermined value; and

e) wherein the direction of rotation of said electrical motor reverses when said switch changes state.

8. Device according to claim 1, further comprising limiting means for limiting movement of said driving slide and said driven slide relative to each other, said limiting means comprising a component attached to one of said slides and having a portion extending along the other of said slides, said component having a hook portion adapted to limit movement of said other of said slides when said hook portion of said component bears against said other slide.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said movable member being selected from the group consisting of a window or a sunroof.

10. In a safety device for vehicular window openers comprising a kinematic chain provided with a geared motor unit having an input gear and an output gear, an electrical motor gearingly driving the input gear of said geared motor unit, an electrical supply circuit providing electric power to the motor and an electrical switch forming part of the electrical supply circuit of said motor, a toothed sector forming a driving element in engagement with said output gear of said geared motor unit, a swing arm forming a driven element, said swing arm mechanically linked to said toothed sector and carrying a window, and electromechanical coupling and load-detecting means for electromechanically coupling and detecting a load between said toothed sector and said swing arm, said coupling and load-detecting means adapted to uncouple said toothed sector and swing arm from each other in the event said load exceeds a predetermined value, the improvement comprising:

a) a magnet fixed to one of said toothed sector or said swing arm;

b) a ferromagnetic plate carried by the other of said swing arm or toothed sector against which said magnet normally attaches due to an attractive force provided by said magnet coupling said toothed sector and said swing arm;

c) said electrical switch mounted on one of said toothed sector or said swing arm and associated with the other of said swing arm or toothed sector so as to change state when said toothed sector and said swing arm are uncoupled by a load exceeding said attractive force provided by said magnet; and

d) wherein the direction of rotation of said electrical motor reverses when said switch changes state.

11. Device according to claim 10, further comprising a limit stop for limiting movement of said toothed sector and said swing arm relative to each other after said toothed sector and said swing arm have been detached from each other and before reversal of direction of rotation of said electrical motor.

12. In a safety device for vehicular window openers comprising a kinematic chain provided with a geared motor unit having an input gear and an output gear, an electrical motor gearingly driving the input gear of said geared motor unit, an electrical supply circuit providing electric power to the motor and an electrical switch forming part of the electrical supply circuit of said motor, a toothed sector forming a driving element in engagement with said output gear of said geared motor unit, a swing arm forming a driven element, said swing arm mechanically linked to said toothed sector and carrying a window, and electromechanical coupling and load-detecting means for electromechanically coupling and detecting a load between said toothed sector and said swing arm, said coupling and load-detecting means adapted to uncouple said toothed sector and swing arm from each other in the event said load exceeds a predetermined value, the improvement comprising:

a) a prestressed elastic tension element connecting said toothed sector and said swing arm, said prestressed elastic tension element undergoing an extension separating said toothed sector and said swing arm in response to said load;

b) one of said toothed sector or said swing arm equipped with a component member pivoted to said one of said toothed sector or said swing arm;

c) a spring having a return force which urges said component member against said electrical switch towards a first state of said switch;

d) a finger member fitted to the other of said toothed sector or said swing arm;

e) said finger member interacting with said component member so as to keep said component member in an angular position corresponding to a second state of said switch against the return force of said spring so long as said prestressed elastic tension element does not undergo an extension greater than that corresponding to an extension caused by said predetermined force; and

f) wherein the direction of rotation of said electrical motor reverses when said switch changes state.

13. In a safety device for vehicular window openers comprising a kinematic chain provided with a geared motor unit having an input gear and an output gear, an electrical motor gearingly driving the input gear of said geared motor unit, an electrical supply circuit providing a electric power to the motor and an electrical switch forming part of the electrical supply circuit of said motor, a toothed sector forming a driving element in engagement with said output gear of said geared motor unit, a swing arm forming a driven element, said swing arm mechanically linked to said toothed sector and carrying a window, and electromechanical coupling and load-detecting means for electromechanically coupling and detecting a load between said toothed sector and said swing arm, said coupling and load-detecting means adapted to uncouple said toothed sector and swing arm from each other in the event said load exceeds a predetermined value, the improvement comprising:

a) an elastic tension element connecting said swing arm and said toothed sector, said elastic element being prestressed and undergoing an extension separating said toothed sector and said swing arm from each other in response to said load;

b) a magnet carried by one of said swing arm or toothed sector which can move between a first stable position and a second stable position and associated with said switch such that said switch changes state when said magnet changes from one stable position to the other;

c) said first stable position being one in which said toothed sector and said swing arm are coupled and said second stable position of said magnet being one in which said toothed sector and said swing arm are uncoupled by extension of said prestressed elastic tension element exceeding the extension caused by a load of said predetermined value; and

d) wherein the direction of rotation of said electrical motor reverses when said switch changes state.

14. Device according to claim 13, further comprising magnet drive and guide means, said magnet drive and guide means comprising:

a) a finger member having a guide slot and projecting from one of said toothed sector or said swing arm opposite said magnet;

b) a rod attached to said magnet and slidingly positioned in said guide slot;

c) first and second ferromagnetic plates attached to one of said toothed sector or said swing arm; and

d) wherein said first and second ferromagnetic plates are spaced apart on either side of said magnet, and define said first and second stable positions of said magnet when said magnet is magnetically attached to said first or second of said ferromagnetic plates.