Window regulator and method of providing articulating motion to a window in a vehicle door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016305179-A1
Application number	US-201514686814-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 15, 2015
Priority date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A window regulator is provided for a window in a vehicle door. The window regulator includes a drive mechanism having a first cable and a second cable. The first cable is connected to the window at a first connection point and the second cable is connected to the window at a second connection point. The two cables are driven at different speeds so that the window is rotated with respect to the vehicle door panel as the window is displaced between a fully closed position and a fully opened position.

First claim

1 . A window regulator for a window in a vehicle door, comprising:
a drive mechanism including a first cable and a second cable, said first cable being connected to the window at a first connection point and said second cable being connected to the window at a second connection point whereby said first cable is driven at a first speed S 1 , and said second cable is driven at a second speed S 2 where S 1 ≠S 2 so that the window is rotated with respect to the vehicle door as the window is displaced between a fully closed position and a fully opened position.

2 . The window regulator of claim 1 , wherein said drive mechanism includes a first drum about which said first cable is wound and a second drum about which said second cable is wound.

3 . The window regulator of claim 2 , wherein said first drum has a first radius R 1 and said second drum has a second radius R 2 where R 1 ≠R 2 .

4 . The window regulator of claim 3 , wherein said drive mechanism includes a single motor that drives said first drum and said second drum.

5 . The window regulator of claim 2 , wherein said drive mechanism includes a first motor that drives said first drum and a second motor that drives said second drum.

6 . The window regulator of claim 5 , wherein said drive mechanism includes a controller configured to control driving of said first cable at said first speed S 1 and said second cable at said second speed S 2 .

7 . The window regulator of claim 2 , further including a first window connector connecting said first cable to the window at said first connection point and a second window connector connecting said second cable to the window at said second connector point.

8 . The window regulator of claim 7 , further including a first guide channel and a second guide channel.

9 . The window regulator of claim 8 , wherein said first connector includes a first follower so that said first connector slides along said first guide channel and said second connector includes a second follower so that said second connector slides along said second guide channel.

10 . The window regulator of claim 8 , wherein said first guide channel has a first radius of curvature C 1 and said second guide channel has a second radius of curvature C 2 where C 1 >C 2 and said first radius of curvature C 1 and said second radius of curvature C 2 are about a common axis located vehicle rearward of the window.

11 . A method of providing articulating motion to a window in a vehicle door, comprising:
moving the window at a first connection point at a first speed S 3 ; and moving the window at a second connection point at a second speed S 4 where S 3 ≠S 4 ; whereby the window is rotated with respect to the vehicle door as the window is displaced between a fully closed position and a fully opened position.

12 . The method of claim 11 , including connecting a first cable on a first drum to said first connection point and connecting a second cable on a second drum to said second connection point.

13 . The method of claim 12 , including using said first drum with a first radius R 1 and said second drum with a second radius R 2 where R 1 ≠R 2 .

14 . The method of claim 13 , including driving said first drum and said second drum with a single drive motor.

15 . The method of claim 12 , including driving said first drum with a first drive motor and driving said second drum with a second drive motor.

16 . The method of claim 11 , including moving said first point along a first radius of curvature C 1 and said second point along a second radius of curvature C 2 where C 1 >C 2 and said first radius of curvature C 1 and said second radius of curvature C 2 are about a common axis located vehicle rearward of the window.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Heirtzler Paul L
• Iacovoni Donald P
• Miller Scott George

Classifications

• E05F15/689 Primary

  specially adapted for vehicle windows · CPC title

• B60J1/14

  with pivotal or rotary movement · CPC title

• E05F15/603 Primary

  using rotary electromotors · CPC title

• E05Y2900/55

  Windows · CPC title

• E05F15/695

  Control circuits therefor · CPC title