Abstract: A gas spring for the hatchback or other closure member of a motor vehicle body automatically stops at an intermediate position between the fully closed and fully opened positions. A piston carrying a piston rod separates the interior of a cylindrical body into first and second chambers. Gas under pressure forces the piston and piston rod towards the extended position to open the closure member, a restricted gas path through a groove in the cylinder wall allowing gas to flow from the second chamber to the first chamber. A third chamber is also defined within the cylinder and has an uninterrupted wall portion and a wall portion incorporating a groove. The third chamber is on the opposite side of the second chamber to the first chamber and has a smaller diameter than the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A method of making a sealing or guiding assembly for sealing or guiding a corner of a movable window glass, such as for the window in a motor vehicle door. The assembly comprises two lengths of sealing or guiding strip which are connected together to form a corner matching the corner of the window glass. The corner between the two lengths of strip is bridged across by a flexible flap which is produced by an in-situ molding operation forming part of the method. The two lengths of strip are placed into the mould which has a cavity matching the shape of the flexible flap but which is arranged so that the flap is connected to each sealing strip only over a small part of the total area of the sealing strip which is overlapped by the flap. The flap is therefore otherwise spaced from each sealing strip by a gap which, during the molding operation, is occupied by a plate which defines part of the mold cavity for forming the flap.

Abstract: Apparatus for blow-molding an article curved in three dimensions comprises two horizontally movable mold parts which, when in contact with each other, define a mold cavity curved in three dimensions to match the required article. An extrusion head extrudes a parison of synthetic resin material into the cavity so that it descends towards the lower end thereof. During this process, a first air flow is fed through apertures in a cover and passes through the mold cavity around the outside of the parison to ease the passage of the parison towards the lower end. In addition, a second air flow is fed through a nozzle in the extrusion head into the interior of the parison so as to help it descend and also to prevent its distortion as it moves into the mold cavity. Thereafter, closure members, which are slidable on, but movable independently of, the main mold parts, close off the upper and lower ends of the mold cavity and pinch the parison between them, their movements being controlled by respective actuators.

Abstract: A reinforcing channel-shaped carrier for a sealing, trimming or guiding strip is made of metal and provided with slots of several different types. Slots of a first type extend across the base of the carrier and for short distances into the side walls and facilitate bending about an axis parallel to the base and perpendicular to the length of the channel. Slots of a second type are positioned in the side walls and facilitate bending about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the base. The latter slots are of two different forms. Slots of one form are shorter than those of the other form. This increases the stiffness of the carrier. The carrier is produced by slitting a flat metal blank and then rolling it along stretch paths to cause it to be thinned-down and expanded lengthwise to convert the slits into slots. The carrier is advantageously used in a sealing, trimming or guiding strip in closed loop form ready for fitting to a vehicle door opening.

Abstract: A window glass in a motor vehicle body is slidable in a vertical direction within a window frame by means of an electric motor controlled by "up" and "down" switches. The window glass slides with reference to a window guide channel. The window guide channel incorporates a metal carrier or other electrical conductor which receives the output from electrical oscillating means. If a human hand, or other part of the human body, is present within the frame of the window, when the window is open, and within a predetermined distance from the window guide channel, the resultant capacitive effect will change the output of the oscillator. This output change is detected by a detecting unit and opens a switch. This switch is connected in series with the "up" switch for the window drive motor and thus either stops the motor, if it is driving the window glass upwards, or prevents the window glass from being so driven.

Abstract: A protective bellows for protecting the steering mechanism of a motor vehicle body is shown. The bellows has a fixing collar for gripping the outside of the casing of the steering mechanism, and a fixing collar for gripping a mounting region of the steering rod. In order to be fitted into position, however, the fixing collar has to be stretched to pass over a boss of enlarged diameter. The bellows is produced by blow-moulding from EPDM-polypropylene or similar thermoplastic material. Because of the lesser resilience of this material, compared with previously used materials such as thermoplastic polyurethane, the initial diameter of the fixing collar has to be selected in dependence on the relative values for the diameters of the boss and the mounting region in order to ensure that the pressure with which the fixing collar grips the mounting region provides adequate sealing not only initially but throughout the expected life of the bellows.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement is shown for providing enhanced sealing for the edge of a window pane for the window opening in the upper part of the door of a vehicle body. In the case where the door carries no frame for the window, the sealing arrangement is carried by the frame of the door opening. The sealing arrangement comprises longitudinally extending lips defining a shallow groove between them, and in the base of which groove are formed apertures. When the window pane is in the closed position, suction is applied to the groove through holes in its base, and ensures that the lips are in enhanced sealing and supporting contact with the periphery of the window glass. The lips and the groove are formed in an outside wall of a chamber to which pressure can be applied so as to force the lips towards the window pane. The pressure in the chamber and the suction in the chamber can be controlled in synchronism with the raising and lowering of the window pane and with the opening and closing of the door.

Abstract: A window frame carried on the door of a vehicle is in the form of an aluminum extrusion having a smooth bend in the region where the top of the frame meets the corner between the "B" pillar of the vehicle and the vehicle roof. The window glass has a sharp angle matching this corner. The aluminum extrusion carries a flange and is formed with a channel by means of which the window sealing and guiding strip can be secured to the frame. The sealing and guiding strip has a mitered corner matching the sharp angle of the window glass. For supporting the sealing and guiding strip in the region of this corner, a separate metal corner piece is provided. This has a shoulder which is a tight press fit into the channel on the aluminum extrusion. It is supplied to the vehicle manufacturer already attached to the sealing and guiding strip itself, so that the strip and the corner piece can be fitted to the frame in substantially a single press-fit operation.

Abstract: A clamping ring, for clamping an end collar of a protective bellows to one end of a universal joint in a vehicle transmission, is made of resilient material having two overlapping end portions. One end portion has a tongue extending through a slot defined in the other end portion. In its relaxed state, the material of the ring holds the tongue in an initial position in the slot. When the ring is placed over the end collar of the bellows, the ring expands slightly to permit this, the tongue moving towards a "high" stop at one end of the slot. The ring then resiles slightly so as to hold itself on the bellows. When the bellows, with the ring in position, is placed over the end of the universal joint, the ring once more expands slightly to permit this. The ring is then tightened by moving the end portion until a hook engages a shoulder on the other end portion, the tongue moving towards a "low" stop at the other end of the slot.

Abstract: An engine mount comprises a relatively stiff elastomeric member having an interior defining a first chamber containing hydraulic liquid. The elastomeric member is attached both to the engine and to the vehicle body. A flexible wall defines a second chamber and the two chambers are connected by a restricted channel. Engine vibration is transmitted to the liquid in the first chamber via the elastomeric member, and damping takes place because of the resistance to the flow of liquid between the two chambers or because of oscillation of the mass of the liquid in the restricted channel. In addition, a flexible membrane is supported by the interior wall of the elastomeric member and urged against this wall by a leaf spring, and the air pressure between the interior wall of the elastomeric member and the membrane is variable.

Abstract: A glass mounting arrangement for mounting a window glass in a window frame comprises a channel-shaped flexible strip which has apertures at intervals therealong. Each aperture sealingly receives an arm of a respective mounting clip. Each mounting clip has a U-shaped portion which seats in a recess in the channel of the strip. The strip with the clips mounted therein is placed on and along the peripheral edge of the window glass before the latter is offered up to the window frame. As the window glass is moved bodily towards the window frame, the arms contact the window frame and correctly position the window glass with respect to the window frame. The arms of the clips elastically deform to allow locking shoulders to pass over the edge of the frame, the arms thereafter resiling to secure the window glass in position. Lips provide additional sealing. The mounting arrangement is particularly suitable for use with a robot.

Abstract: A sealing strip adjacent a slidable window glass in an automobile body, provides a sealing lip which is mounted on an air-tight hollow chamber having two relatively rigid sides stiffened by a metal carrier. The third side is a relatively flexible wall. Expansion of the chamber by air pressure pushes the flexible wall outwardly so that a leg pivots the lip out of engagement with the window glass. In this configuration, a further chamber can be expanded by air pressure so that a wiper is caused to move into contact with the face of the window glass. As the window glass is raised or lowered, this wiper removes moisture and prevents smearing. Partial evacuation of the chambers retracts the flexible wall, thus pulling the lip into sealing engagement with the window glass, and also causes the wiper to move out of contact with the glass. A water jet may also be provided to spray cleaning water onto the glass when in the closed position.

Abstract: A protective bellows protects a universal joint driven by a shaft, such as forming part of the front wheel drive mechanism of a motor vehicle. The bellows has a collar with an interior annular rib which, on completion of the fitting process, locates in an annular groove in the shaft. During the fitting process, a tube is forced between the interior peripheral surface of the collar and the outer surface of the shaft, via a channel in the rib and a channel in the material of the inner end of the collar which grips the surface of the shaft. Grease is pumped into the interior of the bellows through this tube. Further channels extend through the rib and the adjacent material of the collar, and allow excess air Pressure to be vented to atmosphere during and after the grease-filling operation.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a window pane in a vehicle body which can be raised and lowered is shown. The body panel on the outside of the door carries a seal. This seal has an integral hinge region and the inherent resilience of the material biases the seal into a position in which a lip seals against the window pane. When a motor is energised, push rods push upwardly on the end of a leg and hinge the lip away from the window pane, thus permitting it to be easily raised or lowered. This leg is reinforced with a metal strip to enable the force produced by the push rod to be transmitted to the lip. In another embodiment, the lip is hinged away from the window pane by inflation of an air-tube, thus permitting it to be easily raised or lowered. When this air-tube is fully collapsed, the lip moves closer into contact with the window pane, enabling the window pane to be wiped or cleaned as it is moved downwardly.

Abstract: A robot hand is disclosed for fitting a length of channel-shaped sealing strip to a flange running around the door opening of a motor vehicle body. The sealing strip, with the sides of its channel initially splayed apart, is held coiled in a cassette. A take-up roller is initially driven by a motor to pull a length of the strip out of the cassette until its end engages the flange, rollers confining the strip to move in a curved path. A cradle carrying these rollers is then transversely moved clear of the path by piston-cylinder assemblies. The robot hand is then caused to travel around the door opening, the motor now rotating two parallel-axis rollers spaced either side of the flange. The latter press the sides of the channel of the sealing strip into gripping engagement with the flange and also drive the robot hand around the door opening.

Abstract: A robot arrangement for mounting a sealing strip on a mounting flange comprises a robot hand supported at the end of a robot arm. The sealing strip is received by the robot hand at one position and driven through the hand to emerge at another position. Its emerging end is engaged by a spigot mounted on a pivotted finger. As the strip movement continues, this finger pivots and constrains the strip to follow a curved path around a guide roller. The robot arm then moves the robot hand towards the flange so that the now curved strip engages the flange 6. Thereafter the finger is moved by a motor out of engagement with the strip. The robot arm then drives the robot hand along the flange, thus laying the strip onto the flange.

Abstract: A sealing and guiding strip, for a motor vehicle door having a slidable window pane, comprises a length of rubber and a rigid metal support. The sealing strip extends around the sides and top of the frame of the window and down into the hollow lower part of the door. It is produced by a molding operation, the rigid metal support being placed in the mold and thus becoming bonded to the rubber during the molding operation and the subsequent vulcanization. The metal support ensures that the finished sealing strip is rigidly held in the correct shape and configuration and it is thus easily handled, packed, delivered and fitted to the vehicle, the latter process being aided by clips or fixtures which are attached to the support when it is placed in the mold. The rubber defines a glass-receiving channel, and lips and for providing a seal against the adjacent part of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A flexible protective bellows for enclosing a universal joint of a vehicle transmission is designed so that alternate folds are of different shape from the intervening ones. This reduces wear between the peaks of adjacent folds when the bellows is compressed. The troughs are formed with loops to reduce wear when the bellows is stretched. Various means for securing the bellows in its fixing groove in the housing of the universal joint are also disclosed as are means for incorporating a toothed ring for use in speed measurement for the vehicle's ABS system.

Abstract: A robot hand receives a length of sealing strip and fits it onto a mounting flange surrounding a vehicle door opening. The hand is carried by the arm of a robot. As the robot moves the hand around the periphery of the door opening, the hand grips the sealing strip and drives it through the hand and around a roller so as to lay it on the flange. An appropriate length of the sealing strip is supplied to the hand by means of a cassette within which the sealing strip is coiled. The hand carries a pick-up plate which grips the cassette by means of locking members. An end of the sealing strip extends out of the cassette on a nose forming part of the inverted lid of the cassette. The cassette is then drawn towards the robot hand, forcing the nose into the entrance of the hand and thus placing the end of the sealing strip between a first pair of drive rollers which are thereafter rotated so as to drive the sealing strip out of the cassette and through the hand.

Abstract: A robot arrangement for mounting a sealing strip on a mounting flange comprises a robot hand supported at the end of a robot arm. The sealing strip is received by the robot hand at one position and driven through the hand to emerge at another position. Its emerging end is engaged by a spigot mounted on a pivotted finger. As the strip movement continues, this finger pivots and constrains the strip to follow a curved path around a guide roller. The robot arm then moves the robot hand towards the flange so that the now curved strip engages the flange 6. Thereafter the finger is accelerated by a motor out of engagement with the strip. The robot arm then drives the robot hand along the flange, thus laying the strip onto the flange.