Abstract: This motorized reduction gear comprises a rotor equipped with a rotor shaft, a reduction gearbox (2) containing a gearwheel (3) in mesh with an endless screw of the shaft, a damper (5) housed in the wheel, and secured thereto so that they rotate as one; the single-piece damper has peripheral cut-outs (8) designed to accommodate, on the one hand, radial fins (7) of the wheel and, on the other hand, elements (10) for driving an output member (11), and the edges of the cut-outs are chamfered (38). The chamfers ensure that the angular deflection of the damper as a function of the torque is gradual and make it easier to fit automatically onto the hub of the gearwheel.

Abstract: A window runner includes a clip-in member that engages a hole in a window to attach the window runner to the window. A locking member, in the form of a screw pre-mounted on the runner, is introduced into a central orifice of the clip from the side of the window which faces toward the interior of the vehicle. Flexible tabs extending from the clip lock into the periphery of the window hole. It is therefore extremely difficult to detach the clip from outside the vehicle. In consequence, any unauthorized lowering of the window by detaching the window clip-in member is no longer possible.

Abstract: A reinforcement module for a vehicle door comprises a plurality of elongate reinforcement members (1) and a plurality of connectors (2a, 2b and 2c). Each connector (2a, 2b and 2c) is engageable with the free end portions of at least two of the elongate reinforcement members (1) to connect those elongate reinforcement members together. The arrangement is such that at least one of the elongate reinforcement members (1) extends generally transversely with respect to at least one other elongate reinforcement member.

Abstract: A device for completing the assembly of a window raiser mechanism. The device includes a cover (12) partly surrounding the drum (1) for winding the cables. At the base of the drum (1) a circular tunnel (16) defines a peripheral passage for manually inserting the hooking pellet of the second cable (4). The end pellet of the first cable (3) is inserted in the opening and this cable is then wound on the drum (1) by adjusting this winding in such manner that the opening for the pellet of the second cable (4) is accessible to an operator and that a slider (6), which is fixed to the first cable, is in the end-of-travel abutment position. Then the second cable (4) is manually inserted around the drum (1) on substantially one turn until it is possible to place its end pellet (19) in the corresponding opening (21). Then the loop formed by the two cables is closed.

Abstract: A door module (1) is adapted to be applied in a sealed manner to the periphery (2) of an inner opening (3) of a box structure (4) of a vehicle door (5) and can support devices such as a window raiser (6). The module (1) comprises a rigid peripheral part (14) composed of a first material having good mechanical properties shaped to be adaptable to the periphery (2) of the opening (3), and a plate (15) composed of a second material connected on its periphery in a sealed manner to the rigid peripheral part (14) and filling the area defined by the latter. The plate (15) may be composed of a cheap material, which reduces the cost of the module while maintaining its mechanical properties on the peripheral part thereof. The devices, in particular the window raiser, are fixed to the rigid peripheral part (14).

Abstract: An automobile vehicle door (1) includes a box structure (3), a module (4) including an acoustic chamber (6) supporting a speaker (7) adapted to be applied on the periphery of an opening (5) formed on the inner side of the box structure and an inner trim panel (8) covering the module. The module is fixed in a watertight manner on the surround of the opening (5) of the box structure, a peripheral rib (12) is provided for defining in the module a volume of air V excited by the rear wave of the speaker, and a vent is provided in the trim panel for returning the rear wave of the speaker in the direction toward a listening zone. With this arrangement, the door is provided with an acoustic enclosure of the “bass reflex” type having a very good acoustic efficiency in respect of the bass frequencies with no risk of entry of water into the compartment of the vehicle through the vent (17).

Abstract: A motor assembly that is useful for operating various devices on a vehicle includes a unique arrangement for securing a detector arrangement within the motor assembly. The detector arrangement includes a first portion that is supported on a shaft associated with the rotor portion of the assembly. A second portion of the detector arrangement is supported by a flange, which is associated with the stator of the assembly. The second portion of the detector assembly includes a printed circuit board that is received within a recessed housing formed on the flange. The recessed housing includes at least one surface that abuts the circuit board into a position where cooperating locking features operate to secure the printed circuit board in a desired position on the flange.

Abstract: A motor including a motor unit (2) has at least one plastics material portion (4). A two-part casing (5) receives at least one electronic circuit card. The casing is formed of two complementary portions (5a, 5b) joining on a plane (P) passing through a diagonal plane of the casing and provided with means (7) to receive the circuit card and complementary fixing means (9, 10, 11). One portion (5a) of the casing is in one piece with the plastics material (4) of the motor unit and the other portion (5b) includes an envelope (8) for a connector for connecting the motor to the remainder of the circuits of the vehicle.

Abstract: A motor unit for operating a functional member of a vehicle includes a motor portion and a gearing portion. The gear portion includes a wheel gear intermeshed with a worm gear driven by a shaft. The shaft is supported by a plurality of mounts. At least one of the mounts and the shaft defines a complementary contacting surface having a bowed cross section. The bowed cross section minimizes any misalignment problems of the shaft and reduces deformation of the shaft when torque is blocked.

Abstract: A motorized reduction gear includes a slip-ring housing having a pivot and a ramp to guide a spring slidably fitted on the pivot as far as its base. The ramp is preferably formed on a boss of the slip-ring housing which extends on each side of the associated pivot and partially surrounds it. In a final position, one branch forces a brush against the slip ring and the other branch bears against a slit at the foot of the ramp to provide an improved assembly that avoids soldering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for examining the electrochemical kinetics occurring at the surface of a galvanized steel cable undergoing fatigue in the presence of a corrosive environment allows the prediction of the corrosion life of the cable. In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting localized corrosion in a cable is provided undergoing mechanical fatigue, comprising a weir cell containing an electrolyte and a reference electrode, one or more pulleys, and a motion control device. In other embodiments, methods for detecting and monitoring the electrochemical response of corrosion coupled to fatigue in a galvanized steel cable are provided wherein the potential between a reference electrode and a moveable cable under tension and undergoing fatigue are recorded and/or monitored. In further embodiments, a method and apparatus are provided for inspecting entire runs of cable for localized corrosion, zinc porosity, and corrosion inhibition efficiency.

Abstract: The process comprises forming a tube (1) of an electrically conductive material having on its inner surface axial grooves (2) and axial projecting portions (3) between the latter, injecting a hardenable insulating material (4) into the tube (1) so as to fill the latter, this material penetrating the grooves and surrounding the projecting portions, and removing the outer portion of the tube (1) after the hardening of the insulating material so as to reveal the insulating material of the grooves (2) and form between the latter commutator segments which are insulated from one another. The tube (1) is formed by the extrusion of two complementary half-tube shells (1a, 1b) and the assembly of the latter one against the other on an axial joint plane (A--A).

Abstract: Window lifter for vehicle door, comprising two rails which are mutually parallel and parallel to the travel of the window glass (3), a rider mounted so that it can slide on each rail and secured to a window glass support clamp device (14) including a part (15) fixed to the rider and a part (16) which can move, articulated to the fixed part, as well as a system of cables which are connected to the riders and provided with means for driving the said cables and the riders; the mobile part (16) of each clamp has a bearing surface (23) for the window glass, situated substantially along the axis of sliding of the rider, this surface being formed by a bent end (24) extending a lateral lug (25) of the mobile part (16). This arrangement makes it possible for the weight of the window glass (3) to be borne on a bearing surface situated on the axis of sliding of the rider along the rail, which eliminates any cantilever effect and therefore any parasitic forces in the mechanism during travel of the window glass.

Abstract: This motorized reduction gear includes a toothed wheel (1) for driving an output member mounted on its hub (4), and one or more damping springs (6) interposed between the wheel (1) and the output member; the damping spring(s) (6) is(are) flat and metal and formed of two flexible branches (7) which are symmetrical with one another with respect to a median plane; each branch includes a convolution, a first section (8) of which extends around the hub (4), is extended by a fold (11), and a second section (9) terminated by a radial segment (12), a flat (13) for bearing on a rib (17) of the wheel (1), and a claw (14) for holding the spring in the wheel (1), around the hub (4). When the window pane comes to rest in abutment at the end of its path, one of the branches (7) is compressed and moves closer to the other, damping out the halting in the rotation of the toothed wheel (1). This(these) spring(s) has(have) a small overall size and high operational stability.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable-tensioning device associated with a rail (3) having at its ends (4, 5) two points for returning at least one cable (8), characterized in that one (4) of the said ends of the rail includes: a rotary cam (12); a cam-support element (7); a spring (13) coaxial with the cam (12) and having two angularly offset radial tabs (32, 33), a first tab (33) bearing on a stop (19) formed on the support element (7), and the second tab (32) extending inside the cam (12) and being designed to slide over a non-return means (20) arranged on the support element (7) after the cam has rotated through a first travel, this non-return means being shaped to prevent any return of the second tab (32) after the tabs of the spring (13) have become angularly separated by at least the length of the arc between the non-return means (20) and the stop (19), the cable (8) being engaged in grooves (30, 31) formed at the periphery of the cam. This invention has application to motor vehicle door window lifters.