Patents Assigned to Rockwell Body and Chassis System
  • Patent number: 5577347
    Abstract: This device comprises mechanical link including a pawl (25) establishing a rigid drive link between a driving input member (2) and an output member (22), interacting with a prestressed element (31) which tends to hold the pawl in connection with the driving input member or with the driven output member, for so long as the force transmitted by the pawl remains below a predetermined value; this system automatically interrupts the kinematic drive chain of the movable member in the case of a force exceeding a predetermined value. This arrangement makes the device practically insensitive to friction and eliminates the uncertainty on the threshold of the triggering force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Rockwell Body and Chassis System
    Inventors: Robert J. Heckel, Enrico Fin, Achim R. Gier, Pascal Bonduel
  • Patent number: 5528957
    Abstract: Parking brake for vehicle, of the type comprising a lever (1) articulated onto a spindle (2) integral with a base (3) designed to be solidly attached with the chassis of the vehicle, which lever is connected to at least one actuation cable (7), and means for locking the lever in a predetermined angular position; the lever includes an element (9) for linkage with the cable, and the end of the base (3) contiguous to the articulation spindle of the lever is profiled so as to form a ramp (11) for limiting the displacement of the said linkage element during operations of the lever, this ramp being limited by a stop (11b) for retaining the lever in a raised brake actuation position and being positioned at the end of the base opposite the entry of the cable. This brake requires for its operation only a limited force from the user, less than the forces normally necessary on conventional brakes with toothed sectors and pawls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Rockwell Body and Chassis Systems
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Belmond, Philippe Ottolini
  • Patent number: 5509326
    Abstract: This brake comprises a lever (1) articulated onto a pin (2), a soleplate (3) and a toggle joint mechanism (8) connected to the application cable (9); this mechanism (8) includes a connecting rod which is articulated onto the lever (1), the end of the cable (9) being connected to the end of the connecting rod (10) through the use of a balance bar (11) which can be moved translationally in a direction parallel to the cable (9). The mechanism (8) considerably decreases the forces for applying and releasing the brake. On application, the lever (1) is brought into abutment on the soleplate (3) so that the direction of the force (P) in the connecting rod (10), which force is brought about by tensioning the cable (9), passes above the pin (2), which keeps it in the applied position. A push-rod (16), subjected to a return force (F) and sliding inside the lever (1) automatically provides safety locking of the brake in the position for keeping it applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Rockwell Body and Chassis Systems
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Belmond
  • Patent number: 5495080
    Abstract: This electrical switch (1) consists of a flat spring, profiled in order to provide both a contact function and a spring function; the flat spring (1) includes a first leg (2) which can be deformed by bearing on a fixed pivot pin (3) of a support (4), and a second leg (5), which can move at the same time as the first leg deforms and whose end (5a) can assume either of two positions for contacting pins (14,15) of an electrical circuit. The switch according to the invention is less bulky than the usual switches by virtue of its flat shape, less expensive to manufacture, because it only consists of a single component, and easy to install on its support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Rockwell Body and Chassis Systems
    Inventors: Pierre Periou, Enrico Fin
  • Patent number: 5477641
    Abstract: This safety device for electric window lifters of the Bowden cable (3) type comprises electromechanical means for detecting and measuring the force exerted on the cable (3); a compression spring (11), housed in a sheath (9) coaxial to the cable (3) bears, on the one hand, on a stationary support (8) and, on the other hand, on a tubular component (12) mounted so as to slide inside the sheath (9) and carrying a tab (13) which interacts with an electric switch (14) forming part of an electric circuit for controlling the motor capable of automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the motor when the force (F) exerted on the window and the cable (3) gives rise to a movement of the tubular component (12), which opens the switch (14). This electromechanical safety device is of simple and inexpensive construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Rockwell Body and Chassis Systems
    Inventors: Robert J. Heckel, Enrico Fin, Achim R. Gier, Pascal Bonduel
  • Patent number: 5469656
    Abstract: A safety device for electric glass-winders of the cable type employs a guide rail movably mounted on the door panel of a vehicle so as to be capable of being driven downwardly in vertical translation by the cable upon encountering a force opposing travel of the glass which exceeds a predetermined value. The rail is maintained in its normal position by, for example, a magnet which attracts a tab of ferromagnetic material fixed to the rail. A switch forming part of the electrical supply circuit for the winder motor cooperates with the rail and reverses the direction of rotation of the motor when the rail is displaced from its normal position to a lower position. The electromechanical safety device is inexpensive and simple to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Rockwell Body and Chassis Systems
    Inventors: Achim R. Gier, Pascal Bonduel, Robert J. Heckel, Enrico Fin
  • Patent number: 5461826
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Rockwell Body and Chassis Systems
    Inventors: Robert J. Heckel, Enrico Fin, Achim R. Gier, Pascal Bonduel