Cable Drive Patents (Class 49/352)
  • Patent number: 4313282
    Abstract: A window crank assembly includes a stationarily supported cable drum having a core; a housing accommodating the cable drum and having a slot; a cable slung about the core and passing through the slot and being connected to the window pane; a drive for rotating the core, whereby a pulling force is exerted on the cable; a cable conduit accommodating a length portion of the cable as well as fittings supporting opposite ends of the cable conduit. At least one of the fittings is supported on a guide segment member in the vicinity of the cable drum at a predetermined distance from the core. This fitting is swingably arranged on the guide segment member for motion in a plane which is parallel to the slot provided in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk AG
    Inventors: Edmund Hagemann, Herbert Wildschutte
  • Patent number: 4306378
    Abstract: A window regulator for automotive vehicles which has a reciprocable wire operable to raise and lower a window along a guide rail within a door. The window regulator includes a wire driving mechanism for driving the wire according to the operation of a handle lever, and an auxiliary mechanism including a torsion spring integrated with the wire driving mechanism for assisting in raising the window and serving as a resistance to lowering the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Fukura, Masatoshi Hirooka
  • Patent number: 4299057
    Abstract: A window crank assembly includes a guide rail mounted substantially parallel to the direction of motion of a window pane to be raised and lowered by the crank assembly; a sled mounted on the guide rail for back-and-forth travel thereon; a drive cable attached to the sled for moving the sled on the guide rail; a plug-and-socket joint for supporting a lower end of the guide rail for a pivotal motion about a lower foot point in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the window pane; and a support for engaging the guide rail at a location thereof spaced from the lower end. The support defines a pivotal axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the window pane. The support holds the guide rail displaceably about the pivotal axis and shiftably parallel thereto prior to establishing connection of the guide rail with the plug-and-socket joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk AG
    Inventors: Edmund Hagemann, Herbert Wildschutte
  • Patent number: 4263748
    Abstract: A connector device for attaching the tape in an automotive window regulator to the window comprising a drive block which engages the tape and snap locks to a guide block which also retains the drive block in engagement with the tape, and a sash plate which is fixable to the window and twist locks to the guide block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Bohdan Kazewych
  • Patent number: 4254584
    Abstract: The bowden cable drivingly connecting a crank on a motorcar door to a carrier for the window in the door has a plastic compression member whose ends abuttingly engage retaining members near the crank and the window carrier. The ends are of non-circular cross section, and their angular movement about the longitudinal axis of the cable is prevented by conforming engagement with respective retaining members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1981
    Assignee: Metallwerk Max Brose GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Hess
  • Patent number: 4253277
    Abstract: A tape drive window regulator mechanism includes a pair of track sections interconnected by a housing which mounts a rotatable roller and includes a pair of mounting sections each respective to and receiving the end of one track section. One of the track sections has its other end secured to a drive unit which moves a perforated tape through the track sections and around the roller with the tape being connected to a window drive unit for moving the window between open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald J. Campbell, Stephen J. Fiordellisi
  • Patent number: 4246726
    Abstract: A window guide arrangement for guiding movement of a vehicle window along a curvilinear path defined by a fixed guide member includes a sash plate secured to the window and having a bearing seat molded about a bearing provided with diametrical ribs whereby the bearing seat has grooves which cooperate with the bearing ribs in limiting rotation of the bearing to a plane containing the curvilinear path of movement of the window as the bearing rotates within the seat during movement of the bearing and sash plate along the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Cornell Breaz, Bohdan Kazewych
  • Patent number: 4241542
    Abstract: A hard-top type vehicle door window assembly having a tape drive window regulator mechanism with a connector device which is guided on a straight slide pole and permits a change in angularity of the window as it is moved therealong with the window laterally stabilized as it approaches its closed position by cooperation of a stabilizing arrangement between the window and the door's inner panel and also between the connector device and the inner door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Edward G. Podolan, Francis C. Przybysz
  • Patent number: 4237657
    Abstract: A connector device for attaching the tape in an automotive window regulator to the window comprising a drive block which engages the tape and snap locks to a guide block which also retains the drive block in engagement with the tape, and a sash plate which is fixable to the window and twist locks to the guide block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Bohdan Kazewych
  • Patent number: 4237656
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for the window of a motor vehicle includes a carriage having the window affixed thereto and a carrier attached to the carriage with a drive cable having the carrier fastened in driven engagement therewith. A guide tube made of plastic material surrounds the drive cable and a support tube surrounds the guide tube. Both the support tube and the guide tube are formed with a longitudinal slot through which a portion of the carrier may extend in order to effect the driven engagement between the drive cable and the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Metallwerk Max Brose, GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Hess, Gunther Muhling, Manfred Sunkel, Hans Dauernheim
  • Patent number: 4235117
    Abstract: A window regulator for a tailgate window comprising a pair of rotary drums each of which has associated with it a tape of sufficient flexibility to conform to the periphery of the drum. The drums are mounted on a flanged support member, the flanges defining with the drums arcuate channels in which the tape is confined. The two drums are each provided with tooth portions in mesh with each other so that the two drums rotate in opposite directions, thus imparting longitudinal movement to the tapes. A drive pinion, preferably motor driven, is in mesh with the tooth portion of one of the drums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: Ferro Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Pickles
  • Patent number: 4235046
    Abstract: An operating mechanism for the window in a motorcar door and the like includes guiding devices, including at least one deflecting element, which engage a wire, cable or other elongated tension member and guide the tension member on the door in a loop-shaped path when the tension member is driven in the path alternatively in two opposite, longitudinal directions. The motion of the tension member is transmitted to the window. The tension member stretches under the longitudinal stresses exerted thereon by the drive and the window and needs to be tensioned. According to the invention, a spring in a permanently stressed condition biases the deflecting element in a direction to lengthen the path of the tension member and for thereby compensating for slack in the engaged portion of the tension member when the tension member moves in one longitudinal direction, whereby the spring reaches a partly relaxed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: Metallwerk Max Brose GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Hess, Wolfgang Schultheiss
  • Patent number: 4229906
    Abstract: A window regulator for moving a vehicle window vertically between closed and open positions, in which the window is housed within the vehicle door when in opened position. The mechanism comprises a drum and an elongated element having only sufficient flexibility to permit it to conform to the outer surface of the rotatable drum, an elongated functionally rigid track extending from the drum, the flexible element and track being cooperatively shaped such that the said element is slidable longitudinally on said track in guided relation. One end of the flexible element is fixed to the drum and the other has a bracket secured thereto which in turn is attached to the bottom edge of the vehicle window. Means are provided for rotating the drum in opposite directions to raise and lower the window. The invention is more broadly mechanism for converting motion between linear and rotary modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1980
    Assignee: Ferro Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Pickles
  • Patent number: 4222202
    Abstract: A connector device for attaching the tape in an automotive window regulator to the window comprising a drive block which engages the tape and snap locks to a guide block which also retains the drive block in engagement with the tape, and a sash plate which is fixable to the window and twist locks to the guide block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dale W. Pigeon
  • Patent number: 4216624
    Abstract: The window winder for a slidable window, especially a window capable of being lowered into the window shaft of an automobile, has a threaded cable displaceably guided in a tension resistant and compression resistant manner in a guide tube. The threaded cable engages, in a two part drive casing, a drive pinion which is non-rotatably keyed to a drive shaft journalled in the two half casing of a gear wheel drive equipped with a drag spring brake. The threaded cable is directly or indirectly connected to the window by one or more entraining devices fixed to the cable and penetrating through a longitudinal slit in the guide tube. The guide tube is a slit metal tube in the region of the path of movement of the entraining devices and elsewhere is a plastic tube connected to the drive casing and the metal tube in a non-displacing, non-rotatable manner by means of sleeves injection molded onto the plastic tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1980
    Assignee: Rockwell-Golde, G.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Heinz Blankenburg, Peter Schafer, Friedrich Herrmann
  • Patent number: 4211122
    Abstract: The window in the door of an automotive vehicle is raised and lowered by means of an externally threaded, longitudinally moving cable. The drive arrangement for the cable includes a shell having first and second shell portions of which at least one is formed with an aperture. A pinion is rotatably secured between the shell portions and journaled in the aperture of apertures. A first group of fastening devices fastens the first shell portion to the second shell portion in a predetermined position, but may also fasten the shell portions to one another in each of a plurality of other positions angularly offset about the axis of pinion rotation from the predetermined position. The shell portions define therebetween respective passages through the shell in the several positions of the first shell portion, the passages being approximately tangential relative to the pinion and angularly offset from each other about the axis of the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Assignee: Metallwerk Max Brose GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Peter Hess, Hans Rampel
  • Patent number: 4201014
    Abstract: The bowden cable drivingly connecting a crank on a motorcar door to a carrier for the window in the door has a plastic compression member whose ends abuttingly engage retaining members near the crank and the window carrier. The ends are of noncircular cross section, and their angular movement about the longitudinal axis of the cable is prevented by conforming engagement with respective retaining members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Metallwerk Max Brose GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Hess
  • Patent number: 4199899
    Abstract: In a window lifting mechanism for a motorcar window and the like in which a carrier for the window is moved along a guide by bowden cables led from the guide to a drive mechanism in partly arcuate paths, the end sections of the bowden cable casing are connected to the guide by connectors which are unitary pieces of sheet metal including an approximately planar main portion and guide and fastening elements stamped out of the main portion and angularly offset from the same for engagement with the associated casing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1980
    Assignee: Metallwerk Max Brose GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gunter Muhling, Hans-Peter Hess
  • Patent number: 4194605
    Abstract: This invention relates to a motorized window regulator for motor vehicles, which regulator is provided with a torque limiting mechanism of particularly advantageous construction and operation. According to the invention, a motor transmits motion to the window via a kinematic operating linkage, which comprises a cylindrical surface on which a spiral spring with preloaded turns is interference mounted. The ends of the spring engage alternately with a stop rotating coaxially to the surface such that they become urged to deform the spring in opposition to its preloading, so as to withdraw it resiliently from the cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Inventor: Terenzio Sessa
  • Patent number: 4191060
    Abstract: A car side window glass lifting mechanism is disclosed, in which the problem of pre-tensioning the operative wire in a mechanism of the single-shaft, wire-actuated type, is solved by the provision of a rupturable dowel properly located on the wire-winding drum. Means are also provided to stop the motion of a reducing gear which is intended for providing a correct relationship between the gearwheel of the gear in order to obtain a correct positioning of the active component parts as a function of the position of the glass window within its window frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1980
    Inventor: Terenzio Sessa
  • Patent number: 4177605
    Abstract: A crank drives, by the intermediary of a system of cable and pulleys a carriage sliding on a fixed slide bar parallel to the displacement of sliding panels such as windows in an automobile so as to catch a latch and then drive in any direction the panels to be displaced, simultaneously or successively, the latch being part of a mobile slide bar serving as support independently for each of the panels and sliding with the carriage on the fixed slide bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventors: Robert Cherbourg, Jean-Pierre Falluel, Michel Menard
  • Patent number: 4171594
    Abstract: An electrically controlled window regulator in which a reversible electric motor is connected via transmission means to a window for movement thereof along fixed guides; said transmission means including an endless flexible member extending along a fixed path having a straight portion arranged parallel to said guides, and at which bracket means are arranged for movement along said straight portion with said flexible member and for connection thereof to said window; said motor having an output shaft on which a nut screw is mounted, and said nut screw being coupled to a flexible screw forming at least part of said flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1979
    Assignee: RIV - SKF Officine Di Villar Perosa S.p.A.
    Inventor: Franco Colanzi
  • Patent number: 4168595
    Abstract: A vehicle window regulator employing a guide track and flexible rack rotary-to-linear motion converter, in which the track is bendable but rigid operationally and of T-shaped cross-section and the flexible rack comprises a strip with laterally offset, inwardly extending, longitudinally spaced integral flange portions at its opposite edges embracing the edges of the cross portion of the T-shaped track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1979
    Assignee: Ferro Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Pickles, Nelson R. Weaver
  • Patent number: 4158270
    Abstract: A device for the driving of sliding panels, especially horizontally-sliding windows in an automobile, including a crank driving a command part which transmits its movement to several panels sliding in their plane, one relative to the other and in a predetermined direction, characterized by the fact that the transmission of movement is achieved by cables and pinions, and the command part is a plate having one or more grooved sections cogged and concentric, forming alternate racks with partial cogs which can drive a receiver pinion whose simultaneous or successive rotations in the same direction or in opposite directions for a predetermined rotation direction of the crank allow the panels to be driven relatively, according to the same operational sequence, predetermined by the configuration of the cogged sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1979
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventors: Robert Cherbourg, Jean-Pierre Falluel, Michel Menard
  • Patent number: 4110935
    Abstract: An improvement in the car-side-window mechanisms of the cable-actuated type is disclosed, in which a device is provided which allows for the tension differentials which may occur in the actuating cable sections due to the uneven abutment of the window glass top edge against the window frame. The device is a takeup mechanism composed by an arcuate spring the ends of which coact with two swingable plates, each of which carries a follower. The plates under the bias of the spring can be approached to one another or diverge from one another and thus make up the tension differential in the two confronting cable sections, as transferred to such plates by the respective followers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Inventor: Terenzio Sessa
  • Patent number: 4109417
    Abstract: A guide device for a sliding window in a vehicle has the usual central guide track for guiding the movement of a window support which is movable by means of a manual or powered winding mechanism, but to prevent rotation of the window about axes parallel to the surface of the window the guide track is tubular and has a longitudinal slot in which a cylindrical insert slides, the insert being connected through the slot to the movable window support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: Lames Societa per Azioni
    Inventor: Pier P. Fogarollo
  • Patent number: 4095371
    Abstract: A cable drive mechanism for opening and closing a sliding box car door includes a high friction drive pulley carrying a cable which is anchored at opposite ends to the sides of the box car and a low friction guide pulley which is in aligning relation to the drive pulley. The drive pulley is manually rotated for sliding the box car door between open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1978
    Assignee: Pullman Incorporated
    Inventor: Willis H. Knippel
  • Patent number: 4095370
    Abstract: A vehicle window regulator of the disclosure includes a band trained over upper and lower idler rollers whose axes of rotation are parallel to the window and each other and also trained over a manually driven drive roller located intermediate the idler rollers and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a plane through the idler roller axes. An inboard reach of the band extends between the idler rollers and is trained over the drive roller while including a half twist so that the natural configuration thereof accommodates for the different orientations of the drive roller axis and the idler roller axes without stressing the band. An outboard reach of the band is secured to the window by a connector to move the window as the drive roller moves the band. Preferably, a vertically extending housing of the band includes upper and lower ends that mount the idler rollers and an intermediate portion that mounts the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1978
    Inventor: Anthony A. Muehling
  • Patent number: 4090329
    Abstract: The window operating mechanism in a motorcar door includes a window support moved by a bowden cable extending in an angular loop. The wire of the cable is protected in the corners of the loop by a flexible sheath deflected into an arc by a rigid U-channel having an open convex side and held in the groove of the channel by annular end pieces. An adjacent straight portion of the wire is fastened to the window support in a slot of a tubular guide having one end received in a blind groove of one of the end pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: Metallwerk Max Brose GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hans Rampel
  • Patent number: 4081926
    Abstract: Sunroof apparatus is provided for a passenger motor vehicle, which apparatus includes a rigid movable cover member for closing a sunroof opening. In order to minimize the space taken by the drive mechanism for moving the cover member to open positions from the closed position thereof, a single incompressible drive cable is provided which has one end attached to a guide element at one lateral side of the cover member and the other opposite end attached to a guide element at the opposite lateral side of the cover member. A cable driving mechanism such as an electric motor is disposed intermediate the ends of the cable for drivingly moving the same in respective opposite directions. The cable is guided and attached to the guide elements so that, upon movement of the cable in one direction, the guide element at one side of the vehicle is pulled in a first axial direction of the vehicle and the guide element at the opposite lateral side of the vehicle is pulled in the same axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hans Jardin
  • Patent number: 4074463
    Abstract: An electrically controlled window regulator for raising and lowering a mobile window of a motor vehicle door, and in which a slide rigidly connectable to said window is slidably mounted on a guide rigidly connectable to a support of said window, and is reciprocated by a flexible screw consisting at least partially of a precompressed spring extending through a rigid tubular member connected rotatably to said window support. The tubular member is provided with an inner volute with circulating balls coupled to the precompressed spring, and electrical drive means are provided to rotate the tubular member about its axis relative to said window support in one direction and to other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: RIV - SKF Officine di Villar Perosa S.p.A.
    Inventor: Franco Colanzi
  • Patent number: 4041645
    Abstract: Window controls for controlling large window units to permit the windows to be mechanically raised and lowered for ventilation purposes in a reliable, efficient, and low cost manner. The controls include means for automatically locking the window units against intrusion, when the windows are closed or partially open, and further the window controls are simplified by providing edge mounting frames for the glass only at the top and bottom edges of the glass. In some forms of the invention, where it is desired, the windows can carry automatically positionable screens for screening the vent openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Inventor: Jack T. Nourse
  • Patent number: 4026071
    Abstract: A window regulator mechanism, that is a mechanism adapted to raise and lower the window glass of a motor vehicle, is disclosed in which the tension of the cable which physically effects the raising and lowering movements of the window glass can be adjusted by the agency of a sawtooth clutch connecting the cable winding drum and a gear segment mounted coaxially therewith. The adjustment is effected by means of a specially provided torque wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1977
    Inventor: Terenzio Sessa
  • Patent number: 4020593
    Abstract: A window winding apparatus for a window of a vehicle such as an automobile or the like wherein the window is slidable generally upwardly-downwardly in an opening or closing action and is divided approximately vertically into a viewing pane and a relatively smaller ventilating pane and the two panes are actuated by a common drive effecting, relative to movement of the viewing pane, advance motion of the ventilating pane during opening and delayed motion thereof during closing, the apparatus including an actuating device having a slotted guide tube with a flexible threaded cable slidably guided in the tube in a tension and compression transmitting relationship, with the cable being positively connected through the guide tube slot to the larger viewing pane in an arrangement whereby lost motion retains the viewing pane in its closed position during the initial sliding opening action of the ventilating pane, and means adapted to automatically couple the ventilating pane to the drive cable only for and during its
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1977
    Assignee: Rockwell-Golde, GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Salomon, Herbert Kouth
  • Patent number: 4004371
    Abstract: An automotive window regulator mechanism including a track having two substantially vertical track-sections and an interconnecting laterally extending section, a perforated plastic tape slidably mounted in the track, an actuator including a clutch and a sprocket for driving the perforated tape along the track, and a bracket arrangement secured to a window pane at the midpoint of the bottom edge thereof and connecting same to an end of the perforated tape for travel therewith up or down adjacent one of the two vertical track-sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1977
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Edward G. Podolan, Lawrence A. Surhigh
  • Patent number: 4001971
    Abstract: A unit window regulator assembly is adapted for use in conjunction with a vehicle door or body having a framework and an upright opening defined by inner and outer walls. The regulator comprises a pair of spaced transverse support brackets securable to said framework and supportably mounting an upwardly opening C frame in said opening for longitudinal and transverse adjustments within said opening. A pair of spaced elevator channels receive and supportably mount the lower edge of an upright window secured thereto. A pair of parallel spaced formed guide rods at their lower ends are anchored to said brackets and at their upper ends are secured to said outer wall. First lateral apertured flanges on said channels receive and are guidably mounted on said rods for a predetermined vertical and translation movement within the window opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: Freedland Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Gobush, Richard Freedland
  • Patent number: 3930339
    Abstract: The invention relates to a window regulator, especially for automobiles, in which the window is connected to a drive by a cable which can move axially in a tubular guide, a portion of this guide being parallel to the window travel and an adjacent portion being shaped in an arc, whereby the path of a catch connected to the cable and serving for connection with the window is not restricted solely to the portion of the tubular guide extending parallel to the window travel but also extends at least partly into the region of the arc, and whereby the connection between the catch and the window comprises a slide-guide extending transversely to the window path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1976
    Assignee: Rockwell-Golde, GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Jander