Title: Window regulator
Abstract: A window regulator includes a main arm, a first sub-arm, and a second sub-arm. The main arm has a hole through it. A flange member surrounds the hole. The first sub-arm includes a shaft section which projects through the hole and is secured to the second-sub arm. In one embodiment, the distal edge portion of the flange member is curved. In a second embodiment, the flange member extends transversely from the main arm, and a low-friction member is between the distal edge portion of the flange member and a surface portion of the first sub-arm. In a further embodiment, the main arm and the second sub-arm have sliding surfaces in contact with each other, and a concave lubricant holding portion is provided on one of the sliding surfaces. The window regulator reduces noise during raising and lowering of the window and ensures rigidity of the first sub-arm.
Patent Number: 6,912,811 Issued on 07/05/2005 to Kawashima, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Kawashima; Kimio (Tokyo, JP);
Suzuki; Nobuji (Tokyo, JP);
Yamamura; Hideto (Tokyo, JP);
Nishimura; Takenori (Tokyo, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
351536 |
| Filed:
|
January 27, 2003 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Jan 28, 2002[JP] | 2002-018354 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
49/351; 49/349 |
| Intern'l Class: |
E05F 011/44 |
| Field of Search: |
49/348,349,350,351
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2777688 | Jan., 1957 | Ehrlich et al.
| |
| 2817512 | Dec., 1957 | Christen.
| |
| 3069152 | Dec., 1962 | Alfonsas et al.
| |
| 3231301 | Jan., 1966 | Gray.
| |
| 3398488 | Aug., 1968 | Garvey.
| |
| 3897652 | Aug., 1975 | Hess.
| |
| 3965618 | Jun., 1976 | Pickles.
| |
| 4843760 | Jul., 1989 | Hlousek.
| |
| 4846591 | Jul., 1989 | Dauvergne.
| |
| 5079871 | Jan., 1992 | Acciacca et al.
| |
| 5595025 | Jan., 1997 | MacPhail-Fausey.
| |
| 6279269 | Aug., 2001 | Isomura et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 2000/-192727 | Jul., 2000 | JP.
| |
Primary Examiner: Strimbu; Gregory J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McGinn & Gibb, PLLC
Claims
1. A window regulator, comprising:
a main arm having a first end adapted to be connected to a window glass and a
second end adapted to be connected to a driving mechanism, said main arm having
a hole therethrough with a flange member surrounding the hole and projecting from
a first side of said main arm;
a first sub-arm on said first side of said main arm and having a shaft section
projecting into the hole and slidingly contacting an inner surface of said flange
member; and
a second sub-arm on a second side of said main arm and connected to said shaft
section to rotate integrally around the hole with said first sub-arm,
wherein said flange member has a distal edge portion formed with a convex curved
surface extending toward said first sub-arm, said main arm and said second sub-arm
include respective sliding surfaces in substantially planar contact with each other,
and at least one of said sliding surfaces includes thereon a concave lubricant
holding portion extending away from the other one of said sliding surfaces and
holding a lubricant.
2. The window regulator according to claim 1, wherein said distal end portion
is folded back to form the convex curved surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a window regulator for raising and lowering
a window glass of a vehicle or the like.
The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.
2002-18354, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional window regulator of this kind is known in, for example, JP 2000-192727
A. This window regulator comprises a main arm having a substantially plate-like
shape and connected to a window glass side at one end of the main arm and to a
driving mechanism side at the opposite end thereof, a first sub-arm arranged on
one side of the main arm to be pivotally mounted on the main arm, and a second
sub-arm arranged on the other side of the main arm to rotate integrally with the
first sub-arm. According to the window regulator, the drive mechanism such as a
motor drives the main arm and first and second sub-arms to rotate with respect
to each other, thereby raising and lowering the window glass.
The main arm is provided with a through hole, which is surrounded by a flange
member formed so as to project from one side of the main arm. The first sub-arm
is provided with a shaft section formed thereon so as to project toward the second
sub-arm, being in a sliding contact with an inner surface of the flange member
corresponding to the hole, and secured to the second sub-arm. This structure allows
the first and second sub-arms to rotate around the hole (shaft section).
The first sub-arm is provided with a projection extending toward the main arm
and having a circumferential shape surrounding the shaft section. A sliding contact
between the projection and the one side of the main arm provides an axially-formed
separation between the distal edges of the flange members of the main arm and the
first sub-arm, so that the first sub-arm can be prevented from being worn down
by the flange member.
The aforementioned window regulator, however, may not ensure the sufficient amount
of projection from the first sub-arm, in case of a deterioration of a press die
for forming the first sub-arm. This situation makes the flange member of the main
arm contact with the first sub-arm, thereby interfering with the function of the
window regulator. More specifically, the rotation between the main arm and the
first sub-arm in this condition makes an unusual noise between the flange member
and the first sub-arm, and further causes wears of the first sub-arm due to frictions
with the flange member, thereby reducing significantly a rigidity of the first sub-arm.
Frequent replacement of press dies in a manufacturing line could be considered
in order to surely avoid the contact between the flange member and the first sub-arm.
This way, however, increases a manufacturing cost of not only the window regulator
but also the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a window regulator
free from an unusual noise accompanying with a relative rotation between a main
arm and a first sub-arm, and reliably ensuring a rigidity of the first sub-arm.
To accomplish the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided the window regulator comprising the main arm having a substantially
plate-like shape, and connected to a window glass side at one end thereof and to
a driving mechanism side at an opposite end thereof, a flange member formed on
the main arm so as to surround a hole penetrating the main arm and to project from
one side of the main arm, a first sub-arm arranged on the one side of the main
arm to rotate around the hole, a second sub-arm arranged on the other side of the
main arm to rotate integrally with the first sub-arm, and a shaft section formed
on the first sub-arm so as to project toward the second sub-arm, being in a sliding
contact with an inner surface of the flange member corresponding to the hole, and
secured to the second-sub arm, wherein the flange member has a distal edge portion
thereof formed with a convex curved surface toward the first sub-arm.
With this structure, the distal edge portion of the flange member is formed
with a curved surface, thereby allowing the edge portion of the flange member to
operate in the sliding contact with the first sub-arm without being stuck. Thereby,
the frictional resistance between the main arm and the first sub-arm is reduced
during the relative rotation between the main arm and the first sub-arm to enable
a smoothly sliding contact between the edge portion of the flange member and the
first sub-arm. It should be noted that the distal edge portion of the flange member
may be configured to be in contact with the first sub-arm, or not to be in contact
with the first sub-arm. In the latter case, the distal portion of the flange member
and the first sub-arm may contact in case where the first sub arm is not formed
into the intended shape due to a deterioration of a press die.
Thus, an unusual noise which often occurs during the respective rotations between
the main arm and the first sub-arm can be avoided. Further, a wear of the first
sub-arm due to a friction between the first sub-arm and the flange member of the
main arm can be also avoided, thereby reliably ensuring the rigidity of the first
sub-arm. Moreover, the smooth rotation between the main arm and the first sub-arm
can be maintained and so it reduces the driving force required to raise and lower
the window glass. This is significantly advantageous for a practical use.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a window regulator comprising a main arm having a substantially plate-like shape,
and connected to a window glass side at one end thereof and to a driving mechanism
side at an opposite end thereof, a flange member formed on the main arm so as to
surround a hole penetrating the main arm and to project from the one side of the
main arm, a first sub-arm arranged on the one side of the main arm to rotate around
the hole, a second sub-arm arranged on the other side of the main arm to rotate
integrally with the first sub-arm, a shaft section formed on the first sub-arm
so as to project toward the second sub-arm, being in a sliding contact with an
inner surface of the flange member corresponding to the hole, and a low-friction
member interposed between a distal edge portion of the flange member and the first sub-arm.
With this structure, an insertion of the low-friction member between the distal
edge portion of the flange member and the first sub-arm can prevent the edge portion
of the flange member from directly contacting the first sub-arm. Further, the edge
portion of the flange member and the first sub-arm operate in the smooth contact
with the low-friction member during the relative rotation between the main arm
and the first sub-arm, thereby reducing the frictional resistance between the main
arm and the first sub-arm. This structure, thus, allows the main arm and the first
sub-arm to rotate smoothly without further application of lubricant such as grease
onto the edge portion of the flange member and the first sub-arm. It should be
further noted that the low-friction member may be configured to be in contact with
the first sub-arm, or not to be in contact with the first sub-arm. In the latter
case, the low-friction member and the first sub-arm may contact in case where the
first sub arm is not formed into the intended shape due to a deterioration of a
press die.
Furthermore, the insertion of the low-friction member between the main
arm and the first sub-arm allows a dimensional and/or assembly error between the
respective arms in an axial direction, thereby enabling the main arm and the first
sub-arm to be fitted together without looseness.
The unusual noise can be thus avoided during the rotation between the main arm
and the first sub-arm. Further, the wear of the first sub-arm due to the friction
between the first sub-arm and the flange member of the main arm can be avoided,
thereby reliably securing the rigidity of the first sub-arm. This configuration
differs from a case where a lubricant such as grease is applied between the distal
edge portion of the flange member and the first sub-arm, that is, this configuration
prevents the unusual noise caused after flowing out of the lubricant by entry of
water droplets etc. into the area concerned, thereby preventing an occurrence of
a malfunction due to an insufficient watertightness around the window regulator.
Moreover, the smooth rotation between the main arm and the first sub-arm reduces
the driving force required to raise and lower the window glass. This is also significantly
advantageous for a practical use.
Furthermore, a wide allowance range of the dimensional and/or assembly
error between the respective arms in the axial direction reduces the cost required
to assemble the main arm and the first sub-arm, makes the fixing of the main arm
and the first sub-arm much easier, and significantly brings down the manufacturing
cost. Moreover, the main arm and the first sub-arm are free from looseness, thereby
preventing the unusual noise.
According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, there is provided
a window regulator comprising the configuration accompanying the second aspect
of the present invention, and another configuration wherein the main arm and the
second sub-arm have respective sliding surfaces in a substantially planar contact
with each other in a vicinity of a proximal end of the flange member, and the low-friction
member is formed so as to cover the distal end portion of the flange member, the
inner surface of the flange member corresponding to the hole, and the sliding surface
of the main arm.
Besides the advantages according to the second aspect of the present invention,
the present embodiment will provide further advantages. That is, the coverage of
the low-friction member over the inner surface of the flange member corresponding
to the penetrated hole prevents the shaft section of the first sub-arm from directly
contacting with the inner surface of the flange member corresponding to the hole.
Further, the coverage of the low-friction member on the sliding surface of the
main arm against the second arm prevents the sliding surface from directly contacting
the sliding surface of the second sub-arm, thereby avoiding the wear between the
respective arms.
The outer surface of the shaft section, the inner surface of the flange member
corresponding to the hole, and the respective sliding surfaces of the main arm
and the second sub-arm are operated in the smoothly sliding contact with the low-friction
member, during the relative rotation between the main arm and the respective first
and second sub-arms. This structure thus allows the main arm and the first and
second sub-arms to rotate smoothly without any further application of the lubricant
such as the grease on the outer surface of the shaft section, the inner surface
of the flange member corresponding to the hole, and the respective sliding surfaces
of the main arm and the second sub-arm.
This configuration largely differs from the case that the lubricant such as
the grease would be applied on the outer surface of the shaft section, the inner
surface of the flange member corresponding the hole, and the respective sliding
surfaces of the main arm and the second sub-arm, that is, this configuration avoids
an unusual noise caused by the flowing out of the lubricant due to entry of the
water droplets into the area concerned, thereby reliably avoiding an occurrence
of a malfunction due to the insufficient watertightness around the window regulator.
Furthermore, the single low-friction member covers the outer surface
of the shaft section, the inner surface of the flange member corresponding to the
hole, and the sliding surface of the main arm, thereby restricting the number of
components. This also provides the advantages in the manufacturing cost.
According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided a window regulator comprising the configuration accompanying the first
or second aspect of the present invention, and another configuration wherein the
main arm and the second sub-arm have respective sliding surfaces in a substantially
planar contact with each other, and a lubricant holding portion is formed on at
least one of the sliding surfaces, the lubricant holding portion being concave
away from the opposite sliding surface.
Besides the advantages according to the first or second aspect of the present
invention, the present embodiment will provide further advantages, according to
which the lubricant holding portion, formed on at least one of the sliding surfaces,
holds part of lubricant such as grease applied onto the sliding surfaces. That
is, part of the lubricant is saved in the lubricant holding portion, thereby securing
the application of lubricant over a long period of time.
Accordingly, lubricant can be fed without deficiency over a long period
of time, and the lubricant in the lubricant holding portion will not drain even
if the water droplets enter between the respective sliding surfaces. This also
serves the smooth rotation between the main arm and the second sub-arm over a long
period of time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a window regulator according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 1 according to
the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows a sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 1 according to
the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 shows a sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 1 according to
the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 shows a partial side view of the main arm;
FIG. 6 shows a sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 1 according to
the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 7 shows a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 according to another
embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a window regulator according to the present
invention, and FIG. 2 shows a sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 1,
which is the first embodiment of the present invention.
The window regulator
1, which is referred to as a so-called X-arm-type,
is used for a motor vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the window regulator
1
comprises a base plate
2 secured to a door panel of a vehicle, a driven
gear
3 rotatably mounted on the base plate
2, and a motor (not shown)
for rotatively driving the driven gear
3 via a pinion (not shown). In the
present embodiment, the driven gear
3, the motor and the like constitute
a drive mechanism. It should be noted that the driven gear
3 is a conventionally
known a sector gear and adopted for a reciprocating motion within a certain range
of angles.
As shown in FIG. 1, the window regulator
1 further comprises a main arm
4 having a substantially plate-like shape and fixed to the driven gear
3,
a first sub-arm
5 arranged on one side of the main arm
4, and a second
sub-arm
6 arranged on the other side of the main arm
4 and connected
to the first sub-arm
5. Referring now to FIG. 2, a through hole
4a
is formed at a center of the main arm
4, thereby allowing the first
and second sub-arms
5 and
6 to rotate integrally around the hole
4a. The first and second sub-arms
5 and
6 are connected
to each other in the vicinity of the hole
4a so as to align substantially.
That is, the first and second sub-arms
5 and
6 intersect the main
arm
4 at the hole
4a such that the arms
4,
5
and
6 form a x-like shape in a side view, as shown in FIG.
1.
One end of the main arm
4 and that of the first sub-arm
5, as shown
in FIG. 1, are slidably connected to a window-side guide
7 which is integrally
provided with a window glass (not shown). The window-side guide
7 extends
in a substantially horizontal direction. The main arm
4 is connected to
one end of the guide
7, and the first sub-arm
5 is connected to the
other end of the guide
7. The window-side guide
7 is configured so
as to guide the arms
4 and
5 at their connecting parts along a longitudinal
direction of the guide
7. That is, the main arm
4 is connected to
the window glass side at the one end and to the drive mechanism side at the other end.
The other end of the first sub-arm
5 is connected to one end of the second
sub-arm
6. The other end of the second sub-arm
6 is slidably connected
to a panel-side guide
8 secured to the door panel. The panel-side guide
8 extends in a substantially horizontal direction, and is configured so
as to guide the second sub-arm
6 at the connecting part of the arm
6
along the guide
8.
The above configuration enables the window regulator
1 to operate such
that the motor drives the driven gear
3 to be rotated, in turn, allowing
the relative rotations between the main arm
4 and the first and second sub-arms
5 and
6, while the parts of the arms
4,
5 and
6
connecting with the guide
7 or
8 slide in a substantially horizontal
direction along the respective guide
7 or
8. Since the panel-side
guide
8 is fixed to the door panel, the rotation between the arms
4,
5 and
6 moves the window-side guide
7 substantially upward
or downward, thereby moving the window glass upward or downward.
In more detail, as shown in FIG. 2, the main arm
4 is integrally formed
with a flange member
4b surrounding the aforementioned hole
4a
and extending in the direction of the thickness of the arm
4. The flange
member
4b projects from one side of the main arm
4, and is
formed like a cylindrical shape having an opening toward the first sub-arm
5.
A distal edge portion
4c (the edge toward the first sub-arm
5)
of the flange member
4b is subjected to a curling process, more specifically,
folding back the edge portion
4c of the flange member
4b
outward from the hole
4a. That is, the edge portion
4c
of the flange member
4b is formed with a curved surface convex
toward the first sub-arm
5. In the present embodiment, the edge portion
4c of the flange member
4b is configured so as to be
in a sliding contact with a surface of the first sub-arm
5.
In a vicinity of an opposite edge of the first sub-arm
5 is provided a
shaft section
5a which is formed so as to project toward the second
sub-arm
6, in a sliding contact with an inner surface of the flange member
4b corresponding to the hole
4a, and secured to the
second sub-arm
6. The shaft section
5a is formed like a cylindrical
shape blocking the hole
4a on an opening facing toward the second
sub-arm
6, and the outer surface of the shaft section
5a is
in the sliding contact with the inner surface of the flange member
4b
corresponding to the hole
4a. The shaft section
5a
is attached to the second sub-arm
6 corresponding to the area of the
shaft section
5a facing toward the sub-arm
6 by welding or
the like, thereby allowing the first and second sub-arms
5 and
6
to rotate integrally around the hole
4a (shaft section
5a).
Preferably, lubricant such as grease may be applied between the outer surface of
the shaft section
5a and the inner surface of the flange member
4b
corresponding to the hole
4a in order to reduce frictional resistance.
The proximal area of the flange member
4b of the main arm
4
and the area of the second sub-arm
6 around the shaft section
5a
of the first sub-arm
5 are configured to be in a sliding contact with
each other. That is, the main arm
4 and the second sub-arm
6 have
respective sliding surfaces
4d and
6a substantially
in a planar contact with each other. Preferably, lubricant such as grease may be
applied between the sliding surfaces
4d and
6a in order
to reduce frictional resistance.
According to the window regulator
1 with the above configuration,
the edge portion
4c of the flange member
4b is formed
with the curved surface, thus, the edge portion
4c of the flange
member
4b is in the sliding contact with the first sub-arm
5
without being stuck. This structure reduces the frictional resistance between the
main arm
4 and the first sub-arm
5 during the relative rotation of
the arms
4 and
5, thereby allowing the edge portion
4c
of the flange member
4 and the first sub-arm
5 to slide smoothly
on each other.
Furthermore, the folded configuration of the edge portion
4c
of the flange member
4b significantly increases the rigidity
of the edge portion
4c of the flange member
4b to rotate
the main arm
4 and the first sub-arm
5 stably.
Thus, the window regulator
1 according to the present invention is configured
such that the edge portion
4c of the flange member
4b and
the first sub-arm
5 can relatively rotate in smoothly sliding contact with
each other. As a result, the main arm
4 and the first sub-arm
5 can
be prevented from making an unusual noise during the relative rotation of the arms
4 and
5. Further, wearing of the first sub-arm
5 due to the
flange member
4b of the main arm
4 can be avoided, thereby
reliably ensuring the rigidity of the first sub-arm
4. Moreover, the smooth
rotation between the main arm
4 and the first sub-arm
5 can reduce
the driving force required to raise and lower the window glass. This is significantly
advantageous for a practical use.
In the window regulator
1 according to the present embodiment, the increased
rigidity of the edge portion
4c of the flange member
4b
allows the main arm
4 and the first sub-arm
5 to rotate stably.
This also effectively restricts vibration caused by the edge portion
4c
and the first sub-arm
5 operating in the sliding contact with each other,
thereby significantly increasing endurance reliability of the window regulator
1.
Although the edge portion
4c of the flange member
4b
of the main arm
4 is formed with the curved surface convex toward the
first sub-arm
5 by the curling process according to the first embodiment,
the curved surface may be attained by a conventional bending adopted for the portion
of the flange member
4b toward the first sub-arm
5.
FIG. 3 depicts the second embodiment of the present invention, and also shows
a modified example of FIG.
2. The configuration according to the second
embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the shape of the flange
member of the main arm and in that a washer member is provided in a sliding contact
with the flange member and the first sub-arm.
A window regulator
10 of the present embodiment also comprises a main
arm
14, and first and second sub-arms
15 and
16. The description
on a general configuration of the window regulator
10 is omitted, since
the configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment illustrated with reference
to FIG.
2.
As shown in FIG. 3, a through hole
14a is also formed in the main
arm
14 of the window regulator
10. The main arm
14 is integrally
formed with a flange member
14b surrounding the hole
14a
and extending in the direction of the thickness of the arm
14. The flange
member
14b is formed like a cylindrical shape having an opening toward
the first sub-arm
5. According to the present embodiment, a distal edge
portion
14c of the flange member
14b is formed so as
to be off one side of the first sub-arm
15.
In the same fashion as the first embodiment, the first sub-arm
15 is provided
with a shaft section
15a which is formed so as to project toward
the second sub-arm
16, in a sliding contact with the inner surface of the
flange member
14b corresponding to the hole
14a, and
fixed with the second sub-arm
16. The shaft section
15a is
formed like a cylindrical shape blocking the hole
14a on an opening
facing toward the second sub-arm
16, and the outer surface of the shaft
section
15a is in the sliding contact with the inner surface of the
flange member
14b corresponding to the hole
14a. The
shaft section
15a is attached to the second sub-arm
16 corresponding
to the area of the shaft section
15a facing the arm
16 by
welding or the like, thereby allowing the first and second sub-arms
5 and
6 to rotate integrally.
A washer member
19 as a low-friction member impregnated with oil or the
like is inserted between the edge portion
14c of the flange member
14b facing toward the first sub-arm
15 and a surface of the
first sub-arm
15, as shown in FIG.
3. The washer member
19
is made from a resin, and formed like a ring. The washer member
19 is arranged
so as to be in a sliding contact with the edge portion
14c of the
flange member
14b and the first sub-arm
15.
According to the window regulator
10 with the above configuration,
the washer member
19, which is inserted between the edge portion
14c
of the flange member
14b and the first sub-arm
15, prevents
a direct contact between the edge portion
14c of the flange member
14b and the first sub-arm
15. The configuration also allows
the edge portion
14c of the flange member
14b and the
first sub-arm
15 to rotate in the sliding contact with the washer member
19 during the relative rotation between the main arm
14 and the first
sub-arm
15. That is, the main arm
14 and the first sub-arm
15
can smoothly rotate without special lubricant such as grease to be applied between
the edge portion
14c of the flange member
14b and the
first sub-arm
15.
The insertion of the washer member
19 between the main arm
14 and
the first sub-arm
15 allows dimensional deviation, assembly deviation and
the like in the axial direction between the both arms
14,
15, thereby
enabling the arms
14 and
15 to be fitted together without looseness.
Thus, the window regulator
10 according to the present embodiment is
configured such that the edge portion
14c of the flange member
14b
and the first sub-arm
15 can relatively rotate in the smoothly sliding
contact. This structure prevents the main arm
14 and the first sub-arm
15
from contacting each other not to make an unusual noise during the relative rotation
of the arms
14 and
15. Further, wearing of the first sub-arm
15
due to the flange member
14b of the main arm
14 is avoided,
thereby reliably ensuring the rigidity of the first sub-arm
15. Moreover,
the smooth rotation between the main arm
14 and the first sub-arm
15
reduces the driving force required to raise and lower the window glass. This is
significantly advantageous for a practical use.
The window regulator
10 according to the present embodiment differs from
a case that lubricant such as grease would be applied between the edge portion
14c of the flange member
14b and first sub-arm
15,
that is, the present embodiment prevents an unusual noise caused due to the lubricant
flowing out by entry of water droplets etc. into the area concerned, thereby avoiding
an occurrence of a malfunction due to insufficient watertightness around the window
regulator
10.
The allowance of dimensional deviation, assembly deviation and the like in the
axial direction concerning the window regulator
10 according to the present
embodiment, reduces the cost required to assemble the arms
14 and
15,
makes the fixing of the arms
14 and
15 easier, and significantly
brings down the manufacturing cost. Further, the arms
14 and
15 are
free from looseness. This point also avoids an occurrence of an unusual noise.
It should be noted that the washer member may be made from a metal impregnated
with oil or the like, although the second embodiment has been illustrated with
the washer member
19 made from the resin. It should also be noted that the
washer member
19 is not restricted to be ring-shaped.
FIGS. 4 and 5 depict the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4
shows a further modified example of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 shows a partial side view
of the main arm. The configuration according to the third embodiment differs from
that of the second embodiment in a point that lubricant holding portions are formed
on a surface of the main arm in a sliding contact with the second sub-arm according
to the third embodiment.
A window regulator
20 comprises a main arm
24, and first and second
sub-arms
25 and
26. The description on a general configuration of
the window regulator
20 is omitted, since the configuration is similar to
that of the first embodiment illustrated with reference to FIG.
2.
As shown in FIG. 4, the main arm
24 is integrally formed with a flange
member
24b surrounding a through hole
24a and extending
in the direction of the thickness of the arm
24 in the same fashion as the
second embodiment. The first sub-arm
25 is provided with a shaft section
25a which is formed so as to project toward the second sub-arm
26,
in a sliding contact with an inner surface of the flange member
24b corresponding
to the hole
24a, and fixed to the second sub-arm
26. A washer
member
29 or a low-friction member is inserted between a distal edge portion
24c of the flange member
24b and a surface of the first
sub-arm
25.
The proximal area of the flange member
24b of the main arm
24
and the area of the second sub-arm
26 around the shaft section
25a
of the first sub-arm
25 are in a sliding contact with each other. That
is, the main arm
24 and the second sub-arm
26 have respective sliding
surfaces
24d and
26a in substantially planar contact
with each other.
Lubricant holding beads
24e are formed on the sliding surface
24d of the main arm
24. Each bead
24e is concave
away from the sliding surface
26a on the second sub-arm
26.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the lubricant holing beads
24e
or lubricant holding portions extend circumferentially over a certain distance,
and are formed at three locations located evenly in a circumference thereof.
According to the window regulator
20 with the above configuration,
the lubricant holding beads
24e are formed on the sliding surface
24d of the main arm
24, part of lubricant such as grease applied
to the sliding surfaces
24d and
26a is held in each
bead
24e. Thus, part of lubricant is reserved in each bead
24e
so that sufficient lubricant is supplied between the sliding surfaces
24d
and
26a stably over a long period of time.
As described above, the window regulator
20 of the present embodiment
not
only has advantages according to the second embodiment, but also ensures an application
of lubricant over a long period of time without deficiency, and prevents the lubricant
in each bead
24e from draining out due to entry of water droplets
between the sliding surfaces
24d and
26a, thereby ensuring
the main arm
24 and the second sub-arm
26 to rotate smoothly over
a long period of time.
It should be noted that the lubricant holding beads may be formed on the sliding
surface
26a of the second sub-arm
26, although the third embodiment
has been illustrated with the beads
24e formed on the sliding surface
24d of the main arm
24. The advantages equivalent to those
of the third embodiment are attained, provided the lubricant holding beads are
formed at least one of the sliding surfaces
24d and
26a.
Arbitrary number of beads, of course, can be formed in accordance with
the specifications of the window regulator, although the third embodiment has been
illustrated with three beads
24e formed on the sliding surface
24d.
It should be also noted that lubricant holding beads extending radially may be
adopted instead of the aforementioned beads extending circumferentially. It would
be further noted that the shape of the lubricant holding portion may be arbitrary.
Considering preferable improvement of the first embodiment, the lubricant
holding beads maybe formed on at least one of the sliding surface
4d
of the main arm
4 and the sliding surface
6a of the second
sub-arm
6 as depicted in FIG.
7. This structure also ensures the
main arm
4 and the second sub-arm
6 to rotate smoothly over a long
period of time.
FIG. 6 depicts the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and also shows
a further modified example corresponding to FIGS. 2,
3, and
4. The
fourth embodiment differs from the second embodiment in a point that the washer
member of the fourth embodiment is formed like a gutter in a cross section.
A window regulator
30 comprises a main arm
34, and first and second
sub-arms
35 and
36. The description on a general configuration of
the window regulator
30 is omitted, since the configuration is similar to
that of the first embodiment illustrated with reference to FIG.
2.
As with the second embodiment, the main arm
34 is integrally formed with
a flange member
34b surrounding a through hole
34a and
extending in the direction of the thickness of the arm
34. The first sub-arm
35 is provided with a shaft section
35a which is formed so
as to project toward the second sub-arm
36, in a sliding contact with an
inner surface of the hole
34a, and secured to the second sub-arm
36.
A bushing member
39 or a low-friction member is inserted among the flange
member
34b, and the first and second sub-arms
35 and
36.
The bushing member
39 is formed like the gutter in the cross section so
as to cover a distal edge portion
34c of the flange member
34b,
an inner portion of the flange member
34b corresponding to the hole
34a, and a sliding surface
34d of the main arm
34.
According to the window regulator
30 with the above configuration,
the bushing member
39 is inserted between the edge portion
34c
of the flange member
34b facing toward the first sub-arm
35
and the first sub-arm
35 to prevent just a distal end of the edge portion
34c of the flange member
34b from contacting directly
with the first sub-arm
35, as with the second embodiment.
The bushing member
39, also covering the inner surface of the flange member
34b corresponding to the hole
34a, prevents the outer
surface of a shaft section
35a from contacting directly with the
inner surface of the flange member
34b corresponding to the hole
34a. The bushing member
39, further covering the sliding surface
34d of the main arm
34 and a sliding surface
36a
of the second sub-arm
36, prevents the sliding surfaces
34d
and
36a from contacting directly with each other.
Thus, the edge portion
34c of the flange member
34b
and the first sub-arm
35, of course, operate in a smoothly sliding contact
with the bushing member
39 during the main arm
34 and the first and
second sub arms
35 and
36 rotate with respect to each other. The
outer surface of the shaft section
35a and the inner surface of the
flange member
34b corresponding to the hole
34a also
operate in a smoothly sliding contact with the bushing member
39 during
the rotation. Likewise, the sliding surfaces
34d and
36a
operate in a smoothly sliding contact with the bushing member
39 during
the rotation. Accordingly, each frictional resistance among the arms
34,
35 and
36 decreases during the respective rotations thereof.
This structure alleviates the necessity of lubricant such as grease to be applied
to the edge
34c of the flange member
34b, the first
sub-arm
35, the outer surface of the shaft section
35a and
the inner surface of the flange member
34b corresponding to the hole
34a, and the sliding surfaces
34d and
36a.
The present embodiment, thus, allows the main arm
34 and the first and second
sub-arms
35 and
36 to rotate smoothly without each application of
lubricant to any portion concerning the sliding contact of the arms
34,
35 and
36.
The insertion of the bushing member
39 between the portions concerning
the sliding contact of the main arm
34 and the first and second sub-arms
35 and
36 allows dimensional deviation, assembly deviation in the
axial or radial direction, thereby enabling the arms
34,
35 and
36
to be fitted together without looseness.
As described above, the allowance of the dimensional deviation, assembly deviation
in the axial or radial direction according to the window regulator
30 in
the present embodiment reduces the cost required to assemble the arms
34,
35 and
36, makes the fixing of the arms
34,
35 and
36 very easier, and significantly reduces the manufacturing cost. Further,
the arms
34,
35 and
36 are free from looseness. This structure
also prevents an occurrence of an unusual noise.
Differing from the present invention, a window regulator with lubricant
such as grease applied among the outer surface of the shaft section
35a,
the inner surface of the flange member
34b corresponding to the hole
34a, the sliding surface
34d of the main arm
34,
and the sliding surface
36a of the second sub-arm
36, may
have possibility of making an unusual noise. That is, in this case, the unusual
noise may occur because of water droplets entered there into to drain the lubricant
out. On the other hand, the window regulator
30 according to the present
embodiment can avoid the problem of unusual noise. The window regulator
30
further can prevent an occurrence of a malfunction due to insufficient watertightness
around the window regulator
30. Further, the present embodiment requires
no special lubricant, because every portion concerning the sliding contact of the
arms
34,
35 and
36 operates in the sliding contact with the
bushing member
39. This point also is significantly advantageous for a practical use.
In addition, the window regulator
30 according to the present embodiment
enables a single bushing member
39 to cover the edge portion
34c
of the flange member
34b, the inner portion of the flange member
34b corresponding to the hole
34a, and the sliding
surface
34d of the main arm
34. This structure restricts the
number of components, thereby providing advantages in the manufacturing cost.
Although the fourth embodiment is shown with the bushing member
39
interposed between the sliding surfaces
34d and
36a,
the bushing member may have a shape not being interposed between all the sliding
surfaces, but a lubricant holding portion may be formed on at least one of any
sliding surfaces.
In the first to forth embodiments, the edge portion of the flange member or the
low-friction member is in contact with the first sub-arm. Instead of this configuration,
it may be configured such that the edge portion of the flange member or the low-friction
member is off the first sub-arm. In the latter case, the advantages equivalent
to that of the above embodiments can be attained when the edge portion of the flange
member and the first sub-arm contact with each other. In other words, this contact
may occur in the case that the first sub arm or the like is not formed into the
predetermined shape due to deterioration of a press die.
It should be noted that it is arbitrary how the first and second sub-arms are
fixed to each other. Other specific details in structure and the like may, of course,
be changed arbitrarily.
As described above in detail, the present invention allows the edge portion of
the flange member and the first sub-arm to operate in the smoothly sliding contact.
Such a structure prevents an occurrence of an unusual noise during the rotation
between the main arm and the first sub-arm, and also prevents the first sub-arm
from being worn by the flange member of the main arm, thereby reliably ensuring
the rigidity of the first sub-arm.
While the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
shown and described, it is to be understood that these disclosures are for the
purpose of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.
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