Abstract:
The present invention relates to device ( 50 ) for guiding and sealing a moveable window ( 10 ), especially a side window of a motor vehicle. The device ( 50 ) includes at least one guide rail ( 15, 16 ) which comprises an inner space for guiding lateral edges ( 11, 12 ) of the window ( 10 ) and has sealing elements for sealing the window ( 10 ). The device comprises at least one driving means ( 17, 18, 19; 20, 21, 22 ) for moving the window ( 10 ) and which interacts with the guide rail ( 15, 16 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a device for guiding and sealing a moveable window, especially a side window of a motor vehicle, including at least one guide rail which comprises an inner space for guiding lateral edges of the window and has sealing elements for sealing the window. 
     One such device is known from German patent DE 44 35 088 A1 assigned to the same applicant. The guide rail of the known device comprises an inner space serving to guide the sealing edges of the moveable window. The guide rail is furthermore provided with sealing elements for sealing the window. For moving the window up and down an additional engine is provided. 
     The disadvantage in this known device is that raising or lowering the window can only be achieved by an additional engine. This engine is fabricated and fitted separately thus substantially adding to the expense in production and assembly. In addition the number of components used adds to the overall weight. The space required for installation is relatively large so that little room remains available for other assemblies. 
     It is thus the objective of the present invention to provide a device for guiding and sealing a moveable window which permits movement of the window by a simple lightweight and compact design. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention this objective is achieved for a device of the aforementioned kind in that the device comprises at least one driving means for moving the window which interacts with the guide rail. 
     The guide rail thus serves not only for guiding and sealing the window, but also for moving it, i.e. an additional engine for movement of the window needing to be produced and fitted separately is no longer required. This thus significantly reduces the number of the components whilst in addition achieving a simple, lightweight and compact design. 
     The driving means and the guide rail may interact by positive or friction contact. Positive contact may be attained by a driven gearwheel of the driving means engaging assigned protuberances or perforations in the guide rail. Such gearwheels are readily available in a variety of differing shapes and sizes so that optimum adaptation to differing boundary conditions, more particularly as regards the size and weight of the window to be moved and the required closing speed is possible. In friction contact interaction a driven friction wheel is urged against an assigned surface area of the guide rail. As an alternative the driving means may comprise a linear motor. 
     Advantageous aspects and further embodiments of the invention read from the dependent claims. 
     To advantage each driving means comprises an electric motor driving at least one driving element cooperating with the guide rail. Despite its small size and low weight the electric motor furnishes a sufficient torque for driving the driving element. 
     In one advantageous aspect the guide rail comprises a supporting portion arranged in the inner space cooperating with the driving element. The outer sides of the guide rail remain smooth with no change to thus achieve a pleasing appearance whilst simultaneously permitting a compact configuration. The supporting portion is configured sufficiently stiff whilst the other portions of the guide rail may be configured less stiff and lightweight. 
     In accordance with one advantageous further embodiment the supporting portion is configured in the form of perforations in an upright of the guide rail which are engaged by at least one driving element. The driving element is advantageously configured as a gearwheel. The upright provides sufficient stiffness for the guide rail and serves at the same time as a supporting portion for moving the window. Stamping out the perforations is a speedy procedure. As an alternative the upright may be provided with protuberances in the form of reliefs. There is no need to produce a separate component for subsequent connection to the guide rail. 
     To advantage the upright is made of metal, more particularly of aluminum or of a plastics material to thus achieve high strength for a low overall weight. 
     In accordance with another advantageous configuration the upright comprises a substantially U-shaped cross-section and defines the inner space of the guide rail. This cross-section of the upright is simple to produce, rugged and low in overall weight. 
     In one advantageous further embodiment the sealing elements are extruded on the upright which can thus produced independently of the sealing elements depending on the boundary conditions in each case. 
     To advantage the at least one driving element is secured to the window. The supporting portion as a relatively large component is configured fixed, whilst the small and relatively lightweight electric motor and the driving element are moved together with the window. This thus results in an overall reduction in the mass of the moved components. 
     In accordance with another advantageous further embodiment the inner space of the guide rail is suitable to accommodate the driving element. The driving element thus runs protected from soilage directly in the inner space, thus furthermore achieving a compact configuration. 
     In yet another advantageous further embodiment the inner space of the guide rail is suitable to accommodate the driving element and the electric motor so that then all components needed to move the window can be arranged in the inner space where they are protected from soilage. 
     In accordance with a first advantageous aspect each guided lateral edge of the moveable window is assigned at least one driving element. The window is thus driven on both sides in the region of the guided lateral edges to thus preclude any tilting of the window. 
     In another advantageous further embodiment each guided lateral edge is assigned an electric motor. The sealing edges are moved simultaneously by the electric motors being synchronized to thus preclude any tilting of the window. 
     In yet another advantageous further embodiment an electric motor is provided which acts on the driving elements at the guided lateral edges, i.e. eliminating any need for synchronizing several electric motors whilst reducing the number of components needed and the weight overall. 
     In accordance with a second advantageous aspect one guided lateral edge is assigned at least one driving element driven by an electric motor and the other guided lateral edge is assigned a supporting mount for support. 
     Depending on the boundary conditions the window is driven only by one lateral edge whilst the other lateral edge is supported by a suitable supporting mount. This design enables one of the electric motors to be eliminated without a connection being needed between the guided lateral edges of the window. 
     Advantageously the supporting mount is accommodated in the inner space of the guide rail, this not only achieving a compact design but also providing protection of the sealing elements from soilage. 
     In still another advantageous further embodiment the driving elements are arranged on the guided lateral edges of the window paired spaced away from each other paired, the window being arranged centered relative to the driving elements. Arranging the driving elements on both sides of the window prevents the window from tilting and ensures reliably up and down movement. 
     In accordance with yet another advantageous aspect each electric motor acts via a self-locking gear, more particularly a worm gear on the assigned driving element(s) so that any movement of the window is only possible by powering the motor. This thus reliably prevents the window from being shifted out of place by forces acting from without. No additional component, more particularly a separate brake is needed for this purpose, but may be provided as an alternative or in addition thereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be detailed by way of example embodiments illustrated schematically in the drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the device in accordance with the invention in a first embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is a magnified view of a detail “X” taken from FIG. 1 in the further embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line III—III as shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of the arrow IV as shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a view from above as shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an upright  38  including perforations; 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 in a further embodiment of the perforations; 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 in a second embodiment; 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 in a third embodiment; 
     FIG. 10 is a magnified view of a detail “X” taken from FIG. 1 in a fourth embodiment; and 
     FIG. 11 is a view from above on the embodiment of FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a schematic view of the device  50  in accordance with the invention in a further embodiment. A window  10  having lateral edges  11 ,  12  of a lower edge  13  and an upper edge  14  is guided along the lateral edges  11 ,  12  in guide rails  15 ,  16 . The window  10  is moveable in the direction of the arrow  23 . Secured in the vicinity of the right-hand lateral edge  12  at the lower edge  13  of the window  10  is an electric motor  17  which acts via a shaft  18  on a driving element  19  which is rotatably secured to the window  10 . Likewise provided at the opposite lateral edge  11  are an electric motor  20 , a shaft  21  and a driving element  22 . Each of the electric motors  17 ,  20 , the shafts  18 ,  21  and the driving elements  19 ,  22  forms a driving means. The guide rails  15 ,  16  and the driving means  17 ,  18 ,  19  and  20 ,  21 ,  22  are part of the device  50  for guiding, sealing and moving the window  10 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated a magnified view of a detail “X” taken from FIG.  1 . The electric motor  17  and the driving element  19  are secured by means of supporting fixtures  24 ,  25  to the lower edge  13  of the window  10 . The shaft  18  is provided in its portion facing away from the electric motor  17  with a worm shaft  26 . This worm shaft  26  mates with a worm gear  27  that is connected to the driving element  19 . The driving element  19  is totally accommodated in the guide rail  16 . Illustrated schematically is how the driving element  19  is configured as a gearwheel mating with a supporting portion  30  of the guide rail  16 . As soon as the electric motor  17  is set in motion, the worm shaft  26  and the worm gear  27  produce a rotation of the driving element  19  via the shaft  18 . The driving element  19  cooperates with the supporting portion  30  integrated in the guide rail  16 , as a result of which the window  10  is moved in the direction of the arrow  23 . 
     The worm shaft  26  and the worm gear  27  are configured as a self-locking gear. Any displacement of the window  10  when the electric motor  17  is OFF is rendered impossible by the high step-down in gear ratio between the worm shaft  26  and the worm gear  27 . The window  10  is thus reliably arrested at the required level without the need of any further aid when the electric motor  17  is OFF. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, details of how the electric motor  17  and the driving element  19  are secured to the window  10  are evident. The window  10  is clasped on both sides by the supporting fixtures  24 ,  25  and arranged roughly centered. Likewise evident is how two driving elements  19  are provided arranged spaced away from and parallel to each other in pairs. The window  10  is arranged substantially in the middle of the driving elements  19 . This centered arrangement counteracts an lateral tilting of the window  10 . At the same time the necessary overall height is reduced since the driving elements  19  may be caused to clasp the window  10  portionwise. This is evident schematically from FIGS. 2 and 4. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5 there is illustrated a view from above of FIG. 2 in which it is evident that the guide rail  16  comprises an upright  38  which is configured cross-sectionally substantially U-shaped. The upright  38  may be made of metal, more particularly of aluminum or of a plastics material in defining an inner space  31  of the guide rail  16 . Accommodated in the inner space  31  are driving elements  19 , worm shaft  26  and worm gear  27  as well as mounting fixture  25  for securing to the window  10 . It is to be noted that to simplify the illustration the supporting fixture  24  for securing the electric motor  17  is not shown in FIG.  5 . The supporting portion  30  is arranged at the inner side of the upright  38  assigned to the driving elements  19  in the inner space  31 . 
     For sealing, sealing elements  28 ,  29  extruded to the upright  38  serve by sealingly contacting the window  10 . The interspace between the sealing elements  28 ,  29  is not only accessed by the window  10  but also by the shaft  18 . The thickness of the shaft  18  thus corresponds substantially to the thickness of the window  10  or is only slightly more, thus resulting in a reliable sealing contact of the sealing elements  28 ,  29  and the window  10 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 6 there is illustrated schematically the upright  38  with the supporting portion  30 . Provided in the supporting portion  30  are several perforations  32  arranged parallel to each other. The perforations  32  extend substantially over the full width of the supporting portion  30  defined by the dotted lines. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7 there is illustrated another aspect of the perforations  33 . These perforations  33  are arranged in two rows  34 ,  35  oriented in parallel. In the middle the supporting portion  30  is free of perforations so that a higher stability is achieved. 
     As indicated in the FIGS. 2 and 5 the driving elements  19  mate by teeth (not shown) in the perforations  32  or perforations  33 . The protruding portion of the driving elements  19  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 is a schematic representation of how this mating occurs, it being obvious that the teeth of the driving elements  19  and the perforations  32 ,  33  are matched in location and size. 
     To move the window  10  in the direction of the arrow  23  the electric motors  17 ,  20  are set in motion at the same time, they being synchronized such that any movement of the window  10  is achieved without tilting. The rotation of the electric motors  17 ,  20  is transmitted via the shafts  18 ,  21  and the worm gears  26 ,  27  to the driving elements  19 ,  22 . These driving elements  19 ,  22  cooperate with the supporting portion  30  in the guide rails  15 ,  16 . Rotation of the driving elements  19 ,  22  results in the window  10  and the electric motors  17 ,  20 , the shafts  18 ,  21  of the driving elements  19 ,  22  and the worm gears  26 ,  27  being shifted in the direction of the arrow  23 . Depending on the direction of rotation of the electric motors  17 ,  20  the window  10  is moved up or down. When the electric motors  17 ,  20  are OFF the self-locking worm gears  26 ,  27  prevent any unwanted movement of the window  10 . During movement and also when stationary the window  10  is reliably guided along the guide rails  15 ,  16  by the sealing elements  28 ,  29 , these simultaneously achieving the desired sealing effect. 
     In this arrangement the length of the guide rails  15 ,  16  is selected somewhat more than the overall height of the window  10  together with the electric motors  17 ,  20  and the driving elements  19 ,  22  secured thereto. This is illustrated, for example, in FIG.  1 . If the window  10  is not to be moved fully down, the length of the guide rails  15 ,  16  may also be shortened. The device  50  is inserted preferably in the door cavity of an automobile, it then being concealed from without. For further guiding and sealing the window  10  in the region of the window cutout of the vehicle door further guide rails (not shown) may be provided. 
     Referring now to FIG. 8 there is illustrated a further embodiment of a device  51  in accordance with the invention for guiding sealing and moving a window  10 . In this device  51  a motor  17 , shaft  18  and a driving element  19  are provided only on the right-hand lateral edge  12  of the window  10 . Provided at the lateral edges  11  guided on the opposite side is a supporting mount  36  for support. It is good practice when the supporting mount  36  is likewise accommodated in the inner space  31  of the guide rails  15  as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 as regards the driving element  22 . In this arrangement the supporting mount  36  may be configured like the driving elements  19 ,  22  and secured to the window  10 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 9 there is illustrated a further embodiment of a device  52  in accordance with the invention. In this device  52  an electric motor  17  is provided mounted roughly in the middle of the lower edge  13  of the window  10 . Both lateral edges  11 ,  12  of the window  10  are assigned driving elements  19 ,  22  driven via shafts  37  by the electric motor  17 . In this arrangement the driving elements  19 ,  22 —as evident from FIGS.  1  and  5 —are accommodated in the inner space  31  of the guide rails  15 ,  16  and cooperate with the supporting portion  30  to move the window  10 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11 there is illustrated a further embodiment of a device  60  in accordance with the invention in which the electric motor  17  together with the shaft  18  and the worm shaft  26  as well as the driving elements  19  are accommodated in a carriage  41 . The driving elements  19  are rotatably mounted on the carriage  41 . The carriage  41  comprises supporting rollers  42 , is accommodated in an inner space  46  of a guide rail  45  and secured by an mounting fixture  43  to the window  10 . At the side facing the middle of the window  10  the carriage  41  is supported by its supporting rollers  42  on an upright  47  of the guide rail  45 . Support is provided at the opposite side by the driving elements  19  which are in turn configured as gearwheels. In this arrangement a supporting portion  40  of the upright  47  comprises perforations corresponding to the perforations  32 ,  33  as shown in FIGS. 6 or  7 . The upright  47  comprises further sealing elements  28 ,  29  extruded in place which sealingly contact the window  10 . 
     A carriage  41  including a further electric motor and further driving elements  19  may be provided configured mirror-inverse at the opposite lateral edges  11  of the window  10 . As an alternative use may be made in this case of a supporting mount  36 . 
     To move the window  10  in the direction of the arrow  23  the electric motor  17  is set in motion, it acting via the shaft  18  and the worm shaft  26  via the worm gear  27  illustrated schematically on the driving elements  19 . The driving elements  19  engage the perforations  32  or  33  of the supporting portion  40  at the upright  47  and move the window  10 . When the electric motor  17  is signalled OFF the worm gears  26 ,  27  in turn reliably result in the window  10  being arrested. 
     The embodiment as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 permits total accommodation of the electric motor  17  and driving elements  19  in the inner space  46  of the guide rail  45 . The power supply to the electric motor  17  is made via conductor paths  44  which are likewise accommodated in the inner space  46 . In the inner space  46  the electric motor  17 , shaft  18  and conductor paths  44  are protected from soilage and damage. The complete area involving movement of the window  10  is free of any power supply cables for the electric motor  17 . The complete device  60  is integrated in the guide rail  45  and a further guide rail configured mirror-inverse opposingly. 
     All embodiments of the invention permit eliminating the need of an additional engine to move the window  10 . Instead the means for moving the window  10  are achieved by the driving elements  19 ,  22  and the supporting portions  30 ,  40  integrated in the guide rails  15 ,  16 ,  45  and arranged in the corresponding inner spaces  31 ,  46 . These inner spaces  31 ,  46  are defined by the uprights  38 ,  47  of the guide rails  15 ,  16 ,  45  which simultaneously provide the necessary stiffness for the guide rails  15 ,  16 ,  45 . The number of components required is substantially reduced, resulting in production and assembly being simplified whilst also greatly reducing the weight and size.