Abstract:
An assembly including a first, second and third component and a first and second fixing member, the first, second and third component having respective first, second and third holes, the first hole being a threaded hole, in which the first fixing member cooperates with the second hole and a first threaded portion of the first fixing member engaging the first hole to secure the first component to the second component, the first and second fixing member cooperating with the third hole with the first fixing member engaging the second fixing member to secure the third component to the first component, in which the first component is situated between the second and third component.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to United Kingdom (GB) Patent Application Number 0102987.5 filed on Feb. 7, 2001.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to assemblies and in particular door panel assemblies of land vehicles such as cars.  
           [0003]    Known cars include doors having windows. It is possible to lower and raise a window glass in order to open and close the window. The vertical position of the window glass is controlled by a window regulator mechanism, parts of which are generally secured to a lower edge of the window glass.  
           [0004]    The window glass and the window regulator mechanism are positioned in a cavity within the door and are attached to one side, the wet side, of a door panel. The window regulator mechanism is driven by a window regulator drive system which is attached to the other side, the dry side of the panel opposite to, and in driving co-operation with components of the window regulator mechanism.  
           [0005]    The window regulator drive system can comprise a manual arrangement or a powered motor arrangement.  
           [0006]    A problem with known door panel assemblies is to ensure alignment of the window regulator mechanism with the window regulator drive system.  
           [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of aligning a first, second, and third component of an assembly. The invention is particularly applicable to aligning a window regulator mechanism (a second component) with a window regulator drive system (a third component) when these components are formed as an assembly with a door panel (a first component). It should be noted that the invention is however applicable to other assemblies where alignment of components is required.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly which permits the easy removal of the window regulator drive mechanism from said assembly.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    Thus according to the present invention there is provided an assembly including a first, second and third component and a first and second fixing means, the first, second and third component having respective first, second and third holes, the first hole being a threaded hole, in which the first fixing means cooperates with the second hole and a first threaded portion of the first fixing means engaging the first hole to secure the first component to the second component, the first and/or second fixing means cooperating with the third hole with the first fixing means engaging the second fixing means to secure the third component to the first component, in which the first component is situated between the second and third component. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an assembly according to the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an alternative assembly according to the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an alternative assembly according to the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a further alternative second fixing means according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown an assembly  10  including a first component in the form of a door panel  12 , a second component in the form of a window regulator mechanism  14 , a third component in the form of a window regulator drive system, in this case a motor  16 , a first fixing means in the form of a bolt  18 , and a second fixing means in the form of a nut  32 .  
         [0016]    The door panel  12  can be in the form of a door inner skin, i.e. a pressed component having various holes and attachment features for door components such as door hinges, door latch, audio speakers, and window regulator components.  
         [0017]    Alternatively the door panel  12  can be in the form of a door module, i.e. a panel onto which is pre-mounted various door components, with this preassembled door module being mounted in a relatively large aperture of a door inner skin.  
         [0018]    Alternatively the door panel  12  can be a panel plate, such as a window regulator mounting plate, onto which parts of a window regulator are mounted.  
         [0019]    The window regulator mechanism  14  might typically contain a drum around which has been mounted a cable, rotation of the drum causing movement of the cable and hence raising or lowering of the window glass via separate components of the window regulator.  
         [0020]    Note that the present invention is not restricted to window regulator mechanisms containing drums with cables.  
         [0021]    In particular it should be noted that the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and  3  enables power generated by the window regulator motor  16  to be transferred across the door panel to the window regulator housing to enable raising and lowering of the window.  
         [0022]    Note that the window regulator motor could be replaced by alternative drive system such as a manual window winder.  
         [0023]    The door panel  12  includes a first hole  36 , which is a threaded hole having a pitch P 1 . The first hole  36  is a through hole. The door panel  12  has a fillet radius surface  15 .  
         [0024]    The door panel  12  has a generally planar surface  51  located on one side of the door panel  12  and a generally planar surface  52  located on the opposite side.  
         [0025]    The window regulator mechanism  14  includes a second hole  34  which is a through hole.  
         [0026]    The second hole  34  has a first surface in the form of a wall  35 .  
         [0027]    The window regulator mechanism  14  has a generally planar surface  53  which faces the door panel  12 .  
         [0028]    The window regulator motor  16  includes a third hole  38 , with a first surface in the form of a wall  43 .  
         [0029]    The window regulator motor  16  includes a recess  22 .  
         [0030]    The window regulator motor  16  has a generally planar surface  59  which faces the door panel  12 .  
         [0031]    The bolt  18  has a shank including four portions, a large diameter portion  24 , a first threaded portion  27 , a small diameter portion  41 , and a second threaded portion  30 .  
         [0032]    The first threaded portion  27  has a pitch P 2 .  
         [0033]    The second threaded portion has a pitch P 3 .  
         [0034]    The nut  32  has a pitch P 4 .  
         [0035]    It should be noted that the portions of the first fixing means are designed to be concentric relative to each other.  
         [0036]    The bolt  18  has been provided with a drive formation in the form of a slot  19 . Alternative drive formations such as hexagonal recesses, hexagonal projections, torx formations or other suitable drive formations can be provided.  
         [0037]    The assembly  10  can be assembled in the following manner.  
         [0038]    Firstly the window regulator mechanism  14  is aligned relative to the door panel  12 . The bolt  18  is inserted through the second hole  34  of the window regulator mechanism  14 , with the large diameter portion  24  of the bolt  18  engaging with the wall  35  of the second hole  34  and the first threaded portion of the bolt  18  engaging with the first threaded hole  36  to provide alignment between the door panel and the window regulator mechanism. The bolt  18  can be rotated by means of a screwdriver engaging the slot  19  such that the window regulator mechanism  14  is secured to the door panel  12 .  
         [0039]    The window regulator motor  16  is then positioned on the opposite side of the door panel  12  such that the bolt protrudes through the third hole  38 .  
         [0040]    The recess  22  in the window regulator motor  16  provides clearance around the fillet radius surface  15  such that there is no interference between the fillet radius  15  and the window regulator motor  16  when locating the window regulator motor  16 . The small diameter portion  41  of the bolt  18  engages with the wall  43  of the third hole  38  to align the window regulator motor  16  relative to the door panel  12 .  
         [0041]    Note that the large diameter portion  24  is a relatively snug fit with the second hole  34  and the small diameter portion is a relatively snug fit with the third hole, the degrees of fit determining the alignment tolerance between the window regulator motor and the window regulator mechanism.  
         [0042]    Finally the nut  32  is screwed onto the second threaded portion of the bolt  18 , thus securing the window regulator motor to the door panel.  
         [0043]    Note that pitch P 1  of the first threaded hole  36  and the pitch P 2  of the first threaded portion  27  of the bolt  18  are slightly different such that there is axial interference when the bolt  18  is screwed or unscrewed into the door panel  12  during assembly. The pitch P 3  of the second threaded portion  30  and the pitch P 4  of the nut  32  are substantially similar such that there is no axial interference when the nut  32  is screwed or unscrewed onto the bolt  18 . Thus less torque is required to screw or unscrew the nut  32  from the bolt  18  than to screw or unscrew the bolt  18  from the door panel  12 , hence the nut  32  will screw or unscrew without the bolt  18  rotating.  
         [0044]    In addition it should also be noted that since the second threaded portion  30  has a diameter smaller than the first threaded portion  27  then less torque is required to screw or unscrew the nut  32  from the bolt  18  than to screw or unscrew the bolt  18  from the door panel  12 , hence further ensuring that the nut  32  will screw or unscrew without the bolt  18  rotating.  
         [0045]    Alternatively (where P 1  is equal to P 2 ) or additionally (i.e. where P 1  is slightly different to P 2  as mentioned above) a locking compound could be applied between the first threaded portion  27  of the bolt  18  and the first threaded hole  36  of the door panel  12 . Thus less torque is required to screw or unscrew the nut  32  from the bolt  18 , where no locking compound has been applied, than to screw or unscrew the bolt  18  from the door panel  12 , hence the nut  32  will screw or unscrew without the bolt  18  rotating.  
         [0046]    This allows the window regulator motor  16  to be replaced by unscrewing the nut  32 , removing the window regulator motor  16  from the door panel  12 , locating a replacement window regulator motor on the door panel  12  such that the bolt  18  protrudes through the third hole  38  and finally screwing the nut  32  onto the second threaded portion of the bolt  18 , thus securing the replacement window regulator motor to the door panel  12 .  
         [0047]    The fact that the bolt  18  does not rotate during screwing or unscrewing of the nut  32  allows the window regulator motor  16  to be removed and replaced without interfering with the alignment and securing between the window regulator mechanism  14  and the door panel  12 . Furthermore under such circumstances, no access to slot  19  (e.g. to hold bolt  18  stationary) is required.  
         [0048]    With reference to FIG. 2 there is shown an assembly  110  including a door panel  112 , a window regulator mechanism  114 , a window regulator motor  116 , a bolt  118 , and a nut  132 .  
         [0049]    The door panel  112  includes a first hole  136 , which is a threaded hole having a pitch P 5 . The first hole  136  is a through hole.  
         [0050]    The door panel  112  includes a first feature in the form of a depression  117 . The depression  117  has an angled frustoconical surface  119  which is contiguous with the first hole  136 .  
         [0051]    The door panel  112  has a second feature which is in the form of a projection with an angled frustoconical surface  155 . The angled surface  155  is located on the opposite side of the door panel  112  and hence the frustoconical angled surfaces  119  and  155  are aligned relative to each other.  
         [0052]    Alternatively the first feature of the door panel could be in the form of a projection and the second feature of the door panel in the form of a depression (see below).  
         [0053]    The door panel  112  has a generally planar surface  151  located on one side of the door panel  112  and a generally planar surface  152  located on the opposite side.  
         [0054]    The window regulator mechanism  114  includes a second hole  134 , the second hole being a through hole, and a first feature in the form of a projection  113 . The projection  113  has an angled frustoconical surface  115 , the angled frustoconical surface  115  being contiguous with the second hole  134 .  
         [0055]    The window regulator mechanism  114  has a generally planar surface  153  which faces the door panel  122 .  
         [0056]    The window regulator motor  116  includes a third hole  138  and a depression in the form of a frustoconical chamfered portion  123 , the frustoconical chamfered portion  123  being contiguous with the third hole  138 .  
         [0057]    The window regulator motor  116  has a generally planar surface  159  which faces the window regulator motor  116 .  
         [0058]    The bolt  118  has a continuous thread of pitch P 6 .  
         [0059]    The nut  132  has a pitch P 7 .  
         [0060]    The assembly  110  can be assembled in the following manner.  
         [0061]    Firstly the window regulator mechanism  114  is aligned relative to the door panel  112 . The bolt  118  is inserted through the second hole  134  of the window regulator mechanism  114 , with the frustoconical angled surface  119  of the depression  117  of the door panel  112  engaging with the frustoconical angled surface  115  of the projection  113  of the window regulator mechanism  114  to provide alignment between the window regulator mechanism  114  and the door panel  112 .  
         [0062]    The bolt  118  can be rotated by means of a screwdriver engaging the slot  19  such that the window regulator mechanism  114  is secured to the door panel  112 .  
         [0063]    The window regulator motor  116  is located on the opposite side of the door panel  112  such that the bolt  118  protrudes through the third hole  138 . The frustoconical chamfered portion  123  engages with the frustoconical angled surface  155  of the door panel  112  to provide alignment between the window regulator motor  116  and the door panel  112 .  
         [0064]    Finally the nut  132  is screwed onto the bolt  18 , thus securing the window regulator motor to the door panel.  
         [0065]    A clearance is provided between the generally planar surface  153  of the window regulator mechanism  114  and the generally planar surface  151  of the door panel  112  such that the frustoconical angled surfaces  119  and  115  engage with each other prior to the generally planar surfaces  151  and  153  engaging. This ensures alignment between the door panel  112  and the window regulator mechanism  114 .  
         [0066]    Similarly a clearance is provided between the generally planar surface  159  of the window regulator motor  116  and the generally planar surface  152  of the door panel  112  such that the angled surface  155  engages with the frustoconical chamfered portion  123  prior to the generally planar surfaces  159  and  152  engaging. This ensures alignment between the door panel  112  and the window regulator motor  116 .  
         [0067]    In an alternative embodiment there is no designed clearance between the generally planar surfaces. Hence both the angled surfaces and the generally planar surfaces engage with each other at the same time to align. In this alternative embodiment a clearance between the generally planar surfaces could arise from manufacturing tolerances. The window regulator motor and the window regulator mechanism are plastic components and the door panel is a steel pressing, hence any manufacturing tolerance can be overcome by deformation of the plastic components relative to the steel pressing.  
         [0068]    Note this embodiment and the alternative embodiment allows the use of a standard bolt.  
         [0069]    Note that pitch P 5  of the first threaded hole  136  and the pitch P 6  of the bolt  118  are different such that there is axial interference when the bolt  118  is screwed or unscrewed into the door panel  112  during assembly. The pitch P 7  of the nut  132  is substantially similar to the pitch P 6  of the bolt  118  such that there is no axial interference when the nut  132  is screwed or unscrewed onto the bolt  118 . Thus less torque is required to screw or unscrew the nut  132  from the bolt  118  than to screw or unscrew the bolt  118  from the door panel  112 , hence the nut  132  will screw or unscrew without the bolt  118  rotating.  
         [0070]    Alternatively the window regulator mechanism could include a depression which engages with a projection (first feature) on a door panel, the corresponding door panel depression (second feature) further engaging with a projection on a window regulator drive mechanism (see above).  
         [0071]    With reference to FIG. 3 there is shown an assembly  210  including a door panel  212 , a window regulator mechanism  214 , a window regulator motor  216 , a bolt  218 , and a nut  232 .  
         [0072]    The door panel  212  includes a first hole  236 , defined by a cylindrical wall  236 A of door panel  212 , which is a threaded hole having a pitch P 8 . The first hole  236  is a through hole.  
         [0073]    The wall  236 A has a radial external surface  260  which is aligned with the threaded hole  236 .  
         [0074]    The door panel  212  has a fillet radius surface  215 .  
         [0075]    The door panel  212  includes a first feature in the form of a projection  265 .  
         [0076]    The door panel  212  has a generally planar surface  251  located on one side of the door panel  212  and a generally planar surface  252  located on the opposite side.  
         [0077]    The window regulator mechanism  214  includes a second hole  234 , the second hole being a through hole.  
         [0078]    The window regulator mechanism  214  includes a first feature in the form of a depression  266  which engages with the projection  265  on the door panel  212 .  
         [0079]    The window regulator mechanism  214  has a generally planar surface  253  which faces the door panel  212 .  
         [0080]    The window regulator motor  216  has a third hole  238 . The third hole has a wall  243 .  
         [0081]    The window regulator motor  216  has a generally planar surface  259  which faces the door panel  212 .  
         [0082]    The bolt  218  has a continuous external thread of pitch P 9 .  
         [0083]    The nut  132  has a pitch P 10 .  
         [0084]    The assembly  210  can be assembled in the following manner.  
         [0085]    Firstly the window regulator mechanism  214  is aligned relative to the door panel  212 . The bolt  218  is inserted through the second hole  234  of the window regulator mechanism  214 , with the projection  265  of the door panel  212  engaging with the depression  266  of the window regulator mechanism  214  to provide alignment between the window regulator mechanism  214  and the door panel  212 .  
         [0086]    The bolt  218  can be rotated by means of a screwdriver engaging the slot  19  such that the window regulator mechanism  214  is secured to the door panel  212 .  
         [0087]    The window regulator motor  216  is located on the opposite side of the door panel  212  such that the bolt  218  protrudes through the third hole  238 . The wall  243  of the window regulator motor  216  engages with external surface  260  of the wall  236 A to provide alignment between the window regulator motor  216  and the door panel  212 .  
         [0088]    The window regulator motor  216  has a chamfered edge  270  to prevent interference with the fillet radius surface  215  of the door panel  212  during alignment of the door panel  212  and the window regulator motor  216 .  
         [0089]    Finally the nut  232  is screwed onto the bolt  218 , thus securing the window regulator motor  216  to the door panel  212 .  
         [0090]    Note this embodiment allows the use of a standard bolt.  
         [0091]    Note that pitch P 8  of the first threaded hole  236  and the pitch p 9  of the bolt  218  are different such that there is axial interference when the bolt  218  is screwed or unscrewed into the door panel  212  during assembly. The pitch P 10  of the nut  232  is substantially similar to the pitch P 9  of the bolt  218  such that there is no axial interference when the nut  232  is screwed or unscrewed onto the bolt  128 . Thus less torque is required to screw or unscrew the nut  232  from the bolt  218  than to screw or unscrew the bolt  218  from the door panel  212 , hence the nut  232  will screw or unscrew without the bolt  218  rotating.  
         [0092]    With reference to FIG. 4 there is shown an alternative second fixing means in the form of a nut  380 . The nut  380  has a sleeve  382  and an internal threaded portion  384 . The sleeve has a radial external surface  386 . The radial external surface  386  of the second fixing means engages with the wall of the third hole of the window regulator motor to align the window regulator motor relative to the door panel and/or the window regulator mechanism, and the threaded portion  384  of the second fixing means engaging with the first fixing means to secure the assembly.  
         [0093]    This alternative second fixing means could be incorporated into the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 .  
         [0094]    Note that sealing means can be provided between the door panel  12 ,  112 ,  212 , and the window regulator mechanism  14 ,  114 ,  214  and/or the door panel and the window regulator drive mechanism  16 ,  116 ,  216 .  
         [0095]    Note that the door panel  12 ,  112 ,  212  is made from a steel pressing, with the pressing operation partially producing the first hole  36 ,  136 ,  236  and an additional operation used to produce the thread of the first hole. It should be noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the depression  117 , which is contiguous with the first threaded hole  136 , is also formed as a result of the pressing operation used to form the first hole.  
         [0096]    Note that where the generally planar surface  51 ,  151 ,  251  of the door panel engages with the generally planar surface  53 ,  153 ,  253  of the window regulator mechanism, the surfaces can be roughened to provide greater friction between said surfaces, such that under dynamic loading, the door panel and the window regulator mechanism remain correctly aligned. This also reduces the force on the features providing alignment between the door panel and the window regulator mechanism.  
         [0097]    Similarly, where the generally planar surface  52 ,  152 ,  252  of the door panel engages with the generally planar surface  59 ,  159 ,  259  of the window regulator motor, the surfaces can be roughened to provide greater friction between said surfaces, such that, under dynamic loading, the door panel and the window regulator motor remain correctly aligned. This also reduces the force on the features providing alignment between the door panel and the window regulator motor.  
         [0098]    The generally planar surfaces can be roughened by a suitable roughening process. For example shot blasting the steel pressing.  
         [0099]    Alternatively, sealing means applied to the generally planar surfaces will act as an adhesive such that, under dynamic loading, the window regulator motor and the door panel and the door panel and the window regulator mechanism remain correctly aligned.  
         [0100]    Maintaining correct alignment between the window regulator motor and the door panel, and between the door panel and the window regulator mechanism, ensures that, significantly, there is correct alignment between the window regulator motor and the window regulator mechanism.  
         [0101]    The aforementioned description is exemplary rather that limiting. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. Hence, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For this reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention