Patent GB-811547-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to a vehicle window control system
IPC: E05F15/16
Filed: 1957-04-11
Abstract: 811,547. Vehicle window opening and closing apparatus. TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION. April 11, 1957 [April 11, 1956], No. 11904/57. Class 20(3) A motor vehicle with a passenger compartment with front and rear cross seats and a rear window at both sides has a power unit for each window to actuate it, a control for each unit operable to connect the latter to a source of power; and actuators for the controls located substantially centrally of the compartment both transversely and longitudinally thereof to make them substantially equally accessible to the end occupants of the rear seat. The side windows 24, 26 of front and rear doors 25, 30 of an automobile 21, having front and rear seats 22, 23 respectively, each have a vacuum motor power unit which consists of a cylinder 27, a piston 29, and a linkage 28 for imparting vertical movement to the window. The front and rear ends of each cylinder 27 are connected respectively by the tubes 31a, 31b of a twin tube conduit 31, to a control 32 which is connected by a hose 33 to a source of vacuum such as the engine intake manifold. The twin tubes 31 for the rear side windows 26 are connected to controls 32c, 32d which are mounted centrally on the back 22<SP>1</SP> of the front seat, the controls 32a, 32b for the front windows 24 being mounted centrally on the instrument panel. Each control 32 has a suction chamber 41, Fig. 6, which is connected, by a nipple 39, to a vacuum hose 33 and communicates, through valve seats 37b, 38b, with vertical passages 37a, 38a having nipples 37, 38 which communicate respectively with the respective tubes 31a 31b leading to the ends of the associated cylinder 27, the upper ends of the passages 37a, 38a communicating, through valve seats 37c, 38c, with the atmosphere. Valve stems 43, 44 accommodated in the passageways 37a, 38a, carry respectively upper and lower discs 43a, 43b and 44a, 44b which co-operate with the seatings 37b, 37c and 38b, 38c, each stem 43, 44 projecting upwardly for connection to a rockably mounted actuator 46. A pair of springs 52 under the opposite ends of the actuator 46 maintain the latter in a neutral position as shown, so that the suction chamber 41 remains in communication, through the nipples 37, 38, with the opposite ends of the associated cylinder 27 and the respective piston 29 is in a balanced state. Pressing down one side of the actuator 46 lifts the stem of the valve beneath the opposite side, the corresponding lower valve disc 43a, 44a closing to interrupt the suction communication and the upper disc 43b or 44b opening to make atmosphere connection with the corresponding end of the cylinder and move the respective window accordingly. The depressed end of the actuator 46 idles along the stationary stem beneath it, the loaded spring 52 urging the actuator to its normal position upon release of the hand pressure. A filter pad 55 is carried by each valve stem for purifying the air before entering the cylinders 27. Where the installation includes an auxiliary vacuum pump 34, which is initiated when the manifold suction is insufficient to operate a window, the circuit for the pump includes contact arms 47 which are pivoted on the controls 32 and are swung, to complete the circuit to the pump, whenever the respective actuator is rocked from its normal inoperative position, a pressure responsive switch 34a, Fig. 7, being closed due to the lack of manifold pressure. The pump 34 has a rotor 34<SP>1</SP> eccentrically journalled in the pump chamber, and a by-pass valve 34<SP>11</SP> which is held open when there is sufficient manifold suction. When a pump 34 is not installed a check valve 34<SP>11</SP> is incorporated to trap the manifold suction influence and maintain it normally under vacuum. If desired, the controls 32 with their actuators 46, in addition to being placed on the back of the front seat may have, e.g. push button bowden cable extensions, for operation from the front seat. In a modification, Fig. 8 the control 32<SP>11</SP> is fitted on to a seat frame 22a, a push button cable extension 62a being mounted at the rear, and push button and slidable rods 65 being mounted at the front, of the front seat. The cables for the rear seat control mounting may terminate in rack bars having pinions that can be rocked by swinging handles. The twin tube conduits 31 are provided with loops 31<SP>1</SP> to accommodate adjusting movements of the front seat. In a further modification, Fig. 3, the controls 32 are in the form of electric switches 46<SP>1</SP>, 46<SP>1</SP>, each of which controls an electric motor 56 having a drive shaft 57 connected by worm gearing 58 to a screw shaft 59, which co-operates with a nut 59<SP>1</SP> on a window frame member 59<SP>11</SP>.