Abstract:
The invention relates to the adjusting and locking of the position of a guide rail for a movable window pane in a vehicle door. A device, a vehicle door equipped therewith and a tool provided for the adjusting and locking are disclosed. In the vehicle door, a first mounting plate mounted on the rail side and a second mounting plate mounted on the door side are provided, which are connected to one another by screw-fastenable mounting means. One of the mounting plates comprises an engaging element for an eccentric lever, which on rotation brings about a mutual translational displacement of the mounting plates in an adjusting (Y) direction.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to the following German patent application, the whole content of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference for disclosure purposes: DE 20 2010 009 865.3, filed 5 Jul. 2010, and claims benefit of International Application PCT/EP2011/060778, filed 28 Jun. 2011. 
     The invention relates to a device for adjusting and locking the position of a guide rail for a movable window pane in a vehicle door. The invention also relates to a vehicle door equipped with the device and a tool proposed for the adjusting and locking. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Vehicle doors with movable window panes or adjustable cable-driven window lifters have long been known. In particular, in the case of motor vehicles with frameless movable window panes, it is required for the window panes to be pressed with a pre-definable pressing force against the seal on the bodywork side. Too low a pressing force would lead, at high speeds, to lifting off of the window pane and thus to undesirable wind noise. In order to adjust the pressing force, the position of the guide rails mounted in the motor vehicle door is altered, particularly in the Y-position (tilt) thereof. 
     DE 10 2004 027 253 A1 discloses a device of this type for adjusting and locking a movable window pane. Each guide rail is provided with a mounting plate mounted on the rail side (section 9 in FIG. 1 therein). This rail-side mounting plate is fastened to a mounting plate (position angle 11) mounted on the door side. A special screw connection which is equipped with an eccentric lever (element 2 in FIG. 4) is proposed as the mounting means. The eccentric lever is in engagement with an engaging element which is configured as a slot (reference sign 5 in FIGS. 2 and 3), so that given a rotary movement of the eccentric lever, the rail-side mounting plate is moved translationally and is displaced relative to the mounting plate mounted on the door side. For this purpose, the slot serving as an engaging element (reference sign 5 in FIG. 3) must extend vertically (Z-direction), i.e. perpendicularly to the adjusting direction (Y-direction). The adjustment is undertaken with the screw connection slightly loosened, so that the Y position of the mounting plate (section 9 in FIG. 3) on the rail side is adjusted by rotating the eccentric lever. In order to rotate the eccentric lever, said lever has a tool connection (internal Torx profile 15 in FIG. 4) for a socket spanner or the like. If, by rotating the eccentric lever, the desired Y-position of the guide rail has been adjusted, said position can be locked or fixed by means of a further socket spanner which engages with a fastening nut. This known solution has the disadvantage that following setting or adjustment of the Y-position of the guide rail, the eccentric lever must remain at the deployment site thereof because said eccentric lever is an integral component of the screw connection there. A solution wherein the weight or the material of the eccentric lever and the space required could be significantly reduced or even saved altogether would be desirable. 
     Thus a device for adjusting and locking the position of the guide rail is known which has a first mounting plate mounted on the rail side and a second mounting plate mounted on the door side which are connected to one another by means of screw-fastenable mounting means, wherein one of the mounting plates comprises an engaging element which comprises, for example, a vertical slot for an eccentric lever. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to improve a device of the aforementioned type for adjusting and locking such that a solution is proposed which saves space and material to the greatest possible extent. 
     This aim is achieved with a device having the features described in the following disclosure. 
     Furthermore, in the alternative independent claims, a vehicle door equipped with such a device and a tool for use with such a device are proposed. 
     It is therefore proposed that the mounting plate comprising the engaging element has a slot extending in the adjusting direction, in which one of the screw-fastenable mounting means is displaceably received, and that at least one of the mounting means is configured as a pivot point for the eccentric lever, so that the eccentric lever can be configured as part of a separate or external tool. It is therefore made possible through the design proposed here to carry out the position adjustment and the locking of the guide rail by means of a separate tool. This is essentially achieved in that at least one of the mounting means is configured as a rotary bearing or pivot point for the eccentric lever and that the mounting plate which comprises the engaging element for the eccentric lever itself has a slot which extends in the adjusting direction (preferably the Y-direction or transverse direction) and serves as a guide for the mutual displacement of the mounting plates. The adjusting and locking device is configured by means of said features such that the eccentric lever does not have to be an integral component, but can be part of a separate or external tool. In this way, weight, material and space are all saved. In addition, for locking, simple economical mounting means in the form of screws and nuts can be used. The invention is particularly suitable for adjusting the Y-position of guide rails for frameless window panes. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the slot (guide in the Y-direction) and the engaging element for the eccentric lever are provided at the mounting plate on the door side. The engaging element is preferably also configured as a slot, which then extends in a direction essentially perpendicularly to the adjusting direction (vertically oriented slot). As the engaging element, for example, a spigot or the like which engages in a fork which is part of the eccentric lever can be provided. 
     As mounting means, screws and nuts are preferably used, wherein at least one of said fastening means is configured as a pivot point or a rotary bearing for the eccentric lever in that said fastening means is configured as a round screw or a round nut or the like. 
     The tool according to the invention is distinguished in being configured tubular and in having a tubular shaft at one end of which an eccentric lever which engages in the engaging element of one mounting plate is arranged, and that one end of the tubular shaft is configured to grasp a screw-fastenable fastening element (preferably a screw or a nut) mounted in the device in form-fitting manner and to use said mounting means as a rotary bearing for the eccentric lever. In particular, the tool is configured such that the interior diameter of the tubular shaft at least corresponds to the exterior diameter of a screw head or a nut. Thus any desired screw head or any desired nut can be used as a rotary bearing or pivot point. Preferably, provided at the other end of the tubular shaft is an adjusting handle, through actuation of which, rotation of the eccentric lever and thus adjustment of the Y-position of the guide rail is carried out. 
     The tool is also preferably configured such that a rod is rotatably arranged in the tubular shaft, at the free end of which locking means, in particular a spanner element is arranged and, at the other end thereof, a locking handle is arranged. The tool therefore fulfils two functions, specifically an adjusting function by actuating the adjusting handle attached to the tubular shaft and a locking function by actuating the locking handle and the rod connected thereto and arranged in the interior of the shaft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other advantages are disclosed in the subclaims. The invention will now be described by reference to exemplary embodiments and with the aid of the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1   a  to  f  relate to a first exemplary embodiment and show, in different schematic representations or views, the design of the device according to the invention; they also illustrate the chronological progress of the adjusting and locking procedure; 
         FIGS. 2   a  to  c  relate to a second exemplary embodiment and show different schematic representations and views thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1   a  and  b  show, in two views, the principle construction of a device  100  for adjusting and locking a guide rail  11  in a vehicle door  10 . The device  100  comprises, in particular, a first mounting plate  110  which is provided, for example, configured integrated, at the guide rail  11 , and is referred to in the following as the rail-side mounting plate. The device  100  also comprises a second mounting plate  120 , which is connected to the door interior panel  12  of the vehicle door  10  and is therefore also referred to below as the door-side mounting plate. Using this device, the position of the guide rail  11  can be adjusted and locked in the adjusting direction, that is, here in the Y-direction. 
     As shown, in particular, by the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 1   d , the two mounting plates  110  and  120  overlap and are fastened to one another by means of a screw fastening, specifically by a screw  130  and a nut  131 . Firstly, the screw connection is loosened for the purpose of adjusting the Y-position or tilt of the guide rail  11  (see  FIG. 1   a ), so that the mounting plate  110  can be displaced relative to the other mounting plate  120 . The screw shaft  130  is guided in the horizontal slot  121  which is provided at the second mounting plate  120 . The eccentric lever  212  of the tool  200  has a spigot  215  which engages in a further slot  125 , which is also provided at the second mounting plate  120 . This second slot  125  provides an engaging element for the eccentric lever  225  and extends essentially in the vertical direction, whereas the other slot  121  extends in the horizontal or Y-direction. The pivot point (rotary bearing) of the eccentric lever  212  mounted on the exterior tube  211  is provided at one of the mounting means, here for example, at the nut  131 . This can be achieved, for example, in that the interior diameter of the tube  211  is selected large enough to encompass the exterior diameter of the nut  131 . If now, by actuating the adjusting handle  210 , the exterior tube  211  is rotated, the eccentric lever  212  also undergoes a rotation and, due to the restricted guidance thereof in the slot  125 , also a translational movement of the screw  130  and of the mounting plate  110 . 
     The sequence of the adjustment and locking is illustrated in greater detail by  FIGS. 1   c - f . Both the adjustment and the locking are carried out by means of the tool  200  which is described in greater detail below and is configured essentially tubular and comprises an exterior tube or a tubular shaft  211  and a rod  221  arranged rotationally therein. Arranged at the free end of the exterior tube  211  is the eccentric lever  212 , the spigot or peg  215  of which is brought directly into engagement with the vertical slot  125  of the door-side mounting plate  120  (see  FIG. 1   d ). The free end of the tubular shaft  211  also encompasses the nut  131 , which serves here as a rotary bearing or pivot point for the eccentric lever  212 . The adjusting handle  210  is provided at the other end of the tubular shaft  211  in order to be able to rotate the eccentric lever  212 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1   c , the guide rail and the mounting plate  110  mounted thereon are initially situated in a starting position, here, for example, at the right-hand stop of the slot  121  which serves as a guide. Firstly, the free end of the tool  200  which comprises the eccentric lever  212  is introduced through an assembly aperture provided in the vehicle door. The end of the tubular shaft  211  is then fitted over the nut  131  of the screw connection in order to provide a pivot point for the eccentric lever  212 . The screw connection has initially not yet been tightened, so that in a first step, by rotating the adjusting handle  210  or the eccentric lever  212 , a linear displacement of the screw  130  guided in the slot is brought about, so that the mounting plate  110  is moved and an adjustment of the Y-position of the guide rail is brought about (see  FIGS. 1   c  and  1   d ). 
     Once the desired position has been found, (see  FIG. 1   e ), in a further step, the screw connection is tightened, so that locking of the guide rail in the desired Y-position is achieved. For locking, a locking handle  220  which has a through connection to the screw connection via a rod  221  arranged in the rod  211  is provided at the tool  200 . In the example shown here (see  FIG. 1   d ), the rod  211  is configured tubular and has, at the free end thereof, a coupling element for form-fitting connection to the end of the screw shaft, which is configured hexagonal. Therefore, the free end of the rod  211  has a spanner function which creates a form-fit with the screw  130  and thus enables tightening of the screw  130  by rotating the locking handle  220 . Once the screw connection has been tightened and thereby the locking of the guide rail brought about, the tool  200  can be removed again. Only the absolutely necessary design elements remain in the vehicle door, in particular the elements of the screw connection, which may be typical screws and nuts. No assembly of eccentric elements is required. 
     Another embodiment of the invention will now be described making reference to  FIGS. 2   a  to  c . Here, the horizontal slot  111  (guidance in the Y-direction) is not arranged in the door-side mounting plate, but in the rail-side mounting plate  110 ′. The screw  140  is guided in this slot  111  when the Y-position is adjusted. The vertical slot  115  configured as the engaging means for the eccentric lever  212  is also provided at the rail-side mounting plate  110 ′. The door-side mounting plate  120 ′, however, has no slot, but rather has a circular hole with a nut  141  and therefore represents the fixed point for the screw connection. 
     In order to adjust and lock the guide rail, firstly, with the screw connection loosened, the tool  200  is introduced so that the eccentric lever  212  is effectively hooked into the vertical slot  115  (engaging element). The tube  211  of the tool encompasses, with the free end thereof, the fastening screw  140 , so that the eccentric lever can be rotated about said pivot point or said rotary bearing. Through the rotation of the eccentric lever  212 , adjustment of the Y-position of the guide rail is achieved. Once the desired position has been reached, then by means of the locking handle  220  and the rod  221  connected thereto, tightening of the screw connection can be brought about. For this purpose, the screw  140  is configured, for example, as a hexagonal head cap screw so that said screw can be tightened with a rod, the free end of which is configured as a hexagonal key. Once the locking has been carried out, the tool can be removed again without difficulty. 
     Many other variants and modifications are conceivable. For example, a spigot or a projecting peg which engages in the counter-part of a corresponding eccentric lever can be used as the engaging element (see  115  in  FIG. 2   a ). The connection between the inner rod (see  221  in  FIG. 1   d ) and the screw connection can also be achieved by means of other designs. For example, the inner rod can be configured as a smaller tube and can encompass the shaft of a screw (as shown on  FIG. 1   d ) or the inner rod can be made from solid material and can engage in the form of a hexagonal key in a screw head (as shown in  FIG. 2   a ). 
     The invention proposed here not only has the advantage that, following assembly, no excessive quantity of superfluous material or components remain, but that also a tool can be used which is very easy and quick to operate. For the connecting means, screws and nuts can be used which have a common hexagonal form or the like. It is also possible that the outer tube of the tool can encompass and use the nut or the screw head without difficulty. A screw can also be used which provides possibilities for engagement with tools either at the shaft or the head thereof. As illustrated, by way of example, in  FIG. 1   d , the screw  130  can have a slit or a cross-head profile at the head thereof a can have a hexagonal form at the shaft thereof. Tightening is therefore possible from either side. 
     Apart from the actual device, the tool has also been described here and is distinguished by having essentially a concentric tubular construction of at least two tubes or rods. Said tool can be configured very stable and user-friendly and enables easy access by means of an assembly aperture in the frame of the vehicle door. 
     A vehicle door has also been described which is equipped with such an adjusting and locking device. Furthermore, the method for adjusting and locking the position of the guide rail has been described. Altogether, with the design according to the invention, a rapid, effective adjusting and locking capability is provided, wherein, following assembly, no superfluous components or parts thereof have to remain in the vehicle door. The proposed design is suitable, in particular, for the use of typical standard-conform screw connections. For this reason also, a very economical realisation of the invention is achievable. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10  Vehicle door 
           11  Guide rail for adjustable (frameless) window pane 
           12  Door interior panel 
           100  Device for adjusting and locking the Y-position of the guide rail 
           110  First (rail-side) mounting plate 
           120  Second (door-side) mounting plate 
           121  First (horizontal) slot as guide for the Y-adjustment 
           125  Engaging element for the eccentric lever, configured here as a vertical slot 
           200  Tool for adjusting and locking 
           210  Adjusting handle 
           211  Tubular shaft 
           212  Eccentric lever 
           215  Spigot for engaging in the vertical slot  125   
           220  Locking handle 
           221  Rod arranged rotatably in shaft 
           130  Screw (first screw-fastenable mounting means) 
           131  Nut (second screw-fastenable mounting means) 
           100 ′ Device in alternative configuration, comprising: 
           110 ′ Rail-side mounting plate, with:
         111  Horizontal slot (adjusting guide)     115  Engaging element (vertical slot) for eccentric lever   
     
           120 ′ Door-side mounting plate 
           140  Screw (first screw-fastenable mounting means) 
           141  Nut (second screw-fastenable mounting means)