US-12618280-B2 - Rigid window regulator for automated installation

US12618280B2US 12618280 B2US12618280 B2US 12618280B2US-12618280-B2

Abstract

A window regulator for use in a vehicle and configured to move a windowpane between an open position and a closed position. The window regulator including a first guide rail, a second guide rail, a first slider, a second slider, and a cross-brace assembly. The first slider configured to move along the first guide rail and the second slider configured to move along the second guide rail to collectively move the windowpane between the open position and the closed position. The cross-brace assembly extending between and rigidly connecting the first guide rail to the second guide rail.

Inventors

Shane Alexander

Assignees

BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE SE & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, BAMBERG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240729

Claims (4)

1 . A window regulator for use in a vehicle and configured to move a windowpane between an open position and a closed position, the window regulator comprising: a first guide rail; a second guide rail; a first slider; a second slider, the first slider configured to move along the first guide rail and the second slider configured to move along the second guide rail to collectively move the windowpane between the open position and the closed position; a drum housing; one or more cables operatively connected to the drum housing and the first and second sliders; a motor fixed to the drum housing and configured to wind and unwind the one or more cables to move the first and second sliders, a cross-brace assembly extending between and rigidly connecting the first guide rail to the second guide rail, wherein the cross-brace assembly includes, a first brace including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion fixed to an upper end region of the first guide rail and the second end portion fixed to a lower end region of the second guide rail, and a second brace including a third end portion and a fourth end portion, the third end portion fixed to an upper end region of the second guide rail and the fourth end portion fixed to a lower end region of the first guide rail, wherein the first brace and the second brace intersect one another and are fixed to the drum housing; a first pulley fixed to the upper end region of the first guide rail; and a second pulley fixed to the lower end region of the second guide rail, wherein the first guide rail includes a medial region extending between the upper end region and the lower end region of the first guide rail, wherein the medial region defines one or more slots configured to receive an engagement member of a robotic arm configured to fix the window regulator to a door panel of the vehicle, and wherein the first guide rail and the second guide rail each include a first side and a second side, the second side opposing the first side, wherein the first guide rail and the second guide rail each include second pulleys disposed on the first side, and the first end portion of the first brace is disposed on the second side of the first guide rail, wherein at least one of the first and second end portions is detachably connected to at least one of the first guide rail and the second guide rail.
2 . The window regulator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second end portions is connected to the at least one of the first and second guide rails by a friction fit.
3 . The window regulator of claim 2 , further comprising: a push-in fastener, wherein the push-in fastener is configured to detachably connect the at least one of the first and second end portions to the at least one first and second guide rails.
4 . The window regulator of claim 1 , further comprising: wherein the cross-brace assembly includes one or more arms integral to and extending from the drum housing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a window regulator for use in a motor vehicle and a method of installing the same to a vehicle closure, in particular by a robotic assembly process. BACKGROUND Vehicles may include a mechanism such has a window lifter or window regulator configured to support and carry a windowpane between a first position, e.g., a bottom position, disposed within a cavity of the door or other vehicle member, and a second position e.g. top position, engaged with an upper portion of the door or roof. SUMMARY According to one embodiment, a window regulator for use in a vehicle and configured to move a windowpane between an open position and a closed position is provided. The window regulator may include a first guide rail, a second guide rail, a first slider, a second slider, and a cross-brace assembly. The first slider may be configured to move along the first guide rail and the second slider may be configured to move along the second guide rail to collectively move the windowpane between the open position and the closed position. The cross-brace assembly may extend between and rigidly connect the first guide rail to the second guide rail. According to another embodiment, a method of installing a window regulator to a vehicle closure is provided. The window regulator may include a pair of guide rails and a pair of sliders operatively connected to a gearbox assembly by one or more cables, the pair of sliders collectively configured to move along the pair of guide rails to move a windowpane between an open position and a closed position. The method may include: attaching a first cross-brace member to a first guide rail and a second guide rail of the pair of guide rails; attaching a second cross-race member to the first guide rail and the second guide rail; grasping, by a robot, the window regulator assembly; and fixing, by the robot, the window regulator assembly to at least one door panel of the vehicle closure. According to yet another embodiment, a method of installing a window regulator to a vehicle closure is provided. The window regulator may include a pair of guide rails and a pair of sliders operatively connected to a gearbox assembly by one or more cables. The pair of sliders may be configured to move along the pair of guide rails to move a windowpane between an open position and a closed position. The method may include: attaching a first cross-brace member to a first guide rail and a second guide rail of the pair of guide rails; attaching a second cross-race member to the first guide rail and the second guide rail to form a rigid window regulator assembly, the rigid window regulator assembly including the window regulator; grasping and placing, by a robot, the rigid window regulator assembly on a panel of the vehicle closure; fixing, by the robot, the rigid window regulator assembly to the panel of the vehicle closure; and removing by the robot, the first cross-brace member from the rigid window regulator assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary installation process for installing a rigid window regulator to a vehicle door. FIG. 2A illustrates a front plan view of the rigid window regulator illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2B illustrates a rear plan view of the rigid window regulator illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates a rear plan view of another rigid window regulator according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 4A illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary fastening joint taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 2A. FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary fastening joint taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 2A. FIG. 4C illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary fastening joint taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 2A. FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary fastening joint taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 2B. FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a guide rail of the rigid window regulator according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 6A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the guide rail taken along lines 6-A in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective exploded view of the vehicle closure shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative bases for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to pro