US1771229A - Antivibration device - Google Patents

Description

y 1930. B. A. MORTON 1,771,229

ANTIYIBRATION DEVICE Filed Oct. 25'. 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR I fieqjamz'n fl. Marf'oh BY I fl TTORNEY5 B. A. MORTON ANTIVIBRATION DEVICE Filed Oct. 23. 1928 July 22,. 1930.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS July 22, 1930.

B. A. MORTON AN'IIVIBRATION DEVICE Filed Oct. 25. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A ORNEY5 Patented July 22, 1930 UNrrEn STATES'PA'TENTOFFICE BENJAMIN A. MORTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ANTIWBRATION DEVICE This invention has to do with prevention of window rattling and pertains more especially to motor vehicle Windows, although-its utility is not restricted to that specific field.

The sliding plate glass windows of enclosed motor vehicles are ordinarily held at their two vertical'edges in resilientchannelshaped guidesmade usually of pressed felt, or some other suitable resilient fabric; While new, such guides generally serve satisfactorily to prevent the windows from rattling, but they soon wear and shrink or be-.

come compressed to such an extent that they no longer function efiiciently. The use of fabric guides having sufiicient density and cross-sectional area to be self-compensating against the loosening effects of wear and compression is seemingly impracticable because of the hygroscopic properties of such fabrics as are otherwise suitable. Such guides would, no doubt, function efliciently for long periods of time if the weather were uniformly fair. But, unfortunately, the absorption of moisturein rainy weather would cause the fabric to expandrand, consequently, the-windows to stick so that they could not readily be raised and lowered.

The object of the present invention, as will be inferred, is to overcome the above-mentioned difficulty, and to that end it is directed to the provision of anti-rattle mechanisms that are operable toeii'ect vigorous restraint against window vibration without regard to the vicissitudes of weather or to wear'or deformation of fabric guides as aforementioned but which, notwithstanding, will permit the windows being raised and low-- ered freely at all times.

For a description of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing, in considerable detailg a structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. 1

Flg. 2 is an elevational-view ofacornplete window structure and operatmg mechanism corresponding to that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. r

Fig. 4 is another cross-sectional detail view taken along the line 4-4 of F ig. 2. V

Fig. 5 is an elevational View of *aJ'fWlDdOW structure like that of Fig. 2, but embodying an alternative form of operating; mechanism- Fig.6 is a sectional View along theline 66 of Fig. 5, and shows details of the alternative operating mechanism.

The invention depicted inFigs. 1 to 4, inelusive, comprises a metal window-frame 1, which may be assumed to; be incorporated in an automobile body. This frame has a rectangular window opening 2, the lower edge of which is defined by a sill 3; and in the vertical sides of which there are grooves or channels 4 in which the plate g'lassf'panelf or closure 5is arranged to move. While ordinarily the closure 5 consists of a glass plate,

as indicated in the drawing-,itshould be mentloned that the closure may, on occasion, consist ofani opaque: panel or sash.

The closure 5 is adapted to slide vertically both up and down in resilient channelrshaped fabric guides 6 which are disposedin the grooves 4 and extend nearly thewho-lelengtlr of the window frame, The guides 6 are not rest againsttheinclined surfaces" 8, along.

which they are slidable in a direction sub stantially uorm'alto their length; In addigripping the closure 5' tion the surfaces 7 of the bars? may also be given an inclination as is most clearly illustrated n Flgs'. and l. As wlllbe apparent from a consideration-of the latter figures, any

movement of the bars 7 in a direction towardthe closure 5-which direction would be to the right, as viewed in the figures mentioned will cause awed-g-u-ig. action tending strong?- ly to grip-the closure between the side Walls 7 of the guides. Conversely, movements ofthe bars 7 in the opposite directions wlll relleve the gripping action on the closure 5 and permit the latter freely to be raised and lowered.

As may be seen from an examination of Figs. 3 and 4, the bars 7 are of L-shape crosssection from the top end down to a point near the bottom end, below which point the crosssection is Z-shape. The lower ends of these bars are each pivotally attached to the arm of a bell-crank 9the pivotal connections of the bars to the bell-cranks being designated 9 (see Fig. 1). The bell-cranks are, in turn, pivoted at 9 on a cross member The upper end of each bar 7 has an inclined slot 7 through each of which extends a supporting pin 11. Upon rotation of the bell-cranks 9 against the tension of their restraining springs 12 the bars 7 will obviously move outwardly and thus relieve the pressure nor mally exerted against the guides 6, thereby permitting the closure 5 to be raised and low ered with little restraint.

The raising and lowering mechanism comprises the usual chain 13, sprockets 14, 15 and crank 16, which is mounted on a shaft 17 journaled on a dependingprojection 18 of the window sill. The chain 13 includes a special link 19 having a cross-pin 20 to which is connected the ends of a pair of levers 21, 22, the ends of these levers engaging pin 20 being slotted, as shown in 1. The lever 21 is pivotally attached at 23. to a metallic channel-shaped member 24 attached to the bottom of the plate glass closure. The lever 22 is pivotally mounted at 25 (see Fig. 2) in the same way as described with reference to the lever 21. Each of the two levers 21, 22 is bifurcated at one end, as shown, and each of the branches 21, 21 22 22 carries a roller 26, 27', 28, 29-, respectively,

\Vhen crank 16 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow on sprocket 14 the long ends of levers 21, 22 are lifted by virtue of their connection to the link 19. The applied force rotates the two levers about their pivots 2325 and thereby causes the rollers 26 and 28 to be pressed against the bars 7. The force thus applied to these bars pushes them outwardly, the movement thereof being facilitated by reason of their being mounted at their lower ends on the rotatable bellcranks 9 and by reason of the inclined slots 7". These slots provide for movement of the upper ends of the bars 7 along paths substantially parallel to those traversed by the lower ends of the bars. This movement of the bars 7 immediately releases the gripping engagement upon the closure 5 leaving it free to be moved up and down so long as the force upon the crank 16 continues to be applied. The long arms of the levers 21, 22 continue to move upwardly about their pivots until they strike the stops 30 and 31, at which point the bars 7 are moved in far enough for the window to move freely. The force exerted upon the crank 16 is thereafter applied solely to the lifting of the closure without any further rotation of the levers 21, 22. lVhen the closure has been lifted to the desired extent and the crank 16 released, the levers 21, 22 resume their normal positions wherein they do; not exert any substantial force against the bars 7 and the latter are then free to re turn to their normal positions under the ac tuation of springs 12. Consequently, the edges of closure 5 are immediately gripped as before. The handle 16 may be given a slight reverse motion to insure the return of the levers 2]., 22 to normal position.

The lowering of the closure is effected by rotating crank 16 in the alternate direction.

In response to such rotation the link 19 movesdownwardly. This, in turn, causes the rollers 27 and 29 to be brought into active en gagement with their respectivel i associated bars 7 and thus function to push the bars outwardly in the same manner as described with reference to the action of the rollers 26 and 28.,

and 33 functlon in the same manner Stops stops 30 and 31. it IS common practice to provide, in window structures of the type described, means for counter-balancing the weight of the plate Such a device is preferably glass closure. en'iployed with the structures herein described, but it does not seem necessary to encumber this disclosure by the inclusion of a showing of that kind, the details of which will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art.

Figs. 5 and 6 depict an alternative structure which has been included for the purpose of showing an arrangement in which the releasing of the closure from the normal gripping action, previously described, is carried out as a more or less independent operational step preliminary to the rotation of the crank for raising or lowering the closure. In this alternative structure the device for gripping the edges of the closure may be substantially the same, or at least the same in principle, as that previously described. The same reference numerals are used in Figs. 5 and G as in the preceding figures in so far as the elements to which they refer are substantially the same or identical in function.

The major difference between the two structures resides in the releasing mechanisms. The two vertical bars 7 of Fig. 5 may be diagonally slotted at both ends, as indicated at points 34. At a level just below the sill there are shown a pair of hell cranks 35 and 36, one end of each being pivotally connected toone of the two bars 7, respectiveiy. These bell-cranks are pivotally mounted at points 36 respectively, and their short arms are pivotally connected to links 37 and 88, respectively. These in turn are connected to an annular disk 39 which is adapted to be rotated forthepurpose :of transmitting motion to the bell-cranks iandv36 and thus moving the bars 7 to releasethe normal grip upon the closure. The details of the structure including the annular disk 39*are shown most clearly in Fig. 6, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the. line 66 of Fig. 5.

From this view it will be noted that the periphery of the disk 39is grooved circumferentially and that the groove is engaged by a pair of flanges 40 and 41, the function of which is to restrain the disk 39against movement along the shaft 17 but at the same time permit it to rotate. The bore or inner surr face of disk 39 has a number 'of' helical radially projecting teeth, each of which engages acorresponding groove 42 in the periphery of an innerdisk 42 mounted on the shaft 1?, but not secured thereto. Disk 42 is restrained against rotation by pins 43 which pass through suitable apertures therein. The inner disk isfree to be moved in the direction of the axis of shaft 17 along pins 43. This movement is effected by pulling on the crank 16 thereby transmitting an, axial movement to the shaft 17 together with collars 4A and 45 which are secured to the shaft 17 to either side of the inner disk. When crank'16 together with shaft 17 and disk 42 are pulled toward the operator, the annular disk 39 is forcibly rotated by reasonv of its engagement with the inner-disk 42 through the helical teeth and grooves which have been described. This causes animmediate rotation of the bell cranks 35 and 36 and in turn, an outward movement of the bars7, resulting in a re lease of the normal gripping action upon the edges of the closure. Hence, with-the crank 16 in its pulled-out position it may be rotated to raise andlower the closurethrough the agency of chain 13 and sprockets 1 1 and'15. WVhen the closure has been moved to the desired position the crank 16 is pushedback to its normal position,"thus restoring the annular disk 39 and in turn the bell-cranks 85, 36 and the bars 7 to their normal positions wherein the gripping action upon the edges of the closure is again exerted.

Vfhile there has been disclosed and de-i scribed what is considered to bea preferred embodiment ofthe invention, 'itris manifest that there are numerous practicable equivalents which could'readily be devised and which would-be well adapted to perform the 5 functions described. Moreover, itis not basially for motor -vehicles"it is, nevertheless entirely practicable. and certainly within the scope of the inventive concept; y 1 .What isiclaimedisz Y z a In a window-structure, the combination with a window: frame having a window opening, of ai slidableclosure for said opening, guide grooves for said closurein the sides of said-opening, a device normally operable to effect agripping engagement of said closure to prevent rattling, said device extending into said groove and lying entirely within the 'same throughout its extent alongside the window opening, and a mechanism for releasing said closure from the gripping engage- -ment effected by'said device, said mechanism 'being operable in response to force applied to slide said closure. V

2' In a window structure, the combination with awindow frame havinga window opening,'a slidable closure for said opening, guide grooves for said closure in the sides of said opening, a manually operable mechanism for sliding said closure to open and close the window, azdevice normally operable to engage and restrain said closure against rattling, said device extending into said groove and lying entirely within the same throughout its extent alongside the window opening, and an interconnection between said mechanism and said devicefor automatically reducing the restraining act-ion of said device upon said closure during the periods when saidvclosure is being moved, 3. In a window structure, a Window frame having an opening,a slidable panel functioning as a variable closure for said opening, a guide for said panel,'said panel being slidable in said guide, a wedge operable conjointly with said guide to gripan edge portionof said panel to prevent rattling thereof, a manually operable mechanism for slidably moving said panel, and a mechanical interconnection between said mechanism and said wedge for automatically releasing said wedge whenever a force is applied to said mechanism to move said panel, said interconnection being operable to hold. said wedge released only during the application of force to said mechanism tending to move said panel, :and means normally operable to hold said wedge in its gripping position. i

LQThe combination of a window frame having a guide groove, a window closure mounted in'said guide groove, an anti-rattling device therefor, said device comprising a wedge extending along the edge of the window in said groove normally operable to exert an anti-rattle restraining action against said closure, and a mechanism operable to release said wedge in response toand-during the application of force to said closure for effecting opening and. closing movements thereof, and means operable-automatically vto shift said wedge to grip said closure upon the aforementioned force being discontinued.

5. In a window structure, a slidable closure, a guide, said closure being slidably mounted in said guide, a yieldable spring actuated wedge member normally exerting pressure between said guide and said closure and thereby restraining it against rattling, a mechanism for slidably moving said closure, and a releasing device operable by said mechanism and in response to operation thereof to retract said spring actuated mem her and hold the same retracted during the operation of said mechanism but not otherwise.

6. In a window structure, a slidable closure, a guide, said closure being slidably mounted in said guide, a yieldable spring actuated wedge normally exerting pressure against said guide and thereby eflecting a gripping engagement between said guide and said closure thus normally restraining said closure against rattling, a mechanism for slidably moving said closure in said guide and a releasing device operable to retract said wedge and hold it retracted during movements of said closure.

7. In a window structure, a slidable panel closure, a guide for said closure a spring actuated wedge bar slidably mounted in said guide and normally operable to effect a gripping action upon said closure for the purpose of restraining said closure against vibration said bar being yieldable to relieve the gripping force normally exerted thereby upon said closure, a manually operable mechanism for sliding saidclosure in said guide, and a lever operable to move said wedge bar out of its normal actuated position for relieving the aforementioned gripping action, said lever being connected to said mechanism and operable in response to movements thereof,

8. In a window structure, a slidable panel closure, a resilient guide for said closure, a spring actuated mechanical device normally operable to exert pressure on said guide and thus cause said guide to grip said closure and thereby prevent rattling thereof, a mechanism for sliding said closure, and a lever connected to said mechanism and pivotally connected to said closure, the end of said lever remote from said mechanism being operable to engage and move said spring-actuated mechanical device to relieve the pressure exerted thereby upon said guide, said lever being operable in response to movements of said mechanism.

9. In a window structure, a slidable panel closure, a resilient guide for said closure, a spring actuated mechanical device normally operable to exert pressure on said guide and thus cause said guide to grip said closure and thereby prevent rattling thereof, a mechanism for sliding said closure, and a lever connected to said mechanism and pivotally connected to said closure, the end of said lever remote from sald mechanism being bifurcated, the two branches of the bifurcated end of said lever being operable alternately to engage and move said spring actuated mechanical device to relieve the pressure exerted thereby upon said guide, said lever being operable in response to movements of said mechanism, one of said branches being brought into action when said mechanism is operated in one direction and vice versa.

10. In a window structure, a frame having a window opening and grooves at either side of said opening, a slidable closure for said opening, said closure having opposite edge portions disposed in said grooves respectively, a pair of clamping members, one in each of said grooves, operable conjointly with said frame to grippingly engage the respective edge portions of said closure for the purpose of restraining it against free vibration, spring means for actuating said clamping members, a mechanism for slidably moving said closure lengthwise of said grooves, and means connected with said mechanism and operable conjointly therewith for automatically releasing said clamping members preliminarily to each operation of said closure.

11. In a window structure, a frame having awindow opening and grooves at either side of said opening, a resilient elongated guide in each of said grooves, said guides extending lengthwise of said grooves, a slidable closure for said opening, said closure having opposite edge portions disposed in said guides respectively, a pair of elongated clamping bars, one in each of said grooves, said bars being operable conjointly with said frame to gripiingly engage the respective edge portions of said closure in their respective guides for the purpose of restraining said closure against free vibration, said clamping bars being yieldable for relieving the gripping action upon said closure, a mechanism for slidably moving said closure lengthwise of said grooves, and a pair of levers pivotally attached to said closure, one end of each of said levers being connected to said mechanism said levers being initially rotatable upon actuation of said mechanism, stops for limiting the rotation of said levers whereby motion is transmitted to said closure, the alternate ends of said levers being arranged to engage and move said clamping bars respectively into releasing positions to relieve the restraint upon said closure and further to hold said bars deactuated during the operation of said mechanism, and means for automatically shifting said bars into their gripping positions as soon as each operation of said mechanism is terminated.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

BENJAMIN A. MORTON.

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