Edward Elliott Sponable

US Patent:

57820384, Jul 21, 1998

Filed:

Jul 29, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/688248

Inventors:

Edward E. Sponable - Novi MI
Jeffrey Kolar - Livonia MI

Assignee:

Hi-Lex Corporation - Battle Creek MI

International Classification:

E05F 1148

US Classification:

49352

Abstract:

A window regulator for raising a lowering a window pane in a motor vehicle. The regulator includes a scissors linkage including crossed lever arms connected at a pivot axis. The lever arms are attached at their upper ends to spaced points on the lower edge of the window pane and a cable is connected to the linkage at the pivot axis of the crossed arms. The cable is wrapped around a drum driven by a motor and is further trained over an upper pulley positioned above the pivot axis of the linkage and a lower pulley positioned below the pivot axis of the linkage. The regulator further includes a lower cross rail defining a rear pivot pivotally mounting the lower end of one of the lever arms, an intermediate pivot pivotally mounting the lower pulley, and a forward slot slidably mounting the lower end of the other lever arm. The arrangement is such that movement of the cable through a first distance results in movement of the windowpane through a second distance greater than the first distance, thereby providing a speed multiplier effect.

US Patent:

57848335, Jul 28, 1998

Filed:

Aug 14, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/696657

Inventors:

Edward Sponable - Novi MI
Raymond Zeller - Westland MI

Assignee:

Hi-Lex Corporation - Battle Creek MI

International Classification:

E05F 1148
E05F 1153

US Classification:

49360

Abstract:

A motor-driven window regulator for use with a horizontally sliding window installed in the rear window opening of a pickup truck cab. The sliding window is moved between a closed position wherein it fills a gap between two fixed, outboard mounted windows and an open position wherein it slides to overlap one of the fixed leaving the gap open. The sliding window is actuated by a pair of linear actuation cables, each of which is attached to the sliding window at a first end and to a motor-driven cable drive drum at a second end. The linear actuation cables extend away from the sliding window in opposite directions parallel with the direction of sliding movement and wrap around the cable drive drum in opposite directions so that rotation of the cable drive drum in one direction places a first cable in tension to pull the sliding window toward the open position and rotation of the cable drive drum in the opposite direction tensions the second cable to pull the sliding window toward the closed position. The pull/pull cable drive configuration results in the ability to use less closely toleranced and hence less expensive drive cables, as well as a motor which is smaller, less expensive and consumes less power.

US Patent:

58271490, Oct 27, 1998

Filed:

Jul 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/689029

Inventors:

Edward E. Sponable - Novi MI

Assignee:

Hi-Lex Corporation - Battle Creek MI

International Classification:

B60K 4126
F16H 5710

US Classification:

477 92

Abstract:

An electrically powered park lock actuator for use with an automotive vehicle transmission. The actuator is mechanically independent from a shift actuator which shifts the transmission between gear ranges, and comprises two high-speed, reversible DC electric motor acting via a speed reduction gear train to move a locking pawl into and out of engagement with a gear on the transmission output shaft. The shafts of the two motors are connected to a common worm which forms the fist stage of the gear train, and either one of the motors is individually capable of actuating the locking pawl. In the preferred embodiment, the park lock actuator is controlled by an electronic transmission control system so that the lock actuator may be controlled in coordination with a power-operated transmission gear shift actuator for integrated operation of the transmission. A back-up battery is supplied to provide sufficient power to unlock the transmission in the event of a failure of the vehicle main electrical power system.