TECHICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a roller for a vehicle sliding door system such as those used for providing lateral movement between open and closed position.

PRIOR ART

A roller mechanism are used on sliding doors to provide movement between open and closed position. A roller mechanisms are mounted on the doors and vehicle body and its rollers are positioned on the rails which is mounted on the vehicle body sliding door or the sliding door, respectively. Generally, the roller mechanism is mounted on the sliding door and having one or two group rollers which rotates in axis which is perpendicular according to each other. First roller group is a carrier roller, also known as main roller, is provides lateral movement to the sliding door and carry its weight on the rail. Second group is guide rollers. The guide rollers provides guidance to the sliding door along the rail. Conventionally, two guide rollers are used.

In known state of the art, wheel part of the rollers are directly mounted on a metal pin formed on the roller mechanism. A said arrangement doesn’t provide desired smooth movement of roller and causes noise and friction between both metal parts during rolling. In some conditions, roller is sliding instead of rolling. Therefore, a grease oil is also used for such an arrangement for eliminate or reduce friction.

However, a different problems are come up when a grease oil is used. During the usage, dust and similar contaminants mixes with oil grease. As result, mixed grease oil blocks movement of the roller. Besides that, grease oil goes away in time.

US20100154308A1 discloses a vehicular roller device capable of rotating smoothly without using lubricant such as grease and preventing a roller main body from being damaged due to its use over time to achieve smooth rotation and satisfactory operation property for a long time. Proposed solution in this application is wheel part of roller is made of synthetic resin material hhaving modulus of bending elasticity of 9,000 MPa or more and treating surface of it with material containing polyether ether ketone. However, it’s expensive solution in addition not to solving friction between metal pin and wheel part.

As we mentioned before, guide rollers are mounted on a pin. A tap is positioned top of the pin such that doesn’t prevent rotational movement of the roller. A level which has bigger diameter than top of the pin body is required for pin to provide such a positioning. After positioning tap to the level, riveting, especially spinning riveting process, is applied on rivet to increase diameter of top of the pin that the pin is spun on surface of the tap.

The pin screwed to top of the pin. This method comprises multi steps and especially screwing is very slow method against other connection method. Another problem of screwing is loosening of screw due to vibrating of the rollers and the sliding doors.

As a result all of the problems mentioned above, have made it necessary to provide an improvements in the related field.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to eliminate the problems mentioned above and to provide a technical improvements to the related field.

The main aim of the invention is to provide a guide roller for a vehicle sliding door system such as those used for providing lateral movement between open and closed position..

Another aim of the invention is to provide a roller which is pre-assembled such that it can be mounted on guide roller bracket easily and eliminate requirement of grease oil in the roller of the sliding door systems.

Another aim of the invention is providing sliding door having a roller mechanism is less noisy, easier to move and faster

Another aim of the invention is to provide a pin and a roller doesn’t require any tap to connect each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The present invention method above and which can be construed from the detailed description below is A pre-assembled guide roller configured to mount in rotatable manner to main bracket of vehicle sliding doors to provide guidance to a sliding door along the rail of vehicle. Accordingly, the present invention comprises, a wheel shaped cap; an inner bushing positioned inside the wheel shaped cap; needles positioned between the inner bushing and the wheel shaped cap; two needle supports provided on the inner bushing and/or the wheel shaped cap and configured to limit axial movement of needles by positioning top and bottom of the needle and to capsulate needles between the inner bushing and the wheel shaped cap.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the needle support is provided on the inner bushing and other one is provided on the wheel shaped cap.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the needle support provided on inner bushing is positioned on the bottom of the needle and the needle support provided on wheel shaped cap is positioned on the top of the needle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, needles are directly contact to the inner surface of a wheel shaped cap.

An alternative embodiment of the invention comprises outer bushing positioned between needles and the wheel shaped cap and directly contact to the wheel shaped cap.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a cavity provided for mounting of end of the needle support.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a cover configured to mount and close top of the wheel shaped cap.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, top of the wheel shaped cap is open.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner bushing is made of ceramic or bronze.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel shaped cap is made of plastic.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a pin having a pin body fixedly mounted on the inner bushing and a pin base which has bigger diameter than pin body to be positioned under the inner bushing.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a riveting level and a riveting surface provided on the pin are configured to create a fixing surface, which has bigger diameter than pin body, over the needle support by riveting to limit axial movement of the cap in one way.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixing surface isn’t fully spun over the needle support.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is no tap between in an inner volume of the wheel shaped cap.

The present invention method above and which can be construed from the detailed description below is, a sliding door system for a vehicles. Accordingly, the present invention comprises, a vehicle body having a door opening; a laterally slidable sliding door movable within the door opening; a main bracket configured to be assembled to the vehicle body or the sliding door; at least one guide roller bracket formed end of the main bracket; at least one pre-assembled guide roller according to any of claims or embodiments disclosed in the description ; at least one rail configured to be assembled to the vehicle body or the sliding door; guide surfaces provided on the rail so that the sliding door can be guided along the rail via guide roller.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main bracket is configured to be assembled to the sliding door.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises at least one carrier roller mounted on the main bracket in manner of rotating in a secondary axis which is perpendicular to the primary axis and carrier surfaces provided on the rail and so that the sliding door can be slide along the rail via carrier roller.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises two guide rollers.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the guide roller bracket for each guide roller.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises three rails which are positioned upper portion, middle portion and lower portion of vehicle body or sliding door.

A preferred embodiment of the invention, the main bracket configured to be assembled to the vehicle body the rail is configured to be assembled to the sliding door. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a chucking system whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows the schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention on a vehicle.

Figure 2 shows schematic side view of an embodiment of roller and rail system.

Figure 2. A shows schematic side view of another embodiment of roller and rail system.

Figure 2.B shows schematic side view of another embodiment of roller and rail system.

Figure 3 shows the isometric view of an embodiment of the guide roller. One of the caps is shown in half to provide better view for inner structure of the guide roller.

Figure 4 is front view of the guide roller is shown is Fig 3.

Figure 4. A is the top view of the guide roller is shown in the Fig 4.

Figure 4.B is cross-sectional view of the guide roller of Fig 4. A taken at line A.

Figure 4.C is an isometric view that presents top section of guide roller without cover.

Figure 4.D is an isometric view that presents bottom section of guide roller without cover.

Figure 5 is an isometric view self-riveting pin.

Figure 5. A is an isometric view self-riveting pin after the spun riveting process.

REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE FIGURES

10. Main bracket

11. Guide roller bracket

12. Mounting aperture 20. Carrier roller 30. Guide roller

31. Pin

310. Pin body

311. Riveting level

312. Riveting surface

313. Fixing surface

314. Pin base

32. Needle support

33. Inner bushing

34. Needles

341. Side surface

342. Bottom surface

343. Top surface

35. Cap

351. Inner surface

352. Cavity

353. Cover cavity

36. Cover V. Vehicle

VB. Vehicle body

S. Sliding door

SS. Outer surface

T. Top section of cap

A1. Primary axis A2. Secondary axis R. Rail

GS. Guide surface CS. Carrier surface DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description a pre-assembled guide roller for sliding door systems subject to the invention have been illustrated with non-limiting examples in order to further describe the subject matter of the invention.

For purposes of description herein the terms “lateral”, “vertical,” or “perpendicular” and derivatives thereof shall relate generally to the invention as oriented in Fig. 1. Term of “x” describes lateral direction, term of “y” vertical direction and term of “z” describes perpendicular direction to the outer surface (SS) of sliding door (S) in Fig.1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary.

Term of the “roller mechanism” is define a system having a main bracket (10) and at least one guide roller (30) configured to guide sliding door (S) along the rail (R)

Figure 1 shows the schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention on a vehicle (V). The roller mechanism is used for moving the sliding door (S) between open and closed position in lateral axis. Preferably, the roller mechanism is mounted on sliding door (S) and carrier and guide rollers (20, 30) moves on the laterally positioned on rails (R) on the vehicle body (VB).

If the roller mechanism is mounted on the sliding door (S), rails (R) must be mounted on the vehicle body (VB). In contrary, if the roller mechanism is mounted on the vehicle body (VB), the rails (R) must be mounted on the sliding door (S). In Figure 1 , three rails (R) is shown, however in some embodiments system may comprises one or two set of rail (R). In embodiment has three set of rail (R), three rails (R) are positioned upper portion, middle portion and lower portion of the vehicle body (VB) or the sliding door (S).

Also in Figure 1 , a carrier roller (20) and a guide roller (30) for each set of rail (R) is shown. Similarly, this arrangement is not essential. Only one or one pair of below disclosed guide roller (30) which is used on the one of the rail (R) set is enough to provide technical effect in some degree.

In an alternative embodiment, the roller mechanism may be mounted on the vehicle body (VB) and carrier and guide rollers (20, 30) is mounted on the sliding door (S).

In Figure 2-2. B, different embodiments of roller mechanism is shown. The rail (R) can be seen also in Fig 2-2. B. The rail (R) comprises two guide surfaces (GS) which is configured to be parallel each other to prevent lateral movement of guide roller (30) is z axis and guide the guide roller (30) along the rail (R). A said embodiments is shown Figure 2. A-2. B not necessarily having a carrier roller (20). A movement direction of guide roller (20) is x axis in this embodiment.

In Figure 2, beside the guide surfaces (GS), the rail (R) also comprises a carrier surface (CS) which is configured to be parallel with ground to carry weight of the sliding door (S) via the carrier roller (20). A movement direction of carrier roller (20) is x axis in this embodiment.

In Figure 3, a main bracket (10) of roller mechanism can be seen. The main bracket (10) has elongated body (11 ) and may be elongated body (11 ) may be curved. One end of the body (11 ) may be mounting aperture (12) is formed and the other end rollers are positioned. Preferably, two guide roller bracket (13) is formed on end of the body (12). The guide roller brackets (13) are formed both sides of the carrier roller (20).

The main bracket is can be mounted on the sliding door (S) or vehicle body (VB). A said mounting may be in rotatable manner, according to which rail it is used.

The mounting aperture (12) provides connection between the roller system and sliding door (S) and may be in form hole for rivet, spindle, screw or similar connection elements.

The carrier roller (20) is rotatably mounted on the end the body (11 ) and rotates in a secondary axis (A2). Preferably, the body (11) is arranged so that the secondary axis (A2) and the x axis are in same direction.

In the same end of the body (11 ), guide roller bracket (13) is formed. If, the roller mechanism comprises both carrier and guide roller (20, 30), the guide roller bracket (13) is configured to provide surface that positioned guide roller (30) higher than the carrier roller (20).

An inner structure of the guide roller (30) can be seen in Figure 2. The guide roller (30) is mounted on the rotatably guide roller bracket (13) via pin (31 ) and rotates in a primary axis (A1). Preferably, the guide roller bracket (13) is arranged so that the primary axis (A1 ) and the y axis are in same direction. The primary and the secondary axis (A1 , A2) are perpendicular to the each other. Guide roller (30) is positioned on the pin (31 ) which connects roller and guide roller bracket (13).

Referring to Fig. 4-4. B; Outermost part of the guide roller (30) is cap (35) which is wheel shaped to provide movement and balance for sliding door (S). Said guide roller (30) is configured to be mount on pin (31) provided on guide roller bracket (13) provided on the main bracket (10). For such arrangement, an inner bushing (33), which has channel formed that the pin (31 ) can be placed, is positioned inside the wheel shaped cap (35).

Needles (34) are positioned between inner bushing (33) and the wheel shaped cap (35) and configured to rotate in its own axis. When the guide roller (30) moves on the rail (R), inner bushing stays stationary and needles (34) rotates. Rotation of the needles helping that wheel shaped cap (35) moves more silently. Also, such an arrangement provided by the needles and inner bushing (30), eliminate requirement of grease oil and metal- metal friction and also provide faster rotational movement for the guide roller (30).

Two needle supports (32) are formed on inner bushing (33) and/or the wheel shaped cap (35). Both of needle supports (32) maybe formed on same part however in preferred embodiment, one of the formed on inner bushing (33) and other one is formed on wheel shaped cap (35).

The needle supports (32) are preferably radially extended surfaces and are positioned such that covers top and bottom surfaces (341 , 342) of the needles (34). Positioning above mentioned limits movement of the axial movement of the needles (34).

Referring Fig. 4.B-4.D, the inner bushing (33) has smaller diameter than inner diameter of the wheel shaped cap (35) and that creates gap between them and said needles (34) are actually positioned on said gap. The needle supports (32) closes end of the gap such that needles (34) are encapsulated among needle supports (32), inner bushing (33) and wheel shaped cap (35). Thus, the guide roller (30) is provided as pre-assembled and can be mounted on the pin (31 ) easily and as one piece equipment.

Accordingly, the present invention is pre-assembled guide roller (30) configured to mount in rotatable manner to main bracket (10) of vehicle (V) sliding doors (S) to provide guidance to a sliding door (S) along the rail (R) of vehicle (V), comprises, a wheel shaped cap (35); an inner bushing (33) positioned inside the wheel shaped cap (35); needles (34) positioned between the inner bushing (33) and the wheel shaped cap (35); two needle supports (32) provided on the inner bushing (33) and/or the wheel shaped cap (35) and configured to limit axial movement of needles (34) by positioning top and bottom of the needle (34) and to capsulate needles (34) between the inner bushing (33) and the wheel shaped cap (35).

In Fig 4.B, the needle support (32) positioned under the needles (34) is integrated with the inner bushing (33) and the needle support (32) positioned above the needles (34) is integrated with the wheel shaped cap (35). Both of the needle support (32) extends such that contact inner bushing (33) and/or the wheel shaped cap (35).

In a preferred embodiment, a cavity (352) is formed, especially formed on the wheel shaped cap (30). The end of needle support (32) is positioned on the cavity (352) to provide more capsulation and sealing effect. The cavity (352) is preferably configured to provide placement for bottom needle support (32).

Preferably, the inner surface (351 ) of the wheel shaped cap (35) and the needles (34) are configured contact each other directly to provide easier movement effect above- mentioned.

Besides that, an outer bushing (not shown in figures) is positioned between wheel shaped cap (35) and the needles (34) such that outer bushing contacts the inner surface (351 ) however such an arrangement more disadvantageous against direct contact needle (34) and the wheel shaped (35). This embodiment comprises an outer bushing as an extra mean and that cause more complicated structure and harder assembling process besides increasing weight.

The inner bushing (33) is made of ceramic or bronze so it prevents grease requirement which is essential for metal-metal contact. Alternative to this, inner bushing (30) can be made of plastic but the test are shown, the plastic inner bushing (33) brakes more easily than ceramic or bronze one.

The cap (35) is preferably is not fully rigid material. In a preferred embodiment, the cap (35) is made of plastic, especially, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

In a preferred embodiment, top of the cap (35) is open and a cover (36) is provided to place on the top section of cap (T) to prevent contamination in the inner bushing (33) and needles (34). On the top section of cap (T) a cover cavity (353) is provided. A cover cavity (353) is ring shaped channel and formed to provide placement for circumference of the cover (36). Thus, more sealing effect on the wheel shaped cap (35) is provided.

Figure 4-4. B shows different views of the guide roller (30) mounted on the pin (31). The pin (31 ) is configured to rotatably connect the pre-assembled guide roller (30) to main bracket (10). The pin (31 ) has the pin base (314) whose diameter is bigger than pin body (310). The pre-assembled guide roller (30) is mounted on the pin base (314).

Figure 5 and 5. A is shows the pin (31 ) before and after the riveting process. The pin (31 ) comprises (10) a pin body (310) and a riveting surface (312) having smaller diameter than the pin body (310). The diameter differences between the pin body (310) and the riveting surface (312) crates a riveting level (311 ) on the pin body (310).

When the riveting is applied on the riveting surface (312), the riveting surface (312) goes to the riveting level (311 ) to increase diameter of itself and creates the a fixing surface (313). The riveting level (311 ) determines a position where the fixing surface (313) is created by riveting so the riveting level (311 ) must be positioned between the wheel shaped cap (35) and the needle support (32) when the pin (31 ) mounts on the pre assembled guide roller (30). Besides that, the diameter of the pin body (310) can’t be bigger than the inner diameter of inner bushing (33) to provide mounting.

In known state of art, a tap is positioned on the pin (31 ), especially in an inner volume (354) of the wheel shaped cap (35), and the riveting surface (312) riveting over the tap so there are no requirement for diameters of riveting level or surface (311 , 312). In the present invention, the tap doesn’t used so riveting level and surface (311 , 312) must be configured to create a fixing surface (313) having bigger diameter than both diameter of pin body (310) and the needle support (32) opening which the pin (31 ) passes through. The mentioned inner volume (354) is provided among the cap (35), especially top of the cap (35) or the cover (36), and the needle support (32).

A mentioned riveting process may be spin riveting process which is carried out by eccentric riveting shaft.

As can be seen in Fig 4.B, no need fully spun the riveting surface (312) over the needle support (32) to create fixing surface (313). A diameter requirement mentioned above will be enough for provide the technical effect. With riveted the pin (31) on the pre-assembled guide roller (30), manufacturers only needs to mount the pre-assembled guide roller (30) on the main bracket (10) and riveting other end of the pin (60) to the main bracket (10). This solution provides much simple assembling process.

The protection scope of the invention has been mentioned in the claims that are attached and the invention cannot be limited to the embodiments described in this detailed description. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can provide similar embodiments within the scope of the above mentioned descriptions without deviating from the main theme of the invention.