The Innovation behind Power Windows

Anthony Fontanelle
January 30, 2008

Mercedes is always at the forefront of innovations especially in the luxury car market. Many of the automotive technologies used today trace their roots from Mercedes. This renowned automaker was the first to introduce the diesel engine, as well as safety features like the airbags, crumple zones, Electronic Stability Program, and traction control on its cars. Mercedes was also the first to feature the Adaptive Cruise Control technology called the Distronic system in its vehicles. Despite the advanced technologies, Mercedes Benz vehicles are equipped with standard parts and optional features for a convenient travel. Among these features are the power windows.

Like in other vehicles, the windows of older Mercedes models are manually operated. Passengers need to rotate a hand crank to open or close the windows. But new models feature power windows that enable opening and shutting windows with just a click of a button. A device called the window motor makes those movements possible. The Mercedes window motor is the electric motor that raises or lowers the glass window. It is connected to a number of spur gears and a worm gear that provides it with enough torque to trigger the window’s movement.

When the window switch is pressed, the Mercedes window motor activates the gears to turn and cause the opening or closing of the windows. The Mercedes window motor also keeps a seamless linkage in lifting or lowering the window to keep the glass leveled when doing so. The linkage employs a long arm coupled to a bar that holds the base of the window glass. When the window is raised, the end of the long arm slides with it in the bar. At the other end of the long arm is a gear teeth that grits the glass and raises or lowers it, depending on the window action desired.

Source:  Amazines.com