DESCRIPTION

SIDE WINDOW RELEASING AND LOCKING MECHANISM

Field of invention

This invention, as well as meeting the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) numbered 571.217 applied to the side windows utilized as emergency- exits in buses; relates to a locking and releasing mechanism of R14000 body form compatible side windows that; provides strength and impermeability under normal circumstances, an aesthetic appearance from outside, is easily openable in case of emergency, easily mountable and has low production cost.

Background of the invention

In mass transportation means, there exist various emergency exit mechanisms for the evacuation of passengers in any case of danger. These emergency exit mechanisms differ according to countries and standards. For instance, in Turkey and Europe the windows and the window frames of the mass transportation means are fixed on the body of the vehicle by conglutinating in order to ensure impermeability. Therefore, in the practices of the art in Turkey and Europe, the first emergency-exit mechanism to be considered is; the evacuation of the passengers by breaking the side windows in case of danger with the special hammer which is kept in the vehicle for this purpose.

In the United States, there is Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) , required to be applied in mass

transportation means. In accordance with the standard no.271 of chapter 571 whose title is 'Emergency exits and window releasing and locking in busses' ; the emergency exit windows in busses shall be openable by hand under the pressure of maximum 267 Newton, so that the ellipsoid, which is formed by keeping the long axle of a 350mm x 500mm ellipse stable and by rotating around its own short axle, can pass through.

While this standard can not be fulfilled by adhere and sliding mechanisms, the demand for the mechanisms which are compatible with the above mentioned standards of the United

States, is not economical. Moreover, since the mechanisms which are demanded from the United States are not compatible with the R14000 body form, the producers have to use flat window.

In this context, herewith the development of many emergency exit mechanisms; in the invention which is the subject of the patent number US 6,932,395 titled as *WINDOW ASSEMBLY WITH RELEASE MECHANISM' comprises an emergency exit mechanism which is activated by a release handle. However, in this system the handle is shaped like a bar and comprises a complicated system of lock made up of metal latch. Also, the systems those are the subjects of the patents number US 4,313,280 titled ^x QUICK OPENNING LATCH ARRANGEMENT FOR HINGED VEHICLE WINDOWS' and US 4,635,396 titled 'BUS WINDOW RELEASE MECHANISM' , comprise a lock mechanism that is composed of complicated telescopic latches; so that this lock system of complicated telescopic latches might lead to a malfunctioning at the moment of releasing. In the emergency exit mechanism that is the subject of the patent number 6,279,266; there exists a system that the window frame is released when the latches slide horizontally as a result of the tensile in the wire which is bounded to the latches within the window frame.

In this system, the upside pushing motion and the tensile that is created by the spring holding the latches, may obviously complicate the opening of the emergency exit mechanism and lead to a loss of time.

Detailed description of the invention

The side window releasing and locking mechanism which is the subject of this invention fulfills the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards number 571.217, provides the required impermeability and strength by the help of its sections, has an aesthetic appearance from outside and is easily openable in case of emergencies by the help of its joint system.

At the same time, the side window releasing and locking mechanism which is the subject of this invention might be produced conveniently to R14000 form and single or double window might be used in accordance with the preference.

As it is seen in the figure 1, the side window releasing and locking mechanism which is the subject of this invention, comprises a lock system which constitutes a joint system hanging overhead and a locking mechanism which provides the window to be opened easily in case of emergency.

The joint system that is hanging overhead is made up of two parts as inner frame (1) and outer frame (2) .

The inner frame (1) ; is fixed to the body (7) of the vehicle by conglutinating,- that is, what is fixed is the frame. Therefore, it fixes the outer window (6) when the releasing mechanism is in closed status and serves the impermeability elements as a mounting surface.

When the bottom section (figure 4) of the inner frame (1) is examined, it is seen that the fixed latches (5) of the locking mechanism is on the inner frame bottom section.

The main function of the outer frame (2) , which is the second part of the hanging overhead joint system, is to carry the window (6) . The outer frame (2) constitutes the joint by being mounted up with a certain angle on the aluminum duct, which is emptied in patches.

The bottom section (figure 4) of the outer frame (2) preserves the lock latches (4) those move on it and the pulling spring (13) . There exists a steel spring (13) in the opening handle (10) which is tensile by the help of the multiple steel wire (9) so that it activates the locking mechanism. When the opening handle (10) is uplifted with a greater force than the steel spring (13) has,- that is the moment when the releasing mechanism is active, the movable latches (4) along the duct and the fixed latches (5) are separated from each other, cuts the connection between the inner frame (1) and the outer frame (2) and releases the frame. Therefore, the side window (6) might be opened letting the passengers be evacuated easily from the wholly opened window, in case of any danger. Moreover, the side window releasing and locking mechanism, which is the subject of this invention, can easily be shifted from released mode to locked mode by a motion which is through the opposite direction of releasing and this is repeatable. The outer frame (2) also carries the roller curtain springs (8) .

The lock system operates by the sliding of the movable latches (4) , which are on the outer frame (2) and made of delrin, on the fixed latches (5) which are on the inner frame and also made of delrin. Because of the ducts they have, the

lock latches provides the lock to move only horizontally while they limit the vertical motion.

The side window releasing and locking mechanism, which is the subject of this invention, is available for opening and closing several times and easy to mount. In production of the lock latches, delrin was used, which has advantages and superior features than metal; such as elasticity, roughness, abrasion resistance and endurance. The lock latches, which are made of delrin, are able to protect their features in a long range of heat differences, in moist environments and even in the situation of solvent contiguity. Also, continuous loads do not have effects on the features of delrin. If lock latches' exposition to many effects such as rain, chemical cleaning material and continuous load is considered, lock latches' being resistant to all these effects especially having dimensional consistency prolongs the duration of the locking mechanism which is the subject of present invention. Moreover, the high quality of surface flatness that is derived from delrin usage provides the releasing mechanism a perfect operation.

The motion of the window (6), which is between the frames, is limited by rubber cords (3) those exist on each direction of the inner and outer frames .

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 Joint system upper section Figure 2 Joint system lower section Figure 3 Joint system side section Figure 4 Lock system Figure 5 Lock latches on the multiple steel wire Figure 6 Opening handle Figure 7 Pulling spring within the opening handle

Brief description of the references

1 Inner frame

2 Outer frame

3 Rubber cords

4 Lock movable latch

5 Lock fixed latch

6 Window

7 Body

8 Roller curtain spring

9 Multiple steel wire

10 Opening handle

11 Opening handle fixer

12 Opening handle movable latch

13 Pulling spring