Harvard Industries, the Kingston-warren Corporation

Harvard Industries, Inc.

The Kingston-warren Corporation

Gilles Le Compagnon

David A Ross

David A Rose

A sliding window assembly for moving a window between a cavity defined by a structure having an outer surface, and a space located above the cavity comprises a first motor for selectively moving the window between the cavity and the space and a second motor for selectively moving the window between a first position substantially aligned with the cavity and a second position substantially aligned with the outer surface. First sensors indicate when the window is substantially entirely within the cavity and when the window is substantially entirely within the space. Second sensors indicate when the window is in the first position and when the window is in the second position. In one embodiment of the invention, third sensors indicate when the window is positioned for the second motor to move the window between the first and second positions. A programmable logic controller is connected to the sensors for appropriately controlling the motors.

Four side flush sliding window assembly

A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining sliding resistance between a surface of a portion of a glass section and a surface of a strip of resilient material, such as an elastomeric weatherstrip, which defines a channel having a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes a plate which is slidably engaged with a platform and structure for rigidly securing at least one strip of weatherstrip to the plate. Further included in the disclosed apparatus is a device for exerting on the glass section a plurality of forces relative to gravity so that the portion of the glass section passes at a selected rate through the channel along the channels longitudinal axis. Friction between the surface of the glass section and surface of the strip of resilient material results in a portion of the exerted force being transmitted to the plate. A force measuring device, which is coupled to the platform, measures the portion of the force exerted on the glass section that is transmitted to the plate. The disclosed method of the invention includes the steps of securing at least one strip of resilient material to a plate so that force exerted on the strip is transmitted to the plate and exerting on a glass section a force so that a portion of the glass section passes at a selected rate through a channel defined by the strip of resilient material. A portion of the force exerted on the glass section which is transmitted to the plate by friction between the surface of the glass section and the surface of the strip of resilient material is measured and represents sliding resistance.

Method and apparatus for determining sliding resistance

Method and apparatuses are disclosed for testing various characteristics of an elastomeric weatherstrip such as seal load, stress relaxation, and the recovery rate. One embodiment of the invention is an apparatus including a member defining a surface for exerting a force to deflect a portion of the weatherstrip a selected distance. The surface is oriented to be parallel to an edge defined by the portion along the weatherstrip's longitudinal axis in order to ensure that the exerted force is evenly distributed. The apparatus further includes an adjustable support for positioning the weatherstrip with respect to the surface and for bringing the edge into contact with the surface sufficiently to cause the portion to deflect the selected distance. The apparatus also includes a device for measuring the force exerted during deflection on the surface by the portion of the weatherstrip. Another embodiment of the invention includes a device for continually monitoring the force exerted on the surface by the portion over an extended period of deflection. The force measuring device can include a plurality of force measuring devices for independently measuring horizontal and vertical components of the exerted force. The methods of the invention include steps of exerting a force on the portion of the weatherstrip in order to deflect the portion a selected distance and measuring the reactive force exerted by the deflected portion. In another embodiment, the method includes the step of continually monitoring the measured force to determine the rate at which the portion relaxes over a period of time. Another embodiment of the method of the invention includes the steps of removing the deflective force from the portion of the weatherstrip and measuring the position of the weatherstrip at specified intervals to determine the rate at which a portion of the weatherstrip returns to its undeflected position.

Growing community of inventors

Dover, NH, United States of America

Gilles Le Compagnon