Window Winding Mechanisms

There are two types of window winding mechanisms; hand cranked and power. Hand cranks work two ways. With "window winders," the crank turns a "sector gear" that pivots a pair of arms. The arms raise the "window carrier" and the glass. Some cars have fixed glazing
oors so that the window cannot go up or down. The other type of window crank is a tape mechanism. It winds up a ladder-like tape made of plastic links. The plastic links are wound on to or off a spool to raise or lower the glass. The tape mechanism was introduced in 1980 GM cars. It saves weight and space. Its parts will not corrode when rainwater gets into the door, and it needs no lubrication. First introduced in 1946, power windows use a small electric motor inside the door. The motor turns the crank that raises the window. Door and vent windows are made of laminated "safety" plate glass, which is a sandwich of glass and clear plastic. The plastic acts as a soft, protective barrier, keeping the glass in place, if it is struck during a collision. The glass sticks to the plastic even when shattered.