What Is a Car Windows Regulator?

What are car window regulator? A car window regulator is the device that allows your windows to go up and down. Since opening and closing car windows is such a common task, it is not uncommon for a window regulator to break. In fact, window regulator is one of the most common parts that breaks in an car window.

sample of worm gear

But how does a window regulator work? We know that a motor has a rotary movement. What the window regulator does, then, is to transform this rotary movement to a vertical, linear movement that helps windows go up and down. 

A window mechanism is relatively simple but elegant too. The window system consists of spur gears, a worm gear, and a motor. When the worm gear spins, tension binds the other gears together. Then, the worm gears lock, making the window unable to be opened.

To learn more about a window system and car regulators, please watch the following creative video:

Duran's Auto Glass serving Hercules and Pinole, can help you with any car regulator needs that you may have. To learn more, just visit DAG's website.

Augmented Reality and Auto Glass

Augmented reality. What is it? It sounds like something from another dimension, no?

Augmented reality is a new technology that seems to blur out the line between what's real and what is computer generated by enhancing what we hear, see, and feel. For instance, Terminator vision is such an example of augmented reality, where a camera intercepts the real world with the virtual world. 

Now, today car makers are in a race to develop windshields with augmented reality technology. What information would be displayed on such windshield?

The windshield would display information that would help the driver reduce head down time and would alert the driver by rendering hard to see objects and animals and would also create an alert in case of erratic drivers.

Whether, Augmented reality windshields become a reality in one year or two, or sooner, Duran's Auto Glass will be there to repair them. Duran's can help with any auto glass repair and windshield replacement in San Pablo California.

Why is Glass Transparent?

A definitely intriguing question... why is glass transparent? After all, it is a solid that keeps the elements from coming inside. Why isn't the wood or metal around glass transparent too?

Glass is an interesting substance indeed. It is formed by melting a solid  substance at high temperatures and then cooling it rapidly, a process commonly known as quenching. The atoms and molecules of this solid are locked in to place, but not in neatly, organized crystals. Instead, these molecules and atoms arrange themselves randomly, forming what is called an amorphous solid.

But this still still doesn't answer the question. Why is the glass transparent?

The answer lies in the type of substance glass is. While there are substances that, when hit by light photons, either reflect or absorbed these photons, glass allows light photos to pass through unchanged. The photon doesn't interact with any electron. These are then freed to continue with their journey, until it interacts with another object. This is exactly the reason why glass is transparent. 

- Brought to you by the auto glass experts, Duran's Auto Glass. To learn more about our company, please visit us.

Auto Glass History: Ford Model A

In this post, the Duran's Auto Glass team will take you back to the days of the first vehicles, more specifically, to the day of the Ford Model A. This automobile has a very special place in the history of auto glass, as you will be able to see.

Ford Model A

The Ford Model A was the second success for the Ford Motor Company. It came after Ford Motor's Model T, which had been in the market for 18 years. 

The Ford Model A was introduced in December 2, 1927 and was discontinued in 1931 and replaced by Model B.

Significance 

Ford's Model A has a special significance to the auto glass industry. Why? This model was the first car to have safety glass in the windshield.  The safety glass was provided by the Libbey-Owens glass company, which would later merge with Ford to create LOF.

Indeed, history is a fascinating subject. Going back learning how things came together to shape our present is exhilarating.  

Auto Glass and UV Light

Many people believe that regular glass (the one used for house windows) blocks Ultraviolet radiation. They believe that being indoors is relatively safe. But this is not the full truth. Today, the DAG team explores the relation between Ultraviolet radiation, regular glass, and auto glass.

Ultraviolet Radiation

Ultraviolet radiation can be divided into three types, UVA, UVB,  and UVC. 

UVA (320-400 nm wavelength) is at the long end of the UV spectrum and can penetrate into the skin. This type of UV radiation can have a significant effect on creating wrinkles and it can also contribute to cancer development.

UVB (280-320 nm wavelength) is at the middle range of the UV spectrum but doesn't penetrate the epidermis, although, along with UVA, it can contribute to cancer development.

UVC (100-280 nm wavelength) is at the short end of the UV spectrum but is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer.

Ordinary Glass

Ordinary glass, like the one used for house windows, blocks much of UVB but lets much of UVA  through. Clear glass allows a large percent of UVA through. Tinted glass does a little better, but almost 50% still passes through it. 

Auto Glass

Now, how does auto glass fare in all of this? With a large percent of the population in urban areas spending more time inside their cars, this becomes an interesting question. The answer? 

As we have learned in previous articles, the windshield in the majority of modern cars is built of laminated glass that blocks most of all UVB and UVA radiation. Now this applies to the windshield. However, the side and rear windows are usually not laminated glass. As we have learned, this type of safety glass is usually tempered glass. This means that a large percent of UVA can still go through side windows and rear windows. 

A solution to reduce the amount of UVA light that goes through side windows and rear windows is window tinting. 

We hope that you have found this post informative! Again, the DAG glass team is ready to answer all your questions. And remember, if you need auto glass repair in Martinez CA or in any location in the Bay Area.

About Pilkington

Here at Duran's Auto Glass, one of the main auto glass companies we work with is Pilkington, a multinational company with operations in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

In North America, Pilkington does not only serve the auto glass industry. Pilkington products glass for homes and other architectural projects.

The company's auto glass division is composed of two main parts:

1) OE- Automotive Original Equipment - This production department focuses on the volume light vehicle industry and serves the world's major vehicle manufactures, including Toyota, General Motors, Ford, VW, Nissan, Fiat, Honda, BMW.

2) AGR-Automotive Glass Replacement - This production department focuses on aftermarket glass parts, as well as in the product of trims and urethane.

One of the main raesons why we use Pilkinton is for their attention to detail in their products. Even after more than 180 years in business, Pilkinton still has lots to give.

If you are interested on learning more about our glass services, please don't hesitate to call us. You can find more about our windshield replacement in San Pablo CA and other surrounding areas by visiting our yelp profile.