AU2002339056A1 - Retractable top for a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

RETRACTABLE TOP FOR A VEHICLE

The present invention relates to a retractable top for a vehicle and

particularly, but not exclusively, to a retractable hard top. Vehicles with

retractable hard tops are well known. In general one or more roof panels

are supported on a complex linkage. The linkage with the roof panel or

panels connected to it may be moved between an extended position, in

which the roof is fully extended, and a retracted position in which the roof

panel or panels are stowed. Although arrangements of this nature have

worked well, the reliance upon mechanical linkages leads to a number of

disadvantages. They are relatively complicated and therefore expensive to

construct. In use wear in the linages can lead to a deterioration in

performance. Any play in the linkages can cause rattling which may be

exacerbated as the speed of the vehicle increases. An object of the

invention is to overcome or mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the present invention, there is provided a retractable

roof for a vehicle comprising a plurality of panels, telescopic means

connected Jo the panels for moving the panels between an extended

position in which the roof is closed and a stowed position in which the roof

is open, and pressure fluid supply means for supplying and withdrawing

pressure fluid to and from the telescopic means to extend and withdraw the

panels.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the telescopic means comprise individual tubes adapted to telescope into each other. The tubes

are advantageously elliptical in cross section and preferably made from

carbon fibre or other suitable material. There are telescopic tubes disposed

on opposite sides respectively of the panels. An airbag is disposed within

an individual tube of the telescopic means and disposed to receive pressure

fluid from the pressure fluid supply means to extend the next adjacent tube

therefrom. Conversely pressure fluid withdrawn from the airbag is operative

to withdraw the next adjacent tube into the tube containing the airbag. The

or each airbag is advantageously disposed within a braided envelope made

of a low friction material to control the movement and dimension of the bag

within the tube. Seals are provided between adjacent panels. These seals

may be tubular, be pressurised when in a sealing condition and the pressure

released to break the seal. Means are provided for bending the telescopic

means as the means extend and for releasing the bending force to enable

the means to adopt their natural unflexed state and the panels to adopt

positions ready for stowage. The means for bending preferably comprise a

cable connected between the telescopic means and a fixed point on the

vehicle and means for reducing and extending the effective length of the

cable. The C-posts of the vehicle are hinged to the rear screen and may be

folded underneath the rear screen for stowage.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one

embodiment thereof, will now be described, by way of example, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 diagrammatically shows a vehicle hard top roof in the closed

position,

Figure 2 diagrammatically shows a cross section through the vehicle

hard top roof of figure 1 as the roof begins to retract from the

closed to the stowed position,

Figure 3 diagrammatically shows a further cross section through the

vehicle hard top roof of figure 1 illustrating the movement of

tubes forming part of the roof assembly,

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic cross section through one of the tubes of

figure 3,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic detail view showing the telescopic action of

two adjacent tubes.

Figure 6a is a diagrammatic detail view of a seal in an operative position

between adjacent panels of the roof of figure 1 ,

Figure 6b diagrammatically shows the seal of figure 6a in the non-

operative position,

Figure 7 diagrammatically shows a detailed view of a control block for a

panel of the roof of figure 1 ,

Figure 8 diagrammatically show the hard top roof of figure 1 in a

position between the closed and stowed positions, and

Figure 9 shows the roof of figure 1 in the fully stowed position.

Referring to figure 1 , the vehicle hard top roof comprises first and

second roof panels 1 and 2, a rear screen 3, C-posts 4 (one side not visible) and rear quarter glasses 5 (other side again not visible). The vehicle

windscreen is indicated at 6. Two telescopic tube arrangements are

disposed on opposite sides respectively of the roof. Referring to figure 3,

each arrangement comprises three tubes 7, 8 and 9 which are dimensioned

to be telescopically received one within the other. In the roof closed

position each tube arrangement is fully extended and the ends are

constrained at points 10 and 1 1 on the header rail of the screen 6 and

within a cavity 12 disposed between the vehicle rear seats and squab panel.

Referring to figures 4 and 5, each tube 7, 8 and 9 is of hollow

elliptical cross section and is preferably made from carbon fibre or other

suitable material. An expandable bag 1 2 is disposed inside tubes 7 and 8.

Expansion of the bags may be pneumatic or hydraulic. Each bag 12 is

disposed within a braided sock 1 3 made of a low friction material to control

the movement and diameter of the bag within the corresponding tube and

facilitate its expansion and contraction. Figure 5 shows the interconnection

between tubes 7 and 8. The interconnection between tubes 8 and 9 is

similar an expandable bag and associated braided sock being disposed in

tube 8 operative to extend tube 9 from and retract it into tube 8.

Expandable seals are disposed between the screen 6 and roof panel 1

between roof panels 1 and 2 and between panel 2 and rear screen 3. One

of these seals is shown diagrammatically in figures 6a and 6b between

panels 1 and 2. The seal is shown in its operative sealing position in figure

6a and in its non-operative position in figure 6b. Each seal comprises a hollow tube 1 4 of a flexible resilient material. Air supplied to the tube under

pressure forces the material of the tube against the adjacent panels 1 and 2

to produce a seal as shown in figure 6a. To release the seal vacuum is

applied to the tube thus pulling the tube back from one of the panels.

Control blocks 1 5 are used to raise panel 2 above panel 1 so that

panel 1 may slide underneath panel. These control blocks are disposed on

opposite sides respectively of the panel and one is shown diagrammatically

in figure 7.

A control cable 16 is connected between control blocks 15 and the

vehicle body to control flexing of the tubes 7, 8 and 9 during extension and

retraction of the roof. The cable 1 6 holds the tubes 8 in a bowed position

when the roof is in its deployed closed position.

The above described arrangement operates as follows. With the roof

in its fully extended and closed position one or both rear quarter glasses are

dropped to break the seal to the interior of the vehicle. Vacuum is then

applied to the vacuum seals to break the seals between the roof panels and

between the panels and front and rear screens. The front roof panel is

unlatched from the front screen. A cover on the cavity for the stowage of

the roof hinges forward and the parcel shelf 1 6 normally disposed above the

cavity slides rearwardly. The rear screen 3 and C-posts 4 hinge rearwardly

and the control blocks are operated to raise panel 2 above panel 1 . As

panel 2 is raised the C-posts 4 hinge inwardly under the rear screen 3. The

first roof panel 1 disengages from the header rail of the screen 6. Air is removed from the airbags 12 in the tubes 7 thus pulling the first roof panel

1 rearwards as the tubes 7 side over the tubes 8. The control cable 1 6

extends allowing the tubes 8 to flex upwardly to their natural position. The

first roof panel continues to move rearwardly until it abuts the control

blocks 1 5. Air is then removed from the tube 8 causing tubes 7 and 8 to

slide over tube 9 and roof panels 1 and 2 to be stowed in the cavity

between the rear seat and the squab panel. The rear screen 3 and C-posts 4

fold forwards, the parcel shelf 17 slides forward concealing the rear screen

and C-post and the stowage cover folds back down to close the stowage

with the fully retracted roof inside. Deployment of the roof from this fully

retracted and stowed position to the fully extended and roof closed position

is the reverse of this procedure air being supplied to the bags to extend the

tubes and the panels connected to them. Once the roof panels are in the

correct relative extended position air can be supplied to the seals between

panels to make the seals between adjacent panels and between the panels

and adjacent screens.

The above described arrangement enables the natural flexibility of

carbon fibre to be utilized in combination with the advantages of a

pneumatic or hydraulic extension and retraction system to provide an

effective and reliable solution.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment has been described

by way of example only and that many variations are possible without

departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

Claims

1 . A retractable roof for a vehicle comprising a plurality of panels,

telescopic means connected to the panels for moving the panels

between an extended position in which the roof is closed and a

stowed position in which the roof is open, and pressure fluid

supply means for supplying and withdrawing pressure fluid to and

from the telescopic means to extend and withdraw the panels.

2. A retractable roof as claimed in claim 1 , in which the telescopic

means comprise individual tubes adapted to telescope into each

other.

3. A retractable roof as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the

telescopic means comprise tubes disposed on opposite sides

respectively of the panels.

4. A retractable roof as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the tubes

are elliptical in cross section.

5. A retractable roof as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the tubes

are made from carbon fibre.

6. A retractable roof as claimed in any preceding claim, in which an

airbag is disposed within an individual tube of the telescopic

means and disposed to receive pressure fluid from the pressure

fluid supply means to extend the next adjacent tube there from.

7. A retractable roof as claimed in claim 6, in which the airbag is

disposed within an envelope.

8. A retractable roof as claimed in claim 7, in which the envelope is

made of a low friction material to control movement and

dimension of the bag within the tube.

9.. A retractable roof as claimed in any preceding claim, in which

seals are provided between adjacent panels.

10. A retractable roof as claimed in claim 9, in which the or each seal

is tubular.

1 1 . A retractable roof as claimed in claim 10, in which the or each

seal is pressurised to place it in a sealing condition and

depressurised to break the seal.

1 2. A retractable roof as claimed in any preceding claim, in which

means are provided for bending the telescopic means as the

means extend and for releasing the bending force to enable the

telescopic means to adopt their natural un-flexed state.

13. A retractable roof as claimed in claim 12, in which the means for

bending comprises a cable adapted to be connected between the

telescopic means and a fixed point on the vehicle and means for

reducing and extending the effective length of the cable.

14. A retractable roof as claimed in any preceding claim, in which

control means are provided to enable one panel to be raised above

the next adjacent panel so that the raised panel may slide over the

adjacent panel.

5. A retractable roof as claimed in claim 14, in which the control

means comprise control blocks disposed on opposite sides

respectively of the panels.

6. A vehicle comprising a retractable roof as claimed in any

preceding claim.