EP1986879A1

EP1986879A1 - Drainage arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP1986879A1
Application number: EP06818940A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rüdiger KNAPE; Gero Wedderkopf
Original assignee: Meteor Gummiwerke KH Badje GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Meteor Gummiwerke KH Badje GmbH and Co
Priority date: 2006-02-22
Filing date: 2006-12-01
Publication date: 2008-11-05
Also published as: MX2008010748A; DE202006002765U1; CN101384446A; JP2009527406A; WO2007098799A1; US20090021054A1

Abstract

A drainage arrangement for a vehicle roof, which is composed of two roof parts (1, 2) which are arranged on a vehicle body so as to be pivotable between a closed and an open position, is formed by an elastic drainage line which interacts with the pivotably mounted solid roof parts (1, 2) and which, for the purpose of fault-free operation, is divided into two sections which are connected to one another by means of a separating device (8), wherein the individual sections move approximately as rigid bodies during the pivoting movement of the roof parts (1, 2). The separating device (8) can, as a result of a pivoting movement of the linkage arrangement which supports the roof parts (1, 2), be switched between an open position, in which rain water can be conducted away via the drainage line in a controlled way, and a closed position, in which rain water is retained in a collecting region which contains a collecting container (6). As a result of the drainage line being divided into at least two sections which, as such, are not subjected to any deformation during a pivoting movement of the roof parts, a reliable design of the drainage arrangement is provided which prevents deformations of the drainage line.

Description

DESCRIPTION

drainage arrangement

The invention relates to a drainage arrangement for a vehicle roof according to the preamble of claim 1.

From DE 101 37 031 a drainage arrangement for a folding roof of a hardtop vehicle is known in which a rear window is pivotable in an open position of the roof in a retreat position within the trunk, with an adjacent to the rear window in the side region roof pillar, the C-pillar is also pivotable. Along the lower edge of the rear window extends a water channel, which is continued in the region of the C-pillar and which is in a lower area with a collecting trough in connection. The latter is attached to said C-pillar and thus subject during each opening and closing operation of the roof their pivotal movements. From the sump, a flexible drain hose enabling an orderly drainage continues. The problem with this drainage arrangement is that the drain hose, one end of which is connected to the drip pan and the other end to a chassis-fixed connection point, undergoes considerable deformations with each movement of the roof during each folding movement.

A particular problem of drainage of vehicle roofs, which consist of fixed, pivotable by means of a rod system roof parts which are pivotable between a closed and a retracted position, is located before the initiation of an opening movement optionally on the outer sides of the roof surfaces residual water in a reliable manner to dispose of an orderly disposal and in particular not to let this enter the passenger compartment. After the folding operation of the roof parts and the drainage of said residual water occur almost simultaneously, the points of entry for this water must be designed taking into account the trajectory of the roof parts, with the proviso that a drainage of water is possible in each phase of the movement.

From EP 1 275 545 a vehicle roof with two fixed, pivotally arranged roof parts is known along the abutting edges - seen in the transverse direction of the vehicle - extending sealing profiles, which simultaneously form gutters for such surface water of the roof parts, which during their folding process towards one Retreat from this flows off. In the closed state of the roof, however, the gutters are inoperative. The gutters each form two interleaved global U-shaped, cross-sectional profiles arranged facing each other, which ensures that in each phase of the movement of the roof parts in the direction of an opening state from the surface flowing water is safely collected. Starting from the gutters, the water first passes through located at the lateral ends of the sealing profiles moldings in drainage hoses, which are attached to the, the roof parts bearing linkage system. This means that each folding operation of the roof is in turn associated with a considerable mechanical load, in particular deformation of the drainage hoses. Depending on the specific nature of the installation of these hoses, in particular in conjunction with the relative movements of the hoses supporting parts of the linkage system can in some cases during a folding process of the roof, a drainage of the water at least obstructing buckling of a hose is not sufficiently reliably prevented become. Further risks stemming from the specific design of the linkage system, in particular the kinematics and / or the arrangement of the components and the connection of the hoses to this can arise from excessive deformations which can lead to destruction by tearing off or even shearing off ,

It is against this background the object of the invention to design a drainage arrangement of the type described at the outset, which under tion of the prior art adhering disadvantages, in particular by reducing the mechanical stress of drainage hoses allows trouble-free drainage of at least one, regularly more, pivotally hinged fixed roof parts existing vehicle roof. This problem is solved in such a drainage arrangement by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

It is essential to the invention hereinafter that a drainage line, which adjoins the collecting channels of the sealing profiles, which are assigned to the pivotally arranged roof parts, is subdivided into at least two sections using at least one separating device. The purpose of this separation device is to reduce the mechanical stress on the drainage pipe during the pivoting movements of the roof parts by subdividing them into sections which, as such, undergo almost no deformation during the pivoting movement, thus departing from the prior art set forth in the opening paragraph no, by excessive deformations such. B. a buckling or even destruction by tearing, shearing or the like conditional malfunction may occur. Said sections are selected in accordance with such structural elements of the vehicle roof, which serve to represent the folding process and are therefore pivotally arranged, but which are rigid as such. The separating device forms an interface between in each case two sections and can be switched between a closing position and a passing position. It is thus between two, relatively pivotable

Place structural elements and must be such that they can accommodate pivotal movements of the structural elements. In this way, it is possible to block the passage of the drainage line during certain operating conditions, for example, the folding roof.

According to the features of claim 2, there is at least one collecting area between said collecting channels and the separating device, which is set in the opening position of the separator for collecting and retaining surface water of the roof parts. On the other hand, the stored water can flow out of this collecting area as soon as the separating device has been switched back to its closing or passing position, an operating state which adjusts itself with the closing position of the roof parts.

According to the features of claim 3, the collecting area can be advantageously formed by a Auffaήgbehälter. This is located at a suitable point - seen in the flow direction of the outflowing surface water - before the separator.

According to the features of claim 4 is located between the collecting channels and the drainage line, a molded part, which forms the link between optionally a plurality of collecting channels and a drainage line. In an advantageous manner, if appropriate, the collecting container mentioned at the beginning can also be integrated in this molded part at the same time. However, a molded part independent of the function of the connection point may also be provided for the collecting container as part of the collecting area.

In known manner, the drainage line is formed by hoses, which are fixed according to the features of claim 5 to the pivoting of the roof parts certain parts of a linkage. The dimensioning of these sections thus takes place as a function of the design of each rigid sections of the linkage. The switching movements required to actuate the separating device can be derived in an advantageous manner from the pivotal movement of parts of the linkage system carrying the roof parts.

The separator is located according to the features of claim 6 in the vicinity of a set up for the pivoting of roof parts pivot axis, thus an interface between two lever elements a linkage, here the roof linkage. This is advantageous with regard to the concrete design of the separation device, which must allow in its closed position corresponding movements of the end points of these bridged portions of the drainage pipe. It is essential in this context that the separating device is arranged with the proviso that their switching operation between an open and a closed position, in particular the switching movements required for this is at least partially effected by such parts of the roof linkage or by directly attached to these components during perform the movement of the roof parts relative movements, of which said switching movements are derivable.

The features of claim 7 are directed directly to the separator, which hereinafter consists of two components which are attached to different poles of the pivoting of the roof parts causing roof linkage. A further constructive framework condition of the components consists hereinafter in that the pivotal movement of the two linkages is reacted relative to each other in a switching movement, via which the separating device between its closing and its passage position is switchable.

The features of claims 8 and 9 are directed to a specific embodiment of the separation device. Hereafter a component contains a valve whose valve plate is movable via an integrally formed on this plunger by the other of the two components between an open and a closed position. The other of said components is formed by a collecting plate, which comes into contact with the plunger as a result of pivotal movement of the two linkage and moves in this way the valve disk between its open and its closed position.

Both of these components are provided according to the features of claims 10 and 11 with connecting pieces, which are intended for connection of hoses, which form portions of the drainage line. The valve disk of the located in the one component valve is acted upon according to the features of claim 12 with a spring, via which it experiences a resilient bias toward one of its switching positions, for example, its closed position.

The basic idea of the invention is to divide an elastic drainage line, preferably hose-connected, which cooperates with a plurality of, for example, two pivotally mounted fixed roof parts, with respect to a trouble-free operation into two sections, which communicate with one another via a separating device, so that the move individual sections during pivotal movement of the roof parts almost like rigid bodies, is not limited to the use of only one separator and thus the formation of two sections of a drainage pipe. It may according to the kinematic conditions, in particular the number of pivotable linkage parts also more than a separation device and thus more than two sections include, in turn, depending on the pivotal movement of the roof parts between a closed and an open position are switched, preferably under caching of accumulating surface water in receiving containers. A thus stress-appropriate design and arrangement of the drainage line increases the life of such a drainage arrangement.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawings. Show it:

1 shows an illustration of the closed position of a folding roof of a motor vehicle consisting of a front and a rear roof part in a side view;

FIG. 2 shows an illustration of the folding roof according to FIG. 1 in a transition position to the opening position; FIG. 3 shows an enlarged partial representation of water-conducting elements of a drainage arrangement in the connection region between two roof parts of a folding roof;

4 shows a further enlarged partial view of a separating device located in the closed position between two sections of water-conducting parts of the dehydrating arrangement according to FIG. 3;

5 shows an illustration of the separating device according to FIG. 4 in the open position;

With 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 seen in the direction of travel of a vehicle front roof part of a two fixed roof parts folding roof is called, which completes the roof surface in the closed position shown in FIG. 1 together with a rear roof part 2. Both roof parts 1, 2 are hinged in a conventional manner by means of a roof linkage 3 pivotally connected to a chassis, not shown drawing. For the transfer to the complete open position starting from the closed position shown in FIG. 1, first the rear roof part 2 is pivoted - as shown in FIG. 2 - onto the front roof part 1, in which case both roof parts 1, 2 are called a "package". be pivoted in a space-saving manner in the trunk of the vehicle.

For a more detailed description of the kinematics of the folding operation of the two roof parts 2, 2 is omitted below.

At the junction between the two roof parts 1, 2 is a sealing profile 4, which extends transversely to the vehicle longitudinal extent and opens at least one of its two lateral ends in a molded part 5. The sealing profile 4 on the one hand forms a seal in the abutting region of the two roof parts 1, 2 and at the same time is designed to dissipate incident precipitation water in the direction of the at least one molded part 5. det. The molding 5 thus serves to catch this surface water and its ordered derivative.

Connected to the molded part 5 is a collecting container 6, on the output side of which at least one flexible hose 7 is connected, which via a separating device 8 to be described below leads to a further flexible hose 9, which in turn provides for the orderly discharge of water is furnished and arranged.

10 designates a sealing profile, which is arranged on the rear edge of the rear roof part 2 and which is configured in a manner not shown, such as the sealing profile 4, for capturing penetrating surface water and which, if appropriate, via intermediate tubes with a molded part 5 in continuous connection. can stand up.

Fig. 1 shows the two roof parts 1, 2 in their closed position. This is characterized in that incident precipitation water is collected via the sealing profiles 4 in drawing not reproduced collecting channels and via hoses 7, 9 can be derived. In the course of these hoses is a collecting container 6 and a separator 8, which latter is in the closed position of the two roof parts in an open position, which allows an unimpeded passage of water.

For transferring into the closed position, starting from the open position shown in FIG. 1, first the rear roof part 2 is pivoted onto the front roof part 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the two roof parts subsequently being pivoted as a package into a receiving compartment of the boot become. According to the invention with this opening movement, a transfer of the separating device 8 is connected in a closed position, so that in the sequence such surface water, which was still on the roof parts 1, 2 before the beginning of the folding process, on the collecting channels of the Sealing profiles 4 is received and collected in at least one collecting container 6 due to the closed position of the separating device.

The dimensioning of the collecting container 6 / the collecting container 6 and its arrangement is in any case designed with the proviso that as a result of the opening movement of the roof parts effluent surface water can not get into the vehicle interior, but rather an intermediate storage in the / the collecting container / Collecting containers 6 is supplied. However, an intermediate storage is not limited to the collecting container and may additionally be arranged in all line sections upstream of the separating device, including in the region of the sealing profile 4. In general, there is thus a catchment area in which water can be stored.

If then a return transfer of the roof parts 1, 2 in the closed position shown in Fig. 1, the water collected in the collecting containers or collecting areas can drain due to a reopening of the separation device 8 now in an orderly manner.

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of the spatial arrangement of the separating device 8 within the certain parts for guiding the water drainage arrangement. It forms the connecting link between the hose 7 attached to a front linkage 11 and the hose 9 attached to a rear linkage 12. The front and rear linkages 11, 12 are arranged pivotable relative to each other about a pivot point, not shown in the drawing, at point 13 , wherein a swiveling takes place in the case of the transfer of the roof, starting from the closed to the open position and vice versa. This pivoting movement is simultaneously used in a manner to be explained in more detail below, in order to switch the separating device 8 between their respective opening and closing positions. Fig. 3 shows the roof in its closed position, the arrows 14 indicate the direction of discharge of incident on the roof surface rainwater. In Fig. 3 and the following drawing figures are functional elements which correspond to those of FIGS. 1 and 2, numbered accordingly, so that it can be dispensed with a related repeated description.

With 15 globally a drain system is designated, in which the hose 9 opens at the lower end of the rear linkage 12.

Fig. 4 shows the separating device 8 in an enlarged view between the hoses 7, 9. The separating device 8 is formed by a valve, the housing 16 is fixed to the front linkage 11 and which cooperates with a collecting plate 17 which on the rear linkage 12th is attached.

The housing 16 is provided with a connecting piece 18 for the hose 7, which leads via a cylinder 19 to an outlet opening 20, wherein the outlet opening 20 facing inner walls of the cylinder 19 are formed as a valve seat for a valve plate 22, within the cylinder 19th slidably received in the direction of arrows 23.

On the valve plate 22 - extending coaxially to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder 19 and projecting out of the outlet opening 20 - a plunger 24 is formed, whose lower end in the closed position of the valve shown in Fig. 4 at a distance above the bottom 25 of the Collecting plate 17 is located.

In the bottom region of the collecting plate 17 opens a connection piece 26, to which the hose 9 is connected. In the closed position, the valve plate 22 is held by a spring 27 located within the cylinder 19, which also extends coaxially within the cylinder 19.

Now, starting from the closed position shown in FIG

Separating device 8, which is associated with the opening position of the roof parts 1, 2, the closing movement of the roof parts 1, 2 introduced, this is associated with a pivoting movement of the front and rear linkages 11, 12 relative to each other, to the effect that the collecting plate 17 in Moved substantially in the direction of the arrows 23 on the housing 16, so that it finally comes to a contact between the plunger 24 and the bottom 25. Further movement of the collecting plate 17 in the direction of the housing 16 finally transfers the valve or the valve disk 22 into the open position, so that now a continuous connection between the hoses 7, 9 is established. The open position of the separating device 8 corresponds to the closed position of the roof parts 1, 2, so that precipitation water striking the roof parts can flow unhindered via the hoses 7, 9 in the direction of the drainage system 15. As a result of the position of the linkage 11, 12 relative to each other, the separator is held in its open position as a result.

A renewed transfer of the roof parts 1, 2 in its open position, however, causes a removal of the collecting plate 17 of the housing 16 and accordingly a initiated under the action of the spring 27 closing movement of the valve plate 22 in the direction of the outlet opening 20 due to a pivoting of the linkage 11, 12 out. Surface water, which passes in this phase via the sealing profiles 4 in said collecting area, in particular the collecting container 6, is thus stored in these during the opening phase of the roof. Such storage takes place equally in the sealing profile 4 itself, as well as other line elements between this and the separator instead. It can be seen from the above statements that equipped with a drainage arrangement according to the invention folding roof allows a comfortable trouble-free and in particular free of water penetration during the folding movements of the roof parts operation. It can also be seen that the existing drainage line, starting from the molded part 5 through to the drainage system 15, is subdivided into sections whose lengths and course are arranged in accordance with the linkage 11, 12, said separating device 8 forming the link between these sections and in the vicinity of one, the linkage 11, 12 connecting, common, located at the point 13 pivot axis is arranged. The attached to the rods 11, 12 hoses 7, 9 are thus subject during a folding operation of the roof parts 1, 2 no deformation but move virtually like rigid body together with the rods 11, 12th

Claims

1. Drainage arrangement for a vehicle roof consisting of at least two fixed roof parts (1, 2) pivotably arranged on a vehicle body between a closing position and a retreat position, wherein each roof part (1, 2) is at least partially covered by a sealing profile (4 ), which communicates with a drainage conduit via a collecting channel, characterized in that the drainage conduit is subdivided into at least two sections by means of at least one separation device (8) switchable between a closing position and a passage position, and in that said sections in accordance with itself during a pivoting operation of the roof parts between an opening and a

Closed position rigid, relatively movable structural elements of the vehicle roof are selected.

2. Drainage arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that in the course of the connection between said collecting channel and the separating device (8) at least one collecting area is arranged, and that the collecting area and the separating device (8) are arranged with the proviso that the drainage line is interrupted during the initiation of the opening movement of the vehicle roof and the existence of an open condition and accumulating residual surface water of the roof parts (1, 2) is collected and retained in the collecting area.

3. Drainage arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the collecting area comprises a collecting container (6).

4. Drainage arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the connection point between the collecting channels and the drainage line is formed by a molding (5), in which the collecting container (6) is integrated.

5. Drainage arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said sections of the

Drainage line by hoses (7, 9) are formed, which are fixed to parts of the pivoting of the roof parts (1, 2) and this supporting linkage (11, 12).

6. Drainage arrangement according to one of the preceding claims

1 to 5, characterized in that the separating device (8) is arranged in the vicinity of a, for the pivoting of roof parts (1, 2) arranged pivot axis, so that the both sides of the separating device (8) subsequent sections of the drainage line through the opening - And closing the vehicle roof no

Experiencing deformations.

7. Drainage arrangement according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the separating device (8) consists of two components, one of which is attached to the first linkage (11) and the other to the second linkage (12), and that the components with the proviso are formed and arranged that a pivoting movement of the two linkage (11, 12) relative to each other in a switching movement can be implemented over which the separating device (8) between the closing and the passage position is switchable.

8. Drainage arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that one of said components consists of a, a valve-containing housing (16), in which a valve disc (22) is arranged movable between an open and a closed position.

9. Drainage arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the other of said components consists of a collecting plate (17) which is arranged at a distance from the housing (16) that on the valve plate (22) a plunger (24) mounted to cooperate with the collecting plates (17) to the effect that due to the relative movement of the collecting plate (17) in one direction on the plunger (24) towards or away from the valve plate (22) between its opening and its closed position is movable.

10. Drainage arrangement according to one of the preceding claims

7 to 9, characterized in that on one of the two components for connecting the hose (7) certain connecting piece (18) is integrally formed.

11. Drainage arrangement according to one of the preceding claims

7 to 10, characterized in that on the other of the two components for connecting the hose (9) certain connecting piece (26) is integrally formed.

12. Drainage arrangement according to one of the preceding claims

8 to 11, characterized in that the movement of the valve disc (22) in the direction of its open position against the restoring force of a spring (27) is applied.