FR2845950A1 - Retractable roof for motor vehicle has two sections with common motor to actuate pivot arms and locks - Google Patents

Abstract

The retractable roof for a motor vehicle has two sections including a front (2) and rear section (5). the roof has two pivot arms (14,15) each with an axis (A,B). Motors (34,35) actuate locks for the arms on the windscreen uprights of the vehicle, and second locks for the front roof section on the arms. The lock and pivot drives are actuated by a common electric motor. Claims include a vehicle using the roof.

Description

The present invention relates to a retractable roof for a vehicle, and more

  particularly its locking system, as well as a vehicle comprising

such a roof.

  Such a retractable roof makes it possible in particular to transform a vehicle of the two-seat coupe or four-seat coupe or sedan type into a vehicle of the

convertible type.

  A retractable roof is known for a vehicle comprising a front roof element, an intermediate roof element and a rear roof element, these three elements being movable between a covering position in which they cover the passenger compartment of the vehicle and a storage position. in which they are superimposed substantially horizontally in the rear trunk of the vehicle. Document FR 2 816 248 discloses a retractable roof comprising a

  front, middle and rear roof element.

  The movement of the rear element towards the trunk is controlled by a slide extending inside the rear trunk in which is engaged a finger secured to the rear part the rear element on the other hand by an articulated pivoting arm at a fixed point on the vehicle body and articulated to said vehicle

rear element.

  The front, intermediate and rear elements comprise a very flat central zone, a sheet metal or a window and on their lateral sides, two massive zones whose height is very large in relation to the thickness of the

central area.

  The front, middle and rear elements are connected to each other by

articulated levers.

  When the roof is retracted into the trunk, the different elements are superimposed one above the other and the assembly is driven towards the trunk

  by the oscillation and the sliding of the rear element towards the trunk.

  Document DE 44 35 222 also discloses a retractable roof comprising at least three front, intermediate and rear roof elements. It also comprises two pivoting arms placed in the covering position of

  on either side and along the front element.

  In the overlapping position, the two arms extend from the front of the element

  intermediate at the rear of the windshield.

  The pivot axes are located on the front of the intermediate element. During retraction, the two arms fold in the extension of one another along the intermediate element.

  This type of system has the disadvantage that the stacking of roofs once stored in the rear trunk of the vehicle occupies a large volume due to the height of the intermediate and front roof elements in the first case and 20 of the intermediate element in the second case.

  And the height of the stack of roof elements is due to the stack of

  side areas of the roof elements.

  Document FR 2 820 692 also discloses means for locking the roof elements of a retractable roof with one another and with the amount of the

vehicle windshield.

  Such locking means are adapted to a retractable roof comprising roof elements extending over the entire width of the roof.

  In the case of a retractable roof comprising pivoting arms, in the covering position, it is essential that the roof elements and the pivoting arms are fixed relative to each other and to the upright

of the windshield.

  The present invention therefore aims to provide effective locking means 5 for a retractable roof comprising pivoting arms making it possible to reduce the height of the stack of roof elements by overcoming the

  constraint imposed by the height of the lateral zones.

  To this end, an object of the invention is a retractable roof for a vehicle, comprising at least one front roof element and one rear roof element, these at least two elements being movable between a covering position in which they cover the vehicle interior and a storage position in which they are stored in the rear boot of the vehicle, the roof also comprising two arms each pivoting along an axis, characterized in that the roof comprises motorization means, first means of

  locking of the pivoting arms on the amount of the vehicle windshield and of the second locking means of at least the front roof element on the pivoting arms, the first and second locking means and the pivoting of the arms being controlled by the same motorization means 20 such as an electric motor.

  In a particular embodiment of the invention, the first and second locking means are controlled by drive rods extending inside the arms driven in rotation by the motorization means.

  The first locking means of each arm on the amount of the windshield may comprise a pivoting locking hook cooperating with a fixed complementary locking member secured to the amount of the windscreen, the pivoting of each pivoting locking hook being able to be controlled by a mounted nut. on a threaded part of one of the rods

  rotated by the motor means.

  The second locking means may comprise a projection carried on screwing means engaged with a drive rod, said projection being movable in translation on the screwing means and intended to be positioned inside a corresponding cavity in one of the arms when the roof is locked.

  The means for retracting the elements of the roof may comprise a threaded pivot rod with an axis coincident with the axis of one of the pivoting arms engaged with the drive rod so that the rotation of the rod 10 locking causes rotation of the pivot rod.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the arms can pivot according to

non-parallel axes of rotation.

  Thus, only the central zones of the front and intermediate roof elements are superimposed with the rear element, which significantly reduces the height of the stack. The arms are folded at the front of the rear element. A significant gain in volume is then achieved and makes it possible to have a trunk whose useful volume is greater and of easier access. Furthermore, the invention gives more possibilities for the positioning of the rear element in the rear trunk and therefore for the choice of the respective lengths of the

different elements.

  In a particular embodiment, the displacement of the rear element 25 can be controlled on the one hand by a slide extending inside the rear trunk in which is engaged a finger secured to the rear part of the rear element on the other hand by a pivoting arm articulated at a fixed point of the

  vehicle body and articulated to said rear element.

  The front element can be connected to the intermediate element by at least two levers articulated to said front element and to said intermediate element and the intermediate element can be connected to the rear element by at least two levers

  articulated to said intermediate element and to said rear element.

  According to another embodiment, two series of superimposed lateral rails for the front and intermediate roof elements can extend along the arms and along the two interior lateral parts of the rear element in the covering position.

  Each slide can include two slide sections, a first slide section being placed on one of the arms, the second slide section being placed on the inner side of the rear member i0 corresponding to said arm.

  The front and intermediate roof elements may each comprise at least two fingers carried on their lateral sides, each slidably engaged in a lateral slide so as to guide the sliding movement of the front and intermediate roof elements one under the other.

and under the rear element.

  Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle comprising a retractable roof as described above. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the art.

description below

  In the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example 25 FIG. 1 is a top view of a vehicle comprising a retractable roof according to the invention FIG. 2 is a side view of the front, rear and roof elements 30 intermediates according to the invention during retraction; Figure 3 is a top view illustrating the pivoting of the arms relative to the rear roof element; Figure 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the roof elements of Figure 1 in the storage position in the trunk; Figure 5 is a perspective view of all roof elements being retracted; Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 further comprising the two arms; Figure 7 is a front view corresponding to Figure 6; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the roof according to the invention illustrating the locking means; Figure 9 is a schematic side view of the first locking means of an arm on the amount of the vehicle windshield; Figure 10 is a schematic top view of the second locking means of an arm on a roof element; Figure 11 is a schematic view of the contact between the threaded part of a locking rod and a pivot axis of an arm; Figure 12 is similar to Figure 4 but illustrates another arrangement of storage of the roof elements in the rear trunk; Figure 13 is a side view of the roof elements and arms according to a second embodiment; Figure 14 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the roof elements in the storage position in the trunk according to the second embodiment;

  In the following description for any part of the vehicle, the rear is defined relative to the rear of the vehicle, namely the boot, the front being defined in

  result. The vehicle described being symmetrical, the left side will be described indifferently and

  the right side of any part of the vehicle like the lateral side.

  Figure 1 shows a vehicle comprising a retractable roof 1 10 comprising four rigid roof elements: a front roof element 2, two intermediate roof elements 3, 4 and a rear roof element 5 movable between a covering position in which they cover the passenger compartment and a storage position in which they are stored inside

the trunk of the vehicle.

  According to other embodiments not shown, the roof may comprise no intermediate element, only one, or on the contrary more than two

intermediate elements.

  As seen in Figure 2, the rear of the rear element 5 comprises a finger 6 engaged in a slide 7 extending inside the trunk of the vehicle.

  At one point 8 of the rear element is articulated one end of a pivoting lever 25 9.

  The other end of the lever arm 9 is articulated at a fixed point 10 to the vehicle body. The lever arm 9 and the slide 7 are intended to drive the

  moving the rear element 5.

  The rear element 5 is also connected to the intermediate element 4 by means of two pairs of levers. On each lateral side, two levers 11a, 11b are articulated on the one hand at the front of the rear element 5 and on the other hand at the rear of

the intermediate element 4.

  The intermediate element 4 is further connected to the intermediate element 3 by means of two pairs of levers. On each lateral side, two levers 12a, 12b are articulated on the one hand at the front of the intermediate element 4 and on the other hand at

  the rear of the intermediate element 3.

  Finally, the intermediate element 3 is connected to the front element 2 by means of two pairs of levers. On each lateral side, two levers 13a, 13b are articulated on the one hand at the front of the intermediate element 3 and on the other hand at the rear of

the front element 2.

  In known manner, the displacement of the rear element 5 towards the rear trunk 15 causes the displacement of the intermediate element 4 on the rear element 5, the displacement of the intermediate elements 3 and front 2 respectively on the

  intermediate 4 and intermediate 3 elements.

  Thus, in the storage position shown in FIG. 4, the front element 2 is above the intermediate element 3, the intermediate element 3 is above

  of the intermediate element 4, itself being above the rear element 5.

  With reference to FIG. 1, in the overlapping position, two pivoting arms 14, 15 extend along the lateral sides of the roof elements 2, 3, 4 between the front 25 of the rear element 5 and the rear of the windscreen 16 of the vehicle.

  The arms 14, 15 are pivotally mounted each along an axis of rotation A, B, located on the front of the rear element 5. The axes of rotation A, B are non-parallel. When the roof is retracted, shown in FIG. 5, the two arms 14, 15 pivot around their axis of rotation A, B from a longitudinal position (roof covering position) to a transverse position (storage position of the roof). The axes of rotation A, B being non-parallel, the movement of the arms 14, 15 5 takes place in two distinct planes so that the arms 14, 15 can overlap.

  Depending on the orientation and the placement of the axes A, B on the rear element 5, the arms 14, 15 are superposed one above the other, or placed one in front of the other or the other.

  In the storage position, shown in Figure 6, the arms 14, 15 overlap along the front of the front roof elements 2, intermediate 3, 4 and rear 5. The arm 14, 15 are located in the part front of the trunk opposite 15 of the opening area of said trunk.

  Thus, in this position, the height above the rear element 5 corresponds to the height of the superposition of the intermediate elements 3, 4 and

before 2.

  The overall height of the roof elements 2-5 is less than in the case of

  retractable roofs without pivoting arms 14, 15 according to the invention.

  The distance D1 between the rear of the rear element 5 and the bottom of the area 25 for opening the boot is therefore greater.

  Similarly, the assembly formed by the roof elements extending less low towards the bottom of the trunk, the freed volume makes it possible to obtain a larger useful trunk volume. On each side of the trunk, the passage of the rear wheels of the vehicles use part of the volume of the trunk. For vehicles with a retractable roof, the volume used by this wheel arch is a major constraint. The roof according to the invention makes it possible to overcome this problem and even makes it possible to release a height D2 between the top of the wheel arch and the assembly formed by the

roof elements in the trunk.

  Furthermore, the presence of arms 14, 15 independent of the front 2 and intermediate roof elements 3, 4 makes it possible to move only the front roof element 2 or the front 2 and intermediate roof elements 3 or else front roof elements 2 and intermediates 3, 4 so as to provide the vehicle with a

sunroof.

  With reference to FIG. 8, in the overlapping position, the front 2 and intermediate roof elements 3, 4 are locked on either side of the arms 14, 15

  by first and second locking means.

  Each arm 14, 15 comprises a motor 34 comprising two shaft outlets and

  located substantially in the middle of the arm. On each side of the motor 34 extend two parts of drive rods 35a, 35b to each end of the arm 14,15. The rod parts 35a, 35b are controlled in rotation by the motor 34.

  The rod portion 35a extends from the motor 34 to the windshield 16. The portion of

  rod 35b extends from the motor 34 to the pivot axis A, B of the arm 14, 15.

  Referring to Figure 9, the rod portion 35a includes a threaded portion 36

  on which a nut 37 is mounted.

  The nut 37 includes a finger 38 engaged in a groove 39 formed in the base of a pivoting hook 18. The pivoting hook 18 is able to engage

  with a locking cavity 40 fixed to the amount of the windscreen 16.

  The pivoting of the hook 18 is controlled by the translation of the nut 37, itself controlled by the rotation of the rod 35a.

  With reference to FIG. 10, the second locking means allow

  locking the roof elements 2-4 on the arms 14.15.

  The second locking means comprise a screw rod 41 5 located in the arm 14, 15 on which is mounted a nut 42 carrying a projection 43. The rotation of the screw rod 41 causes the projection of the projection 43 in a cavity 44 corresponding placed in one of the roof elements 24.

  The screw rod 41 is engaged with the drive rod 35a, 35b so that the rotation of the drive rod 35a, 35b causes the rotation of the screw rod 41 and the locking / unlocking of the roof element 2-4 with the arm

14.15.

  With reference to FIG. 11, the rod 35b is engaged with a pivot rod with a pivot axis A, B of the arms 14, 15. The rod 35b and the rod 45 are perpendicular to each other. The parts of the rod 35b and the rod 45 in contact are threaded so that the rotation of one causes the rotation of the other. Consequently, the motor 34 controls the rotation of the rod parts 35a, 35b which drive the hook 18, the projection 43 and the pivot axes of

arm 14.15.

  Thus the locking of the roof elements 2-4 on the arms 14, 15, of the front roof element 2 on the amount of the windshield 16 and the pivoting of the arms 14.15

  are controlled by the same motor 34.

  Such an arrangement is also applicable to any other type of retractable roof comprising pivoting arms and in particular to the retractable roof described in patent DE 44 35 222 in which the arms are mounted on a

intermediate roof element.

  It can be seen in FIG. 12, in comparison with FIG. 4, that the invention makes it possible to choose the inclination of the rear roof element, for example to increase the opening height of the boot. Depending on this inclination, the lengths

  respective of the other items may vary to some extent.

  Referring to Figures 13-14 and according to another embodiment of retraction of roof elements 2-5 in the rear trunk of the vehicle, the front roof elements 2 and intermediate 3, 4 are provided on each side

  lateral of two sliding fingers 19a, 19b, 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b.

  Each arm 14, 15 is provided on its inner side in the covering position with six sections 22-27 of sliding slides intended to guide the sliding fingers. The six slide sections extend from the end of the arm 14, 15 comprising the axis of rotation A, B. Each slide section 22-27 extends to a point on the arm located on the

upper arm.

  Each slide section 22-27 has two parts. The first part of the slide section extends substantially horizontally from the end of the arm 14, 15 comprising the axis of rotation A, B. The second part of length much less than the length of the first part goes up according to a

  steep slope from the horizontal to the point of the arm 14, 15.

  The slide sections 22-27 are superimposed, the longest presenting the second lowest section, the shortest presenting the second

highest section.

  In the overlapping position, the slide sections 22-27 of the arms 14, 15 are extended in slide sections 28-33 placed in the inner part of the rear element 5 so as to form six slides in which

  the fingers of the front roof elements 2 and rear 5 can be guided.

  In a mode not shown in which the number of roof elements is

  different, the number of runners is adapted to the number of roof elements.

  When the roof is retracted, the front roof element 2 thanks to its fingers 5 slides under the intermediate element 3 which slides under the intermediate element 4 which itself slides in the rear element 5. The movements of the 'rear element 5 and arms 14, 15 are the same as in the embodiment in which the front elements 2 and intermediate 3, 4 include levers. As in the previous embodiment, in the stowed position shown in FIG. 8, space is saved since the front roof elements 2 and intermediate 3, 4 take up minimal space in

rear roof element 5.

  The sunroof thus produced has a wide variety of positions and

  can realize one or more of the roof elements using a glass.

Claims (13)

  1. Retractable roof for a vehicle, comprising at least one front roof element (2) and a rear roof element (5), these at least two elements (2-5) being movable between a covering position in which they cover the passenger compartment of the vehicle and a storage position in which they are stored in the rear boot of the vehicle, the roof also comprising two pivoting arms (14, 15) each along an axis (A, B), 10 characterized in that the roof comprises motorization means (34, 35), first means for locking the pivoting arms (14, 15) on the amount of the vehicle windshield and second means for locking at least the front roof element (2) on the pivoting arms (14, 15), the first and second locking means and the pivoting of the arms 15 (14, 15) being controlled by the same motorization means (34) such than an electric motor.   2. retractable roof according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second locking means are controlled by drive rods (35a, 35b) extending inside the arms (14, 15)   rotated by the motor means (34).   3. Retractable roof according to claim 2, characterized in that the first locking means of each arm (14, 15) on the amount of the windshield (34) comprise a pivoting hook (18) cooperating with a locking member complementary (40) fixed integral with the amount of the windshield (16), the pivoting of each hook (18) pivoting being controlled by a nut (37) mounted on a threaded part of one of the rods   (35a) driven in rotation by the motor means (34).   4. Retractable roof according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in   that the second locking means comprise a projection (43) carried on screwing means (41) engaged with a drive rod (35b), said projection (43) being movable in translation on the screwing means (41 ) and intended to be positioned inside a corresponding cavity (44) in one of the arms (14, 15) when the roof is locked.   5. retractable roof according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in   that it comprises means for retracting the elements (2-5) of the roof comprising a pivoting rod (45) threaded with an axis coincident with the axis of one of the pivoting arms (14, 15) placed in engagement with the drive rod 10 (35b) so that the rotation of the drive rod (35b) causes the   rotation of the pivot rod (45).   6. Roof according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the arms (14,   ) are pivotally mounted on the rear roof element (5) between the covering position o they extend between the front end of the rear element (5) and the rear of the windscreen (16) on both sides and along the front roof element (2), and the storage position where they overlap   transversely to the plane of symmetry of the vehicle.   7. retractable roof according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in   that it further comprises an intermediate roof element (3, 4), the arms (14, 15) extending, in the overlapping position, on either side and along the   front (2) and intermediate (3, 4) roof elements.   8. retractable roof according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that   the arms (14, 15) are pivotable along non-parallel axes of rotation (A, B).   9. retractable roof according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the movement of the rear element (5) is controlled on the one hand by a   slide (7) extending inside the rear trunk in which is engaged a finger (6) secured to the rear part of the rear element (5) on the other hand by an articulated pivoting lever arm (9) at a fixed point (10) of the   vehicle body and articulated to said rear element (5).   10. retractable roof according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that 5 the front element (2) is connected to the intermediate element (3, 4) by at least   two levers (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) articulated to said front element (2) and to said intermediate element (3, 4) and in that the intermediate element (3, 4) is connected to the rear element (5) by at least two levers (11a, 11 b) articulated   to said intermediate element (3, 4) and to said rear element (5).   1 1. retractable roof according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in   that two series of superimposed lateral rails for the front (2) and intermediate (3, 4) roof elements extend along the arms (14, 15) and along the two interior lateral parts of the rear element (5 ) in the cover position.   12. retractable roof according to claim 11, characterized in that each slide comprises two slide sections, a first section (22-27) of slide being placed on one of the arms (14, 15), a second section of 20 slide (28-33) being placed on the inner lateral part of the element   rear corresponding to said arm (14,15).   13. retractable roof according to claim 12, characterized in that the front (2) and intermediate (3, 4) roof elements each comprise at least two fingers (19a, 19b, 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b) carried on their lateral sides each slidably engaged in a lateral slide so as to guide the sliding movement of the front roof elements (2)   and intermediate (3, 4) one under the other and under the rear element (5).   14.A motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a retractable roof   according to one of claims 1 to 13.