GB1242924A - Improvements relating to sliding roofs for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

1,242,924. Sliding roofs. BTP PRI J. P. ZAVOD "G. DIMITROV." 14 Feb., 1969 [15 Feb., 1968], No. 8279/69. Heading B7L. A vehicle has two longitudinally slidable roof sections 1, 2 each carrying a rack 36 engaged by pinions 22, 23 secured to the shafts 50, 51 of a differential mechanism so that rotation of the differential mechanism opens one roof section whilst urging the other to a closed position. The differential mechanism is rotatably supported on an axle 24 mounted in bearings 25, 26 on the vehicle frame and has a housing 13 having teeth 15 engaged by a chain 12 driven by a sprocket 11 in turn driven by a shaft 10, a sprocket 9 and a chain 7 driven by a handle 3. A shaft 16 is secured to the housing 13 and transmits rotation of the housing 13 to sun-wheels 18, 19 through satellite wheels 17, the sun-wheels 18, 19 being splined to the shafts 50, 51. Each rack 36 comprises girders 34 between which are mounted rollers 35 and which are guided by engagement with further rollers 33 carried by guide levers 29, 30 freely rotatable about the axle 24. To open the roof, the handle 3 is rotated to, e.g., rotate the pinion 22 and thus lift the roof section 2 and pivot the respective guide levers to the position shown in Fig. 4. At this position a stop 43 carried by the guide levers 29, 30 abuts a cam 40 secured to the axle 24, and a cam 41 secured to the other end of the axle 24 abuts a stop 43 on the other guide levers 29, 30 which are held by the stationary rack of roof section 1. Thus the axle 24 stops rotation and the guide levers 29, 30 for section 2 are held as shown to guide the roof part 2 as it is opened.