GB2090630A

GB2090630A - Sliding roof for vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2090630A
Application number: GB8135545A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Vermeulen Hollandia Octrooien II BV
Current assignee: Vermeulen Hollandia Octrooien II BV
Priority date: 1980-11-28
Filing date: 1981-11-25
Publication date: 1982-07-14
Also published as: FR2495067A1; NL8006479A; DE3146698A1; FR2495067B1; DE3146698C2

Abstract

A cam plate (28) mounted on either side of the sliding roof is provided with a cam slot (30) which is in engagement with an actuating pin (17) so as to bring the sliding roof panel (1) from its closed position in the roof opening (4) to a backwardly and downwardly inclined position. On either side of the sliding roof a pulling and pushing member (32) is movable in the longitudinal direction so as to displace the sliding panel. Slide shoes (9) are fixedly mounted on a lower frame (7), which supports the cam plate (28) for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction, the cam plate comprising a connecting member (28'') for the pulling and pushing member (32), whilst each of the two actuating pins (17) is fastened to an actuating arm (16), which is connected with the lower frame (7) as well as with the sliding panel (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A sliding roof for a vehicle The invention relates to a sliding roof for a vehicle with a roof opening, comprising a rigid sliding panel, which is displaceably connected with front and rear slide shoes, which may be slidably mounted on stationary guide rails supported in the vehicle on either side of the roof opening, while a cam plate mounted on either side of the sliding roof is provided with a cam slot which is in engagement with an actuating pin so as to bring the sliding panel from its closed position in the roof opening to a backwardly and downwardly inclined position, wherein the sliding panel is slidable underneath the fixed roof to a wholly or partly opened position and back, as well as to a backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position, whilst on either side of the sliding roof a pulling and pushing member is movable in the longitudinal direction so as to displace the sliding panel.

In a known embodiment of a sliding roof of this type, the front end of the sliding panel is pivotally connected with the front slide shoes. Further, the two cam plates are fixedly mounted underneath the sliding panel, whilst each of the two actuating pins is fastened to a rear slide shoe. In this known sliding roof the pulling and pushing members engage the rear slide shoes.

When the sliding panel of this known sliding roof has to be brought from the closed position into a backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position, the rear slide shoes have to be displaced forward by the pulling and pushing members, so that the front and rear slide shoes have the smallest distance from each other in the position of the sliding panel, wherein its rear end is raised to its maximum. This causes the stability of the support of the sliding panel to be at a minimum in the position in which the highest loads are placed on the sliding panel. This may result in a rattling sound when the sliding panel is in its backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position.

It is an object of the present invention to construct a sliding roof of the above-mentioned type in such a way, that this objection is efficiently removed.

To this end the sliding roof according to the invention is characterized in that on either side of the sliding roof the slide shoes are fixedly mounted on a lower frame, which supports the relative cam plate for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction, the cam plate comprising a connecting member for the pulling and pushing member positioned on the relative side, whilst each of the two actuating pins is fastened to an actuating arm, which is connected with the relative lower frame as well as with the sliding panel.

According to the invention the front and rear slide shoes are situated at fixed distances from each other, so that in the backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position of the sliding panel a stable support of this sliding panel is obtained as well.

In the known sliding roof a locking of the actuating pins in the cam slots of the cam plates is achieved in the position, in which the actuating pins hold the sliding panel in the backwardly and downwardly inclined position. In this way it is prevented that an unintentional upward displacement of the sliding panel could occur when the sliding panel is situated underneath the fixed roof of the vehicle. To this end the known sliding roof is provided with a catch carried by the cam plate, which catch has to co-operate with a stationary, very elongated locking member.

According to the invention it is proposed that on either side of the sliding roof the locking member is slidably supported by the relative lower frame and may be moved from the locking position towards the releasing position by means of a release member which is supported in the vehicle on the relative side: In this embodiment the locking members move along with the lower frames, so that a very compact and reliable construction is obtained.

On either side of the sliding roof the lower frame may be provided with a transverse guide member, in which the relative locking member which is constructed as a stop block, is slidably received, while a spring engages this stop block and presses the same in the direction of the locking position of the relative stop block.

In a simple embodiment of the sliding roof according to the invention on either side of the sliding roof the release member comprises a pin, which comes into contact with an oblique groove in the relative stop block and which effects the displacement of this stop block from the locking position into the releasing position.

When the pins are in contact with the grooves in the stop blocks they prevent at the same time that the lower frames could be displaced rearwards, before the actuating pins have first moved through the cam slots and have reached their lowermost position in these cam slots. In this manner it is prevented, that the sliding panel when in the ventilating position could unintentionally be displaced backwards which could lead to serious damage.

The invention will hereinafter be elucidated with reference to the drawing, which shows an embodiment of the sliding roof according to the invention by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a section, partly in view, of an embodiment of the sliding roof according to the invention, wherein the sliding panel is in the closed position.

Fig. 2 is a section corresponding with fig. 1, wherein, however, the sliding panel is in the backwardly and downwardly inclined position, in which the same may slide rearwards underneath the fixed roof towards a wholly or partly opened position and back.

Fig. 3 is a section corresponding with fig. 2, wherein, however, the sliding panel is in the opened position and is slid underneath the fixed roof for its greater part.

Fig. 4 is a section corresponding with figs. 1 and 2, wherein, however, the sliding panel takes its uttermost backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position.

Fig. 5 shows a detail of fig. 1 on a larger scale, wherein the locking member is in its releasing position.

Fig. 6 is a top view of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows the same detail as fig. 5, wherein, however, the locking member is in the locking position.

Fig. 8 is a top view of fig. 7.

The drawing shows an embodiment of a sliding roof according to the invention by way of example, which sliding roof is intended for use with a vehicle, in particular an automobile. This sliding roof comprises a rigid sliding panel 1, which is composed of a top plate 2 and a stiffening plate 3 positioned underneath the top plate.

In the closed position of the sliding roof shown in fig. 1 , the sliding panel 1 closes a roof opening 4 in the fixed roof 5.

Sealing section 6 which co-operate with the edges of the roof opening 4 are mounted on the sliding panel 1.

The sliding panel 1 is movably connected with a lower frame 7 positioned on either side of the roof opening 4 in the fixed roof 5.

As the left half of the sliding roof is the mirror image of the right half of the sliding roof, hereinafter in general only one side of the sliding roof will be described.

Each of the two lower frames 7 comprises a guide section 8, which is provided with a number of slide shoes 9 (three in the embodiment shown by way of example), which slide shoes may be slidably mounted on stationary guide rails 10 supported by the mounting frame 11 of the vehicle on both sides of the roof opening 4. Each guide section 8 when viewed from back to front consists of a U-shaped part 8', in which the cooperating rear slide shoe 9 is mounted, an Lshaped part 8" lying in front of the U-shaped part 8' and having a raised centre part 8"', and a front U-shaped part 8"" adjoining the part 8", in which part 8"" the co-operating centre slide shoe 9 and the co-operating front slide shoe 9 are mounted.

Each of the two lower frames 7 comprises a supporting plate 12, which is mounted on the outer side of the guide section 8. To this end a counterplate 1 3 is mounted on the inner side of the raised centre part 8"' of each guide section 8, whilst fixing bolts 14 are passed through vertical slots in this counter plate 13, through holes in the raised part 8"' of the guide section 8 and through holes in the supporting plate 12, the fixing bolts co-operating with nuts which may have been fastened to this supporting plate 12.

On either side of the sliding roof a pivoting pin 1 5 is fittingly passed through a hole in the counterplate 13, through a vertical slot in the raised centre part 8"' of the relative guide section 8 and through a vertical slot in the supporting plate 12. Therefore, this pivoting pin 1 5 is adjustable in height with respect to the relative lower frame 7. The lower end of an actuating arm 16 engages the pivoting pin 1 5. This actuating arm 1 6 comprises a downwardly projecting leg 16', which carries an actuating pin 17, the operation of which will be further elucidated hereinafter. Further, the actuating arm 1 6 is provided with a backwardly extending and partly inwardly offset rear end portion 16".This rear end portion 16" carries a pin 1 8 at its rear end, which pin is slidably and rotatably received in a longitudinal slot 19, which is formed in a downwardly bent lip on the rear end of a carrying arm 20, which is fastened to the lower side of the sliding panel 1 on the relative side. Therefore, the sliding panel 1 is supported on both sides by the two carrying arms 20.

An angle section is fastened to each of the two carrying arms 20, which angle section has a longitudinal slot which is in alignment with the longitudinal slot 19, and which also co-operates with the relative pin 18 in order to prevent that the actuating arm 1 6 is twisted.

A sleeve is mounted on each of the two pivoting pins 1 5. A torsion spring 21 is wound on each sleeve and has one of its ends fixed to the relative supporting plate 12, whilst its other end engages a roller 22, which is secured to a downwardly bent central lip 23 of the relative carrying arm 20. These torsion springs 21 exert a downwardly directed force on either side on the sliding panel 1, in order to prevent rattling.

On either side of the sliding panel 1 the front part of the guide section 8 carries a vertical strip 24, which is pivotally engaged by the lower end of a short front link 25, which is forwardly and upwardly inclined and by the lower end of a longer rear link 26 which also inclines forwards and upwards. Both links 25, 26 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to a downwardly projecting front strip 27 formed on the relative carrying arm 20.

A longitudinal guide member 29 is formed on each oF the two supporting plates 12. In this guide member 29 a cam plate 28 is received for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction. This cam plate 28 comprises an upstanding plate member 28', in which a cam slot 30 is formed, with which the actuating pin 17 on the actuating arm 1 6 is in engagement.

This cam slot 30 has a middle part 30', which extends at least approximately horizontally and is parallel to the guide rails 10, which are carried by the mounting frame 11. In the closed position of the sliding panel 1 shown in fig.1, wherein this sliding panel 1 closes the roof opening 4, the actuating pins 1 7 are positioned in this middle part 30' of the cam slots 30.

A forwardly and downwardly extending slot part 30", which ends in a front stop edge, connects to the front end of this middle part 30' of each of the two cam slots 30. When the actuating pins 1 7 move forwardly through these front slot parts 30", the actuating arms 1 6 are swung downwardly, so that the carrying arms 20 displace the sliding panel 1 from the closed position into a backwardly and downwardly inclined position, in which the sliding panel 1 can be slid towards a wholly or partly opened position, and back, underneath the fixed roof 5 of the vehicle (figs. 2 and 3).

A backwardly and upwardly extending slot part 30"' which ends in a rear stop edge connects to the rear end of the middle part 30' of each of the two cam slots 30. When the actuating pins 17 move rearwardly through these rear slot parts 30"', the actuating arms 16 are swung upwards, so that the carrying arms 20 displace the sliding panel 1 from the closed position into a backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position, in which a rear ventilating opening 31, the size of which is determined by the position of the actuating pins 1 7 in the slot parts 30"', is released between the sliding panel 1 and the fixed roof 5.

Each cam plate 28 is further provided with a connecting member 28" for a pulling and pushing member 32, which is positioned on the relative side of the sliding roof and which is movable in the longitudinal direction. These pulling and pushing members accomplish the displacement of the sliding roof and may consist of a pulling and pushing cable of a known type. These pulling and pushing cables are reciprocated by a displacement mechanism, thereby carrying the cam plates 28 along. The displacement mechanism may be operated by hand, mechanically or electrically in a known manner, which is therefore not further elucidated.

Each of the two supporting plates 12 is further provided with a transverse guide member 33. In each transverse guide member 33 a locking member which consists of a stop block 34, is received for sliding movement in the transverse direction. On either side of the sliding roof one end of a spring 35 engages the relative stop block 34, the other end of this spring 35 being fastened to the relative guide section 8. This spring 35 exerts a force on the co-operating stop block 34, which presses this stop block 34 in the direction of its locking position, i.e. in the direction towards the co-operating supporting plate 1 2. In this locking position of the stop block 34 the same is situated in the path of a front leg 28"' of the co-operating cam plate 28.

On the lower side of each of the two stop blocks 34 a groove 36 is formed, which extends in a forward and outward direction.

Further, on both sides of the sliding roof a release member 37 is stationary mounted on the mounting frame 11. Each release member 37 is provided with a release pin 38. When the sliding panel 1 is moved forwardly towards the closed position, these release pins 38 come into engagement with the grooves 36 in the stop blocks 34 shortly before the closed position is reached, whereupon these stop blocks 34 are moved outwardly against the action of the springs 35, and come to lie outside the path of the front legs 28"' of the cam plates 28. Practically at the same time the front edges of the supporting plates 12 come into contact with stops 39, which are formed on the release members 37 and which define the front position of the lower frames 7.

The cam plates 28 may, however, be moved forwards still further by the pulling and pushing members 32, so that the sliding panel 1 is brought into a backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position. Finally also the front legs 28"' of the cam plates 28 strike the stops 39 of the release members 37, at which moment the sliding panel 1 has obtained its maximum inclination. In this position the actuating pins 1 7 have at least approximately reached the rear stop edges of the cam slots 30.

Each release member 37 further carries a bow 40, which comes to embrace the relative stop block 34 and protects this stop block 34 from being twisted.

The guide sections 8 may be interconnected at the rear by a section 41 which forms a gutter.

The operation of the sliding roof according to the invention described hereinbefore is as follows: In the closed position of the sliding roof as shown in fig.1, wherein the sliding panel 1 closes the roof opening 4, the stop blocks 34 occupy the releasing position.

If, by means of the pulling and pushing members 32, which engage the connecting members 28" of the cam plates 28, a rearward displacement of the cam plates 28 is brought about, the actuating pins 1 7 will follow the slot parts 30", so that the actuating arms 1 6 swing downwardly and bring the sliding panel 1 into the backwardly and downwardly inclined position.

The stop blocks 34 are released by the front legs 28"' of the cam plates 28 at the moment that the actuating pins 1 7 at least approximately engage the lower stop edges of the cam slots 30.

As the lower frames 7 move further back, the stop blocks 34 are displaced inwards, so that these stop blocks 34 reach the locking position under the influence of the springs 35. In this locking position a forward displacement of the cam plates 28 with respect to the relative supporting plates 1 2 is prevented (figs. 7 and 8).

From this position the sliding panel 1 can be moved underneath the fixed roof 5 of the vehicle by moving the pulling and pushing members 32 in a rearward direction, so that the roof opening 4 is opened to a larger or a smaller extent in dependence of the displacement of the sliding panel 1 (fig. 3).

By driving the pulling and pushing members 32 forwards again the sliding panel 1 is moved back in the direction of the closed position. During the opening movement as well as during the closing movement of the sliding roof the stop blocks 34 bring about that the actuating pins 17 are maintained in their lowest position in the cam slots 30 in the cam plates 28, so that it is prevented that the sliding panel 1 can be displaced unintentionally upwards with its rear portion, which could lead to serious damage.

Only when the sliding panel 1 has nearly reached its foremost position, are the stop blocks 34 moved towards the releasing position by means of the release pins 38 of the release member 37, whereafter the front edges of the supporting plates 12 strike the stops 39 of the release members 37 practically immediately.

Hereupon the cam plates 28 may be moved forwards still further, so that the actuating pins 1 7 reach the slot parts 30', in which the sliding panel 1 again takes up the closed position.

When the pulling and pushing members 32 are moved forwards still further, the actuating pins 1 7 follow the rear slot parts 30"', so that the sliding panel 1 is brought into a backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position due to the displacement of the actuating arms 1 6 and of the carrying arms 20.

Finally, the front legs 28"' of the two cam plates 28 strike the stops 39 of the release members 37, at which moment the maximum inclination of the sliding panel 1 is reached.

By driving the pulling and pushing members 32 again in the rearward direction, the sliding panel 1 may be moved downwards again to the closed position.

When the sliding panel 1 takes up a backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position, it is prevented by the co-operating release pins 38 and grooves 36 in the stop blocks 34, that the sliding panel 1 could be moved in the rearward direction before the sliding panel 1 has reached its backwardly and downwardly inclined position shown in fig. 2.

In this manner an unintentional backward displacement of the sliding panel is prevented when in the ventilating position which would cause damage to the sliding panel 1 or the fixed roof 5 of the vehicle.

On either side of the sliding roof the cooperating pairs of links 25, 26 and pairs of strips 24, 27 form a quadrangle, which brings about that when the sliding panel 1 is moved from the closed position to the backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position, the upper pivot points of the links 25, 26 are moved upwards and backwards in such a way that the centre of the front edge of the sliding panel 1 remains almost at rest.

This is of particular importance in the case that the front edge of the sliding panel 1, when viewed from above, is curved, as on the one hand damage to the front seal 6 is prevented during tilting of the sliding panel 1 to the backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position and back, while on the other hand it is achieved that the space underneath the front part of the sliding panel 1 remains unaffected. This is of great significance if a wind-screen is applied which in the closed position of the sliding panel 1 has to be received underneath this sliding panel 1.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown in the drawing by way of example, which may be varied in several ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Sliding roof for a vehicle with a roof opening, comprising a rigid sliding panel, which is displaceably connected with front and rear slide shoes, which may be slidably mounted on stationary guide rails supported in the vehicle on either side of the roof opening, while a cam plate mounted on either side of the sliding roof is provided with a cam slot which is in engagement with an actuating pin so as to bring the sliding panel from its closed position in the roof opening to a backwardly and downwardly inclined position, wherein the sliding panel is slidable underneath the fixed roof to a wholly or partly opened position and back, as well as to a backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position, whilst on either side of the sliding roof a pulling and pushing member is movable in the longitudinal direction so as to displace the sliding panel, characterized in that on either side of the sliding roof the slide shoes are fixedly mounted on a lower frame, which supports the relative cam plate for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction, the cam plate comprising a connecting member for the pulling and pushing member positioned on the relative side, whilst each of the two actuating pins is fastened to an actuating arm, which is connected with the relative lower frame as well as with the sliding panel.

2. Sliding roof according to claim 1, wherein on either side of the sliding roof the cam plate and the actuating pin may be locked with respect to each other by means of a locking member in the position, in which the sliding panel is backwardly and downwardly inclined, characterized in that on either side of the sliding roof the locking member is slidably supported by the relative lower frame and may be moved from the locking position towards the releasing position by means of a release member which is supported in the vehicle on the relative side.

3. Sliding roof according to claim 2, characterized in that on either side of the sliding roof the lower frame is provided with a transverse guide member, in which the relative locking member which is constructed as a stop block, is slidably received, while a spring engages this stop block and presses the same in the direction of the locking position of the relative stop block.

4. Sliding roof according to claim 3, characterized in that on either side of the sliding roof the release member comprises a pin, which comes into contact with an oblique groove in the relative stop block and which effects the displacement of this stop block from the locking position into the releasing position.

5. Sliding roof according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on either side of the sliding roof the actuating arm is pivotally connected with the relative lower frame and carries a pin at its other end, which pin is slidably and rotatably received in a longitudinal slot of the sliding panel.

6. Sliding roof according to claim 5, characterized in that the sliding panel is mounted on either side on a carrying arm, which has a downwardly bent lip at the rear end, in which the longitudinal slot is formed.

7. Sliding roof according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the two lower frames comprises a guide section, which has a front U-shaped part, in which the relative front slide shoe is fitted, and which is provided with a rear U-shaped part, in which the relative rear slide shoe is received, while the intermediate part of the guide section positioned between both U-shaped parts is L-shaped.

8. Sliding roof according to claim 7, characterized in that a second slide shoe is mounted in the front U-shaped part of each of the two guide sections.

9. Sliding roof according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that each of the two lower frames comprises a supporting plate, which is fastened on the outer side of the guide section and which is provided with a longitudinal guide member for the relative cam plate and with the transverse guide member for the relative stop block, whilst this supporting plate further supports a pivot pin, with which the lower end of the relative actuating arm is in engagement.

10. Sliding roof according to claim 9, characterized in that the L-shaped part of the guide section is raised over part of its length, while the pivot pin is passed through the supporting plate, through the raised part of the guide section, as well as through a counterplate connected to said raised part.

11. Sliding roof according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that on either side of the sliding roof the pivot pin is adjustable in height with respect to the relative lower frame.

12. Sliding roof according to claim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that on either side of the sliding roof a torsion spring is mounted on the pivot pin, which torsion spring engages the carrying arm situated on the relative side and exerts a downward force on the sliding panel.

1 3. Sliding roof according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the release member carries a stop, with which the front edge of the supporting plate comes into engagement in the front position of the lower frame and which also defines the front position of the cam plate.

14. Sliding roof according to claim 13, characterized in that the release member carries a bow, which may embrace the stop block.

1 5. Sliding roof according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the two carrying arms is supported near the front by a supporting mechanism, which is connected with the relative lower frame and which engages the relative carrying arm in at least one point, which point is moved upwards and backwards when the sliding panel is displaced from the closed position to the backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilating position.

1 6. Sliding roof according to claim 15, characterized in that on either side of the sliding roof the front part of the guide section carries a strip, which is pivotally connected with the lower ends of a front link and of a longer rear link, both links being forwardly and upwardly inclined, whilst the upper ends of these links are pivotally connected with a strip, which is rigidly connected with the relative carrying arm, the distance between the pivot points on the strip carried by the guide section being larger than the distance between the pivot points on the strip connected to the relative carrying arm.

1 7. A sliding roof substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.