GB2106971A - Seals for openable panels of vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A seal for an openable panel of a vehicle, for example a roof panel, comprises an endless loop (3) of resilient material having a continuous internal fluidtight duct (6) within it which contains a fluid. One wall portion (8) of the duct forms a sealing surface (4) with the panel (1). The duct (6) may be filled with liquid and the resilience of the seal may then be provided by the material of the loop (3) or by a second, gas containing duct (7) separated from the duct (6) by a deformable partition wall (9). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seals for openable panels of vehicles This invention relates to seals for openable panels of vehicles, such panels being for example glass panels which may be framed or unframed.

Thus the invention has application in openable roof panels of vehicles and in openable windows of road vehicles and boats and in boat hatches.

Particularly in the case of hinged roof panels difficulty is experienced in providing a watertight seal between the roof panel and the surrounding portion of the vehicle roof.

In a common form of openable roof panel in use today, a frame of for example aluminium is fitted into a generally rectangular hole provided in the vehicle roof and a rubber sealing member is located in the frame and provides an upwardly facing surface against which the underside of the panel seals around its periphery. It is normal practice for the panel to be hinged at two points along its front edge and for a handle-operated over-centre catch to be provided at the centre of the rear edge which engages with the frame to lock the panel in its closed position with the panel pressing hard against the rubber seal.

With a hinged panel of the kind described in the preceding paragraph it is very difficult to obtain an even sealing pressure since the pressure is effectively applied at only three points, namely at the two hinge points and at the catch. The sealing problem is worsened in that the frame and panel usually have a curvature in one or more directions so that they conform to the curvature of the rest of the roof. If therefore the frame and panel are not accurately formed sealing problems arise which are difficult to remedy. Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by over-profiling the panel so that a higher contact pressure is provided at that part of the panel remote from the hinge points and catch. However, this can lead to an unequal pressure distribution around the seal and high stressing of the panel which can be disadvantageous particularly if the panel is of glass.Also if the contact pressure at certain points is too high the rubber seal can reach the limit of its compression and hard spots can be produced at points around the seal which make it very difficult to provide a satisfactory seal.

The object of the present invention is to provide a seal which overcomes the above discussed problems.

According to one aspect of the invention a seal for an openable panel of a vehicle comprises an endless loop of resilient material, for example rubber, having an internal fluidtight duct extending continuously around the loop and containing fluid, one wall portion of the duct providing a sealing surface for the panel.

The fluid advantageously is a liquid and in this case the resilience of the material of the loop may advantageously act as a spring resisting the pressure transmitted to it from the roof panel through the liquid.

According to another aspect of the invention a seal for an openable panel of a vehicle comprises an endless loop of resilient material, for example rubber, having a first internal duct extending continuously around the loop and containing liquid, one wall portion of the duct providing a sealing surface for the panel, and a second internal duct extending continuously around the loop and containing gas, the two ducts being separated from each other by a deformable partition wall whereby the gas in the second duct acts as a spring resisting the pressure transmitted to it from the roof panel through the liquid.

Thus in both aspects of the invention if liquid is contained within the duct or said first duct unequal contact pressure when the roof panel is closed on the seal will cause the liquid to be displaced around the duct to equalise the contact pressure around the whole seal and in the case of the second aspect of the invention this pressure will cause deformation of the partition wall by the liquid and hence compression of the gas in the second duct to provide a resilient action to the seal.

The liquid may be glycol or a water/glycol mixture. The gas in the second duct is preferably air.

Two constructions of seal in accordance with the invention and as applied to a hinged glass roof panel of a vehicle will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 shows a section through the first construction of seal in its undeformed condition, Figure 2 shows a section through the seal of Figure 1 in its deformed condition caused by the pressure of the glass panel on the seal, and, Figure 3 shows a section through the second construction of seal in its undeformed condition.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the glass roof panel 1 is in conventional manner hinged to a frame 2 extending around a generally rectangular opening in a vehicle roof.

The panel is hinged to the frame at two points along its front edge and is provided with an overcentre catch at the centre of its rear edge for engaging with the frame in the closed position of the panel 1.

The frame 2 is of a cross-section to locate and trap a rubber sealing member 3 which extends as an endless loop around the frame and which provides an upwardly facing surface 4 for sealing with the underside of the glass panel 1 around the edge of the panel 1. The seal surface 4 is provided with fins 5 for making an initial contact with the glass panel 1 and for preventing capillary action of water past the seal.

The seal 1 is of the section shown to provide two continuous internal ducts 6 and 7, the duct 6 being filled with a water/glycol mix and the duct 7 containing air which is at or above atmospheric pressure in the underformed condition of the sealing member 3. Thus the upper wall portion 8 of the duct 6 provides the sealing surface 4 of the sealing member 3. The two ducts 6 and 7 are separated from each other by a deformable partition wall 9.

In operation of the seal as the glass panel is drawn down on to the surface 4 from the position shown in Figure 1 the fins 5 are initially deflected so that they lie flat against the surface 4. Further downward movement causes increased contact pressure on the wall 8 and if there is any unevenness in this pressure around the sealing member 3, the liquid in the duct 6 is automatically displaced to equalise the pressure.

Since the liquid in the duct 6 is incompressible, resilience has to be provided to resist the contact pressure. This is achieved by the gas in the duct 7 which acts as a gas spring. Thus as the contact pressure is increased the partition wall 9 is deformed from the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 to the full line position to compress the gas in duct 7. There is also some outward deformation of the outside wall#portion 10 of the duct 7 from the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 as the contact pressure of the glass panel tends to flatten the duct 7.

The liquid in the first duct may be glycol, or a water/glycol mixture or other appropriate fluid, liquid or emulsion.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings in the second seal construction the glass roof panel 11 is again hinged to a frame 12 extending around a generally rectangular opening in a vehicle roof.

Also the panel 1 1 is hinged to the frame at two points along its front edge and is provided with an over-centre catch at the centre of its rear edge for engaging with the frame in the closed position of the panel 11.

The frame 12 is of a cross-section to locate and trap a rubber sealing member 13 which extends as an endless loop around the frame and which provides an upwardly facing surface 14 for sealing with the underside of the glass panel 1 1 around the edge of the panel 11. The seal surface 14 is provided with one or more fins or ribs 15 for making an initial contact with the glass panel 1 and for preventing capillary action of water past the seal.

The seal 11 is of the section shown to provide a continuous internal duct 16, the duct 16 being filled with a water/glycol mix.

In operation of the seal as the glass panel 1 1 is drawn down on to the surface 14 from the position shown in the drawing the fin 15 is initially deflected so that it lies flat against the surface 14.

Further downward movement causes increased contact pressure on the wall 14 and if there is any unevenness in this pressure around the sealing member 13, the liquid in the duct 16 is automatically displaced to equalise the pressure.

Since the liquid in the duct 16 is incompressible, resilience has to be provided to resist the contact pressure. This resilience is provided by the rubber of the seal 1 3 spring. Thus as the contact pressure is increased the rubber of the seal particularly over wall portion 1 9 of the duct which is purposely spaced from the frame 12 for the purpose is resiliently deformed.

Claims (8)

1. A seal for an openable panel of a vehicle comprising an endless loop of resilient material having an internal fluidtight duct extending around the loop and containing fluid, one wall portion of the duct providing a sealing surface for the panel.

2. A seal according to Claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a liquid.

3. A seal according to Claim 2, wherein the resilience of the material of the loop acts as a spring resisting the pressure transmitted to it from the roof panel through the liquid.

4. A seal according to Claim 3, wherein the loop is trapped within the cross section of a frame and a wall portion of the duct remote from the sealing surface in its unstressed condition is spaced from the frame so that it can be resiliently deformed to act as said spring.

5. A seal for an openable panel of a vehicle comprising an endless loop of resilient material having a first internal fluidtight duct extending continuously around the loop and containing liquid, one wall portion of said first duct providing a sealing surface for the panel, and a second internal fluidtight duct extending continuously around the loop and containing gas, the two ducts being separated from each other by a deformable partition wall whereby the gas in the second duct acts as a spring resisting the pressure transmitted to it from the roof panel.

6. A seal according to Claim 5, wherein the portion of said loop defining said second duct is trapped in and closely fits within a frame so that the wall portions of said second duct except for the partition wall are prevented from becoming deformed.

7. A seal according to any preceding Claim, wherein said sealing surface is provided with one or more fins which make initial contact with the panel as it is closed on the seal and are deflected by the panel to lie against the sealing surface.

8. A seal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.