GB2122143A

GB2122143A - Spoiler roof

Info

Publication number: GB2122143A
Application number: GB08310255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiroshi Sakamoto
Original assignee: Webasto Werk W Baier GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Webasto Werk W Baier GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1982-04-16
Filing date: 1983-04-15
Publication date: 1984-01-11
Also published as: FR2525161A1; IT1194201B; JPH0136655Y2; FR2525161B1; ES281825U; GB8310255D0; ES281825Y; DE3311442C2; DE3311442A1; IT8320610A0; GB2122143B; JPS58157823U

Abstract

Spoiler roof for a motor vehicle providing a top member (13) permitting the closing and at least partial opening of a roof opening. On either side of the front area of the top, front guiding elements (8) are provided, which are adjustably guided along guide rails (6), which are connected to a fixed part of the roof and are laterally arranged on the roof opening. Starting from a closed position and accompanied by the raising of its trailing edge, the top (13) can be brought into a sloping position and, over the fixed part of the roof is rearwardly movable into an open position. The front ends of the top brackets (14) supporting the top are pivotably articulated to the front guiding elements (8). When the top is in the closed position, the guiding elements are positioned in front of the leading edge of the roof opening. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spoiler roof The invention relates to a spoiler roof.

Spoiler or lifting sliding roofs are more particularly suitable for motor vehicles, in which the available height is limited, as is more especially the case with relatively small motor vehicles which, for energy saving purposes, have a low cw-value (i.e. a low streamlined profile). To prevent draughts, dust and rain water from entering the interior of the vehicle when the top is closed, it is necessary to provide an elastic seal or packing around the margin of the roof opening and/or along the edge of the top. This seal or packing is generally made from rubber or some similar material having elastic characteristics.In the case of known spoiler roofs, this seal is frequently exposed not only to the influences of the weather, but also to considerable mechanical stresses, particularly in the vicinity of the leading edge of the roof opening or the top, so that premature damage to the seal can occur.

The present invention provides a roof assembly for a motor vehicle adapted to close and at least partially open a roof opening and comprising a pair of guide rails for fixed location either side of the roof opening of a vehicle, a roof member, a respective pivot member slidably mounted on each guide rail and forming a forward pivot for the roof member, a respective bracket member connecting each pivot member to the roof member and being itself pivotally connected to the roof member, whereby pivoting movement about the said pivot members the trailing edge of the roof may be raised, the arrangement being such that when the roof member is in the closed position the pivot members lie forward of the leading edge of the roof member. Because the pivot members lie forward of the leading edge of the top member, it is prevented from dipping under the bearing surface thereof.The leading edge of the top is also raised at the time of tilting open. Thus, the seal is not excessively compressed in the vicinity of the leading edge of the top.

The invention includes a motor vehicle having a spoiler roof as described above.

The invention is illustrated by the following description of preferred and non-limitative embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle provided with a spoiler roof according to the invention.

Figs. 2 to 4 are longitudinal sections through the spoiler roof along iine Il-Il of Fig. 1, in three different operating positions.

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal section through a modified embodiment of the invention.

As shown, a roof opening 2 is provided in the front portion of the roof 1 of a vehicle A. The roof opening 2, in the case of the embodiment according to Figs. 1 to 4, is surrounded by a crosssectionally, substantially L-shaped packing or seal 3. Below roof 1, there is a roof frame 4, which upwardly bounds passenger compartment of motor vehicle A. Downwardly from the roof opening 2, roof frame 4 is spaced from roof 1 and surrounds a frame opening 5 corresponding to roof opening 2.

Rectilinear guide rails 6 are mounted on the top portion of the roof frame 4 on either side of roof opening 2. In the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the guide rails 6 run substantially parallel to roof opening 2. A driven member in the form of a transfer slide 7, as well as front and rear adjustable guide elements 8, 9 can be moved forwards and/or backwards along guide rails 6.

The transfer slide 7 has a body 1 1, which is connected to a drive, for example an electric motor or a crank, by means of a driving member 10, e.g. in the form of a threaded cable, which is rigid in compression. Body 11 carries two laterally projecting sliding pieces 12, which engage with guide rails 6. Sliding pieces 12 and guiding elements 8, 9 are preferably sliding shoes made from plastic or a similar material and which in side view have a substantially elliptical configuration.

They engage in the preferably channel-shaped guide rail 6 and are displaceable along the latter.

For the purpose of opening or closing roof opening 2, a rigid top 1 3 is provided, which is made for example of glass, plastic, sheet metal or the like, i.e. from a transparent, translucent or opaque material. In the closed position, the edge of top 1 3 engages with seal 3, whereby in particular the underside of the top presses against the upper surface of a lower part 3a of seal 3. By means of two, not shown fastenings, top 13 is supported on two facing top brackets or supports 1 4. Each of the top brackets 14 is articulated at its front end to the particular a forward or pivot member in the form of a front guide element 18 and is rotatable about a transversely directed axis formed by a joint 21.

A tilting lever 1 5 is provided on either side of roof opening 2. Each of the tilting levers 15 is pivotably supported in its central area on the particular rear guiding element 19, whilst the rear end of the tilting lever is connected by means of a joint 1 8 to the associated top bracket 14. The transfer slide 7 and tilting lever 1 5 are in engagement with one another by means of a cam or link arrangement 16, 17 acting in the central area of the tilting lever. In the illustrated embodiment, the link arrangement includes front and rear link pins 1 6a, 1 6b of transfer slide 7, as well as front and rear link slots 1 7a, 1 7b in tilting lever 1 5. It is obvious that conversely link pins can be provided on the tilting lever and link slots in the transfer slide.The front link slot 1 7a, essentially formed in front of the pivot of tilting lever 1 5 constituted by guiding element 9, is rectilinear, whereas the rear link slot 1 7b, positioned behind the pivot of tilting lever 1 5 has a front, linear portion, which is parallel to link slots 1 7a, as well as a downwardly bent portion connected thereto at the rear. The link pins 1 6a, 1 6b areilsubstantially at the same height. When the top is chased (Fig.

2), the front link slur 1 7a and the straight portion of the rear link slot 1 7b are essentially at the same height. When the top is closed, as can be gathered from Fig. 2, the link pins 1 6a, 1 6b are substantially symmetrical with respect to the rear guiding element 9 forming the pivot for tilting lever 1 5. The link slot 1 7a and the straight portion of link slot 1 7b are located in the vicinity of the upper edge of tilting lever 1 5, whilst the bent portion of link slot 1 7b extends close to the lower edge of tilting lever 1 5.

If, starting from the position according to Fig. 3, in which top 13 is positioned above roof opening 2 and the trailing edge of the top is opened over the fixed roof skin for ventilation purposes, the transfer slide 7 is forwardly displaced by means of driving member 10, link pins 1 6a, 1 6b slide forwards in the link slots 1 7a, 1 7b. For as long as the link pin 1 6b passes through the bent rear portion of link slot 1 7b, tilting lever 1 5 is pivoted clockwise about the pivot form by guiding element 9 in Fig. 3. This causes a pivoting movement of top bracket 14 about joint 21, so that the trailing edge of the top is moved downwards. The roof opening 2 is closed.In the represented movement sequence, the front link pin 1 6a presses against the upper edge of the front link slot 1 7a, whilst the rear link pin 1 6b presses onto the lower edge of the rear link slot 1 7b. The transfer slide 7 continues forwards, so that link pin 1 6b passes into the front, rectilinear portion of link slot 1 7b.

As a result, top 13 is locked in the closed position.

During the forward movement of link pin 1 6a, 1 6b in link slot 1 7a, 1 7b, top 13 is prevented from a forward adjustment movement by an appropriate stop member or through the leading edge of said top bearing against a raised part 3b of seal 3 in the vicinity of the leading edge of roof opening 2.

However, if on starting from the position according to Fig. 2, the transfer slide 7 is moved rearward via driving member 10, the link pins 1 6a, 1 6b move rearwards in the link slots 1 7a, 1 7b, so that firstly the top locking system is released.

Tilting lever 1 5 is then pivoted counterclockwise about its pivot formed by guiding element 9 in Fig.

2. As a result, top bracket 14 is swung upwards about the axis of joint 21 and top 13 is tilted with its trailing edge, as shown in Fig. 3. Due to the fact that the distance between the link arrangement and the joint 1 8 connecting tilting lever 1 5 to top bracket 14 is smaller than the distance between the link arrangement and the guiding element 9 forming the pivot of tilting lever 1 5, it is ensured that joint 1 8 is raised a relatively long way, although the perpendicular spacing between the highest and lowest positions of link pins 1 6b in link slot 1 7b is relatively small. This has the advantage that the tilting open means of the spoiler roof only takes up a relatively small space in the perpendicular height, so that little head space is lost in the passenger compartment.

The front end of tilting lever 1 5 extends over the pivot (guiding element 9) of tilting lever 1 5 in the forwards direction and carries a guiding member 1 9 which, when tilting lever 1 5 is pivoted out of the position of Fig. 2 into that of Fig. 3, passes through a cutout 20 in the upper web of guide rail 6 and can then be displaced along the guide rail. Guiding member 19, in conjunction with guiding element 9 and guide rail 6 maintains tilting lever 1 5 in the position according to Figs. 3 and 4, so that top 13 is supported. However, if the top 1 3 is transferred from the tilted open position (Fig. 3) into the closed position (Fig. 2), guiding member 19 passes out of guide rail 6 via cutout 20.If, starting from the position of Fig. 2, the transfer slide 7 moves rearwards, guiding member 1 9 engages with a stop face 20a in the vicinity of cutout 20, so that a rearward displacement of top 1 3 is prevented. This ensures that during a rearward movement of transfer slide 7, the top 13 is tilted open, before it is carried rearwards by the transfer slide 7.

For as long as top 13 is aligned with roof opening 2, joint 21 supporting the top bracket 14 is located on the front guiding element 8 in front of the leading edge of roof opening 2. When the top 1 3 is then brought from the closed position of Fig. 2 into the opened position of Fig. 3, the leading edge of top 13 moves gradually upwards.

The leading edge of the top does not dip under the support plane thereof formed by the lower part 3a of seal 3. This ensures that during the opening movement of top 13, seal 3 is not exposed to undesired stresses. The stability of the overall arrangement is improved as a result of the relatively long lever arms through advancing the pivot of top bracket 14.

If, starting from the position according to Fig. 3, transfer slide 7 is moved further rearwards and carries with it top 13, through the engagement of link pins 1 6a, 1 6b on the rear ends of link slots 1 7a, 1 7b, guiding element 9 and guiding member 19 also running in guide rail 6, cooperate in order to keep the tilting lever 1 5 in the tilted open position. Top 13 can be brought into the open position according to Fig. 4 in this way and as a result a particularly rigid and robust arrangement is obtained. This is helped by the fact that the joint 1 8 between top bracket 14 and tilting lever 1 5 is positioned in such a way that it is below the trailing edge of roof opening 2, when the top is in the open position.

Fig. 5 shows a modified embodiment, which differs from that described hereinbefore essentially only in that the seal 3 surrounding roof opening 2 is replaced by the seal 23 enveloping the edge of top 13. Whereas in Figs. 2 to 4, the top is shown in the form of a glass top, top 13 in Fig. 5 is a sheet metal top.

An advantage of the illustrated embodiments is that despite the simple rugged construction they keep the mechanical stressing of the top seal particularly low.

Claims

1. A roof assembly for a motor vehicle adapted to close and at least partially open a roof opening and comprising a pair of guide rails for fixed location either side of the roof opening of a vehicle, a roof member, a respective pivot member slidably mounted on each guide rail and forming a forward pivot for the roof member, a respective bracket member connecting each pivot member to the roof member and being itself pivotally connected to the roof member, whereby pivoting movement about the said pivot members the trailing edge of the roof may be raised, the arrangement being such that when the roof member is in the closed position the pivot members lie forward of the leading edge of the roof member.

2. A roof assembly as claimed in-Claim 1 wherein the pivot members are movable along the guide rails when the trailing edge of the roof member is raised so as to carry the roof member rearward of the closed position.

3. A roof assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each of said bracket members is articulated to a tilting lever which is in turn pivotally and slidably mounted on one of the said guide rails, whereby pivoting movement of the tilting lever on the guide rail elevates the trailing edge of the roof member.

4. A roof assembly as claimed in Claim 3 wherein means is provided for producing said pivoting movement of the tilting lever which means comprises a pair of driven members each mounted for sliding movement on a respective guide rail and in camming engagement with a respective tilting lever such that movement of the driven members along the guide rails when the roof member is in the closed position produces the said pivoting movement of the tilting levers to raise the trailing edge of the roof member.

5. A roof assembly as claimed in Claim 4 wherein further movement of the driven members along the guide rails produces rearward displacement of the roof member.

6. A roof assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A motor vehicle having a roof assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.

8. Spoiler roof for motor vehicles with a top for the closing and at least partial opening of a roof opening and which in the front areas carries front guiding element on either side, which are adjustably guided along guide rails connected to a fixed part of the roof and positioned laterally of the roof opening, whereby the top, starting from a closed position and accompanied by the raising of its trailing edge, can be brought into a sloping position and rearwards over the fixed part of the roof into an open position, characterised in that the front ends of the top brackets supporting the top are pivotably articulated to the front guiding elements and the top pivot is positioned in front of the leading edge of roof opening when the top is in the closed position.

9. Spoiler roof according to Claim 8, characterised in that at a point spaced rearwards from the front guiding elements, each of the top brackets is articulated to a tilting lever and in turn the tilting levers are supported in each case on a rear guiding element displaceable along the particular guide rail, whilst being pivotable about a pivot defined by the rear guiding element by means of a link arrangement.