GB2124558A

GB2124558A - Vehicle roof

Info

Publication number: GB2124558A
Application number: GB08319170A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Enkhard Richter; Walter Schatzler
Original assignee: Webasto Werk W Baier GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Webasto Werk W Baier GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1982-07-16
Filing date: 1983-07-15
Publication date: 1984-02-22
Also published as: ES281215Y; GB2124558B; JPH0324366B2; GB8319170D0; FR2530196A1; JPS5948229A; ES281215U

Abstract

The roof formed of a plurality of plates (12, 13, 14, 15) which can be pivoted between a closed position, in which the plates abut against one another in gap-free manner to close the roof opening, and a swung-out position in which the plates can be "telescoped" together in the vicinity of the leading edge of the roof opening (as shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECiFICATION Vehicle roof The invention relates to a vehicle roof comprising a plurality of pivoted plates, and in particular to a roof comprising plates which can be pivoted about axes directed at right angles to the vehicle longitudinal direction either into a closed position in which the plates abut in gap-free manner against one another and close a roof opening, and a swung-out position.

In a known vehicle roof of this type (British Patent 463,048), the plates can be pivoted about fixed axes.

The present invention provides a roof for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of roof plates pivoted for movement between a closed position, in which the plates abut to close a roof opening, and an open position, the pivot axes of the plates being movable to permit the plates to be telescoped together. It will of course be appreciated that the term "telescoped" as used herein is merely meant to mean that the respective plates are brought closer together so that the overall length which they occupy is shorter and it is not intended to imply that one plate should fit within another.

According to the invention, the plates may be brought into the swung-out position and can also be telescoped together. In the vehicle roof according to the invention, the pivot pins of the plates, with the exception of the furthest forward plate, are appropriately displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In the telescoped state, the plates uncover at least most of the roof opening, and preferably simultaneously form a wind deflector. Thus, by means of the vehicle roof according to the invention, in a comparatively simple manner, the functions conventionaliy performed by a combination of sliding roof and wind deflector are completely or almost completely performed (e.g. DOS 2,644,848).

German patent specification No. 5781-11 discloses a canopy or top for observation vehicles, in which wind protection disks are provided level with the top. When the top is open, said disks are brought into a position which deflects the slipstream and are freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle body and are longitudinally displaceable in guides on the upper longitudinal supports of the vehicle body sides. However, the roof opening is closed by the top, which is separate from the wind protection disks. The latter cannot be brought into a position in which they abut against one another in closing the roof opening. The telescoping of the wind protection disks to house them in a frontal, fixed roof part takes place when the top is to be closed.

For stability reasons, the plates are appropriately displaceably guided in the direction of the longitudinal axis of guide rails fixed to the roof and running on either side of the roof opening.

According to a further development of the invention, the plates are additionally displaceably guided in the direction of the longitudinal axis of guide channels provided on either side of the roof opening and which are adjustable for pivoting the plates. The engagement points between each plate and the guide rails, as well as the guide channels are positioned eccentrically with respect to one another. This permits a particularly simple assembly of the plate pivoting mechanism.

The guide rails can appropriately form control channels, in which engage substantially horizontally directed journals, which are connected to the plates and on which can be pivoted shoulders of the said plates. Instead, the journals can also be fixed to the plates and mounted in a rotatable and displaceable manner in the control channels.

The plates preferably have on either side in each case one tilting-open lever, whose free and appropriately spherically constructed end engages in the associated guide channel. A constructionally simple solution is obtained if the guide channels are formed by tilting-open profiles, which can be pivoted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide channels. In principle, there could also be a linear displacement of the guide channels in a substantially vertical direction.

In the manner known in connection with conventional sliding roofs, the adjustment of the plates can be brought about by two compressively rigid drive cables, which are connected to a common driving pinion. It is appropriate to provide on either side of the roof opening a slide displaceable in the displacement direction of the plates, which has a link used for pivoting the associated tilting-open profile and which is in driving connection with in each case one of the drive cables. The rearmost plate can be connected on either side with in each case one slide which, with respect to the guide slides, is displaceable to a limited extent in the plate displacement direction.Advantageously, the guide slides and the slides for an adjustment movement in the plate displacement direction are coupled together by means of a driving coupling, which has a free travel, which is substantially equivalent to the displacement movement of the guide slide necessary for pivoting the plates between the closed position and the swung-out position.

The number of driving members required remains particularly small, if the construction is such that on displacing the plates, each plate, with the exception of the rearmost plates, can be moved along by the underlying plate. The plates are appropriately coupled together by means of connecting members, which are advantageously flexible and/or extensible in the longitudinal direction. To ensure that the plates assume a precisely predetermined position relative to the roof opening on pivoting into the closed position, preferably stops are provided for giving the end position of the plate pivot axes on moving the plates apart.These stops can in particular be formed by disks concentric to the pivot axes of the plates and with stepped diameters between the individual plates and correspondingly stepped control slots of the guide rails laterally connected to the control channels and cooperating therewith.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter relative to a preferred embodiment and the attached drawings, wherein show: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a vehicle roof constructed according to the invention with the plates in the closed position.

Fig. 2 a section along line A-A of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 a section corresponding to Fig. 2, but with the plate tilted open.

Fig. 4 a section along line B-B of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 a section along line C-C of Fig. 1 with the plates in the closed position.

Fig. 6 a section corresponding to Fig. 5 with the plates in the swung-out position.

Fig. 7 a section corresponding to Fig. 5, but with the plates telescoped together in the vicinity of the leading edge of the roof opening.

Fig. 8 a diagrammatic side view of the stepped control slots of a guide rail in the viewing direction of arrows D-D of Fig. 2.

Figs. 9A, B and C diagrammatic sections along lines 9A-9A, 9B-9B and 9C-9C of Fig. 8.

In accordance with Fig. 1, in a fixed roof part 10 is formed a roof opening 11, which can be closed with the aid of four plates 12, 13, 14, 15. It is obvious that the number of plates can be adapted to the particular requirements and the size of the roof opening, i.e. the number is not limited to four.

In the closed position, the plates 12 to 1 5 abut with one another without leaving any gap, in order to ensure the necessary sealing of the roof.

The construction of the plates and the associated guidance and driving elements is identical on either side of the plates. Thus, it is merely necessary hereinafter to further explain the construction on one plate side.

A guide rail 16, fixed to the roof, extends on either side of roof opening 11 and in the illustrated embodiment, it is fitted to an externally directed flange 17 of a roof frame 18. Roof frame 18 surrounds roof opening 11 and forms a guttering 19. Guide rail 1 6 defines a control channel 19, in which engage substantially horizontally directed journals 21 connected to plates 12 to 1 5. In the represented embodiment, plates 1 2 to 1 5 carry shoulders 22, which are pivoted on journals 21.

Instead, the journals can also be fixed to the plates and can be mounted in a rotary and displaceable manner in the control channels on either side of the roof opening 11.

On either side, each of the plates 12 to 1 5 has an angular tilt-actuating lever 24, whose spherically constructed free end 25 engages in a guide channel 26 of an elongate profile 27. The axes of journals 21 are positioned eccentrically with respect to the ends 25 of tiit-actuating lever 24. The elongate profiles 27 extend substantially over the entire length of roof opening 11. They are pivotable about an axis 28 parallel to the longitudinal axis of guide channels 26. One or more springs 29 pretension each of the profiles 27 into a position corresponding to the swung-out position of plates 12 to 1 5 (Fig. 3). Spring 29 engages on the end 30 of profile 27 remote from guide channel 26 and on roof frame 18.As can be seen, the profiles 27 are located in the space defined at the bottom by roof frame 1 8 and at the top by the fixed roof part 10. In the vicinity of the pivot axis of the rearmost plate 1 5, a guide slide 32 is positioned below the latter. Guide slide 32 is guided in a guide channel 34 of a rail 35, which is fixed to a protuberance 36 of roof frame 18. A sliding shoe 37 connected to guide slide 32 runs in guide channel 34, which extends parallel to channels 20, 26. On the top of guide slide 32 is provided a link 38, which engages with the bottom of the associated tilting-open profile 27.In the vicinity of the leading edge 40 of the roof opening, a driving pinion 41 is positioned below the fixed roof part 10 and is attached to two compressively rigid drive cables 42, 43. For this purpose and in per se known manner, the drive cables are provided over at least part of their length with a corresponding external thread. The driving pinion 41 is operated manually by a hinged crank 44 in the represented embodiment.

However, it is obvious that crank 44 can be replaced by a motor drive, particularly an electric drive. One drive cable 42 is in driving connection with the guide slide 32 on one side of roof opening 11, whilst the other drive cable 43 is connected to the guide slide 32 on the other side of the roof opening. Drive cables 42, 43 run in a cable duct 45 formed by guide rails 1 6.

Guide slide 32 carries a sub-slide 46, which can be moved by a limited amount in the plate displacement direction. By means of journal 21, sub-slide 45 is connected with the rearmost plate 1 5. A biasing spring 57 attempts to draw the subslide 46 rearwards with respect to guide slide 32.

For limiting the reciprocal movement of the two slides 32, 46, guide slide 32 is provided with a front stop 49 and a back stop 50. Stop 49 cooperates with the leading edge 51 of sub-slide 46, whilst stop 40 can be engaged with an edge 52 of sub-slide 46 (Fig. 4). The two stops 49, 50 form together with edges 51, 52 a driving coupling which has a free travel, which is substantially identical to the displacement movement of the guide slide required for pivoting the plates between the closed position and the swung-open position. In addition, a trailing edge 53 of sub-slide 46 cooperates with a fixed stop 54.

Plates 12 to 1 5 are interconnected by means of flexible and preferably longitudinally extensible connecting members 56, which can appropriately engage on the ends 57 journals 21, which project outwards over slide 46 (Figs. 2 and 3).

Plates 12 to 1 5 have tapered leading and trailing edges 58, 59 respectively, which overlap one another in the closed position (Figs. 4 and 5).

The leading edges 58 are slightly upwardly angled at their tip, so that gutterings 60 directed at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle are formed and from which water can pass laterally into the guttering 1 9 formed by the roof frame 18. The trailing edges 59 carry sealing strips 61 which, when the plates are closed, engage with sloping away faces 62 of the in each case next-rearmost plate or against a corresponding face 63 of roof frame 1 8 (Fig. 4).

Journals 21 carry rollers or disks 65 with diameters stepped between the individual plates the diameter of disk 65 of plate 15 being the smallest and the diameter of disk 65 of plate 13 the iargest. A corresponding disk is not required for the furthest forward plate 12. The disks 65 run in correspondingly stepped control slots 66, 67, 68 of guide rail 1 8. The transition between the control slots 67, 68 forms a stop for disk 65 of plate 13. Disk 65 of plate 14 strikes against the transition point of control slots 66, 67. The end of control slot 66 forms a stop for disk 65 of plate 15.

If, starting from the closed position of the plates according to Figs. 4 and 5, drive cable 42 is drawn forwards by means of the driving pinion 41, the cable takes the guide slide 32 with it. By means of link 38, tilting-open profile 27 is pivoted about axis 28 from the position of Fig. 2 into the position of Fig. 3. Guide channel 26 moves upwards, whilst displacing the spherical ends 25 of the tiltingopen lever 24 of all the plates 12 to 15. When the rear stop 50 of guide slide 32 reaches the edge 52 of slide 46, plates 12 to 1 5 have been brought about the pivot axes defined by journals 21 into the swung-out position illustrated in Fig. 6. On further moving drive cable 42 forwards, guide slide 32 displaces sub-slide 46. The tilting-open plate 1 5 is moved forwards and as soon as plate 5 strikes plate 14, the latter is correspondingly displaced.The same applies with respect to plate 13. In this way and in accordance with Fig. 7, the plates are telescoped in the vicinity of the leading edge of the roof opening.

It is obvious that in the same way as described relative to drive cable 42, drive cable 43 initially adjusts guide slide 32 and then sub-slide 46 on the other side of the plates.

However, if starting from the plate position of Fig. 7, the compressively rigid drive cable 42 in cable duct 45 is moved rearwards, initially biasing spring 47 maintains stop 50 in engagement with edge 52, whilst the two slides 32, 46 move rearwards. As a result, the plates 12 to 1 5 remain in the swung-out position. Sub-slide 46 displaces plate 1 5 which, by means of connecting members 56, causes plates 14 and 13 to perform an adjustment movement in the direction of the trailing edge of roof opening 11. Plates 12 to 1 5 with their pivot axes remain in positions defined by the stops and which are formed by disks 65 and control slots 66 to 68. As a result of the extensibility of connecting members 56, the unavoidable dimensional variations are compensated.In the illustrated adjustment, the still tilted-open plates are telescoped together.

When the pivot axes of the plates assume the end positions defined by stops 65 to 68, i.e. if once again the operating state of Fig. 6 is reached, the trailing edge 53 of sub-slide 46 strikes against the fixed stop 54. Sub-slide 46 remains stationary, whilst by a further adjustment movement of drive cable 42 in the rearwards direction, guide slide 32 is displaced until the front stop 49 of guide slide 32 engages with the leading edge 51 of slide 46 under the tension of spring 47. In opposition to the tension of spring 29, tilting-open profile 27 is brought from the position according to Fig. 3 into the position according to Fig. 2. Plates 12 to 1 5 are pivoted into the closed position according to Figs. 4 and 5 by the lowering of guide channels 26.

The flexible connecting members 56 can be replaced by rigid connecting members, e.g. in the form of grapnels. On the bottom of the plates, it is possible to provide pads or cushions (not shown), which on telescoping the plates (Fig. 7) engage with the top of the in each case next plate, in order to give the group of plates increased rigidity and prevent rattling noises.

Unlike in the case of conventional sliding roofs with a rigid sliding top, the aforementioned platebased roof makes it possible to attain a roof opening position, which amounts to more than 50% of the roof length. This can be particularly important in the case of sports cars, lorry and similar roofs where rigid sliding roofs only make it possible to uncover short roof openings.

Claims

1. A roof for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of roof plates pivoted for movement between a closed position, in which the plates abut to close a roof opening, and an open position, the pivot axes of the plates being movable to permit the plates to be telescoped together.

2. A vehicle roof according to Claim 1, wherein the plates can be telescoped into the vicinity of the leading edge of the roof opening.

3. A vehicle roof according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, including a pair of guide rails adapted to be fixed to the roof of a vehicle on either side of a roof opening, for guiding the displacement of the roof plates.

4. A vehicle roof according to Claim 3, including a pair of guide channels on either side of the roof opening for receiving tilt actuating levers connected to the said plates, the guide channels being movable to cause pivoting of the said plates.

5. A vehicle roof according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein roof plates carry substantially horizontally directed journals which are pivotally received in the guide rails.

6. A vehicle roof according to Claim 5, wherein the journals are attached to the roof plates via shoulders.

7. A vehicle roof according to Claim 6, wherein the journals are fixed to the plates and are received in a rotatable and displaceable manner in the guide rails.

8. A vehicle ropf according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, wherein on either side, the free ends of the tilt-actuating levers are engaged in the respective guide channel.

9. A vehicle roof according to Claim 8, wherein the free ends of the tilting-actuating levers are spherical.

10. A vehicle roof according to any one of Claims 4 to 9, wherein the guide channels are formed by elongate profiles, which are pivotable about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide channels.

11. A vehicle roof according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two compressively rigid drive cables are provided for adjusting the plates, the said cables engaging with a common drive pinion.

1 2. A vehicle roof according to Claims 10 and 11, wherein on either side of the roof opening there is provided a guide slide which is displaceable in the displacement direction of the plates, which has a link permitting the pivoting of the associated elongate profile and is in each case in drive connection with one of the drive cables.

13. A vehicle roof according to Claim 12, wherein each side of the rearmost plate is connected with a respective sub-slide which is displaceable to a iimited extent with respect to the relevant guide slide, in the plate displacement direction.

1 4. A vehicle roof according to Claim 13, wherein the guide slide and the sub-slide are connected together so as to provide therebetween a free travel, which is substantially equal to the displacement of the guide slide required for pivoting the plates between the closed position and the swung-out position.

1 5. A vehicle roof according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein on displacing the plates, each plate, with the exception of the end most plates, is displaced by the plate located behind it.

1 6. A vehicle roof according to Claim 15, wherein the plates are coupled together by means of connecting members.

17. A vehicle roof according to Claim 16, wherein the connecting members are flexible.

1 8. A vehicle roof according to Claim 16, wherein the connecting members are longitudinally extensible.

19. A vehicle roof according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein stops are provided for defining the positions of the pivot axes of the plates in the closed position of the roof.

20. A vehicle roof according to Claim 19, wherein the stops are provided by disks concentric to the pivot axes of the plates and with diameters stepped between the individual plates, and cooperating, correspondingly stepped, control slots of the guide rails.

21. A roof for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

22. A vehicle incorporating a roof as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

23. A vehicle roof with a succession of plates, which can be pivoted about axes directed at right angles to the vehicle longitudinal direction either into a closed position in which the plates abut in gap-free manner against one another and close a roof opening, and a swung-out position, wherein the plates brought into the swung-out position can also be telescoped together.