GB2268915A - Roof opening device with wind deflector - Google Patents

Abstract

During manufacture of a roof opening device 1, the extent to which a stop element 13 projects from a stop member 9 is varied so as to set the height of the rear portion 6a of a wind deflector 6 above a front transverse member 4 of the frame 2 of the device when the deflector 6 is in its active position. The stop element 13 may then be locked in position before the device 1 is transported to an assembly location where it is fitted to the roof structure of a vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

2268915 Roof Opening Device with Wind Deflector This invention relates to,

a roof opening device for a vehicle roof. Such a device is usually provided with a retractable deflector which is to project upwards across the front of the roof aperture when a sliding panel of the device is opened, in order to reduce draughts in the passenger compartment.

In rocf opening dvices which are intended to be fitted to various different vehicles, it is known to provide the device with an air guiding mechanism having a wind deflector which projects to a variable extent when the sliding panel is opened. EP-A-0 196 684 describes such a mechanism, in which an air guiding member extending across the front of the roof aperture is carried by rearwardly extending arms whose rear ends are pivoted to the frame of the roof opening device. A sliding panel interacts with the arms as it slides forwards, in order to push the air guiding member down as the roof aperture is closed. In front of the pivot axis, each arm is connected to the frame by a spring-loaded telescopic tilting strut which urges the air guiding member upwards. The upward tilting of the strut is limited by a stop on the strut cooperating with a stop on one end a flexible strip whose other end is connected to the frame at a continuously variable position behind the strut, the connection being by means of a bolt passing through a slot in the strip and a hole in the frame. This arrangement is complex, bulky, and expensive, and the hole in the frame provides a leakage path for rainwater.

The present invention is primarily (but not exclusively) concerned with a roof opening device which is manufactured for one model of vehicle and therefore only requires a single predetermined active position of the wind deflector. Conventionally, such a device is made by a manufacturer of roof opening devices and is supplied by that manufacturer in a condition ready to be fitted to the specified vehicle, the finished device being received by the vehicle manufacturer and being fitted in the vehicle, preferably without any subsequent adjustment of the wind deflector by the vehicle manufacturer.

Such a roof opening device comprises a frame for mounting in an aperture in the vehicle roof, the frame having a front transverse member which is to extend across the front of the aperture, an elongate wind deflector extending along the front transverse member and being pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between a lower inactive position and an upper active position in which a edge portion is higher than a front portion.

When the device is mounted in the vehicle roof the upper surface of the rear portion of the wind deflector in the active position will be at a pre-set height (e.g. 14 mm) above the upper surface of the vehicle roof. There will be a tolerance in the accuracy of this pre-set height, related to tolerances in the shape and dimensions of the deflector, the pivotal mounting of the deflector, and the position of the interface between the frame of the device and the structure which receives the device in the vehicle roof. The pre-set height must also be maintained across the contoured shape of the vehicle roof.

3 It has now been discovered that the height of the rear portion of the deflector in the active position is critical and that the tolerance may be as little as +1 mm1-2 mm from the optimum height. If the height is too low, the airstream over the roof aperture causes a throbbing noise (buffeting) within the passenger compartment of the vehicle; if the rear portion is too high, the aistream causes excessive wind noise in the passenger compartment. However, using conventional manufacturing techniques, it would be extremely difficult to reduce the above-mentioned tolerances so that the overall tolerance is reduced to within this narrow range. Ideally in the device delivered by the supplier to the vehicle manufacturer, the tolerance in the height of the rear portion of the wind deflector in the active position, relative to a reference plane defined by the frame, would be only a fraction of a millimetre if, when accumulated with the tolerances of the vehicle manufacturer, the overall tolerance was to be achieved. This would present a severe manufacturing problem to the supplier.

There is therefore a need for a relatively simple, low cost adjustment mechanism which enables the deflector height to be set within narrow tolerances across the roof profile.

The present invention provides a roof opening device for a vehicle roof, comprising a frame for mounting in an aperture in the vehicle roof, an elongate wind deflector pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between a lower inactive position and an upper active position in which a rear portion is higher than a front portibn, means for urging the wind deflector to the active position, and stop means for defining the active position, the stop means comprising at least one fixed stop member having a rear surface which faces the upper surface of the front portion of the wind deflector in the active position and having a guideway which accommodates, or is capable of accommodating, a stop element movable towards and away from the upper surface of the front portion for defining the active position.

Using the stop element, the height of the deflector on the active position can be set very accurately by the supplier or by the vehicle manufacturer. Once the required position of the stop element has been reached, it may be locked in this position, e.g. by adhesive bonding.

Preferably, the stop element is a screwthreaded element made of plastics material. This provides two advantages. Firstly, the stop element can be maintained in position merely by friction between the cooperating screwthreads of the element and the guideway. Secondly, the stop element can make direct contact with the wind deflector (usually made of metal) without causing excessive rattling noises between the engaging parts.

Preferred features are set forth in claim 2 et seq.

The invention will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a roof opening device mounted on the roof structure of a vehicle, showing a wind deflector in its lower position; Figure 2 is a section through the roof opening device, taken on line II- II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on line III-III in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of the part shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section on line V-V in Figure 1; Figure 6 is an enlarged section on line VI-VI in Figure 1, with the deflector in its upper position; and Figure 7 is an enlarged section on line VII-VII in Figures 1 and 6, with the deflector in its lower position. The roof opening device 1 illustrated is manufactured by a supplier at one location and may be adjusted to suit the specification of a motor vehicle manufacturer before being transported to a second location, such as a vehicle assembly factory, where the device is fitted (without further adjustment) in a roof structure defining a roof aperture in a vehicle such as a saloon car.

The device 1 comprises a frame 2 including a front transverse member 4 which extends across the front of the roof aperture. The roof structure has a corresponding frame to which the frame 2 of the device 1 is bolted. The device 1 also includes an elongate wind deflector 6 which extends along the front transverse member 4 and is pivotably mounted on a pair of hinge members 3 (only one of which is shown) which are fixed on respective end portions of the transverse member 4. The deflector 6 is movable between a lower inactive position (broken line in Figure 6), i which it rests on the hinge members 3, and an upper active position (full line in Figure 6), in which a convex rear edge portion 6a is at a higher level than a front portion 6b, with the main body of the deflector 6 being inclined upwardly and rearwardly.

The wind deflector 6 is made of sheet metal. It is urged to its active position by a spring 7 mounted on a hinge pin 10 in a cavity 8 in each hinge member 3. When the roof opening device 1 closes, a sliding panel (not shown) moves forwards and engages two arcuate arms 5 (only one shown) linked to respective brackets 15 spot-welded to the deflector 6, thereby moving it to the inactive position. The arms 5 do not block the side-channels (not shown) of the frame 2.

Each hinge member 3 includes an integral stop member 9 with a rear surface 11 facing the upper surface of the front portion 6b of the deflector 6 in the active position. The stop member 9 has a screwthreaded bore 12 which intersects the rear surface 11 and which receives and guides a stop element in the form of a grub screw 13 of resilient plastics material, e.g. nylon, having a transverse slot 14.

During manufacture of the device 1 by the supplier, the grub screws 13 are initially fitted in the bores 12 so that they project to a given extent from the surfaces 11. Then, with the deflector 6 urged to the active position and the frame of the device 1 mounted on a reference surface, the grub screws 13 are gradually retracted, by turning them, while maintaining contact with the front portion 6b of the deflector 6, until the rear - 7 portion 6a rises to a pre-set height (e.g. indicated by contact with an upper reference surface defined on a suitable gauge) above a datum surface 2a on the frame 2.

Once this adjustment has been carried out, the grub screws 13 are locked in the position which they have reached. This locking may be achieved by adhesive bonding, e.g. by hardening of an adhesive substance applied to the screws 13 andlor the bores 12 before the screws 13 are fitted in the bores, or by hardening a resin composition applied to the upper ends of the bores 12 and entering the slots 14. Alternatively, mechanical locking means may be used, or friction between the plastic screws 13 and the bores 12 (such as may be provided by using tapered threads forthe screws and bores) may be relied on, in conjunction with blocking of the slots 14 in order to prevent tampering.

After the grub screws 13 have been locked in position, thus defining the active position of the wind deflector 6, the roof opening device 1 is transported to the vehicle assembly factory, where the frame 2 of the device is bolted to the frame of the roof structure. No adjustment of the screws 13 is necessary at this stage, because the height of the rear edge portion 6a above the roof panel (not shown) is predetermined to sufficient accuracy by the pre-setting of the height in relation to the above-mentioned datum surface 2a and by the fixing of the frame 2 of the device 1 to the frame of the roof structure. Unwanted movement of the set position is prevented by the locking of the screws 13 in the required position. After assembly, access to the screws 13 may be hindered by the roof panel (not shown) which - 8 tends to extend over the stop members 9.

Alternatively, the adjustment may be carried out at the vehicle assembly factory, the screws 13 optionally being locked in position before the device 1 is fixed to the roof structure. However, if the screws are not locked by adhesive bonding, readjustment by service personnel can easily be facilitated, if required.

It will thus be appreciated that the above-described hinge members incorporating the plastic stop elements (screws 13), provide a simple and effective wind-deflector mounting which is adjustable and which can reduce rattling without the need for rubber inserts between the relatively movable parts. Furthermore, the hinges and adjustment means are maintained solely within the frame of the roof opening device. Hence, there is no puncturing of the frame (e.g. by holes), which would require adequate sealing to prevent egress of water into the roof lining cavity of the vehicle.

Claims (11)

9 Claims: -

1. A roof opening device for a vehicle roof, comprising a frame for mounting in an aperture in the vehicle roof, an elongate wind deflector pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between a lower inactive position and an upper active position in which a rear portion is higher than a front portion, means for urging the wind deflector to the active position, and stop means for defining the active position, the stop means comprising at least one fixed stop member having a rear surface which faces the upper surface of the front portion of the wind deflector in the active position and having a guideway which accommodates, or is capable of accommodating, a stop element movable towards and away from the upper surface of the front portion for defining the active position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the stop element is of plastics material.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the stop element makes direct contact with the wind deflector in the active position, the wind deflector being made of metal.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stop element is screwthreadedly engaged with the guideway.

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5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stop element is locked at a given position along the guideway.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which the stop element is adhesively bonded to the stop member.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which the stop element is locked at the given position by frictional engagement between screwthreads on the stop element and screwthreads in the guideway.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stop member is carried by a hinge member on which the deflector is pivotally mounted.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which there are two said stop members adjacent respective longitudinal end portions of the wind deflector.

10. A roof opening device substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

11. A vehicle including a roof opening device according to any preceding claim.