GB2455483A

GB2455483A - Openable vehicle roof with an actuating device for a roof element

Info

Publication number: GB2455483A
Application number: GB0907174A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rudolf Dietl
Original assignee: Webasto SE
Current assignee: Webasto SE
Priority date: 2006-10-27
Filing date: 2007-10-29
Publication date: 2009-06-17
Also published as: GB0907174D0; WO2008049421A1; DE102006050874A1; DE102006050874B4; DE112007003186A5

Abstract

An openable vehicle roof is proposed, comprising a roof element (24) which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and, in the closed position, is adjacent with its front edge to a fixed body section, and guide rails (44) which are arranged on both sides of the roof element (24) and in which a respective actuating device (42) for the roof element (24) is guided, said actuating device being displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and moving the roof element in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and positioning it in a front end position. In order to design the actuating devices (42) such that they are compact, they each have, according to the invention, a driven locking hook (72), the pivoting of which brings about a vertical offset of the roof element (24) and which, in the closed position of the roof element, is locked at a locking bolt (78).

Description

Openable vehicle roof with an actuating device for a roof element The invention relates to an openable vehicle roof according to the precharacterizing clause of patent claim 1.

A vehicle roof of this type is known from DE 102 03 204 B4 and is designed as a folding roof of a passenger vehicle embodied in the form of a convertible. The known vehicle roof comprises a foldable top which is formed from a flexible material and, at its end facing the front of the vehicle, has a front bow which is designed as a roof peak and which constitutes a front, rigid roof element and, in the closed state of the top, bears in a sealing manner against a front cowl above a windshield of the vehicle concerned. The front cowl constitutes a fixed body section. Guide rails are arranged on both sides of the front bow which is designed as a roof peak, said guide rails being oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a respective actuating device for the front bow being guided displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in said guide rails. The actuating devices, which are each connected to a driving cable, each comprise a toggle lever system which is guided along a control slot in order to reach a blocking position which is assigned to the closed position of the front bow. In order to trigger a lifting movement of the front bow during opening of the top, there is a further control slot at which a control lever of a four-bar mechanism is guided, said four-bar mechanism being coupled on one side to a bearing slide of the actuating device concerned and on the other side to the front bow or to a support of the front bow. The actuating device therefore serves to move the roof peak in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, to iritiate a lifting or lowering movement in the front bow and to position the latter in a front end position.

However, such an actuating device has a multiplicity of components which are required for transmitting the force, which is exerted by the driving cable, to the front bow. Also, different constructional units are required in order to carry out a vertical movement of the front bow and in order to secure the closed position of the front bow, said constructional units being arranged in functional planes which lie next to one another and for which sufficient construction space has to be made available in each case.

The invention is based on the object of providing a vehicle roof of the generic type mentioned at the beginning with an optimized actuating device for a roof element.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the openable vehicle roof with the features of patent claim 1.

According to the invention, a vehicle roof is therefore proposed, in which an actuating mechanism for a roof element which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle has a driven locking hook, the pivoting of which brings about a vertical offset of the roof element and which, in the closed position of the roof element, is locked at a locking bolt. The driven locking hook consequently takes on both a lifting or lowering function and a blocking or securing function for the roof element. The roof element is lowered or raised solely by pivoting of the locking hook which acts on the roof element. By integrating the blocking function and the lifting or lowering function in the locking hook, i.e. in one constructional element, one complete functional plane is obtained in comparison to

the above-described prior art. Also, only a small

number of components is required in order to ensure the different functions of the locking hook. Said components essentially comprise a drive for the locking hook, a pivot bearing for the locking hook, and the locking bolt which is arranged such that it is mounted on the body at least during the locking or unlocking operation. Since no slotted guides or the like are required, the production costs are also reduced in comparison to the above-described vehicle roof according to the prior art. The omission of slotted guide tracks also simplifies the installation of the actuating device.

In one specific embodiment of the openable vehicle roof according to the invention, the roof element forms a front bow or a roof peak of a folding top of a vehicle embodied in the form of a convertible. However, it is also conceivable that the roof element which is connected to the actuating device is a cover element of an externally running sliding roof, or a lamella of a lamella-type sliding roof or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the openable vehicle roof according to the invention, the locking hook acts on a multi-bar mechanism, in particular on a four-bar mechanism, which is connected on one side to the roof element arid on the other side to a slider which is guided in the respective guide rail. By means of a four-bar mechanism, a defined or parallelogram-like lifting movement of the roof element can be achieved.

The locking hook then acts on a control lever or control bar of the four-bar mechanism. The other bar of the four-bar mechanism is a guide bar.

The locking hook can be driven in particular by means of a sliding element which is connected to a compression-resistant driving cable which, in turn, can be driven by means of an electric motor. Movement of the sliding element in the guide rail concerned consequently causes pivoting of the locking hook concerned and therefore a vertical offset of the roof element.

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In order to be able to secure the locking position of the locking hook, in a preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention an intermediate bar is arranged between the sliding element and the locking hook, said intermediate bar assuming a position beyond the dead center in the locking position. Said position beyond the dead center ensures that the locking hook cannot be inadvertently pivoted into a release position by means of forces which act on the roof element. This can take place only by the sliding element moving in the guide rail concerned.

In order to unambiguously define the pivoted position of the locking hook in the release position, the locking hook can have guide elements which are guided on the guide rail during displacement of the roof element. A particularly easily maintained embodiment is provided if the guide elements are designed as rollers.

Said rollers can then be guided on mutually opposite sides of a web of the guide rail concerned.

In order to be able to continuously increase the contact pressure during the movement of the roof element into the closed position, in which said roof element is generally pressed against a sealing element, the locking hook preferably has an eccentrically shaped operative surface which interacts with the locking bolt.

The sliding element, to which the locking hook is connected, and the slider, to which the multi-bar mechanism is joined, are designed in particular in such a manner that the sliding element is moved against the slider, in particular against a buffer element of the slider, when the locking hook is pivoted into the release position, and the slider and the sliding element are essentially fixed relative to each other when the roof element is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

So that the slider can be displaced smoothly in the guide rail concerned, in a preferred embodiment guide rollers are provided, said guide rollers each rolling along a supporting surface of said guide rail.

Further advantages and advantageous refinements of the subject matter according to the invention can be

gathered from the description, the drawing and the

patent claims.

An exemplary embodiment of a vehicle roof according to the invention is illustrated in schematically simplified form in the drawing and is explained in more

detail in the description below. In the drawing:

fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a motor vehicle which is provided with a vehicle roof according to the invention; fig. 2 shows a perspective top view of the vehicle roof; fig. 3 shows a side view of an actuating device of the vehicle roof in the blocking position; fig, 4 shows a side view of the actuating device in the release position thereof; fig. 5 shows an inside view of the actuating device in the release position thereof; fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the actuating device with a guide rail in the blocking position; fig. 7 shows a view corresponding to fig. 6 but without illustrating the guide rail; fig. 8 shows a view corresponding to fig. 7, but in the release position of the actuating device; fig. 9 shows a cross section through a guide rail and a driven sliding element; and fig. 10 shows a front view of the actuating device guided in the guide rail.

Fig. 1 illustrates a motor vehicle 10 which is embodied in the form of a convertible and is provided with a folding top 12, i.e. with a soft top". The folding top 12 forms a vehicle roof which, in the closed position illustrated in fig. 1, extends between a front cowl 14 and a rear section 16 of the motor vehicle 10 and can be brought by means of a top linkage 18, which is driven by electric motor or hydraulically, out of its closed position into an open position which opens up the vehicle interior and in which said vehicle roof is stored in a top compartment 20 (indicated schematically) arranged at the rear.

The folding top 12, which is illustrated on its own in fig. 2, comprises a waterproof roof skin 22 which is formed from a flexible and foldable material and extends from a front bow 24, which forms a roof peak and, in the closed position, bears in a sealing manner against the cowl 14, to a rear fixing hoop 26 which is arranged in the region of the top compartment 20. The rear region of the roof skin 22 comprises a transparent window section 28. Furthermore, the roof skin 22 is guided via a plurality of transverse bows 30, 32, 34 and 36, of which the frontmost transverse bow 30 accommodates at least one driving motor 38 which drives two driving cables 40A and 40B which are each connected to an actuating device 42 (illustrated in more detail in figures 3 to 10) for the front bow 24. Figures 3 to each illustrate the actuating device which is connected to the front bow 24 on the left in the direction of travel. An actuating device designed mirror-symmetrically with respect to the actuating device 42 is connected to the front bow 24 on the side arranged on the right in the direction of travel. Said actuating device operates synchronously with the left actuating device 42 (illustrated in the drawing) when driven by the driving cable 40B.

The folding top 12 furthermore has, on both sides between the front bow 24 and the transverse bow 30, a guide rail 44 which constitutes a roof side strut and in which the actuating device 42 concerned is guided displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The guide rails 44 each have an E-shaped profile shape which can be gathered in particular from figures 6, 9 arid 10.

For guidance in the assigned guide rail 44, the actuating device 42 comprises a slider plate 46 which has two upper guide rollers 48 and a lower guide roller 50 which each roll along a central web 52 of the guide rail 44. Furthermore, a four-bar mechanism is coupled to the slider plate 46, said four-bar mechanism having a control lever 54 and a guide lever 56 which are each connected to a support 58 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and has sleeves for fixing the front bow 24 in the respectively assigned, lateral end region thereof. The pivot axis of the control lever 54 in the region of the slider plate 46 is aligned with the axis of the guide roller 50.

Furthermore, the actuating device 42 comprises a sliding element 62 which is guided displaceably in a lower guide track 64 of the guide rail 44 and is connected to the compression-resistant driving cable 40A which is guided in a cable channel 66 of the guide rail 44.

n intermediate bar 68 is coupled to the sliding element 62, said intermediate bar, in turn, being connected via a simple rotational joint 70 to a locking hook 72 which interacts with a locking bolt 78 via an operative surface 76 which is formed eccentrically in relation to its pivot axis 74 which is formed by a guide roller 86. The locking hook 72 comprises a lever 82, in the region of which a coupling point 80 is formed, via which the locking hook 72 is connected to the control lever 54 of the four-bar mechanism such that pivoting of the locking hook 72 from a blocking position (illustrated in fig. 3) into the release position (illustrated in fig. 4) via the lever 82 brings about a lifting movement into the four-bar mechanism and therefore into the front bow 24.

A further guide roller 84 is mounted next to the guide roller 86 on the locking hook 72. The guide rollers 84 and 86 each roll along the central web 52 of the guide rail 44 during the movement back of the front bow 24, i.e. in the position illustrated in fig. 4.

The actuating device 42 which is illustrated in figures 3 to 10 operates in the manner described below.

From the closed or blocking position illustrated in fig. 3, a tensile force is exerted on the sliding element 62 by means of the driving cable 40A, said tensile force being transmitted by means of the intermediate bar 68 to the locking hook 72 such that the latter slides by its eccentrically designed operative surface 76 along the locking bolt 78 which is designed such that it is mounted on the body. As a result, a lifting movement is exerted on the four-bar mechanism and therefore on the front bow 24 via the lever 82 of the pivotable locking hook. As the sliding element 62 is drawn further in the direction of the vehicle rear, the sliding element 62 strikes against a buffer element 88 which is formed on the front end side of the slider plate 46 such that the slider plate 46 and therefore also the four-bar mechanism and the front bow 24 are moved in the direction of the vehicle rear.

The path of movement of the front edge of the front bow 24 during the opening of the folding top 12 is illustrated in figures 3 to S with reference to a dashed line X. During closing of the folding top 12, the sliding element 62 is moved in the direction of the vehicle front by means of the driving cable 40A. In the process, the slider plate 46 is drawn along by the four-bar mechanism being connected to the locking hook 72. As soon as the guide roller 84 mounted on the locking hook is pushed over the front end of the central web 52 of the guide rail 44 and has consequently left its supporting surface, the locking hook 72 is pivoted upward, i.e. into its blocking position, such that the four-bar mechanism and therefore the front bow 24 are set into a lowering movement. At the same time, the locking hook 72 acts via its operative surface 76 on the locking bolt 78, as a result of which the front bow is drawn in a sealing manner against a seal arranged on the front cowl 14.

The intermediate lever is pivoted into the position beyond the dead center, which is illustrated in fig. 3, in order to secure the blocking position of the locking hook 72. The locking hook 72 is therefore arranged in a self-locking manner.

-10 -Reference numbers Motor vehicle 12 Folding top 14 Front cowl 16 Rear section 18 Top linkage Top compartment 22 Roof skin 24 Front bow 26 Fixing hoop 28 Window section Transverse bow 32 Transverse bow 34 Transverse bow 36 Transverse bow 38 Driving motor 40A, 40B Driving cable 42 Actuating device 44 Guide rail 46 Slider plate 48 Guide roller Guide roller 52 Central web 54 Control lever 56 Guide lever 58 Support Sleeve 62 sliding element 64 Guide track 66 Cable channel 68 Intermediate bar Rotational joint 72 Locking hook 74 Pivot axis 76 Operative surface 78 Locking bolt Coupling point 82 Lever -11 - 84 Guide roller 86 Guide roller 88 Buffer element Openable vehicle roof with an actuating device for a roof element The invention relates to an openable vehicle roof according to the precharacterizing clause of patent claim 1.

the above-described prior art. Also, only a small

S

gathered from the description, the drawing and the

patent claims.

detail in the description below. In the drawing:

-10 -Reference numbers Motor vehicle 12 Folding top 14 Front cowl 16 Rear section 18 Top linkage Top compartment 22 Roof skin 24 Front bow 26 Fixing hoop 28 Window section Transverse bow 32 Transverse bow 34 Transverse bow 36 Transverse bow 38 Driving motor 40A, 40B Driving cable 42 Actuating device 44 Guide rail 46 Slider plate 48 Guide roller Guide roller 52 Central web 54 Control lever 56 Guide lever 58 Support Sleeve 62 sliding element 64 Guide track 66 Cable channel 68 Intermediate bar Rotational joint 72 Locking hook 74 Pivot axis 76 Operative surface 78 Locking bolt Coupling point 82 Lever -11 - 84 Guide roller 86 Guide roller 88 Buffer element

Claims

-12 -Patent Claims 1. An openable vehicle roof, comprising a roof element (24) which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and, in the closed position, is adjacent with its front edge to a fixed body section, and guide rails (44) which are arranged on both sides of the roof element (24) and in which a respective actuating device (42) for the roof element (24) is guided, said actuating device being displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and moving the roof element (24) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and positioning it in a front end position, characterized in that the actuating devices (42) each have a driven locking hook (72), the pivoting of which brings about a vertical offset of the roof element (24) and which, in the closed position of the roof element, is locked at a locking bolt (78)
2. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the locking hook (72) acts with a lever (82) on a multi-bar mechanism, in particular a four-bar mechanism, which is connected on one side to the roof element (24) and on the other side to a slider (46) which is guided in the respective guide rail (44).
3. The openable roof as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking hook (72) can be actuated by means of a sliding element (62) which is connected to a driving cable (40A, 40B).
4. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that an intermediate bar (68) is arranged between the sliding element (62) and the locking hook (72), said intermediate bar assuming a position between the dead center in the locking position of the locking hook (72).

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5. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking hook (72) has guide elements (84, 86) which are guided on the respectively assigned guide rail (44) during displacement of the roof element (24).
6. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the guide elements (84, 86) are designed as rollers.
7. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the locking hook (72) has an eccentrically shaped operative surface (76) which increases a contact pressure force of the roof element (24) against the fixed body section during pivoting of the locking hook (72) into its blocking position.
8. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the sliding element (62) is moved against the slider (46) when the locking hook (72) is pivoted into the release position, and the slider (46) and the sliding element (62) are essentially fixed relative to each other when the roof element (24) is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
9. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the slider (46) has guide rollers (48, 50)
10. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the roof element (24) is a front bow of a folding top (12), which front bow is arranged on a roof peak.

9. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the slider (46) has guide rollers (48, 50) 10. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the roof element (24) is a front bow of a folding top (12), which front bow is arranged on a roof peak.

-12 -Patent Claims 1. An openable vehicle roof, comprising a roof element (24) which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and, in the closed position, is adjacent with its front edge to a fixed body section, and guide rails (44) which are arranged on both sides of the roof element (24) and in which a respective actuating device (42) for the roof element (24) is guided, said actuating device being displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and moving the roof element (24) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and positioning it in a front end position, characterized in that the actuating devices (42) each have a driven locking hook (72), the pivoting of which brings about a vertical offset of the roof element (24) and which, in the closed position of the roof element, is locked at a locking bolt (78) 2. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the locking hook (72) acts with a lever (82) on a multi-bar mechanism, in particular a four-bar mechanism, which is connected on one side to the roof element (24) and on the other side to a slider (46) which is guided in the respective guide rail (44).

3. The openable roof as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking hook (72) can be actuated by means of a sliding element (62) which is connected to a driving cable (40A, 40B).

4. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that an intermediate bar (68) is arranged between the sliding element (62) and the locking hook (72), said intermediate bar assuming a position between the dead center in the locking position of the locking hook (72).

-13 - 5. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking hook (72) has guide elements (84, 86) which are guided on the respectively assigned guide rail (44) during displacement of the roof element (24).

6. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the guide elements (84, 86) are designed as rollers.

7. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the locking hook (72) has an eccentrically shaped operative surface (76) which increases a contact pressure force of the roof element (24) against the fixed body section during pivoting of the locking hook (72) into its blocking position.

8. The openable vehicle roof as claimed in claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the sliding element (62) is moved against the slider (46) when the locking hook (72) is pivoted into the release position, and the slider (46) and the sliding element (62) are essentially fixed relative to each other when the roof element (24) is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.