GB659181A - Improvements in adjustable latching devices between two relatively movable parts - Google Patents

Abstract

659,181. Holders for sliding members. MARGERIE J. Feb. 8, 1949, Nos. 3469 and 3470. Convention dates, Feb. 13, 1948 and Dec. 28,1948. [Class 44] '[Also in Group XXXII] In a mechanism for shifting and securing a movable part, e.g. the sliding roof of a motorcar, from a position in alignment with a fixed part to a position retracted behind the fixed part, guideways are secured to the fixed part to extend in the direction of the movable part and friction elements attached to the movable part are pressed against either side of the related guideway under the action of springs rendered inoperative through the action of a swing- ing lever linked to the springs. In the form of Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the guideway 3 secured to the fixed part 1 presents an upper surface for engagement by a friction shoe 13 and a depending flange 3<1> for engagement by a roller 14. The roller 14 is carried on a bracket 15 secured to the moving part 2 and adapted to co-operate with notches 18 in the flange 3<1>. The friction shoe 13 is carried on one arm of a bell crank lever 4 pivoted at 5 to the moving part, a spring 12 being attached to the other arm. An operating lever 8 carrying a knob 9 is pivoted at 10 and connected by shafts 11, levers and links to the bell-crank levers 4 on each side of the movable part. The arrangement is such that when the lever 8 is pulled downwardly the bellcrank levers are relieved of the biassing force of their springs and the frictional engagement of the shoes 13 and rollers 14 is released so that the movable part may be displaced. The end 17 of the flange 3<1> is inclined upwardly so that when the moving part is returned to the closed position, Fig. 1, the roller 14 passes up the incline under the lifting force of the shoe 13 to position the movable part in alignment with the fixed part. The other end of the movable part is carried on the guideway by a runner 6, Fig. 5, slidably pivoted on a pin .26 and spring loaded to the engaging position. The runners 6 on each side may readily be pressed back to release that end of the movable part which is thereby easily detached from the fixed part. In the form of Figs. 9 and 10 the guideway may consist of a channelled strip 30 between the flanges of which are adapted to run friction rollers 31 at the end of a bell-crank lever arm 34, and 32 at the pivot of the lever. The other arm of the bell-crank lever is connected to a link 40 controlled by the operating lever 8. A spring 41 stretched between the bellcrank lever pivot and an adjustable clamp 42 on the link tends to drive the roller 31 downward against the lower flange and the roller 32 upward against the upper flange. In the closed position, Fig. 9, the roller 32 passes through a gap 44 in the upper flange allowing the roller 31 to lift the movable part into the aligned position. The operating lever 8 acts on the link 40 to release the frictional holding effect of the rollers through lever arms 39, Fig. 14, and shafts 11 carrying shouldered sleeves 37 co-operating with a shouldered boss 35 on the lever 8 to provide some lost motion. A latch inside the lever 8 may be projected by turning the arm carrying the knob 9 to engage in an aperture in a fixed plate 52 and retain the lever in a raised position out of the way of the occupants of the car. In this form the other end of the movable part is readily detached from the guideways by pulling out on each side a knob 59 having a spring-loaded pin 55 engaged in a runner 60 in the channel of the guideway. In a modification, Fig. 16, one set of friction members 35 are carried at the ends of a transverse shaft 11 and the second set 31 are carried on cranked arms 62 on the shaft. The shaft is operated by the lever 8 through a shouldered bushing 35 and pins 61.