JPH0134165B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an opening device with an openable surface for a living area, in particular a sliding roof for a motor vehicle.

Several such devices are known, but the operating members, actuating mechanism, and sealing members are bulky and lower the ceilings of living areas, especially the passenger compartments of automobiles, making them difficult for occupants, especially drivers. Otherwise, it may get in the way above the passenger's head and pose a safety problem.

Also, the known devices generally have a sliding panel that is pulled open from the inside by means of an operating member such as a handle and retracts into the underside of the ceiling, thereby increasing the space taken up by the device inside the living area.

Also, some known devices retract sliding panels between the outer and inner surfaces of the roof; however, in either type, the sliding panels are recessed from the outer roof surface even in the closed position. It is a two-stage operation in which the roof is lowered inward from the outside surface of the roof and then retracted. The recessed type has problems in terms of aerodynamic properties and sealing against raindrops, and the two-stage type has a complicated operation guide mechanism for the sliding panel and requires a large amount of power to operate.

Furthermore, such previously known devices are inconvenient because they can only be installed, removed or adjusted from inside the living area.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system in which the retractable panel is flush with the outer roof surface even in the closed position, without requiring a two-stage operation of lowering the panel inwardly and then retracting it. An object of the present invention is to provide an opening device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an opening device in which neither the recessed panel nor its actuation mechanism is exposed inside the living area and does not require installation, removal or adjustment from inside the living area. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide an opening device that maintains a smooth, streamlined appearance while providing easy access to all parts from the outer roof surface and therefore ease of maintenance and repair.

According to the present invention, a recess slightly wider than the opening is provided on the outer surface of the roof adjacent to the opening, the recess is used as a fixed panel, and a panel that can be pulled up is attached above the fixed panel. The retracted panels are stored between these panels.

This configuration of the invention minimizes the overhang into the living area, increases the free space at head height of the occupant, and facilitates repairs from the outside. Furthermore, there is no need to remove the lining for repair, and there is no risk of damaging the lining.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixed panel is integral with the outer surface of the roof and recessed to substantially the same height as the inner surface of the roof.

The device of the present invention has a thickness of 1/3 to 1/3 compared to conventional devices.
The thickness can be reduced by 2/3, for example to 23-25 mm.

Since the device according to the invention does not displace the retractable panel closing the opening vertically but almost only horizontally, the device operates smoothly and is therefore suitable for a cable-based actuation mechanism. The cable may be operated manually using a crank or automatically by a motor that may be housed in the rear trunk of a car.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuation mechanism of the liftable panel includes a parallelogram-type spring-actuated linkage on both side edges of the panel, and the pullable panel The end of the panel is pushed up by the end of the retractable panel.

This configuration greatly simplifies the mechanism, making it easier to manufacture and cheaper. Furthermore, when the retractable panel is in the lowered state, its ends abut against the ends of the retractable panel, thereby improving the sealing function. Furthermore, this lifting action assists the actuation mechanism of the retractable panel independently of the actuation mechanism of the retractable panel, thus requiring a smaller lifting linkage and thus increasing the width of the opening. I can do it.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the linkage is removably attached to the roof or to the removable panel, in particular to the latter. An important advantage of the raised position of the retractable panel is that it can be easily removed from the outside and reinstalled. In some prior art devices, the actuating mechanism cannot be accessed without removing the lined fixed panel from the inside, which is a complex and time-consuming process.

Initial assembly is also simplified if the actuation mechanism can be installed from the outside of the roof, before the retractable panel is installed. Furthermore, the front-to-back positional relationship between the retractable panel and the pullable panel, ie, the positional relationship between the opening and the fixed panel, can be freely selected. In the case of automobile ceilings, recesses in fixed panels can be easily formed with a stamping machine, and openings can be easily formed with a cutting machine.

Embodiments of the retractable opening closure device of the invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings, which are illustrated for a sliding roof of a motor vehicle.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3,
A structure 1 is the roof of a passenger car cabin and has an opening 2. As shown in FIG.
It is closed by panel 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the first panel 3 moves from the position shown in FIG.
can be moved to a position above the panel 4. The second panel 4 is fixed and its lower surface forms the ceiling of the passenger compartment. A third panel 5 is located above the second panel 4. The third panel is movable up and down relative to the second panel 4, and forms a space between it and the second panel 4 into which the first panel 3 is drawn when in the upper position.

At the front and lateral ends of the first panel 3 an elastic sealing piece 6 is attached, which sealing piece 6 forms a recess 7 in the corresponding end of the opening 2 in the roof 1.
collide with. Attached to the rear end of the first panel 3 is a recessed piece 8 projecting rearward at a slightly downwardly offset position.

The lateral and rear ends of the second panel 4 are provided with shoulders 9 along the boundary with the roof surface.
is fitted with resilient sealing pieces 10 which abut the lateral and rear ends of the third panel 5.

At the front end of the third panel 5 is the first panel 3.
A sealing piece 11 is attached.

When the first panel 3 and the third panel 5 are in the condition shown in FIG. 1, the sealing pieces 6, 10 and 11 cooperate to seal around the perimeter of these panels.

As shown in FIG.
The sealing piece 6 and the recess 7 collide only in the final stage when the first panel 3 enters the closed state shown in FIG. It is made to match. The third panel 5 is substantially rectangular and its dimensions are such that the first panel 3 can be drawn almost completely into the space formed by the third panel 5 and the second panel 4. It is set as.

The operating mechanism of the device shown in FIGS. 1-3 is as follows. The other ends of two cables 12 secured to the first panel 3 at points 13 by any suitable means are wound around pins 14. The pin 14 is connected to a suitable operating member 15, such as a hand lever, a handle or a crank arm, mounted on the cabin ceiling wall 16 adjoining the second panel 4 so as to be operable from inside the cabin. A guide piece (not shown) is arranged to define the path along which the cable 12 follows. A portion of each cable 12 has a sheath 1 as a toothed rack.
7 is provided. The teeth of the rack mesh with the teeth of two rotating toothed drive pieces 18 which are threadedly connected to rod pieces 19 depending from the lower surface of each third panel 5.

The actuation mechanism described above allows the first panel 3 and the second panel 5 to be moved simultaneously between the closed position of FIG. 1 and the open position of FIG. 2.

To open the opening 2, use the handle or crank 15
and wrap the cable 12 around the pin 14 (or the pulley integrated with it). cable 12
pulls the first panel 3 in the direction of the pin 14 and rotates the drive piece 18 meshing with the sheath 17, raising the rod piece 19 and thus the third panel 5. As the third panel 5 rises, a space is formed between it and the second panel 4 into which the first panel 3 is drawn.

To close the opening, the cable can be actuated in the opposite direction via the cable guide piece.

Although not shown, the cable operating member may be a combination of electric motor and speed reducer housed between vehicle body panels or in the trunk.

Further, separate mechanisms may be used for the first panel 3 and the third panel 5, respectively. That is, the cable 12, the drive piece 18, the rod piece 19, the handle 1
The combination 5 is used only to raise the third panel 5, and the first panel 3 is made of a rod part screwed at one end to an internally threaded block 23 integral with the first panel 3. The other end of the piece may be rotated and moved by a separate crank 22 rotated by a suitable gear arrangement (FIG. 3).

In this case, first operate the crank 15 to
the first panel 5 is raised, and then the crank 22 is operated to retract the first panel 3.

The first panel 3 is made of sheet metal, glass or 2
It can be made of a translucent material, for example polycarbonate or glass fiber molded composite material, with a thickness of 3 mm to 3 mm.

The second panel 4 and the third panel 5 can be made of sheet metal or of composite materials as described above.

Composite materials help reduce weight and have excellent weather and corrosion resistance. It can also be colored freely.

The invention also has the advantage, compared to the prior art, of reducing the number of parts used, thus simplifying manufacture and adapting it to flow production systems.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-11, the roof 34 of a conventional type motor vehicle 30 is located above the windshield 31, the doors 32 and the rear window 33. This roof 34 has a slightly bulging planar shape and has an opening 35 that is slightly trapezoidal but substantially rectangular. The four corners of the opening 35 are rounded and can be closed by sliding panels 36. Similarly, a rectangular recess 37 with rounded corners is provided in the roof 34 behind the opening 35.
A panel 38 that can be pulled up is housed in this recessed portion 37. In the closed position shown in FIG.
It is at the same height as 4. Recessed portion 37 and panel 38
is slightly wider than opening 35 and panel 36.
The front corner 39 of the panel 38 is located slightly forward of the rear end 40 of the panel 36 (6th A
figure).

5A and 5B are cross-sectional views taken along the line 5--5 in FIG. 4. Panel 38 has a sealing gasket 42 along its rear and side edges 51. 6th A
As shown, this gasket 42 is attached to the panel 38.
The end 44 of the front corner 39 is interrupted at a point where it abuts vertically against a sealing gasket 43 that surrounds the entire perimeter of the panel 36.

In the lowered condition of panel 38 shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, gasket 42 abuts a shoulder 45 formed around recessed portion 37 of roof 34 to the point where gasket 42 is interrupted. Shoulder part 4
5 extends further from this interrupted position along the sides and front of the opening 35 and abuts the gasket 43 around it in the closed position of the panel 36. In the recessed portion 37 the roof 34 has a shoulder 45
, and then turns horizontally at a bend 47 to form a fixed panel 48 .
This panel 48 is located below panel 38 at a distance h. This distance h represents the height of the sliding roof device when it is closed. The lower surface of this panel 48 forms the cabin interior surface. This lower surface and the upper surface of the roof 34 are integrally formed but are made from a single stamped sheet. Near the rear end of the opening 35, the panel 48
It is connected to the roof 34 only at the bend 47 at the corner 39. From here, the curved portion 47 and the shoulder 45 extend forward around the periphery of the opening 35. Music section 47
There are no other edges extending across the rear end of opening 35 so that panel 36 is aligned with panel 48 and panel 3.
It should be placed between 8 and 8.

As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B and 7, panel 38 is connected to panel 48 by a lifting member including a pair of front linkages 49 and a pair of rear linkages 50. As shown in FIGS. One linkage of each pair is located along longitudinal edge 51 of panel 38. The width of the link mechanisms 49 and 50 is the width between the edge 51 of the panel 38 and the panel 3.
6 must be smaller than the distance d between the edges 52 of 6. Therefore, in order to maximize the width of opening 35 that can be closed by panel 36, the lateral width of linkages 49 and 50 must be minimized.

The link mechanisms 49 and 50 located on the right side in FIG. 4 will be described (the link mechanisms 49 and 50 located on the left side are symmetrical). Linkage 49 includes two blocks 53 and 54 secured to the lower surface of panel 38 and the upper surface of panel 48, respectively. A lever 55 is connected to these blocks 53 and 54 via transverse horizontal shafts 56 and 57, respectively.
is connected. That is, the lever 55 is connected so as to be pivotable in a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction, and the lever 55 is
In the closed position of panel 38 in Figure A, it is tilted upwardly and forwardly. A tension coil spring 58 is mounted between the intermediate position of the lever and the rear fixed point of the block 54. This spring 58 is tilted slightly forward and upward from horizontal in a longitudinal vertical plane.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the overall width of linkage 49 is determined by the width of block 5 fixed to the lower surface of panel 38.
Even if 3 is included, the distance does not exceed d.

As shown in FIGS. 5B, 6B and 7, linkage 50, like linkage 49, also includes blocks 59 and 60 secured to the lower surface of panel 38 and the upper surface of panel 38, respectively, and lever 61. including. The lever 61 is not linear like the lever 55, but is L-shaped in the lowered position of the panel 38, consisting of a part parallel to the panel 38 and a part extending downward perpendicular to the panel 38 (FIG. 5B). . On the front surface of the heel 62, located below the pivot 63, rests a horizontal finger 65 which is biased rearward by the action of a compression spring 66 housed in the front part of the block 60. Until the top of the heel 62 exceeds the horizontal finger 65 (FIG. 10B), the lever 61 is biased clockwise and the panel 3
8 in the lowered position (Figure 5B). As shown in FIGS. 6B and 7, lever 61 is slightly offset laterally to avoid collision with block 59 and panel 38 in the lowered position. turning point 56,
57, 63 and 64 form the vertices of the parallelogram so that panel 38 remains parallel to panel 48 throughout its travel.

Blocks 53 and 59 are removable from panel 38 when panel 38 is in the raised position (for example, by the screws shown in FIG. 6A) to facilitate assembly and maintenance.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the panel 48 is formed with a raised portion 67 spaced from its periphery by a distance comparable to the distance d shown in FIG. Even if water enters from around the area, it is kept contained. This ridge 67, as well as the shoulder 45 and the bend 47, form the front and lateral edges of the opening 35 and the recessed portion 3.
7 along the lateral and rearward edges. For example, as shown in FIG.
Link mechanisms 49 and 50 are positioned between them.

As shown in FIG.
Extends beyond 7. Panel 36 is slightly trapezoidal with gaskets 4 along its leading and side edges 52.
3 becomes biased against the shoulder 45 around the opening 35 as the panel 36 is moved into the closed position.

The ridge 67 around the opening 35 is provided with a horizontal lip 68 extending a limited distance inwardly, from the end 69 of which the opening 35 begins. The lip 68 is provided with a guide piece 70 which extends from the side edge of the opening 35 and through the side edge of the panel 48 into the recessed portion 3.
It extends to the rear end of 7. As shown in cross-section in FIG. 8, the guide piece 70 consists of a C-shaped part 71 and a circular part 72, along which a block 73 is fixed to the lower surface of the panel 36. be. The block 73 consists of a part 74 that slides inside the C-shaped part 71 of the guide piece 70 and a part 75 that slides inside the circular part 72 of the guide piece 70, on which the cable 76 is clamped. There is. As shown in FIG. 9, the cable 76 has a continuous web 76a and a helical outer sheath 76.
b, and has approximately the same diameter as the sliding portion 75. The cable 76 is thus guided inside the circular section 72 of the guide piece 70. As shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, two cables 76 extend rearward from block 73, turn inward at the rear end of recessed portion 37, and join together at the center to connect motor 77. It is connected. The cable 76 can also be extended further and connected to a motor located in the rear trunk of the vehicle.

The panel 36 thus reciprocates horizontally along the guide piece 70.

According to a preferred embodiment, retraction of panel 36 may assist in raising panel 38. This is accomplished by the rear end 40 of panel 36 acting on the front end 41 of panel 38. As shown in FIG. 11, as panel 36 begins to retract, gasket 43 at its rear end 40 pushes rearwardly against front end 41 of panel 38. The forward end 41 of the panel 38 is bent vertically to form a flange so that even when the panel 38 is raised to a slightly raised position 38', the panel 38
6 remains in contact with gasket 43. The front end 41 is also tilted slightly downward and rearward to aid in the push-up action of the panel 36 and to improve sealing.

At the beginning of the movement of the panel 38, the lever 55
is displaced to position 55'. At this position, lever 5
5 and the tension of the spring 58 acting on the lever 61
The pressing force of the bar piece 65 acting on the heel 62 of the panel 38 is made to overcome the weight of the panel 38.

Instead of or in addition to the push-up action by the rear end 40 of the panel 36, a cooperating cam and cam follower relationship can be introduced so that the panel 38 rises as the panel 36 is retracted. Although not shown, for example, from panel 36 to panel 3
An inclined surface extending rearwardly below the 8 can be introduced.

From position 55', lever 55 is pulled up by spring 58 to vertical position 55'', and panel 38 reaches position 38''. At this time, the lever 55 is
It abuts against the abutting piece 85 shown in Figure A. The lever 61 also abuts an abutment piece 81 on the block 60 shown in FIG. 10B. panel 3 by panel 58
8 is held in position 38'', creating a space of height H between panels 38 and 48. Panel 36 can continue to be retracted further into this space. Panel 38 is pushed up and The subsequent movement of the panel 36, including its retraction, is accomplished by actuating the cable 76 by a motor 77. The motor 77 can be controlled by the dart board to prevent excessive movement and vibration of the panel 38 in the raised position.
The springs 58 should have sufficient tension to prevent noise and damage to the panel 36 in the retracted condition, but other measures can be added if desired.

Activating the motor 77 in the opposite direction causes the cable 76 to push the panel 36 forward to close the opening 35. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 11, the plate piece 78 extending rearwardly from the rear end 40 of the panel 36 has two protrusions 79.
The tip of the lever 9 cooperates with a protrusion 80 fixed to the lever 55. When the panel 36 approaches the closed state, the protrusion 7
9 acts as a cam against projection 80, forcing lever 55 back to the position of FIG. 5A and lowering panel 38. This cam action also produces the effect of bringing the rear end of the panel 36 and the front end of the panel 38 into close contact by utilizing part of the force pushing the panel 36. Cable actuation mechanism of panel 36 and panel 38
Since the spring actuation mechanism is independent of all but the initial opening and final closing stages, the panel 36 can be stopped at any position between the fully open and fully closed positions.

FIG. 12 shows another example of the structure of the link mechanism between the roof 34 and the panel 38. In the example of FIG. 12, a sliding portion 82 is provided on the underside of the panel 38, so that the panel 36 can be received in the sliding portion 82 when the panel 38 is in the raised position (position 38'' in FIG. 11).
The gasket 43 on the side edge of the panel 36 is connected to the sliding part 8.
You will be guided within 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, the C-shaped portion 71 of the guide piece 70 shown in FIG. 8 and the block portion 74 sliding therein can be omitted. Further, at least the front link mechanism 49 can be attached to the curved portion 47. By these combinations, the distance d' between the edge 51 of the panel 38 and the edge 52 of the panel 36 can be made considerably smaller, and as a result, the opening 3
5 can be made wider.

In the example shown in FIG. 13, the side edge 5 of the panel 38
1 laterally flares out at position 83 to form a tab 84 at the front corner 39. A front linkage 49' is attached to the tab 84, and a rear linkage 50' is attached to the rear end of the panel 38. By doing this tab 84
The side edge 51 of the rear panel 38 and the side edge 52 of the panel 36 can be aligned in a straight line.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3, showing the device of the present invention in a closed state. FIG. 2 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing the device of the invention in an open state. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the roof of an automobile equipped with another embodiment of the device of the present invention. Figures 5A and 5B together represent 5 of Figure 4.
- Represents a cross-sectional view along line 5. Panel 38 is in the lowered position. 6A and 6B are enlarged plan views of portions 6A and 6B of FIG. 4. 6th A
Panel 38 is shown partially removed in the figures and completely removed in FIG. 6B. FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 4. Panel 38 is in the raised position and panel 36 is in the retracted position. 8th
The figure is a partial sectional view taken along line 8--8 in FIG. 4.
Panel 36 is in a retracted condition. FIG. 9 is a side view taken along line 9--9 in FIG. 8. FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views corresponding to FIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively, showing panel 38 in a raised position. FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 11--11 in FIG. 4, showing the relationship between the contact between panels 36 and 38 and the operation of lever 55. FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view showing a modification of FIG. 8, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a modification of FIG. 4.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An opening device with an openable surface for a living area, in particular a sliding roof for a motor vehicle, comprising a first panel 3, 36 and a second panel 4, 4.
8 and a third panel 5, 38, the first panel 3, 36 has an operating mechanism 12, 73
- Connected to 76-77, the opening 2 of the living area,
The second panel 4,4
8 and parallel to the surface of the second panel 4, 48, the second panel 4, 48 is movable into a position above the outer surface 3 of the living area.
4, and the third panel 5, 38 is above the outer surface of the second panel 4, 48, and is moved further above the outer surface of the second panel 4, 48. between the first panel 3, 36 and the second panel 4, 48.
The opening device is capable of forming a space for storing the panel operating mechanisms 12, 73-76-77. 2 As the third panel 5, 38, itself and the second
Third panel operating mechanism 18, 19, 21, 22, 49-50-4 stored between panels 4, 48
0-43-41-78-79. 3 As a single actuating mechanism 12, 18, 19 for the first panel 3 and the third panel 5, one end
At least one cable 12 fixed to the panel 3 and connected at the other end to an operating piece 15 which can be operated from inside the accommodation area; a threaded sheath 17 provided on a portion of the cable 12; and a threaded sheath 17 engaged with the sheath 17. 3. The device according to claim 2, comprising a device consisting of a third panel 5 and a third panel drive piece 18 rotating on an integral bar piece 19. 4. The device according to item 3 above, wherein the operating piece 15 comprises a crank piece that is partially housed between the inner and outer surfaces of the living area. 5 Operating mechanism 12, 73 of first panel 3, 36
76-77 and third panel 5, 38 operating mechanism 2
1, 22, 49-50-40-43-41-78
-79 is independent of the device according to item 2 above. 6. In order to seal the openings 2, 35 by the first panels 3, 36, the first panel edge sealing liners 11, 42 are placed on the sides of the third panel, and the opening sealing liner 6 is placed on the sides of the first panel. , 43 respectively, the preceding paragraph 1
The device described in. 7 from the outer surface 34 of the living area to the second panel 4;
Shoulders 9, 45 are formed in the recessed portions toward the outer surfaces of 48, and liners 10, 42 are provided in the shoulders 9, 45 to seal between the shoulders 9, 45 and the third panels 5, 38. Also, the device according to item 1 above. 8 Third panel operating mechanism 49, 50, 40-43
-41, 78-79, a connecting piece 49 that connects the third panel 38 and the fixed portions 34, 48 with living areas and is movable together with the third panel 38;
50, and a third panel pushing means 40-4 which is integral with the first panel 36 and performs at least the initial portion of the rising stroke from the lowest position 38 of the third panel 38.
3-41 and third panel lowering means 78-79. 9. The device according to item 8 above, wherein the connecting pieces 49, 50 are removably attached to the third panel 38 or the fixed parts 34, 48 with living areas. 10. The connecting members 49, 50 are comprised of lever pieces 55, 50 which are pivotably mounted in a longitudinal vertical plane passing through the ends 51 of the third panel peripheral edges 37, 47. The device described in. 11 As the third panel pushing up means 40-43-41, the first panel lateral end edge 40-43 closer to the third panel 38 is used, and the third panel pushing up end cooperates with this edge. During the initial portion of the push-up stroke, the first panel edge 40-
with sufficient height to maintain contact with 43.
The device according to item 8 above. 12 Third panel lowering means 78-79 are integrally attached to the first panel 36 to extend below the third panel 38 and outwardly from the lateral edges of the first panel 36; 3 two guide pieces 78, 7 cooperating with support pieces 80 of panel 38;
9. 13 The third panel 3 is located below the boundary position that divides the third panel push-up process into the first part and the next part.
means 58, 66 for biasing the third panel 38 to the lowest position 38 when the boundary position 8 is located; means 58, 66 for biasing the third panel to position 38'';
0-43-41, comprising:
The device according to item 8 above. 14 The third panel pushing up means 40-43-41 performs only the first part of the lifting stroke of the third panel 38, and the next part of pushing up the third panel 38 to its highest position 38'' is carried out by the auxiliary pushing up means 58. .
15. The device according to claim 14, comprising traction means 58, 66 connected to 4, 48 and acting in the direction of raising the third panel 38. 16 As the traction means 58, 66, in the longitudinal vertical plane passing through the end 51 of the third panel peripheral edge 37, 47, slightly upwardly with respect to the horizontal direction and the third panel push-up edge 41, 42 16. The device of claim 15, comprising tension spring pieces 58, 66 inclined towards. 17 On the fixed part 34, 48 where the living area is located,
9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising a fixed abutment piece 81 which limits the stroke of the third panel connecting piece 49,50.