JPH11240333A - Sunroof device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote the miniaturization of any parts to be built in a fixed roof. SOLUTION: A drive unit consisting of a push cable 6 and a motor 7 for opening or closing and driving a sunroof panel is set up in an empty space lying between both symmetrical side frames 4 and 4 produced by halving a sunshade panel 11 by a sunroof device equipped with an outer sliding sunroof panel 3. At this time, in order to situate this drive unit in space between a virtual plane with which a rear end edge 11d of the sunshade panel at a storage position comes into contact, and another virtual plane with which these symmetrical side frames themselves or the rear end of a member are substatially integrated with these symmetrical side frames comes to contact, an interval between a connecting end 6c to the side frame of an outer pipe 6b of the push-pull cable and another connecting end 6d to the motor is flexed into a nearly S- shaped form in plan view, while the connecting end to the side frame of the outer pipe is set up in the more front than the connecting end to the motor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sunroof panel which can be moved to an open position above and behind a fixed roof, and divides a sunshade panel into two front and rear parts and stores the two divided bodies in a vertically overlapping state. The present invention relates to an enabled sunroof device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sunroof panel made of sheet glass for opening and closing an opening provided in a fixed roof of a vehicle,
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a sunroof device in which a sunshade panel for switching between daylighting and light-shielding is movably supported by a pair of left and right side frames extending in the front-rear direction on both left and right sides of an opening in a vehicle compartment.

[0003] In such a sunroof device, it is a general configuration that a sunroof panel is stored in a fixed roof behind an opening and the opening is opened, but the sunroof panel is moved above the fixed roof. If the so-called outer slide method is adopted, it is not necessary to secure a storage space for the sunroof panel in the fixed roof, so that it is possible to reduce the size of the portion built in the fixed roof.

On the other hand, the sunshade panel can only be stored in the roof.
If it is configured to be divided and stored in a state where the two divided bodies are vertically overlapped, the front-rear length of the storage space can be reduced to approximately half, and in combination with the outer slide method, the roof built-in portion Therefore, it is possible to form a sufficiently large opening even in a vehicle having a narrow fixed roof.

[0005]

However, as described above, when the sunshade panel is divided into two parts, the side frame can be shortened as the sliding amount of the sunshade panel becomes shorter. However, in the configuration in which the sunroof panel is driven electrically, the push-pull cable for transmitting the driving force of the motor to the sunroof panel has a large radius of curvature to smoothly operate the push-pull cable. In this case, the motors disposed in the sections protrude rearward with respect to the side frames on both sides. For this reason, there is an inconvenience that the roof built-in portion cannot be substantially reduced in size simply by shortening the side frame.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a sunroof device configured so that a portion incorporated in a fixed roof can be reduced in size. It was issued.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the left and right sides of the sunshade panel 11 formed by dividing the sunshade panel 11 into two parts by a sunroof apparatus having an outer sliding type sunroof panel 3 are provided. A drive device including a push-pull cable 6 for opening and closing the sunroof panel and a motor 7 is disposed in an empty space between the side frames 4, and at this time, the rear end edge 11d of the sunshade panel in the storage position is set. The imaginary plane that is in contact with the left and right side frames themselves or a member that is substantially integral with the left and right side frames, for example, the side frames for draining rainwater in drain grooves 13 formed in the left and right side frames, respectively, to the outside of the vehicle. A pair of left and right drain tube connection portions 16 protruding rearward from the rear end
In order to position the drive device between the rear end of the outer pipe 6b and the connecting end 6c of the outer pipe 6b of the push-pull cable to the side frame and the connecting end 6d of the push-pull cable to the motor in a substantially S-shape in plan view. The outer pipe was bent and the connection end of the outer pipe to the side frame was disposed forward of the connection end to the motor.

[0010] According to this, the motor and the push-pull cable can be arranged further forward with a large radius of curvature of the outer pipe of the push-pull cable, and the smooth operation of the push-pull cable is not hindered. In addition, it is possible to shorten the front-rear length of the entire portion provided in the roof. On the other hand, the side frame will be shortened to the extent that the front and rear length of the entire portion arranged in the roof is substantially shortened. A reduction in the effect of improving the rigidity of the roof can be avoided as much as possible.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a fixed roof of an automobile to which the sunroof device according to the present invention is applied. The fixed roof 1 is formed with a substantially rectangular opening 2 having a long side in the vehicle width direction, and a sunroof panel 3 made of sheet glass or the like closing the opening 2 is indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. Thus, the opening 2 is opened by moving to the upper side of the fixed roof 1 behind the opening 2.

Inside the fixed roof 1, a pair of left and right side frames 4 extending in the front-rear direction along the left and right side edges of the opening 2, and a front frame extending in the left-right direction along the front edge of the opening 2. 5 are connected to each other so as to form a substantially U-shape in plan view. A push-pull cable 6 is provided between the rear ends of the left and right side frames 4.
And a motor 7 with a speed reducer for opening and closing the sunroof panel 3 by driving the sunroof panel 3.

The side frame 4 and the front frame 5 are fixed at appropriate places to a stiffener (not shown) provided on the inner surface of the fixed roof 1 by screwing or the like. The motor 7 with a speed reducer is fixed to the fixed roof 1 via a mounting bracket 7a fixed to the inner surface of the fixed roof 1 with screws.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the side frame 4 is made of a drawn material of an aluminum alloy, and a sunroof panel guide groove 8 into which a slide shoe (not shown) attached to the lower surface of the sunroof panel 3 slides.
Is provided with the upper side of the vehicle body opened.

A sunroof is provided near the center of the vehicle body with respect to the sunroof panel guide groove 8 so that an insertion groove 9 of a push-pull cable 6 can push and pull a slide shoe in the sunroof panel guide groove 8 by the push-pull cable 6. The panel guide groove 8 is provided in an open state.

Two sunshade panel guide grooves 10 are provided on the center of the vehicle body of the push-pull cable insertion groove 9 in a state where the center of the vehicle body is opened. The left and right sides of the two divided bodies 11a and 11b of the sunshade panel 11 are slid into the upper and lower sunshade panel guide grooves 10, respectively.
1a and 11b are moved back and forth between a vertically overlapping storage state shown in FIG. 2 and a closed position shifted back and forth so as to cover the indoor side opening 12 opened in the interior panel corresponding to the opening 2. It is possible.

Here, in the retracted state, the divided body 11a located on the upper side covers the front half of the indoor opening 12 in the closed position, and the divided body 11b located on the lower side covers the rear half of the indoor opening 12 respectively. The handle 11c provided on the lower surface of the divided body 11a partially exposed to the indoor side opening 12
It is manually opened and closed using In addition, indoor side opening 1
The opening 2 is formed rearwardly larger than the opening 2 so that the support member of the sunroof panel 3 does not interfere with the outer panel of the fixed roof 1.

Outside the sunroof panel guide groove 8, a drain groove 13 for collecting rainwater dripping from the side edge of the opening 2 and the sunroof panel 3 is provided. Rainwater guided rearward along the drain groove 11 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle via a drain member 14 attached to a rear end of the side frame 4 and a drain tube 15 provided on a rear pillar of the vehicle body. (See FIG. 1). Connection portion 16 with drain tube 15 provided on drainage member 14
Is projected rearward in a state of being inclined toward the rear pillar side of the vehicle body in the mounted state.

A reinforcing stiffener 17 is connected to the lower surface of the intermediate portion of the side frame 4 so as to connect the left and right side frames 4 to each other. This reinforcement stiffener 1
Numeral 7 is provided along the rear edge of the indoor opening 12 and vertically overlaps both divided bodies 11a and 11b of the sunshade panel 11 in the stored state.

The front frame 5 is made of a pressed steel plate, and has a drain 18 for collecting rainwater dripping from the front edge of the opening 2 and the sunroof panel 3.
The rainwater collected in this drain 18 is supplied to the side frame 4
Together with the rainwater flowing from the front end of the drain groove 13, is discharged out of the vehicle via a connecting member 19 provided at a side end of the front frame 5 and a drain tube 20 provided on a front pillar of the vehicle body.

The right and left push-pull cables 6 are engaged with a drive shaft 7 b of a speed reducer integrated with a motor 7 with a speed reducer in a rack-and-pinion manner, and are driven to push and pull. , So that the driving force of the motor 7 is transmitted to the left and right equally. The motor 7 with a speed reducer is arranged such that the drive shaft 7b is located at an intermediate position between the left and right side frames 4.

Further, the motor 7 with a speed reducer includes an imaginary plane where the rear end edge 11d of the sunshade panel 11 at the storage position is in contact with the drain tube 15 of the drain member 14 attached to the rear end of the side frame 4. Connection part 1
6 are arranged so as to fit between a virtual plane (a plane passing through the straight line A in FIG. 2) with which the rear end of the sheet 6 contacts. When the mounting bracket 7a is attached to the fixed roof after the mounting bracket 7a is previously attached to the motor 7 with a speed reducer, it is preferable that the mounting bracket 7a is also configured to fit inside the straight line A.

Cable body 6 of push-pull cable 6
a of the outer pipe 6b covering the first end 6c is connected to the support 21 provided at the rear end of the side frame 4, and the other end 6d is connected to the gear housing 7c of the motor 7 with the speed reducer. When the motor 7 with the speed reducer is placed inside the straight line A, the push-pull cable 6 is bent so as to draw a large S-shape so that the radius of curvature of the push-pull cable 6 is not partially reduced and smooth operation is not impaired. I have.
Further, the connecting end 6c of the outer pipe 6b to the side frame 4 is disposed forward of the connecting end 6d to the motor 7 with a reduction gear, and the push-pull cable 6 has a large radius of curvature. It fits inside the straight line A.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to arrange the motor and the push-pull cable further forward while increasing the radius of curvature of the outer pipe of the push-pull cable. It is possible to substantially reduce the front-rear length of the entire portion disposed in the roof without hindering smooth operation, which is a significant effect in reducing the size of the portion disposed in the roof. In addition, a reduction in the support strength of the sunroof panel and a reduction in the rigidity improvement effect of the fixed roof can be avoided as much as possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a fixed roof of an automobile to which a sunroof device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the sunroof device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixed roof 2 Opening 3 Sunroof panel 4 Side frame 5 Front frame 6 Push-pull cable, 6a Cable body, 6b
Outer pipe 6c Connection end to side frame, 6d Connection end to motor 7 Motor with reduction gear 7a Mounting bracket, 7b Drive shaft, 7c Gear housing 8 Sunroof panel guide groove 9 Push-pull cable insertion groove 10 Sunshade panel guide groove 11 Sunshade panel 11a / 11b Divided body, 11c Handle, 11d Rear edge 12 Indoor opening 13 Drain groove 14 Drain member 15 Drain tube 16 Connection part 17 Reinforcement stiffener 18 Drain groove 19 Connection member 20 Drain tube 21 Support

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of left and right side frames extending in the front-rear direction on both left and right sides of an opening provided in a fixed roof of a vehicle on the side of a vehicle cabin, and supported by the left and right side frames so as to be movable in the front and rear directions. A sunroof panel movable to an open position above and behind a fixed roof, a sunshade panel supported by the left and right side frames so as to be movable back and forth, and capable of being stored in a state in which two front and rear divided bodies are vertically overlapped; A sunroof device including a push-pull cable and a driving device including a motor for driving a panel to open and close, comprising: a virtual plane in which a rear edge of the sunshade panel in a storage position is in contact; Position the driving device between a side frame of the vehicle and an imaginary plane where a rear end of a substantially integral member contacts. Therefore, the connection between the connection end of the outer pipe of the push-pull cable to the side frame and the connection end to the motor is bent in a substantially S shape in plan view, and the connection end of the outer pipe to the side frame is A sunroof device disposed forward of a connection end to a motor.