MXPA99005309A - Sealing system for the roof frame of a hard-top, coupe or convertible - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a sealing system (2) which comprises at least one sealing profiled section (3) for a vehicle roof frame. The sealing profiled section (3) is formed by a reinforcement and a profile consisting of at least one elastomer. The reinforcement takes the form of a prefabricated injection-moulded plastics part and, in a mould, is provided over at least part of its surface with the profile. The reinforcement has a substantially U-shaped cross-section over its entire length. The sealing system (2) is three-dimensional and can be secured to connection parts of the vehicle roof frame by means of securing elements (11, 12). In the mould, an end cap (6, 7) is integrally formed on at least one end face of each sealing profiled section (3).

Description

SELECTING SYSTEM FOR THE ROOF MIX OF THE ROOF OF A RUG OR BERLIN HOOD OR A FOLDING SOFT HOOD DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a sealing system according to the preamble of claim 1. In a system of. known sealing of this type (German Patent DE 295 09 880 Ul, Figure 7) elastomeric sealing rims are injected only on the free longitudinal edges of the reinforcing legs., which is injection molded from plastic material, these rims of They are sealed, in permanent sealing contact with the material of a folding canopy or soft awning and on the other hand, on the closing of a window, with the lateral surfaces of the window glass. A closure or termination housing of this sealing profile on the end face is not apparent. From German Patent DE 43 20 330 A1, Figure 2, it is known per se a sealing system which can be sealed by a snap connection, and whose reinforcement may consist of REF .: 29696 metal or plastic material. The sealing system extends linearly in the installed state (Figure 1) and is manufactured by extrusion and then cut to the desired length. Cutting to the desired length contaminates the ends of the extreme caxa, which must then be intensively cleaned before they are made ready to be adjusted. In the. German Patent .DJ? 36 44. -283 .Cl the ball socket And the complementary ball-shaped end piece are not formed on the open end faces of the opposite sealing sections. On the other hand, these. parts are connected, to the sealing sections by adhesive or by vulcanization. These connection methods require an economically disadvantageous, additional work step. In German Patent DE 40 38 694 Al, specially shaped end pieces are vulcanized on the tubular sections ... However, the end pieces do not seal the end faces of. the tubiil.ares sections in the sense of an extreme lid. On the contrary, the internal chamber of each tubular section is distributed on the end face of the associated end piece. An object of the invention is to provide the precision of the dimensions and shape of the profiled sealing sections, formed three-dimensionally, inclusive of at least one of their end caps, and to simplify their manufacture. This objective is achieved by the features of claim 1. The sealing system can be made as a piece or in several parts. Thus, for example, for a rigid hood or saloon there would be only a profiled sealing section extending from the column or support A up to and including the column or support C, while in the case of a soft top or awning folding of a convertible it could have several profiled sealing sections. The prefabricated refox-za-ment per -ite manufacture in the most complex three-dimensional shapes. very precisely in terms of dimensions and form. Subsequently, in the molding tool, the profiled strip of at least one elastomer and also at least one end cap can be formed with the same precision. The finished profile section, finished, can be adjusted to the associated motor vehicle, basically without any subsequent deformation. Any such deformation could produce undesirable stresses in the profiled sealing section, and the danger that the profiled strip could no longer provide a perfect seal .. However, the finished profiled section is flexible within certain limits * with the In order to be able to absorb the tolerances in the structure of the vehicle during the adjustment operation. The simultaneous formation of at least one end cap on the profiled sealing section, avoids a separate working step and improves the dimensional- and coupling accuracy of the finished, finished sealing section. The characteristics of the claims 2 6 3 lead to a particularly fast and reliable adjustment of the profiled sealing section. According to claim 4 t, a particularly simple and advantageous sealing of the glass can be achieved, laterally in the upper region of the frame or roof structure with the exception of the section 1-a. column C The features of claim 5 serve for the additional sealing of the connection piece.

According to claim 6, the profiled sealing section can be adjusted quickly and reliably during the adjustment process. The features of claim 7 lead to a free seal of. problems, even in the case of the column section C critical. Here, the reinforcement may have holes for the fastening elements made before the addition of the profiled strip,. Y. by means of which the section 'of column C is subsequently adjusted to the frame or structure of the roof. The . holes in the strip perfjJ-aLC ± a e-at-á-n. en- a.Liaeam.ien-tQ with. These holes in the reinforcement. These holes are preferably made in the molding tool during the formation of. the strip per ilada on the reinforcement. By means of these means the adjustment of the profiled sealing section is facilitated. By enlarging the height of the leg of the reinforcement - and consequently of the sealed sealing section, finished towards its lower end, the side glass. it can be easily sealed and guided even in the critical region of the column or support C. According to claim 8, in the upper end region of the column section C, a type of tubular profile e.l. which is preferably located against the adjacent upper section of the roof structure or axma-zon. In this upper end region of the column section C the seal boxes can be secured to one another, for example by vulcanization. The structure of. according to claim 9 on the one hand it reduces the elastomeric material and on the other hand it creates a good base of adjustment, for the fastening members. According to. The characteristics of claim 10, the reinforcement can be made of comparatively thin walls, saving costs in this way. However, the support profile is sufficient - in all operating conditions even with comparatively large leg heights of the profiled sealing section, for a precise fit of the profiled sealing section. According to claim 1, additional bending and torsional stiffness is created for the reinforcement, and consequently for the complete sealing system. For the same stiffness the basic reinforcement profile can be made with thinner walls and thus reduce the material. The characteristics of each of claims 12 to 15 lead to the desired stiffening of the reinforcement according to the needs. Preferably, the longitudinal ribs are formed on the basis of the reinforcement, and the transverse ribs are located at a spacing of, for example, 5 to 30 mm one from the other. These, and other additional features and advantages of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a number of modalities given by way of example, and which are shown in the drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view, at an angle from above, of a convertible soft top or awning of a convertible, Figure 2 is a side view of a front, upper, profiled sealing section of the sealing system, Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III in Figure 2, at an enlarged scale, Figure 4 is a side view of. a profile section of sealing, posterior, superior, of the sealing system, Figure 5 is a side view of a reinforcement for the column section C of the sealing system, Figure 6 is a side view of the finished column section C of the sealing system, with reinforcement according to Figure 5 in place, Figure 7 is the entire sectional view, along line VII-VII in Figure 6, at an enlarged scale, Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view, corresponding to Figure 3, through another embodiment, and Figure 9 - is a cross-sectional view, corresponding to Figure 7, through an additional embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a folding awning or soft top 1 of a convertible, whose roof structure or frame is provided on each side with a three-part sealing system 2. Each sealing system -2 comprises a profiled sealing section 3, upper, front, a profiled sealing section 4, upper, rear and a column section C 5. Sections 3 to 5 are each secured to the points of connection of the poles or soft, associated upper struts. Section 3 has end caps 6 and 7 formed thereon, section 4 has end caps 8 and 9 formed thereon and section 5 has an end cap 10 foxed thereon, on its upper end. In all the figures of the drawings, the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numbers x-specifics. According to Figure 2, section 3 comprises two retaining members 11 and 12, which are formed as screw bolts and which are arranged spaced apart from each other. The lower end of each retaining member is anchored in a reinforcement 13 (Figure 3) of section 3. In Figure 3 the details of the profiled section 3 of the upper, frontal seal can be seen. In addition, the installation situation is shown. ^ For reinforcement 13 a part is used. injection-molded plastic in cross section essentially in the form of .U, having a base 14 and legs 15 and 16 integrally f-shaped on the sides of the base. The reinforcement 13 is dimensionally preformed by injection molding, and, then it is. introduced inside the molding tool. In the molding tool a profiled strip 17 of at least one elastomer is formed on the reinforcement 13. The profiled strip 17 comprises a tubular profile 20 which is closed in the circumferential direction and which extends outwardly on the edges. free longitudinals 18 and 19 of the legs 15, 16 of the reinforcement 13. The tubular profile 20 can be provided with a layer 22 of low friction paint or artificial velvety, known per se, on its outer surface, which comes into contact with a side glass 21. On the tubular profile 20 a sealing rim 25 is formed, which extends laterally and which cooperates sealingly with a connecting part 23 of the roof structure 24, which in this case is formed as poles or soft top struts. The sealing rim 25 is shown in Figure 3 in its inactive, relaxed position. The profiled strip 17 also includes a base layer 26 which overlaps the base 14 on its side, which faces the connection part 2.3, The retaining member 11 is anchored by having a foot 21 in the base 14 of the reinforcement 13, so that it is rotationally fixed. A screw bolt of the retaining member 11 extends through the base layer 26 and a mounting hole 28 in the connecting part .23, The mounting hole 28 is formed as an elongated hole, the longitudinal axis of which extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of the sealing system 2. In this way, the section 3 can be adjusted transversely to its longitudinal axis during assembly, and then it can be fixed in the desired operational position by means of a washer 29 and a nut 30. By this means, the base layer 26 is pressed in a sealed manner against the connecting leg 23. The section 3 extends in a receiving channel 31 of the connecting part 23. Each retaining member 11, 12 and the associated washer 29 and nut 30 ^, form a holding member 32 for the sealing profile 2. The details of the profiled sealing section 4, upper, rear are shown in Figure 4. Again, section 4 is provided with two retention members 11, 12 in the same manner as section 3 shown in Figures 2 and 3. The transverse shape of section 4 is the same as the transverse shape of section 3 shown in Figure 3 • >- Figure 5 shows a comparatively thin wall design of reinforcement 13 for section 5 of column C. - It should be noted that the height of the legs. 33 and 34 of the recess 13 increases over the length of the reinforcement 13 downwards to the lower end region 35 of the section 5 of the column C. The reinforcement 13 carries on the upper part a mounting tab 36, angled with an upward direction , and in the bottom a mounting tab 37. In addition, the holes 39 and 40 for the fastening members 41 (Figure 1) are formed in a base 38 of the reinforcement 13. The reinforcement 13 shown in Figure 5 is made of plastic material by an injection molding process,. and then it is introduced into a molding tool and is injection coated with at least one elastomer. During this process the end cap 10 is injected as well. The similar way. The plate of this end cap is particularly clearly visible in Figure 6. Figure 6 shows section 5 of. finished column C of the sealing system 2, with the profile strip 17 of al. less an elastomer, formed on the reinforcement 13 (Figure 5), and, as mentioned, with the end cap 10 formed thereon. An end piece 42 of the profiled strip 17 is integrally formed in the lower end region 3.5 of the column section C 5. The end piece 42 serves as the hermetic face against "an adjacent sealing profile, which is not In an upper end region 43 of section 5, the free longitudinal edges 44 and 45 (Figure 7) of the sealing flanges 46 and 47 of the profiled strip 17 are secured against one another.

This creates a profiled strip portion in the form of a tube in the upper end region 43. As shown in Figure 6, the profiled strip 17 comprises the legs 48, 49 of the profiled strip 17 formed on the legs 33, 34 (FIG. 5) . In Figure 7 it can be seen that the flanges 46, 47 are coated on their sides facing the side glass 21, with the special layer 22, low friction. The side faces 50 and 51 of the legs 48, 49 are supported by a supporting profile 52 of the associated connecting part 53 of the roof structure 24. Thus, despite the comparatively thin wall structure of the reinforcement 13., this does not lead to undesirable changes in the shape of section 5 of column C in the assembled state of column section 5 C- In contrast to the mode shown in FIG.

Figure 3, that shown in Figure 8 differs in that the reinforcement 13 is equipped with stiffening ribs 54 and 55, in order to increase its rigidity and shape stability. The stiffening ribs 54, 55 are each accommodated in an internal chamber 56 of the substantially U-shaped cross section of the reinforcement 13.

Stiffening ribs 54 are understood to be the approximately transverse ribs extending in a direction transverse to the reinforcement 13, and are arranged along the length of the reinforcement 13 at a distance from each other and parallel to one another. This spacing of the transverse ribs 54, one from the other, is chosen to be optimal for the particular needs of the individual circumstances. The thickness of the transverse ribs is approximately the same as the thickness of the leg 15. With the provision of such transverse ribs 54, the thickness of the leg 13 may be more. small what. without such transverse ribs. Each transverse rib 54 extends from the leg 15 to the base 14 of the reinforcement 13. In contrast, the stiffening rib 55 is formed as a longitudinal rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement 13. The longitudinal rib 55 is formed on the base 14 of the reinforcement 13. All the stiffening ribs 54, 55 increase the strength of the reinforcement 13 to the bending and torsion, and consequently the resistance of the profiled sealing section 3 to bending and torsion. The embodiment according to Figure 9 modifies that shown in Figure 7. Instead of the support profile 52 in Figure 7, there is shown in Figure 9 a retention profile 57 of the associated connection part 53 of the frame or roof structure 24. Retaining profile 57 provides support for base layer 26 and base 38. Legs 33, 34; 48, 49 of the column section C 5 are reinforced by the stiffening ribs 54, 55 such that an external lateral guide of the legs by the side walls of the support profile 52, shown in Figure 7 is here unnecessary. In Figure 9, the longitudinal rib 55 is interrupted only at those points in which the fastening members 4-1 are located. - The transverse ribs 54 extend from the base 38 towards the legs 33, 34 on both sides of the longitudinal rib 55. In Figure 9, the lower limit edge of a stiffening rib -58 formed as a transverse rib, is indicated by the dashed lines, the transverse rib 58 is connected to the base 38 and extends from the free longitudinal edge 18 of the leg 33, as far as the other jpata 34 of the reinforcement -13. In this way, the stiffening rib 58 forms a particularly rigid membrane inside the internal chamber 56 of the reinforcement 13. In this case, several such transverse ribs 58 are accommodated at a suitable spacing from one another in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement 13. As elastomers for the profiled strip 17The following materials can be used, for example: foam rubber with a hardness of 10 to 30 Shore A or soft rubber with a hardness of 30 to 70 Shore A, both made, for example, of EPDM, SBR, CR, ECO, mixtures of EPDM with SBR with a content of EPDM by weight of 20 to 90%, mixtures of EPDM with SBR and / or polyokene ero, or NBR The following thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) can also be used for example: TPE based in styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (.SEB-S), styrene-butylene-styrene-based TPE (SBS), styrene-isoprene-styrene-based TPE (SIS), TPE based on elastomeric compositions formed as TPO mixtures or TPO alloys, for example of bonded blend of EPDM / propylene (EPDM / PP) or ethylene vinyl acetate / vinylidene chloride (EVA / PVDC) or TPE based on thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU); TPO is the abbreviation for thermoplastic polyolefins (emers omeros). The profiled strip 17 can be formed from several of the aforementioned elastomers, which are then vulcanized to one another along the joining or boundary surfaces which come into contact with one another. Then, a chemical bond of sufficient strength is created between the individual parts of the profiled strip 17. The reinforcement 13 consists, in contrast, of a thermoplastic plastic material. For this, the following materials can be used for example: PPE polyphenylene ether, PP polypropylene, PE (LDPE, low density PE), PE (HDPE, high density PE), polyisobutylene PIB, PS polystyrene, polyamide PA, polycarbonate PC , PETP polyethylene terephthalate, POM polyoxy ethylene, epoxy resins, phenol-formaldehyde resins PES polyester, PPO polyphenylether, PVP polyvinyl chloride or modifications of these thermoplastic plastic materials. These plastic materials can be used with or without reinforcement, for example reinforcement by carbon fibers or glass fibers or by minerals (talc). Between the profiled strip 17 and the reinforcement 13 a layer of a coupling material (not shown) can be provided. The purpose of the coupling material is to improve the chemical bond between the elastomer of the profile strip 17 and the thermoplastic plastic material of the reinforcement 13. The following materials can be used, for example, as coupling materials: EPDM mixed with PP, PE, PS, PIB, PES, as well as other polymers from the aforementioned list of materials, for reinforcement 13, in a quantity by weight less than 20%, EPDM-CR-SBR-poliocteneam-exo mixed or EPDM compounds with additions of xesin (for example epoxy resins) or other commercial, conventional adhesive agents. If the profile strip 17 consists of a TPE, then for example a polypropylene primer can be used as the coupling agent.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. A sealing system, comprising at least one profiled sealing section for the frame or roof structure of a rigid bonnet or saloon or a folding soft canopy for a convertible, wherein each profiled sealing section comprises a profile strip at least one elastomer that is reinforced by a reinforcement, wherein the reinforcement is formed as a part of injection molded plastic material, prefabricated and, in a molding tool, is provided at least on a part of its outer surface, with a profiled strip, wherein the reinforcement has a substantially U-shaped cross section over at least about its full length, and wherein the sealing system is three-dimensional and is arranged to be secured to the connecting pieces; of the roof framework by clamping members, characterized in that an end cap is formed on at least one end face of each profiled sealing section in the molding tool.

2- The sealing system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two retaining members of the clamping members are fixed to the reinforcement, separated from each other, and because in the adjustment of each profiled sealing section, each The retention member is focused through an adjustment hole of the associated connection piece and is axially fixed relative to the connection piece.

3. The sealing system according to claim 2, characterized by a park each retaining member is formed as a screw member which is axially insurable by a nut.

4. The sealing system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the profiled strip comprises a tubular profile which is closed in the circumferential direction and which extends outwardly on the free longitudinal edges of the legs of the reinforcement.

5. The sealing system according to claim 4, characterized in that on the tubular profile a sealing rim is formed which extends laterally and cooperates in a sealed manner with the connecting piece.

6. The sealing system according to any of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that each adjustment hole is an elongated hole, and because a longitudinal axis of the elongated hole extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of the profiled sealing section, associated .

7. The sealing system according to claim 1, wherein for each of the sections of column C of the sealing system the profiled strip comprises the sealing rims extending outwardly on the free longitudinal edges of the legs of the reinforcement, and wherein the sealing flanges have their longitudinal edges free from each other facing and cooperate in a sealed manner with a side glass without structure of the automotive vehicle, characterized in that the height of the legs of the reinforcement are increased over the length of the reinforcement down to a lower-end region of the column section C.

8. The sealing system according to claim 7, characterized in that the longitudinal edges of the seal-edges are hermetically fixed against each other in an upper end region of the column section C.

9. The sealing system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the reinforcement on an internal surface is free of the profiled strip.

10. The sealing system according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the lateral faces of the tight sealing system are supported by a supporting profile of the connection piece - associated with the frame or roof structure.

11. The sealing system according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the reinforcement is provided with at least one stiffening rib in an internal chamber of its substantially U-shaped cross section.

12. The sealing system according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one stiffening rib is formed as a longitudinal rib extending in a longitudinal direction of the reinforcement.

13. The sealing system according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the stiffening ribs are formed on arranged transverse ribs spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the reinforcement, and that they extend in a transverse direction with relationship to reinforcement.

14. 33-1 sealing system according to claim 13, characterized in that each transverse rib extends from one leg of the reinforcement to a base of the reinforcement.

15. The sealing system according to claim 13, characterized in that each transverse rib is connected to a base of the reinforcement, and extends from one leg of the reinforcement, as far as another leg of the reinforcement.