Roof systems for vehicles

Abstract

A roof system for a vehicle having a roof opening (1) in its roof section (2), the roof system comprising a closure (3) movable by means of an operating mechanism comprising at least a guide rail (4) extending in the longitudinal direction of the roof system. A slider (9) slidable in the guide rail cooperates with at least a closure support. The slider (9) comprises a body and at least two bends (12, 13; 17, 20) arranged in the body and each cooperating with at least one cam (10, 11; 19, 23). The cams are arranged on at least the closure support (8), and the bends have such an extent that they intersect each other between their ends. The bends (12, 13; 17, 20) are arranged in substantially parallel walls of the body of the slider (9) facing away from each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a roof system for a vehicle having a roof opening in its roof section. The roof system comprises at least one closure element movable between a closed position, in which the closure element closes the roof opening, and an open position, in which the closure element opens the roof opening. The closure element is movable by an operating mechanism comprising at least a guide rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the roof system, a closure element support, and a slider slidable in the guide rail and cooperating with at least the closure element support. The slider comprises a body and at least two bends provided in the body and cooperating with at least two cams, at least one of which is provided on the closure element support, and the bends having an extent such that they are non-parallel and intersect one another between their ends. Background Art

[0002] Such a roof system is known from the prior art. In this prior art roof system, a bend is provided in the wall of the body of the slider, and the cams and the bend are manufactured so that the two cams will remain in their bends when they pass through the other bend. This can be achieved, for example, by making one bend deeper than the other and / or by providing one cam with a different cross-section than the other. The first measure solves the problem of one cam, but not completely the problem of the other. The second measure may cause problems in other areas, for example, if a non-circular cam must be moved through a bend, the cross-section of the bend must be adapted. Summary of the Invention

[0003] One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a roof system in which these problems are solved or at least reduced.

[0004] For this purpose, the bends are arranged in substantially parallel walls of the body of the slide facing away from one another.

[0005] By providing bends in the opposing walls of the slider's body, facing away from each other, the cams will never be able to enter the other bend, as they are on the other side of the body. Thus, it is easy to use cams in the form of pins with a uniform circular cross-section. No additional measures are required for such cams.

[0006] The bends and the body can have a depth such that the bends overlap along the depth of the slider's body, resulting in the body displaying through-holes at the locations where the bends intersect. Such through-holes at the intersections will not interfere, as long as the cam cannot enter such through-holes. This is generally not a problem, as the cam cannot move perpendicular to the plane of the bends.

[0007] Thus, each bend may have a depth greater than half the thickness of the body of the slider, which means that a relatively thin body of the slider may be used and thus a small Y-shaped package (in the transverse direction of the roof system) may be obtained.

[0008] In one embodiment, the two cams can be provided on a support in the form of a rod, the rod being forked with two legs, one on each side of the slider and carrying one of the cams. In this way, the rod of the support can cooperate with both sides of the slider body.

[0009] In another embodiment, a cam may be provided on the support to move the support when the slide is driven, and another cam may be provided on the locking member to lock the slide relative to the guide rail.

[0010] Other embodiments are of course conceivable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Further details and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the roof system with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle roof including one embodiment of a roof system according to the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Simplified exploded view of the roof system.

[0014] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A side view on a larger scale of the detail and showing a portion of the operating mechanism on one side of the roof system.

[0015] Figure 4 It is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale according to line IV-IV.

[0016] Figure 5 and 6 For similar Figure 3 A view of a view of a , but showing the operating mechanism in a different position.

[0017] Figure 7、 8 and 9 is similar to Figure 3 , but showing the second embodiment of the operating mechanism in three different positions.

[0018] Figures 10, 11 and 12 are respectively based on Figure 7 and 8 Cross-sectional view along lines X, XI and XII.

[0019] Figure 13 for Figure 7 Simplified side view of a portion of a slide in an operating mechanism at the location of two intersecting bends.

[0020] Figure 14 Based on Figure 13 A slightly larger scale cross-sectional view along line XIV-XIV in FIG.

[0021] Figures 15, 16 and 17 show three different ways Figure 13 said portion of the slide. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Figure 1 A portion of a vehicle, in particular a car, is shown, which comprises at least a roof opening 1 defined in a (fixed) roof part 2. Here, a closure element in the form of a closure panel 3 is movable between a closed position (not shown), in which the closure element closes the roof opening 1, and an open position (as shown), in which the closure element opens the roof opening 1 and is positioned at least partially above the roof part 2, here a fixed roof part adjoining the rear edge of the roof opening 1.

[0023] As is known per se, such a roof system, which is also referred to as a top-sliding roof, may comprise further elements, such as a tiltable wind deflector positioned in front of the roof opening 1, or, for example, a further movable or fixed panel which is located in position behind the panel 3 when the panel 3 is in its closed position. In fact, in the present embodiment, the roof section behind the roof opening 1 is formed by a roof panel 3', which may be a fixed roof panel or a movable panel.

[0024] Figure 2 and 3 Components of an operating mechanism for the closure panel 3 are shown to move it between a closed position and an open position. Figure 31 shows one of the longitudinal sides of the closure panel 3, and it should be noted that, although mirrored, identical components are present on the other longitudinal side of the panel 3. The panel 3 comprises a glass or plastic transparent plate or a metal non-transparent plate supported on the longitudinal sides by panel supports fixed to the plate, for example by potting material and / or any other means (not shown). At each longitudinal side edge of the roof opening 1, a fixed guide rail 4 is provided on a frame 26 or other fixed part, said fixed guide rail 4 having a plurality of guide slots in which the components of the operating mechanism are slidably guided. The guide rail 4 can be straight or slightly curved to follow the curvature of the vehicle roof.

[0025] In order to move the closure panel 3 in the longitudinal direction (along the guide rails 4) and vertically (substantially perpendicular to the guide rails 4), the operating mechanism includes a front device 5 for moving the front side of the closure panel 3 in the vertical direction and a rear device 6 for moving the rear side of the closure panel 3 in the vertical direction, that is, up and down. Of course, both devices are also used to move the closure panel 3 in the longitudinal or horizontal direction, that is, back and forth. Here, the front and rear devices 5, 6 each include a rod 7, 8, respectively, as a panel support. The movement of the rods 7, 8 is controlled by a drive slide 9, which is guided in a groove in the corresponding guide rail 4 and driven by an electric motor 27 or the like via an elongated drive element such as a cable 28.

[0026] The control of the rods 7, 8 by the drive slide 9 is performed by a cam-bend connection, in the case of the rod 8 of the rear device 6, by cams 10, 11 on the rod 8 engaging guide bends 12, 13 in the drive slide 9. Figure 3 As can be clearly seen, the guide curves 12, 13 are non-parallel, at least partially inclined and intersecting each other between their ends. To prevent the cams 10, 11 from interfering with the wrong guide curves 13, 12, the guide curves 12, 13 are made into the opposite parallel walls of the body of the drive slide 9. Each curve comprises opposite, substantially parallel side walls and a bottom wall.

[0027] like Figure 4 As shown in FIG, both bends 12 and 13 have a depth greater than half the thickness of the main body of drive slide 9, so that they overlap when viewed in cross section. As a result, they intersect, forming a through hole 14 in the main body of drive slide 9 at the intersection point, so that the bends do not have a bottom wall at the intersection location. However, this is not a problem as long as the two cams 10, 11 do not appear at the intersection point at the same time. Figure 3 、 5 And 6 shows that the cams 10, 11 do not interfere. Figure 3In the embodiment, the cam 11 is at the intersection point, that is, at the through hole 14, and Figure 5 In the embodiment, the cam 10 has just passed through the through hole 14, while the cam 11 is already at a considerable distance from the through hole 14.

[0028] Figure 4 It is also shown how the two cams are formed on the rod 8. It is obvious that the lower part of the rod 8 is forked, forming legs 15, 16 that span the drive slide 9, so that the cams 10, 11 point to the inside of the legs 15, 16. Of course, if the cams 10, 11 were fixed relative to each other, they would not necessarily be aligned when viewed in side view, but would be offset. Figure 3 and 4 As also shown, cams 10 and 11 differ in size and cross-section. Cam 10 is larger than cam 11 and has a non-circular cross-section, while cam 11 has a circular cross-section. However, this is not necessary for the intersecting curves 12 and 13. The depth of curves 12 and 13 can also be selected at will and can be different or the same, whichever is optimal for the cams 10 and 11 guiding them. Cams with circular cross-sections are preferred because they require less wide curves.

[0029] Figure 7-1 FIG7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the drive slide 9 is also present, now comprising a single guide bend 17 cooperating with two guide cams 18 and 19. A locking or coupling bend 20 is provided in another wall of the body of the drive slide 9, such that the guide bend 17 and the locking bend 20 face away from each other. They also intersect, forming a through-hole 21 (see the equivalent shape of the through-hole 21 in FIGS. 15-17 ). The locking bend 20 serves to couple the drive slide 9 to or decouple it from a locking lever 22 via a coupling cam 23. The locking lever 22 controls the longitudinal movement of the rod 7 of the front device 5.

[0030] When the coupling cam 23 is in the horizontal curved portion 20' (at Figure 7 and 8 9 ), the drive slide 9 can move relative to the locking lever 22, which is then locked relative to the guide rail 4 (by the locking cam 24 in the groove 25 in the guide rail 4). When the coupling cam 23 moves into the inclined curve portion 20 ″ of the locking curve 20, the locking lever 22 is locked relative to the drive slide 9 and unlocked from the guide rail 4 (the locking cam 24 leaves the groove 25), so that the two slides 9, 22 move as one in FIG.

[0031] Figure 7 、 89 shows that the guide cam 18 or 19 and the coupling cam 23 are never located at the through-hole 21 at the same time, so that they do not interfere with each other.

[0032] Figure 14-1 7 shows that the guide bend 17 and the locking bend 20 have a depth that extends almost the entire thickness of the body of the drive slide 9, that is, substantially more than half the thickness of the body of the drive slide 9. Since the body parts on both sides of each bend 17, 20 remain at the intersection point, the cam 18, 23 will continue to follow its bend when passing the intersection point at the through hole 21.

[0033] As will be apparent from the foregoing, the present invention provides an operating mechanism for a roof system in which the slider can have a small thickness while still incorporating intersecting curves, thereby achieving a small package in the Y-direction (the transverse direction of the roof system). Despite the small package in the Y-direction, the cams are well supported due to the depth of engagement of the cams in their corresponding curves.

[0034] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above, which may be varied in various ways within the scope of the invention. Features of the different embodiments may be combined in other ways. The cams and pins may have various shapes and are not limited to the cross-sectional shapes shown in the drawings. The curved configuration may also be used in other operating mechanisms, such as for tilting and sliding roofs, spoiler roofs, and the like. If desired, other movements of the closure panel may be achieved. The cam may be located on other components of the operating mechanism, on the same component or on different components.

Claims

1. A roof system for a vehicle having a roof opening (1) in its roof part (2), the roof system comprising: At least a closure member (3) which is movable between a closed position in which it closes the roof opening and an open position in which it opens the roof opening, the closure member being movable by means of an operating mechanism comprising at least a guide rail (4) extending in the longitudinal direction of the roof system, a closure member support (8) and a slide (9) which is slidable in the guide rail and which cooperates at least with the closure member support, the slide (9) comprising a body and at least two bends (12, 13; 17, 20) which are arranged in the body and cooperate with at least two cams (10, 11; 19, 23), at least one of the cams being arranged on the closure member support (8) and having such an extent that they are not parallel and cross each other between their ends, characterised in that the bends (12, 13; 17, 20) are arranged in substantially parallel walls of the body of the slide (9) which face away from each other.

2. The roof system according to claim 1, characterized in that The at least two bends (12, 13; 17, 20) and the body of the slider (9) have depths such that the at least two bends overlap one another in the depth direction of the body of the slider so that the body will display through holes (14; 21) at locations where the bends intersect.

3. The roof system according to claim 2, characterized in that Each bend (12, 13; 17, 20) has a depth greater than half the thickness of the body of the slide (9).

4. The roof system according to claim 1, wherein: Two cams (10, 11) are provided on a closure support (8) in the form of a rod, which is fork-shaped and has two legs (15, 16), one on each side of the slide (9) and carrying one of the cams (10, 11).

5. The roof system according to claim 1, characterized in that A cam (19) is provided on the closure support (8) to move the closure support when the slide (9) is driven, and another cam (23) is provided on the locking member (22) to lock the slide (9) relative to the guide rail (4).

6. The roof system according to claim 1, wherein: The cams (10, 11; 19, 23) are each in the form of a cam having a circular cross section.

7. The roof system according to claim 6, characterized in that The cams (19, 23) have the same cross-section.

8. The roof system according to claim 1, wherein: The cams (10, 11; 19, 23) have different cross-sectional shapes and / or sizes.

9. The roof system according to claim 1, wherein: The curves each have two opposing substantially parallel side walls and a bottom wall extending along at least a significant portion of the length of the curve.

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