Vehicle top including a top opening system with two moving units

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle roof with a top opening system, comprising: a cover element (16) which is movable between a closed position in which the top opening (12) is closed and an open position in which the top opening (12) is open; displacement movement means for moving the cover element (16) on both sides of the vertical longitudinal central plane of the roof, each displacement movement means comprising a guide rail (20), a first movement unit (22) guided in the guide rail and a second movement unit (24) guided in the guide rail; and a drive cable set for the two movement units (22, 24), wherein the first movement unit comprises a first deployment rod (46) which is adjustable between a raised position and a lowered position, and the second movement unit (24) comprises a second deployment rod (66). The first movement unit (22) comprises a fixed slider which is guided in the guide rail (20) and fixes the first deployment rod (46) in its lowered position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle roof. Background Art

[0002] This type of vehicle roof is known in practice and can in particular be a so-called spoiler roof, which includes a roof opening system, the cover element of which can be raised from a closed position in which its rear edge closes the roof opening relative to a fixed roof part, and moved rearward, i.e., in the longitudinal roof direction rearward, over the fixed roof part to open the roof opening. The cover element is coupled to displacement movement devices on both sides of the vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, allowing the cover element to move between the closed position and the open position. The displacement movement devices each include a front movement unit guided in a guide rail and a rear movement unit also guided in the guide rail. When the cover element is to be moved to the open position, the deployment rod of the rear movement unit pivots, causing the rear edge of the cover element to rise. Then, the front movement unit is decoupled from the rear movement unit and guided rearward in the guide rail, such that a slotted track or control track on the cover element moves over the deployment rod of the now-fixed rear movement unit, the deployment rod being provided with a sliding element. When the deployment rod is to be deployed, the front movement unit and the rear movement unit are connected to each other via a coupling rod. Once the deployment rod is deployed, the coupling rod separates from the front movement unit, so that the rear movement unit remains in place while the front movement unit can move towards the fixed rear movement unit. The front movement unit may also include a deployment rod that can pivot between a lowered position and a raised position and, by its actuation, can raise the front edge of the cover element. In the known vehicle roofs, a reliable and protected fixing of the deployment rod of the front movement unit in the lowered position associated with the closed position of the cover element has not been achieved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle roof of the above type in which the deployment rod of the front movement unit can be fixed in its lowered position in the manner of a protective member.

[0004] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a vehicle roof having the features of the present application.

[0005] Accordingly, the vehicle roof according to the invention comprises a roof opening system having a cover element which can be moved between a closed position in which the roof opening is closed and an open position in which the roof opening is open. Displacement movement means for moving the cover element are provided on both sides of the top vertical longitudinal central plane, each displacement movement means comprising a first movement unit guided in a guide rail and a second movement unit guided in a guide rail. A drive cable set is provided for driving the two corresponding movement units. The first movement unit comprises a first deployment rod which can be adjusted between a raised position and a lowered position. The second movement unit comprises a second deployment rod. In order to be able to adequately fix the lowered position of the first deployment rod and thus the closed position of the cover element, the first movement unit comprises a fixing slider which is guided in a guide rail and holds the deployment rod in its lowered position. Accordingly, the fixing slider can be moved between a locked position and a released position. In the released position, the first deployment rod can pivot. In the locked position, especially when the cover element is in the closed position, the fixing slider is located in the locked position and the fixing slider directly or indirectly holds the first deployment rod in its lowered position, which lowered position is associated with the closed position of the cover, i.e. the lowered position of the front edge of the cover element. By means of the fixing slider, a large contact surface with a mating element can be achieved, so that the entire system can withstand potential tensile forces applied to the cover element in the vertical direction without being damaged.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the fixing slider is a drive slider of the first movement unit, the drive slider actuating the first deployment rod. For example, the drive slider comprises a journal which engages with a slotted portion formed in the first deployment rod. Upon actuation, the drive slider first moves relative to the deployment rod, causing the deployment rod to pivot by the interaction between the slotted portion and the journal. In the deployed state of the deployment rod, i.e. in its raised position, the drive slider and the deployment rod are fixed to each other. Accordingly, moving the drive slider causes the cover element to move in the roof longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the drive slider actuating the first deployment rod is a second slider other than the fixing slider. In both cases, due to the large contact surface it provides, when the cover element is in the closed position, the fixing slider prevents the journal from exerting a holding force linearly on the slotted portion, especially an injection-molded slotted portion, which force could damage the slotted portion and which could cause the cover element to rattle in its closed position.

[0007] In a specific embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the fixing slider has a fixing projection at the front, so that the fixing projection is provided on the front end face of the fixing slider and can basically be a tab, a finger or a journal, and interacts with a mating fixing element to fix the first deployment rod in its lowered position, the mating fixing element being provided on the first deployment rod or on a member fixed to the cover element. In particular, the fixing projection covers the mating fixing element, preventing the cover element from being lifted at its front edge.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle roof optimized for the installation space according to the invention, the mating fixing element is a fixing cam or a journal, which is arranged on the deployment rod and extends perpendicular to the guide rail. Thus, the fixing cam or the fixing journal forms a protrusion of the first deployment rod, which protrudes laterally and is covered by the fixing protrusion of the fixing slider when the first deployment rod is in the lowered position.

[0009] In another specific embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the displacement motion devices arranged on both sides of the vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof each include two separate drive assemblies, which include a drive motor and a drive cable for two motion units. The two drive cables are guided in the two cable groove portions of the relevant guide rail. The first drive cable is used to actuate, i.e., move, the first motion unit, particularly the front motion unit. The second drive cable driven by the second drive motor is used to actuate the second, particularly the rear motion unit. The two drive cables eliminate the need for a coupling rod for coupling the two motion units. All that is required are two drive motors actuated in a synchronous manner, which is achieved by a suitable control unit. Thus, high operating reliability is ensured. There will be no potential interference noise generated by the coupling and decoupling of the coupling rod. The two cable groove portions for the two drive cables can be formed in the guide rail without taking up too much installation space.

[0010] The vehicle roof according to the invention is in particular a so-called spoiler roof. During the movement to the open position, the cover element of the spoiler roof generally moves above the rear fixing part of the roof. To achieve this, sliding elements can be provided on each of the second deployment rods arranged on both sides, and the guide rail of the cover support structure of the cover element is guided on the sliding element when the cover element moves in the longitudinal direction of the roof.

[0011] Other advantages and advantageous configurations of the subject matter of the invention are apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Description of the Drawings

[0012] Exemplary examples of the vehicle roof according to the invention are schematically shown in the drawings and will be discussed in more detail in the following description.

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic top view of the vehicle roof according to the invention;

[0014] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a schematic side view of the top opening system of the vehicle roof of

[0015] Figure 3 corresponding to Figure 2 with the cover element in the closed position;

[0016] Figure 4 is another view of the top opening system corresponding to Figure 2 , but the cover element is slightly moved backward;

[0017] Figure 5 is another view of the top opening system corresponding to Figure 2 , but the cover element is in the open position;

[0018] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the front movement unit of the top opening system for the closed position of the cover element;

[0019] Figure 7 is a view of the front movement unit corresponding to Figure 6 , but the cover element is in the raised state;

[0020] Figure 8 is an internal view of the front movement unit of the top opening system for the closed position of the cover element;

[0021] Figure 9 is a view of the front movement unit corresponding to Figure 8 , but the cover element is in an intermediate position during the raising of its front edge;

[0022] Figure 10 is another view of the front movement unit corresponding to Figure 8 , but the cover element is in the raised state;

[0023] Figure 11 shows the rear movement unit of the top opening system for the closed position of the cover element;

[0024] Figure 12 is a view of the rear movement unit of the top opening system corresponding to Figure 11 , but the cover element is in the raised state; and

[0025] Figure 13 is a sectional view through the guide rail of the top opening system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure 1 The vehicle top 10 is shown in a highly schematic manner and is an openable vehicle top of a passenger car and has a top opening 12 which is bounded by a fixed top part 14 and can be closed or at least partially opened at will by means of a cover element 16. The cover element 16 is part of a top opening system 18 which forms a spoiler top.

[0027] The top opening system 18 of the vehicle top 10 includes guide rails 20 located on both sides of the top vertical longitudinal center plane. A first front movement unit 22 and a second rear movement unit 24 are provided in each guide rail 20. The front movement unit 22 is driven by a first drive motor 28 via a first drive cable 26. The rear movement unit 24 is driven by a second drive motor 32 via a second drive cable 30. In the current embodiment, both drive motors 28 and 32 are centrally disposed in front of the top opening 12 on the front frame portion of a top frame (not shown).

[0028] The Figures 2 to 13 top opening system 18 shown in detail in is substantially mirror-symmetrical with respect to the top vertical longitudinal center plane. Therefore, the following description mainly relates to the displacement movement device provided on the left side with respect to the forward direction of the vehicle under discussion. The displacement movement device arranged on the right side with respect to the forward direction is substantially mirror-symmetrical thereto and is clearly equivalent. In addition, structural members of the top opening system located in different planes in the top transverse direction are projected onto the Figures 2 to 12 drawing plane in.

[0029] As described above, the displacement movement devices each include a front movement unit 22 and a rear movement unit 24, which are provided in a common guide rail 20 and are each separately connected to a separate drive cable 26 or 30. The two drive cables 26 and 30 are guided one above the other in corresponding guide rails 20 in guide channels 34 and 36, which are formed on one side of a guide rail 38 in the guide rail 20. The two movement units 22 and 24 are provided in the guide rail 38 and are guided therein.

[0030] In particular, in Figures 6 to 10 it can be seen that the front movement unit 22 includes a drive slider 40, which is connected to the drive cable 26 guided in the guide channel 34, and on which a journal 42 is provided, which is guided in a slotted portion 44. The slotted portion 44 is formed on a deployment rod 46, which can pivot between a lowered position ( Figure 8 ) and a raised position ( Figure 10 ) and is hinged on one side via a hinge point 48 to a slider 45 and on the other side is connected via a hinge point 50 to a cover support structure 52, which is fixed to the lower side of the cover element 16. In addition, the front movement unit 22 has a slotted track 54, which is formed at the front end of the guide rail 20 and is fixed to the top and interacts with a guide journal 56, which is provided on one side of the deployment rod 46.

[0031] The deployment lever 46 of the pre-motion unit 22 has a fixed cam 90 on the side facing away from the guide journal 56. The fixed cam 90 interacts with the front fixed protrusion 92 of the drive slider 40 of the first motion unit 22 such that when the cover element is in the closed position, the fixed protrusion 92 protruding forward in a tongue-like manner in the front covers the fixed cam 90, thereby holding the deployment lever 46 in its lowered position. For this purpose, the fixed protrusion 92 in the direction from the slider of the drive slider 40 towards the front top edge has a flat contact surface on its lower side, which contacts the flat upper side of the fixed cam 90. The fixed cam 90 has a groove 94 on its lower side, and the groove 94 engages with a stop element 96, which is formed on the guide rail 20 and holds the cover element 16 in place in the top longitudinal direction when the cover element is in the closed position.

[0032] In Figure 11 and 12 The rear motion unit 24 shown in detail in includes a drive slider 58, which is connected to a second drive cable 30 guided in the guide channel 36 of the guide rail 20. The control lever 62 is articulated to the second drive slider 58 via an articulation point 60, and the end of the control lever 62 facing away from the drive slider 58 is articulated to the deployment lever 66 at an articulation point 64. The sliding element 68 is pivotally mounted on the deployment lever 66, and the pivot of the sliding element 68 coincides with the pivot of the articulation point 64. The sliding element 68 is slidably guided on a guide rail 70, which is formed on a cover support structure 52 provided on the lower side of the cover element 16.

[0033] In the end region facing away from the articulation point 64, the deployment lever 66 has a support journal 72, which is slidably guided in a guide rail 74 formed on the guide rail 20. In addition, a control journal 76 is provided on the deployment lever 66 in a region spaced apart from the support journal 72, and the control journal 76 interacts with a chute 78, which is also formed on the guide rail 20 and has a curved shape with an upper outlet 80. In the end region facing away from the articulation point 64, the deployment lever 66 has a retaining journal 82, which interacts with a support track 84 when the deployment lever 66 is in the deployed state. The support track 84 is formed on the guide rail 20 and is oriented substantially vertically.

[0034] The above-mentioned top opening system 18 operates in the following manner.

[0035] To move the cover element 16 from Figure 2 the closed position shown to Figure 5 the open position shown, first, both drive motors 28 and 32 are actuated, which causes the drive slider 40 to move relative to the slider 45 via the first drive cable, as Figures 6 to 12As shown, the result is that the fixed projection 92 is pulled away from the fixed cam 90 of the deployment rod 46, and the front edge of the cover element 16 is slightly raised by the interaction between the journal 42 formed on the drive slider 40 and the slotted portion 44 of the deployment rod 46, as well as the interaction between the guide journal 56 and the slotted track 54. Since the drive slider 40 moves backward relative to the deployment rod 46, the projection 92 that fixes the drive slider 40 releases the fixed cam 90. Thus, the deployment rod 46 can move from its lowered position associated with the closed position of the cover element 16 to its raised position, in which the cover element 16 can move longitudinally along the vehicle. At the same time, the deployment rod 66 moves backward via the control rod 62 by the second drive cable 30. As a result, the control journal 76 guided in the chute 78 causes the deployment rod 66 to deploy. In addition, the torque acting in the deployment direction is introduced into the deployment rod 66 through the control rod 62. When the support journal 72 hits the rear end face of the guide rail 74, the retaining journal 82 of the deployment rod 66 engages with the support track 84 of the guide rail 20. Thus, the deployment rod 66 is fixed in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 20. The drive slider 58 moves until the deployment rod 66 has reached its deployed position, as Figure 9 shown. At this time, the control journal 76 has disengaged from the chute 78. Now, the second drive motor 32 can be stopped. By the continued operation of the first drive motor 28, the drive slider 40 moves further backward through the first drive cable 26. The journal 42 formed on the drive slider 40 and disposed in the slotted portion 44 pulls the cover element 16 further backward, and the raised position of the deployment rod 46 is fixed by the guide journal 56 disposed in the guide channel of the guide rail 20. When the cover element 16 is moved backward, the guide rail 70 of the cover support structure 52 is guided on the sliding element 68 of the second rear movement unit 24, causing the cover element 16 to move on the fixed top portion 14.

[0036] The cover element 16 moves from its open position to its closed position and vice versa. At the end of the closing process, the drive slider 40 moves relative to the slider 45 of the first movement unit 22 to which the deployment rod 46 is hinged. The interaction between the journal 42 formed on the drive slider 40 and the slotted portion 44 of the deployment rod, as well as the interaction between the guide journal 56 and the slotted track 54, moves the deployment rod 46 from its raised position to its lowered position. Subsequently, the further movement of the drive slider 40 relative to the slider 45 and the deployment rod 46 moves the fixed projection 92 above the fixed cam 90, whereby the deployment rod 46 is firmly held in its lowered position. The drive slider 40 thus forms a fixed slider for the deployment rod 46 and the cover element 16.

[0037] List of Reference Numerals

[0038] 10 Vehicle top

[0039] 12 Top opening

[0040] 14 Fixed top part

[0041] 16 Cover element

[0042] 18 Top opening system

[0043] 20 Guide rail

[0044] 22 First motion unit

[0045] 24 Second motion unit

[0046] 26 First drive cable

[0047] 28 First drive motor

[0048] 30 Second drive cable

[0049] 32 Second drive motor

[0050] 34 First guide channel

[0051] 36 Second guide channel

[0052] 38 Guide rail

[0053] 40 Drive slider

[0054] 42 Journal

[0055] 44 Slotted part

[0056] 45 Slider

[0057] 46 Deployment rod

[0058] 48 Hinge point

[0059] 50 Hinge point

[0060] 52 Cover support structure

[0061] 54 Slotted track

[0062] 56 Guide journal

[0063] 58 Drive slider

[0064] 60 Hinge point

[0065] 62 Control rod

[0066] 64 Hinge point

[0067] 66 Deployment rod

[0068] 68 Sliding element

[0069] 70 Guide rail

[0070] 72 Bearing journal

[0071] 74 Guide rail

[0072] 76 Control journal

[0073] 78 Slide groove

[0074] 80 Outlet

[0075] 82 Retaining journal

[0076] 84 Support track

[0077] 90 Fixed cam

[0078] 92 Fixed protrusion

[0079] 94 Groove

[0080] 96 Stop element

Claims

1. A vehicle roof with a top opening system, comprising: A cover element (16) capable of moving between a closed position where the top opening (12) is closed and an open position where the top opening (12) is open; Displacement motion means for moving the cover element (16) on both sides of the top vertical longitudinal center plane, each displacement motion means including a guide rail (20), a first motion unit (22) guided in the guide rail, and a second motion unit (24) guided in the guide rail; And a drive cable set for the two motion units, the first motion unit including a first deployment rod (46) adjustable between a raised position and a lowered position, the second motion unit (24) including a second deployment rod (66), wherein the first motion unit (22) includes a fixed slider, the fixed slider is guided in the guide rail (20) and fixes the first deployment rod (46) in its lowered position, the fixed slider has a fixed protrusion (92) at the front, the fixed protrusion (92) interacts with a mating fixing element to fix the first deployment rod (46) in its lowered position, the mating fixing element is provided on the first deployment rod (46) or on a member fixed to the cover element (16), the mating fixing element is a fixed cam (90), the fixed cam extends perpendicular to the guide rail (20), and the fixed protrusion (92) has a flat contact surface on its lower side, and the contact surface contacts the flat upper side of the fixed cam (90).

2. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed slider is the drive slider (40) of the first motion unit (22), and the drive slider (40) actuates the first deployment rod (46).

3. The vehicle top according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The mating fixing element has a groove (94) on its lower side, and when the cover element (16) is in the closed position, the groove (94) engages with a stop element (96), and the stop element (96) is provided on the guide rail (20) and holds the cover element (16) in place in the top longitudinal direction.

4. The vehicle roof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The drive cable set includes a first drive cable (26) and a second drive cable (30), the first drive cable is driven by a first drive motor (28) and drives the first motion unit (22), and the second drive cable is driven by a second drive motor (32) and drives the second motion unit (24).

5. The vehicle roof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, A sliding element (68) is provided on the second deployment rod (66), and when the cover element (16) moves, the guide rail (70) of the cover support structure (52) of the cover element (16) is guided on the sliding element (68).

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