Bearing and drive device for an adjustable lid of a vehicle roof

Abstract

Bearing and drive device of an adjustable cover (2) of a vehicle roof (1) with a guide rail (12) on which the cover (2) is slidably mounted by means of a bearing unit (11) actuated by a drive cable (46), wherein a cable guide unit (17) is provided which can be coupled to the end or front of the guide rail (12) and - at least one intermediate cable guide (16) for the drive cable (46) and - has a guide track (20) for the bearing unit (11), characterized in that the at least one intermediate cable guide (16) of the cable guide unit (17) is formed in such a way that it guides and / or encompasses the drive cable (46) alternately on opposite sides along its longitudinal extent.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bearing and drive device for an adjustable cover of a vehicle roof with a guide rail on which the cover is slidably mounted by means of a bearing unit that can be actuated by a drive cable.

[0002] From DE 102 27 028 A1, a bearing and drive device for an adjustable cover of a vehicle sunroof is known. A frame device has frame side parts with guide rails arranged on them, on which sliding elements for the adjustable bearing of the cover are slidably mounted. A frame front part, which directly connects the two frame side parts, has, in particular, motorized drive devices for the cover and for a shading device adjustably arranged under the cover. Guide tubes for drive cables arranged on the frame front part are inserted at their ends into guide channels on the frame side parts at the transition to the frame side parts and fixed to the frame device by means of pipe clamps spaced apart from each other.The drive cables, which run through guide tubes from the drive units at the front of the frame to the side frames for operating the cover and the sunshade, are reliably guided into the guide channels by the fixing pipe clamps. The guide tubes are encased with damping tubes for at least a portion of their length, thus reducing unpleasant noises both when the drive unit is operated and during general driving.

[0003] Furthermore, DE 10 2008 046 332 A1 discloses a bearing and drive device. The document shows a vehicle roof with a roof frame comprising at least one frame cross member and at least one frame side member. To bridge the transition between the frame cross member and the frame side member, two molded parts with integrated guide channels are provided. One molded part is for the drive cable of the movable roof section, and the other molded part is for the drive cable of a shading device.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of creating a bearing and drive device mentioned above, which is improved with regard to a compact design, in particular cable routing, and of providing a sliding roof frame arrangement according to the preamble of claim 11 with such an improvement.

[0005] This problem is solved by a bearing and drive device with the features of independent claim 1. This requires, among other things, that a cable guidance unit be provided which can be coupled to the end of the guide rail and has at least one cable guide for the drive cable and a guide track for the bearing unit.

[0006] The problem is also solved by a sliding roof frame arrangement with the features of claim 12.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. The invention is defined by the claims, and aspects of the invention are set forth below.

[0008] In the bearing and drive device according to the invention, the cable guide unit, acting as a transition component, enables optimized adaptation between a cable feed on the drive unit side and the cable guide on the guide rail. Since the cable guide unit also includes a guide track for the bearing unit, which in particular forms a front section of a guide path arranged on the guide rail, the guide rail can be cost-effectively formed as a continuously extending extruded profile, and the cable guide unit can provide a guide path shape that deviates from the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, a front section of the guide path can be formed as a control or lifting track with an ascending cam profile. The cable guide unit can be designed in a shape adapted to different applications.

[0009] The cable management unit can be designed as a self-contained component with a very compact arrangement of the cable guide for the drive cable and the guide track for the bearing unit. This integration into a single component reduces the number of parts and the assembly effort compared to a multi-part design where several parts have to be connected or screwed together. This also eliminates the need for additional cuts or transitions in such a multi-part design. Therefore, the integration of the cable management unit into a single component is preferably achieved through a one-piece design as an injection-molded plastic part.

[0010] An adjustable cover is defined as any roof element, particularly a flat one, that is adjustable by means of a bearing and drive device. Such a roof element could be, for example, a transparent glass or plastic cover to which frame and bearing components may be attached or molded.

[0011] Therefore, the guide track of the cable guidance unit expediently forms an end section of an associated guide path of the guide rail, which supports the bearing unit in a slidable manner.

[0012] The cable management unit can form a transition component between at least one drive-side cable guide and the guide rail, so that a transverse front frame section of a sunroof frame assembly, which carries a drive unit and drive-side cable guides, is connected to the side frame sections of the sunroof frame assembly exclusively via this cable management unit. Alternatively, such a cable management unit can also be installed in a closed frame assembly.

[0013] A particularly compact design is achieved when at least one cable guide of the cable management unit and the guide rail share a common wall. This eliminates any gap or space that would otherwise be present. The cable guide is typically an injection-molded plastic part, in which the cable guide and the guide rail can be manufactured as integrated components.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the cable management unit comprises two intermediate cable guides that are integrated together and, in particular, share a common wall. One intermediate cable guide accommodates, for example, a drive cable for adjusting the lid, while the other intermediate cable guide accommodates and slidably guides a drive cable for adjusting a shading device, such as a sunshade.

[0015] Furthermore, the two cable guides can run one above the other in sections and, in particular, can be arranged at an intersection. In this configuration, the two cable guides can also run directly next to each other and share common guide walls, thus achieving a highly integrated, compact arrangement.

[0016] The cable guides are preferably designed such that they guide and / or enclose the respective drive cable alternately along its longitudinal extent on opposite sides, in particular on a top and a bottom with respect to the cable guide unit. This avoids closed cross-sections or channels on the circumference, thereby simplifying the manufacture of the cable guides on the cable guide unit, which is formed as a plastic injection-molded part.

[0017] For a compact arrangement, it may also be provided that one intermediate cable guide is located on the rear side facing the guide rail or on the rear section of the cable guide unit below the guide track.

[0018] If the cable management unit has a coupling device with at least one coupling element for precise coupling to the guide rail, a simple and safe assembly process is enabled.

[0019] The coupling device has, for example, a coupling pin that projects towards the guide rail and is designed to engage with an associated first coupling receptacle on the guide rail. The coupling pin is received in the first coupling receptacle with no play in the vertical direction and rests against the first coupling receptacle, which may be formed, for example, as a groove, in the transverse direction. A further coupling element can be formed by a lateral coupling tongue that projects towards the guide rail and is designed to engage with an associated second coupling receptacle on the guide rail. The second coupling receptacle, together with the coupling pin, can provide a backlash-free connection of the cable management unit in the transverse direction. A third coupling element is advantageously formed by a locking hook that projects towards the guide rail and engages with a locking head in an associated third coupling receptacle, such as a...A locking recess on the guide rail can be releasably engaged, so that the cable management unit coupled to the guide rail is releasably locked in place. During the assembly process of the sunroof frame, this ensures that the cable management unit is sufficiently secured to the guide rail.

[0020] Advantageously, the cable management unit includes at least one connection point, in particular a flange with a flange opening, for attachment, especially by screwing, to the guide rail. The attachment or screwing can also be carried out on the frame side member that forms or supports the guide rail. In this case, the attachment of the cable management unit to the guide rail or the frame side member can be achieved solely via the coupling device and the connection point. Further fastenings and associated assembly steps are then unnecessary.

[0021] In a sunroof frame arrangement of a vehicle sunroof with a bearing and drive device of an adjustable cover with a guide rail on which the cover is slidably mounted by means of a bearing unit actuated by a drive cable and which is arranged on a frame side part of the sunroof frame arrangement, a bearing and drive device with a cable guide unit according to one of claims 1 to 10 is provided according to the invention.

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment of a bearing and drive device according to the invention, and with reference to the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 in a schematic top view of a vehicle roof with a sunroof and a sunroof frame arrangement as well as an adjustment device for a sunroof cover; Fig. 2 in a perspective external view a cable guidance unit of the bearing and drive device between a frame front part and a frame side part of the sliding roof frame assembly; Fig. 3 in a perspective interior view the cable routing unit at the transition between the frame front part and the frame side part; Fig. 4 in a perspective view the cable guide unit in its arrangement at the front end of a guide rail of the frame side panel; Fig. 5 in another perspective view the cable management unit; Fig. 6 in another perspective view the cable management unit; Fig. 7 in a perspective view the cable guide unit in its arrangement at the lateral end of the frame front part; Fig. 8 in another perspective view the cable management unit; Fig. 9 in another perspective view the cable management unit with two drive cables; and Fig. Figure 10 shows the cable management unit with two drive cables in another perspective view.

[0023] An opening vehicle roof 1 of a vehicle such as a passenger car has a cover 2 which can be opened from a closed position in a roof opening 3 (see Fig. 1) is liftable and adjustable into a ventilation position and, from the ventilation position with its rear edge 4 raised, can be moved into an open position via a roof section 5 extending behind the roof opening 3 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or roof. Such a roof is also referred to as a spoiler roof. The rear roof section 5 can be formed as a fixed roof surface or with a movable roof section. The axis and direction designations used in the description, such as "front" and "rear", "top" and "bottom", "outside" and "inside", "horizontal" and "vertical", as well as "lateral", "transverse" and "longitudinal" or in the transverse and longitudinal directions, refer to a three-dimensional xyz vehicle coordinate system.

[0024] The vehicle roof 1 has a sunroof frame assembly 6 on which the cover 2 is movably mounted and adjustable to its various positions by means of an adjustment device 7. The sunroof frame assembly 6 essentially comprises a transverse front frame section 8 and two side frame sections 9 and 10, which extend longitudinally along both sides of the roof opening 3. The cover 2 is, for example, mounted on guide rails 12 by means of exemplary front and rear bearing or sliding units 11 and 11' (see figure). Fig. 2) movably mounted, which are formed by or arranged on the frame side parts 9 and 10. The adjusting device 7 has a drive unit with, for example, a drive motor 13 such as an electric geared motor, which is mounted on the frame front part 8 and is connected by means of a drive wheel or pinion to an elongated adjusting element such as a conventional drive cable 46 (only in the Fig. 9 and Fig. (10 shown) or a rack that is resistant to tension and compression and is flexible, is connected to, for example, the front slider unit 11 on the associated guide rail 12. Each of the two drive cables 46 is received in a cable guide 14, which extends laterally outwards from the drive motor 13 along the front frame section 8 to a corner area 15 of the front frame section 8.

[0025] Such a sliding roof frame arrangement with adjustment and drive mechanism is known in principle from DE 40 14 487 C1. The mounting of a cover 2, which is adjustable in a spoiler-like manner over a rear roof surface 5 extending behind the roof opening 3, is known by way of example from DE 10 2012 023 098 A1.

[0026] In the corner area 15 of the frame front section 8, the cable guide 14 runs in an arc towards the guide rail 12 and transitions into an intermediate cable guide 16 of a cable guide unit 17. This unit is arranged as an independent component or transition component at the front end of the guide rail 12 and forms a connection between the guide rail 12, and thus the frame side section 9, and the frame front section 8. The intermediate cable guide 16 opens into a guide channel 18 of the guide rail 12 on the side of the guide rail 12. The guide channel 18 is, for example, located below a guide track or sliding guide track 19, which runs along the guide rail 12 and slidably mounts the sliding unit 11 of the cover 2.

[0027] The vehicle roof 1 with the sunroof frame assembly 6 is essentially symmetrical to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, so that the description can be based solely on the information provided in the Fig. The components shown in sections 2 to 8 are located in the front left corner area of ​​the sliding roof frame assembly 6.

[0028] The cable guide unit 17 is formed in one piece, particularly as an injection-molded plastic part, and has a guide track 20 that forms a front section of the slider guide track 19 and has a longitudinally rising slope. The slider unit 11 is guided between a lower guide track 21 and an upper guide track 22 of the guide track 20 and, when the cover 2 is closed, is located at the front lower end of the guide track 20. When the cover 2 is opened and opened, the slider unit 11 is raised backwards to the level of the slider guide track 19 and transferred to the slider guide track 19.

[0029] The cable routing unit 17 also has an additional second intermediate cable guide 23, which is for an associated drive cable 47 (see Fig. 9 and Fig. 10) is provided for operating a shading device such as a roller blind (not shown), which is slidably mounted on a roller blind guide 24 on the frame side part 9 or the guide rail 12. The additional or second intermediate cable guide 23 forms the connection and transition between a roller blind cable guide 25 on the frame front part 8 and a roller blind cable guide channel 26 (see Fig. 3) on the guide rail 12 or the frame side panel 9. The roller blind cable guide 25 runs in the corner area 15 of the frame front panel 8 approximately in a horizontal plane with the cable guide 14 next to it and inwards towards it in the curved section. The frame front panel 8 is expediently a plastic injection-molded part in which each cable guide 14 and each roller blind cable guide 25, as well as brackets for the drive motor 13 and a roller blind drive, are molded or injection-molded.

[0030] The two intermediate cable guides 16 and 23 are arranged directly next to each other on a front side 27 of the cable guide unit 17 facing the front part 8 of the frame and in association with the two end sections 14' and 25' of the cable guide 14 and the roller blind cable guide 25 respectively, and have front connection sections 16' and 23' which are formed, for example, in a semi-shell shape and rest on the upper side of the end sections 14' and 25' of the cable guide 14 and the roller blind cable guide 25, thereby enabling an exact mutual coaxial arrangement.

[0031] The additional intermediate cable guide 23 of the roller shutter drive cable 47 runs slightly upwards towards a rear side 28 of the cable guide unit 17 facing the guide rail 12 and approaches the outside 29 of a wall 30 of the guide track 20, which faces away from the two track sections 21 and 22, and is formed integrally with this wall 30 at least over a section, thereby achieving a very compact design in the transverse or y-direction.

[0032] The intermediate cable guide 16 of the drive cable 46 runs from the front 27 of the cable guide unit 17 inwards under the additional intermediate cable guide 23 and directly along the outer side 29 of the wall 30 of the guide track 20, and towards the rear 28 under the wall 30 of the raised end of the guide track 20. Thus, the two intermediate cable guides 16 and 23 cross each other in a compact arrangement and can, in particular, have a common wall 31. The two intermediate cable guides 16 and 23 can terminate at the same height in the x-direction, or the upper intermediate cable guide 23 can terminate a distance in front of the lower intermediate cable guide 16 and is therefore set back from it. The front connections of the guide channel 18 of the guide rail 12 and the roller blind cable guide channel 26 are designed and positioned accordingly.The intermediate cable guide 16 of the drive cable 46, as well as the additional intermediate cable guide 23 of the roller shutter drive cable 47, are designed such that they encompass the respective cable 46 or 47 along its axial extent with alternating opposing wall sections, wherein the wall sections encompass the cables alternately on the top and bottom with respect to the installation position of the cable guide unit 17. Therefore, the cable guide unit 17 can be manufactured more easily as an injection-molded part using a simpler injection mold, particularly in the area of ​​these intermediate cable guides 16 and 23.

[0033] The cable guide unit 17 can be coupled and secured to the guide rail 12 by means of a coupling device 32. The coupling device 32 has several coupling elements, such as a coupling pin 33, which projects from the rear 28 of the cable guide unit 17 in the area below the lower guide track 21 towards the guide rail 12 and is designed to engage with an associated first coupling receptacle 34 on the guide rail 12. The coupling pin 33 is received in the first coupling receptacle 34 without play in the vertical direction and rests against the first coupling receptacle 34, which is formed, for example, as a groove, in the transverse direction.

[0034] A further coupling element is formed by a lateral coupling tongue 35, which projects from the wall 30 of the guide track 20 towards the guide rail 12 as an extension of the latter and is designed to engage with an associated second coupling receptacle 36 on the guide rail 12. The second coupling receptacle 36 is, for example, a rear wall 37 of the sliding guide track 19 of the guide rail 12, against which the coupling tongue 35 rests and thus, together with the coupling pin 33, provides a backlash-free coupling of the cable guide unit 17 in the transverse direction.

[0035] A third coupling element is formed by a locking hook 38, which projects from the rear end of the upper cam track 22 of the guide cam 20 towards the guide rail 12 and can detachably engage with its locking head 39 in an associated third coupling receptacle 40, such as a locking recess on the guide rail 12, so that the cable guide unit 17 coupled to the guide rail 12 is detachably locked in place. During the assembly process of the sliding roof frame assembly 6, sufficient fixation of the cable guide unit 17 to the guide rail 12 is thus ensured.

[0036] The cable guide unit 17 has a flange 41, which is, for example, integrally formed on the additional intermediate cable guide 23 and extends horizontally inwards with respect to the guide rail 12 and the frame side panel 9 such that it rests, for example, from below against a front horizontal rail section 42 of the guide rail 12 when the cable guide unit 17 is coupled to it. A flange opening 43 of the flange 41 is then positioned below an opening 44 in the rail section 42, so that a connection can be made by means of a connecting element, such as a screw or the like, which extends through the two openings 43 and 44. This connection at the connection point 45 formed by the described elements can simultaneously serve to fasten the guide rail 12 or the frame side panel 9 to the vehicle roof or to a roof frame associated with the vehicle roof.

[0037] The drive unit for adjusting the cover 2 as well as the roller blind device can also be mounted on a rear frame cross member or frame rear member 48 (see Fig. 1) the sunroof frame assembly 6. The cable guide unit 17 then forms the transition on the rear side, with respect to the guide rail 12, between the rear end of the guide rail 12 and the side area of ​​the rear frame part 48. In such a cable guide unit 17, the designations of the front 27 and the rear 28 are then reversed.

[0038] In principle, the cable guidance unit 17 is suitable for any installation position of a guide rail 12 and a sunroof frame arrangement 6, especially on a vehicle roof.

[0039] The individual features disclosed in the description and by way of the exemplary embodiment can be combined with the subject matter of the invention in its general form in any technically expedient arrangements and designs. Reference symbol list 1 vehicle roof 2 lids 3 Roof opening 4 Rear edge 5 Roof section 6. Sliding roof frame arrangement 7 Adjustment device 8 Frame front section 9 Frame side panel 10 Frame side panel 11 front sliding unit 11' rear sliding unit 12 Guide rail 13 Drive motor 14 Cable routing 14' Final section 15 Corner area 16 cable routing 16' connection section 17 Cable management unit 18 Guide channel 19 Slider guide track 20 Leadership backdrop 21 lower scenery track 22 upper scenery track 23 additional cable routing 23' Connection section 24 roller blind guides 25 Roller blind cable guide 25' Final section 26 Roller blind cable guide channel 27 Front 28 Back 29 Outside 30 wall 31 wall 32 Coupling device 33 coupling pins 34 first coupling mount 35 Clutch tongue 36 second coupling mount 37 Back panel 38 locking hooks 39 Rastkopf 40 third coupling mount 41 Flange 42 track section 43 Flange opening 44 Opening 45 liaison point 46 drive cables 47 Roller blind drive cables 48 Rear frame

Claims

[1] Bearing and drive device of an adjustable cover (2) of a vehicle roof (1) with a guide rail (12) on which the cover (2) is slidably mounted by means of a bearing unit (11) actuated by a drive cable (46), wherein a cable guide unit (17) is provided which can be coupled to the end or front of the guide rail (12) and - at least one intermediate cable guide (16) for the drive cable (46) and - has a guide track (20) for the storage unit (11), characterized by , that at least one intermediate cable guide (16) of the cable guide unit (17) is formed such that it guides and / or encompasses the drive cable (46) alternately on opposite sides along its longitudinal extent. [2] Bearing and drive device according to claim 1, characterized by, that at least one intermediate cable guide (16) of the cable guide unit (17) is formed such that it guides and / or encompasses the drive cable (46) alternately on a top and a bottom side with respect to the cable guide unit (17) along its longitudinal extent. [3] Bearing and drive device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the guide track (20) of the cable guidance unit (17) forms an end section of an associated guide path (19) of the guide rail (12) which slidably supports the bearing unit (11). [4] Bearing and drive device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the cable guidance unit (17) forms a transition component between at least one drive-side cable guidance (14) and the guide rail (12). [5] Bearing and drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by, that at least one intermediate cable guide (16) of the cable guide unit (17) and the guide backdrop (20) have a common wall (30). [6] Bearing and drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the cable guidance unit (17) has two intermediate cable guides (16, 23) which are integrated together and in particular have a common wall (31). [7] Bearing and drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the two intermediate cable guides (16, 23) run section by section over each other and in particular are arranged intersecting each other. [8] Bearing and drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that one intermediate cable guide (16, 23) is arranged on one of the rear sides (28) of the cable guide unit (17) facing the guide rail (12) below the guide track (20). [9] Bearing and drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the cable guidance unit (17) has a coupling device (32) with at least one coupling element (33, 35, 38) for precise coupling to the guide rail (12). [10] Bearing and drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the cable guidance unit (17) has at least one connection point (45), in particular a flange (41) with a flange opening (43), for fastening, in particular for screwing, to the guide rail (12). [11] Bearing and drive device according to claim 10, characterized by , that the fastening of the cable guidance unit (17) to the guide rail (12) is carried out exclusively via the coupling device (32) and the connection point (45). [12] Sunroof frame assembly (6) of a vehicle sunroof with a bearing and drive device of an adjustable cover (2), wherein a guide rail (12) on which the cover (2) is slidably mounted by means of a bearing unit (11) actuated by a drive cable (46) is arranged on a frame side part (9, 10) of the sunroof frame assembly (6), characterized by a bearing and drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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