Convertible vehicle with centering device

Abstract

Convertible vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a vehicle soft top (10) having a soft top frame (22) adjustable between a closed position in which the vehicle soft top (10) spans a vehicle interior (12) and a stowed position in which the vehicle interior (12) is open upwards and the vehicle soft top (10) is stowed in a soft top storage compartment (14) of the vehicle in question, and comprising, with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the soft top, a linkage arrangement (24) on each side, which includes a main multi-joint comprising a first main link (30) and a second main link (32), each pivotably mounted on a vehicle-fixed main bearing (26, 28) and connected to each other via a coupling link (34), wherein at least one rigid soft top element extending in the transverse direction of the soft top is mounted on the linkage arrangements (24), characterized in thatthat the coupling link (34) forms a centering device which, in the closed position of the vehicle roof (10), centers it relative to the vehicle body, in particular in the transverse direction of the vehicle, wherein the coupling link (34) has a centering element (40) and the vehicle roof (10) comprises a centering counter-element (44) corresponding to the centering element (40) of the coupling link (34).

Description

The invention relates to a convertible vehicle having the features of the preamble of claim 1.Convertible vehicles having a vehicle body, a top compartment cover, a vehicle top which has a top linkage, and means for securing the position which centers the vehicle top on the vehicle body are known from practice. The convertible top linkage of such a vehicle is adjustable between a closed position and a storage position. In the closed position, the vehicle roof spans a vehicle interior. In the storage position, the vehicle interior is released upward and the vehicle roof is stored in a roof storage space of the respective vehicle. The convertible top linkage comprises on both sides, with respect to a vertical convertible top longitudinal center plane, a link arrangement which comprises in each case a main multi-joint which comprises a first main link and a second main link. The main links are pivotably mounted on a main bearing fixed to the vehicle and are connected to one another via a coupling link.Previously known means for securing the vehicle roof in position relative to the top compartment cover or vehicle structure of convertible vehicles are designed in the form of an additional component and a recess for receiving the component in the top compartment cover. This requires additional installation space. In addition, the recess can be visible in the storage position of the vehicle roof.The publication EP 1 554 143 B1 discloses a convertible vehicle which comprises a vehicle roof designed as an RHT. The vehicle roof comprises a roof linkage which on both sides has a linkage arrangement with a main multi-joint which is pivotably mounted on a relevant vehicle-mounted main bearing. The main multi-joints each comprise two main links which are connected to one another via a front convertible top shell.The object of the invention is to create a convertible vehicle of the type mentioned in the introduction, in which the centering of the vehicle roof, in particular in the transverse direction of the vehicle with the vehicle body, is possible in an economical manner and the means for securing the position require a small installation space and are not visible either in the closed position or in the storage position of the vehicle roof.This object is achieved according to the invention by the convertible vehicle having the features of claim 1.The convertible vehicle according to the invention thus comprises a vehicle body and a vehicle roof with a roof linkage which, with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, comprises on each side a link arrangement which comprises a first main link and a second main link. The two main links are connected to one another via a coupling link which forms a centering device with centering elements, also referred to as a means for securing the position. The coupling link, which is thus designed as a centering device, centers the vehicle roof with respect to the vehicle body in the closed position of the vehicle roof, in particular in the transverse direction of the vehicle, so that no additional component is required for centering the vehicle roof with respect to the vehicle body. The vehicle roof comprises a centering counter element corresponding to the centering element of the coupling link.An economical position securing is thus possible, which results in particular from a use of the coupling link as a centering device and the associated omission of an additional component for centering the vehicle roof with respect to the vehicle body, in particular in the vehicle transverse direction. Also, no additional installation space is taken up by the coupling link forming the centering device. Furthermore, in the convertible vehicle according to the invention, the centering device is not visible from the outside of the vehicle either in the closed position or in the storage position of the vehicle roof.In a preferred embodiment, the coupling link of the convertible vehicle according to the invention comprises a first and a second centering element. The two centering elements make it possible to engage in corresponding counter-centering elements and thus to ensure a positionally accurate securing of two components.In a further advantageous embodiment, the convertible vehicle according to the invention comprises a top compartment cover which is adjustable between a covering position which closes the top storage space upwards and an open position which opens the top storage space upwards. The convertible top compartment cover or the vehicle body comprises a centering counter element corresponding to the first centering element of the coupling link.The centering counter element of the convertible top compartment cover or of the vehicle body makes possible a positionally accurate position securing by interaction with the first centering element of the coupling link, as a result of which any relative movements between the convertible top compartment cover or the vehicle body and the coupling link are reduced.In a development of the convertible vehicle according to the invention, it is conceivable for the vehicle roof to comprise a centring counter-element corresponding to the second centring element of the coupling link.The centering counter element of the vehicle roof enters into a positive connection together with the second centering element of the coupling link in the active position, whereby a positionally accurate position securing and a reduction of any relative movements between the vehicle roof and the coupling link result.In an advantageous embodiment of the convertible vehicle according to the invention, the first centering element of the coupling link engages with the centering counter element of the convertible top compartment lid or of the vehicle body in the covering position.By the cooperation of the first centering element of the coupling link and the corresponding centering counter element of the convertible top compartment lid or of the vehicle body, the coupling link and the convertible top compartment lid are secured in position with respect to one another in an accurate manner.In a development, it is conceivable that the convertible vehicle according to the present invention comprises a centering element on the convertible top compartment cover and a vehicle-mounted centering counter element corresponding thereto, wherein the centering element of the convertible top compartment cover is in engagement with the vehicle-mounted centering counter element in the covering position, whereby the convertible top compartment cover is centered relative to the vehicle body.In a further advantageous embodiment of the convertible vehicle according to the invention, in the closed position of the vehicle roof, the second centering element of the coupling link engages with the corresponding centering counter-element of the vehicle roof.By the interaction of the second centering element of the coupling link with the corresponding centering counter element of the vehicle roof, the coupling link and the vehicle roof are secured in position with respect to one another in an accurate manner.The centering counter element of the vehicle roof can be arranged, for example, on one of the main links of the roof linkage. By a movement of the top linkage during an adjustment of the vehicle top from the storage position into the closed position, the corresponding centering counter element of the vehicle top engages with the second centering element of the coupling link. Due to the arrangement of the centering counter element on one of the main links of the convertible top linkage, the latter is not visible either in the closed position or in the storage position of the vehicle convertible top.The first centering element of the coupling link can be designed in particular in the form of a centering pin and the second centering element can be designed in particular in the form of a centering recess, for example a bushing or the like.The centering counter-element of the hood compartment lid or of the vehicle body corresponding to the first centering element of the coupling link is then designed in the form of a centering recess, for example a bushing or the like, whereas the centering counter-element of the vehicle hood corresponding to the second centering element of the coupling link is designed in the form of a centering pin.In a further advantageous embodiment of the convertible vehicle according to the invention, the convertible vehicle comprises a closure receptacle, wherein the centering pin of the coupling link is designed in the form of a counterpart of a closure receptacle.In a further preferred embodiment, the two centering elements of the coupling link come into an engagement position with the corresponding centering counter-element by an adjustment of the vehicle roof from the storage position into the closed position and by an adjustment of the roof box cover from the open position into the covering position without further measures, so that an exact alignment of the vehicle roof and the vehicle body takes place without further adjusting movements.A top element of the convertible vehicle according to the invention can be designed as a rigid roof shell of a hinged roof, on which the centering device acts.Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be derived from the description, the drawing and the patent claims.An exemplary embodiment of a convertible vehicle according to the invention is shown schematically in simplified form in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: FIG. 1 shows a side view of a rear region of a convertible vehicle with a hinged roof in a closed position and a top compartment cover in a covering position; FIG. 2 shows a side view of the rear region of the convertible vehicle with the folding roof in a first intermediate position and the top compartment cover in an open position according to FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 shows a side view of the rear region of the convertible vehicle with the folding roof in a second intermediate position and the top compartment cover in the open position according to FIG. 1 ; and FIG. 4 shows a side view of the rear region of the convertible vehicle with the folding roof in a storage position and the convertible top compartment cover in a covering position according to FIG. 1.The drawing shows a convertible vehicle 1 with a vehicle roof 10 which is designed as a folding roof or RHT (retractable hard top) and can be adjusted between a closed position, which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and spans a vehicle interior 12, and a storage position, which releases the vehicle interior 12 upwards and in which, as can be seen from FIG. 4, it is accommodated in a rear-side roof storage space 14 of the convertible vehicle 1. The top side of the top storage space 14 is provided with a top compartment cover 16 which is adjustable between a covering position in which the top storage space 14, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 4, is closed at the top, and an open position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the open position of the top compartment lid 16, the top storage space 14 is released upwards in order to be able to introduce the vehicle top 10 into the top storage space 14 or to be able to remove the vehicle top 10 from the top storage space 14.The top 10 comprises two rigid roof shells, namely a front or bow-side roof shell 18 and a rear or rear-side roof shell 20.For adjustment, the vehicle roof 10 has a roof linkage 22 which, with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, comprises on each side a linkage arrangement 24 which is pivotably mounted on two main bearings 26, 28 arranged in the region of the roof storage space 14 of the respective vehicle.The linkage arrangements 24 arranged on both sides each have a main link arrangement which comprises a first main link 30 and a second main link 32.Furthermore, the convertible top linkage 22 has a coupling link 34, which is connected to the main link 30 via a hinge point 36 and has an elongated hole 38, via which it is connected to a pin of the main link 32.The coupling link 34 has a centering element 40 or 42 on the side facing the vehicle roof 10 in a front region in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in a rear region in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In the region of the rear roof shell 20, the vehicle roof 10 comprises a centring counter-element 44 which corresponds to the centring element 40 and is designed as a centring pin, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in the closed position of the vehicle roof 10 is in engagement with the centring element 40 of the coupling link 34 which is designed as a recess. The convertible top compartment cover 16 comprises, in an edge region at the front in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a centring counter-element 44 designed as a recess which, as shown in FIG. 1, is in engagement, in the covering position of the convertible top compartment cover 16, with the centring element 42 of the coupling link 34 designed as a centring pin. Furthermore, the convertible top compartment cover 16 has a pin-like centering element 46 which, in the covering position of the convertible top compartment cover 16, is in engagement with a centering counter-element 52, which is designed as a recess, on a bearing 50 fixed to the vehicle.When the vehicle roof 10 is adjusted from the storage position into the closed position and the roof compartment cover 16 is adjusted from the open position into the covering position, the centering element 40 of the coupling link 34 is brought into engagement with the centering counter element 44 of the vehicle roof 10, the centering element 42 of the coupling link 34 is brought into engagement with the centering counter element 46 of the roof compartment cover 16, and the centering element 48 of the roof compartment cover 16 is brought into engagement with the centering counter element 52 of the vehicle-mounted bearing 50 without further adjusting movements, so that the vehicle roof 10 is positionally secured with respect to the roof compartment cover 16 and is also positionally secured with respect to the vehicle body by the engagement of the centering element 48 of the roof compartment cover 16 with the vehicle-mounted centering counter element 52. The coupling link 34 forms a centering device.List of reference characters1 Convertible vehicle 10 Vehicle roof 12 Vehicle interior 14 Roof storage space 16 Roof box cover 18 Front roof shell 20 Rear roof shell 22 Roof rod assembly 24 Rod assembly 26 Main bearing 28 Main bearing 30 Main link 32 Main link 34 Coupling link 36 Articulation point 38 Elongated hole 40 Centering element 42 Centering element 44 Mating centering element 46 Mating centering element 48 Centering element 50 Vehicle-fixed bearing 52 Mating centering element

Claims

Convertible vehicle, comprising a vehicle body and a vehicle roof (10) which has a roof linkage (22) which is adjustable between a closed position in which the vehicle roof (10) spans a vehicle interior (12), and a storage position in which the vehicle interior (12) is released upwards and the vehicle roof (10) is stored in a roof storage space (14) of the relevant vehicle, and which, with respect to a vertical longitudinal central plane of the roof, comprises on both sides in each case a linkage arrangement (24) which comprises a main multi-link which comprises a first main link (30) and a second main link (32), which are in each case mounted pivotably on a main bearing (26, 28) fixed to the vehicle and are connected to one another via a coupling link (34), at least one rigid roof element which extends in the transverse direction of the roof being mounted on the linkage arrangements (24), characterized in that, the coupling link (34) forms a centering device which, in the closed position of the vehicle roof (10), centers the latter with respect to the vehicle body, in particular in the transverse direction of the vehicle, wherein the coupling link (34) has a centering element (40) and the vehicle roof (10) comprises a centering counter-element (44) corresponding to the centering element (40) of the coupling link (34).Convertible vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coupling link (34) comprises two centring elements (40, 42).Convertible vehicle according to claim 2, comprising a convertible top compartment cover (16) which is adjustable between a covering position in which the convertible top storage space (14) is closed upwards and an open position in which the convertible top storage space (14) is released upwards, characterised in that the convertible top compartment cover (16) or the vehicle body comprises a centring counter element (46) corresponding to the centring element (42) of the coupling link (34).Convertible vehicle according to Claim 3, characterized in that the centring element (42) of the coupling link (34) is in engagement with the centring counter element (46) of the convertible top compartment lid (16) or of the vehicle body in the covering position of the convertible top compartment lid (16).Convertible vehicle according to Claim 4, characterized in that a centring element (48) of the convertible top compartment cover (16) and a corresponding centring counter-element (52) fixed to the vehicle are in engagement in the covering position of the convertible top compartment cover (16).Convertible vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the centring element (40) of the coupling link (34) is in engagement with the centring counter-element (44) of the vehicle roof (10) in the closed position of the vehicle roof (10).Convertible vehicle according to Claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the centring counter-element (44) of the vehicle roof (10) is arranged on one of the main links (30, 32) of the roof linkage (22).Convertible vehicle according to Claim 2, characterized in that one centring element (42) of the coupling link (34) is designed in the form of a centring pin and the other centring element (40) of the coupling link (34) is designed in the form of a centring recess.Convertible vehicle according to Claim 3 or one of Claims 1 to 8 in conjunction with Claim 3, characterized in that the centring counter-element (46) of the convertible top compartment cover (16) or of the vehicle body is designed in the form of a centring recess.Convertible vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the centring counter-element (44) of the vehicle roof (10) is designed in the form of a centring pin.Convertible vehicle according to one of Claims 2 to 10, comprising a closure receptacle for locking the vehicle roof (10), characterized in that the centring element (40) of the coupling link (34) is designed in the form of a counterpart of the closure receptacle.Convertible vehicle according to claim 3, characterised in that the two centring elements (40, 42) of the coupling link (34) engage with the respectively corresponding centring counter element (44, 46) by an adjustment of the vehicle roof from the storage position into the closed position and by an adjustment of the roof compartment cover (16) from the open position into the covering position without further adjusting movements.Convertible vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the top element is designed as a rigid roof shell (18, 22) of a folding roof and the centring device acts on the top element.

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