Vehicle roof with support frame and window element

Abstract

A vehicle roof is proposed, comprising a one-piece support frame (18) having a fixing surface (50) on its underside, by means of which it can be placed onto a roof substructure from above, and comprising two longitudinal frame legs (20) and three transverse frame legs (22, 24, 26), which connect the two longitudinal frame legs (20) to each other, and of which a front transverse frame leg (22) and a middle transverse frame leg (24) define a first frame window (28), and the middle transverse frame leg (24) and a rear transverse frame leg (26) define a second frame window (32), which is provided with a glazing element (34), wherein the glazing element (34) is completely connected at its edges to the middle transverse frame leg (24), the rear transverse frame leg (26) and the two longitudinal frame legs (20) via an injection-molded or foamed molded section (36). is connectedwherein the rear frame transverse leg (26) and the frame longitudinal legs (20) are each free of the molded section on their undersides to form the fixing surface (50), and the molded section (36) overlaps the fixing surface (50) in the area of ​​the two frame longitudinal legs (20) and the rear frame transverse leg (26), wherein the middle frame transverse leg (24) is engaged on its underside by the molded section (36) and forms a support section extending in the frame transverse direction for a cover seal (48) which interacts with an adjustable cover element (30) by means of which the first frame window (28) can be closed.

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle roof comprising a carrier frame which comprises two longitudinal frame legs and transverse frame legs and which delimits two frame windows, at least one of which is provided with a pane element.Such a vehicle roof is known from the publication DE 10 2021 111 972 A1 and comprises a carrier frame which is designed in a circumferential manner and is provided with a rear-side glass fixed element or pane element and a front-side cover element which can be adjusted by means of a corresponding adjusting kinematics between a closed position closing a roof opening and a release position at least partially releasing the roof opening. This vehicle roof, which has to be connected to a vehicle body shell from below, i.e. after a so-called bottom load process, comprises two longitudinal frame legs, which are connected to one another via a front transverse frame leg and a rear transverse frame leg. The glass-fixed element is rigidly fixed to the carrier frame. The cover element is part of a roof opening system and is designed as an externally running sliding roof, the adjusting kinematics of which can be moved in the open position of the cover element in guide rails which are arranged laterally next to the glass fixed element in the transverse direction of the roof. Between the glass-fixed element and the regions of the vehicle body shell adjoining the vehicle roof, a channel is therefore formed which has to be covered by panel elements which can be formed by seals.The object of the invention is to create a vehicle roof which is designed as a so-called top load roof, that is to say which can be mounted from above on a vehicle body shell, which comprises a fixed pane element and an adjustable cover element and which can satisfy high aesthetic demands in a state in which it is installed on the vehicle body shell.This object is achieved according to the invention by the vehicle roof having the features of claim 1.According to the invention, a vehicle roof is thus proposed which comprises a one-piece carrier frame which has a fixing surface on the underside, via which it can be placed from above onto a roof substructure, which can be a component of the vehicle body shell. The carrier frame comprises two longitudinal frame legs and three transverse frame legs, which connect the two longitudinal frame legs to one another in each case and of which, as viewed in the longitudinal direction, a front transverse frame leg and a middle transverse frame leg delimit a first frame window on the front side with respect to the orientation of the relevant vehicle, and the middle transverse frame leg and a rear transverse frame leg delimit a second frame window on the rear side with respect to the orientation of the relevant vehicle, which is provided with a pane element. The edges of the pane element are connected completely circumferentially via an injection-molded or foamed molded section to the central frame transverse leg, the rear frame transverse leg and the two frame longitudinal legs. To form the fixing surface, the rear transverse frame leg and the longitudinal frame legs are each free of the shaped portion on their undersides. On the upper side of the carrier frame, the shaped section is formed such that it overlaps the fixing surface in the region of the two longitudinal frame legs and the rear transverse frame leg. The central frame transverse leg is under-engaged at its underside by the shaped portion and forms a carrier portion, extending in the transverse direction of the frame, for a cover seal which interacts with an adjustable cover element by means of which the first frame window can be closed. By virtue of the configuration of the shaped portion according to the invention, the unit comprising the shaped portion and the pane element can be guided far outwards in the transverse direction of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, with respect to the center of the pane element, such that, in the assembled state of the vehicle roof, no visible gap is formed between the encircling shaped portion and the body shell or body portions adjoining in the region of the longitudinal frame legs and the transverse rear frame leg, which gap would have to be closed by means of an additional panel. Thus, the vehicle roof according to the invention in the assembled state satisfies high aesthetic demands.The longitudinal frame legs of the carrier frame extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in the installed state of the vehicle roof. The roof longitudinal direction coincides with the vehicle longitudinal direction. The frame transverse legs each extend in the vehicle transverse direction or roof transverse direction, i.e. at least substantially at right angles to the frame longitudinal legs.The shaped section of the vehicle roof according to the invention constitutes, on the one hand, a connecting structure between the pane element and the carrier frame. On the other hand, the in particular continuously formed shaped section also forms a lower-side veneer of the central frame transverse limb of the carrier frame. An additional inner lining in the region of the central frame transverse limb can therefore be dispensed with, since the shaped portion can form part of the inner lining. Thus, the molded portion without any accessory components ensures an attractive appearance of the vehicle roof on the side of the interior of the subject vehicle. The material of the shaped portion can be selected such that the given requirements with regard to interior safety, for example with regard to a head impact, are fulfilled. Both functionalities can be realized by a single production step, that is to say by forming the shaped section on the carrier frame.In an embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention which is particularly preferred from the manufacturing standpoint, the carrier frame is a component which is produced in one piece or from one piece and which comprises the two longitudinal frame legs and the three transverse frame legs and which can be a stamped and bent part produced from a suitable metallic material.In an alternative embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the one-piece carrier frame is composed of a plurality of leg elements which are rigidly connected to one another, for example welded to one another, and thus form the one-piece carrier frame.The fixing surface of the carrier frame, via which the vehicle roof can be connected to a vehicle body shell after a top load process, i.e. from above, forms in particular an adhesive surface which is of frame-like and encircling design and which is arranged below the shaped portion, via which the pane element is connected to the carrier frame. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle roof according to the invention can also be connected to the roof substructure via a screw connection and / or a rivet connection.The adjustable cover element, by means of which the first frame window can be closed, is, in a preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, a component of a roof opening system which is designed in the manner of a spoiler roof. In this roof opening system, the cover element is thus displaced for opening the first frame window via the pane element which is rigidly connected to the carrier frame and is assigned to the second or rear frame window. The roof opening system of a spoiler roof has a kinematic adjustment system, the guide rails of which are arranged only in the region of the first frame window. The guide rails therefore end, as viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction, in front of the pane element of the second frame window.In order to reduce water ingress via the vehicle roof and in particular also to be able to implement water management, in a special embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the shaped portion is provided in the region of the two longitudinal frame legs and in the region of the rear transverse frame leg with a sealing device which bears against a sealing surface of the roof substructure or of the vehicle body shell or of a vehicle cladding assigned to the vehicle body shell and covers a channel between the shaped portion and the roof substructure or the vehicle body shell.The sealing device can be designed in particular in the manner of a sealing lip and can be a one-piece component of the shaped section. The sealing device is therefore in this case also an integrated component of the molded section and is produced during the molding of the molded section.In an alternative embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the sealing device comprises a sealing profile which is preferably fastened via a sealing foot in a sealing groove of the shaped portion or can also be glued to the shaped portion.The seal groove in which the seal profile is fastened may be formed on a step surface of the molding portion so that the seal profile engages the seal groove from above. Alternatively, the sealing groove can also be formed on a vertically standing or obliquely placed side surface of the shaped section, which side surface faces the sealing surface interacting with the sealing profile.The carrier frame can form a planar or regionally curved adhesion surface for the mold section in the regions of the fixing surface which are overlapped by the mold section. In particular, the carrier frame can also have an outwardly lying, upwardly pointing bevel which forms part of an edge surface of the vehicle roof. It is furthermore conceivable for the shaped portion to protrude beyond the carrier frame in the vehicle transverse direction and the vehicle longitudinal direction. The carrier frame is then thus offset inwardly with respect to the edge surface of the shaped section in the direction of the center of the pane body.In order to increase the stability of the vehicle roof according to the invention and also to reduce material stresses in the region between the carrier frame and the pane element, the shaped section in a preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention accommodates at least one profile-like insert between the carrier frame and the pane element.The molding portion of the vehicle roof according to the invention, which is injection molded or foamed, is formed in a preferred embodiment from a polyurethane material, which is molded in a corresponding molding tool, into which the carrier frame and the pane element are inserted.In a further specific embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the shaped section is provided with a cover seal in a region which adjoins the central frame transverse limb from above. The cover seal, which extends along the leg of the shaped portion, which adjoins the central frame transverse leg, interacts with the adjustable cover element for the first frame window and, in the closed position of the cover element, closes a rear-side edge gap between the cover element and the shaped portion.The vehicle roof according to the invention represents in particular a construction module which can be placed as a structural unit on a roof substructure which can be a component of a vehicle body shell. The vehicle can be a passenger car, but also a commercial vehicle.Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle which comprises a roof substructure, which is preferably part of a vehicle body shell, and a vehicle roof of the type described above, which is placed on the roof substructure from above. The fixing surface of the vehicle roof is preferably an adhesive surface which is designed to be encircling, so that the vehicle roof is fixed or fixable to the roof substructure via an encircling adhesive bead.Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be derived from the description, the drawing and the patent claims. All combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims and / or the figures fall within the scope of the invention, i.e. each feature mentioned in the description can be part of the claimed subject matter separately from the further features and / or concreteizations mentioned in the respective context.Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are schematically shown in simplified form in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view of a roof region of a motor vehicle, comprising a vehicle roof according to the invention without showing an adjustable cover element; FIG. 2 shows the vehicle roof alone; FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the vehicle roof; FIG. 4 shows a section through the roof region according to FIG. 1 along the line III-III in FIG. 1, but with the representation of the adjustable cover element; FIG. 5 is a section through the roof region according to FIG. 1 along the line IV--IV in FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5 of an alternative embodiment of a vehicle roof according to the invention; FIG. 7 is a section corresponding to FIG. 5 through a third embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention; FIG. 8 is a section corresponding to FIG. 5 through a fourth embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention; FIG. 9 is a section corresponding to FIG. 5 through a fifth embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention; FIG. 10 is a section corresponding to FIG. 5 through a sixth embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention; and FIG. 11 is a section corresponding to FIG. 5 through a seventh embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention.FIG. 1 shows a roof region of a motor vehicle 10 which is designed as a passenger vehicle and is provided with a vehicle roof 12 which is placed as a modular structural unit on a vehicle body shell 14 from above, which comprises, inter alia, longitudinal roof rails 16 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and laterally delimit the vehicle roof 12. The longitudinal roof rails 16 are assigned to a roof substructure or part of the roof substructure.The vehicle roof 12, which is illustrated in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, comprises a carrier frame 18 which forms an interface of the vehicle roof 12 with the vehicle body 14 or the roof substructure and represents a stamped and bent part made of a metal sheet in one piece or made of one part. The carrier frame 18 comprises two longitudinal frame legs 20, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or the longitudinal direction of the roof, a front transverse frame leg 22, a middle transverse frame leg 24 and a rear transverse frame leg 26.The front frame transverse leg 22, the middle frame transverse leg 24 and the two lateral frame longitudinal legs 20 delimit a first frame window 28, which is front with respect to the vehicle orientation and which can be adjusted by means of an adjustable cover element 30, which is a component of a roof opening system designed as a spoiler roof, between a closed position closing the frame window 28 and an open position at least partially releasing the frame window 28 by means of a suitable adjusting kinematics of the roof opening system. The frame window 28 thus forms a releasable roof opening of the motor vehicle 10.The central frame transverse leg 24 and the rear frame transverse leg 26 together with the two frame longitudinal legs 20 delimit a second frame window 32, which is rear with respect to the vehicle orientation and is provided with a pane element 34, which is formed in the present case from a laminated glass and is a glass-fixed element. However, it is also conceivable for the pane element 34 to be a fixed element made of a transparent plastic pane.For connection to the carrier frame 18, the pane element 34 is provided circumferentially with a shaped portion 36 which forms a circumferential peripheral foam and, on the one hand, adjoins the pane element 34 circumferentially and, on the other hand, is connected circumferentially to the carrier frame 18, namely in particular to the central frame transverse limb 24, the rear frame transverse limb 26 and the two frame longitudinal limbs 20 of the carrier frame 18. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 5, the shaped section 36 engages over the carrier frame 18 in the region of the longitudinal frame legs 20 as far as its outer edge with respect to the frame window 32. Correspondingly, the shaped portion 36 also extends over the carrier frame 18 at the rear frame transverse limb 26 as far as its rear or outer edge (not explicitly shown).As can be seen from FIG. 5, the support frame 18 has, in the region of the longitudinal frame legs 20, an upwardly pointing bent portion 47 on the outer edge, the outer surface of which is formed so as to be substantially flush with the vertically standing outer surface of the shaped portion 36.In the region of the longitudinal frame legs 20, in the region of the central transverse frame leg 24 and in the region of the rear transverse frame leg 26, an insert 38 formed in the present case from a rectangular profile is embedded in the shaped portion 36, said insert being completely surrounded by the polyurethane material of the shaped portion 36.The shaped portion 36 completely covers or under-engages the underside of the central frame transverse limb 24, so that the shaped portion 36, viewed from the interior of the motor vehicle 10, forms the visible surface of the vehicle roof 12 in the region of the central frame transverse limb 26.Furthermore, the shaped portion 36 has, in the region lying above the central frame cross limb 24, a step having a step surface 40 on which a sealing groove 42 is formed, which extends in the vehicle transverse direction. A cover seal 45 is fastened in the sealing groove 42 and interacts with the rear edge of the cover element 30 in its closed position.In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the shaped portion 36 has, in the region of the longitudinal frame legs 20 and in the region of the rear transverse frame leg 26, on its essentially vertically standing outer surface a sealing lip 46 which bears against the relevant longitudinal roof rail 16 or a rear transverse roof rail extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The pane element 34 with its shaped portion 36 and the sealing lip formed integrally on it thus extends as far as the longitudinal roof rails 16 fixed to the body and the rear transverse roof rail, so that in the region of the pane element 34 there is no gap at the longitudinal edges and at the rear transverse edge, which would have to be closed by means of a separate panel element.The central frame transverse limb 24 of the carrier frame 18 carries, on the front side of the shaped portion 36, a further cover seal 48 which encloses the front frame window 28 of the carrier frame 18 and interacts with the underside of the latter in the closed position of the cover element 30. The central frame transverse limb 24 is therefore a carrier section for the cover seal 48, which extends in the frame transverse direction.As can be seen from the drawing, the carrier frame 18 has on its underside a completely encircling fixing surface 50, by means of which the vehicle roof 12 is fastened to the roof substructure or the vehicle bodyshell 14 by means of a completely encircling adhesive bead 44. As is shown in particular in FIG. 5, the shaped portion 36 engages over the fixing surface 50 in the region of the two longitudinal frame legs 20 and in the region of the rear transverse frame leg 26, since the shaped portion 36 is guided as far as the relevant outer edges of the carrier frame 18.FIGS. 6 to 11 show further embodiments of the vehicle roof according to the invention. These embodiments each correspond substantially to that according to FIGS. 1 to 5, for which reason reference is made to the above description in this respect in order to avoid repetitions. However, these embodiments differ from the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 as follows.In the vehicle roof according to FIG. 6, the support frame 18 has no bent portion at the outer edge in the region of its longitudinal frame legs 20 and in the region of its rear transverse frame leg 26. Rather, the carrier frame is planar or planar in its edge regions as far as the outside.In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the carrier frame 18 likewise has no bent portions. In addition, the shaped portion 36 is formed protruding outward in the roof transverse direction and rearward in the roof longitudinal direction beyond the carrier frame.The vehicle roof according to FIG. 8 substantially corresponds to that according to FIG. 6, but differs therefrom in that, on the one hand, insert in the shaped section 36 has been dispensed with. In addition, instead of the integrally formed sealing lip 46, the shaped portion has a sealing groove 52, in which a sealing profile 54 is fastened, which interacts with the relevant longitudinal roof rail 16 or the rear transverse roof rail. The vehicle roof according to FIG. 8 corresponds to that according to FIG. 6 or to that according to FIGS. 1 to 5.FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the shaped portion 36 has a stepped surface 56 in the region of the longitudinal frame legs 20 and in the region of the rear transverse frame leg 26, on which a sealing groove 52 is formed, in which a sealing profile 54 is fastened. The sealing profile 54 interacts with a sealing lip having a sealing surface formed by the relevant longitudinal roof rail 16.FIG. 10 shows a vehicle roof which substantially corresponds to that of FIG. 8, but differs therefrom in that the shaped portion has an outer surface 58 which is set obliquely with respect to the fixing surface 50, i.e. the outer surface 58 on which the sealing groove 52 is formed forms an oblique plane.The vehicle roof according to FIG. 11 again corresponds to that according to FIG. 8 and is modified in a manner similar to the embodiment according to FIG. 6 in that the shaped portion 36 on the longitudinal frame legs 20 and the rear transverse frame leg 26 projects outwards beyond the carrier frame 18 with respect to the rear frame window 32.List of reference characters10 Motor vehicle 12 vehicle roof 14 vehicle body shell 16 roof longitudinal member 18 carrier frame 20 frame longitudinal member 22 frame transverse member 24 frame transverse member 26 frame transverse member 28 frame window 30 cover element 32 frame window 34 pane element 36 shaped portion 38 insert 40 step surface 42 sealing groove 44 adhesive bead 45 cover seal 46 sealing lip 47 bevel 48 cover seal 50 fixing surface 52 sealing groove 54 sealing profile 56 step surface 58 outer surface

Claims

Vehicle roof, comprising a one-piece carrier frame (18) which has a fixing surface (50) on the underside, via which it can be placed from above onto a roof substructure, and which comprises two longitudinal frame legs (20) and three transverse frame legs (22, 24, 26), which connect the two longitudinal frame legs (20) to one another in each case, and of which a front transverse frame leg (22) and a middle transverse frame leg (24) delimit a first frame window (28), and the middle transverse frame leg (24) and a rear transverse frame leg (26) delimit a second frame window (32), which is provided with a pane element (34), wherein the pane element (34) is connected at its edges completely circumferentially via an injection-molded or foamed molded section (36) to the middle transverse frame leg (24), the rear transverse frame leg (26) and the two longitudinal frame legs (20), wherein the rear frame transverse leg (26) and the frame longitudinal legs (20) are each free of the shaped portion (36) at their lower sides in order to form the fixing surface (50), and the shaped portion (36) in the region of the two frame longitudinal legs (20) and the rear frame transverse leg (26) overlaps the fixing surface (50), wherein the central frame transverse leg (24) is under-engaged at its lower side by the shaped portion (36) and forms a carrier portion, extending in the frame transverse direction, for a cover seal (48), which interacts with an adjustable cover element (30), by means of which the first frame window (28) can be closed.Vehicle roof according to Claim 1, characterized in that the carrier frame (18) is a component which is produced in one piece and comprises the two longitudinal frame legs (20) and the three transverse frame legs (22, 24, 26).Vehicle roof according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjustable cover element (30) is part of a roof opening system which is designed in the manner of a spoiler roof.Vehicle roof according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the shaped portion (36) is provided, in the region of the two longitudinal frame legs (20) and in the region of the rear transverse frame leg (26), with a sealing device which bears against a sealing surface of the roof substructure and covers a channel between the shaped portion (36) and the roof substructure.Vehicle roof according to Claim 4, characterized in that the sealing device is designed in the manner of a sealing lip (46) and is integrally formed on the shaped portion (36).Vehicle roof according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the sealing device comprises a sealing profile (54) which is preferably fastened in a sealing groove (52) of the shaped portion (36).Vehicle roof according to Claim 6, characterized in that the sealing groove (52) is formed on a stepped surface (56) of the shaped portion (36).Vehicle roof according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the shaped portion (36) accommodates at least one profile-like insert (38) between the carrier frame (18) and the pane element (34).Vehicle roof according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the shaped section (36) is provided with a cover seal (45) in a region which adjoins the central frame transverse limb (24) from above.Vehicle roof according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is of modular design and can be placed as a structural unit on the roof substructure.Motor vehicle, comprising a roof substructure, which is preferably part of a vehicle bodyshell (14), and a vehicle roof (12) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, which is placed on the roof substructure from above.Motor vehicle according to Claim 11, characterized in that the vehicle roof (12) is fixed to the roof substructure by means of a peripheral adhesive bead (44) and / or a screw connection and / or by means of a rivet connection.

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