Convertible top with roof frame and rigid roof element extending in the transverse direction

Abstract

A convertible top is proposed, comprising a top rod assembly (16) by means of which a top cover can be adjusted between a top position covering a vehicle interior (14) and a storage position exposing the vehicle interior (14) upwards, and which, with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top, comprises a linkage arrangement (18) on each side, which comprises a rear main multi-joint arrangement which is pivotally mounted on a respective main bearing (20), and a front linkage unit (60) on which a first rigid top element is mounted, which, in the top position, can be secured to a front cowl (30) of the respective vehicle.A stop link arrangement (72) is articulated to the main multi-joint arrangement, which comprises a stop link (74) with a stop surface (86), which assumes a rest position in the convertible top position and is pivoted into an active position in the storage position, in which the stop surface (86) bears against a stop counter element (88).

Description

The invention relates to a convertible top having the features of the preamble of claim 1.Such a top is known, for example, from the publication DE 102 94 214 B4 and represents a so-called RHT (retractable hard top) or folding roof, which is a component of a convertible vehicle. The convertible top comprises a top linkage, by means of which rigid roof shells, which form a top cover, can be adjusted between a top position covering a vehicle interior, in which the rigid roof shells are arranged flush behind one another, and a storage position releasing the vehicle interior upwards, in which the rigid roof shells are accommodated, together with the top linkage, by a storage space of the vehicle on the rear side. The convertible top linkage comprises on both sides, with respect to a vertical convertible top longitudinal center plane, a link arrangement which comprises a rear main link arrangement which is designed as a four-bar arrangement and has two main links pivotably mounted on a main bearing. The main link arrangement is connected via an intermediate link arrangement to a front link unit on which one of the rigid roof shells is mounted. This rigid roof shell can be fixed in the top position on a front cowl of the vehicle. In the storage position, this roof shell is arranged above a rear roof shell in the convertible top storage space.The object of the invention is to create a convertible top designed according to the type mentioned in the introduction, the placement behavior of which is optimized in the placement position.This object is achieved according to the invention by the convertible top having the features of claim 1.According to the invention, a convertible top is thus proposed, which comprises a top linkage, by means of which a top cover can be adjusted between a top position covering a vehicle interior and a storage position releasing the vehicle interior upwards, and which comprises on both sides, with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top, a link arrangement which comprises a rear main multi-joint arrangement which is pivotably mounted on a relevant main bearing, and a front link unit, on which a first rigid top element which extends in the transverse direction of the top and can be fixed to a front cowl of the relevant vehicle in the top position is mounted. A stop link arrangement is articulated to the main multi-joint arrangement, which comprises a stop link with a stop surface, which assumes an active-free rest position in the convertible top position and is pivoted into an active position in the storage position, in which the stop surface abuts against a stop counter element.The convertible top according to the invention thus comprises, in the form of the stop link arrangement, a device which is activated in the storage position of the top linkage and interacts in the latter with a stop counter element which is arranged, for example, on the front link unit or on the first top element, such that the position of the component on which the stop counter element is arranged is clearly defined with respect to the main link arrangement. In the convertible top position of the convertible top or of the convertible top linkage, the stop link arrangement or the stop link is free of action, that is to say without function.The convertible top according to the invention is in particular a so-called RHT (retractable hard top) or folding top, on the top linkage of which at least two rigid roof shells are mounted, the relative position of which relative to one another in the storage position can be clearly defined by means of the stop link arrangements. It is also conceivable, however, for the convertible top according to the invention to be designed as a folding top or a flat bow top, in which, by means of the stop link arrangements of the top linkage in the storage position, a clear relative position is defined between a front rigid top element extending in the transverse direction of the top and a further top element.The counter-stop element of the convertible top according to the invention is preferably formed on the underside of the first rigid top element and, for example, a fork-like or inverted U-shaped component in which the stop link is accommodated in the storage position.In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the convertible top according to the invention, the stop link, in its active position, defines the relative position between two rigid top elements, which extend in each case in the transverse direction of the top between the two link arrangements of the top linkage. For example, both hood elements each form a rigid roof shell of an RHT. In this case, the stop link can be designed such that, in its deployed operative position, it engages over an edge of the second rigid top element. This edge is, for example, a rear edge of a roof shell pointing in the direction of the rear of the vehicle, via which a front roof shell arranged on the front side in the convertible top position of the convertible top is pivoted in the storage position.In order to be able to control the pivoting movement of the stop link precisely, it can be advantageous for the stop link arrangement to form a multi-joint arrangement which is formed on the main multi-joint arrangement.For example, the stop link arrangement, which is designed as a multi-joint arrangement, comprises a drive link which is pivotably mounted on the main multi-joint arrangement and is linked to the stop link. For example, the drive link is linked to an intermediate link between a main link of the main multi-joint arrangement and a middle roof link. The central roof link forms, for example, a carrier link to which, on the one hand, a rigid roof shell of the top cover is fastened and, on the other hand, the front link unit for the front, rigid top element is mounted.Furthermore, in a specific embodiment, the stop link arrangement of the convertible top according to the invention can comprise a support link which is linked to a main link of the main link arrangement.In order to be able to achieve an intermediate shell locking, that is to say a locking between two roof shells, in the top position of the convertible top, it is advantageous if a locking hook is provided which, in the storage position, secures the first top element on the stop link. The stop link can be provided with a locking pin which, in the blocking position of the locking hook, is in engagement therewith.The latch hook is preferably pivotably mounted on the first hood element extending in the hood transverse direction and connected to a drive device, for example to a drive rod.In a further specific embodiment of the convertible top according to the invention, the locking hook can be driven by a front closure drive and is preferably connected to a front closure element via the drive rod. A drive of a front closure, by means of which the top can be fixed to a front cowl of the relevant vehicle, can thus also be used to drive the locking hook.As already explained above, the convertible top according to the invention is preferably designed as an RHT. In this case, the top cover preferably comprises at least two rigid roof shells, wherein one of the roof shells is the first rigid top element which is mounted on the front link unit, and the other of the roof shells is mounted on a central roof link which is connected to the rear main link arrangement and forms with the latter in particular a main multi-joint arrangement. The front link unit can be articulated to the middle roof link.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; that is to say 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.An exemplary embodiment of a convertible top according to the invention is shown in a schematically simplified manner in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: FIG. 1 shows a schematic, sectional side view of a convertible vehicle with a convertible top according to the invention in its top position; FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of the convertible top, but in an intermediate position; FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of the convertible top, but in a storage position; FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of the convertible top, but without showing a front roof shell; and FIG. 5 shows a perspective inner view of the convertible top in its storage position without showing the front roof shell.The drawing shows a convertible vehicle 10 equipped with a top 12 which can be adjusted between a top position shown in FIG. 1, in which it spans a vehicle interior 14, and a storage position shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, in which it is arranged in a top storage space arranged on the rear side of the vehicle compartment 14. The top 12 comprises a top linkage 16 which, with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top, comprises on both sides a link arrangement 18 which is pivotably mounted on a respective vehicle-mounted main bearing 20.The link arrangements 18 of the top linkage 16 arranged on both sides of the vertical longitudinal center plane of the top are at least largely mirror-symmetrical to one another, for which reason reference is made below substantially only to the link arrangement 18 arranged on the left with respect to the forward direction of travel of the convertible vehicle 10. The steering arm arrangement arranged on the right with respect to the forward direction of travel of the convertible vehicle is designed in an analogous manner.The top 12 is designed as a so-called RHT (retractable hard top) and comprises two rigid roof shells 24 and 26 which, in the top position, have outer sides which, as viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction, are arranged flush behind one another in terms of their surface area, and, in the storage position, are arranged one above the other in the top storage space in such a way that the first roof shell 24 arranged on the front side in the top position comes to lie above the second roof shell 26 arranged on the rear side of the first roof shell 24 in the top position. In the convertible top position, the front edge of the first roof shell 24 can be fixed by means of a front closure 28 to a front cowl 30 of the convertible vehicle 10, which forms an upper transverse limb of a frame of a windshield 32.The link arrangements 18 arranged on both sides each comprise a main link arrangement 34, which comprises two main links 36 and 38 which together with the relevant main bearing 20 form a main multi-joint arrangement.The main link 36 is connected to the main link 38 via an intermediate link 40. In addition, a triangular link 44 is articulated to the end of the main link 36 facing away from the main bearing 20 via an articulation point 42, which is articulated on the one hand via an articulation point 46 to the other main link 38 and on the other hand via an articulation point 48 to an intermediate link 50, which in turn is articulated via an articulation point 52 to a central roof link 54, on which the rear roof shell 26 is mounted. The intermediate link 50 is a component of the main multi-joint arrangement.The second main link 38 is linked in its end region via a further hinge point 56 to the middle roof link 54. On the side of the articulation point 56 facing away from the main bearing 20, the main link 38 has a further articulation point 58, via which a coupling rod passing through the middle roof link 54 in the longitudinal direction is articulated, which coupling rod is connected to a front link unit 60 which is pivotably mounted in the nose-side end region of the middle roof link 54.The front link unit 60 has two links 62 and 64 which are connected via hinge points 66 and 68 to a support 70 for the front roof shell 24. The end regions of the two links 62 and 64 facing away from the front roof shell 24 are hinged to the middle roof link 54.At the upper end of the main multiple joint arrangement, a stop link arrangement 72 is formed, which comprises a stop link 74 which is connected via a joint point 76 to a drive link 78, which in turn is connected via a joint point 80 to the intermediate link 50 of the main link arrangement 34. In addition, the stop link 74 is connected via a hinge point 82 to a support link 84 which is linked in the hinge point 46 which connects the main link 38 to the roof link 54.The stop link 74 has a bend in the region of the articulation point 76 and, in its end region facing away from the articulation point 82, a stop surface 86 which, in the storage position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, interacts with a stop counter-element 88 which is substantially of inverted U-shaped design and is arranged on the underside of the roof shell 24. In addition, the stop link 74 has in this end region a locking pin 90 projecting in the direction of the longitudinal center plane of the top, which in the storage position interacts with a locking hook 92, which can be driven via a drive rod 94 by a drive motor 96 of the front closure 28 designed as an electric motor.The convertible top described above operates in the manner described below.Starting from the top position shown in FIG. 1, the drive motor 96 of the front closure 28 is first actuated to adjust the top linkage into the storage position, whereby the front roof shell 24 is released from the front cowl 30 of the convertible vehicle 10. Subsequently, the convertible top linkage 16 is adjusted by means of drive motors, not shown in detail, arranged in the region of the main bearings 20. In this case, the main links 36 and 38 are pivoted clockwise with respect to the illustration in FIGS. 1 to 4, as a result of which the links 62 and 64 of the front link unit 60 are likewise pivoted clockwise with respect to the roof link 54 via the coupling rod, which is not illustrated, which reaches through the roof link 54. At the same time, the adjusting force introduced into the stop link 74 by the drive link 78 of the stop link arrangement 72 pivots the latter from an active-free rest position into an extended active position in which the rear edge of the roof shell 26 is surrounded by the stop link 74. In the end position of the stop link 74, the front roof shell 24 abuts with the stop counter element 88 on the stop surface 86 of the stop link 74. The position of the roof shell 24 relative to the roof shell 26 in the storage position is thus clearly defined. In order to realize an intermediate shell locking, the locking hook 92 is then brought into engagement with the locking pin 90 via the drive rod 94 by actuating the drive motor 96 of the front closure 28.List of reference characters10 Convertible vehicle 12 Top 14 Vehicle interior 16 Top linkage 18 Link arrangement 20 Main bearing 24 Roof shell 26 Roof shell 28 Front closure 30 Cowl 32 Windshield 34 Main link arrangement 36 Main link 38 Main link 40 Intermediate link 42 Articulation point 44 Triangular link 46 Articulation point 48 Articulation point 50 Intermediate link 52 Articulation point 54 Roof link 56 Articulation point 58 Articulation point 60 Front link unit 62 Link 64 Link 66 Articulation point 68 Articulation point 70 Carrier 72 Stop link arrangement 74 Stop link 76 Articulation point 78 Drive link 80 Articulation point 82 Articulation point 84 Support link 86 Stop surface 88 Stop counter element 90 Locking pin 92 Locking hook 94 Drive rod 96 Drive motorReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 102 94 214 B4

[0002]

Claims

Convertible top, comprising a top linkage (16), by means of which a top cover can be adjusted between a top position covering a vehicle interior (14) and a storage position releasing the vehicle interior (14) upwards, and which, with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top, comprises on both sides in each case a link arrangement (18), which comprises a rear main multi-joint arrangement, which is pivotably mounted on a relevant main bearing (20), and a front link unit (60), on which a first rigid top element is mounted, which can be fixed in the top position to a front cowl (30) of the relevant vehicle, characterized in that a stop link arrangement (72), which comprises a stop link (74) with a stop surface (86), is linked to the main multi-joint arrangement, which in the top position assumes a rest position and in the storage position is pivoted into an active position, in which the stop surface (86) abuts a counter stop element (88).Convertible top according to Claim 1, characterized in that the counter-stop element (88) is arranged on the rigid top element.Convertible top according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in its active position, the stop link (74) engages over an edge of a second rigid top element which extends between the two link arrangements (18) in the transverse direction of the top.The convertible top according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stop link arrangement (72) forms a multi-joint arrangement which is coupled to the main multi-joint arrangement.Convertible top according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the stop link arrangement (72) comprises a drive link (78) which is mounted pivotably on the main multi-joint arrangement.Convertible top according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the stop link arrangement (72) comprises a support link (84) which is articulated to a main link (38) of the main multi-joint arrangement.Convertible top according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized bya locking hook (92) which, in the storage position, secures the first top element on the stop link (74).Convertible top according to claim 7, characterised in that the locking hook (92) is mounted pivotably on the first top element.Convertible top according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the locking hook (92) can be driven by a drive motor (96) of a front closure and is preferably connected to a front closure element via a drive rod (94).Convertible top according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the top cover comprises at least two rigid roof shells (24, 26), and one of the roof shells (24) is the first rigid top element which is mounted on the front link unit (60), and the other of the roof shells (26) is mounted on a roof link (54) which is connected to the rear main multi-joint arrangement and to which the front link unit (60) is articulated.

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