Pivotable Stud Elements for Vehicle Roof Covering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle roofs with pivotable covering units face challenges in simple handling, space utilization, and retrofitting, often requiring significant changes to the car body and lacking stability under wind loads.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle roof design featuring pivotable stud elements and a securing strut system that allows the covering unit to be easily raised and lowered, using a minimal installation space, with the stud elements forming a stable base and securing elements to lock the unit in place, enabling efficient space use and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a covering unit with rigid roof elements is displaced between lifted and lowered positions, then the vehicle roof provides versatility and space utilization, but the handling becomes complex and requires significant installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The stud elements are designed to be pivotable between a stored position and a support position, allowing the covering unit to be dynamically adjusted between different operational states. This dynamic mechanism enables simple handling while maintaining versatility in roof configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing element is extracted as a separate, detachable component that can be independently engaged or disengaged from the stud elements. This separation simplifies the overall handling mechanism by allowing the securing function to be independently controlled without affecting the entire covering unit structure.
2Volume of moving object
If the covering unit is designed to provide large head clearance and storage space, then space utilization is improved, but the structure requires more installation space and modification to car body
Solution Approach 1:
The covering unit is segmented into modular components including rigid roof elements, pivotable stud elements, and detachable securing elements. This segmentation allows the system to be installed as a retrofit package without requiring comprehensive car body modifications, while still providing large head clearance and storage space when in the lifted position.
Solution Approach 2:
The stud elements utilize the vertical dimension by pivoting between a horizontal stored position and a vertical support position. This dimensional transformation allows the covering unit to provide large head clearance and storage space without requiring additional horizontal installation space within the vehicle interior.
3Reliability
If the covering unit is secured to provide stability under wind loads, then reliability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and harder to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The securing mechanism is designed to be dynamically engageable and disengageable through simple manual operation. The detachable securing elements can be quickly connected to or disconnected from the stud elements, providing reliable stability when needed while maintaining ease of operation for routine opening and closing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The stud elements are pre-positioned and pivotable to the required support position before the covering unit is subjected to wind loads. This preliminary positioning ensures that the structural support is already in place to withstand external forces, providing reliability without requiring complex active control systems during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle having a vehicle roof having a roof opening with fixed roof portions relative to the vehicle and a covering unit having at least one rigid roof element and that can be displaced between a lifted operating position compared to the roof portions fixed relative to the vehicle, and a lowered closed position, in which the at least one rigid roof element closes the roof opening. Stud elements supporting the covering unit in the operating position, are articulated to the covering unit to be pivotable. Each of the stud elements, in the operating position, spans a right angle together with a plane that is defined by the at least one rigid roof element so that the covering unit can be set down, on bases fixed relative to the vehicle. Additionally, the covering unit may have at least one securing element lock the stud elements in the operating position.