Vehicle Roof Control Carriage Mechanism for Ventilation Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roof systems for vehicles have complex structures and require locking elements to block the front deployment lever for ventilation positions, which increases the number of components and installation space, especially when only a single raising and guiding mechanism is used centrally on the roof.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves blocking the front deployment lever through the movement of the control carriage and temporary fixing of the bearing pin in the lifting link, eliminating the need for locking elements, and using a control carriage that controls both the front and rear deployment levers with a reduced number of components, allowing for a more compact design and increased usable width of the roof part.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If locking elements are used to block the front deployment lever for ventilation positions, then the roof part can be securely positioned, but the number of components and installation space increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control carriage itself performs the blocking function by using its own structural elements (control links and guide rails) to automatically block the front deployment lever at the ventilation position, eliminating the need for separate locking elements. The system blocks itself through its inherent mechanical design rather than requiring additional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control carriage is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the deployment lever movement, positions the roof part, and simultaneously blocks the front deployment lever at the ventilation position. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while maintaining positioning reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Volume of stationary object

If a single central raising and guiding mechanism is used, then the installation space is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control carriage integrates multiple control functions into a single centralized unit that controls both the front and rear deployment levers through a unified mechanism. The control links and guide rails are merged into one coordinated system, reducing the need for separate mechanisms while managing the complexity through integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control carriage is divided into functional segments (control links, guide rails, bearing pins) that work independently but coordinate together, allowing the single central mechanism to manage complex movements through modular functional elements rather than a monolithic structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of moving object

If the roof part has a relatively large width, then the usable roof area is increased, but the narrow roof frame area provides limited space for guide rail arrangements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveusable roof areaVSAvoidguide rail arrangement space
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail arrangement is designed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle rather than occupying transverse space. By orienting the guide rails along the length of the vehicle, the system accommodates large roof widths without requiring additional transverse frame area, effectively using the longitudinal dimension to resolve the spatial conflict.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3138711B1Roof system for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 BOS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3138711B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3138711B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3138711B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A roof system with a vehicle-mounted roof cutout (A), a movably mounted roof section (2), and at least one tilting and guiding mechanism for displacing the roof section (2), which includes a control slide (8) that is movable in a roof-mounted guide rail arrangement (5) by means of a drive system, and which includes a front and a rear tilting lever (14, 15), is known. According to the invention, the control slide (8) has a front control cam (18) in which a bearing pin (16) of the front tilting lever (14) is guided, the bearing pin (16) projecting through the front control cam (14) into a roof-mounted lifting cam (22) which is aligned at least partially in a crosswise manner with respect to the front control cam (14).