Self-Locking Sliding Roof Guide Lever Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding roof systems for motor vehicles require a control lever and latch mechanism, increasing the number of components and complexity, which hinders the ability to achieve a large roof opening in the open position.
Innovation Solution
The front guide lever features a lower guide joint that self-locks in a curved guide path, allowing the roof part to be secured relative to the guide rail arrangement, reducing components and eliminating the need for a control lever and latch recess, with a shifting device comprising only a front guide lever, rear deployment lever, and control slide, enabling the front roof part to move completely over the rear part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a control lever and latch mechanism are used to secure the front guide mechanism in the ventilation position, then the guide-rail-side securing is achieved, but the number of components and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide joint automatically engages with the curved guide path to provide self-locking in the ventilation position, eliminating the need for external control levers and latch mechanisms. The system uses its own structural geometry to achieve the securing function
Solution Approach 2:
The curved guide path in the guide rail arrangement creates a geometric self-locking mechanism. When the guide joint enters the curved portion, the geometry naturally prevents further movement in the deployment direction, providing automatic securing without additional components
2Reliability
If additional control lever and latch recess components are included, then the ventilation position securing is improved, but the shifting device construction length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide joint and curved guide path work together as a self-contained self-locking system, eliminating the need for separate control lever and latch recess components that would extend the shifting device construction length
Solution Approach 2:
The securing function is integrated into the guide rail arrangement itself through the curved guide path, rather than being a separate mechanism. This merging of functions reduces the overall construction length of the shifting device
3Reliability
If the shifting device has more components, then the guide mechanism securing is improved, but the ability to move the front roof part completely over the rear part is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The self-locking guide joint provides secure positioning without requiring additional components that would occupy space and limit the travel distance of the front roof part over the rear part
Solution Approach 2:
The curved guide path enables the guide joint to naturally transition through the ventilation position and lock securely, while the compact nature of this curved mechanism allows maximum travel distance for the roof part
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding roof system including a support frame, a front movable roof part and a rear roof part, wherein the front roof part is shiftable between a closed position, an obliquely erected ventilation position and an open position in which the front roof part is positioned over the rear roof part. The front guide lever has a lower guide joint which is guided in a guide path, which is curved downwards on the front side, of the guide rail arrangement in such a manner that, in the ventilation position of the roof part, the guide slide is held in the guide path in a self-locking manner with respect to shifting of the control slide.