Vehicle Sunroof Central Beam Guide Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sunroofs with sliding/tilting roofs face issues with external environmental influences, such as leaf and dirt accumulation, which can damage adjustment mechanisms, and require complex components that increase costs and reduce headroom.
Innovation Solution
The design eliminates the need for an additional longitudinal roof guide by covering the center rail guides with the lid when closed, protecting them from external influences and simplifying the mounting mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lateral roof guides are used to guide the cover, then the cover can be guided during movement, but the guides are exposed to external environmental influences (leaves, dirt) that can damage the adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lateral roof guides with the central beam structure, integrating the guiding function into the existing central beam rather than using separate lateral guides. This integration protects the adjustment mechanisms from external debris while simplifying the overall structure by eliminating separate lateral guide components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sliding elements as intermediary components that operate within the central beam guides. These sliding elements mediate between the cover and the guide structure, allowing smooth movement while being protected from external environmental influences by the enclosed central beam structure.
2Ease of operation
If lateral roof guides are positioned outside the roof area to guide the cover, then the adjustment mechanism has space to operate, but the guides collect leaves and dirt from the road that can damage parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from lateral guides positioned outside the roof area to vertical guides integrated into the central beam structure. This dimensional change relocates the guiding function from the lateral exterior space to the vertical interior space of the central beam, protecting mechanisms from debris while maintaining operational space.
3Reliability
If additional longitudinal roof guides are added to protect the adjustment mechanism, then the mechanism is protected from external influences, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the central beam structure multi-functional by integrating both the structural support function and the guiding function into a single component. The central beam serves as both the structural element and the guide for the sliding elements, eliminating the need for additional separate longitudinal guides and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a tilt-and-slide sunroof for a vehicle, comprising a roof opening (2) which can be closed by a cover (1) and in which a central beam (3) is arranged, wherein the rear edge (4) of the cover (1) can be moved upwards out of the roof opening (2) and backwards. The sliding roof also comprises a central beam guide (5, 6) in the central beam (3), which runs approximately in the vehicle longitudinal direction and in which a sliding element (7, 8, 9, 10) is guided, said element being connected to a laterally central front lower region of the cover (1) directly or via at least one intermediate part in a fixed manner or in a pivotable manner about a real or virtual pivoting axis that runs in the vehicle transverse direction, or additionally in a height adjustable manner. A guide part is arranged in a laterally central region of the vehicle at a distance behind the sliding element (7, 8, 9, 10), and said guide part is guided in the central beam guide (5, 6) or in a further central beam guide in the central beam or in a roof longitudinal guide on the outer face of a roof region behind the roof opening in the vehicle longitudinal direction and is connected or can be connected to the cover (1) directly or via at least one connecting part (18, 19) in a longitudinally displaceable manner and/or in a pivotable manner about a real or virtual pivoting axis that runs in the vehicle transverse direction, or additionally in a height adjustable manner relative to the cover.