GB2175347A

GB2175347A - Vehicle roof assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2175347A
Application number: GB08609760A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Horst Bienert; Georg Kohlpaintner
Original assignee: Webasto Werk W Baier GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Webasto Werk W Baier GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1985-04-26
Filing date: 1986-04-22
Publication date: 1986-11-26
Also published as: DE3532095A1; GB2175347B; GB8609760D0; DE3532095C2

Abstract

A sliding and raisable roof for vehicles, with a panel (12) which in a closed position closes a roof aperture of the fixed roof surface and which at its rear end can be pivoted-out over the fixed roof surface and can be slid rearwards under or over the fixed roof surface. In the vicinity of the front edge of the roof aperture there is disposed a pivotably mounted wind deflector (26) which, when the panel is slid back, is swung into a pivoted-out operative position and, when the panel is slid forward, is swung into a retracted position in which the wind deflector, at least at its rear end, is situated under the closed panel. At least one catch projection (44) is provided on the panel or a part connected to the panel, is disposed under the panel and, at least in the closed position of the panel, bears against the underside of the wind deflector retained in its retracted position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle roof assembly The invention relates to a sliding roof assembly for vehicles.

Assemblies are known having a panel which in a closed position closes a roof aperture of the fixed roof surface and which at its rear end can be pivoted-out over the fixed roof surface and can be slid rearwards under or over the fixed roof surface, and also with a wind deflector which is pivotably mounted in the vicinity of the front edge of the roof aperture and which, when the panel is slid back, can be swung into a pivoted-out operative position and, when the panel is slid forward, can be swung into a retracted position in which the wind deflector, at least at its rear end, is situated under the closed panel.

In a known sliding and raisable roof of this type (DE-PS 29 14 855), it is possible for annoying wind and/or rattling noises to occur in the vicinity of the front panel edge, particularly when travelling at high speed or over irregular road surfaces. Noise of this type may be cause, inter alia, by vibrations of the panel front edge and/or by fluctuation in the wind forces acting on the panel front edge.

It would be desirable to develop a sliding and optionally also raisable roof such that the aforementioned noise or vibration in the front panel zone is substantially reduced or eliminated entirely.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that at least one catch projection is provided on the panel or a part connected to the panel, which is disposed under the panel and, at least in the closed position of the panel, bears against a downward facing surface of the wind deflector, such as its underside, when the deflector is retained in its retracted position.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a sliding roof assembly for a vehicle comprising a panel mounted for fore and aft sliding movement, a wind deflector at the front of said aperture mounted for pivoting movement between pivoted-out and retracted positions, the wind deflector being at least partially received under the panel in a closed position in which the panel is slid forward and the wind deflector is retracted, wherein at least one catch projection is provided associated with the panel underside which bears against a downward facing surface of the wind deflector in the said closed position.

Preferably, the panel is mounted for pivoting-out movement by elevation of the panel rear edge in addition to said sliding movement.

When the panel is in its forward end position, the catch projection provided according to the invention engages under the retracted wind deflector and in this way stabilises the panel front edge. The slid-forward panel can threby be effectively protected against deflection, particularly in the central area of its front edge, under the influence of the forces acting on it during travel and against the onset of vibration or the formation of an undesirable gap opposite the adjoining front edge of the roof aperture.

It is in fact known in a sliding and raisable roof without a wind deflector (DE-OS 32 23 750) for a resilient hook attached to the panel to be able to cooperate with a tongue, in the closed position of the panel, said tongue being mounted on a roof frame embracing the roof aperture and extending upwards and rearwards therefrom. However, transferring this solution to a sliding and raisable roof provided with a pivotably mounted wind deflector is undesirable for reasons connected with space.

Moreover, upwardly and rearwardly projecting tongues mounted on the roof frame represent a considerable source of danger in the event of an accident. They are also unsatisfactory from a stylistic point of view. The soiution according to the invention eliminates such protruding tongues on the roof frame. Compared with roofs without panel front-edge stabilisation, the solution according to the invention makes do with very few and simple additional components.

In a further development of the invention, the wind deflector and the catch projection are so adapted to one another that, within the entire pivoting range of the panel between the closed position and the pivoted-out position, the catch projection remains in engagement with the wind deflector retained in its retracted position. In this way, stabilisation of the panel front edge is ensured over the entire pivoting-out range of the panel.

If a panel canopy is disposed under the panel, the catch projection is preferably provided in the space between the panel and the panel canopy. In particular this has the advantage that the catch projection cannot be seen either from above or from below. Moreover, the catch projection is thereby situated in a protected location. The risk of injury in the event of an accident is further reduced.

In a preferred further development of the invention, on either side of the wind deflector there is mounted a locating member against which, in the most forward sliding position of the panel, is applied a retaining means which can slide together with the panel. The cooperation of the locating members and retaining means ensures that the wind deflector is held particularly securely in its retracted position.

The rear edge of the wind deflector plate is rigid. Stabilisation of the panel front edge is improved further. Simultaneously, the wind deflector itself is protected in a particularly effective manner against undesired movements or vibrations.

If the panel is guided in conventional manner via front slide members (for example, DE-PS 29 14 855), which are displaceable in guide rails extending on either side of the roof aperture, preferably the retaining means are mounted on the front slide members or their carriers, or are formed by these components.

Because the slide members are securely guided via the guide rails, location of the wind deflector is thereby rendered particularly rigid.

In another development of the invention, in a sliding and raisable roof in which two hinges are provided for the pivotable mounting of the wind deflector, the axes of which hinges align with one another and which engage the wind deflector near its lateral ends, at least one further hinge is provided for the wind deflector mounting between the two lateral hinges, the axis of which aligns with the axes of the two lateral hinges. Such an additional hinge, preferably a central hinge, prevents the wind deflector, particularly in its central zone, from undergoing undesired movements or deformations which could, otherwise, be caused in certain circumstances above all by the transmission of forces from the panel front edge via the catch projection to the wind deflector.

The invention will be described below with reference to one embodiment illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a schematic fragmentary plan view of part of the front left-hand portion of a sliding and raisable roof according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a section along the line ll-ll in figure 1; Figure 3 shows a section along the line Ill-Ill in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a view in perspective of the sliding and raisable roof in Figure 1, with the panel partly slid back.

The sliding and raisable roof described in detail in the following is of mirror-symmetrical arrangement in relation to a longitudinal axis of symmetry extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, it is only necessary to describe one side thereof, namely the left-hand side in the present example.

A roof aperture 11 is provided in the fixed roof surface 10 of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, and can be closed by a rigid panel 12. The roof aperture 11 is enclosed at the front and sides by a roof frame 14 forming a water channel 13. The roof frame 14 is provided with lateral guide rails 15 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in which the panel 12 is slidably guided in per se known manner (e.g. DE-PS 29 14 855) via slide members, of which only one front slide member 16 is shown in Figures 1 to 3.

A sliding and pivoting-out mechanism, which may likewise be of known construction (e.g.

DE-PS 29 14 855), cooperates with the panel 12. The sliding mechanism enables the panel 12 to slide between the closed position, shown in Figures 1 to 3 and corresponding to the forward sliding end position, and an open position, in which the panel 12 is slid rearwards under or over the fixed roof surface 10, thereby at least partly uncovering the roof aperture 11. By way of the pivoting-out mechanism, the rear edge of the panel 12 can be pivoted-out above the fixed roof surface 10 so as to act as a type of ventilation flap.

In this case the panel 12 carries out a pivotal movement about a pivot axis situated near to its front edge. This pivot axis may be formed by the left and right-hand front slide members 16 and a slide member carrier 17 cooperating therewith. The slide member carrier 17 is connected to the panel 12 and with a projection 18 engages in a central opening 19 in the slide member 16. The slide member 16 is resiliently flexible and allows pivotal movement of the projection 18 corresponding to the panel pivoting-out movement.

A seal 22 extends around the rim of the panel 12 and in the closed position of the panel 12 seals the marginal gap between the rim of the roof aperture 11 and the panel 12.

The roof frame 14 carries a seal 23 which bears in fluidtight manner against parts of the fixed roof. A panel canopy 24 is disposed beneath the panel 12 and follows the sliding movement of the panel 12 which in this example of embodiment is depicted as a sheet-metal panel.

At the front part of the roof frame 14 a wind deflector, generally designated 26, is mounted to pivot about an axis lying transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. For this purpose, in the vicinity of its forward edge, the wind deflector is connected to the roof frame 14 via the hinges 27 which are disposed symmetrically in relation to the longitudinal centre line of the roof aperture 11.

Each of the hinges 27 has a hinge pivot 28.

The hinge pivots 28 of all three hinges 27 align with one another, i.e. they lie on a common line extending parallel to the front edge of the roof aperture 11 and perpendicular to the direction in which the panel 12 slides. A respective leg spring 29 is mounted on the hinge pivots 28 of the two outer hinges 27 engaging near the lateral ends of the wind deflector 26. If desired, a leg spring of this type can also be associated with the central one of the three hinges 27. The leg springs 29 endeavour to swing the wind deflector 26 from the retracted position shown in Figures 1 to 3, in which the wind deflector lies with its rear end under the closed panel 12, into a pivoted-out operative position, in which the rear edge 30 of the wind deflector 26 protrudes above the fixed roof surface 10 (Figure 4, in which the rim of the roof aperture defined by the fixed roof surface is merely indicated by a chain line 25). In a manner described in detail in the prior patent application P 34 15 361.6, the wind deflector 26 may have a body (plate) comprising a shaped part 31 which has not undergone subsequent finishing, on either side of which is fitted a respective end piece 32.The shaped part 31 may, for example, be a light metal extruded section and the end pieces 32, for example made of plastics material, may have extensions 33 which project laterally inwards and which are fitted into a complementary recess 34 of the shaped part 31. Each end piece 32 is provided at its outer end with an actuation slot 36 of slotted-hole type, into which engages a coupling pin 37 on the front end of a pivot arm 38. At its other end, the pivot arm 38 is connected to the roof frame 14 via a mounting block 39 and a pivot bearing 40.

When the roof 12 is open, the wind deflector 26 is pivoted-out (Figure 4) into its operative position under the influence of the leg springs 29. If the panel 12 is pushed forwards into the closed position shown in Figures 1 to 3, a dog 41 following the sliding movement of the panel 12 abuts against the pivot arm 38. The pivot arm 38 is swung downwards about the pivot bearing 40. The coupling pin 37 moving forward in the actuation slot 36 urges the rear end of the wind deflector 26 downwards, whereupon the wind deflector is swung about the hinge pivots 28.

Preferably, the dog 41 is connected with the slide member carrier 17, or with another component which can slide together with the panel 12, which occupies a predetermined vertical position relative to the guide rail 15. It is thereby ensured that the wind deflector operation remains unaffected by any vertical adjustment of the panel 12.

Two catch projections 43 are provided near to the front edge of the panel 12 but slightly set back relative thereto. Each of the catch projections 43 is designed as an angular member with a forwardly directed arm 44 on which a cap 45 of rubber or plastics is fitted.

The other catch projection end 46 (Figure 2) is mounted, e.g. welded, on a panel inner sheet 47. As evident from Figures 1 and 2, the arms 44 of the catch projections 43 engage under the rear part of the wind deflector 26 when the panel 12 has reached its forward end position. The wind deflector 26 retained in its retracted position thus holds the panel 12 down in the vicinity of its front end 42.

The catch projections 43 are so designed that engagement between the catch projections and the wind deflector 26 is maintained even when the rear edge of the panel 12 is pivoted-out over the fixed roof surface 10.

To arrest the wind deflector 26 in its retracted position a lever-shaped locating means 49 is provided on the end piece 32 to abut against the projection 18 of the slide member carrier 1 7 when the panel 12 reaches its forward end position. The surface 50 of the locating means 49 bearing against the underside of the projection 18 is of spherical shape so as to allow pivotal movement of the projection 18 when the panel 12 is being pivotedout and to arrest the wind deflector 26 in the retracted position, irrespective of the panel pivoting-out movement, against the force of the leg spring 29. The slide member carrier 17 releases the wind deflector 26 for its pivoting-out movement only when the panel 12 is pushed rearwards.

Of course, in principle, it is possible for a different retaining means, which is displaceable together with the panel, other than the slide member carrier projection 18 to cooperate with the locating means 49, e.g. a retaining means separately mounted on the panel.

Moreover, it is possible to use the forward slide member itself as a retaining means for the wind deflector, e.g. by making the slide member project laterally beyond the guide rail 15 and abut against the correspondingly disposed locating means 49 in the forward end panel position. The preferred embodiment illustrated and described manages with particularly few, simple components and has a particularly high degree of rigidity.

Although in the drawings the panel 12 is shown as a sheet-metal panel, it is readily possible for the panel to be made of a transparent or translucent material, i.e. a so-called glass panel. In this case, the panel canopy 24 is displaceable relative to the panel 12 and in its forward zone the panel canopy 24 is so designed that it can be pushed rearwards past the catch projection 43.

Claims

1. A sliding roof assembly for a vehicle comprising a panel mounted for fore and aft sliding movement, a wind deflector at the front of said aperture mounted for pivoting movement between pivoted-out and retracted positions, the wind deflector being at least partially received under the panel in a closed position in which the panel is slid forward and the wind deflector is retracted, wherein at least one catch projection is provided associated with the panel underside which bears against a downward facing surface of the wind deflector in the said closed position.

2. A roof assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the panel is mounted for pivoting-out movement by elevation of the panel rear edge in addition to said sliding movement.

3. A roof assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the wind deflector and the catch projection are so adapted to one another that, within the entire pivoting range of the panel, the catch projection remains in engagement with the wind deflector retained in its retracted position.

4. A roof assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein a panel canopy is disposed under the panel, and the catch projection is disposed in the space between the panel and the panel canopy.

5. A roof assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein on each of two lateral portions of the wind deflector there is mounted a locating member and a retaining means is provided for each locating member, each retaining means being associated with the panel for sliding movement therewith such that in the most forward sliding position of the panel each retaining means is applied against a respective locating member.

6. A roof assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the panel is guided via slide members which are displaceable in guide rails extending on either side of the roof aperture, and the retaining means are provided on the front slide members or carriers therefor.

7. A roof assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein two laterally disposed hinges are provided for the pivotable mounting of the wind deflector, and at least one further hinge is provided for the wind deflector mounted between the two lateral hinges, the axes of all the hinges being in alignment.

8. A roof assembly as claimed in Claim 7, wherein a central hinge is provided between the two lateral hinges.

9. A sliding roof assembly for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A vehicle roof incorporating a roof assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.

11. A vehicle incorporating a roof assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9.

12. A sliding and raisable roof for vehicles, with a panel which in a closed position closes a roof aperture of the fixed roof surface and which at its rear end can be pivoted-out over the fixed roof surface and can be slid rearwards under or over the fixed roof surface, and also with a wind deflector which is pivotably mounted in the vicinity of the front edge of the roof aperture and which, when the panel is slid back, can be swung into a pivoted-out operative position and, when the panel is slid forward, can be swung into a retracted position in which the wind deflector, at least at its rear end, is situated under the closed panel, characterised in that the at least one catch projection (43) is provided on the panel (12) or a part connected to the panel, is disposed under the panel and, at least in the closed position of the panel, bears against the underside of the wind deflector (26) retained in its retracted position.