Abstract:
The invention relates to a guide rail for movable accommodation of at least one openable roof part of a motor vehicle, the guide rail has at least a first and a second guide rail section ( 22; 26 ) which can be joined to one another via a joint ( 42 ), the first and the second guide rail section ( 22; 26 ) can be brought into alignment at the joint ( 42 ), and the openable roof part can be moved beyond the joint ( 42 ) without complex adjustment efforts and which still can be universally used is devised by the first guide rail section ( 22 ) having a centering element which interacts with a complementary opposite element on the second guide rail section ( 26 ), the first and/or the second guide rail section ( 22; 26 ) being flexibly supported at least in the area of the joint ( 42 ) on a roof part ( 12; 28 ) of the motor vehicle ( 10 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a guide rail for accommodating movement of at least one openable roof part of a motor vehicle, the guide rail having at least one first and one second guide rail section which can be joined to one another via a joint, the first and the second guide rail section being movable into alignment at the joint and the openable roof part can be movable beyond the joint. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     German Patent Nos. DE 42 03 229 C2 and DE 43 26 291 C2 and their corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,388 disclose a guide rail in which first guide rail sections are located in the side members in which the openable roof part can be moved in the lengthwise direction of the motor vehicle into various open positions, and the side members are pivotally coupled to a rear roof part, detachably connected to a front cross beam which runs above the windshield, and after unlocking from the front cross beam they can be swung onto the rear roof part. In the rear roof part, there are two guide rail sections which support the openable roof part in the open position. 
     The entire motor vehicle roof including the rear window which is connected to the rear roof part can be lowered, to create a convertible-like roof opening, into a stowage space in the rear part of the motor vehicle by means of a mechanism which comprises several drives. In the front cross beam, there is an electric drive which effects unlocking of the side members from the cross beam, a second electric drive in the rear roof part undertakes displacement of the openable roof part and another electric drive which is likewise attached in the area of the rear roof part is used to swivel the side members. Furthermore, there is a hydraulic cylinder in the area of the rear motor vehicle side walls which provides for pivoting of the rear roof part together with the openable roof part which is held by the rear roof part, the side members which are pivoted onto the rear roof part, and rear columns (C-columns) on which the rear roof part rests on both sides. 
     One fundamental problem in divided guide rails lies in the moving of two or more guide rail sections into alignment at the joints, and in doing so, achieving serviceable tolerances. 
     Conventionally, this is done by the guide rail sections being attached via detachable mechanical connecting elements, for example, by means of screws, to the roof parts which support or accommodate them, for which time-consuming, and thus expensive, adjustment efforts become necessary. In doing so, the accessibility of the screw sites must be ensured; this generally necessitates additional cover parts, by which not only limitations in the optical appearance, but also other costs for parts and installation arise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to devise a guide rail of the initially mentioned type in which the guide rail sections can be brought into alignment without complex adjustment efforts, and the guide rails can be universally used. 
     This object is achieved via a guide rail with at least one first and one second guide rail section which can be joined to one another via a joint and which can be moved into alignment with one another at the joint, the openable roof part being movable beyond the joint, by the first guide rail section comprising a centering element or one being fixed on it, which interacts with a complementary opposite element on the second guide rail section or is fixed on it, the first and/or the second guide rail section being flexibly supported at least in the area of the joint on a roof part of the motor vehicle. 
     By the centering element interacting with the opposite element when the guide rail sections are brought together, via the support of the first and/or second guide rail section on the roof part, the support being made flexible at least in the area of the joint, the guide rail sections are brought into alignment, and parts tolerances, especially tolerances of the roof part which support the guide rail section, are equalized. When the guide rail sections are brought together, the tolerances at the joint are determined essentially only by the centering element and the opposite element, eliminating the need for complex adjustment efforts. 
     Preferably, the centering element and the opposite element are made such that, when the first and the second guide rail section are joined or brought together, alignment errors between the guide rail sections can be equalized by linear elastic displacement of the end of the first and/or the second guide rail section facing the joint in the directions perpendicular to the displacement direction of the openable roof part. 
     The centering element and the opposite element are furthermore made such that, when the first and the second guide rail section are brought together or connected, alignment errors between the guide rail sections can be equalized by elastic tilting of the end of the first and/or the second guide rail section facing the joint around an axis which runs essentially in the displacement direction of the openable roof part. 
     The flexible support can be made such that the flexibility is greatest in the area of the joint and decreases with increasing distance from the joint, and the first and/or the second guide rail section can be rigidly connected to the roof part in the area of its end facing away from the joint. In particular, the first and/or the second guide rail section over roughly 20 to 40% of its total length, proceeding from its end facing away from the joint, is rigidly connected to the roof part, for example, via mechanical connecting elements, such as rivets or screws. Preferably, roughly one third of the guide rail section is rigidly connected to the roof part. 
     In another embodiment of the intention, the area of the first and/or the second guide rail section which extends between the joint and the area of the guide rail section which is rigidly connected to the roof part is guided freely in or on the roof part. In this way, the bending elasticity of the guide rail section itself can be used to achieve flexibility of the two guide rail sections with reference to one another in the area of the joint. 
     If the first and/or the second guide rail section are supported in the area of the joint via a rubber-elastic intermediate element on the roof part, rattling noise can be avoided and effective vibration damping can be achieved. Furthermore, it is possible to also support the entire guide rail section flexibly or floating, for example, by its being connected to the roof part solely via the rubber elastic intermediate elements and a rigid connection of its end facing away from the joint to the roof part being eliminated. 
     The centering element can comprise a centering journal and the opposing element can comprise a centering bearing, and the centering journal can be inserted into the centering bearing, preferably, essentially perpendicularly with respect to the plane which comprises the joint. 
     The centering bearing can be made such that it comprises an insertion section which advantageously faces the joint and a centering section, the insertion section tapering towards the centering section and the centering journal being accommodated free from play in the centering section. 
     The alignment tolerances with the guide rail sections brought together can be reduced if the centeringjoumal can be brought into linear contact with the centering section of the centering bearing. 
     If the centering journal has a non-round cross section at least in the area of its play-free accommodation in the centering section, the centering journal is prevented from being able to turn in the centering bearing. This ensures not only centering or alignment of the two guide rail sections in directions essentially perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the centering journal into the centering bearing, but also prevents pivoting of the two sections around an axis which runs in the insertion direction. Here, the centering journal in the area of its play-free accommodation in the centering section, preferably, has a cross section which is essentially rectangular. 
     The insertion of the centering journal into the centering bearing and its defined contact in the centering section can be improved by the centering journal being elongated proceeding from its area of play-free accommodation in the centering section essentially in and against its insertion direction into the centering bearing and by its tapering in the two directions. 
     The centering bearing can be easily and economically produced even with a complex geometry if it is made as a plastic part and is injected onto the second guide rail section in the area of the joint. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the centering element can comprise at least one second centering journal and the opposite element can comprise at least one second centering bearing, and the second centering journal can be inserted into the second centering bearing. By providing two centering journals and centering bearings which can be made fundamentally the same, especially alignment errors as a result of tilting or twisting of the guide rail sections around an axis placed in the displacement direction of the openable roof part are reduced. 
     It is possible for the second centering journal and the second centering bearing to be made less complex than the first centering journal and the first centering bearing. In particular, the second centering journal can be made as a centering strip which is fixed in the first guide rail section and projects above the joint, and it can be inserted into the second centering bearing which is molded onto the second guide rail section, preferably in one piece. Here, the first and/or the second guide rail section is preferably made as a metallic extrusion. 
     The first and the second guide rail section can fundamentally be completely separable from one another. Alternatively or in combination therewith the guide rail sections can be pivoted at the joint with reference to one another, for example, similarly to the type known from DE 42 03 229 A1 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,388. 
     The first or second guide rail section can be located especially on a roof part which is connected detachably to the motor vehicle and which supports the openable roof part in its open position. 
     Furthermore, the first or second guide rail section can be located on the side members which extend in the displacement direction of the openable roof part, and the side members can also be detachably connected to the motor vehicle. 
     In the following, advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are explained using the drawings: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle with a rear roof part which is made as a roof cassette and has a folding roof as the openable roof part, the folding roof on the side which is both left and right in the direction of travel being movably supported in two guide rail sections, of which the first, rear guide rail section is located in the roof cassette and the second, front guide rail section is located in a side member which extends between the B column and a front cross beam which runs above the windshield; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle from FIG. 1, the roof cassette together with folding roof which is in the open position being lowered into a rest position; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle from FIG. 1, in which for reasons of clarity the roof cassette together with the folding roof is not shown, dismounting of side members being illustrated; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of part of the half of the vehicle from FIG. 1 which is the left half viewed in the direction of travel, the folding roof not being shown; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial section through the front area of the side member taken along line V—V of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a partial section through the rear area of the side member taken along line VI—VI of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial section through the joint between the two guide rail sections taken along line VII—VII in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of the area within circle VIII in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the rear guide rail section which is accommodated in the roof cassette and of a centering element which is located on it; and 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a closing device by which the roof cassette can be fixed on a thrust bearing which is attached to the B column of the motor vehicle, the rear guide rail section being fixed on the closing device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 to  3  show a motor vehicle  10  with a vehicle roof  1  which comprises a folding roof  30  as an openable roof part which can be actuated by a drive motor  36 , a rear roof part which is made as a roof cassette  12 , a rear part  6 , and side members  28  which extend between the rear side columns (B columns  20 ) of the motor vehicle  10  and a front cross beam  2  which runs above the windshield. The folding roof  30  is movably supported in each of two guide rail sections on both the left and right sides in the direction of travel, of which the first, rear guide rail section  22  is located in the roof cassette  12  and the second, front guide rail section  26  is located in the side member  28 . By means of the drive motor  36 , the folding roof  30  can be moved in or opposite its opening direction  32  via compressively stiff cables (not shown) and can be moved between its open position (FIGS. 1 and 2) and its closed position into any intermediate positions. In the open position, the folding roof  30  is supported in the roof cassette  12 , and all parts of the folding roof  30  which can be moved in the guide rail sections  22  and  26  are accommodated in the rear guide rail section  22  in the roof cassette  12 , and can be locked with reference to the roof cassette  12 . In doing so, the folding roof  30  is pushed so far to the rear in the opening direction  32  into the open position that its front edge  34  lies essentially flush with the front edge of the roof cassette  12 . 
     The rear guide rail sections  22  which are located in the roof cassette  12  are attached to closing devices which, for their part, are fixed on the roof cassette  12  and which are labeled  14  as a whole (see FIG.  10 ). Each closing device  14  is attached symmetrically to an axis of symmetry which runs in the lengthwise direction of the motor vehicle within the roof cassette  12  on the either the left or right side of the roof cassette  12  relative to the direction of travel, and interacts with a thrust bearing  11  which is fixed near the top end of each of the B columns  20  in order to effect the locking and unlocking of the roof cassette  12  with reference to the B columns  20 . Here, FIGS. 5 to  10  show in detail only the closing device and the guide rail sections which are on the left viewed in the direction of travel, the corresponding right-hand components or assemblies being made in mirror image. Furthermore, it is noted that the axis labeled X in FIGS. 4 to  10  points in the opening direction of the folding roof  30 , i.e., in the same direction as the arrow  32  in FIG. 1 pointed towards the vehicle rear. 
     The side members  28  are detachably joined to the motor vehicle  10  in the area of the joint between the front cross beam  2  which runs above the windshield and the front side columns (A columns  3 ), at which there are front side member bearings  13  and in the area of the top end of the rear columns (B columns  20 ). Additionally, there are rear side member bearings  15 , as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. To dismount the side members  28 , as shown in FIG. 3, first the rear side member bearings  15  are unlocked, the side members  28  are raised in the direction of the arrow  8  at their back end, and then, the side members  28  are pulled in the direction of the arrow  9  to the rear out of the front side member bearings  13 . The dismounted side members  28  can be placed in the motor vehicle  10  in corresponding accommodation devices, for example, in a rear door  5 . A rear cross beam  4  can extend in the manner of a roll bar between the B columns  20  which are rigidly connected to the vehicle body. 
     The rear part  6  of the motor vehicle roof  1  is fixed on the roof cassette  12  and comprises a rear window  18  of foldable plastic and likewise foldable side parts  16 . The roof cassette  12  is connected to the vehicle body via a four-bar arrangement which is not shown, but is fully described in a commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,433, which is hereby incorporated by reference. After unlocking from the thrust bearing  11  of the B columns  20 , the roof cassette  12  can be lowered to such an extent that the top of the roof cassette  12  comes to rest essentially at the height of the equator of the motor vehicle. To lock the roof cassette  12  in the lowered position, on the four-bar arrangement itself, there is likewise a thrust bearing with which the closing device  14  interacts in a similar manner as with the thrust bearing  11 . The bottom  7  of the rear part  6  can be placed against the rear door  5  and can be folded up in order to improve access to the stowage space placed in the rear of the vehicle. The rear door  5 , for its part, is pivotally connected at its bottom to the motor vehicle body and can be swung down independently of the position which the bottom  7  of the rear part  6  assumes and also with the roof cassette  12  lowered. To increase the stability of the rear part and to attach a lock latch for the rear door  5 , there can be a cross beam on the bottom  7  of the rear part  6 . Furthermore, as noted in the above-incorporated application, all movable parts of the folding roof  30  are held in the guide rail section  22  and can be decoupled together with the roof cassette  12  from the thrust bearing  11  mounted on the body. 
     The closing device  14 , as follows from FIGS. 9 and 10, comprises a bearing plate  72 , a locking hook  74  which can be pivoted in and opposite the direction of the arrow  78 , which can be moved relative to the bearing plate  72  in and opposite the direction of the arrow  76 , and which is moved preferably by means of motorized actuation by the drive motor  36 . The locking hook  74  interacts with a pin  80  which is part of the thrust bearing  11  and can be moved from the rear catch position which is shown in FIG. 10 in the direction of the arrow  76  forward into a front catch position, the pin  80  being locked by the locking hook  74  in two positions in a U-shaped receiving groove which is made in the bearing plate  72  and which is open in the X axis direction. Proceeding from the front catch position of the locking hook  74 , it can be raised in the direction of the arrow  78  from its lowered locking position (shown in FIG. 10) into a release position in order to release the pin  80  so that it can slide forwardly out of the receiving groove in the X axis direction. Thus, the roof cassette  12  is unlocked from the thrust bearings  11  of the B columns  20  and can be lowered. In the released position, the locking hook  74  is held via a retaining lever  104  which interacts with a holding pin  106 . 
     Coupling of the roof cassette  12  to the thrust bearings  11  of the B columns  20 , analogously, runs in the reverse sequence, the pin  80  being inserted into the receiving groove in the bearing plate  72  and actuating the retaining lever  104 , so that the lever  104  disengages from the holding pin  106  and the locking hook  74  returns via spring pre-tensioning opposite the direction of the arrow  78 , downward into its locking position. When the locking hook  74  is moved from its front position into its rear catch position, the roof cassette  12  is drawn to the thrust bearings  11  and the front and rear guide rail sections  22  and  26  push against one another on their facing ends in the area of their joint  42 , or they assume a defined short distance relative to one another. 
     To center or align the rear and the front guide rail section  22  and  26  in the joined state, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a centering element on the rear guide rail section  22  which comprises a centering strip  24  and a centering journal  54 . This centering element interacts with a complementary opposite element on the front guide rail section  26 . In doing so, the tip  27  of the centering strip  24  projects across the joint  42  between the two guide rail sections  22  and  26  and fits into a complementarily shaped receiver  100  which is molded in one piece to the front guide rail section  26  which is preferably made as a extrusion. 
     The centering strip  24 , which is made as a molded plastic part is inserted into a groove in the upper section of the rear guide rail section  22  and is joined preferably by form-fit to the rear guide rail section  22 . The centering journal  54 , likewise, projects across the joint  42  and fits into a centering bearing  56  which is formed in the lower wall  102  of the front guide rail section  26  (see FIGS.  7  and  8 ). The centering bearing  56  can be easily and economically produced, even with a complex geometry, if it is made as a plastic part and is inserted onto the front guide rail section  26  in the area of the joint  42 . 
     The centering journal  54  is located on a base plate  58  which is reinforced by means of a reinforcing sheet  88  (FIG. 9) and which is fixed on the rear guide rail section  22  by several screws  96  (only one of which is shown in FIG. 10) penetrating the bearing plate  72 , openings  98  which are provided in the lower area on the rear guide rail section  22 , and the base plate  58 , and which join these components to one another and to other connecting elements, and if necessary, also alignment elements can be provided in order to ensure a defined position of the components with reference to one another. 
     The base plate  58  and the reinforcing plate  88  are made of metal, and on their end which projects across the joint  42 , are made in the form of a U which is open in the X direction, and from which a top and a bottom leg form a metallic core for the centering journal  54  or for the centering plate  94 . The outside contour of the centeringjoumal  54  and the centering plate  94  are formed by a plastic extrusion coating  92 . The centering plate  94  interacts with the end face of the pin  80  facing it and is used jointly with the right, mirror-image centering plate which is present on the side of the roof cassette  12  which is on the right in the direction of travel and the mirror-image pin of the right thrust bearing to center the roof cassette  12  in the +/−Y direction, for which purpose, the centering plate  94  has a centering surface  82  which is located in the X-Z plane. 
     In the area of the centering surface  82 , in the extrusion coating  92 , there is a round recess  90  into which a rubber element  86  is inserted and adhesively joined. The rubber element  86  is used to reduce noise and is placed in the centering surface  82  such that the end face of the pin  80  facing the centering surface  82  comes to rest over the rubber element  86  to the extent the locking hook  74  assumes its rear catch position with the pin  80  inserted into the receiving groove of the bearing plate  72 . To better guide the pin  80  in the Y direction when it is inserted into the receiving groove, on the front end of the centering plate  94 , there is a feed bevel  84  which ends in the centering surface  82 . 
     As is apparent from FIGS. 4 to  7 , the front guide rail section  26  is fixed on its front third via several blind rivets  38  essentially rigidly to the side member  28 . Conversely, in the area of the front guide rail section  26 , facing the joint  42  between the front guide rail section  26  and the side member  28 , an elastically flexible intermediate element, such as a rubber buffer  40 , is interposed between the guide rail section  26  and the side member  28  for noise and vibration damping. 
     Depending on the geometry and mechanical properties of the rubber buffer  40 , the flexibility of the end of the front guide rail section  26  facing the joint  42  can be influenced so that, for example, the flexibility in the +/−Y direction, i.e., essentially in the direction of the double arrow  44 , can differ from that in the +/−Z direction. Preferably, the flexibility of the end of the front guide rail section  26  facing the joint is greater in the direction of the double arrow  44  than the flexibility in the +/−Z direction. Conversely, the rear guide rail section  22  is joined essentially rigidly to the roof cassette  12  so that, for example, the distance assumed by the rear guide rail section  22  which is on the left in the direction of travel with respect to the right rear guide rail section in the Y direction depends essentially on the component tolerance of the roof cassette  12 . 
     When the front and rear guide rail sections  26 ,  22  are brought together, as already mentioned, the centering element present on the rear guide rail section  22  interacts with the opposite element which is provided on the front guide rail section  26 , the flexibility of the front guide rail section  26  being used to center or align the front guide rail section  26  in the area of the joint  42  with reference to the rear guide rail section  22  and to bring the two guide rail sections into alignment so that the sliders of the folding roof  30  which are movably accommodated in the guide rail sections  22  and  26  can be easily moved beyond the joint  42 . In doing so, the center pin  54  and the centering bearing  56 , first of all, assume the task of aligning the two guide rail sections  22  and  26  in the Y and Z direction with reference to one another and compensating for alignment errors in these directions, i.e., essentially in the directions perpendicular to the displacement direction of the folding roof  30 . 
     For this purpose, the centering bearing  56  comprises an insertion section  60  and a centering section  62 , the insertion section  60 , proceeding from its open end facing the joint  42 , tapering towards the centering section  62 . The centering journal  54  with the guide rail sections  22  and  26  brought together is held essentially without play in the centering section  62  of the centering bearing  56  by a centering section  68  of the centeringjoumal  54  being essentially in linear contact with the centering section  62  of the centering bearing  56 . 
     The centering journal  54  which can be inserted in the insertion direction  64  (see FIG. 8) into the centering bearing  56  in the planes perpendicular to the insertion direction  64  has a roughly rectangular cross section, the longer side of the rectangle extending essentially in the +/−Y direction and the shorter side extending essentially in the +/−Z direction. The insertion direction  64  of the centering journal  54  can run in the direction of the X-axis, and thus, in the displacement direction of the folding roof  30  or, as in the embodiment shown, can assume a predetermined angle to the X-axis. 
     The centering section  68 , viewed in the insertion direction  64 , represents the area of the largest thickness of the centering journal  54  and is adjoined by an insertion section  66  which tapers towards the tip of the centering journal at its forward side in the insertion direction  64 , and adjoins a release area  70  on the side opposite the insertion direction  64 . The release area  70  with the guide rail sections  22  and  26  combined comes to rest in the area of the insertion section  60  of the centering bearing  56 . 
     Because the centering journal  54  has a roughly rectangular cross section which is held without play in the centering section  62  of the centering bearing  56 , the centering journal  54  and the centering bearing  56  also contribute to the two guide rail sections  22  and  26  being aligned with reference to an axis of rotation which runs essentially in the +/−X direction without the possibility of twisting or tilting, and possible alignment errors as a result of tilting around this axis are balanced. 
     In doing so, the flexible bearing of the front guide rail section  26  in the area of the joint  42  is used to turn the latter, depending on the angle, around the X-axis and to align it with reference to the rear guide rail section  22 . The balancing of alignment errors between the front and the rear guide rail section  26  and  22 , as a result of inclination, is significantly improved by using a second centering journal in the form of a centering strip  24  and a second centering bearing in the form of a receiver  100 , the two centering journals or centering bearings preferably being spaced as far as possible, measured in the Y-Z plane, in order to ensure favorable lever ratios for the balancing of inclination angle relative to the X axis and a large tolerance certainty. 
     A profile seal  46  which is shown in FIGS. 5 to  7  is inserted into the corresponding receivers on the top section of the front guide rail section  26  and the side member  28 , and prevents penetration of moisture or dirt from overhead into the area between the front guide rail section  26  and the side member  28 . At the same time, the profile seal  46 , which is shown in the unloaded state, seals the folding roof  30  relative to the vehicle interior in the area of the side members  28 . Furthermore, on the side member  28 , there are profile seals  48  and  52  which are used to seal the side member  28  with reference to the door window  50  or to the B column  20  and are likewise shown in the unloaded state. 
     While various embodiments in accordance with the present invention have been shown and described, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is not limited to the details shown and described herein, and includes all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.