Abstract:
The invention relates to a motor vehicle roof having at least one cover that can be moved and raised on its rear edge via with a control mechanism. The control mechanism has a rear lifting and displacement mechanism that is coupled near the rear edge of the cover to said mechanism. The control mechanism also comprises at least one control carriage that is connected to the cover, which can be driven and movably guided in lateral guide rails. To increase protection against ejection of the cover, the movable part of the lifting and displacement mechanism and the part that is connected to the cover have locking elements. The locking elements act in the closed position of the cover to prevent the upward ejection of the cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to motor vehicle roofs. Specifically, the invention relates to motor vehicle roofs with a cover(s) that is movable and raisable via a control mechanism.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    The present invention relates to a motor vehicle roof with at least one cover that can be moved and raised on its rear edge. The cover is moved and raised using a control mechanism that has a rear lifting and displacement mechanism. The control mechanism is coupled near the rear edge of the cover. The control mechanism also comprises at least one control carriage that is connected to the cover. The control carriage can be driven and movably guided in the lateral guide rails.  
           [0005]    German patent No. 42 38 945 C1 discloses a motor vehicle roof with at least one cover, which can be raised for opening by means of a raising lever on its rear edge. The cover(s) can then be moved above the fixed motor vehicle roof. The displacement motion takes place by means of a first drive cable. The raising motion takes place by means of a second drive cable that can be moved opposite the first drive cable. A raising lever which controls the raising motion via the rear carriage permanently engages one drive cable, while the carriage which is located near the front edge and which is responsible for the displacement motion of the cover is permanently engaged to the other drive cable which can be moved opposite it. This permanent coupling only conditionally enables complete separation of the raising motion from the displacement motion and only a relatively short path of motion of the drive cable is available for the raising motion.  
           [0006]    The disadvantages of the above explained known motor vehicle roof are eliminated by a motor vehicle roof of the initially mentioned type which is disclosed in German patent No. 197 13 348 C1. In particular, this motor vehicle roof ensures a clearly defined position of the cover during the raising motion by locking the control carriage, which effects the adjustment motion of the cover during the raising motion via a locking block with a roof-mounted guide rail. Decoupling from the guide rail and simultaneously coupling to the control carriage define a clear beginning of the displacement motion, since the first drive cable after completion of the idle path with completed raising motion moves the locking block out of its locking position with the guide rail into the coupling position of the drive cable with the control carriage.  
           [0007]    A disadvantage in known motor vehicle roofs is that the cover is kept in the closed position only via the raising lever and a carriage that can be moved in the guide rail. In case of an accident wherein the airbag or a passenger&#39;s head impacts the inside of the cover, or other unfavorable circumstances, ejection forces act on the cover. Therefore, this coupling can no longer safely accommodates covers. In such circumstances, the cover coupling tends to unscrew itself from the slip element on the raising lever.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The object of the invention is to devise a motor vehicle roof of the initially mentioned type, with a rear adjustment and lifting mechanism that has increased crash safety.  
           [0009]    This object is achieved in a generic motor vehicle roof by the movable part of the lifting and displacement mechanism and the part which is connected to the cover having locking elements which act in the closed position of the cover and which counteract ejection of the cover to the top. Advantageous developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.  
           [0010]    The locking elements ensure that the cover in the closed position is securely locked to the guide rail on the fixed motor vehicle roof via the lifting and displacement mechanism so that, even with strong pressure against the inside, the cover cannot be pressed upwardly out of the roof opening.  
           [0011]    The movable part of the lifting and displacement mechanism is preferably formed by a raising lever. The part that is connected to the cover is preferably formed by a cover guide which engages part of the lifting and displacement mechanism and enables relative motion thereof relative to the cover upon raising. This relative motion enables simple end coupling of the locking elements.  
           [0012]    The invention can be used especially and preferably on one such motor vehicle roof in which the cover can be moved to the rear above the fixed motor vehicle. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The invention is detailed by way of example below using the drawings:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective of a motor vehicle roof with the cover closed;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 shows a view as shown in FIG. 1 with the cover completely opened;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 shows a lengthwise section through one side edge of the motor vehicle roof in the area of the raising mechanism with the cover closed;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 shows a lengthwise section as shown in FIG. 3 through the front raising mechanism in an enlarged representation;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 shows a lengthwise section as shown in FIG. 3 through the rear raising mechanism in an enlarged representation;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 shows a lengthwise section through the side edge of the motor vehicle roof in the area of the raising mechanism with the cover raised;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 shows a lengthwise section through the side edge of the motor vehicle roof in the area of the raising mechanism at the end of the transition motion;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 shows a lengthwise section through the side edge of the motor vehicle roof in the area of the raising mechanism in the intermediate position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 shows a lengthwise section through the side edge of the motor vehicle roof in the area of the raising mechanism with the cover opened;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 shows a lengthwise section as shown in FIG. 3 through the rear raising mechanism in the closed position of the cover with the lock engaged;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 shows a lengthwise section as shown in FIG. 3 through the rear raising mechanism in the raised intermediate position of the cover with the lock disengaged;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 shows a lengthwise section as shown in FIG. 3 through the rear raising mechanism in the completely raised position of the cover with the lock disengaged;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 shows a cross section along line A-A in FIG. 10; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 shows a cross section along line B-B in FIG. 10. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    In accordance with the present invention, provided is a motor vehicle roof  10  comprising a wind deflector louver  11  that is pivotally located above the windshield  44 , a movable cover  12  which is located behind this wind deflector louver  11 , and a fixed roof pane  13  which adjoins the closed cover  12 , as shown in FIG. 1. The wind deflector louver  11 , the cover  12  and the roof pane  13  are each laterally bounded by a side member  14 .  
         [0029]    In the closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, the motor vehicle roof  10  offers a completely smooth appearance. Although the cover  12  can be moved to the rear over the fixed motor vehicle roof  10  to clear the roof opening  15 , as shown in FIG. 2, no guides located above the fixed motor vehicle roof  10  are needed. In the raised position, wherein the cover  12  is moved to the rear, the cover  12  is supported rather by means of a support lever  40  which is coupled laterally in the area of the rear edge  46  of the cover  12 , which can be moved in guides located underneath the level of the fixed roof skin, and which upon emergence partially displace to the top a flexible sealing element  16  which is located between the side members  14  and the components  11 ,  12 , and  13 .  
         [0030]    The mechanism necessary for raising and moving the cover  12  has an identical structure on the left and the right side of the cover  12  so that only the mechanism of one side is described, as shown in FIGS.  3  to  9 , and explained below.  
         [0031]    The raising and displacement mechanism for the cover  12  comprises a guide rail  17  which is formed as a profile part with guideways which run in the lengthwise direction. In the lower guideway  20  the front control carriage  18  and the rear control carriage  19  are guided to move lengthwise. The two control carriages  18  and  19  are securely joined to the drive cable  21  with a mutual distance to one another. The control carriages  18  and  19  are moreover connected to the front edge  45  and the rear edge  46  of the cover  12 , via one crank guide or support lever at a time for raising and supporting the front edge  45  and the rear edge  46  of the cover  12  when it is adjusted between its closed and open position, as is detailed below first for the front edge  45  and then for the rear edge  46  of the cover  12 .  
         [0032]    On the bottom of the cover  12  in the area of its front edge  45  there is a lateral vertical cover carrier  22 . A laterally projecting slip journal  23  is securely attached at a distance from the front edge  45  of the cover  12  to the rear edge of the cover carrier  22 . The slip journal  23  fits into a crank path  24   a  of the lifting crank  24  which is securely attached to the front control carriage  18  or is made in one piece with it. The crank path  24   a  of the lifting crank  24  runs in an ascending path from its back end to its front end in the area of the front edge  45  of the cover  12 . In particular, the crank path  24   a  is formed in a roughly L-shape with a front, short, bent leg section and a rear, long, bent leg section. When the cover  12  is closed, the slip journal  23 , is located in the area of the back end of the crank path  24   a  (FIG. 3). When the cover  12  is raised forward and during the displacement of the cover  12 , the slip journal  23  is located on the front elevated end of the crank path  24   a , as shown in FIG. 7. The slip journal  23  moves in the crank path  24   a  as a result of the lengthwise displacement of the control carriage  18  which is effected by the drive cable  21 , the slip journal  23 , from its bottom position shown in FIG. 3 with the cover  12  closed, by backwards displacement of the front control carriage  19  reaching its upper position in which the front edge  45  of the cover  12  is raised, as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0033]    A slide journal  25  which is likewise attached to the rear edge of the cover carrier  22  and in the embodiment shown lies in front of the slip journal  23  in the lengthwise direction of the motor vehicle projects laterally from the cover carrier  22 . The guide rail  17  furthermore comprises a guideway  26  for the slide journal  25  which runs parallel to the carriage guideway  20  in the lengthwise direction of the guide rail  17 . The front end of the slide journal guideway  26  adjoins a crank  27  for guiding the front edge  45  of the cover  12  during its raising and lowering motion. This crank  27  is securely connected to the guide rail  17  and the motor vehicle roof  10  and has a crank path  28  which adjoins the front end of the slide journal guideway  26  of the guide rail  17  and runs down to the front. With the cover  12  closed the slide journal  25  is located on the bottom end of the crank path  28 , as shown in FIG. 3. The slide journal  25  is guided largely without play in the lengthwise direction of the motor vehicle (x-direction) and thus determines the exact position of the front edge  45  in the closed position of the cover  12 .  
         [0034]    The exact position of the front edge  45  in the vertical direction (z direction) is determined by the slip journal  23  which is held essentially without play in the rear segment of the crank path  24   a  in the vertical direction. When the front edge  45  of the cover  12  is raised by means of the lifting crank  24  and the slip journal  23  by moving the front control carriage  18  to the rear, at the same time the slide journal  25  moves up along the crank path  28 , which ascends to the rear, and finally enters the front end of the slide journal guideway  26  of the guide rail  17 , as shown in FIG. 5. At this point the cover  12  in the area of its front edge  45  has assumed a position from which it can be pushed to the rear.  
         [0035]    The lifting and displacement mechanism in the area of the rear edge  46  of the cover  12  is explained below using the lengthwise displacement of the rear guide carriage  19  via the drive cable  21 .  
         [0036]    The cover  12  in the area of its rear edge  46  has a cover carrier  30  that extends downward, as shown in FIG. 6. To raise the rear edge  46  of the cover  12  a raising lever  31  is used that is pivotally coupled to the rear control carriage  19  on its front end by means of a bearing pin  32  and also pivotally coupled to the rear control carriage  19 . The raising lever  31  also has a rear slider  33  on its back end that projects laterally. The rear slider  33 , with the cover closed up to the raised cover position, as shown in FIG. 3 or transfer position, as shown in FIG. 5, fits into a cover guide  34  on the cover carrier  30  which is open to the rear. Between the bearing pin  32  and the rear slider  33  a front slider  35  projects laterally from the raising lever  31  and is guided to slide in a lifting crank  36  which is mounted on the guide rail. The crank path  37  of the lifting crank  36  runs from front to back, first ascending, thereupon essentially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the guide rail  17  and then descending and ending in the guideway  38  of the guide rail  17  which can coincide with the crank guideway  20 .  
         [0037]    By means of the bearing pin  39  a support lever  40  for the rear edge  46  of the cover  12  is coupled to the cover carrier  30 . On the end of the support lever  40 , opposite the bearing pin  39 , is a guide journal  41  that projects laterally from the support lever  40 . The guide journal is guided in all positions of the rear edge  46  of the cover  12  in the guide journal path  42  of the guide rail  47  which is outside with respect to the inside guide rail  17  mentioned first. The guide journal path  42  runs in the lengthwise direction of the guide rail  47 . Instead of the inner guide rail  17  and the outer guide rail  47  there can also be only one guide rail which contains the indicated guideways.  
         [0038]    Roughly in the middle, between the bearing pin  39  and the guide journal  41 , a support journal  43  projects laterally from the support lever  40 . After the complete raising of the rear edge  46  of the cover  12 , the support journal  43  enters the guide journal path  42 . As the cover  12  continues to be displaced to the rear, the support journal  43  slides in this guide journal path  42  in order to support the cover  12 , which has been swiveled up on the back. As opposed to the raising lever  31 , the support journal  43  slides together with the guide journal  41  that is guided in the guide journal path  42 .  
         [0039]    As is best seen from FIGS.  10  to  12  and  14 , there are locking elements, of which one is made as a locking bracket  48  and the other as a locking angle  49 . The locking bracket  48  is made on the cover guide  34  as a crosspiece that points down in the forward area.  
         [0040]    The locking angle  49  conversely projects laterally from the raising lever  31  and encompasses the locking bracket  48  in the closed position of the cover  12 , as shown in FIG. 10. By this encompassing of the locking bracket  48  by the locking angle  49  the rear slider  33 , even with very strong pressure on the inside of the cover  12 , cannot be torn or screwed out of the cover guide  34  around its lengthwise axis. Thus, in the closed position of the cover  12 , reliable locking of the cover  12  is ensured via the raising lever  31  with the guide rail  17  and thus with the fixed motor vehicle roof  10 .  
         [0041]    The lifting of the rear edge  46  of the cover  12  into the opening position of the cover, as shown in FIG. 7 and  12 , is explained below using FIGS.  5  to  14 .  
         [0042]    When the rear control carriage  19  proceeding from the cover in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 5, is moved to the rear by means of the drive cable  21 , the front slider  35  of the raising lever  31  first moves upwards in the front ascending segment of the crank path  37  of the lifting crank  36 , as shown in FIG. 6. This causes the raising lever  31 , which has been swiveled upward by means of the rear slider  33 , and which is guided in the cover guide  34 , to raise the rear edge  46  of the cover  12  over the fixed roof. In the position shown in FIG. 6, the support journal  43 , which has not engaged, enters the guide journal path  42  and then slides in a continued backward motion of the rear control carriage  19 , together with the guide journal  41  sliding in front of it along the guide journal path  42 , with support of the cover  12  at a given raising angle to the rear. When the rear control carriage  19  is moved from the position shown in FIG. 3 or  5  into the position shown in FIG. 6, in which the rear edge  46  of the cover  12  is raised, the rear slider  33  moves from the front end of the cover guide  34  to its back open end, from which the rear slider  33  emerges with continued backward motion of the rear control carriage  19 , as shown in FIG. 7, which shows the transfer position). During the transition from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 7, the front slider  35  moves along the horizontal part of the crank path  37  of the lifting crank  36  and thereupon reaches the descending part of the crank path  37  so that the raising lever  31  is again swiveled downward into a roughly horizontal position.  
         [0043]    With continued backward motion of the rear control carriage  19  the front slider  35  enters the guideway  38  which guides the raising lever  31  during continued backward motion of the control carriage  19  in its lowered horizontal position in which it is inoperative. The raised position of the rear edge  46  of the cover  12  is now maintained exclusively by the support lever  40  with two journals  41  and  43  which are guided in the guide journal path  42 .  
         [0044]    The closing motion of the cover  12  takes place in the common, coupled forward running of the two control carriages  18  and  19  with the reverse sequence of the swiveling motions of the rear edge  46  and the front edge  45  of the cover  12 .