Seal assembly for a motor vehicle

A seal assembly includes a vehicle frame, a moveable panel connected with and moveable with respect to the vehicle frame, and a seal connected with the vehicle frame. The moveable panel is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The seal includes a seal body having an external surface including an ambient-contacting section that is in contact with ambient when the moveable panel is in the closed position. The external surface of the seal body also includes a moveable-panel-contacting section that is in contact with the moveable panel when the moveable panel is in the closed position. The ambient-contacting section can move from a first orientation when the moveable panel is in the closed position toward a second orientation as the moveable panel contacts the moveable-panel-contacting section and moves toward the closed position. A seal for a vehicle and a roof assembly are also described.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a seal or weatherstrip arrangement for a motor vehicle.

Seals, also referred to as weatherstrips, are useful for providing a sealing arrangement between a moveable panel of a vehicle, e.g., a door, a roof panel, a trunk lid, a hood, and the vehicle frame. The seal acts to prevent the ingress of elements, e.g. rain, from entering into the interior cabin of the vehicle.

FIG. 1depicts a cross section of a seal arrangement for a motor vehicle. InFIG. 1, a seal10is affixed to a vehicle frame12and is located between a first panel16and a second panel18. In this seal arrangement, the first panel16is a moving panel that can move in the direction of arrow22. The moving panel16is shown in the closed position. The second panel18depicted inFIG. 1is fixed to the vehicle frame12, i.e., the second panel is not moveable with respect to the vehicle frame. The seal10is disposed between the moveable panel16and the fixed panel18to close a gap24between the panels16and18to seal the vehicle cabin from the outside elements.

InFIG. 1, the seal10only partially fills the volume of the gap24and leaves the adjacent edges26,28of the panels16and18exposed. Because of the exposed edges26,28and that the gap24includes voids adjacent each panel edge, turbulence is created as air flows over these voids. This turbulence can result in high noise levels inside the vehicle cabin.

Encapsulation of the panels16,18, particularly where the panels16,18are made of glass, can substantially reduce the void between each respective panel edge26,28and the seal10by eliminating the void between the panels16,18. Encapsulation tooling, however, is very expensive.

SUMMARY

An example of a seal assembly that can overcome the aforementioned shortcomings includes a vehicle frame, a moveable panel connected with and moveable with respect to the vehicle frame, and a seal connected with the vehicle frame. The moveable panel is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The seal includes a seal body having an external surface including an ambient-contacting section that is in contact with ambient when the moveable panel is in the closed position. The external surface of the seal body also includes a moveable-panel-contacting section that is in contact with the moveable panel when the moveable panel is in the closed position. The ambient-contacting section can move from a first orientation when the moveable panel is in the closed position toward a second orientation as the moveable panel contacts the moveable-panel-contacting section and moves toward the closed position.

An example of a seal for an associated vehicle that can overcome the aforementioned shortcomings includes a seal body and an external surface. The seal body includes a compressible section. The external surface includes a panel-contacting section surrounding at least a portion of the compressible section and a substantially flat section that is more rigid than the compressible section. A compressive force applied at a location on the panel-contacting section can result in the compressive section compressing and an end of the substantially flat section nearest the panel-contacting section can move in a direction toward the location where the compressive force is applied.

An example of a roof assembly that can overcome the aforementioned shortcomings includes a vehicle frame, a first roof panel connected with the vehicle frame, a second roof panel connected with the vehicle frame, and a seal contacting the vehicle frame. The first roof panel connects with the vehicle frame and includes an inner surface, an outer surface and a seal-contacting edge between the inner surface and the outer surface. The first roof panel is moveable with respect to the vehicle frame between an open position and a closed position. The seal contacts the vehicle frame and the first roof panel when the first roof panel is in the closed position. The seal includes a substantially flat exterior surface. The seal contacts a seal-contacting edge of the first roof panel at a location nearer the outer surface of the first roof panel as compared to the inner surface of the first roof panel when the first roof panel is in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2depicts a vehicle50having a vehicle frame52, which is similar to known vehicle frames. The vehicle frame52is made from a plurality of interconnected components that are typically made from metal, but other materials can also be used.FIG. 2also depicts a first panel54connected with the vehicle frame52and a second panel56connected with the vehicle frame. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2, the first panel54is a moveable panel that is connected with and moveable with respect to the vehicle frame52, while the second panel56is fixed in that it is not moveable with respect to the vehicle frame52. More particular to the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2, both panels54and56are glass roof panels; however, the seal arrangement that will be described in more detail below can be used with other panels that are moveable with respect to the vehicle frame, e.g. doors, windows, hoods, trunk lids and the like.

FIG. 3depicts a seal arrangement for the vehicle50(FIG. 2) including the vehicle frame52, the moveable panel54connected with and moveable with respect to the vehicle frame, and a seal60connected with the vehicle frame. The moveable panel54is moveable with respect to the vehicle frame52between an open position (FIG. 3) and a closed position (FIG. 4). The moveable panel is moveable between multiple open positions, similar to a typical sunroof found in many known vehicles. The seal60operates similar to the seal10shown inFIG. 1in that it prevents the ingress of elements, e.g. rain, from entering the vehicle cabin when the moveable panel54is in the closed position.

With reference toFIG. 3, the moveable panel54includes an inner surface62, an outer surface64and an edge66, which will be referred to as a seal-contacting edge, extending between and interconnecting the inner surface and the outer surface. The inner surface62of the moveable panel54and the seal-contacting edge66of the moveable panel intersect to define an angle β. In the illustrated embodiment, β is about 90°; however, the seal-contacting edge66as well as the inner surface62and the outer surface64can take slightly different configurations such that β can be other angles. Moreover, the inner surface62, the outer surface64, and the seal-contacting edge66are shown as generally planar inFIGS. 3-5, but the inner and outer surfaces and the edge can be curved or take other non-planar configurations. As shown, the inner and outer surfaces62,64and the edge66can be smooth.

The fixed panel56also includes an inner surface68, an outer surface72, and a seal-contacting edge74that extends between and interconnects the inner surface and the outer surface. The fixed panel56is similar to the moveable panel54in that the inner surface68and the outer surface72are generally planar, as well as the seal-contacting edge74being generally planar. Just as with the moveable panel54, the fixed panel56can take other configurations. Also, the inner and outer surfaces68,72and the edge74can be smooth.

The vehicle frame52contacts the seal60at an outer surface80of the vehicle frame. The outer surface80of the vehicle frame52adjacent the seal60is generally stepped shaped. More particular to the illustrated embodiment, the outer surface80of the vehicle frame52adjacent the seal60steps away from the moveable panel54in the area adjacent the seal60. In other words, the inner surface68of the fixed panel56is closer to the outer surface80of the vehicle frame52as compared to the inner surface62of a moveable panel54.

With reference back toFIG. 3, the seal60includes a seal body90having an external surface92. The seal60can be made from an extruded flexible material, e.g. a rubber-like material. The seal60could also be made from an injection molding process. The seal body90is compressed when the moveable panel54is in the closed position (FIG. 4).

The external surface92of the seal body90includes an ambient-contacting section94that is in contact with ambient when the moveable panel is in the closed position (seeFIG. 4) and a moveable-panel-contacting section96that is in contact with the moveable panel54when the moveable panel is in the closed position. As seen when comparingFIG. 3toFIG. 4, the ambient-contacting section94of the external surface92of the seal body90moves and/or pivots from a first orientation (shown inFIG. 3) when the moveable panel54is in the open position toward a second orientation (shown inFIG. 4) as the moveable panel54contacts the moveable-panel-contacting section96while moving toward the closed position. As can be seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, the movable-panel-contacting section96of the external surface92of the seal body90is generally step shaped in a cross section taken normal to a longitudinal axis of the seal60.

The movable-panel-contacting section96in the illustrated embodiment includes a first leg surface100and a second leg surface102. The first leg surface100and the second leg surface102intersect to define an angle, which is α1when the movable panel54is in the open position (seeFIG. 3). This angle, α1, is an obtuse angle in the illustrated embodiment. When the movable panel54is in the closed position, as shown inFIG. 4, the seal60deforms such that the first leg surface100and the second leg surface102intersect to define an angle α2. Another way to refer to this is that the first leg surface100and the second leg surface102define an angle α1when the ambient-contacting section (the substantially flat section)94is in a first orientation (FIG. 3) and the first leg surface100and the second leg surface102define an angle α2when the ambient contacting section (substantially flat section)94is in the second orientation (FIG. 4). In the illustrated embodiment, when the movable panel54is in the closed position (FIG. 4) α2is about equal to β, which is the angle between the inner surface62of the movable panel54and the edge66of the movable panel54. It can be preferred that 0.9<α/β<1.1.

As is evident when comparingFIG. 4toFIG. 1, when the movable panel54is in the closed position, at least a majority of the surface area of the seal contacting edge66of the movable panel54contacts the movable-panel-contacting section96of the exterior surface92of the seal body90. In other words, the seal60contacts the seal-contacting edge66of the movable panel54at a location nearer the outer surface64of the movable panel54as compared to the inner surface62of the movable panel when the movable panel is in the closed position (FIG. 4).

With continued reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the external surface90includes the panel-contacting section96, which surrounds at least a portion of a compressible section106of the seal body90. The ambient-contacting section, which in the depicted embodiment is a substantially flat section of the exterior surface92, is more rigid than the compressible section106. Because of this, a compressive force applied at a location on the panel-contacting section96results in the compressive section106compressing and an end of the substantially flat section94nearest the panel-contacting section moving in a direction toward the location where the compressive force is applied. As seen when comparingFIG. 3toFIG. 4, the compressive force can be applied in a direction of arrow108by the movable panel54on the panel-contacting section96of the exterior surface92of the seal body90.

With the movable panel54providing a compressive force on the panel-contacting section96of the exterior surface92of the seal body90, the compressible section106of the seal body then compresses, resulting in the ambient-contacting section of the seal94moving, generally pivoting, toward the movable panel54to engage the movable panel. The ambient-contacting section94of the external surface92is more rigid than the compressible section106. Manners of making the ambient-contacting section94being more rigid than the compressible section106include having the compressible section being made from a different material than the ambient contacting section and providing a greater density of the material at the ambient-contacting section as compared to the compressible section.

With reference toFIG. 4, the movable panel54and the fixed panel56define a gap112between the movable panel and the fixed panel. When the movable panel54is in the closed position (FIG. 4), the gap112has an upper boundary surface114that is defined by a line in a cross section (the upper boundary would be a surface and the line would reside on the surface) extending from the outer surface64of the movable panel54to the outer surface72of the fixed panel56. When the movable panel54is in the closed position (FIG. 4), the outer surface64of the movable panel54, the boundary surface114of the gap112and the outer surface72of the fixed panel56define a substantially smooth continuous surface. In the illustrated embodiment, at least a majority of the ambient-contacting section94of the seal60resides along the boundary surface114when the movable panel is in the closed position. For example, between the edge66of the movable panel54and the edge74of the fixed panel56, at least a majority of the ambient-contacting section94of the seal60does not deviate above or below the upper boundary surface114of the gap112. This mitigates creation of any turbulence in the area around the seal60when the vehicle is moving at high speeds. This decreases wind noise attributable to the seal arrangement.

The seal arrangement can also be useful as a water dam feature when the movable panel54is in an open position (FIG. 3). As mentioned above, the panels54and56can be roof panels. The ambient-contacting section94of the exterior surface92of the seal body90extends outwardly from and at an obtuse angle φ to the outer surface72of the fixed panel56when the movable panel54is in the open position. Where the movable panel54is disposed forwardly from the fixed panel56, as the vehicle decelerates water droplets D would tend to move toward the direction designated by arrow116. Where the seal60, and more particularly the ambient-contacting section94, extends from and vertically above the outer surface72of the fixed panel56, the seal can prevent water droplets D from entering into the vehicle cabin during deceleration.

With reference toFIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of a seal arrangement is disclosed. The seal arrangement disclosed inFIG. 5is similar to the seal arrangement discussed with reference toFIGS. 2-4, therefore only the differences between the seal arrangements will be discussed. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5, a seal160includes a resilient body162connected with a more rigid body164. The resilient body162and the rigid body164can be formed by conventional extrusion or injection molding methods. The resilient body162is connected with the rigid body164. The rigid body164is generally L-shaped in cross section and is trapped between the fixed panel56and the vehicle body52.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5, the flexible body162includes a bore166thus providing a very compressible body162. The seal160is similar to the seal60, described above, in that the seal160includes an external surface170having an ambient-contacting section172, which is similar to the ambient contacting section94, and a movable-panel-contacting section174, which is similar to the movable-panel-contacting section96described above. The seal160is more rigid adjacent the ambient-contacting section172, which can also be referred to as a substantially flat section, as compared to the remainder of the seal160. As can be seen inFIG. 5, the wall thickness of the body162of the seal160is thicker adjacent the ambient-contacting section172as compared to the remainder of the flexible body162. The seal160cooperates in much the same manner as the seal60described above. The ambient-contacting section172can move and/or pivot in the same manner as the ambient-contacting section94. Also, the ambient-contacting section172can operate as a water dam in the same manner as the ambient-contacting section94.

A seal assembly, a seal, a roof assembly, and a seal arrangement have been described with reference to particular embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to those upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. The invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments described above. Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.