VENTILATING HATCH

Abstract: Ventilating hatch for a vehicle, such as a truck, having a roof opening (2). The ventilating hatch comprises a stationary frame (3), an intermediate frame (6) and a panel (5). The intermediate frame (6) is pivotally connected to the stationary frame (3) at a transverse side of the ventilating hatch, and the panel (5) being pivotally connected to the intermediate frame (6) at the opposite transverse side of the ventilating hatch. Consequently the panel (5) is able to be moved from its closed position, in which it closes a passage (4) in the stationary frame (3), upwardly at the front and/or rear side thereof. The intermediate frame (6) is removable, and the panel (5) being adapted to be pivotally mounted to the stationary frame (3) when the intermediate frame (6) is removed. In this way it is possible to selectively use the ventilating hatch as a singular or as a multiple adjustable ventilating hatch.

Description: The invention relates to a ventilating hatch for a vehicle, such as a truck, having a roof opening, comprising a stationary frame adapted to be mounted in the roof opening and provided with a passage being closable by a displaceable panel, which is able to be moved from its closed position upwardly at the front and/or rear side thereof, and vice versa. It is the object of the invention to improve such a ventilating hatch and to provide a ventilating hatch, wherein a very stable connection between the panel and the stationary frame is accomplished. For this purpose the ventilating hatch according to the invention is characterized in that an intermediate frame is provided, which is pivotally connected to the stationary frame, and the panel being pivotally mounted onto the intermediate frame. Use of this intermediate frame permits a very robust structure, and the movements of the panel are obtained by a pivoting movement of the intermediate frame with respect to the stationary frame and/or by a pivoting movement of the panel with respect to the intermediate frame. Herein it is possible that the intermediate frame is pivotally connected to the stationary frame at a transverse side of the ventilating hatch, and the panel being pivotally connected to the intermediate frame at the opposite transverse side of the ventilating hatch. A very favourable embodiment of the ventilating hatch according to the invention is characterized in that the intermediate frame is removable, and the panel being adapted to be pivotally mounted to the stationary frame when the intermediate frame is removed. This embodiment offers a substantial advantage in that both a singular adjustable ventilating hatch and, in combination with the intermediate frame, a multiple adjustable ventilating hatch can be obtained with the same stationary frame and panel. In this respect it is advantageously, when the pivot joint between the intermediate frame and the stationary frame and the pivot joint between the panel and the intermediate frame are constructed in a similar way. In this way a conversion from a singular to a multiple adjustable ventilating hatch and the back is possible by means of a very simple action without many adaptations. The ventilating hatch according to the invention may also be constructed as a removable emergency hatch, wherein it is favourable, when the stationary frame is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the vehicle roof at one side and to be fastened to the vehicle roof by means of a disconnectable connection at the opposite side. In this way a maximally large emergency exit is provided for in emergency situations. The invention will hereinafter be elucidated with reference to the drawings, which show an embodiment of the ventilating hatch according to the invention by way of example. Fig. 1 is a schematical longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the multiple adjustable ventilating hatch according to the invention. Fig. 2-5 are longitudinal sectional views of the ventilating hatch of fig. 1 on a smaller scale and in different positions, wherein, however, the adjusting mechanisms are omitted. Fig. 6 and 7 are longitudinal sectional views, similar to those of fig. 2-5, of the singular adjustable ventilating hatch according to the invention in different positions. The drawings show an embodiment of a ventilating hatch for a vehicle, such as a truck, of which the fixed roof 1 is provided with an opening 2. The ventilating hatch has a stationary frame 3, which is mounted in the roof opening 2 of the vehicle. The stationary frame 3 comprises a passage 4. The ventilating hatch is further provided with a panel 5, which closes the passage 4 in the stationary frame 3 in its closed position. From this closed position (fig. 2) the panel 5 may selectively be set in a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position (fig. 3), in a forwardly and upwardly inclined position (fig. 5) or in a position (fig. 4), in which the panel is substantially parallel to the stationary frame 3 and is spaced above the passage 4. In this regard it should be noted, that the front side of the vehicle and consequently the front side of the ventilating hatch is at the left side of the drawings. The ventilating hatch is principally constructed of three main parts, that is the stationary frame 3, the panel 5 and an intermediate frame 6 provided between both former parts. This intermediate frame 6 is pivotally connected to the stationary frame 3 at the rear side of the ventilating hatch, which is indicated by reference numeral 7, and the panel 5 is pivotally connected to the intermediate frame 6 at the front side of the ventilating hatch at 16. In this way it is possible to bring the panel 5 to a forwardly and upwardly inclined position (fig. 5) by pivoting the intermediate frame 6 upwardly with respect to the stationary frame 3, and the panel 5 is brought to a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position (fig. 3) by pivoting the panel 5 upwardly with respect to the intermediate frame 6. A combination of both pivoting movements brings about that the panel 5 will be positioned with all its sides spaced above the passage 4, and in its extreme position the panel extends substantially parallel to the vehicle roof (fig. 4). It is noted that in the drawing only one plate extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is shown as a part of the intermediate frame 6. Generally the intermediate frame 6 has two of such plates, one at each longitudinal side of the ventilating hatch, the plates being rigidly connected to each other by transverse connections. The elements of the plate and the elements of panel 5 and the stationary frame 3 cooperating therewith, which will be described in detail hereinafter are normally provided at both longitudinal sides of the ventilating hatch. The pivot joint 7 between the intermediate frame 6 and the stationary frame 3 consists of a pivot pin 8 provided near the rear side of the intermediate frame 6 and engaging in a slot 9 formed in the stationary frame 3 and inclining forwardly and upwardly from the rear side of the ventilating hatch. At the front side of the ventilating hatch the stationary frame 3 and the intermediate frame 6 are guided with respect to each other by means of a pin slot assembly 10. A guide pin 11 of this assembly 10 is provided near the front side of the intermediate frame 6, and a guide slot 12 is formed in a support 13 of the stationary frame 3. The guide slot 12 has a configuration of a segment of a circle. The circular guide slot 12 in the support 13 of the stationary frame 3 does not extend concentrically about the pivot joint 7 between the intermediate frame 6 and the stationary frame 3, so that the pivot pin 8 moves forwardly and upwardly (see fig. 5) from its rear position in the slot 9 (see e.g. fig. 2) when the intermediate frame is tilted from its lower position. The inclination of the slot 9 and the path of the guide slot 12 are chosen such, that when the above mentioned tilting movement is effected the imaginary pivot axis of the panel 5 substantially coincide with a seal 14 at the rear side of the panel. This seal 14, which extends along the whole circumference of the panel 5 engages a sealing face 15 formed along the circumference of the stationary frame 3, in the closed position of the panel 5. Because the pivot axis of the panel 5 coincides with the seal 14 at the rear side of the panel 5 this seal 14 will be maintained in engagement with the sealing face 15 during the tilting movement of the panel 5 from and to the closed position, while it is prevented that the seal 14 slides over the sealing face 15. The pivot joint 16 between the panel 5 and the intermediate frame 6 is formed in a similar way by a pivot pin 17 carried by a support 18 at the lower side of the panel 5 and engaging in a slot 19 formed near the front side of the intermediate frame 6. This slot 19 extends rearwardly and upwardly inclined from the front side of the ventilating hatch. At the rear side of the ventilating hatch the intermediate frame 6 and the panel 5 are guided with respect to each other by means of a pin-slot assembly 20. A support 21 mounted at the lower side of the panel carries a guide pin 22 of the pin-slot assembly 20, and a guide slot 23 thereof is formed in the intermediate frame 6. The tilting movement of the panel 5 with respect to the intermediate frame 6 takes place in a similar way as the tilting movement of the intermediate frame 6 with respect to the stationary frame 3. As a consequence the seal 14 at the front side of the panel 5 will be in engagement with the cooperating sealing face 15 in each rearwardly and upwardly inclined position, so that it is prevented that air or water will enter the interior of the vehicle at the front side of the panel 5 when the vehicle is driving. Fig. 1 further shows in a schematic way an adjusting mechanism 24 for adjusting the intermediate frame 6 with respect to the stationary frame 3, and an adjusting mechanism 25 with which the panel 5 is adjustable with respect to the intermediate frame 6. The adjusting mechanism 24 is manually operated and permits only a locking operation in both extreme positions. A lever arrangement 28 is rotated by means of a handle 26 through a gear transmission 27, thereby causing the intermediate frame 6 to tilt about a pivot pin. The lever arrangement engages the intermediate frame 6 at a point 29. The adjusting mechanism 25 comprises a corresponding lever arrangement 30, which is, however, rotated by an electric motor 31 provided on the intermediate frame 6. The lever arrangement 30 is connected to the panel 5 at a point 32. The ventilating hatch according to the invention is constructed such, that it is possible to convert the multiple adjustable ventilating hatch, shown in the fig. 1-5, into a singular adjustable ventilating hatch as shown in fig. 6 and 7. In this fashion the panel 5 can only be tilted between the closed position (fig. 6) and a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position (fig. 7). On behalf of this conversion the intermediate frame 6 is removably mounted in the ventilating hatch. When the conversion has to be effected it is only necessary to remove the intermediate frame 6, to turn the stationary frame 3 180° about a vertical axis and to mount the panel 5 to the stationary frame 3. In order to enable this latter the pivot joints 7 and 16 between the stationary frame 3 and the intermediate frame 6, and between the panel 5 and the intermediate frame 6, respectively are constructed in a similar way. Consequently the pivot pin 17 of the panel 5 is permitted to be fitted in the slot 9 of the stationary frame 3. Furthermore the pin-slot assemblies 10 and 20 are also constructed in a similar way, so that the guide pin 22 of the panel is able to cooperate with the guide slot 12 in the support 13 of the stationary frame 3. Especially in fig. 2 it can be seen that both pivot joints 7 and 16 and both pin-slot assemblies 10 and 20 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical transverse plane. In the singular adjustable ventilating hatch the adjustment of the panel 5 takes place by means of the adjusting mechanism 24, of which the lever arrangement 28 engages the panel 5 at the pivot point 32. The ventilating hatch shown in fig. 1-5 is also constructed as a removable emergency hatch for providing an emergency exit in cases of emergency. On behalf thereof a sectional strip 33 is provided along the front transverse side of the stationary frame 3, the sectional strip 33 being able to cooperate with a sectional strip 34 mounted on the fixed roof 1. These sectional strips 33 and 34 together form a fastening means between the stationary frame and the fixed roof 1 at the respective transverse side of the ventilating hatch 1, and in case of emergency these sectional strips 33 and 34 together form a pivot joint, so that, after loosening a removable joint 35 between the stationary frame 3 and fixed roof 1 at the opposite transverse side, the complete ventilating hatch is permitted to be tilted outwardly. In this way the opening 2 in the fixed roof 1 provides an emergency exit which is as large as possible. The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown in the drawing, which can be varied in several ways within the scope of the invention.

Claims: 1. Ventilating hatch for a vehicle, such as a truck, having a roof opening, comprising a stationary frame adapted to be mounted in the roof opening and provided with a passage being closable by a displaceable panel, which is able to be moved from its closed position upwardly at the front and/or rear side thereof, and vice versa, charac­ terized in that an intermediate frame is provided, which is pivotally connected to the stationary frame, and the panel being pivotally mounted onto the intermediate frame. 2. Ventilating hatch according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate frame is pivotally connected to the stationary frame at a transverse side of the ventilating hatch, and the panel being pivotally connected to the intermediate frame at the opposite transverse side of the ventilating hatch. 3. Ventilating hatch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the intermediate frame is removable, and the panel being adapted to be pivotally mounted to the stationary frame when the intermediate frame is removed. 4. Ventilating hatch according to claim 3, characterized in that the pivot joint between the intermediate frame and the stationary frame and the pivot joint between the panel and the intermediate frame are constructed in a similar way. 5. Ventilating hatch according to one of the claims 2-4, characterized in that the panel and the intermediate frame, and the intermediate frame and the stationary frame, respectively are guided with respect to each other by means of similarly constructed pin-slot assemblies near their transverse side positioned oppositely to the respective pivot joint. 6. Ventilating hatch according to claim 5, characterized in that the panel, and the intermediate frame, respectively carry transverse pins near both transverse sides of the ventilating hatch, the transverse pins of the panel near one of the transverse sides and of the intermediate frame near the opposite transverse side serving as pivot pins, and the transverse pins of the panel near the other transverse side of the intermediate frame near the opposite transverse side serve as guide pins for the cooperation with the respective guide slots. 7. Ventilating hatch according to claim 6, characterized in that the pivot pins of the panel, and the pivot pins of the intermediate frame, respectively, are each fitted in a slot formed in the intermediate frame, and in the stationary frame, respectively, and extending inclined upwardly from the respective transverse side of the ventilating hatch. 8. Ventilating hatch according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide slots in the intermediate frame, and in the stationary frame, respectively, are constructed as guide slots having a configuration of a segment of a circle. 9. Ventilating hatch according to claim 7 or 8, wherein between the panel and the stationary frame a seal is provided, which extends along the whole circumference of the panel, characterized in that the slot formed in the intermediate frame, and in the stationary frame, respectively, and extending inclined upwardly from the respective transverse side of the ventilating hatch is arranged at such an inclination, and the respective oppositely disposed guide slot extends in such a way with respect to the inclined upwardly extending slot, that the imaginary pivot axis of the panel substantially coincide with the seal at the respective transverse side of the panel when the panel, or the intermediate frame, respectively, is tilted. 10. Ventilating hatch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a driven adjusting mechanism is provided both between the stationary frame and the intermediate frame, and between the intermediate frame and the stationary frame. 11. Ventilating hatch according to claim 10, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism provided between the stationary frame and the intermediate frame engages onto the panel when the intermediate frame is removed. 12. Ventilating hatch according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism which causes the rear side of the panel to move upwardly and downwardly, is adapted to be locked in any position. 13. Ventilating hatch according to claim 12, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism which is adapted to be locked in any position, is driven electrically. 14. Ventilating hatch according to one of the claims 10-13, characterized in that each adjusting mechanism consists of a lever arrangement. 15. Ventilating hatch according to one of the preceding claims, which is constructed as a removable emergency hatch, characterized in that the stationary frame is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the vehicle roof at one side and to be fastened to the vehicle roof by means of a disconnectable connection at the opposite side.

Inventors: BOOTS, ROBERT THEODOOR
Applicants: VERMEULEN-HOLLANDIA OCTROOIEN II B.V.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B60J7
IPC codes: B60J7