Abstract:
A motor vehicle roof is provided which includes a cover which can be moved into a raised position at its rear edge by a carriage which can be moved along guide rails in interaction with a cover carrier connected to the cover via a crank arrangement. The crank arrangement has at least one crank path and at least one sliding element which fits into the crank arrangement. For simple and reliable support of the cover in all phases, the crank arrangement preferably includes at least two crank paths and two sliding elements, wherein the crank paths are shaped and arranged such that when the carriage moves, a first sliding element assumes support of the cover in the direction of the height of the vehicle roof (Z-direction), while a second sliding element applies support in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle (X-direction). As the carriage continues to be displaced, a reversal of the supporting action of the two sliding elements occurs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a motor vehicle roof having a cover with a rear edge movable into a raised position, a carriage adapted to move the cover into the raised position and a cover carrier connected to the cover via a crank arrangement. Specifically, the present invention relates to such a roof wherein the carriage is moveable along guide rails in interaction with the cover carrier and the crank arrangement includes at least one crank path and at least one sliding element which fits into the at least one crank path.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     A conventional a motor vehicle roof with an externally guided cover is disclosed in German published patent application 197 13 347 A1. In that arrangement, a carriage, which can be moved by a driving cable, displaces the lower coupling point of a raising lever. The raising lever is guided in the middle with a sliding element in a stationary crank path and its top end is movably guided with another sliding element in a crank path on a cover carrier. The support of the rear edge of the cover when the cover is being moved is assumed by a supporting lever which is provided independently of the raising lever. This mechanism requires very exact production and mounting of all involved components and a large amount of space, viewed in the width of the vehicle (Y direction), due to the required transfer from the raising lever to the supporting lever.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     One object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle roof which ensures narrow, simple and reliable support of the cover in all phases of motion.  
         [0006]     This object, and other objects, are achieved by providing a motor vehicle roof comprising a cover having a rear edge and movable into a raised position at the rear edge, a carriage adapted to move the cover into the raised position and a cover carrier connected to the cover via a crank arrangement. The carriage moveable along guide rails in interaction with the cover carrier. The crank arrangement includes at least two crank paths and first and second sliding elements which fit into respective crank paths. The at least two crank paths are shaped and arranged to cause the first sliding element to support the cover in the direction of the height of the vehicle roof (Z-direction) upon movement of the carriage, while also causing a second sliding element to apply support to the cover in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle (X-direction). The direction of the support provided by the first and the second sliding elements is reversed upon further displacement of the carriage.  
         [0007]     Because two sliding elements are arranged and shaped such that, when the carriage moves in a sliding transition, the elements alternately assume support of the cover in the direction of the height of the motor vehicle roof (Z direction) and in the lengthwise direction of the motor vehicle roof (X direction), displacement during the raising motion of the rear edge by one of the sliding elements is likewise prevented. Thus, reliable entrainment and support of the cover during its displacement are ensured.  
         [0008]     Advantageously, at least one crank path is formed on the carriage and at least one crank path is formed on the guide rails.  
         [0009]     According to one especially preferred embodiment, the sliding elements may be pivotally supported on the cover carrier.  
         [0010]     The first and the second sliding elements are preferably located in the front area of the cover carrier. In this way, the motion of the front edge of the cover can be controlled such that it is slightly raised during opening and is shifted slightly to the rear so that there is no collision with the front seal.  
         [0011]     In a preferred embodiment, in the projection in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle, the crank paths for the first sliding element and the second sliding element cross.  
         [0012]     For especially reliable support and to control the rear edge of the cover as necessary, it is advantageous that the crank arrangement comprises a third sliding element guided in a third crank path. Preferably, the third sliding element is located in the rear area of the cover carrier.  
         [0013]     The first sliding element and the second sliding element are made in an especially space-saving embodiment on different sides of the component which bears them.  
         [0014]     The cover can be a component of a fixed motor vehicle roof or a component of a convertible folding top package which is preferably made exclusively of fixed elements. Such a fixed element convertible is generally known from German patent 197 13 347 C1.  
         [0015]     One aspect of the present invention which is advantageous independently of the above described motor vehicle roof of the present invention includes at least one sliding element pivotally supported such that the sliding element changes from an essentially vertical position into an essentially horizontal position when moved in the crank path. When two sliding elements are used, they are supported such that while the first sliding element is changing from the vertical into the horizontal position, the second sliding element changes oppositely thereto from the horizontal into the vertical position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic perspective of a motor vehicle roof with a closed cover in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the motor vehicle roof of  FIG. 1  with the cover opened;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a partial lengthwise section of the motor vehicle roof of  FIG. 1  in the area of a side guide with the cover closed;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a partial lengthwise section of the roof of the present invention with the cover raised;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a partial lengthwise section of the roof of the present invention with the cover pushed to the rear;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a partial lengthwise section along the intersection line VI-VI in  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  shows a partial cross section along the intersection line VII-VII in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     The motor vehicle roof I shown in  FIG. 1 , following the top edge of the front window  21 , is composed of a wind deflector louver  2 , a cover  3 , a rear cover part  4  which adjoins cover  3  to the rear, side members  6  which laterally border the cover  3  and a rear roof cassette  19  which surrounds the rear roof part  4 . The motor vehicle roof  1 , in this exemplary embodiment, is made as a fixed element convertible in which the cover  3  can be moved over the rear roof part  4 . Also, in this embodiment, after swiveling of the side members  6 , the package consisting of the cover  3 , the rear roof part  4 , the roof cassette  19  and C pillars  18  can be deposited in a stowage space, which is not shown, in the rear part of the vehicle. The present invention is also likewise suited for an externally guided cover  3  in a fixed motor vehicle roof.  
         [0024]     The optional wind deflector louver  2  can be raised preferably independently of the position of the cover  3  into the ventilator position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The cover  3  is connected on either side to the cover carrier  7  which is connected to the inside of the cover  3  and which extends down roughly at a right angle near the lateral outside edges of the cover  3  (see  FIG. 6 ). The cover carrier  7  is used preferably with the rear edge of the cover raised at the same time as a lateral screen for covering the triangular lateral gap S (see  FIG. 2 ). The cover  3 , on its outside edge, has a seal  16  for sealing contact with the edge of the roof opening  5 . The seal  16  however can also be attached, as shown, to the edge of the roof opening  5  so that an injection-molded plastic edge  20  on the cover  3  adjoins the seal.  
         [0025]     A total of three sliding elements  8 ,  9 ,  10  are provided on the cover carrier  7 . The three sliding elements  8 ,  9 ,  10  are each pivotally supported by means of a sliding axis on the cover carrier  7 . The three sliding elements  8 ,  9 ,  10  are located roughly at the same height, i.e. at the same distance to the cover  3  near the lower edge of the cover carrier  7 . The first sliding element  8  is located a short distance behind a second sliding element  9 , while the third sliding element  10  is located roughly in the rear third of the cover  3 .  
         [0026]     One carriage  11  at a time is movably guided on the guide rails  15  which extend laterally from the roof opening  5 . Only one of the guide rails  15  is shown in  FIGS. 3-7 . For this purpose, the guide rail  15  has a guide channel  1  SC. The carriage  11  is moved via a driving cable (not shown) attached to the carriage  11  and an electric motor (not shown). The driving cable itself is guided rigidly in tension and in compression in the cable channel  15 D shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0027]     On the carriage  11 , in the front area, a first crank path  12  is formed, into which the first sliding element  8  fits. The crank path  12  has a first, roughly vertically arranged path section  12 A, a bent path section  12 B which adjoins it to the rear, a roughly horizontal path section  12 C which adjoins the latter to the rear, a path section  12 D which adjoins path section  12 C and descends to the rear, and a lower, roughly horizontal path section  12 E. When the carriage  11  is moved to the rear, the first sliding element  8  traverses the path sections  12 E,  12 D,  12 C,  12 B, and  12 A in succession proceeding from the closed position of the cover  3  as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0028]     The guide rail  15 , as is apparent in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , is composed of an inner profile part  15 A located near the edge of the roof opening  5  and an outer profile part  15 B located near the side member  6 . A second crank path  13  is made on the outer profile part  15 B of guide rail  15 . The crank path  13  is composed of a front path section  13 A which rises steeply to the rear, a path section  13 B which rises more gently to the rear, and a generally horizontal path section  13 C which runs to the rear. The second sliding element  9  engages the crank path  13 . When the carriage  11  is moving to the rear, the second sliding element  9  traverses the path sections  13 A,  13 B and  13 C in succession proceeding from the closed position of the cover  3  which is shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0029]     Near the back end of the carriage  11  on the latter, a third crank path  14  is formed on the side facing the outer profile part  15 B. From back to front, this crank path is composed of a lower, generally horizontal path section  14 A, a path section  14 B which rises obliquely forward, and a front, generally horizontal path section  14 C. The third sliding element  10  fits into the third crank path  14 . When the carriage  11  is displaced to the rear, the third sliding element  10  traverses the path sections  14 A,  14 B and  14 C in succession.  
         [0030]     FIGS.  3  to  5  show the sequence of movements of the cover  3 , proceeding from the closed position of the cover  3  in  FIG. 3 , via the raised position as shown in  FIG. 4  to the displacement position shown in  FIG. 5 . The interplay of the sliding elements  8 ,  9  and  10  with the crank paths  12 ,  13 ,  14  becomes apparent. The sliding elements  8 ,  9  and  10  are guided so closely in their crank paths  12 ,  13  and  14  that the curvature of the crank path imparts rotation to the respective sliding element when the carriage  11  is displaced.  
         [0031]     In the closed position of the cover  3 , the first sliding element  8  lies on the back end of the horizontal path section  12 E of the first crank path  12 . At the same time, the second sliding element  9  lies on the lower end of the front path section  13 A of the second crank path  13 . The third sliding element  10  lies on the back end of the rear path section  14 A of the third crank path  14 . The cover  3  in this position is supported by the sliding elements  8  and  10  which are aligned horizontally by the path sections  12 E and  14 A in the vertical direction. At the same time, it is prevented from moving to the rear by the second sliding element  9  which is aligned generally vertically as a result of the path section  13  A of the second crank path  13  running highly vertically.  
         [0032]     When the carriage  11  is moved to the rear to initiate the raising motion of the cover  3  with its rear edge  3 B, the first sliding element  8  traverses the gently rising path section  12 D and the generally horizontally running middle path section  12 C. At the same time, the third sliding element  10  transverses the dramatically rising path section  14 B and the initial area of the roughly horizontal path section  14 C. In doing so, the cover  3 , with its rear edge  3 B, is raised substantially, while the front edge  3 A of the cover  3  is slightly raised in order to prevent the front edge  3 A of the cover from plunging too much forward or down and in doing so colliding with the seal in the area of the front edge of the roof opening  5 . The movements of the sliding elements are rather matched to one another such that the front edge  3 A of the cover always remains in contact with this seal, without compressing it too greatly. The second sliding element  9  migrates up in the front path section  13 A, but maintains its predominantly vertical alignment so that the cover  3  undergoes only a slight displacement to the rear which is superimposed on the raising motion and which is enabled by the slant of the path section  13 A, but otherwise continues to be blocked against displacement to the rear.  
         [0033]     In the transition from the raised position as shown in  FIG. 4  into the displacement position as shown in  FIG. 5 , the first sliding element  8  traverses the bent path section  12 B, while the second sliding element  9  at the same time traverses the rising path section  13 B. The first sliding element  8  is turned in this way from its horizontal position in which it supports the cover  3  in the vertical direction into a vertical position in which it prevents relative motion between the carriage  11  and the cover carrier  7  in the horizontal direction. At the same time, as the second sliding element  9  is turned more from the predominantly vertical position into a position closer to the horizontal, the second sliding element  9  releases the blockage of the displacement of the cover carrier  7  to the rear and at the same time assumes more and more the support of the cover  3  in the front area in the vertical direction. When the displacement position as shown in  FIG. 5  is fully reached, the first sliding element  8  stands vertically on the top end of the path section  12 A. The third sliding element  10  lies almost on the front end of the path section  14 C. The second sliding element  9  slides to the rear in the horizontal path section  13 C along the guide rail  15 . By raising the first sliding element  8  and the second sliding element  9  in the transition from  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 5 , the front edge  3 A of the cover is raised so that the tilt of the cover  3  when moved to the rear is flatter than in the raised position. In this way the wind resistance and noise generation, with the cover  3  opened, are reduced and contact between the cover  3  and the seal is cancelled.  
         [0034]     By the interaction of the two sliding elements  8  and  9  with the crank paths  12  and  13 , the cover  3  in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 3  and in the raised position as shown in  FIG. 4  is secured against moving to the rear by the sliding element  9  and at the same time is supported by the sliding element  8  in the vertical direction. In the transition from the raised position into the displacement position, the two sliding elements  8  and  9  change their role. The sliding element  9  assumes vertical support of the cover  3  in the forward area and the sliding element  8  interlocks the cover carrier  7  to the carriage  11  so that forced entrainment of the cover  3  to the rear takes place.  
         [0035]     In contrast to other known mechanisms for raising and moving the cover, in the present invention, an additional locking element, which blocks the displacement of the cover to the rear in the closed position and the raised position, can be completely abandoned. The mechanism of the present invention is made simple, durable and very narrow (in the y direction) and can be economically produced since it completely dispenses with additional raising or supporting levers and the mechanism necessary for this purpose.