Abstract:
The invention relates to a motor vehicle ( 1 ) provided with a roof ( 2 ) comprising at least one part ( 3 ) which is fully movable for the opening thereof and extends from an area adjacent to a windscreen frame ( 4 ) to the rear particularly rigid part ( 5 ) of the roof. The inventive motor vehicle is characterized in that the movable part ( 3 ) of the roof, which is otherwise in a closed position, can be raised in the back area thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention concerns a motor vehicle with a roof, which has at least one part that can be fully moved to allow the roof to be opened. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     DE 199 26 474 A1 describes a convertible that allows two roof positions, namely, a completely closed position and a completely open position, especially in a high construction vehicle. To this end, the roof is divided transversely into several roof sections arranged one behind the other. However, besides the two specified roof positions, no others are possible. In addition, the conversion of the roof from its closed position to its open position and vice versa must be carried out with the vehicle stopped or nearly stopped, because a rear roof part makes an acute angle with the direction of travel as it is opened and therefore presents a large surface of attack to the airflow over the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is based on the problem of creating a motor vehicle that has a high degree of flexibility with respect to the opening of the roof parts. 
     The invention solves this problem with a motor vehicle that has a roof with at least one movable roof part that can be fully opened and extends from an area adjacent to a windshield frame to a rear roof part, wherein a raisable rear section of the movable roof part is raisable in such a way that a section of the movable roof part located in front of the raisable rear section remains in a closed position. 
     The invention makes it possible to raise only one rear section of a roof part that can also be fully opened, and this makes it possible to realize a large number of opening states of this roof part. As a result of the fact that when the rear section of this roof part is raised, the roof part remains otherwise closed, an especially low-draft ventilation position can be realized. The total opening movement does not have to be initiated to allow the partial opening in the rear section, so that the mechanism for the partial opening can be kept simple. Another advantage is that the airflow attack surface is minimized, so that the movement into the raised position and the return movement are also possible while the vehicle is moving, even at high speeds. 
     If the movable roof part occupies the whole width between the side windows, then a convertible vehicle or targa-top vehicle can be formed with the roof part completely opened. Even if only the rear section is raised, then a ventilation opening that covers the entire interior width is created. The open-air feeling is greatly enhanced compared to vehicles with solid roof frame parts, in which only a sliding or tilt sunroof has been installed in the central area of the roof. 
     Whether the rear roof part can also be lowered into the automobile body to create a convertible, or only a partial opening of the roof is to remain possible is independent of the roof part design of the invention. Therefore, this design can be used for a wide variety of roofs and thus allows maximum flexibility. 
     It is advantageous that it is also possible for the rear roof part of a vehicle also to be optionally lowered, depending on the loading situation, or, if, for example, more storage space is needed, to remain in the targa position. 
     If the movable roof part is covered by a flexible, especially textile, covering, it is advantageous to provide a roof bow to allow the rear section of the movable roof part to be raised. This roof bow can be displaced relative to lateral frame parts on which it is mounted but can be moved with the lateral frame parts to allow complete opening of the roof. The additional mechanical expense to mount the roof bow displaceably on the frame parts is small and does not require much construction space. In the closed position, the roof bow can ensure that the moving roof part presses against and seals the rear roof part. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Other advantages and features of the invention are apparent from the specific embodiment of the object of the invention that is illustrated in the drawings and described below. 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic, perspective overall view of a motor vehicle of the invention with the roof closed but without the textile roof covering. 
         FIG. 2  shows a view similar to that of  FIG. 1  with the rear end of the front roof part raised. 
         FIG. 3  shows a view similar to that of  FIG. 2  with the rear roof part swung upward. 
         FIG. 3   a  shows the same state of movement of the roof as  FIG. 3  but with the textile covering of the front roof part partially drawn. 
         FIG. 4  shows a view similar to that of  FIG. 3  with the opening of the roof progressing by the front roof part being swung up and folded. 
         FIG. 5  shows a view similar to that of  FIG. 4  in a nearly horizontal and completely folded position of the front roof part. 
         FIG. 6  shows a view similar to that of  FIG. 5  in a nearly vertical intermediate position of the front roof part in the automobile body. 
         FIG. 7  shows a view similar to that of  FIG. 6  with the front roof section swung further in to reach its lowered position in the automobile body. 
         FIG. 8  shows a view similar to that of  FIG. 7  with the position of the front roof part unchanged and the rear roof part swung back into its original position. 
         FIG. 9  shows an alternative lowered position of the front roof part above the rear roof part. 
         FIG. 10  shows the lowered position according to  FIG. 9  but in a side view of the vehicle. 
         FIG. 11  shows the roof linkage in the roof position according to  FIG. 2  in a schematic side view. 
         FIG. 12  shows the roof linkage in the roof position according to  FIG. 4  in a schematic side view. 
         FIG. 13  shows the roof linkage in the roof position according to  FIG. 5  in a schematic side view. 
         FIG. 14  shows the roof linkage in the roof position according to  FIG. 6  in a schematic side view. 
         FIG. 15  shows the roof linkage in the roof position between  FIGS. 6 and 7  in a schematic side view. between  FIGS. 6 and 7  in a schematic side view. 
         FIG. 16  shows the roof linkage in the roof position according to  FIG. 7  in a schematic side view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The vehicle  1  of the invention that is shown in  FIG. 1  has a roof  2  that has at least one front section  3  that can be opened. This front section  3  extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from a windshield frame  4  to a rear roof part  5 , which encloses a rear window  6 . The front, movable section  3  is not necessarily directly connected, as shown here, with the windshield frame  4 . 
     The movable roof part  3  is essentially horizontal when the roof  2  is closed. In the illustrated embodiment, it extends over the entire width of the interior of the vehicle, and in the closed state of the roof, it is in contact with the upper edges of the side windows  7 . Since the roof covers an interior with at least two rows of seats arranged one behind the other, the movable roof part  3  has a transverse division  8  to allow the sections  3   a ,  3   b , which are arranged one behind the other, to be folded towards each other. The sections  3   a ,  3   b  can be formed both by rigid panels and by frame constructions that are covered by a flexible covering  9 . In the latter case, lateral frame parts  10  and  11  are assigned to the sections  3   a  and  3   b , respectively. 
     In a shorter vehicle  1 , say, in a two-seater, the movable roof part  3  can also get by without a transverse division  8 . 
     The rear roof part  5  that encloses the rear window  6  can also be either completely rigid, as shown in the present embodiment, or flexible, at least in certain regions. The rear window  6  can be moved into the tailgate  12  below it, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 2 . 
     The roof parts  3  and  5  can be moved independently of each other and are completely separated from each other. The roof part  3  is movably connected with the automobile body by lateral linkages  13 , each of which is designed as a four-bar linkage. In this regard, each side of the vehicle is provided with two linkages  14 ,  15 , which are pivoted on bearings  16 ,  17  that are fixed with respect to the automobile body. Details of this are illustrated in  FIGS. 11 to 16 . 
     The linkage  15  acts on a joint  20  of the front roof part  3  by means of a drive element  18 . The joint  20  is assigned to the rear end of the longitudinally extending frame part  11 . The linkage  14 , on the other hand, acts indirectly on the frame part  11  by means of a horizontal pivot axis  19  that is located at a vertically higher level. The height displacement of the points of force application  18  and  20  results in a lever arm, by which the frame part  11 , when the drive element  18  is moved out, can be swiveled in the direction of arrow  21  about the axis  19 , which remains motionless to effect the first lowered position of the roof. In this way, the front roof part  3  can be opened into a first lowered position above the rear roof part  5  ( FIGS. 11 to 13 ). In the illustrated embodiment, this first lowered position is provided as an additional, but not essential, option for the lowering of the roof. 
     In addition, the linkages  14  and  15  can also be swiveled about the axes  16  and  17 , which are fixed with respect to the automobile body, in the directions of arrows  22 ,  23  and in the opposite directions ( FIGS. 14 to 16 ). 
     The linkage  14  is divided into sections  14   a  and  14   b  at at least one additional joint  24 . Section  14   a  extends from the main bearing  16 , which is fixed with respect to the automobile body, to the joint  24 , and section  14   b  extends from there to the axis  19 . The linkage  15  is divided at at least two joints  25 ,  26 . Section  15   a  extends from the main bearing  17 , which is fixed with respect to the automobile body, to the joint  26 , section  15   b  extends from there to the other joint  25 , and section  15   c  extends from there to the drive element  18 . The pivoted attachment of section  15   c  to the drive element  18  is located on a common horizontal pivot axis with the joint  24  of the first linkage  14 . 
     A rear transverse roof bow  27 , which can be moved relative to the lateral frame parts  10 ,  11  and is mounted on two levers  28 ,  29  that extend parallel to the frame part  11 , is assigned to the roof section  3 , which is covered with a textile material in the present embodiment. By raising these levers, the roof bow  27  can be displaced with unchanged orientation essentially parallel upward and forward with respect to the travel direction F. This results in the raising of the rear edge region of the roof part  3 , so that a ventilation position is reached. This position can also be set during travel, since the movement of the levers  28 ,  29  does not require much force, and the textile covering  9  ( FIG. 3   a ), which then rises only in the rear section, presents only a small surface of attack to the airflow over the vehicle. Therefore, the opening and closing of this ventilation opening can also be carried out at high speed. The movement of the roof bow  27  takes very little time. In its normal lowered position, the roof bow  27  clamps the covering  9  and seals its rear termination against the edge of the rear roof part  5  that is at the front relative to the direction of travel. 
     The actuation of the movement of the roof bow  27  can be remotely controlled from the dashboard and can be effected, for example, by electric or hydraulic drives. 
     Instead of the roof bow  27 , other raising mechanisms can be provided, especially in the case of rigid roof parts, for a rear region of the moving roof part  3 . In this regard, the use of a roof bow, which is present anyway, simplifies the manufacturing compared to expensive auxiliary mechanisms. The weight of the vehicle is also not significantly increased by the additional mobility of the rear roof section that is achieved in accordance with the invention. 
     To convert the movable roof part  3  from the closed position shown in  FIG. 1  to the aforementioned first open position shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  13 , in which it is held above the rear roof part  5 , the roof bow  27 —and thus the rear end of the movable roof part  3 —is first raised ( FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 11 ). In this position, the roof part  3  can be moved relative to the rear roof part  5 . The rear roof part  5  remains unmoved during this process, in contrast to the adjustment of the second lowered position according to  FIGS. 3 to 8 . As is clear from the transition from  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 12 , first the drive element  18  is moved out to initiate the upward swiveling movement of the roof part  3  about the axis  19  in the direction of arrow  21 . At the same time, a linkage part  30  forces the parts  3   a  and  3   b  to fold about the separating line  8 . In the illustrated embodiment, the frame sections  10 ,  11  are each hinged together by hinges near the edges. 
     In this process, the linkages  14 ,  15  are not swiveled about their bearings  16 ,  17 , which are fixed with respect to the automobile body. The bearing  24  thus maintains its position, as does the pivot axis  19 . 
     When the drive element  18  is moved out further, the roof part  3   b  swivels farther in the direction of arrow  21  until an flip-over position has been reached. At the same time, parts  3   a  and  3   b  are folded together until they lie almost parallel one above the other ( FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  13 ). 
     Since the axis  19  maintains its position, the roof parts  3   a ,  3   b  also do not change their vertical position in the direction of a lowering to the belt line  31  but rather are lowered in the elevated position above the rear roof part  5 . As  FIG. 10  shows, the stack of the front roof part  3  formed in this way is sufficiently short in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle that it does not extend beyond the rear roof part or thus beyond the rear end of the vehicle. 
     Furthermore, the folded stack, in which the frame parts  10  and  11  lie one on top of the other, is very flat, so that the air resistance of the vehicle is only slightly increased by this lowered position of the roof. As a result of the fact that only a part  3  of the roof  2  is moved and that it is moved only in one plane, the movement is accomplished much faster than a full opening or a lowering of the roof part  3  below the belt line  31 . The trunk is unaffected by this, as is visibility to the rear. Nevertheless, with the side windows down, a spacious open-air feeling is obtained. 
     On the other hand, to convert the movable roof part  3  from the closed position shown in  FIG. 1  to a second open position, which is likewise shown here as a lowering possibility in  FIGS. 8 and 16 , in which it is held below the rear roof part  5 , once again the roof bow  27 —and thus the rear end of the movable roof part  3 —is first raised ( FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 11 ). In this position, the roof part  3  can be moved relative to the rear roof part  5 . The rear roof part  3  is then swiveled to the rear, either completely or with the lateral parts  5   b  kept in place, about a rear horizontal axis  33  in such a way that a space for the passage of the front roof part  3  is created above a stationary roll bar  32  located there. As a result of the fact that the rear window  6  was first moved down into the tailgate  12 , the swiveling movement can take place without obstruction by the window  6 . The movement of the roof part  3  is then carried out as described above by first moving out the drive element  18  (transition from  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 12 ) to initiate the upward swiveling movement of the roof part  3  about the axis  19  in the direction of arrow  21  and to cause the parts  3   a  and  3   b  to fold about the separating line  8 . 
     Here again, in this process, the linkages  14 ,  15  at first are not yet swiveled about their bearings  16 ,  17 , which are fixed with respect to the automobile body. The bearing  24  still maintains its position, as does the pivot axis  19 , until the flip-over position of the roof part  3   b  as shown in  FIG. 5  has been reached. 
     This position of the movable roof part  3  corresponds to the position shown in  FIG. 9 , except that now the rear roof part  5  is open to create a passage for the further lowering of the roof part  3  into the automobile body. For this purpose, the links  14   a  and  14   b  become oriented more steeply relative to each other, i.e., the angle between them at the joint  24  becomes smaller. At the same time, the section  15   a  swivels about the axis  17  opposite the direction of arrow  23  out of the position shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  13 , so that the angle between the sections  15   a  and  15   b  is decreased, and at the same time the angle between sections  15   b  and  15   c  is increased. With the link  14   b  swiveling about the axis  24 , the stack of roof parts  3   a  and  3   b  is thus also swiveled into a nearly vertical position ( FIG. 14 ), and, as the movement continues ( FIGS. 15 and 16  and  FIGS. 6 to 8 ), the stack of roof parts  3   a  and  3   b  then swivels into a position that approaches a horizontal flip-over position of the roof part  3   a . In this position, the roof part  3  is then held horizontally or obliquely below the roof part  5 , which can then swivel back into its original position about the axis  33  ( FIG. 8 ). Accordingly, a targa-top vehicle is formed according to  FIG. 8 . In this position, the rear roof part  5  is in the same position as when the roof is completely closed ( FIG. 1 ). In an alternative vehicle or even in the same vehicle, depending on the design, it is also possible for the rear roof part  5  to be (optionally) lowered below the belt line  31  over the stack of the front roof part  3  to form a full convertible. 
     The aforementioned roof-lowering positions show that various roof-lowering positions can be realized in accordance with the invention. Other positions, which are not shown here, are also possible. Completely different roof kinematics are likewise possible. 
     A stationary and thus less expensive roll bar  32  can be used on the basis of the lowering kinematics shown here. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the roll bar  32  is covered by the rear roof part  5  in every position of the roof—and thus in every lowered position of the movable roof part  3 —and is thus visually inconspicuous and invisible from the outside. The opening for the passage of the movable roof part  3  lies above the roll bar  32  and is thus not restricted by the roll bar. Moreover, the ability to swivel open the rear roof part  5  ensures that the opening for the passage of the front roof part  3  is also sufficiently large towards the top to allow undisturbed movement of the roof part  3  and yet provide the desired visual covering of the roll bar  32  in the closed position. If the rear roof part  5  cannot be lowered below the belt line  31 , then, as mentioned above, the roll bar can be fully concealed from the outside in every final position of the roof  2 . 
     It is advantageous for the roll bar  32  to be designed as a preassembled module that can be mounted as a unit in the automobile body.