Patent GB-512321-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to folding hoods for automobile or like vehicles
IPC: B60J7/12
Filed: 1938-02-26
Abstract: 512,321. Folding hoods for vehicles. BESSONNEAU, M. Feb. 26, 1938, No. 6132. Convention date, Nov, 20, 1937. [Class 108 (i)] Relates to a folding hood for vehicles, of the type comprising a rear frame formed by hoops 9, 71, 74, 60, the front supporting hoop 9 being hinged on the body, a front frame carried by the supporting hoop 9 and formed on each side of the body by a longitudinal telescopic link 35, 36 and a linkage between the link and the hoop 9 for controlling the folding and unfolding operations. According to the invention, each arm of the hoop 9, when in operative position, lies in front of the front end of the side-window 3 adjacent the rear seats of the vehicle and thus forms an intermediate upright, the shape of the hoop and the arrangement of the front frame being such that the collapsing movement of the hood is not hindered by the window when in its raised position. As shown, an extension 10 of the hoop 9 is fixed to a quadrant 11 mounted on a pivot 12 inside a U-shaped housing 5 surrounding the rear seat, and into which the hood is adapted to be retracted and which may be closed by flaps as described in Specification 463,986. In each arm 14 of the hoop 9 is inserted a C-section metal guideway. 17 in which a carriage 20 is slidable on rollers 18, 19, a link 25 being pivoted at 24 to the carriage and at 26 to the body. A rod 31, Fig. 5, is mounted on a longitudinal pivot 30 on the carriage 20 and carries . longitudinal pivot 32 supporting one end of an L-shaped bracket 33 the other end of which carries a transverse pivot 34 engageable by the guide portion 35 of the telescopic link 35, 36. The front end of the sliding link part 36 carries the transverse front end 38 of the hood through the intermediary of a member 40 connected by vertical pivots 41, 42 respectively to the link part 36 and hood end 38. The linkage system of the front frame of the hood is completed by links 47, 48 mounted between pivots 44, 49 on the member 40 and hoop 9 respectively, a link 51 mounted between a pivot on the link part 35 and a pivot 50 on the hoop 9, and a link 52 mounted between a pivot 54 on the link 47 and the pivot 34. The rear frame of the hood comprises the hoop 60 carried by a lever 62 pivoted at 63 to the body and connected to the quadrant 11 by a link 66, the end of each arm of the hoop 60 having an extension 69, Fig. 1, carrying the hinge pin 70 of the hoop 71 each arm of which is extended for connection to one end of the intermediate loop 74. In the unfolded position, Figs, 1, 10, the front end 38 of the hood rests on the windscreen 39, the telescopic link 35, 36 is substantially in contact with the upper edge of the window 2, the carriage 20 is at the upper end of the guideway 17, the connecting link 31 is swung outwards, and the member 40 is in alignment with the link part 36. When the quadrant 11 is rotated in the direction of the arrow f, Fig. 1, e.g., by an electric motor through chain-and-sprocket gearing 76, 78, 79, the hoop 9 swings clockwise, Fig. 1, and the carriage 20 is pulled downwards by the link 25, as shown in Fig. 2, causing the levers 47, 48 to move about the pivots 49, 46, thus forcing the member 40 to swing into a transverse position, while the resistance offered to downward movement of the rear end of the telescopic link 35, 36 causes the link 31 to move into a vertical position. Thus the front end of the link 35, 36 moves away from and its rear end towards the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the parts occupying the positions shown in plan view in Fig. 11, and the folding operation can then be completed without lowering the windows. In a modification, the lateral movement of the rear end of the link 35, 36 is effected by means of a projection on the carriage engaging a laterallyprojecting cam on each arm of the hoop 9. In a further construction each arm of the hoop 9 is slotted to permit the passage of the windows therethrough. Specification 447,641 also is referred to.