Patent GB-488445-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to sliding roofs for vehicles
IPC: B60J7/185
Filed: 1937-03-18
Abstract: 488,445. Vehicle opening-tops. BISHOP, W. H. March 18, 1937, No. 7928. [Class 108 (i)] In a vehicle roof having a sliding panel 10 adapted to co-operate with a guide 12, 13 at one or each side of the roof-opening, a locking device or runner for the panel is adjustably mounted on the panel so that it can be moved laterally when the panel is being fitted to allow it to pass the guide and can be returned subsequently to the normal operative position. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 a channel-section metal pressing 14 is welded to the underside of the panel and houses locking-mechanism comprising a bell-crank 15, the lower arm of which extends below the lip 13 on the watercheck frame 11, while the upper arm is engaged by the outer end of a laterally-movable bar 16 operable by a central rotatable handle, so that when the bar is moved outwardly it rocks the bell-crank to grip the lip 13 between the lower arm and a fibre block 17 carried by the panel and slidable on the lip. The bell-crank and block 17 are carried by a plate 18 located in the channel 14 by a downwardlycranked flange 19 at its inner end engaging in a slot 20 in the channel, and by screws 21 passing through the bottom of the channel and through slots 22 in the plate into a bridgepiece 23 through which the bar 16 is slidable. When fitting the panel, the screws 21 are slackened until the flange 19 can be disengaged from the slot 20 and the plate 18 is then moved outwardly to an extent permitted by the length of the slots 22 to allow the bell-crank to drop freely over the lip 13, after which the plate is slid inwardly until the flange 19 enters the slot 20 when the screws are tightened thus locking the plate in the correct position relatively to the lip 13. A tongue 24 may be pressed out of the bar 16 to engage the flange 19 in order to limit the outward movement of the plate. A similar locking device may be provided at the other side of the panel and mounted on an adjustable plate or directly on the channel 14. In a modification the plate 18 is located normally by the engagement of the inner edge of the plate with cranked tongues pierced out of the channel and of a further tongue on the channel with a slot in the plate. Fig. 6 shows another construction with the parts in the positions for fitting the panel on the roof the bell-crank 15, pivoted on the channel 14 or on a plate 28 fixed thereto, having' its upper end engaging under the outer end of the bar 16 which is acted on by a blade spring 30. In a further construction, Fig. 8, a slide or runner for the sliding panel is formed by a plate 31 having a felt-lined hooked end 32 engaging over a lip 33 on the watercheck frame 34, the plate, for fitting the panel, being adjustably connected to a frame strip 35 on the panel by screw-and-slot devices 36, 37. The locking means for the panel comprises a friction pad 38 mounted on a laterally movable bar 39 and adapted to bear against the outer wall 40 of the frame 34. Fig. 10 shows another construction in which a feltlined slide 43 is carried by a strip 44 having a cranked end engaging a slot 46 in a pressing 42 adapted to reinforce the corner of the sliding panel, the other end of the strip being secured by a screw 47. When fitting the panel the screw is removed and the strip swung downwardly and outwardly to allow the slide to pass over the lip 48 on the watercheck frame. In a flush-fitting type of roof in which the rear end of the panel is carried by separate guides and is moved, as the panel is closed, into a position flush with the fixed rear part of the roof, adjustable runners may be provided only for the front end of the panel, the rear end being guided by spaced and staggered felt-lined guides or slides travelling on guides which extend along the rear part of the roof and are cranked upwardly at their forward ends to effect the vertical movement of the rear end of the panel.