Patent Publication Number: US-11040603-B2

Title: Sliding roof system for a motor vehicle

Description:
The invention relates to a sliding roof system for a motor vehicle, with a front lifting mechanism and a rear lifting mechanism which are assigned to a front and a rear edge respectively of a cover of the sliding roof system, as well as a connecting element which is arranged between the front and the rear lifting mechanisms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sliding roof systems for motor vehicles make it possible to uncover a roof opening to a greater or lesser extent by moving the cover between a closed position and a partially or completely opened position. In many cases they are so-called spoiler sunroofs, in which the cover is first lifted and then moved backwards over the roof outer panel adjoining the roof opening or over a further cover. 
     The distance by which the cover must be lifted outwards is predefined by external factors. The cover must be lifted far enough above the roof outer panel for there being no risk that it (and a cover holder bearing the cover) does not touch the roof outer panel in any operational state. The components required for the lifting are arranged in an area of the motor vehicle in which there is little space available, as they compromise headroom. 
     The object of the invention is to provide a sliding roof system for a motor vehicle which has a small overall height. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The object is achieved according to the invention by a sliding roof system for a motor vehicle, with a front lifting mechanism and a rear lifting mechanism which are assigned to a front and a rear edge respectively of a cover of the sliding roof system, wherein the front lifting mechanism has a guide rail with a lifting slotted guide for a cover-side lifting slider as well as a controlling carriage which is displaceable along the guide rail in order to control the movement of the cover, wherein the controlling carriage has a controlling slotted guide for a cover-side controlling slider and the controlling slotted guide is provided in a slotted guide component which is pivotably attached to the controlling carriage. Such a construction makes it possible for the cover-side controlling slider guided in the controlling slotted guide of the slotted guide component to be located above the guide rail when the cover is completely lifted. At the same time, a very small overall height can be achieved in the closed state of the sliding roof system as the height required to lift the cover can be generated via the rotational movement of the slotted guide only during the opening process. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the slotted guide component cooperates with a displacement slotted guide which is assigned to the guide rail. In this way, the rotation of the slotted guide component can be controlled via the design of the displacement slotted guide. 
     In order to allow as large as possible a lifting movement of the cover, the lifting slotted guide can extend at the front end of the guide rail from a level underneath the guide rail diagonally towards the upper level of the guide rail. At the same time, a movement of the cover backwards is still made possible during the opening process. 
     Because the height of the slotted guide component is at most the height of the guide rail, as small as possible an overall height of the sliding roof system can be realized. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the controlling slotted guide, viewed from front to back, extends diagonally downwards from an upper level and then substantially flat. In this way, the slotted guide component can effectively first be moved backwards, without the cover-side lifting slider having to be already lifted significantly, while the front end of the cover can then be lifted significantly during the pivoting movement of the slotted guide component. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the slotted guide component is pivoted at its free end by a height which is less than 50% of the height of the guide rail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages and properties of the invention follow from the description below and the drawings, to which reference is made. There are shown in: 
         FIG. 1 , in a perspective view, a guide rail of a sliding roof system according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  a perspective view of a front lifting mechanism; 
         FIG. 3  a further perspective view of the front lifting mechanism, wherein some components are removed in order to be able to see internal components; 
         FIG. 4 , in a perspective view, a slotted guide component subassembly which is used in the front lifting mechanism, in a top view and a bottom view; 
         FIG. 5  one of the slotted guide components from  FIG. 4  in two perspective views; 
         FIG. 6  a longitudinal section through the front lifting mechanism, wherein the cover is in the closed position; 
         FIG. 7  a further longitudinal section through the front lifting mechanism, wherein the cover is in the closed position; 
         FIG. 8  a view corresponding to that of  FIG. 6 , wherein the cover is almost completely lifted; 
         FIG. 9  a view corresponding to that of  FIG. 7 , wherein the cover is almost completely lifted; 
         FIG. 10  a longitudinal section through the rear lifting mechanism, wherein the cover is in a maximally opened position; 
         FIG. 11  a connecting plate of a sliding roof system according to the invention in a top view and a bottom view; 
         FIG. 12  a detail view of the front end of the connecting plate from  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  a detail view of the rear end of the connecting plate from  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14 , in a perspective view, the coupling of the connecting plate to the rear lifting mechanism; 
         FIG. 15 , in a perspective view, the coupling of the connecting plate to the front lifting mechanism; 
         FIG. 16  the location of a catch protrusion of the connecting plate in a catch slotted guide of a sliding roof system according to the invention in an actuation position and a catch position; 
         FIG. 17  a perspective view of the rear lifting mechanism in a closed position; 
         FIG. 18  an exploded view of the rear lifting mechanism from  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  a further perspective view of the rear lifting mechanism of the closed position; 
         FIG. 20  a longitudinal section through the rear lifting mechanism in the closed position; 
         FIG. 21  a perspective view of the rear lifting mechanism in an opened position; and 
         FIG. 22  a side view of the rear lifting mechanism in an opened position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a displacement mechanism  10  of a sliding roof system according to the invention, which is arranged along an edge, extending in the longitudinal direction, of a roof opening in a roof panel of a motor vehicle. A second displacement mechanism is arranged on the opposite edge of the roof opening. As the two displacement mechanisms are constructed with the components contained therein either symmetrical or mirror-symmetrical to each other, only one displacement mechanism is described below. The explanations also apply to the second displacement mechanism. 
     Integrated in the displacement mechanism  10  are a front lifting mechanism  12  and a rear lifting mechanism  14  as well as a connecting element  16  which is arranged between the front lifting mechanism  12  and the rear lifting mechanism  14  and couples them to each other. 
     First of all, only the front lifting mechanism  12  and its functioning are described. 
       FIG. 2  shows the front lifting mechanism  12  in a position which corresponds to a closed cover  44  of the sliding roof system  10 , thus a position in which the roof opening is closed by the cover  44 . A guide rail  18  and a lifting slotted guide  20  are to be seen. A slotted guide component  22  is arranged inside the guide rail  18 . The slotted guide component  22  is pivotably connected to a controlling carriage  24  which is to be seen in  FIG. 3 . The controlling carriage  24  is guided inside the guide rail  18 , with the result that it can be displaced along the guide rail  18 . 
     The controlling carriage  24  can be connected, for example via a drive cable not shown here, to an electric motor which controls the longitudinal movement of the controlling carriage  24 . 
     The slotted guide component  22  contains two slotted guide component halves  26  and  28 , as is to be seen in  FIG. 4 . At least one of the slotted guide component halves  26  and  28  has a controlling slotted guide  30 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the controlling slotted guide  30 , viewed from front to back, extends diagonally downwards from an upper level and then continues substantially flat, wherein shortly before the end section another slightly sloping section is provided. 
     In addition, at least one of the slotted guide component halves  26  and  28  comprises, on its side face pointing towards the guide rail, a first slotted guide slider  32  which cooperates with a displacement slotted guide  34  of the guide rail  18 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show the front lifting mechanism  12  in the closed position of the sliding roof system  10  in longitudinal sections. A lifting slider  36  which is assigned to a cover  44  of the sliding roof system  10  (thus is attached either to the cover  44  directly or to a cover support  88 ), is guided inside the lifting slotted guide  20 . The lifting slotted guide  20  (viewed from front to back) extends from a level underneath the guide rail  18  diagonally towards the upper level of the guide rail  18 . The cover-side lifting slider  36  in the closed position of the sliding roof system is thereby likewise located at least partially underneath the level of the guide rail  18 . 
     Inside the guide rail  18 , in the embodiment shown, there is a second slotted guide slider  38  which on one side connects the slotted guide component  22  to the guide rail  18 . The slotted guide slider  38  defines a rotational axis for the slotted guide component  22 . 
     On the opposite side of the guide rail  18 , in the embodiment represented, the slotted guide component  22  is guided in the guide rail  18  by means of the controlling carriage  24 . At the same time, the slotted guide component  22  is moveably mounted via the first slotted guide slider  32  in the displacement slotted guide  34  which is assigned to the guide rail  18 . 
     A controlling slider  42  assigned to the cover  44  of the sliding roof system  10  is moveably arranged inside the controlling slotted guide  30 , with the controlling slider  42  in the closed position of the sliding roof system  10  being located in the rear area of the controlling slotted guide  30  running substantially flat. 
     If the controlling carriage  24  is now set in motion, for example by means of an electric motor, via the drive cable, the controlling carriage  24  pulls the slotted guide component  22  with it. The first slotted guide slider  32  thereby moves inside the displacement slotted guide  34  of the guide rail  18 . The front part of the displacement slotted guide  34  is implemented substantially flat, with the result that the slotted guide component  22  is first moved backwards at approximately the same height. 
     At the same time, the cover-side controlling slider  42  inside the controlling slotted guide  30  first moves in the part of the controlling slotted guide  30  extending substantially flat. As soon as it runs through the flat rise of the controlling slotted guide  30  following the end section, the controlling slider  42  is lifted slightly. This has the result that the cover-side lifting slider  36  inside the lifting slotted guide  20  is also lifted slightly. This is converted into a slight movement of the lifting slider  36  backwards, because of the diagonal alignment of the lifting slotted guide  20 . 
     If the controlling carriage  24 , and thus the slotted guide component  22 , is moved further backwards, then the sliding roof system  10  reaches the state where the cover-side lifting slider  36  passes from the diagonally upwardly rising section of the lifting slotted guide  20  into the horizontal part of the lifting slotted guide  20  (see the state shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). This state is achieved by displacing the slotted guide component  22  further backwards, with the result that the controlling slider  42  is displaced from the lower, almost flat part of the controlling slotted guide  30  into the steeply upwardly rising part at the front. As the alignment of the steeply upwardly rising part of the controlling slotted guide  30  is transverse to the displacement direction of the slotted guide component  22 , the controlling slider  42  is now entrained backwards, with the result that it entrains the cover and thus also the lifting slider  36  backwards. The lifting slider  36  is thereby guided towards the transition to the horizontal part of the lifting slotted guide  20 . 
     During this displacement of the slotted guide component  22  backwards, the slotted guide slider  32  inside the displacement slotted guide  34  is moved upwards, whereby the slotted guide component  22  is pivoted about the axis connecting the slotted guide component  22  to the controlling carriage  24 . This results in the front end of the slotted guide component  22  being located above the guide rail  18  (see  FIG. 9 ). 
     When the controlling carriage  24  is moved further backwards, the cover  44  is entrained backwards by the controlling slider  42  which is located in the almost vertical section of the controlling slotted guide  30 , with the result that it is pushed over the roof panel of the motor vehicle. At the same time, the cover-side lifting slider  36  inside the guide rail  18  is moved backwards. The complete open position of the sliding roof system  10  is reached when the slotted guide component  22  is moved to the rear lifting mechanism  14 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     The connection between the front lifting mechanism  12  and the rear lifting mechanism  14  is described below. 
     During this lifting movement of the sliding roof system  10 , the front lifting mechanism  12  cooperates with the rear lifting mechanism  14  via a connecting element  16 . 
     In the embodiment represented, the connecting element  16  is implemented in the form of a connecting plate  46 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The connecting plate  46  has, at its front end, an actuation protrusion  48  on one flat side and a catch protrusion  50  on the opposite flat side. 
     The catch protrusion  50  here is attached closer to the rear lifting mechanism than the actuation protrusion  48 . 
     At its rear end, the connecting plate  46  has a stop  52  which is pivotably coupled to the rear lifting mechanism  14 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . Here, a slide bearing is formed by the configuration of the surfaces cooperating with each other. 
     The actuation protrusion  48  is assigned to the front lifting mechanism  12 . As is to be seen in  FIG. 15 , the actuation protrusion  48  in the closed position of the sliding roof system  10  engages in a connecting slotted guide  54  of the slotted guide component  22 , in which the actuation protrusion  48  is moveably mounted. 
     The catch protrusion  50  of the connecting plate  46  is moveably arranged inside a catch slotted guide  56 . The catch slotted guide  56  can be implemented for example in the guide rail  18  or a base plate  58 . The catch slotted guide  56  has a front section running straight and a section running transverse to the plane of extension of the connecting plate  46 . The transversely running section of the catch slotted guide  56  is designed working in the opposite direction to the transversely running section of the connecting slotted guide  54 . 
     The connecting slotted guide  54  is aligned diagonally such that, when the slotted guide component  22  is displaced backwards (thus towards the rear lifting mechanism  14 ), it impinges on the actuation protrusion  48  laterally in the direction in which the short section running transverse to the displacement direction is located on the catch slotted guide  56 . Accordingly, the connecting slotted guide  54  impinges on the actuation protrusion  48  when the slotted guide component  26  is displaced forwards, from the short section of the catch slotted guide  56  into the longer section extending in the longitudinal direction. 
     When the sliding roof system  10  is moved from the closed position into the vent position, the connecting plate  46  is displaced backwards by the slotted guide component  26  along its direction of extension. As long as the catch protrusion  50  is located in the longer section of the catch slotted guide  56  (see  FIG. 16 ), the connecting plate cannot give way laterally, with the result that it is pushed straight backwards and actuates the rear lifting mechanism  14 , as will be explained later. 
     As soon as the catch protrusion  50  has reached the short, transversely running section of the catch slotted guide  56  (see  FIG. 16 ), the connecting plate  46  is displaced laterally under the action of the lateral force component which is generated as a result of the diagonal alignment of the connecting slotted guide  54 , with the result that the catch protrusion is set aside in the short, transversely running section of the catch slotted guide  56 . When the catch position of the connecting plate  46  is reached, the rear lifting mechanism  14  is completely lifted. 
     When the slotted guide component  22  is moved further, it no longer cooperates with the connecting plate  46 . The front lifting mechanism  12  is decoupled from the connecting plate  46  by the pivoting movement of the slotted guide component  22  during opening of the sliding roof system. 
     Underneath the connecting plate  46 , a leaf spring  59  is guided inside the guide rail  18  or the base plate  58 . In the closed position of the front lifting mechanism  12  this leaf spring is held under tension by the connecting plate  46 . When the catch position is reached, the connecting plate  46  no longer covers the leaf spring  59 . However, the slotted guide component presses on the leaf spring by means of a protrusion and holds it initially under tension. The leaf spring  59  is, however, released by the pivoting movement of the slotted guide component  22 , whereby it laterally blocks the connecting plate  46 . In this way, an uncontrolled lateral slipping of the connecting plate  46 , for example due to vibrations or transverse loads, is prevented. 
     The rear lifting mechanism  14  is described below. 
     An embodiment of the rear lifting mechanism  14  is shown in  FIGS. 17 to 22 . The rear lifting mechanism  14  comprises a lifting carriage  60  with two opposite lifting slotted guides  62 , two lifting levers  64 , a fixed bearing  66 , a translating lever  68 , two first sliders  70 , two second sliders  72  as well as a guide element  74 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the translating lever  68  is implemented in one piece. However, it is also conceivable for it to be two individual translating levers  68  which are each assigned to one side of the controlling carriage  60 . 
     The translating lever  68  is moveably coupled to the lifting carriage  60  by means of the first sliders  70  and the second sliders  72 . The translating lever  68  is moreover pivotably connected to the lifting levers  64 , wherein the connection is positioned on the lifting lever  64  between its ends. The lifting lever  64  is pivotably attached at one end to a fixed bearing  66  and connected at its other end to a guide element  74 . The translating lever  68  lies closer to the front lifting mechanism  12  than the fixed bearing  66 . 
     The lifting slotted guides  62  have a low-level section  78 , a diagonally upwardly extending section  80 , a high-level section  82 , a diagonally downwardly extending section  84  and a second low-level section  86 . 
     It is also conceivable for the two low-level sections  78  and  86  not to lie at the same level. 
     In the embodiment shown, the lifting carriage  60  accommodates the translating lever  68 , the lifting levers  64 , the fixed bearing  66  as well as the guide element  74  between the side parts of the lifting carriage  60  lying opposite each other. This arrangement ensures a particularly stable construction. 
     The connecting element  16 , designed as a connecting plate  46  in the embodiment shown, engages in a recess  76  of the lifting carriage  60  by means of the stop  52 , as represented in  FIGS. 14 and 20 . The connecting plate  46  is thereby pivotably coupled to the rear lifting mechanism  14 . This makes it possible to displace the connecting plate  46  transverse to its direction of extension during the transition from the actuation position to the catch position, while at the same time a connection between connecting plate  46  and rear lifting mechanism  14  remains guaranteed. 
     In principle, other designs of the stop  52  are also conceivable, for example by means of a single pin or a ball head. 
       FIGS. 17, 19 and 20  show the rear lifting mechanism  14  in the closed position of the sliding roof system  10 . The first sliders  70  are located in the high-level section  82  of the lifting slotted guide  62  and the second sliders  72  are located in the second low-level section  86  of the lifting slotted guide  62 . The elements of the rear lifting mechanism  14  accommodated between the side parts of the lifting carriage  60  are arranged in the closed position such that they do not protrude substantially in terms of their height beyond the lifting carriage  60 . 
     If the slotted guide component  22  of the front lifting mechanism  12  is moved by the controlling carriage  24 , the connecting plate  46  is moved backwards. The stop of the connecting plate  46  acts on the lifting carriage  60  which is thereby likewise moved backwards. In the process the lifting carriage  60  can at least partially travel over the fixed bearing  66 . 
     Through the movement of the lifting carriage  60 , the first sliders  70  and the second sliders  72  are moved inside the lifting slotted guide  62 . The longitudinal movement of the lifting carriage  60  is translated into a setting-up of the lifting levers  64  by means of the translating lever  68 . 
     Firstly, half of the lifting movement is realized by moving the first slider  70  inside the high-level section  82  and the second slider  72  inside the diagonally downwardly extending section  84 . Then the second half of the lifting movement is generated by moving the first slider  70  inside the diagonally upwardly extending section  80  and the second slider  72  inside the high-level section  82 . 
     The translating lever  68  is moved by the movement of the first sliders  70  and the second sliders  72 . The translating lever  68  there acts on the lifting levers  64  which are then set up. The lifting levers  64  rotate about their ends, with which they are fastened to the fixed bearing  66 . 
     The extent of the lifting movement of the rear lifting mechanism  14  is defined firstly by the height difference between the high-level section  82  and the low-level sections  78  and  86  and secondly by the length of the lifting lever  64  and the point at which the translating lever  68  is connected to the lifting lever  64 . Because, in the embodiment shown, the translating lever is connected to the lifting lever  64  approximately centrally between the two ends thereof, a lifting height is reached which corresponds to more than twice the height difference between the high-level section  82  and the low-level sections  78  and  86 . 
     At the same time, the guide element  74  is lifted by the setting-up movement of the lifting levers  64 . The cover holder  88  connected to the cover  44  is displaceably guided in the guide element  74 , whereby the cover  44  is lifted by the setting-up movement of the lifting lever  64 . 
     As soon as the first slider  70  reaches the front end of the low-level section  78 , the connecting plate  46  passes from the actuation position into the catch position, with the result that the connecting plate  46  does not move the lifting carriage  60  further backwards. This corresponds to the vent position of the sliding roof system  10 . Thus, the rear lifting mechanism  14  is already completely lifted in the vent position, as shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 . 
     If the slotted guide component  22  of the front lifting mechanism  12  is moved further backwards after the vent position has been reached, only the cover  44  is displaced backwards. In the process, the cover support  88  connected to the cover  44  is displaced backwards in the guide element  74 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the lifting carriage  60  comprises only one lifting slotted guide  62  which is formed as an open recess in the lifting carriage  60 . In this embodiment, a first slider  70  and a second slider  72  pierce the lifting slotted guide  62 . The lifting carriage  60  comprises two translating levers  68  which are connected to the lifting slotted guide  62  via the first slider  70  and the second slider  72 .