Abstract:
A locking device for a top of a convertible vehicle having a locking support, a locking hook, which can be shifted in a translational and/or rotational manner so as to be displaced between a release position and a locked position, and a driving mechanism for the locking hook ( 28 ), said driving mechanism comprising a driving wheel, which is driven by a driving motor and which drives a slide movable on the locking support. The slide is connected to a driving section of the locking hook via a pull-link arrangement in such a manner that the locking hook undergoes a pivoting movement when the slide is moved.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from German Application No. 10 2016 112 966.6, filed Jul. 14, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a locking device of a top of a convertible vehicle having the features of the preamble of claim  1  and to a top of a convertible vehicle having a locking device of this kind. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A locking device of the kind mentioned above is known from document DE 10 2010 044 702 A1 and serves for fixing a rigid roof element, which can be a front bow of a folding top or a rigid roof segment of a retractable hard top (RHT), to the front cowl of the vehicle in question. The locking device comprises a locking support, which serves as a casing and which can be connected to the rigid roof element. A locking hook is pivotable around a bearing journal movable in the locking support. The locking hook has a hook section that can be displaced between a lowered release position and a raised locked position, in which the hook section is engaged with a corresponding locking element formed at the front cowl. For displacing the locking hook, the locking device has a driving mechanism, by means of which the bearing journal can be moved in such a manner that a displacing movement is introduced into the locking hook. Via a link arrangement of the driving mechanism, the driving torque generated by a driving motor is transmitted to a crosshead, on which the bearing journal of the locking hook is mounted and which is movable in corresponding guiding tracks of the locking support. In this locking device, the position of the locking hook with respect to the locking support is not always unambiguously defined. In fact, the locking hook is movable in the transverse direction because it can be turned about a crosshead axis that extends in the vertical direction. Additionally, a magnet is used to retain the locking hook, said magnet pulling the locking hook against a sliding surface. Also, the driving mechanism has an elaborate design because the crosshead is connected to a driving link arrangement both at the top and at the bottom. This is disadvantageous in terms of height and weight and is also reflected in the production costs of the locking device. Furthermore, merely a pulling force extending between the bearing journal and the hook section can be generated in this locking device. A force component perpendicular to said direction cannot be generated. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The object of the invention is to provide a locking device of the kind mentioned above that has an optimized driving mechanism. 
         [0005]    According to the invention, this object is attained by the locking device having the features of claim  1 . 
         [0006]    Therefore, according to the invention, it is proposed that the slide be connected to a driving end of the locking hook via a pull-link arrangement. The pull-link arrangement is thus arranged between the locking hook and the slide, allowing a torque to be introduced into the locking hook, said torque pushing the hook end upward during displacement from a release position into a closed position. The pull-link arrangement can also retain the locking hook in the transverse direction, the hook thus having no freedom of movement in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The slide, which is advantageously guided in a guiding rail of the locking support, has only one degree of freedom, which corresponds to the movement in the guiding rail. 
         [0007]    In a preferred embodiment of the locking device according to the invention, the locking hook is mounted on the slide via a journal. In this way, a multi joint arrangement guiding the displacing movement of the locking hook is realized by means of the slide, the pull-link arrangement and the locking hook. 
         [0008]    The journal via which the locking hook is mounted on the slide can engage into an oblong hole. The oblong hole is advantageously formed on the locking hook. Of course, it is also contemplated for the journal to be fixed to the locking hook and for the oblong hole to be formed on the slide. The pivot axis of the locking hook travels in the oblong hole during displacement of the locking hook. 
         [0009]    Alternatively, instead of the oblong-hole/journal connection, an additional link could be provided between the slide and the locking hook. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment of the locking device according to the invention that is simple to implement in terms of construction, the pull-link arrangement is composed of one link or of a pair of links which is/are mounted on the locking hook via a first hinge point and on the slide via a second hinge point. The pull-link arrangement thus consists of a single intermediate lever or of a pair of intermediate levers which is/are arranged between the locking hook and the slide. 
         [0011]    In order to ensure that the locking hook always takes up a defined position with respect to the locking support, the locking support can have a guiding track for a guiding element which is arranged on the pull-link arrangement. The guiding element could also be arranged on the locking hook itself. When the slide is moved in the locking support, the guiding element arranged on the pull-link arrangement will thus be moved in the guiding track of the locking support, the hook end of the locking hook thus being pulled upward from the release position into the locked position in a defined manner when the locking hook is being displaced. In a corresponding manner, the hook end of the locking hook will be pushed downward from the locked position into the release position when the locking hook is being displaced. 
         [0012]    In order to also be able to retain the locking hook in the locking support in particular without rattling, the locking hook is preferably pre-loaded in the direction of its locked position by means of a retaining spring. 
         [0013]    In a special embodiment of the locking device according to the invention, the retaining spring acts on the end of the pull-link arrangement that is associated with the locking hook. 
         [0014]    The driving wheel, which drives the slide, can be connected to the slide in particular via a driving link arrangement. The driving link arrangement can be formed in the manner of a crank drive in conjunction with the driving wheel and can comprise a coupling link which is hinged to the drive wheel at one side and to the slide at the other side. The driving wheel being driven rotationally causes a translational shift of the slide in or on the locking support. 
         [0015]    The driving wheel can have a stop which interacts with end stops of the locking support. The end stops define the release position and the locked position of the locking hook. 
         [0016]    The invention also relates to a top of a convertible vehicle comprising a locking device of the kind mentioned above, by means of which the top or a top element can be fixed to a front cowl of the vehicle. A locking counterpart is arranged on the front cowl, said locking counterpart interacting with the hook end or gripping end of the locking hook to fix the top or the top element. The locking counterpart is a bolt, for example, behind which the locking hook can engage. 
         [0017]    Other advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject-matter of the invention are apparent from the description, the drawing and the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    An embodiment of a top having a locking device according to the invention is illustrated in the drawing in a schematically simplified manner and is explained in more detail in the following description. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic side view of a convertible vehicle having a top which is fixed to a front cowl by means of a locking device; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective top view of the locking device when in its release position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective top view of the locking device when in its locked position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows an illustration of the locking device when in its release position corresponding to  FIG. 2 , but shown without a locking support; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows an illustration of the locking device corresponding to  FIG. 3 , but in its locked position and shown without the locking support; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of the locking device when in its release position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of the locking device when in its locked position corresponding to  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  shows a longitudinal cross-section of the locking device along line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 14  when in its release position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  shows a longitudinal cross-section corresponding to  FIG. 8  through the locking device along line IX-IX in  FIG. 15 , but in its locked position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  shows a side view of the locking device when in its release position, but shown without the locking support; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of the locking device corresponding to  FIG. 10 , but in its locked position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  shows another longitudinal cross-section through the locking device along line XII-XII in  FIG. 14  when in its release position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  shows a longitudinal cross-section corresponding to  FIG. 12  along line XIII-XIII in  FIG. 15  when in its locked position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  shows a top view of the locking device when in its release position; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 14 , but in the locked position of the locking device; 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  shows a top view of the locking device when in its release position, shown without the locking support; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  shows a view of the locking device corresponding to  FIG. 16 , but in its locked position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    In  FIG. 1 , a convertible vehicle  10  is illustrated, which has a folding top  12 , which can be displaced between a closed position, in which the vehicle interior is covered, and a storage position, in which the vehicle interior is open toward the top. In the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a front bow  14  of the folding top  12  is fixed to a front cowl  16  of the vehicle  10 , said front cowl  16  being an upper frame part of a frame of a windshield  18 , said frame part extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle  10 . 
         [0037]    The closed position of the folding top  12  is secured by means of a locking device  20 , which is arranged at the underside of the front bow  14  and which is illustrated on its own in  FIGS. 2 to 17 . In the secured position, the locking device  20  takes up its locked position, whereas the locking device  20  is brought or shifted into its release position in order to displace the folding top  12 . 
         [0038]    The locking device  20  comprises a locking support  22 , which has screw holes  24  for being fixed to the front bow and to which the other components of the locking device  20  are mounted or attached and which accommodates them at least in part. The locking support  22 , which has a lid and a bottom, thus forms a casing of the locking device  20 . 
         [0039]    The locking device  20  comprises a locking hook  28  to become engaged with a locking bolt  26 , which is arranged on the front cowl  16  of the vehicle structure and which is illustrated in  FIGS. 7, 9 and 11 . The locking hook  28  has a front hook section  30 , which engages behind the locking bolt  26  of the front cowl  16  when in the locked position, and a rear bearing section  32 , in which an oblong hole  34  is formed (cf.  FIGS. 12 and 13 ). 
         [0040]    For being driven, the locking hook  28  is connected to a slide  36 , which has two sliding feet  38  on each of its two sides with respect to the vertical longitudinal center plane of the locking hook, said sliding feet  38  being guided in a guiding track  40  of the locking support  22 . 
         [0041]    The slide  36  has two lateral flanks  42 , between which the rear bearing section  32  of the locking hook  28  is arranged and which are connected to each other via a journal  44  that penetrates the oblong hole  34  of the locking hook  28 . 
         [0042]    Between the slide  36  and the locking hook  28 , a pull-link arrangement  46  is arranged, which is composed of two pull links  48  and  49 , between which a front end of the slide  36  and the rear bearing section  32  and a driving section  84  of the locking hook  28  are arranged. The pull links  48  and  49  are each hinged to the slide  36  via a rear hinge point  50 , which is formed by a bolt penetrating the slide  36 . At their front ends, the pull links  48  are hinged to the driving section  84  of the locking hook  28  via a hinge point  52  defined by a journal. 
         [0043]    At its outer side, the pull link  49  carries a journal-like guiding element  54 , which is guided in a guiding track or slotted track  56 , which is arranged on the inner side of the locking support  22 . It defines upper and lower moving-curve limits. 
         [0044]    In order to pre-load the locking hook  28  in the direction of its locked position, the locking device  20  has a leg spring  58 , which rests on a protrusion  60  formed on the slide  36  and one leg of which engages into a groove  62  of the slide  36  and a second leg of which is in contact with the pull link  48  at the front-side end roughly below the hinge points  52  and pushes the pull link  48  upward. 
         [0045]    At the underside of the casing-like locking support  22 , which is composed of multiple parts, a driving motor  64  is arranged, which drives a driving pinion  66 . The driving pinion  66  is engaged with a driving wheel  68 , which can rotate about an axis A and which has a toothing  70  across an angle of about 120° to 160°, which is engaged with the toothing of the driving pinion  66 . The driving wheel  68  has a connecting eye  72 , via which a coupling link  74  is hinged thereto, the end of the coupling link  74  that faces away from the driving wheel  68  being hinged to the upper side of the slide  36  via a joint  76 . 
         [0046]    On its upper side, the driving wheel  68  carries a stop journal  78 , which is guided in a slotted track  80  when the driving wheel rotates about axis A, said slotted track  80  running concentrically with respect to axis A and being formed on the casing, i.e. on the locking support  22 . The edges of the slotted track  80  in the circumferential direction each form a counterstop for the stop journal  78 , defining the release position of the locking hook  28  (cf.  FIG. 14 ) on the one hand and the closed position of the locking hook  28  (cf.  FIG. 15 ) on the other hand. 
         [0047]    The locking device  20  described above is actuated in the manner described below. 
         [0048]    Starting from the release position of the locking device  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , for example, the driving motor  64  is actuated in such a manner that the driving wheel  68  is rotated counterclockwise about axis A with respect to the orientation illustrated in  FIGS. 14 to 17 . In this way, the driving wheel  68  exerts thrust on the slide  36  via the coupling link  74 , a pulling force thus being exerted on the locking hook  28  via the pull links  48 . The locking hook  28  is thus pulled into the locking support  22  through a front-side and bottom-side slot  82 , while at the same time being pivoted clockwise with respect to the orientation illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 13 , namely about a pivot axis that travels with the journal  44  in the oblong hole. The pivoting movement is caused by the pulling force exerted by the pull links  48  on the driving section  84  of the locking hook  28 , in which the hinge point  52  is formed and which is offset from a connecting line between the bearing section  32  and the hook section  30  of the locking hook  28 . Additionally, the pivoting movement is controlled by the guiding element  54 , which is guided in the guiding track  56 . 
         [0049]    When adjusting the locking hook, the hook section  30  engages into a recess formed on the front cowl  16 , a counterforce thus acting on the front bow  14  upon contact with the locking bolt  26 , said counterforce pulling the front bow  14  downward. This is helpful since external forces usually push the front bow  14  to take up a higher position than that of the nominal position. This pushing action can be caused by the tension of a top cover or by a negative pressure occurring when the top is being closed during normal driving.