Abstract:
A vehicle roof having at least one cover element, which selectively closes or at least partially exposes a roof opening and which, with respect to a vehicle longitudinal center plane, comprises a carrier element on either side, the carrier element comprising a guide web that interacts with an adjusting device that is guided in a guide rail and comprises a drive carriage, which interacts with the guide web at least to pivot the cover element and comprises a guide element on which the guide web rests. When moving the cover element in the vehicle longitudinal direction, each guide element of the drive carriages serves as a dog element, which engages in a corresponding dog recess configured at the respectively associated carrier element of the cover element.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a vehicle roof with at least one cover element which optionally closes or at least partially opens up a roof opening. 
     2. Related Technology 
     A vehicle roof of this type is known from practice and comprises a cover element which has carrier element along both of the lateral edges thereof with respect to a longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, the carrier element constituting a pivoting or deployment arm for the cover element. Guide rails are arranged, in a manner fixed to the roof, along the lateral edges of the roof opening, in each of which guide rails one of the carrier elements is guided displaceably when the cover element is actuated. Furthermore, a drive carriage is guided in each of the guide rails, the drive carriage, in order to pivot the cover element, interacting with a guide web which is arranged on the respectively assigned carrier element of the cover element. The guide web forms a curved track or control track such that movement of the drive carriage is in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle causing pivoting of the cover element. In particular, the cover element can be pivoted between a closed position, in which the roof opening is completely closed, a ventilation position, in which a rear edge of the cover element is deployed in relation to a rear, fixed roof section, and a displacement position, in which the cover element can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle under the rear, fixed roof section in order to open up the roof opening. The cover element is secured against moving in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle during the pivoting operation by a locking lever which interacts with a recess formed on the respective guide rail. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a vehicle roof of the type described above, which is distinguished by a small number of components. 
     Accordingly, the invention provides a vehicle roof with at least one cover element that optionally closes or at least partially opens uP a roof opening and has a carrier element on two sides of a longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, the carrier element comprising a guide web that interacts with a displacement device that is guided in a guide rail and comprises a drive carriage, which interacts with the guide web at least to pivot the cover element and comprises a guide element on which the guide web rests, wherein, as the cover element moves in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, each guide element of the drive carriage serves as a carry-along element that engages in a corresponding carry-along recess formed on the respectively assigned carrier element of the cover element. 
     The core of the invention consequently consists in that the drive carriages of the vehicle roof each have a guide element on which the respectively assigned guide web slides during pivoting of the cover element and which also serves to move the cover element in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by engagement in a corresponding recess on the cover carrier thereof as carry-along element. The cover element carrier therefore does not have to be transferred to various switching and guide elements of the driving kinematics. On the contrary, the control upon actuation of the cover element, i.e. upon lowering and moving the cover element, can be carried out in a movement sequence. All that is required in order to actuate the cover element is the drive carriage of the dual-function guide or carry-along element thereof and the cover element carrier which is fixed to the cover and has the guide web and the carry-along recess. The system according to the invention can therefore have a small number of components, which has a positive effect with regard to installation times, with regard to costs and also with regard to component tolerances. Since, as already mentioned above, when opening or closing the roof opening of the vehicle roof according to the invention there does not have to be any transfer between various switching elements of the cover drive, there are also advantages with regard to the configuration of an anti-jamming system since the latter does not have to process any differentiated force values here. 
     The vehicle roof according to the invention has a cost-effective, preferably single-part cover element carrier. An additional control part, such as a control lever, for switching the various pivoted positions of the cover element is not required. Since there is no control part, the guide rail also does not require milling processes which may be costly and are otherwise required for this purpose. The web guide which is realized by means of the guide web is furthermore distinguished by a low overall height which constitutes an exact switching mechanism with a kinematically precise configuration. Up to a switch being made from the pivoting operation into the moving operation, as the drive carriage moves, the cover element slowly moves downward into the lowered displacement position thereof. As the cover element moves in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, there is a large overlap in the vertical direction of the vehicle between the guide element formed on the drive carriage and the carry-along recess. It is also possible for force to be introduced into the cover element carrier in a sheet-like manner as the latter moves in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the carry-along recesses are each formed by a plastic insert molding of the respective carrier element, said plastic insert molding also forming the guide web formed on the respective carrier element. The carry-along recesses are consequently an integral part of the respective guide web. In particular, as the cover element pivots into the lowered displacement position thereof, the guide element serving as the carry-along element enters the carry-along recess at the end of the pivoting operation such that further movement of the drive carriage in the direction of the vehicle rear leads to the cover element moving in the direction of the vehicle rear. When the cover element moves from the open position into the closed position thereof, the movement sequence takes place the other way around, i.e. first of all the cover element is displaced in the direction of the vehicle front by the guide element engaging in the carry-along recess and then the guide element slides further along the guide web such that the cover element is pivoted upward into the closed position thereof. 
     In order to ensure smooth-running entry of the guide element serving as the carry-along element into the assigned carry-along recess and a precise switching operation, in an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention the carry-along recesses each have a front and a rear boundary surface which are each inclined in the direction of the vehicle rear and ensure a positionally precise entry and exit of the guide element into and out of the carry-along recess. 
     Since, in the region of the carry-along recess only small forces, if any at all, act in the vertical direction of the vehicle on the plastic insert molding, which forms the guide web and the carry-along recess, as the cover element moves in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, in a preferred embodiment the plastic insert molding is tapered in the vertical direction of the vehicle in the region of the carry-along recess. The overall height of the carrier element can therefore be kept low. In particular, the carry-along recess can be formed by the tapering of the material. 
     In order to secure the cover element against moving in the direction of the extent of the guide rails, in an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention at least one front locking element and at least one rear locking element are formed on each of the carrier elements of the cover element, which locking elements interact with the corresponding abutments which are fixed to the roof. When the cover element is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the locking elements are preferably guided in a guide channel of the respective guide rail such that they then secure the cover element against pivoting. 
     The securing of the cover element against moving in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle can be realized in particular without additional components if the locking elements each interact with a cutout or recess of an upper wall of the respective guide rail. The edges of the recesses then each form the abutment which is fixed to the roof. 
     In a particularly cost-effective embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the drive carriages are each designed as a plastic injection molded part on which the respective guide element serving as the carry-along element is formed. 
     The drive carriages which are formed as a plastic injection molded part preferably each have a guide claw which is formed integrally, engages around the respectively assigned guide web and the base of which is formed by the guide or carry-along element. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages and advantageous refinements of the subject matter of the invention can be gathered from the description, the drawing and the patent claims. 
       An exemplary embodiment of a vehicle roof according to the invention is illustrated in simplified form schematically in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the description below. In the drawing: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective top view of a vehicle roof according to the invention with a roof opening system; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic longitudinal section through the roof opening system in the region of the driving mechanics thereof along the line II-II in  FIG. 1  in the closed position of a cover element; 
         FIG. 3  shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 2 , but in the ventilation position of the cover element; 
         FIG. 4  shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 2 , but in a lowered displacement position of the cover element; 
         FIG. 5  shows an enlarged view of a rear section of the cover element in the closed position thereof together with a drive carriage; 
         FIG. 6  shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 5  but with a slightly lowered cover element; 
         FIG. 7  likewise shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 5 , but with the cover element lowered even further in comparison to  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  likewise shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 5 , but shortly before a carry-along recess of the cover element is reached; 
         FIG. 9  likewise shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 5 , but as a carry-along element enters the carry-along recess; and 
         FIG. 10  likewise shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 5 , but after reaching the lowered displacement position of the cover element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The drawing illustrates a vehicle roof  10  of a passenger vehicle, which is provided with a roof opening  12  which can optionally be closed or at least partially opened up by means of a cover element  14 . The cover element  14  is part of a roof opening system, which is illustrated in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 10 , and comprises a glass body  16  which is provided with a frame  18  which is formed from polyurethane foam and in which an inner cover panel  20  is embedded. The inner cover panel  20  has fastening tabs  22  which protrude downward at right angles from the glass body  16  and serve to connect the cover element  14  to cover element carriers  24  which are arranged on the lateral edges of the cover element  14  on both sides of a longitudinal center plane of the vehicle and are part of a displacement device for the cover element  14 . The fastening tabs  22  are each screwed via a screw  23  to the respective cover element carrier  24 . 
     By means of the displacement device, the cover element can be pivoted between a closed position, which is illustrated in  FIG. 2  and in which the roof opening  12  is closed, a ventilation position, which is illustrated in  FIG. 3  and in which a rear edge of the cover element  14  is deployed in relation to a rear fixed roof section  26 , and a lowered displacement position, which is illustrated in  FIG. 4  and in which the cover element  14  can be moved along guide rails  28 A and  28 B, which extend fixed to the vehicle along the lateral edges of the roof opening  12 , under the rear fixed roof section  26 . 
     The displacement device is explained below only with reference to the displacement device region which is arranged on the left in the forward direction of travel. The displacement device region which is arranged on the right in the forward direction of travel is formed correspondingly thereto mirror-symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle. 
     The displacement device comprises a drive carriage  30  on both sides of the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, said drive carriage being guided displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in the guide rail  28 A and being driven by means of a pressure-resistant driving cable (not illustrated specifically here). The drive carriage  30  is a plastic injection molded component and comprises a claw section  32  which engages around a guide web  34  which is formed on the lower side of the cover element carrier  24  and constitutes a plastic insert molding of the cover element carrier  24  which is otherwise manufactured from steel. The cover element carrier  24  thus has a substantially T-shaped cross section. A vertical section  35  of the cover element carrier  24  reaches through a gap, which is formed by the claw section  32 , on the upper side of the drive carriage  30 . 
     The claw section  32  of the drive carriage  30  comprises an upper guide surface  36 , which bears against the upper side of the guide web  34 , and a guide element  38 , which forms a lower guide surface  383 , on which the guide web  34  rests. The guide element  38  has a front boundary surface  382  and a rear boundary surface  381  which are each inclined in the rear direction of the vehicle and are connected to each other via the guide surface  383  which is of curved design and bears against the lower side of the guide web  34 . 
     The plastic insert molding which forms the guide web has a multiply curved profile such that movement of the drive carriage  30  in the guide rail  28 A causes pivoting of the cover element  14  by interaction of the guide web  34  with the upper guide surface  36  and with the guide surface formed by the guide element  38 . In a rear section, the guide web  34  is provided with a “carry-along recess”  40 , the shape of which, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, corresponds to the shape of the guide element  38  of the drive carriage  30  in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The carry-along recess  40  is formed by a tapering of the material of the guide web  34  in the vertical direction of the vehicle. As can be gathered from  FIG. 4 , in the lowered displacement position of the cover element  14 , the guide element  38  enters the carry-along recess  40  as a carry-along element. The carry-along recess consequently also has a front boundary surface  402  and a rear boundary surface  401  which are each inclined in the direction of the vehicle rear. 
     Furthermore, in addition to a front slide  42 , which is guided in a guide channel  44  of the guide rail  28 A and defines a pivot axis of the cover element  14 , the carrier element  24  has a front locking element  46  and a rear locking element  48  which each protrude in the transverse direction of the vehicle and, upon pivoting of the cover element  14 , secure the latter against moving in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by interaction with upper recesses  50  and  52 , respectively, of the guide rail  28 A. In the displacement position which is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , i.e. in the lowered position of the cover element  14 , the locking elements  46  and  48  are arranged in a guide channel  54  of the guide rail  28 A such that they secure the cover element  14  during the movement thereof in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle against pivoting about an axis which is arranged in the region of a front edge and extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. 
     The roof opening system illustrated in the drawing operates in the manner described below. 
     Starting from the closed position of the cover element  14 , which position is illustrated in  FIG. 2  and in which the claw section  32  of the drive carriage  30  rests in a substantially horizontal region A of the guide web  34 , the drive carriage  30 , as the cover element  14  pivots into the ventilation position thereof, which is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , is moved in the direction of the front of the vehicle into a region B of the guide web  34 , which region drops in the direction of the front of the vehicle in relation to the region A such that, by interaction of the claw section  32  of the guide web  34 , which drops substantially as viewed from the vehicle rear, the rear edge of the cover element  14  is deployed upward in relation to the fixed roof section  26 . 
     If, in order to open up the roof opening  12 , the cover element  14  is to be moved under the rear fixed roof section  26 , the drive carriage  30  is likewise moved from the closed position, which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in the direction of the vehicle rear into a region C of the guide web  34 , which region rises in the direction of the vehicle rear in relation to the central region A such that the guide element  38  slides along the lower edge of the guide web  34  and enters the carry-along recess  40 . The movement sequence taking place in this case is illustrated in a stepwise manner in  FIGS. 5 to 10 . At the beginning of the entry operation, the rear surface  381  of the guide element  38  strikes against the rear boundary surface  401  of the carry-along recess  40 . By means of the respective orientation of said surfaces  381 ,  401  in a manner inclined in the direction of the vehicle rear, as the drive carriage  30  moves further in the rear direction, the cover element carrier  24  slides downward along the surface  381  such that the cover element  14  is pivoted about the pivot axis, which is formed by the front slide  42 , and is lowered. When the guide element  38  enters the carry-along recess  40 , the upper guide surface  36  is moved away from the guide web  34  (c.f.  FIGS. 4 ,  9  and  10 ). By this means, the cover element  14  is lowered below the level of the fixed roof section  26  such that the locking elements  46  and  48  lie outside the upper recesses  15  and  52  of the guide rail  28 A and completely in the guide channel  54  of the guide rail  28 A. Upon further movement of the drive carriage  30 , the guide element  38 , which is located in the carry-along recess  40  of the plastic insert molding forming the guide web  34 , then acts as a carry-along means which causes the cover element  14  to move in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The guide element of the drive carriage  30  therefore controls the guide web  34  of the cover element carrier  24  such that the locking element  46  and  48  pass with precision through the recesses  50  and  52  of the guide rail  28  and enter the guide channel  54  of the guide rail  28 A, and the cover element  14  can be moved. During closing of the roof opening  12 , i.e. when the cover element  14  is moved from the moved-back open position to the closed position, the pivoting movement of the cover element  14  is triggered, after a front stop of the cover element  14  is reached, by the interaction of the front boundary surface  382  of the guide element  38  and the front boundary surface  402  of the carry-along recess. The cover element is thus pivoted upward into the closed position thereof which closes the roof opening  12 . The guide element  38  of the drive carriage  30  is then located again in the region A of the guide web  34 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
         
           
               10  Vehicle roof 
               12  Roof opening 
               14  Cover element 
               16  Glass body 
               18  Frame 
               20  Inner cover panel 
               22  Fastening tabs 
               23  Screw 
               24  Cover element carrier 
               26  Roof section 
               28 A, B Guide rails 
               30  Drive carriage 
               32  Claw section 
               34  Guide web 
               36  Upper guide surface 
               38  Guide element 
               381  Boundary surface 
               382  Boundary surface 
               383  Guide surface 
               40  Carry-along recess 
               401  Boundary surface 
               402  Boundary surface 
               42  Slide 
               44  Guide channel 
               46  Locking element 
               48  Locking element 
               50  Recess 
               52  Recess 
               54  Guide channel