Abstract:
A sliding roof device for a vehicle, in particular for an automobile, is provided. The device has a movable panel, the front region of which is mounted such that it is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, while the rear region is hinged to at least one push-out lever that is likewise mounted such that it is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The sliding roof device additionally comprises drive devices configured to displace the movable panel by directly driving each push-out lever in the direction of a displacement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national phase application of International Application No. PCT/EP2010/004182, filed Jul. 7, 2010, designating the United States and claiming priority to French application Ser. No. 09/03404, filed Jul. 10, 2009, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a sliding roof device. 
     The invention is used particularly advantageously, but not exclusively, in the automotive industry. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In sliding roof devices known from the prior art, a slidably mounted panel is often used. A sliding roof is disclosed in DE 41 08 197 A1 in which the front region of the movable panel is articulated to sliding members. The sliding members are slidably mounted along lateral guide rails which are positioned on both sides of a roof opening which is able to be covered or exposed by means of the panel. The rear region of the panel is articulated to the end of lateral raising levers which are slidably mounted along two guide rails which are arranged on both sides of the roof of the vehicle. When such a sliding roof device is able to be actuated by means of a motor, the opening and closing of the sliding panel generally takes place by slidably driving the front sliding members by means of cables connected to an electric motor. 
     This type of sliding roof, however, has the drawback that the mechanism thereof requires a relatively large constructional space. Such a sliding roof also has further drawbacks, however, which are associated, in particular, with the lever arm action of the rear raising lever. The additional force required at the end of the closing phase and rattling when displacing the movable panel may be cited here, in particular. 
     Thus the object to be solved by the subject of the present invention is to propose a sliding roof device for a vehicle, in particular for an automobile, which permits markedly improved operating properties and at the same time easier integration into the vehicle roof. 
     SUMMARY 
     The solution of the technical object set forth according to the present invention is that the sliding roof device also comprises drive devices which are able to displace the movable panel by directly driving the rear raising devices in longitudinal translation. 
     It should be stressed that in the entire text all terms relative to spatial positioning refer to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the normal direction of travel thereof. This applies, in particular, to the terms “transverse” “longitudinal” “front” and “rear”. 
     It is also important to make clear that the term “translation” has to be understood in a broad sense, i.e. it denotes equally linear translation, curved translation or any combination of these two types of movement. 
     In any case, the invention provides the advantage of a mechanism which permits a rapid raising of the rear region of the movable panel. The constructional space required by the mechanism to the side and in the longitudinal direction around the movable panel may be markedly reduced. The sliding roof device according to the invention, therefore, may be installed much more easily in the limited available vertical space of a vehicle roof, whereby advantages result both from the purely technical and aesthetic point of view. 
     The present invention also relates to features of the sub-claims and those which are revealed from the following description and which have to be considered individually or in all possible technical combinations thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This description, which serves as a non-limiting example, is intended to make more comprehensible what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. Moreover, the description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a motor vehicle roof with an inserted roof module which contains a sliding roof device according to the invention, wherein the movable panel belonging to the sliding roof device is shown in the closed position, 
         FIG. 2  shows the module according to  FIG. 1 , wherein the movable panel is in the raised position, 
         FIG. 3  shows the sliding roof device belonging to the module according to  FIG. 2 , wherein the movable panel is in the open position, 
         FIG. 4  shows a view as in  FIG. 3  but according to a perspective view from below, 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view from above, similar to that according to  FIG. 3 , with the movable panel during its displacement between the closed position and the open position, 
         FIG. 6  shows one of the mechanical connections which ensure the retention and the sliding guidance of the front region of the movable panel, wherein the movable panel is in the open position, 
         FIG. 7  shows, viewed from the inside, one of the mechanical connections which ensure the retention and the sliding guidance of the rear region of the movable panel, wherein the movable panel is at the start of the opening phase, 
         FIG. 8  shows the mechanical connection of the rear region of the movable panel in a view as in  FIG. 7 , considered from the outside, 
         FIG. 9  shows a cross section through the mechanical connection according to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , 
         FIGS. 10-11  show views similar to  FIGS. 7  and/or  8  with the movable panel in the closed position, 
         FIGS. 12-13  show views as in  FIGS. 7  and/or  8  with the movable panel at the start of the opening phase, 
         FIG. 14  shows a view similar to  FIG. 8  with the movable panel in the raised position, 
         FIG. 15  shows a view as in  FIG. 8  with the movable panel in the middle of the sliding phase, 
         FIGS. 16-22  show longitudinal sections which illustrate the kinematic system of the movable panel belonging to the sliding roof device, wherein 
         FIG. 16  shows the movable panel in the closed position, 
         FIGS. 17-19  show the movable panel during the displacement from the closed position into the raised position, 
         FIG. 20  shows the movable panel in the raised position, and 
         FIGS. 21-22  show the movable panel during the displacement from the raised position into the open position. 
     
    
    
     For reasons of clarity, the same elements have been provided with the same reference numerals. In addition, only the elements which are important for understanding the invention have been shown, and without considering the scale and schematically. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a roof  210  of a motor vehicle  200  which is provided with a sliding roof device  1  which uses a movable panel  10  made of glass. In this particular embodiment, which is only selected as an example, the sliding roof device  1  is integrated in a module  100  which combines two glass panels, namely the movable front panel  10  and a fixed rear panel  110 . The module  100  takes up practically the entire surface of the vehicle roof, as in the transverse direction it covers the entire space located between the two upper side members  220 , whilst in the longitudinal direction it extends practically from the windshield  230  to the rear window, whereby the sheet metal region of the vehicle roof is reduced to a single strip  240  over a rear transverse member. 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , the module  100  uses a frame  120  which serves as a support for the sliding roof device  1  and for the fixed rear panel  110 , whereby a uniform and modular character is lent to the entire module. The frame  120  also ensures a function of connecting to the body of the vehicle  200  as it is designed so that it may be directly fastened to the box body of the vehicle  200 . Two decorative strips  131 ,  132  cover the side profiles of the frame  120 . 
       FIG. 3  shows that the sliding roof device  1  is provided with a panel  10 , the front region  11  thereof being movably mounted for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the rear region  12  thereof being articulated to at least one raising lever  21 ,  22 , which also is movably mounted for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The unit is arranged so that the panel  10  is slidably movable between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) in which it is able to close an opening in the roof  210  of the vehicle  200  and an open position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ), in which it is largely able to extend at a distance from the opening and substantially exposes said opening. 
     According to the subject of the present invention,  FIGS. 4 and 5  show that the sliding roof device  1  also has drive devices  30  which are able to displace the movable panel  10  by directly driving each raising lever  21 ,  22  for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the front region  11  of the movable panel  10  is slidably mounted on two front guide rails  61 ,  62  which are positioned on both sides of the opening. In practice, and as may be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , two angled fittings  63 ,  64  are mounted under each corner of the front region  11  of the movable panel  10  and connected via a reinforcing crossmember  67 . Each angled fitting  63 ,  64  also serves as an anchoring point for a support plate  65 ,  66 , at the end thereof a sliding piece  68  being rotatably mounted which is able to slide along the corresponding guide rail  61 ,  62 . 
     The rear region  12  of the movable panel  10  is in turn articulated to two lateral raising levers  21 ,  22 , which are slidably mounted on two rear guide rails  23 ,  24  which are arranged substantially on the same axis on each side of the roof  210  of the vehicle  200 , aligned with the guide rails  61 ,  62 . 
       FIGS. 7 to 15  show that each rear guide rail  23 ,  24  has a front part which is inclined downward toward the inside of the vehicle  200  and even extends below the level of the opening. The unit is arranged so that when the movable panel  10  reaches the closed position, each inclined rail part of the guide rails  23 ,  24  is able to permit the corresponding raising lever  21 ,  22  to tilt substantially in the plane of the opening, and as a result to position the rear region  12  of the movable panel  10  flush relative to the fixed rear panel  110 . 
       FIGS. 7 to 15  also show that each raising lever  21 ,  22  in its assigned rear guide rail  23 ,  24  slides by means of two independent sliding pieces  26   a ,  26   b.    
     According to a particularity of the invention, the drive devices  30  are initially provided with at least one sliding member  31  which is coupled in terms of drive technology to a raising lever  21 ,  22  and is movably mounted in a translatory manner in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of displacement of the movable panel  10 . Moreover, the drive devices  30  are also provided with drive mechanisms  40  which are connected to each sliding member  31  via a flexible connection member  51 ,  52 , for example in the form of a drive cable which is guided in a manner which is rigid against pressure, and which are able to displace each raising lever  21 ,  22  simultaneously, by driving each sliding member  31  at the same time in longitudinal translation. 
     It is important to stress that the fact that a sliding member  31  is coupled in terms of drive to a raising lever  21 ,  22  means that these two elements are fixedly connected together in the broad sense of the phrase, i.e. they are connected together without the relevant connection necessarily being rigid. 
     It should also be noted that in this exemplary embodiment the sliding roof device  1  is motorized and that the drive mechanisms  40  comprise an actuator  41  which in the conventional manner combines an electric motor  42  and a gear mechanism  43 . However, it is also possible to provide that the sliding roof device  1  is manually controlled and, for example, has drive mechanisms  40  which are present in the form of a mechanism which may be actuated manually by means of a crank. 
     Finally, it should be made clear that each flexible connecting member  51 ,  52  is able to be, a priori, of any type and/or of any construction. Particularly advantageously, however, each flexible connecting member  51 ,  52  of this exemplary embodiment advantageously consists of a drive cable in this case. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive devices  30  comprise a sliding member  31  for each raising lever  21 ,  22  which is articulated to the movable panel  10 . Each sliding member  31  is connected to the drive mechanisms  40  via a dedicated flexible connecting member  51 ,  52 . The unit is arranged so that the drive mechanisms  40  are capable of displacing simultaneously both sliding members  31 ,  32  by pulling or pushing on all flexible connecting members  51 ,  52  at the same time. 
     Particularly advantageously, each sliding member  31  is slidably mounted along a rear guide rail  33 ,  34  which extends substantially parallel to the direction of displacement of the movable panel  10 . 
     According to a further advantageous feature of the invention, each raising lever  21 ,  22  which is articulated to the movable panel  10  is slidably mounted along a further rear guide rail  23 ,  24  which is arranged in the longitudinal direction. The rear guide rail  33 ,  34  of each sliding member  31  is installed level with the further rear guide rail  23 ,  24  which is assigned to the corresponding raising lever  21 ,  22 . As the guide rail  33 ,  34  of a sliding member  31  is installed level with the guide rail  23 ,  24  of the corresponding raising lever  21 ,  22 , said two elements may advantageously be parts of a single component. 
     According to a further particularity of the invention, which is visible in particular in  FIGS. 7 to 15 , each sliding member  31  is coupled in terms of drive to the corresponding raising lever  21 ,  22  by means of a coupling element  35  which is configured in the form of a finger and which cooperates with a guide  25  by sliding, wherein the finger  35  is fixedly connected to the sliding member  31  and the guide  25  is arranged on the respective raising lever  21 ,  22 . 
     This feature makes it possible to minimize the forces during closing. The sliding of the coupling element  35  in the guide  25  namely provides the possibility of dividing up the closing phase of the movable panel  10 , by the guide  25  being accordingly designed. 
     In this connection,  FIGS. 16 to 23  show that each guide  25  has a generally curved shape which is able to be divided up into three portions. 
     Initially, it is observed that the guide  25  is provided with a first, substantially straight portion  27  which extends substantially parallel to the direction of displacement of the sliding member  31  when the movable panel  10  is in the vicinity of its closed position ( FIG. 16 ). The arrangement is configured so that the corresponding coupling element  35  is able to slide along the first portion  27  when the movable panel  10  is in the vicinity of its closed position. 
     This feature makes it possible to make use of an idle state at the very start of an opening phase and at each end of a closing phase of the movable panel  10 . 
     The guide  25  is also provided with a second, substantially straight portion  28  which extends obliquely relative to the direction of displacement of the sliding member  31  when the movable panel  10  is at the start of the opening phase or at the end of the closing phase ( FIGS. 17 to 19 ). The arrangement is configured so that the corresponding coupling element  35  is able to slide along the second portion  28  when the movable panel  10  is actually located at the start of the opening phase or at the end of the closing phase. 
     This feature makes it possible to drive the raising lever  21 ,  22  progressively by means of the sliding member  31 . 
     The guide  25  further comprises a third, substantially straight portion  29  which extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the sliding member  31  when the movable panel  10  is in the middle of the opening phase or in the middle of the closing phase ( FIGS. 20 to 22 ). The arrangement is configured so that the corresponding coupling element  35  comes to a standstill in the third portion  29 , starting from the fully raised position of the rear edge of the movable panel  10  according to  FIG. 20  and with the further displacement to the rear in the opening phase or with a reverse movement to the front in the closing phase. 
     This feature makes it possible to couple the raising levers  21 ,  22  and the sliding member  31  practically rigidly, whilst the movable panel  10  is displaced between its raised position and its fully open position. The raising levers  21 ,  22  are driven directly by the sliding member  31 , wherein the tensile or thrust forces exerted on the sliding member  31  by the drive mechanisms  40  are entirely transmitted to the raising levers  21 ,  22 . 
     It should be noted that in the three cases mentioned above, the alignment of the portion  27 ,  28 ,  29  of the guides  25  under consideration relative to the direction of displacement of the sliding member  31  depends both on their individual arrangement on the raising levers  21 ,  22  and on the position of the raising levers  21 ,  22  relative to the direction of displacement of the sliding member  31 . 
     The longitudinal sections of the  FIGS. 16 to 23  make it possible to understand easily the kinematic system for operating the sliding roof device  1  described above. 
       FIG. 16  shows, in particular, that the panel  10  in the closed position adjoins the fixed rear panel  110  in a flush manner. A lip seal  140  extends over the entire contour of the frame part  120  defining the opening in order to ensure a seal relative to the movable panel  10  when said panel is in the closed position, as in this case. As it is positioned level with the front inclined end of its guide rail  23 , the raising lever  21  extends substantially horizontally inside the opening. The coupling element  35  is positioned in the first portion  27  of the guide  25 . This means that the connection between the sliding member  31  and the raising lever  21  takes place at a point which is located as close as possible to the movable panel  10 , which makes it possible to optimize the locking of the raising lever  21  in the closed position. 
     The opening phase of the movable panel  10  starts by activating the actuator  41  so that said actuator exerts via the cable  51  (not shown in  FIGS. 16-22 ) a tensile force on the sliding member  31  and thus causes the sliding member  31  to slide along its guide rail  33  ( FIG. 17 ), wherein the guide rail is also not shown here for reasons of clarity. During the very start of the opening phase, the coupling element  35  slides in the first portion  27  of the guide  25  which, due to the fact that the first portion  27  in this case is substantially co-linear to the direction of displacement of the sliding member  31 , does not lead to any significant displacement of the movable panel  10 . 
     As is visible in  FIG. 18 , the opening of the movable panel  10  effectively takes place when the coupling element  35  reaches the second portion  28  of the guide  25 . Insofar as the sliding member  31  continues its translatory movement to the rear, the raising lever  21  is progressively driven to the rear in the direction of displacement due to the fact that the second portion  28  of the guide  25  is then inclined relative to the sliding direction of the sliding member  31 . As a result, a similarly gradual raising of the raising lever  21  is produced at the same time. 
     When the coupling element  35  reaches the rear end of the second portion  28  of the guide  25 , as in  FIG. 19 , the movable panel  10  is located in the vicinity of its raised position. Its front region, in this case, is only moved very slightly to the rear whilst its rear region  12  is significantly raised, in turn. 
     The raised position is finally reached as soon as the coupling element  35  is inserted into the third portion  29  of the guide  25  according to  FIG. 20 . The fact that the raising lever  21  is now substantially rigidly connected to the sliding member  31  makes it possible to maintain this position permanently, whilst the drive mechanisms  40  are temporarily deactivated and, due to their self-locking, hold the sliding member  31  in this position. Precisely at this moment, the front region  11  of the movable panel  10  is still lowered to a relatively large extent, with its underside bearing against the front seal and well stabilized due to the fact that the sliding piece  68  is located in a substantially horizontal intermediate portion of its guide rail  61 . 
     As is visible in  FIG. 21 , when the sliding member  31  is driven further to the rear, few geometric alterations occur level with the rear region  12  of the movable panel  10 , as the panel  10  only moves in a purely straight translatory direction during the further opening movement. Level with the front region  11 , this is different as said front region is forced to follow the lifting of the inclined part of its guide rail  61 . 
     When this process is finished, the front region  11  of the movable panel  10  is also raised as in  FIGS. 21 and 22 . The displacement of the movable panel  10  to the rear is continued, therefore, by simply sliding level with the substantially straight parts of the guide rails  61 ,  62  relative to its front region  11  and level with the substantially straight parts of the guide rails  23 ,  24  relative to its rear region  12 , until reaching the fully open position. It is observed that in this case the connection between the sliding member  31  and the raising lever  21  takes place at a point which is between the two sliding pieces  26   a ,  26   b  which advantageously enables the risk of the raising lever  21  rattling to be reduced. 
     As the closing of the movable panel  10  takes place according to a substantially reverse kinematic system or movement, this is not described further here. 
     Naturally, the invention relates more generally to any vehicle which has at least one sliding roof device  1  described above.