Patent ID: 8490508

Claim:
A folding-top drive for actuating a folding top linkage of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one self-locking gearing coupling the folding-top drive to the folding-top linkage of the motor vehicle, the self-locking gearing having a housing and first and second gearing parts; a drive motor for actuating the first gearing part, actuation of the first gearing part being transmitted to the second gearing part and then to the folding-top linkage; the first gearing part of the respective gearing being pivotably mounted on the housing of the gearing at a first joint; a guide element pivotably mounted on the housing of the gearing at a second joint spaced from the first joint, the guide element being acted on by a spring; the first gearing part of the gearing being slidably and pivotably guided on the guide element so that, when a force or moment acting on the first gearing part exceeds a defined limit value, the first gearing part and the guide element automatically pivot about the first and second joints and slidably and pivotably move relative to one another counter to the spring force of the spring from a first position, in which the first and second gearing parts of the gearing are engaged, into a second position in which the first and second gearing parts of the gearing are disengaged, and so that, when the force or moment acting on the first gearing part of the gearing falls below the defined limit value, the first gearing part and the guide element automatically pivot about the first and second joints and pivot and slidslide relative to one another by the spring force of the spring from the second position into the first position.