Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
  • B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
  • B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
  • B60J7/12—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts
  • B60J7/14—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts with a plurality of rigid plate-like elements or rigid non plate-like elements, e.g. with non-slidable, but pivotable or foldable movement
  • B60J7/143—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts with a plurality of rigid plate-like elements or rigid non plate-like elements, e.g. with non-slidable, but pivotable or foldable movement for covering the passenger compartment
  • B60J7/145—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts with a plurality of rigid plate-like elements or rigid non plate-like elements, e.g. with non-slidable, but pivotable or foldable movement for covering the passenger compartment at least two elements being folded in clamp-shell fashion

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a folding and deployment mechanism of a retractable rigid roof of a motor vehicle, and more particularly of such a roof capable of adopting a deployed position where it covers the interior of the vehicle and a folded position where it is stowed in the boot of the vehicle, said roof comprising at least one front element and one rear element, the rear part of the front element being articulated to the front part of the rear element around a first transverse axis and the part rear of the rear element being articulated to the chassis of the vehicle about a second transverse axis.
• transverse axis is meant an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the vehicle.
• the front roof element is articulated to the chassis by an arm.
• the movement is obtained by the rotation of the arm which forms a deformable parallelogram with the rear roof element.
• Such an arrangement requires a slot in the lining of the rear roof element to allow the passage of the arm in the deployed position of the roof. It also requires retractable ears on the rear shelf to close the passage of the arm when the roof deploys or folds.
• the present invention aims to overcome its drawbacks. More particularly, the invention aims to provide a folding and deployment mechanism which eliminates the passage of the arm in the lining of the rear roof element and which allows the use of a shelf in a single part.
• the subject of the invention is a mechanism for folding and deploying a retractable rigid roof of a motor vehicle, said roof being capable of adopting a deployed position where it covers the passenger compartment of the vehicle and a folded position where it is stored in the boot of the vehicle, said roof comprising at least one front element and one rear element, the rear part of the front element being articulated to the front part of the rear element around a first transverse axis and l rear element being articulated to the chassis of the vehicle about a second transverse axis, this mechanism comprising a first pinion mounted on said first transverse axis, fixed relative to said front element, a first rack meshing with said first pinion, and means of drive to move said rack in response to pivoting of the rear element around said second transverse axis.
• said drive means comprise a rigid rod secured to said first rack and guided in translation by guide means secured to said rear element, and displacement means arranged to move the rod in the guide means in response to the pivoting of said rear element around said second transverse axis.
• Said displacement means may comprise a second rack integral with said rod and meshing with a second pinion mounted on said second transverse axis, fixed relative to said chassis.
• said displacement means may comprise a cam follower mounted on said rod, arranged to cooperate with a cam integral with said chassis.
• said drive means comprise a sheathed cable, a first end of which is fixed to said first rack and the corresponding end of the sheath of which is integral with said rear element, and displacement means arranged to move said cable in said sheath.
• Said displacement means may comprise a second rack to which the second end of the cable is fixed, said second rack being guided in translation by guide means integral with said rear element and meshing with a second pinion mounted on said second transverse axis, fixed by relative to the chassis, the second end of the sheath being integral with said rear element.
• the present invention also relates to a motor vehicle with a retractable rigid roof, in which said roof is provided with a folding and deployment mechanism as described above.
• FIG. 1 is a side view of a retractable roof provided with a mechanism according to the invention
• FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment thereof
• FIG. 1 a retractable roof formed of a front element 1 and a rear element 2.
• the references 1 and 2 and the reference of the rod which will be described below, are matched with the letter a in the position where the roof is deployed and the letter b when the roof is retracted.
• the roof elements 1 and 2 In the deployed roof position, the roof elements 1 and 2 extend above the vehicle interior 3, between the top of the windshield and the front edge of the luggage compartment lid 4. In the retracted position , the roof elements 1 and 2 are stored in the trunk 4 one above the other.
• the rear part of the front element 1 is articulated to the front part of the rear element 2 around an axis 5.
• the element 2 is articulated to the chassis of the vehicle around a transverse axis 6 carried by a yoke 7 integral with element 2.
• a first pinion 8 is mounted on the axis 5, fixed relative to the roof element 1.
• a second pinion 9 is mounted on the axis 6, fixed relative to the chassis 10 of the vehicle.
• a rod 11 is slidably mounted in two bearings 12 and 13 integral with the roof element 2.
• the rod 11 carries at each of its ends, a rack 14, respectively 15.
• the first rack 14 meshes with the pinion 8 while the second rack 15 meshes with the pinion 9.
• the rod 11 When the roof element 2 is driven, by any known means, from its deployed position 2a to its retracted position 2b by rotation about the axis 6, the rod 11 also pivots, driven by the bearings 12 and 13. The rack 15 thus rotates on the pinion 9 so that the rod 11 moves in the bearings 14 and 15 in the direction of the arrow F.
• the rack 14 drives the pinion 8, and consequently the roof element 1, around the axis 5.
• the opposite movement occurs during the deployment of the roof.
• the racks 14 and 15 are each slidably mounted in a bearing 20, 21 respectively, integral with the rear roof element 2, and are no longer connected by a rigid rod as in the Figures 1 and 2, but by a cable 22 fixed at its ends to these racks.
• the cable 22 is covered with a sheath 23 bearing at its ends on each of the bearings 20 and 21.
• the rack 15 is driven by the bearing 21 and moves on the pinion 9. It pulls or pushes, via the cable 22, the rack 14 which slides in the bearing 20 and, meshing with the pinion 8, causes the rotation of the roof element around the axis 5.
• the rod 11 carries at its end opposite to the rack 14, a finger 30 forming a cam follower.
• the finger 30 is engaged in a groove 31 of a fitting 32 secured to the chassis 10 of the vehicle, this groove 31 forming a cam for the finger 30.
• the pivoting of the roof element 2 causes a displacement of the finger 30 in the groove 31, causing as previously a displacement of the rod 11 in the direction of the arrow F and the rotation of the element 1 around the axis 5 .

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
• Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=33041812

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2003
  • 2003-04-11 FR FR0304560A patent/FR2853593B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-04-09 WO PCT/FR2004/000893 patent/WO2004091952A2/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-04-09 EP EP04742478A patent/EP1613494A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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