Displaceable Roof

Abstract

A displaceable roof in a vehicle, in particular a folding top in a motor vehicle, with a front first roof section for connecting to the frame of the windshield of the vehicle, a second roof section disposed after it, and two link configurations which are mounted on both sides of the center of the vehicle, connect the roof sections to each other. The link configurations contain at least two links which couple the two roof sections to each other in such a manner that the first roof section moves over the second roof section during closing or opening of the roof. The roof link configurations are mounted on both sides of the center of the vehicle in bearings fixed on the vehicle body and are articulated on the second roof section. Each roof link configuration is coupled to a link of the link configuration disposed on the same side of the vehicle, for the purpose of displacing the roof sections. Each roof link configuration for coupling to the associated link configuration of the roof sections has a coupling link which is articulated on it and is coupled at least to one of the links of the link configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The single FIGURE of the drawing is a diagrammatic, side view of a detail of a displaceable roof according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the single FIGURE of the drawing in detail, there is shown a roof 10 that has a front roof section 12, as seen from the direction of a front end of a vehicle, and a rear roof section 14 which is disposed behind it. The roof sections 12, 14 are coupled to each other by a link configuration 16 disposed symmetrically on both sides of a center of the vehicle.

Each link configuration 16 is formed by two links 18 and 20 which run approximately parallel to each other, are articulated on the two roof sections 12 and 14 and can be displaced in the form of a parallelogram. In this case, the lengths and the profile of the links 18 and 20 are selected in such a manner that, when the roof 10 is closed, the roof sections 12 and 14 merge one into the other flush with an upper side and lower side and, during the lowering or extension of the roof 10, the front roof section 12 is moved away over the rear roof section 14.

The two roof sections 12 and 14 are supported by two roof link configurations 22 disposed symmetrically with respect to each other on both sides of the center of the vehicle. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, each roof link configuration 22 is formed from two links, a roof link 24 and a main link 26, which are articulated in the form of a four-bar linkage with their ends on the rear roof section 14 and with their lower ends on a roof bearing 28.

The upper end of each roof link 24 has an extension 30 which extends beyond a joint 32, with which the roof link 24 is articulated on the rear roof section 14, as the semi-extended position, shown in the FIGURE, of the roof 10 shows. The free end of the extension 30 is coupled via a joint to the one end of a coupling link 34 which, for its part, is coupled at its other end by a joint to the rear link 20 of the link configuration 16.

During displacement of the roof 10, the coupling of the roof link 24 via the extension 30 and the coupling link 34 now enables the movement of the roof link 24 to be transmitted directly to the rear link 20 and therefore to the entire link configuration 16. In the process, the joints between the coupling link 34 and the extension 30 and also between the rear roof section 14 and the roof link 24 ensure that, when the roof 10 is closed, all of the links 18, 20 and 34 run along the roof edges.

The driving according to the invention of the roof sections 12 and 14 with the use of the coupling link 34 permits a particularly trouble-free and simple sequence of movement during the opening and closing of the roof 10.

Claims

1. A displaceable roof in a vehicle, comprising: a first roof section being a front roof section for connecting to a frame of a windshield of the vehicle;a second roof section disposed after said front roof section;two link configurations disposed on both sides of a center of the vehicle, said two link configurations connect said first and second roof sections to each other, said link configurations each contain at least two links coupling said first and second roof sections to each other such that said first roof section moves over said second roof section during closing or opening of the displaceable roof;bearings fixed on a vehicle body of the vehicle; androof link configurations mounted on both sides of the center of the vehicle in said bearings and are articulated on said second roof section, each of said roof link configurations being coupled to one of said links of said link configurations disposed on a same side of the vehicle, for displacing said first and second roof sections, each of said roof link configurations for being coupled to an associated one of said link configurations of said first and second roof sections has a coupling link articulated on said respective roof link configuration and is coupled at least to one of said links of said associated link configuration.

2. The displaceable roof according to claim 1, wherein each of said link configurations connecting said first and second roof sections is a parallelogram link configuration.

3. The displaceable roof according to claim 2, wherein said coupling link is coupled to a rear one of said two links of said parallelogram link configuration, as seen from a direction of a front end of the vehicle, by a joint.

4. The displaceable roof according to claim 1, wherein each of said roof link configurations has a roof link and a main link which are both articulated on said second roof section, and one of said roof link and said main link has an extension, said extension extending beyond a joint on said second roof section, and said coupling link which is coupled to said link configuration is articulated on said extension.

5. The displaceable roof according to claim 4, wherein when the displaceable roof is closed, said roof link forms a B pillar of the vehicle.

6. The displaceable roof according to claim 1, further comprising at least one bow, said roof link configurations are connected to each other by said at least one bow, which runs transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and forms a third roof section.

7. The displaceable roof according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said roof link configurations is coupled to a pivotable rear window carrier to drive the pivotable rear window carrier.

8. The displaceable roof according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said roof link configurations is coupled to a pivotably mounted clamping hoop to drive the pivotably mounted clamping hoop.

9. The displaceable roof according to claim 1, wherein the displaceable roof is a folding top of the vehicle.

10. The displaceable roof according to claim 4, wherein said extension is articulated with said roof link.

11. A motor vehicle, comprising: a transmission;at least one axle;at least one driving engine being an internal combustion engine and driving said at least one axle via said transmission; anda displaceable roof containing: a first roof section being a front roof section for connecting to a frame of a windshield of the vehicle;a second roof section disposed after said front first roof section;two link configurations disposed on both sides of a center of the vehicle, said two link configurations connect said first and second roof sections to each other, said link configurations each contain at least two links coupling said first and second roof sections to each other such that said first roof section moves over said second roof section during closing or opening of the displaceable roof;bearings fixed on a vehicle body; androof link configurations mounted on both sides of the center of the vehicle in said bearings and are articulated on said second roof section, each of said roof link configurations being coupled to one of said links of said link configurations disposed on a same side of the vehicle, for displacing said first and second roof sections, each of said roof link configurations for coupling to an associated one of said link configurations of said first and second roof sections has a coupling link articulated on said respective roof link configuration and is coupled at least to one of said links of said associated link configuration.