NL2018307B1

NL2018307B1 - tiltable sliding roof for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: NL2018307B1
Application number: NL2018307A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Jori Smit Steffan; Johan Voet Sander
Original assignee: Tenderworks B V
Priority date: 2017-02-03
Filing date: 2017-02-03
Publication date: 2018-08-28
Also published as: WO2018143810A1

Abstract

A sliding roof system comprises a panel that is movable from closed position in which the panel closes an opening in a roof structure to an open position in which the panel is situated above the roof structure. The panel is slidably movable over a trajectory such that the panel is preferably flush with the roof structure surrounding the panel in the closed position and the panel tilts while moving from that position such that a distal end reaches above the roof structure such that is can slide over the roof structure. Preferably, the panel is in the open position substantially parallel to its position in the closed position. To achieve this, the trajectory of the panel from closed to open may be curved. Alternatively or additionally, it may be such that at a part, the panel moves in a direction not parallel to the position of the panel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The various aspects and embodiments thereof relate to sliding roofs for vehicles and ships in particular.

BACKGROUND

Sliding roofs on vehicles are well known. In particular roofs of cars may be provided with panels that have a track that may be tilted and slid away. The panel is slid away either on top of the roof or in a space between the metal roof and an inner liner. For tilting, a sliding track for the roof panel is tilted. This allows the roof to be slid over the top of the roof. Hence, the panel of the sunroof is move to another location on the roof.

Such roofs require two movements, by two actuators: a tilting movement and a sliding movement.

SUMMARY

It is preferred to provide a sliding roof that can be moved in a linear way over another adjacent roof panel with one actuator in a single movement.

A first aspect provides a roof system. The roof system comprises a roof panel for closing an opening in a roof structure, the panel having a proximal end and a distal end abutting a distal side the roof structure in closed position of the roof panel and a carriage connected to the roof panel. The roof system further comprises a guiding module defining a carriage trajectory for guiding the carriage from a proximal position in which the panel is in the closed position to a distal position in which the roof panel is situated above the distal side of the roof structure. In this roof system, the trajectory comprises a first trajectory part at which the carriage is located when the roof panel is in closed position and a second trajectory part adjacent to the first trajectory part in which the roof panel is provided under an angle relative to the closed position such that the distal end is located higher than the proximal end.

By providing the first trajectory part, the roof panel is provided preferably flush with other parts of a roof structure. And by providing a curved trajectory for the carriage and thus for the roof panel that is provided under an angle relative to the first trajectory part, the roof panel slid away and lifted in one motion. This allows the roof panel to be slid over the further roof structure in that one motion.

An embodiment of the roof system comprises a panel driving module arranged to move in a substantially linear direction, the panel driving module being coupled to the carriage for driving the carriage along the trajectory. An advantage is that this allows for simplification of driving of the carriage, as the driving module only has to provide a substantially linear motion.

Another embodiment of the roof system comprises a module driver releasably connectable to the panel driving module, the module driver being connected to a cable that is movable by a cable driving module comprised by the roof system. An advantage of this embodiment is that this allows the roof system may be moved to another position on the roof, without tilting of the roof.

In a further embodiment, the carriage comprises at least two protrusions at either sides of the roof panel, protruding in a direction substantially perpendicular to the trajectory defined by the guiding module. In this embodiment, the guiding module comprises a first guiding block comprising a first groove for receiving two protrusion provided at a first side of the roof panel and a second guiding block comprising a second groove for receiving two protrusions provided at a second side of the roof panel, the second side being substantially opposite to the first side. Furthermore, the first groove and the second groove define the trajectory. This embodiment allows for an effective implementation and sturdy mounting of the carriage.

In again another embodiment, the trajectory comprises a third trajectory part in which third trajectory part the groove is substantially wider than the width of the protrusions; and the carriage is mounted at the proximal side of a line of gravity of the roof panel, the line of gravity being defined from the first side of the roof panel to the second side of the roof panel. This embodiment allows for more design freedom and provides a relatively simple implementation of letting the panel move in a direction different from a line from the first protrusion to the second protrusion.

In yet a further embodiment, the second trajectory part comprises a curved part such that the angle declines from the proximal position to the distal position. This embodiment allows for substantially linear movement of the carriage once lifted above the rest of the roof, preventing the distal end to stick out too high above the rest of the roof.

A second aspect provides a vehicle comprising a roof wherein the roof system according to the first aspect is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects and embodiments thereof will now be discussed in further detail in conjunction with drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1:	shows a ship with a closed roof;
Figure 2 A:	shows a rear roof panel in closed position;
Figure 2 B:	shows a side view of the rear roof panel in closed

position;

Figure 2 C:	shows a detail of the rear roof panel;
Figure 3 A:	shows the rear roof panel is half open state;
Figure 3 B:	shows a side view of the rear roof panel in half

open state;

Figure 4 A: shows the rear roof panel in fully open position;

ancl

Figure 4 B: shows a side view of the rear roof panel in fully open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a ship 100 as a vehicle. The ship 100 comprises a hull 102 having a forecastle 110 at the front and a roof 200 for covering the tub of the ship 100. The roof 200 comprises multiple panels, among which a rear roof panel 210.

Figure 2 A shows the rear roof panel 210 in further detail. The rear roof panel 210 may be opaque or transparent and comprise metal, glass, a transparent polymer, an opaque polymer, either translucent or not, other, or a combination thereof. The rear roof panel 210 further comprises a proximal end 212, a distal end 214 opposite to the proximal end 212, a right edge 216 and a left edge 218. In closed state, the distal end 214 of the rear roof panel 210 abuts another roof panel 280 provided in front of the rear roof panel for closing the roof by covering a hole in the roof. To the rear roof panel 210, at its lower side, a panel frame 220 is mounted. The panel frame 220 is connected to a roof guiding module 240 for guiding a sliding movement of the rear roof panel 210.

Figure 2 B shows the right side of the rear roof panel 210. Preferably, the rear roof panel is symmetrical. This mans parts of the roof system depicted by Figure 2 B are provided in duplo, i.e. are provided on the left side as well in the embodiment discussed here. To the frame panel 220, a carriage 230 is mounted having a first protrusion 232 and a second protrusion 234. The protrusions are provided in a guiding groove 242 provided in a guiding module 240. The guiding groove 242 defines a carriage trajectory for the carriage 230 to run along. The guiding groove 242 may be provided as a through hole in the guiding module 240. Alternatively, the guiding groove 242 is provided as a blind hole. The protrusions may protrude outwardly from the carriage 230 or inwardly. As depicted by Figure 2 A, it is preferred the protrusions protrude outwardly.

The protrusions are preferably provided relatively close to one another. This allows the rear roof panel 210 to be slid along the carriage trajectory over a relatively long distance, without having to provide a very long guiding module 240. A reason for this is that a proximal end of the carriage trajectory is defined by the position of the first protrusion 232 and the proximal end of the guiding groove 242 and a distal end of the carriage trajectory is defined by the position of the second protrusion and the distal end of the guiding groove 242.

The carriage 230 may be driven along the carriage trajectory. Figure 2 C shows the carriage 230 in more detail, with a driving mechanism for driving the carriage 230. At a lower side of the carriage 230, a connecting arm 252 over a first pivoting arm connection 251 at a first end of the connecting arm 252. At a second end of the connecting arm 252, a second pivoting arm connection 258 is provided, connecting the arm 252 to a linear driving member 254. The linear driving member 254 is arranged to slide along a rail (not shown here) in a substantially linear way. This does not necessarily have to be an exactly linear trajectory, but at least the trajectory of the linear driving member 254 is more linear than the carriage trajectory. This means that the carriage trajectory and the trajectory of the linear driving member 254 diverge.

The linear driving member 254 comprises an indentation 256. In the indentation, a notch 258 of a cable connecting member 260 may be fit. The cable connecting member 260 is connected to a cable (not shown) that is arranged to move in a reciprocating way, over a substantially linear trajectory. The notch 258 is set in the indentation 256 by means of a lifting arm 264 that lifts the cable connecting member 260. The lifting arm is driven by means of a pushing arm 262 that is rotatably driven.

Driving the pushing arm 262 to the left results in the lifting arm swiveling slightly to the right and this results in lifting of the cable connecting member 260 such that the notch 258 fits in the indentation 256. In this way, the carriage 230 is connected to the cable connecting member 260 and the cable. In this way, the carriage 230 may be driven by the cable. The cable may be driven by a motorised winch. Such embodiment is preferred if a flexible cable is used that may be wound on a drum or other cylindrical body. Alternatively, the cable is driven by other means. If the cable is relatively rigid, the cable may be driven in two directions by means of a rotating body that exerts a frictional force on the cable. Such principle may be compared to a rack driven by a pinion. In that way, the cable may be driving in two directions by means of one single drive.

Figure 2 C also shows a first runner 246 at the proximal end of the guiding module 240. At other corners of the rear roof panel 210, one or more further runners may be provided. The runners may support the rear roof panel 210, by supporting the guiding module 240, over a sliding rail for moving the location of the rear roof panel 210 relative to the ship 100.

The guiding groove 242 defines a first substantially straight trajectory part at which the carriage 230 is located with the rear roof panel 210 closing off an opening in the roof 200 of the ship 100. This configuration is depicted by Figure 2 A and Figure 2 B. Adjacent to the first trajectory part, a second trajectory part is defined by the guiding groove 242 that is provided under an angle relative to the first trajectory part. When the carnage 230 and with that, the rear roof panel 210, is driven from the first trajectory part to the second trajectory part, the distal end 214 of the rear roof panel 210 is lifted. This is depicted by Figure 3 A and Figure 3 B.

The lifting of the distal end 214 is a consequence of the rear roof panel 210 being provided under an angle relative to its closed position in which is closes the roof, such that the distal end 214 is relatively higher than the proximal end 212, compared to the closed state. This configuration enables the distal end 214 of the rear roof panel 210 to be moved over the other roof panel 280. Prior to driving the carriage 230 to the distal end of the guiding module 240, the guiding module 240 may be moved towards the proximal direction. This is advantageous for providing more freedom for the distal end of the rear roof panel 210 to tilt upwardly. To this purpose the guiding module 240 may be connected to a further driving module, for example via a cable, as described in conjunction with the cable connecting member 260.

Figure 3 B shows that the guiding groove 242 has for most of the length of the guiding groove 242 a width that is more or less the same as the cross-sectional diameter of the protrusions on the carriage 230. However, at the end of the first trajectory part and the beginning of the second trajectory part, the guiding groove 242 is wider. More in particular, whereas the bottom of the guiding groove 242 is substantially straight at the bottom of the first trajectory part, the top is gradually higher. Furthermore, the carriage 230 is mounted to the rear roof panel at a proximal side of a line of gravity running from the left edge 218 to the right edge 216.

These two features result in the rear roof panel 210 to tilt over to the distal side of the rear roof panel 210 when the carriage 230 is located in the widened section of the guiding groove 242. This results in the rear roof panel 210, when slid in the second trajectory part, to firstly tilt by an upward movement of the distal edge 214, followed by tilting back of the distal edge 214 to a more horizontal position. Subsequently, the carriage moves forward with the first protrusion 232 following the upper side of the guiding groove 242and the second protrusion 234 following the lower side of the guiding groove 242. This action prevents too much tilting of the rear roof panel 210, while still moving the rear roof panel upward. The guiding groove 242 narrows further in this embodiment towards the distal end of the guiding groove 242 such that its with substantially corresponds to the crosssectional diameter of the protrusions.

Figure 4 A and Figure 4 B show the rear roof panel 210 in fully open position, with the carriage 230 at the distal end of the guiding groove 242. As in this embodiment the second trajectory part of the guiding groove 242 is curved, the rear roof panel 210 is in the opened position almost or substantially positioned parallel to the closed position as depicted by Figure 2 A and Figure 2 B. Figure 4 A and Figure 4 B also show how the linear driving member 254 connected to the cable connecting member 260 move in a substantially linear trajectory, while the linear driving member 254 is still arranged to drive the carriage 230 via the connecting arm 252 and the pivoting connections thereto.

As discussed above, the rear roof panel and the mechanism for sliding the rear roof panel relative to the guiding module 240 is preferably embodied in a mirror-symmetrical way. Yet, this is not essential for carrying out the invention. At either side, further elements may be omitted or added, as long as the parts as specified to carry out the described sliding motion are present.

In the embodiments discussed above, the second trajectory part has been shown and described having a curved nature. It is noted that this is preferred, to ensure the distal edge 214 of the rear roof panel 210 does not extend too much above the ship 110. However, if this is no issue, the guiding groove 242 may be implemented such that the second trajectory part is substantially linear. In yet another alternative, the guiding groove 242 is provide such that it comprises a first linear trajectory part as discussed above, a second linear trajectory part provided under an angle relative to the first linear trajectory part and a third linear trajectory part substantially parallel to the first linear trajectory part.

The carriage 230 has been discussed as having protrusions that fit in the guiding groove 242. In another embodiment, the guiding module 240 may be provided with one or more protrusions that fit in one or more indentations provided in the carriage 230.

Whereas the various aspects and embodiments have been discussed in conjunction with a ship, such roof system may also be implemented on land vehicles, including, but not limited to automobiles, lorries, busses and the like.

In summary, the disclosure relates to a sliding roof system comprising a panel that is movable from closed position in which the panel closes an opening in a roof structure to an open position in which the panel is situated above the roof structure. The panel is slidably movable over a trajectory such that the panel is preferably flush with the roof structure surrounding the panel in the closed position and the panel tilts while moving from that position such that a distal end reaches above the roof structure such that is can slide over the roof structure. Preferably, the panel is in the open position substantially parallel to its position in the closed position. To achieve this, the trajectory of the panel from closed to open may be curved. Alternatively or additionally, it may be such that at a part, the panel moves in a direction not parallel to the position of the panel.

Expressions such as comprise, include, incorporate, contain, is and have are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly defined also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed in be a reference to the plural and vice versa.

In the description above, it will be understood that when an element such as layer, region or substrate is referred to as being “on” or “onto” another element, the element is either directly on the other element, or intervening elements may also be present.

Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention be embodied using more elements than depicted in the Figures, wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components.

A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various parameters disclosed in the description may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed and/or claimed may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Conclusions

A roof system comprising:

A roof panel for closing an opening in a roof structure, the panel comprising a proximal end and a distal end that connects to a distal end of the roof structure in the closed position of the roof panel;

A running gear connected to the roof panel;

A guide module that defines a loop working path for guiding the running from a proximate position in which the panel is in a closed position to a distal position in which the roof panel is located above the distal end of the roof structure;

The trajectory comprising a first trajectory part in which the running gear is located when the roof panel is in closed position and a second trajectory part near the first trajectory part in which the roof panel is provided at an angle to the closed position such that the distal end is higher than the distal end proximal end.

The roof system of claim 1, further comprising a panel drive module adapted to move in a substantially linear path, the panel drive module being coupled to the running gear for driving the running gear along the path.

3. Roof system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the panel drive module is coupled to the running gear via a substantially rigid body, which body is hinged to the running gear at a proximal end of the body and is hinged to the panel drive module at a distal end of the body body.

4. Roof system as claimed in claim 2 or 3, further comprising a module driver releasably connectable to the panel drive molding, the module driver being connected to a cable that is movable by a cable drive module comprising the roof system.

A roof system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the running gear comprises at least two protrusions on both sides of the roof panel, which protrude in a direction substantially perpendicular to the path defined by the guide module and wherein the guide module comprises:

A first guide block comprising a first groove for receiving two protrusions comprised by a first side of the running gear; and

A second guide block comprising a second groove for receiving two protrusions comprises on a second side of the running gear, the second side being substantially opposite the first side;

The first groove and the second groove define the loop working path.

The roof system of claim 5, wherein:

The pathway comprises a third pathway section wherein in the third pathway section the groove is considerably wider than the diameter of the protrusions; and

The running gear is placed on the proximal side of a center line of the roof panel, which center line is defined

At which:

from the first side of the roof panel to the second side of the roof panel.

Roof system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the running gear comprises at least two protrusions on both sides of the roof panel, which protrude in a direction substantially perpendicular to the path defined by the guide module and wherein the guide module comprises: A first guide block comprising a first groove for receiving a first protrusion comprises on a first side of the roof panel and a second groove for receiving a second protrusion provided on the first side of the roof panel;

A second guide block comprising a third groove for receiving a first protrusion provided on a second side of the roof panel and a fourth groove for receiving a second protrusion provided on the second side of the roof panel, the second side being substantially opposite the first side located;

The first groove is substantially parallel to the third groove; The second groove is substantially parallel to the fourth groove; The first protrusion on the first side is substantially diametrically opposite the first protrusion on the second side;

The second protrusion on the first side is substantially diametrically opposite the second protrusion on the second side; The first groove is adapted to receive the first protrusion on the first side;

- The second groove is adapted to receive the second protrusion on the first side; The third groove is adapted to receive the first protrusion on the second side; The fourth groove is adapted to receive the second protrusion on the second side; and The grooves define the route. 8. Roof system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second trajectory part comprises a curved part such that the angle decreases from the proximal end to the distal end. 9. Roof system according to claim 8, wherein the roof panel in the distal position of the trajectory is substantially parallel to the panel in the proximal position. 10. Roof system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide module is arranged to be in a stationary position with respect to the roof structure during operation of the roof system. 11. Roof system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide module is slidably placed on a roof rail. 12. Vehicle comprising a roof in which the roof system according to one of the preceding claims is placed. 13. Vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle is a ship.

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