GB2206849A

GB2206849A - Sliding roof drainage system for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2206849A
Application number: GB08811865A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Sielk; Manfred Tobehn
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1987-07-14
Filing date: 1988-05-19
Publication date: 1989-01-18
Also published as: EP0299262B1; DE3873850D1; EP0299262A2; GB8811865D0; EP0299262A3; DE3723175C1; ES2034040T3

Description

SLIDING ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES The invention relates to a drainage system for the sliding roof of a motor vehicle, in which the frame of the sliding roof is formed with a water-collecting channel to collect water passing through the gap surrounding the sliding roof panel, and the channel has connectors for tubes which pass through the roof pillars of the vehicle bodywork and permit water to drain from the channel without leaking into the passenger compartment.

A sliding roof drainage system of this type is known from German Patent 30 26 231, in which the water collecting channel has water drainage connections arranged at the corners of the sliding roof frame and water drainage tubes connected thereto which pass through the roof pillars or columns of the bodywork.

Certain drawbacks arise in the case of a known sliding roof drainage system of this type. If a relatively thin and rigid water drainage tube is used, threading it through the cavity of the roof pillars is made easier, but on account of vibrations of the motor vehicle the water drainage tube can knock against the walls of the roof pillars, causing annoying rattles. If a relatively soft and flexible water drainage tube is used, such noises can be prevented, but threading such soft flexible water drainage tubes into the roof pillars, in particular into the windscreen pillars is relatively difficult and time consuming.

The present invention seeks to simplify the assembly of the water drainage tubes while avoiding the risk of rattles.

According to the present invention, there is provided a drainage system for the sliding roof of a motor vehicle, in which the frame of the sliding roof is formed with a water-collecting channel to collect water passing through the gap surrounding the sliding roof panel, and the channel has connectors for tubes which pass through the roof pillars of the vehicle bodywork and permit water to drain from the channel without leaking into the passenger compartment, wherein spacers are provided around the water drainage tubes which include resilient tongues projecting outwards from the tubes and at an acute angle to the tubes.

Preferably, the spacers comprise an annular base which resiliently grips the outer surface of the drainage tubes and from which the resilient tongues project.

The resilient tongues on the spacers prevent the drainage tubes from knocking against the walls of the roof pillars but do not interfere with the threading of the pipes through the pillars because of their oblique inclination. The sense of the inclination should, of course, be such that the tongues point in the direction of insertion or threading of the drainage tubes.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle body indicated in broken lines with a sliding roof frame arranged in the roof area and indicated in continuous lines; Fig. 2 shows a detail of a corner of the frame drawn to an enlarged scale, and Fig. 3 shows the part of Fig. 1 within the circle III, drawn to an enlarged scale.

The motor vehicle body 1 indicated in broken lines comprises front roof pillars A bounding the windscreen, two lateral roof pillars B and C and rear roof pillars D bounding the rear window.

In the roof area of the motor vehicle body 1 is a sliding roof frame 2 which is provided all round with a water-collecting channel 3. The channel 3 has at all four corners water drainage connections 4 to which the water drainage tubes 5 are joined by being pushed on.

The water drainage tubes 5 must drain off water which has leaked into the sliding roof frame by way of the gap surrounding the sliding roof panel, to prevent this water from entering the passenger compartment. This is done by leading the water away through the A and D roof pillars.

For this purpose the water drainage tubes 5 must be threaded into the cavities in the roof pillars. This can only be done with ease if the water drainage tubes 5 are relatively thin and rigid.

To prevent such thin and rigid drainage tubes 5 from rattling inside the roof pillars A and D on account of vibrations while travelling, spacers 6 are placed on the water drainage tubes 5. The spacers 6 comprise an annular base or collar 7 (see Fig.3 ) and at least three resilient tongues 8, which extend obliquely outwards and to the rear from the collar 7 in the threading direction of the water drainage tubes 5.

In order that the spacers 6 may be fitted to the water drainage tubes 5 simply and rapidly, their collar 7 is provided on part of its periphery with an outwardly curved resilient bow 9 which ensures a resilient clamping. The relaxed diameter of the collar 7 is smaller than the outer diameter of the tube 5, but the presence of the resilient bow 9 permits the collar 7 to expand and resiliently engage the outer surface of the tube 5.

Although only one spacer is arranged in each roof pillar in the embodiment illustrated, it is to be understood that if necessary a plurality of spacers may be used.

It should also be clear that different designs of spacer may be employed, for example with four or more resilient tongues.

Claims

1. A drainage system for the sliding roof of a motor vehicle, in which the frame of the sliding roof is formed with a water-collecting channel to collect water passing through the gap surrounding the sliding roof panel, and the channel has connectors for tubes which pass through the roof pillars of the vehicle bodywork and permit water to drain from the channel without leaking into the passenger compartment, wherein spacers are provided around the water drainage tubes which include resilient tongues projecting outwards from the tubes and at an acute angle to the tubes.

2. A drainage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacers each comprise an annular base which resiliently grips the outer surface of the drainage tube and from which the resilient tongues project.

3. A drainage system for the sliding roof of a motor vehicle, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.