Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Variable capacity of body
Patent
1998-09-04
2000-05-09
Pedder, Dennis H.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Variable capacity of body
296 353, 296106, 2961468, B62D 2706
Patent
active
060593407
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to motor vehicles having a removable or retractable rear roof section and in particular to an electrically movable rear window assembly and control means for such a motor vehicle.
According to the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having a removable or retractable rear roof section, a roof sensor means to sense the removal or retraction of the rear roof section and a number of doors including a rear door supporting a frameless electrically actuated rear window, the rear window being movable by an electric motor in response to a signal received from an electronic controller between a closed position in which the upper edge of the rear window is engaged with an upper door seal attached to the rear roof section and an open position in which the rear window is fully retracted into the lower part of the rear door wherein when the rear roof section is removed or retracted the roof sensor means sends a signal to the electronic controller to cause the electric motor to move the rear window to said open position.
This has the advantage that whenever the roof is removed the rear window is always retracted thereby protecting the rear window.
The roof sensor means may be associated with securing means used to secure the removable rear roof section in position or with securing means used tc secure the retractable rear roof section in an erect position.
The window may be maintained in said open position so long as the sensor means indicates that the rear roof section is not in position.
The rear door may be fitted with a sensor to sense whether the rear door is open or closed and if the signal from the sensor indicates that the rear door is open the rear window is prevented from moving into a closed or up position.
The rear window may be fitted with an electric screen heater which is isolated before the rear window is allowed to move into an open position.
The rear window may be fitted with an electrically actuated window wiper which is moved into a parked position before the rear window is allowed to move into an open position.
Preferably the wiper is parked off of the window before the window is moved into a fully open position.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of which:
FIG. 1 is a rear view of a motor vehicle including an electrically moveable rear window assembly according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross section on the line X--X on FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross section through a roof securing means forming part of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electronic control circuit according to the invention;
FIG. 5 is a simplified flow chart showing the major logical operations performed by the control circuit of FIG. 4.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 there is shown a motor vehicle having a rear body structure 9 to which is releasably secured by securing means 25 a detachable rear roof section 10.
A rear door 39 is pivotally connected to the rear body structure 9 of the motor vehicle by means of a pair spaced apart hinges 38 and is securable in a closed position by means of an electrically operated locking means 16 attached to part of the structure of the rear door 39.
An operator controllable door release in the form of a door handle 21 is connected to an associated microswitch 22 to provide an open door signal to an electronic controller 11.
Upon receipt of a door open request from the microswitch 22 the electronic controller 11 sends a control signal to the electrically operated locking means 16 to unlatch the door.
The electronic controller 11 is also connected to and receives inputs from a door position sensor 17 used to sense whether the rear door 39 is open or closed, a roof sensor 26 used to sense whether the removable roof section 10 is in place or removed and a window position sensor 14 used to sense the position of a moveable window pane 23.
The window 23 is slidingly supported by the rear door 39 and is moveable from a fully closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, in which it is engaged at its upper edge
REFERENCES:
patent: 3004757 (1961-10-01), Lohr
patent: 4729592 (1988-03-01), Tuchiya et al.
patent: 5570923 (1996-11-01), Taylor
ATZ, vol. 91, No. 6, Jun. 1991, Stuttgart, DE, pp. 313-318, XP000082928, Huber et al; "Der Neue Mercedes--Roadster--Karosserie; Klimatisierung, Verdeck und Schliessung" see p. 313, column 1, line 58-p. 315, column 1, line 25; figures 5, 6, 8, 9.
Fawdrey David Charles
Goodhew Sarah
Thompson James
Pedder Dennis H.
Rover Group Limited
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