Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-23
2001-11-13
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C296S223000, C049S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315355
ABSTRACT:
PRIOR ART
The invention starts out from a method and an apparatus as defined in the introductory parts of the main claims.
A method for electronically monitoring the opening and closing operations of electrically operated window regulators and sliding roofs in motor vehicles is known from DE PS 30 34 118. In fixed zones of the path along which the moved part has to travel in the course of the opening and closing operation, the electric motor of the drive is switched off as soon as a blocking situation occurs, which is detected by monitoring the number of revolutions of the drive, and a time limit is reached. A means of protection against wedging or jamming is realized in another zone in that in the course of the closing operation, measured values depending on the number of revolutions and on the speed of the moving part or drive motor are continuously collected and compared with a limit value based on a value measured initially, and if such limit value is exceeded, the driving direction of the electric motor is briefly reversed and the drive is then switched off.
However, realization of the protection against wedging or jamming via monitoring and evaluation of the number of revolutions or speed is not possible in connection with a sliding and lifting sunroof when the sliding and lifting roof is lowered from its raised into its closed position because with a moving motor vehicle, high driving speeds generate a vacuum above the raised or open cover. Such vacuum counteracts the closing movement of the cover and thus leads to a reduction of the detected number of revolutions and faulty triggering of the protection against wedging. Furthermore, low stiffness of the roof of the motor vehicle increases the effects of the forces engaging the cover as well.
Sliding roofs with protection against wedging or jamming are known from DE-OS 27 56 972, which measure and evaluate the motor current for detecting a wedging situation within the sliding zone of the cover. However, for the reasons stated above, this type of protection against wedging cannot either be employed in the lifting zone of the sliding and lifting sunroof.
Other devices known in the market as means for protection against wedging, for example such as light barriers or pressure sensors in the opening zone of the sliding roof, are difficult to install in the seal of the cover, or in the opening of the sliding roof because of the geometry of the roof.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The method and the apparatus as defined by the invention, with the characterizing features of the main claims, offer the advantage that a means of protection against wedging is realized for a sliding and lifting sunroof during closing of the latter from its raised to its closed position in that a wedging situation involving an object wedged between the cover of the sliding and lifting sunroof and the opening of the latter is detected by a sensor.
According to the invention, provision is made, furthermore, that for detecting a situation of wedging, use is made of a water duct, which is movably arranged on the edge of the roof of the motor vehicle within the opening of the sliding and lifting sunroof. The water duct prevents water present on the roof of the vehicle from getting into the interior of the car through the opening of the sliding and lifting roof, for example when the vehicle is accelerated.
The measures specified in the dependent claims result in advantageous further developments and improvements of the features stated in the main claim.
It is particularly advantageous that the water duct is arranged via a pivot and a spring device in the rear part of the opening of the sliding and lifting sunroof, for example on a movable guide part of the sliding and lifting sunroof, such guide part permitting the cover to be opened and moved into a sliding position, so that the water duct, on the one hand, either assumes an unstressed condition, or a resting position when the cover is open, or, on the other hand, it is depressed and stressed into a loaded condition depending on the force acting on the water duct and is finally brought into a closing position when the sunroof is closed.
In a case of wedging, the object wedged between the cover of the sliding and lifting sunroof and the water duct is pressed against the latter by the lowering movement of the cover, so that the water duct is brought into its closing position as the clamping force progresses. The closing position, a previously reached clamping or wedging position, or a movement of the water duct are advantageously detected by a sensor, which generates a sensor signal for a control. Such control evaluates the sensor signal in view of a wedging situation or a normal closing operation of the cover of the sliding and lifting sunroof.
It is advantageous, furthermore, that the sensor is realized in the form of a switch, which detects the closing or clamping position of the water duct and thus a preset position corresponding with the effect exerted by a previously known adjusting or wedging force on the water duct. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the sensor is designed in the form of an angular sensor, so that not only the closing or wedged position of the water duct is detected, but the rotational motion of the water duct, for example from the resting into the closing position is continually or partly continually monitored as well. A rotational movement of the water duct around its fastening on the roof is already detected in this way, depending on the wedging force exerted on the wedged object by the cover of the sliding and lifting sunroof, so that a sensor signal is generated as a function of the increasing adjusting or wedging force via the angle of deflection of the water duct. This assures a particularly safe and rapidly responding protection against wedging.
Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous that the sensor signals are evaluated in the control. The movement of the sliding and lifting sunroof is usually regulated via position control circuit, or via a simple controlling means. For example, with a position control circuit, the adjusting movement of the sliding and lifting sunroof, such movement being initiated by presetting a new nominal value, is detected by position sensors, which are known per se, for example Hall sensors or absolute value devices, and supplied to the controller for determining the actual position of the sliding and lifting sunroof. An actual value
ominal value comparison is carried out in the controller, and the adjusting movement is controlled in the latter. Based on the actual position of the sliding and lifting sunroof and the sensor signal, the controller determines whether a normal closing process or a wedging situation is on hand.
It is particularly advantageous, furthermore, that by evaluating the sensor signal in the controller, direct limitation of the closing force is realized in a way not subjected to the interfering influence of wind load, i.e. vacuum at high speeds of the motor vehicle, or to the characteristic of the spring or elasticity rate of the overall system of the sliding and lifting sunroof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5592060 (1997-01-01), Racine et al.
patent: 27 56 972 (1979-06-01), None
patent: 30 34 118 C2 (1983-12-01), None
Haderer Guenter
Lamm Hubert
Pedder Dennis H.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Striker Michael J.
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