Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-16
2001-07-03
Echols, P. W. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
C029S243500, C072S315000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253439
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to methods for flanging the periphery of a roof opening for a sliding roof portion and to an arrangement for carrying out the flanging.
As used herein, the term “sliding roof” includes not only a sunroof but all variations, such as a sliding ventilator roof, a ventilator roof, a large or small folding roof, etc. By the present invention, any motor vehicle roof opening can be framed, independently of the nature of the material of the roof portion to be inserted in the opening.
The fabrication of a sliding roof in a motor vehicle is comparatively expensive since, for stability of the roof and secure guidance of the slide, an auxiliary or reinforcing frame be mounted around the roof opening to receive the sliding roof. In the manufacture of the motor vehicle the sliding roof opening is usually punched out of the roof but, during or after its production and before it is attached to the body member, a flanged edge extending inwardly in relation to the roof is formed. Then the reinforcing frame is laid over the flanged edge and is attached to the roof by applying adhesive to the inside of the roof and/or to the reinforcing frame. When the reinforcing frame is inserted into the roof opening, the flanged edge centers it in the opening. Then the roof with the reinforcing frame is placed in a folding press in which the flanged edge is folded over the adjacent edge of the reinforcing frame. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the conventional tools and presses used for such flanging, beside being expensive, require a considerable amount of space, several presses usually being required for several folding operations including prefolding and finish folding. The mounting arrangements for the presses are also expensive, since they need special foundations and are therefore fixed in place. Because of the high cost of the folding tools, any change, for example to a different size of sliding roof opening, is very expensive and cost-intensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an arrangement for fastening a reinforcement frame in a vehicle roof opening which overcomes disadvantages of the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and an arrangement for producing a flanging or folding connection in a vehicle roof opening that is inexpensive and flexible in operation.
These and other objects of the invention are attained by placing the peripheral edge of a reinforcing frame in contact with the inner edge of a roof opening and flanging one of the edges until it has been folded over the other edge. A preferred flanging arrangement has several flanging jaws which are insertable in the roof opening and displaceable toward and away from the marginal edges of the reinforcing frame and the roof opening and which have flanging edges directed outwardly with respect to the roof opening, the jaws being disposed at least at the comers of the opening or around at least 300° of the periphery of the opening or around at least 80% of the periphery of the opening.
In the method of the invention for fixing the frame in a roof opening of the motor vehicle, it is essential that a fixture is employed instead of a press. That is, the roof member is not, as heretofore, moved into a press in which two tools are forced together to flange and fold the margin of the opening. Instead, the roof member is engaged by at least one, and preferably at least five to eight jaws that are disposed essentially only around the marginal portion to be flanged, and which have dimensions essentially corresponding only to the bending forces required for flanging. These jaws each have one or more flanging edges, preferably up to four, which successively engage and flange the margin of the roof opening or the frame. It is likewise essential to the invention that the jaw or jaws are arranged inside the roof opening when the roof member is being engaged by their flanging edges. This permits a markedly compact conformation of the fixture so that the roof member with its opening can be laid on a platform, the jaws being arranged within the platform in the region of the roof opening, allowing the roof member to be slid in place and removed simply and quickly from above, whereas in the presses hitherto employed, the roof member must be placed between and removed from between opposed pressing tools.
During the flanging operation, the roof member or sheet metal member rests on a flanging bed which is adjustable in relation to the jaws. For a positive flanging operation, hold-downs may also be provided to retain the roof member or sheet metal member against the bed, and filler slides may be provided to support the marginal region to be flanged. Preferably the filler slides are accommodated in the hold-downs.
Ordinarily the marginal region of the roof opening is flanged or folded over the marginal region of the frame, first because the frame is thereby held securely to the roof, and second because the roof material is usually several tenths of a millimeter thinner than that of the frame. Advantageously, to provide a connection of high stability, at least 80% of the marginal region is flanged.
An important step in the present invention is the displacement of the jaws horizontally to the opening, i.e. parallel to the plane of the opening, while the jaws are surrounded by the margin of the opening. This displacement of the jaws is preferably effected without any vertical component of displacement, the necessary vertical motion preferably being provided by the platform on which the roof member is retained. Horizontal displacement of the jaws can be effected by a comparatively simple arrangement, the displacement preferably taking place in several moves of individual jaws, i.e. one or more but not all of the jaws are first displaced horizontally into or out of a flanging position, and then one or more other jaws, preferably all the remaining jaws, are then displaced horizontally. This method enables the entire edge margin of the roof opening to be flanged by the jaws. Advantageously, jaws are provided for the corner portions of the roof opening and at least one, preferably four or more, jaws are provided for the substantially straight portions of the roof opening, each set of the straight jaws and the corner jaws preferably being displaced concurrently. In this way, the roof opening can be passed over the jaws onto the platform and then first the corner jaws and second the side jaws are closed onto the marginal region, so that up to 100% of the marginal region may be covered by the jaws. After the platform has been elevated against the jaws, more than once if necessary, the platform is lowered and the jaws are retracted again in the reverse order and the roof member with the flanged frame is taken out. In order to advance and retract the jaws horizontally, a rotary motion is especially suitable, i.e. rotation of a shaft or disc about its longitudinal axis, the shaft or disc having jaw engagers distributed about its periphery which are coupled to the corresponding jaws. By rotation of the shaft, the engagers are pulled and or pushed, and the corresponding jaws thereby retracted or advanced. Alternatively, the jaws may be displaced by hydraulically powered piston and cylinder units, preferably one for each jaw, which are located outside of the opening in the roof member. The jaws are preferably mounted on guides.
In a preferred embodiment, the advance of the jaws toward the margin of the roof opening is utilized to bend the marginal region in a first step, preferably by at least 45°, and desirably by 60° to 90°. That is, the jaws are moved against the marginal region so as to bend it over in a preflanging step. To support the marginal region which is not to be bent, filler slides are moved against that region as described above. After the preflanging step the flanging bed lifts and presses the preflanged marginal region against the flanging edges of the jaws. In this way the entire folding and flanging operatio
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Blount Steven A
Echols P. W.
Volkswagen AG
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