Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Let-down type top
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-05-08
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Let-down type top
C292SDIG005, C074S129000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227605
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application claims the priority of 198 32 385.9-21, filed Jul. 18, 1998, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to an operating system for a movable motor vehicle part having a driving unit which, via a control unit, is connected with an operating element for the movable motor vehicle part.
Such an operating system is generally known in the form of a hydraulic convertible top locking device for a convertible. In Mercedes-Benz SL convertibles (129), the convertible top is caught in an almost closed position shortly before being placed on the windshield frame by two locking units which can be operated by one hydraulic cylinder respectively. The change into the closed end position as well as another release of the convertible top take place by admitting pressure to the hydraulic cylinders. The control of the hydraulic cylinders takes place by corresponding hydraulic valves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an operating system which permits an automatic locking and unlocking of the movable motor vehicle part by simple devices in an operationally secure manner.
This object has been achieved in that the control unit has a control piston which, in an axial position, is loaded by the driving unit and, in the opposite axial direction, is loaded by a mechanical pressure spring arrangement. The control piston is restrictedly guided in a vehicle-fixed housing, by way of a control contour in the circumferential and axial direction, and is connected in a movement-transmitting manner with the operating element. As a result, only a hydraulic cylinder is still required as the driving unit which acts on one side, because the opposite movement functions are caused by the mechanical pressure spring arrangement.
The housing assigned to the control piston and the control contour, particularly a control cylinder, represents a purely mechanical component so that seals of hydraulic chambers or flow-through pipes are eliminated. The control contour can be provided either on the control piston or on the housing. The corresponding other part, that is, the housing or the control piston, has the corresponding counterpart.
Advantageously, the control contour is constructed as a connecting link guide on the control piston or on the housing, into which a guide pin of the other control part engages. In order to permit a restricted guidance of the control piston in the circumferential and axial direction, the control piston is disposed rotatably as well as axially movably in the housing. The present invention is particularly suitable for the locking of retractable vehicle roofs but can also be used for movable vehicle body parts, such as rear lids, engine hoods, and similar parts.
As a further aspect of the invention, the control contour is a profile groove which extends on an outer circumference of the cylindrically designed control piston. A guiding pin which is fixed to the inner circumference of the housing engages in the control contour. This is a particularly simple and operationally reliable further development.
In a still further aspect of the present invention, the control contour has at least one intermediate stop which defines an intermediate position for the control piston in which the control piston can be positioned in a spring-loaded manner. Such an intermediate stop preferably forms a locking position of the movable vehicle body part, particularly of a retractable vehicle roof. The securing of the locking position of this vehicle roof in the closed condition by the end position defined in the control contour and the prestressing by the roof forces ensures that a secure closure is independent of the function of corresponding driving units.
A yet further development of the present invention divides the control contour into several contour sections which adjoin one another in a zigzag-type manner. At least a first contour section extends diagonally along the outer circumference and being acted upon by a spring force, and at least a second, adjoining profile section is axially aligned on the outer circumference and being capable of being acted upon hydraulically. As a result, locking and starting positions can be defined, in which the release from one corresponding position respectively acted upon by a spring force takes place by a brief operation of the hydraulic driving unit. The diagonal course of the first contour section along the circumference of the control piston has such a slope that in every case a self-locking of the guiding pin in the profile groove is avoided. The control contour therefore does not have a self-locking design.
According to a further feature of the invention, at least one transition area between adjoining first and second contour sections is provided with a guiding aid in the form of a stop bevel. Thereby, a hydraulic load is ensured to move the guiding pin into the desired contour section of the profile groove without any unintentionally threading into the already passed spring-force-loaded contour section.
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Weisser Dirk
Wilms Bernd
Daimler-Chrysler AG
Evenson, McKeown, Edwards & Lenahan P.L.L.C.
Pedder Dennis H.
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