Sliding roof for motor vehicles

• US 20020101097A1
• Filed: 01/25/2002
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hermann-Frank Muller
• Original Assignee: Hermann-Frank Muller
• Inventors: Muller, Hermann-Frank
• Granted Patent: US 6,631,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/211
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0015 roller blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/043 Sunroofs B60J7/047 - B60J7/053 take precedencee.g. sliding above the roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

A sliding roof for a roof opening in a vehicle has a light-transparent cover and solar modules arranged on the cover for energy generation, wherein the solar modules are light-transmissive. At least one auxiliary energy generator is provided on the sliding roof and operates independently of a motor of the vehicle. At least one additional energy storage device is arranged in direct vicinity of the solar modules.

Claims

1. A sliding roof for a roof opening in a vehicle, comprising a light-transparent cover (4) and solar modules (6) arranged on the cover (4) for energy generation, wherein the solar modules (6) are light-transmissive, wherein at least one auxiliary energy generator (12) is provided on the sliding roof (1) and operates independently of a motor of the vehicle, and wherein at least one additional energy storage device (8) is arranged in direct vicinity of the solar modules (6).

2. The sliding roof according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary energy generator (12) is a strip-shaped polymer electrolyte fuel cell operated with hydrogen.

3. The sliding roof according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary energy generator is has a housing (12a) and a cover connected to the housing (12a) by a snap-on connection.

4. The sliding roof according to claim 1, wherein the at least one energy-storing device is a thin layer element (8) arranged at least on one of a support material (7) of the cover (4) and a frame part (6a) of the solar modules (6).

5. The sliding roof according to claim 4, wherein the thin layer element (8) is light-transmissive.

6. The sliding roof according to claim 1, wherein the at least one energy generator is a strip-shaped polymer electrolyte fuel cell (12) with at least one correlated hydrogen cartridge arranged on at least one of a support material (7) of the cover (4) and a frame part (6a) of the solar modules (6), wherein the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (12) is connected electrically with the at least one energy storage device (8) in direct vicinity of the solar modules (6).

7. The sliding roof according to claim 6, wherein the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (12) with the at least one correlated hydrogen cartridge is arranged in a hollow space of the vehicle.

8. The sliding roof according to claim 1, wherein the solar modules (6) have contact paths connecting the solar modules (6), wherein the solar cells (6) and the contact paths are embedded in glass.

9. The sliding roof according to claim 1, wherein the cover (4) is comprised of polyurethane elastomer.

10. The sliding roof according to claim 9, wherein the solar modules (6) have contact paths connecting the solar modules (6), wherein the solar cells (6) and the contact paths are embedded in the polyurethane elastomer.

11. The sliding roof accord according to claim 1, wherein the cover (4) has a separating locking mechanism to allow removal of the cover (4) from the vehicle for use of the cover (4) remote from the vehicle.

12. The sliding roof according to claim 1, wherein the sliding roof (1) has a separating locking mechanism to allow removal of the sliding roof (1) from the vehicle for use of the sliding roof (1) remote from the vehicle.

14. The sliding roof according to claim 13, configured as a roll shade.

15. The sliding roof according to claim 13, further comprising a protective cover configured to cover the solar modules (6) against damage from the exterior, when the solar modules (6) are not in use, wherein the protective cover can be configured to be inserted into the roof opening (2) or to be slidable relative to the roof opening (2), wherein the protective cover is secured from the interior of the vehicle against removal.

13. A sliding roof for a roof opening in a vehicle, comprising light-transparent solar modules (6) forming a cover of the sliding roof, wherein at least one auxiliary energy generator is provided on the sliding roof (1) and operates independently of a motor of the vehicle, and wherein at least one additional energy storage device (8) is arranged in direct vicinity of the solar modules (6), wherein the solar cells (6) have a light transmissive, moisture-repellent and dirt-repellent protective layer.