Centering Device for a Motor Vehicle Having a Retractable or Detachable Top

• US 20090072591A1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: BAUMGARTNER, Gerd
• Granted Patent: US 7,566,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/225
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/185 Locking arrangements locks in general E05B
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1851 for locking the foldable soft- or hard-top to the windshield header

Abstract

A centering device for a motor vehicle having a convertible or folding top or hardtop, includes a protruding centering pin on a centering pin carrier and a centering bushing on a centering bushing carrier. A centering opening is provided in the centering bushing, which radially centers the centering pin upon penetration of at least one area of the centering pin into the centering opening. Either the centering bushing is situated in a guide opening of the centering bushing carrier or the centering pin is situated in a guide opening of the centering pin carrier so it is axially adjustable between stops. The adjustable centering bushing or the adjustable centering pin is loaded by an elastic spring device against a stop toward the fixed part, toward the centering pin, or toward the centering bushing.

Claims

1. A centering device for a motor vehicle having a top, the centering device comprising:

a centering pin carrier having a protruding centering pin;

a centering bushing carrier having a centering bushing, a centering opening being arranged in the centering bushing to radially center the centering pin upon penetration of at least one area of the centering pin into the centering opening;

wherein either the centering bushing in a guide opening of the centering bushing carrier or the centering pin in a guide opening of the centering pin carrier is operatively configured to be axially adjustable between stops and loadable by an elastic spring device against at least one stop toward a fixed part, the centering pin, or the centering bushing.

2. The centering device according to claim 1, wherein the centering pin carrier is configured on a front area of the top and the centering bushing carrier is configured in an area of an upper cowl above a front windshield of the motor vehicle.

3. The centering device according to claim 1, wherein the centering bushing carrier is configured on a front area of the top and the centering pin carrier is configured in an area of an upper cowl above a front windshield of the motor vehicle.

4. The centering device according to claim 1, wherein the centering pin has a centering surface on a protruding area, which centering surface radially centers the centering pin working together with a boundary area of the centering opening.

5. The centering device according to claim 4, wherein the centering surface has a truncated cone form and an axially protruding centering lug adjoins a smaller diameter of the centering surface, the centering lug having a smaller diameter than the centering opening and causing a radial pre-centering of the centering pin working together with the centering opening upon penetration of the centering pin into the centering opening.

6. The centering device according to claim 1, wherein a boundary area of the centering opening facing toward the centering pin has a centering truncated cone or a curved centering intake surface, whereby the centering pin is radially centered working together with the centering truncated cone or the centering intake surface upon penetration into the centering opening.

7. The centering device according to claim 5, wherein a boundary area of the centering opening facing toward the centering pin has a centering truncated cone or a curved centering intake surface, whereby the centering pin is radially centered working together with the centering truncated cone or the centering intake surface upon penetration into the centering opening.

8. The centering device according to claim 1, wherein the stops delimiting the axial adjustment path of the centering bushing are formed by at least one longitudinal recess in the centering bushing or in the centering bushing carrier and at least one stop body, a peripheral area of the stop body engaging essentially without play in a recess in the other part, in the centering bushing carrier, or in the centering bushing, and another peripheral area of the stop body engaging in an adjustable manner in the axial direction of the centering bushing in the longitudinal recess and delimiting the axial adjustment path of the centering bushing working together with the axial end areas of the longitudinal recess.

9. The centering device according to claim 8, wherein the longitudinal recess is formed by an oblong hole and the stop body is formed by a pin or rod which is circular in cross-section.

10. The centering device according to claim 8, wherein the longitudinal recess is formed by a ring recess on an inner circumference of an opening receiving the centering bushing or on an outer circumference of the centering bushing and the stop body is formed by a stop ring and the longitudinal extension of the ring recess is greater than the longitudinal extension of the stop ring in the axial direction of the centering bushing in each case.

11. The centering device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic spring device comprises one of:

at least one disc spring, a rubber spring, and an element made of an elastomer.

12. The centering device according to claim 1, wherein the centering bushing is located approximately in its central adjustment range or in an end position of its adjustment range when the top is closed.

13. The centering device according to claim 1, wherein the top is one of a retractable top and a detachable top.

14. A centering device for a top of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a centering pin carrier from which protrudes a centering pin;

a centering bush carrier in which is arranged a centering bushing having a centering opening, the opening radially centering the centering pin as it penetrates the centering opening;

wherein one of the centering bushing in a guide opening of the centering bush carrier and the centering pin in a guide opening of the centering pin carrier are operatively arranged to be axially adjustable between stops and loaded by an elastic spring device against one of said stops.

15. The centering device according to claim 14, wherein the centering pin carrier is configured on one of a front area of the top and an upper cowl area above a windshield of the vehicle, and further wherein the centering bush carrier is configured in an opposite one of the front area and the upper cowl area.

16. The centering device according to claim 15, wherein the top is one of a retractable top and a detachable top.