POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE SUNROOF

• US 20160152124A1
• Filed: 09/21/2015
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Park, Hoo-sang
• Granted Patent: US 9,573,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 power transmission apparatus of a vehicle sunroof which uses a solar cell includes a sunroof glass that is slidably disposed on the roof of a vehicle, opens and closes an opening, and has a solar cell; upper transmission assemblies coupled to a support panel disposed around the sunroof glass and connected with the solar cell with a wire; first lower transmission assemblies that are coupled to the front portions of sunroof rails, disposed at both sides of the opening and come in contact with the upper transmission assemblies when the sunroof glass closes; and second lower transmission assemblies that are coupled to the rear portions of the sunroof rails and come in contact with the upper transmission assemblies when the sunroof glass opens. Accordingly, the apparatus can transmit power when the sunroof glass is both open and closed.

Claims

1. A power transmission apparatus of a vehicle sunroof, comprising:

a sunroof glass slidably disposed on the roof of a vehicle, the sunroof glass opening and closing an opening and further including a solar cell;

upper transmission assemblies coupled to a support panel disposed around the sunroof glass and connected to the solar cell with a wire;

first lower transmission assemblies that are coupled to the front portions of sunroof rails disposed at both sides of the opening and come in contact with the upper transmission assemblies when the sunroof glass closes; and

second lower transmission assemblies that are coupled to the rear portions of the sunroof rails and come in contact with the upper transmission assemblies when the sunroof glass opens,

wherein the apparatus can transmit power when the sunroof glass is both open and closed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper transmission assembly includes:

an upper bracket bolted to the front portion of the support panel; and

an upper spring having one end coupled to the upper bracket and the other end curving down.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper spring has a bending extension at the lower end which curves up to correspond to the shape of the upper end of the second lower transmission assembly, and which comes fully into contact with the upper end of the second lower transmission assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lower transmission assembly includes:

a first lower bracket bolted to the front portion of the sunroof rail;

a first lower spring having a lower portion coupled to the first lower bracket and extending upward at an angle; and

a first terminal coupled to the lower portion of the first lower spring.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a spring pad that is fitted on the first lower spring and comes in contact with the upper transmission assembly as the sunroof glass closes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second lower transmission assembly includes:

a second lower bracket bolted to the rear portion of the sunroof rail;

a second lower spring having a lower portion coupled to the second lower bracket and extending upward at an angle; and

a second terminal coupled to the lower portion of the second lower spring.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lower transmission assembly and the second lower transmission assembly are arranged on the sunroof rail to face each other in a symmetric arrangement.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper transmission assemblies are disposed in a pair at both sides of the support panel, and

the first lower transmission assemblies and the second lower transmission assemblies are disposed in a pair on the sunroof rails.