Control apparatus for pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly

• US 4,502,726 A
• Filed: 09/27/1982
• Issued: 03/05/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Sunroof Corporation, ASC Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ASC Incorporated
• Inventors: Adams, Allan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US06/424,071
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 296/216, 296/221-223, 307/10 R, 361/179, 361/194, 49/29, 49/30
• US Class Current: 296/221
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical

Abstract

A control apparatus for a pivotal/sliding roof panel powered by a reversible electric drive motor operative to move a roof panel from a closed position in a roof opening in a vehicle to either of a venting or an open position. The control apparatus includes a first, operable switch which connects electrical power in one of two opposite polarities to the electric drive motor. A sensor detects when the roof panel is in the closed position. A control device, energizable by the activation of the first switch and the output of the sensor when the roof panel reaches the closed position from either of the venting or open positions, switches its output to disconnect the drive motor from the source of electric power. A switchable member, responsive to the sequential de-activation and re-activation of the first switch, momentarily energizes the control device to connect the drive motor to the source of electrical power in order to initially move the roof panel from the closed position to either of the venting or open positions.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a pivotal/sliding roof panel assembly powered by a reversible electric drive motor for movement of roof panel from a closed position to either of a vent or open position in an opening formed in the roof of a vehicle comprising:

a first, manually operable switch means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power and to connect electrical power in first and second opposite polarities to the drive motor;

sensor means for sensing when the roof panel is in the closed position in the roof opening, the sensor means having an output switchable between two distinct states when the roof panel reaches the closed position;

means, responsive to the sensor means, for disconnecting the drive motor from the source of electrical power when the roof panel reaches the closed position from either of the vent or open positions, the disconnecting means including;

first control means, responsive to the first switch means and the sensor means output, for providing an output which is switchable between a first state corresponding to the roof panel being in a closed position and a second state corresponding to the roof panel being away from the closed position, the first control means output being disposed to disconnect the drive motor from the source of electrical power when the roof panel reaches the closed position; and

means, responsive to the sequential de-activation and re-activation of the first switch means, for momentarily bypassing the first control means when the first control means is in the first roof panel closed state and connecting the drive motor to the source of electrical power to move the roof panel from the closed position to either of the vent or open positions until the roof panel has moved from the closed position to switch the first control means to the second state.

2. The control apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the first control means output is connected, when in the first state, across the drive motor so as to short out power to the drive motor when the roof panel reaches the closed position.

3. The control apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the first control means comprises an electrical relay having an output contact switchable between closed and open states.

4. The control apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first switch means includes first and second contacts, each switchable between two distinct states.

5. A control apparatus for a pivotal/sliding roof panel assembly powered by a reversible electric drive motor for movement of a roof panel from a closed position to either of a vent or open position in an opening formed in the roof of a vehicle comprising:

a first, manually operable switch means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power and to connect electrical power in first and second opposite polarities to the drive motor;

sensor means for sensing when the roof panel is in the closed position in the roof opening, the sensor means having an output switchable between two distinct states when the roof panel reaches the closed position;

first control means, responsive to the first switch means and the sensor means output, for providing an output which is switchable between a first state corresponding to the roof panel being in a closed position and a second state corresponding to the roof panel being away from the closed position, the first control means output being disposed to disconnect the drive motor from the source of electrical power when the roof panel reaches the closed position;

means, responsive to the sequential deactivation and re-activation of the first switch means, for momentarily connecting the drive motor to the source of electrical power to move the roof panel from the closed position to either of the vent or open positions, wherein the means for momentarily connecting the drive motor to the source of electrical power comprises;

second switch means having an output switchable between two distinct states;

timer means for de-energizing the second switch means a pre-determined period of time after the second switch means has been activated;

the output of the second switch means being connected in parallel with the sensor means output for momentarily energizing the first control means.

6. A control apparatus for a pivotal/sliding roof panel assembly powered by a reversible electric drive motor for movement of a roof panel from a closed position to either of a vent or open position in an opening formed in the roof of a vehicle comprising:

a first, manually operable switch means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power and to connect electrical power in first and second opposite polarities to the electric drive motor;

sensor means for sensing when the roof panel is in the closed position, the sensor means having an output switchable between a normally closed state to an open state when the roof panel reaches the closed position;

relay means connected to the source of electrical power through the first switch means and the sensor means output and energizable thereby, the relay means including a switchable contact connected between the drive motor and the source of electrical power to disconnect the drive motor from the source of electrical power upon de-energization of the relay means when the roof panel reaches the closed position;

means for momentarily connecting electrical power to the drive motor to move the roof panel from the closed position to either of the vent or open positions, the momentary connecting means including an output connected in parallel with the sensor means output and switchable from an open to a closed state when the momentary connecting means is energized by the sequential de-activation and re-activation of the first switch means to re-energize the relay means when the roof panel reaches the closed position in order to momentarily connect the drive motor to the source of electrical power and move the roof panel from the closed position; and

timer means for de-energizing the momentary connecting means a predetermined period of time after the momentary connecting means is initially energized.