LIFTER APPARATUS FOR PIVOTAL-SLIDING ROOF PANEL ASSEMBLY

摘要

PIVOTAL-SLIDING ROOF PANEL ASSEMBLY A pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly for a vehicle having an opening in the roof. The assembly includes a housing securable to the roof structure of the vehicle. A movable roof panel is slidably mounted within the housing and is selectively movable between closed, fully-opened and partially opened venting positions. Drive means including a drive motor and drive belts are connected to the movable roof panel for selectively moving the movable roof panel between positions. Guide rails are mounted on the housing for directing the sliding movement of the movable roof panel. In one embodiment, first and second lifters are mounted on opposed sides of the roof panel and are operative for raising and lowering the roof panel and each includes a guide member slidably mounted within the guide rail, a slider member movably disposed within the guide member and first and second pivotally connected links which are connected between the slider member, the guide member and the movable roof panel and are movable between collapsed and extended positions to raise and lower the roof panel. A stop member is provided to limit forward movement of the first link to cause an extension of the first and second links from the collapsed to the extended or partially extended positions. In a second embodiment, a lifter apparatus is provided and it includes a link pivotally connected at a first end to a slidable guide shoe mounted in a longitudinally extending guide rail attached to the vehicle. The second end of the link is slidingly disposed in an aperture formed in an attachment member secured to the roof panel. A cam block mounted on the guide shoe engages the attachment member to urge the attachment member upward such that the roof panel is urged into registry with the roof opening to close the roof opening. Further movement of the guide shoe causes the link to pivot about the first end to a substantially vertical orientation such that the second end of the link slides along the aperture in the attachment member and urges the attachment member and roof panel upward to the vent position.