TECHNICAL FIELD

The various aspects and embodiments thereof relate to sliding roofs for vehicles and ships in particular.

BACKGROUND

Sliding roofs on vehicles are well known. In particular roofs of cars may be provided with panels that have a track that may be tilted and slid away. The panel is slid away either on top of the roof or in a space between the metal roof and an inner liner. For tilting, a sliding track for the roof panel is tilted. This allows the roof to be slid over the top of the roof. Hence, the panel of the sunroof is move to another location on the roof.

Also convertible roofs are known. They either comprise a canvas cover that is folded in a relative small space in the back of the care or a full metal structure that requires the full boot of the car for storing the roof when folded away. SUMMARY

It is preferred to provide a shdable roof that enables an open vehicle and efficient storage of one or more elements that form the roof.

A first aspect provides a sliding roof system for a vehicle like a ship. The system comprises a first roof rail having a distal end and a proximal end, on which a first roof panel and a second roof panel are slidably mounted. In closed state of the roof, the first roof panel

substantially ranging to the distal end and the second roof panel ranges in closed state of the roof substantially to the proximal end. The system further comprises a panel storage module having a first panel storage position and a second panel storage position, each storage position comprising a first storage rail for slidably receiving a roof panel. A storage driving module is provided and arranged for moving the panel storage module between a first storage position in which the first storage rail of the first panel storage position is lined up to the proximal end of the first roof rail and a second storage position in which the first storage rail of the second panel storage position is lined up to the proximal end of the first roof rail. The system also comprises a panel driving module for driving the first roof panel and the second roof panel along the first roof rail and the first storage rails.

Standard sunroofs leave open only a small part of the roof.

Canvas roofs allow a fully opened roof, but do not provide a comfortable cover with respect to isolation for cold and noise. And conventional foldable roofs of metal require a significant amount of storage due to their folding mechanisms. By storing individual roof panels in a cassette, for example in a stacked way, the panels can be stored in an efficient way. In this way, hard panels may be used providing the advantages of a metal roof with respect to isolation and the advantages of a canvas roof with respect to storage space.

In an embodiment, the storage driving module is further arranged for moving the panel storage module to a third storage position in which the first storage position and the second storage position are located below the proximal end of the roof rail. An advantage is that this allows the panel storage module to be positioned at a location where it does not interfere with any other functionality of a vehicle in which it is incorporated.

In another embodiment, a first of the first roof panel and the second roof panel comprises a spacer module for forcing a space between the first roof panel and the second roof panel. This allows for greater design of freedom of both the panels and the rail or rails. An important reason for this is that with certain curvatures of the rail or rails and the panels, collisions occur between the panels if they are moved over the rails when not properly spaced apart. This may result in damage and is therefore undesired. In a further embodiment, the first roof panel comprises a first connector of a first type arranged to engage with a first connector of a second type comprised by the second panel for coupling the first roof panel to the second roof panel. With the panels coupled, only one panel is required to be driven.

In again another embodiment, the first connector comprises a protrusion having a directional component perpendicular to the roof trajectory of the roof panels along the roof rail and the second connector comprises a recessed trajectory for receiving and guiding the protrusion, the recessed trajectory comprising a first trajectory part parallel to the roof trajectory and a second trajectory part having a directional component perpendicular to the roof trajectory, the second trajectory part being connected to the first trajectory part. Such connectors allow for simple decoupling of the panels while they are being loaded in a storage cassette.

Yet a further embodiment comprises a second roof rail having a distal end and a proximal end, provided at a rail distance from the first roof rail, the second roof rail being provided substantially parallel to the first roof rail. In this embodiment, the first roof panel is shdably mounted to the second roof rail, the second roof panel slidably mounted to the second roof rail and each of the panel storage positions comprises a second storage rail for slidably receiving a roof panel, the second storage rail being provided parallel to and at the rail distance from the first roof rail. An additional rail provides more stability to the system.

A second aspect provides a ship comprising a hull, a forecastle provided in the front of the hull, a front deck and a deck lifting module for lifting the front deck relative to the forecastle. The ship further comprises the sliding roof system according to the first aspect for covering at least part of the hull. In this embodiment, the front deck is arranged to close off the forecastle if the panel storage module is in the third storage position and the deck lifting module is arranged to lift the front deck prior to the panel storage module moving to a position in which the first storage rail of any of the panel storage positions is aligned with the first roof rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects and embodiments thereof will now be discussed in further detail in conjunction with drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 A: shows a ship with a closed roof;

Figure 1 B: shows a ship with roof slid away and stored; Figure 2: shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of the sliding roof system;

Figure 3 A: shows an embodiment of the roof system in closed state;

Figure 3 B: shows an embodiment of the roof system in closed state with the front deck lifted;

Figure 3 C: shows an embodiment of the roof system with one panel stored;

Figure 3 D: shows an embodiment of the roof system with two panels stored;

Figure 3 E: shows an embodiment of the roof system with three panels stored;

Figure 3 F: shows an embodiment of the roof system in open state;

Figure 4 A: shows a side view of a coupling system for coupling adjacent roof panels;

Figure 4 B: shows an isometric view of the coupling system;

Figure 5: shows a close up view of a roof rail, a cassette rail and a cassette for storing roof panels;

Figure 6 A: shows a cross-section of a roof rail; and

Figure 6 B: shows a cross-section of a cassette driving rail. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 A shows a ship 100 as a vehicle. The ship 100 comprises a hull 102 having a forecastle 110 at the front and a roof 250 for covering the tub of the ship 100. Figure 1 B shows the ship 100 with the roof 250 shd away, providing an open tub of the ship 100. The panels of the roof 250 are stored in the forecastle 110.

Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a sliding roof system 200. The sliding roof system 200 comprises a right roof rail 212 and a left roof rail 214. Whereas a two-rail system is highly preferred, the sliding roof system 200 may be implemented with a single rail. Such single rail is preferably provided in the middle of the roof 250. The further embodiments discussed will be discussed in conjunction with two rails, but may be implemented using one rail as well. On the right roof rail 212 and the left roof rail 214, a first roof panel 252, a second roof panel 254 and a third roof panel 256 are provided. The roof panels are arranged to be shdably movable on the two rails.

Figure 2 also shows a front window 122 of the ship 100. The front window 122 is preferably rigidly connected to a front deck 120. The front deck 120 is movable relative to the hull 102 by means of a deck driving module 124. The front deck 120, with the front window 122, can in this embodiment be tilted upwardly, towards the front by means of the deck driving module 124. Alternatively, the front deck 120 may be moved upward in a linear movement, another movement or a combination of these movements.

In the forecastle 110, a panel cassette 220 is provided. The panel cassette 220 comprises a first right cassette rail 222 and a first left cassette rail 224, a second right cassette rail 232 and a first left cassette rail 234 and a third right cassette rail 242 and a third left cassette rail 244. Each pair of cassette rails defines a panel storage position. The right cassette rails may be ahgned with the right roof rail 212 and the left cassette rails may be aligned with the left roof rail 214. To this end, the cassette 220 is connected to a cassette driving module 226 for moving the cassette 220 up and down relative to the right roof rail 212 and the left roof rail 214. The movement of the cassette may be a pivoting movement, a linear movement, another movement or a combination thereof.

Figure 2 furthermore shows a first panel driving cable 258 connected to the first roof panel 252. In this embodiment, the three roof panels are preferably connected. This enables moving the roof panels by driving one of the roof panels. The first panel driving cable 258 is driven by a winch 260 as a panel driving module. Alternatively, the cable is driven by other means. If the cable is relatively rigid, the cable may be driven in two directions by means of a rotating body that exerts a factional force on the cable. Such principle may be compared to a rack driven by a pinion. In that way, the cable may be driven in two directions by means of one single drive.

In the embodiment with two rails, preferably each rail is provided with a cable for driving the panels. With use of two cables, preferably still one winch or other type of cable driver is used to ensure movement of the two cables is aligned.

The operation of the driving modules and the deck driving module 124, the cassette driving module 226 and the winch 260 or other type of cable driver is controlled by a roof sliding processing unit 290. The roof sliding processing unit 290 may be embodied by means of a microcontroller and ensures the driving operations for driving the first panel driving cable 258, the front deck 120 and the cassette 220 in proper order, of which examples are provided below.

The sliding away of the roof panels, from the situation depicted by Figure 1 A to the situation depicted by Figure 1 B, will now be discussed in further detail. Figure 3 A shows the first roof panel 252, the second roof panel 254 and the third roof panel 256 provided on the right roof rail 212 and the left roof rail 214. Adjacent roof panels abut one another in closed state of the roof 250 and the third roof panel 256 abuts in closed state of the roof 250. The front deck 120 closes the forecastle 110. In the forecastle 110, a right cassette driving rail 236 and a left cassette driving rail 238 are depicted. The cassette diiving rails are provided in extension of the right roof rail 212 and the left roof rail 214, respectively and are arranged for driving at least one of the roof panel such that each of the roof panels can be stored at their designated storage position.

Figure 3 B shows the roof system 200 with the front deck 120 and the front window 122 lifted. The lifting of the front window 122 frees upper sides of the right roof rail 212 and the right rail 214. This allows the roof panels to be shd towards the cassette 220. Figure 3 C shows the first right cassette rail 222 and the first left cassette rail 224 aligned with the right roof rail 212 and the left roof rail 214, respectively. This, in turn, allows the third roof panel 256 to be slid in the first storage position defined by the third right cassette rail 242 and the third left cassette rail 244.

Figure 3 D shows the cassette 220 in a position lower than the position depicted by Figure 3 C. In the position of the cassette 220 depicted by Figure 3D, the second right cassette rail 232 and the second left cassette rail 234 are aligned with the right roof rail 212 and the left roof rail 214, respectively. This allows the second panel 254 to be shd over the second right cassette rail 232 and the second left cassette rail 234 in a second storage position.

Figure 3 E shows the cassette 220 in a position lower than the position depicted by Figure 3 D. In the position of the cassette 220 depicted by Figure 3 E, the first right cassette rail 222 and the first left cassette rail 224 are ahgned with the right roof rail 212 and the left roof rail 214, respectively. This allows the first panel 252 to be shd in a third storage position provided by the first left cassette rail 224 and the first right cassette rail 222.. Figure 3 F shows the three panels stored in their storage positions in the cassette 220. The cassette 220 is lowered such that the front deck 120 and the front window 122 can be moved back to their initial positions, as depicted by Figure 3 F.

As can be seen from the various Figures, the right roof rail 212 and the left roof rail 214 provide curved tracks over which the roof panels are slid. Furthermore, the front and rear edges of the panels of the roof 250 are curved. With the panels of the roof 250 being provided slightly above the tracks, these factors result in collisions between edges of the roof panels while moving. More in particular, this may happen if the panels abut one another while being slid from their positions on the rails when the roof 250 is closed to their positions in the cassette 200. On the other hand, it is preferred the panels of the roof 250 are connected and slid over the rails while connected. An important reason for this is that in this way, only one of the panels needs to be driven, rather than all of them.

Figure 4 A shows the second panel 254 adjacent to and connected to the third panel 256. Figure 4 B shows the same configuration in isometric view. The second panel 254 comprises a second roof plate (not shown) provided on a second frame 410 and the third panel 256 comprises a third roof plate (not shown) provided on a third frame 450. The second frame 410 runs on a track provided by the left roof rail 214 via a first runner 412 and a second runner 414 (Figure 4 B). Further runners are provided at further corners of the second panel 254. The third frame 450 runs on a track provided by the left roof rail 214 via a third runner 452 and a fourth runner 454 (Figure 4 B). Further runners are provided at further corners of the third panel 256.

At the front edge of the second panel 254 and the front of the second frame 410, a distance holder 470 is mounted for forcing a distance between the second panel 254 and the second panel 256. This distance forced allows improved sliding of the roof panels to their storage positions, while connected. The distance holder comprises a tube 472 and a piston 476 provided in the tube 472. The piston 476 is forced out of the tube 472 by means of a spring 474 as a biasing element. At the outer end of the piston 476, a cap 478 is provided. The cap 478 preferably comprises resilient material and abuts to the left rear corner of the third panel and the third frame 450 in particular. At the front of the second frame 410, a connector 466 is provided. The connector 466 is provided with a protrusion 468. The protrusion 468 protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the track of the left roof rail 214.

In the third frame 450, a connector track 460 is provided. In this embodiment, the connector track 460 is a recess provided at a rear corner of the third panel 256 and the third frame 450 in particular. The connector track 460 comprises a first connector track part 462 that is substantially parallel to the track defined by the left roof rail 214 and a second connect track part 464 that has a component perpendicular to the track of the left roof rail 214. The connector track 460 preferably is a recessed track and arranged for receiving the protrusion 468. A similar or equivalent connection is provided between the first roof panel 252 and the second roof panel 254 and at right sides of the panels.

In a preferred embodiment, only the first panel 252 is driven for sliding the three roof panels over the rails. In the configuration depicted by Figure 1 A, the roof panels abut one another and the front edge of the third roof panel 256 abuts the front window 122. Preferably, one of the first steps for sliding the roof panels to the cassette 220 is sliding the first roof panel 256 backward. This allows the protrusion 468 to move from a distal end of the connector track 460 to a position where the first connector track part 462 is adjacent to the second connector track 464. This may be aided by the distance holder 470.

Subsequently, after the front window 122 has been lifted, freeing the tracks on the first rail 212 and the second rail 214 between the third panel 256 and the ends of the rail at the side of the cassette, the panels are shd forward. As the panels are not hindered in the sliding movement, the distance holder 470 maintains a distance between adjacent panels while the panels move towards the cassette 220. When the roof 250 is slid in the opposite direction, for closing the tub of the ship 100, the roof 250 is shd to an outer position and the front window 122 is placed back in its position against the right roof rail 212 and left roof rail 214. Subsequently, the roof panels are moved to the front again, until the roof panels abut one another and the third panel 256 abuts to the upper side of the front window 122. In this configuration, the pistons of the distance holders are back in the tubes and the protrusions are moved towards the ends of the connector tracks.

Figure 5 shows the left roof rail 214 at a proximal end at which it is provided adjacent to the cassette 220. In Figure 5, the cassette 220 is shown with the second left cassette rail 234 and the third left cassette rail 244. In extension of the left roof rail 214, a left cassette driving rail 238 is provided. The left cassette driving rail 238 is not connected to the cassette 220 and stays in position relative to the left rail 214 when the cassette 220 is moved up and down for receiving the panels. In the configuration depicted by Figure 5, the third panel 256 is slid in the third storage position defined by the third right cassette rail 242 and the third left cassette rail 244.

A next step is moving down the cassette 220. During the downward movement, the protrusion 468 moves upward relative to the first connector track part 462 of the connector track 460, until the protrusion 468 leaves the connector track. The cassette 220 moves further downward, until the second left cassette track 234 is aligned with the track on the left roof rail 214. Subsequently, the second panel 254 is slid in the second storage position defined by the second right cassette rail 232 and the second left cassette rail 234. And in a way similar as discussed above, the second roof panel 254 is disengaged with the first roof panel 252, by moving down the cassette 220. For sliding the roof 250 to a closed position, the steps discussed above are executed in opposite order.

As discussed above, preferably only the first panel 252 is driven by one or two cables and the first panel driving cable 258 in particular. The first panel driving cable 258 is guided in the left roof rail 214. Figure 6 A shows a cross-section of the left roof rail 214, viewed from the front. The right roof rail 212 is embodied in an equivalent way, in a mirrored fashion. In the upper part of the left roof rail 214, a left cable groove 218 is provided for accommodating the first panel driving cable 258. Figure 6 B shows a cross-section of the left cassette driving rail 238, viewed from the front. At the right side of the forecastle 110, within the cassette 220, a right cassette driving rail 236 is provided in a similar and mirrored fashion. The left cassette driving rail 238 comprises a left cassette cable driving groove 248 for accommodating the first panel driving cable 258.

The left cable groove 218 and the left cassette cable driving groove

238 are provided in extension of one another. The left cable groove 218 and the left cassette cable driving groove 238 have an increased diameter away from the surfaces in which the grooves are provided, for accommodating the first panel driving cable 248. From the first panel driving cable 258 to the first roof panel 252, a connector is provided. This allows the first roof panel to be driven from a covering position as depicted by Figure 3 A to a stored as depicted by Figure 3 F.

As discussed above, whereas the various embodiments have been discussed in conjunction with two rails for supporting the roof panels for covering the tub of the ship 100, the general concept may also be implement by using one single rail. Such rail is preferably provided in the centre of the ship 100 to ensure a proper balance of the roof panels. Optionally, support rails may be provided at the sides of the roof in such embodiment. Yet, the panels are driven through the middle rail. Also the cassette 220 would be implemented with a rail in the middle. Furthermore, the cassette 200 may also be embodied to move upward for storing consecutive roof panels. This would require the second connect track part 464 to be open at the lower side of the connector track 460 rather than at the upper side.

Whereas the various embodiments have been discussed in conjunction with the ship 100, the various aspects may be employed on other vehicles as well, like busses, automobiles and the like.

In summary, a sliding roof is provided that comprises at least a first panel and a second panel. The panel are slidably provided on one or two roof rails. At one end of the rail, a cassette is provided. The cassette comprises pairs of substantially parallel cassette rails located above one another. The cassette is movable to align each pair of cassette rails with the roof rails for receiving the rails. The roof panels are slid into the cassette and accommodated by the cassette rails, above one another. The cassette may be lowered to fit, for example, under a front deck of a ship. The panels are connected and, during sliding, forced at a distance from one another to slide over a curved track without colliding. While connected, only one of the panels is connected to a push/pull cable that is driven by a pinion or similar circular device.

Expressions such as "comprise", "include", "incorporate",

"contain", "is" and "have" are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly defined also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed in be a reference to the plural and vice versa.

In the description above, it will be understood that when an element such as layer, region or substrate is referred to as being "on" or "onto" another element, the element is either directly on the other element, or intervening elements may also be present. Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention be embodied using more elements than depicted in the Figures, wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components.

A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various parameters disclosed in the description may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed and/or claimed may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention.