ROOF-ATTACHMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A roof-attachment system and method for attaching a glass roof to the bodyshell of a motor vehicle, having a foam surround and having an adhesive, which, for the purpose of fastening the glass roof on the bodyshell in a materially bonded manner, is connected firstly to the glass roof, secondly to the foam surround and thirdly to the bodyshell. At an interface between the glass roof, the foam surround, and the adhesive, a step between the adhesive and the foam surround is provided with a chamfer.

Claims

1. A roof-attachment system for attaching a glass roof to a bodyshell of a motor vehicle, said roof-attachment system comprising: a foam surround; and an adhesive for connecting together the glass roof, the foam surround and the bodyshell, so as to attach the glass roof on the bodyshell in a materially bonded manner, wherein at an interface between the glass roof, the foam surround, and the adhesive, a step having a chamfer is disposed between the adhesive and the foam surround.

2. The roof-attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, as viewed in cross section, the chamfer runs rectilinearly between the glass roof and the adhesive.

3. The roof-attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a chamfer angle between the glass roof and the foam surround is greater than twenty-five degrees and smaller than sixty-five degrees.

4. The roof-attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, as viewed in cross section, the chamfer is curved convexly, at least to some extent, between the glass roof and the adhesive.

5. The roof-attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foam surround and the adhesive are connected to one another in a materially bonded manner in a region of the chamfer.

6. A motor vehicle having the glass roof which is attached to the bodyshell of the motor vehicle by the roof-attachment system as claimed in claim 1.

7. A method for installing a glass roof on the bodyshell of a motor vehicle, using a foam surround and an adhesive, said method comprising: fastening the glass roof on the bodyshell in a materially bonded manner by connecting together the glass roof, the foam surround and the bodyshell using the adhesive, and filling a potential leakage location between the adhesive and the foam surround.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising producing a chamfer in the foam surround while encapsulating the glass roof with the foam surround.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising surrounding the glass roof with foam or encapsulating the glass roof in the foam surround, and producing a chamfer in the foam or foam surround while either (i) surrounding the glass roof with foam or (ii) encapsulating the glass roof with the foam surround.

10. A tool for surrounding a glass roof with foam or encapsulating the glass roof in a foam surround, wherein the tool comprises a seal with a shaping geometry for producing a chamfer on the foam or the foam surround.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0015] Further advantages, features and details of the invention can be gathered from the following description, which gives a detailed description of various exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows the view of a section taken along line I-I in FIG. 2;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of a roof-attachment system for attaching a glass roof to the bodyshell of a motor vehicle;

[0018] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 1 relating to a conventional roof-attachment system;

[0019] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 1 having a chamfer on a foam surround of the glass roof; and

[0020] FIG. 5 shows a tool for encapsulating the glass roof or surrounding the same with foam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] A motor vehicle 1 having a bodyshell 2 is illustrated in section through a roof-attachment system 10 in FIG.1. In FIG. 2, the section through the roof-attachment system 10 is indicated by a line I-I.

[0022] The roof-attachment system 10 serves to attach a glass roof 3 to the bodyshell 2 of the motor vehicle 1. The glass roof 3 is formed from laminated glass, with a laminated-glass layer 4 and laminated-glass layer 5.

[0023] The glass roof 3 is surrounded with a foam surround or encapsulation 6. The glass roof 3 with the foam surround 6 is fastened to the bodyshell 2 by an adhesive 7. A step 12 is formed between the adhesive 7 and the glass roof 3.

[0024] In the region of the step 12, a chamfer 8 is provided in the foam surround 6 between the adhesive 7 and the bodyshell 2. The chamfer 8 encloses a chamfer angle 9 of approximately forty-five degrees between the foam surround 6 and the glass roof 3.

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged detail of a step 12 of a conventional roof-attachment system without any chamfer (8 in FIG. 1). In the case of conventional roof-attachment systems, the foam surround 6, as can be seen in FIG. 3, has a rectangular profile 13. As seen in the section illustrated, this gives rise to a cavity 14 between the foam surround 6 and the adhesive 7, in the region of the step 12, and this cavity constitutes a potential leakage location 15 in the roof-attachment system.

[0026] It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the potential leakage location (15 in FIG. 3) can be minimized or sealed by the chamfer 8. This creates a better resting surface for the adhesive 7 during production. It is possible for any corners in the region of the step 12 between the foam surround 6 and the adhesive 7, as can be seen in FIG. 4, to be filled with adhesive 7.

[0027] A tool 20 for surrounding the glass roof 3 with foam or encapsulating the same in the foam surround 6 is illustrated in section in FIG. 5. The tool 20 comprises an upper tool half 21 and a lower tool half 22. On the right-hand side in FIG. 5, a slide 23 is provided between the two tool halves 21, 22.

[0028] A seal 24 made of an elastomeric material, such as silicone, is arranged in the tool 20. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the seal 24 is positioned in the upper tool half 21. The seal 24 projects, by way of a shaping geometry 25, into a cavity between the two tool halves 21 and 22. The shaping geometry 25 serves to form the chamfer 8 when the glass roof 3 is being encapsulated in the foam surround 6.

[0029] Arrows 26 and 27 indicate how the two tool halves 21, 22 are moved apart from one another in order for the glass roof 3 with the foam surround 6 to be demolded. An arrow 28 indicates an opening movement of the slide 23. The slide 23 serves to form a specific lip geometry on the right-hand side of the foam surround 6 in FIG. 5.

[0030] In the installed state, the glass roof 3 with the foam surround 6, in a manner different to the illustration in FIG. 5, has been rotated through one hundred and eighty degrees, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. When the glass roof 3 is being encapsulated, the seal 24 prevents any contact between the upper tool half 21 and the glass roof 3. This prevents the glass roof 3 from being damaged in an undesirable manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0031] 1 Motor vehicle

[0032] 2 Bodyshell

[0033] 3 Glass roof

[0034] 4 Laminated-glass layer

[0035] 5 Laminated-glass layer

[0036] 6 Foam surround

[0037] 7 Adhesive

[0038] 8 Chamfer

[0039] 9 Chamfer angle

[0040] 10 Roof-attachment system

[0041] 12 Step

[0042] 13 Rectangular profile

[0043] 14 Cavity

[0044] 15 Potential leakage location

[0045] 20 Tool

[0046] 21 Tool half

[0047] 22 Tool half

[0048] 23 Slide

[0049] 24 Seal

[0050] 25 Shaping geometry

[0051] 26 Arrow

[0052] 27 Arrow

[0053] 28 Arrow