Vehicle roof glass element, method and tool for manufacturing a vehicle roof glass element

Abstract

A vehicle roof glass element having an exterior glass pane and a transparent insulating layer foamed on the inside onto the glass pane has an externally circumferential rim the runner points and the ventilation points of which are provided on the inside of the glass pane. Furthermore, a method and a tool for manufacturing a vehicle roof glass element are described.

Claims

1. A vehicle roof glass element, having an exterior glass pane and a transparent insulating layer foamed on the inside onto the glass pane, and a circumferential frame which is provided on the interior rim portion of the glass pane and applied thereon by injection molding or foaming and which extends up to the rim, characterized in that all runner points and ventilation points of the frame are provided on the inside, and characterized in that the frame is mechanically unmachined.

2. The vehicle roof glass element according to claim 1, characterized in that the transparent insulating layer at least covers the entire surface of a see-through area of the glass pane in which the finished glass element is transparent.

3. The vehicle roof glass element according to claim 1, characterized in that a ceramic layer is applied on the inside onto the glass pane below the entire rim portion.

4. The vehicle roof glass element according to claim 1, characterized in that a primer and/or activator layer is provided between the glass pane and the transparent insulating layer.

5. The vehicle roof glass element according to claim 1, characterized in that the glass pane is a single-pane safety glass.

6. The vehicle roof glass element according to claim 1, characterized in that the glass pane has a circumferential side face which faces outwards and is entirely covered by the frame.

7. The vehicle roof glass element according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one prefabricated reinforcing part, in particular a reinforcing part of metal is embedded into the frame.

8. The vehicle roof glass element according to claim 7, characterized in that the reinforcing part is configured without distance piece towards the glass pane and without direct contact with the glass pane.

9. The vehicle roof glass element according to claim 1, characterized in that the insulating layer and a ceramic layer are directly applied in sections onto the glass pane.

10. A method of manufacturing a vehicle roof glass element, having an exterior workpiece-side glass pane and a transparent insulating layer foamed on the inside onto the workpiece-side glass pane and a circumferential frame which is provided on the interior rim portion of the workpiece-side glass pane and applied by injection molding or foaming according to claim 1, characterized by the following steps: a. positioning the workpiece-side glass pane onto a lower tool piece, b. closing the tool by an upper mold which is formed by a tool-side glass pane at least in sections and has at least the camber geometry of the inserted workpiece-side glass pane at least in the region of the insulating layer which is to be applied thereon, and c. foaming a transparent insulating material in a planar manner onto the inside of the workpiece-side glass pane so as to form a continuous transparent insulating layer at least in a see-through area of the vehicle roof glass element.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that no primer is used for applying the frame by injection molding or foaming and/or in that an activator is deposited on the inside of the workpiece-side glass pane prior to the foaming of the transparent insulating layer.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that after the manufacture of the transparent insulating layer, a circumferential frame is applied by foaming or injection molding, all runner points and ventilation points for the material to be introduced being provided in the region of the rim portion of the inside of the workpiece-side glass pane during injection molding or foaming.

13. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that a chip-forming post-processing of the vehicle roof glass element no longer takes place after the manufacture of the frame.

14. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that all runner points and ventilation points are not covered after the manufacture of the frame.

15. A foaming tool for executing the method according to claim 10, having a lower tool part and an adjoining upper mold, a workpiece-side glass pane being adapted to be inserted between the lower tool part and the upper mold into a cavity formed between the tool part and the mold, at least sections of the upper mold being formed by a tool-side glass pane which in particular at least in the region of the insulating layer to be applied has the same camber geometry as the tool-side glass pane which is to be inserted into the lower mold and is to be surrounded with foam.

16. The vehicle roof glass element according to claim 2, characterized in that a ceramic layer is applied on the inside onto the glass pane below the entire rim portion.

17. The vehicle roof glass element according to claim 2, characterized in that a primer and/or activator layer is provided between the glass pane and the transparent insulating layer.

18. A vehicle roof glass element, having an exterior glass pane and a transparent insulating layer foamed on the inside onto the glass pane, and a circumferential frame which is provided on the interior rim portion of the glass pane and applied thereon by injection molding or foaming and which extends up to the rim, characterized in that all runner points and ventilation points of the frame are provided on the inside, and characterized in that the insulating layer is a PUR layer with a reflow effect.

19. A vehicle roof glass element, having an exterior glass pane and a transparent insulating layer foamed on the inside onto the glass pane, and a circumferential frame which is provided on the interior rim portion of the glass pane and applied thereon by injection molding or foaming and which extends up to the rim, characterized in that all runner points and ventilation points of the frame are provided on the inside, and characterized in that the insulating layer extends up to the rim of the glass pane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the invention result from the description below and from the drawings below to which reference is made.

(2) The drawings show:

(3) FIG. 1 a perspective top view on a vehicle roof glass element according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 2 a sectional view along the line II-II of FIG. 1 in the area of the front rim of the vehicle roof glass element,

(5) FIG. 3 a sectional view along the line III-Ill in Figure in the region of the rear rim of the vehicle roof glass element,

(6) FIG. 4 a sectional view along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1 in the area of a lateral rim of the vehicle roof glass element,

(7) FIG. 5 a sectional view through a tool according to the invention for manufacturing a vehicle roof glass element in which the insulating layer is applied by foaming, and

(8) FIG. 6 a sectional view through a tool for manufacturing the frame as used in the method in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a vehicle roof glass element which is the shiftable workpiece-side glass cover of a vehicle sliding or vehicle tilting roof or the glass cover of a panoramic roof, for example.

(10) On the outside, the vehicle roof glass element 10 is formed by a glass pane 12 which is in particular made of single-pane safety glass defining at least nearly the entire or the entire exterior side of the vehicle roof glass element 10.

(11) The glass pane 12 is stabilized on the inside by a closed and circumferential frame 14 which is manufactured by injection molding or foaming.

(12) In the present case, the frame 14 is a non transparent frame which is preferably made of PUR material foamed in a rim portion onto the glass pane 12.

(13) As can be seen in FIGS. 2 to 4, the frame 14 extends at the outwardly facing side faces 15 of the glass pane 12 and on the inside of the glass pane 12.

(14) Several reinforcing parts 16 made of metal are embedded into the PUR material which forms the frame 14. FIGS. 2 and 3 show tubular, elongated reinforcing parts 16 which are embedded into the frame 14 and are spaced apart from the glass pane 12.

(15) Optionally, an insulating layer 18 foamed on the inside onto the glass pane 12 (irrespective of whether a primer is additionally provided or not) is in direct contact with the glass pane 12 and is made of a plastic material having a so-called reflow effect. The insulating layer 18 is therefore relatively soft and can be slightly impressed using a fingernail, this impression point automatically closing again after a while.

(16) The insulating layer 18 serves to form a sound insulation and/or a UV and/or an IR filter, for example.

(17) In the so-called central see-through area 20 (see also FIG. 1) of the vehicle roof glass element 10 which is enclosed by the frame 14, the vehicle roof glass element 10 is actually transparent and is formed in this region merely by the glass pane 12 and the transparent insulating layer 19 which entirely covers this region of the glass pane 12.

(18) The insulating layer extends up to or up to close to the so-called rim 22 which constitutes the transition from the inside to the side face 15. On the inside, the rim portion adjoins the rim 22.

(19) A ceramic layer which extends from the interior end 24 of the frame 14 up to the rim 22 and which covers the inside of the circumferential rim portion of the glass pane 12 is directly applied onto the glass pane 12, more specifically below the frame 14. The ceramic layer is preferably black and does not permit a view from the outside onto the PUR material of the frame. However, since the ceramic layer is extremely thin, it is not visible in FIGS. 2 to 4.

(20) Furthermore, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reinforcing part 16 or parts 26 connected therewith rest on the insulating layer 18 without having to provide distance pieces as separate prefabricated parts which ensure a distance to the glass pane 12 for the reinforcing parts 16.

(21) It is optionally possible to apply a primer and/or an activator onto the ceramic layer which also increases the UV resistance of the PUR material, before the PUR is then applied by foaming to form the frame 14.

(22) It is of course also possible to apply a primer and/or activator layer on the inside onto the entire glass pane before applying the insulating layer 18. This also serves to improve adhesion.

(23) A protective film is not provided.

(24) The transparent insulating layer 18 preferably has a constant thickness, in particular in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

(25) In the section according to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the reinforcing part 16 is configured as an angled metal sheet, one leg being embedded into the frame 14 and one leg projecting out of the appropriate PUR material in order to be coupled to the drive of the vehicle sliding and/or tilting roof in this area.

(26) In the region of the lateral rims which can be seen in FIG. 4, the frame 14 may also include portions which do not merge into each other, here an outer portion extending from the side face 15 and a spaced apart inner portion, for example, into which the reinforcing part 16 is embedded.

(27) The frame 14 is mechanically unmachined, and the runner points and ventilation points 30 and 31 are exclusively provided on the inside of the glass pane 12 upon injection molding or casting for the manufacture of the frame.

(28) The manufacture of the vehicle roof glass element is shown with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, namely substantially in two steps.

(29) FIG. 5 shows a tool 32 into which the workpiece-side glass pane 12 is inserted, more specifically into or onto a so-called lower tool part 34 which may be a lower mold half. The rear side of the glass pane faces to the top. The insulating layer 18 is then applied in this tool 32.

(30) The upper mold 36 (possibly the mold half) comprises a frame 38 in which a further tool-side glass pane 40 is accommodated and fastened thereto. With regard to the camber geometry, the glass pane 40 corresponds exactly to the inserted glass pane 12 at least in the region of the insulating layer 18 to be applied, and may even be an identical component the manufacture of which is very cost-effective. The further glass pane 40 is therefore part of the upper mold half 36.

(31) A seal 42 on the frame 38 seals the upper mold 36 with respect to the glass pane 12, a small gap 43 being formed between the glass panes 12 and 40. Optionally, the glass pane 40 may have a plurality of openings 44 for introducing liquid plastic material into the cavity present between the tool 32 and the glass pane 12, which forms the insulating layer 18. Some of the openings 44 are also configured as sealing or exhaust openings. Optionally, the openings may also be formed in the region of the frame 38. After having filled the gap 42 with foam, the upper mold 36 is removed to the top such that the unit composed of the glass pane 12 and the insulating layer 18 is produced. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the ceramic layer 48 is also shown with a thick line.

(32) FIG. 6 also shows a lower mold half 50 and an upper mold half 52 which delimit a cavity 54 along with the unit inserted therein and composed of the glass pane 12 and the insulating layer 18, the cavity being filled by injection molding or foaming, more specifically with PUR material. The PUR material then forms the frame.

(33) FIG. 6 does not show the regions of the tool in which the reinforcing parts 16 are positioned which are directly embedded into the PUR material upon insert molding or foam surrounding.

(34) FIG. 6 clearly shows that one of a plurality of runner points and ventilation points 56 is not provided laterally in the region of the side face 15 but on the inside of the glass pane 12 which also faces upwards in the tool of FIG. 6. Upon demolding, the PUR drop present in the corresponding opening 58 in the upper mold half 52 detaches from the remaining PUR foam cured in the meantime, such that the runner points and/or the ventilation points do not project outwards.

(35) A mechanical chip-forming machining is no longer necessary, in particular not in the region of the outwardly facing side face of the produced frame, either.

(36) After the manufacture of the frame 14, all runner points and ventilation points 30, 31 preferably remain uncovered, i.e. they are not surrounded with foam or by injection molding or painted or covered by other parts.