Patents Assigned to Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
  • Patent number: 5566593
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle part that can be displaced between end positions, especially for a cover of an openable vehicle roof. The drive device is actuated by an electric motor that is connected, by a reduction gear, to a pinion gear placed on an output shaft. The drive device further has a switch element controlling the electric motor, to stop it in at least one predetermined position and an eccentric gear arrangement is provided to actuate the switch. The drive device enables an emergency actuation in which manual actuation of the output shaft is made possible by uncoupling of the electric motor while maintaining the coupling of the switching gear elements, so that, after an emergency actuation, no readjustment of the switching arrangement is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Claus Vordermaier
  • Patent number: 5558388
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle roof with at least one roof cover part that can be opened during driving. This roof part can be moved into at least one open position in the manner of a conventional sliding-lifting roof on roof parts lying laterally to it or on guideways arranged on it in lengthwise direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, after complete opening of the roof part that can be opened, the roof as a whole is able to be placed in a lengthwise compacted configuration and then lowered into a stowage space behind the passenger compartment, whereby the vehicle becomes a fully open convertible-type vehicle without substantially consuming the usually available trunk space. In one set of embodiments, the compacted roof configuration is stored in a vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Arpad Furst, Martin Danzl, Johann Mayer, Stefan Miklosi
  • Patent number: 5545261
    Abstract: Solar roof for motor vehicles with a solar generator having solar cells for supplying power to a power consumer and/or a battery and with a D.C. converter for impedance matching between the solar generator and the consumer and/or battery. The D.C. converter is a flat module and is integrated into the solar cell carrying roof panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Ganz, Berthold Lutz, Bernhard Liedl, Alfons Weissbrich
  • Patent number: 5542735
    Abstract: A vehicle roof with at least one roof cover part that can be opened during driving in the manner of a sunroof by being moved into at least one open position on guideways arranged in roof parts lying laterally to it in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle. A rear roof part that is stationary, at least during this sunroof mode of operation, is fixed with the lateral roof parts and can be moved with them and the cover part into a storage space in the rear part of the vehicle to expose a convertible-type roof opening. Supporting B-columns are movable in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle, and the rear roof part is mounted to them in a pivotable manner. By pivoting the rear roof part and subsequent pivoting of the B-columns, only a very small storage space is required between the seats and the rear axle for stowage of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Arpad Furst, Martin Danzl, Johann Mayer, Stefan Miklosi
  • Patent number: 5540478
    Abstract: A roof structure of a motor vehicle is described in which on the side lateral roof members of a shell from the vehicle manufacturer dimensionally defined master mounting points are located, on which a modular roof insert which is completely premounted by the supplier can be installed over uniformly spaced attachment points on roof strips which run lengthwise. Regardless of the superstructure of the roof insert which is extremely variable based on the use of different roof parts, by combining the roof parts on the roof strips provided with the attachment points at the supplier's, assembly at the vehicle manufacturer always takes place at the same master mounting points. In this way high flexibility of the roof superstructure is achieved with significant simplification in the logistical supply chain and in assembly at the vehicle manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Siegmund Schuch
  • Patent number: 5533766
    Abstract: A tank lock system for a gasoline tank of a motor vehicle having a filler neck in a fueling area near the periphery of the motor vehicle body, a tank cap for sealingly closing the filler neck, as well as a pivotable tank cover for covering or providing access to the fueling area, and a device for the unlocking of the tank cap. The tank cap and the tank cover constitute a single unit for simultaneously opening or closing the filler neck and providing or denying access to the fueling area, thereby ensuring a safe, secure, and comfortable operation of a tank lock system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Farber
  • Patent number: 5484185
    Abstract: Vehicle roof with plates to close or open a roof opening, in which the plates, in the closed position, form a panel of plates, and they are guided at each lateral side of the roof on two guides along guide devices fixed to the roof, so that the panel of plates, by pivoting individual plates, is released plate by plate when the roof is being opened or is restored when closing the roof. Slidable bearing units are provided along a common guide track in which, in each case, the rear guide of one of the plates and the forward guide of the next plate are supported and which thus, by the plates themselves or by plate carders, are interlocked with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfram Salz, Burkhard Reinsch
  • Patent number: 5484184
    Abstract: An openable vehicle roof with a cover, by which a roof opening can be alternately closed or at least partially opened. By a flexible screen, a visible gap on each lateral side, resulting from the pivoting out of the cover above a fixed roof panel, is covered. The top end of the screen is connected to the cover near a respective side edge of the cover, and its bottom end is supported to slide lengthwise in a guideway connected to the fixed roof panel. By the construction of the screen, a simple installation and a space-saving arrangement is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: George Kohlpaintner, Kurt Kugler, Stjepan Radmanic, Roland Wittal, Manfred Nowak
  • Patent number: 5479557
    Abstract: Circuit arrangement for supplying power to a fan and/or battery from solar energy generator in a motor vehicle. A DC voltage converter using impedance matching between the solar energy generator and the fan or the battery includes a switch that is alternately opened and closed by a pulse-width-modulated operating signal, and is part of the circuit arrangement. To generate the operating signal, a microprocessor, a frequency generator and a pulse width modulator, which is acted on by the output signal of the frequency generator and a control signal of the microprocessor, are provided. These components also are used as components of an actuating device to displace a movable part of a sun roof, a changeover signal switching between use for charging a battery and/or powering a fan and use operating the sun roof. Thus, the circuit arrangement is able to fulfill multiple functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Ganz, Robert Watzlewick
  • Patent number: 5451091
    Abstract: Lifting roof or sliding-lifting roof for vehicles with a rigid cover which can be lifted and lowered or lifted, lowered and retracted to open and close a roof opening provided in a stationary roof panel. For at least partial covering of edge gaps formed between lateral edges of the cover and the roof panel when the cover is lifted, strip-shaped lateral shields project outward and downward from the cover at both sides of the cover. These lateral shields are formed of a compressible foam material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Schleicher
  • Patent number: 5421635
    Abstract: Vehicle roof with a series of plates for selectively closing and at least partially opening a roof opening in a fixed roof surface. The plates abut one another in the closed position and form a flat interlocking system of plates within which each plate is guided on each side on two guide points, that are spaced from each other in a sliding direction, along a guiding device that is connected with the fixed roof surface so that, when the plates are displaced, the flat interlocking system of plates performs a translatory movement during which the interlocking system is separated in a plate-by-plate manner when the roof is opened and is reestablished when the roof is closed. At least the forward guide points of the plates interact with the same guideway, and both guide points of the plates are maintained in engagement with the guiding devices over their entire path of displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Reinsch, Peter Reihl, Thomas Schreiter, Hans Jardin
  • Patent number: 5362122
    Abstract: Vehicle roof with at least one cover part, which is adjustable between a closed position, in which the cover closes a roof opening and is at least approximately flush with the contour of the stationary roof panel, and an open position, in which the cover is brought into a position rising obliquely toward the rear by swinging around an axis of rotation lying near its front edge and is moved rearwardly with reference to the closed position over a rear portion of the stationary roof panel. The cover pan moved toward the rear from the closed position is guided on a roof rail in the area of its rear end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Reihl, Burkhard Reinsch
  • Patent number: 5259814
    Abstract: A process for ventilating the interior of a motor vehicle having a closure which can be opened by a drive motor, an interior temperature-setpoint value generator, at least one interior temperature sensor, at least one outside temperature sensor and a logic component with inputs, outputs and a computer portion. Existing components (sensors, logic components) of different units are used and operatively linked so that the driver is largely relieved of the need to manipulate numerous controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Alfons Weissbrich, Ferdinand Hahn
  • Patent number: 5238447
    Abstract: A process for cooling the interior of a motor vehicle and a roof system for its performance which has a roof part that can be opened by an electric motor. As a function of the interior temperature and an interior setpoint temperature, an automatic moving of the roof part that can be opened into a first open position takes place, in which a large roof opening is created. Time-dependent or as an alternative to this, when the temperature is less than a lower threshold temperature, an automatic moving of the roof part that can be opened into a second open position takes place, in which a smaller roof opening is created. The process and roof system enable quick removal of a build-up of heat when getting in the vehicle and in the beginning phase of a drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Alfons Weissbrich, Ferdinand Hahn
  • Patent number: 5222661
    Abstract: An interior climate control system in which a vehicle fan of the vehicle's own ventilation device, an openable and closable vehicle opening, such as a roof opening or a window opening, and a heater that can be operated independently of the engine are linked by an operating control circuit into a functional unit so that, when a predetermined, upper temperature limit is exceeded, a control circuit allocated to the operating devices for the openable and closable vehicle opening is controlled and activated, and so that, when the temperature falls below a predetermined, lower limit, the engine-independent heater is controlled and started. A pre-air conditioning operation or a preheating operation in the interior climate control system can be achieved by a remote control device and/or by a preadjustable timer device by the operating control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Wenhart