Abstract: A vehicle roof with a cutout to accept a cover and a method for its manufacture including, according to a preferred embodiment, the use of a rubber gasket surrounding an edge of the body panel so as to cover attachment elements securing a frame of angular cross-section with an adjoining body panel defining the cutouts. The gasket includes, according to preferred arrangements, teeth for securely retaining the gasket upon the edge of the body panel and flocking and/or an air chamber to enable sealing engagement with the removable cover.

Abstract: A sliding roof assembly for motor vehicles comprises a translucent rigid sliding cover which covers a roof opening in its closed position and is slidable down and out of this position and behind a fixed rear roof part, a sliding headlining that is slidable relative to the sliding cover panel and jointly movable therewith, and an arrangement for automatically engaging the sliding headlining, when the sliding cover is open, for displacing the sliding headlining with the cover to an open position where they both disappear completely behind a stationary frame cover. An arrangement is also provided for returning the sliding headlining to an intermediate open position wherein a handle thereof projects out of the stationary frame cover when the sliding cover is closed.

Abstract: A rigid cover assembly for vehicle roofs having an opening that can be opened or closed by displacement of a rigid cover panel is provided with a mounting arrangement for the cover panel that is simple to install, provides a good sealing action, and permits considerable dimensional tolerances for the cover panel, even when made of glass or the like. In accordance with preferred embodiments, a peripheral mounting frame is placed in abutment with the bottom edge surface area of the cover panel. This mounting frame is bent downward and outward and then extends upward at its outer edge area so as to have an essentially U- or V-shaped section upon which a sealing section is pushed on from above. The sealing section has a flange which peripherally overlies the top surface of the cover panel.

Abstract: A sliding roof assembly for motor vehicles of the type having a translucent, rigid sliding cover that closes a roof opening of a fixed roof part in a closed position and is lowerable down and out of the opening and is slidable behind a rear roof part in an open position as well as a sliding headlining that is slidable independently of the sliding cover and jointly therewith is improved in accordance with the present invention by the construction of guide channels for the sliding headlining by surfaces of a U-shaped shield connected to the sliding cover and a portion of an upper surface of lateral tracks used to guide the sliding cover.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel delivery pump is formed by a combination of a diaphragm pump and a metering pump. Each of the pumps have working chambers and flow control valves are arranged to enable interconnection of the working chambers when the diaphragm pump executes a delivery stroke and the metering piston pump executes a suction stroke. In a preferred embodiment, a diaphragm of the diaphragm pump is disposed directly on an extension of a piston of the metering piston pump, which piston is connected with an armature of an electromagnet that produces the delivery stroke of the piston metering pump and the suction stroke of the diaphragm pump. The delivery stroke of the diaphragm pump and the suction stroke of the piston metering pump are executed under the influence of a common return spring.

Abstract: A motor vehicle with a passenger compartment heating system that allows the interior of the compartment to be heated in substantially noiseless fashion, without a disturbing draft and with a reduction of power consumption. The heating system includes a heat exchanger connectable to the engine cooling circuit and a heater that is operable independent of the engine and a separately disposed heating element that is traversable by a liquid heat conductor. The separately disposed heating element is alternately connectable with the engine cooling circuit, the independently operable heater, and both the cooling circuit and independently operable heater.

Abstract: A wind deflector for sliding roofs of motor vehicles is mountable near the forward edge of a roof opening so as to be swivelable near its forward edge about an axis which runs at right angles to the lengthwise axis of the vehicle and is formed of a sheet metal strip and an overlying plastic strip that is connected thereto. The plastic strip can be connected with the sheet metal strip by either bonding, (e.g., adhesive or ultrasonic welding) shrink-fitting, clips, or the like. According to a preferred embodiment, the plastic strip is formed with internal chambers and is mounted in association with a metal strip so as to present a surface of the plastic strip that is at approximately the same height as an adjacent surface of the metal strip.

Abstract: A vehicle roof having an aperture surrounded by a frame and a sliding top displaceable by drive cables and guided by means of sliding blocks in the frame as well as provided with a headliner covering the vehicle roof on an interior side thereof. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the frame is formed with a synthetic resin and comprises sliding surfaces for the sliding blocks as well as guide ducts for the drive cables. Additionally, the preferred embodiments utilize an underside of the frame which faces the interior of the vehicle as at least part of the headliner.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for opening and closing a cover for an aperture in a vehicle roof via an electric motor acting upon an incompressible cable via an intermediate drive and drive pinion. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the electric motor is substitutable for a crank operated drive while avoiding limited available space associated problems by disposing an intermediate drive in a drive housing to which the electric motor is flanged to form a module which has the shape of a V as viewed from above, one leg of said V being formed by the electric motor and being disposed at right angles to the lengthwise axis of the vehicle, and the other leg of the V containing the intermediate drive and drive pinion.

Abstract: A sliding cover panel assembly for a motor vehicle roof that includes a cover panel that is slidably guided in tracks between positions opening and closing a roof opening via sliding shoes connected to the cover panel and having an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the cover panel relative to the roof opening when the cover panel is in a position closing the roof opening. In a preferred embodiment, the height adjusting mechanism includes a lever that is mounted to the cover panel so as to be rotatable about an axis intermediate its ends, a locking arrangement associated with the lever securing the lever in any rotational position relative to the cover panel and a link arm having one end swivelably connected to an end of the lever and another end connected to a sliding shoe via a swivelable connection. By rotational adjustment of the lever of the height adjustment mechanism about its rotational axis, the height of the cover panel relative to the sliding shoe can be adjusted.

Abstract: A vehicle body member such as a roof of a motor vehicle is provided with an opening surrounded by a frame and a cover panel for opening and closing the body member opening. The cover is guided in guide tracks by front and rear sliding shoes for displacement in a direction parallel to the guide tracks and is mounted for pivotable movement about an axis running at right angles to the displacement direction near a forward edge thereof. The cover is further provided with lifting elements which are connected to the rear sliding shoes, which shoes are drivingly connected to incompressible cables arranged in guide tubes and displaceable by an actuating device that is mounted on the cover panel. According to a preferred embodiment, so as to provide a significantly simpler design that is capable of being manufactured much less expensively, the ends of the above-noted guide tubes are displaceably mounted in or on the rear sliding shoes and are running approximately parallel to the guide tracks.

Abstract: A sliding closure panel assembly of the type wherein a cover panel is shifted between positions openings and closing an opening in a vehicle body member, such as a roof, is provided with lateral shields composed of overlapping essentially strip-shaped components. The shields are easily attached in place, are adjustable in width and cover gaps between a frame surrounding the body opening and the underside of the cover panel.

Abstract: A device for vertical and horizontal adjustment of a sliding cover for an opening in a vehicle body member such as a sliding roof or the like of a motor vehicle of the type wherein the cover is guided on each side by means of at least one guide shoe along guide tracks disposed on the body member is designed to provide an arrangement which requires extremely little room and extends as little as possible beyond the inner edge of the roof frame surrounding the roof opening, allows precise adjustment of the sliding cover relative to the guide shoe support, both vertically and laterally, and is readily accessible.

Abstract: An improved locking arrangement for a vehicle body member with an opening, a tiltable and removable cover for closing the opening which is swivelable in the vicinity of a front edge and has a tilting mechanism near its rear edge and connected with the cover is formed by first locking elements which are so disposed and designed that they are releasable only from inside the vehicle, even when the cover is tilted, and second locking elements which are releasable only from the outside of the vehicle when the cover is tilted. According to a preferred embodiment, the first locking elements are provided laterally next to the tilting mechanism on both sides thereof and are shielded by walls both laterally and below, while a preferred arrangement for the second locking elements includes a hook engageable with a locking surface which is so disposed that the hook latches rearward of the first locking elements.

Abstract: An auxiliary heater device comprises a tubular combustion chamber surrounded by a heat exchanger 50 as to define a gap therebetween. The peripheral wall of the combustion chamber is provided with a plurality of circumferential projections that extend into the gap in a manner that reduces direct contact heat exchange between the combustion gases flowing through the gap and the peripheral wall by blocking axial flow of the gases along the wall in contact therewith and by deflecting these gases toward the heat exchanger pipe.

Abstract: An auxiliary heater for motor vehicles having a burner assembly for liquid fuels is provided with an electric motor whose shaft is coupled to a drive shaft for auxiliary assemblies, such as a combustion air blower, a fuel pump, a rotational atomizer, or the like, with the drive shaft being mounted at its distal end with respect to the motor and the proximal end of the drive shaft is connected to the motor shaft by way of a flexible elastic coupling. In a preferred embodiment, the combustion air blower is disposed between the motor and the fuel pump and has a hub of flexible elastic material which serves as the coupling element between the motor shaft and the drive shaft. According to a further disclosed feature, the drive shaft extends through the radial bearing and supports a rotational atomizer head at its distal end.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for sliding roofs, window panes, and other similar sliding members of motor vehicles is constructed for motorized operation and also for emergency manual operation. According to a preferred embodiment, the driving shaft of the drive arrangement has a first part of a clutch constrained from movement therewith and a second part displaceably mounted relative to the first part for interconnecting the drive motor with a drive pinion and for disengaging the drive pinion from the drive motor in a second relative position of the clutch parts. The driving force transmittable between the above-noted clutch parts is controlled by an adjustment member mounted on the driving shaft. The adjustment member can be connected to a manually operable handle for emergency operation of the sliding member by a handle through the use of a locking member which secures the adjustment member relative to the driving shaft in a plurality of positions.

Abstract: A sliding panel device for a cutout in a vehicle body panel, such as a sliding top of an automobile roof, of the type having a sliding panel that is movable between open and closed positions, a headliner displaceable between open and closed positions, a drive cable attached to the sliding panel for displacing the sliding panel and a stationary cantilevered guide for slidably guiding the movement of the cable is improved by the provision of a support attached to the headliner for supporting the cantilevered end of the stationary guide, the support being slidably engageable therewith. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support supports the guide at at least a pushed-back open position thereof.

Abstract: A movable cover for a roof opening in the passenger space of a motor vehicle is provided. The cover includes a rigid outer cover part which is configured so as to be in a flush position with adjacent vehicle body panel structure when the opening is closed, as well as a headlining spaced from the fixed cover part and facing inwardly into the passenger space. In order to assure a reliable, attractive, cooperation of the headlining with the adjacent interior structure of the vehicle passenger space, the cover part and the headlining are connected by way of leaf springs or the like which place a slight pressure on the headlining in a direction away from the cover part so as to press the headlining against upwardly facing fixed vehicle frame parts at the roof opening.

Abstract: A mount is provided for fixedly mounting a wind deflector to the roof of a passenger vehicle adjacent a closable roof opening. In order to accommodate utilization of a common mount for roof openings of different widths, the mount includes a first part which is attachable directly to a vertically extending frame part adjacent the roof opening and a second part attached to the wind deflector, with the second part being circular in shape and being connected at one edge in a rotatable manner to the first part.