Dual drive sunroof transmission assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288631-A1
Application number	US-201514800146-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sunroof transmission assembly includes a housing, a first gear set supported by the housing, and a first motor attached to the housing and disposed in meshing engagement with the first gear set. A first flexible cable drive is disposed in meshing engagement with a first output gear of the first gear set, and is operable to move a first sunroof component in response to a rotational output from the first motor. A second gear set is supported by the housing. A second motor is attached to the housing, and is disposed in meshing engagement with the second gear set. A second flexible cable drive is disposed in meshing engagement with a second output gear of the second gear set, and is operable to move a second sunroof component in response to a rotational output from the second motor.

First claim

1 . A sunroof transmission assembly for a vehicle, the sunroof transmission assembly comprising:
a housing; a first gear set supported by the housing; a first motor attached to the housing and including a first output member in meshing engagement with the first gear set; a second gear set supported by the housing; and a second motor attached to the housing and including a second output member in meshing engagement with the second gear set.

2 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein the first gear set includes a first output gear, and wherein the sunroof transmission assembly further comprises a first flexible cable drive in meshing engagement with the first output gear of the first gear set, wherein the first flexible cable drive is operable to move a first sunroof component.

3 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein the second gear set includes a second output gear, and wherein the sunroof transmission assembly further comprises a second flexible cable drive in meshing engagement with the second output gear of the second gear set, wherein the second flexible cable drive is operable to move a second sunroof component.

4 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 3 wherein the first flexible cable drive is disposed vertically above the second flexible cable drive.

5 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 4 wherein the first flexible cable drive includes an endless rotatable device having a forward loop portion contacting the first output gear in meshing engagement at a forward edge of the first output gear, and a rearward loop portion contacting the first output gear in meshing engagement at a rearward edge of the first output gear, wherein the forward edge of the first output gear and the rearward edge of the first output gear are diametrically opposed relative to each other across a diameter of the first output gear.

6 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein the second flexible cable drive includes an endless rotatable device having a forward loop portion contacting the second output gear in meshing engagement at a forward edge of the second output gear, and a rearward loop portion contacting the second output gear in meshing engagement at a rearward edge of the second output gear, wherein the forward edge of the second output gear and the rearward edge of the second output gear are diametrically opposed relative to each other across a diameter of the second output gear.

7 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 6 wherein the forward loop portion of the first flexible cable drive is disposed vertically above the forward loop portion of the second flexible cable drive on a substantially vertical plane passing through each of the forward loop portion of the first flexible cable drive and the forward loop portion of the second flexible cable drive.

8 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 7 wherein the rearward loop portion of the first flexible cable drive is disposed vertically above the rearward loop portion of the second flexible cable drive on a substantially vertical plane passing through each of the rearward loop portion of the first flexible cable drive and the rearward loop portion of the second flexible cable drive.

9 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 4 wherein the housing includes a first surface, and an opposing second surface, and wherein the first output gear is disposed on one of the first surface and the second surface, and the second output gear is disposed on the other of the first surface and the second surface, such that the first output gear and the second output gear are disposed on opposing surfaces of the housing.

10 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 9 wherein the first gear set and the second gear set are generally disposed in a co-planar relationship relative to each other.

11 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 1 further comprising a single electrical connector attached to the housing, and disposed in electrical communication with both the first motor and the second motor.

12 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein the first motor and the second motor are independently operable relative to each other such that the first gear set and the second gear set can be driven simultaneously.

13 . The sunroof transmission assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a single structure supporting both the first gear set and the second gear set, and both the first motor and the second motor.

14 . A vehicle comprising:
a body including a roof defining an opening; a sunroof assembly attached to the roof of the body, adjacent to the opening, and including a first movable component, a second movable component, and a sunroof transmission assembly coupled to each of the first movable component and the second movable component, and operable to move each of the first movable component and the second movable component, wherein the sunroof transmission assembly includes:
a housing;
a first gear set supported by the housing, and including a first output gear;
a first motor attached to the housing and including a first output member in meshing engagement with the first gear set;
a first flexible cable drive in meshing engagement with the first output gear of the first gear set, wherein the first flexible cable drive is operable to move the first sunroof component in response to a rotational output from the first motor;
a second gear set supported by the housing, and including a second output gear;
a second motor attached to the housing and including a second output member in meshing engagement with the second gear set; and
a second flexible cable drive in meshing engagement with the second output gear of the second gear set, wherein the second flexible cable drive is operable to move the second sunroof component in response to a rotational output from the second motor.

15 . The vehicle set forth in claim 14 further comprising a headliner disposed adjacent to the roof, and including an upper center console section disposed between a first seating area and a second seating area, wherein the sunroof transmission assembly is disposed vertically above the upper center console section of the headliner, such that the first motor, the first gear set, the second motor, and the second gear set are not disposed vertically above either the first passenger area or the second passenger area.

16 . The vehicle set forth in claim 14 wherein the housing includes a first surface, and an opposing second surface, and wherein the first output gear is disposed on one of the first surface and the second surface, and the second output gear is disposed on the other of the first surface and the second surface, such that the first output gear and the second output gear are disposed on opposing surfaces of the housing.

17 . The vehicle set forth in claim 14 wherein the first flexible cable drive includes an endless rotatable device having a forward loop portion contacting the first output gear in meshing engagement at a forward edge of the first output gear, and a rearward loop portion contacting the first output gear in meshing engagement at a rearward edge of the first output gear, wherein the forward edge of the first output gear and the rearward edge of the first output gear are diametrically opposed relative to each other across a diameter of the first output gear.

18 . The vehicle set forth in claim 17 wherein the

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Parkila Kevin K
• Vitale Procopio
• Mona Samer J

Classifications

• B60J7/043

  Sunroofs (B60J7/047 - B60J7/053 take precedence){e.g. sliding above the roof} · CPC title

• B60J7/0573 Primary

  power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical · CPC title

• F16H19/06

  comprising {flexible members, e.g. an} endless flexible member · CPC title