Engine hood and processing method thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses an engine hood and a processing method thereof, relating to the technical field of automotive components. The hood comprises an inner panel and an outer panel, wherein ribs are fixedly provided on the outer side of the inner panel. The outer panel is formed by splicing together a plurality of sheet-like outer panel blocks, wherein adjacent outer panel blocks are connected by a multi-directional connection structure provided on the ribs. A buffer layer is filled between the outer panel and the inner panel. The engine hood manufactured using the processing method of the present invention divides the outer panel into sections. In the event of a collision with a pedestrian, the outer panel collision block can rotate within a certain range and sink within a certain depth relative to the adjacent block, squeezing the intermediate buffer layer, reducing the HIC value during a collision and minimizing head injuries.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automobile components, in particular to an engine hood and a processing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the development of society, the automobile industry has developed rapidly.

[0003] Pedestrian collision protection is a widely considered and extensively researched topic within the automotive passive safety field. Because pedestrians are vulnerable and easily injured in a collision, extensive research has been conducted on pedestrian protection, including various pedestrian protection devices and methods, such as exterior airbags and pop-up hoods. However, airbag deployment carries the risk of additional injury to pedestrians and involves numerous uncertainties. Previous studies have shown that pop-up hoods result in the highest proportion of maximum head impact injury (HIC) values ​​at speeds of 40 km / h and 50 km / h, suggesting that installing a pop-up hood may increase the risk of pedestrians experiencing more severe impact injuries.

[0004] Traditional engine hoods are usually made of steel plates with uniform rigidity for the inner and outer panels, and the inner panel is provided with many reinforcing rib structures, which undoubtedly poses a huge potential risk for a head impact on the engine hood. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an engine hood and a processing method thereof to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art. The outer panel is divided into sections so that when a collision occurs with a pedestrian, the outer panel collision block can rotate within a certain range and sink within a certain depth with the adjacent blocks, squeezing the intermediate buffer layer, reducing the HIC value during the collision and reducing head injuries.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0007] The present invention provides an engine hood, comprising an inner panel and an outer panel, wherein the outer side of the inner panel is fixedly provided with ribs; the outer panel is formed by splicing together a plurality of sheet-like outer panel blocks, and the tortoise-shell-shaped outer panel blocks are conducive to regional design of the structural stiffness of each block, reducing the mass of the entire hood, and optimizing the user experience. Two adjacent outer panel blocks are connected by a multi-directional connection structure made of a material with good plasticity and poor elasticity, which can meet the requirements that the two adjacent outer panels can rotate within a certain range (15° to 20°) and sink within a certain depth range (0 to 25 mm), and the multi-directional connection structure is arranged on the ribs; a buffer layer, such as buffer foam, is filled between the outer panel and the inner panel.

[0008] Optionally, the rib includes a transverse rib and two vertical ribs that are vertically and crosswise arranged. The two vertical ribs are arranged in parallel, optimizing the rib distribution of the inner panel.

[0009] Optionally, the multi-directional connection structure includes a spring sleeved on the rib. Antennae extending outward are provided at both ends of the spring. The end of the antenna is a convex block structure, and the edge of the outer panel segment is a concave block structure. The convex block structure at the end of the antenna can be fixedly spliced with the concave block structure at the edge of the outer panel segment.

[0010] Optionally, the outer panel and the inner panel are fixedly connected through the inner edge of the outer panel and the outer surface of the inner panel.

[0011] Optionally, a covering layer made of a low-rigidity material, such as muslin or soft plastic, is adhered to the outside of the inner panel with adhesive for covering the internal shape of the skeleton.

[0012] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing an engine hood, including the following steps:

[0013] Step 1: Partition the position of the outer panel of the engine hood with an envelope line, and manufacture the outer panel of the engine hood into sheet-like outer panel segments.

[0014] Step 2: The envelope line partition structure in Step 1 is correspondingly partitioned according to a "rich" character shape rotated 90° with one vertical line missing.

[0015] Step 3: Optimize the rib distribution structure of the engine inner panel, and adjust the distances of the ribs up, down, left, and right according to the partition result of Step 2.

[0016] Step 4: Fill a buffer layer between the outer panel and the inner panel of the engine hood.

[0017] Step 5: Design a multi-directional connection structure for connecting the multiple outer panel segments in Step 1 to form a whole outer panel.

[0018] Step 6: Connect the outer panel and the inner panel through the inner edge of the outer panel and the outer surface of the inner panel.

[0019] Step 7: Adhere a covering layer to the inner panel with adhesive for covering the internal shape of the skeleton.

[0020] The present invention has achieved the following technical effects compared with the prior art:

[0021] The engine hood provided by the present invention uses low-rigidity materials for the inner panel, outer panel, intermediate buffer layer and other parts. Therefore, the engine hood has the advantages of being lightweight as a whole, effortless to lift, and being portable. A covering layer of low-rigidity material, such as muslin or soft plastic, is adhesively bonded to the outermost side of the inner panel, which plays the role of making the inner surface of the engine hood beautiful. Since the outer panel of the engine hood is designed and manufactured in regions, different regions have different rigidities. Especially in the upper-middle part where the collision probability is relatively high, low rigidity can be adopted to reduce the HIC value during collision, that is, to reduce the injury value of pedestrians. The multi-directional connection structure enables the impact area to rotate within a certain range (15° - 20°) and sink within a certain depth range (0 - 25 mm), reducing the constraints on the movement when the head impacts the engine hood. Compared with the straight-line movement constraint of the traditional engine hood during impact, this structure provides degrees of freedom for axial rotation and translation, reduces the movement constraints, increases the buffer space, and can reduce head injuries. There is a rib skeleton on the inner panel in a shape similar to a "丰" character rotated 90° upside down with one vertical line missing, which not only effectively reduces the high-rigidity regions but also optimizes the support point positions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0023] Figure 1 Structural schematic diagram of the engine hood of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 Structural schematic diagram of the outer panel of the engine hood of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 For the present invention Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the A-A cross-section;

[0026] Figure 4 For the present invention Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the B-B cross-section;

[0027] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the outer panel and inner panel of the engine hood of the present invention;

[0028] Among them, 100 - engine hood, 1 - inner panel, 2 - outer panel, 201 - outer panel block, 3 - rib, 4 - spring, 5 - antenna, 6 - convex block structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an engine hood and a processing method thereof to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art. The outer panel is divided into sections so that when a collision occurs with a pedestrian, the outer panel collision block can rotate within a certain range and sink within a certain depth with the adjacent blocks, squeezing the intermediate buffer layer, reducing the HIC value during the collision and reducing head injuries.

[0031] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0032] Traditional engine hoods are usually made of steel plates with uniform rigidity, with the inner and outer panels being provided with numerous reinforcing ribs. This undoubtedly poses a huge potential risk for a head impact on the engine hood. Therefore, the present invention optimizes the position of the reinforcing ribs and, while meeting the requirements of the C-NCAP (2021) management rules, divides the engine hood outer panel into zones. The rigidity of the engine hood outer panel is adjusted regionally based on the probability of the collision zone and the structural requirements. Regionally adjusting the rigidity of the engine hood helps reduce its mass, contributes to the lightweighting of the entire vehicle, and makes it easier to open the hood, reducing the difficulty of lifting.

[0033] Specifically, such as Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 3 、 Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown in the figure, the present invention provides an engine hood 100, which includes an inner panel 1 and an outer panel 2. A rib 3 is fixedly arranged on the outer side of the inner panel 1; the outer panel 2 is made by splicing multiple outer panel blocks 201 with sheet-like structures. The turtle shell-shaped outer panel blocks 201 are beneficial to the regional design of the structural stiffness of each block, reduce the mass of the entire hood, and optimize the user experience. Adjacent two outer panel blocks 201 are connected by a multi-directional connection structure. The structure is made of a material with good plasticity, so it will undergo permanent deformation and can absorb external energy to a large extent. As a connecting component between the outer panel blocks, due to its axial rotation and translation, relative rotation and translation between the outer panel blocks can be achieved, providing structural guarantee for the rotation within a certain range (15° - 20°) and the sinking within a certain depth range (0 - 25 mm) of the impact area. The multi-directional connection structure is arranged on the rib 3; the rib includes a transverse rib and two vertical ribs arranged vertically and crosswise. The two vertical ribs are arranged parallel to each other, and the overall shape is similar to the "丰" character (upside down and rotated 90°) with one vertical bar missing, optimizing the rib distribution of the inner panel; a buffer layer, such as buffer foam, is filled between the outer panel 2 and the inner panel 1. Its purpose is to provide a buffer zone when the outer panel 2 collapses due to collision, so that the head will not directly hit the skeleton of the support inner panel with greater stiffness, and at the same time, it can also absorb a part of the energy for the impact.

[0034] Further preferably, the multi-directional connection structure includes a spring 4 sleeved on the rib. Antennae 5 extending outward are arranged at both ends of the spring 4. The end of the antenna 5 is a convex block structure 6. The edge of the outer panel block 201 is a concave block structure. The convex block structure 6 at the end of the antenna 5 can be fixedly spliced with the concave block structure at the edge of the outer panel block 201. The spring 4 supports the relative rotation of the two antennae 5 on both sides, and the ends of the antennae 5 move synchronously and at the same time带动 the outer panel area to rotate together. Since the main body of the spring 4 is made of materials such as low-carbon steel with high plasticity, it is easy to undergo permanent deformation. When the impact is too large, the gap between the springs 4 will be further tightened, the antennae 5 will elongate. At this time, the end of the antenna 5 sinks and带动 the outer panel area to sink together. The outer panel 2 and the inner panel 1 are fixedly connected through the inner edge of the outer panel 2 and the outer surface of the inner panel 1.

[0035] The outer panel segments 201 of the outer panel 2 use materials with low stiffness in the middle area with a high collision probability and materials with medium to high stiffness in the edge connection area. When colliding with pedestrians, the collision blocks can rotate within a certain range (15° - 20°) and sink within a certain depth range (0 - 25 mm) between adjacent blocks, squeezing the middle buffer layer to reduce the HIC value during the collision, that is, reducing head injuries. Inner panel: Use materials with moderate stiffness and strength to meet the requirements. The inner panel skeleton adopts a shape similar to a "丰" character rotated 90° upside down and missing one vertical stroke corresponding to the partition line of the outer panel, which plays a supporting role. The outermost side of the inner panel is covered with a covering layer made of low-stiffness materials such as muslin and soft plastic, etc., which is used to cover the internal shape of the skeleton and plays a role in beautification.

[0036] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing an engine hood, including the following steps:

[0037] Step 1: According to the requirements of the C-NCAP (2021) management rules, partition the outer panel 2 of the engine hood with an envelope line, and make the outer panel 2 of the engine hood into outer panel segments 201;

[0038] Step 2: The envelope line partition in Step 1 is partitioned accordingly according to the shape similar to a "丰" character rotated 90° upside down and missing one vertical stroke in Step 2;

[0039] Step 3: Optimize the distribution of the ribs 3 on the engine inner panel to be similar to a "丰" character rotated 90° upside down and missing one vertical stroke;

[0040] Step 4: Adjust the distances up, down, left, and right of the ribs 3 with a shape similar to a "丰" character rotated 90° upside down and missing one vertical stroke in Step 3 according to the partitioning result in Step 1;

[0041] Step 5: Fill a buffer layer made of buffer and energy-absorbing materials such as polyurethane foam between the outer panel 2 and the inner panel 1 of the engine hood;

[0042] Step 6: Design a multi-directional connection structure, made of materials with good plastic deformation such as aluminum-magnesium alloy and low-carbon steel, etc., for connecting the outer panel segments in Step 1. The multi-directional connection structure supports the rotation within a certain range (15° - 20°) and the sinking within a certain depth range (0 - 25 mm) between adjacent outer panel segments, so as to form a whole outer panel;

[0043] Step 7: Connect the outer panel 2 and the inner panel 1 through the inner edge of the outer panel 2 and the outer surface of the inner panel 1;

[0044] Step 8: The multi-directional connection structure in Step 4 is arranged according to the shape similar to a "Feng" character (少一竖造型) rotated 90° upside down in Step 6, which can concentrate the stiffness structure area and make the multi-directional structure on the rib convenient for support.

[0045] Step 9: Attach a covering layer made of a low-stiffness material, such as muslin or soft plastic, to the inner panel 1 of the engine hood with adhesive or the like to cover the internal shape of the skeleton.

[0046] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0047] In the present invention, specific examples are used to elaborate on the principle and implementation manner of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention; at the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation manner and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. An engine hood, characterized in that: It includes an inner panel and an outer panel. There are ribs fixedly arranged on the outer side of the inner panel. The outer panel is made by splicing multiple outer panel segments in the shape of sheets. The adjacent two outer panel segments are connected by a multi-directional connection structure, and the multi-directional connection structure is arranged on the ribs. A buffer layer is filled between the outer panel and the inner panel. The ribs include a transverse rib and two vertical ribs that are vertically and crosswise arranged, and the two vertical ribs are arranged parallel to each other. The multi-directional connection structure includes a spring sleeved on the rib. Both ends of the spring are provided with outwardly extended tentacles, and the ends of the tentacles are convex block structures. The edge of the outer panel segment is a concave block structure, and the convex block structure at the end of the tentacle can be fixedly spliced with the concave block structure at the edge of the outer panel segment. The outer panel and the inner panel are fixedly connected through the inner edge of the outer panel and the outer surface of the inner panel.

2. The engine cover according to claim 1, characterized in that: A covering layer is adhered to the outer side of the inner panel with adhesive.

3. A method for processing an engine hood, characterized in that: It includes the following steps: Step 1: Divide the position of the outer panel of the engine hood with an envelope line and make the outer panel of the engine hood into sheet-shaped outer panel segments. Step 2: The envelope line partition structure in Step 1 is partitioned accordingly according to a "Feng" character shape rotated 90° and missing one vertical stroke. Step 3: Optimize the rib distribution structure of the engine inner panel and adjust the distances of the ribs up, down, left, and right according to the partition result of Step 2. Step 4: Fill a buffer layer between the outer panel and the inner panel of the engine hood. Step 5: Design a multi-directional connection structure for connecting the multiple outer panel segments in Step 1 to form a whole outer panel. The multi-directional connection structure includes a spring sleeved on the rib. Both ends of the spring are provided with outwardly extended tentacles, and the ends of the tentacles are convex block structures. The edge of the outer panel segment is a concave block structure, and the convex block structure at the end of the tentacle can be fixedly spliced with the concave block structure at the edge of the outer panel segment. Step 6: Connect the outer panel and the inner panel through the inner edge of the outer panel and the outer surface of the inner panel. Step 7: Adhere a covering layer to the inner panel with adhesive to cover the internal shape of the skeleton.

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