Jacking device for jacking engine hood of vehicle, vehicle and control method of jacking device

Abstract

The invention provides a jacking device for jacking a vehicle engine cover, a vehicle and a control method of the vehicle, the jacking device designs axial sliding fit of a piston rod relative to a piston barrel and axial sliding fit of the piston barrel relative to a shell, and a gas generator is located below the piston rod and the piston barrel. When a vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the gas generator is triggered to generate strong airflow, and the airflow directly acts on the piston rod to push the piston rod out of the piston cylinder until the piston rod is limited by the first limiting mechanism and cannot continuously move relative to the piston rod; the piston rod is pushed to drive the piston barrel to move out of the shell through the first limiting mechanism until the piston barrel is limited by the second limiting mechanism, and the piston rod lifts the engine cover to the required height. Thus, the two-section type lifting structure can provide a large lifting height while reducing the height of the jacking device shell, the height requirement for lifting the engine hood is met, and the installation and layout difficulty of the engine hood is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicles, and in particular to a lifter for lifting a vehicle hood, a vehicle and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Vehicle safety technology is an important research topic in the vehicle field. If a vehicle collides with a pedestrian while driving, the pedestrian will roll onto the hood of the vehicle and his head will easily hit the engine, which is relatively hard and easy to get injured.

[0003] In order to effectively prevent pedestrians from head injuries, some current models have hood lifters installed near the top corners on both sides of the hood. When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, the hood lifter is triggered to lift the vehicle hood, thereby forming a buffer area under the hood, thereby reducing the damage caused by the pedestrian's head impact and protecting the pedestrian.

[0004] In the related art, in order to enable the jack to lift to a preset height, the jack itself has a relatively large size, which limits the installation layout of the jack at a corresponding position of the vehicle.

[0005] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above background technology section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of the present invention, and therefore may include information that does not constitute the prior art known to ordinary technicians in the field. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of the problems in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a lifter for lifting a vehicle hood, a vehicle and a control method thereof, thereby overcoming the technical problem of difficult installation layout of the lifter in the related art.

[0007] The present disclosure provides a jacking device, which includes:

[0008] shell;

[0009] A piston assembly and a gas generator encapsulated in the housing, wherein the piston assembly is located above the gas generator and comprises a piston rod and a piston cylinder sleeved outside the piston rod, wherein the piston rod is axially slidably matched with the piston cylinder, and the piston cylinder is axially slidably matched with the housing;

[0010] A first limiting mechanism is provided between the piston rod and the piston cylinder, wherein the first limiting mechanism is configured to limit a sliding stroke of the piston rod relative to the piston cylinder;

[0011] A second limiting mechanism is provided between the piston cylinder and the housing, and the second limiting mechanism is configured to limit the sliding stroke of the piston cylinder relative to the housing;

[0012] The gas generator is configured to generate a gas flow under control, and use the gas flow to push the piston rod out of the housing, and driven by the piston rod, the piston cylinder is pushed out of the housing through the first limiting mechanism.

[0013] In some embodiments, the gas generator has a first top cover, and the piston rod abuts against the first top cover;

[0014] The first top cover is configured to be ruptured by the impact of the airflow to discharge the airflow and push the piston rod out of the housing.

[0015] In some embodiments, a groove channel facing the first top cover is provided at one end of the piston rod abutting against the first top cover.

[0016] In some embodiments, a first cap-shaped structure that is inverted on the first top cover is formed at one end of the piston rod that abuts against the first top cover, and an insert is provided in the first cap-shaped structure to form the groove channel.

[0017] In some embodiments, the gas generator is provided with an air flow channel located on the inner side of the first top cover, and a projection area of ​​the air flow channel on a cross section perpendicular to the piston rod is located within a projection area of ​​the groove channel on the cross section.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first top cover includes a cover portion and a skirt formed on the cover portion, the cover portion is wrapped in the piston cylinder and abuts against the piston rod above, and the piston cylinder abuts against the skirt.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first limiting mechanism includes:

[0020] A first stopper is provided on the outer wall of the piston rod and a second stopper is provided on the inner wall of the piston tube, wherein the first stopper is closer to the gas generator than the second stopper.

[0021] In some embodiments, the first stop portion is formed on a first outer protrusion of an outer wall of the piston rod, and the second stop portion is formed on a first inner protrusion of an inner wall of the piston cylinder.

[0022] In some embodiments, the second limiting mechanism includes: a third stop portion provided on the outer wall of the piston cylinder and a fourth stop portion provided on the inner wall of the outer shell; the third stop portion is closer to the gas generator than the fourth stop portion.

[0023] In some embodiments, the third stop portion is formed on a second outer protrusion of the outer wall of the piston cylinder, and the fourth stop portion is formed on a second inner protrusion of the inner wall of the outer shell.

[0024] In some embodiments, the piston cylinder is formed with a second cap-shaped structure that is inverted on the gas generator to serve as the second outer protrusion.

[0025] In some embodiments, a first sealing ring is provided between the piston rod and the piston cylinder, and the first sealing ring is sleeved outside the piston rod.

[0026] In some embodiments, a first annular groove is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the piston cylinder, and the first sealing ring is embedded in the first annular groove.

[0027] In some embodiments, a second sealing ring is provided between the piston cylinder and the housing, and the second sealing ring is sleeved outside the piston cylinder.

[0028] In some embodiments, a second annular groove is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the piston cylinder, and the second sealing ring is embedded in the second annular groove.

[0029] The disclosed embodiments further provide a vehicle, which comprises the jacking device of any one of the above embodiments.

[0030] The disclosed embodiment also provides a lifter for lifting a vehicle hood, a vehicle and a control method thereof, which include:

[0031] Detect if the vehicle hood has been hit;

[0032] When it is detected that the hood is hit, a control signal is transmitted to the gas generator, so that the gas generator generates an airflow in response to the control signal, and the airflow is used to push the piston rod out of the outer shell. Driven by the piston rod, the piston cylinder is pushed out of the outer shell through the first limiting mechanism.

[0033] The lifting device for lifting the vehicle hood, the vehicle and the control method for the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present disclosure have the following advantages:

[0034] The disclosed embodiment designs the axial sliding fit of the piston rod relative to the piston cylinder and the axial sliding fit of the piston cylinder relative to the outer shell. When the vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the gas generator is triggered to generate airflow, which pushes the piston rod out of the piston cylinder and the outer shell until it is restricted by the first limit mechanism and cannot continue to move relative to the piston rod. At this time, a large amount of airflow rushes into the piston cylinder and continues to generate a driving force on the piston rod, pushing the piston rod to drive the piston cylinder to continue to move out of the outer shell through the first limit mechanism until the piston cylinder is restricted by the second limit mechanism. The piston rod lifts the upper hood to the required height, forming a buffer area under the hood to reduce damage to the pedestrian's head.

[0035] In this process, the first limiting mechanism and the second limiting mechanism are used to limit the sliding stroke of the piston rod and the piston cylinder respectively, to prevent the piston rod from being completely pushed out of the piston cylinder and the piston cylinder from being completely pushed out of the housing. At the same time, after the hood is lifted, the continuous pressure of the airflow on the piston rod and the piston cylinder allows the hood to stably maintain the lifted position for a certain period of time, to prevent the hood from falling to the original position after the collision, thereby failing to form an effective buffer and protect the pedestrian's head.

[0036] In this embodiment, the final lifting height of the jacking device approximately includes the length of the piston rod and the length of the piston cylinder. Compared with the single-stage lifting structure, the jacking device adopts this two-stage lifting structure, or a multi-stage lifting structure based on this two-stage lifting structure, which can provide a larger lifting height while reducing the height of the jacking device shell, so that the pedestrian head impact area of ​​the hood is farther away from the engine position, and more effectively buffers and protects pedestrians. Therefore, the jacking device of this embodiment can not only meet the installation requirements of a small installation space to reduce the difficulty of installation layout, but also provide a higher lifting height at the same time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Other features, objectives and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a reading of the detailed description of non-limiting embodiments made with reference to the following accompanying drawings.

[0038] Figure 1 A front view of a jacking device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0039] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a jacking device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, wherein the cross section passes through the central axis of the jacking device;

[0040] Figure 3 A front view showing the jacking device provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure in a raised state;

[0041] Figure 4 An exploded view of a jacking device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0042] Figure 5 exhibit Figure 2 An exploded view of the piston rod in the jack shown;

[0043] Figure 6 exhibit Figure 2 An exploded view of the gas generator in the jack shown;

[0044] Figure 7 Display based on inclusion Figure 1 A flow chart of a control method for a vehicle with a jacking device is shown.

[0045] Reference numerals:

[0046]

[0047] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, example embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present invention will be more comprehensive and complete and fully convey the concepts of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art. The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0049] As shown in this application and claims, unless the context clearly indicates an exception, the words "a", "an", "an" and / or "the" do not refer to the singular and may also include the plural. Generally speaking, the terms "include" and "comprise" only indicate the inclusion of the steps and elements that have been clearly identified, and these steps and elements do not constitute an exclusive list. The method or device may also include other steps or elements.

[0050] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions and numerical values ​​of the parts and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present application. At the same time, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the accompanying drawings are not drawn according to the actual proportional relationship. The technology, methods and equipment known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but in appropriate cases, the technology, methods and equipment should be considered as a part of the authorization specification. In all examples shown and discussed here, any specific value should be interpreted as being merely exemplary, rather than as a limitation. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters represent similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once a certain item is defined in an accompanying drawing, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0051] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by directional words such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "lateral, vertical, perpendicular, horizontal" and "top, bottom" are usually based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise specified, these directional words do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction or be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present application; the directional words "inside and outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the contours of each component itself.

[0052] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used here to describe the spatial positional relationship between a device or feature and other devices or features as shown in the figure. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation described in the figure. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is inverted, the device described as "above other devices or structures" or "above other devices or structures" will be positioned as "below other devices or structures" or "below other devices or structures". Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below". The device can also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used here are interpreted accordingly.

[0053] In addition, it should be noted that the use of words such as "first" and "second" to define components is only for the convenience of distinguishing the corresponding components. If not otherwise stated, the above words have no special meaning and cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of this application. In addition, although the terms used in this application are selected from well-known and commonly used terms, some terms mentioned in the specification of this application may be selected by the applicant at his or her discretion, and their detailed meanings are explained in the relevant parts of the description of this article. In addition, it is required to understand this application not only by the actual terms used, but also by the meaning implied by each term.

[0054] It should be understood that when a component is referred to as being “on another component,” “connected to another component,” “coupled to another component,” or “contacting another component,” it can be directly on, connected to, coupled to, or contacting the other component, or intervening components may be present. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being “directly on another component,” “directly connected to,” “directly coupled to,” or “directly contacting” another component, there are no intervening components present.

[0055] In addition, the accompanying drawings are only schematic illustrations of the present invention and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same or similar parts, and thus their repeated description will be omitted.

[0056] Figure 1 A front view of the jacking device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 2 The axial cross-sectional view of the jacking device provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, referring to Figure 1 The jacking device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a shell 1.

[0057] Combination Figure 2 , the jacking device also includes:

[0058] A piston assembly 2 and a gas generator 3 are encapsulated in the housing 1. The piston assembly 2 is located above the gas generator 3 and includes a piston rod 21 and a piston cylinder 22 sleeved outside the piston rod 21. The piston rod 21 is axially slidable with respect to the piston cylinder 22, and the piston cylinder 22 is axially slidable with respect to the housing 1.

[0059] A first limiting mechanism 4 is provided between the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22, and the first limiting mechanism 4 is configured to limit the sliding stroke of the piston rod 21 relative to the piston cylinder 22;

[0060] A second limiting mechanism 5 is provided between the piston cylinder 22 and the housing 1, and the second limiting mechanism 5 is configured to limit the sliding stroke of the piston cylinder 22 relative to the housing 1;

[0061] The gas generator 3 is configured to generate a controlled airflow and utilize the airflow to push the piston rod 21 out of the housing 1 , and driven by the piston rod 21 , push the piston cylinder 22 out of the housing 1 through the first limiting mechanism 4 .

[0062] The disclosed embodiment designs the axial sliding fit of the piston rod 21 relative to the piston cylinder 22 and the axial sliding fit of the piston cylinder 22 relative to the housing 1. The jacking device of this embodiment is applied to a vehicle. When the vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the gas generator 3 is triggered to generate a strong airflow, which directly pushes the piston rod 21 out of the piston cylinder 22 and the housing 1 until it is restricted by the first limiting mechanism 4 and cannot continue to move relative to the piston rod 21. At this time, a large amount of airflow rushes into the piston cylinder 22 and continues to generate a driving force on the piston rod 21, pushing the piston rod 21 to drive the piston cylinder 22 to continue to move out of the housing 1 through the first limiting mechanism 4, until the piston cylinder 22 is restricted by the second limiting mechanism 5, and the piston rod 21 lifts the upper hood to the required height, forming a buffer area under the hood to reduce the damage to the pedestrian's head.

[0063] In this process, the first limiting mechanism 4 and the second limiting mechanism 5 are used to limit the sliding stroke of the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22 respectively, so as to prevent the piston rod 21 from being completely pushed out of the piston cylinder 22 and the piston cylinder 22 from being completely pushed out of the housing 1. At the same time, after the hood is lifted, the hood can be stably maintained in the lifted position for a certain period of time by relying on the continuous pressure of the airflow on the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22, so as to prevent the hood from falling back when the pedestrian's head hits the hood due to insufficient support, thereby failing to form an effective buffer and protect the pedestrian's head.

[0064] In this embodiment, compared Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, Figure 1 Show the initial state of the jacking device. Figure 3 The lifting state of the jacking device is shown. In the lifting state, the final lifting height of the jacking device approximately includes the length of the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22 ( Figure 1 (not shown). Compared with the single-stage lifting structure, the lifter of this embodiment adopts this two-stage lifting structure, or a multi-stage lifting structure based on this two-stage lifting structure, which can provide a larger lifting height while reducing the height of the lifter shell 1, meet the height requirement of the hood lifting, make the pedestrian head impact area of ​​the hood farther away from the engine position, and more effectively buffer and protect pedestrians. Therefore, the lifter of this embodiment can not only meet the installation requirements of a small installation space to reduce the difficulty of installation layout, but also provide a higher lifting height at the same time.

[0065] In this embodiment, the housing 1 is also used to install the jacking device at a corresponding position in the vehicle. For example, a flange structure 10 is designed on the top of the housing 1 to be installed with a matching structure at a corresponding position under the hood.

[0066] like Figure 2 and 4 As shown, in an optional manner, a second top cover 11 is provided on the top of the housing 1, and the second top cover 11 is configured to be broken by the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22. The second top cover 11 can form a seal for the internal space of the housing 1, prevent external impurities from invading the internal space of the housing 1, and prevent internal parts from failing.

[0067] The second top cover 11 and the housing 1 are arranged as a split structure. After the piston assembly 2 is placed in the inner space of the housing 1, the second top cover 11 is added to complete the assembly packaging. Therefore, the split structure between the housing 1 and the second top cover 11 can facilitate the assembly operation of the jacking device.

[0068] In the optional method, such as Figure 4 As shown, the second top cover 11 is connected to the outer shell 1 through a snap-fit ​​structure. Specifically, the second top cover 11 is designed with pop-up snaps 111 distributed along the circumferential direction, and a snap slot (not shown in the figure) that matches the snaps 111 is provided on the inner wall of the outer shell 1. When assembling, a circle of snaps 111 of the second top cover 11 is inserted into the outer shell 1 from the outside to the inside, and the snaps 111 are squeezed by the inner wall of the outer shell 1 to elastically deform. When reaching the snap slot position, the snaps 111 pop up into the snap slot and are limited by the snap slot, so that the second top cover 11 is assembled in place.

[0069] Furthermore, by adopting a split structure, the second top cover 11 can be replaced afterwards, and the housing 1 and the piston assembly 2 can be packaged in the housing 1 again, which can reduce production costs.

[0070] In another embodiment, a shell with a shell top may also be used, that is, in this case, the corresponding second top cover and the shell are an integrated structure.

[0071] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 2 and 4 As shown, a first sealing ring 23 is provided between the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22, and the first sealing ring 23 is sleeved outside the piston rod 21. The first sealing ring 23 can prevent external impurities from invading the internal space of the piston assembly 2, and prevent impurities such as water vapor from corroding the internal space of the jacking device.

[0072] In the optional method, such as Figure 2 and 4 As shown, a first annular groove 22a ( Figure 4 The first sealing ring 23 is embedded in the first annular groove 22a and abuts against the piston rod 21 for sealing. When the piston rod 21 rushes upward out of the housing 1, the first sealing ring 23 can remain in the first annular groove 22a and continue to provide a sealing effect. At this time, the airflow generated by the gas generator 3 is confined in the piston cylinder 22, and the first sealing ring 23 can prevent the internal airflow from leaking out quickly, thereby maintaining the lifting height of the hood.

[0073] In an optional manner, the second sealing ring may also be embedded in the outer circumferential surface of the piston rod.

[0074] In the disclosed embodiment, a second sealing ring 12 is provided between the piston cylinder 22 and the housing 1 , and the second sealing ring 12 is sleeved outside the piston cylinder 22 .

[0075] Among them, the second sealing ring 12 plays a sealing role to prevent external impurities from entering the lifter through the gap that may exist between the piston cylinder 22 and the outer shell 1, avoid the corresponding parts from being corroded by impurities such as water vapor, and improve the service life of the lifter.

[0076] In an alternative embodiment, if Figure 2 and 4 As shown, a second annular groove 22 b is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the piston cylinder 22 , and the second sealing ring 12 is embedded in the second annular groove 22 b .

[0077] During installation, the second sealing ring 12 is first put on the piston cylinder 22, and the second sealing ring 12 undergoes elastic deformation. Then, the second sealing ring 12 is moved along the piston cylinder 22 to the second annular groove 22b, and the deformation of the second sealing ring 12 disappears, thereby being embedded in the second annular groove 22b.

[0078] When the piston cylinder 22 is pushed outward from the outer shell 1 by the piston rod 21, the second sealing ring 12 is also pushed outward. At this time, there may be a certain gap between the piston cylinder 22 and the outer shell 1. After the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22 are pushed out instantly, the hood is lifted to protect the pedestrians. Afterwards, the airflow in the piston cylinder 22 can be slowly released from the gap between the outer shell 1 and the piston cylinder 22, so that the hood is slowly lowered, which is conducive to the slow resetting of the jacking device. On the other hand, if the weight of the pedestrian or other object is large, the piston rod 21 forms a large reverse pressure on the airflow, so that the airflow generates a large pressure on the piston cylinder 22. At this time, the airflow is released through the gap, which can prevent the internal airflow from causing irreparable damage to the jacking device.

[0079] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 2 and 4 As shown, the first limiting mechanism 4 includes:

[0080] The first stopper 41 disposed on the outer wall of the piston rod 21 and the second stopper 42 disposed on the inner wall of the piston cylinder 22 ( Figure 4 In the assembled state, the first stopper 41 and the second stopper 42 are axially opposite to each other, and the first stopper 41 is closer to the gas generator 3 than the second stopper 42. For example, the first stopper 41 is located at the bottom end of the piston rod 21, and the second stopper 42 is located at the top end of the piston cylinder 22.

[0081] During operation, the piston rod 21 moves outward relative to the piston cylinder 22 until the first stopper 41 and the second stopper 42 axially abut against each other, thereby stopping the axial movement of the piston rod 21 relative to the piston cylinder 22. Since the first stopper 41 and the second stopper 42 abut against each other, the piston rod 21 drives the piston cylinder 22 to continue to move outward synchronously through the first stopper 41.

[0082] In this embodiment, the first stop portion 41 and the second stop portion 42 are both annular structures to provide a stable and firm limiting effect.

[0083] In an optional manner, the first stop portion 41 can be in contact or close to contact with the piston cylinder 22 to avoid forming an exhaust channel and reduce the axial driving force on the piston rod 21, ultimately ensuring that the piston rod 21 is driven by a larger airflow and moves quickly toward the outside of the piston cylinder 22 and the outer shell 1, so as to lift the hood to the expected height in a shorter time and provide timely protection for pedestrians.

[0084] In an optional embodiment, the first stopper 41 is formed on a first outer protrusion 211 of an outer wall of the piston rod 21 , and the second stopper 42 is formed on a first inner protrusion 221 of an inner wall of the piston cylinder 22 .

[0085] In this embodiment, the first outer protrusion 211 makes the piston rod 21 and the first stopper 41 an integrated structure, which can be manufactured using the same mold. The first inner protrusion 221 makes the piston cylinder 22 and the second stopper 42 an integrated structure, which can be manufactured using the same mold. This can reduce the manufacturing cost and facilitate assembly. Moreover, the integrated structure has better structural stability for the first stopper 41 and the second stopper 42, thereby improving product performance.

[0086] In another optional manner, a split structure design is adopted between the first stopper and the piston rod, and between the second stopper and the piston cylinder. For example, the first stopper is fixedly sleeved outside the piston rod, or the second stopper is embedded in the inner wall of the piston cylinder.

[0087] Continue as Figure 2 As shown, the two axially opposite stop surfaces of the first stop portion 41 and the second stop portion 42 serve as the first stop surface 41a and the second stop surface 42a respectively, and the first stop portion 41 and the second stop portion 42 are configured to abut against each other through the first stop surface 41a and the second stop surface 42a to achieve mutual limitation.

[0088] In this way, through the above-mentioned surface-to-surface contact, a good sealing effect can be provided for the airflow generated by the gas generator 3, and the preset height positions of the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22 can be maintained.

[0089] Optionally, the first stop surface 41a and the second stop surface 42a are both inclined surfaces, and illustratively, the angle between the first stop surface 41a and the outer wall of the piston rod 21 is an obtuse angle, and the angle between the second stop surface 42a and the inner wall of the piston cylinder 22 is an obtuse angle. The inclined surface can increase the contact area, thereby providing a better sealing effect.

[0090] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 2 As shown, the gas generator 3 has a first top cover 32 , which isolates the gas generator 3 from the upper piston assembly 2 .

[0091] The piston rod 21 abuts against the first top cover 32, so that the first top cover 32 supports and stabilizes the piston rod 21, and the piston rod 21 is enclosed between the first top cover 32 and the second top cover 11. The first top cover 32 is configured to be ruptured by the impact of the airflow to discharge the airflow and push the piston rod 21 out of the housing 1.

[0092] During operation, since the first top cover 32 abuts against the piston rod 21, the flow distance of the gas generated by the gas generator 3 toward the piston rod 21 after breaking through the first top cover 32 is relatively shortened, thereby immediately generating an airflow impact on the piston rod 21, so that the piston rod 21 can obtain a momentary large driving force, and promptly lift the hood to a preset distance, thereby providing immediate protection for pedestrians.

[0093] In another embodiment, the piston rod may not abut against the first top cover, and the piston rod is encapsulated in the piston cylinder in the assembled state.

[0094] In an optional embodiment, a groove channel 21a facing the first top cover 32 is provided at one end of the piston rod 21 abutting against the first top cover 32. The groove channel 21a is a groove structure with a bottom surface, and the internal space of the groove channel 21a is smaller than the internal space of the piston cylinder 22. The airflow generated by the gas generator 3 instantly fills the groove channel 21a, which can provide instant thrust for the piston rod 21, so that the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22 are quickly pushed out of the housing 1, and the hood is lifted in time to form a buffer zone below, so that pedestrians are protected in time.

[0095] like Figure 2 and 4 As shown, a first cap-shaped structure 212 which is buckled on the first top cover 32 is provided at one end of the piston rod 21 abutting against the first top cover 32, and an insert 213 is provided in the first cap-shaped structure 212 to form the groove channel 21a, and the first cap-shaped structure 212 also serves as the first protrusion 211 and the first stopper 41. In this way, the first cap-shaped structure 212 provides both air intake and stopper functions, so that the structure of the piston rod 21 is simple and suitable for processing and manufacturing.

[0096] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 2 As shown, the gas generator 3 is provided with an airflow channel 3a located inside the first top cover 32, and the airflow channel 3a overlaps with the projection area of ​​the groove channel 21a in the first cap-shaped structure 212 on the same cross section perpendicular to the central axis of the piston rod 21. For example, the projection area of ​​the airflow channel 3a on the cross section is located within the projection area of ​​the groove channel 21a on the same cross section. In this way, the airflow generated by the gas generator 3 is concentratedly rushed into the groove channel 21a through the airflow channel 3a, so that a large driving force can be provided to the piston rod 21 in a relatively short time.

[0097] In the optional method, such as Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the piston rod 21 is a hollow structure. By inserting an insert 213 into the first cap-shaped structure 212 to partition the internal space of the piston rod 21, a groove channel 21a ( Figure 5 is obscured and not visible).

[0098] In an optional manner, the groove channel is formed by machining. For example, when manufacturing the first cap-shaped structure, a bottom surface is designed, and the bottom surface and the first cap-shaped structure are manufactured in the same process.

[0099] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the second limiting mechanism 5 includes:

[0100] The third stopper 51 disposed on the outer wall of the piston cylinder 22 and the fourth stopper 52 disposed on the inner wall of the housing 1 ( Figure 4 The third stop portion 51 is closer to the first top cover 32 than the fourth stop portion 52.

[0101] In the assembled state, the third stopper 51 and the fourth stopper 52 are axially opposite to each other, and the third stopper 51 is closer to the first top cover 32 than the fourth stopper 52. During operation, when the piston rod 21 drives the piston cylinder 22 to move outward from the housing 1, the third stopper 51 abuts against the fourth stopper 52, so that the axial movement of the piston cylinder 22 stops.

[0102] In this embodiment, the third stopper 51 and the fourth stopper 52 are both annular structures to provide a stable and firm limiting effect.

[0103] In an optional manner, the third stop portion 51 can be in contact or near contact with the outer shell 1 to avoid forming an exhaust channel leading to the outside of the outer shell 1, thereby reducing the axial driving force on the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22, and ultimately ensuring that the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22 maintain position stability in the lifted position, thereby achieving stable protection for pedestrians.

[0104] In an optional manner, the third stop portion 51 is formed on the second outer protrusion 222 of the outer wall of the piston cylinder 22 , and the fourth stop portion 52 is formed on the second inner protrusion 13 of the inner wall of the housing 1 .

[0105] In this embodiment, the second outer protrusion 222 makes the piston cylinder 22 and the third stopper 51 an integrated structure, which can be manufactured using the same mold. The second inner protrusion 13 makes the housing 1 and the fourth stopper 52 an integrated structure, which can be manufactured using the same mold. This can reduce the manufacturing cost and facilitate assembly. Moreover, with the integrated structure, the third stopper 51 and the fourth stopper 52 have better structural stability, which improves product performance.

[0106] In another optional manner, a split structure design is adopted between the third stopper and the piston cylinder, and between the fourth stopper and the shell. For example, the third stopper is fixedly sleeved outside the piston cylinder, or the fourth stopper is embedded in the inner wall of the shell.

[0107] Continue as Figure 2 As shown, the two axially opposite stop surfaces of the third stop portion 51 and the fourth stop portion 52 serve as the third stop surface 51a and the fourth stop surface 52a respectively, and the third stop portion 51 and the fourth stop portion 52 are configured to abut against each other through the third stop surface 51a and the fourth stop surface 52a to achieve mutual limitation.

[0108] In this way, through the above-mentioned surface-to-surface contact, a good sealing effect can be provided for the airflow generated by the gas generator 3, and the preset height positions of the piston rod 21 and the piston cylinder 22 can be maintained.

[0109] Optionally, the third stop surface 51a and the fourth stop surface 52a are both inclined surfaces, and illustratively, the angle between the third stop surface 51a and the outer wall of the piston cylinder 22 is an obtuse angle, and the angle between the fourth stop surface 52a and the inner wall of the housing 1 is an obtuse angle. The inclined surface can increase the contact area, thereby providing a better sealing effect.

[0110] Continue as Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the piston cylinder 22 is formed with a second cap-shaped structure 223 buckled on the first top cover 32 as the second outer protrusion 222. In this way, the second cap-shaped structure 223 simultaneously serves as the second outer protrusion 222 and the third stopper 51, so that the structure of the piston cylinder 22 is simple and suitable for processing and manufacturing.

[0111] In an optional manner, the top of the housing 1 is designed as a narrow structure, which forms the second inner protrusion 13 .

[0112] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the first top cover 32 includes a cover portion 321 and a skirt 322 formed on the cover portion 321 . The cover portion 321 is wrapped in the piston cylinder 22 and abuts against the piston rod 21 above. The piston cylinder 22 abuts against the skirt 322 .

[0113] In this embodiment, the skirt 322 is lower than the top surface of the cover 321, so that the cover 321 is wrapped in the piston cylinder 22. Exemplarily, the cover 321 is wrapped in the second cap-like structure 223, so that the abutment position between the piston rod 21 and the cover 321 is slightly higher than the abutment position between the piston cylinder 22 and the skirt 322.

[0114] During operation, the airflow generated by the gas generator 3 breaks through the cover 321, and the piston rod 21 is first pushed upward by the force of the airflow. For example, the groove channel 21a first receives the airflow generated by the gas generator 3, so that the piston rod 21 is pushed out first.

[0115] In a corresponding scenario, the airflow generated by the gas generator 3 will also flow into the second cap-shaped structure 223 , so when the piston rod 21 moves upward, the piston cylinder 22 itself may also move upward relative to the housing 1 .

[0116] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 2 and 6As shown, the gas generator 3 further includes an igniter 31, gunpowder 33 and a bracket 34. The gunpowder 33 is filled inside the first top cover 32 and is located above the igniter 31. The igniter 31 is assembled with the bracket 34, and the bracket 34 provides installation and support for the igniter 31. The first top cover 32 covers the bracket 34.

[0117] The igniter 31 may be an electric spark igniter, which has a terminal 311 and an ignition terminal 312, wherein the terminal 311 is located at the bottom of the bracket 34 and coupled to the power system in the vehicle, and the ignition terminal 312 is located inside and points to the gunpowder 33 ( Figure 6 not shown).

[0118] In one scenario, when a vehicle hits a pedestrian, the onboard computer in the vehicle responds to the collision signal and applies an electrical signal to the igniter 31 through the terminal 311, so that the igniter 31 generates an electric spark through the ignition terminal 312, and the electric spark ignites the gunpowder 33.

[0119] The air flow channel 3a is formed in the bracket 34, and the ignition end 312 extends into the air flow channel 3a.

[0120] In the disclosed embodiment, a third sealing ring 35 is provided between the outer shell 1 and the bracket 34. The third sealing ring 35 plays a sealing role to prevent external impurities from entering the interior of the jacking device from the bottom, thereby preventing the internal structure of the jacking device from being corroded by external impurities such as water vapor.

[0121] In the optional method, such as Figure 2 and Figure 6 As shown, a fourth sealing ring 36 is provided between the igniter 31 and the bracket 34. The fourth sealing ring 36 plays a sealing role to prevent external impurities from invading the air flow channel 3a, thereby preventing the gunpowder 33 from being invading by impurities such as water vapor and becoming ineffective.

[0122] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a vehicle, in which the lifter of the above embodiment is deployed. Exemplarily, the lifter is installed at one end of the vehicle hood close to the front windshield to lift the hood.

[0123] The disclosed embodiment also provides a control method based on a vehicle equipped with the above-mentioned jacking device, and the execution subject of the control method can be an on-board computer, such as Figure 7 As shown, the control method includes the following steps:

[0124] Step 710: Detect whether the vehicle hood is hit;

[0125] Step 720: When it is detected that the hood is hit, a control signal is transmitted to the gas generator, so that the gas generator generates an airflow in response to the control signal, and the airflow is used to push the piston rod out of the outer shell. Driven by the piston rod, the piston cylinder is pushed out of the outer shell through the first limiting mechanism.

[0126] This embodiment can automatically lift the hood using the jack when the vehicle hits a pedestrian, forming a buffer area under the hood to offset the impact force on the pedestrian's head, reduce damage to the head, and play a role in protecting the pedestrian.

[0127] In an optional manner, the vehicle is provided with at least one of a pressure sensor, a collision sensor and an acceleration sensor. The corresponding sensor is used to sense an impact on the vehicle hood, and is triggered to generate an impact detection signal, which is transmitted to the on-board computer. The on-board computer determines that the hood is impacted in response to the impact detection signal and sends a control signal to the gas generator.

[0128] In another embodiment, such as an autonomous driving scenario, the vehicle is equipped with at least one of a radar system, an optical acquisition device, and an ultrasonic sensor. Exemplarily, the optical acquisition device acquires images around the vehicle, and combines image recognition technology to determine whether there is a risk of collision, and generates the above control signal when it is determined that there is a risk of collision. Exemplarily, the radar system or ultrasonic sensor is used to detect pedestrians or objects around the vehicle, and processes the detection data with the help of a machine learning method to determine whether there is a risk of collision, and generates the above control signal when it is determined that there is a risk of collision.

[0129] In one embodiment, the gas generator is an igniter having an electric spark igniter, and the control signal is an electrical signal, which triggers the igniter to ignite and generate a strong airflow.

[0130] The above contents are further detailed descriptions of the present invention in combination with specific preferred embodiments, and it cannot be determined that the specific implementation of the present invention is limited to these descriptions. For ordinary technicians in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, several simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, which should be regarded as falling within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood, characterized in that: include: Housing (1); A piston assembly (2) and a gas generator (3) are encapsulated in the housing (1), wherein the piston assembly (2) is located above the gas generator (3) and comprises a piston rod (21) and a piston cylinder (22) sleeved outside the piston rod (21), wherein the piston rod (21) is axially slidably matched with the piston cylinder (22), and the piston cylinder (22) is axially slidably matched with the housing (1); A first limiting mechanism (4) is provided between the piston rod (21) and the piston cylinder (22), wherein the first limiting mechanism (4) is configured to limit the sliding stroke of the piston rod (21) relative to the piston cylinder (22); A second limiting mechanism (5) is provided between the piston cylinder (22) and the housing (1), and the second limiting mechanism (5) is configured to limit the sliding stroke of the piston cylinder (22) relative to the housing (1); The gas generator (3) is configured to generate a gas flow under control, and utilize the gas flow to push the piston rod (21) out of the housing (1), and driven by the piston rod (21), the piston cylinder (22) is pushed out of the housing (1) through the first limiting mechanism (4).

2. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas generator (3) has a first top cover (32), and the piston rod (21) abuts against the first top cover (32); The first top cover (32) is configured to be ruptured by the impact of the airflow to allow the airflow to be discharged, thereby pushing the piston rod (21) out of the housing (1).

3. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 2, characterized in that: A groove channel (21a) facing the first top cover (32) is provided at one end of the piston rod (21) abutting against the first top cover (32).

4. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 3, characterized in that: A first cap-shaped structure (212) is formed at one end of the piston rod (21) abutting against the first top cover (32) and is buckled onto the first top cover (32). A plug-in unit (213) is provided in the first cap-shaped structure (212) to form the groove channel (21a). 。 5. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 3, characterized in that: The gas generator is provided with an air flow channel (3a) located on the inner side of the first top cover (31), and the projection area of ​​the air flow channel (3a) on a cross section perpendicular to the piston rod (21) is located within the projection area of ​​the groove channel (21a) on the cross section.

6. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first top cover (32) includes a cover portion (321) and a skirt (322) formed on the cover portion (321); the cover portion (321) is enclosed in the piston cylinder (22) and abuts against the piston rod (21) above; the piston cylinder (22) abuts against the skirt (322).

7. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first limiting mechanism (4) comprises: A first stopper (41) is arranged on the outer wall of the piston rod (21) and a second stopper (42) is arranged on the inner wall of the piston cylinder (22), wherein the first stopper (41) is closer to the gas generator (3) than the second stopper (42).

8. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first stopper (41) is formed on a first outer protrusion (211) of the outer wall of the piston rod (21), and the second stopper (42) is formed on a first inner protrusion (221) of the inner wall of the piston cylinder (22). 。 9. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second limiting mechanism (5) comprises: a third stopper (51) arranged on the outer wall of the piston cylinder (22) and a fourth stopper (52) arranged on the inner wall of the outer shell (1); the third stopper (51) is closer to the gas generator (3) than the fourth stopper (52).

10. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 9, characterized in that: The third stopper (51) is formed on a second outer protrusion (222) of the outer wall of the piston cylinder (22), and the fourth stopper (52) is formed on a second inner protrusion (13) of the inner wall of the housing (1).

11. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 10, characterized in that: The piston cylinder (22) is formed with a second cap-shaped structure (223) which is buckled onto the gas generator (3) to serve as the second outer protrusion (222).

12. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first sealing ring (23) is provided between the piston rod (21) and the piston cylinder (22), and the first sealing ring (23) is sleeved outside the piston rod (21).

13. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 12, characterized in that: A first annular groove (22a) is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the piston cylinder (22), and the first sealing ring (23) is embedded in the first annular groove (22a).

14. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 1, characterized in that: A second sealing ring (12) is provided between the piston cylinder (22) and the housing (1), and the second sealing ring (12) is sleeved outside the piston cylinder (22).

15. The lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood according to claim 14, characterized in that: A second annular groove (22b) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the piston cylinder (22), and the second sealing ring (12) is embedded in the second annular groove (22b).

16. A vehicle, characterized in that: A lifting device for lifting a vehicle hood comprising any one of claims 1-15.

17. A control method for a vehicle according to claim 16, characterized in that: include: Detect if the vehicle hood has been hit; When it is detected that the hood has been hit, a control signal is transmitted to the gas generator, causing the gas generator to generate an airflow in response to the control signal, and the airflow is used to push the piston rod (21) out of the housing (1). Driven by the piston rod (21), the piston cylinder (22) is also pushed out of the housing (1) through the first limiting mechanism (4).

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