Vehicle component access method
By unlocking the hood and grille latches and moving the grille into an accessible position, it solves the problem of hard-to-reach components in the vehicle's engine compartment, simplifies cleaning and maintenance processes, and improves operational efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510271140.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-03-11
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-07
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies make it difficult to effectively access components within a vehicle's engine compartment, such as the radiator or HVAC components, especially when blocked by a grille, making cleaning and maintenance difficult.
The grille is pivoted from the operating position to the access position by unlocking the hood latch, opening the hood, unlocking the grille latch and pulling the grille forward, providing direct access to components behind the grille.
It provides easy access to engine compartment components, simplifies cleaning and maintenance processes, and improves operational efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure CN120625992A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to accessing components of a vehicle, and more particularly to accessing components by moving a grille. Background Art
[0002] A vehicle consists of various parts. Occasionally, it may be necessary to access a part for cleaning, maintenance, or some other reason. Summary of the Invention
[0003] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access method comprising: unlocking a hood latch of a vehicle; opening the hood to access a compartment of the vehicle; unlocking a grille latch from within the compartment; and moving the grille to access components behind the grille.
[0004] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access method wherein moving the grille includes pulling the grille forward from the vehicle.
[0005] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access method wherein the unlocking of the hood latch is performed from within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
[0006] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access method, wherein moving the grille includes pivoting the grille from an operational position to an access position.
[0007] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access method wherein moving the grille includes pivoting the grille about a bottom lower edge of the grille.
[0008] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access method wherein the grille directs air flow to the component.
[0009] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access method in which the grille latch is not accessible from outside the compartment.
[0010] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access method, wherein the compartment includes an engine compartment.
[0011] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method of accessing a vehicle component, wherein the component is a radiator.
[0012] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method of accessing a vehicle component, wherein the component is an HVAC component.
[0013] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access system, comprising: a hood movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the hood in the closed position covers an opening to an engine compartment of a vehicle so that the engine compartment is not accessible through the opening, and when the hood is in the open position, the engine compartment is accessible through the opening; a grille movable between an operative position and an accessible position; and a grille latch that holds the grille in the operative position when the grille latch is engaged, and wherein the grille is movable from the operative position to the accessible position when the grille latch is disengaged, the grille being accessible from within the engine compartment.
[0014] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access system in which the grille is pivotally coupled to another portion of the vehicle.
[0015] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access system that also includes at least one damper connected to the grille and other portions of the vehicle.
[0016] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access system that also includes an actuator for the grille latch, the actuator being located within the engine compartment.
[0017] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access system in which the grille latch is accessible from within the engine compartment when the hood is in the open position.
[0018] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access system wherein the grille is at a front end of the vehicle.
[0019] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access system that also includes a component behind the grille, the component being accessible when the grille is in the access position.
[0020] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access system, wherein the component is an HVAC component.
[0021] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access system, wherein the component is a radiator.
[0022] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle component access system that also includes an actuator for a hood latch disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
[0023] The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, claims or following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or corresponding individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in conjunction with one embodiment apply to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] According to the detailed description, various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The drawings accompanying the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
[0025] Figure 1 A side view of a vehicle is shown with a hood and grille.
[0026] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A vehicle with the hood in the open position and the grille in the reached position.
[0027] Figure 3 Shown Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the height of the vehicle.
[0028] Figure 4 A flow chart of an exemplary vehicle component access method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] This disclosure details a method for accessing vehicle components involving moving a vehicle grille. Moving the grille provides access to components behind the grille. Access to the component may be required so that the component can be cleaned. For example, the component may be a radiator.
[0030] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the exemplary vehicle 10 includes a passenger compartment 14 and an engine compartment 18 . Figure 1 The hood 22 is shown in a closed position, with the hood 22 covering the engine compartment 18 . Figure 2 The hood is shown in an open position to provide access to the engine compartment 18 .
[0031] A grille 26 is provided at a front end 28 of the vehicle 10. Behind the grille 26 is a component 30 of the vehicle 10. In the exemplary embodiment, the component 30 is a radiator of the vehicle 10. In another example, the component 30 may be another type of component, such as another heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) component.
[0032] Figure 1 The grille 26 is shown in an operational position, which is how the grille 26 is positioned during normal operation. In this position, the grille 26 directs air flow to the component 30 when in the operational position.
[0033] The grille 26 in the operating position blocks access to the component 30. Sometimes, it may be necessary to access the component 30. For example, the component may need to be cleaned. Therefore, in this example, the grille 26 can be opened from the Figure 1 The operating position shown is pivoted to Figure 2 In the access position, the components 30 can be accessed for cleaning, repair, inspection, etc. without being blocked by the grille 26.
[0034] The hinges 34 can couple the grille 26 to another portion of the vehicle 10. In this example, two hinges 34 pivotally connect the grille 26 to another portion of the vehicle 10. Figure 1 The operating position moves to Figure 2 The access position involves pivoting the exemplary grille 26 about the bottom lower edge 38 of the grille 26 .
[0035] One or more lifting supports or dampers support the grille 26 in the Figure 2 The reach position and helps control the movement of the grille 26 back and forth between the operating position and the reach position.
[0036] The grille latch 42 maintains the grille 26 in an operating position when locked. The grille latch 42 includes an actuator 46 that can be manipulated by a user to transition the grille latch 42 from a locked state to an unlocked state. Notably, at least the actuator 46 of the grille latch 42 is disposed within the engine compartment 18.
[0037] The actuator 46 may be, for example, a release lever that a user wishing to move the grille 26 to the accessible position must actuate to release the grille latch 42 so that the grille 26 can pivot from the operative position to the accessible position. Assuming the grille latch 42 is unlocked, the grille 26 may be moved to the accessible position in response to the user pulling the grille 26 forward from the vehicle 10.
[0038] In this example, the actuator 46 for the grille latch 42 is not accessible from outside the engine compartment 18. Keeping the actuator 46 for the grille latch 42 within the engine compartment 18 means that a user wishing to move the grille 26 to the access position must be able to access the engine compartment 18, which requires opening the hood 22.
[0039] In this example, the hood latch 50 holds the hood 22 in place. Figure 1 If it is desired to access the engine compartment 18, the hood latch 50 must be released so that the hood 22 can be pivoted to the closed position. Figure 2 location.
[0040] While the actuator 46 of the grille latch 42 is within the engine compartment 18 in this example, in other examples, the hood latch 50 may be located in other compartments of the vehicle 10. For example, the vehicle 10 may be a purely electric vehicle with a trunk, and the actuator may be located within the trunk.
[0041] Now refer to Figure 3 And continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this example, the actuator 54 for the hood latch 50 is disposed within the passenger compartment 14. Thus, in this example, transitioning the hood latch 50 to the disengaged position requires access to the passenger compartment 14, and in particular, the actuator 54 within the passenger compartment 14.
[0042] In the exemplary embodiment, releasing the hood latch 50 occurs by an authorized user (those who have access to the passenger compartment 14). Because the hood latch 50 is actuated by an authorized user, the actuator 46 for the grille latch 42 is only accessible to the authorized user. This is because the hood 22 needs to be opened to access the actuator 46 for the grille latch 42.
[0043] In other examples, the actuator 54 for the hood latch 50 may be external to the passenger compartment 14, but may still require some degree of authorization. For example, such an actuator may be a virtual actuator on a user's smartphone or key fob.
[0044] Now refer to Figure 4 The exemplary vehicle component access method 100 begins at step 104, which includes unlocking a hood latch of a vehicle. Next, at step 108, the method 100 opens the hood to access the vehicle's cabin. At step 112, the method 100 includes unlocking a grille latch from within the cabin. Then, at step 116, the method 100 moves the grille to access components behind the grille.
[0045] The foregoing description is illustrative rather than restrictive in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and such variations and modifications do not necessarily depart from the essence of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection afforded to the present disclosure should be determined solely by studying the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for accessing a vehicle component, comprising: Unlock the vehicle's hood latch; opening the hood to access the compartment of said vehicle; unlocking the grille latch from within said compartment; as well as Move the grille to access components behind it. 2 . The vehicle component access method of claim 1 , wherein the unlocking of the hood latch is performed from within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. 3 . The vehicle component access method of claim 1 , wherein moving the grille comprises pivoting the grille from an operative position to an access position, and optionally, wherein moving the grille comprises pulling the grille forward from the vehicle. 4 . The vehicle component access method of claim 1 , wherein moving the grille comprises pivoting the grille about a bottom lower edge of the grille. The vehicle component access method of claim 1 , wherein the grille directs air flow to the component.
6. The vehicle component access method of claim 1 , wherein the grille latch is inaccessible from outside the compartment, and optionally, wherein the compartment is an engine compartment.
7. The vehicle component access method of claim 1, wherein the component is a HVAC component, and optionally, wherein the component is a radiator.
8. A vehicle component access system comprising: an engine hood movable between a closed position covering an opening to an engine compartment of the vehicle so that the engine compartment is inaccessible through the opening and an open position wherein the engine compartment is accessible through the opening; a grille movable between an operative position and an access position; as well as A grille latch holds the grille in the operational position when the grille latch is engaged, the grille being movable from the operational position to the access position when the grille latch is disengaged, the grille latch being accessible from within the engine compartment.
9. The vehicle component access system of claim 8, wherein the grille is pivotally coupled to another portion of the vehicle.
10. The vehicle component access system of claim 9, further comprising at least one damper connected to the grille and other portions of the vehicle.
11. The vehicle component access system of claim 8, further comprising an actuator for the grille latch, the actuator being located within the engine compartment.
12. The vehicle component access system of claim 8, wherein the grille latch is accessible from within an engine compartment when the hood is in the open position.
13. The vehicle component access system of claim 8, wherein the grille is at a front end of the vehicle.
14. The vehicle component access system of claim 8, further comprising a component behind the grille, the component being accessible when the grille is in the access position.
15. The vehicle component access system of claim 8, further comprising an actuator for a hood latch, the actuator being disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.