Pedestrian protection hinge self-recovery system for automobile
By combining lever hooks and push-pull electromagnets, the problem of existing automotive pedestrian protection hinges being unreusable and structurally complex has been solved. This design enables repeated triggering of pedestrian protection hinges and simplifies the structure, reducing costs and improving sensitivity and stability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- WINTECH AUTOMOTIVE TECH (SHANGHAI) CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing automotive pedestrian protection hinge systems are not reusable, require independent drive components, and have complex structures, resulting in high costs and difficult maintenance.
The design employs a combination of lever hook, push-pull electromagnet, and lifting unit. The push-pull electromagnet drives the lever hook to achieve repeated triggering of the pedestrian protection hinge. It also shares the drive components with the normally open hood, simplifying the mechanism structure.
The pedestrian protection hinge features a repeatable trigger function, which reduces costs and simplifies the structure while improving sensitivity and stability and providing a buffering effect.
Smart Images
Figure CN122034897A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of pedestrian protection hinges, specifically relating to a self-retracting system for a pedestrian protection hinge for automobiles. Background Technology
[0002] Pedestrian protection hinges in automobiles typically refer to a combination hinge structure installed on the engine hood section. This combination hinge structure can elastically expand and contract. When a car collides with a pedestrian, the pedestrian protection hinge is triggered by a pyrotechnic actuator or detonator to rapidly expand, thereby lifting the hood. When a pedestrian collides with the hood, the hood absorbs the impact energy, preventing personal injury to the pedestrian.
[0003] Chinese invention patent (CN107650856B) discloses a hinge device with an integrated pedestrian protection device for a front hood, i.e., an application scheme of such a pedestrian protection hinge system. The integrated pedestrian protection device includes a fastening device on the hood side, which is hingedly connected to a fastening device on the vehicle body side via a linkage device with a limiting rod. The hood-side fastening device has an upper hinge portion and a coupling device. The vehicle body-side fastening device has at least one locking device, which engages with the coupling device and locks the hood in normal operation or unlocks it in the event of a collision using a pyrotechnic actuator. The pyrotechnic actuator is arranged such that it engages with the locking device and the limiting rod. The pyrotechnic actuator has a housing containing an axially movable piston rod and an ignition device for triggering the piston rod. The piston rod has a free end hinged to the locking device. The housing has an outer end opposite to and hinged to the limiting rod. This solution effectively prevents pedestrian injury in the event of a collision between a car and a pedestrian.
[0004] However, in long-term practical application, this type of solution has also revealed the following shortcomings: 1. The work of the pyrotechnic actuator or detonator depends on the explosion of the internally encapsulated gunpowder. Therefore, the pedestrian protection hinge can only achieve its effect through a single trigger and cannot be reused. 2. Due to the aforementioned inability to reuse, the trigger drive component of the pedestrian protection hinge and the drive component for normally opening the hood must be set up independently, thus requiring different drive components. 3. As mentioned in the aforementioned literature, if the hinge mechanism is to achieve a stable and more sensitive convergence effect, the structure of the hinge mechanism is correspondingly more complex, and the manufacturing and fitting precision requirements of the components are also correspondingly increased, resulting in higher costs for later debugging and maintenance, and thus higher overall costs. Summary of the Invention
[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a self-retracting system for a pedestrian protection hinge in automobiles. This system can repeatedly trigger the pedestrian protection hinge to achieve pedestrian protection, and it can share the same drive components as the normally opened hood. Furthermore, while achieving a stable and more sensitive opening and closing effect, the structure is also significantly simplified.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A self-retracting system for pedestrian protection hinges in automobiles includes a pedestrian protection hinge, which comprises a body connector, a central hinge rod, and a hood connector. The body connector is fixedly connected to the vehicle body. The central hinge rod and the hood connector are hinged at their ends. The hood connector is fixedly connected to the hood. The system also includes a lever hook, hinged to the central hinge rod via a hook torsion spring, and the lever hook is rotatable relative to the central hinge rod. The lever hook has a hook portion that engages with the hood connector via the hook portion. A push-pull electromagnet is installed inside the vehicle body and has a movable iron core facing the hood connector, with the free end of the movable iron core coupled to the lever hook. A lifting unit includes a lifting gas spring installed inside the vehicle body, the lifting gas spring having an engagement point facing... The hood connector has a movable piston, with its free end positioned on the hood connector. A hook pin is formed on the hood connector, and the hook part and hook pin engage. The hook part also has a sliding surface facing the hood connector. When the push-pull electromagnet is energized, it drives the lever hook lever to rotate, thereby decoupling the hook part and hook pin. The hood connector is then driven by the lifting unit, causing it to rotate relative to the intermediate hinge rod, lifting the hood. When the push-pull electromagnet is de-energized, the lever hook returns to its original position via the hook torsion spring. When the hood receives an external force towards the body connector, the hook pin moves to the sliding surface and drives the lever hook lever to rotate, until the hook part and hook pin engage, and the hood returns to its original position.
[0007] Preferably, the intermediate hinge rod has a first setting post parallel to the hook pin, the hook torsion spring is sleeved on the first setting post, one torsion arm of the hook torsion spring is coupled to the intermediate hinge rod, the other torsion arm abuts against the surface of the lever hook, and the lever hook is located between the hook torsion spring and the intermediate hinge rod.
[0008] Furthermore, the lever hook also has a drive arm and a reset arm as the two ends of the lever rotation. The drive arm is coupled to the free end of the moving iron core, and the torsion arm that abuts against the lever hook is used as the abutting torsion arm. The free end of the abutting torsion arm forms a folding section. The folding section is pre-tightly abutted against the surface of the reset arm. When the hook part and the hook pin are decoupled, the reset arm rotates against the pre-tightening force of the folding section. When the push-pull electromagnet is de-energized, the reset arm rotates to reset under the elastic recovery of the folding section.
[0009] Furthermore, the direction from the hook torsion spring perpendicular to the middle hinge rod is taken as the hook rod coincidence direction. The reset arm forms a locking step along the hook rod coincidence direction. The folding section cooperates with the locking step, thereby abutting the torsion arm and limiting it between the locking step and the middle hinge rod along the hook rod coincidence direction.
[0010] Furthermore, the drive arm forms a coupling plate portion, which extends away from the first setting post, and the free end of the moving iron core is fixedly connected to the coupling plate portion.
[0011] Preferably, the hood connector is hinged to the intermediate hinge rod via the second setting post, and the lifting unit also includes a convergent torsion spring, which is sleeved on the second setting post. One torsion arm of the convergent torsion spring is coupled to the intermediate hinge rod, and the other torsion arm is pre-tightly abutted against the surface of the hood connector.
[0012] Furthermore, the lifting unit also includes a spring pin assembly, which is disposed on the intermediate hinge rod. The hinge ends of the spring pin assembly, the intermediate hinge rod, and the hood connector are respectively located on opposite sides of the first setting post. The spring pin assembly includes an elastic pin, which faces the hood connector and is elastically extendable relative to the intermediate hinge rod. The free end of the elastic pin is pre-tightly abutted against the hood connector.
[0013] Preferably, the hood connector also has a limiting arc-shaped hole, and a third setting post is formed on the intermediate hinge rod. The third setting post is fitted and movably set in the limiting arc-shaped hole. When the hood connector rotates with the intermediate hinge rod, the third setting post moves relative to the limiting arc-shaped hole.
[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. Because the self-retracting system of the pedestrian protection hinge of the present invention includes a pedestrian protection hinge, a lever hook, a lever hook, and a lifting unit, the pedestrian protection hinge includes a body connecting member, a middle hinge rod, and a hood connecting member, the lever hook is hinged to the middle hinge rod by a hook torsion spring, the lever hook has a hooking part, the push-pull electromagnet has a movable iron core with a free end coupled to the lever hook, the lifting unit includes a lifting gas spring, a hooking pin is formed on the hood connecting member, the hooking part and the hooking pin are hooked together, the hooking part also has a sliding surface toward the hood connecting member, when the push-pull electromagnet is energized, the push-pull electromagnet drives the lever hook lever to rotate, thereby decoupling the hooking part and the hooking pin, thereby the hood connecting member is driven by the lifting unit, and then the hood connecting member is hinged to rotate relative to the middle hinge rod, and the hood is lifted; when the push-pull electromagnet is de-energized, the lever hook is driven to rotate by the hook hook. When the hood receives an external force towards the vehicle body connector, the hook pin moves to the sliding surface and drives the lever hook to rotate until the hook part and the hook pin engage, thus resetting the hood. Since this invention triggers the pedestrian protection hinge by pushing and pulling an electromagnet (the electromagnet's action cycle can reach 3 milliseconds), the pedestrian protection hinge can be triggered repeatedly. Based on this design, the lifting gas spring can be used not only for triggering the pedestrian protection hinge but also for automatically triggering the normal opening of the hood. Furthermore, the structure is relatively simple. Therefore, this invention can repeatedly trigger the pedestrian protection hinge to achieve pedestrian protection, and can share the same driving component as the normal opening of the hood. While achieving a stable and more sensitive opening and closing effect, the mechanism is also significantly simplified.
[0015] 2. Because the lever hook of the present invention also has a drive arm and a reset arm as the two ends of the lever rotation, the drive arm is coupled to the free end of the moving iron core, and the torsion arm that abuts against the lever hook is used as the abutting torsion arm. The free end of the abutting torsion arm forms a folded section, and the folded section is pre-tightly abutted against the surface of the reset arm. When the hook part and the hook pin are decoupled, the reset arm rotates against the pre-tightening force of the folded section. When the push-pull electromagnet is de-energized, the reset arm rotates under the elastic recovery of the folded section. Therefore, the folded section of the present invention forms a continuous "U" shape with the other abutting torsion arms at the free end of the abutting torsion arm, thereby realizing that the abutting torsion arm pre-tightens against the reset arm in the opposite direction of the lever hook engagement direction.
[0016] 3. In this invention, the direction from the hook torsion spring perpendicular to the middle hinge is taken as the hook rod coincidence direction. The reset arm has a locking step along the hook rod coincidence direction, and the folding section cooperates with the locking step, so that the abutting torsion arm is limited between the locking step and the middle hinge rod along the hook rod coincidence direction. Therefore, in this invention, the abutting torsion arm can maintain its stable positioning in the mechanism structure in the mechanical impact vibration caused by the movement of the pedestrian protection hinge.
[0017] 4. Because the hood connector of the present invention is hinged to the intermediate hinge rod through the second setting post, and the lifting unit also includes a convergent torsion spring, which is sleeved on the second setting post, one torsion arm of the convergent torsion spring is coupled to the intermediate hinge rod, and the other torsion arm is pre-tightly abutted against the surface of the hood connector, the present invention further enhances the triggering drive speed of the pedestrian protection hinge through the elastic force of the convergent torsion spring, and provides a buffering effect for the pedestrian protection hinge, making pedestrian protection effective and safe.
[0018] 5. Because the lifting unit of the present invention also includes a spring pin assembly, which is disposed on the intermediate hinge rod, and the hinge ends of the spring pin assembly, the intermediate hinge rod, and the hood connector are respectively located on opposite sides of the first setting post, the spring pin assembly includes an elastic pin, which faces the hood connector and can elastically extend and retract relative to the intermediate hinge rod. The free end of the elastic pin is pre-tightly abutted against the hood connector, and the free end of the elastic pin is always elastically abutted against the hood connector throughout the entire process of lifting the hood to the highest position. Therefore, the present invention, through the setting of the elastic pin, not only further enhances the triggering and driving speed of the pedestrian protection hinge, but also provides a stable, effective, and easily precisely controlled buffering effect for the pedestrian protection hinge, making pedestrian protection more effective and safer. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a self-retracting automotive pedestrian protection hinge system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a pedestrian protection hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] Figure 3(a) is a schematic diagram of the intermediate hinge, lever hook, and hood connector of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 .
[0022] Figure 3(b) is a schematic diagram of the intermediate hinge, lever hook, and hood connector of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .
[0023] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of Figure 3.
[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the cooperation between the lever hook and the hook torsion spring in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of a spring pin assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] Figure 7(a) is an operational state diagram (convergence state) of the self-retracting hinge system for vehicle pedestrian protection according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] Figure 7(b) is an operational state diagram (unhooked state) of the self-retracting system of the car pedestrian protection hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] Figure 7(c) is a diagram of the operation state (retraction motion state) of the self-retracting system of the car pedestrian protection hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] In the diagram: 100, Self-retracting system for pedestrian protection hinges; 10, Pedestrian protection hinge; 11, Dual rocker mechanism; 111, Body connector; 112, Rocker arm; 113, Intermediate hinge; 113a, First setting post; 113b, Third setting post; 113c, Fitting fold; 12, Hood connector; 12a, Hook pin; 12b, Second setting post; 12c, Top abutment fold; 12d, Limiting arc hole; 20, Lever hook; D, Hook-rod overlap direction; 20a, Hook part; 20b, Sliding surface; 20c, Drive arm. 20d, Coupling plate; 20e, Reset arm; 20f, Snap-fit step; 21, Hook torsion spring; 21a, Abutting torsion arm; 21b, Fold-back section; 21c, Interference extension section; 30, Push-pull electromagnet; 31, Moving iron core; 40, Lifting unit; 41, Lifting gas spring; 411, Moving piston; 42, Converging torsion spring; 43, Spring pin assembly; 43A, Assembly housing; 431, Elastic pin; 431a, Top head; 432, Lifting spring; 433, Damping inner cylinder; 433a, First opening; 433b, Second opening. Detailed Implementation
[0030] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of the present invention easier to understand, the following embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, specifically illustrate the self-retracting system of the car pedestrian protection hinge of the present invention. It should be noted that the description of these embodiments is for the purpose of helping to understand the present invention, but does not constitute a limitation of the present invention.
[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle pedestrian protection hinge self-retraction system 100 in this embodiment is located between the front hood and the body (the body part corresponding to the engine compartment, the same below), and includes a pedestrian protection hinge 10, a lever hook 20, a push-pull electromagnet 30, and a lifting unit 40.
[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, the pedestrian protection hinge 100 includes a double rocker mechanism 11 and a hood connector 12.
[0033] The dual rocker mechanism 11 includes a body connector 111, a rocker arm 112, and an intermediate hinge 113.
[0034] The body connector 111 is fixedly connected to the body. There are two rocker arms 112. One end of each rocker arm 112 is hinged to the body connector 111, and the other end is hinged to the intermediate hinge rod 113. Specifically, the body connector 111, the rocker arms 112, and part of the intermediate hinge rod 113 form a closed quadrilateral.
[0035] As shown in Figure 3(a) to Figure 4 As shown, the intermediate hinge 113 is hinged to the hood connector 12 at its end. The intermediate hinge 113 has a first setting post 113a, a third setting post 113b, and a fitting folded edge 113c. Specifically, the third setting post 113b and the fitting folded edge 113c are located on opposite sides of the first setting post 113a. The first setting post 113a and the third setting post 113b extend in parallel and opposite directions. The third setting post 113b extends toward the hood connector 12, and the first setting post 113a is closer to the body connector 111 than the third setting post 113b. The edge of the intermediate hinge 113 away from the body connector 111 is bent at a right angle to form the fitting folded edge 113c, and the fitting folded edge 113c has a through hole (not shown in the figure).
[0036] The hood connector 12 is parallel and adjacent to the intermediate hinge rod 113. The hood connector 12 has a hook pin 12a, a second setting post 12b, a top abutment folded edge 12c, and a limiting arc waist hole 12d.
[0037] The hook pin 12a extends parallel to the first setting pin 113a in the same direction. The hood connector 12 is connected to the intermediate hinge rod 113 by the end hinge through the second setting pin 12b. The third setting pin 113b is fitted and movably set in the limiting arc waist hole 12d. When the hood connector 12 and the intermediate hinge rod 113 are hinged and rotated, the third setting pin 113b moves relative to each other in the limiting arc waist hole 12d.
[0038] Specifically, the hook pin 12a is closer to the hood than the first setting pin 113a and is located next to the first setting pin 113a. The second setting pin 12b extends parallel to the hook pin 12a in the same direction. The end of the intermediate hinge 113 corresponding to the second setting pin 12b is away from the fitting fold 113c. The edge of the hood connector 12 away from the body connector 111 is bent at a right angle to form a top abutment fold 12c. The hood connector 12 is fixedly connected to the hood through the top abutment fold 12c. The through hole of the fitting fold 113c points to the top abutment fold 12c. The limiting arc waist hole 12d is located between the hook pin 12a and the second setting pin 12b. The limiting arc waist hole 12d extends in an arc with the extension axis of the second setting pin 12b as the axis of rotation.
[0039] like Figure 5As shown, the lever hook 20 is hinged to the intermediate hinge rod 113a via the hook torsion spring 21, and the lever hook 20 can rotate relative to the intermediate hinge rod 113a. The lever hook 20, the intermediate hinge rod 113, and the hood connector 12 are sequentially parallel and adjacent. The circumference of the lever hook 20 is formed with a hook portion 20a, a drive arm 20c, and a return arm 20e that are all curved and extended, thus forming a three-curved branch shape. The direction from the hook torsion spring 21 perpendicular to the intermediate hinge rod 113 is taken as the hook rod coincidence direction D. Specifically, the transition contours of the drive arm 20c and the return arm 20e form a notch for the intermediate hinge rod 113a to pass through. The hook portion 20a is farther away from the first setting post 113a than the body connector 111. The hook portion 20a extends toward the hood connector 12 and engages with the hook pin 12a. The hook portion 20a has a sliding surface 20b toward the hood connector. Specifically, the hook portion 20a is hook-shaped, and the vertical line of the sliding surface 20b forms an acute angle with the circumferential direction of the lever hook 20. When the sliding surface 20b is subjected to a force toward the first setting post 113a, the force drives the lever hook 20 to rotate, and the rotation is the disengagement rotation direction of the hook portion 20a and the hook pin 12a.
[0040] The drive arm 20c and the reset arm 20e form the two ends of the lever hook 20, respectively.
[0041] The drive arm 20c forms a coupling plate portion 20d by folding, the coupling plate portion 20d extends away from the first setting post 113a, and the reset arm 20e has a snap-fit step 20f formed along the hook rod overlapping direction D.
[0042] The hook torsion spring 21 is sleeved on the first setting post 113a, and the lever hook 20 is located between the hook torsion spring 21 and the intermediate hinge rod 113.
[0043] One torsion arm of the hook torsion spring 21 is coupled to the intermediate hinge rod 113, and the other torsion arm abuts against the surface of the lever hook 20. The torsion arm abutting against the lever hook 20 serves as the abutting torsion arm 21a. The free end of the abutting torsion arm 21a forms a fold-back section 21b. The fold-back section 21b is pre-tightly abutted against the surface of the reset arm 20e. Thus, when the hook part 20a and the hook pin 12a disengage, the reset arm 20e rotates against the elastic pre-tightening force of the fold-back section 21b. Specifically, one torsion arm of the hook torsion spring 21 is inserted into the intermediate hinge rod 113, and the fold-back section 21b and the remaining abutting torsion arms 21a are located on opposite sides of the reset arm 20e. The pre-tightening elastic recovery direction of the fold-back section 21b is opposite to the disengagement rotation direction of the hook part 20a and the hook pin 12a.
[0044] The folded section 21b engages with the locking step 20f, thereby abutting the torsion arm 21 and limiting it between the locking step 20f and the intermediate hinge rod 113 along the hook rod coincident direction D. Specifically, because the folded section 21b is blocked by the locking step 20f, it cannot disengage from the locking step 20f and the intermediate hinge rod 113 even under the influence of external vibration. The free end of the folded section 21b also extends to form an interference extension section 21c. The interference extension section 21c corresponds to the intermediate hinge rod 113 along the hook rod coincident direction D. That is, the intermediate hinge rod 113 blocks and limits the interference extension section 21c in the hook rod coincident direction D.
[0045] The push-pull electromagnet 30 is installed inside the vehicle body and has a movable iron core 31 extending toward the hood connector 12. The free end of the movable iron core 31 is fixedly connected to the coupling plate portion 20d of the lever hook 21. Specifically, when the push-pull electromagnet 30 is energized, the movable iron core 31 moves rapidly away from the hood connector 12, driving the drive arm 20c to rotate. The reset arm 20e rotates against the elastic preload of the folding section 21b, thereby causing the hook portion 20a and the hook pin 12a to disengage and rotate. When the push-pull electromagnet 30 is de-energized, the reset arm 20e rotates to reset under the elastic recovery of the folding section 21b.
[0046] The lifting unit 40 includes a lifting gas spring 41, a retractable torsion spring 42, and a spring pin assembly 43.
[0047] A lifting gas spring 40 is installed inside the vehicle body. The lifting gas spring 40 has a movable piston 411 extending toward the hood connector 12, and the free end of the movable piston 411 is fixedly mounted on the hood connector 12. When the hook part 20a and the hook pin 12a disengage, the movable piston 411 of the lifting gas spring 40 moves rapidly toward the hood. Specifically, the lifting gas spring 40 is used for both triggering the pedestrian protection system 100 and driving the normal opening of the hood. When used for triggering the pedestrian protection system 100, the hook part 20a and the hook pin... When the pin 12a disengages, the gas spring 40 lifts up, causing the hood connector 12 to hinge and unfold relative to the intermediate hinge rod 113. The hood connector 12 flips and lifts up along a predetermined rotation direction, and one end of the hood near the front window lifts up. When the hood is opened normally, the hook part 20a and the hook pin 12a do not disengage. The hood and body near the front of the car are unlocked. The gas spring 40 lifts up, causing the hood connector 12 and the intermediate hinge rod 113 to be connected together. The hood connector 12 flips and lifts up in the opposite direction along a predetermined rotation direction, and one end of the hood near the front of the car lifts up.
[0048] The torsion spring 42 is sleeved on the second mounting post 12b. One torsion arm of the torsion spring 42 is coupled to the intermediate hinge rod 113, and the other torsion arm is pre-tightly abutted against the surface of the hood connector 12. Specifically, the other torsion arm of the torsion spring 42 is pre-tightly abutted against the top abutment fold 12c. When the hook part 20a and the hook pin 12a are disengaged, the torsion spring 42 does work on the top abutment fold 12c through the pre-tightening force, causing the hood connector 12 to bounce away from the body connector 111 and move, forming a buffer for pedestrian protection. In addition, when the torsion spring 42 is used as an elastic buffer, it has a large energy storage density per unit volume, so the buffer acceleration is large in the initial stage of buffering.
[0049] like Figure 6 As shown, the spring pin assembly 43 is disposed on the intermediate hinge rod 113, and the hinge ends of the spring pin assembly 43, the intermediate hinge rod 113 and the hood connector 12 are respectively located on opposite sides of the first mounting post 113a. Specifically, the spring pin assembly 43 is located near the front window of the vehicle.
[0050] The spring pin assembly 43 includes an elastic pin 431, which extends toward the hood connector 12 and is elastically telescopic relative to the intermediate hinge 113. The free end of the elastic pin 431 is pre-tightly abutted against the hood connector 12.
[0051] Specifically, the spring pin assembly 43 also includes an assembly housing 43A, a lifting spring 432, and a damping inner cylinder 433. Both the damping inner cylinder 433 and the assembly housing 43A are hollow. The assembly housing 43A is fitted around the outer periphery of the damping inner cylinder 433, forming an integral structure fixed on the fitting flange 113c. The damping inner cylinder 433 has a first opening 433a and a second opening 433b with corresponding lines. The first opening 433a is connected to a through hole, and the second opening 433b is open to the interior of the assembly housing 43A. The elastic pin 431 is located in the assembly housing. Inside 43A, the elastic pin 431 passes through the second opening 433b, so that the two ends of the elastic pin 431 are located inside and outside the damping inner cylinder 433, respectively. The top head 431a is located at the end of the elastic pin 431. The outer contour of the top head 431a matches the inner wall of the damping inner cylinder 433, and the top head 431a corresponds to the first opening 433a. The lifting spring 432 is sleeved on the periphery of the elastic pin 431. The two ends of the lifting spring 432 are pre-tightened and abut against the inner wall of the damping inner cylinder 433 near the top head 431a and the second opening 433b, respectively.
[0052] Specifically, when the hook part 20a and the hook pin 12a are disengaged, the elastic pin 431, under the elastic restoring force of the lifting spring 432, causes the top head 431a to move rapidly towards the top folding edge 12c through the through hole of the fitting folding edge 113c, and push against the hood connector 12 to do work, causing the hood connector 12 to bounce away from the body connector 111, forming a buffer for pedestrian protection. In addition, by setting the damping coefficient of the elastic pin 431 and the second opening 433b, and setting the damping coefficient of the top head 431a and the inner wall of the damping inner cylinder 433, the damping consumption of the buffer energy by the spring pin assembly 43 can be set, thereby reducing the mechanical impact of the buffer energy on the system, and the buffer stroke can be conveniently set.
[0053] As shown in Figures 7(a) to 7(c), the operation of the vehicle pedestrian protection hinge self-retraction system 100 will be described below with reference to the embodiments: When the push-pull electromagnet 30 is energized, it drives the lever hook 20 to rotate, thereby decoupling and disengaging the hook part 20a and the hook pin 12a. As a result, the hood connector 12 is driven by the lifting unit 40. That is, the lifting gas spring 41 drives the hood connector 12, the contraction spring 42 releases the elastic preload to lift the hood connector 12, and the elastic pin 431 releases the elastic preload to lift the hood connector 12. Together, the hood connector 12 obtains the initial acceleration of the spring. The vehicle pedestrian protection hinge self-retraction system 100 changes from the contraction state to the disengagement state, as shown in Figures 7(a) to 7(b).
[0054] When the hood connector 12 is continuously hinged and rotated relative to the middle hinge rod 113, and the hood is lifted to the predetermined position, at least the free end of the elastic pin 431 elastically abuts against the abutting folded edge 12c, thereby forming a buffer and realizing the pedestrian protection function. Then, the push-pull electromagnet 30 is de-energized, and the lever hook 20 is reset and rotated through the hook torsion spring 21. At this time, the hook pin 12a is located between the abutting folded edge 12c and the sliding surface 20b.
[0055] When the pedestrian protection hinge 10 is retracted, the hood is subjected to an external force toward the body connector 111 (usually a person pressing down on the hood). The hood connector 12 drives the hook pin 12a to move continuously toward the body connector 111. When the hook pin 12a makes line contact with the sliding surface 20b and generates a vertical pressure on the sliding surface 20b through a component force, the vertical pressure drives the lever hook 20 to overcome the pre-tight elastic force of the abutting torsion arm 21a and rotate, i.e., Figure 7(c), until the hook pin 12a slides from the end of the hook part 20a into the hook part 20a, realizing the hook engagement with the hook part 20a. At this time, the pedestrian protection hinge self-retraction system 100 returns to the convergent state, and the hood also resets and closes onto the vehicle body.
[0056] The above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Various modifications or variations that can be made by those skilled in the art without creative effort within the scope of the appended claims are still within the scope of protection of this patent.
Claims
1. A self-retracting system for a pedestrian protection hinge, comprising a pedestrian protection hinge, the pedestrian protection hinge including a body connecting member, a central hinge rod, and a hood connecting member, wherein the body connecting member is fixedly connected to the body, the central hinge rod is hinged to the hood connecting member at its end, and the hood connecting member is fixedly connected to the hood of the vehicle, characterized in that, Also includes: A lever hook is hinged to the intermediate hinge rod via a hook torsion spring, and the lever hook is rotatable relative to the intermediate hinge rod. The lever hook has a hook portion, and the lever hook can be engaged with the hood connector through the hook portion. A push-pull electromagnet, installed inside the vehicle body, has a movable iron core that moves toward the hood connector, and the free end of the movable iron core is coupled to the lever hook. The lifting unit includes a lifting gas spring disposed within the vehicle body, the lifting gas spring having a movable piston moving toward the hood connector, and the free end of the movable piston being disposed on the hood connector. The hood connector has a hook pin, and the hook part and the hook pin engage. The hook part also has a sliding surface facing the hood connector. When the push-pull electromagnet is energized, it drives the lever hook to rotate, thereby decoupling the hook part and the hook pin. The hood connector is then driven by the lifting unit, and the hood connector rotates relative to the intermediate hinge rod, lifting the hood. When the push-pull electromagnet is de-energized, the lever hook is reset by the hook torsion spring. When the hood receives an external force towards the body connector, the hook pin moves to the sliding surface and drives the lever hook to rotate, until the hook part and the hook pin engage, and the hood is reset.
2. The self-retracting system for pedestrian protection hinges in automobiles according to claim 1, characterized in that: in, The intermediate hinge rod has a first setting post parallel to the hook pin, the hook torsion spring is sleeved on the first setting post, one torsion arm of the hook torsion spring is coupled to the intermediate hinge rod, the other torsion arm abuts against the surface of the lever hook, and the lever hook is located between the hook torsion spring and the intermediate hinge rod.
3. The self-retracting system for pedestrian protection hinges in automobiles according to claim 2, characterized in that: in, The lever hook also has a drive arm and a reset arm as the two ends of the lever rotation, the drive arm being coupled to the free end of the movable iron core. The torsion arm that abuts against the lever hook serves as the abutment torsion arm. The free end of the abutment torsion arm forms a folded-back section, which is pre-tightly abutted against the surface of the reset arm. When the hook and the hook pin are decoupled, the reset arm rotates against the preload of the folding section; when the push-pull electromagnet is de-energized, the reset arm rotates to reset under the elastic recovery of the folding section.
4. The self-retracting system for pedestrian protection hinges of automobiles according to claim 3, characterized in that: in, The direction from the hook torsion spring perpendicular to the intermediate hinge rod is taken as the hook rod coincidence direction. The reset arm forms a locking step along the hook rod coincidence direction. The folding section cooperates with the locking step, so that the abutting torsion arm is limited between the locking step and the intermediate hinge rod along the hook rod coincidence direction.
5. The self-retracting system for pedestrian protection hinges of automobiles according to claim 3, characterized in that: in, The drive arm forms a coupling plate portion that extends away from the first setting column, and the free end of the movable iron core is fixedly connected to the coupling plate portion.
6. The self-retracting system for pedestrian protection hinges of automobiles according to claim 1, characterized in that: in, The hood connector is hinged to the intermediate hinge rod via a second setting post. The lifting unit also includes a convergent torsion spring, which is sleeved on the second setting post. One torsion arm of the convergent torsion spring is coupled to the intermediate hinge rod, and the other torsion arm is pre-tightly abutted against the surface of the hood connector.
7. The self-retracting system for pedestrian protection hinges of automobiles according to claim 2 or 6, characterized in that: in, The lifting unit further includes a spring pin assembly, which is disposed on the intermediate hinge rod, and the hinge ends of the spring pin assembly, the intermediate hinge rod, and the hood connector are respectively located on opposite sides of the first mounting post. The spring pin assembly includes a resilient pin facing the hood connector and resiliently extendable relative to the intermediate hinge. The free end of the resilient pin is pre-tightly abutted against the hood connector.
8. The self-retracting system for pedestrian protection hinges of automobiles according to claim 1, characterized in that: in, The hood connector also has a limiting arc-shaped hole, and a third setting post is formed on the intermediate hinge rod. The third setting post is fitted and movably disposed in the limiting arc-shaped hole. When the hood connector is hinged and rotated with the intermediate hinge rod, the third setting post moves relative to the limiting arc-shaped hole.