Opening device for the hood of a vehicle for emergency exit

Abstract

Opening device for an engine hood (3) of a vehicle (1) for emergency exit, the opening device comprising a engine hood lock (11) and a safety hook (12) which locks a locking bolt (4) formed on the engine hood (3) for opening and closing the engine hood (3), which opens and closes a front trunk (2) in the vehicle (1), the opening device comprising: an emergency lever (15) designed to be mounted in the front trunk (2); and an emergency opening mechanism designed to actuate the bonnet lock (11) and the safety hook (12) simultaneously when the emergency lever (15) is actuated to release the locking of the locking bolt (4), wherein the emergency lever (15) and the emergency opening mechanism are connected to each other by an emergency opening cable (34) which actuates the emergency opening mechanism when the emergency lever (15) is actuated, wherein the emergency opening mechanism is an operating lever (22) which rotates when the emergency opening cable (34) is pulled, and the operating lever (22) is connected to a locking release cable (32) which is operated so that the bonnet lock (11) can release the locking bolt (4), and a hook release cable (33) which is operated so that the safety hook (12) can release the locking bolt (4), and wherein the operating lever (22) has the emergency opening cable (34) connected to one side thereof with respect to a rotation center of the operating lever (22), and the lock release cable (32) and the hook release cable (33) connected to the other side thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF REVELATIONArea of ​​Revelation

[0001] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit for simultaneously actuating a hood lock and a safety lever in a front trunk of the vehicle to enable opening of the vehicle hood. Description of the state of the art

[0002] A vehicle is usually equipped with a passenger compartment in which the passengers sit, an engine compartment positioned in front of the vehicle interior and a trunk positioned behind the passenger compartment.

[0003] In most vehicles equipped with an engine, the engine compartment contains an engine, a transmission, and the like. Fig. 1, the engine compartment is provided with a hood 3 which opens and closes an upper part of the engine compartment for maintenance.

[0004] The bonnet 3 is provided with a locking bolt 4. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the body of the vehicle 1 is provided with a hood lock 111 and a safety hook 112 for locking the locking bolt 4. The passenger compartment is provided with a release lever 113 connected to the hood lock 111 by a release lever cable 131 to release the hood lock 111.

[0005] The hood 3 is designed to be raised only when the release lever 113 is released, and to be opened only when a user releases the safety hook 112 with their hand. Thus, the opening of the hood 3 is performed in two stages (the hood lock is released, and then the safety hook is released) in accordance with legal regulations or the like.

[0006] On the other hand, the popularity of environmentally friendly vehicles, such as electric vehicles, has increased in recent years. Electric vehicles do not require an internal combustion engine and can therefore miniaturize the devices required for propulsion. Therefore, as in Fig. 1, a portion of the engine compartment in the front trunk 2 may serve as storage space for luggage. Furthermore, the front trunk 2 may also be provided as storage space when the engine is located at the rear, such as a mid-engine or rear-engine (RR) vehicle.

[0007] The front trunk 2 is also opened and closed using the hood 3.

[0008] In addition, for vehicles with the front trunk 2, the installation of an emergency exit device in the front trunk 2, which can open the bonnet 3, is also regulated by law.

[0009] A trunk lid that opens and closes the trunk at the rear of the vehicle is operated by releasing only the lock that restricts the trunk lid by a lever operation.

[0010] However, two regulations apply to the hood 3, which opens and closes the front trunk. In other words, the hood 3 must be opened in two stages (the hood lock is released, and then the safety hook is released). After both the hood lock and the safety hook are released, emergency exit from the front trunk 2 should be possible.

[0011] In this way, since the two regulations are applied, a problem arises in that escaping from the front trunk 2 is not easy. In other words, if a person trapped in the front trunk 2 cannot detect the two-stage opening of the engine hood 3, they may attempt to escape if only the hood lock 111 is released. However, since the engine hood 3 cannot be opened yet due to the safety hook 112, escape is not possible. In addition, even if the two-stage opening of the engine hood 3 is detected, the operation of additionally releasing the safety hook 112 should be performed when the hood lock 111 is released. However, there is a problem in that it is difficult to perform the operation when a person is trapped in a narrow space such as the front trunk 2.

[0012] Furthermore, DE 10 2010 056 413 B4 discloses an opening device for an engine hood of a vehicle for emergency exit, wherein the opening device has an engine hood lock and a safety hook that locks a locking bolt formed on the engine hood for opening and closing the engine hood, which opens and closes a front trunk in the vehicle, wherein the opening device comprises: an emergency lever that is designed to be mounted in the front trunk; and an emergency opening mechanism that is designed to actuate the engine hood lock and the safety hook simultaneously when the emergency lever is actuated to release the locking of the locking bolt. OVERVIEW OF REVELATION

[0013] In order to overcome the limitations of the prior art, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit that can open the hood opening and closing a front trunk by releasing a hood lock and a safety hook by a one-time operation within a front trunk.

[0014] The object is achieved by an opening device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments can be found in the subclaims.

[0015] A vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit includes a hood latch and a safety hook that locks a locking bolt formed on the hood for opening and closing the hood. The hood opens and closes a front trunk in a vehicle equipped with the front trunk. The opening device includes an emergency lever configured to be mounted in the front trunk and an emergency opening mechanism configured to simultaneously operate the hood latch and the safety hook when the emergency lever is operated to release the locking of the locking bolt.The emergency lever and the emergency opening mechanism are connected by an emergency opening cable that operates the emergency opening mechanism when the emergency lever is operated, the emergency opening mechanism is an operating lever that rotates when the emergency opening cable is pulled, the operating lever is connected to a lock release cable that is operated to allow the hood lock to release the locking bolt, and a hook release cable that is operated to allow the safety hook to release the locking bolt, and the operating lever has the emergency opening cable connected to one side thereof with respect to a rotation center of the operating lever, the lock release cable and the hook release cable connected to the other side thereof.

[0016] In the operating lever, the lock release cable may be connected closer to the center of the operating lever than the hook release cable.

[0017] The emergency release cable can be connected to the operating lever to pull the operating lever. The lock release cable and the hook release cable are connected to the operating lever to be pulled by the operating lever.

[0018] The operating lever may be configured such that the distance from the rotation center of the operating lever to a point at which the emergency opening cable is connected is longer than a distance from the rotation center of the operating lever to a point at which the locking release cable is connected.

[0019] A main bracket may be attached to one side of the vehicle, and the operating lever may be rotatably mounted on the main bracket.

[0020] A release lever cable pulled by a release lever operated at the time of normal opening of the hood may be connected to the latch release cable.

[0021] The release lever cable and the locking release cable can be connected to each other by a connecting element. The connecting element can be configured so that the release lever cable directly pulls the locking release cable when the release lever is operated. The emergency opening mechanism can pull the locking release cable when the emergency lever is operated.

[0022] The connecting element may comprise a head to which the release lever cable is connected and a passage portion to which the locking release cable is connected and through which the operating lever passes.

[0023] The operating lever may be provided with a through hole through which the through section passes.

[0024] The head may be positioned on a side connected to the release lever cable in the operating lever.

[0025] The inner diameter of the through hole can be smaller than the length of the head of the connecting element.

[0026] The emergency lever and the emergency lever bracket may be provided with a rotation holding mechanism that holds the emergency lever in a rotation state after rotation of the emergency lever.

[0027] The rotation holding mechanism may be a stopper projection protruding from a side of the emergency lever and a support projection protruding from a side of the emergency lever bracket and holding the emergency lever in the rotation state by bringing the stopper projection into contact with the support projection when the emergency lever rotates.

[0028] According to the vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit of the present disclosure having the above-described configuration, the hood lock and the safety hook can be released simultaneously by pulling only the release lever, thereby facilitating the escape of the person trapped in the front trunk.

[0029] In addition, the hood lock and safety hook are opened in two stages in a normal state.

[0030] In addition, when the release lever is operated, the release lever is held in the operated position so that the hood can be opened easily. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle in which a front trunk is formed. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a typical hood latch and safety hook. Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit according to the present disclosure. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the main parts of the vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit according to the present disclosure. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the main parts of the vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit according to the present disclosure at the time of normal operation. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the main parts of the vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit according to the present disclosure at the time of emergency operation. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a relationship between an operating lever and a locking member in the vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit according to the present disclosure. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the main parts of an emergency lever and an emergency lever bracket in the vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit according to the present disclosure. DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0031] In the following, an apparatus for opening a hood of a vehicle for emergency exit according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] As in Fig. 3, a device for opening a hood of a vehicle for emergency exit according to the present disclosure includes a hood lock 11 and a safety hook 12. The safety hook 12 prevents a locking bolt 4 formed or arranged on the hood 3 from opening and closing the hood 3. The hood 3 is movable to open and close the front trunk 2 in a vehicle equipped with the front trunk 2. In this embodiment, the opening device includes an emergency lever 15 configured to be installed in the front trunk 2 and an emergency opening mechanism configured to operate the hood lock 11 and the safety hook 12 simultaneously when the emergency lever 15 is operated to release the locking of the locking bolt 4.

[0033] In the vehicle in which the front trunk 2 is a storage space for accommodating luggage or includes a storage space for accommodating luggage and is arranged at the front of the vehicle, the hood 3 is mounted so that an upper part or an opening of the front trunk 2 can be opened and closed.

[0034] Typically, a rear end of the hood 3 is hinged to a vehicle body, similar to the hood that opens and closes the engine compartment where the engine is installed at the front of the vehicle. A front end thereof is locked by the hood lock 11 and the safety hook 12.

[0035] The interior of the vehicle 1 includes the release lever 13 for opening the hood lock 11. The release lever 13 is connected to the hood lock 11 through the vehicle hood opening device for emergency exit described below, and is operated by a user to release the hood lock 11 when the hood 3 is normally opened.

[0036] When the hood 3 is raised by operating the release lever 13, the user also operates the safety hook 12 to open the hood 3.

[0037] As described above, during normal opening of the hood 3, the hood 3 is operated by a mechanism such as the typical hood opening device.

[0038] In an emergency, however, the hood lock 11 and the safety hook 12 are released by a single actuation.

[0039] The hood latch 11 and the safety hook 12 have the same configuration as a conventional hood latch 11 and a conventional safety hook 12. However, the hood latch 11 is not directly connected to the release lever 13 and the release lever cable 31, but is connected to a latch release cable 32 described below. Furthermore, the safety hook 12 can be opened by a user. One side of the safety hook 12 is connected to the hook release cable 33 described below so as to rotate even when the hook release cable 33 is operated to release the locking bolt 4.

[0040] The emergency lever 15 is installed inside the front trunk 2 of the vehicle. The emergency lever 15 is rotatably mounted in an emergency lever bracket 14 for installation of the emergency lever 15 in the front trunk 2.

[0041] If a person is trapped in the front trunk 2, the emergency lever 15 is operated to allow the person to escape from the front trunk 2.

[0042] When the emergency lever 15 is actuated, the emergency opening mechanism simultaneously actuates the bonnet lock 11 and the safety hook 12, so that the locking of the locking bolt 4 is released at once.

[0043] The emergency opening mechanism is connected to the emergency opening cable 34, which is actuated by the emergency opening mechanism when the emergency lever 15 is actuated.

[0044] An example of the emergency opening mechanism may be an operating lever 22 which is rotatably mounted.

[0045] The operating lever 22 is rotatably mounted on the vehicle body. For example, a main bracket 21 may be attached to one side of the vehicle, e.g., to the front trunk 2. The operating lever 22 may be rotatably mounted on the main bracket 21. The main bracket 21 is also used to secure the cables required to operate the hood latch 11 and the safety hooks 12.

[0046] On the operating lever 22, the emergency opening cable 34 is connected to one side thereof relative to a rotation center of the operating lever 22. The operating lever 22 also has the lock release cable 32 and the hook release cable 33 connected to the other side thereof, wherein the lock release cable 32 is actuated to allow the hood lock 11 to release the locking bolt 4. The hook release cable 33 is actuated to allow the safety hook 12 to release the locking bolt 4.

[0047] When the emergency opening cable 34 is operated while the lock release cable 32, the hook release cable 33, and the emergency opening cable 34 are connected to the operating lever 22, the operating lever 22 rotates. As the operating lever 22 rotates, the operating lever 22 pulls the lock release cable 32 and the hook release cable 33 to operate the hood lock 11 and the safety hook 12. Since the lock release cable 32 and the hook release cable 33 are pulled simultaneously when the operating lever 22 rotates, the hood lock 11 and the safety hook 12 release the locking of the locking bolt 4 substantially simultaneously.

[0048] The release lever cable 31, the latch release cable 32, the hook release cable 33, and the emergency opening cable 34 are formed in a structure in which wires are slidably mounted inside a tube. A considerable operating force is transmitted by pulling the wires to operate the hood latch 11 and the safety hook 12.

[0049] The locking release rope 32, the hook release rope 33 and the emergency opening rope 34 are on the same side (right side in Fig. 4) of the operating lever 22, and the release lever cable 31 is on the opposite side (left side in Fig. 4) positioned therefrom.

[0050] In addition, the lock release cable 32 is connected in the operating lever 22 closer to the center of the operating lever 22 than the hook release cable 33.

[0051] As in Fig. 4, a distance 'b' from the rotation center of the operating lever 22 to a point where the emergency opening cable 34 is connected is formed to be longer than a distance 'a' (a < b) from the rotation center of the operating lever 22 to a point where the lock release cable 32 is connected. This is because the operating force by the emergency lever 15 is greater than the operating force required to release the hood lock 11 by operating the release lever 13. This is because the operating force by operating the emergency lever 15 is intended to open not only the hood lock 11 but also the safety hook 12.

[0052] The lock release cable 32 is connected to the release lever cable 31 so that the operating force of the release lever 13 can be transmitted to the hood lock 11 when the hood 3 is opened normally.

[0053] However, a connecting member 23 is provided at a portion where the release lever cable 31 and the lock release cable 32 are connected to each other.

[0054] The connecting element 23 is configured so that the release lever cable 31 directly pulls the lock release cable 32 when the release lever 13 is operated (when the release lever 13 is opened normally). The emergency opening mechanism pulls the lock release cable 32 when the emergency lever 15 is operated (when the emergency lever 15 is opened in an emergency).

[0055] With reference to Fig. 7, the connecting element 23 is formed in a T-shape and includes a head 23a connected to the release lever cable 31 and a through portion 23b connected to the lock release cable 32.

[0056] The head 23a is located on the side connected to the release lever cable 31 in the operating lever 22. The connecting member 23 pulls the lock release cable 32 while being pushed by the rotation of the operating lever 22 when the operating lever 22 is operated by operating the emergency lever 15, and pulls the lock release cable 32 while being pulled by the release lever cable 31 when the release lever cable 31 is pulled by operating the release lever 13.

[0057] The connecting member 23 is easily separated from the operating lever 22 at the time of normal operation, and therefore, the inner diameter of a through hole 22a is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of a through portion 23b of the connecting member 23.

[0058] In addition, the connecting member 23 should be pressed by the operating lever 22 when the emergency lever 15 is operated, and should not pass through the through hole 22a, so that the inner diameter of the through hole 22a is formed smaller than the length of the head 23a of the connecting member 23.

[0059] On the other hand, the main bracket 21 also serves to fix one side of the release lever rope 31, the lock release rope 32, the hook release rope 33 and the emergency opening rope 34.

[0060] After the user operates (rotates) the emergency lever 15, the emergency lever 15 should be kept rotated so that a person trapped in the front trunk 2 can push the hood upward. For this purpose, the emergency lever 15 and the emergency lever bracket 14 equipped with the emergency lever 15 are provided with a rotation holding mechanism for maintaining the rotation state after the emergency lever 15 is rotated.

[0061] With reference to Fig. 8, in this embodiment of the rotation holding mechanism, a support projection 14a and a stopper projection 15a, each formed to protrude from the emergency lever bracket 14 and the emergency lever 15, can be used. The support projection 14a and the stopper projection 15a have end portions formed in a round shape, and thus, when the stopper projection 15a contacts the support projection 14a, the emergency lever 15 and the emergency lever bracket 14 are in contact with each other by press fitting, so that the emergency lever 15 is held in a rotating state.

[0062] The following describes the opening device of a vehicle hood for emergency exit according to the present disclosure having the above configuration.

[0063] Normally, the hood lock 11 is released by pulling the release lever 13, which is mounted in the vehicle compartment for maintenance or the like (see Fig. 5).

[0064] When the release lever 13, which is mounted in the vehicle compartment, is pulled, the end portion of the release lever cable 31 pulls a connecting member 23 while the release lever cable 31 is pulled. Since the connecting member 23 is provided to pass through the operating lever 22, the connecting member 23 moves while being separated from the operating lever 22. When the connecting member 23 is pulled, the lock release cable 32 is also contracted (see (1) and (2) in Fig. 5).

[0065] When the lock release cable 32 is pulled, the locking of the locking pin 4 is released from the hood lock 11, and the hood 3 is raised while the hood lock 11 is released.

[0066] The user then places his hand between the hood 3 and the vehicle body to actuate the safety hook 12 so that the safety hook 12 releases the locking of the locking bolt 4.

[0067] Therefore, in the normal case, the release lever 13 is operated to first open the hood lock 11, and the safety hook 12 is operated by the user's hand to then open the hood 3.

[0068] The release lever 13 and the hood latch 11 are not a single cable, but are divided into the release lever cable 31, the connecting member 23 and the latch release cable 32, but the whole operation is basically the same as the conventional hood latch and the conventional safety hook.

[0069] On the other hand, Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the main parts of the opening device of a vehicle operating in an emergency condition.

[0070] When the emergency lever 15 installed in the front trunk 2 is operated, the operating lever 22 (see (2) in Fig. 6), while the emergency opening rope 34 connected to the emergency lever 15 is pulled in the direction of the emergency lever 15 (see (1) in Fig. 6).

[0071] When the operating lever 22 is rotated, the lock release cable 32 and the hook release cable 33, which are connected to the emergency opening cable 34 on the opposite side, are pulled away from the operating lever 22 (see (3) and (4) in Fig. 6).

[0072] When the lock release cable 32 is pulled, the hood lock 11 releases the locking bolt 4. At the same time, when the hook release cable 33 is pulled, the safety hook 12, which is connected to the other end of the hook release cable 33, rotates to release the locking bolt 4.

[0073] In addition, when the emergency lever 15 is operated, the stopper projection 15a of the emergency lever 15 is prevented from being rotated by the support projection 14a of the emergency lever bracket 14. When the emergency lever 15 rotates due to the operation, the emergency lever 15 and the emergency lever bracket 14 are press-fitted with each other while the stopper projection 15a contacts the support projection 14a, so that the emergency lever 15 is held in the rotating state.

[0074] As described above, since the hood lock 11 and the safety hook 12 locking the locking bolt 4 are released and the emergency lever 15 is kept in the actuated state, a person trapped in the front trunk 2 can push the hood 3 upward to open the hood. Once the hood 3 is opened, the person can escape from the front trunk 2.

Claims

[1] An opening device for an engine hood (3) of a vehicle (1) for emergency exit, the opening device comprising a engine hood lock (11) and a safety hook (12) which locks a locking bolt (4) formed on the engine hood (3) for opening and closing the engine hood (3) and which opens and closes a front trunk (2) in the vehicle (1), the opening device comprising: an emergency lever (15) designed to be mounted in the front trunk (2); and an emergency opening mechanism designed to actuate the bonnet lock (11) and the safety hook (12) simultaneously when the emergency lever (15) is actuated to release the locking of the locking bolt (4), wherein the emergency lever (15) and the emergency opening mechanism are connected to each other by an emergency opening cable (34) which actuates the emergency opening mechanism when the emergency lever (15) is actuated, wherein the emergency opening mechanism is an operating lever (22) which rotates when the emergency opening cable (34) is pulled, and the operating lever (22) is connected to a locking release cable (32) which is operated so that the bonnet lock (11) can release the locking bolt (4), and a hook release cable (33) which is operated so that the safety hook (12) can release the locking bolt (4), and wherein the operating lever (22) has the emergency opening cable (34) connected to one side thereof with respect to a rotation center of the operating lever (22), and the lock release cable (32) and the hook release cable (33) connected to the other side thereof. [2] Opening device according to claim 1, wherein in the operating lever (22) the lock release cable (32) is connected closer to a center of the operating lever (22) than the hook release cable (33). [3] The opening device according to claim 1, wherein the emergency opening rope (34) is connected to the operating lever (22) to pull the operating lever (22), and wherein the lock release rope (32) and the hook release rope (33) are connected to the operating lever (22) to be pulled by the operating lever (22). [4] Opening device according to claim 1, wherein the operating lever (22) is designed such that a distance from the rotation center of the operating lever (22) to a point at which the emergency opening cable (34) is connected is longer than a distance from the rotation center of the operating lever (22) to a point at which the lock release cable (32) is connected. [5] An opening device according to claim 1, wherein a main bracket (21) is fixed to a side of the vehicle (1) and the operating lever (22) is rotatably mounted on the main bracket (21). [6] An opening device according to claim 1, wherein a release lever cable (31) pulled by a release lever (13) operated at the time of normal opening of the engine hood (3) is connected to the lock release cable (32). [7] Opening device according to claim 6, wherein the release lever cable (31) and the locking release cable (32) are connected to each other by a connecting element (23), wherein the connecting element (23) is designed such that the release lever cable (31) directly pulls the locking release cable (32) when the release lever (13) is actuated, wherein the emergency opening mechanism pulls the locking release cable (32) when the emergency lever (15) is actuated, and wherein the connecting element (23) comprises: a head (23a) to which the release lever cable (31) is connected, and a passage portion (23b) to which the locking release cable (32) is connected and through which the operating lever (22) passes. [8] The opening device according to claim 1, wherein the emergency lever (15) and an emergency lever bracket (14) are provided with a rotation holding mechanism that holds the emergency lever (15) in a rotation state after the rotation of the emergency lever (15), and wherein the rotation holding mechanism is a stopper projection (15a) projecting from a side of the emergency lever (15) and a support projection (14a) projecting from a side of the emergency lever bracket (14), and holds the emergency lever (15) in the rotation state by bringing the stopper projection (15a) into contact with the support projection (14a) when the emergency lever (15) rotates.

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