AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE HOOD HINGE WITH LOCK

Abstract

MOTOR VEHICLE HOOD HINGE WITH LOCK The present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: a body structure; a hood (6) arranged at the front of the body structure; at least one hinge (14) with a movable knuckle (14.1) fixed to the hood and a fixed knuckle (14.2) fixed to the body structure; remarkable in that said motor vehicle further comprises: a lock configured to engage with an orifice (18, 19) made in the movable knuckle, when the hood is closed, so as to prevent said hood from being opened. (Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE HOOD HINGE WITH LOCKING Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly the field of motor vehicle hoods. Prior art

[0002] The hood of a vehicle covers the engine compartment and can be opened by a lever usually arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Once the lever is pulled, the hood opens slightly, by releasing a first lock, to be in the half-open position, the hood can be opened from a secondary tab located under a front part of the hood.

[0003] The secondary tab allows a safety hook to be activated, acting as a secondary safety device preventing the hood from opening completely by simply pulling the lever in the passenger compartment. This prevents the hood from accidentally opening while driving in the event of the hood not being properly engaged after an intervention or a systematic check (checking the coolant, engine oil, etc.).

[0004] However, the risk of the hood opening on current vehicles still persists even with the presence of secondary safety. Indeed, there are several factors leading to the sudden opening of the hood when a vehicle is moving, which can cause material damage (broken windshield, damaged hood, etc.) and endanger the lives of the occupants of the motor vehicle.

[0005] Among these factors, we find, on the one hand, factors linked to the mechanical components of the motor vehicle: wear of the safety hook, seizure of the locking cable, tearing of a cross member of the vehicle on which the hood lock is fixed, etc. On the other hand, factors linked to dynamic forces in unfavorable driving conditions, such as: driving at high speed near body guards on the highway or under unsteady flows (in the event of skidding), driving with overtaking vehicles on the road and / or with heavy goods vehicles passing, etc.

[0006] Published patent document EP 1 842 992 A1 discloses a hood lock of a vehicle, the lock comprising a pivoting bolt comprising a stop for securing the locking of the hood by preventing rotation of the pivoting bolt.

[0007] However, the solution proposed by the document does not make it possible to effectively secure the locking of the hood lock in order to avoid any risk of sudden opening of the hood when the motor vehicle is driving. Statement of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to propose a simple, efficient and economical solution for securing the opening of the hood in order to avoid any risk of the latter suddenly opening.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a body structure; - a hood arranged at the front of the body structure; - at least one hinge with a movable knuckle fixed to the hood and a fixed knuckle fixed to the body structure; remarkable in that said motor vehicle further comprises: - a lock configured to engage with an orifice made in the movable knuckle, when the hood is closed, so as to prevent said hood from being opened.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the lock comprises a support and a bolt slidably mounted on the support, in a horizontal transverse direction.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the bolt is subjected to an elastic sliding force directed towards the movable knuckle.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the bolt comprises a beveled distal end oriented so as, when the cover is closed, to be contacted by the movable knuckle and by sliding against said movable knuckle, to move said bolt in sliding against the elastic force until said distal end penetrates the orifice.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the support is fixed to the body structure.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the bolt is connected, via a cable, to a control lever. hood opening.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the control lever is also connected to a hood lock comprising a latch located at an edge of said hood which is opposite an edge where the at least one hinge is located.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the at least one hinge further comprises two arms connecting the movable knuckle and the fixed knuckle, one of said two arms comprising an orifice with which the lock engages when the hood is closed.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the orifice of the arm is aligned with the orifice of the movable knuckle when the hood is closed.

[0018] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle hood hinge, comprising: - a fixed knuckle intended to be fixed to a body structure of the motor vehicle; - a movable knuckle intended to be fixed to the hood; - two arms connecting the fixed knuckle and the movable knuckle; remarkable in that the movable knuckle and one of the two arms each comprise an orifice, said two orifices being aligned when the hinge is in a hood closing position, so as to be able to be engaged by a lock.

[0019] Advantageously, the engagement of the lock in the orifice of the movable knuckle corresponds to a tertiary security of the hood of the motor vehicle. In this configuration, the risk of a sudden opening of the hood when the vehicle is moving is eliminated.

[0020] The hinge of the invention uses simple components that already exist in the motor vehicle. In addition, said hinge has a size suitable for any type of motor vehicle.

[0021] Furthermore, the invention allows manufacturers to minimize expensive physical tests intended to test the performance of front hood safety systems during the development phases of motor vehicles. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a motor vehicle comprising at least one hood hinge according to the invention;

[0023] [Fig.2] is a side view of the hinge of the invention connected to the hood of the vehicle automobile of [Fig.l];

[0024] [Fig.3] illustrates a diagram of the hinge and the latch in a closed position of the hood;

[0025] [Fig.4] illustrates the diagram of [Fig.3] when the hood is opened;

[0026] [Fig.5] illustrates the diagram of [Fig.3] during a hood closure. Detailed description

[0027] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a motor vehicle 2 comprising a body structure 4, a hood 6 arranged at the front of the structure 4.

[0028] The motor vehicle 2 comprises a hood lock comprising a latch 8 arranged in a front part of the structure 4 and a striker 10 located at a front edge 6.1 of the hood 6.

[0029] When the hood 6 is opened, the latch 8 of the lock is initially controlled by a cable connected to an opening control lever. hood arranged in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle 2. The latch 8 is also controlled, in a second step after the actuation of the cable, by a tab 12 arranged in a front edge 6.1 of the hood 6 allowing the latch 8 to be released from the striker 10, so as to allow the hood 6 to pivot and move from a half-open position to the open position illustrated.

[0030] Such pivoting is ensured by two hinges 14 arranged laterally on either side of the cover 6 in line with a rear edge 6.2 of said cover 6. Each of the two hinges 14 comprises a tertiary safety device, the operation of the latter will be described in the present description.

[0031] [Fig. 2] is a side view of the hinge 14 of the invention connected to the cover 6 of the motor vehicle 2. This is precisely the hinge 14 arranged on the left side of the motor vehicle 2 with the hood 6 closed.

[0032] With reference to [Fig.2], the hinge 14 comprises a movable shank 14.1 directly fixed to the hood 6, a fixed shank 14.2 which is fixed to the structure of the motor vehicle, and two arms 14.3, 14.4 connecting the movable shank 14.1 and the fixed shank 14.2.

[0033] The two arms 14.3, 14.4 correspond to a first arm 14.3 arranged downstream of the second arm 14.4 in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

[0034] In this configuration, when the hood 6 is opened or closed, the movable shackle 14.1 and the two arms 14.3, 14.4 are articulated relative to each other and relative to the fixed shackle 14.2 which always remains fixed in its position.

[0035] Preferably, the fixed shank 14.2 comprises a substantially horizontal platform 15 provided with a stop 16 for the end of the travel for closing the cover 6.

[0036] The movable arm 14.1 and the first arm 14.3 each comprise an orifice 18, 19 passing entirely through the latter two.

[0037] The two orifices 18, 19 comprise a preferably rectangular shape, but may have a circular, oblong, elliptical shape or any other shape capable of being engaged by a lock. Indeed, the lock engages with the orifice 18 and 19 when the cover 6 is closed, this engagement corresponds to the tertiary security of the hinge 14.

[0038] [Fig. 3] illustrates a diagram of the hinge 14 and the latch 20 in a closed position of the hood.

[0039] The lock 20 comprises a support 20.1 and a bolt 20.2 slidably mounted in the support 20.1, in a horizontal transverse direction.

[0040] The support 20.1 is preferably fixed to the structure of the motor vehicle. This makes it possible to guarantee sufficient rigidity in order to maintain the bolt 20.2 in its position engaged in the orifice 18, 19.

[0041] Preferably, when the hood is closed, the orifice 19 of the first arm 14.3 is aligned with the orifice 18 of the movable knuckle 14.1.

[0042] Alternatively, the support 20.1 may be attached to one of the arms 14.3 and 14.4 illustrated in [Fig.2],

[0043] In another alternative not shown, only one of the movable shanks 14.1 and the arm 14.3 comprises an orifice. In this configuration, the support 20.1 is fixed to the structure 4 of the vehicle.

[0044] The lock 20 further comprises a spring 20.3 housed in an internal chamber 20.4 of the support 20.1. It can be seen that the spring 20.3 exerts an elastic sliding force directed towards the movable knuckle 14.1 so that the bolt 20.2 maintains its position engaged in the orifices 18, 19.

[0045] [Fig.4] illustrates the diagram of [Fig.3] in the opening (illustrated by the upward-pointing side arrow) of the hood.

[0046] Advantageously, the actuation of the lever 22 for controlling the opening of the hood makes it possible to pull the bolt 20.2 by means of the cable 24 to allow the complete opening of the hood, and this, in a third stage after the actuation of the tab 12 of [Fig.l]. In this configuration, the complete opening of the hood is possible, because the lever 22 makes it possible to release the bolt from the orifices 18, 19.

[0047] In this regard, the spring 20.3 is compressed in the chamber 20.4 of the support 20.1, and the pivoting of the movable knuckle 14.1 relative to the first arm 14.3 can take place.

[0048] It can be seen that the bolt 20.2 comprises a vertical distal part 21 preferably oriented parallel to the movable knuckle 14.1 so as to contact the latter by sliding to counter the elastic force of the spring 20.3.

[0049] [Fig.5] illustrates the diagram of [Fig.3] in the closing (illustrated by the downward-pointing side arrow) of the hood.

[0050] It should be noted that in comparison with figures 3 and 4, the lateral offset between the support 20.1 and the movable knuckle 14.1 has been modified in [Fig.5] to facilitate the illustration.

[0051] It can be seen that the bolt 20.2 is positioned below the movable knuckle 14.1, this being the position at the end of the opening stroke of the hood. For this purpose, when said hood is closed, the movable knuckle 14.1 comes into contact with an upper distal end 23 of the bolt 20.2.

[0052] Preferably, the distal end 23 of the bolt 20.2 comprises a bevel oriented so as to allow the bolt 20.2 to slide towards the chamber 20.4 as soon as the movable knuckle 14.1 comes into contact with said bolt 20.2, this contact advantageously corresponding to a sliding of the movable knuckle 14.1 on the bevel 23.

[0053] The closing movement of the hood can continue inversely to the opening movement illustrated in [Fig.4], with a sliding of the vertical distal part 21 of the bolt 20.2 on the movable shank 14.1.

[0054] For this purpose, at the end of the hood closing stroke, the bolt 20.2 engages entirely in the orifices 18, 19, similarly to the arrangement illustrated in [Fig.3].

[0055] Preferably, the orifice 19 of the first arm 14.3 comprises an upper portion matching the bevel 23 of the bolt 20.2, this advantageously makes it possible to maintain the bolt 20.2 in the transverse direction.

[0056] In this configuration, the risk of sudden opening of the hood while the vehicle is moving is advantageously eliminated.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle (2) comprising: - a body structure (4); - a hood (6) arranged at the front of the body structure (4); - at least one hinge (14) with a movable knuckle (14.1) fixed to the hood (6) and a fixed knuckle (14.2) fixed to the body structure (4); and - a lock (20) configured to engage with an orifice (18) made in the movable knuckle (14.1), when the cover (6) is closed, so as to prevent opening of said cover (6), characterized in that said at least one hinge (14) further comprises two arms (14.3, 14.4) connecting the movable knuckle (14.1) and the fixed knuckle (14.2), one of said two arms (14.3, 14.4) comprising an orifice (19) with which the lock (20) engages when the cover (6) is closed.

2. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the lock (20) comprises a support (20.1) and a bolt (20.2) slidably mounted on the support (20.1), in a horizontal transverse direction.

3. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 2, in which the bolt (20.2) is subjected to an elastic sliding force directed towards the movable knuckle (14.1).

4. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 3, in which the bolt (20.2) comprises a bevelled distal end (23) oriented so as, when closing the hood (6), to be contacted by the movable knuckle (14.1) and by sliding against said movable knuckle (14.1), to move said bolt (20.2) sliding against the elastic force until said distal end (23) penetrates the orifice (18).

5. Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 2 to 4, in which the support (20.1) is fixed to the body structure (4).

6. Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 2 to 5, in which the bolt (20.2) is connected, via a cable (24), to a control lever (22) for opening the hood.

7. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 6, wherein the control lever (22) is also connected to a hood lock (6) comprising a latch (10) located at an edge (6.1) of said hood (6) which is opposite an edge (6.2) where the at least one hinge (14) is located.

8. Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the orifice (19) of the arm (14.3) is aligned with the orifice (18) of the movable knuckle (14.1) when the hood (6) is closed.

9. Hinge (14) for the hood (6) of a motor vehicle (2), comprising: - a fixed knuckle (14.2) intended to be fixed to a body structure (4) of the motor vehicle (2); - a movable knuckle (14.1) intended to be fixed to the hood (6); - two arms (14.3, 14.4) connecting the fixed knuckle (14.2) and the movable knuckle (14.1); characterized in that the movable knuckle (14.1) and one of the two arms (14.3, 14.4) each comprise an orifice (18, 19), said two orifices (18, 19) being aligned when the hinge (14) is in a position for closing the hood (6), so as to be able to be engaged by a lock (20).

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