ACTIVE MOTOR VEHICLE HOOD
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023003048
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-03-29
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: ACTIVE VEHICLE HOOD TOMOBILE
[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the field of motor vehicle hoods and is concerned, more particularly, with a hood called "active".
[0002] Some hoods are now equipped with a safety device which is capable and intended, when a shock is detected at the front of the vehicle, to raise the hood, in particular, in the event of a frontal collision with a pedestrian.
[0003] This safety device activates a mechanism comprising actuators (for example, pyrotechnics) which will open and move, upon impact, the hood over a short distance in order to prevent the pedestrian's head from hitting the hard components located under the hood (and in particular the engine block) which are likely to cause severe bodily injury.
[0004] Currently, the active hood actuators ensure a hood movement kinematic of the "pantograph" type, upwards and / or towards the rear of the vehicle, which is carried out immediately upon detection of a collision with a pedestrian.
[0005] But this hood configuration requires a complex and bulky architecture which is hardly compatible with the style trends chosen for new vehicles whose hood has a so-called "plunging" profile, and which is therefore steeply inclined downwards.
[0006] In addition, due to their low height and specific orientation, these "plunging" hoods must meet stricter protection standards which require eliminating any possibility of a pedestrian's head impacting the area located in the lower part of the windshield and relocating it to a lower and less aggressive area of the hood.
[0007] US patents 9308886 and 2239169 describe two similar active hoods comprising two actuators at the rear of the hood and a blade lock at the front. In the event of a collision with a pedestrian, these actuators raise the rear end of the hood and lift the front end, and then the entire hood is moved rearward. However, in these hoods, the front end is not provided with means for unlocking the lock, which affects the kinematics of their horizontal and vertical movement.
[0008] Patent CN110723100B describes a hood equipped with two pairs of active actuators mounted, respectively, at the front and rear, and a central actuator. The two front actuators are mounted laterally under the hood and driven by the actuator central. But, all these actuators are activated by pyrotechnic means and none of them allows the hood lock to be unlocked passively.
[0009] Patent CN101223060B describes a hood equipped with two pairs of active actuators, one mounted at the front and the other at the rear. However, these two pairs of actuators are not independent because they are connected by a longitudinal rod which, in the event of a front impact, drives the rear pair from the front pair and do not have a hood lock release action.
[0010] Consequently, the architecture of the actuators used with these active hoods is not compatible with current styling trends, particularly at the front of the hood. Indeed, this architecture is too bulky to be integrated under a low hood such as those found, for example, on electric vehicles. Furthermore, this architecture does not meet the stringent standards that are currently applicable to sloping hoods.
[0011] In this context, a technical solution was sought to overcome the difficulties posed by the current configuration of active hoods, on the one hand, by simplifying their architecture and, in particular, by reducing the number of active actuators, while on the other hand complying with the homologation criteria by moving the hood in two directions in the event of a front impact.
[0012] This objective is achieved, according to the invention, by means of an active hood for motor vehicles provided, on the one hand, with at least one active mechanism for moving and guiding the hood at least towards the rear of the vehicle in the event of a frontal collision with a pedestrian and, on the other hand, with at least one passive opening and locking mechanism mounted at the front under the hood, said passive mechanism comprising a latch engaging with a longitudinal arm fixed to the hood, characterized in that the passive mechanism comprises a spring-loaded leaf mounted under tension in contact with a pivoting plate carrying a first cam in contact with the arm at least in the hood closed position and a second cam in contact with the latch such that the activation of the active mechanism automatically causes the translation of the arm which drives the rotation of the plate via the first cam, the opening of the latch via the second cam and the release of the spring-loaded leaf which, by extension,Lift the front part of the hood.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the active hood comprises, on either side, two passive mechanisms and two active mechanisms.
[0014] According to an advantageous feature of the active hood of the invention, the second cam is mounted on a vertical rod integral with the pivoting plate.
[0015] According to another feature of the active hood of the invention, the arm carries a transverse finger intended to come into contact with the first cam when the active mechanism is activated.
[0016] According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the spring blade extends over a transverse frame supporting the pivoting plate.
[0017] Preferably, this plate is mounted pivoting around an axis perpendicular to the frame.
[0018] According to yet another feature of the invention, the active mechanism comprises a set of actuators coupled to hinges ensuring the movement of the rear part of the hood in the event of a front impact.
[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the active mechanism is mounted under the rear part of the hood and controlled by a shock detector.
[0020] This active mechanism ensures the movement and guidance of the hood both upwards and towards the rear of the vehicle in the event of a collision at the front of the vehicle.
[0021] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle equipped with an active hood as defined above for the protection of pedestrians in the event of a front-end collision.
[0022] The active hood improved by the invention ensures better protection of pedestrians, in particular, in the event of a frontal collision with vehicles with a sloping hood.
[0023] Indeed, the activation of the active actuator mechanism installed in the rear of the hood automatically and immediately unlocks the hood latches and activates the associated passive actuator mechanism, resulting in a combined movement of the hood in both the vertical and longitudinal directions. This specific movement also allows the area around the windshield wiper and the bottom of the windshield to be moved away, and the impact to be relocated to a lower area of the hood.
[0024] The invention thus makes it possible to produce low-profile hoods that can meet current safety standards and are therefore likely to be approved while reducing the number of active actuators, the integration of which is generally complex and costly.
[0025] The invention thus offers a significant economic gain, especially since the passive mechanism is reversible if it has not been damaged during the impact.
[0026] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying figures, for which:
[0027] [Fig.1] is a schematic side view of an active hood according to the invention in the closed position.
[0028] [Fig.2] is a schematic side view of an active hood according to the invention after de placement following a front-end collision.
[0029] [Fig.3] is a schematic side view of the front left part of an active hood according to the invention in the closed position.
[0030] [Fig.4] is a schematic top view of the front left part of an active hood according to the invention in the closed position.
[0031] [Fig. 5] is a schematic side view of the front left part of an active hood according to the invention when the active mechanism at the rear of the hood is activated.
[0032] [Fig.6] is a schematic top view of the front left part of an active hood according to the invention when the active mechanism at the rear of the hood is activated.
[0033] [Fig.7] is a schematic side view of the front left part of an active hood according to the invention after activation of the active mechanism at the rear of the hood and the passive mechanism at the front.
[0034] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference symbols in the description and in the figures.
[0035] Naturally, the embodiment of the active hood of the invention, schematically illustrated in the figures above and described below, is given only by way of non-limiting example. It is explicitly provided for in the scope of the invention that different modes can be proposed and combined to offer others.
[0036] Traditionally, a motor vehicle hood 1 is usually provided with at least one passive opening and locking mechanism, such as a lock. This mechanism is mounted under the front part of the hood 1 and includes a strike plate 10 engaging with a longitudinal arm or wire 11 attached to the underside of the hood 1, as illustrated, in particular, by [Fig. 3].
[0037] The locking of the hood in the closed position is ensured, in the absence of an impact, by the cooperation between a hooked end 10a of the strike plate 10 and a section lia of the arm 11, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 (the hood is not visible in [Fig. 4]). A rod 13 allows, by manual pulling, the release of the hook 10a of the strike plate 10, the release of section 1la from the arm 11 and the opening of the hood 1.
[0038] The invention relates more particularly to so-called "active" hoods which are equipped with active safety features that, upon detection of a front-end collision, raise and / or move the hood. This hood movement is intended to protect pedestrians in the event of a frontal collision with the vehicle, and in particular their upper body and head, in order to prevent severe injuries from contact with protruding parts located in the vicinity of the hood.
[0039] More specifically, and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, these active safety means comprise one or more mechanisms including actuators 4 designed to move and guide the hood 1 over a short distance, at least upwards and, where applicable, also towards the rear of the vehicle. The active hood of the invention comprises, on either side, in its rear portion 1b, two active mechanisms and, in its front portion 1a, two passive mechanisms.
[0040] A shock detector (not shown) mounted at the front of the vehicle triggers the actuators 4 via, for example, pyrotechnic means. The ac- The 4 donors are coupled to 40 hinges ensuring the movement of the rear part of the hood in case of a front impact.
[0041] The invention is more particularly concerned with the protection of pedestrians during collisions with vehicles with a so-called "plunging" hood, that is to say a hood 1 having, at least at the front 1, a profile very inclined downwards, as illustrated by figures 3 and 4. Indeed, such hoods tend to accentuate the risks of trauma because, in the event of a collision, the pedestrian's head will hit the lower part of the windshield.
[0042] Under these conditions, it proved necessary to modify the means of active safety to adapt them to these constraints related to specific styles of motor vehicles and to meet the standards in force applicable to vehicles of this type, such as electric vehicles.
[0043] Thus, the improvement brought about by the invention, which is illustrated by Figures 3 to 7, consists in the fact that the passive opening and locking mechanism of the cover 1, coupled to the lock, comprises a spring-loaded leaf 3 mounted under tension in contact with a pivoting plate 2 ([Fig. 3]). This plate 2 carries a first cam 21 which is in contact with the arm 11 at least in the closed position of the cover 1 and a second cam 22 in contact with the strike plate 10.
[0044] Thanks to the structure of this passive mechanism, the activation of the actuators 4 of the active mechanism automatically causes the rearward translation of the arm 11 which in turn causes the rotation of the plate 2 via the first cam 21, the opening of the strike plate 10 via the second cam 22 and the release of the spring blade 3 which, by detent, lifts the front part of the hood 1. The hood 1 is thus both lifted and translated rearward in the direction of the arrows, as illustrated by figures 5, 6 and 7.
[0045] The second cam 22 is mounted here on a vertical rod 20 attached to the pivoting plate 2 and the arm 11 carries a transverse finger 12 intended to come into contact with the first cam 21 during its translation when the actuators 4 of the active mechanism are activated.
[0046] The spring blade 3 extends on a transverse frame 5 mounted on the vehicle and supporting the pivoting plate 2. Preferably, the plate 2 is pivotally mounted around an axis XX perpendicular to the frame 5.
Claims
Claims
1. Active hood (1) for motor vehicles provided, on the one hand, with at least one active mechanism for moving and guiding the hood at least towards the rear of the vehicle in the event of a frontal collision with a pedestrian and, on the other hand, with at least one passive opening and locking mechanism mounted at the front under the hood, said passive mechanism comprising a latch (10) engaged with a longitudinal arm (11) secured to the hood (1), characterized in that the passive mechanism comprises a spring blade (3) mounted under tension in contact with a pivoting plate (2) carrying a first cam (21) in contact with the arm at least in the hood closing position and a second cam (22) in contact with the latch such that activation of the active mechanism automatically causes translation of the arm (11) which causes rotation of the plate (2) via the first cam (21),the opening of the latch (10) via the second cam (22) and the release of the spring blade (3) which, by relaxation, lifts the front part (la) of the hood (1).,
2. Active hood according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, on either side, two passive mechanisms and two active mechanisms.
3. Active hood according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second cam (22) is mounted on a vertical rod (23) integral with the pivoting plate (2).
4. Active hood according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arm (11) carries a transverse finger (12) intended to come into bearing contact with the first cam (21) when the active mechanism is activated.
5. Active hood according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said blade (3) extends over a transverse frame (5) supporting the pivoting plate (2).
6. Active hood according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the plate (2) is pivotally mounted around an axis (X) perpendicular to the frame (5).
7. Active hood according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active mechanism comprises a set of actuators (4) coupled to hinges (40) ensuring the movement of the rear part of the hood (1) in the event of an impact at the front.
8. Active hood according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active mechanism is mounted under the rear part of the hood (1) and
9. controlled by an impact detector. Active hood according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the active mechanism ensures the movement and guidance of the hood (1) both upwards and towards the rear of the vehicle in the event of an impact at the front of the vehicle.
10. Motor vehicle equipped with an active bonnet (1) according to one of the preceding claims for the protection of pedestrians in the event of a front collision.