An active hinge mechanism

Abstract

The present invention relates to an active hinge mechanism (1) which enables the hood to be opened and locked at a certain distance through the use of a spring mechanism after pedestrians hit the hood.

Description

[0001] AN ACTIVE HINGE MECHANISM

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to an active hinge mechanism which enables the hood to be opened and locked at a certain distance through the use of a spring mechanism after pedestrians hit the hood.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Hoods are used to cover the engine at the front of vehicles and are in an openable and closeable structure. The majority of injuries and fatalities in collisions occurring today are caused by pedestrians hitting hoods. For this reason, today, different solutions are being used with the aim of improving pedestrian safety and reducing the statistically determined pedestrian fatality rate and the possibility of serious injury. One of these is the hinge mechanisms that allow the hood to be provided with movement in order to minimize the possible damage to the pedestrian when the pedestrian hits the hood. The said hinge mechanisms enable the hood to be lifted slightly with the aim of reducing pedestrian injuries upon impact by being used together with the active hood system. Therefore, today, there is a need for different hinge solutions that will prevent the head of the pedestrian from hitting the hard parts of the hood by opening the hood at a certain height with the impact of the pedestrian.

[0006] The Korean patent document no. KR20240007511A, an application included in the state of the art, discloses an active hood hinge comprising a body bracket connected to the body of the vehicle. The said hood bracket comprises a hood bracket fixedly connected to a hood of a vehicle; an arm having a front end connected to the hood bracket and a rear end connected to the vehicle body bracket; a lever connected to the arm; a locking pin having one side fixed to the lever and the other side protruding through the hood bracket and the arm; a locking bracket having one side fixed to the hood bracket and the other side connected to the other side of the locking pin; and an actuator that pushes up the lever so that the locking bracket is broken and the arm and the hood bracket are lifted when a frontal collision accident of the vehicle occurs.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to realize an active hinge mechanism which enables the hoods to move and to remain open at a certain height during a collision with a pedestrian in order to reduce the injury and fatality rates of pedestrians in collisions between vehicles and pedestrians.

[0009] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0010] “An Active Hinge Mechanism” realized to fulfd the objective of the present invention is shown in the figures attached, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inventive active hinge mechanism.

[0012] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of an inventive active hinge mechanism.

[0013] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an inventive active hinge mechanism in the open position.

[0014] The components illustrated in the figures are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

[0015] 1. Hinge mechanism

[0016] 2. Fixed arm

[0017] 3. Movable arm 4. Active arm

[0018] 5. Connection plate

[0019] 6. Contact plate

[0020] 7. Hook

[0021] 8. Connection plate spring

[0022] 9. Locking hook

[0023] 10. Locking hook spring

[0024] 11. Connection element

[0025] 12. Clip

[0026] 13. Adjustment bolt

[0027] A: Actuator

[0028] An inventive active hinge mechanism (1) which enables the hood to move upwards and to remain open at a certain height in the event of collisions between vehicles and pedestrians comprises at least one fixed arm (2) which is connected at one end to the vehicle body; at least one movable arm (3) which is connected to the fixed arm (2) at the other end of the fixed arm (2) not connected to the vehicle and provides the movement required for normal opening and closing of the hood by moving at the point of connection it establishes with the fixed arm (2); at least one active arm (4) which is located on the movable arm (3); establishes the connection of the movable arm (3) and the hood and enables the hood to be raised at a predetermined distance upon the pedestrian hitting the hood; at least one connection plate (5) which is connected at one end to the active arm (4); is movable at the point of connection it establishes with the active arm (4); has at least one contact plate (6) forming a abutment surface for the hood to move upward upon the contact of an actuator (A) that is activated during a collision and at least one hook (7) contacting the movable arm (3) so that the hood does not move upward in its initial position; at least one connection plate spring (8) which enables the connection plate (5) to remain fixed while the hook (7) is in contact with the movable arm (3); at least one locking hook (9) which enables the hood to remain open in the position in which it moves after the connection plate (5) is moved by means of the actuator (A); is connected at one end to the movable arm (3) and contacts the active arm (4) at the other end for the hood to remain open; and at least one locking hook spring (10) which enables the locking hook (9), upon its movement from the initial position and then contacting the active arm (4), to remain fixed in the said position.

[0029] The fixed arm (2) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) is connected at one end to the vehicle body and comprises at the other end a movable arm (3) connected thereon by means of a connection element (11) that may have at least a pin and a bushing. The movable arm (3) enables the hood to perform its normal opening and closing movement. In the preferred embodiment, the movable arm (3) comprises at least one clip (12) on a surface thereof where it contacts the active arm (4). The clip (12) is used for anti-vibration purposes. The movable arm (3) also comprises at least one adjustment bolt (13) that contacts at one end the active arm (4) and moves at the other end on the movable arm (3) and enables adjustments to be made by moving the active arm (4) up and down with its movement on the movable arm (3).

[0030] The movable arm (3) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) is connected at one end to the fixed arm (2) with the help of the connection element (11) while having the active arm (4) and the locking hook (9) thereon. The movable arm (3) enables the hood to be opened and closed and is connected to the hood at the other end not connected to the fixed arm (2) with the help of the connection element (11) that may have a pin and bushing. The active arm (4) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) comprises a channel and is connected to the movable arm (3) by means of the said channel through a connection element (11). The active arm (4) enables the hood to be lifted upwards by moving the connection plate (5) upwards by means of the contact plate (6) and by the movement of the connection element (11) in the channel. For this, the active arm (4) is connected to the movable arm (3) by means of another connection element (11) at the other remaining free end. In this way, the hood moves upwards as far as the channel allows by the contact plate (6) is being pushed upwards by means of an actuator (A) and the pedestrian is prevented from hitting unwanted hard places in case s / he hits the hood.

[0031] The connection plate (5) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) comprises a contact plate (6) that pushes the movable arm (3) upwards by contacting the movable arm (3) upon upward lifting of the actuator (A). The connection plate (5) comprises a connection element (11) to the movable arm (3) and a connection plate spring (8) that will force it to contact the movable arm (3) through the hook (7) by being located outside the connection element (11). The hook (7) is forced to contact the movable arm (3) continuously by the push of the connection plate spring (8) and does not change its position without the actuator (A) pushing the contact plate (6) upwards.

[0032] The contact plate (6) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) contacts the actuator (A) on one surface thereof and contacts the active arm (4) on the other surface thereof so as to enable the upward movement of the hood in pedestrian impacts by the active arm (4) moving upwards. The hook (7) terminates its contact with the movable arm (3) upon the contact of the actuator (A) for the movement of the contact plate (6) and allows the contact plate (6) to make an upward rotational movement. The force of the connection plate spring (8) is overcome with the contact of the actuator (A) with the contact plate (6) and the hook (7) is released from the place where it contacts the movable arm (3). The hook (7) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) is located at the other end of the connection plate (5) where the contact plate (6) is not present. The hook (7) is forced to contact the movable arm (3) by means of the connection plate spring (8).

[0033] The connection plate spring (8) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) is connected to the movable arm (3) by means of the connection element (11) comprising a pin and pushes the hook (7) towards the movable arm (3).

[0034] The locking hook (9) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) is connected to the movable arm (3) and contacts the active arm (4) in order for the hood to remain in the position in which it is lifted upon the contact plate (6) pushing the active arm (4) upwards. The locking hook (9) is connected to the movable arm (3) by means of the connection element (11) comprising at least one pin and comprises a protrusion contacting the active arm (4) and at least one recess for the hood to remain fixed in the open position by the engagement of the locking hook spring (10). Locking takes place upon the contact and engagement of the locking hook (9) into a slot in the active arm (4) via the protrusion and the hood remains open in the lifted position.

[0035] The locking hook spring (10) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) is connected to the movable arm (3) by means of the connection element (11) comprising a pin and the ends thereof contact the movable arm (3) and the locking hook (9). The hood is enabled to remain fixed in the open position after a collision upon the locking hook (9) contacting the active arm (4) by the contact of the locking hook spring (10) at the ends thereof with both the movable arm (3) and the locking hook (9). The locking hook spring (10) must be released manually in order for the hood to return to its initial position before the collision.

[0036] The connection element (11) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) essentially comprises a pin and a bushing and is used for connection purposes. It enables the connection of the parts constituting the active hinge mechanism (1) to be established with each other, to the vehicle body and to the hood.

[0037] The clip (12) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) is positioned in a gap located on the movable arm (3) and prevents vibrations that may occur due to the contact of the movable arm (3) and the active arm (4) with each other by contacting the active arm (4).

[0038] The adjustment bolt (13) included in an inventive active hinge mechanism (1) enables vertical movement of the active arm (4) with which it contacts by moving up and down in a gap on the movable arm (3). Thus, the contact force of the active arm (4) on the movable arm (3) through the clip (12) can be adjusted.

[0039] An inventive active hinge mechanism (1) is connected to the vehicle body through the fixed arm (2) and is connected to the hood of the vehicle through the active arm (4). In the event that there is no collision on the hood of the vehicle, the upward movement of the hood is prevented as the connection plate (5) clings to the movable arm (3) through the hook (7). In the event that the vehicle hits a pedestrian on the hood, the actuator (A) is triggered and moves the contact plate (6) towards the active arm (4). The hook (7) is released from the movable arm (3) upon movement of the contact plate (6) and the hood starts to move upwards with the contact plate (6) contacting the active arm (4). The active arm (4) enables the hood to remain fixed in the open position by means of the protrusion of the locking hook (9) engaging in the slot in the active arm (4) with the movement of the active arm (4). Thus, in the event of any collision, the active hinge mechanism (1) lifts the hood upwards and tries to reduce the damage to pedestrians caused due to the hood.

[0040] Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “An Active Hinge Mechanism (1)”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An active hinge mechanism (1) which enables the hood to move upwards and to remain open at a certain height in the event of collisions between vehicles and pedestrians characterized by at least one fixed arm (2) which is connected at one end to the vehicle body; at least one movable arm (3) which is connected to the fixed arm (2) at the other end of the fixed arm (2) not connected to the vehicle and provides the movement required for normal opening and closing of the hood by moving at the point of connection it establishes with the fixed arm (2); at least one active arm (4) which is located on the movable arm (3); establishes the connection of the movable arm (3) and the hood and enables the hood to be raised at a predetermined distance upon the pedestrian hitting the hood; at least one connection plate (5) which is connected at one end to the active arm (4); is movable at the point of connection it establishes with the active arm (4); has at least one contact plate (6) forming a abutment surface for the hood to move upward upon contact with an actuator (A) that is activated during a collision and at least one hook (7) contacting the movable arm (3) so that the hood does not move upward in its initial position; at least one connection plate spring (8) which enables the connection plate (5) to remain fixed while the hook (7) is in contact with the movable arm(3); at least one locking hook (9) which enables the hood to remain open in the position in which it moves after the connection plate (5) is moved by means of the actuator (A); is connected at one end to the movable arm (3) and contacts the active arm (4) at the other end for the hood to remain open; and at least one locking hook spring (10) which enables the locking hook (9), upon its movement from the initial position and contact with the active arm(4), to remain fixed in the said position.

2. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to Claim 1; characterized by the fixed arm (2) which is connected at one end to the vehicle body and comprises at the other end a movable arm (3) connected thereon by means of a connection element (11) that may have at least a pin and a bushing.

3. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the movable arm (3) which comprises at least one clip (12) on a surface thereof where it contacts the active arm (4).

4. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the movable arm (3) which comprises at least one adjustment bolt (13) that contacts at one end the active arm (4) and moves at the other end on the movable arm (3) and enables adjustments to be made by moving the active arm (4) up and down with its movement on the movable arm (3).

5. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 4; characterized by the movable arm (3) which is connected at one end to the fixed arm (2) with the help of the connection element (11) while having the active arm (4) and the locking hook (9) thereon.

6. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 5; characterized by the active arm (4) which comprises a channel and is connected to the movable arm (3) by means of the said channel through a connection element (11).

7. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the connection plate (5) which comprises a contact plate (6) that pushes the movable arm (3) upwards by contacting the movable arm (3) upon upward lifting of the actuator (A).

8. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 7; characterized by the connection plate (5) which comprises a connection element (11) to the movable arm (3) and a connection plate spring (8) that will force it to contact the movable arm (3) through the hook (7) by being located outside the connection element (11).

9. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the hook (7) which is forced to contact the movable arm (3) continuously by the push of the connection plate spring (8) and does not change its position without the actuator (A) pushing the contact plate (6) upwards.

10. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the contact plate (6) which contacts the actuator (A) on one surface thereof and contacts the active arm (4) on the other surface thereof so as to enable the upward movement of the hood in pedestrian impacts by the active arm (4) moving upwards.

11. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the hook (7) which terminates its contact with the movable arm (3) upon the contact of the actuator (A) for the movement of the contact plate (6) and allows the contact plate (6) to make an upward rotational movement.

12. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the hook (7) which is forced to contact the movable arm (3) by means of the connection plate spring (8).

13. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 12; characterized by the connection plate spring (8) which is connected to themovable arm (3) by means of the connection element (11) comprising a pin and pushes the hook (7) towards the movable arm (3).

14. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the locking hook (9) which is connected to the movable arm (3) and contacts the active arm (4) in order for the hood to remain in the position in which it is lifted upon the contact plate (6) pushing the active arm (4) upwards.

15. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 14; characterized by the locking hook (9) which is connected to the movable arm (3) by means of the connection element (11) comprising at least one pin and comprises a protrusion contacting the active arm (4) and at least one recess for the hood to remain fixed in the open position by the engagement of the locking hook spring (10).

16. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 14; characterized by the locking hook spring (10) which is connected to the movable arm (3) by means of the connection element (11) comprising a pin and the ends thereof contact the movable arm (3) and the locking hook (9).

17. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the clip (12) which is positioned in a gap located on the movable arm (3) and prevents vibrations that may occur due to the contact of the movable arm (3) and the active arm (4) with each other by contacting the active arm (4).

18. An active hinge mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; characterized by the adjustment bolt (13) which enables vertical movement of the active arm (4) with which it contacts by moving up and down in a gap on the movable arm (3).

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