Pop-up hood device, actuator, and base member

Abstract

This pop-up hood device is mounted on a moving body and comprises: an actuator that lifts a hood panel of the moving body; and a base member that is provided on the moving body and to which the actuator is attached. The base member has a housing portion that houses the end portion of the actuator on the side opposite to the side that contacts the hood panel.

Description

Pop-up hood device, actuator, and base member CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-072365, filed on April 26, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a pop-up hood device, an actuator, and a base member.

[0003] A pop-up hood device is known that, when a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian is detected or predicted, lifts the vehicle's hood panel to reduce the impact on the pedestrian. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the actuator that lifts the hood panel is fixed to the side of the radiator support. The fixation can be performed using bolts and nuts.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-111200

[0005] However, fixing with bolts and nuts requires time and effort, and the increased number of parts increases costs.

[0006] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0007] (1) According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a pop-up hood device mounted on a movable body. The pop-up hood device includes an actuator that lifts a hood panel of the movable body and a base member that is provided on the movable body and to which the actuator is attached, the base member having a housing that houses an end of the actuator opposite to the side that contacts the hood panel. According to this aspect of the pop-up hood device, the base member has a housing that houses an end of the actuator opposite to the side that contacts the hood panel. This allows the actuator to be easily attached to the base member compared to a configuration in which the actuator and base member are fastened with bolts and nuts. Furthermore, since bolts and nuts are not required for attachment, manufacturing costs can be reduced. (2) In the pop-up hood device of the above aspect, the base member may have a protruding portion that protrudes in a second direction that intersects a first direction in which the hood panel is lifted by activation of the actuator, and the housing portion may be provided on the protruding portion. According to this form of pop-up hood device, the base member has a protruding portion that protrudes in a second direction that intersects with the first direction, which is the direction in which the hood panel is lifted by operation of the actuator, so the entire pop-up hood device can be made more compact in the first direction compared to a configuration in which the protruding portion protrudes in the first direction. (3) The pop-up hood device of the above form may further include a fixing pin that fixes the actuator to the base member, wherein the end of the actuator is provided with a first through hole and the protruding portion is provided with a second through hole that passes through the accommodating portion, and the fixing pin is positioned to pass through the first through hole and the second through hole when the end of the actuator is accommodated in the accommodating portion. This form of pop-up hood device further includes a fixing pin, a first through hole is provided at the end of the actuator, and a second through hole is provided at the protrusion so as to pass through the accommodating portion, and the fixing pin is positioned so as to pass through the first through hole and the second through hole when the end of the actuator is accommodated in the accommodating portion, so that the actuator can be attached to the base member more firmly compared to a configuration that does not include a fixing pin.(4) In the pop-up hood device of the above aspect, the base member may be a radiator support. According to the pop-up hood device of this aspect, the base member is the radiator support, and therefore the actuator can be attached using the radiator support.

[0008] The present disclosure may be realized in various forms, for example, in the form of an actuator, a base member, a moving body equipped with a pop-up hood device, or the like.

[0009] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle equipped with a pop-up hood device, and more particularly to a pop-up hood device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] A. First Embodiment: A1. Overall Configuration of the Pop-Up Hood Device 100: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle 400 equipped with a pop-up hood device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle 400 may be, for example, a vehicle equipped with an engine, a hybrid vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), an electric vehicle (BEV), or a fuel cell vehicle (FCV). The pop-up hood device 100 reduces impact on the pedestrian by lifting a hood panel 410 when a sensor mounted on the vehicle 400 detects or predicts a collision with a pedestrian. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the pop-up hood device 100 has been activated and the hood panel 410 has been lifted. Note that FIG. 2 and subsequent figures show a state in which the pop-up hood device 100 is not activated. The pop-up hood device 100 is disposed in the front of an engine compartment 420 of the vehicle 400.

[0011] In this disclosure, the direction along the traveling direction of vehicle 400 is referred to as the "front-rear direction." Furthermore, the vertical direction as seen by the driver in vehicle 400 is referred to as the "up-down direction." Furthermore, the direction along the left-right direction (width direction) of vehicle 400 is referred to as the "left-right direction." The "front-rear direction," "up-down direction," and "left-right direction" are directions that intersect with each other. In this disclosure, the "up-down direction" is also referred to as the "first direction," the "front-rear direction" as the "second direction," and the "left-right direction" as the "third direction."

[0012] The pop-up hood device 100 includes an actuator 200 and a base member 300 .

[0013] A2. Configuration of the Actuator 200: Figure 2 is a diagram showing the general configuration of the pop-up hood device 100. Figure 2 shows a state in which the actuator 200 is not attached to the base member 300. Two actuators 200 are arranged in the left-right direction. The following description will use the actuator 200 located on the right side of the two actuators 200 as an example. The actuator 200 located on the left side has a configuration symmetrical to the actuator 200 located on the right side, and therefore will not be described here.

[0014] Actuator 200 receives an electrical signal that is generated when a collision between vehicle 400 and a pedestrian is detected or predicted, and protrudes upward. This causes hood panel 410 shown in Figure 1 to be lifted upward. As shown in Figure 2, actuator 200 includes a cylinder portion 215 and a pipe portion 220.

[0015] (Configuration of Cylinder Portion 215) The cylinder portion 215 has a cylindrical external shape. The cylinder portion 215 is manufactured by, for example, injection molding metal or resin. The interior of the cylinder portion 215 is hollow. The cylinder portion 215 moves upward when pushed by gas generated by a gas generator, which will be described later. When the actuator 200 is activated, the upper end of the cylinder portion 215 comes into contact with the hood panel 410.

[0016] (Configuration of pipe portion 220) The pipe portion 220 has a cylindrical external shape. The pipe portion 220 is manufactured by, for example, injection molding metal or resin. The outer diameter of the pipe portion 220 is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylinder portion 215. The upper side of the pipe portion 220 is housed in the cylinder portion 215. A gas generator (not shown) is provided at the upper end of the pipe portion 220. The gas generator receives an electrical signal and injects gas. An elliptical first through-hole 221 is provided at the lower side of the pipe portion 220 along the left-right direction.

[0017] A3. Configuration of base member 300: The actuator 200 is attached to the base member 300. The base member 300 is manufactured by injection molding metal or resin. In this embodiment, the base member 300 is a radiator support that forms part of the frame of the vehicle 400. FIG. 2 shows only the portion of the radiator support to which the actuator 200 is attached, and other portions are omitted. The base member 300 includes a main body portion 305 and a protrusion portion 310.

[0018] (Configuration of main body 305) The main body 305 is a frame-shaped member composed of a pair of horizontal frames 306 and a pair of vertical frames 307. The horizontal frames 306 extend in the left-right direction. The vertical frames 307 extend in the up-down direction. For convenience of illustration, Fig. 2 shows a portion of one horizontal frame 306 and a portion of one vertical frame 307.

[0019] (Configuration of protrusion 310) The protrusion 310 houses the actuator 200. The protrusion 310 also receives a downward load generated when the actuator 200 is activated. The protrusion 310 is a rib that protrudes rearward from the vertical frame 307. The protrusion 310 has a trapezoidal external shape when viewed left and right. The length of the protrusion 310 in the up-down direction is shorter on the side farther from the main body 305 than on the side closer to the main body 305 when viewed left and right. The lower surface 311 of the protrusion 310 slopes from bottom to top along the side closer to the main body 305 to the side farther from the main body 305. The upper surface 312 of the protrusion 310 is a flat surface that extends in the left-right and front-rear directions. The protrusion 310 is provided with a housing 314 and a second through-hole 315.

[0020] (Configuration of accommodating portion 314) The accommodating portion 314 accommodates a portion of the actuator 200, including the end opposite to the side that contacts the hood panel 410. In this embodiment, the accommodating portion 314 accommodates the pipe portion 220. The accommodating portion 314 is a bottomed hole that extends in the vertical direction. The inner diameter of the accommodating portion 314 and the outer diameter of the pipe portion 220 are approximately the same. Therefore, when the pipe portion 220 is inserted into the accommodating portion 314, the outer peripheral surface of the pipe portion 220 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating portion 314.

[0021] (Configuration of Second Through Hole 315) The second through hole 315 is an elliptical through hole extending in the left-right direction. The shape of the second through hole 315 is the same as the shape of the first through hole 221 of the actuator 200.

[0022] A4. Assembling the Actuator 200 and the Base Member 300: As shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 , the pipe portion 220 of the actuator 200 is inserted into the housing portion 314 of the protruding portion 310. At this time, the positions of the first through hole 221 provided in the pipe portion 220 and the second through hole 315 provided in the protruding portion 310 are adjusted so that they overlap. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the assembled state of the actuator 200 and the base member 300. As shown in FIG. 3 , with the pipe portion 220 housed in the housing portion 314, the fixing pin 500 is positioned so as to pass through the overlapping first through hole 221 and second through hole 315. The fixing pin 500 has a rod-like external shape with an elliptical cross section. The outer diameter of the fixing pin 500 is approximately the same as the inner diameters of the first through hole 221 and the second through hole 315. The actuator 200 is fixed to the base member 300 by the fixing pin 500 .

[0023] According to the pop-up hood device 100 of the first embodiment described above, the base member 300 has the housing portion 314 that houses the end of the actuator 200 opposite the side that contacts the hood panel 410, so that the actuator 200 can be attached to the base member 300 more easily than in a configuration in which the actuator 200 and the base member 300 are fixed together with bolts and nuts. Furthermore, because bolts and nuts are not required for attachment, manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0024] Furthermore, the base member 300 has a protruding portion 310 that protrudes in the front-to-rear direction, which is a direction that intersects with the up-and-down direction, which is the direction in which the hood panel 410 is lifted by the operation of the actuator 200, so the entire pop-up hood device 100 can be made more compact in the up-and-down direction compared to a configuration in which the protruding portion 310 protrudes in the up-and-down direction.

[0025] In addition, the actuator 200 is further provided with a fixing pin 500 for fixing the actuator 200 to the base member 300, a first through hole 221 is provided at the end of the actuator 200, and a second through hole 315 is provided in the protrusion 310 so as to pass through the accommodating portion 314, and the fixing pin 500 is arranged so as to pass through the first through hole 221 and the second through hole 315 when the end of the actuator 200 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 314, so that the actuator 200 can be attached to the base member 300 more firmly than in a configuration that does not include the fixing pin 500.

[0026] Furthermore, since the base member 300 is a radiator support, the actuator 200 can be attached using the radiator support.

[0027] Furthermore, since the vertical length of the protrusion 310 is shorter on the side farther from the main body 305 than on the side closer to the main body 305, the protrusion 310 can be made lighter while maintaining its strength compared to a configuration in which the vertical length of the protrusion 310 is uniform.

[0028] B. Second embodiment: Figure 4 is a diagram showing the general configuration of a pop-up hood device 100b of the second embodiment. The pop-up hood device 100b of the second embodiment differs from the pop-up hood device 100 of the first embodiment in that the base member 300b does not have a protrusion 310. Points in the configuration of the pop-up hood device 100b of the second embodiment that are not particularly described are the same as those of the first embodiment, and so description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4 , the housing portion 314b is provided on the upper surface of the horizontal frame 306. The pipe portion 220 of the actuator 200 can be inserted into this housing portion 314b as well. Note that the pipe portion 220 used in the second embodiment does not need to be provided with the first through-hole 221. In the second embodiment, the actuator 200 and the base member 300b can be fixed together by, for example, screwing. Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the pipe portion 220 can be externally threaded, and the inner peripheral surface of the housing portion 314b can be internally threaded, thereby allowing the pipe portion 220 and the housing portion 314b to be screwed together.

[0030] According to the second embodiment of the pop-up hood device 100b described above, the storage section 314b is provided on the upper surface of the horizontal frame 306 of the base member 300b, so that the pop-up hood device 100b can be made more compact in the front-to-rear direction compared to a configuration in which the storage section 314b is provided on the protrusion 310.

[0031] C. Other Embodiments: (C1) In the above embodiment, the up-down direction, the front-rear direction, and the left-right direction may be any directions that intersect with each other at angles other than 90 degrees. That is, the direction in which the hood panel 410 of the actuator 200 is lifted may be any first direction. The direction in which the protrusion 310 protrudes may be any second direction that intersects with the first direction. The direction in which the horizontal frame 306 of the base member 300 extends may be any third direction that intersects with the first and second directions.

[0032] (C2) In the above embodiment, the base member 300 may be any member other than a radiator support. Such a member may be, for example, a part of the body of the vehicle 400.

[0033] (C3) In the above-described embodiments, the pop-up hood device 100, 100b may be provided in any location of the vehicle 400. Such a location may be, for example, the rear side of the engine compartment 420.

[0034] (C4) In the above embodiment, the protrusion 310 may have any shape other than a trapezoid when viewed in the left-right direction. Such a shape may be, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped or a triangular shape when viewed in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the length of the protrusion 310 in the up-down direction when viewed in the left-right direction may change in a stepped manner.

[0035] (C5) In the above embodiment, the housing portions 314, 314b may house only a portion of the pipe portion 220, rather than the entire pipe portion 220. In other words, the housing portions 314, 314b may be configured to house a portion of the actuator 200, including the end portion opposite to the side that contacts the hood panel 410.

[0036] (C6) In the first embodiment, the protrusion 310 may have any shape other than a trapezoid when viewed in the left-right direction. Such a shape may be, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped or a triangular shape when viewed in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the length of the protrusion 310 in the up-down direction when viewed in the left-right direction may change in a stepped manner.

[0037] (C7) In the first embodiment, the first through hole 221 and the second through hole 315 may be omitted. In such a configuration, the cylinder portion 215 and the protruding portion 310 may be fixed to each other by any method. Such fixation may be performed, for example, by using an adhesive or by threading the cylinder portion 215 and the protruding portion 310 to form a screw connection.

[0038] (C8) In the above embodiments, the pop-up hood device 100, 100b may be provided on any moving body other than the vehicle 400. Such moving bodies include, for example, ships, airplanes, spacecraft, and so-called flying cars.

[0039] (C9) In the above-described embodiments, the pop-up hood device 100, 100b may be activated when a collision with an object to be protected other than a pedestrian is detected or predicted. Such an object to be protected may be, for example, a bicycle, a motorbike, or an animal other than a human.

[0040] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

[0041] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100, 100b... Pop-up hood device, 200... Actuator, 215... Cylinder portion, 220... Pipe portion, 221... First through-hole, 300, 300b... Base member, 305... Main body portion, 306... Horizontal frame, 307... Vertical frame, 310... Protruding portion, 311... Lower surface, 312... Upper surface, 314, 314b... Storage portion, 315... Second through-hole, 400... Vehicle, 410... Hood panel, 420... Engine compartment, 500... Fixing pin

Claims

1. A pop-up hood device mounted on a movable body, comprising: an actuator that lifts a hood panel of the movable body; and a base member that is provided on the movable body and to which the actuator is attached, the base member having a housing portion that houses an end of the actuator on the side opposite to the side that contacts the hood panel.

2. A pop-up hood device according to claim 1, wherein the base member has a protruding portion that protrudes in a second direction that intersects with a first direction in which the hood panel is lifted by operation of the actuator, and the storage portion is provided on the protruding portion.

3. A pop-up hood device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a fixing pin for fixing the actuator to the base member, wherein the end of the actuator has a first through-hole, and the protruding portion has a second through-hole that passes through the storage section, and the fixing pin is positioned so as to pass through the first through-hole and the second through-hole when the end of the actuator is stored in the storage section.

4. A pop-up hood device according to claim 3, wherein the base member is a radiator support.

5. An actuator for lifting a hood panel of a moving body, wherein a first through hole is provided at an end opposite to the side contacting the hood panel, and a part of the actuator including the end can be accommodated in a storage section provided in a base member of the moving body, and the actuator can be attached to the base member by arranging a fixing pin so as to pass through a second through hole provided in the storage section and the first through hole.

6. A base member provided on a movable body to which an actuator for lifting a hood panel of the movable body is attached, the base member comprising: a protruding portion that protrudes in a second direction that intersects with a first direction in which the hood panel is lifted by operation of the actuator; and a housing portion provided on the protruding portion that houses the end of the actuator on the side opposite to the side that contacts the hood panel.

7. A base member as described in claim 6, wherein the protruding portion is provided with a second through-hole that passes through the accommodation portion, and when the end of the actuator is accommodated in the accommodation portion, a fixing pin is positioned so as to pass through the first through-hole and the second through-hole provided in the end of the actuator, thereby enabling the actuator to be attached.

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