Active Hood Device Single Actuator Pedestrian Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active hood devices for vehicles increase production costs and vehicle weight due to complex structures and the need for additional actuators, while simplifying the design to omit the latch actuator compromises pedestrian protection by reducing the shock-absorbing space.
Innovation Solution
An active hood device with a single hinge actuator that allows the hood panel to pop up upward and rearward, featuring a striker with two-stage catching portions and a simplified operating unit, reducing assembly time and weight while maintaining or improving pedestrian protection performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a latch actuator is added to allow the hood panel to pop up, then pedestrian protection performance is improved, but production costs and vehicle weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the latch actuator from the system, extracting the unnecessary component while maintaining pedestrian protection functionality through the striker's two-stage catching portions that enable automatic hood release during collisions
Solution Approach 2:
The striker mechanism performs self-service by automatically releasing the hood panel during pedestrian collisions through its two-stage catching portions, eliminating the need for an additional latch actuator and reducing vehicle weight while maintaining safety performance
2Weight of stationary object
If the hood panel structure is simplified to reduce weight, then production costs decrease, but the shock-absorbing space may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The striker is segmented into two-stage catching portions (first and second catching portions at different heights), enabling sequential engagement and release that maintains adequate shock-absorbing space while simplifying the overall hood actuation mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The hood panel transitions from a static locked position to a dynamic pop-up position through the two-stage catching mechanism, creating necessary shock-absorbing space during collisions without requiring additional actuators or complex structures
3Reliability
If a hinge actuator and latch actuator are both installed to pop up the hood panel, then pedestrian protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch actuator is extracted from the system, reducing device complexity from a two-actuator configuration to a single hinge actuator while maintaining pedestrian protection through the simplified two-stage catching mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The striker with two-stage catching portions serves multiple functions: normal hood latching, collision detection, and automatic hood release, replacing the need for separate latch actuator functionality and reducing overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An active hood device for a vehicle may include a hood panel which is provided in the front of a vehicle body to cover an engine room, and rotatably mounted by a hood hinge coupled to a rear end of the hood panel, a hinge actuator which has a first side connected to the hood hinge, and a second side coupled to a bracket coupled to the vehicle body, and has a rod movable, and an operating unit which connects the bracket and the hood hinge, and allows the rod to be moved when the rod is raised, wherein at a time of a vehicle-pedestrian collision accident, the hood actuator is operated by a signal from a detecting sensor installed at a front portion of the vehicle, to raise the rod, and the rod allows the hood panel to pop up while being raised by the operating unit.