Articulating Hinge Cover Assembly for Vehicle Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gooseneck hinges in vehicles intrude into interior space, lack rigidity, and complicate assembly due to their design, leading to increased door sag and inefficient packaging.
Innovation Solution
An integrated articulating exterior closure hinge and cover assembly with a straight hinge and mechanical or electronic linkage system, utilizing spherical joints and a biasing element like a torsion spring, which allows the cover to align flush with body panels and open efficiently, reducing intrusion and enhancing assembly simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a gooseneck hinge is used to connect the closure to the vehicle body, then the closure can swing open and closed, but the hinge intrudes substantially into the interior space of the vehicle when the enclosure is closed
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is repositioned from an interior mounting location to an exterior mounting location on the vehicle body. The cover component extends along the body panel in a direction substantially perpendicular to the closure panel, allowing the hinge mechanism to operate in three-dimensional space outside the vehicle interior, thereby eliminating intrusion into the cargo or passenger space while maintaining the closure swinging function.
2Strength
If a gooseneck hinge is used, then the closure can be attached to the body, but the open C-section lacks rigidity and allows for increased door sag
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into distinct functional components: a mounting bracket attached to the vehicle body, a hinge mechanism providing the swinging motion, and a separate cover component that extends along the body panel. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the hinge mechanism can be designed with high rigidity using a straight configuration, while the cover provides structural support and aesthetic coverage, together eliminating door sag without excessive complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If a gooseneck hinge is used, then the closure can be connected to the body, but the vehicle assembly process is relatively difficult as the hinge must be inserted through a body side hole
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is extracted from the traditional interior mounting approach and repositioned to mount externally on the vehicle body. The mounting bracket is attached to the outer surface of the body panel, and the cover component extends along the body panel to provide coverage and structural support. This extraction eliminates the need to drill and insert hinges through body side holes, significantly simplifying the assembly process while maintaining connection functionality.
4Shape
If the cover remains fixed in the closed position, then it provides a flush appearance, but it prevents the closure hinge from moving when the closure is opened
Solution Approach 1:
The cover component is designed with dynamic movement capability through a linkage mechanism. When the closure is in the closed position, the cover extends along the body panel in a substantially straight line, providing a flush appearance. When the closure is opened, the linkage mechanism causes the cover to articulate or pivot, allowing it to clear the path of the moving closure hinge. This dynamic behavior maintains the aesthetic appearance at rest while enabling full operational range of motion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides improved packaging efficiency, increased structural rigidity, and easier assembly, while maintaining aerodynamics and enhancing the vehicle's appearance by minimizing interior intrusion and door sag, thus increasing cabin space and user satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
the biasing element comprises a torsion spring that is received on the hinge pin that connects the cover to the cover support
Data Source
AI summary
A closure assembly is provided including a closure having a closure hinge, a closure hinge cover and a linkage between the closure and the cover. When the closure is in a closed position, the cover extends in a plane overlying the closure hinge. When the closure is an opened position the cover is displaced to an open position to allow the closure hinge to pass through the plane that the cover assumes when the closure is closed.