Motor Vehicle Bonnet Hinge Holding Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinges for motor vehicle front hoods suffer from inadequate functional performance over long service life under high loads and are sensitive to tolerances, leading to inconsistent triggering forces and paths, which affects their functionality.
Innovation Solution
A hinge system with a holding device that firmly fixes hinge parts in a normal position using a holding force, which can be decoupled to allow movement into a protective position, utilizing an actuator to cancel the holding force and move the hinge parts, ensuring precise and robust operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hinge parts are held in the normal position by a long support and power chain, then the hinge can maintain position, but the functional performance deteriorates under high loads over long service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex support and power chain from the hinge mechanism. Instead of using a long chain of components to hold the hinge parts, the invention directly connects the hinge parts to each other, removing unnecessary intermediate elements while maintaining the holding function through a simplified direct connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by having the hinge parts fix themselves mutually rather than being held by an external support chain. The hinge parts directly constrain each other through their interconnection, reversing the conventional role of separate support mechanisms and achieving greater reliability through this self-fixing arrangement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the holding force is applied continuously to fix hinge parts, then the hinge parts remain stable, but the actuating force required to move them increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the holding force controllable and variable rather than continuous and fixed. The holding force can be actively adjusted between a first level (for stable positioning) and a second level (for enabling movement), allowing the system to adapt its mechanical properties based on operational requirements and reducing the force needed for actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of holding force from a constant value to a variable value with at least two distinct levels. By adjusting the magnitude of the holding force, the system can switch between a stable fixed state and a movable state, thereby reducing the actuating force required when movement is needed while maintaining stability when positioning is required.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hinge is sensitive to tolerances, then manufacturing is easier, but the triggering forces and paths become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service through the self-adjusting mechanism where the controllable holding force automatically compensates for tolerance variations. The system self-regulates by adjusting the holding force level based on the actual mechanical conditions, eliminating the need for high manufacturing precision while maintaining consistent triggering forces and paths through active adaptation rather than passive tolerance control.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6~11
Figure 12~13
AI summary
The hinge (10) has two hinge parts (12,14) that are connected with each other in an articulated manner and are movable relative to each other between a normal position and a protective position. The hinge parts are fixed in the normal position by a holding unit under impact with a holding force between the hinge parts. An independent claim is also included for a method for actuating a hinge.