Vehicle Bonnet Hinge with Sliding Deployment Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bonnet hinge arrangements for vehicles do not effectively manage packaging height and deployment behavior, particularly in scenarios where a vulnerable road user collides with the bonnet, as they often require a high packaging height and do not decouple normal opening and deployment movements effectively.
Innovation Solution
A hinge arrangement with a pivotally connected bracket portion and deployment arms that allow for a low packaging height and controlled deployment, featuring sliding elements and a lifting member to manage the bonnet's transition from a closed to a deployed position, increasing the distance between the bonnet and engine parts during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a conventional actuator extending vertically downward is used to lift the bonnet, then the bonnet can be deployed to increase distance from engine parts, but the packaging height becomes rather high
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is reoriented to extend substantially horizontally rather than vertically downward, changing the dimension of actuation. This dimensional change allows the lifting force to be applied through a lever arm mechanism, achieving the same bonnet deployment function while dramatically reducing the vertical packaging height from the actuator assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge arrangement integrates multiple functional components including the actuator, deployment arms, and bonnet support structure into a compact nested configuration. The horizontal actuator connects to deployment arms that fold against the bonnet or body when not in use, allowing these components to occupy minimal space while maintaining full deployment capability for collision protection.
2Device complexity
If a simple hinged connection is used for normal bonnet opening, then the structure remains simple, but the deployment behavior during collisions cannot be effectively controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge arrangement is segmented into distinct functional components: a hinge portion for normal opening, a bracket portion for structural support, and deployment arms with pivotal connections for controlled deployment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling both simple normal operation and controlled collision response behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge arrangement incorporates dynamic characteristics through pivotal connections that allow different movement modes. During normal opening, the hinge provides standard rotational movement. During collision, the same pivotal connections enable controlled deployment movement as the actuator activates, allowing the structure to adapt its behavior based on the operational scenario without requiring completely separate mechanisms.
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 enables a low packaging height and controlled bonnet deployment, effectively mitigating collision impacts by increasing the distance between the bonnet and hard engine parts, thereby reducing injury severity for vulnerable road users.
Implementation Method 1
At least one sliding element, e.g. a slot, adapted for sliding of one of the pivotal connections, is located in one of the first deployment arm, the second deployment arm, the bracket portion and the hinge arm
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a hinge arrangement (11, 11') adapted to be located at a front (15), a rear (17) or a side end portion of a cover (5) of a vehicle (3). The hinge arrangement is transitable between a normal state and a deployed state and comprises: - a hinge portion (19) adapted to be attached to a body of the vehicle, - a hinge arm (21) pivotally connected to the hinge portion (19), thereby providing a hinged connection (29) for normal opening of the cover (5), - a bracket portion (23) adapted to be attached to the cover (5), and - a first deployment arm (25) and a second deployment arm (27) pivotally connecting the bracket portion (23) with the hinge arm (21), a first part of the first deployment arm being pivotally connected to the bracket portion at a first pivotal connection (P1), a second part of the first deployment arm being pivotally connected to the hinge arm at a second pivotal connection (P2), a first part of the second deployment arm being pivotally connected to the bracket portion at a third pivotal connection (P3), a second part of the second deployment arm being pivotally connected to the hinge arm at a fourth pivotal connection (P4), at least one sliding element, e.g. a slot (31, 55, 57), adapted for sliding of one of the pivotal connections being located in one of the first deployment arm, the second deployment arm, the bracket portion and the hinge arm at one of the first, second, third and fourth pivotal connections. The disclosure further relates to a bonnet arrangement (1) comprising such a hinge arrangement, to a vehicle and to a method of displacing a bonnet of the bonnet arrangement to a deployed position.