Front Bonnet Locking Arrangement with Perpendicular Spring Preload
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front hood hinge systems face challenges in reliable and timely triggering due to complex structural connections, long piston rod displacement paths, and the risk of unintentional pyrotechnic triggering, leading to potential malfunctions and safety issues during pedestrian impacts or accidents.
Innovation Solution
A locking arrangement that couples a fastening part to a link in a joint arrangement, allowing for positive locking and easy release via a triggering device, which overcomes spring preload with minimal force loss and avoids unintentional triggering by using a pressure piece to elastically deform the spring, ensuring the locking member is released only through the pressure piece, thus preventing tilting and malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pyrotechnic piston-cylinder unit is used as a triggering device with a long displacement path, then the front hood can be raised, but the risk of unintentional triggering increases and the area is difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
A pressure piece is introduced as an intermediary component between the piston rod and the spring element. The pressure piece receives the axial force from the piston rod and transmits it perpendicularly to the spring element, preventing direct axial connection that could lead to unintentional pyrotechnic triggering while enabling effective force transmission for locking member release
Solution Approach 2:
The force transmission path is segmented into two perpendicular stages: first axial force from the piston rod to the pressure piece, then perpendicular force from the pressure piece to the spring element. This segmentation isolates the pyrotechnic element from direct mechanical connection to the lifting mechanism, eliminating the risk of unintentional triggering during normal operation
2Reliability
If the triggering device is structurally connected to the hinge in a packed area, then the hood can be triggered, but the area is difficult to access for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The triggering system is segmented into modular components (pyrotechnic element, piston-cylinder unit, pressure piece, spring element, locking member) that can be independently accessed and replaced. The pressure piece acts as a removable intermediary that simplifies maintenance by allowing replacement of individual components without disassembling the entire hinge assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure piece serves as a mediator that decouples the pyrotechnic triggering mechanism from the mechanical lifting mechanism. This intermediary design allows the triggering components to be accessed and maintained separately from the hinge joint, improving serviceability despite the compact installation area
3Length of moving object
If a long displacement path of the piston rod is used, then the front hood can be lifted vertically, but tilting risk increases and the lifting path requires movement in all joints
Solution Approach 1:
A spring element is pre-loaded to exert a continuous counteracting force on the locking member, preventing unintended movement or tilting during the piston rod's long displacement path. The spring's preliminary action compensates for gravitational forces and joint play, maintaining stable positioning throughout the extended lifting trajectory
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure piece mediates between the piston rod's axial movement and the spring element's perpendicular force application. This intermediary mechanism converts the long axial displacement into controlled perpendicular force cycles, enabling the locking member to be reliably released and re-engaged without causing tilting or instability during the extended piston rod travel
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 reliable and efficient triggering of the front hood hinge, minimizing force loss and preventing unintentional triggering, ensuring safe operation and easy maintenance, with the ability to revert to a locked position without plastic deformation, allowing for easy retrofitting and component replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (5), which shifts the locking member (4) in the locking direction and is elastically deformable in the locking direction under the action of a pressure piece (8)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
The invention relates to a locking arrangement for a releasable front bonnet hinge, comprising a first securing part (2) which is associated with a front bonnet; a second securing part which is associated with the vehicle body; a hinge arrangement (3) which connects the first securing part (2) and the second securing part in an articulated manner, and a locking member (4) which locks the first securing part (2) or the second securing part in relation to the hinge arrangement (3) or the respective other securing part in a non-released position, said locking member being connected to one of the parts which is to be locked. Said locking member (4) is pretensed by a spring element (5) in the locking direction, and said locking member (4) can be displaced by a release device counter to the release direction. According to the invention, a locking arrangement and/or an active front bonnet hinge or a front bonnet arrangement which can be released in a reliable and simple manner is provided such that said locking member (4) is pretensed at least predominately perpendicular to the force of the release direction by a spring element (5) and that the locking member (4) can be axially displaced counter to the locking direction.