Collapsible Single-Piece Hood Hinge for Pedestrian Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hood hinge designs for passenger cars are complex, heavy, and difficult to manufacture, with insufficient ability to absorb forces in the longitudinal direction during collisions, particularly when impacts occur near the hinges, limiting their cushioning effect and increasing the risk of pedestrian injury.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible hood hinge arrangement featuring a single-piece body hinge element with a V-shaped second portion for vertical collapse and a third portion supported by the a-pillar to absorb compressive forces, allowing the hood to displace downward and prevent movement through the windscreen, while the third portion deflects to absorb longitudinal forces, using lightweight materials like plastic or composites for simplicity and ease of manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional multi-part hood hinge assemblies are used, then the structure can provide basic hood support, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate hinge components (bracket, legs, support structures) into a single integrated body hinge element made from one piece of material. This unification eliminates the need for multiple attachment points and assembly steps, directly reducing device complexity and mounting time while maintaining the necessary functional capabilities of hood support and collision absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The single-piece body hinge element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the hood, absorbs impact forces during pedestrian collisions through controlled collapse, and integrates mounting features for both the bracket and support structures. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the hinge assembly.
2Reliability
If collapsible legs are added to absorb impact forces, then pedestrian safety improves, but the assembly becomes heavyweight and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible impact-absorbing legs are integrated directly into the body hinge element as part of the single-piece construction, eliminating the need for separate heavy-duty collapsible assemblies. The impact absorption function is built-in, reducing overall assembly weight while maintaining pedestrian safety through controlled collapse mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If the body hinge element is made from one single piece of material, then manufacturing simplicity improves, but the ability to absorb longitudinal forces may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The single-piece body hinge element incorporates locally optimized features including a third portion specifically designed to engage with the a-pillar for longitudinal force absorption, and a second portion configured for vertical collapse during pedestrian impacts. These localized structural variations within the unified component maintain manufacturing simplicity while providing targeted strength where needed.
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 design provides a simple, lightweight, and effective means to absorb impact forces, ensuring the hood does not displace through the windscreen and offers improved cushioning, reducing the risk of pedestrian injury by distributing and managing impact forces efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
the second portion, in case of said impact, will collapse and allow the hood and the hood hinge element to be downwardly displaced so as to reduce the force of the impact
Implementation Method 2
a third portion to be supported by the a-pillar of the passenger car for absorbing compressive forces, whereby the third portion will deflect in conjunction with the collapsing movement of the second portion
Implementation Method 3
ensuring the hood does not displace through the windscreen and offers improved cushioning, reducing the risk of pedestrian injury by distributing and managing impact forces efficiently
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a hood hinge arrangement (5) for a passenger car adapted to pivotally connect the rear end of the hood (3) with the body of the passenger car, wherein the hood hinge arrangement (5) comprises a pair of hood hinges (5) to be mounted at opposite sides of the hood rear end, each hood hinge comprising a hood hinge element (7) to be fixed to the hood (3), a body hinge element (9) to be fixed to the body of the passenger car and being in pivotal connection with the hood hinge element at a pivot (11), wherein the body hinge element (9) is collapsible in case of collision with a pedestrian applying an impact to the hood (3) in the vicinity of the hood hinge (5). The hood hinge arrangement is characterised in that said body hinge element (9) is made from one single piece of material, comprising a first portion (15) to be fixed to the body of the passenger car, a second portion (17) to be collapsible in a substantially vertical direction, and a third portion (19) to be supported by the a-pillar (13) of the passenger car for absorbing compressive forces, whereby the second portion (17), in case of said impact, will collapse and allow the hood (3) and the hood hinge element (7) to be downwardly displaced so as to reduce the force of the impact, and the third portion (19) will deflect in conjunction with the collapsing movement of the second portion (17) as well as restrain the hood (3) from moving in the direction of the windscreen of the passenger car.