Front Flap Hinge With Crash-Adaptive Rigidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front flap hinges for motor vehicles do not adequately manage force absorption and transmission in diverse crash scenarios, necessitating a design that ensures safe support and appropriate force management in different crash situations.
Innovation Solution
A front flap hinge design featuring an upper hinge portion with a guiding element and a guiding counter-element that allows controlled relative movement in one crash scenario and disengagement in another, adjusting rigidity based on force direction and magnitude.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the guiding element and guiding counter-element are configured to control relative movement in a first crash instance, then the front flap hinge provides defined rigidity for safe support, but in a second crash instance the guiding counter-element must be removable to allow force dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding element and guiding counter-element are designed to transition from a constrained state (controlling relative movement) to a removable state (allowing disengagement) based on crash conditions. The guiding counter-element can be removed from the guiding element by displacing it in the transverse direction or pivoting it about a second pivot axis, enabling the hinge to adapt its rigidity dynamically
Solution Approach 2:
The front flap hinge changes its rigidity parameter between different crash instances. In the first crash instance, the guiding elements maintain defined rigidity for safe support. In the second crash instance, the rigidity is reduced by allowing the guiding counter-element to be removed from the guiding element, enabling appropriate force absorption
2Strength
If the guiding counter-element is retained in the guiding element, then the front flap hinge maintains structural integrity and control, but it cannot dissipate forces effectively in severe crash scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding element and guiding counter-element are designed as separable components. The guiding counter-element can be removed from the guiding element through displacement in the transverse direction or pivoting about a second pivot axis, allowing the system to transition from a unified constrained structure to separable components for force dissipation
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding counter-element is extracted from the guiding element in the second crash instance. This extraction allows the front flap securing element to move relative to the upper hinge portion without the influence of the guiding elements, enabling effective force dissipation in severe crash scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
A front flap hinge for a motor vehicle comprises a hinge upper part and a front flap securing element which can be secured to a front flap of the motor vehicle and is connected to the hinge upper part such that it can swivel about a first pivot axis extending in a transverse direction. The hinge upper part comprises a guide element in which a guide counter element of the front flap securing element is guided in a first crash scenario. The guide counter element can be removed from the guide element in a second crash scenario. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a front flap hinge of this type.