Frunk Hood Lifting Mechanism for Under-Pressure Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with a front trunk (frunk) experience reduced hood opening speed due to under-pressure created when the frunk is closed, which hinders the initial lifting movement of the hood.
Innovation Solution
A hood lifting mechanism featuring a deformable material attached to the inner surface of the hood, capable of switching from a flat or dome position towards the hood to a dome position towards the frunk, reducing the under-pressure by decreasing the volume inside the frunk, thereby increasing the opening speed of the hood.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the hood is lifted rapidly to improve opening speed, then active safety response time is reduced, but under-pressure inside the frunk increases creating opposing force
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable material is pre-configured in a compressed state between the hood and frunk closure. When the hood begins to lift, this pre-compressed material immediately expands into the frunk volume, proactively counteracting the under-pressure before it can significantly oppose the lifting force, thereby enabling faster hood opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable material changes its volume parameter dynamically during hood opening. By expanding from a compressed state to a larger volume state, it actively modifies the internal frunk volume parameter to counterbalance the under-pressure, allowing the hood to open at higher speeds without excessive opposing force.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a sealing contact area is created between hood and frunk, then protection against water and dust is improved, but under-pressure is generated during hood opening
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable material acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sealed frunk and the external environment. When the hood opens, this intermediary expands to equalize pressure differences, mediating between the sealed compartment and the opening hood to prevent harmful under-pressure effects while maintaining the sealing's protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing contact area is pre-configured to create an effective seal before hood opening. The deformable material is also pre-compressed in this sealed state, ready to expand immediately when opening begins, thus preliminarily preparing the pressure compensation mechanism while maintaining water and dust protection.
3Speed
If the frunk volume is reduced to counteract under-pressure, then hood opening speed is improved, but the frunk storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable material provides dynamic volume adjustment within the frunk. During normal operation, the frunk maintains its full storage volume. During hood opening, the material expands to temporarily reduce the effective volume and counteract under-pressure, enabling fast opening without permanently sacrificing storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable material undergoes periodic compression and expansion cycles. It is compressed during frunk closure to maximize storage volume, then expands during hood opening to counteract under-pressure, creating a periodic action that alternates between maximizing storage and enabling fast opening based on operational phase.
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 mechanism enhances the opening speed of the hood by reducing under-pressure, which is crucial for active safety systems, and can be easily retrofitted with a lightweight plastic frame, ensuring efficient and rapid hood lifting.
Implementation Method 1
the deformable material is configured to be switchable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position, in which the deformable material is either flat or forms a dome being directed towards the inner surface of the hood, and the second position is a position, in which the deformable material forms a dome being directed towards the frunk
Data Source
AI summary
A hood lifting mechanism for a vehicle having a frunk, including: at least one lifting mechanism configured to lift a hood, and a deformable material configured to be attached to an inner surface of the hood, wherein the deformable material is configured to switch from a first position (P1) in which the deformable material is either flat or forms a dome being directed towards the inner surface of the hood into a second position (P2) in which the deformable material forms a dome being directed towards the frunk when the at least one lifting mechanism is activated. Further, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle including such lifting mechanism and to a method for moving a hood of a vehicle.