Vehicle Pop-Up Hood Actuator Linkage Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle pop-up hood apparatuses require reinforcement to prevent deformation when the air bag activates, as the direction of the turning force from the air bag opposes the force needed to break the clip mechanism connection, leading to potential bending of the bonnet.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle pop-up hood apparatus featuring an arm member connected to the body and hood with a first and second connection section, where an actuator generates a lifting force to break the connection between the arm member and the hood, allowing the hood to pivot without excessive load on the hood, even without reinforcement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clip mechanism couples the upper leaf and middle leaf on the rear side of the second pivot, then the connection between the hood and body is maintained under normal conditions, but the direction of the turning force from the air bag opposes the force needed to break the connection, requiring reinforcement of the hood
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the coupling position from the rear side of the second pivot to the front side of the second pivot. This inversion changes the direction of the turning force about the second pivot to match the direction of the air bag's pushing force, allowing the air bag to directly assist in breaking the clip mechanism connection without requiring hood reinforcement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful opposing force into a beneficial assisting force. By repositioning the clip mechanism so that the air bag's pushing force creates a turning force in the same direction as needed to break the connection, the air bag's force becomes beneficial rather than harmful, eliminating the need for additional hood reinforcement
2Strength
If reinforcement is provided to prevent hood bending during air bag activation, then the hood strength is sufficient, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for reinforcement by inverting the coupling position. This design change allows the existing hood structure to suffice, reducing both device complexity and weight while maintaining sufficient strength during air bag activation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the reinforcement elements from the design. By changing the clip mechanism position, the unnecessary reinforcement components are removed, simplifying the overall structure and reducing weight while maintaining the required strength
3Power
If the actuator generates sufficient lifting force to break the second connection section, then the hood can be lifted effectively, but the actuator size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection mechanism into two distinct connection sections with different functions. The first connection section allows pivoting while the second prevents it, enabling controlled force application. This segmentation allows the actuator to apply force more efficiently through the mechanical advantage of the hinge mechanism, reducing the required actuator size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the spatial arrangement and mechanical leverage provided by the hinge mechanism and arm member configuration. By positioning components to create favorable mechanical advantage, the system converts a small actuator force into sufficient lifting force, effectively using spatial dimensions to reduce actuator volume
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle pop-up hood apparatus is provided that includes: an arm member, whose proximal end portion is connected to a body of a vehicle so as to be pivotable about an axis extending in the vehicle width direction; a first connection section by which a hood of the vehicle is connected to a tip portion of the arm member, and that allows the hood to pivot relative to the arm member about an axis extending in the vehicle width direction; a second connection section that connects the hood to the arm member to prevent the hood from pivoting relative to the arm member about the first connection section; and an actuator that generates a lifting force that lifts the hood relative to the body and acts in a direction such that the connection between the hood and the arm member by means of the second connection section is broken.