Vehicle Hood Edge Mold Demolding via Segmented Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle front structures face challenges in molding a hood edge with a front end edge extending part downward due to restrictions in metal mold demolding, which limits the shape and results in non-flush designs with the front grille, failing to meet design and aerodynamic requirements.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle front structure featuring a hood edge with a front end edge extending part that can be molded by sliding the metal mold downward, integrated with a pinching structure between the grille supporting part and a supporting member, allowing the hood edge and front grille to be flush, and optionally including a claw for enhanced pinching and a connecting part for integral formation with the front bumper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the hood edge is formed with an upward protruding shape (steep slope), then the design freedom and aerodynamic performance are improved, but the mold demolding process becomes restricted and cannot slide downward properly
Solution Approach 1:
The hood edge is divided into multiple parts: the main body portion and the front end edge extending part. This segmentation allows the front end edge extending part to be formed separately with a downward extension that enables proper mold demolding, while the main body can achieve the desired steep slope shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The front end edge extending part extends in the vertical dimension (downward direction) from the front end edge of the hood edge. This dimensional addition creates space for the mold to slide downward during demolding, resolving the conflict between steep slope design and manufacturability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the front end edge extending part is formed to extend rearward, then the hood edge can be properly demolded by sliding the mold downward, but the front grille cannot be mounted flush with the hood edge, failing design and aerodynamic requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the front end edge part rearward (conventional approach), the invention extends it downward. This inverted approach allows the front grille to be mounted flush with the hood edge while still enabling proper mold demolding through the downward extension.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hood edge is formed with a gentle curve, then the mold demolding is easy by sliding the piece of mold rearward, but the design freedom for steep slope shapes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hood edge is segmented into the main body portion (which can have gentle curve for easy demolding) and the front end edge extending part (which provides downward extension). This segmentation allows combining the benefits of both gentle curve demolding and steep slope design freedom.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle front structure includes a front grille, and a hood edge, disposed above the front grille, configured to receive a front end edge of an engine hood of a vehicle, having a front end edge extending part extending downward from a front end edge thereof. The front grille includes, at an upper end, a grille supporting part, extending between an extending line (plane) of the hood edge and the front end edge extending part. The front end edge extending part is pinched between the grille supporting part and a supporting member provided behind the front grille.