Vehicle Hood Hinge Segmentation for Pop-Up Force Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle hood hinge designs require a large force for pop-up operation due to the simultaneous lifting of linkage and fixed members, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a first member rotatably supported relative to a hinge lower, a second member fixed to the hood for relative movement, and a first lock that engages to restrict rotation during pop-up, allowing the second member to move independently, reducing the weight and force required for lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the linkage member and fixed member are popped up together with the hood in the pop-up operation, then the hood can be securely supported, but a large force is required making the operation cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge upper is divided into a first member (linkage member) and a second member (fixed member) that can move independently. During pop-up operation, the first member rotates relative to the hinge lower while the second member remains stationary, separating the lifting action from the support function. This segmentation allows the hood to be popped up with reduced force while maintaining secure support through the locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism transitions from a static integrated structure to a dynamic system where the first member can rotate independently during pop-up operation. The first lock engages with the first member to restrict rotation during normal operation but allows controlled rotation during pop-up, creating a dynamic adaptation that reduces the force required for hood pop-up while maintaining support stability.
2Ease of operation
If the linkage member and fixed member are integrally rotatable in normal operation, then the hood can be opened and closed smoothly, but the weight of movable members increases the force required for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge upper is segmented into a first member and a second member, where only the first member rotates during normal hood operation. This reduces the effective rotating mass compared to integrally rotatable designs, decreasing the force required for opening and closing while maintaining smooth operation through the rotatable connection between the first member and hinge lower.
Solution Approach 2:
The second member (fixed member) is extracted from the rotating assembly, remaining stationary while the first member handles all rotation during normal operation. This extraction reduces the moment of inertia of the moving parts, making the hood easier to open and close while the second member provides stable mounting to the hood.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge for a vehicle hood is provided. The hinge includes a hinge lower fixed to a vehicle body, and a hinge upper fixed to the hood and rotatably supported relative to the hinge lower. The hinge upper includes a first member rotatably supported relative to the hinge lower, and a second member fixed to the hood and relatively movable relative to the first member. The hinge further includes a first lock configured to be engageable with the first member to restrict rotation of the first member relative to the hinge lower. The first member and the second member are integrally rotatable relative to the hinge lower in a normal operation of opening and closing the hood. When the hood is caused to pop up, the first lock engages with the first member and the second member is relatively movable relative to the first member.