Vehicle Front End Hood Hinge Mounting in Side Member Cavity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front end designs for motor vehicles require significant installation space and compromise structural integrity and pedestrian safety due to complex and costly hinge arrangements that impede water drainage and increase the risk of injury in collisions.
Innovation Solution
The front end design features a lower hinge part that projects through a recess in the upper wall of the side member, supported by a profile element attached to the inner contour of the side wall, minimizing installation space and enhancing structural rigidity while allowing for energy absorption during impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lower hinge part is arranged on the upper wall of the side member, then the front flap can be pivotally supported, but more space is required above the side member and the water drainage is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The lower hinge part is moved from the upper wall (vertical dimension) to the lower wall (horizontal dimension) of the side member. This dimensional change allows the hinge to be positioned in the cavity below the side member, reducing the space requirement above the side member and maintaining water drainage capability while still providing pivot support for the front flap.
2Ease of operation
If a complex hinge arrangement with guide rails and swivel gears is used, then the front flap can be pivotally supported, but the installation space is increased and water drainage is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The complex components (guide rails, swivel gears) are extracted from the hinge arrangement. Only the essential pivot support function is retained through a simplified hinge mechanism positioned in the cavity below the side member, reducing device complexity while maintaining the pivot function.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge is repositioned from the upper wall to the lower wall of the side member, utilizing the cavity space below. This dimensional relocation simplifies the overall arrangement by eliminating the need for complex guide rails and swivel gears that would be required if the hinge were positioned in the limited space above the side member.
3Ease of operation
If the lower hinge part protrudes into the vehicle interior, then the front flap can be pivotally supported, but the installation space is expanded
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of protruding into the vehicle interior (horizontal dimension), the lower hinge part is positioned in the cavity below the side member (vertical dimension). This dimensional change utilizes otherwise wasted space and avoids expanding the installation space within the vehicle interior.
4Ease of operation
If the upper wall of the side member is used for hinge attachment, then the front flap can be pivotally supported, but the structural integrity is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge attachment is moved from the upper wall to the lower wall of the side member. This dimensional change allows the hinge to be positioned in the cavity below, where it can be supported by the lower wall and bottom surface without compromising the structural integrity of the upper wall, which is critical for load-bearing and pedestrian protection.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a front end (1) of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising two upper longitudinal members (2), which are arranged opposite each other as viewed in the transverse vehicle direction and which are each formed predominately by an elongated profiled box element, and comprising a front hood, which is pivotably supported on the longitudinal members (2) by means of front hood hinges (5) associated with the upper longitudinal members (2), the front hood hinges in turn comprising an upper and a lower hinge part (5a, 5b), wherein the lower hinge part (5a) of each front hood hinge (5) protrudes through a recess (11) in an upper wall (6) of the profiled box element of the associated longitudinal member (2) into the formed cavity of the profiled box element and is supported and fastened indirectly on the inner contour of a side wall (8) of the profiled box element of the upper longitudinal member (2) by means of a profiled part (12).