Double-Pull Hood Latch Interlock for Park-Only Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle hood latch systems are inconvenient as they require multiple stages for release and lack an interlock mechanism to prevent unintentional release, leading to potential hood flapping during driving.
Innovation Solution
A double pull latch assembly integrated with a gearshift member that includes a release lever, pawl assembly, and interlock device, allowing controlled hood release only when the vehicle is parked, and preventing unintended release by recognizing the vehicle's state through the gearshift position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a double-pull release latch is used to allow release from inside the vehicle, then the convenience of operation is improved, but the risk of unintentional release and hood flapping increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interlock device applies preliminary anti-action by mechanically preventing the release lever from moving to the released position when the vehicle is in non-parked states. The interlock lever engages with the release lever to block its movement, thereby preventing unintentional hood release before it can occur during driving conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The interlock device serves as an intermediary mechanism between the release lever and the hood latch system. It mediates the release action by conditionally allowing or blocking the release lever's movement based on vehicle state, thus controlling whether the hood can be released from inside the vehicle
2Reliability
If a snow load lever is used to ensure full release of the latch, then the reliability of hood opening is improved, but the latch cannot properly close after soft close due to the lever maintaining pawl disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The snow load lever is made dynamic by allowing it to automatically change position based on hood movement. During hood opening, the lever rotates to disengage the pawl for full release. During hood closure, the lever automatically returns to its original position, enabling the pawl to engage the ratchet and allowing proper latch closure without manual intervention
Data Source
AI summary
A hood latch system for a motor vehicle includes a vehicle hood latch assembly configured in operable communication with a gearshift member. The vehicle hood latch assembly is prevented from unintended release of a vehicle hood striker, fixed to a hood of the motor vehicle, from a ratchet of the latch assembly when the gearshift member is shifted into a non-parked mode. When the gear shift member is selectively actuated in a park mode, the vehicle hood latch assembly is actuated to release the striker from the ratchet, thereby allowing the hood to be opened.