Hood Lock Bracket Layout for Lower Vehicle Collision Reaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle designs experience high collision reaction forces due to the hood lock being offset rearward from the radiator support upper crossmember, leading to increased deformation and potential damage during crash tests.

Innovation Solution

The hood lock is fixed to the rear face of the radiator support upper crossmember via a bracket plate, with extending portions and an inclined portion to distribute the load, enhancing the rigidity and durability of the radiator support upper crossmember and hood lock module.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the hood lock is offset rearward from the radiator support upper crossmember, then the hood lock can be positioned to engage the hood effectively, but the collision reaction force increases and deformation occurs during crash tests

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehood lock engagementVSAvoidcollision reaction force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A bracket plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the hood lock and the radiator support upper crossmember. The bracket plate includes an inclined portion that allows the hood lock to engage the hood reliably while distributing collision loads to the rigid radiator support upper crossmember, thereby reducing collision reaction forces and minimizing deformation during impact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the hood lock is fixed directly to the radiator support upper crossmember, then the structure is simpler, but the collision load causes the hood lock to tilt and reduces the measured collision reaction force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehood lock structureVSAvoidcollision reaction force measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket plate serves as a mediator that maintains the hood lock's proper engagement position while transferring collision loads to the rigid radiator support upper crossmember. This intermediary structure prevents the hood lock from tilting during impact, ensuring accurate measurement of collision reaction forces without requiring complex direct fixation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4289707B1vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4289707B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4289707B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4289707B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle (100) disclosed in the present specification includes a vehicle body (2) that has a front compartment (4), a radiator (6) that is disposed in the front compartment (4), a radiator support upper crossmember (8) that makes up part of the vehicle body (2) and that also extends in a right-left direction along an upper edge of the radiator (6), a hood (10) that is pivotably linked to the vehicle body (2) and that is movable between an open position for opening the front compartment (4) and a closed position for closing the front compartment (4), and a hood lock (22) that is fixed to the radiator support upper crossmember (8) and that also locks the hood (10) in the closed position. The hood lock (22) is positioned rearward of a center of the radiator support upper crossmember (8) in a front-rear direction.