Vehicle Hood Lock with Separate Catch Hook
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle hood latch systems require manual effort to close the front hood, which can be cumbersome and does not provide optimal user comfort.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle hood lock system featuring a rotary latch with a pawl and a separate catch hook that allows for automatic closure without manual pushing, where the catch hook engages the striker to lock it in place, simplifying the design and enhancing user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secondary locking system with manual lever operation is used, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is divided into two independent parts: a primary locking system with a rotary latch for secure locking, and a separate secondary locking system with a catch hook for safety. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently - the primary system for reliability and the secondary system for ease of operation through automatic engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The catch hook in the secondary locking system is designed to automatically engage with the striker when the hood closes, eliminating the need for manual operation. The system serves itself by using the closing motion of the hood to automatically trigger the secondary locking action, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining safety.
2Reliability
If manual pushing is required to close the front hood, then locking reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catch hook is pre-positioned and spring-loaded to automatically engage with the striker during the closing motion. This preliminary positioning allows the secondary locking system to activate automatically as the hood approaches the closed position, eliminating the need for manual pushing while ensuring reliable locking engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing motion of the hood itself provides the energy needed to engage the catch hook with the striker. The system uses the kinetic energy of the closing hood to automatically trigger the secondary locking action, making the process self-service and eliminating manual intervention while maintaining locking reliability.
3Ease of operation
If a separate catch hook is used instead of integrated rotary latch, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional units: the rotary latch assembly for primary locking and the catch hook assembly for secondary locking. This segmentation allows the catch hook to be a simple, independent component that can automatically engage without complex mechanisms, thereby improving ease of operation while keeping the added complexity minimal and modular.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the locking of motor vehicle hoods. To provide a hood that is easier to operate, a hood lock (10) is provided for a motor vehicle. The hood lock has a receptacle (12) for a releasable fixing of a locking bar (14), and a rotary latch (16) with a pawl (18) as well as a catch hook (20) separate from the rotary latch. The locking bar can be inserted into the receptacle to engage with the catch hook in a pre-locked position. The catch hook can be used to pull the locking bar into a closed position in which the rotary latch locks the locking bar and the pawl blocks the rotary latch in the opening direction.