Hood Lock Layout for Lower Vehicle Hood Collision Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
The presence of a hood lock on the rear face of a vehicle's hood increases the collision reaction force measured during crash tests, necessitating a reduction in this force.
Innovation Solution
Positioning the hood lock rearward of the radiator support upper crossmember and using a bracket plate to offset the collision load, along with a hat-shaped cross-section for the radiator support to improve durability and rigidity, thereby reducing the collision reaction force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hood lock is positioned on the radiator support upper crossmember, then the hood can be reliably locked in the closed position, but the collision reaction force increases when a test device collides with the hood
Solution Approach 1:
The hood lock is positioned asymmetrically on the radiator support upper crossmember, specifically at a location that is rearward of the center in the front-rear direction. This asymmetric positioning allows the hood lock to tilt rearward during collision, converting the symmetric structural support into an asymmetric load path that reduces collision reaction force while maintaining locking reliability
2Stability of the object's composition
If the hood lock is fixed rigidly to the radiator support upper crossmember, then the hood lock is stable, but the collision load creates large reaction forces
Solution Approach 1:
The hood lock is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to tilt rearward in response to collision loads. This dynamic behavior transforms the rigid fixed connection into a controlled movement mechanism, where the hood lock can rotate about its mounting points on the radiator support upper crossmember, thereby reducing the transmission of collision forces while maintaining stable operation during normal hood closing
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle disclosed in the present specification includes a vehicle body that has a front compartment, a radiator that is disposed in the front compartment, a radiator support upper crossmember that makes up part of the vehicle body and that also extends in a right-left direction along an upper edge of the radiator, a hood that is pivotably linked to the vehicle body and that is movable between an open position for opening the front compartment and a closed position for closing the front compartment, and a hood lock that is fixed to the radiator support upper crossmember and that also locks the hood in the closed position. The hood lock is positioned rearward of a center of the radiator support upper crossmember in a front-rear direction.