Hood Lock Latch Segmentation for Reliability and Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hood lock apparatuses face reliability issues due to environmental exposure leading to rust, blisters, and dust accumulation, which can cause the latch to stick in the unlatching position, compromising vehicle safety and shock absorption performance during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A hood lock apparatus with a secondary lock portion featuring a latch that rotates about a shaft extending longitudinally, incorporating a hook portion for locking, an operating portion for unlatching, and an abutment portion to ensure proper positioning, enhancing reliability and safety with a simple configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lever is designed with high rigidity to ensure operability, then the lever can reliably operate the latch, but the rigidity creates resistance against deformation during frontal collision, deteriorating shock absorbing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is segmented into two functional zones: a front portion with low rigidity for shock absorption during collisions, and a rear portion with high rigidity for reliable latch operation. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different rigidity characteristics are applied to different locations of the lever. The front end portion has reduced rigidity to absorb impact energy during frontal collisions, while the rear end portion maintains high rigidity to ensure reliable lever operation for latch control.
2Ease of operation
If the lever extends in the front-and-rear direction to operate the latch, then the latch can be reliably actuated, but the lever's rigidity constitutes resistance against deformation in the hood during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The lever structure is divided into functional segments with different mechanical properties. The front segment is designed with lower rigidity to allow deformation during collisions, while the rear segment maintains structural integrity for effective latch actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigidity parameter of the lever is changed along its length, with the front portion having reduced rigidity compared to the rear portion. This gradient in rigidity allows the lever to perform both shock absorption and operational functions effectively.
3Reliability
If the latch is forced to the latching position when stuck in the unlatching position, then the locking function can be restored, but the configuration becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed to automatically restore the latch to the correct latching position after collision deformation, without requiring complex manual intervention or additional mechanisms. The lever's own movement and the hood's closing action work together to reset the latch position.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex mechanism to force the latch into position, the invention uses the natural closing motion of the hood to drive the lever and restore the latch position in reverse of the normal operation sequence.
Data Source
AI summary
A hood lock apparatus includes: a primary lock portion holding a hood in a fully closed state; and a secondary lock portion holding the hood in a half open state and including a catcher attached to a vehicle body, a base attached to the hood, and a latch supported on the base, rotatable between a latching position and an unlatching position and including a hook portion locking the catcher when the hood is opened to the half open state with the latch being at the latching position, an operating portion operating the latch to rotate toward the unlatching position, and an abutment portion abutting the catcher when the hood is fully closed state with the latch being at the unlatching position. The latch is rotated to the latching position by the abutment of the abutment portion with the catcher.