Hood Locking Device with Opposing Latches and Shared Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hood locking devices are oversized due to the need for increased separation distances between rotary shafts of latches and pawls or intermediate operation portions, which complicates their design and increases their size.
Innovation Solution
A hood locking device with two latches, where one latch includes a projection and the other a recess, both pivotally supported by a base plate, with opposite latching directions and integrated right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive operation cable attachment portions, reducing the separation distance and overall size by allowing simultaneous engagement and disengagement with a striker.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the separation distance between rotary shafts of latches and pawl/intermediate operation portion is increased to provide rotation region, then the latches can rotate properly, but the hood locking device size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the latch and pawl into a single integrated assembly that rotates together as one unit around a common rotary shaft, eliminating the need for separate rotary shafts and reducing the separation distance requirement. This merging of components directly reduces the overall device size while maintaining rotational functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a layout requiring large separation in one dimension to a compact arrangement where the latch and pawl share a common rotary shaft, utilizing rotational movement in a different dimensional approach to achieve proper engagement without increased separation distance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate structures are provided for right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive vehicles, then each vehicle type can be optimized, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the latch assembly with a universal structure that can serve both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive vehicles through a single rotary shaft configuration. The latch and pawl are arranged to accommodate operation cables from either side, eliminating the need for separate structures and reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to different vehicle configurations.
3Reliability
If multiple springs are used for each latch, then each latch can be biased independently, but the number of components and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple spring functions into a single shared spring that biases both the latch and pawl simultaneously. This single spring provides the necessary biasing force for both components, reducing the number of parts and weight while maintaining reliable operation through the interconnected mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
A hood locking device includes a locking mechanism including two latches configured to fix the engine hood at a closed position by latching a striker included with an engine hood of a vehicle and unfix the engine hood by releasing the striker. One of the two latches includes one of a projection and a recess and the other one of the two latches includes the other one of the projection and the recess. The projection and the recess form a fitting portion and the projection is fitted to the recess. The two latches are pivotally supported by a base plate fixed to the vehicle and configured such that latching directions of the two latches for the striker are opposite to each other. One of the two latches includes a right-hand-drive operation cable attachment portion and the other one of the two latches includes a left-hand-drive operation cable attachment portion.