Hood Mount Assembly with Ball and Socket for Cab Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hood mounting systems in heavy-duty vehicles restrict the fore and aft movement and up and down movement of the cab due to fixed connections, which are not compatible with air suspension systems, leading to undesirable hood-to-cab gaps and limited comfort for drivers and passengers.
Innovation Solution
A hood mount assembly featuring a hinge assembly and ball and socket assemblies that allow adjustable mounting of the hood to the vehicle frame and cab, enabling pivotal and adjustable positioning to accommodate cab movements while maintaining a suitable hood-to-cab gap, including a three-point attachment system for secure mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If fixed connections are used to secure the hood to the cab, then the hood is securely mounted, but the fore and aft movement and up and down movement of the cab are prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed rigid connections with a dynamic mounting system that allows relative movement between the hood and cab. The hood is mounted to the frame via a hinge assembly that permits pivotal movement, while the connection to the cab uses ball and socket assemblies that allow multi-directional movement. This dynamic system adapts to cab movement in fore-aft and vertical directions while maintaining hood stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is divided into separate functional components: a hinge assembly for pivotal movement between the hood and frame, and ball and socket assemblies for accommodating cab movement. This segmentation allows each component to independently handle specific movement types, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the hood is secured to the cab to maintain a proper hood-to-cab gap, then the gap remains appropriate, but the hood cannot accommodate cab movement
Solution Approach 1:
The ball and socket assemblies provide a dynamic connection that maintains the hood-to-cab gap through controlled movement. The spherical joint allows the hood to move with the cab in fore-aft and vertical directions while preserving the proper gap distance, eliminating the need for rigid fixed connections.
3Strength
If a rigid hood mounting system is used, then the hood is securely fixed, but noise and wear increase due to lack of movement accommodation
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly and ball and socket assemblies create a flexible yet strong mounting system that reduces noise and wear by allowing controlled movement. The spherical joints and pivotal connections absorb movement stresses that would otherwise concentrate at fixed connection points, reducing friction and wear while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The movement-accommodating design inherently cushions against noise and wear by allowing the hood to move with the cab rather than resisting the movement. This built-in movement absorption prevents the harmful effects of rigid constraint before they can manifest as noise or wear.
Data Source
AI summary
A hood mount assembly for positioning and mounting a hood to a vehicle having a frame and a cab, wherein the hood is moveable between open and closed positions, includes a hinge assembly adjustably mountable between a front portion of the hood and the vehicle frame and at least one ball and socket assembly. The at least one ball and socket assembly has a ball member secured to one of a portion of the cab and a rear portion of the hood and a socket secured to the other of the portion of the cab and the rear portion of the hood. The ball member is receivable within the socket when the hood is moved into the closed position. An interior surface of the socket guides the ball into a predetermined position within the socket to position the hood relative to the cab.