Vehicle Hood Panel Bead Curvature for Pedestrian Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle hood panels face challenges in achieving optimal pedestrian protection performance and dent resistance while maintaining cost-effectiveness, particularly in ensuring uniform protection across different collision positions and reducing the HIC value during pedestrian head collisions.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle hood panel design features an inner panel with beads of concave cross-section extending downward and joined to an outer panel by mastic, where the vertical walls of the beads have curved upper edges with varying radii of curvature to enhance energy absorption and distribution, and a lock reinforcing member is strategically positioned to improve dent resistance without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If hat-shaped beads are formed in the inner panel to improve pedestrian protection performance, then the HIC value is reduced, but the dent resistance and stiffness of the hood panel are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by forming beads only in specific regions of the inner panel - primarily in the front and rear portions, while avoiding the central region above the striker. This localized bead formation allows the hood to provide enhanced pedestrian protection where beads are present, while maintaining dent resistance and stiffness in the critical central region where the striker is located.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the inner panel into different functional zones: bead-formed regions for pedestrian protection and bead-free regions for structural strength. The beads are divided into multiple rows (typically two rows) spaced apart, creating segmented reinforcement zones that provide protection without excessive rigidity in any single location.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between the hood panel and incorporated components is increased to reduce the second wave of acceleration, then the pedestrian protection performance is improved, but the available space for component disposal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates local quality variations in the hood panel structure through bead formation, which allows the panel to achieve better energy absorption characteristics without requiring a uniformly increased gap. The beads provide localized stiffness and energy management that reduces the second wave of acceleration even with limited gap space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic characteristics through the bead structure, which allows controlled deformation and energy absorption during collision. The beads can deform in a controlled manner to manage the collision energy, reducing the transmission of acceleration waves to incorporated components without requiring excessive gap space.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the first wave of acceleration is increased to maximize energy absorption in the initial stage of collision, then the deformation stroke is reduced, but the structural integrity of the hood panel may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating bead formation in specific regions where energy absorption is most needed during initial collision, while maintaining structural integrity in other regions. The beads are strategically positioned to maximize their effect on the first wave of acceleration without compromising overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the energy absorption function across multiple bead rows and regions, allowing the first wave of acceleration to be increased through controlled local deformation while the overall structural integrity is maintained through the distributed bead configuration and appropriate panel thickness in different zones.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle hood panel has an outer panel and an inner panel joined to each other. The inner panel has a joining point surface joined to the outer panel by mastic. The inner panel has a plurality of beads surrounded by the joining point surface. Each bead is extended in a vehicle right-left direction. A bottom of the bead is communicated with the joining point surface by vertical walls. In at least one of front and vertical walls, an upper edge thereof is curved so that in plan view, a radius of curvature at a center portion in the vehicle right-left direction is smaller than a radius of curvature at each end in the vehicle right-left direction.