Vehicle Hood Safety Catch Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety catch release mechanisms for vehicle hoods require complex two-step actuation and occupy significant space, limiting ease of operation and freedom of localization.
Innovation Solution
A safety catch release mechanism with a handle member and safety catch operating member, connected via a wire, allowing manual operation from a closed position to a fully open position with a low vertical height, utilizing spring biases to facilitate easy operation and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a two-step actuation mechanism is used for the hood lock, then the hood can be securely held in an intermediate position, but the operation becomes more complex and requires more steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the safety catch release function with the hood lock release handle into a single integrated mechanism. When the handle is pulled, it simultaneously releases both the hood lock and the safety catch, eliminating the need for separate two-step actuation while maintaining secure intermediate positioning during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism dynamically adapts its behavior based on the state of the hood. During normal operation, the safety catch remains engaged to hold the intermediate position. When the handle is pulled for opening, the system transitions to release both the hood lock and safety catch together, providing context-dependent operation that simplifies the user interaction
2Ease of operation
If a traditional safety catch release mechanism is installed, then the hood lock can be released, but the mechanism occupies significant space at the front of the hood
Solution Approach 1:
The safety catch release mechanism is nested within the existing hood lock assembly structure. The release handle and operating components are integrated into the compact hood lock housing, allowing the mechanism to occupy minimal space at the front of the hood while maintaining full release functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated handle mechanism serves multiple functions: it releases the hood lock, releases the safety catch, and provides a user interface for operation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated safety catch release components, reducing overall space requirements
3Ease of operation
If the handle member is made easily accessible for manual operation, then ease of operation is improved, but the vertical height of the mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle member is oriented and positioned to be accessible from the front horizontal dimension rather than requiring vertical space. The pulling motion occurs horizontally toward the front of the vehicle, allowing the handle to be easily accessible while maintaining a compact vertical profile that does not increase the mechanism's height
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and intuitive manual operation of the hood, occupying minimal space while ensuring the hood can be fully opened, with greater freedom of localization compared to prior art mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The handle member can be biased from the first position to the second position, e.g. by a first spring member, such as a first coil spring
Implementation Method 2
The safety catch operating member can be biased from the second position to the first position, e.g. by a second spring member, such as a second coil spring
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a safety catch release mechanism (19) for release of a safety catch in a hood lock of (7) a vehicle (1). The safety catch release mechanism comprises a handle member (23), which is adapted for manual operation, and a safety catch operating member (25), which is adapted to be connected to the hood lock in order to release the safety catch (17). The handle member is displaceable from a first position, corresponding to a closed hood, to a second position, in which the handle member is manually operable. The handle member is further displaceable from the second position to a third position corresponding to the hood lock being released. The displacement of the handle member from the first position to the second position is independent of the safety catch operating member, but during displacement from the second position to the third position, the handle member concurrently displaces the safety catch operating member from a first position, corresponding to the hood lock being retained by the safety catch, to a second position, corresponding to releasing the safety catch. The disclosure further relates to a grill (11) and a vehicle (1) comprising such a safety catch release mechanism and to a method of opening a hood (3) of a vehicle.