Vehicle Hood Storage Lid With Movable Wall for Fast Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicles with both a front luggage compartment and an active safety system for selectively lifting the hood, there is a conflict between achieving reliable sealing and comfortable use, as well as smooth operation of the safety mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A storage assembly with a movable wall section connected via a flexible connection zone, allowing for reliable sealing and rapid opening of the lid by compensating underpressure, ensuring the hood can be lifted quickly without hindrance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealing arrangement is used to reliably seal the storage receptacle, then sealing reliability is improved, but the opening speed of the lid deteriorates due to underpressure buildup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidlid opening speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is segmented into a fixed wall section and a movable wall section that can independently move to compensate for underpressure. This allows the sealing arrangement to remain intact while the movable section adjusts to pressure changes, enabling both reliable sealing and rapid opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable wall section introduces dynamic adaptability to the lid structure. It can move in response to underpressure conditions during rapid opening, automatically adjusting to maintain sealing integrity while accommodating the speed requirements of the active safety system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If the lid is opened rapidly for active safety system operation, then response time is improved, but sealing integrity deteriorates due to underpressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidsealing integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The movable wall section is pre-configured to move in response to underpressure before complete lid opening occurs. This preliminary action compensates for pressure differential buildup, maintaining sealing integrity throughout the rapid opening process required for active safety system operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If the movable wall section moves to compensate underpressure, then lid opening speed is improved, but structural rigidity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid opening speedVSAvoidstructural rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the lid into fixed and movable sections allows localized flexibility where needed while maintaining overall structural rigidity. The fixed wall section provides structural stability, while the movable wall section compensates for underpressure during rapid opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable wall section is positioned specifically at the free end of the lid where it can effectively compensate for underpressure without compromising the overall structural rigidity of the lid assembly. This localized mobility provides the necessary speed while maintaining global structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution ensures reliable sealing of the storage compartment while allowing rapid opening of the lid, even under pressure, thus enabling smooth operation of the active safety system without compromising usability or sealing integrity.

Implementation Method 1

The movable wall section is connected to the remaining sections of the bottom, the one of the lateral walls or the lid respectively by means of a flexible connection zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4365037B1Storage assembly and hood assembly for a vehicle, vehicle and method for operating a hood assembly
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP4365037B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4365037B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a storage assembly (16) for a vehicle (10), comprising a storage receptacle (18) being delimited by a bottom (24) and a number of lateral walls (26). Moreover, the storage assembly (16) comprises a lid (20). A sealing arrangement (28) may seal the storage receptacle (18) with respect to the lid (20). At least one of the bottom (24), the lateral walls (26) and the lid (20) comprises a movable wall section (32). The movable wall section (32) is connected to the remaining sections (30) of the bottom (24), the lateral walls (26) or the lid (20) respectively by means of a flexible connection zone (34), wherein the flexible connection zone (34) circumferentially encloses the movable wall section (32). Additionally, a hood assembly (12) for a vehicle (10) comprising a hood part (14) and such a storage assembly (16) is presented. Furthermore, a vehicle (10) comprising such a storage assembly (16) and/or such a hood assembly (14) is described. Also a method for operating a hood assembly (12) is disclosed.