Vehicle Hood Unlocking Device with Segmented Carrier Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle hood unlocking devices experience excessive play and uncontrolled force distribution during actuation, leading to inefficient operation and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The unlocking system employs a cylindrical bearing sleeve with a serrated ring and a quarter-turn fastener to separate transverse and axial forces, using a torsion spring and cup-shaped annular bushing to absorb and redirect radial forces, ensuring controlled actuation and reduced play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional unlocking device with a single carrier element is used, then the structure is simple, but excessive play and uncontrolled force distribution occur during actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier element is divided into functionally separate components: a bearing sleeve for axial guidance and a serrated ring for transverse force absorption. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one type of force, eliminating excessive play while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing sleeve acts as an intermediary element between the release lever and the serrated ring, providing axial guidance and separating the control functions. This intermediary structure enables precise force distribution without requiring complete redesign of the entire unlocking mechanism.
2Reliability
If transverse and axial forces are not separated, then the structure remains simple, but uncontrolled force distribution leads to excessive play
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the carrier element are given different functional qualities: the bearing sleeve is optimized for axial guidance with low friction, while the serrated ring is designed for transverse force absorption through its toothed structure. This local differentiation ensures controlled force distribution without requiring completely separate mechanisms for each force type.
3Manufacturing precision
If a single bearing structure is used, then manufacturing is simple, but excessive play occurs during pivoting
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing structure is segmented into a cylindrical bearing sleeve for axial support and a serrated ring for transverse positioning. This segmentation reduces play by addressing both axial and radial clearances separately, while each component remains manufacturable using standard machining processes.
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
This design effectively absorbs and redirects forces, preventing excessive play and ensuring secure, controlled operation of the vehicle hood unlocking mechanism, enhancing durability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
over which on the A head of the cup-shaped annular bushing has an annular rotational-guiding groove. An upper end is arranged in the annular rotational-guiding groove. A lower end of the spacer bushing has a bearing ring that rests on an upper side of the positionally fixed base plate
Implementation Method 2
the quarter-turn fastener comprises, in a known manner, cams that are insertable into corresponding recesses of the base plate and, by rotation of the bearing ring, the bearing ring is locked fixedly in the base plate
Implementation Method 3
A serrated ring is held at the free end of the cylindrical bearing sleeve and is supported axially with respect to the spacer bushing
Data Source
AI summary
An unlocking device has a release lever that is connected pivotably to a carrier element and is in each case connected via Bowden cables to a catch hook for clip elements in a vehicle hood. The catch hook is moved by the Bowden cables that are actuated via the release lever, counter to the spring force of a spring element into an unlocking position for opening the vehicle hood.