DE102014111964B4 - Hood hinge for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A hood hinge (10) for a vehicle, comprising: a hinge base (24) fixed to a vehicle body; a connecting member (30) arranged at an inner side of the hinge base (24) in a vehicle width direction and passing through the hinge base (24) is pivotally supported; a hinge arm (40) which is fixed to a rear side of a hood (12) on the inside of the link member (30) in the vehicle width direction and is pivotally supported by the link member (30); anda piston (56) held within an actuator (50) attached to the link (30) and having one end connected to the hinge arm (40) and actuating the hood (12) from a closed position to a flip-up position by flipping up the hinge arm (40) to an upper side of the hood (12) and pivoting the link (30) to the upper side of the hood (12) when the actuator (50) is operated; characterized in that the hood hinge (10) further comprises: a stopper (60) attached to either the hinge base (24) or the connecting member (30) positioned between the hinge base (24) and the connecting member in the vehicle width direction (30) and which limits displacement of the connecting member (30) to an outside in the vehicle width direction by being brought into contact with either the connecting member (30) or the hinge foot (24) when the connecting member (30) is closed the upper side of the hood (12) is pivoted.

Description

HOOD HINGE FOR A VEHICLE

The present invention relates to a hood hinge for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

Description of the prior art

A hood hinge for a vehicle that is in JP 4887512 B2 is configured by having a fixing member (hinge arm) fixed to a hood, a second hinge portion (hinge foot, hinge base) fixed to a vehicle body, and a pivot member (connecting member) for connecting the second hinge portion and the Has fixing component. Further, a piston-cylinder unit (actuator) is installed in the swing member, and a piston (rod) of the piston-cylinder unit is connected to the fixing member. When the piston-cylinder unit is actuated, the piston (rod, rod) pushes up the fixing member (hinge arm) and a hood is thus placed in a pop-up position.

On the other hand, in a hood hinge for a vehicle that is in JP 4410822 B2 is described, a hinge arm is rotatably supported by a hinge foot (hinge base part) fixed to a vehicle body, and the hinge arm is fixed to a hood. Further, a fixing portion to a vehicle body in the hinge base is offset to an outer side with respect to a fixing side to the hood in the hinge arm in a vehicle width direction. Then, when an actuator is actuated, a piston (rod, rod) pushes the hinge arm up.

Incidentally, a fact has been revealed that when the hood hinge for a vehicle of JP 4887512 B2 is applied to a vehicle in which the hood hinge for a vehicle of JP 4410822 B2 is installed, the extent to which the hood can be folded up cannot be sufficiently ensured. This is because when the fixing portion to the vehicle body in the second hinge portion is offset to the outside with respect to the fixing side of the hood in the fixing member in the vehicle width direction, the pivot member is bent and deformed to the outside in the vehicle width direction when the hood is flipped up, and therefore the hood cannot be flipped up in a preferred situation.

DE 10 2008 011 722 A1 shows a generic hood hinge for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising: a hinge base fixed to a vehicle body; a connecting member that is arranged on an inner side of the hinge foot in a vehicle width direction and that is pivotally supported by the hinge foot; a hinge arm that is fixed to a rear side of a hood on the inside of the link member in the vehicle width direction and pivotally supported by the link member; and a piston that is held within an actuator that is attached to the link member and one end of which is connected to the hinge arm, and that positions the hood from a closed position to a flip-up position by flipping up the hinge arm to an upper side of the hood and the link pivots to the top side of the hood when the actuator is actuated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to further develop a hood hinge for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 such that the hood hinge is compact and has a higher rigidity.

The object of the invention is achieved by a hood hinge for a vehicle having the features of claim 1.

Advantageous developments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the link member is arranged on the inside of the hinge foot (hinge base part) fixed to the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction, and the link member is pivotally (rotatably) supported by the hinge foot. The hinge arm, which is fixed to the rear side of the hood, is attached to the inside of this link in the vehicle width direction, and the hinge arm is pivotally (rotatably) supported by the link. Further, the actuator is mounted in the connecting member, and the piston (rod, rod) whose end is connected to the hinge arm is held (housed) inside the actuator. Then, when the actuator is operated, the piston pushes up the hinge arm toward the upper side of the hood and the hood is placed from the closed position to the pop-up position and the link member is pivoted toward the upper side of the hood.

Incidentally, the hinge foot, the connecting member, and the hinge arm are arranged in this order toward (toward) the inside in the vehicle width direction. From the For this reason, for example, when the piston pushes the hinge arm (hood) up, a reaction force acts on the connecting member of the actuator. Further, when the flip-up of the hood is completed, a force toward the lower side of the hood acts on the hinge arm upon reaction (eg, restoration) of the hood. As a result, the connecting member is bent (bent) and deformed toward the outside in the vehicle width direction.

Further, a stopper is attached to either the link member or the hinge foot, and is located between the link member and the hinge foot in the vehicle width direction. When the link is pivoted to the upper side of the hood, the stopper is brought into contact with either the hinge base or the link and restricts displacement (displacement, displacement) toward an outside of the link in the vehicle width direction. Consequently, when the hood is pushed up, the bending deformation of the connecting member toward the outside in the vehicle width direction is prevented. As a result, the hood can be pushed up in this situation.

Preferably, the stop may have an upper stop portion. The upper stopper part can be designed to be brought into contact with either the hinge base or the link in the pop-up position of the hood, and the displacement (displacement, displacement) of the link to the outside in the vehicle width direction can be restricted by the hinge base or the connecting member and the upper stopper are brought into contact.

The stop preferably has the upper stop part. Then, in the pop-up position of the hood, since either the hinge base or the link and the upper stopper are brought into contact with each other, displacement of the link to the outside in the vehicle width direction is restricted. Consequently, for example, it is possible to effectively prevent the bending deformation of the connecting member, which is caused by the reaction (e.g., impact on the hood) of the hood when the hood flip-up is completed, toward the outside of a vehicle width direction.

The stop can preferably have a lower stop part. The lower stopper may be designed to be brought into contact with either the hinge base or the link in the closed position of the hood, and displacement of the link to the outside of a vehicle width direction may be restricted by using either the hinge base or the link and the lower stop part are brought into contact with each other.

The stop preferably has the lower stop part. Then, in the closed position of the hood, since either the hinge base or the link and the lower stopper are brought into contact with each other, displacement of the link to the outside in the vehicle width direction is restricted. Consequently, for example, it is possible to effectively prevent the bending deformation of the connecting member, which is caused by the reaction force generated when the hinge arm (hood) is pushed up (folded) in the initial stage of folding up, toward the outside of a vehicle width direction.

The stop can preferably have a lower stop part. The lower stopper may be designed to be brought into contact with either the hinge base or the link in the closed position of the hood, and displacement of the link to the outside of a vehicle width direction may be restricted by using either the hinge base or the link and the lower stop part are brought into contact with each other. A distance between either the hinge foot or the connecting member and the lower stopper part in the vehicle width direction can be made larger compared to a distance between either the hinge foot or the connecting member and the upper stopper part in the vehicle width direction.

Preferably, the stopper has the lower stopper in addition to the upper stopper. Since either the hinge foot or the link is brought into contact with the lower stopper part, displacement of the link to the outside in the vehicle width direction is restricted. Consequently, it is possible to effectively prevent the bending deformation of the connecting member toward the outside in the vehicle width direction in the initial stage of flip-up (push-up) and in the final stage of flip-up (push-up) of the hood.

Further, the distance (hereinafter referred to as a first distance) between either the hinge foot or the connecting member and the lower stopper part in the vehicle width direction is compared to the distance (hereinafter referred to as a second distance) between either the hinge foot and the connecting member and the upper stopper part in the vehicle pulp direction larger. Consequently, in the initial stage of pushing up (raising) the hood, it is possible to push up (raise) the hood in the preferable situation while preventing the deformation of the vehicle body.

That is, from the viewpoint of preventing the buckling deformation of the connecting member toward the outside of a vehicle width direction when the hood is pushed up (folded), the first distance and the second distance are preferably set to be as small as possible . However, in the initial stage of pushing up (raising) the hood by the reaction force for pushing up (raising) the hinge arm (hood), the connecting member is bent (bent) toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, when the first distance is set as small as possible, the above reaction force acts directly on the vehicle body through the hinge foot. As a result, there is a fear that a portion for fixing the hinge foot in the vehicle body is deformed. In this case, it is possible that a push-up time (pop-up time) of the hood is (becomes) late (delayed), or that a push-up amount (pull-up amount) is reduced, thereby reducing an efficiency for pop-up of the hood.

On the other hand, the first distance is set larger than the second distance. For this reason, in the initial stage of pushing up (folding up) the hood, the connecting member is bent (deflected) and deformed by an appropriate amount corresponding to the first distance. Thus, the above reaction force can be absorbed. Consequently, it is possible to reduce an input load (input load) on the vehicle body by the hinge foot. As a result, in the initial stage of hood-raising, it is possible to raise the hood in the preferred situation while preventing the deformation of the vehicle body.

Preferably, a detent mechanism can be retained within the actuator. Movement of the piston moved to the pop-up position can be limited by the detent mechanism and the hood can be held in the pop-up position.

Preferably, a curved portion may be formed at a middle portion of the connecting member in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The curved portion may be designed to be plastically deformed when a collision load of a predetermined value or larger acts on the hood at a lower side of the hood in a situation where the hood is held in the pop-up position.

In the closed position of the hood, the stop can preferably be arranged between a lower end of the connecting element and a front end of the hinge foot.

Preferably, the stop may have an upper stop portion. The upper stopper part may be designed to be brought into contact with either the hinge base or the link in the pop-up position of the hood, and displacement of the link to the outside in the vehicle width direction may be restricted by using either the hinge base or the link and the upper stop part are brought into contact. The stopper may have a bottom stopper. The lower stopper may be designed to be brought into contact with either the hinge base or the link in the closed position of the hood, and displacement of the link to the outside of a vehicle width direction may be restricted by using either the hinge base or the link and the lower stop part are brought into contact with each other. The stopper may be formed as a substantially C-shaped plate that opens toward the inside in the vehicle width direction in a front view. The lower stopper may be formed at one end of the stopper and the upper stopper may be formed at the other end of the stopper.

Preferably, the stopper may be a fixing wall that runs along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a bottom wall that extends from a lower end of the fixing wall to the inside in the vehicle width direction; and an upper wall that extends from an upper end of the fixing wall to the inside in the vehicle width direction and is arranged (runs) parallel to the lower wall. The fixing wall may be fixed to an inner surface of a support part of the hinge foot in the vehicle width direction.

Preferably, the lower stopper may be formed integrally with (one end of) the bottom wall, and the lower stopper may be bent toward an upper side of the vehicle. The lower stopper may be arranged opposite to a front portion of the connecting member in the vehicle width direction. The upper stopper may be formed integrally with (one end of) the top wall, and the upper stopper may be bent toward the lower side of the vehicle. The top The stopper part may be arranged opposite to the front portion of the connecting member in the vehicle width direction.

Preferably, a reinforcement plate may be attached to an inside of the stopper.

Preferably, the reinforcement plate may be arranged along the width direction of the vehicle. An outer periphery of the reinforcement plate may be connected to an inner peripheral surface of the stopper except for the inner portion in the vehicle width direction. A groove that is open to the inside in the vehicle width direction may be formed in the reinforcing plate.

character list

• 1 ist eine vergrößerte Vorderansicht, die ein Haubenscharnier zeigt, das in einem Haubenscharnier für ein Fahrzeug gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung verwendet wird;
• 2 ist eine Draufsicht, die eine gesamte Gestaltung des Haubenscharniers für ein Fahrzeug gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung zeigt;
• 3 ist eine Seitenansicht, wenn das Haubenscharnier, das an einer rechten Seite des Fahrzeugs angeordnet ist, das in 2 gezeigt ist, vergrößert ist und von der rechten Seite des Fahrzeugs betrachtet wird;
• 4 ist eine schematische Perspektivansicht, wenn das Haubenscharnier, das in 3 gezeigt ist, vergrößert ist und diagonal von vorne rechts des Fahrzeugs betrachtet wird;
• 5 ist eine Vorderansicht, die eine Situation des Haubenscharniers zeigt, wenn eine Haube in einer Hochklappposition korrespondierend zu 1 angeordnet ist; und
• 6 ist eine Seitenansicht, die das Haubenscharnier, das in 5 gezeigt ist, korrespondierend zu 3 zeigt.

Features, advantages and technical and commercial particularities of exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like elements and in which the following is shown:

• 1 14 is an enlarged front view showing a hood hinge used in a hood hinge for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 2 12 is a plan view showing an entire configuration of the hood hinge for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention;
• 3 13 is a side view when the hood hinge arranged on a right side of the vehicle shown in FIG 2 is shown enlarged and viewed from the right side of the vehicle;
• 4 is a schematic perspective view when the hood hinge shown in 3 shown is enlarged and viewed diagonally from the front right of the vehicle;
• 5 12 is a front view showing a situation of the hood hinge when a hood is in a pop-up position corresponding to FIG 1 is arranged; and
• 6 is a side view showing the hood hinge located in 5 is shown corresponding to 3 indicates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A hood hinge 10 for a vehicle according to this embodiment will be described below using the drawings. Incidentally, an arrow FR arbitrarily shown in the drawings indicates a front of a vehicle, an arrow UP indicates an upper side of the vehicle, and an arrow RH indicates a right side of the vehicle.

As in 2 As shown, the hood hinge 10 for a vehicle is constituted by a pair of left and right pop-up mechanical portions 20 which are disposed on both sides of a rear end side of a hood 12 for opening/closing an engine room, respectively, and which serve as main portions. Both portions of the left and right mechanical pop-up sections 20 are configured the same. Thus, in the following explanations, a configuration of the mechanical pop-up portion 20 located on the right side of the vehicle is explained and an explanation of a configuration of the mechanical pop-up portion 20 located on the left side of the vehicle is omitted.

As in 3 As shown, the pop-up mechanical portion 20 is configured to include a hood hinge 22 for openable/closable supporting the hood 12; an actuator 50 operated at a time of collision with a collision body such as a pedestrian, a piston (rod, rod) 56 built in the actuator 50; and a bracket 60 as a stopper installed (attached) in the hood hinge 22 . First, a design of the hood 12 is explained. Then, the above respective configurations will be explained.

The hood 12 is designed to include a hood outer panel 14 disposed on an outside of the vehicle and forming a design surface; and a hood inner panel 16 that is disposed on an engine room side and further reinforces the hood outer panel 14 . Connections from these two panels are coupled to each other through a hemming process. Further, a rear end side (rear side) of the hood inner panel 16 extends toward a lower side of the hood. Thus, a rear end extension (end extension) 16</b>A is formed on the rear end side of the hood 12 .

<Design of the hood hinge 22>

As in 1 , 3 and 4 1, the hood hinge 22 is configured to include a hinge base (hinge base) 24, a pivot link (pivot link) 30 as a link, and a hinge arm 40. As shown in FIG. The hinge foot 24 is in a shape of a substantially inverted one A letter “L” in a vehicle front view and is further formed in the shape of a substantial letter “V” open to a diagonal upper front portion on a vehicle in a side view viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction becomes. Further, the hinge foot 24 has a plate-shaped attachment 24A extending along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The attachment 24A is on a top surface portion 18A (see FIG 3 ) a cowl side 18 as a design member of a vehicle body having a panel thickness direction as a substantially vertical direction of the vehicle. Incidentally, the cowl side 18 is attached to both sides of a cowl extending along the vehicle width direction between the rear end side of the hood 12 and a lower end of a windshield. A pair of attachment holes 26 (see Fig 4 ) through attachment 24A. An attachment screw (illustration omitted) is inserted into the attachment hole 26, and the attachment 24A is fixed to the upper surface portion 18A by the attachment screw. Further, the hinge foot 24 has a support part 24B, the support part 24B being bent toward an upper side of the vehicle from an end of an inner side of the attachment 24A in the vehicle width direction and formed in a shape of a plate with a plate thickness direction as a substantial vehicle width direction is.

The swing member 30 is arranged on the inside of the hinge foot 24 in the vehicle width direction (one side in the vehicle width direction), and is further formed in the shape of a substantially inverted triangular plate in a side view. More specifically, the pivot link 30 is formed in the shape of the substantially inverted triangle plate, tips (ends) of which are composed of a lower end 30A, a front end 30B arranged at a vehicle front side of the lower end 30A, and a vehicle upper side of the lower end 30A. and a rear end 30C arranged on a vehicle rear side of the lower end 30A and the vehicle upper side of the lower end 30A (see FIG 3 ). Furthermore, a curved portion 32 (see 1 and 4 ) is formed in a central portion in the pivot link 30 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the curved portion 32 is inclined toward the inside in the vehicle width direction as the curved portion 32 progresses to the front side of the vehicle in plan view. Thus, a front portion of the pivot link 30 (a portion of the front side of the vehicle with respect to the curved portion 32) is on the inner side in the vehicle width direction compared to a rear portion of the pivot link 30 (a portion on a rear side of the vehicle with respect on the curved portion 32) and the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30 is formed at the front portion of the pivot link 30.

Further, the rear end 30C of the pivot link 30 is pivotally connected to an upper end of the support portion 24B of the hinge foot 24 by a hinge pin 34 . Thus, the pivot link 30 is configured to pivot in the vertical direction of the vehicle (a direction of an arrow A and a direction of an arrow B in FIG 3 ) to be pivoted with the hinge pin 34 as a pivot axis (pivot axis). Furthermore, a coupling shaft 36 for pivotally supporting a lower end of the actuator 50, which will be described later, is attached to the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30. As shown in FIG. The coupling shaft 36 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and protrudes toward the inside in the vehicle width direction from the pivot link 30 with the axial direction thereof being the vehicle width direction. Further, on an outer periphery of the pivot connection member 30, a flange 38 is integrally formed at a portion except for an upper side (a side for connecting (attaching) the front end 30B and the rear end 30C), and the flange 38 is toward the inside in the vehicle width direction bent towards.

The hinge arm 40 is arranged on the inside of the front portion of the pivot link 30 in the vehicle width direction and extends substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. More specifically, the hinge arm 40 includes a sidewall 40A disposed parallel to the front portion of the pivot link 30, and a front end of the sidewall 40A is pivotally connected (coupled) to the front end 30B of the pivot link 30 by a hinge pin 42. Accordingly, the hinge arm 40 is configured to pivot relative to the pivot link 30 in the vertical direction of the vehicle (a direction of an arrow C and a direction of an arrow D in FIG 3 ) to be pivoted with the hinge pin 42 as a pivot axis (pivot axis).

The hinge arm 40 further includes a top wall 40B. The top wall 40B is formed to be bent toward the inside in the vehicle width direction from an upper end of the side wall 40A and extends along a bottom substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle ren surface of rear end extension (end extension) 16A of hood 12 (see 3 ) to extend. A mounting hole 44 (see 1 and 4 ) passes through a front portion of this top wall 40B. A weld nut (illustration omitted) is fixed to the rear end extension (end extension) 16</b>A of the hood 12 at a position corresponding to the attachment hole 44 . A hinge bolt, not shown, is inserted into the attachment hole 44 from a lower side of the vehicle and bolted to the weld nut. Thus, the top wall 40B is attached (fixed) to the rear end extension (end extension) 16A. As a result, the hinge base 24 and (the rear end extension (end extension) 16A) the hood 12 are connected by the hinge arm 40 and the pivot link 30 .

Further, as mentioned above, the hinge foot 24, the pivot link 30, and the hinge arm 40 are arranged in this order toward the inside of a vehicle width direction. For this reason, in the hood hinge 22, the top wall 40B (a fixing point on the hood 12) of the hinge arm 40 is arranged to be toward the inside with respect to the attachment 24A (a fixing point on the vehicle body) of the hinge base 24 in the vehicle width direction to be transferred.

Furthermore, a coupling shaft 46 for connecting (coupling) the piston (rod, rod) 56 described below is integrally attached to a rear end of the side wall 40A in the hinge arm 40 . This coupling shaft 46 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and protrudes toward the inside in the vehicle width direction from the side wall 40A.

Incidentally, the hood hinge 22 is originally a hinge part for openably/closably supporting the hood 20 in a body (vehicle body). However, in this embodiment, the hood hinge 22 is also a design element of the hood hinge 10 for a vehicle. That is, when the hood 12 is opened/closed in an ordinary case, the pivot link 30 is pivoted with the hinge pin 34 as a pivot axis (pivot axis) in a situation where relative pivoting is performed on the pivot link 30 of the hinge arm 40 by the actuator 50 and the piston 56, which will be described below (a situation described in each case in 1 , 3 and 4 is shown).

<Design of the actuator 50>

As in 3 and 6 1, the actuator 50 is formed in the substantially cylindrical shape and arranged on the inside of the pivot link 30 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, an actuator bracket 52 is integrally attached to a lower portion of the actuator 50 . A lower end of the actuator bracket 52 is pivotally supported by the coupling shaft 36 of the pivot link 30 . Consequently, the lower end of the actuator 50 is designed to be pivotable relative to the pivot link 30 .

Further, an inflator (not shown) is housed within a housing 54 of the actuator 50 . This gas generator is electrically connected to an ECU (controller), which is not shown. The ECU is electrically connected to a collision detection sensor (collision detecting means) disposed in a front bumper or the like for detecting or anticipating a collision with a collision body such as a pedestrian and the like.

<Design of Piston 56>

The piston (rod, rod) 56 is housed (held) within the housing 54 of the actuator 50 . Piston 56 is defined as a straight rod-shaped member and is disposed along the same axis as housing 54 . Further, a piston (illustration omitted) is attached to a lower end of the piston 56 . The piston is sealed (held) within the housing 54 . Then, gas generated by the gas generator in the actuator 50 is supplied into the housing 54, and the piston is lifted (extended) along an axial direction of the housing 54 by gas pressure inside the housing 54.

Further, a piston coupler 58 is integrally attached to an upper end (one end) of the piston 56, and the piston coupler 58 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with its axis direction corresponding to the vehicle width direction. The coupling shaft 56 of the hinge arm 40 is inserted into the piston coupler 58 and the upper end of the piston 56 is connected thereto for pivoting relative to the hinge arm 40. Thus, the actuator 50 connects a rear end of the hinge arm 40 and the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30 and is arranged to be located toward the rear side of the vehicle in an inclined (inclined) posture when moving progresses to the upper side of the vehicle in a side view.

When the actuator 50 changes from a non-active state of the actuator 50 (a state that occurs in each of 1 , 3 and 4 and a position of the hood 12 in this state is referred to as a closed position), the piston 56 is moved upward in association with the piston lifting operation. Consequently, the rear end of the hinge arm 40 is pushed up (folded) toward the upper side of the hood by the piston coupler 58 of the piston 56, and the hood 12 is held in a pop-up position (a position shown in 6 shown) arranged. Incidentally, at this time, the hinge arm 40 is tilted relative to the upper side of the hood (in a direction of an arrow C in 3 ) is pivoted with respect to the pivot link 30 with the hinge pin 52 as a pivot axis. Further, by the coupling when the hinge arm 40 pivots, the pivot link 30 is pivoted relative to the upper side of the hood (in a direction of an arrow A in 3 ) is pivoted with respect to the hinge foot 24 with the hinge pin 34 as a pivot axis.

Incidentally, a detent mechanism, not shown, is accommodated within the actuator 50, movement of the piston 56 moved to the pop-up position is restricted by the detent mechanism, and the hood 12 is held at the pop-up position. Then, in a situation where the hood 12 is held in the pop-up position when a collision load of a predetermined value (value) or larger acts on the hood 12 at the lower side of the hood, the curved portion 32 of the pivot link 30 designed to be plastically deformed.

<Design of Bracket (Stopper) 60>

As in 1 , 3 and 4 As shown, in the closed position of the hood 12, the bracket (stop) 60 is located between the front portion of the pivot link 30 (more specifically, in the vicinity of the lower end 30A) and a front end of the hinge foot 24 and is as one is formed in a substantially C-shaped panel that is open to the inside in the vehicle width direction in a front view. More specifically, the bracket 60 is configured to include a fixing wall 62 having a plate thickness direction as the vehicle width direction; a bottom wall 64 extending from a lower end of the fixing wall 62 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction; and having an upper wall 66 that extends from an upper end of the fixing wall 62 to the inside in the vehicle width direction and is arranged in parallel with the lower wall 64 . In addition, the fixing wall 62 is fixed to an inner side of the support part 24B of the hinge foot 24 in the vehicle width direction by welding and the like.

Further, a lower stopper part 64A is formed integrally with (an inner end in the vehicle width direction) of the bottom wall 64, and the lower stopper part 64A is bent toward the upper side of the vehicle. This lower stopper part 64A is arranged opposite to the front portion of the pivot link 30 (the vicinity of the lower end 30A) in the vehicle width direction, and a distance between the lower stopper part 64A and the pivot link 30 in the vehicle width direction is referred to as a first distance G1. When the pivot link 30 is bent (bent) and deformed toward the outside in the vehicle width direction when the hood 12 is folded up, the pivot link 30 is designed to be brought into contact with the lower stopper part 64A.

Furthermore, an upper stopper part 66A is formed integrally with (the inner end in the vehicle width direction) of the top wall 66, and the upper stopper part 66A is bent toward the lower side of the vehicle. This upper stopper part 66A is arranged opposite to the front portion of the pivot link 30 in the vehicle width direction. A distance between the upper stopper part 66A and the pivot link 30 in the vehicle width direction is referred to as a second distance G2, and the first distance G1 is set larger than the second distance G2. Further, in the pop-up position of the hood 12, the upper stopper part 66A and the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30 are arranged opposite to each other in the vehicle width direction. Then, in the pop-up position of the hood 12, when the pivot link 30 is bent and deformed to the outside in the vehicle width direction, the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30 is designed to be brought into contact with the upper stopper part 66A.

Further, a plate-shaped reinforcement plate 68 is attached to an inside of the bracket 60 . The reinforcing plate 68 is arranged with its plate thickness direction as the vehicle's longitudinal direction. An outer periphery of the reinforcement plate 68 is connected to an inner peripheral surface of the bracket 60 except for the inner portion in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore a groove 68A, which is open to the inside of the vehicle width direction, is formed in the bracket 60. As shown in FIG.

The operation and effect of this embodiment are described below.

Each of the situations in 1 , 3 and 4 1 is an inactive state of the hood hinge 10 for a vehicle. In this state, the actuator 50 is not active. Thus, the piston 56 is retained within the housing 54 of the actuator 50 . Further, the piston coupler 58 at the end of the piston 56 is pivotally connected to the coupling shaft 46 at the rear end of the hinge arm 40 .

In this state, when the collision body of the pedestrian or the like and the vehicle collide (collision) with each other on the front surface of the vehicle, the collision on the front surface with the collision body is detected by the collision detecting means and a collision signal is output to the ECU. The ECU determines whether to operate the hood hinge 10 for a vehicle based on the inputted collision signal. Then, when the ECU determines that the hood hinge 10 for a vehicle is to be operated, an operation signal is output to the actuator 50 . Consequently, the gas generator in the actuator 50 is actuated to thereby supply the gas into the housing 54 .

When the gas is supplied into the housing 54, the piston is moved to an axial end (front side) of the housing 54 (i.e., the upper side of the hood) by a gas pressure inside the housing 54. The lower end of the piston 56 is connected to the piston. Thus, when the piston is raised (extended) in the housing 54, the piston 56 is moved in the axial direction toward the top of the hood.

When the piston 56 is moved in the axial direction toward the upper side of the hood, the rear end of the hinge arm 40 is pushed up to the upper side of the hood by the piston coupler 58 of the piston 56 and the hood 12 is in the pop-up position (see 6 ) arranged. At this time, the hinge arm 40 is pivoted relative to the upper side of the hood with respect to the pivot link 30 with the hinge pin 54 as a pivot axis. Further, the pivot link 30 is pivoted relative to the upper side of the hood with respect to the hinge base 54 with the hinge pin 54 as a pivot axis. Furthermore, since the movement of the piston 56 is limited by the detent mechanism of the actuator 50, the hood 12 is held in the pop-up position. In this state, when the collision load of a predetermined value (value) or larger acts on the hood 12, the collision load is transmitted to the pivot link 30 and the curved portion 32 of the pivot link is plastically deformed. Thus, the collision energy is absorbed (absorbed).

A behavior of the pivotal link 30 when the hood 12 is pushed up (folded up) from the closed position to the pop-up position will be described below.

At an initial stage in which the hood 12 is pushed up (raised), a reaction force generated when the piston 56 pushes up the hinge arm 40 (the hood 12) acts on the lower end 30A of the pivotal link 30 of FIG the lower end of the actuator 50. The actuator 50 is arranged on the inside of the pivot link 30 in the vehicle width direction, and the lower end 30A of the pivot link is arranged on an inner side with respect to the rear end 30C of the pivot link 30 in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, by the above reaction force acting on the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30 from the actuator 50, the lower end 30A (the front portion) of the pivot link 30 is moved to the outside in the vehicle width direction (see arrow E in 1 ) bent and deformed.

The bracket 60 is attached to the hinge foot 24 . Further, the bracket 60 has the lower stopper part 64A, and the lower stopper part 64A is arranged opposite to the front portion of the pivot link 30 in the vehicle width direction in the closed position of the hood 12 . Then, in the initial stage (initial state) in which the hood 12 is pushed up (raised) when the pivot link 30 is bent and deformed toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, the front portion of the pivot link 30 is fitted with the lower stopper part 64A is brought into contact, and displacement (displacement, displacement) of the pivot link 30 to the outside in the vehicle width direction is consequently restricted. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent the buckling deformation of the pivot link 30 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction in the initial stage in which the hood 12 is pushed up (raised).

On the other hand, at a time when the pop-up of the hood 12 is completed, a force on the lower side of the hood acts on the hinge arm 40 by a reaction caused by the pop-up of the hood 12. At the hood hinge 22, the top wall 40B (the fixing point to the hood 12) of the hinge arm 40 is arranged to be offset to the inside with respect to the attachment 24A (the fixing point to the vehicle body) of the hinge base 24 in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, by the force toward the lower side of the hood acting on the hinge arm 40, a pivoting moment acts in a clockwise direction in a front view (see arrow M in 5 ) onto the pivot link 30. As a result, the pivot link 30 is bent and deformed toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30 becomes toward the outside in the vehicle width direction (see arrow F in 5 ) shifted (relocated, adjusted).

The bracket 60 has the upper stopper 66A. The upper stopper part 66A is arranged opposite to the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30 in the vehicle width direction in the pop-up position of the hood 12 . Then, at the time when the flip-up of the hood 12 is completed, when the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30 is bent and deformed toward the outside of a vehicle width direction, the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30 is brought into contact with the upper stopper part 66A and the displacement (displacement, displacement) of the pivot link 30 to the outside in the vehicle width direction is restricted (see FIG 5 ). Consequently, it is possible to effectively prevent the buckling deformation of the pivot link 30 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction at the time the flip-up is completed.

Incidentally, in a situation where the hood 12 is flipped up at the pop-up position, a force at the lower side of the hood acts on the hinge arm 40 by a weight of the hood 12. For this reason, the pivot link 30 is closed similarly to the above is bent and deformed toward the outside of a vehicle width direction, and the lower end 30A of the pivot link 30 is brought into contact with the upper stopper part 66A. Consequently, it is also possible to prevent the buckling deformation of the pivot link 30 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction caused by the weight of the hood 12 in the pop-up position.

As explained above, in this embodiment, when the pivot link 30 is pivoted to the upper side of the hood, the lower stopper 64A or the upper stopper 66A of the bracket 60 attached to the hinge base 24 comes into contact with the pivot link 30 and the displacement (displacement) of the pivot link 30 to the outside of a vehicle width direction is restricted. Consequently, when the hood 12 is flipped up (pushed up), the buckling deformation of the pivot link 30 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction is prevented. Therefore, the hood 12 can be pushed up (folded up) in the preferred situation.

Further, the first distance G1 is set larger than the second distance G2. Thus, in the initial stage of popping up the hood 12, it is possible to pop up the hood 12 in the preferred situation while preventing the deformation of the vehicle body. This mechanism is described below.

Due to the fact that the buckling deformation of the pivot link 30 toward the outside of a vehicle width direction is prevented when the hood 12 is flipped up (pushed up), the first distance G1 and the second distance G2 are preferably set as small as possible. However, in the initial stage of popping up the hood 12, the pivot link 30 is flexed toward the outside of a vehicle width direction by the reaction force for popping up the hinge arm 40 (hood 12). Thus, when the first distance G1 is set as small as possible, the reaction force above acts directly on the vehicle body (cowl side 18) through the hinge foot 24. For this reason, there is a fear that a portion for fixing the hinge foot 24 in the vehicle body ( Cowl side 18) is deformed. In this case, there is a possibility that a pop-up timing of the hood 12 is late (delayed) or that the pop-up amount of the hood 12 is reduced, thereby reducing a pop-up efficiency of the hood 12 .

In contrast, in this embodiment, the first distance G1 is set larger than the second distance G2. For this reason, in the initial stage of flipping up the hood 12, the pivot link 30 is bent and deformed by an appropriate amount corresponding to the first distance G1. Thus, the above reaction force can be absorbed. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the input load (input load) on the vehicle body (cowl side 18) by the hinge foot 24 As a result, in the initial stage of popping up the hood 12, it is possible to pop up the hood 12 in the preferred situation while preventing the deformation of the vehicle body (cowl side 18).

Incidentally, the holder 60 is fixed to the hinge base 24 in this exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, bracket 60 may be attached to pivot link 30 . In this case, e.g 24 to be trained.

Further, in this embodiment, the lower stopper 64A and the upper stopper 66A are integrally formed with the bracket 60 . However, one of the lower stopper 64A and the upper stopper 66A in the bracket 60 may be omitted.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first distance G1 is set larger than the second distance G2. However, the first distance G1 and the second distance G2 may be set equal in a range where the deformation of the vehicle body (cowl side 18) can be prevented.

In a hood hinge (10) for a vehicle, a bracket (stop) (60) is attached to a hinge base (24). A lower stopper (64A) and an upper stopper (66A) are formed in the bracket (60). When a pivot link (30) is pivoted to an upper side of a hood and when a pivot link (30) is bent and deformed to an outside in a vehicle width direction, the lower stopper part (64A) or the upper stopper part (66A) of the bracket ( 60) is brought into contact with the pivot link (30) and displacement (displacement, displacement) of the pivot link (30) to an outside in the vehicle width direction is prevented. Consequently, when the hood is folded up, bending deformation of the pivot link (30) toward the outside in the vehicle width direction is prevented. Therefore, in a preferred situation, the hood can be folded up.

Claims (12)

A hood hinge (10) for a vehicle, comprising: a hinge base (24) fixed to a vehicle body; a connecting member (30) which is arranged on an inner side of the hinge foot (24) in a vehicle width direction and which is pivotally supported by the hinge foot (24); a hinge arm (40) fixed to a rear side of a hood (12) on the inside of the link member (30) in the vehicle width direction and pivotally supported by the link member (30); and a piston (56) held within an actuator (50) attached to the link (30) and having one end connected to the hinge arm (40) and which actuates the hood (12) from a closed position to a flip-up position by flipping up the hinge arm (40) to an upper side of the hood (12) and pivoting the link (30) to the upper side of the hood (12) when the actuator (50) is operated; characterized in that the hood hinge (10) further comprises: a stopper (60) attached to either the hinge base (24) or the connecting member (30) positioned between the hinge base (24) and the connecting member in the vehicle width direction (30) and which limits displacement of the connecting member (30) to an outside in the vehicle width direction by being brought into contact with either the connecting member (30) or the hinge foot (24) when the connecting member (30) is closed the upper side of the hood (12) is pivoted. Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle claim 1 wherein the stop (60) has an upper stop part (66A), the upper stop part (66A) being designed to be brought into contact with either the connecting element (30) or the hinge base (24) in the flip-up position of the hood (12). and the displacement of the connecting member (30) to the outside in the vehicle width direction is restricted by bringing either the connecting member (30) or the hinge foot (24) and the upper stopper (66A) into contact with each other. Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle claim 1 or 2 wherein the stop (60) has a bottom stop portion (64A), the bottom stop portion (64A) being configured to contact either the connector (30) or the hinge foot (24) in the closed position of the hood (12). to become, and the displacement of the connecting element (30) to the outside in the vehicle width direction by bringing either the connecting member (30) or the hinge foot (24) and the bottom stopper (64A) into contact with each other. Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle claim 2 wherein the stop (60) has a bottom stop portion (64A), the bottom stop portion (64A) being configured to contact either the connector (30) or the hinge foot (24) in the closed position of the hood (12). and the displacement of the link member (30) to the outside in the vehicle width direction is restricted by bringing either the link member (30) or the hinge foot (24) and the lower stopper piece (64A) into contact with each other, and a distance ( G1) of the connecting element (30) or the hinge foot (24) to the lower stop part (64A) in the vehicle width direction is greater than a distance (G2) of the connecting element (30) or the hinge foot (24) to the upper stop part (66A). Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle according to one of Claims 1 until 4 wherein a detent mechanism is provided within the actuator (50), and movement of the piston (56) moved to the pop-up position is regulated by the detent mechanism and the hood (12) is held at the pop-up position. Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle according to one of Claims 1 until 5 wherein a curved portion (32) is formed at a middle portion in the connecting member (30) in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the curved portion (32) is designed to be plastically deformed when a collision load of a predetermined value or larger acts on a lower side of the hood (12) on the hood (12) in a situation where the hood (12) is held in the pop-up position. Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , wherein in the closed position of the hood (12) the stop (60) is arranged between a lower end of the connecting element (30) and a front end of the hinge foot (24). Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle according to one of claims 3 until 7 wherein the stopper (60) is a substantially C-shaped plate open to the inside in the vehicle width direction in a front view, the lower stopper (64A) is formed at an end of the substantially C-shaped stopper (60). and the upper stopper part (66A) is formed at the other end of the substantially C-shaped stopper (60). Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle claim 8 wherein the substantially C-shaped stopper (60) includes a fixing wall (62) extending along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a bottom wall (64) extending from a lower end of the fixing wall (62) to the inside in the vehicle width direction; and an upper wall (66) extending from an upper end of the fixing wall (62) to the inside in the vehicle width direction and parallel to the lower wall (64), and the fixing wall (62) on an inner surface of a support member ( 24B) of the hinge foot (24) is fixed. Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle claim 9 wherein the lower stopper (64A) is formed integrally with the bottom wall (64) and is bent toward an upper side of the vehicle, the lower stopper (64A) faces a front portion (30A) of the connecting member (30) in the vehicle width direction , the upper stopper part (66A) is formed integrally with the top wall (66) and is bent toward the lower side of the vehicle, and the upper stopper part (66A) faces the front portion (30A) of the connecting member (30) in the vehicle width direction . Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle according to one of Claims 8 until 10 wherein a reinforcement plate (68) is attached to an inside of the stopper (60). Hood hinge (10) for a vehicle claim 11 wherein the reinforcement plate (68) is arranged along the vehicle width direction, an outer periphery of the reinforcement plate (68) is connected to an inner peripheral surface of the stopper (60) except for the inner portion in the vehicle width direction, and a groove (68A) facing the inside is open to the vehicle width direction is formed in the reinforcing plate (68).

Images