DE102015203516A1 - Hinge device for a front flap of a motor vehicle with an impact protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

For the purpose of weight reduction is in a hinge device (1) for a front flap (21) of a motor vehicle (13) which is adjustable in a collision case of a normal position in a protective layer, with a body attachment part (5) on the body (9). the motor vehicle (13) is mounted, a front flap attachment part (17) on which the front flap (21) is mounted, a first hinge lever (25) and a second hinge lever (29), on the one hand to the body attachment part (5) and the other directly or indirectly hinged to the front flap attachment part (17), and a first securing means (68), on the one hand an actuating portion (80) against which an actuator (100) engages in the event of a collision, and on the other hand, a securing portion (84) against a first holding means (53) engages in the normal position, wherein the securing area (84) releases the first holding means (53) in the event of a collision such that the Front flap attachment part (17) can pivot about a second holding means (57) provided that a guide means (60) arranged on the front flap attachment part (17) guides the first holding means (53) in case of collision, and in that a second securing means (72) the second holding means (57) secures in normal position and releases in collision position in a release compartment (64).

Description

The invention relates to a hinge device for a front flap of a motor vehicle, which is adjustable in a collision case of a normal position in a protective layer. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with such a hinge device.

In the structural design and layout of modern motor vehicles, great importance is attached to ensuring that, in the event of an accident, a person striking a front flap of a motor vehicle remains as unhurt as possible. A particular danger is in such an accident, the impact of the person with his head on the front door of the accident vehicle. This danger, for example, when a pedestrian, a cyclist or a motorcyclist captured by a motor vehicle and thrown his head against the front door of the accident vehicle becomes.

In modern vehicles, there is just under the front door to an underlying hard object, such as an internal combustion engine, not enough space for a sufficiently large deformation of the front door. Rather, there is the risk that an impacting head strikes the object located below the front flap and thereby experiences a high biomechanical load.

As a possibility of improved personal protection, it is known to raise the front flap of the motor vehicle by several centimeters, as soon as an accident is detected with a possible collision. Lifting the front door increases the distance to a hard object underneath; Furthermore, the additional movement of the front flap and the associated spring forces and inertia energy reduction over a relatively large path is generated. The level of deceleration thus achieved for a striking person's head thus drops to a biomechanically more compatible value and penetration to a hard object of the motor vehicle arranged under the front flap is avoided.

Corresponding hinge devices are for example from the DE 10 2008 030 220 A1 , of the DE 10 2009 040 413 A1 and the DE 10 2009 040 406 A1 known. In these known hinge devices each have a body attachment part, which is attached to the body of the motor vehicle, a front flap attachment part on which the front flap is mounted, a first hinge lever and a second hinge lever is provided, on the one hand to the body attachment part and on the other directly or indirectly are hinged to the front flap attachment part. A first securing means which on the one hand has an actuating region against which an actuator acts in the event of a collision and on the other hand has a securing region which acts against a first retaining means in normal position - the securing region releasing the first retaining means in the event of a collision such that the front flap fastening part around a second retaining means can pivot - are also known from the publications mentioned. While appropriately trained hinging devices have been proven in practice, it should be noted that they are massively formed of metal due to the large mechanical loads acting on them and consequently have a high weight.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hinge device for a front door of a motor vehicle, in which the aforementioned disadvantage is overcome.

This object is achieved with a hinge device for a front door of a motor vehicle, with a first, arranged on the front flap attachment part guide means in which the first holding means is guided in the event of a collision, and with a second securing means, which secures the second holding means in a normal position and in Collision situation in a release room releases.

The solution according to the invention makes it possible in an advantageous manner, a hinge device for a front door compact, and thus save material and weight, while reliably erecting the hinge device to build. In addition, the hinge device according to the invention is characterized in that, depending on easily adaptable dimensions and configurations of their respective components, an optimized raising movement is achieved both with regard to the erection time and the installation location of the front hood.

If the guide means is advantageously designed as a straight and / or curved path, the compactness of the hinge device according to the invention is further improved. Thus, this route may extend in a particularly advantageous manner along a straight line parallel to an area of the front flap attachment part that is substantially adjacent to one of the front flap attachment part. The inventively provided waveform can also be provided with a constant or variable radius, inflection point (s) and the like, as long as the desired erection movement of the front flap is achieved.

If the guide means is formed in a particularly advantageous manner as a backdrop, not only a secure guidance of the first holding means is achieved, but further reduced by saving material, the weight of the hinge device according to the invention.

In the event that the holding means according to the invention is a bearing pin, on the one hand a secure holder, on the other hand, a secure release of the normal position in the protective layer can take place when a backup area abuts against the bearing pin in normal position.

A particularly simple and reliable embodiment of the hinge device according to the invention provides in an advantageous manner that the concave securing portion on the one hand a hook-shaped or shoulder-shaped portion which surrounds the first securing means in normal position at least partially, on the other hand, a rounded portion having the first securing means in Normal position supported and its movement is free in the event of a collision.

If, in the hinge device according to the invention advantageously, the first holding means and the guide means have a play in the vehicle transverse direction and vehicle vertical direction such that the first holding means can perform a combined rotational movement and translational motion in the event of a collision, a reliable guidance of the front flap is ensured. In particular, compensation for the combined rotational movement and advancing movement of the front flap during its collision-related deployment is possible

A particularly simple design of the hinge device according to the invention is achieved when the second holding means is formed from bearing pin. This also contributes to the reduction of the weight of the hinge device according to the invention.

If the second securing means is formed as a recess in the front flap attachment part and the second holding means in a portion adjacent to the release portion partially engages, the hinge device according to the invention is advantageously constructed simply and reliably.

This is especially true when the second securing means has a varying radius or is substantially U-shaped or V-shaped.

A particularly reliable guidance of the hinge device from a normal position to a protective layer is achieved if a connecting means is provided on which the first retaining means, the second retaining means, the first hinge lever and the second hinge lever are articulated.

It should be noted that the features described above advantageously not only ensure a reliable guidance of the front flap in the event of a collision, but also in the event that the front door - as normally provided - is opened, for example, to service work to perform the components under it. In addition, with the hinge device according to the invention advantageously a flutter of the front flap during a drive of the motor vehicle is successfully avoided.

Advantageously, a spring may be provided on the one hand to the aforementioned connecting means and / or the first retaining means, on the other hand at a located on the front flap attachment part fixing part, as a result of a coordinated interaction of the hinge device according to the invention with a likewise provided on the front flap of a motor vehicle lock is possible. In particular, it is thus possible to prevent tilting of the front flap during its movement from the normal position into the protective layer.

An inventive motor vehicle is equipped in a particularly advantageous manner with such a hinge device.

It should be noted that the features previously created, as far as technically possible, individually or in any combination, especially in total, may be present without departing from the invention.

The following is a brief description of figures of the present invention:

1 shows a hinge device according to the invention in a perspective view obliquely from below.

2 shows the hinge device of the invention 1 in front view in her normal position.

3 shows the in 2 illustrated hinge device with unlocked securing means.

4 shows the in 3 shown hinge device with partially raised front door.

5 shows the hinge of the 4 , supplemented by a spring, in protective position.

6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the hinge device according to the invention.

With reference to the above figures, a detailed description of the embodiments will now be given on the basis of non-prejudicial, in particular non-limiting, figures. The same reference numerals are used for the same elements in the figures, unless otherwise stated.

In 1 is a hinge device according to the invention 1 shown in a perspective view obliquely from below. The hinge device 1 points in the in 1 lower area a body attachment part 5 on, which by means not shown fastening means, in particular screws, on the body 9 a motor vehicle symbolically represented here 13 is attached.

In the in 1 upper area is a front flap attachment part 17 to recognize, at which a symbolically represented front flap 21 , In particular, a hood, by means not shown fastening means, in particular screws, is fixed.

As known in the art, are on the body attachment part 5 and the front flap attachment part 17 two handlebars, namely a first hinge lever 25 and a second hinge lever 29 , rotatably mounted, so that the body attachment part 5 , the first hinge lever 25 , the front flap mounting part 17 and the second hinge lever 29 form a four-bar joint.

In the 1 shown hinge device 1 is in normal position, ie that the front flap 21 is closed and the motor vehicle 13 moved in the usual direction of travel x a Cartesian, vehicle-oriented coordinate system.

The first hinge lever 25 is smaller than the second hinge lever 29 formed and is located in the normal direction of travel x considered behind the second hinge lever 29 , With its the body attachment part 5 adjacent end is the first hinge lever 25 around a pivot axis 33 rotatably mounted. With his front flap 21 adjacent end is the first hinge lever 25 around a pivot axis 37 attached to a lanyard 41 is provided pivotally mounted. Also the second hinge lever 29 is about a pivot axis 45 (please refer 2 ), which also on the connecting means 41 is provided, and a pivot axis 49 on the body attachment part 5 pivoted.

To a controlled opening or pivoting of the front door 21 For example, to allow service to be performed on the vehicle engine (not shown) are on the connecting means 41 furthermore a first holding means 53 and a second retaining means 57 arranged. In normal position is the first holding means 53 in a guide 60 ; the second holding means 57 is located in a release area 64 , In the embodiment shown here are the first holding means 53 and the second holding means 57 designed as a bearing pin. Overall, thus holds the first holding means 53 the front flap 21 at the hinge device according to the invention 1 ,

This in 1 shown first securing means 68 is designed as a lever, which is about an axis 76 can pivot. The in 1 shown right portion of the first securing means 68 has an actuating region extending in the y-direction 80 on, which is designed as a cranked shoulder and against which an actuator not shown in this figure can act, as will be explained later. This section of the first securing means 68 opposite end has a backup area 84 The one with a slightly concave or shoulder-shaped section 88 , on the other hand with a hook-shaped section 92 against the first holding means 53 attacks in normal position. Thus, the first securing means 68 So the first holding means 53 and thus the front flap 21 in normal position.

The second holding means 57 lies against the second securing means 72 in normal position by means of positive locking. Thus it can be provided that the second securing means 72 U-shaped or V-shaped is designed. The opening of the U or V extends into the release area 64 , It can further be provided that the second securing means 72 has a variable radius, with the one hand, the storage of the second holding means 57 On the other hand, its desired release can be adjusted.

As 1 can also be taken, is the guide 60 equipped as a backdrop in which the first holding means 53 Moving from normal position in protective position can move, as will be shown below.

In the 1 perspective hinge shown inventive device 1 is in 2 shown again in plan view on the xz plane. The first holding means 53 is through the first securing means 68 in the backdrop-like designed guide 60 held. The second holding means 57 is simultaneously by the second securing means 72 held. The operating area 80 of the first securing means 68 is from the lower profile area 96 of the front flap mounting part 17 spaced in normal position.

In the event that a sensor device not shown here detects an accident, an in 3 symbolically represented actuator 100 triggered. This actuator 100 , which is known per se from the prior art, can be pyrotechnically triggered in an advantageous manner and one in the 3 not shown piston substantially in the z-direction (ie in the direction of the vertical axis of the motor vehicle) within milliseconds move. The actuator 100 moves the operating area 80 of the first securing means 68 around the pivot axis 76 until this one against the lower profile area 96 of the front flap mounting part 17 comes to the plant. At the same time, the security area swings 84 around the pivot axis 76 such that the shoulder-shaped section 88 and the hook-shaped portion 92 the first holding means 53 release.

As in 4 shown, moves the piston of the actuator 100 continue in the direction of the z-axis such that the first hinge lever 25 and the second hinge lever 29 be moved in an advantageous manner first in the z-axis direction and then in a combined zx direction. In this way it is possible to first height with the front flap 21 so that even at a very early stage of an accident of an accident victim (not shown), a protective effect occurs. To a correspondingly required guidance of the front door 21 To ensure the first holding means moves 53 along the backdrop-shaped guide means 60 in the embodiment shown here, substantially parallel to the upper profile region 104 of the front flap mounting part 17 , At the same time, the second holding means releases 57 from the second securing means 72 in the release area 64 and dives into one of a bend 108 in the front flap mounting part 17 provided space.

It should be noted that the first holding means in the guide means 60 along the slotted guide in y- and z-direction not only translational, but also can move rotationally. The length of the guide means 60 corresponds to the way the front flap 21 from the normal position into the protective layer. The guide 60 may also have any other design to perform its desired control function. Thus, in particular, it can be designed as a straight line inclined with respect to the front flap fastening part in the xz plane and / or, wholly or partly, as a curve with a constant or variable radius.

In 5 is the hinge device according to the invention 1 now shown in protective position. This is achieved when the piston of the actuator 100 (not shown in this figure) is fully extended and the first holding means 53 in the guide 60 has reached its final position. The latter is the case when the first holding means 53 against the in 5 shown right end of the guide means 60 strikes. The first hinge lever 25 and the second hinge lever 29 have reached their maximum pivot position in this case.

It should be noted that a particularly secure and reliable guidance of the hinge device according to the invention 1 with the help of an optional spring 112 can be achieved in 5 symbolically represented and due to the available space in the 5 behind the viewing plane of the front flap mounting part 17 located. In the example shown here is the spring 112 on the one hand on the first holding means 53 on the other hand on the front flap attachment part 17 directly attached. However, this is not mandatory, but the spring 112 can on the one hand also on the connecting means 41 , on the other at one of the front flap attachment part 17 located fastening part 116 be attached. The hardness of the spring 112 can, depending on the configuration of the usually with the hinge device according to the invention 1 co-operating lock (not shown) can be selected: If the lock on a shift of the front door 21 from the normal position in the protective layer is not driven by additional drive means, such as an additional actuator (not shown), has the spring 112 a greater hardness. If, however, an additional actuator (not shown) is provided, then the hardness of the spring 112 in comparison to the spring provided in the system described above 112 less, hence soft.

The in the 1 to 5 shown hinge device 1 has a guide 60 on, which is about a substantial length of the front flap attachment part 17 extends. A greater mechanical strength of the hinge device according to the invention is achieved when the front flap attachment part 17 designed in two parts: how 6 can be removed, has the front flap attachment part 17 a first reinforcement part 120 and a second reinforcing part 124 on, which are fastened to each other via fastening means not shown, in particular screws, or cohesively, in particular by welding, together. In the first reinforcement part 120 is a first slide track 128 formed flush with one in the second reinforcing member 124 provided second link path 132 flees. The first slide track 128 and the second slide track 132 together make up the guiding agent 60 in which the first holding means 53 can be moved translationally and rotationally in the manner described above. A flush of the first slide track 128 and the second slide track 132 is achieved in an advantageous manner in that the first reinforcement part 120 a bend 136 in the region in which the second reinforcement part 124 and the second reinforcement part 124 are adjacent. As above with regard to the one-piece guide means 60 can also described the multi-part guide shown here 60 straight, curved, etc. be designed as long as the individual slide tracks 128 . 132 aligned with each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

hinge means

5

Body attachment part

9

body

13

motor vehicle

17

Front door retaining part

21

front flap

25

First hinge lever

29

Second hinge lever

33

swivel axis

37

swivel axis

41

connecting means

45

swivel axis

49

swivel axis

53

First holding means

57

Second holding means

sixty

guide means

64

release room

68

First securing means

72

Second securing agent

76

swivel axis

80

operating range

84

security area

88

Shoulder-shaped section

92

Hook-shaped section

96

Lower profile area

100

actuator

104

Upper profile area

108

cranking

112

feather

116

attachment portion

120

First reinforcement part

124

Second reinforcement part

128

First slide track

132

Second slide track

136

cranking

x, y, z

Cartesian vehicle coordinate system

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102008030220 A1 [0005]
• DE 102009040413 A1 [0005]
• DE 102009040406 A1 [0005]

Claims (12)

Hinge device ( 1 ) for a front flap ( 21 ) of a motor vehicle ( 13 ), which is adjustable in a collision case of a normal position in a protective layer, with - a body attachment part ( 5 ) attached to the body ( 9 ) of the motor vehicle ( 13 ), - a front flap attachment part ( 17 ), on which the front flap ( 21 ), - a first hinge lever ( 25 ) and a second hinge lever ( 29 ), which on the one hand on the body attachment part ( 5 ) and on the other hand directly or indirectly on the front flap attachment part ( 17 ), and - a first securing means ( 68 ), which on the one hand has an actuating area ( 80 ), against which an actuator ( 100 ) in the event of a collision, and on the other hand, a security area ( 84 ), which against a first holding means ( 53 ) in normal position, whereby the security area ( 84 ) the first holding means ( 53 ) releases in the event of a collision such that the front flap attachment part ( 17 ) around a second holding means ( 57 ) can pivot, characterized by - one on the front flap attachment part ( 17 ) arranged guide means ( 60 ), in which the first holding means ( 53 ) is guided in the event of a collision, and - a second securing means ( 72 ), which is the second holding means ( 57 ) in normal position secures and in collision position in a release room ( 64 ) releases. Hinge device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide means ( 60 ) is designed as a straight and / or curves having route. Hinge device ( 1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide means ( 60 ) is designed as a backdrop. Hinge device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first holding means ( 53 ) is a bearing pin, against which the security area ( 84 ) is in normal position. Hinge device ( 1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the security area ( 84 ) on the one hand a hook-shaped section ( 92 ), the first securing means ( 68 ) in the normal position at least partially engages behind, on the other hand, a shoulder-shaped portion ( 88 ) having the first securing means ( 68 ) is supported in normal position and releases its movement in the event of a collision. Hinge device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first holding means ( 53 ) and the guiding means ( 60 ) in the vehicle transverse direction (y) and vehicle vertical direction (z) play such that the first holding means ( 53 ) in the event of a collision a combined rotational movement and translational movement is allowed. Hinge device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second holding means ( 57 ) is designed as a bearing pin. Hinge device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second securing means ( 72 ) as a recess in the front flap attachment part ( 17 ) is formed and the second holding means ( 57 ) in a release area ( 64 ) adjacent section partially surrounds. Hinge device ( 1 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the second securing means ( 72 ) has a varying radius or is substantially U-shaped or V-shaped. Hinge device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a connecting means ( 41 ), on which the first holding means ( 53 ), the second holding means ( 57 ), the first hinge lever ( 25 ) and the second hinge lever ( 29 ) are articulated. Hinge device ( 1 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that a spring ( 112 ) on the one hand to the connecting means ( 41 ) and / or the first holding means ( 53 ), on the one hand on the front flap attachment part ( 17 ) fastening part ( 116 ) is attached. Motor vehicle ( 13 ) with a hinge device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims.

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