DE102021128238A1 - Bonnet assembly for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a front flap arrangement (10) for a vehicle, with a front flap (3) which is delimited at the side by two opposite fenders (5) and is connected to the body via two oppositely arranged hinges (12), the hinges (12 ) are designed to allow the front flap (3) to move between a closed position and an open position, with the two hinges (12) being positioned in the area of a deflection component (16) when the front flap (3) is closed, which prevents the front flap from moving sideways in the event of an accident (3) outwardly biased to lift the bonnet (3) over the adjacent non-impact fender (5) or to minimize sideways movement of the bonnet (3) outward toward the fender (5), and a vehicle having such a bonnet assembly (10).

Description

The invention relates to a front hatch assembly for a vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle with such a front flap arrangement.

Front flap assemblies for vehicles are known in numerous variations. Various tests are carried out when new vehicle types are brought onto the market in Germany. One test consists, for example, of driving the vehicle at a speed of 15 km/h onto an obstacle with a 10° incline that is offset from the center of the vehicle. The vehicle is then checked for damage. This result then flows proportionately into the final evaluation for the initial type classification of the respective vehicle. With certain vehicle models, especially with vehicle models whose front flaps are “enclosed” in a certain way in their arrangement opposite a front bumper and side fenders, it can happen that the impact is offset to the center of the vehicle due to unfavorable movements during this test leads to a partial sideways movement of the front flap in the direction of a side facing away from the impact. In an unfavorable case, the front flap hits the fender facing away from the impact and damages it. The consequence of this is that it has to be repaired or even replaced, which greatly worsens the test result overall and consequently leads to a higher type class initial classification of the vehicle and thus to additional costs for the customer in their insurance policy.

From the DE 10 2013 106 147 A1 discloses a hood arrangement for a motor vehicle for opening and/or closing an opening in a motor vehicle body, in particular an engine compartment opening, which comprises a structural element for absorbing and/or dissipating loads, a hood for covering the opening, one with the structural element and the hood connected joint device for pivoting the hood between a closed position covering the opening and an open position releasing the opening about an ideal pivot axis, and a limit stop connected to the structural element. The hood has a cover part arranged on the circumference of the pivot axis and at least one side part arranged on the front side of the pivot axis. The limit stop can be struck on the side part and limits the cover part from sinking into the opening.

From the DE 10 2006 046 266 A1 an additional device for a vehicle flap is known, which opens a trough-shaped vehicle flap fastened with a hinge, forms an additional fastening, which reduces the degrees of freedom of the front flap and thereby forms a better hold.

The object of the invention is to provide a front flap arrangement for a vehicle and a vehicle with such a front flap arrangement which at least reduces or completely avoids damage to the fender facing away from the impact in the event of an impact offset laterally to the center of the vehicle.

This object is achieved by a front hatch assembly for a vehicle having the features of patent claim 1 and by a vehicle having the features of patent claim 7. Advantageous configurations with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims.

In order to provide a front flap arrangement for a vehicle, which at least reduces or completely avoids damage to the fender facing away from the impact in the event of an impact offset laterally from the center of the vehicle, a deflection component is provided, in the area of which hinges of a front flap are positioned when the front flap is in a closed position. The deflection component influences an accident-related lateral movement of the front flap outwards in such a way that the front flap is lifted over the adjacent fender facing away from the impact or the lateral movement of the front flap outwards in the direction of the fender is minimized.

In addition, a vehicle with a front end is proposed, which includes two opposing fenders, a bumper and such a front flap arrangement. The front flap is enclosed by the two fenders and the bumper.

The front flap arrangement for a vehicle is understood below to mean an arrangement with a front flap which is delimited laterally by two opposite fenders and is connected to the body via two oppositely arranged hinges. The hinges are designed to allow movement of the bonnet between a closed position and an open position. The deflection component is designed in such a way that the front flap with the corresponding hinge is guided upwards faster than a lateral outer edge of the front flap hits the fender facing away from the impact. Here, the deflection component performs two functions. The deflection component forms one up to a speed of approx. 7km/h Stop which, in the event of a collision with an obstacle that is offset from the center of the vehicle, allows the front flap to move sideways slightly and helps to reduce the impact energy. For speeds between approx. 7km/h and 20km/h, the deflection component forms a kind of ramp which, in the event of an impact with an obstacle that is offset from the center of the vehicle, directs the front flap over the fender in a targeted manner so that the fender facing away from the impact is not damaged. As a result, the type damage test described at the beginning and the damage in the event of an impact offset to the side of the vehicle center are significantly better. This means that the insurance policy and the repair costs are also cheaper for the customer.

In an advantageous embodiment of the front flap arrangement, the deflection component can have a rising edge, which is designed such that a distance between the corresponding hinge and the stiffening edge is smaller than a gap between the fender and a lateral outer edge of the front flap. This enables the ramp function of the deflection component to be implemented easily and cost-effectively. The deflection component can have a U-shaped or preferably an L-shaped cross section.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the front flap arrangement, the deflection component can be designed as a block or as a bent part or as a sheet metal angle or as a sheet metal holder. In this case, the block or the bent part can be made of metal, plastic or a combination of metal and plastic.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the front flap arrangement, the deflection component can preferably be arranged on a fender support. In addition, the hinge can include at least one pivotally mounted hinge leg, which is connected to the front flap.

The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without going beyond the scope of the leave invention. Embodiments are therefore also to be regarded as included and disclosed by the invention which are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which result from the explained embodiments and can be generated by means of separate combinations of features.

• 1 eine schematisch und ausschnittsweise Darstellung eines Vorderwagens eines erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeugs mit einem Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Frontklappenanordnung;
• 2 eine schematische und perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausschnitts II aus 1 mit transparent dargestellter Frontklappe; und
• 3 eine schematische und perspektivische Darstellung eines Details III aus 2 mit transparent dargestellter Frontklappe.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, the same reference symbols denote components or elements that perform the same or analogous functions. Here show:

• 1 a schematic and partial representation of a front end of a vehicle according to the invention with an embodiment of a front flap assembly according to the invention;
• 2 a schematic and perspective representation of a section II 1 with transparent front flap; and
• 3 a schematic and perspective representation of a detail III 2 with transparent front flap.

How out 1 until 3 As can be seen, the illustrated exemplary embodiment of a vehicle 1 according to the invention has a front end 1A which comprises two opposite fenders 5, 5A, 5B, a bumper 7 and a front flap arrangement 10 according to the invention. The front flap 3 is “enclosed” by the two fenders 5, 5A, 5B and the bumper 7.

How out 1 until 3 As can further be seen, the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the front hatch arrangement 10 according to the invention for a vehicle 1 comprises a front hatch 3, which is laterally delimited by two opposite fenders 5, 5A, 5B and is connected to the body via two oppositely arranged hinges 12, 12A, 12B. The hinges 12, 12A, 12B enable the front flap 3 to be moved between a closed position and an open position. When the front flap 3 is closed, the two hinges 12, 12A, 12B are each positioned in the area of a deflection component 16, which influences an accident-related lateral movement of the front flap 3 outwards in such a way that the front flap 3 is lifted over the adjacent fender 5, 5A, 5B facing away from the impact or the lateral movement of the front flap 3 outwards in the direction of the fender 5 is minimized.

2 and 3 each show an example in 1 First hinge 12A shown above in the closed position of the front flap 3 shown transparent 1 The second hinge 12 shown below is mirror-symmetrical to the first hinge 12A. Like in particular 3 As can be seen, the deflection component 16 in the exemplary embodiment shown is designed as a block 16A made of aluminum with a U-shaped cross section. The deflection component 16 has a slope flank 16.1 whose distance from the illustrated first hinge 12A is smaller than a gap between the fender 5 and a lateral outer edge of the front flap 3 is 3.1.

Alternatively, the block 16A can also be designed with a different cross-section, for example with an L-shaped cross-section, and can be made of another suitable metal or plastic.

In an exemplary embodiment that is not shown, the deflection component 16 is designed as a bent part or as a sheet metal angle or as a sheet metal holder.

How out 2 and 3 It can also be seen that the deflection component 16 is arranged on a fender support 18 in the exemplary embodiment shown. The hinge 12 comprises a rotatably mounted first hinge leg 12.1, which is connected to a second hinge leg 12.2 via a rotary joint. The second hinge leg 12.2 is attached to the fender support 18. In addition, the first hinge leg 12.1 is connected to the front flap 3 via a fastening plate 12.3 formed at the free end of the first hinge leg 12.1. The first leg 12.1 is curved in the illustrated embodiment, with the first leg 12.1 being positioned in the region of its lowest point in the region of the deflection component 16 in the illustrated embodiment.

Reference List

1

vehicle

1A

front car

3

front flap

3.1

lateral outer edge

5, 5A, 5B

fender

7

bumper

10

front flap arrangement

12, 12A, 12B

hinge

12.1, 12.2

hinge leg

12.3

mounting plate

14

swivel joint

16

deflection component

16A

block

16.1

stiffening flank

18

fender support

ur

deflection direction

x

longitudinal direction

y

transverse direction

e.g

vertical direction

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was 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.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102013106147 A1 [0003]
• DE 102006046266 A1 [0004]

Claims (7)

Front flap arrangement (10) for a vehicle (1), with a front flap (3) which is delimited laterally by two opposite fenders (5) and is connected to the body via two oppositely arranged hinges (12), the hinges (12) designed to allow the front flap (3) to move between a closed position and an open position, with the two hinges (12) being positioned in the area of a deflection component (16) when the front flap (3) is closed, which prevents the front flap (3) from moving sideways in the event of an accident 3) outwards in such a way that the front flap (3) is lifted over the adjacent fender (5) facing away from the impact or the sideways movement of the front flap (3) outwards towards the fender (5) is minimized. Front flap assembly (10) after claim 1 , characterized in that the deflection component (16) has a pitch flank (16.1) which is designed in such a way that a distance between the corresponding hinge (12) and the stiffening flank (16.1) is smaller than a gap between the fender (5) and a lateral outer edge (3.1) of the front flap (3). Front flap assembly (10) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the deflection component (16) has a U-shaped or L-shaped cross section. Front flap assembly (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the deflection component (16) is designed as a block (16A) or as a bent part or as a sheet metal angle or as a sheet metal holder. Front flap assembly (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the deflection component (16) is arranged on a fender support (18). Front flap assembly (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the hinge (12) comprises at least one rotatably mounted hinge leg (12.1) which is connected to the front flap (3). Vehicle (1) with a front end (1A), which comprises two opposite fenders (5), a bumper (7) and a front flap assembly (10), which according to one of Claims 1 until 6 is carried out, the front flap (3) being enclosed by the two fenders (5) and the bumper (7).

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