FR3025470A1 - JOINT SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH A MOBILE HOOK SECURITY DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

System (5) for articulating a hood (4) of a motor vehicle with respect to a body (2) of this vehicle (1), which comprises: - a hinge (13) comprising a fixed fitting (14) and a movable fitting (15) provided with an articulation axis (6) with respect to the fixed fitting (14); a security device (22) comprising: a processing unit (23) capable of detecting a vehicle-pedestrian shock; A movable hook (24) rotatably mounted relative to the fixed fitting (14) between a position of retention of the axis (6) and a release position of the axis (6), ○ an ejection spring which urges the fitting (15) movable to a raised position, ○ an actuator (30) coupled to the mobile hook (24) to place it, on command of the processing unit (23) following the detection of a vehicle shock -piphon, in his position of liberation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to the field of automobiles, and more specifically to the passive safety of motor vehicles in the event of a vehicle-pedestrian impact. [0002] Vehicle-pedestrian shocks constitute a serious public safety problem, to the point where the European Parliament and the European Council jointly issued a Directive (n ° 2003/102 / CE of 17 November 2003, accessible online on the European website). -lex.europa.eu) intended to standardize the measures taken by manufacturers to strengthen the active safety and passive safety of their vehicles with a view to reducing the risk of serious accidents. Vehicle-pedestrian shocks have since been the subject of extensive studies, both theoretically and practically. In purely theoretical terms, solutions have been proposed for modeling shocks, cf. eg. the work of Farès WAKIM in his thesis "Study of the prediction of vehicle-pedestrian shocks". In practical terms, solutions have been proposed to limit the consequences of shocks, in particular by means of devices acting on the hood of the vehicle to raise it and avoid, as much as possible, the collision of the head of the pedestrian with underlying hard parts of the motor unit. Thus, the patent FR 2 886 247 discloses a device comprising means for moving the rear part of the cover between a closed position and an elevated position, designed, in case of vehicle-pedestrian impact, to facilitate the re-entry. state of operation and thus avoid immobilization of the vehicle. This device comprises a knuckle (that is to say a fixed fitting) secured to the vehicle body and a movable knuckle secured to the hood, interconnected by means of an intermediate movable knuckle. In normal hood opening position, the intermediate movable hinge remains fixed relative to the movable knuckle. In vehicle-pedestrian shock position, the intermediate movable knuckle pivots relative to the movable knuckle to place it in a position translated relative to the fixed knuckle. This device is satisfactory but it requires to properly size the articulation between the intermediate movable knuckle and the moving knuckle, except to induce a risk of failure in the normal position of opening the hood, which would therefore be likely to 5 fall back on the box. This results in an increase in the onboard masses and a consequent inertia of the device, which can affect the effectiveness of the device in case of vehicle-pedestrian impact. A first objective is to improve the passive safety of vehicles in case of vehicle-pedestrian impact. [0009] A second objective is to propose a hinge articulation system which, while incorporating a safety device in the event of vehicle-pedestrian impact, remains compact and light. For this purpose, it is proposed, in the first place, a hinge system of a hood of a motor vehicle relative to a body of the vehicle, the hood can adopt a closed position in which the hood is pressed against the body, an open position in which the hood is angularly spaced from the body around a rear pivot, and a raised position of vehicle-pedestrian shock in which the hood is angularly spaced from the body around a pivot 20 front, this system including: a hinge comprising: a fixed fitting integral with the body; a movable fitting secured to the cover and carrying an axis forming the rear pivot of the cover and by which the movable fitting is rotatably mounted relative to the fixed fitting, this hinge being able to adopt a closed position corresponding to the closed position of the cover, an open position corresponding to the open position of the hood and in which the movable fitting is angularly spaced about its axis from the closed position; a safety device capable of initiating the movement of the movable fitting to a raised position corresponding to the raised position of the cover and in which the movable fitting is translated relative to the fixed fitting, this device comprising a processing unit capable of detecting a vehicle-pedestrian shock, this safety device comprising: a movable hook mounted articulated with respect to the fixed fitting between a retention position in which the hook extends in line with a bearing formed in the fixed fitting in y holding the axis of the movable fitting, and a release position in which the hook is spaced from the bearing, o an ejection spring which urges the movable fitting towards its raised position, o an actuator coupled to the movable hook for the placing, on command of the processing unit following the detection of a vehicle-pedestrian shock, in its release position. In its release position, the hook allows to directly release the movable fitting, which through the action of the spring is pushed (with the cover which it is secured) to its raised position. This system is fast, efficient and lightweight. Various additional features may be provided, alone or in combination: the hook is rotatably mounted relative to the fixed fitting; the bearing is formed by a notch made in an upper edge of the fixed fitting; the ejection spring has a fixed end anchored to the fixed fitting, and a movable end bearing against the axis of the movable fitting; the ejection spring is a leaf spring; The actuator is coupled to the hook by means of a cable; the hook has a projecting slotted lug on which the cable is anchored; the actuator is a pyrotechnic actuator; the system comprises a compression spring anchored, at an inner end, to the fixed fitting and biasing the cover towards its open position or towards its raised position. It is proposed, secondly, a motor vehicle equipped with a box and a hood, and a system as presented above, whose fixed fitting is secured to the body and whose fitting 35 mobile is secured to the hood. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the description of an embodiment, given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view. an automobile vehicle equipped with a hinge system incorporating a safety device in case of vehicle-pedestrian impact; Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the hinge system with inset, a detail on an enlarged scale centered on the hook; FIG. 3 is a detail view, from the side, illustrating the articulation system in the hook retention position; Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view showing the action of the ejection spring on the axis of the movable fitting; FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the articulation system in the release position of the hook; Figure 6 is a side view showing the articulation system with the hood in the closed position; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the hinge system with the hood in the open position; FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, showing the articulation system with the hood in the vehicle-pedestrian shock-raised position. In Figure 1 is partially shown a vehicle 1 automobile, which comprises a body 2, which can be seen a wing 3 25 front left, a cover 4, pivotally mounted relative to the body 2, and a system 5 of articulation of the cover 4 with respect to the body 2, mounted on each side of the cover 4. In what follows, only one articulating system 5 is described (that illustrated in the figures is located on the left side of the vehicle 1) , but it is easily understood that a similar system (and symmetrical) is mounted on the other side (right) of the vehicle 1. [0016] One defines with respect to the vehicle 1 an orthogonal reference XYZ comprising three perpendicular axes two to two, namely: an X axis, defining a longitudinal direction, horizontal, coincides with the general direction of movement of the vehicle, 35 - a Y axis, defining a transverse, horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane , 3025470 5 a Z axis, definite issuant a vertical direction, perpendicular to the horizontal XY plane. With the hinge system, the hood 4 can adopt three positions: 5 a closed position (Figures 1 and 6) in which the cover 4 is pressed against the body 2, an open position (Figure 7) in which the cover 4 is angularly spaced from the body 2 around a rear pivot 6 which extends transversely (along Y), and 10 - a raised vehicle-pedestrian shock position (Figure 8) in which the cover 4 is angularly spaced from the body 2 around a front pivot 8 which extends transversely (along Y). In the closed position, the locking of the cover 4 on the body 2 is ensured, in the front, in a conventional manner by means of a lock 7 which comprises a bolt 9 (in this case in the form of a bolt). a hook) mounted articulated on a front crosspiece 10 secured to the body 2, and a striker thread 11, integral with the cover 4 and which, in the closed position thereof, is in detachable engagement with the bolt 9. An arm 12 secured to the bolt 9 allows, by manually tilting, to rotate the bolt 9 and thus release the striker wire 11 to allow a person (driver, garage) to raise the cover 4 to its open position. The hinge system 5 comprises, firstly, a hinge 13, clearly visible in Figure 2. This hinge 13 comprises a fixed fitting 14 fixed to the body 2 and a movable fitting 15 integral with the cover 4. In the usual automotive terminology, a hood hinge fitting is commonly referred to as "knuckle": in the following, "knuckle" (fixed or respectively movable) will be referred to as each fitting 14, 15. [0020] In the illustrated example, the fixed knuckle 14 is in the form of a metal part obtained by molding, folding or stamping, which comprises a sole 16 horizontal (in position of use) by which the fixed knuckle 14 is fixed on the body 2 (for example on a suspension bell), and a lateral wall 17 which extends vertically (substantially in the plane XZ) projecting from a lateral edge of the sole 16. According to a illustrated embodiment, the wall 17 lateral has a generally L-shaped and comprises a leg 18 which extends along the Z axis, and a foot 19 which extends substantially longitudinally (along the X axis). The movable knuckle 15 is also in the form of a metal part obtained by molding, folding or stamping. The movable knuckle 15 is fixed, by a right front end, to the cover 4. The movable knuckle carries, at a curved rear end, an axle 6 which extends transversely (along Y) and forms the rear pivot 6 10 articulation of the cover 4 relative to the body 2, in normal use (passage from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa). Through this axis 6, the movable knuckle 15 is rotatably mounted relative to the knuckle 14 fixed, between a closed position, 15 corresponding to the closed position of the cover 4, and an open position corresponding to the open position of the cover 4 and wherein the movable knuckle is spaced angularly about its axis 6 from the closed position. As will be seen below, the movable knuckle 15 is also adapted to adopt a raised position, which corresponds to the raised position of the hood 4 and in which the moving knuckle 15 is translated relative to the fixed knuckle 14. In the open and closed position, the axis 6 of the moving knuckle 15 is housed in a bearing 20 carried by the fixed knuckle 14. According to an embodiment illustrated in the figures, this bearing 20 is formed by an indentation formed in an upper edge 21 of the fixed knuckle 14. In the example shown, this upper edge 21 forms an upper end of the jamb 18. This notch forms in this case a notch, open at an upper end to allow the passage of the axis 6, and rounded to a lower end for can accommodate the axis 6 by allowing its rotation. The articulation system 5 comprises, secondly, a safety device 22 own to initiate the movement of the movable knuckle 15 to its raised position, thereby driving the cover 4 in its raised position in the case of a shock (or in anticipation of an impending shock 35) vehicle-pedestrian, so as to spread the hood 4 of the hard bodies of the engine block of the vehicle 1 and thus constitute a shield which 3025470 7 limits the risk of collisions of the pedestrian (and more particularly of his head) with these organs. The security device 22 comprises a processing unit 23 (schematically represented in FIGS. 3 and 5 in the form of a block) suitable for detecting a vehicle-pedestrian shock (already initiated or to come). The shock detection can be performed by means of one or more contact sensors (in particular contactor, ruptible wire) or without contact (including radar, camera, proximity sensor). The safety device 22 also comprises a movable hook 25 mounted articulated relative to the fixed knuckle 14 between a holding position (FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7), in which the hook 24 extends to the right of the bearing 20 by maintaining in it the axis 6 of the moving knuckle 15, and a release position (Figures 5, 8) wherein the hook 24 is spaced from the bearing 20 to allow the output of the axis 6 of the bearing 20 (and therefore the spacing of the moving knuckle 15 fixed knuckle 14), as will be explained below. In the example illustrated, the hook 24 is mounted articulated about a transverse pivot (following Z) located under the bearing 20, so that the hook 24 passes from its retention position to its position 20 of release by a tilting movement back and forth, and vice versa from its release position to its retention position by a reverse tilting movement back and forth. A return spring 26 (operating for example in torsion, as in the example illustrated) continuously stresses the hook 24 towards its retention position. As we will see, the tilting of the hook 24 from its retention position to its release position is controlled. The safety device 22 then comprises an ejection spring 27 which urges the moving knuckle 15 towards its raised position.

According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the ejection spring 27 has a fixed end 28 anchored to the fixed knuckle 14, and a movable end 29 bearing against the axis 6 of the moving knuckle 15. The ejection spring 27 is for example a leaf spring, the movable end 29 of which is advantageously bent to fit the axis 6. The security device 22 finally comprises an actuator 30 coupled to the mobile hook 24 for placing it, on command of the processing unit 30 following the detection of a vehicle-pedestrian shock, in its release position. This actuator 30 is for example a pyrotechnic actuator, of the type used as pretensioner for 5 seat belts; it is connected by an electric cable 31 to the processing unit 23 which triggers the priming of the actuator 30 by means of an electrical signal. As can be seen elsewhere in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the actuator 30 is coupled to the hook 24 by means of a cable 32 (of the type used in the bicycle brakes) anchored by one end. external, to the hook 24, and, by an inner end, to the actuator 30. According to an embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the hook 24 has for example a tab 33 split transversely projecting on which is anchored the end external (inflated) cable 32. As can be seen in Figure 2, the actuator 30 is not necessarily directly above the hook 24; in this case, the cable 32 has a vertical upper section and an inclined lower section, and the hook 24 can carry a cam 34 formed by a protruding lug, on which the cable 32 bears against the junction between its upper section 20 and its lower section. According to an embodiment illustrated in the figures, the articulating system 5 comprises, in the third place, a compression spring 35 which, by an internal end, is rotatably mounted about a transverse axis (according to Y ), on the fixed knuckle 14 and which biases the cover 4 to its open position or to its raised position. In the illustrated example, the compression spring 35 is, by an outer end, rotatably mounted about a transverse axis (along Y), directly on the cover 4, as can be seen in FIGS. 8. This compression spring 35 is for example a gas spring, which comprises a tubular body 36 and a rod 37 slidably mounted in the body 36. [0033] In the normal use position, the axis 6 of the knuckle 15 mobile is housed in the bearing 20 fixed knuckle 14 and remains there by the hook 24, which occupies its retention position. In this position, the cover 4 can move from its closed position (FIG. 6) to its open position (FIG. 7) by rotation around the axis 6 of the moving knuckle 15. When a vehicle-pedestrian shock (already initiated or imminent) is detected (by the processing unit 23), the processing unit 23 controls the activation of the actuator 20 of each system 5. 'joint. The actuator 20 then exerts on the cable 32 a traction 5 causing the hook 24 to tilt from its retention position to its release position, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and as suggested by the upper arrow of FIG. 4. [0035 The ejection spring 27 then freely exerts its thrust on the axis 6 which is ejected from the bearing 20, as suggested by the arrow on the right of FIG. 4. This results in a dissociation of the moving knuckle from the knuckle 14. fixed, and the tilting (as suggested by the arrow in Figure 8) of the cover 6 around the front pivot 8 formed by the striker wire 11 which remains in engagement with the bolt 9. The compression spring 35 ensures the recovery efforts once the axis 6 has left the bearing 20, and exerts on the hood 4 a thrust force having a vertical component which moves the cover 4 to its raised position, or at least keeps it in this position. The contact of the striker wire 11 with the bolt 9 being of a one-off nature, the right and left compression springs together contribute to maintaining the lateral tilting of the bonnet 4. [0037] The articulation system 5 which comes from to be described has the following advantages. First, this system is reliable. In the normal use position, the movable knuckle, which does not require any additional parts, pivots relative to the fixed knuckle 14 in the same manner as in an ordinary hinge. The hook 24 ensures efficient retention of the axis 6. [0039] Second, this system 5 is compact and lightweight. Its weight is comparable to that of an ordinary system devoid of a safety device, the overweight and bulk caused by the presence of the hook 24 and the actuator 30 being negligible. The double use of the compression spring (to exert the thrust on the bonnet in the normal opening position and to ensure the recovery of the forces during the uprising in the event of a vehicle-pedestrian impact) contributes to the compactness and the lightness of the system 5. The spring 35 further serves as a damper for the pedestrian during the vehicle-pedestrian impact.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. System (5) for articulating a cover (4) of an automobile vehicle (1) with respect to a body (2) of this vehicle (1), the cover (4) being able to adopt a closed position in which the bonnet (4) is pressed against the body (2), an open position in which the cover (4) is angularly spaced from the body (2) around a rear pivot (6), and a raised position of shock vehicle- pedestrian in which the cover (6) is angularly spaced from the body (2) around a pivot (39) before, this system (5) including: - a hinge (13) comprising: o a fixed fitting (14) fixed the box (2); a movable fitting (15) secured to the cover (4) and carrying an axis (6) forming the rear pivot (6) of the cover (4) and by means of which the movable fitting (15) is mounted in rotation with respect to the fitting (14) fixed, this fitting (15) movable can adopt a closed position corresponding to the closed position of the cover (4), and an open position corresponding to the open position of the cover (4) and wherein the fitting (15) movable is angularly spaced about its axis (6) from the closed position; a safety device (22) capable of initiating the movement of the movable fitting (15) towards a raised position corresponding to the raised position of the cover (4) and in which the movable fitting (15) is translated relative to the fitting ( 14) fixed, this device (22) comprising a processing unit (23) capable of detecting a vehicle-pedestrian shock; this system (5) being characterized in that the device (22) comprises: a movable hook (24) articulated with respect to the fixed fitting (14) between a retention position in which the hook (24) is extends to the right of a bearing (20) formed in the fitting (14) fixed by maintaining the axis (6) of the fitting (15) mobile, and a release position in which the hook (24) is removed from the bearing (20), - an ejection spring (27) which urges the fitting (15) movable towards its raised position, an actuator (30) coupled to the hook (24) movable to place it, on order of the processing unit (23) following the detection of a vehicle-pedestrian shock, in its release position. 2. System (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hook (24) is rotatably mounted relative to the fixture (14). 3. System (5) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the bearing (20) is formed by a recess formed in an edge (21) of the upper bracket (14) fixed. 4. System (5) according to one of the preceding claims, 10 characterized in that the spring (27) ejection has a fixed end (29) anchored to the fixture (14) fixed, and a movable end (210). resting against the axis (6) of the movable fitting (15). 5. System (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring (27) of ejection is a leaf spring. 15 6. System (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator (30) is coupled to the hook (24) by means of a cable (32). 7. System (5) according to claim 6, characterized in that the hook (24) has a lug (33) slotted projecting on which is anchored the cable (31). 8. System (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator (30) is a pyrotechnic actuator. 9. System (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a compression spring (35) anchored, 25 by an inner end, on the fixture (14) and which solicits the cover (4). ) to its open position or to its raised position. 10. Vehicle (1) automobile equipped with a box (2) and a cover (4), characterized in that it is further equipped with a system (5) according to one of the preceding claims, including the fitting (14) fixed is integral with the body (2) and the fitting (15) movable is secured to the cover (4).