JP4887512B2 - Engine hood hinge structure with pedestrian protection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention includes a hinge portion to be fixed to the vehicle body and the front hood, and both hinge portions correspond to a first swing position corresponding to the closed position of the front hood and a second swing corresponding to the open position of the front hood. And a lifting mechanism having a piston and a cylinder for separating the hinge portions from the first swing position to the separated position, the piston of the lifting mechanism being attached to the cylinder at the separated position. The present invention relates to a front hood hinge for an automobile, which is held by a releasable frictional connection or a meshing connection.

  A front hood hinge of this kind is known from US Pat. The hinge structure described in this document has a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion. The first hinge portion is fixed to the front hood of the automobile, and the second hinge portion is fixed to the vehicle body. A piston cylinder unit acts on the hinge pin. This piston cylinder unit is formed by a pyrotechnic element. When this explosive technical element is ignited, the piston is drawn out of the cylinder at a high speed, lifting the hinge part fixed to the front hood to a position spaced from the other hinge part. In this position, the piston is held by friction coupling means or meshing coupling means not explained in detail in the literature.

  A hinge fitting for a front hood of a passenger car equipped with a pedestrian protection device is known from US Pat. This hinge also includes two hinge portions that occupy separate positions in the pedestrian protection position.

  From patent document 3, another front hood hinge provided with a pedestrian protection device is known. In the case of this hinge, the hinge parts are connected to each other by two links to form a four-bar link mechanism. Also in this case, an explosive technical device is provided for releasing the lock on the one hand and for moving the hinge part fixed to the front hood to the separated position on the other hand.

  On the other hand, the above-described front hood hinge serves to hold the front hood swingably on the vehicle body in a normal operation position, and to swing the front hood from the closed position to the open position. At that time, the closed position corresponds to the first hinge position. A vehicle equipped with this type of front hood is provided with a collision sensor. When a pedestrian hits, the collision sensor starts to operate. At the start of operation of the sensor, the explosive filling is ignited, pushing the piston out of the cylinder and separating the hinge parts from each other. This separated position of both hinge portions corresponds to the front hood lifting position or the pedestrian protection position. When the pedestrian falls over the front hood, the front hood is in the raised position and therefore bends downward, thereby buffering the pedestrian's collision.

German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2004 056 301 A1 German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2005 007 903 A1 German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2005 022 924 A1

  The problem underlying the present invention is to enhance the pedestrian protection action in the hinge described at the beginning.

  This problem is solved by the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. In this case, each claim represents an independent solution to the problem and can be combined with all other claims.

  The releasable frictional connection or meshing connection absorbs the pedestrian's kinetic energy received by the front hood by a braked return movement from the raised position to the first swing position. In case of an unlucky collision, the pedestrian's head hits the front hood. In order to reduce the risk of injury, kinetic energy is absorbed by the front hood by means according to the invention. At that time, the front hood moves downward by a certain distance. This is done by braking the released frictional connection or meshing connection. Therefore, the kinetic energy is converted into the frictional energy or deformation energy of the frictional coupling part or the meshing coupling part. In this case, it is structurally advantageous if the piston has external teeth and the tooth engaging element engages the external teeth. The external teeth can be formed as a web of axial teeth. However, circumferentially extending teeth, such as threads or multiple circumferential ribs arranged side by side, are advantageous. The tooth engaging element engages the intermediate space of the rib. Various braking force generation methods can be used. For example, the tooth engaging element can be formed of a hard material, such as hardened steel. Since the external teeth have a soft material and have an appropriate material thickness, they are sheared by the tooth engaging element during the return movement. At that time, the tooth shape and material thickness are selected so that a prescribed force is required to return the piston into the cylinder. In an embodiment of the invention, the tooth engaging element is formed by a steel ring having a web facing radially inward. This web engages the tooth space of the external teeth. If the web is made of a soft material, the web will get over the teeth as the piston moves outwards and inwards. Instead, if the web rests on the edge, the web cannot bend as the piston moves inside the cylinder. During this direction of movement of the piston, the web shears. In contrast, the web can bend when the piston is pushed out of the cylinder by the explosive technical filling to lift the front hood. For this construction, the teeth preferably have a sawtooth shape. If the tooth engaging element bends elastically, the teeth have a rounded cross-sectional shape or the tooth spaces and teeth have a corrugated shape.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the hinge portion fixed to the vehicle body or the hinge portion fixed to the front hood is formed in two parts. On the one hand, the hinge portion includes a fixing member that fixes the hinge portion to the vehicle body or the front hood. On the other hand, the hinge part includes a swinging member that is swingably connected to the other hinge part. This can be done via a rotating bearing, for example a hinge shaft. However, both hinge portions can be connected to each other by a link to form a four-bar link hinge. The fixed member and the rocking member are moved relative to each other by explosive technical elements in the event of a collision, bringing the front hood to the raised position. In the normal operation position, the fixing member and the swinging member are firmly connected to each other. For this purpose, hooks are used in an advantageous embodiment of the invention. This hook is preferably disengaged by the piston of the lifting mechanism. In the engagement position, the elastic buffer attached to the fixed member or the swinging member is placed on the other member, that is, the buffer mounting surface of the swinging member or the fixed member. Thus, in the engaged position, the hook is biased and held by the pre-compressed cushioning element. Therefore, the shock absorber can lift the undercut hook engaging surface to hook the holding shoulder portion below.

  In another embodiment of the invention, one of the members of the hinge portion, i.e. the fixed member or the swinging member, has a holding surface. This holding surface is located at the inside of the V-shaped or Y-shaped concave portion at a normal operation position, that is, at a position where the fixing member is engaged with the swinging member. Since the receiving slit formed by the recess extends in a direction transverse to the extending direction of the hinge portion, the stability of the hinge in the axial direction of the swing axis of the hinge is enhanced at a normal operating position. .

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a side view which shows the 1st rocking | fluctuation position of a front hood hinge corresponded to a front hood closed position. It is the front view seen from the arrow II direction of FIG. It is a figure similar to FIG. 1 which shows the 2nd rocking | fluctuation position of a front hood hinge corresponded to a front hood open position. FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the front hood hinge in the spaced position when the explosive technical element is activated. FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the front hood hinge after partial return from the spaced position. It is a detailed fragmentary sectional view of the piston cylinder unit in the operation position of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the VIII-VIII line of FIG. It is a figure similar to FIG. 7 which shows the state by which the piston was extended | stretched from the cylinder. It is a figure similar to FIG. 7 which shows the operation | movement position of FIG. It is a figure similar to FIG. 7 which shows the operation | movement position of FIG. FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, showing a second embodiment in which the piston has a saw blade. FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the top of the tooth crest being rounded; FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, wherein the teeth are formed in a corrugated shape and the tooth engaging elements are elastically engaged with the wave troughs. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the operating position of FIG. 1 of the hinge, showing the explosive technical element covered with a cap 28. FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 with the cap removed. It is the perspective view seen from the rear side.

  The front hood hinge shown in the figure includes a first hinge portion 1 that can be bolted to a front hood of an automobile. The important elements of the first hinge part 1 are a fixing member 1 ′ directly fixed to the front hood and a swinging member 1 ″ connected to the second hinge part 2 by a hinge pin 20. The second hinge part 2 Is bolted to the car body.

  In the normal operating position as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 15-17, the fixing member 1 ′ is fixedly connected to the swinging member 1 ″ so that the front hood is shown in FIG. 3 from the closed position shown in FIG. It can swing to the open position and vice versa.

  On the one hand, the fixing member 1 ′ is connected to the swinging member 1 ″ via the pin 21, and on the other hand, the fixing member 1 ′ is connected to the swinging member 1 ″ via the hook 12. The hook 12 is attached to the fixing member 1 ′ so as to be swingable around the pivot 18 and its hook jaw engages with the holding shoulder 13 of the swinging member 1 ″ from below. The fixing member 1 ′ further swings. Protrusions directed towards the member 1 "are formed. This protrusion has a curved slit 23. The curved slit 23 forms a guide slit for the guide pin 22 fixedly connected to the swing member 1 ″.

  The bent portion 30 of the fixing member 1 ′ has two holes, and the rubber cushioning elements 14 are fixed to the holes by clips. This buffer element, that is, the buffer body 14 is compressed at the engagement position shown in FIG. 17 and is mounted on the buffer body mounting surface 15 of the swing member 1 ″. The buffer body 14 is an undercut of the hook 12. In order to securely engage the engaged surface with the holding shoulder 13, a lifting cushion is formed.

  The hook 12 forms a double arm lever. The arm opposite to the hook engaging surface is provided with an operating shoulder 19 in the form of a bent portion. This operating shoulder has a hole 32. The pointed portion 26 of the piston 3 is inserted into the hole 32. The piston 3 is inserted into the cylinder 4. The cylinder forms a support part 25 located in the dish-like support member 24 of the swinging member 1 ″. At this time, the operating shoulder 19 passes through the opening 29 of the fixing member 1 ′. The wall of the part forms a swing limiter of the lever.

  The fixing member 1 ′ further forms a holding surface 17. This holding surface is located in the receiving slit 16 in the engaged position, ie the normal operating position. The receiving slit is formed in a V shape or a Y shape. Since the surfaces on both sides of the receiving slit that are branched from each other in the opening direction of the receiving slit 16 form a guide surface, both the members 1 ′ and 1 ″ of the hinge portion are fixed in the direction of the swing axis of the hinge pin 20 in the engaged position. The Y-shaped web of the receiving slit 16 that accommodates the holding surface 17 in the engaged position preferably has a gap width that is not much greater than the material thickness of the holding surface 17. The holding surface 17 is preferably formed by a thin strip of the fixing member 1 ′ that supports the hook 12.

  The piston cylinder units 3 and 4 form explosive technical elements. In the cylinder 4, an ignitable explosive filling is provided. In this case, the ignited explosive filling goes out of the cylinder 4 and accelerates the piston 3. First, since the piston 3 acting on the operation shoulder 19 swings the hook 12, the hook 12 swings from the engagement position to the release position. Since the hook 12 is detached from the hook shoulder 13 during the swinging motion, the fixing member 1 ′ can swing around the swing axis 21. The hook 12 is swung until the operation shoulder 19 abuts against the wall of the opening 23. Thereafter, the linear piston extension movement is converted into the separation movement of the first hinge part 1 from the second hinge part 2. Since the operation shoulder 19 is in contact with the wall of the opening 23, the force is directly transmitted to the fixing member 1 '. At this time, the fixing member 1 ′ swings around the pivot axis 21 relative to the swing member 1 ″. The fixing member further swings around the hinge pivot axis 20 relative to the hinge portion 2.

  FIG. 4 shows the separated positions of the hinge portions 1 and 2 corresponding to the lift position of the front hood. In this position, the front hood is held by a frictional connection or by an interlocking connection.

  As is clear from FIG. 7, a ring 5 is provided on the end surface 9 that forms the opening edge of the cylinder in which the piston 3 is built. The ring 5 is a steel ring, and the outer peripheral portion thereof is located below the holding ring 10 provided in the holding groove 11. As is apparent from FIG. 8, the steel ring has a ring web 6 protruding radially inward. The distance between the edges of the web 6 is smaller than the diameter of the annular bead 7 arranged around the piston 3. The annular bead forms tooth ribs, and tooth spaces 8 are provided between the tooth ribs. The tooth ribs 7 may be formed as a number of single ribs or as threads. When the piston 3 is fed out from the cylinder 4, the radially inner portion of the ring 5 can be bent in the moving direction of the piston 3, as shown in FIG. At that time, the teeth 7 move beyond the edge of the web 6. The edge of the web can be engaged with the tooth gap 8 with a small play. The delivery of the piston 3 is performed so as to be frictionally locked. However, since the explosive power of the gunpowder is so great, this friction does not greatly delay the lifting of the front hood.

  In the raised position, the web 6 engages the tooth gap 8 and thereby meshes and holds the piston 3 in an interlocking manner.

  When the piston 3 is biased inwardly, the tooth ribs 7 are reduced in material thickness or material hardness so that they can be sheared by a web 6 made of hard material, in particular hardened steel. Is low. This is done, for example, when a pedestrian falls over the front hood. The front hood is lowered from the lifted position shown in FIG. 4 to the lowered position through the intermediate position shown in FIG. 5 at approximately the same or decreasing speed. In this case, the collision energy of the pedestrian is attenuated.

  FIG. 11 shows a state in which the individual tooth ribs 7 are at least partially sheared by the edges of the web 6 in the process of disengagement. In order to exert an optimum shearing action, the inner diameter of the annular edge 9 on which the ring 5 rests is not much larger than the outer diameter of the tooth ribs 7. The top of the tooth rib 7 is preferably in contact with the wall of the hole 27. This wall simultaneously forms a guide for the piston 3. Since the top of the tooth rib 7 is substantially sheared, the part of the piston 3 located inside the cylinder 4 has only the tooth barrel 7 'at the corresponding location.

  In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the teeth have a sawtooth shape. When the piston 3 is unwound from the cylinder 4, the inclined portion of the sawtooth operates the ring web 6 to the lifted position shown in FIG. On the other hand, the vertical side is supported by the web 6 during opposite loading. Since the axial load of the piston 3 causes at least partial shearing of the tooth rib 7, only the remaining root portion 7 'of the tooth rib remains.

  In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the tooth ribs 7 have rounded tops and are in close contact with each other. In this case as well, on return, the top of the tooth rib is sheared at least regionally, leaving a residual root portion 7 '.

  The embodiment shown in FIG. 14 has a wavy tooth shape. In this embodiment, the piston 3 is held in a substantially frictionally connected position in the raised position. The tooth engaging element 6 is an elastic ring that can slide on the wave section. Unlike the above embodiment, the interlocking connection is not released by the destruction of the material. Here, it is a releasable frictional connection that does not cause breakage.

  Since the explosive technical element is a disposable functional part, the releasable interlocking connection shown in FIGS.

  All of the disclosed features are important to the present invention. The entire disclosure of the related / attached priority document (a copy of the priority application) is included in the disclosure of the present application, so that the features of this document can be set forth in the claims of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Hinge part 1 'Fixing member 1 "Swing member 3 Piston 4 Cylinder 5, 6 Tooth engaging element 7, 8 External tooth 9 Edge 10 Holding ring 11 Holding groove 12 Hook 13 Holding shoulder 14 Buffer element 15 Buffer Placement surface 16 Slit 17 Holding surface 18 Axis 19 Operation shoulder 20 Hinge pin 21 Oscillating axis 22 Guide pin 23 Curved slit, opening 24 Dish-shaped bearing member 25 Bearing portion 26 Piston tip portion 27 Hole 28 Cap 29 Opening portion 30 Bending Part 32 Holding hole

Claims (17)

A hinge portion (1, 2) to be fixed to the vehicle body and the front hood is provided, and both the hinge portions (1, 2) are located at a first swing position corresponding to a closed position of the front hood and an open position of the front hood. A lifting position having a piston (3) and a cylinder (4) for occupying a corresponding second swing position and for separating the hinge parts (1, 2) from the first swing position to a spaced position from each other In a front hood hinge for an automobile comprising a mechanism, wherein the piston (3) of the lifting mechanism is held by a frictional or meshing connection releasable with respect to the cylinder (4) in the disengaged position,
The release of the frictional coupling part or the meshing coupling part absorbs the kinetic energy of the pedestrian received by the front hood by the braked return movement from the separation position to the first swing position;
The releasable frictional or meshing connection is formed by a tooth engaging element (5, 6) that engages the external teeth (7, 8) of the piston (3);
A web (6) is provided which is provided at the edge (9) of the cylinder (4) and forms a tooth engaging element which engages the annular hole and tooth groove (8) of the external teeth. )
The web (6) is hard and the teeth are soft, so that the teeth (7) are sheared by the web (6) during the return movement;
Front hood hinge characterized by. Front hood hinge according to claim 1, when moving to the distant position the web (6), characterized in that the ride over the teeth (7). The front hood hinge according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the teeth (7) are formed by threads or a number of circumferential ribs. The front hood hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the tooth (7) has a rounded top. The front hood hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the teeth (7) are serrated. Teeth (7) and tooth grooves (8) forms corrugations, elastic web to the corrugations (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the engaging Front hood hinge. One of the hinge portions (1) has a fixing member (1 ′) and a swinging member (1 ″), and these two members are relatively relative to each other when moving from the first swinging position to the separated swinging position. It moves, The front hood hinge as described in any one of Claims 1-6 characterized by the above-mentioned. The front hood hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the first fixing member (1 ') is pivotally attached to the swinging member (1 "). The piston (3) together with the cylinder (4) forms an explosive technical lifting unit, the explosive technical lifting unit moving relative to the swinging member (1 ") in the fixed member (1 ') The front hood hinge as described in any one of Claims 1-8 characterized by the above-mentioned. Front as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a normal operating position by a fixing member (1 ') the hook engaged with the swing member (1') (12) Hood hinge. The hook (12) can be moved from its engagement position to its disengagement position by the piston / cylinder unit (3, 4), and at this disengagement position, the fixing member (1 ′) and the swing member (1 ″) The front hood hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the front hood hinge is relatively movable. The front hood hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the fixing member (1 ') is pivotally attached to the swing member (1 ") via the swing shaft (21). . The front hood hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , characterized in that the swing member (1 ") is pivotally attached to the other hinge part (2) via a hinge pin (20). A buffer element (14) attached to the fixing member (1 ′) or the swinging member (1 ″) is provided, and this buffer element is used in order to urge the hook (12) in the engaged position. The urging member (1 ″) or the fixing member (1 ′) urged at the operating position is placed on the buffer element mounting surface (15), according to any one of claims 1 to 13. The described front hood hinge. An oscillating member (1 ″) having a holding surface formed by a fixing member (1 ′) or an oscillating member (1 ″), the holding surface being formed in a V shape or a Y shape at a normal operating position. ) or front hood hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that located in the receiving slit (16) of the fixed member (1 '). 16. A front hood hinge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rounded support part (25) of the cylinder member (4) is located in the dish-like support member (24). Any one of claims 1 to 16, the tapered piston tip portion (26) is characterized in that it engages the hook operating shoulder which is attached to (12) (19) hole in the holding (32) Front hood hinges as described in

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