JPH111181A - Automobile hood height adjusting member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automobile hood height adjusting member allowing a hood opening/closing detecting sensor to be fitted easily without providing special space in an engine room and dispensing with preparation of different kinds of brackets for every type of automobile. SOLUTION: A hood height adjusting member 1 is provided with a rubber bush 2 forming a body of the hood height adjusting member 1, and a hood opening/closing detecting sensor 3. A fitting part 2a is provided at the lower end of the rubber bush 2. An external thread part 2b is formed at the periphery of the fitting part 2a. The hood opening/closing detecting sensor 3 is provided with a conductive bar 7, a conductive plate 8, and a steel ball 10 energized by a spring 9. In the closed state of a hood, the steel ball 10 moves being pressed by the hood, and the conductive bar 7 and conductive plate 8 are put in a current uncarrying state. When the hood is opened, the steel ball 10 is moved to the hood side by the action of the spring 9, and the conductive bar 7 and conductive plate 8 are put in a current carrying state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hood height adjusting member provided with a sensor for detecting the opening and closing of a hood of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some types of automobiles can start an engine by remote control from outside the automobile. In this type of vehicle, the opening and closing state of the hood of the vehicle is detected for safety measures during maintenance and inspection, and when the hood is open, the engine is not started.

A hood open / close detection sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the hood includes a push-button switch. When the hood is closed, the switch is pressed and a signal indicating a fully closed state of the hood is output. Then, an output signal is input to the control device via a signal line connected to the sensor.

The hood opening / closing detection sensor is attached to a hood opening / closing latch mechanism at the front end of an engine room via a bracket, and the bracket is attached using a bolt for attaching the hood opening / closing latch mechanism to a vehicle body frame.

On the other hand, a rubber bush that locks the hood and holds the hood at a predetermined position when the hood is fully closed is provided in front of the front end of the engine compartment.

[0006]

However, the hood surface at the position corresponding to the hood opening / closing latch mechanism is often not flat, and in order to operate the sensor reliably, the angle attached to the hood opening / closing latch mechanism must be considered. There was a problem that had to be.

Further, in order to attach the sensor to the hood opening / closing latch mechanism, it is necessary to secure a space for housing the sensor near the hood opening / closing latch mechanism. further,
The position of the bolt for mounting the hood opening / closing latch mechanism often differs depending on the vehicle model of the automobile. In order to mount the hood opening / closing detection sensor on the hood opening / closing latch mechanism, it is necessary to prepare different types of brackets for each vehicle type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hood opening / closing detection sensor which can be easily mounted without providing a special space in an engine room. An object of the present invention is to provide a hood height adjusting member of an automobile, in which it is not necessary to prepare different types of brackets for each type of a latch mechanism.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the hood of the vehicle is attached to the engine room at a position facing the open side of the hood in a closed state, A hood height adjustment member that locks the hood to adjust the height of the hood when the hood is closed, detects opening and closing of the hood, and outputs an ON signal when the hood is closed. A sensor for outputting one of the off signals was provided.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the adjusting member includes a mounting portion mounted on the engine room so as to be adjustable in height. Claim 3
The sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor is a conductive moving body biased to the hood side by a biasing means, and two conductive portions that can be energized through the moving body. When the hood is closed, the moving body is pressed and moved by the hood, and the two conductive portions are in a state of being unable to conduct electricity, and when the hood is opened, the moving body is moved by the urging means. Moves to the side of the hood, and the two conductive portions are turned on.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the sensor includes a conductive moving member made of a flexible member and a conductive portion, and the sensor is provided when the hood is closed. The moving body is pressed by the hood and deforms and comes into contact with the conductive portion, so that both are in an energized state. When the hood is opened, the moving body is in a free state, and the two are separated and energized. It becomes impossible state.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
When the hood is in the closed state, the hood is locked by the hood height adjusting member, and the height of the hood is adjusted. Then, one of an ON signal and an OFF signal is output from the sensor.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the operation of the invention, the adjusting member is mounted at a predetermined position in the engine room so as to be adjusted to a height suitable for each vehicle type.

According to the invention described in claim 3, according to claim 1 of the present invention,
Alternatively, in addition to the operation of the second aspect, when the hood is closed, the moving body is pressed by the hood and moves, and the two conductive portions are in a state where current cannot be supplied. Then, an off signal is output from the sensor. When the hood is opened, the moving body moves toward the hood by the action of the urging means, and the two conductive portions are turned on. Then, an ON signal is output from the sensor.

According to the invention described in claim 4, according to claim 1 of the present invention,
In addition to the operation of the second aspect, when the hood is closed, the moving body is pressed by the hood and deforms to come into contact with the conductive portion, so that the moving body and the conductive portion are in a conductive state. Then, an ON signal is output from the sensor. When the hood is opened, the moving body returns to the free state, and the moving body and the conductive portion are separated from each other to be in a power-disabled state. Then, an off signal is output from the sensor.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hood height adjusting member 1
Includes a rubber bush 2, which is a flexible member forming the main body of the hood height adjusting member 1, and a hood open / close detection sensor 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hood height adjusting member 1
Is attached to one end of the engine room 5 at a position facing the open side of the hood 4 when the hood 4 of the automobile is closed. That is, when the hood 4 shown in FIG. 1 is rotated around the rear side of the engine room 5, the hood 4 is attached to one of the front sides of the engine room 5. Further, a hood height adjusting member 1a having no hood open / close detection sensor 3 is attached to the other side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rubber bush 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. A lead wire 6 is formed integrally with the rubber bush 2 so as to penetrate the rubber bush 2. The lower end of the rubber bush 2 has a mounting portion 2.
a is provided. A male screw portion 2b is formed on the outer periphery of the mounting portion 2a.

The hood opening / closing detection sensor 3 includes a conductive rod 7 and a conductive plate 8 as a conductive part, and a steel ball 10 as a conductive moving body urged by a spring 9 as an urging means. .

The conductive rod 7 is fixed in a state of being inserted into the hole 2c of the rubber bush 2. The outer diameter of the conductive rod 7 matches the hole 2c. At the upper end of the conductive rod 7, a protrusion 7a is provided. A spring 9 is fixed to the projection 7a. At the lower end of the conductive rod 7, a screw hole 7b is provided. The conductive rod 7 has a screw 11 screwed into the screw hole 7b.
Lead wire 12 is fixed.

The conductive plate 8 is fixed so as to be disposed on the upper end of the rubber bush 2. The conductive plate 8 is formed in a disk shape, and a hole 8a is formed substantially at the center thereof. Hole 8a
Is formed smaller than the hole 2c. The hole 8 a is formed to have a size such that a part of the steel ball 10 protrudes from the upper surface of the conductive plate 8. The lead wire 6 protruding from the upper surface of the rubber bush 2 is electrically connected to the conductive plate 8.

In the upper part of the rubber bush 2, a housing portion 13 having a diameter larger than that of the hole 2c is formed. A cylindrical guide 14 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 13. Guide 14
Is formed of an insulating material. In the present embodiment,
The steel ball 10 is formed of an insulating plastic so as to be easily slid. A steel ball 10 is slidably disposed along the guide 14. The steel ball 10 is urged toward the conductive plate 8 by a spring 9 fixed to the protruding portion 7a, and a portion of the steel ball 10 projects from the hole 8a of the conductive plate 8 in a state where no force other than the spring 9 is applied. 2 is maintained.

A cap-shaped waterproof shield rubber 15 is provided above the rubber bush 2 so as to cover the conductive plate 8. The hood height adjusting member 1 a without the hood open / close detection sensor 3 is formed of a rubber bush having the same diameter as the rubber bush 2.

Next, the operation of the hood height adjusting member 1 will be described. The hood height adjusting member 1 includes a mounting member 5 a provided on a front side of the engine room 5.
It is attached by screwing it into the screw hole 5b formed in. At this time, the height of the upper surface of the hood height adjusting member 1 is changed by adjusting the screwing amount.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the hood 4 is open, the urging force of the spring 9
The steel ball 10 is kept in contact with the conductive plate 8. As a result, the lead 6 is electrically connected to the conductive plate 8, the steel ball 10, the spring 9, the conductive rod 7, the screw 11, and the lead 12 to be in an energized state.
That is, when the hood 4 is open, an ON signal is output from the hood open / close detection sensor 3.

When the hood 4 is closed, the hood 4 approaches the hood height adjusting member 1. When the hood 4 is completely closed and becomes a closed state, as shown in FIG.
The hood 4 presses the steel ball 10 via the waterproof shield rubber 15. Then, steel ball 10
Is moved toward the conductive rod 7 against the force of the spring 9. As a result, the conductive plate 8 and the steel ball 10 are separated from each other, and a current cannot be supplied. That is, in a closed state in which the hood 4 is completely closed, an off signal is output from the hood open / close detection sensor 3.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects are obtained. (A) The surface of the hood 4 corresponding to the hood height adjusting member 1 is flatter than the surface of the hood 4 corresponding to the conventional hood opening / closing latch mechanism. There is no need to install. Therefore, the mounting of the hood height adjusting member 1 is easier than the conventional hood opening / closing detection sensor.

(B) Since the hood opening / closing detection sensor 3 is provided in the rubber bush 2, the hood opening / closing detection sensor 3
There is no need to secure a new dedicated space for mounting the.

(C) The hood height adjusting member 1 is attached to the mounting portion 2a.
By simply adjusting the mounting height of the hood, the hood height adjusting member 1 can be easily mounted at a height corresponding to each vehicle model. Therefore, a versatile hood height adjusting member 1 can be provided.

(D) Since the hood opening / closing detection sensor 3 is directly attached to the rubber bush 2, it is not necessary to prepare a bracket used for mounting the hood opening / closing detection sensor as in the related art.

(E) Conventionally, in the case of a vehicle type provided with a rubber bush 1a as a hood height adjusting member,
By changing the existing rubber bush to the hood height adjusting member 1 of the present invention, opening and closing of the hood 4 can be detected. (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hood height adjusting member 1 of this embodiment includes a rubber bush 16 which is a main body of the hood height adjusting member 1, a conductive rod 17 as a conductive portion,
And a conductive rubber bush 18 as a conductive moving body.

The rubber bush 16 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. A lead wire 19 is formed integrally with the rubber bush 16 so as to penetrate the rubber bush 16.
At the lower end of the rubber bush 16, there is provided a mounting portion 16a having a male screw portion 16b formed thereon. A small diameter portion 16c is formed on the upper portion of the rubber bush 16.

The conductive rod 17 is provided in the hole 16 of the rubber bush 16.
It is fixed in a state of being inserted into d. This conductive rod 17
Has the same outer diameter as the hole 16d. At the lower end of the conductive rod 17,
A lead wire 20 is attached.

The conductive rubber bush 18 is formed in a substantially columnar shape, and has a recess 18a at the center. The concave portion 18a is formed to have the same diameter as the small diameter portion 16c of the rubber bush 16, and is fixed to the rubber bush 16 in a state where the concave portion 18a is fitted to the small diameter portion 16c. A projection 18b is formed on the bottom surface of the recess 18a. In the free state, the conductive rubber bush 18 is maintained in the state shown in FIG. 4 in which the protrusion 18b and the conductive rod 17 are separated. Also, a lead wire 19 protruding from the upper surface of the rubber bush 16 is provided.
Are electrically connected to the conductive rubber bush 18.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), when the hood 4 is open, the conductive rubber bush 18 and the conductive rod 17 are kept separated from each other, so that the power cannot be supplied. Become. That is, when the hood 4 is open, an off signal is output from the hood open / close detection sensor 3.

When the hood 4 is closed, the hood 4 approaches the conductive rubber bush 18. Then, when the hood 4 is completely closed and becomes a closed state, the hood 4 presses the conductive rubber bush 18 as shown in FIG.
Then, the conductive rubber bush 18 is deformed and the conductive rod 1 is deformed.
Contact 7 As a result, the conductive wires from the lead wire 19 to the conductive rubber bush 18, the conductive bar 17, and the lead wire 20 are electrically connected to each other, so that a current flows. That is, in the closed state where the hood 4 is closed, an ON signal is output from the hood open / close detection sensor 3.

According to this embodiment, the following effects are obtained in addition to the effects of the first embodiment. (A) By using the conductive rubber bush 18, the conductive plate 8, the spring 9, the steel ball 10, and the waterproof rubber 15 of the first embodiment become unnecessary, and the structure of the hood height adjusting member 1 is reduced. Can be easy. Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 6, the hood height adjusting member 1 of this embodiment comprises a rubber bush 21, a rubber bush 22 as an urging means, and a conductor 23 as a moving body.
And a contact piece 24 as a conductive part.

The rubber bush 21 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. At the lower end of the rubber bush 21, an attachment portion 21a is provided. On the outer periphery of the substantially cylindrical shape of the mounting portion 21a,
A male screw portion 21b is formed. A lead wire 25 is formed integrally with the rubber bush 21 so as to penetrate the rubber bush 21.

The contact piece 24 is formed in a substantially U-shape.
It is fixed to the upper part of the rubber bush 21 by a screw 26. The contact piece 24 has a protrusion 24a. The contact piece 24 is maintained in the state shown in FIG. 6 in which the protrusion 24 a contacts the upper side surface of the conductor 23 when no force is applied to the rubber bush 22.
The end of the lead wire 25 is electrically connected to the screw 26.

The rubber bush 22 is formed in a substantially columnar shape, and has a recess 22a at the center. Recess 22
a is formed to have the same diameter as the rubber bush 21 and
Are fixed to the rubber bush 21 in a fitted state. A protrusion 22b is formed on the bottom surface of the recess 22a. A conductor 23 is fixed to the tip of the protrusion 22b. The rubber bush 22 is formed integrally with a lead wire 27 as a conductive portion so as to penetrate the rubber bush 22. The lead wire 27 projecting from the lower surface of the projection 22b is electrically connected to the conductor 23. The conductor 23 is arranged at a position where it does not contact the screw 26 when a force is applied to the rubber bush 22.

In this embodiment, when the hood 4 is open, as shown in FIG.
Are held in contact with the conductor 23. As a result, the conductor 23, the contact piece 24, the screw 2
6, up to the lead wire 25 are electrically connected to be in an energized state. That is, when the hood 4 is open, an ON signal is output from the hood open / close detection sensor 3.

When the hood 4 is closed, the hood 4 approaches the rubber bush 22. Then, when the hood 4 is completely closed and becomes a closed state, the hood 4 presses the rubber bush 22 as shown in FIG. Then, the rubber bush 22 is deformed, and the conductor 23 is
Moved to the side. As a result, the conductor 23 and the contact piece 24 are separated from each other, and a current cannot be supplied. That is, in a closed state in which the hood 4 is completely closed, an off signal is output from the hood open / close detection sensor 3.

According to this embodiment, the following effects are obtained in addition to the effects of the first embodiment. (A) By using the conductor 23 and the contact piece 24,
The conductive plate 8, the spring 9, the steel ball 10, and the waterproof shield rubber 15 of the first embodiment become unnecessary, and the structure of the hood height adjusting member 1 can be simplified.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and may be, for example, the following case. The material of the main body of the hood height adjusting member may be an insulator, for example, plastic. In addition, it is preferable that it is an elastic body like a rubber bush. In this case, the impact at the time of closing the hood 4 can be absorbed, and the hood height adjusting member 1 is less likely to be damaged. ○ The mounting parts 2a, 16a and 21a are in the engine room 5
Any structure can be used as long as it can be attached to a predetermined position in the inside, and it is not necessary to provide a structure capable of adjusting the height such as the male screw portions 2b, 16b, and 21b. In this case, it is necessary to select the rubber bushes 2, 16, 21 corresponding to the vehicle type. It is preferable that the mounting portions 2a, 16a, and 21a are provided with means for mounting the height of the upper surface of the hood height adjusting member 1 so as to be adjustable. For example, the mounting portions 2a, 16a, and 2a are provided.
A plurality of grooves may be provided over the entire outer periphery of 1a, and may be fitted in holes formed with fitting portions corresponding to the grooves in the mounting member 5a in the engine room 5. In the first embodiment, if the steel ball 10 can slide smoothly, the guide 14 may not be provided. In this case, the number of parts is reduced and the hood height adjusting member 1 is reduced.
Can be easily manufactured. ○ The shape of the rubber bushes 2, 16, 21 does not matter. The rubber bushes 2 and 16 are preferably hollow bodies capable of accommodating the conductive rods 7 and 17. For example, the rubber bush 2 is formed in a substantially columnar shape, and the lead wires 12 are integrally formed so as to penetrate the rubber bush 2. The lead wire 12 protruding from the upper surface of the rubber bush 2 may be electrically connected to the lower end of the spring 9. The hood open / close detection sensor 3 may be any sensor that can detect the closed state of the hood, and may be a non-contact type sensor such as a magnetic sensor. In the case where the hood 4 is rotated around the front side of the engine room 5, if the hood height adjusting member 1 and the hood height adjusting member 1 a are attached to both sides on the rear side of the engine room 5. Thus, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

Hereinafter, technical ideas other than the claims which can be understood from the above embodiment will be described together with the effects. (1) In the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A hood height adjustment member in which at least the outside of the hood height adjustment member is rubber. In this case, the impact at the time of closing the hood can be absorbed, and the hood height adjustment member is less likely to be damaged.

(2) In the invention according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, a hood height adjustment in which a screw that is screwed into a screw hole formed in a mounting member in an engine room is formed in the mounting portion. Element. In this case, it becomes easier to attach the hood height adjusting member at a predetermined height in the engine room.

[0050]

As described above in detail, according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the mounting of the hood height adjusting member having the hood opening / closing detection sensor becomes easy. Further, it is not necessary to provide a special space in the engine room, and it is not necessary to prepare a bracket used for mounting the hood open / close detection sensor.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, only by adjusting the mounting position of the hood height adjusting member at the mounting portion,
The hood height adjustment member can be easily attached to the position corresponding to each vehicle model. Therefore, a versatile hood height adjusting member can be provided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the number of parts of the hood height adjusting member is small, and the structure can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the vicinity of an engine room of an automobile according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the hood height adjusting member.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the operation of the hood height adjusting member.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a hood height adjusting member according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the operation of the hood height adjusting member.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a hood height adjusting member according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part showing the operation of the hood height adjusting member.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hood height adjustment member, 2a, 16a, 21a ... Mounting part, 3 ... Hood open / close detection sensor, 4 ... Hood, 5 ... Engine room, 7 ... Conductive bar as conductive part, 8 ... Conductive plate as conductive part , 9 ... spring as urging means, 10
... Steel ball as moving body, 17 ... Conducting rod as conductive part, 18 ... Conductive rubber bush as moving body,
Reference numeral 22 denotes a rubber bush as an urging means; 23, a conductor as a moving body; 24, a contact piece as a conductive part; 27, a lead wire as a conductive part.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A hood of an automobile is attached to an engine room at a position facing an open side of the hood when the hood is closed, and the hood is locked when the hood is closed to adjust the height of the hood. A hood height adjusting member, comprising: a sensor that detects opening and closing of the hood and outputs one of an on signal and an off signal when the hood is in a closed state. . 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment member includes a mounting portion mounted on the engine room so as to be adjustable in height.
A hood height adjusting member according to item 1. 3. The sensor includes a conductive movable body biased toward the hood by biasing means, and two conductive portions that can be energized via the movable body, and wherein the sensor is in a closed state. The moving body is pressed by the hood and moves, and the two conductive portions are in a state where power cannot be supplied. When the hood is opened, the moving body moves to the hood side by the action of the urging means. The hood height adjusting member according to claim 1, wherein the two conductive portions are energized. 4. The sensor includes a conductive movable body made of a flexible member and a conductive part, and when the hood is closed, the movable body is pressed by the hood and deforms to form the conductive part. The hood height adjustment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the hood is opened, the movable body is in a free state when the hood is opened, and when the hood is opened, the two move away from each other and become unpowered. Element.