WO2017020288A1

WO2017020288A1 - Shock absorbing stop for an engine hood of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2017020288A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/086203
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ziye WANG; Song Li; David BRUNET MANQUAT; Ronghua PENG; Kekai YANG; Guangxin Ye; Sengen CHEN
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa
Priority date: 2015-08-06
Filing date: 2015-08-06
Publication date: 2017-02-09
Also published as: EP3331751A4; AR105637A1; EP3331751A1

Abstract

A shock-absorbing stop (110) for an engine hood (106) of an automobile vehicle (102) comprises a support (108) intended to be fixed on the vehicle and with a hood contact portion (112) extending transversally to the urging force of the hood from the support so as to be cantilevered. The cantilevered hood contact portion (112) is able to move relative to the support when urged by the hood so as to absorb the urging energy of the hood. The shock-absorbing stop comprises a hood contact element (118) which is attached on the support and forms the cantilevered hood contact portion (112), the latter extending in a principal direction (K).

Description

SHOCK ABSORBING STOP FOR AN ENGINE HOOD OF A VEHICLE

Technical field

The invention is directed to automobile vehicles. In particular, the invention is directed to a shock absorbing stop for an engine hood of a vehicle.

Background art

Figure 1 is a view of an automobile vehicle 2 which is known. The vehicle comprises an engine compartment 4 at the front and an engine hood 6 to cover the engine compartment. The vehicle comprises two headlight supports 8 and 8’ mounted on the left side and the right side of the engine compartment, each of them forming a shock absorbing stop 10 or 10’ when urged by the engine hood. The shock absorbing stops can be urged by closure of the hood, or it can be urged when the hood is in the closed position by a shock on the hood for example by the head of a pedestrian. The urging force of the hood is a force oriented in a generally vertical direction as indicated by the arrows on the drawing. Each of the shock absorbing stops comprises a hood contact portion 12 and 12’ and the hood comprises

damping components

14 and 14’ which are able to contact these portions when the hood is urging the stops.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the automobile vehicle 2 which is known on the left side of the engine compartment 4. We can see the headlight support 8 forming the shock absorbing stop 10. The headlight support presented is in plastic and the shock absorbing stop is integrated in said headlight support. On a zoomed section of the enlarged view, we can precisely seethe hood contact portion 12 of the shock absorbing stop 10. The hood contact portion 12 extendsin a transverse direction to the urging force from the headlight support so as to be cantilevered. The hood contact portion remains however linkedto the support along two adjacent edges which extend in two transverse directions, in occurrence in the longitudinal direction and in the transversal direction of the vehicle. Thecantilevered hood contact portion 12 comprises also a weak portion 16 which is able to break of the support 10 when urged by the hood (not represented) in case of a shock, for example a shock of the head of a pedestrian, in order to absorb the urging energy of the hood. The teaching of thisknown vehicle is interesting in that the shock absorbing stop is of a simple concept and is integrated in equipment which is located adequately in the engine compartment. However, the shock absorbing stop is expensive in term of the headlight element development cost； it is also expensive as a spare part in case of breakage of the weak portion since the whole headlight support needs to be replaced. Furthermore, the hood contact portion is rigid, it can become brittle after years of service.

The patent document published EP 1 603 788 B1 discloses a shock absorbing stop intended to be mounted on an engine compartment of an automobile vehicle. The shock absorbing stop of the teaching comprises a support, a hood contact element mounted on the support anda damping component terminating the hood contact element and forming a contact surface able to receive the hood. The hood contact element comprises friction surfaces extending in a generally parallel direction to the urging force. These friction surfaces are able to slide against corresponding surfaces on the support when the shock absorbing stop is urged by the hood in case of a shock, for example a shock of the head of a pedestrian, so as to absorb the urging energy of said hood. The shock absorbing stop can comprise a breakable zone which can modulate the level of energy that the stop can absorb； in particularthe breakable zone is configured to break at a preset urging force, prior to the relative movement of the friction surfaces. The teaching of the disclosureis interesting in that it is a standalone part, it is however of a complex design.

Summary of invention

Technical Problem

The invention aims to provide a solutionof a shock absorbing stop that overcomes the deficiencies of the state of the art, in particular at least one of the deficiencies of the state of the art mentioned above. Especially, the invention aims to facilitate the design of a shock absorbing stop for an engine hood and to make it economic.

Technical solution

The invention is directed to a shock-absorbing stop for an engine hood of an automobile vehicle, comprising a support intended to be fixed on the vehicle and with a hood contact portion extending transversally to the urging force of the hood from said support so as to be cantilevered； the cantilevered hood contact portion is able to move relative to the support when urged by the hood so as to absorb the urging energy of said hood； wherein the shock-absorbing stop comprises a hood contact element which is attached on the support and forms the cantilevered hood contact portion, the latter extending in a principal direction.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cantilevered portion forms a flat surface extending in a perpendicular direction to the urging force.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cantilevered portion extends on more than 50％of the length of the hood contact element in the principal direction.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hood contact element is made of plastic or is made of metal.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hood contactelement is attached to the support by screwing means or riveting means.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cantilevered portion comprises apertures around a breakable zone, the hood is able to be in contact on said breakable zone when urging.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support forms a bracket with a mounting wall receiving a mounting portion ofthe hood contactelement opposite to the cantilevered portion in the principal direction.

According to a preferred embodiment, the border line between the cantilevered portion and the mounting portion on the hood contact element extends in a perpendicular direction to the principal direction.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hood contact element has a generally flat shape and the mounting portion is supported on a generally horizontal mounting wall when the stop is mounted on the vehicle.

According to another preferred embodiment, the hood contact element comprises a square shaped mounting portion which is linked to a generally vertical mounting wall when the stop is mounted on the vehicle.

According to another preferred embodiment, the square shaped mounting portion comprisesre-enforcement ribs.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mounting portion is attached to the mounting wall by at least one bolt and one nut.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mounting portion comprises two centering pins intended to cooperate with corresponding holes in the mounting wall.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cantilevered portion comprises a raised edge on its periphery.

According to a preferred embodiment, the free end of the cantilevered portion forms a curvature.

The invention is also directed to an automobile vehicle comprising: an engine compartment at the front forming a structure； an engine hood intended to cover the engine compartment； at least one shock-absorbing stop mounted on the structure； wherein the shock absorbing stop (s) is (are) conform to the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hood comprises one or multiple damping elements, the or each one of said damping elements being adapted to interface in between the hood and the or each one of the shock absorbing stops when the hood is urging said shock absorbing stop (s) .

According to a preferred embodiment, the vehicle comprises one shock absorbing stop on each side of the engine compartment with respect to the median axis of the vehicle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support or each of the supports of the shock absorbing stop (s) is in metal and is welded on the structure.

Advantages of the invention

The invention is particularly interesting in that the shock absorbing stop is of simple concept. Indeed the shock absorbing stop comprises a support and a hood contact element attached to the support and forming a cantilevered portion extending in a principal direction so that the cantilevered portion is made flexibleand can deform when urged by the hood which makes it robust. Furthermore the shock absorbing stop is economic to replace when broken.

Brief description of the drawings

-Figure 1 is a view of an automobile vehicle with a shock absorbing stop according to the state of the art；

-Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the shock absorbing unit stop of the automobile vehicle of the figure 1；

-Figure 3 is a view of an automobile vehicle with a shock absorbing stop in a first embodiment of the invention；

-Figure 4 is a perspective view of theshock absorbing stop of the automobile vehicle of Figure 3；

-Figure 5 is a section view of the shock absorbing stop of figure 4；

-Figure 6 is a perspective view of a shock absorbing stop in a second embodiment of the invention；

Description of an embodiment

Figure 1 and 2 are views of an automobile vehicle 2 and of a shock absorbing stop 10 which are known. These figures were presented in relation with the discussion of the state of the art.

Figures 3to 5 illustrate the shock-absorbing stopin a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 illustrate the shock-absorbing stop in a second embodiment of the invention. The reference numbers of Figures 1 and 2 are used in Figures 3 to 6 for identical or corresponding elements； these numbers are, however, increased by 100 for the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 5 and increased by 200 for the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 6. Specific reference numbers are used however for specific items, these numbers being between 100 and 200 for the first embodiment and between 200 and 300 for the second embodiment.

Figure 3 is a view of an automobile vehicle 102 with a shock absorbing stop 110 in a first embodiment of the invention. The automobile vehicle comprises an engine compartment 104 at the front forming a structure105, it also comprises an engine hood 106 intended to cover the engine compartment. As a note the engine hood on the drawing is represented at an open position which is not covering the engine compartment. The vehicle comprises one or few shock-absorbing stops 110 conform to the invention and which are mounted on the structure 105 of the vehicle. In occurrence the vehicle comprises one shock absorbing stop 110 on each side of the engine compartment with respect to the median axis “L” of the vehicle. The vehicle comprises also one damping component 114 mounted on the hood 106 in correspondence with each one of the shock absorbing stops 110. The damping componentsare adapted to interface in between the hood and the shock absorbing stops when the hood is urging the shock absorbing stops. This however does not limit the invention, the vehicle can comprise more than two shock absorbing stops. The shock absorbing stops 110 are intended to be urged by the hood during hood closure or during shock against the hood. Each shock-absorbing stop 110 comprises a support 108 fixed on the structure 105 of the vehicle. Theshock absorbing stop 110 also comprises a hood contact element 118 which is attached to the support and which forms a hood contact portion 112that extends in a principal direction “K” from the support 108 so as to be cantilevered. In the occurrence the principal direction “K“ is the transversal direction of the vehicle when the stop is mounted on the vehicle. The hood contact portion 112 also extends transversally to the urging force of the hood which is oriented in a generally vertical direction (see arrow) . The cantilevered hood contact portion 112 is able to move relative to the support 108 when urged by the hood so as to absorb the urging energy of said hood. In a particular embodiment, the cantilevered portion forms a flat surface which extends in a perpendicular direction to the urging force. This measure is interesting in that the cantilevered portion can deform by bending when urged by the hood. The hood contact element118 can be in plastic, it also can be in metal.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the shock absorbing stop 110 of the automobile vehicle conform to the invention and in the first embodiment. We can see from the left to the rightthe hood contact element 118 which is of a generally flat shape attached to the support 108 which is in the form of a square bracket. The hood contact element 118 is in occurrence a generallyflat plate made in plastic and thesquare bracket 108 isin metal.

The square bracket 108 comprises a mounting wall 126receiving the generally flat plate 118 and a fixing wall 132 to the vehicle extending in a perpendicular direction to the mounting wall. The mounting wall 126 and the fixing wall 132 are oriented in a generally horizontal direction and a generally vertical direction, respectively, when the stop is mounted on the vehicle. The square bracket 108 can comprise ribs for stiffening 138 between the mounting wall 126 and the fixing wall 132. We can see the portion 112 of the plate 118which is cantilevered from the support 108 as introduced in reference with Figure 3. The flat hood contact element 118 is in the form of a flat plastic plate, it comprises a mounting portion 120at the opposite of the cantilevered portion 112 in the principal direction “K” . The border line 121 on the hood contact element 118 between the cantilevered portion 112 and the mounting portion 120 extends in occurrence in a perpendicular direction to the principal direction “K” . The cantilevered portion of the hood contact element extends on more than 50％of the length “D” of the element in the principal direction “K“ . The mounting portion 120 of the hood contact element 118 is supported on the mounting wall 126 and also attached on the mounting wall 126 by one bolt 128 and one nut (not visible) . This embodiment does not however limit the invention, in another embodiment the hood contact 118 element can be attached with additional bolts or with other screwing means or other riveting means. In the occurrence, the mounting portion 120 of the hood contact element 118 comprises two pins 134 and 134’ which cooperates vertically with corresponding holes 136 and 136’ in the mounting wall 126 of the square bracket 108 for centering. This measure is interesting to guarantee the correct position of the hood contact element 118 on the engine compartment so that the cantilevered portion is urged on the correct position by the hood. We can see on the cantilevered portion 112 the apertures 124 around the breakable zone 116 as introduced in relation with figure 3. The hood (not represented) is intended to be in contact on the breakable zone of the hood contact element when urging the shock absorbing stop. The breakable zone 116 can break in order to absorb the energy of a shock. In occurrence the cantilevered portion 112 comprises also a raised edge 122 on its periphery and the free end of the cantilevered portion forms a curvature 123.

Figure 5 is a section view of the shock absorbing stop 110of the automobile vehicle conform to the invention and in thefirst embodiment illustrated in reference with figure 4. We can see on the left of the drawing the hood contact element in the form of a generally flat plate 118 with the cantilevered portion 112 and the mounting portion 120. We can also see the apertures 124 around the breakable zone 116 and the raised edge 122. The hood contact element is attached on the support 108: We can see the mounting portion 120 of the hood contact element 118attached to the support 108 with the bolt 128 and the nut 130. The support is in a form of a square bracket 108 with the mounting wall126 supporting the mounting portion 120 of the plate, and the fixing wall 132. The stop 110 is illustrated as it is fixed to the vehicle and the fixing wall 132 is fixed to the structure 105 (in dotted line) of the vehicle. In the occurrence, the square bracket 108 is in metal and is welded on the structure. This measure is interesting so that the support 108 can be precisely positioned during the manufacture of the structure of the vehicle. The hood contact element 118 is forming a flat surface 119 extending in a perpendicular direction to the urging force. We can see an arrow on the drawing illustrating the urging force from the hood on the hood contact portion 112. In case of a damage of the shock absorbing stop 110, for example the breakage of the breakable zone 116 of the element 118, or the breakage of the element 118 itself, then the bolt and nut need to be removed and a new plate can be mounted. This operation can be done quickly and is economic.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the shock absorbing stop210 of anautomobile vehicle conform to the invention and in a second embodiment.

We can see the hood contact element 218 of the shock-absorbing stop 210. The hood contact element 218 forms the cantilevered portion 212 extending in the principal direction “K” . The hood contact element 218 is made in plasticand forms a square shapedmounting portion 220 on the opposite side of the cantilevered portion 212 in the principal direction. The mounting portion is attached on the support 108 which is in the form of a flat plate made in metaloriented generally vertically and forming a generally vertical mounting wall 226. We can see that the cantilevered portion 212 forms a flat surface 219 extending in a perpendicular direction to the urging force (see arrow) and extending on more than 50％of the length “D” of the hood contact element 218 in the principal direction “K“ . We can see on the cantilevered portion 212 of the hood contact element the apertures 224 around the breakable zone 216. The mounting portion 220 comprises two

re-enforcement ribs

240 and 240’ (one is in dotted line) and is attached to the mounting wall 226 with a nut 228 and a bolt 230. We can also see two

pins

234 and 234’ on the mounting portion that are cooperating with corresponding holes 236 and 236’ in the mounting wall 226 of the support 208 for centering the shock absorbing stop.

Claims

Shock-absorbing stop (110； 210) for anengine hood (106) of an automobile vehicle (102) , comprisinga support (108； 208) intended to be fixed on the vehicleand with a hood contact portion (112； 212) extending transversally to the urging force of the hood from said support so as to be cantilevered；

thecantilevered hood contact portion (112； 212) is able to move relative to the support when urged by the hood so as to absorb the urging energy of said hood；

characterized in that the shock-absorbing stop (110； 210) comprises a hood contact element (118； 218) which is attached on the support (108； 208) and forms the cantilevered hood contact portion (112； 212) , the latter extendingin a principal direction (K) .
Shock-absorbing stop (110； 210) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cantilevered portion (112； 212) forms a flat surface (119； 219) extending in a perpendicular direction to the urging force.
Shock-absorbing stop (110； 210) according to either claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cantilevered portion (112； 212) extends on more than 50％ of the length (D) of the hood contact element (118； 218) in the principal direction (K) .
Shock-absorbing stop (110； 210) according to any one of claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the hood contact element (118； 218) is made of plastic or is made of metal.
Shock-absorbing stop (110； 210) according to any one of claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the hood contact element (118； 218) is attached to the support (108； 208) by screwing means or riveting means.
Shock-absorbing stop (110； 210) according to any one of claims1 to 5, characterized in that the cantilevered portion (112； 212) comprises apertures (124； 224) arounda breakable zone (116； 216) , the hood (106) is able to be in contact on said breakable zone when urging.
Shock-absorbing stop (110； 210) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support (108； 208) forms a bracket with amounting wall (126； 226) receivinga mounting portion (120； 220) of the hood contact element (118； 218) opposite to the cantilevered portion (112； 212) in the principal direction (K) .
Shock-absorbingstop (110) according to claim 7, characterized in that the hood contact element (118) has a generally flat shape and the mounting portion (120) is supported on a generally horizontalmounting wall (126) when the stop is mounted on the vehicle.
Shock-absorbing stop (210) according to claim 7, characterized in that the hood contact element (218) comprises a square shaped mounting portion (220) which is linked to a generally vertical mounting wall (226) when the stop is mounted on the vehicle.
Shock-absorbing stop (110； 210) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the mounting portion (120； 220) is attached to the mounting wall (126； 226) by at least one bolt (128； 228) and one nut (130； 130’) .
Shock-absorbing stop (110, 210) according to any one of claim 7 to 10, characterized in that the mounting portion (120； 220) comprises two centering pins (134, 134’； 234, 234’) intended to cooperate with corresponding holes (136, 136’； 236, 236’) in the mountingwall (126； 226) .
Automobile vehicle (102) comprising :

-anengine compartment (104) at the front forming a structure (105) ；

-an engine hood (106) intended to coverthe engine compartment；

-at least oneshock-absorbing stop (110) mounted on the structure；

characterized in that the shock absorbing stop (s) (110) is (are) according toany one of claims 1 to 11.
Automobile vehicle (102) according to claim 12, characterized in that the hood (106) comprises one or multiple damping elements (114) , the or each one of said damping elementsbeing adapted to interface in between the hood (106) and the or each one of the shock absorbing stops (110) when the hood is urging said shock absorbing stop (s) .
Automobile vehicle (102) according to either claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it comprises oneshock absorbing stop (110) on each side of the engine compartment with respect to the median axis (L) of the vehicle.
Automobile vehicle (102) according to any one of claim 12 to 14, characterized in that the support or each of the supports (108) of the shock absorbing stop (s) (110) isin metal and iswelded on the structure (105) .