U.S. patent application number 14/097061 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-05 for hood apparatus for vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hyundai Motor Company. The applicant listed for this patent is Hyundai Motor Company. Invention is credited to Seung Jun YANG.
Application Number | 20150060180 14/097061 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52581591 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150060180 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YANG; Seung Jun |
March 5, 2015 |
HOOD APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE
Abstract
DA hood apparatus for a vehicle includes a hinge arm having on a
lower end thereof a first hinge shaft is coupled. An articulated
link is coupled at a first end thereof to the hinge arm via the
first hinge shaft and coupled at a second end thereof to a vehicle
body via a second hinge shaft, and includes a plurality of joints
formed by hingedly coupling a plurality of link aims, thus allowing
the link arms to be operated by respective hinge shafts. An
actuator is coupled at a first end thereof to the second hinge
shaft and coupled at a second end thereof to an associated link arm
of the articulated link, so that, in the event of a forward
collision of the vehicle, the actuator is triggered to allow the
hood to pop up.
Inventors: |
YANG; Seung Jun;
(Hwaseong-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hyundai Motor Company |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Hyundai Motor Company
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
52581591 |
Appl. No.: |
14/097061 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
180/274 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
180/274 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/38 20060101
B60R021/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 4, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0106332 |
Claims
1. A hood apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a vehicle hood
including a hinge arm with a first hinge shaft on a lower end
thereof; an articulated link coupled at a first end thereof to the
hinge arm via the first hinge shaft, and coupled at a second end
thereof to a vehicle body via a second hinge shaft, and including a
plurality of joints formed by hingedly coupling a plurality of link
arms, thus allowing the link arms to be operated by respective
hinge shafts; and an actuator coupled at a first end thereof to the
second hinge shaft and coupled at a second end thereof to an
associated link arm of the articulated link, so that, in the event
of a forward collision of the vehicle, the actuator is triggered to
allow the hood to pop up, wherein, in the event of the collision,
the hood pops up to an upper position of the vehicle by the
actuator while simultaneously moving to a rear position of the
vehicle.
2. (canceled)
3. The hood apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
articulated link comprises a plate-shaped main link arm, and a
first subsidiary link arm, a second subsidiary link arm and a third
subsidiary link arm which each have a shape of a plate and have a
length shorter than that of the main link arm.
4. The hood apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein a first end
of the main link arm is hingedly coupled to the hinge arm by the
first hinge shaft, and a second end of the main link arm is
hingedly coupled to a first end of the first subsidiary link
arm.
5. The hood apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein a first end
of the second subsidiary link arm is hingedly coupled between a
point where the main link arm is hingedly coupled to the first end
of the first subsidiary link arm, and the first hinge shaft, in
such a way as to be spaced apart therefrom at a predetermined
interval.
6. The hood apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein a first end
of the third subsidiary link arm is hingedly coupled to a second
end of the first subsidiary link arm about the second hinge shaft,
and a second end of the third subsidiary link arm is hingedly
coupled to a second end of the second subsidiary link arm.
7. The hood apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein a first end
of the main link arm is hingedly coupled to the hinge arm by the
first hinge shaft, a second end of the main link arm is hingedly
coupled to a first end of the first subsidiary link arm, a first
end of the second subsidiary link arm is hingedly coupled between
the first subsidiary link arm coupled to the main link arm and the
first hinge shaft in such a way as to be spaced apart therefrom by
a predetermined interval, a first end of the third subsidiary link
arm is hingedly coupled to a second end of the first subsidiary
link arm, and a second end of the third subsidiary link arm is
hingedly coupled to a second end of the second subsidiary link arm,
thus allowing each of the link arms to be operated relative to an
associated hinged coupling portion.
8. The hood apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first
end of the actuator is coupled to the second hinge shaft together
with a second end of the first subsidiary link arm and a first end
of the third subsidiary link arm, and the second end of the
actuator is coupled between a first end of the second subsidiary
link arm and the first hinge shaft in such a way as to be spaced
apart therefrom by a predetermined interval.
9. The hood apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein an elastic
member is provided on the second end of the actuator in such a way
that a first end of the elastic member is coupled to a hinged
coupling portion on the second end of the actuator and a second end
of the elastic member is coupled to a second end of the second
subsidiary link arm, the elastic member being broken when the hood
pops up.
10. The hood apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
actuator is an explosive type actuator.
11. A hood apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a vehicle hood
including a hinge arm with a first hinge shaft on a lower end
thereof; an articulated link coupled at a first end thereof to the
hinge arm via the first hinge shaft, and coupled at a second end
thereof to a vehicle body via a second hinge shaft, and including a
plurality of joints formed by hingedly coupling a plurality of link
arms, thus allowing the link arms to be operated by respective
hinge shafts; and an actuator coupled at a first end thereof to the
second hinge shaft and coupled at a second end thereof to an
associated link arm of the articulated link, so that, in the event
of a forward collision of the vehicle, the actuator is triggered to
allow the hood to pop up, wherein the articulated link comprises a
plate-shaped main link arm, and a first subsidiary link arm, a
second subsidiary link arm and a third subsidiary link arm which
each have a shape of a plate and have a length shorter than that of
the main link arm, and wherein a first end of the third subsidiary
link arm is hingedly coupled to a second end of the first
subsidiary link arm about the second hinge shaft, and a second end
of the third subsidiary link arm is hingedly coupled to a second
end of the second subsidiary link arm.
12. A hood apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a vehicle hood
including a hinge arm with a first hinge shaft on a lower end
thereof; an articulated link coupled at a first end thereof to the
hinge arm via the first hinge shaft, and coupled at a second end
thereof to a vehicle body via a second hinge shaft, and including a
plurality of joints formed by hingedly coupling a plurality of link
arms, thus allowing the link arms to be operated by respective
hinge shafts; and an actuator coupled at a first end thereof to the
second hinge shaft and coupled at a second end thereof to an
associated link arm of the articulated link, so that, in the event
of a forward collision of the vehicle, the actuator is triggered to
allow the hood to pop up, wherein the articulated link comprises a
plate-shaped main link arm, and a first subsidiary link arm, a
second subsidiary link arm and a third subsidiary link arm which
each have a shape of a plate and have a length shorter than that of
the main link arm, and wherein an elastic member is provided on the
second end of the actuator in such a way that a first end of the
elastic member is coupled to a hinged coupling portion on the
second end of the actuator and a second end of the elastic member
is coupled to a second end of the second subsidiary link arm, the
elastic member being broken when the hood pops up.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority of Korean Patent
Application Number 10-2013-0106332 filed Sep. 4, 2013, the entire
contents of which application is incorporated herein for all
purposes by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a hood apparatus for a
vehicle which is capable of reducing injury to a pedestrian in the
event of a forward collision with the pedestrian, which may occur
when a vehicle is being driven.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] While a vehicle is being driven, a collision between the
vehicle and a pedestrian situated in front of the vehicle may
unintentionally occur. In this case, the pedestrian's head collides
with rigid body parts mounted to the front of the vehicle, namely,
the wiper pivot, the lower portion of the windshield glass, the
sealer matching part of the cowl panel, etc., so that the
pedestrian may be seriously injured.
[0006] Hence, conventionally, a method of popping up a vehicle hood
and deploying an airbag installed in a radiator grill was used to
protect a pedestrian from serious injury when a collision between
the vehicle and a pedestrian occurs. However, the conventional
method is problematic in that the structure is complicated and
manufacturing cost is increased.
[0007] Japanese Laid-Open Patent JP 2006-290287A, which is entitled
"Hood Apparatus for Vehicle", has proposed an apparatus for popping
up a vehicle hood. This is low in manufacturing cost, but has a
problem in that a pedestrian is not sufficiently protected.
[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a hood apparatus for a
vehicle, which can sufficiently protect a pedestrian from serious
injury when a collision may occur between the vehicle and the
pedestrian, and which has a simple structure, thus reducing
manufacturing cost.
[0009] The information disclosed in this Background section is only
for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the
invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form
of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already
known to a person skilled in the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the
present invention is intended to propose a hood apparatus for a
vehicle, which can sufficiently protect a pedestrian from a serious
injury when a collision may occur between the vehicle and a
pedestrian, and which has a simple structure, thus reducing
manufacturing cost.
[0011] In order to achieve the above object, according to one
aspect Various aspects of the present invention provide for a hood
apparatus for a vehicle, including a vehicle hood with which a
hinge arm having on a lower end thereof a first hinge shaft is
coupled; an articulated link coupled at a first end thereof to the
hinge arm via the first hinge shaft, and coupled at a second end
thereof to a vehicle body via a second hinge shaft, and comprising
a plurality of joints formed by hingedly coupling a plurality of
link arms, thus allowing the link arms to be operated by respective
hinge shafts; and an actuator coupled at a first end thereof to the
second hinge shaft and coupled at a second end thereof to an
associated link arm of the articulated link, so that, in the event
of a forward collision of the vehicle, the actuator is triggered to
allow the hood to pop up.
[0012] In the event of the collision, the hood may pop up to an
upper position of the vehicle by the actuator while simultaneously
moving to a rear position of the vehicle.
[0013] The articulated link may include a plate-shaped main link
arm, and a first subsidiary link arm, a second subsidiary link arm
and a third subsidiary link arm which each have a shape of a plate
and have a length shorter than that of the main link arm.
[0014] A first end of the main link aim may be hingedly coupled to
the hinge arm by the first hinge shaft, and a second end of the
main link arm may be hingedly coupled to a first end of the first
subsidiary link arm.
[0015] A first end of the second subsidiary link arm may be
hingedly coupled between a point where the main link arm is
hingedly coupled to the first end of the first subsidiary link arm,
and the first hinge shaft, in such a way as to be spaced apart
therefrom by a predetermined interval.
[0016] A first end of the third subsidiary link arm may be hingedly
coupled to a second end of the first subsidiary link arm about the
second hinge shaft, and a second end of the third subsidiary link
arm may be hingedly coupled to a second end of the second
subsidiary link arm.
[0017] Further, the first end of the main link arm may be hingedly
coupled to the hinge arm by the first hinge shaft, the second end
of the main link arm may be hingedly coupled to the first end of
the first subsidiary link arm, the first end of the second
subsidiary link arm may be hingedly coupled between the first
subsidiary link arm coupled to the main link arm and the first
hinge shaft in such a way as to be spaced apart therefrom by a
predetermined interval, the first end of the third subsidiary link
arm may be hingedly coupled to the second end of the first
subsidiary link arm, and the second end of the third subsidiary
link arm may be hingedly coupled to the second end of the second
subsidiary link arm, thus allowing each of the link arms to be
operated relative to an associated hinged coupling portion.
[0018] The first end of the actuator may be coupled to the second
hinge shaft together with the second end of the first subsidiary
link arm and the first end of the third subsidiary link arm, and
the second end of the actuator may be coupled between the first end
of the second subsidiary link arm and the first hinge shaft in such
a way as to be spaced apart therefrom by a predetermined
interval.
[0019] An elastic member may be provided on the second end of the
actuator in such a way that a first end of the elastic member is
coupled to a hinged coupling portion on the second end of the
actuator and a second end of the elastic member is coupled to the
second end of the second subsidiary link arm, the elastic member
being broken when the hood pops up.
[0020] The actuator may be an explosive type actuator.
[0021] As is apparent from the above description, the hood
apparatus for the vehicle is advantageous in that it can eliminate
the conventional airbag for protecting a pedestrian, thus reducing
manufacturing cost, and the hood moves rearwards at the same time
as it pops up to an upper position of the vehicle, thus more
reliably ensuring the safety of the pedestrian in the event of the
vehicle collision. Further, the hood apparatus is advantageous in
that the latch structure using the elastic member can be applied,
thus preventing noise from being generated due to vibrations while
the vehicle is being driven, in addition to preventing the hood
from being unexpectedly opened.
[0022] The present methods and apparatuses have other features and
advantages apparent from the accompanying drawings, incorporated
herein, and below Detailed Description, which together serve to
explain certain principles of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a view showing a striker mounted to a hood of a
vehicle;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a view showing an exemplary state before a hood
apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention pops
up;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a view showing a state after the hood apparatus
pops up from the state of FIG. 2;
[0026] FIGS. 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c) are views showing a deployment
operation of FIG. 2 in stages; and
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a length relationship between an actuator and
an articulated link of the hood apparatus for the vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments
of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described below. While the
invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not
intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments.
On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only
the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives,
modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be
included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
the appended claims.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a view showing a striker mounted to a hood of a
vehicle, FIG. 2 is a view showing a state before a hood apparatus
for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present
invention pops up, FIG. 3 is a view showing a state after the hood
apparatus pops up from the state of FIG. 2, FIGS. 4(a), 4(b), and
4(c) are views showing a deployment operation of FIG. 2 in stages,
and FIG. 5 shows a length relationship between an actuator 500 and
an articulated link 300 of the hood apparatus for the vehicle.
[0030] The hood apparatus for the vehicle according to various
embodiments of the present invention includes a vehicle hood 100
with which a hinge arm 110 having on a lower end thereof a first
hinge shaft 130 is coupled. An articulated link 300 is coupled at a
first end thereof to the hinge arm 110 via the first hinge shaft
130, is coupled at a second end thereof to a vehicle body via a
second hinge shaft 310, and includes a plurality of joints formed
by hingedly coupling a plurality of link arms, thus allowing the
link arms to be operated by respective hinge shafts. The actuator
500 is coupled at a first end thereof to the second hinge shaft 310
and coupled at a second end thereof to an associated link arm of
the articulated link 300, so that, in the event of a forward
collision of the vehicle, the actuator 500 is triggered to allow
the hood 100 to pop up. Particularly in various embodiments, the
actuator 500 may be an explosive type actuator. Thus, when an
accident occurs in front of the vehicle, the actuator 500 is
instantaneously operated, so that an explosion is generated within
the shortest period of time, thus causing the hood 100 to pop up
and securing the safety of a pedestrian.
[0031] Particularly, if the hood apparatus for the vehicle
according to the present invention detects that a collision occurs
in front of the vehicle, the hood 100 pops up to an upper position
of the vehicle while simultaneously moves to a rear position of the
vehicle. When a collision between a pedestrian and the vehicle
occurs, the above configuration prevents the pedestrian from
directly colliding with rigid body parts, such as the wiper pivot,
the lower portion of the windshield glass, and the sealer matching
part of the cowl panel, which should be attached to the front of
the vehicle, thus reducing the degree of injury to the
pedestrian.
[0032] Further, the hood 100 of the vehicle is normally coupled
with a striker formed on a lower portion of the hood 100 and a
latch formed on an upper portion of the vehicle body, thus
preventing the hood 100 from being opened even when the vehicle is
being driven. In the event that a forward collision between a
pedestrian and the vehicle occurs, his or her lower body may be
seriously injured by the striker and the latch that are made of a
rigid material.
[0033] Therefore, according to the present invention, a lower
portion of the striker, that is, a T-shaped portion is increased in
length, thus allowing the striker to smoothly slide in the event of
a collision and increasing the degree of popping up of the hood 100
upwards from the vehicle body, therefore reducing the degree of
injury to the pedestrian.
[0034] The hood apparatus of the present invention includes the
hood 100, the articulated link 300 and the actuator 500. The
articulated link 300 includes four link arms, namely, a
plate-shaped main link arm 330, and a first subsidiary link arm
350, a second subsidiary link arm 370 and a third subsidiary link
arm 390 which each have a shape of a plate and have a length
shorter than that of the main link arm 330. The four link arms are
hingedly coupled to each other, thus forming a rectangular shape.
Here, hingedly coupled portions form joints. Thereby, an operation
is performed with five joints including a hingedly coupled portion
between the hinge arm 110 and the main link arm 330.
[0035] The coupling relationship between the respective link arms
will be described below. The hinge arm 110 is coupled to the main
link arm 330. The first end of the main link arm 330 is hingedly
coupled to the hinge arm 110 via the first hinge shaft 130, and the
second end of the main link arm 330 is hingedly coupled to the
first end of the first subsidiary link arm 350.
[0036] The first end of the second subsidiary link arm 370 is
hingedly coupled between a point where the main link arm 330 is
hingedly coupled to the first end of the first subsidiary link arm
350, and the first hinge shaft 130, in such a way as to be spaced
apart therefrom by a predetermined interval. The first end of the
third subsidiary link arm 390 is hingedly coupled to the second end
of the first subsidiary link arm 350 about the second hinge shaft
310, and the second end of the third subsidiary link arm 390 is
hingedly coupled to the second end of the second subsidiary link
arm 370. As a result, a rectangle is formed and five joints are
formed.
[0037] That is, the first end of the main link arm 330 is hingedly
coupled to the hinge arm 110 by the first hinge shaft 130, the
second end of the main link arm 330 is hingedly coupled to the
first end of the first subsidiary link arm 350, the first end of
the second subsidiary link arm 370 is hingedly coupled between the
first subsidiary link arm 350 coupled to the main link arm 330 and
the first hinge shaft 130 in such a way as to be spaced apart
therefrom by a predetermined interval, the first end of the third
subsidiary link arm 390 is hingedly coupled to the second end of
the first subsidiary link arm 350, and the second end of the third
subsidiary link arm 390 is hingedly coupled to the second end of
the second subsidiary link arm 370, thus allowing each of the link
arms to be operated relative to an associated hinged coupling
portion.
[0038] Further, the actuator 500 is coupled to the articulated link
300. The first end of the actuator 500 is coupled to the second
hinge shaft 310 together with the second end of the first
subsidiary link arm 350 and the first end of the third subsidiary
link arm 390, and the second end of the actuator 500 is coupled
between the first end of the second subsidiary link arm 370 and the
first hinge shaft 130 in such a way as to be spaced apart therefrom
by a predetermined interval.
[0039] Moreover, an elastic member 700 is provided on the second
end of the actuator 500 in such a way that the first end of the
elastic member 700 is coupled to a hinged coupling portion on the
second end of the actuator 500 and the second end of the elastic
member 700 is coupled to the second end of the second subsidiary
link arm 370. The elastic member 700 is broken when the hood 100
pops up. The elastic member 700 generally uses a spring or a shear
pin to form a latch structure.
[0040] In order to prevent the actuator 500 from being unexpectedly
exploded by vibrations caused by the driving of the vehicle before
the hood 100 pops up, the elastic member 700 more firmly supports
the articulated link 300 and the actuator 500, thus preventing the
articulated link 300 and the actuator 500 from being undesirably
moved. Consequently, the elastic member 700 serves to more firmly
support the vehicle body and the hood 100 against vibrations and
impacts during the driving of the vehicle.
[0041] However, when the hood 100 pops up by the impacts acting on
the vehicle, either end of the elastic member 700 is deformed or
broken by the explosive force of the actuator 500, and the latch
structure is released from the actuator 500 or the second
subsidiary link arm 370, thus preventing the elastic member 700
from interrupting the operation of the actuator 500 which serves to
pop up the hood 100 to an upper position and a rear position of the
vehicle.
[0042] The steps of popping up the hood 100 in the event of the
vehicle collision are illustrated in FIGS. 4(a), (b) and (c). FIG.
4(a) shows a state before the hood 100 pops up. Referring to FIG.
4(a), the overall length of the articulated link 300, the length of
the actuator 500 and the length of the elastic member 700 are
reduced to the maximum.
[0043] FIG. 4(b) shows a state while the hood 100 is popping up.
Referring to FIG. 4(b), each joint of the articulated link 300 is
lengthened by the explosion of the actuator 500, and the elastic
member 700 is also stretched. Finally, FIG. 4(c) shows a state
after the hood 100 has popped up. It can be seen that the actuator
500 and the articulated link 300 are stretched to the maximum.
Particularly, the elastic member 700 is broken by the explosive
force of the actuator 500.
[0044] Finally, FIG. 5 shows a test result of a length relationship
between the actuator 500 and the articulated link 300 of the hood
apparatus for the vehicle. In FIG. 5, (a) and (b) show a case where
only the length of the actuator 500 is increased, and (c) and (d)
show upward and downward moving distances of the hood 100 when the
length of the actuator 500 is increased, and in addition, when the
length of the second subsidiary link arm 370 is reduced.
[0045] First, when seen that only the length of the actuator 500 is
increased, in (a) of FIG. 5 which shows the state before the hood
100 pops up and in (b) of FIG. 5 which shows the state after the
hood 100 pops up, the hood 100 is moved upwards by distance A and
is moved rearwards by distance B.
[0046] However, when the length of the actuator 500 is increased
and simultaneously the length of the second subsidiary link arm 370
is reduced, it can be seen that the hood is not moved upwards but
is moved rearwards by distance C.
[0047] According to the above-mentioned result, the length of each
of the link arms and the actuator is variably tuned depending on
the environment or design condition of the vehicle, so that the
moving direction and the moving distance of the hood can be
designed as desired. In this test, when only the length of the
actuator is increased by 40 mm, the distance A of popping up the
hood upwards is 35 mm, and the distance B of moving the hood
rearwards is 30 mm. Meanwhile, when the length of the actuator is
increased by 40 mm and the length of the second subsidiary link arm
is reduced by 20 mm, it can be seen that the distance C of moving
the hood rearwards is 44 mm.
[0048] As described above, the present invention provides a hood
apparatus for a vehicle, in which it can eliminate a conventional
airbag for protecting a pedestrian, thus reducing manufacturing
cost, and a hood moves rearwards at the same time as it pops up to
an upper position of the vehicle, thus more reliably ensuring the
safety of the pedestrian in the event of a vehicle collision.
Further, the hood apparatus is advantageous in that a latch
structure using an elastic member can be applied, thus preventing
noise from being generated due to vibrations while the vehicle is
being driven, in addition to preventing the hood from being
unexpectedly opened.
[0049] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in
the appended claims, the terms upper or lower, front or rear, and
etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments
with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in
the figures.
[0050] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments
of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments
were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of
the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable
others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, as well as various
alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the
scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and
their equivalents.
* * * * *