Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to a reinforcement assembly. More particularly, the embodiments herein relate to a reinforcement assembly for a vehicle hood and a method of assembling the hood reinforcement assembly.
BACKGROUND
[002] A hood is a stiff and rigid cover over the engine of a vehicle. The hood, which is also called a bonnet, covers and protects the engine and other components of the vehicle. The hood is hinged to enable access to an engine compartment of the vehicle and is provided at the front portion of the vehicle. The hood is opened to access the engine for maintenance and repair purposes. To close the hood, a force is applied on the top surface of the hood, which closes the hood and locks the hood with the body portion of the vehicle. Generally, the hood is locked with the vehicle body portion by a striker rod provided on the hood which gets engaged with a corresponding latch provided in the vehicle body. When dual latches are provided in the vehicle body, corresponding dual strikers are provided in the vehicle hood. Each striker provided in the vehicle hood gets engaged with the corresponding latch provided in the vehicle body to lock the hood with the vehicle body.
[003] However, when a load is applied only on one side of the hood, to close the hood, the load is not properly transferred to the other side of the hood due to the lack of stiffness of the hood, which causes improper engagement of the striker at the other side of the hood with the corresponding latch. Accordingly, the vehicle hood does not close properly. To this effect, stiffness of the hood and the load transfer within the hood can be improved by providing reinforcement connection from one striker to another striker and from one hinge of the hood to the other hinge. However, providing such reinforcement connections within the hood increases weight of the hood. Also, providing such reinforcement connections within the hood increases the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) at the portions of the hood where such reinforcement connections are provided.
[004] Therefore, there exists need for a reinforcement assembly for a vehicle hood and a method for assembling the reinforcement assembly for the vehicle hood which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of embodiments herein is to provide a reinforcement assembly for a vehicle hood.
[006] Another object of embodiments herein is to improve the stiffness of a vehicle hood without increasing the weight of the hood.
[007] Another object of embodiments herein is to improve the stiffness of a vehicle hood without increasing Head Injury Criterion (HIC) of the hood.
[008] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a reinforcement assembly for a vehicle hood which is easy to manufacture and is inexpensive.
[009] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a method of assembling the reinforcement assembly for a vehicle hood.
[0010] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0012] Fig. 1 is a top view of a reinforcement assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0013] Fig. 2a is a top view of the reinforcement assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0014] Fig. 2b is a sectional view of a reinforcement region, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0015] Fig. 3a is an exploded view of the reinforcement assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0016] Fig. 3b is a sectional view of the reinforcement region with striker and latch brackets, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0017] Fig. 4a is a top view of the reinforcement assembly, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0018] Fig. 4b is indicates sectional views of the reinforcement region at different portions of the reinforcement region, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0020] Fig. 5 is a flow chart indicating a method of assembling a reinforcement assembly for a vehicle hood, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0022] The embodiments herein achieve a reinforcement assembly for a vehicle hood. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 6, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0023] Figure 1 is a top view of a reinforcement assembly (100), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. Figure 2a is a top view of the reinforcement assembly (100) according to embodiments as disclosed herein. Figure 2b is a sectional view of a reinforcement region (104) according to embodiments as disclosed herein. For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the reinforcement assembly (100) explained herein below is with respect to a vehicle hood. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to use the reinforcement assembly (100) for any other machine or system with minor modification(s) and without otherwise deterring the intended function of the reinforcement assembly (100) as can be deduced from the description.
[0024] In an embodiment of the invention, the reinforcement assembly (100) includes an inner panel (102), sticker rods (not shown), striker brackets (106) (as shown in Figure 3a and 3b). The inner panel (102) includes at least two hinge portions (110a, 110b) and at least two striker portions (112a, 112b). The inner panel (102) is attached to an outer panel (10). The inner panel (102) along with the outer panel (10) constitute a vehicle hood (not shown). The inner panel (102) defines a reinforcement region (104) extending from one hinge portion (110a) to another hinge portion (110b) through the striker portions (112a, 112b) (as shown in Figure 1, 2a, and 4a). The reinforcement region (104) is an integral region of the inner panel (102) and defines a constant sectional profile throughout (as shown in Figure 4b).
[0025] The reinforcement region (104) includes three portions, a first portion (104a), a second portion (104b) and a third portion (104c). The first portion (104a) extends from the hinge portion (110a) to the striker portion (112a), accordingly connects the hinge portion (110a) with the striker portion (112a). The second portion (104b) extends from the striker portion (112a) to another striker portion (112b), accordingly connects the striker portion (112a) with another striker portion (112b). The third portion (104c) extends from the striker portion (112b) to the hinge portion (110b), accordingly connects the striker portion (112b) with the hinge portion (110b).
[0026] In one embodiment, the striker brackets (106) (as shown in Figure 3a and 3b) include at least two upper striker brackets (106U) and at least two lower striker brackets (106L). The upper striker brackets (106U) are connected to an upper surface of the striker portions (112a, 112b) of the inner panel (102). The lower striker brackets (106L) are connected to a lower surface of the striker portions (112a, 112b) of the inner panel (102). Each of the striker portions (112a, 112b) include at least one upper striker bracket (106U) and at least one lower striker bracket (106L), which are connected to the striker portions (112a, 112b) by means of welding. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to connect the striker brackets (106) to the striker portions (112a, 112b) of the inner panel (102) by any other means such as fasteners and the like without otherwise deterring the intended function of the striker brackets (106) as can be deduced from the description. Each of the lower striker brackets (106L) includes at least one striker rod (not shown). The striker rod is provided on the lower striker bracket (106L) and is fixedly connected to the lower striker bracket (106L) by any connecting means such as, for example, welding. The upper striker brackets (106U) and the lower striker brackets (106L) provide local stiffness to the striker portions (112a, 112b) of the inner panel (102).
[0027] On closing the vehicle hood (not shown), each of the striker rods provided at the striker portions (112a, 112b) gets engaged with a corresponding latch (not shown) provided in a vehicle body portion, thereby locking the vehicle hood with the vehicle body portion.
[0028] The reinforcement region (104) connects the hinge portions (110a, 110b) and the striker portions (112a, 112b) and thereby provides stiffness to the inner panel (102) of the reinforcement assembly (100). As the hinge portions (110a, 110b) and the striker portions (112a, 112b) are connected by the reinforcement region (104), a load applied to any one side of the inner panel (102) of the reinforcement assembly (100) is effectively transferred to other side of the inner panel (102). This ensures locking of the striker rods provided on the striker brackets (106) with the corresponding latch provided on the vehicle body portion when a load is applied only on one side of the inner panel (102).
[0029] The reinforcement region (104) defines constant sectional profile throughout. Figure 4b indicates sectional view at different portions of the reinforcement region (104). Sub-figure A of Figure 4b indicates a sectional profile of the reinforcement region (104) at the hinge portion (110b). Sub-figure B of Figure 4b indicates a sectional profile of the reinforcement region (104) at a bump stop portion of the inner panel (102). The bump stop portion is provided in the inner panel (104) to prevent damage from the impact experienced by the inner panel (104) on sudden closing of the vehicle hood. Sub-figure C of Figure 4b indicates constant sectional profile of the reinforcement region (104) between the striker portion (112b) and the hinge portion (110b). Sub-figure D of Figure 4b indicates constant sectional profile of the reinforcement region (104) between the striker portions (112a, 112b).
[0030] Table 1, as provided below indicates values obtained from a virtual validation process. The table displays torsional stiffness and angular deflection values of the inner panel (102) and a conventional inner panel of a vehicle hood. The results of the virtual validation process indicates that the conventional inner panel of the vehicle hood has an angular deflection of 0.758deg and a torsional stiffness of 0.17KN-m/deg. However, the virtual validation process results indicate that the inner panel (102) with a reinforcement region (104) as described in the embodiments herein, results in an angular deflection of 0.138deg and a torsional stiffness of 0.53KN-m/deg, which indicates that the inner panel (102) with the reinforcement region (104) as described in the embodiments herein incorporates higher torsional stiffness and lesser angular deflection. Further, the torsional stiffness of the inner panel (102) with the reinforcement region (104) as described in the embodiments herein is three times higher as compared with the conventional inner panel of the vehicle hood.
Angular Deflection (deg) Torsional Stiffness (KN-m/deg)
Conventional vehicle hood inner panel 0.758 0.17
Vehicle hood inner panel with reinforcement region 0.138 0.53
Table 1
[0031] Figure 5 is a flow chart indicating a method (200) for assembling the reinforcement assembly (100), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the method (200) is explained herein below with reference to assembling the reinforcement assembly (100) for a vehicle hood. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to practice/implement the entire steps of the method (200) in the same manner or in a different manner or with omission of at least one step to the method (200) or with any addition of at least one step to the method (200) for assembling the reinforcement assembly (100) for a vehicle hood or for any other machine or a system without otherwise deterring the intended function of the method (200) as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings. In one embodiment, at step (202), the method includes fabricating the inner panel (102) of the reinforcement assembly (100). At step (204), the method includes forming the reinforcement region (104) on the inner panel (102). The reinforcement region (104) defines a constant sectional profile throughout and imparts stiffness to the inner panel (102). At step (206), the method includes fixedly connecting at least two upper striker brackets (106U) and at least two lower striker brackets (106L) to corresponding striker portions (112a, 112b) of the inner panel (102).
[0032] The embodiments described herein above have several technical advantages including, but not limited to, realization of a reinforcement assembly (100) for a vehicle hood, which impart stiffness to the inner panel (102) of the vehicle hood, and thereby facilitates effective transfer of load from any one side of the vehicle hood inner panel (102) to the other side the vehicle hood inner panel (102).
[0033] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0034] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A reinforcement assembly (100) for a vehicle hood, said reinforcement assembly (100) comprising:
an inner panel (102); and
a reinforcement region (104) configured to be accommodated by said inner panel,
wherein
said inner panel (102) includes at least two hinge portions (110a, 110b) and at least two striker portions (112a, 112b); and
said reinforcement region (104) extends from one hinge portion (110a) to another hinge portion (110b) through the striker portions (112a, 112b) thereby providing stiffness to said inner panel (102).
2. The reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement region (104) includes a first portion (104a), a second portion (104b), and a third portion (104c).
3. The reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the first portion (104a) extends from the hinge portion (110a) to the striker portion (112a) and connects the hinge portion (110a) with the striker portion (112a);
the second portion (104b) extends from the striker portion (112a) to
another striker portion (112b) and connects the striker portion (112a) with another striker portion (112b); and
the third portion (104c) extends from the striker portion (112b) to the hinge portion (110b) and connects the striker portion (112b) with the hinge portion (110b).
4. The reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said reinforcement region (104) is an integral region of said inner panel (102).
5. The reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner panel (102) includes at least two upper striker brackets (106U) and at least two lower striker brackets (106L), each of said striker brackets (106U and 106L) fixedly connected to an upper surface and a lower surface, respectively, of the striker portions (112a, 112b) of said inner panel (102).
6. The reinforcement assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the striker brackets (106) are fixedly connected to the striker portions (112a, 112b) by means of welding.
7. A method (200) of assembling a reinforcement assembly (100), wherein said method comprises:
fabricating (202), an inner panel (102) for the reinforcement assembly (100);
forming (204), a reinforcement region (104) in the inner panel (102) wherein the reinforcement region (104) is adapted to impart stiffness to the inner panel (102); and
connecting (206), at least two upper striker brackets (106U) and at least two lower striker brackets (106L) to the corresponding striker portions (112a, 112b) of the inner panel (102).