Description:HOOD HINGE MOUNTING AREA STRUCTURE OF A VEHICLE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The subject matter in general relates to a hood hinge mounting area structure. The subject matter in particularly relates to a structural combination of bead pattern to improve the durability performance as well as frontal offset crash performance of the joinery at the hood hinge mounting area. More particularly, but not exclusively, the subject matter relates to the bead pattern which improves overall stiffness of the structure, which helps to increase the durability performance of the joinery of dash side front hinge reinforcement member and cowl side member.
BACKGROUND
[002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter.
[003] Referring to fig. 1A-1C, the cowl side member and the dash side front hinge reinforcement member are joined with each other through spot welding and during frontal offset crash condition, and during durability the spot welds rupture. In general hood structure is mounted to a Body-in-White (BIW) through the hood hinge structure at cowl side area. The load of the hood structure is transferred to the BIW through the hood hinge structure in static as well as in dynamic condition. Referring to fig. 1C, at the area of hood hinge mounting forces acts during static or dynamic condition in direction ‘Y’, during the frontal offset crash impact in direction ‘X’ and also a secondary load in direction ‘Z’ due to crumpling effect of the hood during frontal offset crash impact. Due to the loading condition during durability and frontal offset crash impact, spot failure/rupture has been observed at area near to hood hinge mounting area.
[004] Due to increase in overall weight of the Hood structure, effective distributed load at the hood hinge mounting area has been increased, so current structure of the Hood hinge mounting area could not bear the load. In durability test due to generation of higher stress spot rupture has been observed in existing structure. During the frontal offset crash impact load transferred to the Hood hinge area through the Cowl side member as well as through Hood hinge during crumpling effect of the hood. The existing design structure is not stiffer enough to withstand the stress generated at the joinery, as a result failure of spot occurs.
[005] Existing structure of the hood hinge mounting area has following technical disadvantages:
• Spot failure/rupture observed at the local area during durability test.
• Existing structure could not sustain the current load of the hood structure.
• In durability performance requirement could not be achieved due to spot failure or rupture.
• Panel deformation observed during frontal offset crash
[006] In view of the above, there is need for a reinforced hood hinge mounting area structure that can cater all loads applied from three directions X, Y, and Z without significantly increasing cost and weight of the structure.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[007] In view of the foregoing limitations inherent in the state of the art, some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[008] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a reinforced hood hinge mounting area structure to improve durability performance.
[009] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a reinforced hood hinge mounting area structure which is cost effective and resist all loads applied from all three directions.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0011] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a reinforced hood hinge mounting area structure of a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0012] The present disclosure relates to a reinforced hood hinge mounting area structure of a vehicle to aid in frontal offset crash resistance and durability performance. The hood hinge mounting area structure comprising a cowl side member joined with a hinge pillar at least at two points and extend forward from the hinge pillar; and a dash side front hinge reinforcement member to receive hinge bracket of hood, the dash side front hinge reinforcement member joined perpendicularly with upper end of the cowl side member by means of spot welding. The dash side front hinge reinforcement member defines a horizontal bead structure is provided in vehicle width direction. The cowl side member defines a vertical bead structure adjacent to joinery of the dash side front hinge reinforcement member and the cowl side member.
[0013] In an aspect, the horizontal bead structure and the vertical bead structure combinedly define a L shape bead structure to provide strength to cater load applied from three direction X, Y, and Z.
[0014] In an aspect, the vertical bead structure defines an inclined profile where one end is open and starts from the upper end of the cowl side member; and other end merged into the cowl side member.
[0015] In an aspect, the horizontal bead structure covers substantial width of the dash side front hinge reinforcement.
[0016] Other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the present subject matter, it is believed that the present disclosure will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals designate like structural and other elements, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1A-1C illustrates existing hood hinge mounting structure;
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a hood hinge mounting area structure with horizontal bead structure at and a vertical bead structure at cowl side member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3A illustrates the vertical bead structure at cowl side member of the hood hinge mounting area structure of Fig. 2;
[0021] FIG. 3B illustrates the horizontal bead structure at dash side front hinge reinforcement member of fig. 2;
[0022] Fig. 4A illustrates a cross section view of the existing hood hinge mounting area structure;
[0023] Fig. 4B illustrates a cross section view of the hood hinge mounting area structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates comparison between the existing hood hinge mounting area structure and the present hood hinge mounting area structure and flow of stresses.
[0025] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0027] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0028] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “consisting” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0029] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0030] In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", “third”, and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining "first" and "second" may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.
[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0032] In order to achieve the present technical solution, the inventors developed structural combination of a bead pattern on dash side front hinge reinforcement member and cowl side member to improve strength and durability performance as well as frontal offset crash performance of the joinery at hood hinge mounting area.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, a hood structure is mounted onto front end of the vehicle at hood hinge portion in a cowl side area 104 using two bolt mountings. The total load of the hood structure acts upon a dash side front hinge reinforcement member (or hood hinge reinforcement) 102.
[0034] The present invention is related to a structural combination of a bead pattern to improve durability and frontal offset crash performance of the hood hinge mounting area structure.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, the hood hinge mounting area structure 200 comprises a cowl side member 202 and a dash side front hinge reinforcement member 201. The cowl side member 202 is joined with a hinge pillar 203 at least at two points and extend forward from the hinge pillar 203. The dash side front hinge reinforcement member 201 is provided to receive hinge bracket of hood so that hood can be mounted on the cowl side member. The dash side front hinge reinforcement member 201 is joined perpendicularly with upper end of the cowl side member 202 by means of spot welding. The cowl side member 202 defines a flange portion extending toward engine on which the dash side front hinge reinforcement member 201 is spot welded. In the fig. 2, the arrow ‘Fr’ indicates towards front end of the vehicle, the arrow ‘In’ indicates toward inner side or engine side of the vehicle, and the arrow ‘Ou’ indicates toward outer side or outer side panel of the vehicle.
[0036] As shown in fig. 2, 3A, and 3B, the dash side front hinge reinforcement member 201 defines a horizontal bead structure 201a which is provided in vehicle width direction. The cowl side member 202 defines a vertical bead structure 202a which is adjacent to joinery of the dash side front hinge reinforcement member 201 and the cowl side member 202. The horizontal bead structure 201a and the vertical bead structure 202a combinedly define a ‘L’ shape bead structure to provide strength to cater load applied from all three direction X, Y, and Z.
[0037] As shown in fig. 2 and 3B, the vertical bead structure 202a defines an inclined profile where one end which is open, starts from the upper end of the cowl side member 202; and other end merged into the cowl side member 202. The vertical bead structure 202a defines a height ‘H’ which is equal or less that vertical height of upper mounting point of the cowl side member 202 with the hinge pillar 203. Outer surface (channel shape profile) of the vertical bead structure 202a faces engine in direction ‘In’ and inner open surface faces outward in direction ‘Ou’. Alternatively, opposite arrangement of the bead structure can be provided.
[0038] The horizontal bead structure 201a covers substantial width of the dash side front hinge reinforcement member 201. In other words, the horizontal bead structure 201a covers more than 80% of width of the dash side front hinge reinforcement member 201.
[0039] The combination of the bead structure increases the stiffness at joinery of the dash side front hinge reinforcement member 201 and the cowl side member 202 which is formed by spot welding.
[0040] Fig. 4A illustrates cross section view along line AA of Fig. 2 of the existing structure of the hood hinge mounting area structure where there is no bead and Fig. 4B illustrates cross section view along line AA of Fig. 2 of present structure of the hood hinge mounting area structure where combination of vertical bead and horizontal bead is provided. Fig. 5 illustrates overlap cross section view of the existing structure and the present structure of the hood hinge mounting area. As shown in the fig. 5, the stress coming from three directions due to weight of the hood, frontal impact stress, crumpling stress, stress generated during running of the vehicle. With the addition of the bead structures, the stresses are uniformly distributed so that rupture of the spot welding joinery between the cowl side member and the dash front hinge reinforcement member is prevented.
[0041] As shown, the vertical bead structure 202a is curvedly inclined to spot welding point and match with the horizontal bead structure 201a of the dash iside hinge reinforcement member 201 to increases the stiffness at spot weld area and to reduce stress.
[0042] In durability test of the present hood hinge mounting area, it is found that generation of higher stress which causes rupture of spot weld is reduced due to the combination of the bead structure. Due to the addition of the bead structure, the forces acting during static or dynamic condition of the vehicle, the hood hinge mounting area structure withstand the forces and prevent spot failure. The bead structure reduces frontal offset crash impact and prevents the crumpling of the hood hinge mounting area when secondary loads applied, and the hood hinge mounting area structure is not affected during frontal offset crash impact as well.
[0043] Technical advantages:
[0044] The present bead structure reduces spot failure and rupture which is observed during vehicle durability test.
[0045] The present bead structure reduces stress generation when used for higher weight of hood structure.
[0046] The present bead structure improves vehicle level durability performance particularly at the joining area (spot weld).
[0047] Furthermore, each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.
[0048] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.
[0049] Furthermore, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0050] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0051] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A hood hinge mounting area structure (200) of a vehicle the hood hinge mounting area structure (200) comprising:
a cowl side member (202) joined with a hinge pillar (203) at least at two points and extend forward from the hinge pillar (203); and
a dash side front hinge reinforcement member (201) to receive hinge bracket of hood, the dash side front hinge reinforcement member (201) joined perpendicularly with upper end of the cowl side member (202) by means of spot welding;
characterized in that
the dash side front hinge reinforcement member (201) defines a horizontal bead structure (201a) provided in vehicle width direction;
the cowl side member (202) defines a vertical bead structure (202a) adjacent to joinery of the dash side front hinge reinforcement member (201) and the cowl side member (202).

2. The hood hinge mounting area structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal bead structure (201a) and the vertical bead structure (202a) combinedly define a L shape bead structure to provide strength to cater load applied from three direction X, Y, and Z.

3. The hood hinge mounting area structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertical bead structure (202a) defines an inclined profile where one end is open and starts from the upper end of the cowl side member (202); and other end merged into the cowl side member (202).

4. The hood hinge mounting area structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal bead structure (201a) covers substantial width of the dash side front hinge reinforcement member (201).