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EP-4739867-A1 - ARTICULATION SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE BONNET

EP4739867A1EP 4739867 A1EP4739867 A1EP 4739867A1EP-4739867-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an articulation system (S) for a bonnet (20) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising at least one articulation device (100) comprising first and second elements (110, 120) cooperating in an articulated manner and rigidly connected to said bonnet (20) and to the body structure (10) of said vehicle (1), respectively, or vice versa; characterized in that said first and second elements (110, 120) of each said articulation device (100) respectively comprise at least one follower pin (113, 114) and at least one cam track (120) in which said at least one follower pin (113, 114) is able to travel, said system (S) being able to occupy a stable open configuration in which the cooperation between the follower pin(s) (113, 114) and the cam track(s) (120) of each said articulation device (100) ensures that said bonnet (20) is held in the open position.

Inventors

  • ALLAIS, Benoit
  • BROCAL, SYLVAIN

Assignees

  • Stellantis Auto SAS

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240607

Claims (10)

  1. [Claim 1] Articulation system (S) for a hood (20) of a motor vehicle (1) comprising at least one articulation device (100) comprising a first and a second element (110, 120) cooperating in an articulated manner and rigidly connected respectively to said hood (20) and to the body structure (10) of said vehicle (1) or vice versa; characterized in that said first and second elements (110, 120) of each said articulation device (100) respectively comprise at least one follower pin (113, 114) and at least one cam path (120) in which said at least one follower pin (113, 114) is able to travel, said system (S) being able to occupy a stable opening configuration in which the cooperation between the follower pin(s) (113, 114) and the cam path(s) (120) of each said articulation device (100) ensures that said cover (20) is held in the open position.
  2. [Claim 2] Articulation system (S) for the hood (20) of a motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first element of each said articulation device (100) is constituted by an arm (110) comprising two rear (113) and front (114) follower pins spaced apart from each other.
  3. [Claim 3] Articulation system (S) for a hood (20) of a motor vehicle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said second element (120) of each said articulation device comprises a single cam path (120) in which said rear (113) and front (114) follower pins of a corresponding arm (110) are able to travel.
  4. [Claim 4] Articulation system (S) for a hood (20) of a motor vehicle (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said single cam path (120) of each said articulation device (100) has an access opening (125) through which said rear (113) and front (114) follower pins of a respective arm (110) can be extracted from this cam path (120) or reintroduced inside the latter.
  5. [Claim 5] Articulation system (S) for a hood (20) of a motor vehicle (1) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that said single cam track (120) of each said articulation device (100) is in the form of a substantially horizontally oriented h, the latter comprising a rear lower section (121) extending substantially horizontally, a front lower section (122) extending substantially horizontally in the front extension of said rear lower section (121), an upper section (123) extending substantially horizontally above said front lower section (122), as well as a connecting section (124) extending obliquely from the rear end of said upper section (123) and opening at the interface between said rear lower (121) and front lower (122) sections.
  6. [Claim 6] Articulation system (S) for a hood (20) of a motor vehicle (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it is capable of occupying a closing configuration in which said rear (113) and front (114) follower pins of the arm (110) of each articulation device (100) are respectively positioned in the rear lower section (121) and the front lower section (122) of the corresponding cam path (120), so as to prevent any rotational movement of said hood (20) relative to said body structure (10).
  7. [Claim 7] Articulation system (S) for a hood (20) of a motor vehicle (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that it is capable of occupying, via a substantially horizontal sliding movement towards the rear of said hood (20) operated from said closing configuration, a release configuration in which the front follower pin (114) of the arm (110) of each articulation device (100) comes to be positioned at the interface between the lower rear (121) and lower front (122) sections of the corresponding cam path (120), directly above the lower end of the connecting section (124).
  8. [Claim 8] Articulation system (S) for a hood (20) of a motor vehicle (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that it is capable of occupying, via a lifting movement from the front of said hood (20) operated from said release configuration, an unstable opening configuration in which the front follower pin (114) of the arm (110) of each articulation device (100) comes to be positioned at the interface between the connecting (124) and upper (123) sections of the corresponding cam path (120), the rear follower pin (113) of the arm (110) of each articulation device (100) coming to position itself at the interface between the lower rear (121) and lower front (122) sections of the corresponding cam path (120), directly above the lower end of the connecting section (124).
  9. [Claim 9] Articulation system (S) for a hood (20) of a motor vehicle (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said lower front (122) and upper (123) sections of the cam track (120) of each articulation device (100) are each extended at their front end by a respective descending notch (122A, 123A), said system (S) being capable of occupying, via a substantially horizontal sliding movement towards the front of said hood (20) operated from said unstable opening configuration, said stable opening configuration in which the rear (113) and front (114) follower pins of the arm (110) of each articulation device (100) are positioned at the front ends of the lower front (122) and upper (123) sections of the corresponding cam track and are inserted by gravity into said notches (122A, 123A).
  10. [Claim 10] Articulation system (S) for a hood (20) of a motor vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises two said symmetrical articulation devices (100) provided for each connecting a respective rear lateral part of the main panel (21) of said hood (20) to a corresponding front wing lining (11) of said body structure (10) of the vehicle (1). i

Description

Description Title of the invention: Articulation system for a motor vehicle hood [Technical field] [1] The present invention claims priority from French application 2307144 filed on July 5, 2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. [2] The present invention relates generally to motor vehicle hoods. It relates in particular to an articulation system for such a hood. [Previous technique] [3] Most motor vehicles have a bonnet hinged in its rear part to the body structure of the vehicle by means of two hinges arranged respectively on the right and left of the bonnet, said hinges being attached to bodywork elements such as for example the front wing linings. [4] Each of these hinges comprises by definition a first so-called “mobile” knuckle rigidly linked to the hood, as well as a second so-called “fixed” knuckle rigidly linked to the body structure of the vehicle. [5] Classically made of a metallic material, these two fixed and mobile hinges are articulated relative to each other around a pivot axis. [6] Each hinge is previously attached, via the movable knuckle, to a lateral end of the hood by screwing. It is then secured to the vehicle body structure by screwing its fixed knuckle onto a lateral wing. [7] Such a process of setting up is relatively complex because it requires multiple assembly operations on the final assembly line. In addition, this process may require adjustment of the relative position of the different parts, in particular adjustment of the hinges, in order to obtain correct referencing of the parts relative to each other. As a result, the time assembly is quite long. In addition, to perform such operations, rather expensive tools are usually required. [8] In order to keep the hood in the open position tilted upwards so as to leave free access to the engine compartment and allow possible work on it, it is also necessary to equip the vehicle with a generally metal prop, pivotally mounted on the body structure at a point on the latter located under the tilting hood and capable of being raised to the active position to lock under this hood at a specific location. [9] These hinges and this metal crutch have a relatively large mass and their manufacturing cost is not negligible. [10] It is known, for example from patent application EP 1 097 856 A1, to eliminate the hinge elements by fixing an engine hood on a rail so that it slides towards the front of the vehicle. Such an engine hood does not, however, allow access to the entire engine compartment, unless the hood is completely dismantled by separating it from the rail. [11] Also known from document FR 2 986 766 A1 is a hood support intended to cooperate with a hood at least in a closed position in which this hood closes the engine compartment of the motor vehicle. This hood support comprises positioning elements which can be activated to cooperate with the hood so as to maintain it in the closed position and configured so that: - their activation is obtained by sliding the hood relative to the hood support, in particular in a substantially horizontal direction, - and/or their cooperation with the hood is such that the positioning elements prohibit any movement having a vertical component, between the hood support and the hood. [12] However, such a system does not ensure that the hood remains in the open position. [Statement of the invention] [13] The present invention aims to provide a hood hinge system that is both functional and economical. [14] To this end, it proposes a hinge system for a motor vehicle hood comprising at least one hinge device comprising a first and a second element cooperating in an articulated manner and rigidly connected respectively to said hood and to the body structure of said vehicle or vice versa; characterized in that said first and second elements of each said hinge device respectively comprise at least one follower pin and at least one cam path in which said at least one follower pin is able to travel, said system being able to occupy a stable opening configuration, in which the cooperation between the follower pin(s) and the cam path(s) of each said hinge device ensures that said hood is held in the open position. [15] The articulation system for a motor vehicle hood according to the invention thus makes it possible to provide the same functionalities as a conventional articulation system equipped with hinges and a prop, with significantly lower production and assembly costs due to its simplicity. [16] This articulation system also has the advantage of being lighter than a conventional articulation system, so that the invention also contributes to the overall reduction of the mass of the vehicle. [17] According to preferred characteristics of said articulation system according to the invention: - said first element of each said articulation device is constituted by an arm comprising two rear and front follower pins spaced apart from each other; - said second ele