Motor vehicles – Power – Hoods
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-05
2001-11-06
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Motor vehicles
Power
Hoods
C180S089170, C180S069240
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311796
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to automotive vehicles and in particular to equipment compartments, such as the engine compartments, containing engines and other equipment and located toward the front or rear end of a vehicle. In particular, the invention relates to an equipment compartment provided with a longitudinally slidable energy-absorbing hood.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the art relating to automotive vehicles, and particularly to automobile-type vehicles, energy absorption is generally provided by structural members of the frame or body designed to absorb collision energy to reduce the deceleration rate of an associated passenger compartment in a collision. In most such vehicles, the engine hood provides little, if any, of the energy-absorbing structure. Hoods are generally formed of stamped sheet metal with vibration and sound-absorbing stiffeners and are attached only at the front and rear ends of the hood. Thus, the hood structure generally bends in a front collision without significant energy absorption being provided to the body structure. It is considered that the provision of an energy-absorbing hood structure for the front or rear end equipment compartment of a vehicle would have benefits in increasing energy absorption or allowing the design of other structural components of the body to better accomplish goals of structural integrity and weight reduction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved equipment compartment structure having a structurally stiff hood panel that is guided in structurally stiff side rails for longitudinal sliding motion between open and closed positions to provide for observation or servicing of an engine or other equipment within the compartment.
The hood panel may be advantageously formed of extruded aluminum or, alternatively, by other suitable means and/or materials. The panel preferably includes upper and lower walls interconnected vertically by longitudinally extending laterally spaced support walls, which form structurally stiff box sections that provide structural rigidity to the panel. Laterally outer edges of the panel are formed with slide portions that are received in tracks or guide recesses of support or side rails mounted at the upper edges of side walls of the equipment compartment. The side rails may also be made of structurally stiff aluminum extrusions to provide the desired tracks for sliding of the hood panel, as well as means for attaching the support rails to inner and outer panels of the vehicle body and the equipment compartment.
To maintain the hood panel edges completely within the tracks for maximum energy absorption during a collision, the hood panel edges and the associated support rails define arcs of a large constant radius having a value up to infinity in the case of a flat panel. Latches are provided in the side rails, or elsewhere in the structure, for retaining the hood panel in the closed position but allowing release of the panel for sliding forward in the support rails to an open position for inspection or service of the engine and other equipment in the compartment.
A second set of latches prevents unintended sliding of the hood panel beyond the desired open position of the panel in its forward open position. The second latches may also initially urge the panel outward when the first latches are released. The second latches may also be released from a suitable location on the body to allow complete removal of the hood from the body structure and provide better access for repair or servicing of equipment within and forward (or aft) of the vehicle equipment compartment.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 431658 (2000-10-01), Gregori
patent: 2837372 (1958-06-01), Odom
patent: 3754614 (1973-08-01), Habas
patent: 3767001 (1973-10-01), Chupick
patent: 4270623 (1981-06-01), Brandi et al.
Divine David
General Motors Corporation
Grove George A.
Sedlar Jeffrey A.
Swann J. J.
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