Vehicle front end structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10480239-B1
Application number	US-201816173215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 29, 2018
Priority date	Oct 29, 2018
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle having a hood-grille assembly and a method of operating the hood-grille assembly may include actuating geared motors to release the hood-grille assembly, releasing a bolster from vehicle structure, if a transmission is in Park when an open-close request is received and the hood-grille assembly is closed. This may also include, after the geared motors release the hood-grille assembly, actuating power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to an open position. The automatic closing of the hood-grille assembly employs the geared motors and power struts to secure the bolster to the vehicle body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of operating a hood-grille assembly of a vehicle comprising:
actuating geared motors to release the hood-grille assembly, releasing a bolster from vehicle structure, if a transmission is in Park when an open-close request is received and the hood-grille assembly is closed; and
actuating power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to a secondary position if the transmission is in Park when an open-close request is received and the hood-grille assembly is opened.

2. The method of claim 1 further including:
actuating the power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to an open position after the geared motors release the hood-grille assembly.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein, upon releasing the hood-grille assembly, activating indicators signaling that the hood-grille assembly is not closed.

4. The method of claim 1 further including:
actuating the geared motors to release the hood-grille assembly, releasing the bolster from the vehicle structure, if the transmission is not in Park when the open-close request is received, the hood grille assembly is closed and a warning override is received.

5. The method of claim 1 further including:
after pivoting the hood-grille assembly to the secondary position, actuating geared motors to secure the hood-grille assembly in a closed position, securing the bolster to the vehicle structure.

6. The method of claim 5 further including:
displaying a failure mode if, after securing the hood-grille assembly in the closed position, the geared motors do not indicate the closed position and a switch contacting the hood-grille assembly does not indicate the closed position.

7. The method of claim 1 further including:
actuating the power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to the secondary position if the transmission is not in Park when the open-close request is received, the hood-grille assembly is opened and a warning override is received.

8. The method of claim 7 further including:
displaying a failure mode if, after securing the hood-grille assembly in a closed position, the geared motors do not indicate the closed position and a switch contacting the hood-grille assembly does not indicate the closed position.

9. The method of claim 1 further including:
preventing the transmission from shifting out of Park when the hood-grille assembly is released.

10. The method of claim 9 further including:
allowing the transmission to shifting out of Park when the hood-grille assembly is closed.

11. A vehicle comprising:
a body structure including front fenders;
a hood-grille assembly including a hood pivotally mounted to the body structure, a grille fixed to the hood, and a bolster, laterally extending between the front fenders, fixed to the hood and pivotable with the hood;
geared motors configured to releasably secure the bolster to the body structure, wherein the geared motors detect when the hood-grille assembly is closed; and
a switch configured to be actuated by the bolster when the hood-grille assembly is closed.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 further including power struts mounted between the hood and body structure, actuatable to raise lower the hood-grille assembly.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 further including a keypad mounted adjacent to a headlight configured to request opening-closing of the hood-grille assembly.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 including a controller configured to actuate the geared motors to release the hood-grille assembly, releasing the bolster from the body structure, if a transmission is in Park when an open-close request is received and the hood-grille assembly is closed.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the controller is also configured to actuate power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to an open position after the geared motors release the hood-grille assembly.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the controller is also configured to activate indicators signaling that the hood-grille assembly is not closed when the bolster is released from the body structure.

17. A vehicle comprising:
a body structure including front fenders;
a hood-grille assembly including a hood pivotally mounted to the body structure, a grille fixed to the hood, and a bolster, laterally extending between the front fenders, fixed to the hood and pivotable with the hood;
geared motors configured to releasably secure the bolster to the body structure; and
a keypad mounted adjacent to a headlight configured to request opening-closing of the hood-grille assembly.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Wisneski Mark A
• Caron Christopher M
• Glickman David Brian
• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth

Classifications

• B62D25/12 Primary

  Parts or details thereof (locks E05B, {E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042}; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; {checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; } springs, {e.g. pneumatic springs} F16F) · CPC title

• B62D25/105

  for motor cars · CPC title

• E05F15/662 Primary

  Motor units therefor, e.g. geared motors · CPC title

• E05Y2900/536

  Hoods · CPC title