Hinge unit for vehicle bonnets has gas spring energy accumulator with additional gas reservoir connected to but activated independently of spring to become activated sensor-controlled to raise bonnet on crash impact

摘要

The hinge unit includes an energy accumulator formed by a gas spring (17) which has in addition to the filler gas acting as the spring a gas reservoir (16) which can be activated independently of same and is connected to same so that in the event of impact between the vehicle and e.g. a pedestrian it becomes activated sensor-controlled to raise bonnet and reduce risk of injury. The gas reservoir is a pyrotechnical gas generator whilst the filler gas can be a propellant gas which can be ignited.