Abstract:
A multiple axis hinge arrangement for a truck hood includes a first hinge arrangement and a second hinge arrangement laterally spaced and mounted at first and second sides, respectively, of a front end of a truck. The first and second hinge arrangements include horizontal hinge elements that support a truck hood for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis relative to a truck frame and include vertical hinge elements that provide vertical pivot axes. A coupling member is provided at each of the first and second hinge arrangements allowing the selected hinge arrangement to be uncoupled from the front end of the truck so the hood is free to pivot on the vertical axis of the coupled arrangement.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to hoods for heavy trucks of the type that are hinged and pivot at a front end of the truck. More particularly, the invention relates to a hinge arrangement for a hood that provides a horizontal pivot axis and a vertical pivot axis allowing the hood to tilt forward and then swing laterally open. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Heavy trucks of the conventional engine-forward architecture typically have hoods that are hinged at the front of the truck frame, allowing the hood to be pivoted forward on a horizontal axis to an open position. These hoods are usually integrated with the fenders so that the hood/fender assembly pivots as a unit. While this allows access to the engine, there is room for improvement. 
         [0003]    The invention provides a hinge arrangement for a truck hood that provides improved access to the engine and other components mounted near the engine. 
         [0004]    More particularly, the invention provides a multiple axis hinge arrangement that allows a heavy truck hood to pivot on a horizontal axis to a forward open position, and then pivot on a vertical axis laterally to expose a front portion of the engine. 
         [0005]    An arrangement in accordance with the invention includes a first hinge arrangement mounting a hood to a truck frame that provides relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis, and a second hinge arrangement mounted to the hood and truck frame that provides pivotal movement of the hood on a vertical axis. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention, the first hinge arrangement providing a horizontal pivot axis is interconnected to a hinge coupling member that mounts to a truck frame. Preferably, the hinge coupling member mounts to the front ends of both frame rails of the truck frame. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, the second hinge arrangement providing a vertical pivot axis is integrated with the hinge coupling member. 
         [0008]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, the hinge coupling member includes on at least a first frame rail a securing device for releasably securing the hinge coupling member to the first frame rail. The second hinge arrangement includes a member interconnected with the hood and located on the second frame rail that provides a vertical pivot axis, wherein, the hinge coupling member may be released from the first frame rail of the truck frame to allow the hood to pivot on the vertical axis of the second hinge arrangement. 
         [0009]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the hinge coupling member includes a securing device attached on each side of the truck frame and a second hinge arrangement attached at each side of the truck frame, permitting the hood to be selectively pivoted laterally leftward or rightward. 
         [0010]    According to one embodiment, the hinge coupling member includes a first bracket mounted on the truck frame at a first side and a second bracket mounted on the truck frame on a second side, the first hinge arrangement including a first horizontal hinge attached to the first bracket and to the hood and a second horizontal hinge mounted to the second bracket and the hood, the first horizontal hinge and second horizontal hinge being oriented on a common pivot axis. 
         [0011]    According to another embodiment, the hinge coupling member includes a bar extending from a first side of the truck frame to a second side of the truck frame, the first hinge arrangement being mounted to the bar and to the truck hood. The second hinge arrangement is integrated or mounted on a first side of the bar and a securing device mounted on a second side of the bar. 
         [0012]    Alternatively, a second hinge arrangement and a securing device are mounted on the first side of the bar and on the second side of the bar, so that the hood may be laterally pivoted about either side. The first hinge arrangement may include a first hinge and a second hinge mounted to the bar in spaced relationship. Alternatively, the first hinge arrangement may include a single hinge mounted to the hood and to the bar, which may be suitable for smaller trucks. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention will be better understood by reference to the following Detailed Description read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a truck having a hood hinged at a front of the truck frame; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a hood and truck frame including a hinge assembly in accordance with the invention with the hood shown in a pivoted-open position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hinge assembly of the invention for a left frame rail shown removed from the truck and in a pivoted-open position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a frame bracket for the assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a hinge member for the assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a coupling member of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 3 ; and, 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative coupling member mounted on a frame bracket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a simplified side view of a heavy truck  10 , sectioned to illustrate only the front end, including the cab portion  12 , hood  14 , and engine  28 . The hood  14  is mounted by a hinge  16  at the front of a truck frame  18 . The hinge  16  is mounted at a front end  22  of a frame rail  20 , and provides a horizontal pivot axis oriented laterally to a truck longitudinal axis (the horizontal axis is perpendicular to the drawing plane). The hinge  16  is shown on the front left of the truck frame  18  and another hinge (not illustrated) would be mounted to the front right of the truck frame. The hinge  16  allows the hood to pivot forward from a closed position (illustrated in broken lines as  14 ′) to an open position as shown in solid lines. When in the open position, the hood  14  allows access to the engine  28  for service, repair, and the like. A bumper, including a bumper end cap  24  (only the end cap is visible), is mounted to the front end  22  of the frame  18  below the hood  14 . The bumper end cap  24  is shown in broken line to reveal the hinge  16  and frame rail  20 . A gas spring  26  helps counterbalance the weight of the hood  14 . Other devices, such as torsion springs, may be used. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a hood  14  and frame  18  having a hinge assembly  50  in accord with the invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the hood  14  has been pivoted longitudinally forward in relation to the truck frame  18  to an open position as in  FIG. 1 , and then pivoted laterally, opening a front area of the engine compartment. The hood  14  is shown as laterally pivoted on a right side frame rail  21 ; however, as will become apparent, the hinge arrangement of the invention can allow pivoting alternatively on the left side frame rail  20 , or alternately on either frame rail. 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 2 , a bumper  25  and a bumper end cap  24  are shown mounted to the hinge assembly  50  so that the bumper  25  and bumper end cap  24  pivot laterally with the hood  14 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of a hinge assembly  50  of the invention in a perspective view from the rear and removed from the truck frame. The hinge assembly  50  is mounted to the truck frame (not illustrated) by way of a frame bracket  40 . The hinge assembly  50  includes a vertical axis V for pivoting the hood as further described below. A hinge coupling member  70  is mounted to the frame bracket, both releasably and alternately for pivoting movement, as described in more detail below. The hinge coupling member  70  supports a hinge member  52  that attaches to the hood. 
         [0025]    The hinge assembly  50 , hinge coupling member  70 , and frame bracket  40  shown in  FIG. 3  represent a left side assembly (left being the driver side of the truck). A right side assembly is a mirror image of the illustrated left side assembly, and its construction will be understood by those skilled in the art without further description. 
         [0026]    The frame bracket  40  is mounted to a frame rail (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) and, as is known in the art, may include mounting support structure for components located at the front of the truck, for example, the radiator and the front cross member. Referring now also to  FIG. 4 , in which the hinge coupling member  70  is removed, the frame bracket  40  of the illustrated embodiment includes an upper bracket  42  and a lower bracket  44  extending horizontally from the frame bracket. The upper bracket  42  and lower bracket  44  are vertically spaced and have mounting holes that are vertically aligned. The upper bracket  42  and lower bracket  44  support the hinge coupling member  70 . The frame bracket  40  is normally intended to be permanently fixed to the frame rail; accordingly, it is considered for the purposes of the invention a part of the frame. 
         [0027]    The hinge assembly  50  includes the first hinge  52  that provides a horizontal pivotal axis. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first hinge  52  is formed as a J-hook, having a J-shaped body  54 , a base  56  for mounting the J-hook to the hood, and a hub  58  that pivots on a pin  60 . The pin  60  defines a horizontal axis H for pivoting the hood between the longitudinally forward open and rearward closed positions. 
         [0028]    Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the hinge coupling member  70  connects the first hinge  52  to the frame bracket  40  by way of the pin  60 , as explained below. Turning also to  FIG. 6 , the hinge coupling member  70  includes a body  72  mounted to the frame bracket  40  for pivoting movement on a vertical axis V (indicated in  FIG. 3 ). The body  72  includes an upper leg  74  and a lower leg  76  that connect to the upper bracket  42  and lower bracket  44 , respectively, of the frame bracket  40 . A hole  75  in the upper leg  74  is vertically aligned with a hole  77  in the lower leg  76 . A vertical hinge arrangement may include an upper hinge pin  78  extending through the hole  75  in the upper leg  74  to connect the upper leg to the upper bracket  42  and a lower hinge pin  80 , (see,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ), extending through the hole  77  in the lower leg  76  to connect the lower leg to the lower bracket  44 . The hinge pins  78 ,  80  may be configured as bolts, as shown. Alternatively, a single hinge pin may extend through and connect the brackets  42 ,  44  and legs  74 ,  76 . 
         [0029]    The body  72  includes a face  82  on which a bumper or bumper end cap support may be connected, which includes a plurality of mounting holes for fasteners (not illustrated). 
         [0030]    The hinge coupling member  70  includes a hinge support arm  86  extending forwardly of the body  72 . The hinge support arm  86  includes a bore  88  to support the pin  60  and interconnect with the hub  58  of the first hinge member  52 . 
         [0031]    According to the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a hinge assembly  50 , including a first hinge member  52  and hinge coupling member  70 , is mounted on a front end of a left frame rail and a second hinge assembly is mounted to a right frame rail of a truck frame. As shown, the hinge coupling member  70  of the left frame rail  20  is detached from the frame bracket  40 . 
         [0032]    According to the invention, the hinge coupling member  70  is releasably connected to the frame bracket  40  by the hinge pins  78 ,  80 . Optionally, an additional single fastener or two fasteners may be used with holes  79 ,  81  in the upper leg  74  and lower leg  76 . By removing the hinge pins  78 ,  80  (or optional single pin) and additional optional fasteners, the hinge coupling member  70  is released from the frame bracket  40 . The opposite side hinge coupling member, still supported by the vertical hinge (hinge pins  78 ,  80  or a single pin) is then free to pivot on the vertical hinge axis V, allowing the hood to pivot laterally. If an additional fastener or fasteners are used to secure the opposite side coupling member (as described for the coupling member  70 , above), it would be necessary to remove the additional fasteners to allow the opposite side coupling member to pivot. 
         [0033]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the left side and right side hinge assemblies may be interconnected by a bridging member, for example, a bar. This allows the first hinge members to be positioned at a position other than mounted to the frame brackets at the front of the right and left frame rails, if desired. 
         [0034]    The illustrated hinge coupling member  70  is shown is for the purposes of description of an embodiment of the invention. A hinge coupling member suitable for the invention includes a portion to support the first hinge member  52  and a portion to mount to the vehicle frame for pivoting movement. Configurations other than as illustrated that satisfy these functions are encompassed by the invention. For example,  FIG. 7  shows an alternative hinge coupling member  90  having a body  92  formed as a block or plate having two parallel cylindrical bores  94 ,  96 . A first bore  94  supports a hinge pin  98  and a second bore carries a fastener  99  for releasably securing the member  90  to a plate  100 . The plate  100  is mounted to a lower bracket  110  of the frame bracket  112 . An upper arm for the frame bracket as in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is omitted. A hinge support arm  102  for extends forward of the body  92 . The hinge support arm  102  includes a bore  104  to support the pin  60  and interconnect with the hub  58  of the first hinge member  52  of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0035]    The invention has been described in terms of preferred principles, embodiments, and components. Those skilled in the art will understand that substitutions of specific components may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.