Access hatch reinforcement module & method of installing an access hatch to an existing hood for a mobile vehicle

• US 6,626,256 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Truck and Engine Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Higginbotham, Thomas W., Dennison, Travis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/780,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 180/69.24, 180/69.2, 180/69.21, 180/89.17, 163/33, 163/34, 163/35, 163/36, 163/06, 114/201.R, 114/203, 495/01, 495/02, 495/03, 296/146.1, 296/97.22
• US Class Current: 180/69.24
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/10 Bonnets or lids , e.g. for trucks, tractors, busses, work vehicles for truck beds B60J7/1607; for boats B63B19/12; doors arranged at the vehicle rear B60J5/10; inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05; for protecting non-occupants of a vehicle B60R21/38

Abstract

An access hatch reinforcement module and a method of assembling an access hatch to an existing engine compartment hood of a vehicle. The access hatch reinforcement module includes a wall engagement component for engagement to the hood outer wall of the engine compartment hood. The access hatch reinforcement module further includes a door engagement component for engagement to a hatch door of the access hatch. The wall engagement component and the door engagement component of the access hatch reinforcement module are directly fixedly engaged to one another by temporary fixed engagements. The wall engagement component and the door engagement component are also indirectly engaged to one another through operational door connecting components such as a hinge component. The wall engagement component and the door engagement component are engaged to the hood outer wall and the portion of the hood outer wall that is engaged to the door engagement component is separated from the portion of the hood outer wall that is engaged to the wall engagement component. Thereafter the hatch door, which is comprised of what was the portion of the hood outer wall that was engaged to the door engagement component, is supported in a properly aligned manner within a newly formed hatch opening.

Claims

1. An access hatch, comprising:

(a) hatch opening perimeter structure which defines a hatch opening within an inner bound of said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(b) a hatch door;

(c) a hatch hinge that is engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure and said hatch door in a manner such that said hatch door is pivotally supported relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure by said hatch hinge;

(d) wherein said hatch door may be pivoted between a closed position in which said hatch door substantially covers and prevents passage of objects through said hatch opening and an open position in which said hatch door leaves said hatch opening exposed so that objects may pass through said hatch opening;

(e) wherein said hatch hinge comprises a first plate and a second plate both of which are pivotally engaged to a hinge pin of said hatch hinge in a manner such that relative movement between said first plate and said second plate is substantially constricted to rotation about a longitudinal axis of said hinge pin which defines a hinge axis of said access hatch;

(f) wherein said first plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged, directly or indirectly, to said hatch door;

(g) wherein said second plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged, directly or indirectly, to said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(h) a torsion spring that comprises a spring body comprising a helically wound coil that extends circumferentially around and along a twist axis of said torsion spring;

(i) wherein said first plate, said second plate, and said hinge pin of said hatch hinge are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that a spring body void is defined surrounding a portion of said hinge pin of said hatch hinge;

(j) wherein said hinge pin and said torsion spring are disposed relative to one another such that said portion of said hinge pin around which said spring body void is defined extends through said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring;

(k) wherein said torsion spring comprises two legs, one of which extends radially away from said twist axis of said torsion spring from each end of said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring; and

(l) wherein said legs of said torsion spring are disposed such that at some point as said hatch door is pivoted about said hinge axis of said access hatch relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure said hatch door or a component engaged to it abuts one of said legs of said torsion spring and said hatch opening perimeter structure or a component engaged to it abuts a different one of said legs of torsion spring and rotation of said hatch door will be resisted in one direction by said torsion spring as said legs exert opposing forces directly or indirectly upon said hatch door and said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(m) wherein said access hatch and said components of said access hatch are vehicle body components; and

(n) wherein said access hatch and said components of said access hatch are engine compartment hood components.

2. The access hatch of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said access hatch is constructed such that said torsion spring is closest to its free state when said hatch door is in said open position relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure.

3. The access hatch of claim 2, wherein:

(a) said torsion spring is constructed with a spring rate such that when said hatch door is in said open position said torsion spring exerts sufficient moment upon said hatch door to counteract any moment exerted upon said hatch door by gravity acting on said hatch door and, thus, said torsion spring is capable of maintaining said hatch door in said open position.

4. The access hatch of claim 3, wherein:

(a) said access hatch further comprises a door engagement component that is fixedly engaged to said hatch door;

(b) said first plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged to said door engagement component and said first plate is engaged to said hatch door only through its engagement to said door engagement component;

(c) said access hatch further comprises a wall engagement component that is fixedly engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(d) said second plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged to said wall engagement component and said second plate is engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure only through its engagement to said wall engagement component;

(e) said wall engagement component is constructed such that it provides substantial reinforcement for said hatch opening perimeter structure; and

(f) said door engagement component is constructed such that it provides substantial reinforcement for said hatch door.

5. The access hatch of claim 4, wherein:

(a) said wall engagement component is of unitary construction; and

(b) said door engagement component is of unitary construction.

6. The access hatch of claim 5, wherein:

(a) said wall engagement component comprises an opening perimeter reinforcement loop that is constructed of a first reinforcement loop body that extends along a first loop body centroidal curve;

(b) said opening perimeter reinforcement loop is constructed with a shape such that said first loop body centroidal curve is of a shape similar to a shape of said inner bound of said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(c) said first reinforcement loop body has a shape such that a majority of cross sections of said first reinforcement loop body perpendicular to said first loop body centroidal curve have a relatively substantial moment of inertia about axes perpendicular to said first loop body centroidal curve;

(d) said door engagement component comprises a door reinforcement loop that is constructed of a second reinforcement loop body that extends along a second loop body centroidal curve;

(e) said door reinforcement loop is constructed with a shape such that said second loop body centroidal curve has a shape similar to that of a hatch door periphery of said hatch door; and

(f) said second reinforcement loop body has a shape such that a majority of cross sections of said second reinforcement loop body perpendicular to said second loop body centroidal curve have a relatively substantial moment of inertia about axes perpendicular to said second loop body centroidal curve.

7. A vehicle body component for mounting to a vehicle, said vehicle body component comprising:

(a) a wall;

(b) an access hatch engaged to said wall;

(c) wherein said access hatch comprises hatch opening perimeter structure engaged to said wall of said vehicle body component;

(d) wherein said hatch opening perimeter structure defines a hatch opening through said hatch opening perimeter structure and said wall of said vehicle body component within an inner bound of said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(e) wherein said access hatch comprises a hatch door;

(f) wherein said access hatch comprises a hatch hinge that is engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure and said hatch door in a manner such that said hatch door is pivotally supported relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure by said hatch hinge;

(g) wherein said hatch door may be pivoted between a closed position in which said hatch door substantially covers and prevents passage of objects through said hatch opening and an open position in which said hatch door leaves said hatch opening exposed so that objects may pass through said hatch opening;

(h) wherein said hatch hinge comprises a first plate and a second plate both of which are pivotally engaged to a hinge pin of said hatch hinge in a manner such that relative movement between said first plate and said second plate is substantially constricted to rotation about a longitudinal axis of said hinge pin which longitudinal axis of said hinge pin defines a hinge axis of said access hatch;

(i) wherein said first plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged, directly or indirectly, to said hatch door;

(j) wherein said second plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged, directly or indirectly, to said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(k) wherein said access hatch comprises a torsion spring that comprises a spring body comprising a helically wound coil that extends circumferentially around a twist axis of said torsion spring and also along said twist axis of said torsion spring;

(l) wherein said first plate, said second plate, and said hinge pin of said hatch hinge are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that a spring body void is defined surrounding a portion of said hinge pin of said hatch hinge;

(m) wherein said hinge pin and said torsion spring are disposed relative to one another such that said portion of said hinge pin around which said spring body void is defined extends through said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring;

(n) wherein said torsion spring comprises two legs, one of which extends radially away from said twist axis of said torsion spring from each end of said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring;

(o) wherein said legs of said torsion spring are disposed such that at some point as said hatch door is pivoted about said hinge axis of said access hatch relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure said hatch door or a component engaged to said hatch door will abut one of said legs of said torsion spring and said hatch opening perimeter structure or a component engaged to it will abut a different one of said legs of said torsion spring and rotation of said hatch door will be resisted in one direction by said torsion spring as said legs exert opposing forces directly or indirectly upon said hatch door and said hatch opening perimeter structure; and

(p) wherein said access hatch is constructed such that said torsion spring is closest to its free state when said hatch door is in said open position relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure.

8. The vehicle body component of claim 7, wherein:

(a) said torsion spring is constructed with a spring rate such that when said hatch door is in said open position said torsion spring exerts sufficient moment upon said hatch door to counteract any moment exerted upon said hatch door by gravity and, thus, said torsion spring is capable of maintaining said hatch door in said open position.

9. The vehicle body component of claim 8, wherein:

(a) said access hatch further comprises a door engagement component that is fixedly engaged to said hatch door;

(b) said first plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged to said door engagement component and said first plate is engaged to said hatch door only through its engagement to said door engagement component;

(c) said access hatch further comprises a wall engagement component that is fixedly engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(d) said second plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged to said wall engagement component and said second plate is engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure only through its engagement to said wall engagement component;

(e) said wall engagement component is constructed such that it provides substantial reinforcement for said hatch opening perimeter structure; and

(f) said door engagement component is constructed such that it provides substantial reinforcement for said hatch door.

10. The vehicle body component of claim 9, wherein:

(a) said wall engagement component is of unitary construction; and

(b) said door engagement component is of unitary construction.

11. The vehicle body component of claim 10, wherein:

(a) said wall engagement component comprises an opening perimeter reinforcement loop that is constructed of a first reinforcement loop body that extends along a first loop body centroidal curve;

(b) said opening perimeter reinforcement loop is constructed with a shape such that said first loop body centroidal curve is of a shape similar to a shape of said inner bound of said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(c) said first reinforcement loop body has a shape such that a majority of cross sections of said first reinforcement loop body perpendicular to said first loop body centroidal curve have a relatively substantial moment of inertia about axes perpendicular to said first loop body centroidal curve;

d) said door engagement component comprises a door reinforcement loop that is constructed of a second reinforcement loop body that extends along a second loop body centroidal curve;

e) said door reinforcement loop is constructed with a shape such that said second loop body centroidal curve has a shape similar to that of a hatch door periphery of said hatch door; and

f) said second reinforcement loop body has a shape such that a majority of cross sections of said second reinforcement loop body perpendicular to said second loop body centroidal curve have a relatively substantial moment of inertia about axes perpendicular to said second loop body centroidal curve.

12. The vehicle body component of claim 11, wherein:

(a) said vehicle body component is an engine compartment hood.

13. The vehicle body component of claim 8, wherein:

(a) said vehicle body component is an engine compartment hood.

14. A vehicle body component for mounting to a vehicle, said vehicle body component comprising:

(a) a wall;

(b) an access hatch engaged to said wall;

(c) wherein said access hatch comprises hatch opening perimeter structure engaged to said wall of said vehicle body component;

(d) wherein said hatch opening perimeter structure defines a hatch opening through said hatch opening perimeter structure and said wall of said vehicle body component within an inner bound of said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(e) wherein said access hatch comprises a hatch door;

(f) wherein said access hatch comprises a hatch hinge that is engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure and said hatch door in a manner such that said hatch door is pivotally supported relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure by said hatch hinge;

(g) wherein said hatch door may be pivoted between a closed position in which said hatch door substantially covers and prevents passage of objects through said hatch opening and an open position in which said hatch door leaves said hatch opening exposed so that objects may pass through said hatch opening;

(h) wherein said hatch hinge comprises a first plate and a second plate both of which are pivotally engaged to a hinge pin of said hatch hinge in a manner such that relative movement between said first plate and said second plate is substantially constricted to rotation about a longitudinal axis of said hinge pin which longitudinal axis of said hinge pin defines a hinge axis of said access hatch;

(i) wherein said first plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged, directly or indirectly, to said hatch door;

(j) wherein said second plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged, directly or indirectly, to said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(k) wherein said access hatch comprises a torsion spring that comprises a spring body comprising a helically wound coil that extends circumferentially around a twist axis of said torsion spring and also along said twist axis of said torsion spring;

(l) wherein said first plate, said second plate, and said hinge pin of said hatch hinge are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that a spring body void is defined surrounding a portion of said hinge pin of said hatch hinge;

(m) wherein said hinge pin and said torsion spring are disposed relative to one another such that said portion of said hinge pin around which said spring body void is defined extends through said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring;

(n) wherein said torsion spring comprises two legs, one of which extends radially away from said twist axis of said torsion spring from each end of said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring;

(o) wherein said legs of said torsion spring are disposed such that at some point as said hatch door is pivoted about said hinge axis of said access hatch relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure said hatch door or a component engaged to said hatch door will abut one of said legs of said torsion spring and said hatch opening perimeter structure or a component engaged to it will abut a different one of said legs of said torsion spring and rotation of said hatch door will be resisted in one direction by said torsion spring as said legs exert opposing forces directly or indirectly upon said hatch door and said hatch opening perimeter structure; and

(p) wherein said vehicle body component is an engine compartment hood.

15. An access hatch reinforcement module for assembly to a hatch door which has a hatch door periphery, and hatch opening perimeter structure which has an inner bound, and where the access hatch reinforcement module, the hatch door, and the hatch opening perimeter structure are to be included as parts of a wall assembly and an access hatch thereof after assembly of the components to one another, the access hatch reinforcement module comprising:

(a) a wall engagement component designed to be engaged to the hatch opening perimeter structure;

(b) a door engagement component designed to be engaged to the hatch door;

(c) wherein temporary fixed engagements temporarily fixedly engage said wall engagement component to said door engagement component;

(d) a hatch hinge that comprises a first plate, a second plate and a hinge pin that are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that, were said hatch hinge free of engagements to any other components, relative movement between said first plate and said second plate would be substantially constricted to rotation about a longitudinal axis of said hinge pin which longitudinal axis of said hinge pin defines a hinge axis of said hatch hinge;

(e) wherein said first plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged to said door engagement component and said second plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged to said wall engagement component such that, were said temporary fixed engagements of said wall engagement component to said door engagement component to be separated, said door engagement component would be pivotally engaged to said wall engagement component by said hatch hinge;

(f) wherein said access hatch reinforcement module comprises a torsion spring that comprises a spring body comprising a helically wound coil that extends circumferentially around and along a twist axis of said torsion spring;

(g) wherein said first plate, said second plate, and said hinge pin of said hatch hinge are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that a spring body void is defined surrounding a portion of said hinge pin of said hatch hinge;

(h) wherein said hinge pin and said torsion spring are disposed relative to one another such that said portion of said hinge pin around which said spring body void is defined extends through said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring;

(i) wherein said torsion spring comprises two legs, one of which extends radially away from said twist axis of said torsion spring from each end of said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring; and

(j) wherein said legs of said torsion spring are disposed such that, after said access hatch reinforcement module is properly assembled to the hatch opening perimeter structure and the hatch door, were said temporary fixed engagements between said door engagement component and said wall engagement component separated, and were said door engagement component pivoted relative to said wall engagement component, at some point said door engagement component or a component engaged to it will abut one of said legs of said torsion spring and said wall engagement component or a component engaged to it will abut an opposite one of said legs of said torsion spring and rotation of said door engagement component will be resisted in one direction by said torsion spring as said legs apply opposing forces directly or indirectly to said door engagement component and said wall engagement component.

16. The access hatch reinforcement module of claim 15, wherein:

(a) said wall engagement component and said door engagement component are positioned relative to one another in a same position as said wall engagement component and said door engagement component would be in relative to one another after assembly of the wall assembly and the access hatch were complete and if the hatch door were positioned in its closed position.

17. The access hatch reinforcement module of claim 16, wherein:

(a) one or more of said temporary fixed engagements of said door engagement component to said wall engagement component are effected as a result of one or more tabs extending between and being fixedly engaged in a temporary manner to both said door engagement component and said wall engagement component.

18. The access hatch reinforcement module of claim 17, wherein:

(a) each one of said one or more tabs that extend between and are fixedly engaged to both said door engagement component and said wall engagement component in a temporary manner has a middle portion disposed between terminal end portions of said tab that are fixedly engaged to said door engagement component and said wall engagement component; and

(b) said tabs are positioned relative to said wall engagement component and said door engagement component such that, after said access hatch reinforcement module is mounted to the hatch door and the hatch opening perimeter structure, and before said temporary fixed engagements of said wall engagement component to said door engagement component are separated, said middle portion of said tabs is disposed adjacent the hatch door periphery of the hatch door.

19. A vehicle, comprising:

(a) a frame to which a large percentage of other components of said vehicle are directly or indirectly engaged;

(b) a suspension system, for supporting said frame, to which said frame is engaged;

(c) one or more body structures engaged to said frame;

(d) wherein one of said body structures engaged to said frame comprises a wall assembly and an access hatch of said wall assembly;

(e) wherein said wall assembly and said access hatch of said wall assembly comprise a hatch opening perimeter structure within an inner bound of which a hatch opening is defined;

(f) wherein said wall assembly and said access hatch of said wall assembly further comprise a hatch door;

(k) wherein said wall assembly and said access hatch of said wall assembly comprise a hatch hinge that comprises a first plate, a second plate and a hinge pin that are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that relative movement between said first plate and said second plate is substantially constricted to rotation about a longitudinal axis of said hinge pin which longitudinal axis of said hinge pin defines a hinge axis of said hatch hinge;

(l) wherein said first plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged directly or indirectly to said hatch door and said second plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged directly or indirectly to said hatch opening perimeter structure such that said hatch door is pivotally engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure by said hatch hinge;

(m) wherein said access hatch comprises a torsion spring that comprises a spring body comprising a helically wound coil that extends circumferentially around and along a twist axis of said torsion spring;

(n) wherein said first plate, said second plate, and said hinge pin of said hatch hinge are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that a spring body void is defined surrounding a portion of said hinge pin of said hatch hinge;

(o) wherein said hinge pin and said torsion spring are disposed relative to one another such that said portion of said hinge pin around which said spring body void is defined extends through said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring;

(p) wherein said torsion spring comprises two legs, one of which extends radially away from said twist axis of said torsion spring from each end of said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring;

(q) wherein said legs of said torsion spring are disposed such that as said hatch door is pivoted relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure, at some point said hatch door or a component engaged to it will abut one of said legs of said torsion spring and said hatch opening perimeter structure or a component engaged to it will abut a different one of said legs of said torsion spring, and rotation of said hatch door will be resisted in one direction by said torsion spring as said legs exert opposing forces directly or indirectly upon said hatch door and said hatch opening perimeter structure; and

(r) wherein said access hatch is constructed such that said torsion spring is closest to its free state when said hatch door is in said open position relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein:

(a) said torsion spring is constructed with a spring rate such that said when said hatch door is in said open position said torsion spring exerts sufficient moment upon said hatch door to counteract any moment exerted upon said hatch door by gravity and, thus, said torsion spring is capable of maintaining said hatch door in said open position.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein:

(a) said body structure of said vehicle that comprises said wall assembly and said access hatch is an engine compartment hood of said vehicle;

(b) said engine compartment hood is constructed and engaged to said vehicle in a manner such that said engine compartment hood can be selectively moved between a closed position and an open position;

(c) said engine compartment hood comprises a hood outer wall;

(d) said hatch opening perimeter structure of said access hatch is engaged to said hood outer wall of said engine compartment hood and said hatch opening which is defined through said hatch opening perimeter structure is also defined through said hood outer wall; and

(e) said hatch door of said access hatch of said engine compartment hood is moveable between its open and closed positions independently of movements of said engine compartment hood between its open and closed positions.

22. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein:

(a) said access hatch further comprises a door engagement component that is fixedly engaged to said hatch door;

(b) said first plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged to said door engagement component and said first plate is engaged to said hatch door only through its engagement to said door engagement component;

(c) said access hatch further comprises a wall engagement component that is fixedly engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(d) said second plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged to said wall engagement component and said second plate is engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure only through its engagement to said wall engagement component;

(e) wherein said wall engagement component is constructed such that it provides substantial reinforcement for said hatch opening perimeter structure; and

(f) wherein said door engagement component is constructed such that it provides substantial reinforcement for said hatch door.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein:

(a) said wall engagement component is of unitary construction; and

(b) said door engagement component is of unitary construction.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein:

(a) said wall engagement component comprises an opening perimeter reinforcement loop that is constructed of a first reinforcement loop body that extends along a first loop body centroidal curve;

(b) said opening perimeter reinforcement loop is constructed with a shape such that said first loop body centroidal curve is of a shape similar to a shape of said inner bound of said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(c) said first reinforcement loop body has a shape such that a majority of cross sections of said first reinforcement loop body perpendicular to said first loop body centroidal curve have a relatively substantial moment of inertia about axes perpendicular to said first loop body centroidal curve;

(d) said door engagement component comprises a door reinforcement loop that is constructed of a second reinforcement loop body that extends along a second loop body centroidal curve;

(e) said door reinforcement loop is constructed with a shape such that said second loop body centroidal curve has a shape similar to that of a hatch door periphery of said hatch door; and

(f) said second reinforcement loop body has a shape such that a majority of cross sections of said second reinforcement loop body perpendicular to said second loop body centroidal curve have a relatively substantial moment of inertia about axes perpendicular to said second loop body centroidal curve.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein:

(a) said body structure of said vehicle that comprises said wall assembly and said access hatch is an engine compartment hood of said vehicle;

(b) said engine compartment hood is constructed and engaged to said vehicle in a manner such that said engine compartment hood can be selectively moved between a closed position and an open position;

(c) said engine compartment hood comprises a hood outer wall;

(d) said hatch opening perimeter structure of said access hatch is engaged to said hood outer wall of said engine compartment hood and said hatch opening which is defined through said hatch opening perimeter structure is also defined through said hood outer wall; and

(e) said hatch door of said access hatch of said engine compartment hood is moveable between its open and closed positions independently of movements of said engine compartment hood between its open and closed positions.

26. A vehicle, comprising:

(a) a frame to which a large percentage of other components of said vehicle are directly or indirectly engaged;

(b) a suspension system, for supporting said frame, to which said frame is engaged;

(c) one or more body structures engaged to said frame;

(d) wherein one of said body structures engaged to said frame comprises a wall assembly and an access hatch of said wall assembly;

(e) wherein said wall assembly and said access hatch of said wall assembly comprise a hatch opening perimeter structure within an inner bound of which a hatch opening is defined;

(f) wherein said wall assembly and said access hatch of said wall assembly further comprise a hatch door;

(g) wherein said wall assembly and said access hatch of said wall assembly comprise a hatch hinge that comprises a first plate, a second plate and a hinge pin that are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that relative movement between said first plate and said second plate is substantially constricted to rotation about a longitudinal axis of said hinge pin which longitudinal axis of said hinge pin defines a hinge axis of said hatch hinge;

(h) wherein said first plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged directly or indirectly to said hatch door and said second plate of said hatch hinge is fixedly engaged directly or indirectly to said hatch opening perimeter structure such that said hatch door is pivotally engaged to said hatch opening perimeter structure by said hatch hinge;

(i) wherein said access hatch comprises a torsion spring that comprises a spring body comprising a helically wound coil that extends circumferentially around and along a twist axis of said torsion spring;

(j) wherein said first plate, said second plate, and said hinge pin of said hatch hinge are constructed and engaged to one another in such a manner that a spring body void is defined surrounding a portion of said hinge pin of said hatch hinge;

(k) wherein said hinge pin and said torsion spring are disposed relative to one another such that said portion of said hinge pin around which said spring body void is defined extends through said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring;

(l) wherein said torsion spring comprises two legs, one of which extends radially away from said twist axis of said torsion spring from each end of said helically wound coil of said spring body of said torsion spring;

(m) wherein said legs of said torsion spring are disposed such that as said hatch door is pivoted relative to said hatch opening perimeter structure, at some point said hatch door or a component engaged to it will abut one of said legs of said torsion spring and said hatch opening perimeter structure or a component engaged to it will abut a different one of said legs of said torsion spring, and rotation of said hatch door will be resisted in one direction by said torsion spring as said legs exert opposing forces directly or indirectly upon said hatch door and said hatch opening perimeter structure;

(n) wherein said body structure of said vehicle that comprises said wall assembly and said access hatch is an engine compartment hood of said vehicle;

(o) wherein said engine compartment hood is constructed and engaged to said vehicle in a manner such that said engine compartment hood can be selectively moved between a closed position and an open position;

(p) wherein said wall to which said hatch opening perimeter structure is engaged is a hood outer wall; and

(q) wherein said hatch opening which is defined through said hatch opening perimeter structure is also defined through said hood outer wall.