Instrument panel support structure and automobile beneficial to front collision performance

Abstract

The present invention discloses an instrument panel support structure and an automobile that enhances frontal collision performance. The structure comprises a first tube, a second tube, and an instrument panel cross member. One end of the first tube is fixed to the instrument panel cross member, and the second tube is partially sleeved within the first tube. One end of the second tube extends from the other end of the first tube and is fixed to the front panel of the vehicle body. The distance from one end of the second tube to the other end of the first tube is no greater than the distance from the other end of the second tube to one end of the first tube. The sleeved portion of the second tube is connected to the first tube via a connector. When the connector fails under stress, the extended portion of the second tube can slide into the first tube. While meeting collision performance requirements, the present invention can balance conflicts with other performance characteristics within a certain range without excessively affecting other performance characteristics.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of automobiles, and in particular relates to a dashboard support structure and an automobile which are beneficial to front collision performance. Background Art

[0002] In the current global New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), frontal crash conditions far outweigh side impacts and other conditions. Frontal crash performance significantly impacts the score, and thus the star rating. When automakers develop new models or platforms, frontal crash performance is a key development factor. One key factor affecting frontal crash performance is passenger compartment intrusion. This value must be controlled within a certain range, otherwise it will impact the dummy's survival space. Within this intrusion factor, intrusion at the center of the steering wheel directly affects airbag intrusion, thus affecting the moment of contact between the airbag and the dummy and the dummy's position. This deviation can significantly reduce or even counteract the airbag's intended protective performance, posing a significant risk. The steering wheel is structurally connected to the instrument panel, and steering wheel intrusion is primarily transmitted to the instrument panel bracket through firewall deformation. Therefore, weakening the bracket can reduce steering wheel rearward travel to a certain extent. However, simply weakening this component can lead to degradation of other performance characteristics, such as steering wheel steering modal coupling and reduced handling performance in NVH performance. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In response to the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides an instrument panel bracket structure and a car that are beneficial to front collision performance. On the premise of meeting the collision performance requirements, it can balance the contradictions with other performances within a certain range without excessively affecting other performances.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0005] A dashboard support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance includes a first tube, a second tube and an dashboard cross beam, one end of the first tube is fixed to the dashboard cross beam, the second tube is partially sleeved in the first tube, one end of the second tube extends from the other end of the first tube and is fixed to the front panel of the vehicle body, the distance from one end of the second tube to the other end of the first tube is no greater than the distance from the other end of the second tube to one end of the first tube, the sleeved portion of the second tube is connected to the first tube by a connecting member; when the connecting member fails under force, the extended portion of the second tube can slide into the first tube.

[0006] Furthermore, the connecting member is a plug, a first pin hole is provided on the sleeve portion of the second pipe, a second pin hole is provided on the first pipe at a position corresponding to the first pin hole, and the plug is inserted into the first pin hole and the second pin hole.

[0007] Furthermore, the second pin hole is opened at a position close to the other end of the first pipe, and a gap is opened from the other end of the first pipe to the second pin hole.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes a support rod, one end of which is fixed to the other end of the first pipe, and the other end of which is fixed to the instrument panel cross beam.

[0009] Furthermore, one end and the other end of the support rod are fixed to the other end of the first pipe and the instrument panel cross beam by means of bolt connection, riveting or welding.

[0010] Furthermore, one end of the first pipe is fixed to the instrument panel cross beam by means of bolt connection, riveting or welding.

[0011] Furthermore, one end of the second pipe is fixed to the front panel of the vehicle body by means of bolt connection, riveting or welding.

[0012] Furthermore, the first pipe fitting and the second pipe fitting are both rectangular pipes.

[0013] An automobile comprises a dashboard support structure which is beneficial to front collision performance.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0015] The present invention provides an instrument panel support structure that enhances frontal collision performance. This structure replaces the traditional deformation-based energy absorption method with a sliding joint connection, effectively interrupting the transmission of collision forces during a collision. When a frontal collision occurs, the second tube receives the collision force transmitted from the vehicle's front panel, causing it to move into the first tube. When the collision force exceeds a certain range, the connector connecting the second and first tubes breaks and fails, causing relative sliding between the second and first tubes, causing the second tube to slide into the first tube, thereby interrupting the transmission of collision forces. This effectively reduces the amount of intrusion from the front panel area into the steering wheel during a frontal collision, acting as a barrier and preventing excessive intrusion from causing injury to the driver. This structure maintains a good connection during normal driving, meeting strength fatigue requirements. This means that while meeting collision performance requirements, it can balance conflicts with other performance requirements within a certain range, without significantly impacting other performance characteristics.

[0016] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, preferred embodiments are given below and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the specific embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0018] Figure 1 The present invention provides a mounting structure for a dashboard support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance;

[0019] Figure 2 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of an instrument panel support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 The figure is a schematic diagram of the kinematic relationship of an instrument panel support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance according to the present invention.

[0021] In the figure: 1-first pipe; 101-second pin hole; 2-second pipe; 201-first pin hole; 3-instrument panel crossbeam; 4-connecting piece; 5-support rod. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] As a specific embodiment of the present invention, Figures 1 to 3As shown, a dashboard support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance includes a first tube 1, a second tube 2 and an dashboard cross beam 3. One end of the first tube 1 is fixedly connected to the dashboard cross beam 3, and the second tube 2 is partially sleeved in the first tube 1. One end of the second tube 2 extends from the other end of the first tube 1 and is fixed to the front panel of the vehicle body (not shown in the figure). The distance from one end of the second tube 2 to the other end of the first tube 1 is not greater than the distance from the other end of the second tube 2 to one end of the first tube 1. The sleeved portion of the second tube 2 is connected to the first tube 1 through a connector 4; when the connector 4 fails under force, the protruding portion of the second tube 2 can slide into the first tube 1. That is, when the connection structure between the second tube 2 and the first tube 1 is destroyed, the second tube 2 can slide along the first tube 1.

[0024] Specifically, when a head-on collision occurs in the front of the vehicle, the second tube 2 receives the collision force transmitted from the front panel of the vehicle body, and the second tube 2 tends to move into the first tube 1. When the collision force exceeds a certain range, the connector 4 connecting the second tube 2 and the first tube 1 will be damaged and fail, thereby causing relative sliding between the second tube 2 and the first tube 1, causing the second tube 2 to slide into the first tube 1, thereby interrupting the transmission of the collision force. This can effectively reduce the amount of intrusion from the front panel area of ​​the vehicle body in a front collision and transmit it to the steering wheel, acting as a partition to prevent excessive intrusion from causing harm to the driver.

[0025] Preferably, one end of the first tube 1 is fixed to the instrument panel cross member 3 by bolting, riveting, or welding, and one end of the second tube 2 is fixed to the vehicle body front panel by bolting, riveting, or welding to ensure the structural strength of the instrument panel bracket. For example, one end of the first tube 1 is fixed to the instrument panel cross member 3 by welding, and one end of the second tube 2 is fixed to the vehicle body front panel by bolting.

[0026] On the basis of the above embodiment, as a more preferred embodiment, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the connector 4 utilizes a latch. Specifically, a first pin hole 201 is defined on the sleeve portion of the second pipe 2, and a second pin hole 101 is defined on the first pipe 1 at a position corresponding to the first pin hole 201. The latch is inserted into the first and second pin holes 201, 101, to connect the first and second pipes 1, 2. The latch connection is structurally simple. When the impact force transmitted to the latch exceeds the latch's breaking force, the latch breaks, causing the second pipe 2 to slide along the first pipe 1.

[0027] Based on the above embodiment, as a more preferred embodiment, the second pin hole 101 is provided near the other end of the first pipe 1, and a gap is provided from the other end of the first pipe 1 into the second pin hole 101. In other words, a gap is provided from the location of the second pin hole 101 toward the other end of the first pipe 1. When the latch receives a collision force, the latch tilts and expands the gap, eventually disengaging from the first pipe 1, causing the latch connection to fail. After failure, the second pipe 2 slides along the first pipe 1.

[0028] Of course, if Figure 3 As shown, the top of the pin can also be designed to be in the shape of a bullet head. When the pin receives a collision force, the pin will slide into the inside of the first pipe 1, thereby achieving connection failure of the pin.

[0029] On the basis of the above embodiment, as a more preferred embodiment, Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the dashboard bracket structure also includes a support rod 5, one end of the support rod 5 is fixed to the other end of the first pipe 1, and the other end of the support rod 5 is fixed to the dashboard cross beam 3. The support rod 5 can strengthen the connection stability between the first pipe 1 and the dashboard cross beam 3, so that the dashboard bracket structure of the present invention has better structural stability. Preferably, one end and the other end of the support rod 5 are fixed to the other end of the first pipe 1 and the dashboard cross beam 3 by bolt connection, riveting or welding to meet the structural strength of the dashboard bracket. For example, one end and the other end of the support rod 5 are fixed to the other end of the first pipe 1 and the dashboard cross beam 3 by welding.

[0030] Combine Figure 2 As shown, in the above embodiment, the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 are both rectangular tubes, which are sheet metal structures, have no flanging and no other stamping rib features, and are easy to stamp and manufacture.

[0031] like Figure 3 As shown, the distance from one end of the second pipe 2 to the other end of the first pipe 1 is defined as L, and the length of the second pipe 2 is S. During the design, different lengths of L and S are defined according to different intrusion distance requirements of the front collision working conditions. The adjustment of the structural performance of the present invention is achieved by changing different rearward displacement distances L, and is adjusted according to the size of the front intrusion amount to make it just meet the front collision performance.

[0032] The dashboard bracket structure of the present invention has a simple structure and novel design. The cost of adding this structure is low. It only needs to add this slider mechanism to the structure of the traditional dashboard support bracket. It occupies little space and can well solve the problem of large intrusion of CCB beam in front collision conditions. It also has good universal performance. According to this design idea, dashboard bracket structures with similar structures can be designed for different vehicle models, which can shorten the project development cycle and reduce costs.

[0033] The present invention also provides a car comprising the dashboard support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance according to the present invention, and the car has better safety performance.

[0034] Finally, it should be noted that the above-described embodiments are only specific implementations of the present invention, which are used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit them. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above-described embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that any person skilled in the art can modify or easily conceive of changes to the technical solutions described in the above-described embodiments within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, or replace some of the technical features therein with equivalents. Such modifications, changes, or replacements do not deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A dashboard support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance, characterized in that: The invention comprises a first pipe (1), a second pipe (2), an instrument panel cross beam (3) and a support rod (5), wherein one end of the first pipe (1) is fixed to the instrument panel cross beam (3), one end of the support rod (5) is fixed to the other end of the first pipe (1), and the other end of the support rod (5) is fixed to the instrument panel cross beam (3); the second pipe (2) is partially sleeved in the first pipe (1), one end of the second pipe (2) extends from the other end of the first pipe (1) and is fixed to the front panel of the vehicle body, the distance from one end of the second pipe (2) to the other end of the first pipe (1) is not greater than the distance from the other end of the second pipe (2) to one end of the first pipe (1), and the sleeved portion of the second pipe (2) is connected to the first pipe (1) via a connector (4); when the connector (4) fails under stress, the extended portion of the second pipe (2) can slide into the first pipe (1); The connecting member (4) is a latch, a first pin hole (201) is provided on the sleeve portion of the second pipe member (2), a second pin hole (101) is provided on the first pipe member (1) at a position corresponding to the first pin hole (201), and the latch is inserted into the first pin hole (201) and the second pin hole (101).

2. The instrument panel support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second pin hole (101) is opened at a position close to the other end of the first pipe (1), and a gap is opened from the other end of the first pipe (1) into the second pin hole (101).

3. The instrument panel support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end and the other end of the support rod (5) are fixed to the other end of the first pipe (1) and the instrument panel cross beam (3) by means of bolt connection, riveting or welding.

4. The instrument panel support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the first pipe (1) is fixed to the instrument panel crossbeam (3) by means of bolt connection, riveting or welding.

5. The instrument panel support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the second pipe (2) is fixed to the front panel of the vehicle body by means of bolt connection, riveting or welding.

6. The instrument panel support structure that is beneficial to front collision performance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first pipe fitting (1) and the second pipe fitting (2) are both rectangular pipes.

7. An automobile, characterized in that: The invention comprises a dashboard support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is beneficial to front collision performance.

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