Vehicle body front structure

The vehicle front body structure addresses the risk of pedestrian impact by deploying airbags to lift and guide the hood, reducing interference with a front trunk and minimizing collision burden.

JP2025160836APending Publication Date: 2025-10-23SUBARU CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024063663
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-04-10
Publication Date
2025-10-23

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing vehicle front hood structures do not adequately address the risk of pedestrian impact when a front trunk is located below the hood, potentially causing interference and increased burden during collisions.

Method used

A vehicle front body structure incorporating a front hood section with an opening/closing axis, a front airbag that deploys in the vehicle width direction, a storage lid with a rotation axis, and upper cover sections with inclined surfaces to guide and lift the hood, reducing pedestrian impact through airbag deployment.

Benefits of technology

The structure effectively reduces the burden on pedestrians by deploying airbags to lift and guide the hood, minimizing direct impact and interference with the front trunk, thereby enhancing safety during collisions.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To reduce a burden on a pedestrian or the like when a collision with the pedestrian or the like occurs from a vehicle front side.SOLUTION: A vehicle front structure includes: a front hood part FF which is provided with an opening / closing shaft TR facing in a vehicle width direction at a vehicle front side of a cabin CA; a front airbag 450 which is inflated and deployed to a vehicle front side of the front hood part FF and in the vehicle width direction; a front airbag storage part 400 which is provided with a storage lid part 420 having a rotation shaft OR facing in the vehicle width direction at a vehicle upper part rear side, and in which the front airbag 450 is stored at a vehicle lower side of the storage lid part 420; a front hood guide part 440 which is provided in the storage lid part 420 and guides the front hood part FF to a vehicle rear side when the front airbag 450 is inflated and deployed; and upper cover parts 300 which are provided at both sides in the vehicle width direction of the front airbag storage part 400 and each have an inclined surface SL1 formed on a vehicle upper side so as to extend from a vehicle front part upper side toward a vehicle rear part lower side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle front body structure. [Background technology]

[0002] When a collision occurs in front of a vehicle with a pedestrian or a bicyclist (hereinafter referred to as a pedestrian, etc.), the pedestrian, etc. may fall onto the upper side of the front hood of the vehicle. Therefore, when a pedestrian or the like falls onto the front hood, it is necessary to reduce the impact that the front hood gives to the pedestrian or the like.

[0003] As a technology to address the above-described problems, a rear movement mechanism for a front hood has been disclosed in which the rear end of a front hood provided at the front of the vehicle body is supported on the vehicle body side by a hinge so as to be able to open and close, and the front hood is lifted by an actuator.Technology relating to a hood pop-up structure has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1), in which the rear end of a pop-up link is rotatably connected to an upper hinge provided on the hinge, the hood is rotatably connected to the front end of the pop-up link, and the actuator is connected between the upper hinge and the hood. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-147074 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] On the other hand, with the recent increasing popularity of electric vehicles and the miniaturization of power units that drive the front wheels, a front trunk is sometimes installed under the front hood at the front of the vehicle. In this case, the front trunk may be located directly below the front hood on the vehicle front side of the front hood.

[0006] The hood pop-up structure in the technology described in Patent Document 1 reduces the impact on pedestrians and other objects by lifting the rear end of the hood when the vehicle collides with them and catching the pedestrian or other object with the hood.

[0007] However, the above technology does not take into consideration the case where a front trunk is provided below the front hood, and therefore, when a pedestrian falls onto the upper side of the front hood, there is a risk that the pedestrian may interfere with the front trunk via the front hood. Furthermore, there is a problem that the front end of the front hood may interfere with the pedestrian when it is lifted.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a front body structure that reduces the burden on pedestrians, etc. when a collision with a pedestrian, etc. occurs from the front of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One or more embodiments of the present invention propose a vehicle front body structure comprising: a front hood section having an opening / closing axis facing in the vehicle width direction on the front side of a cabin of a vehicle; at least one front airbag that inflates and deploys to the front side of the front hood section and in the front vehicle width direction of the vehicle when a collision occurs from the front side of the vehicle; a front airbag storage section that is provided on the underside of the front of the front hood section and has a rotation axis facing in the vehicle width direction on the rear side of the vehicle and has a storage lid that opens at the front side of the vehicle toward the upper side of the vehicle, the front airbag being stored on the underside of the storage lid; a front hood guide section that protrudes from the storage lid toward the upper side of the vehicle and engages with the front hood section when the front airbag inflates and deploys; and upper cover sections that are provided on both sides of the front airbag storage section on the underside of the front of the front hood section in the vehicle width direction and have inclined surfaces on the upper side of the vehicle that face from the outer side of the upper part of the vehicle toward the inner side of the lower part of the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, when a collision occurs between a vehicle and a pedestrian or the like from the front side, the burden on the pedestrian or the like can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above the vehicle. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, showing a state in which a front hood is closed in the vehicle body front structure according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view showing an upper cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above a vehicle. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a front airbag storage section according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view seen from above the vehicle, (b) is a front view seen from the vehicle travel direction, and (c) is a side view seen from the vehicle width direction. [Figure 5] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a state in which a front airbag in a vehicle front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is inflated and deployed, where (a) is a plan view seen from above the vehicle, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB seen from the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4A. [Figure 6] 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views showing, in time sequence, the movement of the vehicle body front structure according to the embodiment of the present invention when an object collides with the vehicle from the vehicle travel direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A vehicle body front structure 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Note that the arrow FR, shown as appropriate in the drawings, indicates the vehicle traveling direction of the vehicle V, the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle V, and the arrow RH indicates the right side when facing the vehicle traveling direction. Furthermore, in the following description, when the up / down, front / rear, and left / right directions are used, they refer to the up / down direction when facing the vehicle traveling direction, the front / rear direction with the vehicle traveling direction as the front, and the left / right direction when facing the vehicle traveling direction, unless otherwise specified.

[0013] <Embodiment> The configuration of a vehicle body front structure 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG.

[0014] <About Vehicle V> The vehicle V is, for example, an electric vehicle (EV) using a vehicle drive motor in the drive unit DU as a drive source. Note that the vehicle V may also be, for example, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) having multiple drive sources such as an engine and a power unit, or an internal combustion vehicle having an internal combustion engine.

[0015] (Regarding front body structure 1) As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle V has a cabin CA as the interior of the vehicle where an occupant P sits, configured on the rear side of the toe board section 110, and a vehicle front structure 1 configured on the front side of the toe board section 110. The vehicle body front structure 1 is configured to include a frame portion 100, a front trunk portion 200, an upper cover portion 300, and a front airbag storage portion 400. A front hood portion FF is provided on the upper side of the vehicle of the vehicle body front structure 1 in an openable and closable manner. A front grille portion FG is provided on the vehicle front side of the vehicle front body structure 1 in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The front grille portion FG is formed of a material such as resin. The front grille portion FG is fixed to the frame portion 100 so as to cover the frame portion 100 on the vehicle front lower side of the front hood portion FF. A drive unit DU including a power unit and an inverter is configured on the vehicle rear side of the front vehicle body structure 1. The power unit is a drive device provided with a vehicle drive motor (not shown) that drives the front wheels FT, a transmission, a clutch, a drive shaft, etc. The inverter generates the high voltage required to drive the power unit.

[0016] (Front hood FF) The front hood portion FF is disposed so as to cover the upper side of the vehicle of the vehicle front body structure 1. The front hood section FF is provided, for example, with an opening / closing axis TR having a rotation axis facing in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle front side of the toe board section 110. The front hood section FF is configured to open and close by moving the front side of the vehicle of the front hood section FF up and down with the opening / closing axis TR as a fulcrum. An engagement portion EG is provided on the underside of the front portion of the vehicle of the front hood portion FF, as shown in Fig. 2. The engagement portion EG is a protrusion formed of a member such as metal and extends in the vehicle width direction. When a collision occurs in the vehicle V and the storage lid portion 420 in the front airbag storage portion 400 described later opens, causing the front airbag 450 to inflate and deploy, the engagement portion EG engages with the front hood guide portion 440 provided on the storage lid portion 420.

[0017] (Regarding the frame portion 100) The frame portion 100 forms the skeleton of the vehicle V in the vehicle body front structure 1. The frame section 100 is configured to include a toe board section 110 , a front side frame 120 , a front frame 130 , a front end cross member 140 , and an upper frame 150 . A bumper beam BP extending in the vehicle width direction is provided at the front of the vehicle.

[0018] The toe board portion 110 is erected in the vehicle up-down direction at the vehicle front side of the cabin CA, and forms a partition wall that separates the cabin CA from the vehicle body front structure 1. The toe board portion 110 is made of metal or the like.

[0019] The front side frames 120 extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle on both sides in the vehicle width direction. The front side frames 120 are made of metal or the like and have a substantially rectangular closed cross section. The front side frame 120 is joined to the toe board portion 110 at the rear end of the vehicle by welding or the like. The front side frame 120 is joined to the front frame 130 at the front end of the vehicle.

[0020] The front frame 130 has a substantially rectangular closed cross section, and extends substantially in the vehicle up-down direction on both sides of the vehicle V in the vehicle width direction. The front frame 130 is connected to the front side frame 120 on the vehicle lower side, and to the upper frame 150 on the vehicle upper side. A front end cross member 140 is connected to the upper side of the front frame 130. A bumper beam BP is connected to the lower side of the front frame 130. The front frame 130 is configured by a front end cross member 140 and a bumper beam BP to have a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the vehicle traveling direction.

[0021] The front-end cross member 140 has a generally rectangular closed cross section and extends in the vehicle width direction at the front upper part of the vehicle. The front-end cross member 140 is made of a material such as metal. The front-end cross member 140 is connected to the upper frame 150 on both sides of the front-end cross member 140 in the vehicle width direction, and is connected to the front frame 130 on the vehicle lower surface of the front-end cross member 140. A front airbag storage section 400 is provided in the center in the vehicle width direction on the upper side of the front end cross member 140. Upper cover sections 300 are fixed to both sides of the front end cross member 140 in the vehicle width direction. A hood locking portion LK is provided in the center of the front end cross member 140 in the vehicle width direction, and when the front hood portion FF is closed, it fixes the front hood portion FF to the front end cross member 140 as the frame portion 100. When the front hood portion FF is closed, the hood locking portion LK engages with an engaging portion EG provided on the front hood portion FF.

[0022] The upper frames 150 are provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction above the front side frames 120 and extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The upper frames 150 are made of metal or the like and have a substantially rectangular closed cross section. The upper frame 150 is connected to the toe board portion 110 at the rear side of the vehicle, and is connected to the front frame 130 at the front side of the vehicle. An upper cover portion 300 is fixed to the upper frame 150 on the upper side of the front portion of the vehicle.

[0023] The bumper beam BP extends in the vehicle width direction at the front lower portion of the vehicle and is made of metal or the like, and has a substantially rectangular closed cross section. The bumper beam BP is joined to the front side of the front frame 130 by welding or the like at both ends in the vehicle width direction.

[0024] (Regarding the front trunk 200) The front trunk section 200 is a storage box made of resin or other material for storing luggage, etc. The interior of the front trunk section 200 is formed in a recessed shape with an opening on the upper side of the vehicle. The front trunk section 200 is disposed on the vehicle rear side of the front end cross member 140 and on the vehicle upper side of the front side frames 120, on the inner side of the front side frames 120 and the upper frame 150 in the vehicle width direction.

[0025] (Regarding the upper cover part 300) The upper cover portions 300 are provided on both sides of the front airbag storage portion 400 in the vehicle width direction below the front front portion of the front hood portion FF, and form an inclined surface SL1 on the upper side of the vehicle that extends from the outer side of the upper portion of the vehicle to the inner side of the lower portion of the vehicle. Specifically, for example, as shown in Fig. 3, the upper cover portion 300 forms an inclined surface SL1 having an arc-shaped cross section made of a member such as resin on the front side of the vehicle. The inclined surface SL1 extends from the inside of the vehicle toward the outside of the vehicle and toward the upper side of the vehicle. The upper cover portion 300 is formed in the shape of a panel that is flat in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and is provided on the vehicle upper side of the front-end cross member 140 and the upper frame 150. A headlight unit portion (not shown) is provided on the vehicle lower side of the upper cover portion 300. The upper cover portion 300 is provided to cover the vehicle upper side of the frame portion 100 and the headlight unit portion. The outer peripheral portion of the upper cover portion 300 on the vehicle front side and on the vehicle width direction outer side is provided close to the outer peripheral portion of the front hood portion FF on the vehicle front side and on the vehicle width direction outer side.

[0026] (Regarding the front airbag storage area 400) The front airbag storage section 400 is provided under the front of the front hood section FF and in the center in the vehicle width direction. A storage lid section 420 having a rotation axis OR facing in the vehicle width direction and opening toward the front of the vehicle is provided on the upper rear side of the front airbag storage section 400. A front airbag 450 is stored under the storage lid section 420. As shown in Figures 4(a) to 4(c), the front airbag storage section 400 includes a storage unit 410, a storage lid section 420, and a storage pillar 430. The storage lid section 420 is provided with a front hood guide section 440. The front airbag storage section 400 stores a front airbag 450 and an inflator 460.

[0027] The storage unit 410 is a storage box made of resin or other material and formed in a generally rectangular shape with its long sides extending in the vehicle width direction when viewed from above. The storage unit 410 is enclosed on the front and rear sides, both sides in the vehicle width direction, and the bottom side, and has a concave shape with an open upper side. An inclined surface SL2 extending from the inside of the lower part of the vehicle (rear side of the lower part of the vehicle) to the outside of the upper part of the vehicle (front side of the upper part of the vehicle) is provided on the front side of the storage unit 410. The inclined surface SL2 of the storage unit 410 has substantially the same inclination angle as the inclined surface SL1 of the upper cover part 300. An inclined surface SL3 extending from the inside of the lower part of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction to the outside of the upper part of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction is provided on both sides of the storage unit 410 in the vehicle width direction. The outer end of the inclined surface SL3 in the vehicle width direction is located on approximately the same plane as the upper cover part 300. For example, the storage unit 410 may be integrally molded with the upper cover portion 300.

[0028] The storage lid portion 420 has a rotation axis OR facing in the vehicle width direction at the upper rear side of the front airbag storage portion 400, and the front side of the vehicle opens toward the upper side of the vehicle. The storage lid 420 is a flat plate made of a material such as resin and formed in a generally rectangular shape with its long sides extending in the vehicle width direction when viewed from above the vehicle. The storage lid 420 is provided to cover the opening of the storage unit 410 on the upper side of the vehicle. Storage pillars 430 are provided rotatably on both sides of the storage lid portion 420 in the vehicle width direction. A front hood guide portion 440 is provided on the front upper side of the storage lid portion 420 of the vehicle.

[0029] The storage pillars 430 are provided on both sides of the storage lid portion 420 in the vehicle width direction, and come into contact with the front side of the front airbag 450 when the front airbag 450 is inflated and deployed and the storage lid portion 420 is opened. The storage pillar 430 is a flat plate or rod made of a material such as metal or hard resin and formed into a substantially rectangular shape. The upper side of the storage pillar 430 is rotatably engaged with the storage lid 420. The lower side of the storage pillar 430 passes through a slide hole formed in the storage unit 410, for example, and is provided so as to be slidable in the vertical direction of the vehicle. When the front airbag 450 is inflated and deployed, the storage lid portion 420 opens, causing the storage pillars 430 to slide toward the upper side of the vehicle as supports on both sides of the opening of the storage lid portion 420 in the vehicle width direction, and to abut against the front side of the front airbag 450.

[0030] The front hood guide portion 440 protrudes toward the upper side of the vehicle from the storage lid portion 420, and engages with an engaging portion EG of the front hood portion FF when the front airbag 450 is inflated and deployed. Specifically, for example, as shown in Figures 4(b) and 4(c), the front hood guide portion 440 extends in the vehicle width direction and protrudes upward of the vehicle. When the storage lid portion 420 is opened, the front hood guide portion 440 engages with an engagement portion EG provided on the vehicle underside of the front hood portion FF.

[0031] The front airbag 450 is stored in the front airbag storage portion 400 in a folded state. When a collision occurs from the front side of the vehicle, the front airbag 450 inflates and deploys toward the front side of the vehicle of the front hood portion FF and in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle. When the front airbag 450 is inflated and deployed, the front airbag 450 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with its longitudinal direction aligned with the vehicle width direction.

[0032] Specifically, when the front airbag 450 is inflated and deployed, it inflates and deploys from the underside of the storage lid portion 420 toward the front of the vehicle and in the vehicle width direction, as shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), for example. The front airbag 450 inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle from between the front side of the vehicle sandwiched between the storage pillars 430 on both sides in the vehicle width direction while pushing up the storage lid portion 420 and the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle. The front airbag 450 facing toward the front of the vehicle inflates and deploys toward the upper side of the vehicle at the front end of the front hood portion FF, enveloping the front end of the front hood portion FF. Furthermore, the front airbag 450 pushes the front hood section FF upward toward the vehicle, and then inflates and deploys from the space between the storage pillar 430 and the rotation axis OR toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, along the inclined surface SL1 provided on the upper cover section 300. As shown in FIG. 5(a), the front airbag 450 facing in the vehicle width direction protrudes as front airbags 450L and 450R from between the vehicle upper side of the upper cover section 300 and the front hood section FF toward the front side of the vehicle and in the vehicle width direction. The front airbags 450L and 450R inflate and deploy toward the vehicle upper side at the vehicle front end and vehicle width end of the front hood section FF, enveloping the vehicle front end and vehicle width end of the front hood section FF.

[0033] The inflator 460 is connected to the front airbag 450 and supplies gas to the front airbag 450 when a collision occurs in the vehicle V. The inflator 460 is, for example, stored inside the front airbag storage section 400 and fixed to the storage unit 410.

[0034] <Actions and Effects> The operation of the vehicle body front structure 1 according to this embodiment configured as described above when a pedestrian or the like PD collides with the vehicle V from the front side of the vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c).

[0035] (When a collision occurs from the front of vehicle V) 6(a), when a pedestrian or the like PD collides with the front side of the vehicle V, the pedestrian or the like PD comes into contact with the front grille portion FG. When the pedestrian or the like PD comes into contact with the front grille portion FG and receives an impact, the vehicle body front structure 1 activates the inflator 460, which supplies gas to the front airbag 450, causing the front airbag 450 to inflate and deploy.

[0036] As shown in Figure 6(b), the inflated and deployed front airbag 450 pushes up the storage lid portion 420 of the front airbag storage portion 400 toward the top of the vehicle, and inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle and outward in the vehicle width direction along the inclined surfaces SL2 and SL3 provided on the front airbag storage portion 400.

[0037] The front airbag 450, which has inflated and deployed toward the front of the vehicle, pushes up the front end of the front hood part FF toward the upper side of the vehicle together with the storage lid part 420, and continues to inflate and deploy toward the front and upper sides of the vehicle. The gap between the storage lid part 420 and the front hood part FF widens further as the front airbag 450 inflates and deploys, and the storage lid part 420 rotates toward the upper rear side of the vehicle around the rotation axis OR. As the storage lid portion 420 rotates, the front hood guide portions 440 of the storage lid portion 420 engage with the engagement portions EG of the front hood portion FF, pushing the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle and guiding and pushing the front hood portion FF toward the rear of the vehicle. As the gap between the storage lid portion 420 and the front hood portion FF widens further, the front airbag 450 protrudes toward the front of the vehicle from between the inclined surface SL2 and the storage lid portion 420 and inflates and deploys along the front end of the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle so as to cover the front end of the front hood portion FF.

[0038] As shown in Figure 5(a), the front airbags 450 (front airbags 450L and 450R) that inflate and deploy toward the outside in the vehicle width direction protrude toward the vehicle width direction from between the inclined surfaces SL3 and the storage lid portion 420, and inflate and deploy along the inclined surfaces SL1 of the upper cover portions 300 provided on both sides of the front airbag storage portion 400 in the vehicle width direction. The front airbags 450L and 450R protrude from between the inclined surface SL1 and the front hood portion FF toward the front of the vehicle and in the vehicle width direction while lifting the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle. The front airbags 450L and 450R protrude from the vehicle front end of the front hood portion FF toward the outside of the vehicle at the vehicle width direction ends along the shape of the front hood portion FF. The front airbags 450L and 450R then inflate and deploy between the pedestrian, etc. PD and the vehicle front end and vehicle width direction ends of the front hood portion FF.

[0039] Furthermore, when the impact of the collision is large, as shown in Figure 6(c), the pedestrian PD, etc., rides up onto the front end of the front hood section FF due to the impact of the collision, and then falls down the upper side of the front hood section FF toward the rear of the vehicle, using the front end of the front hood section FF as a fulcrum.

[0040] The front airbag 450, which has inflated and deployed toward the front of the vehicle, protrudes further toward the front of the vehicle from between the inclined surface SL2 and the storage lid portion 420, and inflates and deploys along the front end of the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle so as to cover the front end of the front hood portion FF.

[0041] The front airbags 450 (front airbags 450L and 450R) that are inflated and deployed toward the outside in the vehicle width direction protrude in the vehicle width direction from between the inclined surface SL3 of the front airbag storage portion 400 and the storage lid portion 420. The front airbags 450L and 450R extend in the vehicle width direction along the inclined surface SL1 provided on the upper cover portion 300, and further protrude forward in the vehicle width direction and outward in the vehicle width direction from between the inclined surface SL1 and the front hood portion FF. The front airbags 450L and 450R then protrude toward the upper side of the vehicle at the vehicle front end and vehicle width direction end of the front hood portion FF along the shape of the front hood portion FF, and inflate and deploy so as to envelop the vehicle front end and vehicle width direction end of the front hood portion FF. The front airbag 450 inflates and deploys between the pedestrian or the like PD and the vehicle front end and vehicle width direction end of the front hood portion FF, thereby enveloping the pedestrian or the like PD and absorbing the impact of the collision.

[0042] As described above, the front airbag 450 that has inflated and deployed toward the front of the vehicle pushes up the storage lid portion 420 and the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle, and then inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle from the space at the front of the vehicle sandwiched between the storage pillars 430 on both sides in the vehicle width direction. The front airbag 450 inflates and deploys toward the upper side of the vehicle at the vehicle front end portion of the front hood portion FF along the shape of the front hood portion FF, and envelops the vehicle front end portion of the front hood portion FF. The front airbags 450 (front airbags 450L and 450R) that inflate and deploy in the vehicle width direction push up the front hood section FF toward the upper side of the vehicle, and then inflate and deploy in the vehicle width direction from the space between the storage pillar 430 and the rotation axis OR. The front airbags 450 that inflate and deploy in the vehicle width direction protrude toward the front of the vehicle and outward in the vehicle width direction from between the inclined surface SL1 of the upper cover section 300 and the front hood section FF. The front airbags 450 inflate and deploy in the vehicle width direction toward the upper side of the vehicle at the vehicle front end of the front hood section FF, following the shape of the front hood section FF, and then inflate and deploy so as to envelop the vehicle front end of the front hood section FF. Since the storage pillar 430 is provided in the front airbag storage section 400, when a pedestrian or the like PD collides with the front side of the vehicle V, the front airbag 450, which has one air chamber, is inflated and deployed separately in the front direction of the vehicle and in the vehicle width direction. By inflating and deploying the front airbag 450 between the pedestrian, etc. PD and the vehicle front end and vehicle width direction end of the front hood section FF, the front airbag 450 envelops the pedestrian, etc. PD while absorbing the impact of the collision and reducing the burden that the vehicle front end and vehicle width direction end of the front hood section FF impose on the pedestrian, etc. PD.

[0043] Then, when the vehicle V comes to a stop, the absorption of the impact caused by the collision in the vehicle body front structure 1 ends.

[0044] As described above, the vehicle body front structure 1 according to this embodiment includes the front hood section FF, which has an opening / closing axis TR facing in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle front side of the cabin CA of the vehicle V, the front airbag 450 that inflates and deploys on the vehicle front side of the front hood section FF and in the vehicle width direction of the front of the vehicle when a collision occurs from the front side of the vehicle, and the storage lid section 420 that is provided on the vehicle front lower side and in the center in the vehicle width direction of the front hood section FF, has a rotation axis OR facing in the vehicle width direction on the upper rear side of the vehicle, and is open on the front side of the vehicle toward the upper side of the vehicle, and the storage lid section 420 is provided on the vehicle front lower side and in the center in the vehicle width direction of the front hood section FF, The front airbag storage section 400 has a front airbag 450 stored on the vehicle underside of the storage lid section 420, a front hood guide section 440 that is provided on the storage lid section 420 and guides the front hood section FF to the rear of the vehicle when the front airbag 450 inflates and deploys, and upper cover sections 300 that are provided on both sides of the front airbag storage section 400 in the vehicle width direction below the front part of the front hood section FF and have an inclined surface SL1 on the upper side of the vehicle that faces from the upper front side of the vehicle to the lower rear side of the vehicle. In other words, when a collision occurs between the front of the vehicle V and a pedestrian or the like PD, the pedestrian or the like PD is caused to climb onto the front end of the front hood section FF due to the impact of the collision, and then falls down the upper side of the front hood section FF towards the rear of the vehicle, using the front end of the front hood section FF as a fulcrum. At this time, in the vehicle body front structure 1, gas is supplied from the inflator 460 to the front airbag 450, causing the front airbag 450 to inflate. The front airbag 450 pushes up the storage lid portion 420 of the front airbag storage portion 400 toward the upper side of the vehicle, and inflates and deploys toward the front side of the vehicle and outward in the vehicle width direction along the inclined surfaces SL2 and SL3 provided on the front airbag storage portion 400. The front airbag 450 facing the front of the vehicle protrudes from between the inclined surface SL2 and the storage lid portion 420 toward the front of the vehicle, and inflates and deploys along the front end of the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle so as to cover the front end of the front hood portion FF. The front airbag 450, facing in the vehicle width direction, protrudes from between the inclined surface SL3 and the storage lid portion 420 and inflates and deploys outward in the vehicle width direction along the inclined surface SL1 provided on the upper cover portion 300. The front airbag 450 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from between the inclined surface SL1 and the front hood portion FF while lifting the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle. The front hood guide portion 440 engages with the engagement portion EG on the front hood portion FF as the storage lid portion 420 rotates, pushing the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle and guiding the front hood portion FF toward the rear side of the vehicle. The front airbag 450 then protrudes from the front side of the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle and inflates and deploys to cover the front end and the vehicle width direction end of the front hood portion FF. Therefore, when a pedestrian or other PD collides with the front of the vehicle V and the pedestrian or other PD runs onto the front hood section FF, the front airbag 450 inflates and deploys to cover the front hood section FF between the pedestrian or other PD and the front end and vehicle width direction end of the front hood section FF, thereby allowing the front body structure 1 to reduce the impact on the pedestrian or other PD and reduce the burden that the front end and vehicle width direction end of the front hood section FF impose on the pedestrian or other PD. Therefore, when a collision occurs with a pedestrian or the like from the front of the vehicle, the burden on the pedestrian or the like can be reduced.

[0045] In the vehicle body front structure 1 according to this embodiment, storage pillars 430 are provided on both sides of the storage lid portion 420 in the vehicle width direction as pillars that abut the front side of the vehicle of the front airbag 450 when the front airbag 450 is inflated and deployed. That is, when a pedestrian or the like PD collides with the vehicle V from the front side of the vehicle, the front airbag 450 inflates and deploys toward the front side of the vehicle and in the vehicle width direction. The front airbag 450 that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle pushes up the storage lid portion 420 and the front hood portion FF toward the upper side of the vehicle, and then inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle from the space at the front of the vehicle sandwiched between the storage pillars 430 on both sides in the vehicle width direction. The front airbag 450 inflates and deploys toward the upper side of the vehicle at the front end of the front hood portion FF along the shape of the front hood portion FF, and envelops the front end of the front hood portion FF. The front airbag 450 that inflates and deploys in the vehicle width direction pushes the front hood section FF toward the upper side of the vehicle, and then inflates and deploys outward in the vehicle width direction from the space between the storage pillar 430 and the rotation axis OR. The front airbag 450 that inflates and deploys outward in the vehicle width direction protrudes toward the front of the vehicle and outward in the vehicle width direction from between the inclined surface SL1 of the upper cover section 300 and the front hood section FF. The front airbag 450 inflates and deploys in the vehicle width direction toward the upper side of the vehicle at the vehicle front end of the front hood section FF, following the shape of the front hood section FF, and then inflates and deploys so as to envelop the vehicle front end of the front hood section FF. Therefore, when a pedestrian or the like PD collides with the front side of the vehicle V, the vehicle front structure 1 inflates and deploys the front airbag 450, which has one air chamber formed by the storage pillar 430, separately in the vehicle front direction and the vehicle width direction. By reliably inflating and deploying the front airbag 450 to cover the front hood section FF between the pedestrian or the like PD and the vehicle front end and vehicle width direction end of the front hood section FF, the vehicle front structure 1 can reliably reduce the impact on the pedestrian or the like PD and can also reliably reduce the burden that the vehicle front end and vehicle width direction end of the front hood section FF impose on the pedestrian or the like PD. Therefore, when a collision occurs with a pedestrian or the like from the front of the vehicle, the burden on the pedestrian or the like can be reduced.

[0046] In the embodiment according to the present invention, the storage unit 410 and the upper cover portion 300 in the front airbag storage portion 400 are described as separate parts, but the storage unit 410 and the upper cover portion 300 may be integrally molded.

[0047] In this embodiment, the front airbag storage section 400 has been described as being provided in a single location in the center of the vehicle width direction on the upper side of the front end cross member 140, but multiple front airbag storage sections may be provided and multiple front airbags may be provided. For example, a front airbag storage section A1 and a front airbag A1 that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle may be provided at the front of the vehicle, and a front airbag storage section B1 (front airbag storage section B1L and front airbag storage section B1R) and a front airbag B1 (front airbag B1L and front airbag B1R) that inflates and deploys toward the outside in the vehicle width direction may be provided at the outside in the vehicle width direction. In this case, by reducing the capacity of each front airbag at the front of the vehicle and the outside in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to speed up the inflation and deployment of each front airbag. Furthermore, by speeding up the inflation and deployment of each front airbag, it is possible to further reduce the impact on pedestrians and the like.

[0048] The above describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1; Front body structure 110;Toe board section 120;Front side frame 130;Front frame 140; front end cross member 150; upper frame 200; Front trunk 300;Upper cover part 400;Front airbag storage area 410;Storage unit 420; Storage lid 430;Storage pillar 440; Front hood guide 450; front airbag 450L; front airbags 450R; front airbag 460; Inflator BP; Bumper beam FF: Front hood LK: Hood lock V; Vehicle

Claims

1. a front hood portion in which an opening / closing axis facing in a vehicle width direction is provided on a vehicle front side of a cabin of the vehicle; at least one or more front airbags that inflate and deploy toward the front of the front hood portion and in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle when a collision occurs from the front of the vehicle; a front airbag storage section that is provided below a front portion of the front hood section, has a rotation axis facing in the vehicle width direction at a rear side of the vehicle, and includes a storage lid section whose front side is open toward an upper side of the vehicle, and in which the front airbag is stored below the storage lid section; a front hood guide portion that protrudes toward an upper side of the vehicle from the storage lid portion and engages with the front hood portion when the front airbag is inflated and deployed; upper cover portions provided on both sides of the front airbag storage portion in the vehicle width direction below the front front portion of the front hood portion, the upper cover portions having inclined surfaces on the vehicle upper side from the outer side of the upper portion of the vehicle toward the inner side of the lower portion of the vehicle; A vehicle front structure comprising:

2. 2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein pillars are provided on both sides of the storage lid portion in the vehicle width direction, and the pillars abut the front side of the front airbag when the front airbag is inflated and deployed.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Hood pop-up structure

    JP2020147074A