Bracket and door impact beam having the same

Abstract

To provide a bracket capable of improving assemblability and weldability of a beam and the bracket and moldability of the bracket in a door impact beam, and the door impact beam having the bracket.SOLUTION: The bracket 3 for the door impact beam has a storage part 6 for storing a part of the beam 4, the storage part 6 has a first recessed part 7 and a second recessed part 8, and the beam 4 is fixed to the first recessed part 7 by welding. The first inner surface side 7a of the first recessed portion 7 protrudes inward from the second inner surface side 8a of the second recessed portion 8, the longitudinal sections of both end portions side 7a and side 7bt of the first inner surface side 7bb have an arc shape with the first curvature radius R1, the longitudinal sections of both end portions side 8a and side 8bt in the circumferential direction of the second inner surface side 8bb have an arc shape with the second curvature radius, and the first curvature radius is smaller than the second curvature radius. R2 R1 R2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bracket and a door impact beam having the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Door impact beams are comprised of a pipe-shaped beam and a bracket (extension) and are installed on vehicle doors. When the beam is housed and fixed in a recess in the bracket, there may be a partial gap between the beam and the recess.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method in which a recess is formed in a bracket, protrusions are formed at the center and both ends in the circumferential direction of the recess, extending over the entire axial direction of the recess and protruding into the recess, beams are arranged to contact the protrusions, and the protrusions located at both ends are fixed to the beam by welding.It describes that in areas where no protrusions are provided, gaps are formed between the beam and the recess, and gas during welding can escape through these gaps, improving weldability.

[0004] In addition, a recess is formed in the bracket, and the portion where the recess and the beam are welded is brought close enough that they abut, while at the tip of the beam, the recess and the beam are not welded but are spaced apart to prevent the beam from coming into contact with the bracket and applying a load (see Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7412256 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6907850 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When assembling the beam into the recess of the bracket, it is easier to assemble if the inner diameter of the recess of the bracket is larger than the outer diameter of the beam. In other words, when assembling, it is easier and more efficient to have a certain amount of gap between the beam and the recess of the bracket. On the other hand, when fixing the beam into the recess of the bracket by welding, it is easier and more efficient to fix by welding if there is a small gap between the beam and the recess of the bracket.

[0007] One method for achieving both ease of assembly and weldability between the beam and bracket is to precisely form the recess in the bracket. However, requiring high precision in the bracket formation raises concerns about increased molding costs and a high reject rate during molding, making it difficult to ensure the formability of the bracket. Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not describe or suggest how to improve all of this ease of assembly, weldability, and formability.

[0008] In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide a bracket that can achieve good assembly and welding properties between the beam and the bracket, as well as good formability of the bracket, and a door impact beam having the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a bracket for a door impact beam that is disposed in a vehicle door and has a beam extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the bracket comprising: a housing portion that houses a part of the beam; the housing portion has a first recess and a second recess, and the beam is fixed to the first recess by welding; a first inner surface of the first recess protrudes inward from a second inner surface of the second recess, a longitudinal cross section of the first inner surface at both ends in the circumferential direction centered on the extension direction of the first recessed portion has an arc shape with a first radius of curvature and a center located outside the first inner surface; a longitudinal cross section of the second inner surface at both ends in the circumferential direction centered on the extension direction of the second recessed portion has an arc shape with a second radius of curvature and a center located outside the second inner surface; The bracket is characterized in that the first radius of curvature is smaller than the second radius of curvature.

[0010] The present invention may also be a door impact beam comprising the bracket according to claim 1 and the beam.

[0011] The beam may be in contact with a central portion in a circumferential direction centered on the extending direction of the first recess. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, the first inner surface of the first recess protrudes inward from the second inner surface of the second recess, and the first radius of curvature of both circumferential ends of the first inner surface is smaller than the second radius of curvature of both circumferential ends of the second inner surface. Therefore, the gap between both circumferential ends of the first inner surface and the beam can be set to a distance suitable for welding, and the gap between the entire circumferential portion of the second inner surface and the beam can be made large.

[0013] As a result, the beam and bracket can be easily assembled and the welding is good. That is, the assembly and weldability can be improved. Furthermore, in order to improve the weldability, the first recess requires high forming accuracy to the extent that the first radius of curvature can be made sufficiently small, but the forming accuracy required for the second recess can be lower than that of the first recess, so the formability of the bracket can be improved. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve good assembly and weldability between the beam and bracket as well as good formability of the bracket. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a vehicle door on which a door impact beam according to a first embodiment of the present invention is installed. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door impact beam of FIG. 1; [Figure 3] Side view of Figure 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bracket used in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 5(a) is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the first recess in FIG. 2 before welding, and FIG. 5(b) is an enlarged view of one end portion. [Figure 6] Schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the welded state from the state shown in Figure 5. [Figure 7] 7(a) is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the second recess in FIG. 2, and FIG. 7(b) is an enlarged view of one end portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a door impact beam according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Side view of Figure 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bracket used in the embodiment of FIG. 8. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of the door impact beam according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] Side view of Figure 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a first recess of an example of a bracket used in Example 3 of the present invention. [Figure 14] 14 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a second recess in the bracket shown in FIG. 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a door impact beam according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] [Example 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle door 2 on the passenger compartment side, on which a door impact beam 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door impact beam 1. As shown in FIG.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the door impact beam 1 has a bracket 3 made up of an extension and a beam 4. The beam 4 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, is disposed within the door 2, and is provided so as to extend in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0018] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the bracket 3 is provided at a rear portion located behind the attached door 2 (i.e., the rear side of the vehicle) in the direction of the axis XX of the beam 4. A different bracket 10 is attached to a front portion located in front of the attached door 2 (i.e., the front side of the vehicle). The bracket 3 of the present invention may be applied instead of the different bracket 10 used at the front side of the beam 4 in the direction of the axis XX.

[0019] 1 to 4, the bracket 3 has a pair of mounting portions 5a, 5b, and a recessed accommodation portion 6 capable of accommodating a part of the beam 4 is formed between the mounting portions 5a, 5b. The mounting portions 5a, 5b are fixed to the door 2 by welding or the like, so that the rear sides of the bracket 3 and the beam 4 can be fixed to the door 2.

[0020] The housing portion 6 has a first recess 7 and a second recess 8. A first inner surface 7a, which is the inner peripheral surface of the first recess 7, extends in the direction of the axis XX of the beam 4 and is formed in a substantially arc shape centered on a central axis O7 that is substantially parallel to the axis XX. The central axis O7 is located near the axis XX.

[0021] Second recesses 8 are provided on both sides of the first recess 7 in the direction of the axis XX of the beam 4, respectively.

[0022] The radius of curvature R7 of the first inner surface 7a of the first recess 7 is formed to be slightly larger than the radius of curvature R4 of the outer peripheral surface of the beam 4.

[0023] The second inner surface 8a, which is the inner peripheral surface of the second recess 8, extends in the direction of the axis XX of the beam 4 and is formed in a generally arc shape centered on a central axis O8 that is generally parallel to the axis XX. The radius of curvature R8 of the second inner surface 8a of the second recess 8 is larger than the radius of curvature R7 of the first inner surface 7a of the first recess 7. The central axis O8 is farther away from the housing portion 6 of the bracket 3 than the axis XX.

[0024] 4, the first inner surface 7a of the first recess 7 is formed so as to protrude inward from the first inner surface 8a of the second recess 8, that is, in the direction of the axis XX of the beam 4.

[0025] For comparison, Fig. 5(a) shows the second inner surface 8a of the second recess 8 by a dashed line. As shown in Figs. 5(a) and 7(a), on the first inner surface 7a and the second inner surface 8a, the central portions 7ar and 8ar located on the circumferential center side of the recess (door 2 side) are curved surfaces of approximately the same height, but with respect to the side portions located on both sides of the circumferential direction of the recess, the side portions 7at and 7ab of the first recess 7 protrude further than the side portions 8at and 8ab of the second recess 8. For this reason, as shown in Figs. 5(a) and 7(a), when the beam 4 is placed in the storage section 6, the beam 4 is in contact with the central portions 7ar and 8ar and is also in general contact with the side portions 7at and 7ab, but is not in contact with the side portions 8at and 8ab.

[0026] The first inner surface 7a of the first recess 7 has a longitudinal cross section (a cross section approximately perpendicular to the central axis O7) of both circumferential ends 7bt, 7bb centered on the central axis O7, each of which is formed in an arc shape with a center O1 located outside the first inner surface 7a and a first radius of curvature R1, as shown in Figure 5(b).

[0027] The second inner surface 8a of the second recess 8 has a longitudinal cross section (a cross section approximately perpendicular to the central axis O8) of both circumferential ends 8bt, 8bb centered on the central axis O8, each of which is formed in an arc shape with a center O2 located outside the second inner surface 8a and a second radius of curvature R2, as shown in Figure 7(b).

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the first radius of curvature R1, which is the radius of curvature of both end portions 7bt, 7bb in the circumferential direction of the first inner surface 7a, is smaller than the second radius of curvature R2, which is the radius of curvature of both end portions 8bt, 8bb in the circumferential direction of the second inner surface 8a (R1 <R2)。

[0029] The beam 4 can be fixed to the bracket 3 by fixing at least a part of both end portions 7bt, 7bb of the first recess 7 in the direction of the axis XX to the beam 4 by welding W. The beam 4 is not welded to both end portions 8bt, 8bb of the second recess 8. The both end portions 7bt, 7bb of the first recess 7 may be fixed to the beam 4 by welding over the entire length in the direction of the axis XX. Also, for example, in the second recess 8 near the first recess 7, parts of both end portions 8bt, 8bb may be joined to the beam 4 by welding W.

[0030] 5 to 7, the width of the door impact beam 1 in the thickness direction of the door 2 can be reduced by abutting the central portions 7ar and 8ar against the beam 4, but this is not limiting. The central portions 7ar and 8ar may be spaced apart from the beam 4. In addition, the radius of curvature R7 of the first inner surface 7a may be the same as the radius of curvature R4 of the outer peripheral surface of the beam 4.

[0031] 5 to 7, the radius of curvature R8 of the second inner surface 8a of the second recess 8 is larger than the radius of curvature R7 of the first inner surface 7a of the first recess 7. However, this is not limiting, and the radii of curvature R7 and R8 may be substantially the same. It is sufficient that at least one of the two side portions 7at, 7ab of the first recess 7 protrudes beyond the two side portions 8at, 8ab of the second recess 8 on the same circumferential side. This configuration allows the distance between the first inner surface 7a to be welded and the beam 4 to be a distance suitable for welding, and the distance between the second inner surface 8a not to be welded and the beam 4 to be a distance that ensures a gap. This improves the ease of assembly and welding of the beam 4 and the bracket 3.

[0032] In addition, by reducing the first radius of curvature R1 of both ends 7bt, 7bb of the first inner surface 7a where welding is performed, the weldability is further improved. Furthermore, by increasing the second radius of curvature R2 of both ends 8at, 8ab of the second inner surface 8a where welding is not performed, the number of parts requiring high forming accuracy can be reduced, thereby improving the formability of the entire bracket 3. In other words, according to the above-mentioned Example 1, it is possible to achieve good formability of the bracket 3 as well as good assemblability and weldability between the beam 4 and the bracket 3.

[0033] Furthermore, by forming the first radius of curvature R1 at both circumferential ends 7bt, 7bb of the first inner surface 7a to be smaller than the second radius of curvature R2 at both circumferential ends 8bt, 8bb of the second inner surface 8a, the molding accuracy required for the first recess 7 is higher, but the molding accuracy required for the second recess 8 may be lower than that of the first recess 7, thereby improving the moldability of the bracket 3 and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0034] As described above, the door impact beam 1 of the present invention can be easily assembled, welded, and formed while keeping the manufacturing cost low.

[0035] [Example 2] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the second recesses 8 are provided at positions on both sides of the first recess 7 in the direction of the axis XX of the beam 4, but the positions of the first recess 7 and the second recess 8 can be set arbitrarily. Note that in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the end (more specifically, the rear end) of the beam 4 is configured not to protrude outward (rearward) from the bracket 3, but as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the end of the beam 4 may be configured to protrude outward from the bracket 3.

[0036] For example, as in the bracket 13 of the door impact beam 11 shown in Figures 8 to 10, the first recess 17 may be located at the outer end of the beam 4 in the direction of the axis XX (the rear end located toward the rear of the vehicle), and the second recess 18 may be located at the inner end of the beam 4 in the direction of the axis XX (the front side of the vehicle). As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the beam 4 may protrude from the rear end of the bracket 13. In this case, it is preferable that the protruding portion of the beam 4 is located at a position corresponding to a high-rigidity area of ​​the vehicle door 2. When an impact is received from the side of the vehicle, the protruding portion of the beam 4 abuts against the high-rigidity area of ​​the door 2, thereby improving impact resistance.

[0037] For example, as in the bracket 23 of the door impact beam structure 21 shown in Figures 11 and 12, the positions and lengths of the first recess 27 and the second recess 28 may be different from those in Example 1.

[0038] The rest of the structure is the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0039] The second embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0040] [Example 3] In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the beam 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the housing portion 6 of the bracket 3 is formed in a semicircular cross section corresponding to the beam 4, but this is not limited to this. The cross section of the beam 4 can be formed in any shape, such as a rectangle (a polygonal shape such as an approximately square or an approximately hexagon), an ellipse, etc., and the housing portion 6 of the bracket 3 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the beam 4.

[0041] For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the beam 34 may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a substantially rectangular cross section, and the housing portion 36 of the bracket 33 may be formed as a recess with substantially flat surfaces at the center and both sides in the circumferential direction.

[0042] In this embodiment, the first inner surface 37a of the first recess 37 is formed to protrude inward, i.e., toward the axis XX of the beam 34, from the second inner surface 38a of the second recess 38. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, when the beam 34 is placed in the storage section 6, the beam 34 is in contact with the central portions (portions on the door 2 side) of the first inner surface 37a and the second inner surface 38a and is also in contact with both side portions of the first inner surface 37a, but is not in contact with both side portions of the second inner surface 38a. Note that, as in the first embodiment, when the beam 34 is placed in the storage section 6, the beam 34 may be spaced apart from the central portions (portions on the door 2 side) of the first inner surface 37a and the second inner surface 38a.

[0043] Also, as shown in Figure 13, the longitudinal cross section of both circumferential end portions 37bt, 37bb centered on the extension direction of the first recess 37 (the direction of the axis XX of the beam 34) is formed in an arc shape whose center is located outside the first inner surface 37a and whose radius of curvature is the first radius of curvature R31.

[0044] The longitudinal cross section of both circumferential ends 38bt, 38bb centered on the extension direction of the second recess 38 (the direction of the axis XX of the beam 34) is formed in an arc shape with its center located outside the second inner surface 38a and with a second radius of curvature R32.

[0045] The first curvature radius R31 is smaller than the second curvature radius R32 (R31 <R32)。

[0046] The rest of the structure is the same as in the first and second embodiments, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0047] The third embodiment also achieves the same effects as the first and second embodiments. Even if the shape of the vertical cross section of the beam is not circular and the shape of the housing portion in the bracket is not arc-shaped, as in the third embodiment, it is sufficient that the first inner surface 37a (particularly both side portions thereof) is configured to protrude inward from the second inner surface 38a, and the first radius of curvature R31 at both end portions 37bt, 37bb is made smaller than the second radius of curvature R32 at both end portions 38bt, 38bb. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1,11,21 Door impact beam 2-door 3,13,23,33 bracket 4,34 Beam 6,36 Storage unit 7,17,37 First recess 7a,37a 1st inner surface 7bt, 7bb, 37bt, 37bb Circumferential ends of the first recess 7ar: circumferential center of the first recess 7at, 7ab: both circumferential sides of the first recess 8,18,38 Second recess 8a, 38a Second inner surface 8bt, 8bb, 38bt, 38bb Both ends of the second inner surface in the circumferential direction 8ar: circumferential center of second recess 8at, 8ab: Both circumferential sides of the first recess

Claims

1. A bracket for a door impact beam that is disposed in a vehicle door and has a beam extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a housing portion that houses a part of the beam; the housing portion has a first recess and a second recess, and the beam is fixed to the first recess by welding; a first inner surface of the first recess protrudes inward from a second inner surface of the second recess, a longitudinal cross section of the first inner surface at both ends in a circumferential direction centered on the extension direction of the first recessed portion has an arc shape with a first radius of curvature and a center located outside the first inner surface; a longitudinal cross section of the second inner surface at both ends in the circumferential direction centered on the extension direction of the second recessed portion has an arc shape with a second radius of curvature and a center located outside the second inner surface; The bracket, wherein the first radius of curvature is smaller than the second radius of curvature.

2. A door impact beam comprising the bracket according to claim 1 and the beam.

3. The door impact beam according to claim 2, wherein the beam contacts a central portion of the first recess in a circumferential direction centered on the extending direction of the first recess.

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