Vehicle shock absorbing structure

Abstract

To provide an impact absorbing structure of a vehicle capable of generating a difference in an input to a pressure sensor depending on a collided object even though the pressure sensor is provided in a front part of an impact absorbing body.SOLUTION: An impact absorbing structure of a vehicle comprises: an impact absorbing body 21 which is provided to a front end of a vehicle and extends in a vehicle width direction; a pressure sensor 22 which is provided in a front part of the impact absorbing body 21; and a cover body 23 having a covering part 23a which covers the front surface of the impact absorbing body 21. The cover body 23 has: an extension part 23d which is connected to a bottom end of the covering part 23a and extends rearward along a bottom face 21b of the impact absorbing body 21; and a protrusion part 23f which is connected to a rear end of the extension part 23d and protrudes frontward with respect to the covering part 23a under the impact absorption body 21, with the rear end of the extension part 23d being located rearward of the pressure sensor 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an impact absorbing structure for a vehicle having an impact absorber extending in a vehicle width direction. [Background technology]

[0002] A known vehicle shock absorbing structure has a pressure chamber attached to the front of the bumper reinforcement and an absorber extending in the vehicle width direction between the bumper reinforcement and the bumper cover (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The absorber has a main body portion disposed below the pressure chamber and a spacer portion disposed above the main body portion, and the front surface of the spacer portion is disposed rearward of the front surface of the main body portion. In this way, when an impact body other than a pedestrian collides with the vehicle bumper, the main body portion is compressed and deformed, and then the spacer portion is deformed toward the pressure chamber, thereby reducing the deformation amount of the pressure chamber. In this way, the difference between the output value of the signal output from the pressure detector to the collision determination unit when an impact body other than a pedestrian collides with the vehicle bumper and the output value when a pedestrian collides with the vehicle bumper is increased. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-84068 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In some cases, the pressure sensor is built into the front of the shock absorbing body in the shock absorbing structure of the vehicle. In this case, the shock absorbing structure described in Patent Document 1 cannot be applied.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide an impact absorbing structure for a vehicle that can generate differences in the input to the pressure sensor depending on the colliding object, even if the pressure sensor is built into the front side of the impact absorbing body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided an impact absorbing structure for a vehicle comprising an impact absorbing body installed at the front end side of the vehicle and extending in the vehicle width direction, a pressure sensor built into the front side of the impact absorbing body, and a cover body having a covering portion covering the front surface of the impact absorbing body, wherein the cover body has an extension portion connected to the lower end side of the covering portion and extending rearward along the lower surface of the impact absorbing portion, and a protrusion portion connected to the rear end side of the extension portion and protruding below the impact absorbing body and forward beyond the front end of the impact absorbing body, and the rear end of the extension portion is positioned rearward of the pressure sensor.

[0007] According to this vehicle impact absorbing structure, when the vehicle collides with an object, a difference can be made in the input to the pressure sensor depending on whether the input from the object to the impact absorbing structure is from above or below. When the impact from the impact object is applied to the upper side of the impact absorbing structure, the impact is applied from the upper side of the front end of the cover body to the rear. At this time, the covering part of the cover body presses the front side of the impact absorbing body, and the front side of the impact absorbing body is crushed, so that a relatively large input is applied to the pressure sensor. On the other hand, when the input from the colliding object is applied to the lower side of the shock absorbing structure, the input from the colliding object is applied rearward from the lower side of the front end of the cover body. Here, since the protruding portion of the cover body protrudes forward from the covering portion, the input from the colliding object is transmitted from the protruding portion of the cover body to the rear end side of the extending portion, and the extending portion of the cover body rotates around the front end side. As a result, the rear end side of the extending portion of the cover body moves upward, and the shock absorbing body is bent upward by the rear end side of the extending portion. At this time, since the rear end of the extending portion of the cover body is located rearward from the pressure sensor, the amount of deformation in the shock absorbing body near the pressure sensor can be reduced, and the input to the pressure sensor can be reduced compared to when the input from the colliding object is applied to the upper side of the shock absorbing structure.

[0008] In the above shock absorbing structure for a vehicle, the extending portion of the cover body may be formed so as to slope rearward, and the shock absorbing body may have an upper surface formed so as to slope rearward.

[0009] According to this vehicle shock absorbing structure, the rear end side of the extension part of the cover body is positioned relatively low, so that when a colliding object enters the lower side of the shock absorbing structure, the layout can be made to easily transmit the input from the colliding object to the shock absorbing body. Also, by making the upper surface of the shock absorbing body slope downward toward the rear, the orientation of the upper surface can be brought closer to a direction perpendicular to the input from the rear end side of the extension part of the cover body, and the bending deformation amount of the shock absorbing body can be increased.

[0010] In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle impact absorption structure, the impact absorber is formed so that its vertical dimension decreases toward the front, and the rear end of the extension portion of the cover body may be located forward of the front-to-rear center of the impact absorber.

[0011] According to this vehicle impact absorption structure, the rear end of the extension portion of the cover body is located forward of the front-to-rear center of the impact absorbing body, so that when a colliding object enters the impact absorbing structure from below, the impact absorbing body, whose vertical dimensions become smaller toward the front, can be deformed relatively greatly.

[0012] In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle impact absorption structure, the impact absorber is formed so that its vertical dimension increases toward the front, and the rear end of the extension portion of the cover body may be located rearward of the fore-aft center of the impact absorber.

[0013] According to this vehicle impact absorption structure, the rear end of the extension portion of the cover body is located rearward of the front-to-rear center of the impact absorber, so that when a colliding object enters the impact absorption structure from below, the impact absorber, whose vertical dimensions increase toward the front, can be deformed relatively greatly.

[0014] In the above-mentioned vehicle shock absorbing structure, the shock absorbing body may be formed so that the vertical dimension is constant across the front and rear, and the rear end of the extension portion of the cover body may be located near the front-to-rear center of the shock absorbing body.

[0015] According to this vehicle impact absorption structure, the rear end of the extension portion of the cover body is located near the front-to-rear center of the impact absorber, so that when a colliding object enters the impact absorption structure from below, the impact absorber, which has constant vertical dimensions from front to back, can be deformed relatively greatly. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the vehicle impact absorbing structure of the present invention, even if the pressure sensor is built into the front side of the impact absorbing body, it is possible to generate a difference in input to the pressure sensor depending on the colliding object. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view of a vehicle showing an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the central impact absorbing portion. [Diagram 5] 11A and 11B are explanatory views of the operation of the central impact absorbing portion when a colliding object is input to the central impact absorbing portion from above; [Figure 6] 11A and 11B are explanatory views of the operation of the central impact absorbing portion when a colliding object is input to the central impact absorbing portion from below; [Figure 7] 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a central impact absorbing portion showing a modified example. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Figures 1 to 6 show one embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 1 being an external oblique view of a vehicle showing one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 being an explanatory oblique view of the front part of the vehicle body, Figure 3 being an explanatory exploded oblique view of the impact absorbing structure, Figure 4 being a side cross-sectional view of the central impact absorbing section, Figure 5 being an explanatory view of the operation of the central impact absorbing section when a colliding object is input to the central impact absorbing section from above, and Figure 6 being an explanatory view of the operation of the central impact absorbing section when a colliding object is input to the central impact absorbing section from below.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, the impact absorbing structure of this vehicle 100 is provided behind a bumper face 101 that forms the design surface at the front end of the vehicle 100. As shown in Fig. 2, a plurality of impact absorbing sections 1, 2, and 3 extending in the vehicle width direction are provided behind the bumper face 100. For the sake of explanation, Fig. 2 shows a state in which the bumper face 100 has been removed from the vehicle body 4 side. In this embodiment, three impact absorbing sections are provided: a lower impact absorbing section 1, a central impact absorbing section 2, and an upper impact absorbing section 3. Each of the impact absorbing sections 1, 2, and 3 is fixed to a predetermined position on the vehicle body 4.

[0020] 2, the vehicle body 4 is configured by assembling panel-shaped members, for example, press-molded from steel plates, and joining them by spot welding, etc. The vehicle body 4 includes a pair of left and right side frames (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction, a bumper beam 41 connecting front ends of the side frames via brackets and extending in the vehicle width direction, a pair of left and right radiator panels 42 connected to the front ends of the side frames and extending in the up-down direction, a radiator lower support 43 connecting lower ends of the radiator panels 42 and extending in the vehicle width direction, a radiator upper support 44 connecting upper ends of the radiator panels 42 and extending in the vehicle width direction, and a pair of left and right connecting members 45 connecting vehicle width direction ends of the radiator upper support 44 to a pair of left and right upper frames (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction. The bumper beam 41 is formed to be longer outward in the vehicle width direction than the radiator upper support 44, and a pair of left and right headlamps (not shown) are disposed outward in the vehicle width direction from the radiator upper support 44.

[0021] The vehicle body 4 also includes a subframe 46. The subframe 46 has a pair of left and right front-rear extending portions 46a extending in the front-rear direction below each side frame, and a vehicle width extending portion 46b connecting the front ends of the front-rear extending portions 46a and extending in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle width extending portion 46b is disposed forward of the radiator lower support 43.

[0022] The lower impact absorbing part 1 is provided in front of the vehicle width extending part 46b of the subframe 46. In this embodiment, the lower impact absorbing part 1 is configured by dividing it into a front part 11 and a rear part 12, and the front part 11 and the rear part 12 are integrally provided on the vehicle body 4. The material of the lower impact absorbing part 1 is arbitrary and can be, for example, resin, and in this embodiment, the front part 11 and the rear part 12 are made of non-foamed polypropylene.

[0023] The upper impact absorbing part 3 is provided on the front side of the radiator upper support 44. As shown in Fig. 4, the upper impact absorbing part 3 has a front part 31 whose front end forms a part that collides with a colliding body, and a bracket part 32 interposed between the front part 31 and the vehicle body 4. The upper impact absorbing part 3 may be made of any material, for example, metal, and in this embodiment, the front part 31 and the bracket part 32 are made of a steel plate.

[0024] The central impact absorbing section 2 is provided on the front side of the bumper beam 41. In this embodiment, the central impact absorbing section 2 has an impact absorbing body 21 fixed to the bumper beam 41, a pressure sensor 22 built in the front side of the impact absorbing body 21, and a cover body 23 covering the front side of the impact absorbing body 21. The impact absorbing body 21 is made of a foamed resin such as foamed propylene. The pressure sensor 22 is formed in a pipe shape and is made of a resin such as silicone. The cover body 23 is made of a non-foamed resin such as non-foamed propylene. The materials of the impact absorbing body 21, the pressure sensor 22, and the cover body 23 can each be changed as appropriate.

[0025] The impact absorber 21 extends in the vehicle width direction along the bumper beam 2 as a whole, and is formed so that the vertical dimension decreases toward the front at the center side in the vehicle width direction, as shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the upper surface 21a of the impact absorber 21 is formed substantially horizontally, and the lower surface 21b of the impact absorber 21 is formed to be inclined upward toward the front. A recess 21c that receives the pressure sensor 22 is formed at the front end of the impact absorber 21. In this embodiment, the recess 21c is formed at the vertical center of the front end of the impact absorber 21. Also, in this embodiment, the front surface 21d of the impact absorber 21 is inclined downward and forward, and the rear surface 21e of the impact absorber 21 is formed vertically along the front surface of the bumper beam 41.

[0026] The pressure sensor 22 is in the form of a pipe with a circular cross section, and detection units (not shown) are connected to both ends of the pressure sensor 22. The detection units detect pressure fluctuations when the pressure sensor 22 is compressed.

[0027] The cover body 23 is a plate material of a predetermined thickness extending in the vehicle width direction, and has a covering portion 23a that covers the front surface 21d of the impact absorbing body 21. The cover body 23 also has, at the center side in the vehicle width direction, an upper end portion 23b extending obliquely upward and rearward from the upper end of the covering portion 23a, an upward protruding portion 23c extending obliquely upward and forward from a predetermined position in the vertical direction of the covering portion 23a, an extending portion 23d extending rearward from the lower end of the covering portion 23a along the lower surface 21b of the impact absorbing body 21, a connecting portion 23e extending downward from the rear end of the extending portion 23d, a downward protruding portion 23f extending obliquely downward and forward from the lower end of the connecting portion 23e, and a lower end portion 23g extending obliquely downward and rearward from the front end of the downward protruding portion 23f. The cover body 23 also has ribs 23h and 23i of a predetermined thickness whose out-of-plane direction is the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, an upper rib 23h is formed which stands on the front surface of covering portion 23a, the upper surface of upper end portion 23b, and the lower surface of extension portion 23d, and a lower rib 23i which covers the recess formed by the lower surface of extension portion 23d, the front surface of connection portion 23e, and the upper surface of downward protrusion portion 23f.

[0028] Specifically, the covering portion 23a of the cover body 23 is inclined downward and forward along the front surface 21d of the shock absorbing body 21, and closes the recess 21c. Also, the upper end portion 23b gradually moves rearward away from the upper surface 21a of the shock absorbing body 21. In this embodiment, a chamfered portion 23j is formed between the covering portion 23a and the upper end portion 23b of the cover body 23.

[0029] The upper protrusion 23c is formed on the covering portion 23a at the same height as the upper rib 23h, and is integrated with the upper rib 23h at the intersection with the upper rib 23h. The rear end of the extension 23d is located rearward of the pressure sensor 22. In this embodiment, the rear end of the extension 23d is located forward of the center between the front and rear of the shock absorbing body 21. In this embodiment, a chamfered portion 23k is formed between the covering portion 23a of the cover body 23 and the extension 23d.

[0030] A space is provided behind the connecting portion 23e so that the connecting portion 23e can move in the event of a vehicle collision. The front end of the downward protruding portion 23f is located forward of the front end of the shock absorbing body 21. In this embodiment, the cover body 23 Lower protrusion 23f and Lower end 23g A chamfered portion 23l is formed between the lower end 23g and the lower protrusion 23f. In this embodiment, the lower end 23g extending obliquely downward and rearward is composed of a front portion 23g1 connected to the downward protrusion 23f and a rear portion 23g2 formed closer to the horizontal than the front portion 23g1.

[0031] A plurality of upper ribs 23h are formed at intervals in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, each upper rib 23h has a front portion formed on the front surface of covering portion 23a in the up-down direction, an upper portion formed on the upper surface of upper end portion 23b in the front-rear direction, and a lower portion formed on the front side of the lower surface of extension portion 23d.

[0032] Further, a plurality of lower ribs 23i are formed at intervals in the vehicle width direction. Each lower rib 23i closes the rear side of a recess formed by the lower surface of the extension portion 23d, the front surface of the connection portion 23e, and the upper surface of the downward protrusion portion 23f. In this embodiment, the front end of the lower rib 23i is formed at a position overlapping with the pressure sensor 22 in the front-rear direction.

[0033] According to the impact absorbing structure configured as described above, when the vehicle 100 collides with an impact object, a difference can be generated in the input to the pressure sensor 22 depending on whether the impact of the impact object is from above or below the central impact absorbing section 2.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 5, when the impact from the impact object is on the upper side of the central impact absorbing section 2, the impact from the impact object is applied from the upper side of the front end of the cover body 23 to the rear. When the impact object is a pedestrian or the like, the impact from the impact object is applied from the front end of the upper protrusion 23c of the cover body 23 diagonally downward and rearward and is transmitted to the covering section 23a. At this time, the upper ribs 23h suppress the deformation of the upper protrusion 23c, and the impact from the impact object is transmitted accurately to the covering section 23a. As a result, the covering section 23a of the cover body 23 presses the front side of the impact absorbing body 21, and the front side of the impact absorbing body 21 is crushed, and a relatively large input is applied to the pressure sensor 22.

[0035] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the impact from the impact object is on the lower side of the central impact absorbing portion 2, the impact from the impact object is applied rearward from the lower side of the front end of the cover body 23. When the impact object is a road obstacle or the like, the impact from the impact object is applied rearward from the front end of the downward protruding portion 23f of the cover body 23 and is transmitted to the rear end side of the extension portion 23d. At this time, since the downward protruding portion 23f of the cover body 23 protrudes forward more than the covering portion 23a, the impact from the impact object is reliably applied to the downward protruding portion 23f. In addition, the deformation of the extension portion 23d, the connection portion 23e, and the downward protruding portion 23f is suppressed by each lower rib 23i, and the impact from the impact object is transmitted accurately to the rear end side of the extension portion 23d. Furthermore, the extension portion 23d of the cover body 23 is formed downward toward the rear, and the rear end side of the extension portion 23d is positioned relatively downward, so that when a colliding object enters the lower side of the central impact absorbing portion 2, the layout makes it easy to transmit the input from the colliding object to the impact absorbing body 21.

[0036] When the input from the colliding object is transmitted to the rear end side of the extension portion 23d of the cover body 23, the extension portion 23d of the cover body 23 rotates around the front end side. As a result, the rear end side of the extension portion 23d of the cover body 23 moves upward, and the impact absorbing body 21 is bent upward by the rear end side of the extension portion 23d. At this time, since the rear end of the extension portion 23d of the cover body 23 is located rearward of the pressure sensor 22, the amount of deformation in the impact absorbing body 21 near the pressure sensor 22 can be reduced, and the input to the pressure sensor 22 can be reduced compared to when the input from the colliding object is on the upper side of the central impact absorbing section 2. In this embodiment, since the rear end of the extension portion 23d of the cover body 23 is located forward of the center of the front-rear of the impact absorbing body 21, the impact absorbing body 21, which has a larger vertical dimension toward the front, can be deformed relatively greatly.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the impact absorbing structure has three impact absorbing parts, but the number of impact absorbing parts can be changed as desired. Also, the present invention is applied to the center impact absorbing part installed on the bumper beam, but it is also possible to apply the present invention to an upper impact absorbing part installed on the radiator upper support or a lower impact absorbing body installed on the radiator lower support.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the shock absorber 21 is formed so that the vertical dimension decreases toward the front, but as shown in FIG. 7, the vertical dimension of the shock absorber 121 may be constant over the front and rear. The rear end position of the extension portion 123d of the cover body 123 may be any position behind the pressure sensor 22, but for this shock absorber 121, it is preferable to position the rear end of the extension portion 123d of the cover body 123 near the front-rear center of the shock absorber 121 as shown in FIG. 7, since the shock absorber 121 can be deformed relatively greatly. Here, if the amount of deviation from the front-rear center of the shock absorber 121 is up to 10% of the front-rear dimension of the shock absorber 121, it can be said to be near the front-rear center. In the cover body 132 of FIG. 7, the rear end of the forward protrusion portion 123f and the connection portion 123e are located near the front-rear center of the shock absorber 121 according to the rear end position of the extension portion 123d. Furthermore, the vertical dimension of the shock absorber may be increased toward the front, and in this case, it is preferable that the rear end of the extension of the cover body is located rearward of the center of the front and rear of the shock absorber. In addition, since the upper surface 121a of the shock absorber 121 in Fig. 7 is formed so as to slope downward toward the rear, the orientation of the upper surface can be brought closer to the direction perpendicular to the input from the rear end side of the extension 123d of the cover body 123, and the bending deformation amount of the shock absorber 121 can be increased.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the extending portion 23d of the cover body 23 is formed downward toward the rear, but the extending portion may be formed horizontally or upward toward the rear. In addition, the downward protruding portion 23f is indirectly connected to the rear end side of the extending portion 23d via the connecting portion 23e, but the downward protruding portion 23f may be directly connected to the rear end side of the extending portion 23d. In addition, the extending portion 23d is directly connected to the lower end side of the covering portion 23a, but it may be indirectly connected to the lower end side of the covering portion 23a. In addition, the shape of each part of the cover body 23 can be appropriately changed as necessary. For example, it is also possible to omit the chamfered portions 23j, 23k, and 23l, the upper end portion 23b, the upper protruding portion 23c, and the lower end portion 23g.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the shock absorbing body 21 and the cover body 23 are separate members, but the shock absorbing body 21 and the cover body 23 may be integrally formed.

[0041] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the invention according to the claims is not limited to the embodiments described above. It should be noted that not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 2 Center shock absorbing section 21 Shock absorber 22 Pressure Sensor 23 Cover body 23a Covering part 23d extension 23f Downward protrusion 100 vehicles 121 Shock absorber 121a Top side 123 Cover body 123d extension 123f Downward protrusion

Claims

1. An impact absorbing body installed at the front end side of the vehicle and extending in the vehicle width direction; A pressure sensor built into the front side of the shock absorbing body; a cover body having a covering portion that covers a front surface of the impact absorbing body, the cover body has an extension portion connected to a lower end side of the covering portion and extending rearward along a lower surface of the impact absorbing body, and a protrusion portion connected to a rear end side of the extension portion and protruding forward beyond the covering portion below the impact absorbing body, The rear end of the extension portion is disposed rearward of the pressure sensor.

2. The extension portion of the cover body is formed to be downwardly slanted toward the rear, The shock absorbing structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the shock absorbing body has an upper surface that is formed so as to slope backward.

3. The shock absorbing body is formed so that its vertical dimension decreases toward the front, 3. The shock absorbing structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of the extension of the cover body is located forward of a center of the front-rear of the shock absorbing body.

4. The shock absorbing body is formed so that the vertical dimension increases toward the front, 3. The shock absorbing structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of the extension of the cover body is located rearward of a center of the front and rear of the shock absorbing body.

5. The shock absorber is formed so that the vertical dimension is constant across the front and rear.

3. The shock absorbing structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of the extension of the cover body is positioned near a center of the front and rear of the shock absorbing body.

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