Energy absorber

Abstract

To obtain an energy absorber which can inhibit an electrodeposition liquid from remaining in cells when a vehicle passes through an electrodeposition coating line.SOLUTION: An energy absorber 10 includes: a body 12 formed of a resin and assembled to a metallic closed space of a vehicle; and a plurality of cells 20 each of which is provided at the body 12, has an opening 22 at the outer side in a vehicle width direction in a state that the body 12 is assembled to the vehicle, and has a lower surface 26 having a downward incline of 3 degrees or larger from one end 20A at the inner side in the vehicle width direction to the other end 20B at the outer side in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the vehicle rear.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy absorber.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, for example, in order to extend the cruising range of electric vehicles, it has been desired to increase the space for mounting a battery in a vehicle. Therefore, there is a move to secure the empty space as a space for mounting a battery by incorporating an energy absorber that was mounted outside the rocker, which is a metal closed space of the vehicle, into the rocker. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of providing a resinous energy absorber in a metal closed space of a vehicle in order to absorb energy during a side collision of the vehicle. The energy absorber described in Patent Document 1 has a plurality of hexagonal cells having an opening on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As described above, when incorporating the energy absorber into the rocker, since it is necessary to incorporate the energy absorber into the rocker before electrocoating of the vehicle, the energy absorber will pass through the electrocoating line. As described in Patent Document 1, when each cell provided in the energy absorber has an opening on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, the electrocoating liquid may remain inside the cell when the vehicle passes through the electrocoating line.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain an energy absorber capable of suppressing the electrocoating liquid from remaining inside the cell when the vehicle passes through the electrocoating line.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The energy absorber according to claim 1 is It is installed on vehicles passing through the electrodeposition coating line. Made of resin, The aforementioned The system comprises a main body that is assembled into a metal enclosed space of a vehicle, and a plurality of cells provided on the main body, each having an opening on the outside in the vehicle width direction when the main body is assembled to the vehicle, and a lower surface that slopes downward at an angle of 3 degrees or more from one end on the inside in the vehicle width direction to the other end on the outside in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. The lower surface of the cell has different downward slopes from one end to the other end, and the downward slope is greater on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the downward slope of the lower surface is set to change gradually. ru.

[0007] In the energy absorber according to claim 1, the cells provided in the main body have openings on the outside in the vehicle width direction when the main body is assembled to a vehicle, and have a lower surface that slopes downward at an angle of 3 degrees or more from one end on the inside in the vehicle width direction to the other end on the outside in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, when the vehicle passes through the electrodeposition coating line, the electrodeposition liquid is discharged from inside the cells by the lower surface which slopes downward at an angle of 3 degrees or more. This makes it possible to suppress the residue of electrodeposition liquid inside the cells.

[0009] Claim 1 The energy absorber according to the present invention described herein has a lower surface of the cell having different downward slopes from one end to the other, and the downward slope is greater on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the opening side of the cell has a greater downward slope, making it easier to discharge the electrodeposited liquid.

[0013] Claim 1 The energy absorber according to the present invention, as described above, is set so that the downward slope of the lower surface of the cell changes gradually, making it possible to easily discharge the electrodeposited liquid while maintaining the strength of the cell, depending on the thickness of the lower wall that constitutes the lower surface.

[0014] The energy absorber according to claim 2, in the configuration described in claim 1, The lower surface of the cell is formed in a curved shape on the other end side. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, the energy absorber according to the present invention has the excellent effect of suppressing the residue of electrodeposition liquid inside the cell when a vehicle passes through an electrodeposition coating line. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the energy absorber according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from diagonally above and outside the vehicle while it is assembled in the vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of line AA in Figure 1, taken from the rear side of the vehicle. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the energy absorber cell in Figure 1 is filled with water and placed on the surface. [Figure 4] This schematic diagram shows the state after the cell has been rotated from the state shown in Figure 3 to drain the water from inside the cell. [Figure 5] This graph shows the relationship between the elapsed time and the residual water percentage inside the cell at each angle, in the state shown in Figure 3. [Figure 6] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an energy absorber according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part showing the main components. [Figure 7] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an energy absorber according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part showing the main components. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] (First Embodiment) The energy absorber according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In each figure, the arrow UP indicates the upper side in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the arrow OUT indicates the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle. In addition, in each figure, only some of the reference numerals are listed, and others are omitted, prioritizing readability.

[0019] (Composition of energy absorber 10) As shown in FIG. 1, the energy absorber 10 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body portion 12 formed of resin, and the main body portion 12 is assembled into a metal closed space such as a rocker member (not shown) of a vehicle (not shown). The main body portion 12 has an upper surface 14A and a lower surface 14B in the vehicle up-and-down direction, a front surface 16A and a rear surface 16B in the vehicle front-rear direction, and outer surfaces 18A and inner surfaces 18B in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle assembled state.

[0020] A plurality of cells 20 each having an opening 22 are provided on the outer surface 18A of the main body portion 12. When the main body portion 12 of the energy absorber 10 is assembled into the metal closed space, it is assembled such that the opening 22 is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle assembled state.

[0021] In the present embodiment, specifically, 18 openings 22 are provided in three stages in the vehicle up-and-down direction in the vehicle front-rear direction. That is, a total of 54 openings 22 are provided.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the cell 20 has a bottom surface 24 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, a lower surface 26 on the lower side, and an upper surface 28 on the upper side when viewed from the rear side of the vehicle in the vehicle assembled state. The lower surface 26 of the cell 20 is formed so as to have a downward gradient of θ1 degrees or more from one end portion 20A on the inner side in the vehicle width direction toward the other end portion 20B on the outer side (opening 2 side). In the present embodiment, the angle θ1 is 3 degrees.

[0023] In the present embodiment, as an example, the lower surface 26 is formed in a flat shape, and the downward gradient of the lower surface 26 is uniformly 3 degrees. Also, in the present embodiment, as an example, the upper surface 14A of the main body portion 12 is also formed to have a downward gradient of 3 degrees, similar to the lower surface 26 of the cell 20.

[0024] (Measurement of residual water rate of energy absorber 10) Next, the measurement of the residual water rate using the energy absorber 10 configured as described above will be explained. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, first, with the opening 22 of the cell 20 positioned upwards, the inside of the cell 20 was filled with water, i.e., the residual water rate was 100%. Then, the energy absorber 10 with the cell 20 full of water was rotated in the direction of arrow M so that the lower surface 14B of the main body 12 was positioned downwards. At this time, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, a jig 30 with a pre-set inclination was used. The upper surface 32 of the jig 30 has an inclination of angle θ2, and the angle θ2 is variable.

[0025] In this embodiment, the energy absorber 10 was placed on the jig 30 such that the lower surface 14B of the main body 12 was in contact with the upper surface 32 of the jig 30. At this time, the upper surface 32 of the jig 30 was positioned so that the opening 22 of the cell 20 was located downwards.

[0026] As shown in Figure 4, when the energy absorber 10 was placed on the jig 30, water was discharged from the opening 22 in the direction of arrow D. After a certain period of time, the residual water percentage in the cell 20 was measured. In this embodiment, the residual water percentage was measured by changing the angle by 1 degree increments between 0 and 7 degrees. The residual water percentage was also measured after 5 seconds and 10 seconds had elapsed since rotating the energy absorber 10. The residual water percentage was calculated by measuring the amount of water present inside the cell 20. Table 1 below shows the measurement results, and Figure 5 shows a graph created based on the values ​​in Table 1, illustrating the relationship between elapsed time and the residual water percentage inside the cell 20 for each angle.

[0027] [Table 1]

[0028] As shown in Table 1 and Figure 5 above, in both 5 seconds and 10 seconds, the residual water rate became 10% or less when the downward slope angle θ1 of the lower surface 26 of cell 20 was 3 degrees or more.

[0029] (Effects of the first embodiment) Next, the effects and advantages of the first embodiment will be described.

[0030] In the energy absorber 10 according to the first embodiment, the cells 20 provided in the main body 12 have an opening 22 on the outside in the vehicle width direction when the main body 12 is assembled to a vehicle, and have a lower surface 26 that slopes downward from one end 20A on the inside in the vehicle width direction to the other end 20B on the outside in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, when the vehicle passes through the electrodeposition coating line, the electrodeposition liquid is discharged from inside the cells 20 by the lower surface 26 which slopes downward from 3 degrees or more. This makes it possible to suppress the residue of electrodeposition liquid inside the cells 20.

[0031] Furthermore, in the energy absorber 10 according to the first embodiment, the downward slope of the lower surface 26 of the cell 20 is uniformly set, so the electrodeposited liquid can be smoothly discharged along the lower surface 26 of the cell 20.

[0032] (Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, an energy absorber 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 6. In the energy absorber 10A of the second embodiment shown in Figure 6, parts that are the same as those in the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted, and only the different parts will be described.

[0033] As shown in Figure 6, in the second embodiment, the energy absorber 10A has a lower surface 26 of the cell 20 with different downward slopes from one end 20A to the other end 20B. In the second embodiment, the downward slope of the lower surface 26 is set to change in stages. Specifically, as an example, the lower surface 26 has a first lower surface 26A on the side of the one end 20A and a second lower surface 26B on the side of the other end 20B. Also, the lower surface 26 has a greater downward slope on the outside in the vehicle width direction than on the inside in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the downward slope of the first lower surface 26A is set to angle a, and the downward slope of the second lower surface 26B is set to angle b, and is configured such that b > a.

[0034] (Effects of the second embodiment) Next, the effects and advantages of the second embodiment will be described.

[0035] In the energy absorber 10A according to the second embodiment, the lower surface 26 of the cell 20 has different downward slopes from one end 20A to the other end 20B, and the downward slope is greater on the outside in the vehicle width direction than on the inside in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the opening 22 side of the cell 20 has a greater downward slope, making it easier to discharge the electrodeposited liquid.

[0036] Furthermore, in the energy absorber 10A according to the second embodiment, the downward slope of the lower surface 26 of the cell 20 is set to change in stages, so that the electrodeposited liquid can be easily discharged while maintaining the strength of the cell 20, depending on the thickness of the lower wall constituting the lower surface 26.

[0037] (Third embodiment) Hereinafter, an energy absorber 10B according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 7. In the energy absorber 10B of the third embodiment shown in Figure 7, parts that are the same as those in the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted, and only the different parts will be described.

[0038] As shown in Figure 7, the energy absorber 10B of the third embodiment, like the second embodiment, has different downward slopes on the lower surface 26 of the cell 20 from one end 20A to the other end 20B. In the third embodiment, the downward slope of the lower surface 26 is set to change gradually. Specifically, as an example, the lower surface 26 has a third lower surface 26C on the side of the one end 20A and a fourth lower surface 26D on the side of the other end 20B. Also, the lower surface 26 has a greater downward slope on the outside in the vehicle width direction than on the inside in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the downward slope of the third lower surface 26C is set to an angle c. The downward slope of the second lower surface 26B is configured so that the angle gradually increases from angle c to angle d (d > c). That is, the third lower surface 26D is formed in a substantially curved shape rather than a flat shape.

[0039] (Effects of the third embodiment) Next, the effects and advantages of the third embodiment will be described.

[0040] In the energy absorber 10B according to the third embodiment, the lower surface 26 of the cell 20 has different downward slopes from one end 20A to the other end 20B, and the downward slope is greater on the outside in the vehicle width direction than on the inside in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the opening 22 side of the cell 20 has a greater downward slope, making it easier to discharge the electrodeposited liquid.

[0041] Furthermore, in the energy absorber 10B according to the third embodiment, the downward slope of the lower surface 26 of the cell 20 is set to change gradually, so that the electrodeposited liquid can be easily discharged while maintaining the strength of the cell 20, depending on the thickness of the lower wall constituting the lower surface 26.

[0042] In the embodiment described above, the lower surface 26 has two lower surfaces with different downward slopes, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may have three or more lower surfaces.

[0043] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the upper surface 14A of the main body 12 also has a downward slope similar to the lower surface 26 of the cell 20, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it does not have to have a downward slope.

[0044] Furthermore, although the number of cells 20 is set to 54 in the embodiment described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of cells 20 may be any number. For example, the cells 20 may be arranged in two rows or five rows on the front surface 12B of the main body 12 in the vehicle's vertical direction.

[0045] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications may be used in appropriate combinations with one embodiment, and of course, the invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 Energy absorber 10A Energy Absorber 10B Energy absorber 12 Main body part 20 セル 20A One end 20B Other end 22 Opening 26 Below

Claims

1. Provided on a vehicle passing through an electrodeposition coating line, A main body made of resin and assembled into a metal enclosed space of the vehicle, Multiple cells are provided on the main body, and when the main body is assembled to the vehicle, they have an opening on the outside in the vehicle width direction and a lower surface that slopes downward at an angle of 3 degrees or more from one end on the inside in the vehicle width direction to the other end on the outside in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, Equipped with, An energy absorber in which the lower surface of the cell has different downward slopes from one end to the other end, and the downward slope is greater on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the downward slope of the lower surface is set to change gradually.

2. The energy absorber according to Claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the cell is formed in a curved shape on the other end side.

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