JP2001146140A - Bumper structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent increase in the dynamic bending angle of leg parts of a human body while restricting the intrusion of the leg parts of the human body under a cover when a collision accident occurs, and improve the safety while restricting the occurrence of obstruction such as ligament strain. SOLUTION: A support member 15 projected from a car body and abutting on a lower part of a bumper cover 3 is provided in a back surface of the bumper cover 3 so that the deformation quantity of the bumper cover 3 when a collision accident occurs can be regulated by the support member 5. Even if leg pars of a human body are intruding under the cover 3, since the deformation quantity of the cover 3 is regulated by the support member 5, intrusion quantity of the leg parts is restricted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bumper structure provided with a lower member extending downward from a bumper body such as a front spoiler and a skirt, and more particularly to a bumper structure having improved safety in the event of a human collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to prevent damage to a vehicle at the time of an object collision or a collision between vehicles, to finish an appearance as an external design product and to protect a pedestrian, bumpers are provided at front and rear ends of an automobile. Is equipped. As such bumpers, steel bumpers are often used for buses and trucks, but resin bumpers are generally used for passenger cars from the viewpoint of weight reduction and improvement in appearance quality.

However, since the rigidity of resin alone is insufficient, a bumper structure in which a bumper main body constituting a design surface is made of resin and a highly rigid rain enforcement is disposed inside thereof is adopted. And, between the bumper body and the rain hose, an energy absorbing member such as a honeycomb shape, a rib shape, or a foam body for absorbing impact energy is usually arranged integrally with or separately from the bumper body. .

That is, the conventional resin bumper structure is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), a rain hose 100 fixed to a vehicle body such as a body frame, a resin bumper body 200 covered with the rain hose 100, and a space between the bumper body 200 and the rain hose 100. It generally comprises an energy absorbing member 300 arranged. In addition, the bumper body 200 is routed not only to the front or rear side of the vehicle but also to the wheel arch, and a part of the front fender and the rear fender is substituted. There are many examples that are also useful.

[0005] Even from the principle of pedestrian priority, it is desired that the bumper structure further enhances the safety for pedestrians. That is, since the position of the bumper main body of the passenger car is almost at the height of the leg of the pedestrian, it is necessary to improve the safety of the human body in the event that the bumper main body collides with the human body leg. However, in the conventional bumper structure of passenger cars, the mainstream is to use a resin bumper body to reduce the impact force and to absorb the collision energy with an energy absorbing member, and it is not enough to consider the safety in the case of a light collision. I was

That is, in the case of a slight collision with a human body, the bumper main body is hardly deformed. However, since there is necessarily a space below the bumper main body, when the bumper main body collides with the human leg, a motion occurs in which the leg tries to enter the space below the leg. Therefore, even in the case of an extremely light collision, the dynamic bending angle of the human leg may increase, and a failure such as ligament tearing may occur.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6A, a lower member 400 such as a spoiler or a skirt extending below the bumper main body 200 is provided integrally with or separately from the bumper main body 200. By providing such a lower member 400, it is possible to suppress to some extent the human leg from entering the space below the bumper main body 200 at the time of a light collision. In addition, since the ground and the vehicle body appear to be close to each other and the vehicle height appears to be low, a unique appearance design is also exhibited.

[0008]

However, the bumper body 2 has a human leg with an impact force (F) exceeding a certain level.
6B, when the energy absorbing member 300 is crushed and the impact energy is absorbed as shown in FIG. 6B, in the conventional bumper structure, the lower member 400 is substantially equal to the displacement amount of the bumper main body 200. Only displaces backwards. Therefore, the angle (θ) of the lower member 400 with respect to the bumper body 200 is almost the same as before the collision, and the lower member 400
Depending on the shape of the human body, the dynamic bending angle of the human leg may increase to cause an obstacle such as ligament tearing.

Further, the energy absorbing member 300 is generally not provided on the back side of the lower member 400, and the lower member 400 is currently formed of one resin plate or the like. Therefore, when the human leg collides with the bumper main body 200, the lower member 400 itself bends and deforms when the leg collides with the lower member 400 to enter the lower space, and the dynamic bending angle of the human body leg is generated. (Θ) is further increased.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to prevent the human body leg from entering below the bumper main body at the time of a collision, thereby increasing the dynamic bending angle of the human body leg. The purpose is to prevent and prevent the occurrence of obstacles such as ligament tearing to enhance safety.

[0011]

The bumper structure of the present invention which solves the above-mentioned problems is characterized by a rain hose fixed to the vehicle body, a bumper body covering the rain hose,
A lower member extending downward from the bumper main body and a support member projecting from the vehicle body and abutting against the back surface of the lower member are configured to be able to regulate the amount of deformation of the lower member at the time of collision by the support member.

In the above bumper structure, the support member preferably has a shock absorbing portion for absorbing shock energy.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a bumper structure according to the present invention, a support member protruding from the vehicle body and abutting on the back surface of the lower member is provided on the back surface side of the lower member. Therefore, even if the leg presses the lower member in order to enter below the bumper body when the human body leg collides with the bumper main body, the amount of deformation of the lower member is regulated by the support member because the amount of deformation of the lower member is restricted. The amount of entry is regulated. Accordingly, the dynamic bending angle of the leg is reduced, and the occurrence of obstacles such as ligament tearing can be prevented or reduced.

Further, even when the bumper main body is greatly deformed by the collision, the amount of deformation of the lower member is small due to the support member. Therefore, in this case, the lower member moves relative to the bumper body in the direction opposite to the direction of impact, so that the dynamic bending angle of the human leg becomes smaller, and the larger the collision, the more the ligament tears. The risk of occurrence of a failure such as the above is reduced. It is desirable that the bumper main body, the lower member, and the support member are designed so that the dynamic bending angle of the leg at the time of collision is 15 degrees or less.

The rain enforcement is generally formed of a steel material, and has one end fixed to a vehicle body frame or the like, and the other end holding the bumper body directly or via an energy absorbing member. This rain enforcement is for protecting the vehicle body frame in the event of a collision with a large impact force to enhance the safety of occupants in the vehicle interior.

As the bumper body, a conventional one formed of a resin such as polyurethane, PET, polypropylene, or polyethylene can be used. The lower member constitutes a spoiler, a skirt, and the like, and is generally formed below the bumper main body along the longitudinal direction of the bumper main body.
The lower member may be formed integrally with the bumper main body, or may be formed separately and assembled to the bumper main body.

As long as the support member projects from the vehicle body and comes into contact with the lower member, it can be used irrespective of the type of material, such as resin or aluminum alloy, and can be made of metal integral with the vehicle body. it can. In addition, the support member may directly contact the lower member, or may be configured to contact the lower member via another member. As another member, it is preferable to use a member that is softer and more elastically deformed than the supporting member, or a shock absorber that absorbs a shock by buckling or breaking. By providing such a shock absorbing portion, it is possible to absorb the shock energy when the human body leg collides with the lower portion of the bumper main body, thereby alleviating the shock and further suppressing the occurrence of a failure. Such a shock absorbing portion may be provided between the support member and the lower member,
It can also be provided on a part of the support member.

If the strength of the support member is too low, the dynamic bending angle of the leg may increase due to breakage of the support member. Therefore, if a high strength member having a buckling strength of 5 kN or more is used as the support member, it is possible to prevent an increase in the dynamic bending angle of the leg due to breakage. However, in this case, the reaction force from the support member to the leg becomes large,
It is conceivable that a malfunction may occur due to this. Therefore, it is desirable to use a support member having a buckling strength of about 5 kN and a structure capable of relaxing the impact energy at the time of buckling. This can be achieved by forming a shock absorbing portion on a part of the support member as shown in the second embodiment.

One end of the support member may be fixed to the vehicle body or may be in a state of being supported only by the vehicle body. As the vehicle body in this case, a cross member of a vehicle body frame is exemplified. Although the support member may be provided alone, it is preferable that the support member is also used as an engine undercover or the like.

The bumper structure according to the present invention can be applied to both a front bumper and a rear bumper.

[0021]

The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 3 show a front bumper structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. This front bumper structure includes a rain hose 2 fixed to a body frame 1.
A bumper 3 that covers the rain hose 2, an energy absorbing member 4 disposed between the rain hose 2 and the bumper main body 3, and a front cross member 10 of the vehicle body 1.
And a cushion 6 attached to the front under protector 5.

The rain enforcement 2 is made of steel and is fixed to the front ends of a pair of left and right front side members 11 projecting forward from the vehicle body frame 1.

The bumper 3 is generally formed of PP or polyurethane, and has a substantially C-shaped cross section and a plate-shaped skirt portion 31 (lower portion) formed integrally with the bumper body 30 below the bumper body 30. Side member). The bumper body 30 and the rain hose 2 are indirectly in contact with each other with the energy absorbing member 4 formed of hard urethane foam interposed therebetween. The energy absorbing member 4 is held in a space defined by a pair of ribs 32 protruding from the back surface of the bumper main body 30 and the rain hose 2. The front under protector 5 is made of glass fiber reinforced PP for securing strength, and is formed of a foam structure for weight reduction.
0 and a wall portion 51 standing upright from the plate portion 50. Also, a plurality of ribs 52 for reinforcing the wall portion 51 are provided. The plate portion 50 is fixed to the front cross member 10 by bolts 53, and the wall portion 51 faces the back surface of the skirt portion 31 in this state. This front under protector 5 is lightweight and has a buckling strength of 5.
It has a high strength of kN or more.

On the surface of the wall portion 51 facing the skirt portion 31, a cushion portion 6 of about 20 mm is adhered with a double-sided tape or integrally formed of a soft material so that the skirt portion 31 exhibits a soft feeling. It is in contact with the back surface of the part 31.

In the bumper structure of this embodiment configured as described above, when the human leg and the bumper body 30 collide, the energy absorbing member 4 is not deformed in the case of a light collision, and the human leg is It collides with the skirt portion 31. Then, the skirt portion 31 presses the cushion 6, and the presence of the cushion 6 prevents the skirt portion 31 from suddenly moving backward, so that the impact of the human leg is absorbed by the skirt portion 31 and the ligament tears. Such obstacles are also prevented.

When the human leg and the bumper body 30 collide with an impact force of a certain degree or more, as shown in FIG. 3, the energy absorbing member 4 is crushed by the impact and the bumper body 3 is crushed.
0 moves in the direction approaching the rain enforcement 2.
Then, although the skirt portion 31 moves to some extent due to the elastic deformation of the cushion 6, further movement is restricted by the presence of the front under protector 5. Accordingly, the amount of displacement of the skirt portion 31 is smaller than the amount of displacement of the bumper main body 30, and the skirt portion 31 is moved relatively forward with respect to the bumper main body 30, so that the dynamic bending angle (θ) of the leg portion is obtained. And the occurrence of obstacles such as ligament tearing can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the cushion 6 is adhered to the surface of the front under protector 5, but the cushion 6 is not used so that the tip of the front under protector 5 abuts the back surface of the skirt portion 31 at the time of collision. May be configured. In this case, in both the case of a light collision and the case of a collision with an impact force of a certain degree or more, the presence of the front under protector 5 causes the skirt 3
1 is restricted.

Embodiment 2 FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention.
2 shows a front bumper structure of the embodiment. The front bumper structure includes a bumper body 30 that covers the rain hose via an energy absorbing member similar to that of the first embodiment, and a front spoiler 32 held at a lower end of the bumper body 30.
(A lower member) and an engine undercover 7 (support member) having a rear end held by the front cross member 10 and a front end fixed to the front spoiler 32.

The front spoiler 32 is connected to the bumper body 30.
Is formed from the same PP or polyurethane. The front spoiler 32 is formed separately from the bumper main body 30, and a plurality of engaging claws 33 protruding from the front spoiler 32 engage with the engaging holes 34 provided in the bumper main body 30 to be integrated with the bumper main body 30. Have been.

The engine under cover 7 includes a main body 70 made of glass fiber reinforced PP and having a hollow shape, and a main body 7.
And a flange 71 extending rearward from zero. A plurality of long holes 72 are formed in the flange portion 71, and a plurality of ribs 73 are provided at a boundary between the main body portion 70 and the flange portion 71. The flange portion 71 is fixed to the front cross member 10 by a bolt 74, and the main body portion 70 is fixed to the front spoiler 32 by a washer 75 having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a bolt 76.

Each of the long holes 72 has a large hole 72a having a diameter larger than the diameter of the head of the bolt 74, a small hole 72b having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head of the bolt 74, and the large hole 72a and the small hole 72.
b and a slit 72c having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft of the bolt 74. Then, the flange portion 71 is overlapped with the lower portion of the front cross member 10,
The shaft of the bolt 74 is inserted in a state where the nut 12 welded to the front cross member 10 and the small hole 72b communicate with each other, and the front cross member 10 and the flange 71 are fastened with the bolt 74 and the nut 12 with a predetermined torque. Have been.

In the bumper structure of this embodiment, when the human leg collides with the front spoiler 32 with an impact force of less than about 5 kN, the front spoiler 32
Is prevented from moving backward by the presence of
The dynamic bending angle of the leg is reduced, and obstacles such as ligament tearing are prevented.

When the human leg and the front spoiler 32 collide with an impact force of about 5 kN or more, the shaft of the bolt 74 relatively moves within the slit 72c, so that the flange 71 relatively moves with the front cross member 10. The shock is absorbed by the frictional resistance between the two. When the head of the bolt 74 reaches the position of the large hole 72a due to the relative movement,
Although the flange portion 71 comes off the front cross member 10, the front cross member 10
, And both move relatively while slidably contacting with each other, so that the shock is further absorbed by the frictional resistance. As a result, damage to the human leg can be reduced.

In the bumper structure of this embodiment, since the engine under cover 7 also serves as the support member according to the present invention, the number of parts is not increased as compared with the prior art, and the man-hour and cost are prevented from being increased. it can.

[0036]

According to the bumper structure of the present invention,
Since the human leg is prevented from entering below the bumper body at the time of a light collision, the dynamic bending angle of the human leg is prevented from becoming large, and the occurrence of obstacles such as ligament tearing can be suppressed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a bumper structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a bumper structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after a shock is applied to the bumper structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a bumper structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a bumper structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional bumper structure before and after impact is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: body frame 2: rain hosement
3: Bumper 4: Energy absorbing member 5: Front under protector (supporting member) 6: Cushion 10: Cross member
30: Bumper body 31: Skirt (lower member)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsumi Ichioka 1 Ochiai, Nagahata, Kasuga-cho, Nishi-Kasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Address: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A rain hosement fixed to a vehicle body, a bumper main body covering the rain hosement, a lower member extending downward from the bumper main body, and a support projecting from the vehicle body and abutting on a back surface of the lower member. A bumper structure comprising a member, wherein the supporting member can restrict the amount of deformation of the lower member at the time of a collision. 2. The bumper structure according to claim 1, wherein said support member has a shock absorbing portion for absorbing shock energy.