JP2003063445A - Frontside structure of car body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect collisions as early as possible and collisions at high and low positions with one collision sensor. SOLUTION: A bumper reinforcement 10 is disposed at a front and low position with respect to a radiator shroud upper 2 at a high position. Almost intermediate parts of the radiator shroud upper 2 and the bumper reinforcement 10 in a vehicle width direction are coupled with each other by a coupling member 30. At the radiator shroud upper 2 or in the vicinity of a coupling part of the coupling member 30 with the radiator shroud upper 2, a collision sensor 40 is mounted. A bending part 55 in a back-an-forth direction may be formed at an intermediate portion of a coupling member 30B (Fig. 5) or a cut off part 55 may be formed at an intermediate portion of the coupling member 30 (Fig. 6).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle body front structure in which a collision detection sensor for detecting a frontal collision is provided in the vehicle body front portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to improve safety in a frontal collision, it is general to deploy an airbag for protecting an occupant when a frontal collision is detected. In order to more reliably protect the occupant, the deployment force (inflation pressure) of the airbag is also changed according to the level (magnitude) of the collision.
That is, the airbag is deployed with a small force in a small collision (slow deployment), and is deployed with a large force in a large collision (rapid deployment).

By the way, as described above, in the case of variably controlling the deployment force of the airbag, it is necessary to detect the collision especially at an early stage. Therefore, it is required to provide the collision detection sensor in the front portion of the vehicle body. . Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-118261 discloses that a collision detection sensor is attached to a radiator shroud upper that is a front portion of a vehicle body.

[0004]

However, although the radiator shroud upper is located considerably in front of the vehicle body, there is room for improvement in that collision detection can be performed at a more sufficient front position (early collision detection). is there. Further, if the radiator shroud upper is provided with a collision detection sensor, it is difficult to detect a collision at a low position such as a front bumper, even if it is convenient for collision detection at a high position. Although it is conceivable to provide a collision detection sensor at the front end of the front side frame, in this case, in order to deal with so-called offset collision in which only one of the left and right sides of the vehicle body collides, the left and right side front frames Therefore, it becomes necessary to provide a collision detection sensor for each.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to make it possible to detect a collision at a sufficiently early time and to use a single collision detection sensor to collide at a low position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle body front structure capable of detecting not only the above-mentioned phenomenon but also a collision at a high position.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the following solution method is adopted in the present invention. That is, as set forth in claim 1 in the claims, a radiator shroud upper that extends in the vehicle width direction, and a radiator shroud upper that is disposed below the radiator shroud upper,
The bumper reinforcement that extends in the vehicle width direction and the radiator shroud upper that extends in the up-down direction are connected to the bumper reinforcement, and the load at the time of a frontal collision input to the bumper reinforcement is applied to the radiator shroud upper. And a collision detection sensor mounted near the radiator shroud upper or the connecting portion of the radiator shroud upper with respect to the radiator shroud upper.

According to the above-mentioned solution method, when the load of the frontal collision is input to the bumper reinforcement as the strength member located at the frontmost part of the vehicle body, this load is early detected by the collision detection sensor via the connecting member. Will be detected. In addition to collision detection at a low position such as a collision with the front bumper, it is also possible to detect a collision at a high position such as the radiator shroud upper, which is formed below the rear portion of a large vehicle such as a large truck. It is also possible to detect a bumping collision in which the bumper portion slips into the space. Furthermore, not only the bumper reinforcement but also the radiator shroud upper extends considerably in the vehicle width direction, so one collision detection sensor can be used not only for head-on collisions but also for offset collisions where only one of the left and right sides collides. It becomes possible to detect.

There is provided a regulation step for regulating the rearward load of a predetermined magnitude or more inputted from the bumper reinforcement to the upper end portion of the connecting member. be able to. This makes it possible to prevent an excessively large load from being input to the collision detection sensor by the restriction means. That is, in the case of an extremely large collision, the collision detection signal from the collision detection sensor clings to a large value, and the airbag is deployed at what timing and in what manner based on the output signal from the collision detection sensor. Although it is difficult to determine whether or not to do so, such a situation can be prevented by the regulation means.

The connecting member may be formed so as to be bent in the front-rear direction, and the restricting means may be formed by a bent portion that is a bent portion in the front-rear direction of the connecting member. In this case, the restricting means can be configured by a simple method of forming the bent portion.

The regulating means may be constituted by a notch formed in the connecting member. In this case, the restricting means can be configured by an extremely simple method of forming the cutout portion.

A lower end portion of the connecting member is connected to the bumper reinforcement by a fixing member, and is connected to a through hole formed in the connecting member or the bumper reinforcement to penetrate the fixing member, A connecting hole having a width smaller than the diameter of the fixture is formed extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and the restricting means is constituted by the connecting hole, and the connecting member and bumper reinforcement by the fixture are provided. In the connected state, when a large rearward load greater than or equal to a predetermined value is input to the bumper reinforcement, the fixture is forcibly inserted into the connecting hole, and thus the lower end portion of the connecting member is On the other hand, the bumper reinforcement may be set to be relatively displaced rearward. In this case, the restricting means can be configured by an extremely simple method of forming the connecting hole by communicating with the through hole of the fixture.

The connecting member connects the radiator shroud upper and the bumper reinforcement in a vehicle width direction substantially middle portion, and the collision detection sensor is provided in a vehicle width direction substantially middle portion. Is done. By doing so, it is preferable for surely detecting the frontal collision that requires the most occupant protection, and also reliably detecting the left side offset collision and the right side offset collision.

A locking device for a bonnet lock is fixed to a substantially middle portion in the vehicle width direction of the radiator shroud upper by a fixing tool, and an upper end portion of the connecting member together with the locking device is fixed by the fixing tool to the radiator shroud upper. You can make sure that they are fastened together. Accordingly, not only the upper end of the connecting member can be fixed by using the fixing device for the locking device, but also the strength (rigidity) in the vicinity of the position where the locking device is attached is extremely high, so that the connecting member is transmitted. This is extremely preferable for effectively transmitting the coming load to the collision detection sensor.

The upper end portion of the connecting member may have a mounting flange serving as a mounting portion for the radiator shroud upper, and the collision detection sensor may be mounted on the mounting flange. In this case, the connecting member can also be used as a mounting member for the collision detection sensor.

[0015]

1 to 3, reference numeral 1 is a radiator shroud. The radiator shroud 1 has a radiator shroud upper 2 and a radiator shroud drawer 3 that extend in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle width direction ends thereof are connected by a pair of left and right radiator shroud sides 4, 5. As described above, in the embodiment, the radiator shroud 1 has a rectangular shape as a whole and has a high rigidity, and the radiator 6 is attached thereto.

A bumper reinforcement 10 extending in the vehicle width direction is arranged in front of the radiator shroud 1 and at a position sufficiently lower than the radiator shroud upper 2. This bumper reinforcement 10 has excellent rigidity, and the mounting portions 12 provided at the left and right end portions thereof are
It is fixed to a mounting portion 7 provided on the radiator shroud side 5, 6 by a fixing tool such as a bolt. A front bumper 11 made of synthetic resin or the like and extending in the vehicle width direction is attached to the bumper reinforcement 10.

The radiator shroud upper 2 has a storage member 20 for a lock device at a substantially middle portion in the vehicle width direction.
Are fixed by welding or the like. This storage member 20 is
It has excellent rigidity, and the lock device 21 (Fig.
Is shown in a simplified manner). The lock device 21 is fixed to the storage member 20 with bolts 22 and nuts 23 as fixing tools. The lock device 21 is for locking the hood 24 covering the engine room in a closed state, and the lock device 21 locks the latch 25 provided on the hood 24.

A substantially middle portion of the radiator shroud upper 2 in the vehicle width direction and a substantially middle portion of the bumper reinforcement 10 in the vehicle width direction are connected by a connecting member 30. In the embodiment, the connecting member 30 is formed of a metal plate such as an iron plate as a linear member having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and an attachment flange 31 is integrated at its upper end portion by welding or the like, and at its lower end portion. The mounting flange 32 is integrated by welding or the like.

The upper end of the connecting member 30 is fixed to the housing member 20 at the mounting flange 31 portion thereof. More specifically, the mounting flange 31 has the above-mentioned bolts 22,
The nut 23 is used to fasten the lock member 21 together with the storage member 20.

At the lower end of the connecting member 30, a bolt 33 as a fixture and a nut 3 are provided at a mounting flange 32 portion thereof.
It is fixed to a substantially middle portion of the bumper reinforcement 10 in the vehicle width direction. The connecting member 30 is
The radiator shroud upper 2 and the bumper reinforcement 10 are linearly connected (however, the radiator shroud upper 2 and the bumper reinforcement 10 are inclined so as to be positioned rearward as they go upward).

A collision detection sensor 40 is fixed to the upper mounting flange 31. The collision detection sensor detects the magnitude of the deceleration and outputs an electric signal according to the magnitude of the deceleration.

FIG. 4 shows the connecting member 30 more specifically. That is, a mounting hole 51 for mounting the collision detection sensor 40 is formed in the upper mounting flange 31 (the mounting flange 31 also serves as a mounting member for the collision detection sensor 40). Further, reference numeral 52 in the drawing denotes a through hole through which the bolt 22 for attaching the attachment flange 31 to the storage member 20 is inserted.

On the other hand, although not shown, air bag devices for the driver's seat and passenger's seat are provided. Basically, each airbag device deploys (inflates) a folded airbag and a gas pressure when it is detonated to generate a gas pressure.
It has an inflator for causing the inflator and a control unit for controlling the initiation of the inflator. Inflator
The generated gas pressure can be changed in multiple stages (in the embodiment, two stages of low pressure operation and high pressure operation).

The control unit for the airbag device is
The velocity change amount (m / s) is calculated (calculated) from the signal corresponding to the deceleration from the collision detection sensor 40, and when the velocity change amount becomes equal to or more than a predetermined first threshold value, the inflator is depressurized Activate. In addition, the control unit may control the second speed when the speed change amount is set to a value larger than the first threshold value.
When the threshold value is exceeded, the inflator is operated at high pressure.

In the above structure, when a frontal collision occurs and the collision position is low, a large load from the front is input to the front bumper 11, that is, the bumper reinforcement 10. The load from the front is promptly and effectively transmitted to the collision detection sensor 40 via the connecting member 30, and the collision detection sensor 40 is operated (the magnitude of the load is detected within an extremely short time from the occurrence of the front collision). Deceleration signal is output according to.

When the collision position is high, the collision load is not input to the bumper reinforcement 10 and is input to the radiator shroud upper 12, and at this time, the collision detection sensor 40 is promptly activated.

In the case of an offset collision in which the collision position is either left or right, the radiator shroud upper 2
Since the bumper reinforcement 10 extends in the vehicle width direction, the collision load is effectively transmitted to the collision detection sensor 40, and the collision detection sensor 40 is promptly operated. Of course, even in the case of this offset collision, in the case of a collision at a low position, the collision detection sensor 4 from the bumper reinforcement 10 via the connecting member 30.
When the collision position is high, the load is transmitted from the radiator shroud upper 2 to the collision detection sensor 40.

Here, when an extremely large frontal collision occurs, particularly when a large rearward load is input through the bumper reinforcement 10, the normal collision detection sensor 40 outputs a signal corresponding to a deceleration higher than a predetermined value. In the state of outputting "," it becomes a clogging state, which is not preferable in controlling the initiation pressure of the inflator. Of course, as the collision detection sensor 40, it is possible to adopt a sensor that outputs a signal according to the deceleration over a wide range from a small deceleration to an extremely large deceleration, but such a wide detection range ( A collision detection sensor (having a large dynamic range for detection) is extremely expensive.

Therefore, input of a large load larger than a predetermined value to the collision detection sensor 40 via the connecting member 30
It will be preferable to regulate. That is, it is preferable to provide a restricting means for restricting the transmission of a large load of a predetermined amount or more to the rear via the connecting member 30.

FIG. 5 shows a connecting member 3 having the above-mentioned restricting means.
0B is an example of the connecting member 30 shown in FIG.
It is also a modified example of. In the example of FIG. 5, in the approximately middle portion in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the connecting member 30B,
A bent portion 55 bent in the front-back direction is formed. That is, the upper half of the connecting member 30B is set to have a larger displacement toward the rear as it goes upward than in the lower half. When a large load equal to or more than a predetermined value is input to the lower end of the connecting member 30B from the front, the lower half portion of the connecting member 30B is largely displaced rearward about the bent portion 55, and the connecting member 30B It is restricted that a load larger than a predetermined amount is transmitted to the upper half portion in the rear direction.

FIG. 6 shows a connecting member 30C to which another example of the restricting means is applied, which is also a modification of the connecting member 30 shown in FIG. The example of FIG. 5 is the same as the example shown in FIG. 4 in that it is entirely linear, but a notch 56 as a weakened portion is formed in a substantially intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 30C. I am doing it. When a large load larger than a predetermined value is input to the lower end of the connecting member 30C from the front, the connecting member 3 is centered on the notch 55.
The lower half portion of 0C is largely displaced rearward, and it is restricted that a large rearward load larger than a predetermined amount is transmitted to the upper half portion of the connecting member 30C.

FIG. 6 shows still another example of the regulating means, and the same connecting member as shown in FIG. 4 is used. That is, the bumper reinforcement 10 includes (the mounting flange 32 of) the connecting member 30.
Is formed with a through hole 60 through which a bolt 33 for fixing the. Due to the structure of the regulating means, the through hole 6
A connection hole 61 is formed so as to communicate with 0. The connecting hole 61 is formed to have a width smaller than the diameter of the bolt 33 and extends toward the front of the vehicle body. Of course, in the normal mounting state, the bolt 33 is located in the through hole 60,
The connection hole 61 is positioned as a simple opening.

When a large load of a predetermined amount or more is applied to the bumper reinforcement 10 rearward, the bolt 33 fixing the connecting member 30 to the bumper reinforcement 10 moves from the through hole 60 to the connecting hole 61. To prevent a large load from acting on the connecting member 30. During the movement of the bolt 33 to the connecting hole 61, a part of the bumper reinforcement 10 is forcibly deformed (the width of the connecting hole 61 is forcibly expanded). Transformation).

Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and includes the following cases, for example. The locking device 21 or the storage member 20 may not be located at the connecting portion between the connecting member 30 (30B, 30C) and the radiator shroud upper 2 (the connecting member may be directly connected to the radiator shroud upper 2). good).
The collision detection sensor 40 may be directly fixed to the radiator shroud upper 2 and in this case, the mounting surface of the collision detection sensor 40 is not limited to the front side of the radiator shroud upper 2 but also the rear side or the upper side thereof. Can be on the underside.

A connecting hole corresponding to the connecting hole 61 shown in FIG. 7 may be formed on the mounting flange 32 side (connecting member side). In this case, the connecting hole is formed so as to extend rearward from the bolt through hole formed in the mounting flange 32. The object of the present invention is not limited to what is specified, and also implicitly includes providing what is expressed as substantially preferable or advantageous.

[0036]

According to the present invention, a frontal collision can be detected early. Further, a single collision detection sensor can detect both a collision at a high position and a collision at a low position. Further, one collision detection sensor can detect not only a head-on collision but also an offset collision.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing a connecting structure of a radiator shroud upper, a bumper reinforcement and a connecting member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a specific configuration example of a connecting member.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example of a connecting member having a regulation unit.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing another example of a connecting member having a regulation means.

FIG. 7 is a top view showing still another example of the regulating means.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Radiator shroud 2: Radiator shroud upper 6: Radiator 10: Bumper reinforcement 11: Front bumper 20: Storage member 21: Lock device 22: Bolt (for co-tightening) 23: Nut (for co-tightening) 24: Bonnet 30 : Connection member 30B: Connection member (formation of bent portion) 30C (Connection member (formation of notch) 33: Bolt (for fixing connection member and reinforcement) 34: Nut (fixation of connection member and reinforcement) 40) Collision detection sensor 55: Bend portion 56: Notch portion 60: Bolt through hole 61: Connection hole (for restricting means)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 3D003 AA18 BB01 CA04 DA04 DA14                 3D038 AB01 AC16 AC19                 3D054 EE06 EE15 EE19 EE30

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A radiator shroud upper that extends in the vehicle width direction, a bumper reinforcement that is disposed below the radiator shroud upper and that extends in the vehicle width direction, and a radiator shroud upper and a bumper reinforcement that extend in the vertical direction. And a connecting member for connecting the load to the radiator shroud upper at the time of frontal collision, which is input to the bumper reinforcement, and a connecting portion for the radiator shroud upper of the radiator shroud upper or the connecting member. A front body structure of an automobile, comprising: a collision detection sensor mounted in the vicinity. 2. The regulating means according to claim 1, wherein the regulating means for regulating a rearward load of a predetermined magnitude or more inputted from the bumper reinforcement to the upper end portion of the connecting member. The front structure of the vehicle body, which is characterized in that 3. The connecting member according to claim 2, wherein the connecting member is formed so as to be bent in the front-rear direction, and the restricting means is formed by a bending portion that is a bent portion in the front-rear direction of the connecting member. The front structure of the car body characterized by. 4. The vehicle body front structure according to claim 2, wherein the restriction means is formed by a notch formed in the connecting member. 5. The penetrating member according to claim 2, wherein a lower end portion of the connecting member is connected to the bumper reinforcement by a fixture, and the connecting member or the bumper reinforcement is formed to penetrate the fixing member. A connecting hole communicating with the hole and having a width smaller than the diameter of the fixing tool is formed extending in the vehicle body front-rear direction, and the restricting means is constituted by the connecting hole, and the connecting means by the fixing tool is formed. In the connected state of the member and the bumper reinforcement, when a large load of a predetermined amount or more rearward is input to the bumper reinforcement,
It is set so that the bumper reinforcement is relatively displaced rearward with respect to the lower end of the connecting member by forcibly entering the fixing tool into the connecting hole.
The front structure of the vehicle body, which is characterized in that 6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member connects the radiator shroud upper and the bumper reinforcement in a vehicle width direction substantially intermediate portion, and the collision detection sensor is a vehicle width direction substantially intermediate portion. The vehicle body front structure, characterized in that it is provided in the vehicle body. 7. The vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the radiator shroud upper is substantially midway in a vehicle width direction.
A locking device for a bonnet lock is fixed by a fixing device, and an upper end portion of the connecting member is fastened together with the locking device to the radiator shroud upper with the locking device, the front part of a vehicle body of an automobile. Part structure. 8. The upper end portion of the connecting member according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting flange serving as a mounting portion for the radiator shroud upper, wherein the collision detection sensor is mounted on the mounting flange. The characteristic front structure of the car body.