JP2006159626A - Foam filling instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foam filling instrument capable of enhancing the degree of freedom with respect to the setting of an attaching position. <P>SOLUTION: The foam filling instrument 11 is equipped with a foamable member 12 foamed by external heating and a support part 13 for supporting the foamable member 12. The support part 13 is constituted of a first support part 14 and a second support part 15 and a connection member 19 for connecting the first and second support parts 14 and 15 is provided to the base end parts of the support parts 14 and 15. The first and second support parts 14 and 15 are respectively connected to the connection member 19 so that the leading end parts of the first and second support parts 14 and 15 extend in a spaced-apart direction. The first support surface of the first support part 14 and the second support surface of the second support part 15 are arranged so as not to be flush with each other. The foam filling instrument 11 is used for filling the internal gaps of a pillar 31 with foam and the sound absorbing properties, sound barrier properties, damping properties, dustproof properties and the like of the pillar 31 are enhanced by the foam. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a foam filler that fills a void in an interior of a hollow structural member represented by, for example, a vehicle pillar.

  Conventionally, a hollow structural member typified by a vehicle pillar or the like generates an abnormal noise due to air flowing through an internal space in the hollow structural member as the vehicle travels, or an abnormal noise due to vibration of the hollow structural member. May occur. In order to suppress the occurrence of such abnormal noise, it has been proposed to fill the voids of the hollow structural member with a foam. That is, the foam blocks the voids and reduces the vibration of the hollow structural member, thereby suppressing the generation of abnormal noise in the hollow structural member.

  A foam filler is used to fill the voids of the hollow structural member with the foam. As this type of foam filling device, a device including a foam member that foams by external heating, a support plate that supports the foam member, and a clip that fixes the support plate inside the hollow structure member has been proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

By the way, the hollow structural member represented by the vehicle pillar is composed of, for example, an inner panel and an outer panel, and the vehicle pillar is formed in a hollow shape by integrating the panels by spot welding or the like. In order to apply the foam filler to such a hollow structural member, first, the foam filler is fixed to one panel, and then the panels are integrated to mount the foam filler inside the hollow structural member. Subsequently, when the hollow structural member is heated from the outside, a foam is formed by foaming of the foamed member, and the foam is filled in a predetermined position in the internal space of the hollow structural member. Such a foam filler needs to be attached at a predetermined position in the space of the hollow structure member in consideration of the position of the foam to be filled. That is, the foam filler is disposed at a predetermined position of the hollow structure member in consideration of a position where vibration and noise are effectively suppressed by the foam.
JP 2003-146243 A

  By the way, a hollow structure member may be provided with, for example, a through-hole through which a wiring used for an electrical component is inserted, an engagement portion used for mounting other components, or the like. Such functional parts such as a through hole and an engaging part are used after the foam is filled in the voids of the hollow structural member. Therefore, for example, when the through hole is blocked by the foam, the use of the through hole is hindered. Therefore, the position where the foam is filled needs to be changed according to the position where the functional part is provided. That is, in the conventional foam filling device, it is necessary to change the mounting position of the foam filling device in accordance with the position of such a functional portion.

  When setting the mounting position of the foam filler in the hollow structural member, in addition to considering the position where the function of the foam is sufficiently exerted, the position of the functional part is considered to be the setting of the mounting position. The range will be further limited. As a result, the conventional foam filling device has a problem that the degree of freedom decreases when setting the mounting position.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a foam filler that can increase the degree of freedom in setting the attachment position.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a foam filling device that includes a foam member that foams by external heating and a support portion that supports the foam member, and is fixed inside the hollow structure member. The support part includes a first support part and a second support part, and the first support part and the second support part are provided with connecting parts for connecting the support parts, and the first support part is provided with the first support part and the second support part. The support portion and the second support portion are connected to the connecting portion so that the distal end portions thereof are separated from each other, and the first support surface of the first support portion and the second support portion have the second support portion. The gist is that the support surface is arranged on a non-coplanar surface.

  According to this configuration, the first support surface and the second support surface are disposed in a non-coplanar plane inside the hollow structural member. Therefore, even when the position of a functional part such as a through hole or a protrusion is set at a position where the foam is to be filled, at least one of the first support surface and the second support surface is placed on such a functional part. It becomes possible to arrange | position away from. That is, at least one of the first support surface and the second support surface is used even when the functional part that is defective by being covered with the foam exists at a position where the foam is desired to be filled. Thus, the filling position of the foam can be partially separated from the functional part. That is, the filling position of the foam can be partially changed without changing the mounting position of the foam filler.

The gist of the invention according to claim 2 is that, in the foam filler according to claim 1, a fixing portion for fixing to the hollow structural member is provided in the connecting portion.
According to this configuration, for example, when there is a partition section that partitions the internal space of the hollow structural member, the foam filler is fixed to the partition section using the fixing section, so that the partition chamber adjacent to the partition section is fixed. It is easy to arrange the first support portion and the second support portion, respectively.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the foam filler according to the first or second aspect, the connecting portion includes the first support portion and the first support portion in a state where the first support portion and the second support portion are separated from each other. The gist of the invention is that the second support portion is constituted by a connecting member for connecting the second supporting portion.

  According to this configuration, the arrangement positions of the first support surface and the second support surface can be easily set using the shape and dimensions of the connecting member.

  According to the present invention, the degree of freedom for setting the attachment position can be increased.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a foam filler applying a vehicle pillar will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the pillar 31 as a hollow structural member includes an inner panel 32, an outer panel 33, and a reinforcing member 34. The reinforcing member 34 is interposed between the inner panel 32 and the outer panel 33 and serves to reinforce the pillar 31. The inner panel 32, the outer panel 33, and the reinforcing member 34 are formed of steel plates, and the hollow portions 31 of the panels 32, 33 and the flange portions 35 of the reinforcing member 34 are joined together by welding or the like, whereby the hollow pillar 31 is formed. It is formed. The pillar 31 is disposed in a vehicle (not shown) with the inner panel 32 as the vehicle compartment side and the outer panel 33 as the vehicle exterior side. As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, a gap located between the inner panel 32 and the outer panel 33, that is, a gap inside the pillar 31 is partitioned by a reinforcing member 34. More specifically, the reinforcing member 34 forms a partition portion in the gap of the pillar 31, and a first partition chamber 36 and a second partition chamber 37 are provided adjacent to each other through the partition portion in the pillar 31. . Moreover, as shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2 (b), the inner panel 32 is penetrated by the through-hole 38 for making the wiring used for an electrical component penetrate.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the foam filler 11 includes a foam member 12 that foams by external heating, and a support portion 13 that supports the foam member 12. The support part 13 includes a first support part 14 and a second support part 15 each having a plate shape. As shown in FIG. 2B, the first support portion 14 has a first support surface 14a and the second support portion 15 has a second support surface 15a. The first support surface 14a and the second support surface. A first foaming member 16 and a second foaming member 17 each having a plate shape are supported on 15a.

  The foam member 12 is molded from a foam material by injection molding or the like. This foam material contains a base material, a foaming agent, a crosslinking agent, a filler and the like. Examples of the substrate include synthetic resins and elastomer rubbers. Synthetic resins are classified into thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins. Examples of thermosetting resins include epoxy resins, phenol resins, urethane resins, and acrylic resins. Thermoplastic resins include polyolefins, EVA (ethylene / ethylene / ethylene). Vinyl acetate copolymer) and the like. Examples of the elastomer include SBS (styrene / butadiene / styrene block copolymer), and examples of the rubber include EPM (ethylene / propylene rubber). Examples of the foaming agent include azodicarbonamide and dinitropentamethylenetetramine, examples of the crosslinking agent include dimethylurea and dicyandiamide, and examples of the filler include calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, ferrite, and silica.

  For supporting the foam members 16 and 17 with respect to the support surfaces 14a and 15a, heat fusion between the support surfaces 14a and 15a and the foam members 16 and 17, adhesion with an adhesive, or the like can be used. In addition, the foaming members 16 and 17 are supported on the support surfaces 14a and 15a by providing the support portions 14 and 15 and the foaming members 16 and 17 with locking portions such as locking protrusions and locking holes. It can also be configured to be.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the base end portion 18 of the first support portion 14 and the second support portion 15 is provided with a connection member 19 having a U-shaped cross section, and the connection member 19 connects the support portions 14 and 15 to each other. The connection part to connect is comprised. The base end portions 18 of the first support portion 14 and the second support portion 15 are disposed in a separated state via the connecting member 19. The connecting member 19 is integrally formed with the first support portion 14 and the second support portion 15 from a synthetic resin such as polyamide. The 1st support part 14 and the 2nd support part 15 are connected with the connection member 19 so that those front-end | tip parts 20 may extend in the direction which spaces apart. The first support surface 14 a and the second support surface 15 a are disposed on a non-coplanar surface via the connecting member 19. More specifically, the second support surface 15a is disposed in a plane that is substantially translated from the plane formed by the first support surface 14a. And the 1st foaming member 16 and the 2nd foaming member 17 come to be arrange | positioned on the basis of a non-coplanar surface by being supported by the 1st support surface 14a and the 2nd support surface 15a, respectively.

  A locking projection 21 as a fixing portion protrudes inside the connecting member 19, and the foam filler 11 is configured to be fixed inside the pillar 31 by the locking projection 21. Specifically, the reinforcing member 34 is provided with a locking hole 34 a, and the locking protrusion 21 is locked to the locking hole 34 a, so that the foam filler 11 is fixed to the partition portion inside the pillar 31. It is configured to be.

  In order to fix the foam filler 11 to the reinforcing member 34, the end of the reinforcing member 34 is inserted inside the connecting member 19, and the locking protrusion 21 is locked to the locking hole 34 a. Next, the reinforcing member 34 to which the foam filler 11 is fixed is disposed between the inner panel 32 and the outer panel 33, and the flange portions 35 of the panels 32 and 33 and the flange portions 35 of the reinforcing member 34 are joined together by welding or the like. Is done. And the pillar 31 shown to Fig.2 (a) and FIG.2 (b) is manufactured. At this time, the first support surface 14a and the second support surface 15a are disposed on non-coplanar surfaces. That is, as shown in FIG. 2B, the second support surface 15a is disposed in a different plane from the first support surface 14a, and therefore the virtual plane 22 (FIG. 2) formed by the first support surface 14a. Even if the through hole 38 exists in (b) indicated by a broken line), only the second support surface 15a can be spaced apart from the through hole 38.

  The pillar 31 constitutes a part of the vehicle body, and the vehicle body is subjected to coating such as electrodeposition coating or baking coating. The foam filler 11 is heated at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time when the vehicle body is heated in the drying furnace in the vehicle manufacturing process. With the external heating, foaming (expansion) of the foam member 12 is started. At this time, the direction in which the first foam member 16 and the second foam member 17 foam (expand) is regulated by the first support surface 14a and the second support surface 15a, respectively. Then, the foamed member 12 is hardened by the crosslinking reaction of the synthetic resin contained in the foamed material, whereby a foam 23 is formed as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). The first compartment 36 and the second compartment 37 inside the pillar 31 are filled with these foams 23.

  Here, the second compartment 37 is filled with the foam 23 formed from the second foam member 17 while the direction of foaming (expansion) is regulated by the second support surface 15a. As shown in FIG. 3B, the foam 23 is filled in a predetermined position of the second compartment 37 so as to avoid the through hole 38, so that the through hole 38 is blocked by the foam 23. Can be prevented. By filling the foam 23 with the foam filler 11, the sound absorbing property, sound insulating property, vibration damping property, dustproof property and the like of the pillar 31 are enhanced.

The effects exhibited by this embodiment will be described below.
(1) The 1st support part 14 and the 2nd support part 15 are connected with the connection member 19 so that those front-end | tip parts 20 may extend in the direction which spaces apart. Furthermore, the first support surface 14a and the second support surface 15a are disposed on non-coplanar surfaces. Therefore, since the first support surface 14a and the second support surface 15a are arranged in a non-coplanar plane inside the pillar 31, even if the through hole 38 is provided at a position where the foam 23 is to be filled, Only the second support surface 15 a can be disposed away from the through hole 38. That is, even when the through-hole 38 that causes a problem by being blocked by the foam 23 is present at a position where the foam 23 is desired to be filled, the second support surface 15a is used for foaming. The filling position of the body 23 can be partially separated from the through hole 38. That is, since the filling position of the foam 23 can be partially changed without changing the mounting position of the foam filling tool 11, according to the foam filling tool 11, the setting of the attachment position can be performed. The degree of freedom can be increased. As a result, it becomes easy to fill the foam 23 in a position where vibration and noise are effectively suppressed, and the function of the foam 23 can be sufficiently exhibited.

  (2) The locking protrusion 21 that is fixed to the pillar 31 is provided on the connecting member 19. By fixing the foam filler 11 to the partition using this locking projection 21, it is easy to place the support portions 14 and 15 in the partition chambers 36 and 37, respectively.

  By the way, when the space | gap in the inside of a hollow structure member is divided into several compartments by the division part comprised from members, such as a reinforcing member, a part of panel, etc., a foam is filled into several compartments. As a result, the sound insulation, vibration damping and the like of the entire hollow structural member are improved. In filling such a hollow structural member with a foam, conventionally, it has been necessary to place a foam filler in each compartment. Furthermore, when the sectional shapes of the compartments are different, it is necessary to prepare a foam filler according to the shapes. With such an increase in the number of parts and the types of parts, there has been a problem that the working efficiency for attaching the foam filler decreases.

  In the foam filler 11 of this embodiment, the support portions 14 and 15 can be arranged in the compartments 36 and 37, respectively. Therefore, the foam 23 can be filled into each of the plurality of compartments, that is, the first compartment 36 and the second compartment 37 by one foam filling tool 11. As a result, the number of components and the types of components can be reduced, and a decrease in work efficiency during installation can be suppressed.

  (3) Since the connecting portion that connects the first support portion 14 and the second support portion 15 is composed of the connecting member 19, the shape and dimensions of the connecting member 19 are used to make the first supporting surface 14 a and the first supporting portion 14. 2 The arrangement position of the support surface 15a can be easily set. Therefore, the freedom degree with respect to design of the foaming filler 11 can be raised.

  (4) Since the foam member 12 is divided and supported by the first foam member 16 and the second foam member 17, the volume per foam member, that is, the weight, can be reduced. Therefore, when the foaming member 12 is foamed (expanded), it is possible to reduce the influence of the foaming member 12 due to its own weight, and thus it is possible to suppress the foaming member 12 from forming the foam 23 while hanging down due to its own weight. . As a result, the foam 23 is easily filled in a desired position, so that the function of the foam 23 can be sufficiently exhibited.

  (5) In the electrodeposition coating process in the vehicle manufacturing process, the electrodeposition liquid that has flowed into the pillar 31 flows out of the pillar 31 as the vehicle body is carried out of the electrodeposition tank. Here, for example, when a fixing portion for fixing the foam filler 11 is provided in the first support portion 14 or the second support portion 15, the fixing portion is a gap between each panel 32, 33 and the foam filler 11. It becomes resistance when the electrodeposition liquid flows out through.

  In the foam filler 11 of the present embodiment, a locking protrusion 21 is provided on the connecting member 19, and the foam filler 11 is fixed to the reinforcing member 34 using the connecting member 19 and the locking protrusion 21. A gap is provided between the foam filler 11 and the inner panel 32 and the outer panel 33. For this reason, the electrodeposition liquid can be quickly discharged from the inside of the pillar 31 through the gap. Furthermore, the position shift of the foam filler 11 due to the flow resistance of the electrodeposition liquid can be suppressed.

The embodiment may be modified as follows.
-As shown in Drawing 4 (a) and Drawing 4 (b), the plane which the 1st support surface 14a makes the 1st support surface 14a and the 2nd support surface 15a, and the plane which the 2nd support surface 15a makes You may arrange | position so that it may cross | intersect. Even in such a configuration, since the first support surface 14a and the second support surface 15a are arranged on a non-coplanar surface, the first support surface 14a is formed from the through hole 38 as shown in FIG. 4B. Can be spaced apart.

  -As shown in Drawing 4 (a) and Drawing 4 (b), without providing connecting member 19 separately, base end parts 18 of the 1st support part 14 and the 2nd support part 15 are connected, and the connection You may comprise a part as the connection part 24. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the locking protrusion 21 may be provided on a portion other than the connecting portion 24, for example, the second support portion 15.
-As shown to Fig.4 (a) and FIG.4 (b), you may apply the foaming filler 11 to the pillar 31 which does not have the reinforcement member 34. As shown in FIG. In this case, the foam filler 11 is used by being fixed to a portion other than the partition portion, for example, the locking hole 32a of the inner panel 32. For example, in the center pillar, a through hole 38 may be provided in the outer panel 33. Also in such a pillar 31, the filling position of the foam 23 can be separated from the through hole 38 by using the first support surface 14 a.

  -Each support surface 14a, 15a may be set to either the front or back surface of each support portion 14, 15. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first support surface 14a may be set on the surface opposite to the first support surface 14a of the embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), a locking hole 19a is provided as a fixed portion in the connecting member 19, and a locking protrusion 39 is provided in the partitioning portion, so that the foam filler 11 is provided. May be configured to be fixed to the pillar 31. Furthermore, a plurality of fixing portions may be provided, or for example, fixing portions having different shapes such as holes, holes, grooves, etc. may be combined.

  A portion other than the first support surface 14a and the second support surface 15a as long as the function of the first support surface 14a or the second support surface 15a, that is, the function of separating the filling position of the foam 23 from the through hole 38 is not hindered. For example, the foam member may be supported by the connecting member 19.

  The first foam member 16 and the second foam member 17 may be supported by the entire first support surface 14a and the second support surface 15a, respectively, or may be part of the first support surface 14a and the second support surface 15a. It may be supported.

  The shapes of the first foam member 16 and the second foam member 17 and the shapes of the first support surface 14a and the second support surface 15a may be appropriately changed in consideration of the internal shape of the pillar 31 and the foaming ratio of the foam material. Good.

-The shape of the 1st support part 14 and the 2nd support part 15 is not restricted to plate shape, For example, you may change into other shapes, such as a cross-sectional triangle shape.
-The 1st support surface 14a and the 2nd support surface 15a are good also as a structure which has a convex part or a recessed part. In this case, the first support surface 14a and the second support surface 15a may be disposed on a non-coplanar plane with reference to the plane that is substantially the support surface of the first foam member 16 and the second foam member 17. .

  The foam filler 11 may be configured with three or more support portions 13. For example, the connection member 19 is further connected to the second support portion 15, and the third support portion is connected to the connection member 19. In this case, the 2nd support surface 15a which the 2nd support part 15 has, and the 3rd support surface which the 3rd support part has may be arranged on the same plane, or may be arranged on the non-coplanar plane Good.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, it is effective to apply the foam filler 11 to the pillar 31 having the through holes 38 in each of the panels 32 and 33. Furthermore, this foam filling tool is provided for a functional part other than the through hole 38, for example, the pillar 31 provided inside the pillar 31 and having a functional part such as an engaging part used after the foam 23 is filled. 11 is also effective.

  -The cross-sectional shape of the pillar 31 to which the foam filler 11 is applied and the number of the reinforcing members 34 are not particularly limited. Further, the foam filler 11 may be used for a hollow structural member other than the pillar 31 such as a front pillar and a center pillar, for example, a rocker panel, the inside of a door, various hollow panels in a building, and the like. In addition, the foam filler 11 is effective even when applied to a hollow structural member in which an internal space is defined by a partition portion other than the reinforcing member 34. For example, a hollow structure member in which a convex portion is formed on the inner surface of the panel by forming a concave portion on the outer surface of the panel, and a partition portion is constituted by the convex portion.

The technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment will be described below.
(A) The foam member is divided into a first foam member supported by the first support surface and a second foam member supported by the second support surface. The foam filler according to any one of the above. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress the foam member from being formed while the foam member hangs down by its own weight.

  (B) The first support part and the second support part are respectively disposed in a pair of compartments provided in the hollow structure, and (i) ) The foam filler according to any one of the above. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of components and the types of components, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in work efficiency during installation.

  (C) The foam filler according to claim 2, wherein the fixing part is fixed to a partition part that partitions a void in the hollow structure. According to this configuration, it is possible to easily arrange each support portion with respect to each compartment provided adjacent to each other using the fixed portion as a boundary.

The perspective view which shows the disassembled state of the foaming filler and pillar in embodiment. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the pillar with which the foaming filling tool was mounted | worn, (b) is sectional drawing in the 2b-2b line | wire of Fig.2 (a). (A) is sectional drawing which shows the pillar of the state with which the foam was filled, (b) is sectional drawing in the 3b-3b line | wire of Fig.3 (a). (A) is a perspective view which shows the other example of a foaming filler, and the decomposition | disassembly state of a pillar, (b) is sectional drawing which shows the pillar with which the foaming filler was mounted | worn. (A) is a perspective view which shows the other example of a foaming filler, and the decomposition | disassembly state of a pillar, (b) is sectional drawing which shows the pillar with which the foaming filler was mounted | worn.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Foam filler, 12 ... Foam member, 13 ... Support part, 14 ... 1st support part, 14a ... 1st support surface, 15 ... 2nd support part, 15a ... 2nd support surface, 16 ... 1st foam member , 17 ... 2nd foam member, 18 ... Base end part, 19 ... Connecting member, 19a, 32a, 34a ... Locking hole, 20 ... Tip part, 21, 39 ... Locking protrusion, 22 ... Virtual plane, 23 ... Foaming Body, 24 ... connecting portion, 31 ... pillar, 32 ... inner panel, 33 ... outer panel, 34 ... reinforcing member, 35 ... collar, 36 ... first compartment, 37 ... second compartment, 38 ... through hole.

Claims (3)

In a foam filling device that includes a foaming member that foams by external heating and a support portion that supports the foaming member, and is fixed inside the hollow structural member.
The support part includes a first support part and a second support part,
The first support part and the second support part are provided with a connecting part for connecting the support parts,
While connecting the first support portion and the second support portion to the connection portion so that the tip portions thereof extend in the direction of separation,
The foam filling device, wherein the first support surface of the first support portion and the second support surface of the second support portion are arranged in a non-coplanar manner. The foam filler according to claim 1, wherein a fixing portion that is fixed to the hollow structural member is provided in the connecting portion. The said connection part is comprised from the connection member which connects the said 1st support part and a 2nd support part in the state which the said 1st support part and the 2nd support part left | separated, The Claim 1 or Claim characterized by the above-mentioned. The foam filler according to 2.

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