JP2007083927A - Slide door device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slide door device capable of making sealability at the time of closing a slide door and detection performance of a foreign substance compatible, even in a pillar-less vehicle body structure. <P>SOLUTION: A weather strip 20 is arranged on an outer edge portion of a front end surface 4a of the slide door 4, thereby exactly ensuring the sealing property of the slide door 4 even in the pillar-less vehicle body structure. An area outside in a vehicular width direction of the weather strip 20 is set as a seal area 20a on which a front door 50 press-contacts at the time of closing the slide door 4, and an area inside in the vehicular width direction is set as a non-seal area 20b. External force can be transmitted to a pressure sensor 31 through an external force transmitting plate 35 having one end portion 35a facing the inside of the non-seal area 20b. Therefore, in addition to the direct contact detection of a foreign substance to the pressure sensor 31, the contact detection of the foreign substance is materialized in the weather strip 20 on the outer side in the vehicular width direction more than the pressure sensor 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a slide door device provided with a touch sensor that detects a foreign object being caught when the slide door is moved in the closing direction.

  In recent years, in vehicles such as wagon cars, vans, and recreational vehicles, a number of so-called automatic sliding door devices have been put to practical use that open and close the door opening on the rear seat side by sliding the door panel back and forth by motor drive. Has been. In this type of sliding door device, in order to prevent an occupant's finger or the like from being caught during the closing operation of the door panel (sliding door), a touch sensor for detecting contact of a foreign object is provided on the end surface of the sliding door in the closing movement direction. It is common to arrange.

  As a touch sensor, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a sensor using a slender pressure sensor or the like as a sensor body is widely used. In addition, in order to enable accurate detection of contact of a relatively small foreign object, it is arranged along the outer edge portion (vehicle outer edge portion) of the sliding door end surface.

By the way, in recent years, a so-called B-pillar-less vehicle body structure has been proposed in which the center pillar (B-pillar) function is provided on the slide door side to eliminate the center pillar from the vehicle body side. In this vehicle body structure, it is difficult to dispose a sealing material on the vehicle body for continuously sealing the upper and lower edges and the front edge of the door opening corresponding to the slide door. Therefore, in this type of vehicle body structure, a weather strip is provided along the outer edge portion of the slide door end surface to ensure the sealing performance when the slide door is closed, and on the vehicle body side at the upper and lower edge portions of the door opening. A configuration in which the upper and lower end portions of the weather strip are wrapped from the outside is adopted for the drip seal disposed along.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-182136

  However, when the weather strip is disposed along the outer edge of the sliding door end face as described above, the pressure sensor must be disposed on the inner side (vehicle compartment side). There is a possibility that the detection performance of the touch sensor with respect to such a small foreign object may deteriorate.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a slide door device capable of achieving both a sealing performance when a slide door is closed and a foreign matter detection performance even for a pillar-less vehicle body structure. With the goal.

  The present invention has a hollow weather strip having elasticity arranged along the vertical direction on the end surface of the sliding door in the closing movement direction, and a feeling of being arranged on the end surface inside the weather strip in the vehicle width direction. A slide door device comprising a pressure sensor, wherein an area outside the weather strip in the vehicle width direction is set as a seal area in which a vehicle body member is pressed when the slide door is closed, and the weather strip in the vehicle width direction An inner region is set as a non-sealing region, and an external force transmission plate whose one end faces the internal space on the non-sealing region side of the weather strip and whose other end abuts on the pressure sensor is formed on the end surface. Provided to support the middle of the external force transmission plate inside the weather strip in a swingable manner via a protrusion protruding from the end face side , Characterized in that the external force acting on one end of the external force transmission plate and can be transmitted to the pressure sensor by the swinging of the external force transmission plate in the non-sealing region is elastically deformed.

  According to the sliding door device of the present invention, it is possible to achieve both the sealing performance when the sliding door is closed and the foreign substance detection performance even for the pillarless vehicle body structure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic external perspective view of a vehicle equipped with a sliding door device, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 1 when the sliding door is closed, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a main part of a pressure-sensitive sensor, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the touch sensor, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a main part of an external force transmission plate.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this vehicular sliding door device 1 is used in a one-box type automobile vehicle 100. For example, a door opening 3 formed on a side portion of a vehicle body 2 corresponding to a rear seat, It is opened and closed by a door panel (sliding door) 4 that moves in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The sliding door device 1 is configured to guide the sliding door 4 forward and backward by three rails extending forward and backward of the upper rail 5, the center rail 6 and the lower rail 7.

  In the present embodiment, the upper rail 5 and the lower rail 7 are disposed on the vehicle body 2, and the center rail 6 is disposed on the slide door 4. The upper rail 5 extends in the front-rear direction along the upper side of the door opening 3, and the lower rail 7 extends in the front-rear direction along the lower side of the door opening 3. The upper rail 5 and the slide door 4 are connected by an upper arm 8 extending in the vehicle width direction, and the lower rail 7 and the slide door 4 are connected by a lower arm 9 extending in the vehicle width direction. Further, the center rail 6 and the rear periphery of the door opening 3 are connected by a center arm (not shown).

  One ends of the upper arm 8 and the lower arm 9 are guided by the upper rail 5 and the lower rail 7 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, respectively. The other ends of the upper arm 8 and the lower arm 9 are fixed to a pillar portion 11 that forms the front peripheral edge of the slide door 4.

  The pillar portion 11 extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, and as shown in FIG. 2, a closed section S is defined by an outer panel 12 on the vehicle outer side and an inner panel 13 on the vehicle cabin side at the upper end side. As a result, the slide door 4 is efficiently secured in rigidity and strength at the periphery. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pillar reinforcement 14 that stiffens the pillar portion 11 is disposed between the outer panel 12 and the inner panel 13 in the front portion of the slide door 4. The pillar portion 11 is stiffened by the pillar reinforcement 14 with high rigidity, so that in the vehicle body 2 of the present embodiment, the center pillar is interposed between the front door 50 on the front seat side and the slide door 4 on the rear seat side. A so-called B pillar-less vehicle body structure in which (B pillar) is abolished is realized. In other words, in the present embodiment, the vehicle body 2 has an opening that is integrated with a door opening (not shown) on the front seat side that is opened and closed by the front door 50. It is formed with parts.

  Further, in such a B-pillarless vehicle body 2, a weather strip 20 is arranged on the end surface (front end surface) 4 a on the closing movement direction side of the slide door 4 in order to ensure the sealing performance when the slide door 4 is closed. It is installed. In the present embodiment, the weather strip 20 is configured by a hollow member that is long in the vertical direction and is formed of an elastic material such as resin, and is disposed on the outer edge portion of the front end surface 4 a of the slide door 4.

  In the present embodiment, when the slide door 4 is closed, the weather strip 20 is elastically deformed by pressing the outer region in the vehicle width direction against the flange 51 formed on the rear edge of the front door 50. A liquid-tight seal is formed between the front door 50 and the slide door 4 (see FIGS. 3 and 5B). That is, the area outside the weather strip 20 in the vehicle width direction is set as a seal area 20a where the vehicle body member comes into pressure contact when the slide door 4 is closed. On the other hand, the area inside the weather strip 20 in the vehicle width direction is set as a non-seal area 20b.

  A drip seal 25 for sealing the upper and lower edges of the slide door 4 (only the one on the upper edge side in FIG. 2) is provided on the upper and lower edges of the door opening 3 of the vehicle body 2. These drip seals 25 are overlapped liquid-tightly on the upper and lower ends of the weather strip 20 from the outside (the vehicle exterior side) when the slide door 4 is closed. That is, the weather strip 20 is disposed on the outer edge portion of the front end surface 4a of the slide door 4, so that the drip seal 25 can be wrapped from the outside. When the door 4 is closed, a series of seal structures are formed together with the drip seal 25.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the slide door device 1 is an automatic slide door device capable of opening and closing the slide door 4 by a driving force of a motor (not shown). That is, the slide door device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a motor, a control device, and the like (not shown), so that the slide door 4 can be opened and closed by a passenger's manual operation, as well as the passenger not shown. It can be opened and closed by motor drive through switch operation.

  In order to prevent foreign matter from being caught in the closing operation of the slide door 4 by this motor drive, the slide door device 1 has a touch sensor 30 that detects contact of the foreign matter on the front end surface 4 a of the slide door 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the touch sensor 30 includes a pressure sensor 31 as a sensor main body that detects an external force due to the contact of a foreign object, and an external force transmission plate 35 that transmits the external force to the pressure sensor 31. Configured.

  The pressure-sensitive sensor 31 includes a sensor that is long in the vertical direction and is disposed on the front end surface 4a of the slide door 4 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than the weather strip 20, and is, for example, a support integrally formed with the weather strip 20. Supported by a member 34.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the pressure-sensitive sensor 31 includes a tubular outer skin portion 32 formed in an elongated shape by an elastic material having insulating properties such as resin. A plurality of (for example, four) groove portions 32a are spirally engraved on the inner surface of the outer skin portion 32, and flexible electrode wires 33 are held in the respective groove portions 32a. The electrode wires 33 are held in the groove portions 32a so as not to be in contact with each other. When the outer skin portion 32 is elastically deformed with a predetermined pressure, the electrode wires 33 come into contact with each other and are conducted. The pressure sensor 31 detects whether or not the outer skin portion 32 is crushed by the change in resistance when the electrode wires 33 contact each other, that is, whether or not an external force is applied to the outer skin portion 32. It can be done.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the external force transmission plate 35 has, for example, one end portion 35 a facing the internal space on the non-seal region 20 b side of the weather strip 20 and the other end portion 35 b against the pressure sensor 31. It is comprised with the plate member long in the up-down direction which touches. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the external force transmission plate 35 is configured by a vertically long sheet metal plate having a substantially L-shaped cross section from one end 35a to the other end 35b.

  In the middle of the external force transmission plate 35 from the one end portion 35a side to the other end portion 35b side, a protrusion that protrudes in the closing movement direction of the slide door 4 from the front end face 4a inside the non-sealed region 20b side of the weather strip 20 36 is abutted, and the external force transmission plate 35 is swingably supported through the protrusion 36. The external force transmission plate 35 projects the external force when the non-seal region 20b is elastically deformed by the external force of the foreign matter that contacts the weather strip 20 and the external force is transmitted to the one end portion 35a side of the external force transmission plate 35. Transmission to the pressure-sensitive sensor 31 is possible by swinging about the portion 36 as a fulcrum.

  Here, in the present embodiment, when the slide door 4 is closed and the front door 50 is brought into pressure contact with the seal region 20a, the elastic deformation of the seal region 20a prevents the non-seal region 20b from elastically deforming. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a lip portion 38 that divides the internal space on the seal region 20a side and the internal space on the non-seal region 20b side in the weather strip 20.

  In addition, even when a small external force is applied to the one end portion 35a of the external force transmission plate 35, the protrusion 36 serving as a fulcrum for the oscillation of the external force transmission plate 35 is configured to reliably transmit the external force to the pressure sensor 31. It is desirable that the sensor be disposed as close to the pressure sensor 31 as possible.

  In such a configuration, FIG. 5A shows a state in which the slide door 4 is opened. When the slide door 4 is moved and closed in this open state, the seal of the weather strip 20 is closed. The region 20a is pressed against the flange 51 of the front door 50 and is elastically deformed, so that the space between the front door 50 and the slide door 4 is liquid-tightly sealed (see FIG. 5B). At that time, although not shown, the upper and lower ends of the weather strip 20 wrap the drip seals 25 at the upper and lower edges of the door opening 3 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. A series of seal structures are formed together with the drip seal 25 at the time of closing.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), in the process of closing the slide door 4, when a foreign object such as an occupant's finger comes into contact with the weather strip 20 and the non-seal area 20b is greatly elastically deformed, the foreign object contacts. The external force is transmitted to the one end portion 35a side of the external force transmission plate 35 and is transmitted to the pressure-sensitive sensor 31 through the swinging of the external force transmission plate 35 using the protrusion 36 as a fulcrum. As a result, the outer skin portion 32 of the pressure sensor 31 is elastically deformed, and the contact between the electrode wires 33 is detected by detecting the contact between the electrode wires 33. Of course, even when a foreign object directly contacts the pressure sensor 31, the contact of the foreign object is detected.

  According to such an embodiment, by providing the weather strip 20 on the outer edge portion of the front end surface 4a of the slide door 4, the sealing performance of the slide door 4 can be accurately ensured even in a pillar-less vehicle body structure. . Further, an area outside the weather strip 20 in the vehicle width direction is set as a seal area 20a where the front door 50 is pressed when the slide door 4 is closed, and an area inside the vehicle width direction is set as a non-seal area 20b. Since the external force can be transmitted to the pressure-sensitive sensor 31 via the external force transmission plate 35 with the one end 35a facing the inside of the non-sealed region 20b, foreign matter directly contacts the pressure-sensitive sensor 31. In addition to the case, the weather strip 20 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the pressure sensitive sensor 31 can accurately detect the contact of the foreign matter.

  Here, when the sealing region 20a is elastically deformed by the pressure contact of the flange portion 51 of the front door 50, the non-sealing region 20b is also slightly elastically deformed by the elastic deformation. In order to prevent erroneous detection by the pressure sensor 31 due to deformation, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a step portion 35c is formed in the middle of the external force transmission plate 35 so that the position of the one end portion 35a is closer to the front end face 4a. You may tune to.

  Further, when a foreign object comes into contact with the weather strip 20, the external force transmitted to the one end portion 35a side of the external force transmission plate 35 is reliably transmitted to the pressure sensor 31 side without diffusing in the vertical direction. As shown to (a), you may form the one end part 35a side of the external force transmission plate 35 in a comb-tooth shape along an up-down direction. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the other end portion 35b side can be formed in a comb-like shape so as to correspond to the one end portion 35a side.

Schematic external perspective view of a vehicle equipped with a sliding door device II sectional view of FIG. 1 when the sliding door is closed II-II sectional view of Fig. 1 when the sliding door is closed The perspective view which shows a principal part by fracture | rupturing a part of pressure sensor Cross section of the main part of the touch sensor Cross-sectional view of the main part showing a modification of the touch sensor The perspective view which shows the principal part of an external force transmission plate

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sliding door apparatus 2 ... Vehicle body 3 ... Door opening 4 ... Slide door 4a ... Front end surface 20 ... Weather strip 20a ... Sealing area 20b ... Non-sealing area 30 ... Touch sensor 31 ... Pressure sensor 35 ... External force transmission plate 35a ... One end 35b ... the other end 35c ... a step 36 ... a projection 38 ... a lip 50 ... a front door (vehicle body member)
100 ... Vehicle

Claims (3)

A hollow weather strip having elasticity disposed on the end surface of the sliding door in the closing movement direction along the vertical direction, and a pressure-sensitive sensor disposed on the end surface on the inner side in the vehicle width direction from the weather strip. A sliding door device comprising:
An area outside the weather strip in the vehicle width direction is set as a seal area where the vehicle body member comes into pressure contact when the slide door is closed, and an area inside the weather strip in the vehicle width direction is set as a non-seal area,
One end portion faces the internal space on the non-sealed region side of the weatherstrip and the other end portion is provided with an external force transmission plate that comes into contact with the pressure sensor, on the end surface,
The middle of the external force transmission plate is supported in a swingable manner inside the weather strip via a protrusion protruding from the end face side, and acts on one end of the external force transmission plate when the non-seal region is elastically deformed. A sliding door device characterized in that an external force to be transmitted can be transmitted to the pressure sensor by swinging of the external force transmission plate.   2. The sliding door device according to claim 1, wherein the weather strip has a lip portion that divides an internal space on the sealing region side and an internal space on the non-sealing region side.   3. The sliding door device according to claim 1, wherein the external force transmission plate is long in the vertical direction, and one end portion of the external force transmission plate is formed in a comb shape along the vertical direction. .

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