JP2009006801A - Cowl structure for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To absorb a collision energy when a collision object collides with a lower part of a front window shield glass, and sufficiently suppress a vibration of the front window shield glass in traveling of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: In this cowl structure for the vehicle, a main body part 36 of a glass support part 35 for supporting the lower part of the front window shield glass 14 is constituted to be an open cross section shape, but an opening part 38 of the main body part 36 is provided with a reinforcement 40, so that rigidity in the vertical direction of a vehicle body of a glass support part 35 is sufficiently ensured by the reinforcement 40. In addition, when the collision object 54 collides with the lower part of the front window shield glass 14, an airbag body of an airbag device 42 is inflated and the lower part of the reinforcement 40 is bent. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular cowl structure that supports a window shield glass of a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cowl top member that supports a lower portion of a front window shield glass is provided between a front window shield glass and a dash panel of a vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the front deck structure disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, the cowl top member has a closed cross-section structure with high rigidity so as to suppress vibration of the front window shield glass during vehicle travel. Further, the cowl top member is provided with a buckling promoting means for promoting buckling of the cowl top member when a collision object collides with the lower part of the front window shield glass, thereby absorbing the collision energy. I have to.
JP 2004-155351 A

  However, in the front deck structure having the above-described configuration, the buckling (deformation) of the cowl top member is promoted by the buckling promoting means as described above. There is a possibility that the vibration of the front window shield glass is not sufficiently suppressed.

  In consideration of the above fact, the present invention can absorb collision energy when a collision object collides with the lower part of the front window shield glass, and can sufficiently suppress vibration of the front window shield glass during vehicle travel. It is an object to obtain a vehicle cowl structure that can be used.

  The cowl structure for a vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention extends below the front window shield glass of the vehicle along the vehicle width direction, and has an upper end connected to the front window shield glass and a lower end. A cowl having a glass support connected to a dash panel, and a bending means for lowering the rigidity of the glass support in the vertical direction of the vehicle body by operating and bending a part of the glass support. It is a feature.

  In the vehicle cowl structure according to the first aspect, when the bending means is operated, a part of the glass support portion of the cowl is bent, and the rigidity of the glass support portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body is lowered. Therefore, for example, if the bending means is operated when the collision body collides with the lower portion of the front window shield glass, the rigidity of the glass support portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body can be reduced. Can absorb the collision energy. In addition, as described above, the rigidity of the glass support portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body can be forcibly lowered when necessary, so that the rigidity of the glass support portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body at the normal time can be sufficiently secured. it can. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently suppress the vibration of the front window shield glass when the vehicle is traveling.

  A vehicle cowl structure according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle cowl structure according to the first aspect, wherein the glass support portion is a main body portion having an open cross-sectional shape that is open on the front side of the vehicle body when viewed from the vehicle width direction. And a reinforcement that is provided in the opening of the main body and reinforces the main body in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, and the bending means bends the reinforcement by operating.

  In the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the second aspect, the reinforcement for reinforcing the main body portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body is provided in the opening portion of the main body portion of the glass support portion. Therefore, the reinforcement can sufficiently secure the rigidity of the glass support portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. Moreover, when the bending means is operated, the reinforcement is bent and the rigidity of the glass support portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body decreases. Thus, since it is the structure which changes the rigidity of the vehicle body vertical direction of a glass support part by the presence or absence of the bending deformation of reinforcement, the setting of the rigidity of a glass support part can be made easy.

  A vehicle cowl structure according to a third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle cowl structure according to the second aspect, wherein the reinforcement is formed in a flat plate shape and arranged along the vertical direction of the vehicle body. It is a feature.

  In the vehicle cowl structure according to the third aspect, the reinforcement of the glass support portion is formed in a flat plate shape and arranged along the vertical direction of the vehicle body. For this reason, even when the plate thickness of the reinforcement is thin, the rigidity of the glass support portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body can be sufficiently ensured by the surface rigidity of the reinforcement. In this case, for example, by applying a load in the thickness direction to the reinforcement by a bending means, the reinforcement can be bent easily, so that the rigidity of the glass support portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body can be easily reduced. it can.

  A vehicle cowl structure according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle cowl structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the bending means is formed on the part of the glass support portion. The air bag apparatus is arranged to face each other, and operates when the collision body collides with the front window shield glass to inflate the bag body toward the partial side of the glass support portion.

  In the cowl structure for a vehicle according to claim 4, when a collision object collides with the front window shield glass, an airbag device arranged to face a part of the glass support part is bagged toward the part of the glass support part. Inflates the body. Thereby, a part of glass support part is bent. Thus, since a part of glass support part is bent using an airbag apparatus, a part of glass support part can be rapidly bent at the time of the collision of the collision body to the lower part of a front window shield glass.

  As described above, in the vehicle cowl structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, the collision energy can be absorbed when the collision object collides with the lower end portion of the front window shield glass, and at the time of traveling the vehicle. The vibration of the front window shield glass can be sufficiently suppressed.

  In the vehicular cowl structure according to the second aspect of the present invention, the rigidity of the glass support portion can be easily set.

  In the cowl structure for a vehicle according to the third aspect of the invention, the rigidity of the glass support portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body can be sufficiently secured, and the rigidity of the glass support portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body can be easily reduced. it can.

  In the vehicular cowl structure according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the glass support portion can be quickly bent when the collision body collides with the lower portion of the front window shield glass.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view in which a structure around a cowl 16 of a vehicle 10 (automobile) configured by applying a vehicle cowl structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is broken away. Yes. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. In the figure, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle body front direction, the arrow UP indicates the vehicle body upward direction, and the arrow IN indicates the vehicle body inner side direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment includes a front window shield glass 14 that closes a front window 12 formed at a front portion of a vehicle body 11. A cowl 16 that supports the lower portion of the front window shield glass 14 extends in the vehicle width direction below the lower portion (front portion) of the front window shield glass 14. Both end portions in the width direction of the cowl 16 are connected to the rear end portion of the apron upper member 20 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body along the upper edges of the left and right side walls of the engine room 18 and the middle portion in the vertical direction of the left and right front pillars 22. Connected to the part.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cowl 16 is configured by a combination of plate members, and includes a cowl inner 24, a cowl outer 26, a reinforcing plate 28, an OA cowl 30, and a reinforcement 40.

  The cowl inner 24 is erected from the upper end of the dash panel 34 interposed between the engine room 18 and the vehicle compartment 32 of the vehicle body 11 toward the vehicle body upper side. A flange portion 24A that protrudes obliquely downward toward the front side of the vehicle body is provided at the lower end portion of the cowl inner 24. A flange portion 34A provided at the upper end portion of the dash panel 34 is provided on the lower surface of the flange portion 24A. Are combined. Further, a reinforcing plate 28 that reinforces the connecting portion is coupled to the upper surface of the flange portion 24A, and a rear end portion of the OA cowl 30 (see FIG. 1) is disposed above the reinforcing plate 28. Yes. The rear end portion of the OA cowl 30 is fastened to the reinforcing plate 28 and the flange portions 24A and 34A by bolts and nuts (not shown).

  A bent portion 24 </ b> B is formed at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the cowl inner 24. For this reason, the cowl inner 24 is disposed along the vertical direction of the vehicle with respect to the bent portion 24B, and the upper portion of the vehicle with respect to the bent portion 24B is rearward of the vehicle with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle. It is placed slightly tilted. Further, a flange portion 24C that protrudes obliquely upward toward the rear side of the vehicle body is provided at the upper end portion of the cowl inner 24, and this flange portion 24C serves as a coupling portion with the cowl outer 26.

  The cowl outer 26 extends from the upper end of the cowl inner 24 toward the front side of the vehicle body. A flange portion 26A that protrudes obliquely upward toward the rear of the vehicle body is provided at the rear end portion of the cowl outer 26, and the flange portion 26A is coupled to the flange portion 24C of the cowl inner 24.

  A bent portion 26B is formed at the middle portion in the front-rear direction of the cowl outer 26. The cowl outer 26 is inclined so that the rear side portion of the vehicle body is lower than the bent portion 26B, and the front portion of the vehicle body is more forward than the bent portion 26B. The side part is inclined to the front-down state. Further, a flange portion 26 </ b> C that protrudes toward the vehicle body lower side is provided at the front end portion of the cowl outer 26.

  The cowl inner 24 and the cowl outer 26 configured as described above constitute a main body portion 36 of a glass support portion 35 that supports the lower portion of the front window shield glass 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body portion 36 is formed in an open cross-sectional shape that opens to the front side of the vehicle body when viewed from the vehicle width direction, and is a portion between the flange portion 26C of the cowl outer 26 and the bent portion 26B. (The portion inclined in the front-falling state) is the glass connecting portion. The lower end portion of the front window shield glass 14 is bonded (connected) to the upper surface of the glass connecting portion by an adhesive 38.

  In the present embodiment, the reinforcement 40 is provided in the opening 38 of the main body 36 of the glass support 35. The reinforcement 40 is formed into a long rectangular flat plate by using a thin plate material that is thinner than the other components of the cowl 16 (the cowl inner 24, the cowl outer 26, the reinforcing plate 28, and the OA cowl 30). The main body 36 is disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction with the longitudinal direction along the vehicle width direction and the plate thickness direction along the vehicle body longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reinforcement 40 is disposed along the vertical direction of the vehicle body at the opening 38 of the main body 36, and the upper end portion is coupled to the rear surface of the flange 26 </ b> C of the cowl outer 26. Has been. Further, a flange 40A that projects obliquely downward toward the front side of the vehicle body is provided at the lower end of the reinforcement 40, and the flange 40A is coupled to the upper surface of the rear end of the OA cowl 30. . For this reason, the opening 36 side of the main body portion 36 is reinforced in the vertical direction of the vehicle body by the reinforcement 40, and thereby the rigidity of the glass support portion 35 in the vertical direction of the vehicle body is sufficiently ensured.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an airbag case 44 that constitutes an airbag device 42 as a bending means is provided between the reinforcement 40 and the cowl inner 24. The airbag case 44 is fixed to the cowl inner 24 below the bent portion 24B of the cowl inner 24, and is located at the center in the vehicle width direction of the lower portion of the reinforcement 40 (the lower portion of the middle portion in the vertical direction of the reinforcement 40). On the other hand, they are arranged to face each other in the thickness direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an inflator 46 (gas generator) that constitutes an airbag device 42 and an airbag bag body 48 are provided inside the airbag case 44 (in FIG. 2). The illustration of the cross section of the airbag case 44 is omitted). The inflator 46 is operated (ignited) to eject high-pressure gas. The airbag bag body 48 is arranged in a folded state on the opening side of the inflator 46, and is inflated (deployed) to the front side of the vehicle body (reinforcement 40 side) by the gas ejected from the inflator 46. Yes. The airbag bag body 48 inflated to the reinforcement 40 side collides with the lower part of the reinforcement 40 and presses the lower part of the reinforcement 40 toward the front side of the vehicle body, as shown in FIG. The lower part of the ment 40 is bent.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the airbag case 44 is formed in a long shape with the vehicle width direction as the longitudinal direction corresponding to the reinforcement 40, and the airbag case 44. The airbag bag body 48 accommodated therein is also formed in a long shape with the vehicle width direction as the longitudinal direction.

  In the present embodiment, the inflator 46 is electrically connected to a control unit 50 (control device) constituting the airbag device 42, and the control unit 50 is connected to the airbag device 42. A back sensor 52 (collision detector) is electrically connected. The control unit 50 and the airbag sensor 52 are mounted at predetermined positions on the vehicle body 11.

  The airbag sensor 52 detects that the collision body 54 has collided with the lower portion of the front window shield glass 14 and outputs a predetermined electric signal to the control unit 50 at the time of detection. The control unit 50 to which the electrical signal from the airbag sensor 52 is input outputs a predetermined electrical signal to the inflator 46 to ignite the inflator 46. Thereby, as described above, the airbag body 48 is inflated and the lower portion of the reinforcement 40 is bent. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation control procedure of the airbag device 42.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In the cowl 16 configured as described above, the main body portion 36 of the glass support portion 35 that supports the lower portion of the front window shield glass 14 is formed in an open cross-sectional shape, but the reinforcement 40 is provided in the opening portion 38 of the main body portion 36. The reinforcement 40 sufficiently ensures the rigidity of the glass support 35 in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. Therefore, the vibration of the front window shield glass 14 when the vehicle is running can be sufficiently suppressed.

  Moreover, in the present embodiment, when the collision body 54 collides with the lower portion of the front window shield glass 14, the control unit 50 ignites the inflator 46 of the airbag device 42 based on the electrical signal from the airbag sensor 52. . Thereby, the airbag bag body 48 of the airbag apparatus 42 is inflated, and the lower part of the reinforcement 40 is pressed toward the front side of the vehicle body. As a result, the lower portion of the reinforcement 40 is bent, and the deformation load (rigidity) of the glass support portion 35 in the vertical direction of the vehicle body decreases. Therefore, the collision energy of the collision body 54 can be effectively absorbed by the glass support part 35 being deformed (bent) as shown in FIG. 3 by the impact force of the collision.

  In the present embodiment, the airbag device 42 is fixed to the cowl inner 24 below the bent portion 24B of the cowl inner 24. For this reason, as FIG. 3 shows, when the glass support part 35 bends, the airbag apparatus 42 does not become obstructive.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the reinforcement 40 is formed in flat form, and is arrange | positioned along the vehicle body up-down direction. For this reason, even if the reinforcement 40 is formed of a plate material that is thinner than the other components of the cowl 16, the rigidity of the glass support 35 in the vertical direction of the vehicle body is sufficiently increased by the surface rigidity of the reinforcement 40. Can be secured. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the front window shield glass 14 when the vehicle is running while suppressing an increase in the weight of the vehicle.

  Moreover, in the present embodiment, the airbag bag body 48 of the airbag device 42 is configured to apply a load in the plate thickness direction to the thin reinforcement 40. For this reason, since the reinforcement 40 can be bent easily with a low load, the airbag device 42 can be made small and light.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the reinforcement 40 is bent by the airbag device 42, so that the reinforcement 40 can be bent quickly when the collision body 54 collides with the lower portion of the front window shield glass 14.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the rigidity of the glass support part 35 is changed depending on whether the reinforcement 40 is bent, the rigidity of the glass support part 35 can be easily set.

  In the above-described embodiment, the reinforcement 40 is formed in a flat plate shape and is arranged along the vehicle body vertical direction at the vehicle width direction central portion of the main body 36. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the reinforcement is not limited thereto. The shape and arrangement of the ment can be changed as appropriate.

  Moreover, although the case where the airbag apparatus 42 was used as a bending means was demonstrated in the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to this, A bending means is a collision of the collision body 54 to the lower part of the front window shield glass 14. FIG. Any structure that can bend the reinforcement 40 quickly at times, for example, a structure in which the piston protrudes by the pressure of gas or the like may be used.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the glass support part 35 of the cowl 16 was set as the structure provided with the main-body part 36 of open cross-sectional shape, and the reinforcement 40, this invention is not limited to this, The structure of the glass support part 35 Can be appropriately changed.

1 is a perspective view showing a configuration around a cowl of a vehicle configured by applying a vehicle cowl structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. It is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 2 which shows the state by which the reinforcement was bent. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the procedure of the operation | movement control of the airbag apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle 11 Car body 14 Front window shield glass 16 Cowl 34 Dash panel 35 Glass support part 36 Main body part 38 Opening part 40 Reinforcement 42 Airbag apparatus (bending means)

Claims (4)

A cowl having a glass support portion that extends along the vehicle width direction below the front window shield glass of the vehicle, has an upper end connected to the front window shield glass, and a lower end connected to the dash panel.
Bending means for bending a part of the glass support part by operating to reduce the rigidity of the glass support part in the vehicle body vertical direction;
A vehicular cowl structure.   The glass support portion includes a main body portion having an open cross-sectional shape that is open on the front side of the vehicle body when viewed from the vehicle width direction, and a reinforcement that is provided in the opening portion of the main body portion and reinforces the main body portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The vehicular cowl structure according to claim 1, wherein the bending means bends the reinforcement by operating.   The vehicular cowl structure according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcement is formed in a flat plate shape and is disposed along a vertical direction of the vehicle body.   The bending means is disposed to face the part of the glass support part, and operates when the collision object collides with the front window shield glass to inflate the bag body toward the part of the glass support part. The vehicular cowl structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an airbag device to be operated.

Images