JP2009190568A - Collision sensing device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a collision sensing device for vehicles in which fixing work characteristics of a pressure sensor can be improved and a high collision sensing precision can be kept. <P>SOLUTION: In the collision sensing device for vehicles comprises a pressure sensor 8 having a sensor body 81 and a pressure feeding pipe 82 and a chamber member 7, the pressure feeding pipe 82 is inserted at an insertion port 72b to detect a pressure within a chamber space 7a, and a collision against a vehicle bumper 2 is detected in response to a result of detection of the pressure. The chamber member 7 is provided with an extending part 72 having its part extended to a more rear side of the vehicle than a bumper reinforcement front surface 4a and extended to an upper side than a bumper reinforcement upper surface 4b and at the same time an insertion port 72b is opened at the extending part 72. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a collision detection device that detects a collision of a pedestrian or the like with a vehicle.

  In recent years, for the purpose of protecting pedestrians, in order to protect pedestrians, if an obstacle discriminating device is attached to the vehicle bumper part, it is determined whether or not the collision target is a pedestrian at the time of a vehicle collision. Techniques for operating these devices (for example, active hoods and cowl airbags) have been proposed, and their practical application has been studied.

  That is, when the obstacle which collided is not a pedestrian, various bad influences will arise if the protective device (for example, active hood) on a hood is operated. For example, if it cannot be distinguished from a pedestrian when it collides with a lightweight fallen object such as a triangular cone or a signboard under construction, the protection device is activated wastefully and extra repair costs are generated. In addition, if it is indistinguishable from a pedestrian when it collides with a fixed wall such as a concrete wall or a vehicle, the hood will move backward with the hood lifted up. is there. Thus, it is required to accurately classify whether or not the obstacle is a pedestrian.

  Therefore, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-117157 (Patent Document 1), a chamber member is disposed in front of the bumper reinforcement in the vehicle bumper, and a pressure sensor detects the pressure change in the chamber space. There has been proposed a vehicle collision detection device configured to detect a collision of a pedestrian or the like with a vehicle bumper.

In a vehicle collision detection apparatus, a chamber member to which a pressure sensor is attached must be disposed on the front surface of a bumper reinforcement because of a configuration for detecting a collision. The pressure sensor is disposed in a state where a pressure introduction pipe for introducing pressure in the chamber member is inserted into the chamber member. Conventionally, the pressure sensor has been disposed inside the bumper reinforcement, which is a hollow member having a sun-shaped cross section provided with a beam in the center of the inside, or in front of the front surface of the bumper reinforcement.
JP 2006-117157 A

  However, when the pressure sensor is disposed inside the bumper reinforcement, the operator must perform the work of mounting the pressure sensor in the bumper reinforcement, and the operation is not easy. In addition, the wiring of the pressure sensor is complicated, and it is difficult to insert a connector or the like. Thus, the conventional configuration has a problem in terms of improving workability.

  In addition, when the pressure sensor is arranged in front of the bumper reinforcement, a sufficient thickness (width in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle) of the chamber member and the absorber that absorbs the impact is ensured by the arrangement of the pressure sensor in front. It becomes difficult. For example, in the case of a vehicle that does not have sufficient space in front of the bumper reinforcement, the stroke of the chamber member and the absorber is insufficient, and the collision detection performance is degraded. Furthermore, in the case of a collision, there is a high possibility that an impact is directly applied to the pressure sensor, and there is a problem that the pressure sensor is easily damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a vehicle collision detection device capable of improving the workability of pressure sensor attachment work and maintaining high collision detection accuracy. With the goal.

  A vehicle collision detection device according to the present invention includes a sensor main body provided with a sensor element for pressure detection, a pressure sensor having a pressure introduction pipe for introducing pressure into the sensor main body, and a front surface of a bumper reinforcement in the vehicle bumper. And a chamber member in which a chamber space is formed and an insertion port into which the pressure introduction tube can be inserted is opened, and the pressure introduction tube of the pressure sensor is inserted into the insertion port of the chamber member. In a vehicle collision detection device configured to detect a pressure in a chamber space and detect a collision with a vehicle bumper based on a pressure detection result, a part of the chamber member is from a front surface of the bumper reinforcement. Including an extending portion that extends to the rear side of the vehicle and above the upper surface of the bumper reinforcement and forms a part of the chamber space, Wherein the insertion port is opened in the portion.

  In this configuration, the chamber member includes an extending portion that partially extends from the front surface of the bumper reinforcement to the rear side of the vehicle and above the upper surface of the bumper reinforcement to form a part of the chamber space. The insertion port is opened in the extended portion. Therefore, this insertion port is located on the vehicle rear side from the front surface of the bumper reinforcement and above the upper end. That is, the pressure sensor is disposed on the vehicle rear side with respect to the front surface of the bumper reinforcement and on the upper side with respect to the upper end. Thereby, the attachment of the pressure sensor does not need to work in a narrow area inside the bumper reinforcement, and can work in a wide area outside the bumper reinforcement. That is, the pressure sensor can be easily attached and fixed.

  Furthermore, the extended portion is extended from a part of the chamber member, and work and installation space are secured in the vehicle width direction. Thereby, it becomes easier to fix the pressure sensor attached to the extended portion to the bumper reinforcement.

  Further, since the position of the pressure sensor is not forward of the front surface of the bumper reinforcement, a sufficient stroke (width in the vehicle front-rear direction) can be ensured for the chamber member and the absorber. Therefore, even in a vehicle with a small front space or a vehicle with a small stroke of the absorber, a decrease in the stroke of the chamber member by the pressure sensor is prevented, and high collision detection accuracy can be exhibited. Furthermore, since the bumper reinforcement protects the pressure sensor against a collision from the front, the collision can be detected more reliably.

  In the chamber member extending in the vehicle width direction, so-called air column resonance occurs due to vibration of air in the chamber space at the time of collision. Here, when the pressure sensor is directly assembled to the main body portion of the horizontally long chamber member as in the prior art, the pressure detection accuracy may be deteriorated due to the influence of air column resonance. However, according to this configuration, since the pressure introduction position to the pressure sensor is performed by the extending portion that is a portion extending from the main body portion of the chamber member to the vehicle rear side, it is less susceptible to air column resonance. . That is, the pressure detection accuracy is improved.

  As described above, according to the vehicle collision detection device of the present invention, the workability of the pressure sensor mounting operation can be improved and high collision detection accuracy can be maintained.

  Here, the sensor body of the pressure sensor is preferably fixed to the upper surface side of the bumper reinforcement. As described above, there is a space where the extended portion does not extend on the upper surface side of the bumper reinforcement. Therefore, the sensor body can be easily fixed to the upper surface, and the stability of the pressure sensor is improved by fixing the sensor body to the upper surface.

  Here, the sensor main body of the pressure sensor is preferably fixed to the upper surface side of the bumper reinforcement via a bracket. According to this configuration, the sensor body can be fixed using the bracket. By using the bracket, it can be fixed more reliably with good workability.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the bracket is formed in a bridge shape straddling the extending portion and is fixed to the upper surface of the bumper reinforcement, and the sensor body is fixed to the upper surface of the bracket. As a result, the pressure sensor can be securely fixed, and the extension portion can be positioned. In addition, the space above the bumper reinforcement can be used efficiently.

  Here, in the present invention, it is preferable that the chamber member has an insertion port opened on the upper surface of the extending portion, and the pressure introducing pipe of the pressure sensor is inserted downward into the insertion port. Thereby, even if water droplets adhere to the inside of the pressure introduction tube, for example, when condensation occurs in the pressure introduction tube, the water drop can be dropped by gravity because the pressure introduction tube is inserted downward. . In this way, condensation or the like that hinders the introduction of pressure can be eliminated, and a reduction in detection accuracy of the pressure sensor can be prevented. That is, high collision detection accuracy can be maintained.

  Here, in the present invention, the bumper reinforcement is fixed to the front end portions of the pair of side members extending in the vehicle front-rear direction on both sides in the vehicle width direction, and the chamber member is a central portion between the pair of side members. It is preferable that an extending portion is provided on the. Thereby, the dispersion | variation in the separation distance from a collision position to a sensing position can be suppressed, and pressure detection accuracy can be made uniform.

  Here, in this invention, it is preferable that the chamber member is integrally molded by blow molding using a resin material. As a result, a chamber member is provided that includes an extending portion in which a part in the vehicle width direction extends from the front side of the bumper reinforcement to the rear side of the vehicle and above the upper surface of the bumper reinforcement to form a part of the chamber space. It can be manufactured more easily.

  In addition, a pressure sensor (regardless of the presence or absence of a pressure introducing pipe) that measures the pressure in the chamber space of the chamber member (regardless of whether or not there is an insertion port) is installed on the rear side of the vehicle from the front end face of the bumper reinforcement In the collision detection device for a vehicle, which is installed outside the bumper reinforcement, the pressure sensor can be easily attached, and the stroke of the chamber member and the absorber can be secured. As advantageous.

  According to the vehicle collision detection device of the present invention, the workability of the pressure sensor mounting operation can be improved and high collision detection accuracy can be maintained.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle collision detection device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a vehicle collision detection apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the bracket 9. FIG. 4 is a view showing the attachment state of the pressure sensor 8 from the front side of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle collision detection device 1 of the present embodiment includes a chamber member 7 disposed in the vehicle bumper 2, a pressure sensor 8, and a pedestrian protection device electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as electronic control). The unit is abbreviated as ECU) 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle bumper 2 is mainly composed of a bumper cover 3, a bumper reinforcement 4, a side member 5, an absorber 6, and a chamber member 7. In FIG. 2, the bumper cover 3, the bumper reinforcement 4, the absorber 6, and the chamber member 7 are shown in cross section.

  The bumper cover 3 is a resin (for example, polypropylene) cover member that extends in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) at the front end of the vehicle and is attached to the vehicle body so as to cover the bumper reinforcement 4, the absorber 6, and the chamber member 7. .

  The bumper reinforcement 4 is a metal structural member that is disposed in the bumper cover 3 and extends in the vehicle width direction, and as shown in FIG. It is a hollow member which has.

  The side members 5 are a pair of metal members that are positioned in the vicinity of the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle and extend in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the bumper reinforcement 4 described above is attached to the front end thereof.

  The absorber 6 is a foamed resin member that extends in the vehicle width direction and is attached to the lower side of the front surface 4 a of the bumper reinforcement 4 within the bumper cover 3, and exhibits an impact absorbing action in the vehicle bumper 2.

  The chamber member 7 is a substantially box-shaped synthetic resin member that extends in the vehicle width direction and is attached to the upper side of the bumper reinforcement front surface 4a in the bumper cover 3, and is surrounded by a wall having a thickness of several millimeters. A substantially sealed chamber space 7a is formed.

  More specifically, the chamber member 7 includes a main body portion 71 and an extending portion 72. The main body 71 is a portion disposed in front of the bumper reinforcement front surface 4a, and extends in the vehicle width direction. The extending portion 72 is a portion extending from the central portion in the vehicle width direction on the upper surface of the main body portion 71 toward the rear and upper sides of the vehicle. That is, the extending portion 72 has a portion of the chamber member 7 extending in the vehicle width direction (a portion of the chamber member 7 in the vehicle width direction) on the vehicle rear side and the bumper relative to the bumper reinforcement front surface 4a. It is the site | part extended even to the reinforcement upper surface 4b. The internal space of the extending portion 72 communicates with the internal space of the main body portion 71 and forms a part of the chamber space 7a.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the extending portion 72 is provided at a central portion between the side members 5 and 5 in the vehicle width direction. A projecting portion 72a protruding in a columnar shape is formed at a rear portion of the extending portion 72, and an insertion port 72b opening upward is formed at the approximate center of the projecting portion 72a. The insertion port 72b is located above the bumper reinforcement upper surface 4b. In addition, when the insertion part 72b is formed in the extending part 72 with a drill etc., the convex part 72a has the effect which prevents that the position of a drill becomes uncertain because a target surface is distorted.

  The special-shaped chamber member 7 having such an extended portion 72 is molded by blow molding. The chamber member 7 of the present embodiment can be more easily manufactured by blow molding using, for example, LDPE (low density polyethylene) as a raw material.

  The pressure sensor 8 is a sensor device capable of detecting a gas pressure, and is configured to be attached to the chamber member 7 so as to detect a pressure change in the chamber space 7a. Specifically, the pressure sensor 8 includes a sensor main body 81 and a pressure introduction pipe 82. The sensor main body 81 is a part that is outside the chamber member 7 and accommodates a substrate or the like provided with a sensor element for pressure detection. The sensor body 81 outputs a voltage signal proportional to the pressure, and transmits a signal to the pedestrian protection apparatus ECU10 via the signal line 10a.

  The pressure introducing pipe 82 is a substantially cylindrical pipe that introduces the pressure of the chamber space 7 a into the sensor main body 81, and extends downward from the sensor main body 81. The pressure introducing pipe 82 is inserted into an insertion port 72 b provided in the extending portion 72 of the chamber member 7. That is, the pressure introducing pipe 82 is inserted downward, and the inlet for introducing pressure faces downward. A slight gap is formed between the inner periphery of the insertion port 72b and the outer periphery of the pressure introducing pipe 82, and this gap acts as a breathing hole. Therefore, in a normal state where no collision occurs, the chamber The atmospheric pressure in the space 7a is kept the same (atmospheric pressure) as the outside air.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the pressure sensor 8 is fixed to the bumper reinforcement upper surface 4b (outside of the bumper reinforcement 4) via the bracket 9 on the vehicle rear side from the bumper reinforcement front surface 4a. ing. As shown in FIG. 3, the bracket 9 includes installation portions 91 and 92, upright portions 93 and 94, and a fixing portion 95. The installation portions 91 (92) are plate-like portions that are both ends in the longitudinal direction of the bracket 9 and are substantially parallel to the bumper reinforcement upper surface 4b, and have through holes 91a (92a). The upright portion 93 is a plate-like portion extending vertically upward from the end portion of the installation portion 91 on the installation portion 92 side. The upright portion 94 is a plate-like portion extending vertically upward from the end portion of the installation portion 92 on the installation portion 91 side.

  The fixing portion 95 is a plate-like portion that extends between the upper end of the upright portion 93 and the upper end of the upright portion 94. That is, the bracket 9 is formed in a bridge shape including the installation portions 91 and 92, the upright portions 93 and 94, and the central fixing portion 95. The fixing portion 95 has a through hole 95c into which the pressure introducing pipe 82 can be inserted at the center, and through holes 95a and 95b for fixing bolts are provided on both sides of the through hole 95c. The sensor main body 81 is bolted to the upper surface of the fixing portion 95. The bracket 9 is bolted to the bumper reinforcement upper surface 4b via a through hole 91a (92a).

  On the other hand, the extending portion 72 of the chamber member 7 is disposed between the upright portions 93 and 94 of the bracket 9 and between the fixing portion 95 and the bumper reinforcement upper surface 4b. That is, the bracket 9 has a structure in which the sensor body 81 is fixed to the upper surface of the fixing portion 95 while being fixed to the bumper reinforcement upper surface 4 b so as to straddle the extended portion 72.

  The pedestrian protection device ECU 10 is an electronic control device for performing start-up control of a pedestrian protection device (not shown) (for example, a known pedestrian protection airbag or hood flip-up device), and is output from the pressure sensor 8. Signal is input via the transmission line 10a. The pedestrian protection device ECU 10 executes a process for determining whether or not a pedestrian (that is, a human body) has collided with the vehicle bumper 2 based on the pressure detection result in the pressure sensor 8. In addition to the pressure detection result in the pressure sensor 8, a vehicle speed detection result from a vehicle speed sensor (not shown) is input to the pedestrian protection device ECU 10, and a pedestrian collision is determined based on the pressure detection result and the vehicle speed detection result. It is preferable to configure as described above.

  Here, the effect of the vehicle collision detection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described. The pressure sensor 8 is disposed on the vehicle rear side with respect to the bumper reinforcement front surface 4a and on the upper side with respect to the upper end. Thereby, the attachment work of the pressure sensor 8 can be carried out in a relatively free space without working in a narrow work area in the bumper reinforcement 4. That is, the workability of the mounting work is improved.

  In addition, since the pressure sensor 8 is connected to the extended portion 72 extending from the main body portion 71 of the chamber member 7 to the vehicle rear side, the stroke of the main body portion 71 is not reduced, and the chamber A sufficient stroke (width in the vehicle front-rear direction) can be ensured for the member 7 and the absorber 6. Therefore, even if the vehicle has a small front space or a vehicle with a small stroke of the absorber 6, high collision detection accuracy can be exhibited.

  Furthermore, since the pressure sensor 8 is arranged behind the vehicle front side of the bumper reinforcement 4a, the bumper reinforcement 4 protects the pressure sensor 8 against a collision from the front, and more reliable collision detection is possible. And Further, since the pressure introduction to the pressure sensor 8 is performed by the extending portion 72, the pressure sensor 8 is less susceptible to so-called air column resonance caused by air vibration in the chamber space 7a, and the pressure detection accuracy is improved.

  The width of the extending portion 72 in the vehicle width direction is smaller than the width of the bumper reinforcement 4 in the vehicle width direction, and work and installation space is secured above the bumper reinforcement 4. Since the extended portion 72 is located at the center of the chamber member 7 in the vehicle width direction, a work space and an installation space can be secured on both sides of the bumper reinforcement 4 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, since there is this installation space, the bracket 9 can be fixed to the bumper reinforcement upper surface 4b so as to straddle the extended portion 72, and the sensor main body 81 can be fixed to the upper surface of the bracket 9. That is, workability is improved, and the extended portion 72 can be positioned and space can be saved.

  Even when condensation occurs in the pressure introduction pipe 82, the pressure introduction pipe 82 is inserted downward, so that water droplets can be dropped by gravity. In this way, condensation or the like that hinders the introduction of pressure can be eliminated, and a reduction in detection accuracy of the pressure sensor 8 can be prevented.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, the shape and arrangement of the chamber member 7 and the absorber 6 are not limited to the above embodiment. 5 and 6 show a modification of the absorber 6. 5 and 6 are schematic side views in which the bracket 9 is omitted. As in the first modification shown in FIG. 5, the absorber 6 may be disposed between the bumper reinforcement 4 and the chamber member 7 (main body 71). Moreover, the absorber 6 may be arrange | positioned so that the main-body part 71 of the chamber member 7 may be enclosed like the 2nd modification shown in FIG. These also have the same effect as the present embodiment.

  Further, even when the pressure sensor 8 is provided on the lower surface side or the rear surface side (that is, the outside) of the bumper reinforcement 4, the attachment work is facilitated.

It is a top view seeing through the inside of the vehicle bumper carrying the collision detection device for vehicles of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which sees through and shows the inside of a vehicle bumper carrying a collision detection device for vehicles of one embodiment. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a bracket 9. FIG. It is the figure which showed the attachment state of the pressure sensor 8 from the vehicle front side. It is a side view seeing through the inside of the vehicle bumper carrying the vehicle collision detection device of the 1st modification. It is a side view seeing through the inside of the vehicle bumper carrying the vehicle collision detection device of the 2nd modification.

Explanation of symbols

1: vehicle collision detection device, 2: vehicle bumper,
4: bumper reinforcement, 4a: front surface, 4b: upper surface 7: chamber member, 71: main body portion, 72: extension portion, 72a: convex portion, 72b: insertion port,
7a: chamber space,
8: Pressure sensor, 81: Sensor body, 82: Pressure introducing pipe,
9: Bracket, 10: Pedestrian protection device ECU

Claims (9)

A pressure sensor having a sensor body provided with a sensor element for pressure detection, a pressure introduction pipe for introducing pressure to the sensor body, a front surface of a bumper reinforcement in a vehicle bumper, and a chamber space inside And a chamber member having an insertion port into which the pressure introduction tube can be inserted, and the pressure introduction tube of the pressure sensor is inserted into the insertion port of the chamber member. In the vehicle collision detection device configured to detect the pressure of the vehicle bumper and detect a collision with the vehicle bumper based on the pressure detection result,
The chamber member includes an extending portion that is partly extended from the front side of the bumper reinforcement to the rear side of the vehicle and above the upper surface of the bumper reinforcement to form a part of the chamber space. The vehicle collision detection device, wherein the insertion port is opened in the extended portion.   The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor main body of the pressure sensor is fixed to an upper surface side of the bumper reinforcement.   The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor body of the pressure sensor is fixed to an upper surface side of the bumper reinforcement via a bracket. The bracket is formed in a bridge shape straddling the extended portion and fixed to the upper surface of the bumper reinforcement,
The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 3, wherein the sensor body is fixed to an upper surface of the bracket. In the chamber member, the insertion port is opened on the upper surface of the extended portion,
5. The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure introduction pipe of the pressure sensor is inserted downward into the insertion port. 6. The bumper reinforcement is fixed to the front ends of a pair of side members extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction on both sides in the vehicle width direction,
6. The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber member is provided with the extending portion at a central portion between the pair of side members.   The vehicle collision detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the chamber member is integrally formed by blow molding using a resin material. A chamber member disposed in front of the bumper reinforcement in the vehicle bumper and having a chamber space formed therein, and a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the chamber space, the detection result of the pressure sensor In a vehicle collision detection device configured to detect a collision with the vehicle bumper based on:
The vehicle collision detection device, wherein the pressure sensor is installed on the vehicle rear side from the front surface of the bumper reinforcement and is installed outside the bumper reinforcement.   9. The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 8, wherein the pressure sensor is fixed to an upper surface side of the bumper reinforcement.

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