JP2011073679A - Vehicle hood supporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle hood supporting device effectively preventing careless move-up of a rear part of a hood. <P>SOLUTION: A hood supporting mechanism includes a first link member 20 and a second link member 18 pivotally connected to each other, and a flexible mounting bracket 16 to be fixed to the side of a vehicle body. A front hood is pivotally connected at its vehicle rear side to one of the first link member 20 and the second link member 18. The first link member 20 is pivotally connected to the side of the mounting bracket 16 at a position first distance from a mutually pivotally connected portion, and the second link member 18 is pivotally connected to the side of the mounting bracket 16 at a position a distance shorter than the first distance from the mutually pivotally connected portion. The pivotally connected portion of the first link member 20 on the side of the mounting bracket 16 is arranged deviating to one side beyond a line between the mutually pivotally connected portion and the pivotally connected portion of the second link member 18 on the side of the mounting bracket 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bonnet support device in a vehicle on which a pedestrian airbag device for reducing impact on a pedestrian is mounted.

  Conventionally, when a traveling vehicle collides with a pedestrian or the like, the pedestrian or the like is flipped up by an impact at the time of the collision and may collide with a hood, a windshield, a front pillar, or the like at the front of the vehicle.

  Therefore, a so-called pedestrian airbag device has been proposed in order to absorb and mitigate the impact caused by the secondary collision.

  For example, when an airbag device is arranged on the side of the vehicle body chassis located slightly forward under the front window portion and collides with a pedestrian, the rear portion of the hood is lifted upward by the deployment force of the airbag. In addition, there is a structure that expands in front of the windshield and the front pillar from the gap between the rear part of the bonnet and the front window part, and absorbs and relaxes the impact caused by the secondary collision of the pedestrian (for example, (See Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-264146 A

  According to the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the rear part of the bonnet is connected to the vehicle body side via a link mechanism so as to be movable up and down, and the rotation axis on the bonnet side in the link mechanism and the rotation axis on the vehicle body side in the link mechanism. In the structure where the opposing surface portions facing each other are provided with a concave portion and a convex portion that engage with each other.

  During normal running, the rear part of the bonnet is not lifted upward by the engagement between the concave part and the convex part. When a pedestrian airbag is deployed at the time of a collision or the like, a load of a predetermined value or more is applied by the deployment force of the airbag, and the engagement between the recess and the projection is released. The rear part is lifted and the airbag is deployed in front of the front window part.

  However, the mechanism that holds the lowered position of the rear bonnet is due to the engagement between the concave portion and the convex portion provided on the opposing surface portions of both rotating shafts, and therefore in all directions of the surface direction along the opposing surface. Since the engagement can be released, for example, the engagement between the concave portion and the convex portion is inadvertently released due to an unexpected load from the outside of the vehicle such as placing the waist on the rear portion of the bonnet, There is a possibility that the rear part of the hood may be lifted carelessly during traveling or the like, and a situation in which the rear part of the hood cannot be lifted smoothly by the deploying force of the airbag during a collision or the like.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a bonnet support device in a vehicle that effectively prevents inadvertent lifting of the rear part of the bonnet.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a bonnet support device for a vehicle includes a bonnet support mechanism that supports the vehicle rear side of the bonnet to the vehicle body side and supports the hood so that it can move up and down, and the hood support mechanism is operated by the deployment force of the airbag. In a bonnet support device for a vehicle in which an airbag can be deployed in front of a front window portion from a gap formed by lifting the rear portion of the bonnet, the bonnet support mechanism includes a first link member and a first link member that are pivotally connected to each other. Two link members and a flexible mounting bracket fixed to the vehicle body side, and the vehicle rear side of the bonnet is pivotally connected to either the first link member or the second link member, The first link member is mounted on the mounting bracket at a position separated from the mutual pivot connection portion by a first distance. And the second link member is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket side at a second distance shorter than the first distance from each of the pivot connection portions. The pivot connection portion on the mounting bracket side of the one link member is arranged to be deviated to one side from the line connecting the mutual pivot connection portion and the pivot connection portion on the mounting bracket side of the second link member. And the rear portion of the bonnet is lifted by the deploying force of the airbag so that the pivot connecting portions are rotated around the pivot connecting portion on the mounting bracket side and opposite to the one side. It is.

  The bonnet support mechanism includes a first link member and a second link member that are pivotally connected to each other, and also includes a flexible mounting bracket that is fixed to the vehicle body side, and the first link member or the second link member The vehicle rear side of the bonnet is pivotally connected to any one of the first link member, the first link member is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket side at a first distance from the mutual pivot connection portion, and the second link member is The link member is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket side at a position that is a second distance shorter than the first distance from the respective pivot connection portions, and the pivot connection portion on the mounting bracket side of the first link member is , The first pivot connecting portion and the pivot connecting portion on the mounting bracket side of the second link member are arranged so as to be biased to one side with respect to each other by the deployment force of the airbag. If the pivot connecting portion is configured to be pivoted around the pivot connecting portion on the mounting bracket side and opposite to the one side to lift the rear part of the bonnet, the bending brackets are deformed and deformed. The direction of the acting force when releasing the holding state of the lowered position of the bonnet rear part in the bonnet support mechanism is a method in which the rear part of the bonnet is lifted by rotating the pivot support part to the opposite side to the one side Therefore, even if an unexpected load from the outside of the vehicle such as placing a waist on the rear part of the bonnet as in the conventional case, the lowered position holding state of the rear part of the bonnet is not released at all, Inadvertent lifting of the rear part of the hood when the airbag is not deployed can be effectively prevented, and the airbag can be smoothly operated when necessary in the event of a collision.

It is a front part side view of the vehicle which shows 1st Embodiment. It is a front view of a bonnet support mechanism. It is the left side view. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a bonnet support mechanism. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a bonnet support mechanism. It is a cross-sectional side view of an airbag deployment state. It is a top view of an air bag deployment state. It is a front view of the bonnet support mechanism in 2nd Embodiment. It is a front view of the bonnet support mechanism in 3rd Embodiment. It is a front view of the bonnet support mechanism in 4th Embodiment. It is a top view of the airbag deployment state in a 5th embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the bonnet support mechanism in 6th Embodiment. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the bonnet support mechanism in 7th Embodiment. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the bonnet support mechanism in 7th Embodiment. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the bonnet support mechanism in 8th Embodiment. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the bonnet support mechanism in 8th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment relating to the related art of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, a pedestrian is positioned at a position corresponding to a rear inner portion of a hood 12 in a vehicle 11. The airbag device 13 is attached. As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the airbag device 13 covers the front of the front pillar 15a on both sides of the front window portion 15 and the front of the windshield 15b in the vicinity thereof with separate structures. The airbag device 13 for pillars is used.

  The bonnet 12 is configured to be movable up and down via the hood support mechanism 14 at both right and left sides on the rear side of the vehicle. Usually, the front side of the bonnet 12 can be opened and closed up and down. The rear part of the bonnet 12 is supported so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis at a closed lowered position. 2 to 5 show the bonnet support mechanism 14 arranged on the right side of the rear lower portion of the bonnet 12, and the bonnet support mechanism 14 arranged on the left side is symmetrical with the bonnet support mechanism 14 on the right side. It is said that.

  Each bonnet support mechanism 14 is supported at one end by a vehicle body mounting bracket 16 that is mounted and fixed on the vehicle body side of the vehicle 11 and a support piece portion 16 a that is provided to extend downward from the vehicle body mounting bracket 16. A short link member 18 as a second link member pivotally connected via a shaft 17 so as to be rotatable around a longitudinal axis, and the other end of the short link member 18 has one end at a support shaft 19. A long link member 20 as a first link member pivotally connected to be pivotable around a longitudinal axis through a shaft, and the other end of the long link member 20 via a support shaft 21 A bonnet mounting bracket 22 pivotally connected to be rotatable about a direction axis.

  Further, the short link member 18 and the long link member 20 are made of a flexible steel plate or the like that can be bent and deformed, and as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. ing.

  The vehicle body mounting bracket 16 is mounted and fixed on the vehicle body side, for example, the vehicle body frame, and the bonnet mounting bracket 22 is mounted and fixed on the lower surface side of the bonnet 12. At this time, the short link member 18 and the long link member 20 are positioned below the first pivot connecting portion A by the pivot 17 that is pivotally connected to the vehicle body side in the short link member 18. The second pivot connection part B by the support shaft 19 as the mutual pivot connection part is arranged, and the other end of the long link member 20 extends above the short link member 18, The bonnet 12 is rotatably supported around the support shaft 21 at a position above the vehicle body mounting bracket 16.

  Further, a pivot shaft 23 having an axial center in the front-rear direction is integrally provided at the intermediate portion in the height direction of the long link member 20 by cutting and raising structure, welding, or the like. It is supported in a state of being fitted to an upper open bearing 16b provided integrally or separately on the side so as to be relatively rotatable.

  At this time, the third pivot connection portion C, in which the pivot shaft 23 is fitted and supported by the bearing portion 16b as the connection support portion on the vehicle body side in the long link member 20, has a rotation center 23a at the first center. It is arranged to be biased to one side from the line connecting the rotation center 19a of the two pivot connection portions B and the rotation center 17a of the first pivot connection portion A, that is, in the present embodiment, outward. It is structured. Then, the distance between the rotation centers 17a and 19a (second distance) between the first pivot connection part A and the second pivot connection part B in the short link member 18 is longer than the so-called rotation diameter. The distance between the rotation centers 23a and 19a (first distance) between the third pivot connection part C and the second pivot connection part B in the scale link member 20 is a structure having a longer so-called rotation diameter. Has been.

  Further, the support piece portion 16a abuts on the outer side of the short link member 18 so as to freely come into contact with and separate from the support piece portion 16a, and around the first pivot connection portion A of the second pivot connection portion B and outward. A stopper portion 16c that restricts the rotation is provided.

  Further, the vehicle body mounting bracket 16 has an inflator 25 that generates gas corresponding to the lateral position of the short link member 18 and is inflated by the gas, and as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. The airbag device 13 including the folded airbag 26 deployed in front of the left and right front pillars 15a on both sides of the front window portion 15 and the front windshield 15b is mounted and disposed. The inflator 25 is configured to operate in response to an operation signal from a pedestrian collision detection sensor, and the pedestrian collision detection sensor is mounted on a front bumper or the like at the front of the vehicle body to detect a collision with a pedestrian when the vehicle 11 travels. Configured to detect.

  Further, the end of the short link member 18 opposite to the side on which the stopper portion 16c abuts is located on the front side in the deployment direction of the airbag 26, and receives the deployment force when the airbag 26 is inflated. A deployment force receiving surface 18a is provided in an extending shape.

  In FIGS. 1 and 6, 28 is a dash panel that partitions the engine room and the vehicle interior, and 29 is a bowl-shaped cowl that forms a vehicle body chassis along the vehicle width direction between the front window portion 15 and the bonnet 12. A panel, 30 is a wiper unit that drives the wiper, 31 is a deployment guide that guides the deployment direction of the airbag 26, and the deployment guide 31 is attached and fixed to the vehicle body mounting bracket 16 or the like, for example. Moreover, 32 in FIG.1, FIG.2, FIG.4 and FIG. 7 is a fender panel.

  In the initial state of the bonnet support mechanism 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the short link member 18 is in contact with the stopper portion 16c. In this state, the outward rotation of the short link member 18 around the first pivot connection portion A is restricted by the stopper portion 16c, and the mutual rotation diameters of the short link member 18 and the long link member 20 are the same. Therefore, the inward rotation around the first pivot connection portion A is also restricted, and the bonnet 12 is in a stable holding state at the lowered position.

  Further, even when an inward force around the first pivot connection portion A is applied to the short link member 18, as long as a load of a predetermined value or more is not applied, the rotation of the second pivot connection portion B is performed. The second pivot connection portion B is not rotated beyond the line connecting the moving center 17a and the rotation center 23a of the third pivot connection portion C, but is returned to the initial position and held.

  When the vehicle 11 collides with a pedestrian during traveling, a collision with the pedestrian is detected by the pedestrian collision detection sensor. When a collision load exceeding a predetermined value is detected, the inflator 25 of each airbag device 13 is detected. An activation signal is output for each.

  By the operation of the inflator 25, gas is generated and the airbag 26 is inflated and deployed. At the initial stage of deployment of the airbag 26, the deployment force receiving surface 18a of the short link member 18 receives the deployment force of the airbag 26 as indicated by the arrow P, and the short link member is acted upon by the action of a load exceeding a predetermined value. 18 is forcibly turned inward around the first pivot connection portion A. At this time, the long link member 20 is also forcibly rotated inward around the third pivot connection portion C. By the forced rotation of the short link member 18 and the long link member 20, the short link member 18 or the long link member 20 or both link members 18, 20 are appropriately bent and deformed, so that the second pivot connection portion B is formed. The second pivot connection portion B is rotated beyond the line connecting the rotation center 17a of the third pivot connection portion B and the rotation center 23a of the third pivot connection portion C.

  Here, the lowered position holding state of the bonnet 12 by the bonnet support mechanism 14 is released. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pivot shaft 23 is moved upward from the bearing 16 b in the third pivot coupling portion C by the deployment force of the airbag 26 as the airbag 26 is deployed. The front window portion is removed from the gap 34 formed between the bonnet 12 and the front window portion 15 in a state where the rear portion of the bonnet 12 is pushed up and lifted up to a predetermined height at the rear portion of the bonnet 12. The airbags 26 are deployed toward the 15 front pillars 15a.

  Therefore, even if a pedestrian who collides with the vehicle 11 is bounced up and collides with the hood 12, the front pillar 15a, etc., the rear part of the hood 12 is pushed up, and the front of the front pillar 15a or the windshield 15b. Since the front part is covered with the airbag 26 inflated and deployed, the impact in the secondary collision can be effectively reduced by the bonnet 12 and the airbag 26 pushed up by the airbag 26.

  The present embodiment is configured as described above. Under the deformation of the short link member 18 and the long link member 20, the second pivot connection portion B, which is a pivot connection portion of each other, is provided with the first pivot support. The rear part of the bonnet 12 is lifted by turning inward around the connection part A or the third pivot connection part C, and the holding state of the lowered position of the rear part of the bonnet 12 in the bonnet support mechanism 14 is released. Since the direction of the acting force at the time is limited, even when an unexpected load is applied from the outside of the vehicle 11 such as placing a waist on the rear part of the bonnet 12 as in the prior art, the rear part of the bonnet 12 is lowered. The position holding state is not released at all, and it is possible to effectively prevent inadvertent lifting of the rear portion of the hood 12 when the airbag 26 is not deployed. There is an advantage that can be actuated to lift the rear part of the 12.

  Further, since the third pivot connection portion C as the vehicle body side connection support portion of the long link member 20 is connected and supported so as to be openable upward, the long link member 20 is allowed to move upward. The lifting amount of the rear part of the bonnet 12 can be increased. At this time, since the long link member 20 side is connected not to the short link member 18 side so as to be opened upward, the lifting amount of the rear portion of the bonnet 12 can be increased.

  Further, since the short link member 18 is provided with a deployment force receiving surface 18a for receiving the deployment force of the airbag 26, the second pivot connection portion B is efficiently inwardly deployed when the airbag 26 is deployed. Therefore, the rear part of the bonnet 12 can be lifted efficiently.

  Further, the second pivot connection portion B which is the mutual pivot connection portion is arranged on the outer side of the vertical line of the first pivot connection portion A which is the vehicle body side connection support portion of the short link member 18. Therefore, even when an unexpected load in the vertical direction or the front-rear direction is applied to the hood 12, it is possible to reliably prevent the rear portion of the hood 12 from being lifted except when the airbag 26 is deployed.

  Further, by adopting a module structure in which the airbag device 13 is assembled to the bonnet support mechanism 14, there is no need for a mounting bracket or a mounting structure because the airbag device 13 is separately attached to the vehicle 11. Even if there is a space for mounting the modularized bonnet support mechanism 14, it can be easily assembled to the vehicle 11 of a different vehicle type, and there is an advantage that it is excellent in versatility.

  FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  That is, in the first embodiment, the short link member 18 is provided with the deploying force receiving surface 18a. However, in the present embodiment, the deploying force of the airbag 26 is applied to the long link member 20. The receiving force receiving surface 20a is configured to be received. Other structures are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Therefore, the present embodiment also has the same effect as the first embodiment.

  FIG. 9 shows the third embodiment, and FIG. 10 shows the fourth embodiment. The same components as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  That is, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the second pivot connection portion B which is the mutual pivot connection portion is the first pivot connection which is the vehicle body side connection support portion of the short link member 18. Although the structure arrange | positioned in the outer side rather than the vertical line of the part A is shown, in 3rd Embodiment or 4th Embodiment, the 2nd pivot connection part B is the 1st pivot connection part A. The structure is arranged closer to the inner side than on the vertical line. Other structures are the same as those in the second embodiment.

  Therefore, each of these embodiments also has the same effect as the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

  In the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, the hood 12 in the hood support mechanism 14 can also be configured by directly pushing the rear part of the hood 12 upward by the deploying force of the airbag 26. The structure is such that the rearward lowered position holding state can be released. Therefore, the rear part of the bonnet 12 can be lifted by the deploying force of the airbag 26.

  FIG. 11 shows the fifth embodiment, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  That is, in the first embodiment, the pillar airbag device 13 that covers the front pillar 15a in the front window portion 15 in front is shown, but in this embodiment, the front window is opened by the airbag 26 that is deployed. The front half of the windshield 15b in the portion 15 is covered over the entire region in the vehicle width direction, and the front of the front pillars 15a on both sides is also covered.

  At this time, the deployment of the airbag 26 of the airbag device 13 disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction is provided with a deployment force receiving surface that receives the deployment force of the airbag 26 across the bonnet support mechanisms 14 disposed on both sides. Sometimes, the rear portion of the bonnet 12 may be lifted by pushing the deployment force receiving surface between the bonnet support mechanisms 14 as described above. Further, if each bonnet support mechanism 14 has the arrangement structure of the second pivot connection portion B as in the third embodiment or the fourth embodiment, the hood 12 is pushed by directly pushing up the rear portion of the hood 12 by the airbag 26. The rear can be lifted.

  Also in this embodiment, substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 12 shows a sixth embodiment, and the same components as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the first pivot connection portion A and the third pivot connection portion C, which are vehicle body side connection support portions of the short link member 18 and the long link member 20, and the short link member 18 and the long link member 18. Each pivot axis of the second pivot connection portion B with the link member 20 has a left-right direction. Other structures are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, there are substantially the same effects as in the first embodiment.

  13 and 14 show a seventh embodiment, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  That is, in each of the above embodiments, a structure is shown in which the third pivot connection portion C is connected so as to be openable upward, but in this embodiment, the third pivot connection portion C cannot be opened. It is said that. In this case, the rear part of the bonnet 12 can be lifted by bending deformation of the short link member 18 or the long link member 20.

  15 and 16 show an eighth embodiment relating to the present invention, and the same components as those in the seventh embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  That is, in this embodiment, the vehicle body mounting bracket 16 to which the short link member 18 and the long link member 20 are attached has a flexible structure, and the first pivot connection portion A and the third pivot connection are provided. The rear portion of the bonnet 12 can be lifted by the bending deformation of the bending deformation portion 16d of the vehicle body mounting bracket 16 between the portion C and the portion C.

  In the seventh embodiment and the eighth embodiment, a structure for lifting the rear portion of the hood 12 using the deploying force of the airbag 26 as described above may be adopted as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Vehicle 12 Bonnet 13 Airbag apparatus 14 Bonnet support mechanism 15 Front window part 16 Car body mounting bracket 17 Support shaft 18 Short link member 18a Deployment force receiving surface 19 Support shaft 20 Long link member 20a Deployment force receiving surface 22 Bonnet mounting bracket 23 Pivot shaft 25 Inflator 26 Airbag

Claims (1)

A bonnet support mechanism that connects the vehicle rear side of the bonnet to the vehicle body side and supports the hood so that it can move up and down is provided. In the bonnet support device in the vehicle that enables the airbag to be deployed in front of the part,
The bonnet support mechanism includes a first link member and a second link member that are pivotally connected to each other, and includes a flexible mounting bracket that is fixed to the vehicle body, and includes a first link member or a second link member. The vehicle rear side of the bonnet is pivotally connected to any one of the link members,
The first link member is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a position separated from the mutual pivot connection portion by a first distance, and the second link member is connected to the first pivot connection portion from the mutual pivot connection portion. And pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a position separated by a second distance shorter than the distance, and the pivotally connected portion on the side of the mounting bracket in the first link member is the pivotally connected portion and the second link member. Is arranged to be biased to one side of the line connecting the pivot connecting part on the mounting bracket side in
The mutual support connection portion of the airbag is rotated around the support connection portion on the mounting bracket side and opposite to the one side by the deployment force of the airbag, and the rear portion of the bonnet is lifted. A bonnet support device for a vehicle.

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