JP2017178204A - Cyclist protection device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve protection performance of a colliding cyclist.SOLUTION: A cyclist protection device 11 of an automobile 1 includes a hood 5 which covers a front part 2 protruding forward from a riding part 3 of a vehicle, a movable member 12 which is arranged on a front side of the hood 5 so as to move upward, and a nose push-up member 13 which directly or indirectly pushes up the movable member 12 when a cyclist collides with the front part 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a cyclist protection device for a vehicle.

A vehicle such as an automobile may collide with a pedestrian moving outside the vehicle.
In Patent Documents 1 and 2, a plurality of airbags are arranged side by side on a hood and deployed.
Thereby, an air bag can be developed flat between the upper part of a pedestrian who collided with the front part of a vehicle, and a hood, and a hit can be weakened.

JP 2010-012966 A JP 09-030368 A

By the way, a vehicle such as an automobile may collide with, for example, a cyclist riding a bicycle in addition to a pedestrian.
And when a cyclist and a motor vehicle collide, since the waist position of a cyclist is high, the protective device of the said patent documents 1 and 2 may be unable to protect a cyclist suitably.
A cyclist may ride on the hood of an automobile after a collision, the waist may be caught on the hood, and then be flipped up by the bent hood. There is a possibility that the protection devices of Patent Documents 1 and 2 cannot sufficiently function against such a collision mode.

  Thus, in vehicles, it is required to improve the protection performance of cyclists that have collided.

  A cyclist protection device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a hood that forms an upper surface of a front portion that protrudes forward from a riding portion of the vehicle, a movable member that is provided movably upward on the front side of the hood, and the front portion. And a push-up member that pushes up the movable member directly or indirectly when the cyclist collides.

  Preferably, the moved movable member is wrapped on the upper side of the hood.

  Preferably, the push-up member includes a first push-up member that pushes up the movable member and a second push-up member that pushes up the hood, and when the cyclist collides with the front portion, the first push-up member Is configured to push up the movable member, the second push-up member pushes up the hood, and the pushed-up movable member wraps on the pushed-up hood.

  Preferably, the movable member is provided so as to be wrapped on the hood, and the push-up member pushes up the movable member indirectly by pushing up the hood.

  Preferably, the push-up member includes a first push-up member that pushes up the movable member and a second push-up member that pushes up the hood, and when the cyclist collides with the front portion, the first push-up member Is configured to push up the movable member, the second push-up member pushes up the hood, and a connecting piece is positioned between the pushed up movable member and the pushed up hood.

  Preferably, the hood is pushed up in a forward-downward posture.

  Preferably, the movable member may constitute a nose cone provided in front of the hood at the front portion of the vehicle.

  In the present invention, the movable member is provided at the front portion of the vehicle so as to be movable upward on the front side of the hood. When the cyclist collides, the push-up member pushes up the movable member directly or indirectly. Therefore, when the cyclist collides with the front part of the vehicle, it comes into contact with the pushed up movable member. Then, the subsequent cyclist rotates downward toward the hood due to inertia while in contact with the movable member. In this way, the cyclist that has collided can rotate downward toward the hood at the front of the vehicle in the same way as when a pedestrian collides. As a result, the protection performance equivalent to that of a pedestrian can be expected as the protection performance of the cyclist.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a collision mode with a cyclist. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a collision mode with a pedestrian. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the cyclist protection device in the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system of the cyclist protection device of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of control performed by the control unit of FIG. 5 at the time of collision with the cyclist. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a collision mode with a cyclist in the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a modification of the cyclist protection device of the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an automobile 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the side of the automobile 1 is shown with a cyclist traversing it.
The automobile 1 is an example of a vehicle.
The vehicle body of the automobile 1 in FIG. 1 has a front part 2, a riding part 3, and a rear part 4.

The front part 2 is a part protruding forward from the riding part 3. A power unit such as an engine and an electric motor is disposed in the front portion 2. A hood 5 is provided on the upper surface of the front portion 2 so as to be openable and closable. A nose cone 6 including a bumper is provided on the front side of the hood 5. The upper surface of the front part 2 is constituted by the hood 5 and the upper surface of the nose cone 6.
The riding section 3 is provided with a seat or the like on which the occupant is seated. A windshield 7 is provided on the front surface of the riding portion 3 at a position above the upper surface of the front portion 2.
The rear part 4 is a part protruding rearward from the riding part 3. A luggage space is provided in the rear part 4.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a collision mode with a cyclist.
When the cyclist collides in front of the automobile 1, since the cyclist's waist position is high, the cyclist rides on the hood 5 of the automobile 1 after the collision, as shown in FIG.
Then, the hood 5 is depressed and deformed as shown in FIG. 2 (B) by the load of the cyclist riding on, and then the hood 5 pushes up the cyclist as shown in FIG. 2 (C).
Thus, the cyclist pushed up by the hood 5 moves rearward, for example, as shown in FIG. 2D according to the relative speed and the relative movement direction of the automobile 1 and the cyclist. At this time, the head of the cyclist may hit the windshield 7.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a collision mode with a pedestrian.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the pedestrian collides in front of the automobile 1, the upper body of the pedestrian rotates downward toward the hood 5 of the automobile 1 with the waist position as a fulcrum. Thus, it is difficult for the pedestrian to get on the hood 5 after the collision. Moreover, it is hard to happen to move backward on the hood 5.

Thus, the collision mode with a pedestrian is different from the collision mode with a cyclist. Therefore, even if the airbag is deployed flat on the hood 5 to protect the pedestrian, it is difficult to suitably protect the cyclist.
In this embodiment, the protection performance of the cyclist who collided is improved.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the cyclist protection device 11 in the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a partial side view of the front portion 2 of the automobile 1. FIG. 4B is a top view of the front portion 2 of the automobile 1.
The cyclist protection device 11 of FIG. 4 includes a movable member 12 that forms the center of the nose cone 6 in the vehicle width direction, a nose push-up member 13 that pushes the movable member 12 upward, and a hood push-up that pushes the front side of the hood 5 upward. And a member 14.
The central portion in the vehicle width direction is a portion where a pedestrian with a low jumping speed is unlikely to collide and a cyclist with a high jumping speed is likely to collide.

  The movable member 12 is formed of a resin material similar to the other parts of the nose cone 6 so as to be flexible. The movable member 12 is provided on the front side of the hood 5 so as to be movable upward.

  The nose push-up member 13 may be a member that pushes up a link arm connected to the lower surface of the movable member 12 with an actuator, for example. Then, the nose push-up member 13 raises the movable member 12 by tilting it from the top to the rear side.

  For example, the hood push-up member 14 may be a member that pushes up a link arm connected to the lower surface of the front portion 2 of the hood 5 with an actuator. The hood push-up member 14 raises the front portion 2 of the hood 5 directly above.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system of the cyclist protection device 11 of FIG.
In the control system of FIG. 5, an imaging device 21, a radar 22, a nose push-up member 13, a hood push-up member 14, and a control unit 24 to which these are connected are illustrated.

The control unit 24 predicts a collision based on detection by the imaging device 21 and the radar 22 and detects the collision. Then, the nose push-up member 13 and the hood push-up member 14 are operated at a necessary timing.
For example, when a collision of a cyclist is detected, the nose push-up member 13 and the hood push-up member 14 are operated.

The imaging device 21 is, for example, a pair of imaging elements, and is provided forward on the roof of the riding unit 3 or the windshield 7 as shown in FIG. 1, and observes the surrounding situation in front of the automobile 1 by imaging.
As shown in FIG. 1, the radar 22 is disposed, for example, on the front surface of the front portion 2 of the automobile 1. The radar 22 emits ultrasonic waves and radio waves, and observes the surrounding situation in front of the automobile 1 according to the presence or absence of the reflected waves.
And the control part 24 can identify obstacles, such as a cyclist who passes ahead of the motor vehicle 1, and can judge the collision possibility of this obstacle.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of control performed by the control unit 24 of FIG. 5 at the time of collision with the cyclist.
The control unit 24 periodically performs the cyclist collision control of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 24 determines whether or not it has collided with the cyclist (step ST1). For example, when a collision with a cyclist is detected, it may be determined that the collision with the cyclist has occurred.

In the case of a collision with a cyclist, the control unit 24 performs control for protecting the cyclist (step ST2).
Specifically, the nose push-up member 13 and the hood push-up member 14 are operated. The nose push-up member 13 pushes up the movable member 12 constituting the central part of the nose cone 6 in the vehicle width direction. The hood push-up member 14 pushes up the front side of the hood 5.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a collision mode with a cyclist in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the cyclist colliding with the automobile 1 hits the front part 2 of the automobile 1 from the front.
When a collision with the cyclist is predicted or detected, as shown in FIG. 7B, the movable member 12 that forms the vehicle width direction center portion of the nose cone 6 and the front side of the hood 5 are pushed up. The pushed up movable member 12 wraps on the upper side of the pushed up hood 5.
Thereafter, the cyclist strikes the pushed movable member 12 from the front. The cyclist's waist, for example, stops when it hits the movable member 12. Due to the subsequent inertia, the cyclist's body rotates downward toward the hood 5 as shown in FIG.
As a result, the cyclist who collided falls on the hood 5 while the waist is in contact with the movable member 12 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the movable member 12 is provided in the front portion 2 of the vehicle so as to be movable upward on the front side of the hood 5. And when a cyclist collides, the nose push-up member 13 pushes up the movable member 12 directly. Therefore, when the cyclist collides with the front part 2 of the vehicle, it comes into contact with the pushed up movable member 12. Then, the subsequent cyclist rotates downward toward the hood 5 due to inertia while being in contact with the movable member 12. Thus, the cyclist who collided can rotate downward toward the hood 5 at the front part 2 of the vehicle in the same manner as when a pedestrian collides. As a result, the protection performance equivalent to that of a pedestrian can be expected as the protection performance of the cyclist.

  In the present embodiment, the pushed up movable member 12 is wrapped on the upper side of the hood 5. Therefore, even if the movable member 12 is deformed rearward due to the load of the cyclist, the deformed movable member 12 hits the hood 5. The load can be released to the hood 5 and the movable member 12 can be hardly deformed further. As a result, the movable member 12 can maintain the state which protruded on the hood 5, and can receive the load of a cyclist suitably.

  In the present embodiment, when the cyclist collides, the nose push-up member 13 pushes up the movable member 12, the hood push-up member 14 pushes up the hood 5, and the pushed-up movable member 12 moves above the hood 5 pushed up. Wrap on. Thus, by pushing up not only the movable member 12 but also the hood 5, when the cyclist after hitting the movable member 12 rotates downward due to inertia, it can be applied to the hood 5 at an early stage. It hits the hood 5 before the downward rotation becomes large, and it is difficult for the cyclist to fall down.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the movable member 12 comprises the nose cone 6 provided in front of the hood 5 in the front part 2 of the vehicle. The nose cone 6 provided in front of the hood 5 of the vehicle is usually formed flexibly by a resin material or the like. Therefore, even if the cyclist's waist or the like hits the movable member 12, it is difficult for stress or the like to concentrate on the contact portion.

  The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications or changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a modification of the cyclist protection device 11 of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 8A, the movable member 12 is provided by being wrapped on the hood 5. The hood push-up member 14 can push up the movable member 12 indirectly by pushing up the hood 5.
Therefore, there is no need to push up the movable member 12 and the hood 5 individually.

  In FIG. 8B, the nose push-up member 13 pushes up the movable member 12 directly above, and the hood push-up member 14 pushes up the hood 5 diagonally upward. Even in this case, the movable member 12 can be wrapped on the hood 5.

  In FIG. 8C, the nose push-up member 13 pushes up the movable member 12 and the hood push-up member 14 pushes the hood 5 straight up. Then, the connecting piece 16 protrudes from the lower side of the pushed up movable member 12 toward the upper side of the hood 5. Thereby, even if the movable member 12 and the hood 5 do not wrap directly, the movable member 12 can be wrapped on the upper side of the hood 5 via the connecting piece 16.

In FIG. 8D, the hood 5 is entirely pushed up by the hood push-up member 14 and the hood rear end push-up member 15. And the food | hood 5 is pushed up to the attitude | position of front-down. Therefore, the body of the cyclist who tries to rotate downward due to inertia after hitting the movable member 12 is likely to hit the hood 5 as a whole.
On the other hand, if, for example, the hood 5 is pushed up in a horizontal posture, the body of the cyclist who wants to rotate downward is, for example, the shoulder first hits the hood 5 and then the other side, for example, the flank It comes to hit. As described above, when the timing at which the body hits the hood 5 varies depending on the site, stress is likely to act locally in the body.

1 ... Automobile (vehicle)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Front part 3 ... Riding part 4 ... Rear part 5 ... Hood 6 ... Nose cone 7 ... Windshield 11 ... Cyclist protection device 12 ... Movable member 13 ... Nose push-up member (first push-up member)
14 ... Hood push-up member (second push-up member)
15 ... Hood rear end push-up member 16 ... Connecting piece 21 ... Imaging device 22 ... Radar 24 ... Control unit

Claims (7)

A hood that forms an upper surface of a front portion that projects forward from a riding portion of the vehicle;
A movable member provided to be movable upward on the front side of the hood;
When a cyclist collides with the front part, a push-up member that pushes up the movable member directly or indirectly;
Having
Vehicle cyclist protection device. The pushed-up movable member wraps on the upper side of the hood.
The cyclist protection device for a vehicle according to claim 1. As the push-up member, a first push-up member that pushes up the movable member, and a second push-up member that pushes up the hood,
When the cyclist collides with the front part, the first push-up member pushes up the movable member, and the second push-up member pushes up the hood,
The movable member pushed up wraps on the upper side of the pushed up hood.
The cyclist protection device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2. The movable member is provided by wrapping on the hood,
The push-up member pushes up the movable member indirectly by pushing up the hood;
The cyclist protection device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2. As the push-up member, a first push-up member that pushes up the movable member, and a second push-up member that pushes up the hood,
When the cyclist collides with the front part, the first push-up member pushes up the movable member, and the second push-up member pushes up the hood,
A connecting piece is located between the pushed up movable member and the pushed up hood.
The cyclist protection device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2. The hood is pushed up in a forward-downward posture,
The cyclist protection device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The movable member constitutes a nose cone provided in front of the hood at the front portion of the vehicle.
The cyclist protection device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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