JP2020199927A - Collision detection system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a collision detection system which can detect a collision even if an input is made to a vehicle end part without adding a sensor.SOLUTION: A collision detection system 1 includes: a pressure tube 30 for impact detection which is disposed at a hollow part of a rear surface of a bumper face 12 covering a vehicle body front surface in a substantially horizontal manner so as to extend to an end part of the bumper face 12; a pressure sensor 31 which detects a pressure in the pressure tube 30; and a holding part 33 which is provided on the rear surface of the bumper face 12 so that the pressure tube 30 creeps to the end part of the bumper face 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a collision detection system that detects a collision with a vulnerable person such as a cyclist jumping out.

Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle bumper that detects a collision between a pedestrian and a front portion of a vehicle and reduces the impact at the time of the collision. The vehicle bumper described in Patent Document 1 is a vehicle bumper for alleviating an impact at the time of a collision with a pedestrian, and covers a bumper beam extending in the vehicle width direction and a vehicle body front surface including the bumper beam. It is composed of a bumper face and a cushioning member provided between the bumper beam and the bumper face. The cushioning member has at least one bent portion in a cross section in the vehicle width direction and can be folded by a collision load. The plate-shaped member is composed of a shaped member, and a space portion is formed between at least two surface portions via the bent portion, and the space portion can be deformed by being sandwiched between the two surface portions. A pressure tube for impact detection is provided. At one end of the pressure tube, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure inside the pressure tube is provided. At the time of a vehicle collision, the pressure tube is deformed by receiving the collision load, and the pressure inside the pressure tube changes. The pressure change in the pressure tube is detected by the pressure sensor, and the collision signal is output.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a collision with a vehicle due to a cyclist jumping out.
As shown in FIG. 6, a cyclist may jump out in front of the vehicle and collide with the side surface of the bumper of the vehicle (side surface of the bumper face).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-178316

However, in the vehicle bumper described in Patent Document 1, the collision between the pedestrian and the front part of the vehicle is described as a solution problem (claim 1, paragraph [0001], etc.), and the pressure tube is arranged. No consideration is given to pedestrian collisions in areas that are not (for example, next to the bumper face shown in FIG. 6). For this reason, there is a problem that when a cyclist collides, the input to the vehicle is small and it is difficult to detect the collision. By adding a new sensor next to the bumper face, it is possible to detect a collision beside the bumper face. However, the addition of sensors leads to increased costs.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a collision detection system capable of detecting a collision even when there is an input to a vehicle end without adding a sensor.

In order to solve the above problems, a pressure tube for impact detection arranged so as to extend to the end of the bumper face and a pressure in the pressure tube are detected in a hollow portion on the back surface of the bumper face covering the vehicle body. It is characterized by including a pressure sensor and a holding portion provided on the back surface of the bumper face so that the pressure tube crawls to the end of the bumper face.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a collision detection system that can detect a collision even when there is an input to the end of the vehicle without adding a sensor.

It is a perspective view of the front part of the vehicle body of the vehicle provided with the collision detection system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. It is a perspective view of the front part of the vehicle body which shows the modification of the holding part of the collision detection system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. This is a modified example of the holding portion of the collision detection system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the front part of the vehicle body of a vehicle when it collides with an obstacle such as a cyclist of the collision detection system according to the above embodiment. It is a figure explaining the collision with a vehicle by a cyclist jumping out.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment)
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In the description, the same elements are given the same number, and duplicate description is omitted. Further, when explaining the direction, the explanation will be based on the front, back, left, right, up and down as seen from the driver of the vehicle. The vehicle width direction and the left-right direction are synonymous.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front portion of a vehicle body of a vehicle provided with a collision detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. Since the front portion of the vehicle body of the vehicle provided with the collision detection system according to the present embodiment has a symmetrical structure, the structure on one side of the vehicle will be described in the following description, and the structure on the other side will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front portion of the vehicle 10 is arranged at a position sandwiched between the bumper face 12 and the front grill 13 covering the front surface, the left and right front fenders 14, and the windshield 15 above the engine room. A front hood (bonnet hood) 16 for covering and an undercover 18 (see FIG. 2) for covering the lower part of the front bulkhead lower 17 (see FIG. 2) are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, a bumper beam 19 extending in the vehicle width direction is arranged at the front portion of the vehicle 10, and a cooling device (radiator 20) is provided inside the bumper beam 19. The radiator 20 is a heat exchanger for cooling the cooling water of the engine / transmission unit (not shown) with the outside air (air).

The bumper face 12 covers the front surface of the vehicle body including the bumper beam 19, and the pressure tube 30 is longer than the length of the bumper beam 19 in the vehicle width direction.
The bumper face 12 includes a bumper face main body 12a and an air intake portion 12b formed by an opening formed in the lower part of the bumper face main body 12a, and the trailing edge of the bumper face main body 12a is the front grill 13. It is continuously connected to the front edge.
The bumper face 12 is a resin member, and is provided so as to be deformable if the vehicle 10 collides with a pedestrian or a cyclist. The bumper face 12 may be made of another material such as metal as long as it can be deformed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the collision detection system 1 has flexibility on the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body 12a and extends to the ends of the bumper face 12 (left and right front fenders 14 side). A pressure tube 30 for impact detection arranged substantially horizontally, a first pressure sensor 31 provided at one end of the pressure tube 30 for detecting the pressure in the pressure tube 30, and a first pressure sensor 31 provided at the other end of the pressure tube 30. A second pressure sensor 32 that detects the pressure in the pressure tube 30 and a holding portion 33 provided on the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body 12a so that the pressure tube 30 crawls to the end of the bumper face 12. It is equipped. The first pressure sensor 31 and the second pressure sensor 32 are connected to a control unit (not shown) via a harness (not shown).

In the present embodiment, the first pressure sensor 31 and the second pressure sensor 32 are provided at both ends of the pressure tube 30. As a result, even if one of the sensors fails, the signal of the other sensor can be detected to deal with the failure of the sensor. Further, it is assumed that the collision often occurs locally on the lateral side surface of the vehicle. Since either of the two sensors detects a signal having a shorter impact transmission distance from the collision location, that is, a strong impact transmission signal, the accuracy of collision detection can be improved.

The pressure tube 30 is laid substantially horizontally along the hollow portion on the back surface of the bumper face 12 by the holding portion 33 from one end to the other end of the bumper face 12. That is, the pressure tube 30 is provided so as to extend not only to the front side of the bumper face 12 but also to both side surfaces thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure tube 30 has a circular cross section before the vehicle collision. At the time of a vehicle collision, the flexible pressure tube 30 is deformed by receiving a collision load, and the pressure inside the pressure tube 30 is bent (compressed) in the load direction. The pressure change in the pressure tube 30 is detected by the pressure sensor 31, and a collision signal is output. Then, the control unit (not shown) that receives the collision signal activates, for example, a pedestrian safety device (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the holding portion 33 is attached so as to protrude inward from the back surface 12c of the bumper face 12. The holding portion 33 attaches a substantially L-shaped bracket main body 33a and a bracket main body 33a to the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body 12a in a cross-sectional view by a vertical facing portion and a horizontal plane portion orthogonal to the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 10. It has a flange portion 33b and. The holding portion 33 fixes the flange portion 33b to the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body portion 12a at a predetermined fixing point (see the x mark in FIG. 2) by, for example, bonding with an adhesive or fastening means. The holding portion 33 sandwiches the pressure tube 30 between the bracket main body portion 33a and the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body portion 12a.

The pressure tube 30 may be suspended on the holding portion 33 after being fixed to the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body portion 12a. Alternatively, the flange portion 33b may be fixed to the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body portion 12a while the pressure tube 30 is sandwiched between the bracket main body portions 33a.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front portion of the vehicle body showing a modified example of the holding portion of the collision detection system. FIG. 4 is a modified example of the holding portion of the collision detection system. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.
As shown in FIG. 3, the holding portion 33 may be composed of a plurality of holding portions 33-1 to 33-3 (three in FIG. 3). The holding portions 33-1 to 33-3 hold the pressure tube 30 and allow the pressure tube 30 to crawl to the end of the bumper face 12.
Further, although not shown, the bracket main body 33a of the holding portion 33 of FIG. 1 may be partially lightened.

When the holding portions 33-1 to 33-3 shown in FIG. 3 are used, the time and effort for mounting can be reduced as compared with the case where the long holding portion 33 shown in FIG. 1 is fixed to the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body portion 12a. Can be done. The same effect can be obtained even if the bracket main body 33a of the holding portion 33 of FIG. 1 is partially lightened.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the holding portion 34 includes a bracket body portion 34a having a substantially U-shape in cross section, and flange portions 34b and 34b for attaching the bracket body portion 34a to the back surface 12c of the bumper face body portion 12a. Have. The holding portion 34 fixes the flange portions 34b and 34b at two fixing points (see the x mark in FIG. 2) above and below the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body portion 12a. The holding portion 34 has a substantially U-shape in cross section, holds the pressure tube 30 inside, and crawls to the end of the bumper face 12.
Although not shown, the holding portion 34 in FIG. 4 may be composed of a plurality of holding portions as in FIG. 3, or the bracket main body portion 34a may be partially lightened.

Hereinafter, the collision detection method of the collision detection system 1 configured as described above will be described.
When the vehicle 10 collides with an obstacle such as a pedestrian or a cyclist in front, the bumper face 12 and the front grill 13 are deformed to absorb the collision energy.
In particular, when a cyclist jumps out in front of the vehicle 10 as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the bicycle collides with the side surface of the bumper face 12 as shown in FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (c), and the bumper face 12 To transform. The collision energy is effectively absorbed by the large deformation of the bumper face 12.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front part of the vehicle body when the vehicle collides with an obstacle such as a cyclist.
As shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, when the vehicle 10 collides with an obstacle such as a cyclist, the side surface of the bumper face 12 is pushed, and the holding portion 33 and the holding portion 33 fixed to the back surface 12c of the bumper face 12 crawl. The pressure tube 30 is deformed. As shown by reference numeral a in FIG. 5, the holding portion 33 and the pressure tube 30 follow the large deformation of the bumper face 12. Further, in the non-collision area of the bumper face 12 shown by reference numeral b in FIG. 5, the holding portion 33 and the pressure tube 30 do not move. Since the bumper face 12 made of resin has a weak rigidity with respect to the holding portion 33, a mode occurs in which only the general surface of the bumper face 12 is deformed at the bending point (see reference numeral c in FIG. 5). Therefore, the pressure tube 30 can be deformed by the deformed bumper face 12 and the holding portion 33, and the collision can be detected from the pressure change generated in the pressure tube 30.

Similarly, in the case of being composed of a plurality of holding portions 33-1 to 33-3 shown in FIG. 3, the pressure tube 30 is deformed by the deformed bumper face 12 and the holding portions 33-1 to 33-3, and the pressure tube is formed. The collision can be detected from the pressure change generated in 30. However, in the hollow portion of the inner peripheral surface of the bumper face 12 without the holding portions 33-1 to 33-3, only the pressure tube 30 follows the deformation of the bumper face 12. Therefore, it is considered that the collision detection accuracy is slightly lower than that of the holding portion 33 shown in FIG. This can be dealt with by increasing the number of the plurality of holding portions 33-1 to 33-3 installed, or by installing the plurality of holding portions 33-1 to 33-3 at the expected collision position by the cyclist.

Further, in the holding portion 34 shown in FIG. 4, the flange portion 34b is fixed at two positions above and below the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body portion 12a. At the time of a vehicle collision, the holding portion 34 and the pressure tube 30 follow the deformation of the bumper face 12. At this time, since the holding portion 34 is fixed at two positions above and below the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body portion 12a, the deformation of the general surface of the bumper face 12 can be captured with better followability, which is shown in FIG. Collision can be detected more accurately than the holding unit 33.

As described above, the collision detection system 1 of the present embodiment is for impact detection, which is arranged substantially horizontally in a hollow portion on the back surface of the bumper face 12 covering the front surface of the vehicle body so as to extend to the end portion of the bumper face 12. The pressure tube 30, the first pressure sensor 31 and the second pressure sensor 32 for detecting the pressure in the pressure tube 30, and the back surface of the bumper face 12 are provided so that the pressure tube 30 crawls to the end of the bumper face 12. The holding portion 33 is provided.

With this configuration, by crawling the pressure tube 30 to the side of the bumper face 12, a collision can be detected even when there is an input to the end of the vehicle, and the collision detection area can be expanded. Further, since the input to the vehicle end can be detected without adding a sensor, the cost can be reduced. It is suitable for application to a collision detection system that detects a collision with a vulnerable person such as a cyclist jumping out.

In the present embodiment, the holding portion 33 is attached so as to protrude inward from the back surface of the bumper face 12. The holding portion 33 and the pressure tube 30 can be made to follow the deformation of the bumper face 12. Since the bumper face 12 made of resin has a weak rigidity with respect to the holding portion 33, a mode occurs in which only the general surface of the bumper face 12 is deformed at the bending point (see reference numeral c in FIG. 5). As a result, the pressure tube 30 can be deformed by the deformed bumper face 12 and the holding portion 33, and a collision can be detected from the pressure change generated in the pressure tube 30.

In the present embodiment, the holding portion 33 has a substantially L-shaped cross section due to the vertical facing portion and the horizontal surface portion, and the upper portion or the lower portion of the vehicle body is opened. As a result, the pressure tube 30 can be easily held in the holding portion 33, and work efficiency such as mounting can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the holding portion 34 has a substantially U-shape in cross section, and holds the pressure tube 30 inside the U-shape and crawls to the end of the bumper face 12. Since the holding portion 34 is fixed at two positions above and below the back surface 12c of the bumper face main body portion 12a, it is possible to capture the deformation of the general surface of the bumper face 12 with better followability and detect a collision with higher accuracy. can do.

In the collision detection system 1 of the present embodiment, the pressure tube 30 is laid on the back surface of the bumper face 12 to the end of the bumper face 12. When the pressure tube 30 is laid on the bumper face 12, the pressure tube can be provided up to the end of the bumper face (longer than the length of the bumper beam in the vehicle width direction) as compared with the case where the pressure tube 30 is provided on the bumper beam 19. ), The detection range is expanded accordingly. As a result, the collision can be detected even when there is an input to the end of the vehicle.

Although the collision detection system according to the above embodiment has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Needless to say.
For example, the holding portion 33 of the present embodiment has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and the holding portion 34 of the modified example has a substantially U-shaped cross section, but the pressure tube 30 can be held up to the end of the bumper face 12. However, the shape is not limited to a substantially L-shape or a substantially U-shape, and may be a substantially V-shape or a substantially U-shape.

1 Collision detection system 10 Vehicle 12 Bumper face 12a Bumper face body 12b Air intake 12c Back side of bumper face body 13 Front grill 14 Front fender 15 Windshield 16 Front hood (bonnet hood)
17 Front bulkhead lower 18 Undercover 19 Bumper beam 30 Pressure tube 31 First pressure sensor 32 Second pressure sensor 33, 33-1 to 33-3,34 Holding part 33a, 34a Bracket body part 33b, 34b Flange part

Claims (5)

A pressure tube for impact detection arranged so as to extend to the end of the bumper face in the hollow portion on the back surface of the bumper face covering the vehicle body.
A pressure sensor that detects the pressure in the pressure tube and
A collision detection system characterized in that a holding portion provided on the back surface of the bumper face so that the pressure tube crawls to an end portion of the bumper face is provided. The collision detection system according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is provided so as to protrude inward from the back surface of the bumper face. The collision detection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding portion has a substantially L-shaped cross section and is open on the upper side or the lower side of the vehicle body. The collision detection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding portion has a substantially U-shape in cross section and holds the pressure tube inside the U-shape. Equipped with a bumper beam extending in the width direction of the vehicle
The bumper face covers the vehicle body including the bumper beam.
The collision detection system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure tube is longer than the length of the bumper beam in the vehicle width direction.

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