JP2524791Y2 - Vehicle energy absorption structure - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] << Industrial application field >> The present invention relates to a collision energy absorbing structure of a vehicle provided with an impact energy absorbing material so as to protrude into the cabin on a cabin side wall, and in particular, to an ordinary energy absorbing structure. The present invention relates to an energy absorbing structure of a vehicle capable of absorbing impact energy with high efficiency at the time of a vehicle collision without irreversible dents or the like occurring when a passenger or the like collides with the vehicle only slightly.

<< Background of the Invention >> As shown in FIG. 3, a conventional energy absorbing structure of a vehicle is basically provided with an impact energy absorbing material 2 such as foamed polyurethane on an inner panel 1 of a door.

As an application of this basic structure, as shown in FIG. 4, a surface of an impact energy absorbing material 2 is covered with a sponge 3 and a hard skin layer 4 is provided on the surface of the sponge 3, as shown in FIG. It is known that the surface of the impact energy absorbing material 2 is covered with a material 5 having high rigidity such as a hard plastic plate.

However, in the case of the basic structure shown in FIG. 3, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the occupant pushes strongly in the direction of the arrow α with the finger 5 of the occupant, or the occupant or the load is moved from the direction of the arrow α during normal riding. A dent 2a that cannot be restored due to a slight collision
Will occur.

As shown in FIG. 4, when covered with a sponge 3,
Although recovering somewhat, full recovery is not possible.

Those in which such dents 2a easily occur have extremely low commercial value and cannot be said to be useful impact energy absorbing structures.

On the other hand, the one shown in FIG. 5 does not have such a dent. However, the material 5 having high rigidity reflects the impact energy at the time of the vehicle collision and hinders the energy absorbing action of the energy absorbing material 2. Therefore, effective energy absorption cannot be performed.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, a material having a cut 5a in a material 5 having high rigidity to reduce the rigidity to some extent has been proposed (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 58-118082).

However, in this structure, notches 5a cause unevenness on the surface, not only impairing the appearance and feeling of contact, but also processing of the notches 5a and the impact energy absorbing material 2 of the high-rigidity material 5 having the notches 5a. The mounting operation to the device is complicated, and the cost increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points.The purpose of the invention is that no depression occurs when the occupant hits the vehicle lightly during normal riding such as pushing with a finger, and the impact energy at the time of vehicle collision is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to propose a low-cost and good-looking vehicle impact energy absorbing structure that can be effectively absorbed.

<< Means for Solving the Problems >> In order to achieve the above object, the energy absorbing structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 of the present invention absorbs impact energy so as to protrude into the cabin on the cabin side wall of the cabin. And a hard member that covers at least a portion of the vertical surface and the upper and lower lateral surfaces of the impact energy absorbing material and covers in a substantially cup shape is provided, and a smooth surface is formed from the vertical surface to the horizontal surface. The impact absorbing material was made to have higher rigidity than that of the lateral surface by the hard member.

Further, in the energy absorbing structure for a vehicle according to the second aspect of the present invention, an impact energy absorbing material is provided on the interior side surface of the cabin side wall so as to protrude into the cabin, and a longitudinal surface of the impact energy absorbing material and the impact energy absorbing material are provided. A hard member that covers both upper and lower horizontal surfaces facing each other is disposed, and is gradually thinned from the vertical surface to the horizontal surface to form a smooth surface. The rigidity of the surface of the impact energy absorbing material is formed by the hard member. Was gradually reduced from the vertical surface to the horizontal surface.

<< Operation >> The direction in which an occupant or a load collides lightly during normal driving or the like is generally a horizontal direction, that is, a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal side surface of the impact energy absorbing material.

In the present invention, due to the high rigidity of the hard material disposed over the vertical surface of the impact energy absorbing material and a part of both upper and lower lateral surfaces, the impact energy absorbing material resists a light impact from the above direction. The effect of reflection appears.

When a strong impact is applied from the above direction during a vehicle collision, the impact is transmitted to the lateral side surfaces of the impact energy absorbing material, that is, the upper surface and the lower surface. Since the strength of the horizontal surface is made weaker than that of the vertical surface, the impact energy absorbing material functions to absorb the above-mentioned strong impact at the horizontal surface portion.

Since the impact energy absorbing material that has absorbed the strong impact is crushed toward the side wall of the passenger compartment, there is no danger that the occupant, the load, and the like come into contact with the above-mentioned hard member, causing injury or breakage.

In addition, since the hard member is formed smoothly from the vertical surface to the horizontal surface and does not have a cut or the like, not only is excellent in productivity such as workability and mounting properties, but also the appearance and the feeling of contact are not impaired, It can be provided at a reasonable price.

<< Embodiment >> FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment in which a vehicle energy absorbing structure according to the present invention is provided in a door portion.

That is, hard urethane is applied to the indoor side of the door 10 composed of the outer panel 1a and the inner panel 1b with the glass center 6 interposed, in this example, the surface of the wood chip molded product 11 attached to the indoor side surface of the inner panel 1b. Two impact energy absorbing members 12 are provided above and below the space S.

Each of the two impact energy absorbing members 12 and 12 has a substantially cup-shaped hard member 13 made of a highly rigid plastic or the like and covering at least a part of each vertical surface and both upper and lower lateral surfaces thereof. , 13 are arranged.

In this example, an arc-shaped hard material with upper and lower ends slightly arcuate
Although 13 and 13 are used, various shapes such as a U-shape can be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the hard members 13 and 13 and the impact energy absorbing materials 12 and 12 are covered with sponges 14 and
The surface of 14,14 is covered with vinyl leather 15,15.

In this example, when a slight impact is applied from the direction of the arrow α during normal operation or the like, the hard members 13, 13 reflect this impact,
There is no irreparable dent in the impact energy absorbers 12,12.

Also, when a strong impact is applied from the direction of arrow α at the time of a vehicle collision, this impact is applied to β where the hard members 13 are not disposed.
Part, and the impact energy absorbers 12, 12
Squeezed to the side, energy absorption takes place.

At this time, the hard members 13, 13 move toward the door 10 while keeping the bow shape, and receive an occupant, a load, and the like on the side surfaces of the hard members 13, 13. Therefore, there is no danger of the occupant being injured by the hard members 13, 13 or the cargo being damaged.

Further, in this example, the elasticity of the sponges 14, 14 is also added, thereby preventing the occupant from being injured or the cargo being damaged.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment in which the impact energy absorbing structure according to the present invention is provided in the door portion. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same portions as those in FIG.

In the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment described above, the entire surface around the impact energy absorbing material 12 is made of a plastic integral molding member 16.
It is covered with. In the molded member 16, the hardened members 13 ′, 13 ′ are made thicker at the vertical surface portions γ of the respective impact energy absorbing members 12, 12. Further, the thickness is gradually reduced in the δ portion following the γ portion on the lateral surface portion (that is, the upper and lower portions).

By changing the thickness of the molded member 16 in this manner, the rigidity is increased in the γ portion that becomes the hard member 13 ′, and the rigidity is gradually decreased in the δ portions located on both sides thereof.

Further, in this example, the space S side portion between the two hard members 13 ', 13', that is, the lower surface portion of the upper hard member 13 'and the upper surface portion of the lower hard member 13' are inclined in parallel as shown in FIG. It should be easily deformed when a strong impact is applied from the direction.

As described above, the hard members 13 ', 13' and the lateral side surfaces connected to the hard members 13 ', 13' are formed by integral molding of plastic. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be used.

In this example, when a slight impact is applied from the direction of the arrow α, the hard members 13 ', 13' reflect this impact as in the first embodiment.

When a strong impact is applied from the direction of the arrow α at the time of the vehicle impact, the rigidity of the upper and lower surfaces of the hard members 13 ′ and 13 ′ gradually decreases in the δ portion, and the rigidity decreases significantly near the wood chip 11 side. This low-rigidity part absorbs a strong impact, and the impact energy absorbing materials 12, 12 and the hard members 13 ', 1 of the low-rigidity part
3 'is crushed to the door 10 side.

At this time, the lower surface of the upper hard member 13 'and the lower hard member 1
Since the upper surface of 3 'is easily deformed and the rigidity is significantly reduced, the effect of absorbing the impact energy is improved.

The hard members 13 ', 13' of the γ portion move substantially parallel to the door 10 side, and receive an occupant, a load, and the like on the surface of the γ portion. Therefore, in this example, as in the case of the first embodiment, the hard member 1
No damage such as occupants or cargo due to 3 'and 13' occurs.

In each of the above embodiments, since the surfaces of the hard members 13, 13 'are smoothed, the appearance and the feeling of contact are not impaired.

<< Effects of the Invention >> As described in detail above, according to the energy absorbing structure for a vehicle according to the present invention, the lateral surfaces (that is, the upper and lower surfaces) of the impact energy absorbing material that greatly contribute to the impact energy absorption at the time of the collision are: While the low rigidity is maintained, the vertical surface of the impact energy absorbing material, which does not significantly contribute to the impact energy absorption at the time of the collision, is covered with a hard member smoothly and has a high rigidity. Can play.

(1) Irrecoverable dents and the like do not occur in the impact energy absorbing material even when a slight impact is applied during normal operation or the like.

(2) Absorption of strong impact energy at the time of a vehicle collision is effectively performed without being obstructed. At this time, there is no damage to the occupants and cargo.

(3) Since the hard member is formed smoothly from the vertical side surface to the horizontal side surface and is not provided with a cut or the like, not only is productivity such as workability and mountability excellent, but also appearance and contact feeling are impaired. It can be provided with good looks and low price.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 show first and second embodiments of a vehicle energy absorbing structure according to the present invention. FIGS. 3 to 5 show examples of a conventional impact energy absorbing structure. FIG. 6 is a view showing a defect of the one shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and FIG. 7 is a view showing a conventional improved example of the one shown in FIG. 12: Impact energy absorbing material, 13, 13 ': Hard member

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] An impact energy absorbing structure for a vehicle, wherein an impact energy absorbing material is provided on a cabin side wall of a cabin side wall, wherein the impact energy absorbing material is provided so as to protrude into the cabin, and the impact energy absorbing material has a vertical length. A hard member that covers at least a portion of the side surface and both upper and lower lateral surfaces and covers the cup in a substantially cup shape is formed to form a smooth surface from the vertical surface to the lateral surface, and the impact is caused by the hard member. An energy absorbing structure for a vehicle, wherein the rigidity of the longitudinal surface of the energy absorbing material is higher than that of the lateral surface. 2. An impact energy absorbing structure for a vehicle, wherein an impact energy absorbing material is provided on a cabin side wall of a vehicle interior side wall, wherein the impact energy absorbing material is provided so as to protrude into the cabin, and the longitudinal direction of the impact energy absorbing material is provided. A hard member is disposed to cover the side surface and the upper and lower horizontal surfaces facing each other, and is formed on a smooth surface while gradually reducing the thickness from the vertical surface to the horizontal surface, and the impact energy absorbing material is formed by the hard member. The energy absorption structure of a vehicle, wherein the rigidity of the surface of the vehicle is gradually reduced from the vertical surface to the horizontal surface.