JP3099824B2 - Structure for fixing two shock absorbers to a structural member of a vehicle body and shock absorbing component - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a first shock absorber consisting of a hollow cylindrical body such as an extruded metal pipe or a hybrid pipe, and a grid-like or non-grid-like rib made of resin. The present invention relates to a structure for fixing a second shock absorber made of a resin body capable of absorbing a shock to a structural member of a vehicle body such as a pillar, a roof side rail, and a header on an upper portion of a vehicle body, and a shock absorbing component. The two shock absorbers are covered with an interior material such as a pillar garnish or a roof lining, and absorb impact energy applied through the interior material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An energy absorbing material is disposed in a space between a structural member of a vehicle body, particularly a passenger car body, and an interior material. When an impact load is applied from the interior material to the structural member, the energy absorbing material is removed. In a shock absorbing structure that deforms and absorbs impact energy, resin bodies that can be formed in various forms at low cost and with high accuracy are widely used as the energy absorbing material.

[0003]

The structural member of the vehicle body may be formed into a three-dimensional bent shape in order to satisfy strength and design requirements depending on the place where the structural member is installed. The interior material disposed in the vehicle interior of the member is formed so as to satisfy the entire design requirement, rather than following the local shape change of the structural member. Therefore, the interval between the structural member and the interior material varies in the longitudinal direction of the structural member.

When the resin bodies are arranged in intervals of different sizes, the rise of the load in the energy absorption characteristic of load versus displacement is relatively gentle, so that it is difficult to secure a sufficient amount of energy absorption at a narrow interval. .

A metal pipe formed by extruding a metal material (Japanese Patent Application No. 9-176594: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-5503),
It consists of a core material of metal foil and a sheet of a material other than metal that is superimposed on the front and back surfaces of the core material, respectively, and is formed by continuously deforming the core material and the front and back sheets into an uneven shape in the axial direction. So-called hybrid pipe (Japanese
It has been confirmed that, according to a shock absorber made of a cylindrical hollow body as in JP-A-29482), a sufficient amount of energy absorption can be ensured even within a narrow interval.

Therefore, it is conceivable to use both a shock absorber made of a cylindrical hollow body and a shock absorber made of a resin body. In this case, the two shock absorbers are simply used as structural members of a vehicle body. A fixing structure is required.

[0007] The present invention provides a structure capable of meeting this demand, in which two shock absorbers are fixed to a structural member of a vehicle body.

The present invention also provides a shock absorbing component formed by a shock absorbing member made of a cylindrical hollow body and a shock absorbing member made of a resin body.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a structural member which extends in a longitudinal direction between a first shock absorber made of a cylindrical hollow body and a second shock absorber made of a resin body. And fixed to the structural member. The second shock absorber protrudes from an end face facing the first shock absorber, and has an extension that can be fitted to an end of the first shock absorber. An end of the second shock absorber opposed to the first shock absorber fits the extension to an end of the first shock absorber attached to the structural member, and 1 and is fixed to the structural member.

The first shock absorber is attached to a predetermined position of the structural member, and then an extension projecting from the end face of the second shock absorber is fitted to the end of the first shock absorber. Alternatively, after the extension of the second shock absorber is fitted to the end of the first shock absorber, the first shock absorber is attached to the structural member, so that the end of the second shock absorber is formed. Is the first
And is fixed to the structural member.

The end of the second shock absorber is connected to the first shock absorber by fitting the extension of the second shock absorber to the end of the first shock absorber. Since it can be fixed to the structural member of the vehicle body, a fixing component such as a tapping screw for fixing the end of the second shock absorber facing the first shock absorber is unnecessary. . Further, when the end of the second shock absorber facing the first shock absorber is connected to the first shock absorber, the second shock absorber is in a state temporarily fixed, so to speak. Second
It is easy to position the shock absorber with respect to the structural member, and the subsequent workability is good.

Since two shock absorbers, a shock absorber made of a cylindrical hollow body and a shock absorber made of a resin body, are provided, the distance between the structural member and the interior material is increased in the longitudinal direction of the structural member. Even in cases where there is a difference, appropriate shock absorption can be achieved.

When the resin body receives an impact load from obliquely below, the entire resin body deflects upward, and the rise of the reaction load tends to be delayed until the bending deformation is completed. Since the extension of the resin body, which is the shock absorber, is fitted and constrained to the end of the first shock absorber, the bending deformation can be reduced.
As a result, a reaction force load immediately rises when an impact load is applied, and a predetermined load-to-displacement energy absorption characteristic can be secured.

The present invention also relates to a first hollow cylindrical body.
And a second shock absorber made of a resin body as a sub-assembly. The sub-assembly protrudes from an end face of the second shock absorber facing the first shock absorber, and the second shock absorber can be fitted to an end of the first shock absorber. Is fitted to the end of the first shock absorber, and the extension and the end are connected by temporary fixing means. This subassembly is then fixed to the structural member.

The extension of the second shock absorber is fitted to the end of the first shock absorber, and the extension and the end are connected to the structural member of the vehicle body in a sub-assembly in which the extension and the end are connected by temporary fixing means. Since the second shock absorber is fixed, the extension of the second shock absorber is fitted to the end of the first shock absorber, and the first shock absorber is fixed to the structural member by two parts. Handling of the shock absorber is easy, and fixing to the vehicle body structural member is further facilitated.

In another aspect, the subassembly includes:
Fastening means penetrating an end of the first shock absorber and an extension of the second shock absorber is fastened to the structural member by fastening.

Since the two shock absorbers can be fixed to the structural member of the vehicle body by so-called joint fastening, the fixing operation is simple. Further, since the extension of the second shock absorber is fitted to the end of the first shock absorber and further fixed by the fastening means, firm fixing can be achieved, and the second shock absorber can be secured. The deflection of the resin body as a body can be suppressed more effectively.

In another aspect of the invention, the extension of the second shock absorber has a rib capable of absorbing shock.

Since the extension of the second shock absorber has a rib capable of absorbing the shock, the shock load is applied to the first shock absorber, a connecting portion between the first shock absorber and the second shock absorber, and Second
As a result, it is possible to obtain a continuous and efficient shock absorbing structure.

In another aspect of the invention, the structural member includes a front pillar and a roof side rail, the first shock absorber is disposed at an intersection between the front pillar and the roof side rail, and The second shock absorber is disposed on the roof side rail.

The intersection between the front pillar and the roof side rail is smaller than the distance between the pillar and the pillar garnish or between the roof side rail and the roof lining, so that the reaction force load rises sharply. Where the energy absorption characteristic of a small load to a small displacement is required, the first shock absorber made of a hollow body is an extruded metal pipe or a hybrid pipe,
Since the rise of the reaction force load is steep, the above requirement can be satisfied.

The present invention also relates to a first hollow cylindrical body.
And a second shock absorber made of a resin body. The second shock absorber has an extension protruding from an end face and capable of fitting to an end of the first shock absorber. The first shock absorber and the second shock absorber are configured such that an extension of the second shock absorber is fitted to an end of the first shock absorber, and the first shock absorber and the second shock absorber are connected to each other. This is a sub-assembly formed by connecting the ends with temporary fixing means.

The shock absorbing structure can be obtained by disposing the sub-assembly between a structural member such as a pillar or a roof side rail at the upper part of the vehicle body and an interior material and attaching the sub-assembly to the structural member. Since the absorber forms the sub-assembly, the work for making the shock absorbing structure is easy.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A shock absorber made of a cylindrical hollow body and a shock absorber made of a resin body capable of absorbing shock (hereinafter referred to as a shock absorber).
Referring to FIG. 1 in a bottom view and FIG. 2 in a side view, a structure for fixing a shock absorber 22 and a resin body 24 along a structural member 20 extending in a longitudinal direction is referred to as a resin body. Are arranged and fixed to the structural member 20.

The structural member 20 itself has a large rigidity such as a front pillar, a center pillar, a quarter pillar, a roof side rail, or a header provided on the body of an automobile. In the embodiment of FIG.
Numeral 0 denotes a roof side rail. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the structural member 20 includes a front pillar 26 and a roof side rail 28, and the header 30 extends from the intersection 27 of the front pillar 26 and the roof side rail 28 to the vehicle body. It extends in the width direction.

The hollow shock absorber 22 can be an extrudable metal pipe or a hybrid pipe. A metal pipe having a desired cross-sectional shape can be easily obtained by extrusion molding, and a hybrid pipe can be easily obtained by applying necessary deformation after molding. Furthermore, the thickness of the metal pipe, or the radial thickness from the outermost surface of the convex portion of the hybrid pipe to the innermost surface of the concave portion of the concave portion, the so-called apparent plate thickness, is changed, or in the case of a hybrid pipe, The energy characteristics to be absorbed can be adjusted by changing the pitch between the convex portions (between the concave portions) which are located at different positions.

The metal pipe is formed by extruding aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The metal pipe may be used as it is in an extruded form, or may be extruded, cut into a predetermined length, and then twisted around an axis. Can be used. The metal pipe twisted around the axis has a higher rigidity than that of the as-extruded metal pipe, and can obtain an energy absorption characteristic of a load-displacement in which a reaction force load rises sharply.

As shown in FIG. 3 in a perspective state and in FIG. 4 in a cross-sectional state, the hybrid pipe 32 has a core material 3 made of metal foil.
4 and the core 34 are superposed on the front and back of the core 34, respectively.
4 and a sheet 36 made of a material other than metal. The hybrid pipe 32 is formed by deforming the core material 34 and the front and back sheets 36 so that the concave portions 38 and the convex portions 40 alternately appear in the axial direction.

In the embodiment shown, the core 34 is a hard aluminum foil and the sheet 36 is kraft paper. Aluminum foil has a thickness of 0.05 mm or more and a width of 30 mm or more, and kraft paper has a thickness of 0.2 mm or more and a width of 30 mm or more. The core 34 may be made of stainless steel foil or magnesium alloy foil, and the sheet 36 may be made of resin. In FIG. 4, the uneven deformation is spiral. Instead, one concave portion 38 extends in the circumferential direction,
A so-called wavy shape or a bellows shape in which two independent convex portions 40 adjacent to the two concave portions 38 are continuous in the circumferential direction may be used.

The resin body 24 is capable of absorbing a shock,
It may be in the form of a grid-like rib or a non-grid-like rib made by injection molding a hard resin such as S resin. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the resin body 24 is a grid-like rib having four vertical ribs 42 and a large number of horizontal ribs 44. The vertical ribs 42 and the horizontal ribs 44 penetrate in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1, and there are no ribs at the top and bottom of the resin body 24 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The vertical ribs 42 extend in the longitudinal direction of the structural member. Vertical rib 4
The thickness of the lateral ribs 44 can be set to about 1-3 mm, and the height can be set to about 10-20 mm depending on the size of the interval.

The resin body 24 has an extension 47 projecting from an end face 46 facing the shock absorber 22 and capable of fitting to the end 23 of the shock absorber 22. The end 48 of the resin body 24 facing the shock absorber 22 is connected to the shock absorber 22 by fitting an extension 47 to the end 23 of the shock absorber 22 attached to the structural member 50, Thereby, it is fixed to the structural member 50.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the extension portion 47 of the resin body 24 has an insertion length L, and is fitted and connected to the end portion 23 of the shock absorber 22 substantially by the insertion length L. Have been. The insertion length L is preferably determined so that the extension portion 47 and the end portion 23 have a sufficient connection strength by the connection by frictional engagement. For example, the insertion length of 10 to 30 mm is secured. The extension 47 of the resin body 24
Any shape that fits the end 23 of the shock absorber 22 can be employed.

The extension 47 of the resin body 24 and the shock absorber 22
Can be connected by a fastening means 52 such as a tapping screw. In this case, the insertion length can be shorter than the length L as shown in FIG. The extension portion 47 and the end portion 23 can be connected by using both the connection by frictional engagement and the connection by the tapping screw 52, so that a more secure connection can be secured.

Referring to FIG. 5 showing the energy absorption characteristics of the load F versus the displacement S, one point of the resin body is fixed by the fastening means as compared with A (solid line) in the case of the friction engagement in which a sufficient insertion length is secured. the case was B (dashed line), while the resin body is bent and deformed, the rise of the reaction force load as B ₁ becomes moderate. After the bending deformation is finished, the peak value, such as a B ₂ rises suddenly. In other words, by suppressing the deflection of the resin body 24,
The initial rise of the reaction load can be made steep, and the peak value can be further reduced.

The shock absorber 22 and the resin body 24 are attached to the structural member 50 by fastening an end 53 of the shock absorber 22 away from the resin body 24 by a fastening means 54 such as a tapping screw. 24 extension 47 to end 23
And the extension 47 may be connected to the end 23.
To connect the resin body 24 and the shock absorber 22, and then attach the end 53 of the shock absorber 22 to the structural member 50 by the fastening means 54. In this connection, the shock absorber 22 and the resin body 24 are connected as independent components.

On the other hand, the shock absorber 22 and the resin body 2
4 can form a subassembly. The sub-assembly protrudes from the end face of the resin body 24 facing the shock absorber 22 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in a cross-sectional state, and is an extension of the resin body that can be fitted to the end 23 of the shock absorber 22. The extension 47 is fitted to the end 23 of the shock absorber, and the extension 47 and the end 23 are connected by a temporary fixing means 60.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the temporary fixing means 60 comprises a tapping screw 62 and a paper washer 64. The extension portion 47 is formed so as to have a U-shaped cross section, and is fitted to the end portion 23 such that the opening thereof is on the lower side. On the other hand, the end 23 has a through hole 66 at a position facing the opening of the extension 47. The tapping screw 62 is inserted into the through hole 66, passed through the extension portion 47 and the end portion 23, and the paper washer 64 is engaged with the tapping screw 62 to prevent the tapping screw 62 from coming off.
7 and the end 23 are temporarily fixed. The sub-assembly temporarily fixed as described above is brought to a portion where the grommet 70 of the inner panel 68 of the structural member is located, and the tapping screw 62 is screwed into the grommet 70 and fixed. According to this, the extension portion 47 of the resin body and the end portion 23 of the shock absorber are fixed to the inner panel 68 by so-called joint fastening. The inner panel 6 includes the shock absorber 22 and the resin body 24.
After fixing to 8, the roof lining 74 is attached.

The above-described sub-assembly was fixed to the inner panel 68 by fastening together. Instead of this, as shown in FIG.
And the extension 47 of the resin body 24 are temporarily fixed by, for example, frictional engagement to form a sub-assembly, and a tapping screw 62 is inserted into the end 23 where the extension 47 has come off, and The end 23 of the shock absorber and the inner panel 68 can be fixed by being threaded into the grommet 70. In this case, the frictional engagement serves as temporary fixing means.

The extension portion 47 of the resin body 24 may be capable of absorbing shock itself or not capable of absorbing shock. However, as shown in FIGS. It is preferable to have a possible rib 72. Rib 72
Since the extension 47 is inserted into the end of the shock absorber and is deformed together with the end, the extension 47 can be formed thinner than the vertical rib 42 or the horizontal rib 44.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front pillar 26
At a portion where the front pillar 26 and the roof side rail 28 are connected, the front pillar 26 bends two-dimensionally as shown in the drawing, further bends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and eventually bends three-dimensionally. Therefore, it is preferable to dispose the shock absorber 22 at the intersection 27 between the front pillar 26 and the roof side rail 28, and dispose the resin body 24 along the roof side rail 28. In this way, the shock absorber 22 having a sharp rise at a relatively small interval between the intersection 27 and the roof lining (not shown) as the interior material disposed inside the intersection 27 absorbs the shock. The resin body 24 absorbs the impact at an interval larger than the interval between the roof side rail 28 and the roof lining.

In FIG. 2, a lattice rib made of resin may be arranged at a portion of the front pillar 26 ahead of the shock absorber 22, or another shock absorber may be arranged.

Referring again to FIGS. 6 to 8, the shock absorbing component according to the present invention includes a hollow shock absorber 22,
And a resin body 24 capable of absorbing shock. The resin body 24 is
An extension 47 protrudes from the end surface 46 and can be fitted to the end 23 of the shock absorber 22. The shock absorber 22 and the resin body 24 are fitted with the extension 47 of the resin body 24 into the end 23 of the shock absorber 22, and the extension 47 and the end 23 are connected by the temporary fixing means 62. It is a subassembly formed by 1 and 2, the extension 47
Temporary fixing means can be provided by frictional engagement between the end portion and the end portion. By mounting the sub-assembly at a predetermined position of the structural member 20, a shock absorbing structure can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a bottom view showing an embodiment of a structure for fixing a hollow shock absorber and a resin body to a structural member of a vehicle body according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view showing an embodiment of a structure for fixing a hollow shock absorber and a resin body to a structural member of a vehicle body according to the present invention, wherein the structural member is a front pillar; And a roof side rail.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hybrid pipe that can be employed as a hollow shock absorber according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the hybrid pipe shown in FIG. 3 cut in a longitudinal direction.

FIG. 5 is an energy absorption characteristic diagram of load versus displacement.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view before fixing showing a mode in which a hollow shock absorber and a resin body are fixed to a structural member of a vehicle body as a sub-assembly.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view after fixing showing a mode in which a hollow shock absorber and a resin body are fixed to a structural member of a vehicle body as a sub-assembly.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view after fixing showing another mode of fixing a hollow shock absorber and a resin body as a sub-assembly to a structural member of a vehicle body.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a part of a resin body.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the extension of the resin body shown in FIG. 9 as viewed from the bottom.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20, 50 Structural member 22 Shock absorber 23, 48 End 24 Resin body (shock absorber) 32 Hybrid pipe 34 Core material 36 Sheet 42 Vertical rib 44 Horizontal rib 46 End face 47 Extension 52 Tightening means (tapping screw) 60 Temporary Stopping means 72 Rib 74 Interior material (Roof lining)

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI B62D 25/06 B62D 25/06 A F16B 7/20 F16B 7/20 C (58) Investigated field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60R 21/04-21/04 B62D 25/04-25/06 B60R 13/02 F16B 7/20

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first shock absorber made of a cylindrical hollow body and a second shock absorber made of a resin body are arranged along a structural member extending in a longitudinal direction and fixed to the structural member. a structure, wherein the second shock absorber protrudes from the end face facing the first shock absorber includes a fittable extension at an end of the first shock absorber, end opposite to the first shock absorber of the second shock absorber fitted to the extension portion at an end portion of said structure said attached to member first shock <br/> hammer absorber A structure for fixing two shock absorbers to a structural member of a vehicle body, wherein the two shock absorbers are connected to the first shock absorber and thereby fixed to the structural member. 2. A first shock absorber made of a tubular hollow body and a second shock absorber made of a resin body are arranged along a structural member extending in a longitudinal direction, and fixed to the structural member. a structure, protrudes from the end surface of the first shock absorber and said second shock-absorbing module and said second shock absorber a subassembly opposite the first shock absorber consisting of And said
The first of the fittable on an end portion of the shock absorber second impact absorption
Fitting the extension of the container to the end of the first shock absorber;
And a sub-assembly formed by connecting the extension portion and the end portion with temporary fixing means, and fixing the sub-assembly to the structural member. Two shock absorbers are fixed to the structural member of the vehicle body Construction. Wherein the sub-assembly, by tightening the fastening means extending through an extension portion of the first shock <br/> hammer absorber end and the second shock absorber to the structural member fixed A structure for fixing the two shock absorbers according to claim 2 to a structural member of a vehicle body. 4. The extension of the second shock absorber ,
The method according to claim 1, further comprising a rib capable of absorbing shock.
A structure in which two shock absorbers are fixed to a structural member of a vehicle body. 5. The structural member comprises a front pillar and a roof side rail, wherein the first shock absorber is disposed at an intersection of the front pillar and the roof side rail, and wherein the second shock absorber is provided. The structure for fixing two shock absorbers to a structural member of a vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a body is disposed on the roof side rail. 6. A shock absorber formed by a first shock absorber made of a cylindrical hollow body and a second shock absorber made of a resin body.
A shock absorbing component to the second shock absorber protrudes from the end face, the first
Of having a fittable extension to the end portion of the shock absorber, wherein the first shock absorber and the second shock absorber, the said extension of the second shock absorber No. An impact-absorbing component, which is a sub-assembly formed by fitting the end of the impact-absorbing body and connecting the extended portion and the end with temporary fixing means.