JP3223794B2 - Support structure for impact energy absorbing materials for automobiles - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for supporting an impact energy absorbing material for automobiles, and more particularly, to a front pillar,
A structural member such as a center pillar, a rear pillar, or a roof side rail; and an interior material such as a pillar garnish or a roof side garnish, which is disposed in a cabin of the structural member at an interval necessary for energy absorption, and the interval And a structure for supporting the energy absorbing material in an automobile having the energy absorbing material disposed therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A structural member formed in a closed sectional structure by an inner panel and an outer panel, an interior material disposed at a distance required for energy absorption from the inner panel, and a resin disposed within the distance An energy absorbing structure provided with an energy absorbing material made of aluminum has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-23307). In this impact energy absorbing structure, the interior material is deformed when an impact force is applied from the vehicle interior to the exterior of the vehicle interior, and the energy absorbing material is deformed as the deformation occurs,
Breaks and absorbs impact energy.

[0003] In a specific embodiment of the impact energy absorbing structure according to the above proposal, the energy absorbing material has a lattice shape comprising one or more vertical ribs and a plurality of horizontal ribs, and is formed separately from the interior material. And mounted on a structural member or interior material. When the energy absorbing material has a lattice shape, a wide range of energy absorbing performance can be obtained by selecting the thickness, height, quantity, presence or absence of inclination, etc. of the vertical ribs and / or the horizontal ribs. Since it is formed separately from the interior material and there is no restriction on the molding of the interior material, the degree of freedom in selecting the above-mentioned elements is high, and therefore, the energy absorption performance suitable for the purpose can be obtained. In addition, the lattice-shaped energy absorbing material can be easily manufactured by molding a hard resin such as polypropylene.

[0004]

However, since the lattice-shaped energy absorbing material is fixed to the inner panel of the structural member or the interior material only at a few places, when a load is applied from the interior material, the interior material is Is to the energy absorbing material,
In addition, the energy absorbing material easily slips on the inner panel.
This tendency is likely to occur particularly in the early stage when a load is applied. Then, once the slip occurs, the vertical ribs and the horizontal ribs of the energy absorbing material fall down, and there is a possibility that the originally intended energy absorbing performance cannot be exhibited.

[0005] The present invention provides a structure for supporting an impact energy absorbing material for automobiles, which can prevent the grid-like energy absorbing material from slipping and thereby sufficiently exhibit the originally intended energy absorbing performance.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a structural member formed by joining an outer panel and an inner panel to form a closed cross-sectional structure, and a space required for energy absorption from the structural member toward a vehicle interior. The energy absorbing material for an automobile, comprising: an interior material to be formed; and a resin lattice energy absorbing material formed separately from the interior material and disposed in the space, and attached to the structural member or the interior material. It is a structure that supports. The interior material has a convex portion or a concave portion that temporarily holds the energy absorbing material on a vehicle exterior surface of the interior material facing the energy absorbing material. this
The protrusions or recesses are used to prevent the energy absorbing material from breaking.
When a predetermined impact force smaller than the force is applied, the energy
It is formed to release the holding of the gear absorber.

[0007] The present invention also provides an outer panel and an inner panel.
The cross section cut by the virtual plane by joining panels shows a closed structure
And a vehicle formed from the structural member
It is arranged indoors with a space required for energy absorption
The interior material is formed separately from the interior material and
Attached to the structural member or interior material
Lattice Energy Having Vertical and Horizontal Ribs Made of Resin
And an energy absorber for an automobile having a lugi absorber.
It is a structure to have. The energy absorbing material is the virtual surface
The cross-sectional shape of the inner panel is
A bottom plate having a shape substantially matching the inner panel;
With a bottom plate applied to the This bottom plate is
Partial deformation of the vertical ribs or horizontal ribs of the gear absorber progresses
So that it is broken from the vertical ribs and the horizontal ribs.
Is formed. In this case, the bottom of the energy absorbing material
The thickness of the plate is smaller than the thickness of the vertical ribs and the horizontal ribs.
It can be a thickness.

[0008]

[Action and effect] The impact force from the vehicle interior to the exterior of the vehicle interior
When added, the invention according to claim 1 provides energy absorption.
When a predetermined impact force smaller than the impact force at which the material
The energy absorbing material is formed by the convex or concave part of the interior material.
Retained, against the inner panel of interior materials or structural members
Slippage is prevented. Therefore, energy absorption during this time
The material mainly buckles and deforms. And the predetermined impact force
Is released after the addition of
Fractures mainly due to shear deformation.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the impact force is
In order to prevent the energy absorbing material from slipping when
In the initial stage when impact force is applied, the vertical
The ribs and side ribs can be prevented from falling down. This
As a result, the energy
Lugi absorption characteristics can be obtained. Therefore, a sudden standing
If the rise is intended, the energy absorption characteristics are ideal.
Can be approximated to a rectangular shape. This
This means that impact energy can be effectively absorbed with little displacement.
And

[0010] When the energy absorbing material is buckled and sheared,
To reduce energy loss and reduce energy loss
Lugi can be absorbed. In addition, the buckling deformation
The load on the energy absorption characteristics is high in the later stage when the force is applied.
Tend to be reduced by shear deformation
be able to.

An impact force is applied from the vehicle interior to the exterior of the vehicle interior.
At this time, in the invention according to claim 2, the energy absorbing material has a vertical length.
Until the deformation of some ribs or side ribs progresses,
Energy absorber is restrained by the bottom plate of the gear absorber itself
To prevent slippage on interior materials or inner panels
Is done. As a result, energy absorbing materials
Deforms and breaks under force.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1,
The effect described with respect to the invention of
This can be achieved simply by providing a bottom plate. In addition, vertical
Impact force due to bending deformation at the base of the
Load reduction tendency in the energy absorption characteristics
Can be prevented.

In the early stage when the impact force is applied,
Also makes the energy absorption characteristics closer to the ideal characteristics
be able to.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the ideal
Tuning when approaching characteristics becomes easy.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A structural member is, for example, a front pillar or a center pillar, and is formed by joining an outer panel and an inner panel so that a cross section cut by a horizontal virtual plane has a closed structure. Spacing required for energy absorption from the inner panel of the structural member to the interior of the vehicle 10 to 30 mm
The pillar garnish, which is the interior material, is placed at the center.
The energy absorbing material has a lattice shape made of a hard resin such as polypropylene and includes one or a plurality of vertical ribs and a plurality of horizontal ribs. The pitch between the ribs can be 15 to 35 mm, and the thickness of the ribs can be 1 to 2 mm. The energy absorbing material is attached to the inner panel or pillar garnish of the structural member.

The convex or concave portion of the interior material is provided at the time of forming the pillar garnish. The protruding length of the protruding portion or the depth of the recessed portion of the interior material from the outer surface of the cabin can be 1-3 mm. The protrusions or recesses are preferably provided over the entire vehicle exterior surface facing the energy absorbing material so as to restrain substantially all of the longitudinal and transverse ribs of the energy absorbing material. Put two ribs between each rib,
Protrude with a clearance slightly larger than the thickness of the rib. On the other hand, the concave portion is formed in a groove shape.

In the case where the energy absorbing material has a bottom plate having a shape substantially matching the cross-sectional shape of the inner panel in a cross section cut along a virtual plane, the bottom plate is provided when the energy absorbing material is formed. The bottom plate can be provided over the entire length of the energy absorbing member along the longitudinal direction of the inner panel of the structural member, at the center of the entire length, or at the end and the center of the entire length. The thickness of the bottom plate can be set to 1-2 mm. For the required energy absorption performance, it is possible to provide a projection or a depression in the interior material and to provide a bottom plate in the energy absorption material.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The supporting structure of an impact energy absorbing material is shown in FIG.
And an energy absorbing material 14 for supporting the energy absorbing material 14 in an automobile.
6 is provided.

The structural member 10 is, in the embodiment shown, a front pillar of a passenger car. The structural member 10 has two flanges of the outer panel 18, two flanges of the inner panel 20, and two flanges of the reinforcing panel 22 which are opposed to each other, and are joined by spot welding. Having flange joints 24, 25,
The section cut by the horizontal virtual plane is formed so as to exhibit a closed structure.

The interior material 12 is a pillar garnish,
The space D required for energy absorption is disposed from the inner panel 20 of the structural member 10 toward the vehicle interior. Interval D
The size of is set in the range of 10 to 30 mm.

The energy absorbing member 14 has a lattice shape formed of a resin, and in the illustrated embodiment, two longitudinal ribs 28 extending in the longitudinal direction of the structural member 10 are provided.
And a plurality of horizontal ribs 29 extending in a direction intersecting with the horizontal ribs 29. The energy absorbing member 14 includes a mounting seat 32 near the inner panel 20 and a mounting seat 34 near the interior material 12.
And at required places. The clip 36 is passed through the mounting seat 32 of the energy absorbing material 14 disposed within the interval D, and the clip 36 is fitted to the inner panel 20 to attach the energy absorbing material 14 to the inner panel 20. On the other hand, the interior material 12 has a columnar projection 38 integrally. The protrusion 38 is passed through a hole of the mounting seat 34, and the protrusion 38 is heat-sealed to attach the interior material 12 to the energy absorbing material 14.

The protruding portion 16 of the interior material 12 protrudes outward from the interior of the cabin from the exterior surface 13 of the interior material 12 facing the energy absorbing material 14. As shown in FIG. 2, two convex portions 16 are sandwiched between the vertical ribs 28, and
The two protrusions 16 are provided so as to sandwich the protrusion 9. At intersections between the vertical ribs 28 and the horizontal ribs 29, the convex portions 16 are arranged so as to form a cross-shaped space. When the interior material 12 is attached to a predetermined location, each of the vertical ribs 28 and each of the horizontal ribs 29 of the energy absorbing material 14 enter a space surrounded by the two convex portions 16 of the interior material 12 and are temporarily held. .

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the energy absorbing member 14 is disposed at a rear portion of the interval between the inner panel 20 and the interior material 12, and the energy absorbing member 14 is provided at the front portion. 14 does not exist. This is because, in the case of the front pillar, it is unlikely that an impact force is applied from the front windshield glass 8 toward the structural member 10, while the impact force is directed toward the structural member 10 from the rear opposite to the windshield glass 8. This is because there is a high possibility that power will be applied. However, the protruding portion 16 is provided on the vehicle exterior surface 13 of the interior material 12 even at a location where the energy absorbing material 14 does not exist. Thereby, the overall rigidity of the interior material 12 can be increased.

As shown in FIG. 3 in a sectional state, a concave portion 46 is provided on the vehicle exterior side surface 43 of the interior material 42 at a distance D from the inner panel 40 of the structural member. And the lateral rib 51 can be fitted and temporarily held. The concave portion 46 is in the form of a groove that extends vertically and horizontally on the vehicle exterior surface 43 of the interior material 42.

The convex portions 16 of the interior material 12 and the concave portions 46 of the interior material 42 are provided with vertical ribs of the energy absorbing members 14 and 48 when a predetermined impact force smaller than the breaking force of the energy absorbing materials 14 and 48 is applied. 28, 50 and lateral ribs 29, 51
Is preferably released so as to release the holding. For that purpose, the vertical ribs 28 and 50 and the horizontal rib 2
For example, when the projections 9 and 51 are deformed by about 10%,
The height of the convex portion 16 or the depth of the concave portion 46 is experimentally determined so as to deviate from the concave portion 6 or the concave portion 46.

Referring to FIG. 4 showing a cross-sectional state of another embodiment and FIG. 5 showing a perspective view of the back surface, the support structure of the energy absorbing material includes a structural member 60, an interior material 62, an energy absorbing material 64 Supports the energy absorbing material 64 in an automobile having a bottom plate 66.
Is provided.

The structural member 60 is, in the embodiment shown, a center pillar of a passenger car, and includes two flanges of the outer panel 68, two flanges of the inner panel 70, and two flanges of the reinforcing panel 72. Opposite objects are overlapped, spot-welded and joined, and are formed such that a cross section cut along a horizontal virtual plane has a closed structure.

The interior material 62 is a pillar garnish,
The space D required for energy absorption is disposed from the inner panel 70 of the structural member 60 toward the vehicle interior. Interval D
The size of is set in the range of 10 to 30 mm.

The energy-absorbing material 64 is a lattice shape formed of a resin, and in the illustrated embodiment, four longitudinal ribs 74 extending in the longitudinal direction of the structural member 60, and these longitudinal ribs 74.
And a plurality of horizontal ribs 75 extending in a direction intersecting with the horizontal direction. The bottom plate 66 of the energy absorbing material 64 is formed in a shape substantially matching the cross-sectional shape of the inner panel 70 in a cross section cut along the virtual plane. As a result, when both are overlapped, the energy absorbing member 64 cannot move relative to the inner panel 70 in the virtual plane. The energy absorbing material 64 connects the bottom plate 66 to the inner panel 7.
It is attached to the inner panel 70 by hitting 0.

The bottom plate 66 of the energy absorbing member 64 can have its own thickness independent of the thickness of the vertical ribs 74 or the horizontal ribs 75. It is preferable that the vertical ribs 74 and the horizontal ribs 75 are formed thinner than the vertical ribs 74 and 75 so as to be broken.

When an impact force is applied from the interior of the vehicle to the exterior of the interior of the vehicle, the projections 16 of the interior material 12 are used in the support structure shown in FIG.
3 restrains the energy absorbing material 14, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the concave portion 46 of the interior material 42 restrains the energy absorbing material 48, and furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
The bottom plate 66 of the fourth restrains the energy absorbing material 64 and prevents the energy absorbing material 14, 48, 64 from slipping against the interior material 12, 42, 62 or the inner panel 20, 40, 70 of the structural member. As a result, it is possible to prevent the vertical ribs 28, 50, 74 and the horizontal ribs 29, 51, 75 of the energy absorbing material from falling down, especially in the initial stage when the impact force is applied.
As a result, it is possible to obtain the energy absorption characteristic with respect to the displacement of the load as originally intended. For example,
As shown in FIG. 6, when a steep rise A is intended, the steep rise A can be assured, whereas a gentle rise B tends to occur when the ribs fall down.
Thereby, the energy absorption characteristics can be made closer to a rectangular shape which is considered to be ideal.

Further, when the energy absorbing member 64 has the bottom plate 66, as shown in FIG. 6, the energy absorption characteristic in the latter stage when the impact force is applied due to the bending deformation of the base of the vertical rib 74 and the horizontal rib 75 with the bottom plate 66. The above-mentioned load decreasing tendency C can be prevented to make the tendency E almost constant.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a support structure for a vehicle impact energy absorbing material according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a projection of the interior material shown in FIG. 1,
(A) is a rear view, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb of (a).

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a support structure for a vehicle impact energy absorbing material according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a support structure for a vehicle impact energy absorbing material according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the interior material and the energy absorbing material shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from the back.

FIG. 6 is an energy absorption characteristic diagram of load and displacement.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Structural member (front pillar) 12, 42, 62 Interior material (pillar garnish) 13, 43 Outside surface of vehicle compartment 14, 48, 64 Energy absorbing material 16 Convex portion 18, 68 Outer panel 20, 40, 70 Inner panel 28, 50, 74 vertical rib 29, 51, 75 horizontal rib 46 concave part 66 bottom plate

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-6-210088 (JP, A) JP-A-8-1540 (JP, A) JP-A-5-305880 (JP, A) JP-A-9-175297 (JP, A) , A) JP-A-8-142784 (JP, A) JP-A-8-58506 (JP, A) JP-A-6-78035 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) B60R 21/02-21/04 B62D 25/04-25/06 B60R 13/02

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A structural member formed by joining an outer panel and an inner panel to form a closed cross-sectional structure, an interior material arranged at a distance required for energy absorption from the inner panel toward a vehicle interior, and the interior material A structure that supports the energy absorbing material of the vehicle, the resin material being separately formed and arranged in the space, and a resin lattice-shaped energy absorbing material attached to the structural member or the interior material; the interior material may have a projection or recess provisionally holding the energy absorbing material outside the vehicle compartment side surface of the interior material that faces the energy absorbing member, the projections or recesses, said energy
A predetermined impact force smaller than the impact force at which the lugi absorber breaks
When they join, they release the energy absorbing material.
A support structure for an impact energy absorbing material for automobiles formed as described above . 2. A structural member formed by joining an outer panel and an inner panel to form a closed structure in a cross section cut by a virtual plane, and a space required for energy absorption from the inner panel toward a vehicle interior. An interior material to be arranged, a lattice-shaped energy absorbing material having resin vertical ribs and horizontal ribs formed separately from the interior material and arranged in the space, and attached to the structural member or the interior material; A structure for supporting the energy absorbing material of an automobile, the energy absorbing material being a bottom plate having a shape substantially matching a cross-sectional shape of the inner panel in a cross section cut along the virtual plane, Bottom plate applied to panel
The bottom plate is provided with the longitudinal ribs of the energy absorbing material.
Or, when the deformation of a part of the horizontal rib progresses, the vertical rib
And a support structure for an impact energy absorbing material for a vehicle , which is formed so as to be broken from a lateral rib . 3. The bottom plate of the energy absorbing material has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the vertical ribs and the horizontal ribs.
3. The support structure for a vehicle impact energy absorbing material according to 2 .