JP3463637B2 - Side impact airbag sensor mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a side impact airbag sensor mounting structure, and more particularly to a side impact airbag sensor mounting structure for detecting a side impact rearward of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of a mounting structure of an airbag sensor for a side impact applied to a vehicle such as an automobile, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 1 (1999) -1999
The structure shown in 0-59119 is known.

As shown in FIG. 4, this Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-5
In the side-impact airbag sensor mounting structure disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 9119, the airbag sensor 74 is provided inside the mounting portion 70A of the door hinge 72 in the center pillar 70 where a load is likely to be directly applied even when the vehicle body side surface collides with the pole. It is provided and controls the operation of the airbag device based on the detection signal from the airbag sensor 74. That is, in this side impact airbag sensor mounting structure, for example, when the vehicle side impacts on the pole, the pole impacts the vehicle from the vehicle diagonally forward from the front side door or the rocker below it. When these are pressed by the pole and instantaneously move to the inside of the passenger compartment, the acceleration generated in the airbag sensor 74 can be quickly detected by moving the center pillar 70 to the inside of the passenger compartment.

[0004]

However, in a vehicle equipped with at least a rear seat airbag device, the rear side door and the rocker below the rear side door are installed in order to reliably protect the occupant seated in the rear seat. It is necessary to detect the side impact promptly even when the side impact occurs on the pole, or when the quarter pillar or the rear wheel house part side impacts on the pole. Since the position of the side collision of No. 2 and the position of the airbag sensor 74 arranged on the center pillar 70 are apart from each other, the side collision detection time by the airbag sensor 74 becomes long. As a configuration to improve this, it is considered to additionally set an airbag sensor near the rear wheel house on the inside of the vehicle. With such a configuration, a rocker with high rigidity is configured. When a member side-impacts a pole, this side-impact can be detected effectively, but the rigidity is considered to be relatively low.
When rear wheel house is Gawa突Paul, since the rear e <br/> Eel house will be easily deformed, it is difficult acceleration of side collision is transmitted rapidly to the air bag sensors, efficiency side impact It is difficult to detect well.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention takes into consideration the rear wheel.
An object of the present invention is to provide a side collision airbag sensor mounting structure capable of efficiently detecting a side collision regardless of which of the member forming the house and the member forming the rocker side-impacts the pole.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure for mounting an airbag sensor for a side collision of a vehicle equipped with a rear seat airbag device for protecting at least a passenger in a rear seat at the time of a side collision. At least one of the fixing points of the sensor is fixed to a member forming a rear wheel house, and at least another of the fixing points of the sensor is fixed to a member forming a rocker. Characterize.

Therefore, when the member forming the rocker side-collides with the pole, the acceleration at the time of the side collision can be quickly transmitted to the sensor via the fixing point with the member forming the rocker. Therefore, it is possible to detect the side collision of the member forming the rocker on the pole early and reliably. On the other hand, when a member forming the rear wheel house side-collides with the pole, the acceleration at the time of side collision can be quickly transmitted to the sensor via the fixing point with the member forming the rear wheel house . Because of this, the rear wheel to the pole
It is possible to detect a side impact of a member forming the house early and reliably. The result is a rear wheel house
Even when both of the members constituting the member and the rocker has Gawa突the pole that, it is possible to efficiently detect the side collision.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the mounting structure of the airbag sensor for side impact according to the first aspect, a joint flange between the wheel house inner panel and the wheel house outer panel, a rocker inner reinforcement and a rocker outer reinforcement. Each fixed point of the sensor is set on the inner side surface in the vehicle width direction of the joint flange with the ment.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of the first aspect, the sensor is not easily affected by the outside of the vehicle body, and the replacement work of the sensor is easy.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a side impact airbag sensor mounting structure of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, an arrow FR indicates a vehicle front direction, an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upward direction, and an arrow IN indicates a vehicle width inner direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag device 10 according to the present embodiment has sensors 12 and 14 for detecting a side collision state, an inflator 16 for ejecting gas when activated, and an airbag bag body. 18 is a main component. The front sensors 12 are provided near the lower ends of the left and right center pillars (B pillars) 20, respectively, and are accelerations that detect a side collision state when a side collision load of a predetermined value or more acts on the vehicle side portion. It is composed of sensors. Further, the rear sensor 14 is arranged at the joint between the rocker 24 and the rear wheel house 26 in the left and right rear side door openings 18, and when a side impact load of a predetermined value or more acts on the vehicle body side portion. It is composed of an acceleration sensor that detects a side collision state.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rear portion of the rocker 24 is composed of a rocker inner rear 30 and a rocker outer rear 32, and has a closed sectional structure extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rocker inner rear 30
A flange 30A formed on the upper portion of the rocker outer rear 32 is joined to a flange 32A formed on the upper portion of the rocker outer rear 32, and a sensor mounting hole 34 is formed in the rear end portions of the flanges 30A and 32A. A weld nut 36 is coaxially fixed to the sensor mounting hole 34 on the vehicle width direction outer side surface of the flange 30A of the rocker inner rear 30. A flange 30B is formed at the rear end edge of the rocker inner rear 30, and a flange 32A is also formed at the rear end edge of the rocker outer rear 32.

The rear wheel house 26 is composed of a wheel house inner 40 and a wheel house outer 42, and forms a wheel accommodating portion 43 extending in an arch shape. A flange 42A formed at an inner end portion of the wheel house outer 42 in the vehicle width direction is joined to an upper front end of a flange 40A formed at an outer end portion of the wheel house inner 40 in the vehicle width direction. A sensor mounting hole 44 is formed in the front end portion of the flange 40A of the wheel house inner 40, and the sensor mounting hole 44 is also formed in the flange 42A of the wheel house outer 42. Flange 42A on the wheel house outer 42
A weld nut 46 is coaxially fixed to the sensor mounting hole 44 on the outer surface in the vehicle width direction. The upper end edge of the flange 30B of the rocker inner rear 30 is joined to the front lower end edge 40B of the wheel house inner 40, and the flange 32A of the rocker outer rear 32 is joined.
Is joined to the front lower portion 42B of the wheel house outer 42.

The sensor 14 has a long plate-shaped sensor bracket 50 having a high rigidity, and the sensor bracket 5.
The sensor main body 51 is fixed to the central portion of 0, and is connected to the control circuit by a harness (not shown). A mounting hole 52 is formed in the front end portion of the sensor bracket 50, and a mounting hole 54 is formed in the rear end portion of the sensor bracket 50. These mounting holes 5
Bolts 56 and 58 are respectively inserted from the inside in the vehicle width direction into 2 and 54, and the bolt 56 inserted into the mounting hole 52 is attached to the sensor mounting hole 34 formed in the rocker 24.
It is threadedly engaged with the weld nut 36. Further, the bolt 58 inserted in the mounting hole 54 passes through the sensor mounting hole 44 formed in the rear wheel house 26 and is screwed into the weld nut 46.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the front end portion 18A of the air bag body 18 is arranged at the inflator installation position so that the gas ejected from the inflator 16 can flow in, and the front portion 18A of the intermediate portion 18B. The upper edge is arranged along the front pillar 60 and the roof side rail 62,
The rear end portion 18C is arranged near the lower portion of the quarter pillar (C pillar) 64. That is, the airbag bag 18 of the airbag device 10 of this embodiment protects the front and rear occupants 66 and 68 at the time of a side collision, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.

The air bag body 18 is folded in a substantially bellows-like shape in a substantially vertical direction so as to have a long shape, and then extends over the front pillar garnish, the vehicle width direction outer side portion of the roof head lining and the quarter pillar garnish. Is housed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In the side impact airbag sensor mounting structure of the present embodiment, when the rear side door as a member forming the rocker or the rear portion of the rocker 24 side-collides with the pole, the rocker 24 is moved to the inside of the vehicle compartment. Is pressed in the direction. At this time, the rear end of the flange 30A of the rocker inner rear 30 and the flange 32A of the rocker outer rear 32 is set,
The load is instantaneously transmitted to the sensor bracket 50 and the sensor body 51 via the fixing point of the sensor bracket 50.
As a result, the acceleration at the time of a side collision is transmitted to the sensor main body 5 via the fixing points of the sensor bracket 50 and the parts constituting the rocker.
Can be quickly transmitted to 1. Therefore, it is possible to detect the side collision of the member forming the rocker on the pole early and reliably.

On the other hand, the rear wheel house is constructed on the pole
In the case where the rear wheel house 26 as a member that collides with the vehicle collides sideways, the wheel house inner 40 and the wheel house outer 42 are easily crushed, and it is difficult to quickly and reliably transmit the acceleration to the rocker 24. Then, the load is instantaneously transmitted to the sensor bracket 50 and the sensor main body 51 via the fixing points of the sensor bracket 50 set on the flange 40A of the wheel house inner 40 and the flange 42A of the wheel house outer 42. As a result, it is possible to detect the side collision of the member forming the rear wheel house on the pole early and reliably.

Therefore, in the structure for mounting the airbag sensor for side impact according to the present embodiment, whichever of the member forming the rear wheel house and the member forming the rocker side-impacts the pole, A side impact can be detected efficiently.

Further, in this embodiment, the sensor bracket 50 is fixed to the inner surface of the rocker 24 and the rear wheel house 26 in the vehicle width direction (the inner surface of the vehicle interior). The replacement work of 14 is also easy.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments within the scope of the present invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that For example, in this embodiment, the sensor bracket 50
Is a long plate, and the front end of the sensor bracket 50 is fixed to the rocker 24 at one point, and the rear end of the sensor bracket 50 is fixed to the rear wheel house 26 at one point.
The shape and the number of fixing points of the sensor bracket 50 are not limited to this, and for example, the sensor bracket 50 has a triangular plate shape and a plurality of fixing points on the side of the rear wheel house 26 that are easily deformable and difficult to transmit acceleration. Other configurations such as a configuration may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the fixing point on the rocker 24 side of the sensor bracket 50 is set to the rocker inner rear 30.
Flange 30A and Rocker Outer Rear 32 Flange 3
However, the fixing point of the sensor bracket 50 on the side of the rocker 24 is not limited to this portion, and the flange 30B formed at another portion, for example, the rear end edge portion of the rocker inner rear 30. , The flange 32A formed on the rear edge of the rocker outer rear 32, or the like may be set.

Further, in this embodiment, the fixing point of the sensor bracket 50 on the side of the rear wheel house 26 is set at the front end of the joint between the flange 40A of the wheel house inner 40 and the flange 42A of the wheel house outer 42. , Sensor bracket 50 rear wheel house 26
The fixed point on the side is not limited to this portion, and other portions, for example, the front lower edge portion 40B of the wheel house inner 40,
The wheel house outer 42 may be set at another portion such as the front lower portion 42B.

Further, in the present embodiment, the head protection airbag device 10 for the front and rear seats is used, but instead of the head protection airbag device 10 for the front and rear seats, the side provided on the seat, the side door, etc. Other rear seat airbag devices such as an airbag device may be used.

[0028]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure for mounting an airbag sensor for a side impact in the case where a member constituting a rear wheel house or a member constituting a rocker side-impacts a pole. Moreover, there is an excellent effect that a side impact can be detected efficiently.

In addition to the effect of the first aspect, the mounting structure of the side impact airbag sensor according to the second aspect of the present invention is such that the sensor is not easily affected by the outside of the vehicle body and the sensor replacement work is easy. It has an excellent effect that

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an attachment structure of a side impact airbag sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front in the vehicle width direction.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the attachment structure of the airbag sensor for side collision according to the embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the front inside in the vehicle width direction.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a vehicle body to which a side collision airbag sensor mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional side impact airbag sensor mounting structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Airbag Device 14 Sensor 16 Inflator 18 Airbag Bag 24 Rocker ( Members of Rocker) 26 Rear Wheel House ( Rear Wheel House
The formed members) 30 rocker inner rear (member constituting the rocker) 30A rocker inner rear flange 32 Rokkaautariya (member) 32A Rokkaautariya constituting the rocker flange 34 sensor mounting hole 40 wheel house inner (rear wheel house
Configuration members) 40A wheel house inner flanges 42 a wheel house outer (the rear wheel house
Configuration members) 42A wheel house outer flange 44 the sensor mounting hole 50 sensor bracket 51 Sensor body 52 sensor bracket mounting holes 54 sensor bracket of the mounting hole of

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. In a mounting structure for a side impact airbag sensor of a vehicle equipped with a rear seat airbag device for protecting at least a passenger in a rear seat in a side impact, at least one of fixing points of the sensor is a rear wheel.
Is fixed to a member constituting a housing, and at least one of the fixing points of the sensor constitutes a rocker .
A side impact airbag sensor mounting structure, characterized in that the airbag side sensor is fixed to the member. 2. The fixing points of the sensor are set on the inner surface in the vehicle width direction of the joint flange between the wheel house inner panel and the wheel house outer panel and the joint flange between the rocker inner reinforcement and the rocker outer reinforcement. The mounting structure for a side impact airbag sensor according to claim 1, wherein: