JP6669091B2 - Tube type collision detection sensor and vehicle collision detection device using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tube-type collision detection sensor for detecting a pressure change in a tube portion and a vehicle collision detection device using the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tube-type collision detection sensor has been used as one of vehicle collision detection devices that detects that a vehicle has collided with an obstacle (see Patent Document 1). The tube-type collision detection sensor is configured to have a tube portion and a pressure sensor portion disposed at an end thereof.For example, inside the bumper cover of the front bumper of the vehicle, in the vehicle width direction, that is, in the left-right direction of the vehicle. Are arranged along. Specifically, the port portion of the pressure sensor portion is inserted into the tube portion, the pressure sensing element in the pressure sensor portion and the inside of the tube portion are communicated through the port portion, and when a steep pressure change in the tube portion occurs, This is transmitted to the pressure sensing element. Even if the vehicle collides with an obstacle, the port inserted into the tube portion does not come off the tube portion, and the pressure in the tube portion is accurately detected by the tube-type collision detection sensor.

German Utility Model No. 20111185867

  However, contrary to the intention of the producer of the vehicle collision detection device, there is a possibility that a user or the like intentionally pulls out the port portion from the tube portion. In such a case, foreign matter such as water enters the tube part, and the foreign matter closes the hollow part in the tube part, so that pressure cannot be transmitted to the pressure detecting element, and the collision detection by the tube-type collision detection sensor can be accurately performed. There is a risk of disappearing. For example, there is a case where water entering the tube portion becomes ice and closes the hollow portion, or small stones or the like entering the tube portion as foreign matter sometimes block the hollow portion.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention provides a tube-type collision detection sensor capable of recording as a history that a port portion has been pulled out of a tube portion, and a vehicle collision detection device using the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a tube portion (10) having a hollow portion (11) and a port provided in at least one of both ends of the tube portion and inserted into the tube portion. A case (21) having a main body (211) in which a space (211a) formed to communicate with the hollow portion through a communication portion (212a) formed in the port (212) and the port; A pressure sensor unit (20) having a pressure detection element (23) for detecting air pressure, wherein the port unit is integrated with the port unit when inserted into the tube unit, A portion to be destroyed (212d) is provided in which at least a portion is destroyed when the port portion is pulled out from the tube portion and is separated from the port portion.

  Thus, the port portion is provided with the portion to be destroyed. Then, even if the port portion is inserted into the tube portion, at least a part of the portion to be destroyed is destroyed when the port portion is pulled out from the tube portion while the portion to be destroyed remains integrated with the port portion. I am trying to. Therefore, the tube-type collision detection sensor can be configured to be able to leave a history that the port portion has been pulled out of the tube portion depending on the state of the portion to be destroyed.

  In addition, the code | symbol in parenthesis of each said means shows an example of the correspondence with the concrete means described in embodiment mentioned later.

It is a fragmentary sectional view of a tube type collision detection sensor concerning a 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing near a front bumper. It is a figure showing the assembled state of the tube type collision detection sensor. It is the elements on larger scale of a port part. It is a figure showing the state before inserting a port part into a tube part seen from the upper part of a to-be-destroyed part. It is a figure showing the state before inserting the port part seen from the side of the part to be destroyed into the tube part. It is a figure which shows the state when the port part seen from the side of the to-be-broken part is inserted in a tube part. It is a figure which shows the state at the time of pulling out the port part seen from the side of the to-be-broken part from the tube part. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state of a portion to be destroyed when the port is inserted into the tube. It is a figure showing the state of a to-be-broken part when pulling out a port part from a tube part. It is the elements on larger scale of the port part concerning the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is the elements on larger scale of the port part concerning the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is the elements on larger scale of the port part concerning the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is the elements on larger scale of the port part in the tube type collision detection sensor concerning a 2nd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, parts that are the same or equivalent are denoted by the same reference numerals and described.

(1st Embodiment)
A first embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a case where a tube-type collision detection sensor is used as a vehicle collision detection device mounted in front of the vehicle will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tube-type collision detection sensor 1 has a configuration including a tube portion 10, a pressure sensor portion 20, and a holding band 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the tube-type collision detection sensor 1 is disposed inside a front bumper cover 2 in a vehicle. More specifically, an energy absorber 3 and a reinforcement 4 are provided inside the front bumper cover 2 in order from the front to the rear of the vehicle. A tube section 10 of the tube-type collision detection sensor 1 is disposed between the energy absorber 3 and the reinforcement 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the tube-type collision detection sensor 1 is mounted on the vehicle by fixing the pressure sensor unit 20 to the fixing stay 5 attached to one surface of the reinforcement 4. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tube portion 10 has a hollow portion 11 and is made of, for example, silicone rubber having an annular cross section. Atmosphere is introduced into the hollow portion 11 of the tube portion 10. The length of the tube portion 10 is arbitrary and is set to a length according to the place where the tube portion 10 is applied. As in the present embodiment, for example, a tube-type collision detection sensor is used as a vehicle collision detection device mounted in front of the vehicle. When 1 is applied, the length is set to a length corresponding to the vehicle width. Although only one end of the tube 10 is shown in FIG. 1, pressure sensors 20 are provided at both ends of the tube 10. The tube section 10 and the pressure sensor section 20 are integrated by inserting a later-described port section 212 provided in the pressure sensor section 20 into the tube section 10.

  The pressure sensor section 20 detects the air pressure in the hollow section 11 of the tube section 10. At normal times when the vehicle does not collide with an obstacle, the atmospheric pressure is introduced into the tube unit 10, and the pressure sensor unit 20 detects the atmospheric pressure. However, when the tube portion 10 is dented by the collision of the vehicle, the pressure that has changed sharply due to the depression is transmitted to the pressure sensor unit 20, and the pressure is detected by the pressure sensor unit 20.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the pressure sensor section 20 has a configuration including a connector case 21, a terminal 22, a pressure detection element 23, a cover 24, and a filter 25.

  The connector case 21 is formed by resin molding, and has a structure in which a port portion 212, a connector portion 213, the fixing portion 214 shown in FIG. Have been.

  The main body portion 211 is a hollow bottomed member having a space portion 211a, and has a substantially rectangular shape having a bottom portion 211b and a side wall 211c vertically erected from each side of the bottom portion 211b. ing. The pressure sensing element 23 is disposed on the bottom 211b of the main body 211. The port portion 212 is formed on one surface of the side wall 211c, and the connector portion 213 is formed on one surface opposite to the surface on which the port portion 212 is formed.

  The port portion 212 is formed so as to protrude vertically with respect to the side wall 211c. The port 212 is inserted into one end of the tube 10. The port portion 212 is a cylindrical member having a communication portion 212a formed therein, and the communication portion 212a is communicated with the space 211a of the main body 211. For this reason, when the port portion 212 is inserted into the tube portion 10, the hollow portion 11 and the space portion 211a of the tube portion 10 are communicated with each other through the communication portion 212a, and the pressure in the hollow portion 11 is reduced into the space portion 211a. It is being introduced. The detailed structure of the port section 212 will be described later.

  The connector unit 213 is a part connected to a connector on the wiring side for connecting the tube-type collision detection sensor 1 to an electronic control unit (hereinafter, referred to as an ECU). For example, an ECU includes an airbag ECU, and a pressure detection signal from the tube-type collision detection sensor 1 is transmitted to the ECU so that the ECU detects a collision of the vehicle. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing portion 214 is formed on a surface of the side wall 211c of the main body 211 that is different from the surface on which the port portion 212 and the connector portion 213 are arranged, and is formed so as to protrude from the surface. I have. An opening 214a is formed in the fixing portion 214, and the bolt 6 is inserted into the opening 214a to be fixed to the stay 5 as shown in FIG.

  One end of the terminal 22 is exposed from the connector portion 213, and one end of the terminal 22 is electrically connected to the connector on the wiring side. The terminal 22 is formed so as to extend from the side wall 211c to the bottom 211b, and the other end of the terminal 22 is exposed at a portion where the pressure sensing element 23 is disposed.

  The pressure detection element 23 is formed of, for example, a semiconductor element having a diaphragm, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the pressure introduced into the space 211a. The pressure detecting element 23 is electrically connected to the other end of the terminal 22, and a detection result of the pressure detecting element 23 is transmitted to the ECU from the wiring connected to the connector 213 through the terminal 22. .

  Although not shown here, a signal processing circuit unit that performs signal processing of a detection signal is provided in addition to the pressure detection element 23, and the detection signal processed by the signal processing circuit unit is transmitted to the ECU through the connector unit 213. It is good also as a structure. The signal processing circuit section may be formed as a separate chip from the pressure sensing element 23, or may be formed as the same chip.

  The cover 24 covers one open surface of the connector case 21. An opening 24a is formed in the cover 24, and a filter 25 is disposed in the opening 24a.

  The filter 25 prevents the intrusion of moisture while allowing air to flow between the space 211a and the outside of the connector case 21 and the cover 24. Since a gentle flow of air is allowed by the filter 25, the space 211a is at atmospheric pressure. However, when the internal pressure of the hollow portion 11 changes sharply due to the deformation of the tube portion 10, the air flows therethrough. Is blocked by the filter 25. Thus, when the internal pressure of the space 211a increases, the pressure change appears as a change in the detection signal of the pressure detection element 23, and is transmitted to the ECU.

  The holding band 30 is arranged so as to make one round around the outer periphery of the tube portion 10 arranged so as to surround the periphery of the port portion 212, and by pressing the tube portion 10 from the outer periphery, the tube portion 10 is further moved from the port portion 212. I try to make it hard to fall out. Note that the holding band 30 is provided to strengthen the connection between the tube portion 10 and the port portion 212. However, even if the holding band 30 is not provided, the port portion 212 is basically There is no escape. In particular, since the tube portion 10 is disposed between the energy absorber 3 and the reinforcement 4, the tube portion 10 is not excessively pulled even in the event of a collision, and the tube portion 10 comes off from the port portion 212. There is no.

  With the structure as described above, the tube-type collision detection sensor 1 according to the present embodiment is configured. Subsequently, a detailed structure of the port portion 212 in the tube-type collision detection sensor 1 configured as described above will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the port portion 212 has a configuration having a cylindrical portion 212b, a bulge portion 212c, and a portion to be destroyed 212d.

  The cylindrical portion 212b is a cylindrical portion having a constant thickness connected to the main body portion 211, and has an outer diameter equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the tube portion 10. Therefore, at a position away from the bulge portion 212c, the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 212b is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the entire tube portion 10.

  The bulge portion 212c has a flange-like configuration in which the diameter is larger than that of the tubular portion 212b at the distal end position of the tubular portion 212b, that is, at the end opposite to the main body portion 211. In the case of the present embodiment, the outer diameter of the bulge portion 212c is reduced toward the distal end of the port portion 212 so that the bulge portion 212c can be easily inserted into the tube portion 10, and the outer diameter decreases toward the main body portion 211 from the distal end. The outer wall surface is tapered in cross-section so that is enlarged. Further, of the bulge portion 212c, the main body portion 211 side extends along the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction into the tube portion 10 so as to be easily caught on the inner wall surface of the tube portion 10 when inserted into the tube portion 10. The surface, in other words, the surface oriented in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 212b.

  The portion to be destroyed 212d is a portion that is at least partially destroyed and separated from other portions when the port portion 212 inserted into the tube portion 10 is intentionally pulled out from the tube portion 10. In the case of the present embodiment, the portion to be destroyed 212d is a rod-shaped structure that protrudes from the surface of the bulge portion 212c on the main body 211 side toward the main body 211 side.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, before the port portion 212 is inserted into the tube portion 10, the portion to be destroyed 212 d is connected to the portion to be destroyed 212 d on the outer edge side of the bulge portion 212 c. It is arranged so that there is a gap between it and the cylindrical portion 212b. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5B, the inner surface 212da, which is one surface of the portion to be destroyed 212d on the cylindrical portion 212b side, and the outer surface 212db, which is one surface on the opposite side, are both linear. A cutout portion 212dc is formed on the side surface 212da. Due to the notch 212dc, the cross-sectional area of the portion to be destroyed 212d in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 212b is partially reduced. Further, the tip end surface 212dd of the broken portion 212d on the side opposite to the bulge portion 212c is tapered so that the distance from the bulge portion 212c gradually increases toward the outside in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 212b. ing. Therefore, the outer side surface 212db and the front end surface 212dd of the breakable portion 212d form an acute angle.

  When the port portion 212 is inserted into the tube portion 10, the broken portion 212d having such a structure is pressed by the inner wall surface of the tube portion 10 and deformed as shown in FIGS. 5C and 6A. That is, stress concentrates in the portion where the notch portion 212dc is formed, which is indicated by the region Ra shown in FIG. 6A, and the distal end side of the breakable portion 212d is bent radially inward of the cylindrical portion 212b.

  On the other hand, when the port portion 212 is pulled out from the tube portion 10, the portion having an acute angle at the tip end, that is, the region Rb in FIG. Are pulled together in the direction in which they are pulled out. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5D and FIG. 6B, in the portion where the thickness is reduced by forming the cutout portion 212dc, that is, in the region Rc in FIG. Part of the tip is cut off.

  Therefore, even if the port portion 212 is inserted into the tube portion 10 after this, the tube portion 10 and the pressure sensor portion are integrated in a state where a part of the portion to be destroyed 212d is broken or lost. Will be. For this reason, the state of the to-be-destructed portion 212d indicates the withdrawal history of the port portion 212 from the tube portion 10, and the withdrawal history can be easily confirmed by checking the to-be-destructed portion 212d.

  As described above, in the tube-type collision detection sensor 1 of the present embodiment, the port portion 212 is provided with the portion to be destroyed 212d. Even when the port portion 212 is inserted into the tube portion 10, the portion to be destroyed 212d remains integrated with the port portion 212, and when the port portion 212 is pulled out from the tube portion 10, at least A part of the portion 212d is destroyed. Therefore, the tube-type collision detection sensor 1 can be configured to be able to leave a history that the port portion 212 has been pulled out of the tube portion 10 depending on the state of the portion to be destroyed 212d.

(Modification of First Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 7, the notch 212dc of the portion to be destroyed 212d may be formed not only on the inner surface 212da but also on the outer surface 212db. As described above, even with the structure in which the cutout portions 212dc are formed from two directions, the same effects as those of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the tip of the portion to be destroyed 212d may be vertical instead of acute. When the tip of the to-be-destructed portion 212d is made vertical in this manner, the structure in which the port portion 212 is pulled out from the tube portion 10 so as to be less likely to be caught on the tube portion 10 as compared with the case of making the tip portion sharp, Only by reducing the degree, it can be made to catch almost similarly. Therefore, even with such a structure, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a structure in which the notched portion 212dc is not formed in the portion to be destroyed 212d may be employed. In this case, as compared with the case where the notch portion 212dc is formed, the broken portion 212d is less likely to be broken, but the port portion 212 is pulled out of the tube portion 10 by reducing the thickness of the broken portion 212d. It may be configured to be destroyed when it is destroyed.

(2nd Embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the structure of the portion to be destroyed 212d, and the other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, only different parts from the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 10, this embodiment has a structure in which a portion to be destroyed 212d is formed in a tubular portion 212b. Specifically, the to-be-destructed portion 212d of the present embodiment extends radially from the cylindrical portion 212b in the radial direction, and extends from the tip of the radial portion 212de in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 212b. It has a configuration having an axial portion 212df. The axial portion 212df extends from the radial portion 212de to a side closer to the main body 211.

  In such a structure, when the port part 212 is pulled out from the inside of the tube part 10, the tip of the axial part 212df is caught on the inner wall surface of the tube part 10, and the boundary position between the axial part 212df and the radial part 212de. Alternatively, the radial portion 212de is broken. Therefore, even with such a structure, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be appropriately modified within the scope described in the claims.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the connector case 21 in which the connector 213 is formed has been described as an example of the case in which the space 212a in which the port 212 is provided and the pressure sensing element 23 is disposed is formed. However, this is merely an example, and any other structure may be used as long as the space portion 211a including the port portion 212 and the pressure sensing element 23 is formed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tube type collision detection sensor 10 Tube part 20 Pressure sensor part 21 Connector case 211 Main part 212 Port part 212b Cylindrical part 212c Bulge part 212d Breakable part 212dc Notch

Claims (6)

A tube portion (10) having a hollow portion (11);
A space portion provided at at least one of both ends of the tube portion and communicated with the hollow portion through a port portion (212) inserted into the tube portion and a communication portion (212a) formed in the port portion ( A pressure sensor element (20) including a case (21) having a main body part (211) formed with a body part 211a) and a pressure detection element (23) for detecting air pressure in the space part; ,
When the port is inserted into the tube, the port is integrated with the port, and when the port is pulled out from the tube, at least a portion is broken and separated from the port. A tube-type collision detection sensor provided with a destruction part (212d). The port portion is formed at a cylindrical tubular portion (212b) connected to the main body portion and at a tip of the tubular portion opposite to the main body portion, and has an outer diameter larger than that of the tubular portion. Having an enlarged flange-like bulge portion (212c),
2. The tube-type collision detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the breakable portion extends from a surface of the bulge portion facing the main body toward the main body. 3. The destroyed portion is disposed with a gap between the tubular portion and the inner surface (212 da), which is one surface of the tubular portion, and the outer surface, which is one surface of the opposite side of the tubular portion. A side surface (212db), and a front end surface (212dd) that is a surface on the main body side;
3. The tube according to claim 2, wherein a cutout portion (212 dc) that partially reduces a cross-sectional area of the broken portion in a radial direction of the cylindrical portion is formed on the inner surface of the broken portion. Type collision detection sensor.   4. The tube-type collision detection sensor according to claim 3, wherein the distal end surface is tapered such that a distance between the distal end surface and the bulge portion gradually increases toward a radially outer side of the cylindrical portion. 5. The port portion is formed at a cylindrical tubular portion (212b) connected to the main body portion and at a tip of the tubular portion opposite to the main body portion, and has an outer diameter larger than that of the tubular portion. Having an enlarged flange-like bulge portion (212c),
The broken portion is formed in the cylindrical portion, and includes a radial portion (212 de) extending in a radial direction of the cylindrical portion, and a distal end of the radial portion along an axial direction of the cylindrical portion. And an axially extending portion (212ef),
The tube-type collision detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the axial portion extends from the radial portion to a side approaching the main body. Including the tube-type collision detection sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A vehicle collision detection device that detects a vehicle collision based on a detection result of air pressure in the space by the pressure sensor unit in the tube-type collision detection sensor.

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