JPH08266660A - Vehicular fire extinguishing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To surely undo the lock of an engine hood even after occupants have already escaped as a fire broke out in the engine room. CONSTITUTION: An explosive-containing actuator 3 is provided for a hood locking device 1, and is operated via fuses 4 placed in an engine room, when the igniting parts 5 of the fuses 4 are ignited either by the flames of a fire or according to heating temperature. The igniting parts 5 are located near portions inside the engine room where flames are expected to arise. A highly reliable mechanically automated system can be provided in reduced space.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle fire extinguishing system for facilitating fire extinguishing work by a person outside the vehicle when the engine hood is in the primary lock release state when a fire occurs in the engine room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Most of the causes of fire in a vehicle are user modifications that exceed the reliability of the parts used. However, in the event of a vehicle fire, it is urgent to evacuate the occupants and use an external fire extinguisher after evacuating the occupants. It is normal for fire extinguishing work to be done. By the way, in fire extinguishing work using an external fire extinguisher,
When the engine hood is in the primary lock state, it is not easy to insert the hose of the external fire extinguisher into the engine room, and in a normal vehicle, an occupant is required to perform the primary lock release operation before the evacuation. The primary unlock is
Normally, the hood opening lever provided below the instrument panel is operated.

However, it cannot be expected that the hood opening lever will be operated in the event of a fire. Further, a vehicle fire often occurs due to a collision accident or the like, and in such a case, the occupant may be unconscious, and similarly, it is not expected that the hood opening lever is operated. Therefore, in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 5-190451, a primary lock of an engine hood (a lock mechanism for completely closing the engine hood,
A hood lock releasing device is disclosed in which a hood lock device) is released by a heat-sensitive actuator.

Specifically, the hood lock release device is a partial follow-up of the structure in which the hood release lever is connected to the latch member of the hood lock device through an operation wire. A thermosensitive actuator filled with a plastic material is installed, and an operation wire is interposed between a movable member of the thermosensitive actuator and a hood lock device. Then, when the heat-sensitive actuator operates due to the flame or the temperature in the engine room, the operation wire rotates the latch member of the lock device to disengage it from the striker on the engine hood side (unlocked state). In the unlocked state, a gap is created between the engine hood and the radiator support, so that the fire extinguishing work can be performed by inserting the hose portion of the external fire extinguisher through the gap.

[0005]

However, the heat-sensitive actuator does not operate unless heat is sufficiently transferred to the filled thermoplastic material by a fire. Therefore, when the engine hood is unlocked, the result is that a fire has progressed considerably. Further, in order to improve the heat transfer to the thermoplastic material, it is conceivable to provide fins in the container filled with the thermoplastic material of the thermal actuator, but there is a drawback that the occupied space for the thermal actuator becomes large. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art.
It is an issue to be solved to make sure that the engine hood is unlocked in a space-saving manner early in the event of a fire.

[0007]

According to the invention of claim 1 which has solved the above-mentioned problems, a hood lock device for bringing an engine hood into a primary lock state, and a hood lock which is filled with explosive and operates by ignition of the explosive. A gunpowder-containing actuator that drives the engine to bring the engine hood into a primary unlocked state, and one end connected to the gunpowder-containing actuator, and the other end serving as an ignition part that solidifies the ignition agent It consists of a squib located near the location.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the ignition portion is disposed on the back surface of the engine hood. A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a dampproofing agent is applied to the ignition part.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a fire occurs in the engine room, the explosive of the explosive-filled actuator explodes and operates due to the flame or the temperature in the engine room, and drives the hood lock device to drive the engine hood. Can be unlocked.

In particular, according to the second aspect, when a fire occurs in the engine room, the engine hood generates the most heat due to the nature of the flame, so that the unlocked state can be achieved earlier. Particularly, according to the aspect of claim 3, the ignition portion of the squib does not become damp even by rainwater or the like, and the ignitability when needed is not impaired.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A vehicle fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The vehicle fire extinguishing system of the present embodiment includes a hood lock device 1 attached to a radiator support, as schematically shown in FIG.
The gunpowder-containing actuator 3 mounted on the tip side of the engine hood 2 at a position where the hood lock device 1 can be driven when the engine hood 2 is in a locked state, and a plurality of squibs whose one end is connected to the gunpowder-containing actuator 3 Four
The squib 4 is arranged along the back surface of the engine hood 2 in a branch shape, and the other end serving as each ignition part 5 is
Each fire is designed to be installed at the target location.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the hood lock device 1 includes a main body housing 11 fixed to a radiator support 10 and a latch member 13 detachable from a striker 12 mounted on the engine hood side. And a locking member 14 that engages with the latch member 13 and holds the latch member 13 engaged with the striker 12 when the engine hood 2 is in the locked state.

The latch member 13 and the locking member 14 are
The latch members 13 have rotating shafts 15 and 16 which are parallel to each other (front-back direction), and the latch member 13 is given a biasing force to rotate counterclockwise by a spring member 19, and the locking member 14 is clockwise by a spring member 20. A biasing force to rotate is applied. Further, the locking member 14 has a rotating shaft 16 at the other end of an operation wire 17 having one end connected to a hood opening lever in the vehicle compartment.
It is connected to the more distant position.

The striker 12 enters the innermost part of the upward recess 18 formed in the main body housing 11 when the engine hood 2 is locked, and retracts from the upward recess 18 when unlocked. In the hood lock device configured as described above, one end 14a of the locking member 14 is engaged with one end of the latch member 13 in order to prevent the latch member 13 from rotating counterclockwise in the locked state (see the dotted line). At this time, the latch member 13 holds the striker 12 that has entered the innermost portion of the upward recess 18 by the forked portion 13a thereof.

When the wire 17 is pulled rightward as shown by the arrow C, the engagement between the locking member 14 and the latch member 13 is released, and the latch member 13 rotates counterclockwise.
As a result, the forked portion 13a faces upward, the latch member 13 releases the striker 12, and the spring member 1
The engine hood 2 is pushed up by the force of 9 to release the lock.

The explosive-filled actuator 3 is
The engine hood 2 is attached to almost the front end portion of the engine hood 2 and is capable of hitting the other end 14b of the locking member 14 in the locked state of the engine hood 2. As shown in FIG.
The gunpowder-containing actuator 3 has a box-shaped housing 32 in which a gunpowder 33, a movable member 31, and a spring member 34 are incorporated in this order, and an opening on the spring member 34 side is provided with a screw cap 36.
It was sealed with. However, the movable member 31 is guided to the housing 32 from the base end 31a to the front end 31b.
Is a weight-like member that extends, and the tip end portion 31b projects slightly outward from the central hole of the cap 36.

Further, one end of the squib 4 inserted from the bottom side of the housing 32 is brought into contact with the explosive powder 33. The igniting agent 35 is solidified at one end of the squib 4. Squib 4
Is covered with a pipe 37, and is supported by brackets 38, 38 ... Welded to the back surface of the engine hood 2, as shown in FIG. The other end of the squib 4 serving as the ignition part 5 faces the end of the pipe 37 facing the engine compartment, and the ignition agent 39 is also solidified at the other end. The ignition agent 39 on the other end side is filled with a small amount of a moistureproof agent 40 such as paraffin in a form applied on the surface thereof.

In the vehicle fire extinguishing system configured as described above, when a fire occurs in the engine room, the moisture-proofing agent 40 melts due to the flame or the temperature in the engine room,
Then, the ignition agent 39 of the ignition part 5 is ignited. This ignition agent 3
The ignition wire 4 is ignited by the ignition of 9 and is transferred to the ignition agent 35 of the gunpowder-containing actuator 3 to ignite the gunpowder 33.
As a result, the explosive 33 causes a small explosion, and the movable member 31
Activate. The movable member 31 activated from the housing 32 hits the other end 14b of the locking member 14 whose tip portion 31b is in the solid line state in FIG. Therefore, the engagement between the one end 14a of the locking member 14 and the latch member 13 is released,
Similarly to when the hood opening lever is operated, the latch member 13 is rotated counterclockwise by the force of the spring member 19 to open the striker 12, and the force of the spring member 19 pushes up the engine hood 2 to release the lock. And

In this unlocked state, since a slight gap is created between the engine hood 2 and the radiator support 10, in the vehicle fire extinguishing system, it is possible to extinguish a fire by an outside person while utilizing the above gap. It is possible to confirm the extinction by releasing the secondary lock (not shown). As described above, in the vehicle fire extinguishing system of the present embodiment, since the gunpowder-containing actuator 3 that operates the hood lock device 1 by the heat generation temperature or flame of a fire is provided, the occupant forgets to operate the hood release lever and evacuates quickly. , Even if you are unconscious,
The engine hood was unlocked early in the fire,
Fire extinguishing work can be done faster with an external fire extinguisher.

In particular, when a fire occurs in the engine room, the engine hood generates the most heat due to the nature of the flame, so that there is an effect that the unlocked state can be achieved earlier.
Further, since the ignition part 5 of the squib 4 is protected by the moisture-proof agent, the igniting agent 39 does not get wet even by rainwater or the like, and the ignitability can be secured when necessary. Further, there is an advantage that a reliable mechanical operation is achieved without using electromagnetic actuators that use a battery voltage as a power source.

Furthermore, since the explosive force of the explosive is used, the occupied space is much smaller than that when a heat-sensitive actuator is used. The explosive powder 33 is preferably colorless explosive powder, but may be gun propellant such as black powder or rocket fuel.

[0022]

As described above, according to the vehicle fire extinguishing system of the first aspect, the gunpowder-containing actuator is provided for the hood lock device, and the ignition portion of the squib disposed in the engine room is a flame caused by a fire or Since the ignition is activated by the heat generation temperature and the actuator containing explosives is activated via the squib, the hood lock release function for fire extinguishing work by outsiders when the occupant hurriedly evacuates due to vehicle fire is space-saving and reliable. A high mechanical automation system can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic layout view of a vehicle fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an automatic release operation of the hood lock device by the gunpowder-containing actuator of the present invention in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the gunpowder-containing actuator of the present invention in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an ignition part of a squib located near a flame generation target portion in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 1 is a hood lock release device, 2 is an engine hood, 3 is an explosive charged actuator, 4 is a squib, and 5 is an igniter.

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Masahiro Miyaji 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Satoshi Fujimoto 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hood lock device for bringing an engine hood into a primary lock state, and a gunpowder containing a gunpowder which is actuated by ignition of the gunpowder to drive the hood lock device to bring the engine hood into a primary lock release state. A vehicle fire extinguishing system comprising: an actuator; and an igniter, one end of which is connected to the explosive-filled actuator and the other end of which is an ignition part formed by solidifying a pyrotechnic material, and which is located in the vicinity of a flame generation target location in an engine room. 2. The vehicle fire extinguishing system according to claim 1, wherein the ignition portion is provided on a back surface of the engine hood. 3. The vehicle fire extinguishing system according to claim 1, wherein a moisture preventive agent is applied to the ignition portion.