JPH11310157A - Impact absorbing device for vehicle hood - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely protect an abutting member by making it possible to fully absorb impacts even at high collision speeds and to allow maintenance work. SOLUTION: The impact absorbing device for a vehicle hood, in which a hood lock mechanism fixing the front part of a hood 2 openably to a vehicle body is provided on a vehicle, is disposed on a predetermined portion of the vehicle. The impact absorbing device includes a collision detection means for detecting collisions or the possibility of collisions with an abutting member, an actuator 5 performing the action of lifting the rear of the hood 2 according to a detection signal of the collision detection means, and a hinge mechanism 6 capable of lifting the rear of the hood 2 according to the actuation of the actuator 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an impact absorbing device for a vehicle hood, which can sufficiently absorb an impact even if it collides with an abutting object on a road at a particularly high speed. The present invention relates to an impact absorbing device for a vehicle hood that can protect various on-vehicle devices in an engine room, such as an accessory and an internal combustion engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some proposals have been made as a shock absorbing device for a vehicle hood (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-26).
370 and JP-A-58-21975), all of which are designed to mechanically lift the hood by an impact at the time of collision with an abutting object.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 59-2 shown in FIG.
In the vehicle described in Japanese Patent No. 6370, when an abutting object on the road collides with the front end of the hood 01 while the vehicle is running, the first impact at the time of the collision causes a load on the hood 01 rearward of the vehicle. The load is applied to the bracket 02 fixed to the hood 01
Is transmitted to the bolt portion 03a of the safety pin 03 and the tip portion 04a of the hinge link 04 via the

[0004] Then, the hinge link 04 rotates about the pin 05 to the position shown by the chain line, and the hood 01 is retreated upward and rearward to receive an abutting object riding on the hood 01. Posture that can be done. At this time, the leaf spring portion 03b of the safety pin 03 bends, and its distal end is separated from the concave portion 06a of the locking member 06 fixed to the bracket 02.

Next, when the contact object rides on the hood 01, a downward load is generated on the upper surface of the hood 01 by the second impact at the time of the ride, and the safety pin 03 is caused by this load.
The leaf spring portion 03b is bent in a direction to return to the original state while absorbing the impact, and the hood 01 is moved downward.

[0006] In this way, the contact object is protected as much as possible from the impact due to the collision with the vehicle hood 01. However, since the levitation of the hood 01 rearward and upward is performed after the collision of the contact object with the front end of the hood 01, the protection of the contact object from the second impact is delayed. .

[0007]

As described above, in the prior art, it takes a long time to lift the hood after the contact object on the road collides with the hood. In this case, since the hood cannot be lifted before the abutting object collides with the hood, the impact may not be sufficiently absorbed.

The present invention solves such a problem, and can lift the hood before the abutting object on the road collides with the hood even at a high collision speed, and sufficiently absorbs the impact. It is an object of the present invention to provide an impact absorbing device for a hood for a vehicle, which can reliably protect an abutting object from an impact.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a shock absorbing device for a vehicle hood which solves the above-mentioned problems, and the invention described in claim 1 is for opening and closing a front portion of the hood. The vehicle has a hood lock mechanism that is fixed to the vehicle body as possible, a vehicle hood shock absorbing device is provided at a predetermined location of the vehicle, and a collision detection unit that detects a collision with a contact object or a possibility of collision. An actuator for raising the hood rear portion based on the detection signal of the collision detection means, and a hinge mechanism capable of lifting the hood rear portion based on the operation of the actuator. It is a hood shock absorber.

[0010] In the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the collision detecting means detects a collision or a possibility of collision with the contacting object, and the actuator is actuated based on the detection signal. The hood can be actuated, and the hinge mechanism can be actuated based on the actuation of the actuator to lift the rear portion of the hood.

Therefore, the rear portion of the hood can be lifted before the contact object on the road collides with the hood.
Even in the case of a high collision speed, it is possible to sufficiently absorb the impact when the contact object on the road collides with the hood, and it is possible to reliably protect the contact object from the impact of the collision with the hood. Further, various on-vehicle devices in an engine room such as an internal combustion engine can be protected.

When the hood lock mechanism is released for maintenance and the like to open and close the front portion of the hood, the hinge mechanism also functions as a supporting means for rotatably supporting the rear end of the hood. Hood front opening and closing operation, and the hood rear portion lifting operation performed by detecting the collision or the possibility of collision of the abutment on the road with the vehicle can be compatible. The mechanism and structure do not become complicated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the hinge mechanism includes an end portion rotatably connected to a rear end portion of the hood, and a hinge rotatable to the vehicle body. Is provided with a hinge link having an end portion which is slidably extended and contracted into a slide mechanism connected to the hinge mechanism, so that the number of hinge links or hinge link equivalent members constituting the hinge mechanism can be reduced. In addition to simplifying the hinge mechanism, the slide mechanism can regulate the lifting amount of the hood rearward portion and the hood sinking amount via the hinge link, so that the load on the actuator can be reduced. The structure can be simplified.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment (Embodiment 1) of the invention described in claims 1 and 2 of the present application shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described below. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a four-wheeled vehicle to which the vehicle hood impact absorbing device according to the first embodiment is applied, and FIG. 2 is a left side showing a state in which the four-wheeled vehicle of FIG. Area view, FIG.
Is a left side view showing a schematic configuration of a portion including an actuator and a hinge mechanism of the impact absorbing device of the vehicle hood of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operating state of the impact absorbing device of the vehicle hood. .

In FIG. 1, a vehicle (four-wheeled vehicle) 1 to which a vehicle hood shock absorbing device according to a first embodiment is applied is provided between a vehicle body and a front left and right center of a hood 2.
As is well known, a hood lock mechanism 3 is provided.

The shock absorbing devices of the hood 2 are disposed at two positions on the left and right of the front end of the vehicle 1 and detect collisions of a bumper due to a collision (collision detecting means).
4, 4 and actuators 5, 5 disposed at two lower left and right positions near the rear end of the hood 2, and an operation of lifting the rear portion of the hood 2 upward based on the operation of these actuators 5, 5. And left and right hinge mechanisms 6, 6 for performing the operation.

Since the left and right actuators 5, 5 and the left and right hinge mechanisms 6, 6 have exactly the same structure, the left actuator 5 and the left hinge mechanism 6 will be described below with reference to FIG. , Their structure and connection configuration will be described.

The actuator 5 is of a pneumatic type having a built-in gas generator and has a buffering function. The lower base end of the cylinder is not shown in detail, but swings with respect to the vehicle body. Mounted movably, the piston rod 9 projects upward. The actuator 5 is not limited to the pneumatic type, and any other type may be used as long as it has a buffering action.

The hinge mechanism 6 comprises two hinges 6a and 6b sharing a hinge link 7. One of the hinges 6a uses a first pin 8 provided at a bent corner of a hinge link 7 bent into an L-shape as a connecting pin.
It comprises a shared hinge link 7 rotatably connected to the first pin 8 and a piston rod 9 of the actuator 5 also rotatably connected to the first pin 8.

The other hinge 6b is connected to the common hinge link 7
And a shared hinge link 7 rotatably connected to the second pin 10 using the second pin 10 provided at the outer end on the short side of the L-shape as a connection pin. The hood 2 is rotatably connected to the second pin 10. Although not shown in detail, the hood 2 is located on the left side of its rear end, and a predetermined portion in a space formed by an upper hood member 2a and a lower hood member 2b constituting the hood 2 It is rotatably connected to the second pin 10.

The long side of the L-shape of the common hinge link 7 shared by the two hinges 6a and 6b is
When the hood 2 receives the load of the contacting object that has fallen, as described later, it is inserted into the sleeve 12 so as to be slidable and extendable and restricts the amount of protrusion of the piston rod 9.
The amount by which the hood 2 sinks can be regulated by the load. The base end of the slide mechanism 11 is rotatably connected to an upper member 13 and the like of the vehicle body. 29
Indicates a part of the vehicle body adjacent to the rear end of the hood 2.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. Now, as shown in FIG.
When the collision occurs, the collision detection sensor 4 detects the collision and generates a signal. Then, the actuator 5 is actuated by this signal to push up the piston rod 9 upward.

The upward movement of the piston rod 9 causes
The long side of the L-shape of the common hinge link 7 is pulled out from inside the sleeve 12 of the slide mechanism 11, and the first pin 8 moves upward while rotating around the base end of the slide mechanism 11. At the same time, the second pin 10 moves upward while rotating around the base end of the slide mechanism 11, and the rear part of the hood 2 is supported by the hood lock mechanism 3 on the front end side of the hood 2 as a fulcrum. Lift up (see FIG. 4).

As a result, even if the contact object 14 suddenly collides with the vehicle 1 and gets on the hood 2, the rear portion of the hood 2 has already been lifted upward. Objects can be received with less impact.

Next, the hood 2 sinks due to the load of the contacting object. The sinking speed of the hood 2 is moderate due to the buffering action of the actuator 5, and the clearance between the hood 2 lifted upward and the internal combustion engine or the like is increased. Is sufficiently secured, and the hood 2 does not bottom on these, so that the abutment does not receive any further impact from the hood 2 during this subsidence process.

When the hood lock mechanism 3 is released and the front part of the hood 2 is opened and closed for maintenance and the like, the hood 2 is opened and closed using the second pin 10 of the hinge mechanism 6 as a rotation axis. be able to.

The present embodiment is configured as described above and operates as described above, so that the following effects can be obtained. The collision detection sensor (collision detection means) 4
A collision with a contact object on the road is detected, and the actuator 5 is operated based on the detection signal.
The hinge mechanism 6 is operated based on the operation of the
The rear part can be lifted.

Therefore, the rear portion of the hood 2 can be lifted before the contact object on the road collides with the hood 2. Therefore, even when the contact object on the road collides with the hood 2 even at a high collision speed. Can be sufficiently absorbed, and the contact object can be reliably protected from the impact of the collision with the hood 2. Further, various on-vehicle devices in an engine room such as an internal combustion engine can be protected.

The second pin 10 of the hinge mechanism 6
When the hood lock mechanism 3 is released for maintenance or the like and the front part of the hood 2 is opened and closed, the hood 2 also functions as a support pin for rotatably supporting the rear end of the hood 2, thereby improving workability. While maintaining good conditions, the opening and closing operation of the front portion of the hood 2 for maintenance and the like, and the lifting operation of the rear portion of the hood 2 performed by detecting a collision of the abutting object on the road with the vehicle 1 are compatible. The mechanism and structure for these two operations are not complicated.

Further, the hinge mechanism 6 is rotatably connected to the rear end of the hood 2 (the outer end on the short side of the L-shape of the common hinge link 7), and is pivotally connected to the vehicle body. Since the common hinge link 7 has an end (an end on the long side of the L-shape of the common hinge link 7) which is slidably inserted into the slide mechanism 11 which is freely connected, the hinge mechanism 6 is provided. , The number of hinge links or members equivalent to hinge links can be reduced, and the hinge mechanism 6 can be simplified.

Further, the slide mechanism 11 can regulate the amount of lifting of the rear portion of the hood 2 and the amount of sinking of the hood 2 via the common hinge link 7, so that the load on the actuator 5 can be reduced accordingly. The structure can be simplified.

Next, another embodiment (Embodiment 2) of the invention described in claims 1 and 2 of the present application shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The shock absorbing device for a vehicle hood according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the hinge mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 5, the hinge mechanism 15 according to the second embodiment includes two hinges 15a and 15b, and a shared hinge link 16 is provided at a central portion in the length direction. And a short link branch 16b perpendicular to the link body 16a, and a first pin at one hinge 15a.
5 is provided at one end of the link main body 16a on the right side (rear of the vehicle) in FIG. 5, and a second pin 18 at the other hinge 15b is provided at the tip of the link branch 16b.
The other end of the link body 16a on the left side (front of the vehicle) in FIG. 5 is slidably inserted into the sleeve 12 of the slide mechanism 11. In other respects, there is no difference from the first embodiment, and a detailed description is omitted.

The second embodiment is configured as described above, and operates and has the same effect as the first embodiment. However, the first pin 17 is connected to the second pin. Since the pin 18 is disposed to the right (rearward of the vehicle) in FIG.
Requires only a small operating force, and the operation becomes easier.

Next, still another embodiment (third embodiment) of the invention described in claims 1 and 2 of the present application shown in FIG. 6 will be described. The shock absorbing device for a vehicle hood according to the third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments only in the configuration of the hinge mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 6, the hinge mechanism 19 according to the third embodiment uses the first pin and the second pin used in the hinge mechanism according to the first and second embodiments, so that the hinge mechanism 19 has the same structure. The hinge link 21, which includes only the pin 20, is formed of a simple elongated member, and one end of the hinge link 21 is rotatably connected to the pin 20. The one pin 20 is disposed at a predetermined position in the space formed by the upper hood member 2a and the lower hood member 2b, which is to the left of the rear end of the hood 2. Have been.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, one hinge 19a of the hinge mechanism 19 includes the common hinge link 21 rotatably connected to the pin 20 using the pin 20 as a connecting pin, and the hinge 20a. The other hinge 19b is connected to the pin 20 by using the pin 20 as a connecting pin.
And a hood 2 also rotatably connected to the pin 20. In other respects, there is no difference from the first and second embodiments, and the detailed description is omitted.

The third embodiment is configured as described above, operates in the same manner as the first embodiment, and can provide the same effect. However, the third embodiment has only one pin 20, and
Since the shared hinge link 21 is formed of a simple elongated member, the structure is simplified.

Next, still another embodiment (Embodiment 4) of the invention described in claim 1 of the present application shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 will be described. The shock absorbing device for a vehicle hood according to the fourth embodiment differs from the first to third embodiments only in the configuration of the hinge mechanism and the slide mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the fourth embodiment, the slide mechanism is omitted, and the hinge mechanism 22 is composed of two hinges 22a and 22b. The link 23 is constituted by a relatively simple elongated member, but does not have an end portion that is slidably extended and contracted into the slide mechanism, and is instead rotatably connected to the upper member 13 of the vehicle body. The vehicle body-side hinge link 24 is rotatably connected via a first pin 25 to the distal end portion.

The second pin 26 is a shared hinge link.
The hood-side hinge arm 27 fixed to the lower hood member 2b of the hood 2 is pivotally mounted on the second pin 26, which is disposed at the tip of the other end of the 23 that is slightly bent into an L shape. They are freely connected.

Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, one hinge 22a of the hinge mechanism 22 is a common hinge link 23 which is rotatably connected to the first pin 25 using the first pin 25 as a connecting pin. And a vehicle body side hinge link 24 rotatably connected to the first pin 25,
The other hinge 22b uses the second pin 26 as a connecting pin,
The common hinge link 23 is rotatably connected to the second pin 26, and the hood-side hinge arm 27 is also rotatably connected to the second pin 26.

The piston rod 9 of the actuator 5 is rotatably connected to a portion slightly in front of the L-shaped bent portion at the other end of the common hinge link 23. A mutual opening angle between the common hinge link 23 and the vehicle body side hinge link 24 that constitute one hinge 22a is 180 °.
Is fixedly attached to the vehicle body side hinge link 24 side. The above is the first embodiment.
3 is different from those of the first to third embodiments, but the other points are not different from those of the first embodiment.

Since the fourth embodiment is constructed as described above, the two hinges 22a and 22b are usually connected to the respective hinge link / arm elements constituting these hinges 22a and 22b.
23, 24 and 27 are bent and folded as shown in FIG. 7, but now the collision detection sensor 4 detects a collision with the abutment 14 of the vehicle 1, and the actuator 5 is turned on. When the piston rod 9 is operated and pushed up, the other end of the common hinge link 23 is pushed up, and the two hinges 23
22a and 22b open as shown in FIG.

Here, the other hinge 22b opens in a direction opposite to the direction in which the one hinge 22a opens, forming an angle of about 90 °. In this way, the rear part of the hood 2 is lifted up before the abutment 14 collides with the vehicle 1.

The fourth embodiment is configured as described above,
Since it operates as described above, substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. However, the mechanism for lifting the rear portion of the hood 2 upward has no slide mechanism, and the hinge mechanism 22 (hinge 22a) does not have a slide mechanism. , 22b), the structure can be simplified and the operation of the hinge mechanism 22 becomes smooth, similarly to the third embodiment. Further, a large amount of upward lifting of the rear portion of the hood 2 can be secured. However, since there is no slide mechanism, the actuator 5 must directly bear the regulation of the lifting amount of the rear portion of the hood 2 and the sinking amount of the hood 2.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the collision detecting sensor (collision detecting means) 4 detects the collision with the abutting object of the vehicle. If it is possible to detect the possibility of collision with the hood, it is possible to more reliably lift the rear portion of the hood before the contact object on the road collides with the hood, and in the case of a high collision speed,
The contact object can be protected more reliably. A radar, a camera, or the like can be used as the collision detection sensor in this case.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a four-wheeled vehicle to which a vehicle hood shock absorbing device according to one embodiment (Embodiment 1) of the invention described in claims 1 and 2 of the present application is applied.

FIG. 2 is a left side view showing a state in which the four-wheeled vehicle of FIG. 1 has approached a contact object.

FIG. 3 is a left side view showing a schematic configuration of a portion including an actuator and a hinge mechanism of the impact absorbing device for a vehicle hood according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an operation state of the impact absorbing device for the vehicle hood.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of a portion including an actuator and a hinge mechanism of an impact absorbing device for a vehicle hood according to another embodiment (Embodiment 2) of the invention described in claims 1 and 2 of the present application. It is a left side view.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of a portion including an actuator and a hinge mechanism of a shock absorbing device for a vehicle hood according to still another embodiment (Embodiment 3) of the invention described in claims 1 and 2 of the present application. It is a left view shown.

FIG. 7 is a left side view showing a schematic configuration of a portion including an actuator and a hinge mechanism of an impact absorbing device for a vehicle hood according to still another embodiment (Embodiment 4) of the invention described in claim 1 of the present application. It is.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an operation state of the impact absorbing device of the vehicle hood.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle (4-wheel vehicle), 2 ... Hood, 2a ... Upper hood member, 2b ... Lower hood member, 3 ... Hood lock mechanism, 4 ... Collision detection sensor (collision detection means), 5 ... Actuator, 6 ... Hinge mechanism , 6a, 6b ... hinge,
7: Shared hinge link, 8: First pin, 9: Piston rod, 10: Second pin, 11: Slide mechanism, 12: Sleeve, 13: Upper member (vehicle body), 14: Contact member, 15: Hinge Mechanism, 15a, 15b ... hinge, 16 ... shared hinge link, 16a ... link body, 16b ... link branch, 17 ... first
Pin, 18 ... second pin, 19 ... hinge mechanism, 19a, 19b
… Hinge, 20… pin, 21… common hinge link, 22… hinge mechanism, 22a, 22b… hinge, 23… common hinge link,
24 ... body side hinge link, 25 ... first pin, 26 ... second pin, 27 ... hood side hinge arm, 28 ... regulating member, 29 ...
Body.

Claims (2)

[Claims] An impact absorbing device for a vehicle hood, provided with a hood lock mechanism for fixing a front portion of the hood to a vehicle body so as to be openable and closable, is disposed at a predetermined position of the vehicle, and is provided with a collision with an abutting object. A collision detection unit that detects a possibility of collision; an actuator that performs an operation of lifting a hood rear portion based on a detection signal of the collision detection unit; and a hinge mechanism that can lift the hood rear portion based on operation of the actuator. A shock absorbing device for a vehicle hood, comprising: 2. An end portion rotatably connected to a rear end portion of a hood, and an end portion slidably inserted into a slide mechanism rotatably connected to a vehicle body. The impact absorbing device for a vehicle hood according to claim 1, further comprising a hinge link having: