JP5418854B2 - Vehicle collision detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a collision detection device that detects a collision of a pedestrian or the like with a vehicle.

  In recent years, regarding vehicle safety, not only ensuring the safety of a vehicle occupant during an accident, but also reducing the damage to the pedestrian when the pedestrian collides with the vehicle is required. Therefore, by detecting a collision of a pedestrian with a vehicle and operating a pedestrian protection device such as an active hood or a cowl airbag, the injury value (walking) that a pedestrian who collides with the vehicle and falls into the hood Have been proposed to reduce the impact received by a person.

  For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-117157 (Patent Document 1), a chamber member is disposed in front of a bumper reinforcement in a vehicle bumper, and a pressure change in a chamber space is detected by a pressure sensor. There has been proposed a vehicle collision detection device configured to detect a collision of a pedestrian or the like with a vehicle bumper by detection. That is, the chamber member is deformed by the collision, and the collision of a pedestrian or the like is detected based on the pressure change in the chamber space.

JP 2006-117157 A

  However, in the above-described vehicle collision detection apparatus, the chamber member needs to be installed in almost the entire region in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle bumper, and the shape of the chamber member is long. As a result, handling at the time of product transportation was poor and extra costs were incurred. Further, the molding of the chamber member is a long blow molding, and it is difficult to make the thickness in the longitudinal direction (vehicle width direction) uniform. For example, when molding a long product, the upper part is thin and the lower part is thick due to its own weight because of its long length. Thus, there exists a possibility that performance may deteriorate by thickness becoming non-uniform | heterogenous.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle collision detection device that can easily handle a chamber member during product transportation and can make the thickness uniform. To do.

  The invention according to claim 1, which has been made to achieve the above object, includes a chamber member disposed on a front surface of a bumper reinforcement within a bumper cover of a vehicle bumper and having a chamber space formed therein. And a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the vehicle, wherein the chamber member is arranged in the vehicle width direction in a vehicle collision detection device configured to detect a collision with the bumper cover based on a detection result of the pressure sensor. The small chamber member is composed of a plurality of divided small chamber members. The small chamber member includes a main body portion that forms a small chamber space therein, and an open end portion that is formed at least at one end in the vehicle width direction of the main body portion and communicates with the small chamber space. The plurality of small chamber members are characterized in that the open ends are connected to form a chamber space.

  According to this configuration, when a collision occurs, some of the plurality of small chamber members (main body portion and / or open end portion) are crushed by impact. In this configuration, the open ends of the plurality of small chamber members are connected to each other to form one chamber space with the plurality of small chamber members as a whole. For this reason, a pressure change occurs in the entire chamber space due to the collision. The pressure sensor detects this pressure change, and a collision is detected. And according to this structure, since it can manufacture and transport for every small chamber member with the small width | variety of a vehicle width direction, the handling at the time of transport becomes favorable and the thickness of a chamber member can be equalize | homogenized.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the plurality of small chamber members are connected by fitting the open end portions thereof. According to this configuration, the small chamber members can be connected easily and reliably.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the small chamber member has a convex portion at the open end. According to this configuration, the small chamber members are fitted with each other with a simple structure, and an effect of preventing removal is exhibited.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the chamber member includes at least three small chamber members, and one of the plurality of small chamber members is formed in a linear shape, and is disposed at a central portion in the vehicle width direction of the chamber member. It is characterized by.

  According to this configuration, even when a chamber member is mounted on different types of vehicles, a common central portion of the chamber member, that is, a small chamber member of a straight portion can be shared. Even when the vehicle is mounted on a vehicle having a different shape, such as a vehicle bumper, it can be dealt with only by changing the angle of the end portion in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle collision detection device is excellent in manufacturing cost.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the opening end portion is formed on the vehicle rear side of the vehicle width direction end portion of the main body portion. According to this structure, when it collides, an impact is not directly applied to the connection part of opening edge parts, but the said connection becomes difficult to remove | deviate.

  The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the distance between the main body portions is 100 mm or less. According to this structure, the width | variety of the connection part of small chamber members becomes smaller than the average width (about 120 mm in diameter) of the leg part of the pedestrian who is a collision detection object. Thereby, at the time of a collision, it is prevented that a leg part collides only with the said connection part (opening edge part), and it can detect a collision more reliably.

  The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the material of the chamber member is polyethylene (PE). According to this configuration, it is easy to mold the chamber member, and it is possible to easily mold the opening end portion and the convex portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a whole block diagram which shows the collision detection apparatus 1 for vehicles of 1st embodiment by planar view. It is principal part sectional drawing which looked at the collision detection apparatus 1 for vehicles of 1st embodiment from the side. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the opening edge part of 1st embodiment. It is a whole block diagram which shows 1 A of collision detection apparatuses for vehicles of 2nd embodiment by planar view. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the opening edge part of 2nd embodiment.

  Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments.

<First embodiment>
A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle collision detection device 1 includes a chamber member 7 disposed in a vehicle bumper 2, a pressure sensor 8, a pedestrian protection device electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as an electronic control unit as an ECU). (Abbreviated) 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle bumper 2 is mainly composed of a bumper cover 3, a bumper reinforcement 4, a side member 5, an absorber 6, and a chamber member 7.

  The bumper cover 3 is a resin (for example, polypropylene) cover member that extends in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) at the front end of the vehicle and is attached to the vehicle body so as to cover the bumper reinforcement 4, the absorber 6, and the chamber member 7. is there.

  The bumper reinforcement 4 is a metal structural member that is disposed in the bumper cover 3 and extends in the vehicle width direction, and as shown in FIG. It is a hollow member which has.

  The side members 5 are a pair of metal members that are located on both the left and right sides of the vehicle and extend in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the bumper reinforcement 4 described above is attached to the front ends thereof.

  The absorber 6 is a foamed resin member that extends in the vehicle width direction and is attached to the lower side of the front surface 4 a of the bumper reinforcement 4 within the bumper cover 3, and exhibits an impact absorbing action in the vehicle bumper 2.

  The chamber member 7 is disposed in the bumper cover 3 above the bumper reinforcement front surface 4a. The chamber member 7 as a whole is a substantially box-shaped hollow member made of a soft resin such as polyethylene and extending in the vehicle width direction. The chamber member 7 forms a substantially sealed chamber space 7a extending in the vehicle width direction and surrounded by a wall surface of a soft resin having a thickness of several millimeters. The chamber member 7 is a portion that is deformed by a collision, and a pressure change in the chamber space 7a is detected by a pressure sensor 8 described later.

  Specifically, the chamber member 7 includes a plurality of small chamber members divided in the vehicle width direction, that is, a first small chamber member 71, a second small chamber member 72, and a third small chamber member 73. ing.

  The first small chamber member 71 is a member located at the left end portion of the chamber member 7, and has a main body portion 711 and an open end portion 712. The main body 711 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with a left end at the bottom and a right end opened, and is bent (or curved) in accordance with the end shape of the vehicle bumper 2 (or bumper reinforcement 4). The main body 711 forms a small chamber space 71a inside.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the open end 712 is a cylindrical portion formed at the right end of the main body 711. In other words, the opening end portion 712 is a portion protruding rightward from the right end portion where the main body portion 711 is opened. The open end 712 communicates with the small chamber space 71a. At the center of the open end 712, a convex portion 712a formed by bending (or bending) itself outward is provided.

  The second small chamber member 72 is a member located at the center of the chamber member 7, and has a main body portion 721, open end portions 722 and 723, and an extending portion 724. The main body 721 has a cylindrical shape with both ends in the vehicle width direction opened, and is formed in a linear shape extending in the vehicle width direction. The main body 721 forms a small chamber space 72a inside.

  The opening end 722 (723) is a cylindrical portion formed at the left end (right end) of the main body 721. In other words, the opening end 722 (723) is a portion protruding leftward (rightward) from the left end (right end) where the main body 721 is opened. The opening ends 722 and 723 are in communication with the small chamber space 72a. Protrusions 722a and 723a formed by bending (or bending) themselves outward are provided at the centers of the open ends 722 and 723.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the opening end 722 is disposed so as to overlap the outside of the opening end 712 of the first small chamber member 71, and the protrusions 722 a and 712 a are fitted to each other. The opening of the opening end 722 is slightly larger than the opening of the opening end 712 of the first small chamber member 71. Thereby, the 1st small chamber member 71 and the 2nd small chamber member 72 are connected, and both small chamber space 71a and 72a are connecting. Similarly, the opening end portion 723 is disposed so as to overlap the outside of the opening end portion 732 of the third small chamber member 73 described later.

  The extending portion 724 is integrally formed with the main body portion 721 by a soft resin, extends from a substantially central portion in the vehicle width direction of the main body portion 721 to above the bumper reinforcement upper surface 4b, and from the front side of the vehicle body to the rear side of the vehicle body. It is an extended part. The internal space of the extending portion 724 communicates with the small chamber space 72a and forms a part of the small chamber space 72a. In addition, an insertion port 724a that communicates the small chamber space 72a (chamber space 7a) to the outside is provided on the upper portion of the extending portion 724.

  An insert member 724b is insert-molded near the insertion port 724a in the upper portion of the extended portion 724. Insert molding is one of the blow molding methods, and is integrated with the main body 721 by placing the insert member 724b in a mold and inflating a soft resin. The insert member 724b is made of a material harder than the soft resin that is the material of the chamber member 7, for example, a metal such as iron, or a hard resin such as nylon or PBT (polybutylene terephthalate). The insert member 724b is a member for attaching the pressure sensor 8 described later to the chamber member 7 (main body portion 721). That is, the pressure sensor 8 is screwed to the insert member 724b. The insert member 724b is provided with a through hole corresponding to the insertion port 724a.

  The third small chamber member 73 is a member located at the right end portion of the chamber member 7 and has a main body portion 731 and an open end portion 732. The main body portion 731 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with the right end being the bottom and the left end being open, and is bent (or curved) in accordance with the end shape of the vehicle bumper 2 (or bumper reinforcement 4). The main body portion 731 forms a small chamber space 73a therein.

  The open end 732 is a cylindrical portion formed at the left end of the main body portion 731. In other words, the opening end portion 732 is a portion protruding leftward from the left end portion where the main body portion 731 is opened. The open end 732 communicates with the small chamber space 73a. At the center of the open end 732, a convex portion 732a formed by bending (or bending) outward is provided. Similar to the first small chamber member 71, the open end 732 is fitted inside the open end 723 of the second small chamber member 72, and is fitted by convex portions 732a and 723a.

  Thus, the chamber member 7 is formed by connecting a plurality of small chamber members 71 to 73. The plurality of small chamber members 71 to 73 form one chamber space 7 a by connecting the open end portions 712, 722, 723, and 732 to each other and communicating the small chamber spaces 71 a to 73 a with each other. The small chamber members 71 to 73 after fitting function as a single chamber member 7 as a whole. The internal space of the connecting portion (opening end) also constitutes the chamber space 7a.

  In the present embodiment, the opening end portions 712, 722, 723, and 732 each have a length in the vehicle width direction of approximately 100 mm, and overlap each other when connected. That is, the separation distance r between the adjacent main body portions 711, 721, 731 is about 100 mm. The chamber member 7 is provided with a breathing hole (not shown).

  The pressure sensor 8 is a sensor device capable of detecting a gas pressure, and is configured to be attached to the chamber member 7 so as to detect a pressure change in the chamber space 7a. Specifically, the pressure sensor 8 includes a sensor main body 81 and a pressure introduction pipe 82. The sensor main body 81 is a part that is outside the chamber member 7 and accommodates a substrate or the like provided with a sensor element for pressure detection. The sensor body 81 outputs a pressure signal and transmits a signal to the pedestrian protection apparatus ECU10 via the signal line 10a. The sensor main body 81 has a flange portion fixed to the insert member 724b of the extending portion 724 by screws.

  The pressure introducing pipe 82 is a substantially cylindrical pipe that introduces the pressure of the chamber space 7 a into the sensor main body 81, and extends downward from the sensor main body 81. The pressure introducing pipe 82 is inserted into an insertion port 724 a provided in the extending portion 724 of the chamber main member 7. The sensor main body 81 detects the pressure in the chamber space 7 a via the pressure introducing pipe 82.

  The pedestrian protection device ECU 10 is an electronic control device for performing start-up control of a pedestrian protection device (not shown) (for example, a known pedestrian protection airbag or hood flip-up device), and is output from the pressure sensor 8. Signal is input via the transmission line 10a. The pedestrian protection device ECU 10 executes a process for determining whether or not a pedestrian (that is, a human body) has collided with the vehicle bumper 2 based on the pressure detection result of the pressure sensor 8.

  The effect of this embodiment is demonstrated. According to this embodiment, when a collision occurs, a part (main body part and / or opening end part) of the small chamber members 71 to 73 is crushed by an impact. In the present embodiment, since the open end portions 712, 722, 723, 732 of the small chamber members 71 to 73 are connected to form one chamber space 7a as a whole, the pressure changes in the entire chamber space 7a due to a collision. Occurs. This pressure change is detected by the pressure sensor 8 and a collision with the bumper cover 3 is detected.

  Here, according to this embodiment, since the chamber member 7 is comprised by the some small chamber members 71-73 divided | segmented into the vehicle width direction, the length of one member becomes short. Thereby, the thickness can be made uniform at the time of molding, and it can be divided and transported at the time of transportation, and the handling becomes good. It is possible to reduce transportation costs. Further, since the thickness of the chamber member 7 is made uniform, the amount of pressure change with respect to the same collision can be made close to constant. That is, according to the present embodiment, the collision detection accuracy can be improved.

  According to this embodiment, for example, even when the chamber member 7 has a long length of 1600 mm, the first small chamber member 71 is 500 mm, the second small chamber member 72 is 800 mm, the third small chamber member 73 is 500 mm, Can be manufactured and transported in small pieces.

  In this embodiment, since the small chamber spaces 71a to 73a communicate with each other, it is not necessary to provide the pressure sensor 8 for each of the small chamber members 71 to 73, and it is sufficient to install at least one pressure sensor 8. That is, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the separation distance r of the main-body parts 711, 721, 731 of the small chamber members 71-73 is 100 mm. This takes into consideration the average diameter (approximately 120 mm) of the pedestrian's legs, and the separation distance r is smaller than the leg diameter. Thereby, at the time of a collision, it becomes easy for a leg part of a pedestrian to push any one of the main-body parts 711, 721, 731. That is, in the event of a collision, the leg portion of the pedestrian easily crushes the portion of the chamber member 7 with high collision detection accuracy. According to this embodiment, collision detection can be performed with high accuracy. The separation distance r is preferably 100 mm or less, and more preferably 50 mm or less, which is smaller than the leg radius. However, it is preferable to maintain a certain degree of connection strength by setting the separation distance r to 10 mm or more, or by providing a prevention structure.

  In the present embodiment, since the linear second small chamber member 72 is arranged at the center portion of the chamber member 7, the second small chamber member 72 is also used for other vehicles having different bumper shapes. be able to. That is, even if the mounted vehicle type changes, it is sufficient to change the design of only the first small chamber member 71 and the third small chamber member 73 while sharing the central portion in the vehicle width direction. That is, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  In addition, the vehicle collision detection apparatus 1 of this embodiment is not restricted to the said structure. For example, two pressure sensors 8 may be provided in the chamber member 7. In this case, two extended portions 724 may be provided in the chamber member 7. One of the two pressure sensors 8 may be used as a safing sensor.

  Further, the small chamber members 71 to 73 may be connected only by fitting or press-fitting without providing a catching means such as a convex portion. Each convex portion may be curved (or bent) inward. Further, each of the small chamber members 71 to 73 may be provided with a threading instead of a convex portion to provide a stronger prevention structure.

  Moreover, the chamber member 7 should just consist of two or more small chamber members, and is not restricted to three members. The division position of the chamber member 7 may be a position corresponding to the bent portion of the bumper reinforcement 4 when the chamber member 7 is mounted. Thereby, a small chamber member can be shape | molded without providing a bending shape in a main-body part, and shaping | molding can become easy.

<Second embodiment>
A vehicle collision detection apparatus 1 </ b> A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the opening end of the small chamber member is formed on the vehicle rear side (bumper reinforcement 4 side) of the main body. Therefore, a different part is demonstrated and the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to 1st embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first small chamber member 71A has a main body portion 711A and an opening end portion 712A. The main body 711A is a substantially box-shaped hollow member, and the right rear end of the vehicle is open. The opening end 712A has a cylindrical shape and protrudes rightward from the opening at the right end of the main body 711A. The opening end 712A communicates with the small chamber space 71a. As in the first embodiment, the opening end 712A is provided with a convex portion 712a.

  The second small chamber member 72A has a main body portion 721A, open end portions 722A and 723A, and an extending portion 724. The main body 721A is a substantially box-shaped hollow member, and the rear of the vehicle at both ends in the vehicle width direction is open. The opening end portion 722A (723A) has a cylindrical shape and protrudes leftward (rightward) from the opening at the left end (right end) of the main body 721A. The inside of the open end 722A (723A) communicates with the small chamber space 72a. As in the first embodiment, convex portions 722a and 723a are provided at the opening end portions 722A and 723A.

  The third small chamber member 73A has a main body portion 731A and an opening end portion 732A. The main body portion 731A is a substantially box-shaped hollow member, and the rear end of the vehicle at the left end is open. The opening end 732A has a cylindrical shape and protrudes leftward from the opening at the left end of the main body 731A. The open end 732A communicates with the small chamber space 73a. As in the first embodiment, a convex portion 732a is provided at the open end 732A.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the opening end 712A of the first small chamber member 71A is fitted and fitted inside the opening end 722A of the second small chamber member 72A. The convex part 712a of the opening end part 712A and the convex part 722a of the opening end part 722A are arranged so as to overlap each other. Similarly, the open end 731A of the third small chamber member 73A is fitted and fitted inside the open end 723A of the second small chamber member 72A. The convex part 723a of the opening end part 723A and the convex part 732a of the opening end part 732A are arranged so as to overlap each other.

  The plurality of small chamber members 71A to 73A form a single chamber space 7a by the small chamber spaces 71a to 73a communicating with each other. A separation distance r between adjacent main body portions 711A, 721A, and 732A is 50 mm.

  According to the second embodiment, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects of the first embodiment. That is, in the second embodiment, since the opening end portions 712A to 732A that connect the small chamber members 71A to 73A are provided on the vehicle rear side, the connection portion is not directly pressed at the time of a collision, and the connection is disconnected. Is suppressed. According to this structure, the influence on the collision detection performance of a connection part becomes smaller than 1st embodiment.

  Furthermore, the vehicle rear side of the chamber member 7A is in the vicinity of the parting line during blow molding. Therefore, it is possible to increase the thickness of the opening end located on the rear side of the vehicle, thereby enabling a stronger connection.

1, 1A: Vehicle collision detection device,
2: Vehicle bumper, 3: Bumper cover, 4: Bumper reinforcement,
5: Side member, 6: Absorber, 7: Chamber member,
71, 71A: first small chamber member,
711, 711A: body portion, 712, 712A: open end portion,
72, 72A: second small chamber member,
721, 721A: main body, 722, 722A, 723, 723A: open end,
724: Extension part,
73, 73A: third small chamber member,
731, 731 A: body portion, 732, 732 A: open end portion,
8: Pressure sensor, 10: Pedestrian protection device ECU,

Claims (7)

A chamber member disposed in front of a bumper reinforcement within a bumper cover of a vehicle bumper and having a chamber space formed therein; and a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the chamber space. In the vehicle collision detection device configured to detect a collision with the bumper cover based on a detection result,
The chamber member comprises a plurality of small chamber members divided in the vehicle width direction,
The small chamber member includes a main body portion that forms a small chamber space therein, and an opening end portion that is formed at least at one end in the vehicle width direction of the main body portion and communicates with the small chamber space.
In the vehicle collision detection device, the plurality of small chamber members are connected to each other at the opening ends to form the chamber space.   The collision detection device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of small chamber members are connected to each other by fitting the opening end portions thereof.   The vehicle collision detection device according to claim 2, wherein the small chamber member has a protrusion at the opening end. The chamber member comprises at least three small chamber members;
4. The collision detection device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of small chamber members is formed in a straight line shape and disposed at a center portion in the vehicle width direction of the chamber member. .   The collision detection device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening end portion is formed on a vehicle rear side of an end portion in a vehicle width direction of the main body portion.   The vehicle collision detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a separation distance between the main body portions is 100 mm or less.   The vehicle collision detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a material of the chamber member is polyethylene.

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