JP2011196534A - Collision energy absorbing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a collision energy absorbing device which provides positive and precise energy absorption control for directly protecting an occupant in a cabin.SOLUTION: As a result of matching a direction with an axial direction of a cylindrical energy absorbing member 2, inserting a slot insertion piece 2b into a slot 5a of a slot member 5, and attaching the collision energy absorbing device 1 such that a top plate 4 is positioned in the front in an insertion direction, an impact is applied in an axial direction of a cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a, and in an energy absorbing process by the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a, a tip of the slot insertion piece 2b is guided by the top plate 4, and it is passed through the slot 5a to expand outward. By setting the height h of the slot 5a smaller than the thickness t2 of the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a, an energy absorbing capacity in a process of the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a passing through the slot 5a can be increased.

Description

  The present invention relates to a collision energy absorbing device in a collision accident of a vehicle such as an automobile.

In an energy absorbing member known as a collision energy absorbing structure in an automobile and absorbing energy by being broken in the axial direction, the mode of energy absorption is greatly influenced by the quality of constituent materials and energy absorption control. For example, a conventional energy absorbing member made of, for example, an aluminum alloy is generally attached to a rear bumper portion of an automobile with one end fixed to the chassis and the other end fixed to the bumper.
Thus, the collision force generated perpendicularly to the front surface of the bumper compresses the cylindrical energy absorbing member in the axial direction. A highly malleable metal such as this special aluminum alloy is naturally more expensive than a less malleable material.

  Patent document 1 is examining the energy absorption system and method which solve the problem in implementing the crash tube absorption system for the energy absorption with respect to an axial load. In this energy absorption system and method of Patent Document 1, when the crush tube is inserted into the alignment hole of the taper component, and the taper component and the flare component are moved onto the crush tube, the taper component reduces the diameter of the crush tube. The flare component splits the crush tube into multiple petals. By attaching the crash tube in the axial direction parallel to the direction in which the impact is applied, the impact energy at the time of collision can be absorbed by tapering, flaring, and friction.

  In the energy absorption system and method of this patent document 1, as shown in FIG. 13, the steady state impact load is significantly higher compared to the conventional axial collapse energy absorption system and the crush tube after the “preload” of the tapered component. It states that a steady state impact load over the entire length is reached and that more energy can be absorbed per unit than in the prior art.

US Pat. No. 6,523,873

  However, the energy absorption system and method disclosed in Patent Document 1 is attached to the rear part of the front bumper portion of the vehicle with one end fixed to the chassis and the other end fixed to the bumper to protect the entire cabin of the vehicle in the event of a collision. Intended. Therefore, it has not been studied as an energy absorption system that directly protects the human body when the passenger in the cabin or the subject of the collision is a pedestrian, but it is reliable and precise as an energy absorption system that directly protects the human body. Energy absorption control could not be performed.

  Specifically, in the energy absorption system and method disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a collision load is applied, the taper and flare components arranged to receive the end of the crash tube slide on the crash tube, and the tube And the energy is absorbed by dividing the tapered portion of the tube into a plurality of pieces.

  However, the direction of the impact load is not specified, so there is a taper and flare component on the crush tube that is simply coordinated to receive the end of the crush tube and not specifically guided. There is no guarantee that the energy absorption operation that slides, taps the tube, and the tapered part of the tube is divided into multiple pieces will surely proceed, and the load due to collision that can happen accidentally Then, there was a problem that the negative function of the energy absorption operation proceeded.

  On the other hand, in the energy absorption system that directly protects the human body when the passenger in the cabin or the object of the collision is a pedestrian, there is a guarantee that the energy absorption operation will surely proceed when a load due to collision occurs. It must be configured to have a positive function possible. In addition, the energy absorption operation that proceeds is required to be precisely optimized to directly protect the human body taking into account the movement of other safety devices such as seat belts and other factors.

  In view of the above problems in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a collision energy absorbing device capable of enabling reliable and precise energy absorption control for directly protecting a human body.

  The collision energy absorbing device of the present invention has a cylindrical energy absorbing member and a slot member, and the cylindrical energy absorbing member is continuous with the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body and one end of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body. The slot insertion piece is inserted into the slot of the slot member.

  The height of the slot can be made smaller than the plate thickness of the cylindrical energy absorbing member body. Further, at least one of the plurality of slots may have a side that draws an arc in the width direction of the slot insertion piece.

  The cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body may be such that at least one of the outer side surface and the inner side surface is a polygonal shape. Further, the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body may have a region where the plate thickness is different from an end portion continuous to the slot insertion piece toward an opposite end portion.

  The collision energy absorbing device of the present invention has a positive function capable of ensuring that the energy absorbing operation proceeds reliably, and enables reliable and precise energy absorption control for directly protecting the human body.

It is a perspective view of the collision energy absorption device of one embodiment of the present invention. (A) It is a fragmentary perspective view of the collision energy absorption apparatus of embodiment shown in FIG. (B) It is IIb-IIb sectional drawing shown in FIG. It is another fragmentary perspective view of the collision energy absorption apparatus of embodiment shown in FIG. It is IV-IV sectional drawing shown in FIG. (A) It is the elements on larger scale of the collision energy absorption apparatus of embodiment shown in FIG. (B) It is a partial expansion schematic diagram of the collision energy absorption apparatus of other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the area | region shown by VI on FIG. (A) It is a fragmentary perspective view of the collision energy absorption apparatus of further another embodiment of this invention. (B) It is VIIb-VIIb sectional drawing shown to Fig.7 (a). It is a stress-stroke curve regarding the collision energy absorbing device of the embodiment shown in FIG. (A) It is a fragmentary perspective view of the collision energy absorption apparatus of another embodiment of this invention. (B) It is another fragmentary perspective view of the collision energy absorption apparatus of embodiment shown to Fig.9 (a). (C) It is a fragmentary sectional view of the collision energy absorption apparatus of embodiment shown to Fig.9 (a) (b). It is a partial perspective view of the motor vehicle carrying the collision energy absorption apparatus of this invention. It is a partial expansion perspective view of the motor vehicle shown in FIG. It is the other partial expansion perspective view of the motor vehicle shown in FIG. It is a stress-stroke curve regarding the conventional collision energy absorption apparatus.

The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated below.
As shown in FIG. 1, the collision energy absorbing device 1 of the present invention comprises a resin-made cylindrical energy absorbing member 2 and a slot portion 3, which is a required position of a vehicle (for example, the automobile shown in FIG. 10). And a slot member 5 attached to the top plate 4.
As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the cylindrical energy absorbing member 2 includes a cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a having a hollow inside, and a slot insertion piece 2b integrated with the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a. . Six slot insertion pieces 2b are provided at one end of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a at a circularly symmetric position with the axial direction of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a, that is, the energy absorbing direction as the rotation center. As shown in FIG. 2B, the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a has a cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, that is, a cross-sectional shape, and in this embodiment, both the inner and outer surfaces are hexagonal. Each apex portion of the hexagonal cross section on the inner side surface is a thin portion 2c. Each apex angle portion has a notch 2d partially along the axial direction.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the slot 5a of the slot member 5 mounted on the top plate 4 of the slot portion 3 has a positional relationship corresponding to the six slot insertion pieces 2b of the cylindrical energy absorbing member 2 in a one-to-one relationship. Provided.
As shown in FIG. 4, the axial direction of the cylindrical energy absorbing member 2 is made to coincide with the axial direction, and the slot insertion piece 2b is inserted into the slot 5a of the slot member 5, so that the top plate 4 is positioned in front of the insertion direction. The collision energy absorbing device 1 is assembled to the above.

FIG. 5 shows the outer shape of the slot 5a in plan view. In the present embodiment, each of the plurality of slots 5a is formed in a rectangular shape having a height h and a width w as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the plate thickness t1 of the plate-like slot insertion piece 2b is made smaller than the height h of the slot 5a, while the plate thickness t2 of the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a is The relationship is greater than the height h of 5a.

According to the collision energy absorbing device 1 of the above embodiment, when an impact is applied in the axial direction of the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a, the tip of the slot insertion piece 2b passes through the slot 5a and is guided by the top plate 4. And expand outward. Subsequently, six slit pieces (not shown) cut by the thin portion 2c of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a pass through the slot 5a. In the process, the collision energy is absorbed by the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a.
4 indicates the energy absorption direction when an impact is applied in the axial direction of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a.

  That is, according to the collision energy absorbing device 1 of the above embodiment, as a result of the collision energy absorbing device 1 being assembled by inserting the slot insertion piece 2b into the slot 5a of the slot member 5, the slot insertion piece 2b passing through the slot 5a. The certainty of the operation in which the impact energy directly applied to the human body in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Further, the top plate 4 is positioned in front of the slot insertion piece 2b in the passing direction, and the slit insertion pieces 2b and the slit pieces of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a are guided by the top plate 4 and spread outward. The slit piece of the absorbent member main body 2a also surely passes through the slot 5a, and a sufficient shock energy absorption relaxation operation is performed over the entire length.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the plate thickness t1 of the plate-like slot insertion piece 2b is made smaller than the height h of the slot 5a in the plate thickness direction of the slot insertion piece 2b. The reliability of the guide operation by the slot insertion piece 2b by assembling the collision energy absorbing device 1 by inserting the insertion piece 2b is ensured, and the efficiency of the assembling process can be improved. On the other hand, the thickness t2 of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a is larger than the height h of the slot 5a, so that the energy absorbing stress increases in the process in which the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a passes through the slot 5a. Is done.

  Moreover, the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a has a hexagonal shape in cross section on both the inner and outer surfaces, and by adjusting the plate thickness of the six torn pieces, that is, the plate thickness of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a. The stress adjustment at the time of collision energy absorption can be performed precisely and easily. In addition, as a result of the hexagonal shape, it is possible to cut at the same time as guiding in the collision energy absorption direction at the corners.

  FIG. 5 (b) shows another embodiment of the collision energy absorbing device 1 of the present invention, in which two sides extending in the width w direction of the slot 5a are curved in the height h direction of the slot 5a and the slot insertion piece 2b is formed. At least one or more of the plurality of slots 5a may have a side 5b1 and / or a side 5b2 that draw an arc in the width w direction. As a result, the energy absorbing stress can be increased in the process in which the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a passes through the slot 5a, and the energy absorbing performance can be precisely controlled.

  7 (a) and 7 (b) show still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a is formed with a convex portion 2e on its outer surface, so that a slot insertion piece is formed. Different regions P are set by changing the plate thickness between regions from the end portion continuous to 2b to the opposite end portion. As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the convex portion 2e is formed in an annular shape on each outer surface of the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a having a hexagonal cross section so that the energy is uniformly distributed over the entire cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a. An absorption load is applied.

  FIG. 8 is a stress-stroke curve in the process in which the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a passes through the slot 5a, and shows a region where stress is increased by having the convex portion 2e. In this way, it is possible to perform precise control so that the energy absorption by the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a is substantially equal in relation to the movement of other safety equipment such as a seat belt.

  FIGS. 9A to 9B show still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a slot member 6 which is separately attached to each slot 5a is attached to a slot member 5 fixed to the top plate 4. FIG. And the knife edge member 7 fixed to the slot member 5 in the inner position of the cylindrical energy absorbing member 2 is assembled. The knife edge member 7 has a knife edge 7a, and the knife edge 7a is in contact with the thin wall portion 2c of each apex portion of the hexagonal cross section on the inner surface of the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a. The member 7 is fixed to the slot member 5.

  The slot component 6 has a slot hole 6a through which the slot insertion piece 2b is inserted, and is separately manufactured as one single component. Therefore, the energy absorbing ability stress is precisely set in the process in which the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a passes through the slot 5a by the height h of the slot hole 6a in relation to the plate thickness t2 of the cylindrical energy absorbing member body 2a. be able to. As shown in the figure, the slot insertion piece 2b is inserted into the slot hole 6a by increasing the insertion insertion side height of the slot hole 6a and adopting a shape with a small outlet side as the shape of the slot hole 6a. The certainty of the guide operation obtained by inserting 2b and assembling is ensured, and the efficiency of the assembling process can be improved. At the same time, the energy absorption performance in the process in which the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a passes through the slot hole 6a can be increased.

  Further, the knife edge 7a of the knife edge member 7 contacts the thin portion 2c of each apex portion of the hexagonal cross section of the inner side surface of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a, and the thin portion 2c is smoothly torn into the slot hole 6a. Energy absorption proceeds smoothly in the process in which each piece of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body 2a that has been inserted and torn passes through the slot 5a.

  As shown in FIG. 10, any one of the collision energy absorbing devices 1 of the above embodiments is used for bumper 8, occupant leg impact absorbing knee bolster 9, occupant waist impact absorbing pervis bolster 10, occupant for pedestrian protection. It can be set as the motor vehicle 12 with high passenger | crew protection performance with which it mounted | worn to at least one of the roof pads 11 for head impact absorption.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment in which a lower limb impact absorbing knee bolster 9 is constituted by the collision energy absorbing device 1 of the present invention. The top plate 4 is fixed to a structural part 13 of an automobile body (not shown), and the collision energy absorbing device 1 is arranged on the back panel side of the instrument panel or under cover 14 of the automobile cabin. This alleviates damage to the occupant's knees during a car crash.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment in which the occupant waist impact absorbing pervis bolster 10 is constituted by the collision energy absorbing device 1 of the present invention. The collision energy absorbing device 1 is disposed on the back side inside the automobile door 15. This mitigates damage to the occupant's waist due to impact from the side of the car.

2 ... cylindrical energy absorbing member, 5 ... slot member, 2a ... cylindrical energy absorbing member body, 5a ... slot, 2b ... slot insertion piece, 4 ... top plate, 1 ... A collision energy absorber.

Claims (5)

A cylindrical energy absorbing member, and a slot member, and the cylindrical energy absorbing member includes a cylindrical energy absorbing member main body and a slot insertion piece continuous to one end of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body. A collision energy absorbing device characterized in that the slot insertion piece is inserted into a slot of a slot member. The collision energy absorbing device according to claim 1, wherein the height of the slot is smaller than the plate thickness of the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body. 2. The collision energy absorbing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of slots has a side that draws an arc in a width direction of the slot insertion piece. 2. The collision energy absorbing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an outer side surface and an inner side surface of the tubular energy absorbing member main body has a polygonal shape. 2. The collision energy absorbing device according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical energy absorbing member main body has a region in which a plate thickness is different from an end portion continuous with the slot insertion piece toward an opposite end portion.

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