JP3927382B2 - Bumper support device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bumper support device for a vehicle equipped with a front under-run protector.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, the front lower end position of the vehicle has been equipped with a front bumper so as to protect the vehicle body and the occupant by absorbing the impact from the front due to the collision of the vehicles, etc. Since it is usually attached to the front end of the frame via a stay, when a vehicle with a high chassis frame such as a large vehicle such as a truck collides with a vehicle with a low vehicle height such as a passenger car, There is a risk of getting under the chassis frame.
[0003]
For this reason, in recent years, for large vehicles such as trucks, it has been considered to equip the lower position of the front bumper with a front under-run protector so that a partner vehicle such as a passenger car does not sink under the chassis frame in the event of a collision. Yes.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, installing this type of front underrun protector at the lower position of the front bumper results in significantly lowering the ground clearance of large vehicles as compared to the conventional method, and it is a bad road outside public roads (such as civil engineering work sites). In large vehicles such as trucks and dump trucks that often run on leveling ground, the approach angle (starting angle that can be climbed) decreases and the front underrun protector easily interferes with obstacles on the road surface, resulting in poor running performance. There was a fear.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and relates to a vehicle equipped with a front underrun protector, which can improve its running performance and prevent damage on the vehicle body side due to interference with roadside obstacles. The purpose is to do so.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a stopper that is pivotally attached to the lower surfaces of the front end portions of the left and right side rails so that the upper end portion can tilt and abuts against the lower surface of the front end portion of the side rail at the rear of the tilting center to prevent the backward tilting movement. The formed bracket, a front underrun protector that is tiltably supported at two locations in the vehicle width direction by the lower end portion of each bracket, and a front bumper in which a lower portion is integrally attached to the front surface of the front underrun protector A link that tiltably connects the front bumper and the side rails to regulate the posture of the front bumper when it is flipped up, and an actuator that tilts and moves the bracket in the flip-up direction of the front bumper Bumper support comprising: locking means for locking the front bumper in a normal posture before the flip-up It is those of location, to.
[0007]
Thus, when the vehicle travels on a rough road that is not leveled, if the lock is released by the locking means and the bracket is tilted forward by the actuator, the front bumper is regulated by the link while the front underrun is regulated. It jumps forward together with the protector, and the ground height of the front underrun protector increases to increase the approach angle (starting angle for climbing), which makes it difficult for the front underrun protector to interfere with roadside obstacles. The running performance is greatly improved.
[0008]
On the other hand, when driving on a leveled public road, if the front bumper is returned to its normal position before being flipped up and the front bumper is locked by the locking means, a vehicle with a low height such as a passenger car on the public road should be used. The bracket stopper abuts against the lower surface of the front end of the side rail to prevent the bracket from moving backward, and the impact from the front can be prevented via the bracket. Since it can be efficiently transmitted to each side rail, similar to the case of the fixed front underrun protector, the opponent vehicle can be prevented from getting under the chassis frame in the event of a collision.
[0009]
In the present invention, the bracket has an inclined side that functions as a brace between a support portion for the front underrun protector at the lower end portion and a contact portion of the stopper with respect to the lower surface of the front end portion of the side rail. In this way, it is possible to more reliably transmit the impact from the front input to the front underrun protector to each side rail in the event of a collision.
[0010]
Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the unlocking of the locking means and the tilting movement of the bracket in the direction of raising the bracket by the actuator are interlocked. In this way, the front bumper and the front underrun are configured. It is possible to simply perform the protector jumping operation.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
1 to 6 show an example of an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 denotes left and right side rails that form a ladder-like chassis frame together with a cross member (not shown). 2 and only the left side rail is shown), and the upper end of the bracket 2 having a substantially triangular side surface is tiltable via a hinge 3 on the lower surface of the front end of each side rail 1. A stopper 4 is formed on the rear side of the bracket 2 so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the front end portion of the side rail 1 behind the hinge 3 and prevent the backward tilting movement.
[0013]
Further, at the lower end portion of each bracket 2, a front underrun protector 5 that prevents the opponent vehicle from entering at the time of a collision is supported via a hinge 6 so as to be tiltable at two locations in the vehicle width direction. The inclined side of the bracket 2 functions as a brace between a support portion for the front underrun protector 5 at the lower end of the bracket and a contact portion of the stopper 4 with the lower surface of the front end portion of the side rail 1. .
[0014]
On the other hand, a lower part of the front bumper 7 is integrally mounted on the front surface of the front under-run protector 5, and a position directly above the front under-run protector 5 on the back side of the front bumper 7. The front rail outer side surfaces of the side rails 1 are connected to each other by a link 8 that regulates the posture of the front bumper 7 when the front bumper 7 is flipped up as shown in FIG.
[0015]
Further, the outer surface of the front end portion of each side rail 1 behind the link 8 and the position near the hinge 6 of the bracket 2 are connected to each other by an expandable / contractible air cylinder 9 (actuator). Further, between the front bumper 7 and the front end portion of each side rail 1, a locked portion 10 and a locked portion are provided as locking means for locking the front bumper 7 in a normal posture before flipping up. A lock device 11 that can be detachably engaged with the portion 10 is provided.
[0016]
That is, as shown in an enlarged view in FIGS. 3 and 4, a locked portion 10 having a U shape in plan view is provided at the uppermost position on the back side of the front bumper 7, and the hook portion 12. Is provided on the outer surface of the front end portion of each of the side rails 1. ing.
[0017]
Here, the air cylinder 9 responsible for the tilting movement of the bracket 2 and the air cylinder 13 of the locking device 11 are guided from an air tank 15 mounted on the vehicle via an electromagnetic valve 16 as shown in FIG. When the driver operates the switch 17 and closes the solenoid valve 16, the supply of the working air is cut off and the air cylinders 9 and 13 are turned on. It is designed to return to the contracted state in conjunction with the elastic force of the spring built in itself.
[0018]
Even if the hook portion 12 of the locking device 11 is closed before the supply of the working air is cut off and the front bumper 7 returns to the normal posture, the hook portion 12 is connected to the front bumper 7 and the front underrun protector. Since the locked portion 10 is pushed from the front by its own weight, the mechanism tilts upward so as to ride on the locked portion 10 against the elastic force of the spring of the air cylinder 13. The locked portion 10 and the lock device 11 are surely engaged when the supply of operating air is shut off, but once engaged, as long as the air cylinder 13 does not extend and operate. The engagement is not easily disengaged.
[0019]
Thus, when the vehicle travels on a rough road where the road is not leveled, if the solenoid valve 16 is opened by the switch 17 and the operating air from the air tank 15 is guided to the air cylinders 9 and 13, the air of the lock device 11 is obtained. When the cylinder 13 is extended, the hook portion 12 is released from the locked portion 10 and the lock is released (see FIG. 4). At the same time, the air cylinder 9 is extended and the bracket 2 is tilted forward. Become.
[0020]
Then, the front bumper 7 is flipped forward together with the front underrun protector 5 while the posture is regulated by the link 8, and the ground height of the front underrun protector 5 is increased, as shown in FIG. The approach angle is increased to θ2 compared to the approach angle (startable climbing angle) θ1 in the normal posture before jumping up as indicated by the one-dot chain line, so that the front under-run protector 5 interferes with the obstacle on the road surface side. It becomes difficult to do so and the running performance is greatly improved.
[0021]
On the other hand, when traveling on a leveled public road, the front bumper 7 is returned to the normal posture before being flipped up, and the locked portion 10 and the hook portion 12 of the locking device 11 are engaged to lock the front bumper 7. If this happens, the stopper 4 of the bracket 2 will contact the lower surface of the front end of the side rail 1 even if it hits a low-height vehicle such as a passenger car on a public road and receives a strong impact from the front. Since it is possible to prevent the rearward movement of the bracket 2 and prevent the impact from the front through the bracket 2 to be efficiently transmitted to the side rails 1, the case of a fixed front underrun protector Similarly, the opponent vehicle can be prevented from getting under the chassis frame at the time of collision.
[0022]
In particular, in this embodiment, the bracket 2 is inclined so that it functions as a brace between a support portion for the front underrun protector 5 at the lower end portion and a contact portion of the stopper 4 against the lower surface of the front end portion of the side rail 1. Since it is formed in a substantially triangular shape having sides, it is possible to transmit the impact from the front input to the front underrun protector 5 to each side rail 1 more reliably at the time of collision.
[0023]
Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, when the vehicle is equipped with the front under-run protector 5 and travels on a rough road where the vehicle is not leveled, the front under-run protector is connected to the front bumper 7 via the bracket 2 by the air cylinder 9. The approach angle can be increased from θ1 to θ2 (refer to FIG. 6) by jumping forward together with 5, so that the running performance of the vehicle is greatly improved and the vehicle side is improved due to interference with obstacles on the road surface side. Damage can be prevented in advance.
[0024]
In addition, when traveling on a leveled public road, the front bumper 7 and the front underrun protector 5 are returned to the normal postures before jumping up, thereby reliably preventing the opponent vehicle from entering under the chassis frame. Therefore, it is possible to ensure excellent collision safety performance that is the same as that of the fixed front underrun protector.
[0025]
Further, in the present embodiment, by causing the inclined side of the bracket 2 to function as a brace, the impact from the front input to the front underrun protector 5 at the time of collision can be transmitted to each side rail 1 more reliably. Therefore, it is possible to realize stronger support of the front underrun protector 5 at the time of collision.
[0026]
Further, the unlocking due to the engagement between the locked portion 10 and the hook portion 12 of the locking device 11 and the tilting movement of the bracket 2 in the flip-up direction by the air cylinder 9 are interlocked only by operating the switch 17. Since the engine is started, the flip-up operation of the front bumper 7 and the front underrun protector 5 can be easily performed.
[0027]
Note that the bumper support device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the bumper support device of the present invention described above, various excellent effects as described below can be obtained.
[0029]
(I) According to the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention, the vehicle is equipped with a front underrun protector, and the front bumper is mounted together with the front underrun protector when the vehicle travels on a rough road that is not leveled. The approach angle (startable angle for climbing) can be increased by jumping forward, greatly improving vehicle running performance and preventing vehicle side damage due to interference with roadside obstacles. be able to.
[0030]
(II) According to the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention, when traveling on a leveled public road, the front bumper and the front under-run protector are returned to the normal posture before jumping up, and the opponent at the time of collision It is possible to reliably prevent the vehicle from getting under the chassis frame, and to ensure excellent collision safety performance that is the same as that of the fixed front underrun protector.
[0031]
(III) According to the invention described in claim 2 of the present invention, it is possible to more reliably transmit the impact from the front input to the front underrun protector to each side rail at the time of the collision, and the front under at the time of the collision. A stronger support of the run protector can be realized.
[0032]
(IV) According to the invention described in claim 3 of the present invention, the front bumper and the front underrun protector bounce by interlocking the unlocking of the locking means and the tilting movement of the bracket in the direction of the flip-up by the actuator. The raising operation can be easily performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of an embodiment for carrying out the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the front bumper of FIG. 1 is flipped forward.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing details of the locking device of FIG. 1;
4 is an enlarged view showing the unlocked state of the locking device of FIG. 3; FIG.
FIG. 5 is a system diagram showing a supply path of working air to each air cylinder.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram relating to an approach angle when the front bumper is flipped up.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Side rail 2 Bracket 3 Hinge (Tilt center)
4 Stopper 5 Front underrun protector 7 Front bumper 8 Link 9 Air cylinder (actuator)
10 Locked part (locking means)
11 Locking device (locking means)

Claims (3)

A bracket having an upper end pivotably attached to the lower surfaces of the front end portions of the left and right side rails, and a stopper formed on the rear surface of the tilt center so as to abut against the lower surface of the front end portions of the side rails and prevent backward tilting movements; A front underrun protector that is tiltably supported at two locations in the vehicle width direction by lower ends of the brackets, a front bumper that is integrally attached to the front surface of the front underrun protector, and the front A link that tiltably connects a bumper and each side rail to regulate the posture of the front bumper when it is flipped up, an actuator that tilts the bracket in the flip-up direction of the front bumper, and the front bumper A bumper support device comprising: locking means for locking in a normal posture before flipping up. The bracket is formed with an inclined side that functions as a brace between a support portion of the lower end portion of the front underrun protector and a contact portion of the stopper with respect to the lower surface of the front end portion of the side rail. The bumper support device according to claim 1, wherein The bumper support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the unlocking of the locking means and the tilting movement of the bracket in the direction of raising the bracket by the actuator are interlocked with each other.

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