Vehicle front end structure

• US 20050161273A1
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Makita, Masashi, Pal, Chinmoy
• Granted Patent: US 7,185,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/205 inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

A vehicle front end structure is configured to handle a front collision by using one or more inflatable bags to bear the collision load and produce a stable reaction force. The front inflatable bag is provided in a region where a colliding object can contact the front end of a vehicle body and configured such that it can deploy and inflate into a wall surface-like shape immediately before a collision. As a result, the collision load of a front collision can be absorbed efficiently. Additionally, since the inflated front inflatable bag serves to bear the collision load as a surface, it can generate a stable reaction force irregardless of the angle at which the collision load is imparted, the size of the colliding object, or size of the overlap ratio.

Claims

1. A vehicle front end structure comprising:

a front support structure provided in a front end region of a vehicle body where a colliding object can contact the vehicle body; and

a front inflatable device disposed adjacent the front support structure and configured to be selectively deployed and inflated into a wall shaped surface prior a collision.

2. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 1, wherein

the front support structure includes a transverse framework member arranged on the front end section of the vehicle body with the front inflatable device being mounted in a stored condition on the transverse framework member and arranged to inflate in a transverse direction of the vehicle body.

3. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 2, wherein

the front inflatable device is arranged on an upper surface or a lower surface of the transverse framework member.

4. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 1, wherein

the front inflatable device is arranged to inflate into a space located above an upper surface or in a space located below a lower surface of the transverse framework member.

5. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 2, wherein

the front inflatable device is arranged to inflate into a space located adjacent a rear surface of the transverse framework member.

6. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 2, further comprising

a gas pressure supplying device arranged inside the transverse framework member, and operatively coupled to the front inflatable device for inflating the front inflatable device.

7. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 1, wherein

the front support structure is divided into a plurality of sub regions;

the front inflatable device is formed of a plurality of front inflatable bags with at least one of the front inflatable bags arranged in each of the sub regions of the front support structure.

8. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 7, further comprising

a controller operatively coupled to the front inflatable bags to selectively inflate one or more of the front inflatable bags based on a predicted collision area such that inflation of one or more of the front inflatable bags corresponds to a portion of the vehicle where it is predicted that a collision will occur.

9. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 8, wherein the controller includes

a potentially colliding object detecting section configured to detect an object that could possibly collide with the vehicle;

an impact position predicting section configured to predict a position on the vehicle body where the object will most likely impact; and

an actuation signal outputting section configured to actuate the front inflatable bags corresponding to the predicted collision position.

10. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 2, wherein

the front inflatable device is configured and arranged to inflate into a space between the transverse framework member and a power unit located rearward of the transverse framework member.

11. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 10, further comprising

a rear inflatable device configured and arranged to inflate into a space between the power unit and a dash panel located rearward of the power unit.

12. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 10, further comprising

an upper inflatable device configured and arranged to inflate in a space between the power unit and a hood located above the power unit.

13. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 12, further comprising

a rear inflatable device configured and arranged to inflate into a space between the power unit and a dash panel located rearward of the power unit.

14. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 1, wherein

the front support structure includes a plurality of transverse framework members arranged with an appropriate vertical spacing therebetween, and

the front inflatable device is formed of a plurality of front inflatable bags with the front inflatable bags being arranged to inflate vertically to span the vertical spacing between the transverse framework members.

15. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 14, wherein

the front inflatable bags are arranged on one of rear, upper or lower surfaces of the transverse framework members.

16. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 14, further comprising

a plurality of gas pressure supplying devices arranged inside the transverse framework members, and operatively coupled to the front inflatable bags for inflating the front inflatable bags.

17. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 14, wherein

the front inflatable bags are configured and arranged to inflate spaces between the transverse framework members and a power unit located rearward of the transverse framework members.

18. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 17, further comprising

at least one rear inflatable bags configured and arranged to inflate into a space between the power unit and a dash panel located rearward of the power unit.

19. The vehicle front end structure recited in claim 17, further comprising

at least one upper inflated bags configured and arranged to inflate in spaces between the power unit and a hood located above the power unit.

20. A vehicle front end structure comprising:

front structural support means for structural supporting a front end region of a vehicle body where a colliding object can contact the vehicle body; and

front inflatable means for forming a wall shaped surface immediately before a collision to efficiently a collision load by generating a stable reaction force.