VEHICLE IMPACT DETECTION SYSTEM

• US 20100231002A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Inagaki, Tomohiro, Okamoto, Toshimasa, Sugano, Naomi, Yakata, Takashi, YOSHIOKA, Hideki
• Granted Patent: US 8,070,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/187.120
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/157 for side impacts
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/025 Side sills thereof

Abstract

A side sill beam having a shape of an arch concave outwards in a vehicle-width direction is placed in a side sill, and includes first and second ends welded to joining areas with front and rear floor cross members, respectively. A first impact detection element that detects an impact from the outside in the vehicle-width direction is disposed near the joining areas of the side sill and the front or rear floor cross member, and a second impact detection element that detects an impact from the outside in the vehicle-width direction is disposed offset from the first impact detection element in a vehicle front-rear direction as viewed in the vehicle-width direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle impact detection system comprising:

a pair of right and left side sills that form a closed cross section structure, extend in a vehicle front-rear direction, and are arranged parallel with a lower side part of a vehicle body;

a first cross member whose ends are joined to inner surfaces of the side sills in a vehicle-width direction;

a second cross member that is arranged behind the first cross member in the vehicle front-rear direction and whose ends are joined to inner surfaces of the side sills in the vehicle-width direction;

a floor tunnel extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and joined to the first and second cross members in a substantially central section in the vehicle-width direction;

a load-transmitting member that has a shape like an arch curved outwards in the vehicle width direction, is installed in each of the side sills, and is joined to the corresponding side sill from the inside of the side sill at positions corresponding to joining areas with the side sill and the first and second cross members;

a first impact detection element that is disposed near the joining areas with the side sill and the first and second cross members, and detects an impact from the outside in the vehicle-width direction; and

a second impact detection element that is disposed in the floor tunnel to be offset from the first impact detection element in the vehicle front-rear direction, and detects an impact from the outside in the vehicle-width direction.

2. The vehicle impact detection system according to claim 1, wherein

the load-transmitting member has a closed cross section structure in which a first side located on an outer side in the vehicle-width direction as viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction is longer than a second side located on an inner side in the vehicle-width direction.

3. The vehicle impact detection system according to claim 2, wherein

the load-transmitting member includes a member having a hat-like cross section that is open outwards in the vehicle-width direction as viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction and a plate-like member, and has a closed cross section structure in which a pair of flanges of the member having a hat-like cross section and the plate-like member are joined to each other.

4. The vehicle impact detection system according to claim 1, wherein

on an outer side of each of the side sills in the vehicle-width direction, there is provided an air dam that is open inwards in the vehicle-width direction, extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and is joined to the corresponding side sill to form a closed cross section structure;

and

a foam material is filled in an internal space of the air dam having the closed cross section structure to fit the arch-shaped portion of the load-transmitting member so as to contact at least an inner surface of a side wall located on an outer side of the air dam in the vehicle-width direction and an outer surface of a side wall of the corresponding side sill.