Combined use of a wing and bonnet with an airbag and a wing retention and support device, vehicle wing, vehicle wing module and bonnet

p0001The present invention relates to a use of a fender and a hood in combination with an airbag, a retaining means and a wing support, a wing, a wing module and a bonnet of a motor vehicle.

p0002We know that car manufacturers are looking to equip their pedestrian protection systems for vehicles. already known, for example, airbags designed to deploy outside the vehicle to cover too rigid areas, such as the junction hood / windshield, to cushion any impact with the pedestrian.

p0003From rigid and therefore dangerous areas for pedestrians, there is the junction wing / hood, relatively steep due to the juxtaposition of the cover edges of the wing.

p0004To protect this wing / bonnet area is known in the prior art, especially in <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1323597A"><text>EP 1323597</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="DE19948181"><text>DE 19948181</text></patcit>, Devices consisting to deploy along the joint to the cover, upon detection of an impact.

p0005The problem with such a protective device of the junction flange / cover is that it extends over a restricted and very localized area.

p0006Also known in the prior art, particularly in <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="DE10014832"><text>DE 10014832</text></patcit>A device consisting in the hood through the deployment of an airbag. However, during an impact, as the airbag deploys primarily under the hood, the pedestrian's head strikes the outer surface of the cover, rigid surface which may be dangerous even when the airbag is deployed below.

p0007The present invention is to provide a protection sufficiently wide fender-hood junction to withstand a head of the pedestrian, and also protect pedestrians more distant rigid parts of the junction, such as the battery or the damper cups .

p0008To this end, the invention provides a use of a fender and a door on the front of a motor vehicle, providing a fender-hood junction leaving predetermined clearance between an edge of the hood and an edge of wing, in combination with an airbag for deploying outside the vehicle, so that during its deployment, the inflatable airbag deforms the fender and / or the cover so as to enlarge the game and to create a passage between the edge of the cover and the edge of the wing.

p0009Thus, thanks to the invention, when the air bag deploys, it exerts pressure on the wing or on the hood which, suitably dimensioned, deform easily so as to enlarge the space between the fender and the hood to let out the air bag and protect a relatively large area.

p0010A particular advantage of the invention is to adapt to any type of vehicle, including a vehicle with too little space in the vicinity of the wing to implement a pedestrian protection passive system, such as a piece of absorption, while providing greater system protection that this liability.

p0011Optionally, the fender and the hood are used in combination with multiple airbags, which expands the protected surface. Optionally, each cushion is sized differently as it is to protect an adult or a child.

p0012A use of a fender and of a hood according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics:<ul><li>the airbag is designed to deploy in covering the fender-hood junction; and</li><li>the fender and the hood are used in combination with means for maintaining brittle to connect the wing to the vehicle structure.</li></ul>

p0013The invention also relates to a wing of a holding means before a motor vehicle, held in normal position of use on the vehicle by a holding means, the holding means being separate from the retaining means and being adapted to releasing the wing when subjected to a force greater than a predetermined threshold, said retention means being characterized in that it is adapted to retain the wing released from the holding means.

p0014An advantage of this holding means is that it avoids that during airbag deployment, the wing or part of the wing is projected to the outside of the vehicle and could injure a pedestrian or not possible falls dangerously in the middle of the road.

p0015A retaining means according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics:<ul><li>it comprises a cable attached to the wing and to a part of the motor vehicle structure;</li><li>it comprises a cover attached to the flange and a part of the vehicle structure;</li><li>the envelope is arranged around the air bag when the latter is in a rest position, this casing having the advantage of isolating the cushion from the outside environment;</li><li>the envelope is attached near an upper edge of the wing so as to guide the airbag during its deployment; and</li><li>the casing has sufficient size and strength to support the airbag upon deployment and come between the edges of the wing and the cover and cushion to protect it.</li></ul>

p0016The invention also relates to a wing support panel of a motor vehicle connecting an upper portion of the fender to the vehicle structure, the wing having a leading edge intended to be adjacent a cover leaving a predetermined clearance with an edge the hood, characterized in that it comprises a pivot by which it can be connected to the structure, so as to allow the expansion of the game.

p0017Optionally, the fender support is electrically controlled.

p0018Optionally, the fender support is used in combination with an airbag arranged to push on the media.

p0019The invention also relates to a wing support panel of a motor vehicle connecting an upper portion of the fender to the vehicle structure, characterized in that it comprises a housing for an inflatable airbag situated between the inside of the wing and the vehicle structure.

p0020Optionally, the wing support comprises, on the side of the structure, a soleplate serving as a bearing surface for the airbag during its deployment.

p0021Optionally, the wing support comprises a zone suitable for breaking under thrust from the inflatable cushion to release the upper part of the wing.

p0022The invention also relates to a front fender of a motor vehicle comprising a bodywork skin separating the inside and outside of the flange, terminated by an edge designed to be adjacent to a cover, characterized in that it comprises a housing for an air bag, located inside the wing and near the edge.

p0023This wing can be made of plastic or sheet metal.

p0024An advantage of the plastic wing is that it is possible to mold complex shapes and thus easily get a conformation consistent with the deployment of the airbag.

p0025A wing according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics:<ul><li>it comprises a holding means on the vehicle in normal use position, integral with the skin and having an area which can break;</li><li>it comprises a retaining means of the aforementioned type.</li></ul>

p0026The invention also relates to a wing front module of a motor vehicle, comprising a front wing and a wing of the aforementioned type support.

p0027Thus, with this fender module, automakers can incorporate, besides holding and appearance, a security feature in the fender module without changing the style of the vehicle.

p0028Another advantage provided by this fender module is to accelerate the assembly of the front of the motor vehicle. Indeed, on the assembly line, the manufacturer does not waste time to mount the airbag since it was previously integrated into the fender module.

p0029This fender module may include functional organs media.

p0030Finally, the invention relates to a front hood of a motor vehicle, comprising a deformable edge.

p0031Optionally, the edge of the hood is deformed during deployment of an airbag.

p0032Optionally, this cover is made of plastic, sheet metal or metal / plastic hybrid.

p0033The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given as an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is a cross section of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to a first embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> is a cross section of the wing and the cover of the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, Once the airbag has been deployed;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">3</figref> is a cross section of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to a second embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">4</figref> is a cross section of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to a third embodiment of the invention</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">5</figref> is a cross section of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">6</figref> is a cross section of the wing and the cover of the <figref idrefs="f0002">5</figref>Once the airbag is deployed;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">7</figref> is a cross section of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">8</figref> is a cross section of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">9</figref> is a cross section of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to a seventh embodiment of the invention; </li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 10</figref> is a cross section of the wing and a cover of the <figref idrefs="f0002">7</figref>After the deployment of the airbag;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">11</figref> is a cross section of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to an eighth embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 12</figref> is a cross section of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to a ninth embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">13</figref> is a cross section of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to a tenth embodiment of the invention; and</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 14</figref> is a perspective diagram of a wing of a motor vehicle hood according to an eleventh embodiment of the invention.</li></ul>

p0034Shown on <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> front of a motor vehicle, comprising a cover 10 and a front fender 12, located on the left of the driver.

p0035hood by means of a motor vehicle, the bodywork part immediately adjacent the upper edge of the wing front left or right of the vehicle, including the so-called bonnet liner. Generally, but not necessarily, the cover can be opened, at least partially, to access the engine or trunk before.

p0036In the following description, by fusible link is meant a connection which can break (fracture, unzipping), and by permanent connection, a non-fusible link.

p0037The front fender 12 has an outer skin 14, intended to be seen from outside the motor vehicle. This skin 14 has a top edge 16, adjacent to a left edge 18 of the hood, and a lower edge 20, usually connected to the vehicle structure.

p0038The edge 16 of the skin 14 and the edge 18 of the hood 10 are separated by a clearance 22.

p0039The front fender 12 has, perpendicular to its upper edge 16 and the inner side of the front face, a substantially vertical wall 24, a flange return component, allowing on one hand the fixation of the front fender 12 of the structure of the vehicle and secondly to stiffen the wing. Fixing the structure is formed through a flange 26 of the end of the vertical wall 24, which is fixed to a structural part 30 by fastening means 28.

p0040For structural part 30 is any element, relatively rigid, connected to the vehicle frame, and can withstand patches on the motor vehicle, such as wing 12, other body parts, or functional elements . For example, the structural part 30 is an upper left side member of the vehicle.

p0041Due to the vertical wall 24 molded into the edge 16 of the wing 12 and the edge 18 of the hood 10, which may additionally also include an inner rim, the zone formed by the edges 18, 16, and the game 22, can be particularly dangerous. Indeed, in an accident with a pedestrian in front of the vehicle, the pedestrian's head may impact.

p0042To cushion the impact, the front of the motor vehicle includes an airbag 32, folded in a housing 34.

p0043The airbag 32 is commonly referred to by the trademark "Airbag". Upon impact, not shown detecting means, generally located on the front bumper of the vehicle, activate the air bag 32 in a manner known per se. Once activated, the airbag 32 fills gas in order to deploy to the outside of the vehicle to cover part of the body and cushion the impact between this part and the pedestrian.

p0044In the embodiment of the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, The airbag 32 is fixed to the structural part 30, so as to have its base, when it is generally abrupt deployment, firmly attached to the vehicle.

p0045A part 31 is firmly secured to the structural part 30 so as to separate the part of the front face having the air bag 32 from the rest of the front panel. With this piece, during its deployment, the cushion is oriented game 22. This part 31 can be a functional member of the front end. It is not essential to the deployment of the cushion outwards, the latter can be guided by special stitching.

p0046We can see on the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> the cushion 32, once deployed, covers the dangerous edges 18, 16. During its deployment, the airbag 32 has put pressure on the organs surrounding it, including the cover 10, the part 31 and the wall 24 of the wing 12 which is plastic. The wing 12 is more flexible than the hood, it presented less resistance than other organs and distorted first, under this pressure. Specifically, the vertical wall 24 of the wing has pivoted about its edge 26, secured to the structural part 30.

p0047The fixing means 20 of the lower part of the wing are permanent, and the distorted wing is retained on the vehicle structure through these means and the wall 24.

p0048In this embodiment, the cap 10 is steeper than the wing 12 and it was not deformed.

p0049However, one can see the <figref idrefs="f0001">3</figref> that for a cover 11 having a flexible zone, a part thereof, in particular its edge 18, is deformed during deployment of the air bag 32.

p0050According to another embodiment shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">4</figref>, The vehicle comprises a cap 13 and a flange 15 such that the flange 15 is more resistant than the cover 13. Then, upon deployment of the airbag, the edge 18 of the hood 13 only which is deformed to enlarge the clearance 22.

p0051We can see on the <figref idrefs="f0002">5</figref> that the airbag 32 is located inside of the front fender 12. Thus, the housing 34 is attached to the wing 12, between the vertical wall 24 and the inner surface 36 of the flange 12. Optionally, the inner surface 36 may be covered with a protective film (not shown) to anticipate the risk of breaks in the surface of the wing 12.

p0052The flange 26 of the vertical wall 24 is fixed to the structural part 30, through a fuse fastening means 38 sufficiently strong to maintain the wing, but not enough to withstand the pressure of the airbag 32 upon deployment. The fuse fixing means 38 is for example a plastic rivet.

p0053When the airbag 32 inflates, it exerts pressure on the inner surface 36 of the skin 14 and the wall 24, so on the fastening means 38 to the point of breaking.

p0054Then, as shown in the <figref idrefs="f0002">6</figref>, The flange 26 of the wing 12 is separated from the structural part 30 so as to increase the clearance 22 so that the air bag 32 covers the end 18 of the hood 10. After the release of the flange 26, the flange 12 is deformed to leave the cushion 32 to deploy. However, thanks to the permanent attachment 20, the wing 12 is retained to the structure, thus avoiding any danger of projection outward of the vehicle.

p0055In the embodiment of the <figref idrefs="f0002">7</figref>It can be seen that the flange return is constituted by a wall 25 having a thickness of necking 40 adjacent the edge 16 and fixed to the structural part 30 by permanent attachment 28.

p0056To cause breakage in the necked region 40, reinforcements 42 and 44 are arranged inside the wing 12 adjacent the edge 16 and flange 26.

p0057Thus, when the airbag 32 is deployed inside the fender 12, it exerts pressure on the inner surface 36 and the wall 25, particularly at the necking thickness 40. Under this pressure, and because of the fragility of the wall at the constriction 40, the wall 25 is broken, thereby allowing the airbag 32 to exit out of the vehicle, enlarging the clearance 22.

p0058The upper wing 12 is released by the rupture zone 40, but is retained on the motor vehicle through the point of attachment 20.

p0059In the embodiment of the <figref idrefs="f0002">8</figref>, The fender 12 is fixed to the vehicle structure through an arm 46, pivotally mounted about a rotation axis 48 fixed to the vehicle structure. The arm 46 is rigidly fixed to the wing 12 at the edge 16, for example by gluing, screwing or welding. The arm 46 serves as a wing fixing means to the vehicle structure.

p0060The arm 46 is also connected to the structural part 30 by a bar 50, perpendicular to the arm. This bar 50 is fixed to the fuse part 30. The airbag 32 is, in this embodiment, fastened to the structural part 30 between a vertical wall 51 thereof and the arm 46, above the Bar 50.

p0061The pad 32 could also, in other embodiments (not shown), be fixed to the bar 50 or arm 46.

p0062When the airbag inflates, it exerts a pressure on the bar 50, on the arm 46 and on the inner face of the cap 10. This pressure increase, the fuse fixing the bar 50 to the part 30 yields, the arm 46 is pushed outside the vehicle, resulting in the deformation of the fender 12 made of plastic. The bar is pivoted about the axis 48 and the clearance 22 between the edge 18 of the hood 10 and the edge 16 of the wing increases, leaving a passage for the airbag.

p0063According to another embodiment (not shown), the pivot arm 46 is pivotally wall about an axis of rotation related to the structure, and the bar 50 is a horizontal wall.

p0064According to another embodiment (not shown), the pivot arm 46 is electrically controlled. Thus, following detection of an impact with a pedestrian, when a signal is sent to the airbag so that it fires, another signal automatically controls the pivoting of the arm 46 about the axis 48. So , the wing 12 is not deformed only by the pressure of the inflatable cushion 32 but also by the movement of the arm 46. the deployment of the air bag 32 out of the vehicle is facilitated.

p0065In the embodiment of the <figref idrefs="f0003">9</figref>, The flange 26 of the vertical wall 24 is connected to the structural part 30 by a fuse attachment means 38. The housing 34 of cushion 32 is arranged between the wall 24 of the wing and its inner surface 36. In this mode embodiment, the housing 34 is not directly fixed to the structural part 30 but encased in a casing 52 and on the vehicle with the wing 12.

p0066This envelope 52 is made of a relatively flexible material, sheet aluminum or plastic. It is fixed to the structural part 30 by a permanent attachment 54. It is also attached to the vertical wall 24 of the wing 12 by a permanent attachment 56.

p0067The casing 52 surrounds the bag 32 in the rest position so that when it is deployed, the sheath 52 is interposed between the cushion and sharp edges that meet to protect it. Thus, the ends of the sheath 52 are sufficiently large to cover the edges 16 and 18.

p0068Optionally, you can add other permanent connection means or not (gluing, gluing, welding) between the casing 52 and the surface 36 of the wing to ensure the unity of the whole envelope aile- -coussin .

p0069When the airbag 32 inflates, as shown in the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 10</figref>, It exerts pressure on the entire surface of the casing 52 and pulls the fuse attachment 38. The envelope 52 being more resistant to the pressure that the attachment 38, the deployment of the air bag 32 breaks the attachment 38. Then, the fender 12 is deformed so that its vertical wall 24 undergo a movement outwardly enlarging the clearance 22 so that the air bag 32 covers the edge 18 of the hood and further driven outside of the vehicle.

p0070During deployment of the cushion, the envelope 52 is stretched, so as to guide the bag 32 outwardly of the vehicle and prevent it from seeping inside the wing.

p0071Furthermore, the sheath 52 allows to retain the end 26 of the wing 12 of the motor vehicle. Indeed, the fasteners 54 to the structure part 30 and 56 in the wall 24 of the wing 12 are sufficiently strong not to be broken when the air bag deployment 32. Thus, the end 26 of the fender 12 n is not completely free, which avoids the projection of the flange 12 or to its outward end and therefore a danger to other pedestrians.

p0072In addition, the casing 52 has a dual role of protection. On the one hand, it protects the airbag 32 when deployed, being large enough to cover the sharp edges he meets and prevent it from tearing. For this, the casing plate las sharp edges when opened. On the other hand, it protects the fender 12 in the deflagration due to the triggering of the cushion. Indeed, it unfolds in a first time in the envelope, and then deforms the wing, which prevents it from breaking due to the deflagration. In addition, the sheath 52 protects the bag 32 from the external environment, when the latter is in the rest position.

p0073In the embodiment of the <figref idrefs="f0003">11</figref>, The casing 52 is no longer fixed to the structural part 30 but the flange return, specifically a wall 27 by means of permanent fasteners 58 and 60. The wall 27, fixed to the structural part 30 by permanent fixing 28 comprises a thickness of necking at an area 62 located between the two permanent fasteners 58 and 60.

p0074When bag deployment 32, it exerts pressure on the entire envelope 52 and on a portion of wall 27, and pulls on the necking 62. Under the effect of pressure, this constriction 62 is broken, so as to leave a passage for the bag 32 which then expands the clearance 22 to inflate on the outside of the vehicle. Since the ends of the casing 52 overlap when the cushion is at rest, they surround it when it is deployed so as to protect it from the outside.

p0075In this embodiment also, the casing 52 is an airbag guide means during its deployment and means of retaining the free end of the wing 12 when the wall 27 has been broken.

p0076According to another embodiment (not shown), the casing 52 is also replaced by a cable attached to the wing and optionally the structural component 30. In this case, the cable does not have the guiding function that 'provides the sheath 52, it has only a function of retaining the end of the wing 12 to the vehicle structure.

p0077In the embodiments of <figref idrefs="f0003">figures 12</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0004">13</figref>, The wing 12 is connected to the structural part 30 by means of a wing medium respectively 64 and 66. In addition to their support function, the fin supports 64 and 66 have a support function and guide the airbag 32.

p0078In these two embodiments, the casing 52 is always disposed around the airbag 32. It is fixed to the brackets 64, 66 and structure 30 through mounting brackets. With these legs the housing 34, and therefore the bag 32 during its deployment, are not in contact with the fixing means of the casing 52 on the vehicle, thus preventing risk of bag 32 tear.

p0079On the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 12</figref>The support 64 is a plate secured to the structural member 30. The flange 26 of the fender 12 is fixed to the support 64 by a fuse 68. A fixing leg fixing the casing 52 is fixed so solid vertical wall 24 through a fastener 56. a second leg fixing the casing 52 is fixed to the reinforcement 64, 72 by a permanent attachment.

p0080When deploying the airbag 32, it exerts pressure on the entire envelope 52 and indirectly on the fuse attachment means 68 which breaks, creating a passage for the bag 32 so that it extends outwardly expanding the clearance 22.

p0081The support 66 of the <figref idrefs="f0004">13</figref> is fixed to the structural part 30 by means of a permanent attachment 74. In this embodiment, the wing 12 does not have an inner vertical wall but just a flange 75 below the edge 16. The support 66 is also fixed this flange 75 by fastening means 76, also permanent.

p0082The support 66 comprises a plate 80 arranged directly on the structural part 30 and a vertical wall 82, perpendicular to this plate 80 is directed upwardly between the plate 80 and the flange 75. The vertical wall 82 has a zone 84 of necking, where the thickness of plastic is smaller than on the rest of the wall 82.

p0083An envelope bracket 52 is integral with the vertical wall 82 by means of the permanent attachment 76, and another fastening tab is secured to the plate 80 through a permanent attachment 78.

p0084When bag deployment 32, it exerts pressure on the entire surface of the casing 52 and on the necked region 84. This area 84 ruptures and leaves a passage for the bag 32 unfolds outward of the vehicle, enlarging the game 22. the remaining portion of the wall 82 serves to guide the cushion 32 outwardly and prevents inflation of the cushion under the hood 10.

p0085One advantage of the supports 64 and 66 is that they constitute a support of the housing 34 of cushion 32. Thus, during assembly of the vehicle, the bag 32, the casing 34 and the casing 52 are directly fixed to the support 64 or 66, which is then attached to the wing 12 by means of fasteners 68 and 76. then, the flange 12 having the cushion 32, is fixed to the vehicle, particularly on the structural part 30. This method allows thereby limiting the number of assembly operations on the vehicle structure, decreasing the occupation thereof on the assembly line.

p0086Moreover, the wing 12 having such supports 64 or 66 with the airbag can be a fender module, on which are also reported other media functional parts, such as washing of housing support ice, an optical media, etc. This fender module, then attached to the motor vehicle has the advantage of a "ready to assemble" module for the automaker.

p0087Finally, the embodiment of the <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 14</figref>It can be seen that the vehicle is equipped with three air bags (88, 90, 92).

p0088The juxtaposition of these airbags can cover a much larger area of ​​the fender-hood junction, including other dangerous areas such as cross functional front end, the shock absorber cups, battery, optical media the canopy area with axes and windshield wiper squeegees.

p0089According to an embodiment not shown, the air bags are designed differently depending on their position on the vehicle and more specifically along the fender-hood junction. Indeed, we know that the fender-hood junction of the area near the bumper to protect a pedestrian to the size of a child, while the area further back towards the windscreen must instead protect pedestrians adult size. Therefore, the cushion 88 may be a smaller or soft cushion to protect a child and the cushion 92 a stiffer cushion and more to protect an adult. Note that this feature may be present in the front of a vehicle without requiring the airbag magnifies the clearance left by the cap and wing.

p0090Finally, it is noted that the invention is not limited to the previously described embodiments.