DE102011051338B4 - Integrated airbag device of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

An integrated airbag device of a motor vehicle, comprising: a gas generator (40) installed in a B-pillar (30) of a vehicle body at a position corresponding to a chest of an occupant; a breast protection airbag (10) inflated in an automotive collision with air supplied from the inflator (40) and expanding toward the occupant's chest; and a head-protecting airbag (20) which is inflated in the vehicle collision with air supplied via an air pipe (25) extending from the gas generator (40) to an upper portion of the B-pillar (30), and to a The occupant's head expands, with the breast protection airbag (10) expanding to protect the chest of an occupant in a first seat and the head protection airbag (20) expanding to both the occupant's head in the first seat and the head protects an occupant in a second seat.

Description

For the registration will be the priority of December 8, 2010 submitted Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0124672 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The invention generally relates to an integrated airbag device of a motor vehicle, and more particularly to an airbag device of a motor vehicle in which a curtain airbag device and a side airbag device, which are conventionally conventionally installed at respective locations, are integrated in an effective structure.

The basic operating principle of an airbag is that an explosive mixture made by mixing nitrogen with sodium is instantly ignited and explodes to rapidly inflate a fabric-made airbag with air. However, the operating principle of the airbag has been adapted to the airbag irrespective of the person's physique such that when the airbag is inflated with air, the airbag expands to be the same size, so that the airbag engages a small-bodied occupant such as a child additional shock, which can seriously injure or even kill the occupant.

In an effort to solve the problem, a weakened airbag device has been proposed and used in which the expansion force of the airbag is reduced. The weakened airbag device has been continuously developed into the second generation of weakened airbag devices used to protect the driver and passenger.

In recent years, an intelligent airbag has been proposed and emphasized that can be inflated with the appropriate amount of air based on the information about the weight of an occupant and the information about whether a seatbelt is worn or not, and moreover according to the various types of collisions or various collision strengths in a motor vehicle collision can be gradually inflated with air, whereby the airbag cushion is formed with a suitable size that can optimally protect the occupant. Today, the development of airbags with the weakened airbags or smart airbags has not stopped, but is continuing to propose a variety of airbags that can optimally protect the occupants in various types of collisions.

In addition to a driver's airbag and a front passenger's airbag, which are usually installed in a motor vehicle, a plurality of airbags have been installed in the motor vehicle designed to more effectively protect the occupants, such as a curtain airbag for effectively protecting the head of an occupant in a side collision. a side airbag for protecting the chest of the occupant, a knee airbag for protecting the occupant of the occupant, a belt airbag installed in a seatbelt, a rear seat airbag for protecting a rear passenger, and a brake airbag designed to prevent a collision.

The JP H 06 227 348 A shows a side airbag unit, in which first a breast protection airbag and then a head protection airbag is inflated. The US 2006/103 120 A1 FIG. 10 shows an airbag device for deployment between an occupant and a vehicle sidewall, the airbag device having a head chamber for protecting an occupant's head and a chest chamber for protecting a thoracic portion of the occupant.

1 shows a conventional side airbag 1 and a conventional curtain airbag 2 which are installed in a motor vehicle. The side airbag 1 is installed in a seat back and expands in an automobile collision toward the chest of an occupant, thereby protecting the occupant's chest from collision shock. In a side collision in which the collision impact can be transmitted to the head of an occupant via both a thin door and a glass window, seriously injuring the occupant's head, the curtain airbag can 2 protect the head of the occupant effectively. In particular, in a motor vehicle collision, the curtain airbag may expand toward the occupant in any direction around the occupant, effectively protecting the head and upper portion of the occupant and preventing the flying of glass fragments into the passenger compartment. Furthermore, the curtain airbag can prevent the occupant from being thrown out of the motor vehicle during a rollover of the motor vehicle.

If the side airbag 1 and the curtain airbag 2 in the motor vehicle are installed separately, as described above, two gas generators 3 be installed with air on each side of the motor vehicle for inflating the airbags. Therefore, four gas generators must be installed in the motor vehicle, thereby increasing the cost of the airbag and the weight of the motor vehicle.

In an effort to remedy the above problem, an integrated airbag for a motor vehicle has been proposed and used. As in 2 shown is the conventional integrated air bag 4 Installed in the roof panel of the motor vehicle, in which usually the conventional curtain airbag was installed, so that the integrated airbag 4 in a motor vehicle collision can successively expand to the head and chest of an occupant. However, although the conventional integrated airbag expands 4 has the advantage of being able to reduce the number of airbags from four to two consecutively to the occupant's head and chest, so that the integrated airbag can not effectively protect the occupant's chest, which in an automotive collision of the airbag primarily must be protected.

The invention provides an integrated airbag device of a motor vehicle which, in a motor vehicle collision, can primarily supply air to a chest protector portion thereby primarily protecting the chest of an occupant and the heads of both an occupant on a first seat and an occupant on a second Protect seat at the same time.

An integrated airbag device according to the invention has the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are defined in the dependent claims.

In the integrated airbag device, the breast protection airbag may receive 30 ~ 50% of air via a first air communication port communicating with the inflator, and the head protection airbag may include a head protection airbag of a first seat for protecting the occupant in the first seat and a head protection airbag of a second seat for protecting the airbag Inmates in the second seat, wherein the head protection airbag of the first seat 30 ~ 50% air via a second air connection opening associated with the head protection airbag of the first seat and the head protection airbag of the second seat 10 ~ 30% air over one with the head protection airbag second seat can connect related third air connection opening.

Further, in the integrated airbag device, the breast protection airbag may be provided with a vent for regulating the pressure of an airbag cushion.

Further, in the integrated airbag device, the B-pillar may be provided with a swing door which can be opened by rotating about a pivot axis, or with a notch door which can be opened by breaking along a notch.

As described above, the integrated airbag device of a motor vehicle according to the invention has the advantage that it can simultaneously protect the head and chest of an occupant and quickly guide air to the chest protecting portion of the airbag which is installed at a position adjacent to the chest of the person Inmates corresponds to which must be primarily protected in a motor vehicle collision of the airbag, whereby the operational effect of the airbag is improved.

Further, in an automotive collision, the integrated airbag device according to the invention uniformly guides air to the airbag section corresponding to the chest of an occupant seated in a first seat, and to the airbag sections corresponding to the heads of occupants seated in the front and rear seats in the front and rear seats sitting passengers are effectively protected from collision.

Further, the airbag device according to the invention integrates the side airbag and the curtain airbag in a single airbag, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the airbag and the weight of a motor vehicle.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In the drawing show:

1 a view of a conventional separate airbag device of a motor vehicle;

2 a view of a conventional integrated airbag device of a vehicle;

3 a view of an integrated airbag device of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

4 a view of an Airbagexpansionsabschnitts the airbag device according to the invention; and

5A and 5B Views of two different embodiments of the cross section of the Airbagexpansionsabschnitts along the line AA 'in 4 ,

With reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail.

As in 3 As shown, an integrated airbag device of a motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a gas generator 40 standing in a B-pillar 30 a vehicle body is installed at a position corresponding to the chest of an occupant, a breast protection airbag 10 which is inflated in an automobile collision with air coming from the gas generator 40 is fed and expanded toward the occupant's chest, and a head protection airbag 20 which is inflated in the motor vehicle collision with air through an air tube 25 which is supplied by the gas generator 40 to the upper portion of the B-pillar 30 extends, and expands toward the occupant's head.

In the same manner as in a conventional airbag inflator, the gas generator 40 According to the invention, an explosive mixture formed by mixing nitrogen with sodium instantaneously ignites and explodes, and quickly inflates an air bag made of fabric. However, according to the invention, the gas generator 40 be another type of gas generator, which is not operated according to the above-mentioned conventional method, but based on information output from a plurality of sensors, such as information about whether it is a frontal collision, a side collision or rear-end collision, and information about the speed at which the collision occurs accurately controls both the amount of explosive mixture to be exploded and the airbag expansion time.

According to the invention, to the gas generator 40 to arrange at a location near the chest of an occupant, the gas generator 40 in the B-pillar 30 of the motor vehicle installed on a stall, which corresponds to the chest of the occupant. The above position of the gas generator 40 is determined by the fact that since the collision shock in an automobile collision is usually applied to the chest of an occupant before being applied to the head of the occupant, it is necessary to protect the chest of the occupant in the vehicle collision primarily, and these Location of the gas generator 40 defines an important technical feature of the invention. In contrast to the invention, the conventional integrated airbag device 4 configured such that the curtain airbag expands toward the chest of an occupant, as in FIG 2 is shown, so that the airbag can not protect the chest of the occupant before he protects the occupant's head.

At the breast protection airbag 10 is an airbag body 11 installed so that it can be inflated with air from the gas generator 40 is fed in the B-pillar 30 installed at the location corresponding to the occupant's chest. Here is the chest protection airbag 10 via a first air connection opening 12 directly with the gas generator 40 in conjunction, leaving the gas generator 40 primarily air to the chest protection airbag 10 can lead. Here it is preferred that the breast protection airbag 10 in view of the airbag expansion speed is intended only for an occupant on a first seat.

After the air from the gas generator 40 primarily to the breast protection airbag 10 is guided, the air flows from the gas generator 40 about that from the gas generator 40 to the upper portion of the B-pillar 30 upwardly extending air tube 25 upwards and becomes the head protection airbag 20 guided, so the head protection airbag 20 can expand towards the occupant's head. The air tube 25 can be made from a variety of materials, such as plastic, steel or fiber. However, it is preferred that the air tube 25 made of cushioning fiber is made such that a match between the air tube 25 and the airbag is made of tissue. Further, to a breaking of the air tube 25 To prevent under the excessively high pressure, it is preferable that the air tube 25 produced by an all-round manufacturing process or a multiple lockstitch process, thereby producing a high-strength air pipe 25 is realized.

The head protection airbag 20 may be configured to simultaneously protect the heads of both an occupant on a first seat and an occupant on a second seat. To realize this, the head protection airbag points 20 a head protection airbag 21 a first seat, which has a second air connection opening 23 with the air tube 25 is in communication and intended to protect the occupant's head on the first seat, and a head protection airbag 22 a second seat, which has a third air connection opening 24 with the air tube 25 is in communication and is intended to protect the head of the occupant on the second seat.

According to the invention, the expansion rates of the breast protection airbag 10 and the head protection airbag 20 by controlling the amounts of breast protection airbag 10 and to the head protection airbag 20 controlled air, thereby providing improved operational reliability of the respective airbags 10 and 20 is realized.

To realize this, in the airbag device according to the invention, the ratio of the amounts to the breast protection airbag 10 and to the head protection airbag 20 guided air by controlling both the diameter and the connection angle of the air connection openings 12 . 23 and 24 to be controlled. Furthermore, the ratio of the amounts to the head protection airbags 21 and 22 the first and the second seat guided air by controlling both the diameter and the connection angle of the second and the third air connection opening 23 and 24 controlled, which the respective head protection airbags 21 and 22 with the air tube 25 connect.

In detail, the airbag device according to the invention may be configured such that the amounts of the respective airbags 10 . 21 and 22 Guided air can be controlled adequately so that 30 ~ 50% of the air over with the gas generator 40 related first air connection 12 to the breast protection airbag 10 can be guided, 30 ~ 50% air over with the head protection airbag 21 the first seat related second air connection opening 23 to the head protection airbag 21 of the first seat and 10 ~ 30% air over the head protection airbag 22 the second seat related third air connection opening 24 to the head protection airbag 22 the second seat can be performed.

Due to the above air distribution ratio, the amount of air added to the head protection airbag 20 which is compared to the breast protection airbag 10 from the gas generator 40 located farther away, greater than the amount of air leading to the chest protection airbag 10 is guided, causing the head protection airbag 20 can expand quickly. Further, when it is considered that the frequency of front collisions is higher than that of rear or side collisions, and the safety of a driver in a collision must preferably be ensured so that the driver can safely handle the steering wheel after the collision, it is preferable that the Amount of air leading to the head protection airbag 21 of the first seat is greater than the amount of air leading to the head protection airbag 22 the second seat is guided, whereby the head protection airbag 21 of the first seat can expand faster.

Even if compared to the head protection airbag 22 of the second seat, a larger amount of air to the head protection airbag 21 of the first seat, as described above, the airbag device according to the invention can provide the desired buffering effects of the two head protection airbags 21 and 22 realize, as the air from the head protection airbag 21 the first seat to the head protection airbag 22 the second seat can flow after the two head protection airbags 21 and 22 were inflated with air.

In one embodiment of the invention, the airbag device may be designed such that 40% of the air from the gas generator 40 is discharged to the chest protection airbag 10 is guided, and 60% of the air from the gas generator 40 is discharged to the head protection airbag 20 is guided, with the 60% air leading to the head protection airbag 20 is distributed so that 40% air to the head protection airbag 21 the first seat and 20% air to the head protection airbag 22 of the second seat.

Further, the cushion pressure of the chest airbag 10 To regulate, it is preferable that a vent 13 in the breast protection airbag 10 is trained. The ribs of a human are so sensitive that they can easily be broken by the impact of the airbag cushion. However, according to the invention, in the breast protection airbag 10 trained vent 13 the expansion force of the airbag 10 reduce, thereby protecting the ribs of an occupant in a motor vehicle collision.

Further, according to the invention, for easy expansion of the airbags 10 and 20 from the B-pillar 30 To allow two types of structures to be used for opening a pillar trim. The two types of structures for opening the pillar trim are in the 5A and 5B shown in detail. In the 5A shown structure for opening the pillar trim is a structure of the hinge type, in which a hinged door 32 in the B-pillar 30 is provided so that it is about a pivot axis 31 can be opened, thereby allowing the chest protector airbag 10 through the open swing door 32 formed opening can expand through. 5B shows a structure of the notch type, in which a notch door 34 in the B-pillar 30 is provided such that the notch door 34 along a notch 33 can be broken.

As compared with the notch-type structure, the structure of the hinge type has an advantage that it can be reused even when the airbag expands.

Claims (4)

An integrated airbag device of a motor vehicle, comprising: a gas generator ( 40 ) in a B-pillar ( 30 ) a vehicle body is installed at a position corresponding to a breast of an occupant; a breast protection airbag ( 10 ) which is inflated in an automobile collision with air coming from the gas generator ( 40 ), and expanded toward the occupant's chest; and a head protection airbag ( 20 ), which is inflated in the motor vehicle collision with air through an air tube ( 25 ) supplied by the gas generator ( 40 ) to an upper portion of the B-pillar ( 30 ) and expanded to a head of the occupant, the thorax protection airbag ( 10 ) in such a way that it protects the chest of an occupant in a first seat, and the head protection airbag ( 20 ) so as to protect both the head of the occupant in the first seat and the head of an occupant in a second seat. An integrated airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the breast protection airbag ( 10 ) 30 ~ 50% air over one with the gas generator ( 40 ) first air connection opening ( 12 ) receives; and the head protection airbag ( 20 ) a head protection airbag ( 21 ) a first seat for protecting the occupant in the first seat and a head protection airbag ( 22 ) of a second seat for protecting the occupant in the second seat, wherein the head protection airbag ( 21 ) of the first seat 30 ~ 50% air over one with the head protection airbag ( 21 ) of the first seat in communication second air connection opening ( 23 ) and the head protection airbag ( 22 ) of the second seat 10 ~ 30% air over one with the head protection airbag ( 22 ) of the second seat related third air connection opening ( 24 ). An integrated airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the breast protection airbag ( 10 ) with a vent ( 13 ) is provided for regulating the pressure of an airbag cushion. An integrated airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the B-pillar ( 30 ) with a hinged door ( 32 ), which by turning about a pivot axis ( 31 ) can be opened, or with a score door ( 34 ) broken by breaking along a notch ( 33 ) can be opened.

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