EP3600974A1

EP3600974A1 - Airbag device for interior trim element of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3600974A1
Application number: EP18706822.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pascal Martin
Original assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Current assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2017-03-22
Filing date: 2018-02-13
Publication date: 2020-02-05
Also published as: US20200010042A1; WO2018172641A1; CN110475695A; FR3064230B1; FR3064230A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns an airbag device comprising a security module (10) comprising a rigid body forming a casing (12) and a firing channel (20) comprising a top wall (21), two transverse guide flanges (22, 23) and two transverse walls (32B), said body comprising two transverse flanks having teeth (16) engaged in windows (30) provided on said transverse flanges (22, 23) and two side walls (17) in each of which an opening (17B) is provided, positioned close to the vertical of one of said transverse walls (32B) so as to allow two rods (T) that have been inserted through these openings (17B) to bear on these transverse walls (32B) so as to pivot in order to exert a lever effect causing said module (10) to move in translation and the teeth (16) situated on one of said transverse flanks to disengage from the corresponding windows (30).

Description

INFLATABLE SAFETY CUSHION DEVICE FOR INTERIOR CLOTHING ELEMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE.

Field of the invention

The invention relates generally to an airbag device for an interior trim element of a motor vehicle. It relates in particular to such a device for vehicle dashboard whose airbag deploys in case of impact in the passenger compartment of the vehicle through this dashboard to protect the occupant of the right front seat of the vehicle.

Background of the invention

Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with airbag devices (or airbag in English) to reduce the risk of injury to occupants in the event of an accident.

These devices are conventionally located in areas where the driver or the passengers are likely to come into contact with internal elements of the vehicle. There is usually one mounted under the dashboard to protect the front passenger of the vehicle.

Such a device conventionally comprises a security module comprising a body forming an envelope housing the airbag and a gas generator to ensure the inflation of the cushion, and a firing channel fixed to the dashboard and to guide deployment. air bag when the gas generator trips in the event of an accident.

The body of the airbag module is generally rigid in order to control the geometry of the airbag in its folded configuration as well as the deformations during the deployment of this cushion by resisting the pressure generated.

The firing channel conventionally comprises an upper wall whose peripheral rim is intended to rest fixedly against the periphery of an opening formed in the dashboard body, and at least two transverse guide flanges provided to partially enclose the security module.

It is known, particularly from the patent application US 2008/0023944, to fix the security module on the firing channel using hooks provided on two transverse flanks front and rear of its body and intended to engage in corresponding orifices provided on the transverse flanges for guiding the firing channel.

Alternatively, it is also known to provide, instead of the hooks clipping teeth cooperating snap with windows formed on the transverse flanges of the firing channel.

After the module has tripped or is approaching its expiration date, it must be removed from the firing lane for repair or replacement after-sale.

Unfortunately, because of its location between the dashboard and the passenger compartment, this security module is particularly difficult for an operator to access.

The removal of hooks or clipping teeth is thus particularly delicate and more often requires the use of specific tools to separate the transverse flanges of the firing channel, or, when the transverse flanges are not accessible, having to disassemble all or part of the dashboard of the vehicle to access the security module.

In order to facilitate the dismantling of such a security module, it is known to provide a large assembly clearance between the transverse flanges of the firing channel and the transverse flanks of this security module.

However, such a solution has the disadvantage of substantially increasing the overall volume of the device and therefore the space required for its implementation.

In addition, it requires the use of sound damping means such as felt to prevent the appearance of operating noise, which significantly increases the cost of the device. Object and summary of the invention

The present invention therefore aims to provide a simple and economical solution to facilitate disassembly of the security module of such an airbag device.

It proposes for this purpose an airbag device for motor vehicle interior trim element comprising a security module comprising a rigid body forming an envelope housing an airbag and a gas generator, and a firing channel. comprising an upper wall to be fixed against said inner lining member and two transverse guide flanges extending parallel to each other from and below said upper wall partially enclosing said body, the latter comprising in addition to two parallel transverse flanks each having a plurality of clipping teeth snapped into respective windows provided on said corresponding transverse flanges of said firing channel;

characterized in that said firing channel also comprises two transverse walls extending near its two lateral ends from and below said upper wall,

said body of the security module further comprising two end side walls in each of which is formed an orifice positioned near the vertical of a said respective transverse wall so as to allow two rods which have been inserted beforehand through these orifices up to said upper wall of the firing channel to bear on these transverse walls to pivot about a transverse axis in order to exert a lever effect causing a longitudinal translation of said security module with respect to said firing channel and the disengagement teeth located on one of said transverse flanks of the corresponding windows.

The particular arrangement of these two transverse walls on the firing channel and these two orifices on the body of the security module thus allows an operator to easily dismount the module. safety using simple ordinary screwdrivers and without it being necessary to provide assembly clearance between the transverse flanges of the firing channel and the transverse sides of this module.

The overall volume of the airbag device according to the invention is thereby reduced and its cost due to the lack of damping means.

According to preferred features of the device according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:

- The outer faces of said transverse sides of said body are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to that separating the internal faces of said transverse flanges of the firing channel;

said firing channel is integrally molded from a thermoplastic resin filled with elastomer;

- said firing channel comprises two lateral guiding flanges extending parallel to each other from and below said upper wall partially surrounding said body of the security module;

said firing channel also comprises, near its two lateral ends, two support caissons extending from and below said upper wall, the lower end of each said housing resting against one said end lateral wall; corresponding said body of the security module;

each said box is leaned against the outer face of a respective said side guide flange of the firing channel;

each said transverse wall forms a part of a said respective support box;

each said end lateral wall of the body has a second orifice positioned in line with a respective bore formed in a said corresponding box, said device further comprising two pairs of screws / nuts each screwed through a said second orifice and a said piercing; and or

said upper wall of the firing channel comprises two contiguous flaps the contours of which are delimited by frangible grooves of least resistance capable of tearing under pressure said airbag in case of triggering the device to allow the opening of these flaps and the deployment of this cushion in the passenger compartment.

The invention also aims, in a second aspect, on a motor vehicle dashboard comprising a board body and such an airbag device fixed to said board body.

Brief description of the drawings

The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of two exemplary embodiments of the invention, given below by way of illustration but without limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an airbag device according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the device according to the invention in its mounted configuration, taken along the plane passing through one of the openings of the body of the security module to be traversed by a rod; and

- Figures 3 to 7 are views respectively similar to Figure 2 but illustrating in chronological order the different steps of disassembly of the security module.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

In the following description and by convention, the terms "before", "back", "above", "below", "longitudinal" and "transverse" will be defined with respect to the mounting position of the cushion device inflatable safety device according to the invention in a motor vehicle.

Referring to Figure 1, the airbag device 1 comprises a security module 10 comprising a rigid body 11 forming a substantially parallelepipedal envelope 12 open on top and housing a folded airbag and a gas generator (not shown in the figures) to ensure the inflation of this cushion.

The device 1 also comprises a firing channel 20 conventionally comprising an upper wall 21 whose peripheral rim is intended to rest fixedly against the periphery of an opening in the dashboard body of the vehicle.

The airbag device 1 is adapted to adopt a mounted configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the body 11 of the airbag module 10 is fixed on the firing channel 20.

The latter, made of a material having a certain elasticity, is advantageously integrally molded from a thermoplastic resin filled with elastomer.

It also comprises two parallel transverse front flanges 22 and rear 23 and two parallel side flanges 24, 25 extending from and below the upper wall 21.

The upper wall 21 comprises two flaps 26, 27 contiguous whose contours are delimited by frangible grooves of least resistance 28 able to tear under the pressure of the airbag in the event of triggering the device 1 to allow the opening of these shutters and the deployment of this cushion in the cockpit

To ensure its attachment to the dashboard body of the vehicle, the transverse guiding flanges 22, 23 of this firing channel 20 comprise, close to the upper wall 21, a plurality of elastic clipping lugs 29 adapted to cooperate with the periphery of the opening formed in this dashboard body.

These transverse guide flanges 22, 23 also have in their lower parts a plurality of rectangular windows 30 spaced at regular intervals along their length.

The firing channel 20 also comprises, near its two lateral ends, two U-shaped support caissons 32, 33 inverted extending from and below the upper wall 21 being centered on the median transverse plane of the firing channel 20.

Leaning against the outer face of a respective lateral flange 24, 25, each support box 32, 33 has two transverse walls before 32A, 33A and rear 32B, 33B and a bottom wall 32C, 33C connecting the two lower ends of these two transverse walls 32A, 32B, 33A, 33B and in the central portion of which is formed a circular bore 32D, 33D.

Advantageously molded in one piece from a thermoplastic material, the rigid body 11 of the airbag module 10 also has two parallel transverse sidewalls 13 and rear 14 rigidly connected to the casing 12 by a plurality of ribs 15.

Constituting respectively the front and rear ends of the body 11, these transverse flanks 13, 14 have on their external faces a plurality of clipping teeth 16 formed by an inclined ramp extending to a redent and each able to cooperate by snapping with a corresponding window 30 of the firing channel 20 during assembly of the airbag module 10 on the firing channel 20.

In the mounted configuration of the device 1, the transverse flanges 22, 23 and lateral 24, 25 of the firing channel 20 partially surround the body 11 of the security module 10, the clipping teeth 16 being housed in the windows 30 with their redents which face the lower edges of these windows 30 so as to prevent any voluntary or accidental removal of the security module 10 from the firing channel 20 (FIG. 2).

The external faces of the transverse flanks 13, 14 are further spaced a distance corresponding to that separating the internal faces of the transverse flanges 22, 23 of the firing channel 20, so that in the mounted configuration of the device 1, these transverse flanks before 13 and rear 14 of the body 11 are respectively contiguous against the transverse guide flanges front 22 and rear 23 of the firing channel 20 (this lack of longitudinal clearance between the body 11 and the firing channel 20 to optimize the compactness of the device 1).

The rigid body 11 of the airbag module 10 further comprises two end side walls 17, 18 each projecting on either side of the upper end of the envelope 12. In the mounted configuration of the device 1, these side walls 17, 18 extend parallel to the upper wall 21 of the firing channel 20 and rest against the lower ends of the bearing boxes 32, 33 (Figure 2).

Each end side wall 17, 18 has a central circular orifice 17A (the one formed in the wall 18 not being visible in the figures) located on the median transverse plane of the body 11 and positioned so as to be at the perpendicular to a corresponding bore 32D, 33D of the firing channel 20 when the device 1 occupies its assembled configuration (see FIG. 2) in order to allow the possible screwing through these two pairs of holes / holes of two pairs of screws / nuts shown and intended to eliminate any vertical clearance between the security module 10 and the firing channel 20.

Each side wall 17, 18 also has, behind the orifice 17A, another circular orifice 17B (that formed in the wall 18 not being visible in the figures) positioned so as to be close to the vertical d a respective rear transverse wall 32B, 33B of a corresponding bearing box 32, 33 of the firing channel 20 when the device 1 occupies its assembled configuration (see FIG. 2).

Figures 3 to 7 illustrate the progress of disassembly operations of the airbag module 10 in order to proceed to its replacement.

The first step not illustrated is to possibly remove the two screws screwed through the orifices 17A, 32D and 33D (the nuts remaining secured to the lower faces 32C and 33C of the support boxes 32 and 33).

The operator must then vertically insert two rigid metal rods T (such as for example those of two ordinary screwdrivers) through the two central orifices 17A formed in the side walls 17, 18 of the body 11 of the airbag module 10 until these free ends of the rods T come into contact with the upper wall 21 of the firing channel 20 (Figure 3). In this configuration, the upper part of each of the two rods T is then facing and almost in contact with the respective rear transverse wall 32B, 33B of a corresponding bearing box 32, 33.

The operator must then simultaneously print a lever movement to the two rods T by pivoting them backwards about a transverse axis located at their free ends bearing against the base of these rear transverse walls 32B, 33B ( Figure 4).

This pivoting of the rods T causes the displacement in translation towards the rear of the security module 10 and the elastic deformation of the transverse rear guide flange 23 of the firing channel 20 which pivots rearwardly around its upper end (this elastic deformation being made possible by the relative elasticity of this firing channel).

Due to this translation towards the rear of the security module

10, the clipping teeth 16 located on the front transverse side 13 of the body 11 begin to gradually exit the corresponding windows 30 formed in the transverse front flange guide 22 of the firing channel 20.

Continuing the pivoting movement towards the back of the stems

T by the operator causes the complete output of these clipping teeth 16 of the corresponding windows 30 and thus their disengagement (Figure 5).

The front portion of the security module 10 is therefore no longer retained in the transverse guide flange 22 before the firing channel 20, this module 10 begins gravity to tilt downwardly about a transverse axis passing through the zones. support of the teeth of clipping teeth 16 of the rear transverse flank 14 of the body 11 on the lower edges of the corresponding windows 30 formed in the rear transverse guiding flange 23 of the firing channel 20 which gradually returns to its initial position (FIG. 6) .

The operator can then completely remove the two rods T and proceed with the effortless removal of the airbag module 10 which causes the return of the rear transverse guiding flange 23 of the firing channel 20 to its initial position (FIG. 7).

According to alternative embodiments not shown, the orifices 17B are positioned so as to be close to the vertical of the front side walls 32A, 33A of the support boxes 32, 33 of the firing channel 20 when the device occupies its mounted configuration .

According to other embodiments not shown, the firing channel does not comprise support boxes but only two vertical walls such as 32B and 33B adapted to cooperate with two rods introduced through the orifices 17B formed in the side walls 17 and 18 of the body 11 of the security module 10. In such a case, these side walls 17, 18 are also devoid of their central opening 17A for receiving a screw.

According to still other embodiments not shown, the airbag device according to the invention is mounted on another interior trim element of the vehicle such as for example a side door panel.

In general, it is recalled that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses all variants within the scope of those skilled in the art.

Claims

An airbag device for a motor vehicle interior trim element comprising a security module (10) comprising a rigid body (11) forming an envelope (12) housing an airbag and a gas generator, as well as a firing channel (20) comprising an upper wall (21) to be fixed against said inner cladding member and two transversal guiding flanges (22, 23) extending parallel to each other from and below said upper wall (21) partially enclosing said body (11), the latter further comprising two parallel transverse flanks (13, 14) each having a plurality of clipping teeth (16) snapped into respective windows (30). ) provided on said corresponding transverse flanges (22, 23) of said firing channel (20);

characterized in that said firing channel (20) also comprises two transverse walls (32B, 33B) extending near its two lateral ends from and below said upper wall (21),

said body (11) of the security module (10) further comprising two end side walls (17, 18) in each of which is formed an orifice (17B) positioned near the vertical of a said respective transverse wall ( 32B, 33B) so as to allow two rods (T) which have been previously inserted through these orifices (17B) to said upper wall (21) of the firing channel (20) to bear on these transverse walls ( 32B, 33B) for pivoting about a transverse axis to exert a lever effect causing a longitudinal translation of said security module (10) with respect to said firing channel (20) and disengagement of the teeth (16) located on the one (13) of said transverse flanks (13, 14) of the corresponding windows (30).

2. Airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer faces of said transverse flanks (13, 14) of said body (11) are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to that separating the internal faces of said transverse flanges ( 22, 23) of the firing channel (20).

3. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said firing channel (20) has integrally molded from a thermoplastic resin loaded elastomer.

4. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said firing channel (20) comprises two lateral guide flanges (24, 25) extending parallel to each other. another from and below said upper wall (21) partially enclosing said body (11) of the security module (10).

5. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said firing channel (20) also comprises, near its two lateral ends, two support boxes (32, 33). extending from and below said upper wall (21), the lower end of each said box (32, 33) resting against a said corresponding end side wall (17, 18) of said body (11) of the module security (10).

6. Airbag device according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that each said box (32, 33) is against the outer face of a said respective lateral guide flange (24, 25) of the channel. shooting (20).

7. Airbag device according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that each said transverse wall (32B, 33B) forms a part of a said respective support chamber (32, 33).

8. Airbag device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that each said end side wall (17, 18) of the body (11) has a second orifice (17A) positioned at the plumb with a respective bore (32D, 33D) arranged in a said corresponding box (32, 33), said device further comprising two pairs of screws / nuts each screwed through a said second orifice (17A) and a said bore (32D, 33D).

9. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said upper wall (21) of the firing channel (20) comprises two flaps (26, 27) contiguous whose contours are delimited by frangible grooves (28) of lesser strength capable of tearing under the pressure of said airbag in the event of triggering of the device to allow the opening of these flaps and the deployment of this cushion in the passenger compartment.

10. Dashboard of a motor vehicle comprising a board body, characterized in that it comprises an airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 9 fixed on said body board.