JP2000211465A - Air bag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change a pressure characteristic of an inflator, making an air bag analogously expandable, and easily cope with a vehicle of various kinds of interior designs. SOLUTION: At the center of a case 12 opened upward, an inflator 14 is arranged. On the side 30 opposite to an occupant side 32, a folding part 16a on an upper side of an air bag 16 is stored. On the occupant side 32, a folding part 16b on a lower side is stored. A diffuser 20 which is made of a partition wall surrounding the inflator 14 and straightens gas that the inflator 14 emits is provided. The diffuser 20 is formed so that the partition wall may be partially overlapped inside and outside and this overlapped part may be deviated by pressure of inflator gas. In the overlapped part of the partition wall, a supply hole 26 which passes through an inner wall 22 and an outer wall 25 and changes in opening area due to deviation of the overlapped part is formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an airbag device for a vehicle includes an airbag and an inflator, which is a gas generator, housed in a case disposed in an instrument panel. At the time of a collision, a predetermined impact is detected, and gas is generated from the inflator, whereby the airbag opens the instrument panel and inflates into the vehicle compartment, thereby restraining the occupant.

In such an airbag device, a diffuser is provided so as to surround the inflator, gas generated by the inflator is once filled in a gap between the diffuser and the inflator, and a supply hole formed through a partition wall of the diffuser is supplied to the airbag. By supplying the gas, the gas is rectified.

[0004] With respect to such a diffuser, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
According to Japanese Patent Publication No. -86333, a part of the diffuser is made movable by the pressure of the gas generated by the inflator.
It is disclosed that the pressure characteristic of an inflator is freely changed.

[0005] In a vehicle airbag device,
In order to inflate the airbag in a similar manner, the airbag may be stored on both the occupant side and the non-occupant side of the inflator in a case that opens upward.

[0006] By the way, since there are various designs for the interior of a vehicle, in order to obtain a predetermined inflation behavior of the airbag, a unique device has been conventionally devised corresponding to each interior design.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, while allowing an airbag to be inflated in a similar manner.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle airbag device that can change the pressure characteristics of an inflator, can easily cope with various interior designs, and can more commonly use parts.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag device for a vehicle, wherein the case is provided in the vehicle so as to be opened upward, has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has an axial direction extending in the vehicle width direction. An inflator arranged in the case toward the airbag stored in a folded state in the case,
In a vehicle airbag device comprising a diffuser for rectifying gas generated by the inflator, the storage space for the airbag is provided on the occupant side and the non-occupant side of the inflator in the case. In the storage space on the side opposite to the occupant, the folded portion on the upper side of the airbag during deployment is stored, and in the storage space on the occupant side, the folded portion on the lower side of the airbag during deployment is stored, In the diffuser, the partition walls are partially polymerized inside and outside, and the overlap portion is formed so as to be shifted by the pressure of the gas generated by the inflator.In the overlap portion of the partition wall, the inner wall and the outer wall are penetrated, A gas supply hole to an airbag whose opening area changes due to the displacement of the overlapping portion is formed.

In this airbag apparatus, the folded portion on the upper side of the airbag is stored on the side opposite to the occupant of the inflator, and the folded portion on the lower side of the airbag is stored on the occupant side of the inflator. Since the airbag is housed on both the front side and the rear side, the airbag can be inflated in a similar manner. In addition, since the pressure inside the diffuser is increased by the inflator gas, the overlapping portion of the partition wall of the diffuser shifts, and the opening area of the supply hole for supplying gas to the airbag changes due to the shift, so that the pressure characteristic of the inflator is changed by the diffuser. Can be changed.
As described above, it is possible to simultaneously control the inflation behavior of the airbag and the pressure characteristic of the inflator, which were difficult in the related art.

[0010] Further, the bag storage ratio between the occupant side and the non-occupant side of the inflator and the arrangement and shape of the supply holes provided in the diffuser are relatively easy to change, so that they can be adapted to various interior designs. Thus, it is easy to inflate the airbag in a similar manner and quickly to a predetermined shape, and therefore, it is possible to share components more.

In the above airbag device, in order to enable the airbag to be quickly deployed, the folded portion on the upper side of the airbag stored in the storage space on the side opposite to the occupant can be provided. Alternatively, the folded portion on the lower side of the airbag stored in the storage space on the occupant side may be folded in a bellows shape together.

In the above airbag device, the upper folded portion of the airbag housed on the side opposite to the occupant of the inflator is preferentially inflated more than the lower folded portion housed on the occupant side. To this end, the supply hole may be arranged such that the opening area is larger on the non-occupant side surface than on the occupant side surface of the diffuser.

Further, in order to obtain a symmetrical inflation behavior of the airbag, the supply holes may be arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line crossing the center of the diffuser in the vehicle width direction. .

In order to preferentially inflate the left and right sides of the airbag rather than the center of the airbag, the supply holes may be formed in the diffuser at the left and right sides of the diffuser rather than at the center in the vehicle width direction. May be arranged so that the opening area is large.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle airbag device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag device 10 during operation, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the airbag device 10. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag device in a state in which the vehicle is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 4, this airbag device 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a passenger airbag device disposed at a position corresponding to the passenger seat of the instrument panel 1 of the automobile, and is opened upward in proximity to a substantially horizontal upper surface portion 1a of the instrument panel 1. An inflator 14 and a folded airbag 16 are stored in the case 12. Then, a predetermined portion of the instrument panel 1 is cleaved by the inflation pressure of the airbag 16 due to the operation of the inflator 14, and the space defined by the instrument panel 1 and the windshield 2 is separated from the cleaved portion by the vehicle. It is configured to expand and deploy rearward.

The inflator 14 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is disposed at the center of the case 12 in the vehicle front-rear direction with its axial direction facing the vehicle width direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the center M of the inflator 14 in the vehicle longitudinal direction is
Are arranged so as to substantially coincide with a surface that bisects the case 12 which is a box-shaped container having a rectangular horizontal cross section into two front and rear parts.

The airbag 16 is formed by sewing one or a plurality of base fabrics in a three-dimensional shape.
It has a substantially inverted quadrangular pyramid shape that spreads in an inversely tapered shape from the mouth portion attached to the opening portion through the bag retainer 18 to the front portion that receives the occupant.

In the case 12, the inflator 14 is located on the side opposite to the occupant (front side of the vehicle) and the occupant side (rear side of the vehicle).
In order to fold and store the airbag 16 separately on the non-occupant side and the occupant side, a storage space 3 for the airbag 16 is provided.
0 and 32 are reserved. In the storage space 30 on the non-occupant side, a folded portion 16a on the upper side of the airbag 16 when deployed is stored, and in the storage space 32 on the occupant side, a folded portion 16b on the lower side of the airbag 16 when deployed.
Is stored. Here, the upper folded portion 16a
The folded portion 16b on the lower side is folded in a bellows shape, and the portion that is not folded in the bellows portion is placed on a diffuser 20 described later. The portion placed on the diffuser 20 is a part of the front portion of the airbag 16 that receives an occupant when deployed.

At the center of the case 12 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle,
A diffuser 2 comprising a substantially cylindrical partition surrounding the inflator 14 and rectifying gas generated by the inflator 14.
0 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the diffuser 20 is formed in a roll shape in which the partition walls are polymerized inward and outward at the upper part, and the overlapping portion is shifted in the circumferential direction by the gas generated by the inflator 14 so as to expand in diameter. ing. More specifically, the diffuser 20 includes two partition walls 22 and 24 having a circular cross section that respectively cover the anti-occupant side and the occupant side of the inflator 14. Polymerized. Both partitions 22, 24
Are fixed to the bottom surface of the case 12 and are formed of spring steel or the like so as to bend and deform when the pressure in the diffuser 20 is increased by the gas of the inflator 14.

Note that the diffuser 20 has two
The configuration is not limited to the case where one partition is used, and one partition that surrounds the entire circumference of the inflator 14 may be used.

The overlapping portions of the partition walls include an inner wall 22 and an outer wall 2.
4 and a plurality of supply holes 26 whose opening area changes due to the displacement of the overlapping portion. Inflator 1
4 is supplied from the supply hole 26 into the airbag 16, whereby the flow of the gas is adjusted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, when the pressure in the diffuser 20 is low, the supply hole 26 has a circular opening 23 formed in the inner wall 22 and a circular opening 23 formed in the outer wall 24 and having the same diameter. The circular opening 25 does not match, is shifted in the circumferential direction, and the opening area is small. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the pressure inside the diffuser 20 increases, the positions of the inner and outer apertures 23 and 25 coincide with each other in the circumferential direction so that the inner and outer walls 22 and 24 expand in diameter.
As a result, the supply hole 26 becomes circular and the opening area becomes large. Further, when the pressure in the diffuser 20 decreases, the inner and outer walls 22 and 24 shift so as to reduce the diameter, and the opening area of the supply hole 26 decreases. When the pressure in the diffuser 20 decreases, the gas supply becomes gentle, so that the diameter may not be reduced as the pressure decreases.

As shown in FIG. 1, an opening 2 in the outer wall 24 is formed.
5 is provided with a locking projection 28 for preventing the diffuser 20 from being deformed beyond a certain level. This locking projection 2
8 protrudes inward from the edge of the opening 25 to form an inner wall 22.
Are arranged in the opening 23. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the inner and outer openings 23 and 25 coincide with each other, the locking projection 2
8 comes into contact with the edge of the opening 23 of the inner wall 22 so that it does not deform any more.

The openings 2 provided in the partition walls 22 and 24 are provided.
3 and 25 are not limited to circular shapes, and various shapes can be applied. In addition, the inner and outer openings 23 and 25 overlapping each other,
The shapes need not be the same, and their sizes or diameters need not be the same.

As for the opening pattern of the supply holes 26 in the diffuser 20, as shown in FIG. 3, the gas blown out to the folded portion 16b on the lower side of the airbag 16 stored in the storage space 32 on the occupant side. Also, the opening area of the anti-occupant side surface is larger than that of the occupant side surface so that more gas is supplied to the folded portion 16a on the upper side of the airbag 16 stored in the storage space 30 on the anti-occupant side. Is set large. That is, the diffuser 2 is located on the occupant side with respect to the center M of the inflator 14 in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
0 is smaller than the total opening area of the supply holes 26 in the occupant side region R than the total opening area of the supply holes 26 in the non-occupant side region F of the diffuser 20 which is on the anti-occupant side with respect to the center M. (See FIG. 1).

Further, as shown in FIG.
In order to enable the symmetrical inflation behavior of the airbag 16, the diffuser 20 is disposed symmetrically with respect to a center line N crossing the center of the diffuser 20 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the supply hole 26 has a larger opening area at the left and right sides than at the center in the vehicle width direction of the diffuser 20 in order to enable preferential inflation at the left and right sides than at the center of the airbag 16. It is arranged to become.

In the airbag device 10 according to the present embodiment, the airbag 16 is housed on both the occupant side and the occupant side of the inflator 14, so that the airbag 16 is inflated in a similar manner. Can be. That is, the front portion of the airbag 16 placed on the diffuser 20 is quickly raised and inflated to form an occupant restraint surface at an early stage, and the upper portion of the airbag 16 housed on the side of the diffuser 20 opposite the occupant. Side folding part 16a
And the folded portion 16b on the lower side of the airbag 16 housed on the occupant side of the diffuser 20 can be inflated and deployed, respectively, so as to approach the final inflated shape.

The gas generated by the inflator 14 increases the pressure inside the diffuser 20, thereby increasing the diameter of the diffuser 20.
2 and 24 are displaced, and this displacement causes the supply holes 26
Is changed, and the amount of gas supplied to the airbag 16 is adjusted. Therefore, the pressure characteristics of the inflator 14 can be changed by the diffuser 20.

As described above, it is possible to simultaneously control the inflation behavior of the airbag 16 and the pressure characteristic of the inflator 14, which were difficult in the past.

The inflating behavior of the airbag 16 is changed by changing the storage ratio of the airbag 16 between the occupant side and the non-occupant side of the inflator 14 or by changing the arrangement and shape of the supply holes 26 provided in the diffuser 20. Can be adjusted, but these changes can be made relatively easily. Therefore, it is easy to inflate the airbag 16 in a similar manner and quickly to a predetermined shape in accordance with various interior designs, and
Parts can be more commonly used.

Further, the fact that the opening area ratio of the supply hole 26 is set to be large in the non-occupant side region F is advantageous in obtaining a similar inflation behavior of the airbag. That is, more gas is supplied to the folded portion 16a on the upper side of the airbag 16 stored in the storage space 30 on the non-occupant side,
As a result, the upper portion starts to inflate quickly with respect to the lower portion of the bag, and the front portion of the airbag facing upward in the case 12 is quickly raised and inflated at the same time, so that the occupant restraining surface is formed earlier. is there.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of an airbag device according to another embodiment. This embodiment is a diffuser 2
The configuration of the supply hole 26 provided at 0 is different from the above embodiment.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the supply holes 26
As shown in FIG. 5, when the pressure inside the diffuser 20 is low, the opening 23 of the inner wall 22 and the opening 25 of the outer wall 24 are reduced.
And the opening area is large. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the pressure in the diffuser 20 increases, the inner and outer walls 22 and 24 are shifted in the circumferential direction so as to expand in diameter, and the positions of the inner and outer openings 23 and 25 are shifted. 26 has a smaller opening area.
Further, when the pressure in the diffuser 20 decreases, the inner and outer walls 22 and 24 shift so as to reduce the diameter, and the opening area of the supply hole 26 increases again.

As described above, the supply hole 26 may be configured such that the opening area is increased by an increase in the pressure in the diffuser 20. Further, in one diffuser 20, the supply hole 26 whose opening area becomes smaller due to a rise in the pressure inside the diffuser 20 and the supply hole 26 which becomes larger can be combined.

[0038]

According to the vehicle airbag apparatus of the present invention, the airbag can be inflated in a similar manner by storing the airbag on both the occupant side and the occupant side of the inflator. In addition, since the diffuser is deformed by increasing the gas pressure of the inflator and the opening area of the supply hole is changed, the pressure characteristic of the inflator can be changed by the diffuser. As described above, it is possible to simultaneously control the inflation behavior of the airbag and the pressure characteristic of the inflator, which were difficult in the related art. In addition, the bag storage ratio between the occupant side and the non-occupant side of the inflator, and the arrangement and shape of the supply holes of the diffuser,
Since it is relatively easy to change, it is easy to inflate the airbag into a predetermined shape in a similar manner and quickly, corresponding to various interior designs, and therefore, Parts can be more commonly used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle airbag device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag device when the airbag is deployed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the airbag device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag device in a vehicle-installed state.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle airbag device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag device when the airbag is deployed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 airbag device 12 case 14 inflator 16 airbag 16a folded portion on upper side of airbag 16b folded portion on lower side of airbag 20 diffuser 22 inner wall 23 ...... Opening of the inner wall 24 ... Outer wall 25 ... Opening of the outer wall 26 ... Supply hole

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toru Ozaki 1-17-18 Edobori, Nishi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term in Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. 3D054 AA03 AA07 BB12 DD13 DD17 FF15

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A case which is disposed in a vehicle so as to be opened upward, a substantially cylindrical shape, and an inflator which is disposed in the case so that an axial direction thereof is oriented in a width direction of the vehicle; An airbag device for a vehicle, comprising an airbag housed in a folded state and a partition wall surrounding the inflator, and a diffuser for rectifying gas generated by the inflator, wherein a passenger side of the inflator in the case A storage space for the airbag is secured on the side opposite to the occupant, a storage space on the side opposite to the occupant stores the folded portion on the upper side of the airbag during deployment, and a storage space on the occupant side during deployment. The folded portion on the lower side of the airbag is stored, and the diffuser has a partition wall partially overlapped inside and outside,
Further, the overlapping portion is formed so as to be shifted by the pressure of the gas generated by the inflator. The overlapping portion of the partition wall penetrates the inner wall and the outer wall to the airbag whose opening area changes due to the shifting of the overlapping portion. An airbag device for a vehicle, wherein a gas supply hole is formed. 2. A folded portion on the upper side of the airbag stored in the storage space on the side opposite to the occupant and a folded portion on the lower side of the airbag stored in the storage space on the occupant side are both folded in a bellows shape. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is provided. 3. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the supply hole is arranged such that an opening area is larger on a surface of the diffuser opposite to the occupant than on a surface of the occupant. . 4. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the supply holes are arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line crossing a center of the diffuser in the vehicle width direction. 5. The airbag for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the supply holes are arranged so that the opening area is larger at both left and right sides of the diffuser than at the center in the vehicle width direction. apparatus.