JP2001106012A - Head protective air bag device and method for sealing head protective air bag body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the sealability of an air bag body without increasing the weight of the air bag body and without deteriorating a storability. SOLUTION: A sealant sealing capsule 26 is connected between a gas blowing port 14A of an inflator 14 and a gas inlet pipe 28 following an air bag body. By this, because each cover 66 on a sealant sealing capsule 26 comes into an open state as shown by a chain double-dashed line by the gas blown from the inflator 14, sealant 70 in a sealant sealing chamber 68 spatters into the air bag body. As a result, the sealant 70 is melted by hot gas and adhered collectively to the inner peripheral surface of the air bag body, particularly, to a gas leakage portion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head protection airbag device and a head protection device which are housed along a roof side rail and which are inflated in a curtain shape by gas ejected from an inflator when a predetermined high load is applied to a vehicle body side. The present invention relates to a method for sealing a part protection airbag bag.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to improve the protection performance of a head of an occupant seated in a front seat when a predetermined high load is applied to a side portion of a vehicle body, an airbag bag stored in a folded state along a roof side rail. A head protection airbag device has been proposed in which the airbag is inflated in a curtain shape along the side window glass. Hereinafter, a configuration disclosed in WO 96/26087, which discloses this type of head protection airbag device, will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, a head protection airbag device 100 includes a long duct 106 disposed from a front pillar 102 to a roof side rail 104 and a duct 106. The front end fixed point 108 and the rear end fixed point 110 are stored in a folded state inside.
An airbag bag body 112 fixed to the vehicle body side at, and an inflator 116 connected to the rear end of the duct 106 via a hose 114 and blowing out gas when a predetermined high load acts on the vehicle body side, A belt-shaped strap 118 having one end fixed to the vehicle body and the other end fixed to the rear end of the airbag bag 112 is a main component. Further, the airbag bag body 112 is formed by connecting a plurality of cells 120 each formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and arranged with the longitudinal direction substantially in the vehicle vertical direction.

According to the above configuration, when a predetermined high load is applied to the side of the vehicle body, gas is ejected from the inflator 116. Therefore, the ejected gas is supplied to the hose 114.
Then, the air flows into each cell 120 of the folded airbag bag 112 via the duct 106. As a result, each cell 120 expands in a substantially cylindrical shape with the longitudinal direction substantially in the vehicle vertical direction, whereby the airbag bag body 112 expands in a curtain shape along the window glass 122. Further, the rear end of the airbag bag body 112 has a strap 118.
, The rear end side of the airbag bag 112 is reliably disposed inside the upper portion of the B-pillar (also referred to as a center pillar) 124.

[0005]

However, in such a head protection airbag device, it is preferable that the internal pressure holding time be as long as possible in response to the rollover of the vehicle body. When the bag bag is inflated, misregistration occurs in the weave of the airbag bag due to the inflation pressure, and gas leaks through the sealant coated on the outer peripheral portion. Therefore, the internal pressure holding time is shortened.
As a method to improve this, it is conceivable to coat the sealant thickly to suppress gas leakage.
When the sealant is coated by a conventional coating method, the sealant is coated thickly on the entire airbag body, so that the weight of the airbag body increases and the folded airbag body is bulky, so that the storage space is increased. And storage performance deteriorates.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a head protection airbag apparatus and a head protection airbag bag sealing method capable of improving the sealing performance without increasing the weight and deteriorating the storage performance. It is.

[0007]

The present invention according to claim 1 is housed at least along a roof side rail,
In a head protection airbag device which is deployed in a curtain shape, an inflator for injecting a gas for inflating the airbag bag into the airbag, and a sealing agent for the entire inside of the airbag by the gas ejected from the inflator And a sealing agent scattering means for scattering the sealing agent.

[0008] Accordingly, the gas ejected from the inflator causes the sealant scattering means to scatter the sealant throughout the inflated and deployed airbag body. As a result, when the gas starts to leak out of the relatively weak portion of the airbag bag after the airbag bag is deployed, a part of the sealant spreading throughout the airbag bag is removed from the gas leak portion. To prevent gas leakage effectively. Therefore,
By using gas from the inflator, the sealant can be efficiently attached to a portion of the airbag bag where a gas leak is likely to occur. As a result, compared to the case where the coating of the sealant is thickened over the entire airbag body,
The sealing performance can be improved without increasing the weight or deteriorating the storage performance.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the head protection airbag device according to the first aspect, the sealant scattering means is disposed near a gas outlet of the inflator and encapsulates the sealant. It is characterized by being.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of the first aspect, the gas ejected from the inflator causes the sealant to scatter throughout the inflated and deployed airbag body from the capsule arranged near the gas ejection port in the inflator.
As a result, with a simple configuration, the sealant can be scattered throughout the inflated and deployed airbag body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of sealing a head protection airbag body which is housed at least along a roof side rail and is deployed in a curtain shape, wherein the airbag body is in an inflated state by applying an internal pressure. Is characterized in that the sealant is scattered over the entirety.

Therefore, the sealant is scattered all over the inflated airbag body by applying the internal pressure, so that the gas inside the airbag body is discharged from a relatively weak portion of the airbag body to the outside. When the leak starts, a part of the sealant spreading throughout the airbag body adheres to the gas leak portion. As a result, the coating thickness of the sealant at the portion of the airbag bag where gas leakage is likely to occur can be greater than the coating thickness of the sealant at other portions. For this reason, at the time of manufacturing the airbag bag, without increasing the weight of the airbag bag and deteriorating the storage performance,
The sealing property of the airbag body can be efficiently improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the method for sealing a head protection airbag body according to the third aspect, the sealing agent is scattered into the airbag body by a high-temperature gas, and the air is then cooled by cooling. The method is characterized in that the sealant attached to the bag body is cured.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of the third aspect, the sealant is scattered throughout the inflated airbag body by the high-temperature gas. Thereafter, when the high-temperature gas starts leaking from the relatively weak portion of the airbag bag to the outside, a part of the sealant spreading throughout the airbag bag concentrates and adheres to the gas leak portion, and the gas leaks. It cures when the temperature drops. Therefore, it is an easy method without greatly changing the conventional manufacturing method.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A head protection airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the drawings, the arrow FR indicates the forward direction of the vehicle, and the arrow UP indicates the upward direction of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 4, a head protection airbag apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a sensor 12 for detecting a side collision state, an inflator 14 for ejecting high-temperature gas when activated, and an airbag. The bag body 16 (the sealant is not coated or the sealant is thinly coated on the outer periphery) is configured as a main component. The sensor 12 has a center pillar (B
It is arranged near the lower end of the pillar 18 and detects a side collision state when a side collision load of a predetermined value or more acts on the vehicle body side. The inflator 14 is fixed to a quarter pillar (C pillar) 20 via a bracket 21 by fixing members such as bolts and nuts, and is connected to the sensor 12 described above. Therefore, the sensor 12
Detects the side collision state, the inflator 14 operates.

A rear end portion (gas inflow portion) 16A of the airbag bag 16 is disposed at an inflator arrangement position so that gas ejected from the inflator 14 flows in, and an upper end edge of the intermediate portion 16B. Is the roof side rail 22
And along the front pillar 24, the front end 16
C is arranged near the upper part of the front pillar 24.
Further, the airbag bag body 16 is disposed after being folded in a bellows shape in a substantially vertical direction to be elongated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inflator 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a gas introduction pipe 28 is connected to a gas outlet 14A of the inflator 14 via a sealing agent encapsulating capsule 26 as a sealing agent scattering means. Have been. The outer periphery of the gas introduction pipe 28 is provided with the airbag bag 16.
In a state where the gas inflow portion is covered, a metal band 30 is formed.
Has been fixed by.

The airbag bag body 16 is formed by bag weaving using polyamide yarn or the like. When gas flows from the inflator 14, the airbag bag body 16 expands so as to increase its thickness. The inflatable portion 32 includes a front inflatable portion 32A disposed near the side of the front seat of the vehicle and a portion near the lateral side of the rear seat of the vehicle when inflated and deployed. A rear inflation portion 32B is provided, and a main inflation chamber 34 is also provided to extend substantially linearly obliquely forward and downward from the gas inflow portion 16A.

The front seat expansion section 32A is connected to a front side chamber 34A on the front side of the main expansion chamber 34, and upper and lower expansion sections which are respectively communicated with the front end side of the front side chamber 34A and arranged above and below the front side chamber 34A. It comprises a chamber 36 and a lower auxiliary expansion chamber 38.
The rear seat expansion section 32B includes a rear chamber 34B on the rear side of the main expansion chamber 34, and a rear auxiliary expansion chamber 40 communicating the rear chamber 34B and the upper portion. A front chamber 34 is provided between the front chamber 34A and the rear chamber 34B in the main expansion chamber 34.
A and a communication chamber 34C that allows the rear chamber 34B to communicate linearly.
Are arranged.

The non-inflation chamber 35 is woven so that the inner side wall portion and the outer side wall portion of the airbag bag 16 are joined to each other, and the airtightness is secured at the outer peripheral edge of the airbag bag 16. A peripheral portion 44 that is densely woven so as to be able to extend, and an extension portion 46 that extends from the peripheral portion 44 into the region of the inflatable portion 32;
The central coupling portion 48 is disposed in the region of the front seat expansion portion 32A away from the peripheral edge portion 44, and is disposed below the communication chamber 34C between the front seat expansion portion 32A and the rear seat expansion portion 32B. And a plate-shaped portion 50.

A plurality of mounting portions 52 are formed on the upper edge 44A of the peripheral portion 44. Each of the mounting portions 52 has a mounting hole 54 for inserting a mounting bolt at the center thereof. It is formed by a later drilling process. In addition,
Although not shown, a mounting bracket made of a sheet metal for mounting the folded airbag body 16 on the body side is fixed to each mounting portion 52.

Further, in the airbag bag body 16 of the present embodiment, tension is generated at the front end side of the peripheral edge portion 44 at the lower edge side of the inflated airbag bag body 16 so that the airbag bag body 16 is inflated. A belt 56 for restricting movement to the outside of the vehicle is attached. The upper end of the belt 56 is sewn to the outer surface of the vehicle at the upper part on the front edge side of the peripheral portion 44, and is protruded into the vehicle through a slit 58 below the belt 56, and the other end of the belt 56 is, as shown in FIG. Is fixed using a bolt 62. In addition, on the other end side of the belt 56,
A mounting hole 63 through which the bolt 62 is inserted is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sealant encapsulating capsule 26 has a cylindrical main body 64, and the inner periphery of both ends of the main body 64 has a threaded portion 6 having a predetermined depth.
4A are formed. A lid 66 is fixed to the bottom 64B of each screw portion 64A, and, for example, a thermoplastic sealing agent 70 in the form of fine powder is placed in a sealing agent enclosing chamber 68 closed by the left and right lids 66. It is enclosed. The lid 66 is formed with a thin fragile portion 66A extending radially from the center, and easily opens from the fragile portion 66A as a starting point when a pressure equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied. ing.

As shown in FIG. 1, one screw portion 64A of the main body portion 64 in the sealing agent encapsulating capsule 26 has:
A screw portion 14B formed in the gas ejection port 14A of the inflator 14 is screwed, and the other screw portion 64A of the main body portion 64 in the sealant encapsulating capsule 26 has:
A screw portion 28A formed at the end of the gas introduction pipe 28 is screwed. Accordingly, the gas (indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1) ejected from the inflator 14 causes the lids 66 to change from the closed state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. As shown by an arrow S, the agent 70 is scattered into the airbag body 16 by the gas. At this time, the thermoplastic sealant 70 is melted by the high-temperature gas and easily adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the airbag bag 16. In addition, sealing agent encapsulating capsule 2
The fixing of 6 is not limited to the screwing by the screw portion 64A, but may be other methods such as press fitting and welding.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, when the sensor 12 detects a side collision state, the inflator 14 is activated, and the gas entering the airbag 16 from the inflator 14 causes
The airbag body 16 is inflated and deployed in the vehicle interior. On this occasion,
In the sealant-encapsulated capsule 26, the inflator 1
1 (arrow A in FIG. 1), the respective lids 66 are changed from the closed state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 to the open state shown by the solid line. Therefore, the sealant 70 in the sealant enclosure 68 is melted by the high-temperature gas and easily adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the airbag body 16, and scatters into the airbag body 16. As a result, the airbag bag 16
When the gas begins to leak out of the relatively weak portion of the airbag body 16 after the airbag has been deployed, that is, the portion where misalignment has occurred, the sealant 70 spread over the entire inside of the airbag body 16. Part of the gas adheres to the gas leak part.
For this reason, the sealing agent 70 hardens as the temperature decreases,
It adheres intensively to the inner peripheral surface of the airbag bag body 16, particularly to a gas leaking portion, thereby preventing gas leak.

Accordingly, the gas from the inflator 14 can be used to efficiently adhere the sealant to the airbag bag 16 at a portion where a gas leak is likely to occur, so that the sealant is not coated. An airbag bag 16 or an airbag bag 16 in which a sealing agent is thinly coated on the outer periphery can be used. For this reason,
As compared with the case where the coating of the sealant is made thicker in the entire airbag body, the sealing performance can be improved without increasing the weight and deteriorating the storage performance.

Further, the gas ejected from the inflator 14 causes the gas ejection port 14A of the inflator 14 to emit gas.
The sealant 70 scatters from the sealant-encapsulated capsule 26 disposed in the vicinity to the inside of the inflated and deployed airbag body 16. As a result, with a simple configuration, the sealant 70
Can be scattered throughout the inflated and deployed airbag bag body 16.

Next, a second embodiment of the head protection airbag device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, a part of the sealant enclosing capsule 72 as the sealant scattering means has a double structure, and the cylindrical main body 7 has a cylindrical shape.
An outer cylinder 76 is arranged at a predetermined interval around the outer periphery of the outer cylinder 4. A plurality (four in the present embodiment) is provided between the outer cylinder 76 and the main body 74 at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the main body 74.
Tank 78 is provided. That is, each tank 78
Are supported by the outer cylinder 76 on the outer peripheral portion of the main body 74.

Each of the tanks 78 is filled with a thermosetting liquid or a gel-like sealing agent 80, and a conduit 82 extending from each of the tanks 78 passes through a main body 74,
The tip portion 82A protrudes into the internal space 84 of the main body 74.

As shown in FIG. 5, screw portions 74A are formed in the inner peripheral portions at both ends of the main body portion 74, and one of the screw portions 74A of the main body portion 74 in the sealant encapsulating capsule 72 has: Gas outlet 14 in inflator 14
A screw portion 14A formed at the end of the gas introduction pipe 28 is screwed to the other screw portion 74A of the main body portion 74 in the sealant encapsulation capsule 72. Have been. Therefore, the gas ejected from the inflator 14 (arrow A in FIG. 5) causes each conduit 8
The sealing agent 80 is formed into a mist and scatters into the airbag body 16 as shown by an arrow S from the front end portion 82A of the second. The sealant 80 attached to the airbag bag 16 is cured by gas heat.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, when the sensor 12 detects a side collision state, the inflator 14 is actuated, and the gas that has entered the airbag bag 16 from the inflator 14 causes the airbag bag 16 to move. 16 inflates and deploys in the vehicle interior. At this time, in the sealant encapsulation capsule 72, the gas (indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1) ejected from the inflator 14 causes the sealant 80 to be atomized from the distal end portions 82 </ b> A of the respective conduits 82 to form an air mist. Splatters inside. As a result, after the airbag bag 16 is deployed, when the gas starts leaking to the outside from a relatively weak portion of the airbag bag 16, that is, a portion where misalignment has occurred, the inside of the airbag bag 16. A part of the sealant 80 spreading over the entire area is concentrated on the gas leaking portion and adheres. For this reason, the sealant 70 is hardened by the gas heat and adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the airbag bag body 16, particularly to the gas leak portion, thereby preventing gas leak.

Accordingly, the gas from the inflator 14 can be used to efficiently apply the sealant to the airbag bag 16 at a portion where a gas leak is likely to occur, so that the sealant is not coated. An airbag bag 16 or an airbag bag 16 in which a sealing agent is thinly coated on the outer periphery can be used. For this reason,
As compared with the case where the coating of the sealant is made thicker in the entire airbag body, the sealing performance can be improved without increasing the weight and deteriorating the storage performance.

The gas ejected from the inflator 14 causes the gas ejection port 14A
The sealant 80 scatters from the sealant-encapsulated capsule 72 disposed in the vicinity to the inside of the inflated and deployed airbag body 16. As a result, with a simple configuration, the sealant 80
Can be scattered throughout the inflated and deployed airbag bag body 16.

Next, an embodiment of a method for sealing a head protection airbag bag according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, as a work before attaching an inflator or the like to the completed airbag body 16 to form a folded shape, the inside of the airbag body 16 is coated with a sealant by the following sealing method.

As shown in FIG. 7, a metal band 88 capable of attaching and detaching the completed airbag bag body 16 to and from the nozzle 82 is provided.
Fixed by. A hot air generator 92 for generating hot air (high-temperature air, gas, etc.) as a high-temperature gas is connected to the band 88 via a valve 90. Hot air (arrow B in FIG. 7) having a predetermined pressure as a gas is applied to the airbag bag body 16.
Air is blown into the airbag bag 16 so as to be inflated. Further, the nozzle 86 is connected to the nozzle 86 via a valve 94.
The sealing agent filling container 96 is connected, and by opening the valve 94, for example, a thermoplastic sealing agent 98 in the form of fine powder is sent into the nozzle 86, and the hot air blows into the airbag bag body 16. It is designed to scatter. After that, after the airbag body 16 is completely inflated, the valves 94 and 90 are closed.

Therefore, in the method of sealing the head protection airbag bag according to the present embodiment, the sealing agent 98 is scattered by the hot air in the entire inflated and deployed airbag bag 16.
Thereafter, when the hot air in the airbag bag 16 starts to leak to the outside from the relatively weak portion of the airbag bag 16, a part of the sealant 98 spreading throughout the airbag bag 16 causes gas leakage. It adheres intensively to the part and is hardened by the temperature drop (cooling) of hot air. For this reason, the sealing agent 98 hardens as the temperature decreases, and adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the airbag bag body 16, particularly to the gas leak portion, thereby preventing gas leak.

Therefore, according to the method of sealing the head protection airbag bag of the present embodiment, the airbag bag 16 can be manufactured without increasing the weight of the airbag bag 16 or deteriorating the storage performance when the airbag bag is manufactured. Can be efficiently improved. Further, the sealing property of the airbag body 16 can be improved by an easy method without significantly changing the conventional manufacturing method. Note that the sealing agent 98 may be a liquid or gel-like thermosetting sealing agent.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various other embodiments are included within the scope of the present invention. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that is possible. For example, the deployed shape of the airbag bag 16 is the shape shown in FIG. 2, but the deployed shape of the airbag bag 16 is not limited to this shape. For example, as shown in FIG. The main inflation chamber 34 subsequent to 16 is disposed so as to extend substantially linearly forward, and a front seat inflation portion 32 </ b> A having a divided chamber 37 extending substantially vertically below the main inflation chamber 34.
And a rear seat inflatable portion 32B. The present invention is also applicable to a head protection airbag device having an inflator provided on a front pillar, and is not limited to the size of the airbag bag.

[0047]

As described above, the head protection airbag device according to the first aspect of the present invention is excellent in that the sealing property of the airbag body can be improved without increasing the weight and deteriorating the storage performance. Has an effect.

The head protection airbag device according to the second aspect of the present invention has an excellent effect that the configuration is simple in addition to the effect according to the first aspect.

The method for sealing a head-protecting airbag bag according to the third aspect of the present invention does not increase the weight of the airbag bag or deteriorate the storage performance during manufacture of the airbag bag. It has an excellent effect that the sealing performance of the bag can be efficiently improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method of sealing a head protection airbag bag according to the third aspect of the present invention has the following advantages.
It has an excellent effect that it is an easy method without significantly changing the conventional manufacturing method.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged side sectional view showing a main part of a head protection airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing an expanded state of the airbag bag in the head protection airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing a sealant-encapsulated capsule in the head protection airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an airbag body stored state of the head protection airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a head protection airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a method of sealing a head protection airbag bag according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing a deployed state of a head protection airbag bag according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing a completed deployment state of an airbag body in a conventional head protection airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Head protection airbag apparatus 14 Inflator 16 Airbag bag 16A Gas inflow part of airbag bag 22 Roof side rail 24 Front pillar 26 Sealant encapsulation capsule (Sealant scattering means) 28 Gas introduction pipe 64 Main part 66 Cover 68 Sealing agent sealing chamber 70 Sealing agent 72 Sealing agent sealing capsule (sealant scattering means) 74 Main body 76 Outer cylinder 78 Tank 80 Sealing agent 82 Conduit 86 Nozzle 90 Valve 92 Hot air generator 94 Valve 96 Sealing agent filling container 98 Sealing agent

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A head protection airbag device housed at least along a roof side rail and deployed in a curtain shape, wherein an inflator for injecting gas for inflating the airbag bag into the airbag bag, and the inflator And a sealant scattering means for scattering the sealant throughout the airbag body by gas ejected from the airbag device. 2. The head protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the sealant scattering means is a capsule disposed near a gas outlet of the inflator and enclosing the sealant. 3. A method of sealing a head-protecting airbag bag that is housed at least along a roof side rail and that develops in a curtain shape, wherein the sealing agent is scattered throughout the airbag bag body in an inflated state by applying an internal pressure. A method of sealing a head protection airbag bag, characterized in that the sealing is performed. 4. The head according to claim 3, wherein the sealant is scattered into the airbag body by a high-temperature gas, and the sealing agent adhered to the airbag body is cured by cooling thereafter. How to seal the airbag bag.