JP2002067854A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device having a diffuser easily settable in its case, by cutting down man-hours for manufacturing the diffuser. SOLUTION: In this airbag device 10, a cylindrical inflator 16 is stored in the bottom part of a case 12, an airbag 14 is folded up and stored in its upper part, and the flow of gas to be supplied to an airbag 14 is controlled by disposing a diffuser 18 so as to cover the peripheral surface of the inflator 16. The diffuser 18 is comprised of an acting surface part 18a having a gas blowing-off opening 34 and a fixed surface part 18b disposed on its both sides and fixed to the case 12, the fixed surface part 18b is caught in a gap between the peripheral surface of the inflator 16 inserted from the side surface of the case and the case 12, and a projecting part 36 is provided on the fixed surface part 18b so as not to be pulled out of this gap. A corrugated part having a corrugated cross section which can be engaged with a corrugated part 38 provided on the side wail of the case is suitable for this projecting part 36.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device which is an occupant protection device for a vehicle or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an airbag device includes a case disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body such as an instrument panel and a center portion of a steering wheel, and an airbag stored in a folded state in the case. And an inflator, which is a gas generator, such that when the vehicle collides, the gas generated by the inflator inflates and deploys to the occupant side, thereby receiving the occupant's body.

[0003] In such an airbag device, a diffuser may be provided so as to cover the peripheral surface of the inflator in order to control the flow of gas generated by the inflator. The conventional diffuser usually has a plate shape and is fixed to the inner wall surface of the case by welding. However, when the diffuser is fixed to the case wall surface by welding, the number of manufacturing steps of the case is increased. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, there is an airbag apparatus 100 in which the diffuser is fixed to the case with bolts and nuts. .

[0004] In this airbag device 100, a cylindrical inflator 1 is provided on the bottom side of a case 101 opening upward.
02 is arranged, and the airbag 103 is housed in the upper opening side. The outer periphery of the inflator 102 is entirely surrounded by a cylindrical diffuser 103. The diffuser 103 forms one metal plate into an annular shape by press molding, and welds a joint portion at both ends,
Further, a bolt 104 is press-fitted into this joint and welded, and the bolt 104 is fixed by penetrating the bottom surface of the case 101 and tightening with a nut 106. Diffuser 103
Is the mouth 1 of the airbag 103 between the case 101 and
05, and also functions as locking means for the airbag 103.

[0005]

In the above conventional structure,
Since a matching step for making the cross-sectional shape of the diffuser 103 into a closed ring is required, the number of manufacturing steps is large. Further, since the cross-sectional shape is a closed annular shape, the diffuser 1
03 in case 101, diffuser 1
03 may not be deformed flexibly and may be difficult to set.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an airbag apparatus in which the number of steps for manufacturing a diffuser is reduced and the diffuser can be easily set in a case.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag apparatus, comprising: an airbag;
A case having an opening for airbag inflation, a cylindrical inflator inserted from an insertion opening provided in a side wall of the case and housed in the case bottom, and arranged to cover a peripheral surface of the inflator, In an airbag device including a diffuser that controls a flow of gas supplied to the airbag, the diffuser is disposed on both sides of a working surface having a gas blowing opening to the airbag, and is fixed to the case. A fixing surface portion is provided, and at least one of the fixing surface portions is sandwiched by a gap between the peripheral surface of the inflator inserted from the insertion port and the case, and a convex portion is formed on the fixing surface portion so as not to fall out of the gap. It is provided.

In this airbag device, since the convex portion for preventing the diffuser is provided on the fixing surface of the diffuser sandwiched between the gap between the inflator and the case, the force generated by the gas generated by the inflator pushes the diffuser upward toward the case opening. Does not cause the fixing surface portion to fall out of the gap between the inflator and the case due to the convex shape portion, and therefore, the diffuser does not come off the case. In addition, since the cross-sectional shape of the diffuser is set to the case in an open state instead of a closed ring as in the above-described conventional case, a joining process of making the diffuser annular and welding of the joining portion are not required, and the case is not required. When set in a position, it bends and deforms, so that setability is good.

In this airbag device, both the fixed surfaces of the diffuser may be arranged in the gap between the inflator and the case, and the convex portions may be provided on both fixed surfaces. A convex portion may be provided, and a bolt may be fixed to the other fixing surface portion and fixed to the case by the bolt. In the former case, bolts for fixing the diffuser to the case are not required, so there is no need to weld the bolt and the diffuser, and torque management when tightening the bolts to the case is not required. There is an advantage that it is greatly reduced. Also, the weight can be reduced because the bolts are eliminated.

[0010] In the airbag device according to the first aspect, as in the second aspect, a fitting portion that fits into the convex shape portion may be provided on a case wall to which the fixing surface portion of the diffuser is fixed. . As such a convex part and a fitting part,
There is no particular limitation as long as the unevenness can fit into each other, but it is preferable to form a corrugated portion having a cross-sectional waveform that fits into each other.

In the airbag device of the first aspect, the diffuser surrounds the inflator over the entire circumference, and the fixed surface portions on both sides are sandwiched by a gap between the peripheral surface of the inflator and the case in a state of being overlapped with each other. The convex portions provided on the fixed surface portion may be configured to fit each other.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag device, a case accommodating the airbag and having an opening for inflating the airbag, and a case inserted through an insertion opening provided in a side wall of the case. An airbag device comprising: a cylindrical inflator that is housed at the bottom of the case; and a diffuser that is arranged to cover a peripheral surface of the inflator and controls a flow of gas supplied to the airbag. An operating surface portion having a gas blowing opening to the airbag, and a fixing surface portion arranged on both sides thereof and fixed to the case, wherein at least one of the fixing surface portion and the case wall are fitted with irregularities. The diffuser is fixed to the case by providing them and fitting them together.

In this airbag device, the diffuser is fixed to the case by fitting the fixing surface of the diffuser with the unevenness provided on the case wall, and the gas generated by the inflator acts on the diffuser to push the diffuser upward to the case opening side. Even so, the fitting prevents the diffuser from coming off the case.

With this airbag device, the cross-sectional shape of the diffuser is not a closed ring as in the prior art, so that the step of forming the diffuser into a ring and the welding of the connecting portion are not required, and the setting of the diffuser in the case is not required. Since it bends and deforms, the setability is good. In particular, by providing the above-mentioned irregularities between the case and the case on both the fixing surface portions of the diffuser, a bolt for fixing the diffuser to the case becomes unnecessary.Therefore, the welding of the bolt and the diffuser and the tightening torque management of the bolt are reduced. There is an advantage in that it becomes unnecessary and the number of manufacturing steps is greatly reduced. Also, the weight can be reduced because the bolts are eliminated.

The irregularities are not particularly limited as long as they can be fitted to each other. For example, a convex portion or a concave portion may be provided on the diffuser side and a concave portion or a convex portion fitted to the case may be provided on the case side. An uneven shape may be provided on the diffuser side, and an uneven shape fitted to the case may be provided on the case side. Preferably, as in the sixth aspect, the corrugated portions have a cross-sectional waveform fitted to each other.

In the airbag device according to the fifth aspect, it is preferable that the fixing surface portion of the diffuser is pressed against the case wall by the peripheral surface of the inflator inserted from the insertion port. is there. Accordingly, the fitting between the fixing surface portion of the diffuser and the case wall due to the unevenness becomes stronger, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the diffuser from being detached from the case.

In the airbag device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the mouth of the airbag is sandwiched between the fixing surface of the diffuser and the case. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembling workability can be improved as compared with the case where the mouth portion of the airbag is fixed to the peripheral portion of the opening of the case.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an airbag device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a perspective view.

The airbag device 10 is an airbag device for a passenger seat disposed in an instrument panel in front of a passenger seat of an automobile.
And an airbag 14 housed in a folded state in the case 12, a cylindrical inflator 16, and a diffuser 18 for controlling the flow of gas generated by the inflator 16.
And a door 20 that covers the upper opening of the case 12. Then, at the time of a vehicle collision, the door 20 is opened by the gas generated by the inflator 16 and the airbag 14 is deployed to the rear side of the vehicle, thereby receiving the occupant's body.

The case 12 is a metal container having an opening 22 for inflating the airbag on the upper surface, and has a rectangular shape whose horizontal cross section is long in the vehicle width direction. The case 12 is formed in two upper and lower stages, and an upper side having a large horizontal cross-sectional area is configured as a storage part 12a of the airbag 14, and a lower side is configured as a storage part 12b of the inflator 16 via a step part. The case 12 may be formed by an integral throttle, or the side wall facing the vehicle width direction may be formed by a separate piece of metal plate.

On the side wall of the case 12 facing the vehicle width direction, a circular insertion opening 24 for inserting the inflator 16 is provided on one side, and a through hole 16 for inserting a bolt 16a at the tip of the inserted inflator 16 on the other side. 26 are provided.

The inflator 16 is housed at the bottom of the case 12 with its axial direction oriented in the vehicle width direction. The inflator 16 is a small hybrid type inflator having a gas ejection portion 28 at one end in the axial direction, and a bolt 16a which is inserted into the through hole 26 and fixed by a nut 30 at the other end.

The airbag 14 is a three-dimensionally sewn bag made of synthetic fiber woven cloth or the like, and has a rectangular mouth portion 32 corresponding to the opening shape of the case 12.

The diffuser 18 is a metal member having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section that covers the peripheral surface of the inflator 16. The diffuser 18 has a plurality of gas blowing openings 34 and has a working surface portion 18a which exerts a diffuser function of controlling a gas flow to the airbag 14, and a fixed surface portion 18b disposed on both sides thereof and fixed to the case 12. Consisting of

The operating surface portion 18a has a curved surface shape that bulges upward along the cylindrical body portion 16b of the inflator 16.

The fixing surface portion 18b extends downward from both ends of the working surface portion 18a, forms an elongated flat plate extending along the axial direction of the inflator 16, and is fixed to the front and rear side walls of the inflator housing portion 12b of the case 12. It has become. The fixed surface portion 18 b is configured to be pushed outward by the peripheral surface of the inflator 16, thereby pressing the side wall of the case 12.

The opening angle of the two fixed surfaces 18b before being attached to the case 12 is set slightly larger than the opening angle in the attached state. Is configured to be pressed.

The diffuser 18 has fixed surface portions 18 on both sides.
B is fixed to the case 12 by providing irregularities 36 and 38 to be fitted to each other on the wall surface of the case 12 corresponding to b. For details, see Diffuser 18
A corrugated portion 36 having a cross-sectional waveform is integrally provided on the fixed surface portion 18b by press drawing, and a corrugated portion 38 fitted to the corrugated portion 36 is fitted to a case wall of the inflator housing portion 12b.
Are integrally provided by press drawing. Corrugated portion 36,
Both have a shape in which a plurality of ridges extending in the axial direction of the inflator 16 are vertically adjacent to each other and alternately project from the front and back. Note that the wavy portions 36 and 38
Are provided separately at both ends in this embodiment, but may be provided continuously.

The distal end portion 40 of the fixing surface portion 18b is connected to the inflator 1 to prevent the mouth portion 32 of the airbag 14 from being torn.
It is bent to the 6 side. In addition, you may bend so that the front-end | tip part 40 may be folded back by hemming.

The mouth 32 of the airbag 14 is sandwiched between the fixed surface 18b and the case 12. Specifically, the front and rear sides 32a extend from above to the bottom of the diffuser 18 so as to surround the diffuser 18, and
The front ends are stitched 35, and the front and rear sides 32a
Are interposed in the gap between the fixed surface portion 18b and the wall surface of the case 12, and are locked by fitting at the corrugated portions 36 and 38. The left and right sides 32b are, as shown in FIG.
A locking hole 33 is provided, and the locking hole 33 is
Are hooked on the locking projections 31 provided on the back surface of the working surface portion 18a, thereby being locked on the diffuser 18.

When assembling the airbag device 10, first, the diffuser 18 is placed inside the mouth portion 32 of the folded airbag 14, and the diffuser 18 is pushed in from the opening 22 of the case 12 and set. At this time, since the diffuser 18 has an open cross-sectional shape, the diffuser 18 is flexibly deformed, that is, expanded and contracted in the radial direction, and is easily set. After setting,
The diffuser 18 is opened outward by the elastic force, and the corrugated portion 36 of the fixed surface portion 18b is fitted with the corrugated portion 38 of the case 12.

Next, the inflator 16 is inserted through the insertion opening 24, and the bolt 16 a at the tip is fixed with the nut 30. At this time, the fixed surface portion 18b in front of and behind the diffuser 18 is pushed outward by the peripheral surface of the inserted inflator 16, and the corrugated portion 36 of the fixed surface portion 18b and the corrugated portion 38 of the case 12 are further firmly fitted. Combine. Thereby, the airbag device 10 is assembled.

In the airbag device 10 according to the present embodiment described above, the diffuser 18 is fixed to the case 12 by fitting the fixing surface portion 18b of the diffuser 18 and the corrugated portions 36, 38 provided on the wall surface of the case 12 to each other. Have been. Further, since the fixed surface portion 18 b is pressed against the case 12 by the peripheral surface of the inflator 16,
The fitting is firm.

Further, in the airbag device 10, the fixed surface portion 18 b is formed by the peripheral surface of the inflator 16 to the case 12.
, So that the diffuser 18
Is fixed to the gap between the peripheral surface of the inflator 16 and the case 12. Since the corrugated portion 36 is provided on the fixed surface portion 18b, the corrugated portion 36 also functions as a convex portion that locks the fixed surface portion 18b so as not to come out of the gap.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the diffuser 18 can be firmly fixed to the case 12 with a simple structure not using welding. Further, since the cross-sectional shape of the diffuser 18 is open, it is not necessary to perform an annular joining step and weld a joining portion. Further, since a bolt for fixing the diffuser 18 to the case 12 is not required, there is no need to weld the bolt and the diffuser, and torque management when tightening the bolt to the case is not required, and the number of manufacturing steps is reduced. It is greatly reduced. Furthermore, since there is no overlapping portion of the diffuser 18 and there are no bolts, the weight can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the diffuser 18 and the case 12 of the airbag device 50 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the airbag device 50. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the diffuser 1
8 has a different fixing structure of one fixing surface portion 18b2 to the case 12.

That is, in the second embodiment, the first fixed surface portion 18b1 of the pair of fixed surface portions 18b has the first fixed surface portion 18b1.
A corrugated portion 36 similar to that of the embodiment is provided and fixed, and a bolt 52 is fixed to the other fixed surface portion 18b2, and is fixed to the bottom surface of the case 12 by the bolt 52.

A plurality (two in this case) of fixing bolts 52 are fixed to the other fixing surface portion 18b2 so as to protrude downward. An insertion hole 54 through which the bolt 52 is inserted is provided on the bottom surface of the case 12, and the fixed surface portion 18 b 2 is fixed to the case 12 by tightening the inserted bolt 52 with a nut 56. In this case, a through hole corresponding to the bolt 52 is also provided in the mouth portion 32 of the airbag 14 so that the bolt 52
Penetrates, the airbag 14 is locked.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an airbag device 60 according to the third embodiment. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that irregularities serving as fitting portions are not provided on the side wall of the case 12 to which the fixing surface portion 18b of the diffuser 18 is fixed.

In the third embodiment, the fixed surface portions 18b on both sides of the diffuser 18 are sandwiched by the gap between the peripheral surface of the inflator 16 and the wall surface of the case 12, and the tip (lower end) of the sandwiched fixed surface portion 18b. In addition, a convex portion 62 for preventing detachment having a cross-sectional shape larger than the gap is provided. The convex portion 62 is formed by bending the distal end portion of the fixed surface portion 18b into a cross-sectional waveform, and is reinforced by providing a rib 64 partially.

The working surface 18a of the diffuser 18
Is provided with a ridge 66 for contacting and positioning the peripheral surface of the inflator 16, and the ridge 66 is partially reinforced by providing a rib 68.

According to the airbag device 60 of the third embodiment, even if the gas generated by the inflator 16 exerts a force to push the diffuser 18 upward, the fixed surface 1
Since the convex portion 62 provided at the tip of 8b cannot pass through the gap between the inflator 16 and the case 12, the fixed surface portion 18b does not fall out of the gap, and therefore, the diffuser 18 does not come off the case 12.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an airbag device 70 according to the fourth embodiment. The fourth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that the diffuser 18 surrounds the inflator 12 over the entire circumference, and is fixed to the gap between the inflator 16 and the case 12 with the fixed surface portions 18b on both sides overlapped with each other. Is different from the embodiment.

That is, in the fourth embodiment, the diffuser 18 surrounds the entire circumference of the cylindrical inflator 16, and the fixed surface portions 18 b on both sides are vertically overlapped below the inflator 16. The two fixing surface portions 18b are respectively provided with two streak-like convex portions 72 fitted to each other. Two convex portions 72
Are arranged so as to abut against the peripheral surface of the inflator 16 on both front and rear sides of the lowermost position of the inflator 16.

In the airbag device 70 of the fourth embodiment, the gas generated by the inflator 16 acts on the diffuser 18 to push the diffuser 18 upward.
8b tries to get out of the gap between the inflator 16 and the case bottom, the protruding portion 72 at the tip end
6 cannot pass through the gap between the lowermost position of the casing 6 and the bottom of the case, so that both fixed surface portions 18b do not fall out of the gap. Therefore, the diffuser 18 does not come off the case 12.

[0047]

According to the airbag device of the present invention, since the diffuser is attached to the case in a state where the cross-sectional shape of the diffuser is not a closed ring but an open state, the joining process of making the diffuser annular and the welding of the joining portion are performed. This is unnecessary, and the number of diffuser manufacturing steps can be reduced. In addition, since the diffuser bends and deforms when it is set in the case, the diffuser is easy to set and has excellent assembling workability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the airbag device.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a diffuser and a case of the airbag device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the airbag device.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an airbag device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an airbag device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a case in a conventional airbag device.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 50, 60, 70 ... airbag device 12 ... case 14 ... airbag 16 ... inflator 18 ... diffuser 24 ... insertion opening 32 ... airbag opening 34 ... blowout opening 36, 38 …… Wave-shaped part 62,72 …… Protrusion-shaped part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Takeshi Yamaji 1-17-18 Edobori, Nishi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. Raw Brake Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomoki Kakihara 10 Michigami, Wakaai-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi F-Term (in reference) 3D054 AA03 AA14 BB10 DD14 DD30 FF17

Claims (8)

[Claims] An airbag, a case accommodating the airbag and having an opening for inflating the airbag, and a columnar shape which is inserted through an insertion opening provided in a side wall of the case and is accommodated in a case bottom portion. An inflator, and a diffuser arranged to cover a peripheral surface of the inflator and controlling a flow of gas supplied to the airbag, wherein the diffuser has a gas blowing opening to the airbag. An operating surface portion, and a fixed surface portion disposed on both sides thereof and fixed to the case, wherein at least one of the fixed surface portions is sandwiched by a gap between a peripheral surface of the inflator inserted from the insertion port and the case. An airbag device, wherein a convex portion is provided on the fixed surface portion so as not to fall out of the gap. 2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a fitting portion that fits into the convex portion is provided on a case wall of the diffuser to which the fixing surface portion is fixed. 3. The airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the convex portion of the diffuser and the fitting portion of the case are corrugated portions having a cross-sectional waveform fitted to each other. 4. The diffuser surrounds the inflator over the entire circumference thereof, and the fixed portions on both sides are sandwiched by a gap between the peripheral surface of the inflator and the case in a state of being overlapped with each other, and the convex portions provided on both fixed surfaces are provided. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbags are fitted with each other. 5. An airbag, a case accommodating the airbag and having an opening for inflating the airbag, and a cylindrical shape inserted from an insertion opening provided in a side wall of the case and accommodated in the case bottom. An inflator, and a diffuser arranged to cover a peripheral surface of the inflator and controlling a flow of gas supplied to the airbag, wherein the diffuser has a gas blowing opening to the airbag. An operating surface portion, and a fixed surface portion arranged on both sides thereof and fixed to the case. By providing at least one of the fixed surface portion and the case wall with irregularities to be fitted to each other, the two are fitted together. An airbag device, wherein a diffuser is fixed to a case. 6. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein the irregularities are corrugated portions having a cross-sectional waveform fitted to each other. 7. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein the fixed surface portion of the diffuser is pressed against a case wall by a peripheral surface of the inflator inserted from the insertion port. 8. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein a mouth portion of the airbag is sandwiched between the fixing surface portion and the case.
The airbag device according to any one of Claims 7 to 7.