JP2002127866A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and certainly reduce impact to a driver, etc., at the time of light collision of a vehicle concerning an air bag device arranged on the vehicle. SOLUTION: This air bag device constitutes its characteristic feature of having an air bag arranged on the vehicle, at least a first inflator and a second inflator to generate gas to inflate the air bag, an acceleration sensor to detect acceleration of the vehicle and a control means to input a signal from the acceleration sensor, to simultaneously actuate the first inflator and the second inflator at the time when the acceleration is acceleration to correspond with heavy collision of the vehicle and to actuate the second inflator after a specified period of time after actuating the first inflator at the time when the acceleration is acceleration to correspond with light collision of the vehicle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device for a vehicle, and more particularly to an airbag device capable of reducing a shock to a driver or the like due to a rapid expansion of the airbag.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in vehicles such as passenger cars and trucks,
2. Description of the Related Art An airbag is used to protect a driver or the like from an impact during a vehicle collision.

[0003]

However, the conventional airbag inflates rapidly at the same inflation speed regardless of the lightness of the collision of the vehicle. There was a problem that it might work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device capable of easily and reliably reducing the impact on a driver or the like at the time of a light collision of a vehicle. With the goal.

[0005]

An airbag device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an airbag disposed in a vehicle, at least a first inflator and a second inflator for generating gas for inflating the airbag. An acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle, and a signal from the acceleration sensor, and when the acceleration is an acceleration corresponding to a heavy collision of the vehicle, the first inflator and the second inflator are simultaneously operated. And actuating the first inflator and actuating the second inflator a predetermined time after actuating the first inflator when the acceleration is an acceleration corresponding to a light collision of the vehicle. And

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the airbag apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the airbags are separately disposed to protect a driver's right foot and left foot. It is an airbag.

(Function) In the airbag device of the first aspect,
When the vehicle collides, the absolute value of the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor becomes larger than a predetermined acceleration,
The first inflator and the second inflator are operated by the control means, and the airbag disposed in the vehicle is instantaneously and rapidly inflated.

When the impact at the time of the collision of the vehicle is large and the acceleration is an acceleration corresponding to the heavy collision of the vehicle, the first inflator and the second inflator are simultaneously operated by the control means, and the maximum capacity of the airbag is achieved. Inflated rapidly.

On the other hand, when the impact at the time of the collision of the vehicle is relatively small and the acceleration is an acceleration corresponding to the light collision of the vehicle, first, the control means activates the first inflator, and thereafter, the first inflator is operated for a predetermined time. Then, the second inflator is operated. Therefore, at the time of a light collision of the vehicle, the inflation of the airbag becomes slower than at the time of a heavy collision.

[0010] In the airbag device of the second aspect, the present invention is applied to the right foot airbag and the left foot airbag which are separately disposed to protect the right foot and the left foot of the driver, and the right foot and the left foot in a light collision. The impact from the airbag acting on the airbag is reduced.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an airbag device of the present invention, and reference numeral 11 denotes an airbag 11 disposed in a vehicle. The airbag 11 has a chamber 15 for supplying gas into the bag body 13. A first inflator 17 and a second inflator 19 that generate gas for inflating the bag body 13 are connected to both sides of the chamber 15.

The first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 contain a large number of gas generating agents (not shown). At the ends of the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19, igniters 21 and 23 for burning the gas generating agent are arranged. Symbol 25
Denotes an acceleration sensor that detects the acceleration of the vehicle.

The signal from the acceleration sensor 25 is output to the control device 27. The control device 27 inputs a signal from the acceleration sensor 25 and simultaneously activates the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 when the acceleration is an acceleration corresponding to a heavy collision of the vehicle.

That is, the lower limit value of the absolute value of the acceleration corresponding to the heavy collision (hereinafter referred to as the lower limit value for the heavy collision) is stored in the control device 27 in advance. And the control device 2
7, when the absolute value of the value input from the acceleration sensor 25 is equal to or larger than the lower limit for heavy collision, the igniters 21 and 23 arranged on the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 are simultaneously turned on. To ignite the igniters 21 and 23 at the same time.

On the other hand, when the acceleration is an acceleration corresponding to a light collision of the vehicle, the control device 27 activates the first inflator 17 and then activates the second inflator 19 after a predetermined time. That is, in the control device 27, the lower limit value of the absolute value of the acceleration corresponding to the light collision (hereinafter, referred to as the lower limit value).
Light collision lower limit) is stored in advance.

The control device 27 controls the acceleration sensor 2
If the absolute value of the value input from 5 is greater than or equal to the lower limit for light collisions and less than the lower limit for heavy collisions, the ignition device 21 of the first inflator 17 is ignited, and then a predetermined predetermined value is set. After a lapse of time, the igniter 23 of the second inflator 19 is ignited. In the above-described airbag device, when the vehicle collides, the absolute value of the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 25 becomes larger than a predetermined lower limit for light collision,
By the control device 27, the igniters 21 and 23 of the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 are ignited,
First inflator 17 and second inflator 19
The gas generating agent in the chamber burns, and gas from the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 is supplied to the chamber 15.
Through the bag body 13 and the bag body 13 is suddenly inflated instantaneously.

When the impact at the time of the collision of the vehicle is large and the absolute value of the acceleration is equal to or greater than the lower limit for heavy collision, the controller 27 controls the ignition of the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19. 21 and 23 are ignited at the same time, and the bag body 13 is rapidly expanded at the maximum capacity. On the other hand, when the impact at the time of the collision of the vehicle is relatively small and the absolute value of the acceleration is equal to or larger than the lower limit for light collisions and smaller than the lower limit for heavy collisions, the controller 27 first controls the first inflator 17. Is operated, and thereafter, the second inflator 19 is operated after a predetermined time.

Therefore, at the time of a light collision of the vehicle, the inflation of the bag body 13 becomes slower than at the time of a heavy collision. In the above-described airbag device, when the impact at the time of the collision of the vehicle is relatively small and the acceleration is the acceleration corresponding to the light collision of the vehicle, first, the first inflator 17 is operated by the control device 27, and thereafter, Since the second inflator 19 is operated after a predetermined time, the inflation of the bag body 13 at the time of a light collision of the vehicle becomes gentler than that at the time of a heavy collision, thereby driving the vehicle at the time of a light collision. It is possible to easily and surely reduce the impact on persons and the like.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows a cab of a cab-over type truck to which this embodiment is applied. In FIG. 3, a driver's seat 35 serving as a driver's 33 seat is arranged in the cab body 31. A handle 37 is disposed in front of the driver's seat 35, and a handle shaft is inserted into the column cover 39.

An instrument panel 41 is disposed in front of the driver's seat 35. Various instruments such as a speedometer (not shown) are arranged above the instrument panel 41. An instrument member 43 is horizontally arranged in the width direction of the cab body 31 at the center of the instrument panel 41.

In this embodiment, a right foot airbag 47 for protecting the right foot of the driver 33 and a left foot are provided inside a front face 45 (hereinafter referred to as an instrument face) of the instrument panel 41, as shown in FIG. And an airbag 49 for the left foot for protecting the vehicle. Airbag 47 for right foot
A first airbag 47 for inflating the airbag 47 for the right foot and the airbag 49 for the left foot is provided between
Of the inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 are disposed.

The first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 have a long shape, and the longitudinal direction is arranged in the horizontal direction. And the first inflator 1
7 and the second inflator 19 are arranged in series on both sides of the chamber 50. In addition, the first inflator 1
As shown in FIG. 2, the seventh and second inflators 19 are arranged substantially parallel to the vicinity of the instrument member 43.

In this embodiment, the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 are connected to the pipe 5
1 are connected to an airbag 47 for the right foot and an airbag 49 for the left foot. That is, a pipe 51 that opens into the chamber 50 is disposed substantially parallel to the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 on the back side of the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19.

Then, both ends of the pipe 51 are bent downward, and the tip of the bent portion 53 is connected to the base plate 55 of the airbag 47 for the right foot and the airbag 49 for the left foot.
Connected to the upper surface of the The distal end of the bent portion 53 of the pipe 51 is connected to the right foot airbag 47 and the left foot airbag 49 in a direction perpendicular to the airbag deployment direction.

In this embodiment, the first inflator 1
7 and the second inflator 19 have igniters 21 and
The control device 27 is electrically connected to the ignition devices 21 and 23. An acceleration sensor 25 for detecting the acceleration of the vehicle is connected to the control device 27.

In this embodiment, the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description is omitted. In the above-described airbag device, at the time of a vehicle collision, the igniters 21 and 23 of the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 are ignited by the control device 27, and the inside of the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 is ignited. Gas is generated by the combustion of the gas generating agent.

The generated gas flows into the pipe 51 from the chamber 50 and is divided into a right side and a left side, and then passes through the bent portion 53 from the base plate 55 of the airbag 47 for the right foot and the airbag 49 for the left foot. Flows into the bag body, which causes the bag body to expand rapidly.
Due to the inflation of the bag body, the concave portion 57 of the instrument surface 45 is broken, and the bag body protrudes toward the knee 33a of the driver 33, whereby the right foot and the left foot of the driver 33 are reliably protected.

In the above-described airbag device, the right foot is protected by the right foot airbag 47 and the left foot airbag 49 is protected.
As a result, the left leg is protected, so that the leg of the driver 33 can be effectively protected. That is, for example,
When trying to protect the right foot and the left foot at the same time with one airbag, it is difficult to protect both feet reliably because the right foot and the left foot are separated at the time of collision, etc. Are protected by independent airbags, so that the right foot and the left foot can be reliably protected.

Further, when the right foot and the left foot are to be simultaneously protected by one airbag, the size of the airbag becomes large, and it is difficult to effectively protect the right foot and the left foot at different positions. However, since the right foot and the left foot are protected by independent airbags, the right foot and the left foot can be effectively and reliably protected. In the above-described airbag device, when the impact at the time of the collision of the vehicle is relatively small and the acceleration is the acceleration corresponding to the light collision of the vehicle, first, the first inflator 17 is operated by the control device 27, Thereafter, the second inflator 19 is actuated after a predetermined time, so that the inflation of the airbag at the time of a light collision of the vehicle becomes slower than at the time of a heavy collision. The impact on the driver's foot can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the same inflator is used for the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Alternatively, the gas generating capacity of the first inflator may be larger than the gas generating capacity of the second inflator. Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the two inflators of the first inflator 17 and the second inflator 19 are used has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. It is also possible to use an inflator larger than the body and ignite sequentially after a predetermined time in a light collision.

[0032]

As described above, according to the airbag device of the first aspect, when the impact at the time of the collision of the vehicle is relatively small and the change in the acceleration is a change in the acceleration corresponding to the light collision of the vehicle, the control means is used. First, the first inflator is actuated, and thereafter, the second inflator is actuated after a predetermined time, so that the inflation of the airbag at the time of a light collision of the vehicle is slower than at the time of a heavy collision. This makes it easier to impact the driver at the time of a light collision of the vehicle,
It can be surely reduced.

In the airbag device according to the second aspect, the present invention is applied to the right foot airbag and the left foot airbag which are separately disposed to protect the driver's right foot and left foot. The impact from the airbag acting on the left foot can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of an airbag device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a cab of a cab-over type truck to which the airbag device of FIG. 2 is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 airbag 17 first inflator 19 second inflator 25 acceleration sensor 27 controller 47 airbag for right foot 49 airbag for left foot

Claims (2)

[Claims] An airbag disposed in a vehicle; at least a first inflator and a second inflator for generating gas for inflating the airbag; an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle; When a signal from an acceleration sensor is input and the acceleration is an acceleration corresponding to a heavy collision of the vehicle, the first
The second inflator and the second inflator are simultaneously operated, and when the acceleration is the acceleration corresponding to the light collision of the vehicle, the second inflator is operated after a predetermined time after the first inflator is operated. An airbag device, comprising: 2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is a right foot airbag and a left foot airbag that are separately disposed to protect a driver's right foot and left foot. Airbag device.