JP2004204878A - Connecting pipe for air belt device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connecting pipe for an air belt device not only having flexibility but also allowing high pressure gas from a gas generator to smoothly and instantaneously flow and having pressure resistance even against high pressure in a short time. <P>SOLUTION: The connecting pipe for the air belt device used for interconnecting the gas generator and a gas passage to an air belt is provided with a hose 1 having a reinforcing layer 4 of a high-strength low-elongation material, a nipple 6 inserted inside a pipe end of the hose 1, and a socket 7 fitted outside the pipe end of the hose 1, and formed to have an inside diameter of the hose 1 to be approximately the same as the inside diameter of the nipple 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connection pipe for an air belt device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an air belt device that supplies high-pressure gas generated by a gas generator to an inflatable air belt incorporated in a seat belt to protect an occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. The present invention relates to a connection pipe for connecting a gas passage to a gas passage.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A safety belt device that protects the occupant by incorporating an inflatable bag (bag) into the seat belt as a seat belt for protecting the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision and supplying high-pressure gas to the bag during the collision to inflate the bag. [Patent Document 1 (JP-A-47-26830) and Patent Document 2 (JP-A-49-88220)].
[0003]
Further, the above-mentioned safety belt device is improved, and as a more specific structure, a tongue is provided at an end of a safety belt in which an inflatable bag (bag) is incorporated in a seat belt, and the tongue is provided on a vehicle floor. There has been proposed an air belt device having a structure in which the buckle device is connected to a buckle device and further provided with a gas generating device in the buckle device [see Patent Document 3 (JP-A-5-85301)]. Further, an air belt device in which the structure of the bag is further improved in the above structure has been proposed [see Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-56001)].
[0004]
In recent years, in the above-mentioned air belt device, a gas passage is formed in each of a tongue and a buckle device, and a hose or a flexible pipe is interposed at an inlet of the gas passage of the buckle device to connect a gas generator to a vehicle body (such as a seat base). ) Are proposed [see Patent Document 5 (JP-A-11-78782) and Patent Document 6 (JP-A-11-170950)].
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-47-26830 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-49-88220 [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-5-85301 [Patent Document 4]
JP-A-6-56001 [Patent Document 5]
JP-A-11-77882 [Patent Document 6]
JP-A-11-170950 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the air belt devices of Patent Documents 5 and 6 proposed based on the above-described background, an air belt device such as a hose or a flexible pipe is provided between a gas inlet of a buckle device serving as a gas passage to the air belt and a gas generator. The buckle device is connected to the tongue when the occupant sits on the seat and the tongue is connected to the buckle device, or when the belt angle changes depending on the front and rear position of the seat and the occupant's body type. By swinging, the change in the angle of the belt can be absorbed. Further, since the gas generator can be supported by the fixed portion, and the gas generator does not swing even if the buckle device swings, there is no possibility of interference with other members. Further, the supply of the high-pressure gas from the gas generator to the buckle device can be performed without any trouble via a hose or a flexible pipe. And so on.
[0007]
However, although the hose for the air belt device in Patent Document 5 and the flexible pipe for the air belt device in Patent Document 6 are flexible and can satisfy the requirement of easily following the swing, In a connection pipe such as a metal bellows pipe or a pressure-resistant hose as exemplified in Patent Document 6, it is difficult to flow the high-pressure gas from the gas generator smoothly and instantaneously, and there is a concern that a large pressure loss may occur. When a high-pressure gas flows in a short time, the pressure resistance is not always sufficient.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to not only have flexibility but also to allow a high-pressure gas from a gas generator to flow smoothly and instantaneously, and It is intended to provide a connection pipe for an air belt device which has pressure resistance against high pressure.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a connection pipe for an air belt device according to the present invention (claim 1) is a connection pipe for an air belt device used to connect between a gas generator and a gas passage to an air belt. A hose having a reinforcing layer of a high-strength low-elongation material, a nipple inserted inside the tube end of the hose, and a socket attached to the outside of the tube end of the hose. The inner diameter of the hose is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the nipple.
[0010]
According to the connecting pipe for an air belt device having the above configuration, since the hose having the reinforcing layer of the high strength and low elongation material is used, not only is it flexible, but also against the instantaneous high internal pressure generated by the gas generator. Even without expansion or tearing, excellent pressure resistance can be obtained. In addition, since the inner diameter of the nipple inserted inside the pipe end of the hose having such a configuration and the inner diameter of the hose are formed to be substantially the same diameter, there is no step on the inner surface of the connection pipe, and the pressure loss is reduced. Since the pressure is low, the high-pressure gas from the gas generator can flow smoothly and instantaneously, and the air belt bag can be instantly inflated. Therefore, protection of the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision can be expected more than before.
[0011]
In order to more effectively obtain the above-described functions and effects, the reinforcing layer of the high-strength low-elongation material includes a fiber composite wire formed using PEN fiber, aramid fiber, carbon fiber, glass fiber, or the like. It is good to use (claim 2), and if it is a fiber composite wire of these fibers, a fiber reinforcement layer can be formed by winding the fiber composite wire in a braided or spiral shape. In addition, if this fiber reinforcing layer is used, a rubber layer is provided inside and outside to form a hose, and when used as a connection pipe for an air belt device, a degree of absorbing a swing when a tongue is connected to a buckle device. And the nipple is inserted, and the inner diameter (d1) of the nipple is increased to the same diameter as the inner diameter (d2) of the hose [expansion rate: (d2-d1) / d1 = 20 to 50%] However, the elongation of the fiber composite wire itself (about 1 to 8%) and the elongation of the braid of the fiber reinforcing layer (the reinforcing layer contracts in the axial direction and expands in the circumferential direction) Can be formed by absorption. Further, the connection pipe for the air belt device may have various shapes depending on the form of the fixing place of the buckle device and the gas generator, but if the hose formed in a straight line is bent in a U-shape, the connection tube may be curved. Although the part may be flattened and bent, the fiber reinforcement layer is formed in a desired shape (U-shape, Z-shape, U-shape, etc.) in advance and formed into a hose, so A combined connecting pipe can be manufactured.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is an explanatory view of a connection pipe for an air belt device according to the present invention, wherein a is an overall view, b is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an X part of a, and FIG. 2 is a connection fitting before being connected to a hose. In the figure, 1 is a hose, and 2 is a connection fitting.
[0013]
The hose 1 has a three-layer structure of an inner rubber layer 3, a fiber reinforcing layer 4 formed by braiding a fiber composite wire formed by applying an adhesive to PEN fibers, and an outer rubber layer 5. Produced by Although the PEN fiber is used for the fiber reinforcing layer 4, aramid fiber, carbon fiber, glass fiber, or the like may be used. If the hose 1 is used in a straight pipe state, a steel wire, a SUS wire, or the like may be used. Can also be used.
[0014]
The connection fitting 2 includes a nipple 6 and a socket 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the nipple 6 has a screw portion 9 for connecting to a gas generator G or a buckle device B at one end, and a root of the spanner hook 8 at the other end. A concave portion 10 for engaging the socket 7 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the portion, and an insertion portion 11 having an outer diameter capable of being inserted into the end of the hose 1 is formed at the tip of the concave portion 10. The inner surface of the nipple 6 is formed so that the screw portion 9 side is substantially the same diameter d2 as the inner diameter of the hose 1 with the concave portion 10 at the root portion of the spanner hook 8 as a boundary, and the insertion portion 11 side is larger than the inner diameter of the hose 1. It is formed with a small diameter d1 of about 40%. On the other hand, the socket 7 has a projection 12 for engaging with the recess 10 of the nipple 6 at one end of the inner surface, and a projection 13 for preventing the hose 1 from coming off on the other inner surface. The inner diameter of the socket 7 is formed to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the hose 1 before caulking.
[0015]
The connection of the connection fitting 2 to the end of the hose 1 is performed as follows. First, the insertion portion 11 of the nipple 6 is inserted into the inside diameter of one end of the hose 1 and the nipple 6 is fixed and held. The diameter is expanded to the same as the inner diameter of 1. Next, two sockets 7 are inserted from the other end of the hose 1, and the nipple 6 is expanded and attached to the other end of the hose 1 in the same manner as above. Thereafter, the socket 7 is moved to the end of the hose 1 and caulking is performed from the outer peripheral side, and the hose 1 is fastened and connected to the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 11 of the nipple 6 by the inner peripheral surface of the socket 7. Needless to say, such caulking may be performed one end of the hose 1 at a time.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the connection pipe for an air belt device in which the connection fitting 2 is connected to the end of the hose 1 as described above has a fiber reinforcing layer 4 in which the hose 1 itself is formed by braiding a PEN fiber composite wire. Therefore, the gas generator G has flexibility and excellent pressure resistance, and does not expand or break even with respect to an instantaneous high internal pressure generated in the gas generator G. Further, since the inner diameter of the nipple 6 and the inner diameter of the hose 1 are formed to be substantially the same diameter, there is no step on the inner surface of the connecting pipe and the pressure loss is small, so that the high-pressure gas from the gas generator can be smoothly discharged. You can instantly flush and inflate the air belt bag instantly. Therefore, when used for connection between the gas generator G of the air belt device of the vehicle and the buckle device B, protection of the occupant in the event of a collision can be expected more than before.
[0017]
By the way, while a connecting pipe for an air belt device having the above-described configuration is prototyped using the hose 1 having an inner diameter of 9.6 mm and a length of 200 mm, a step of about 1.3 mm was not expanded in the inner diameter of the nipple 6 for comparison. Were manufactured, and one end of each of these tubes was connected to a 30 MPa tank having an original pressure having a pressurizing pump and an accumulator with a valve interposed therebetween, and the other end was connected to an empty tank having a pressure gauge. The gas was opened and the gas flowed instantaneously, and the time required for the pressure increase until the empty tank reached 20 MPa was compared. According to the results of this comparative experiment, the pressure rise of the comparative pipe was delayed by about 0.08 second compared to the connection pipe for the air belt device having the above configuration.
[0018]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the inner diameter of the nipple 6 is enlarged and the socket 7 is crimped from the outside to attach the pipe end of the hose 1 between the nipple 6 and the socket 7 will be described as an example. However, each of the portions corresponding to the concave portion 10 of the nipple 6 and the convex portion 12 of the socket 7 is configured to be screw-connected, and the tube end of the hose 1 is inserted into the insertion portion 11 of the nipple 6, and the socket 7 is connected. After the screw connection, the inner diameter of the nipple 6 may be expanded, and the nipple 6 may be mounted only by the caulking pressure from the inner diameter side.
[0019]
Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the inner diameter of the nipple 6 attached to the pipe end of the hose 1 is enlarged in order to prevent a step from occurring between the inner diameter of the hose 1 and the inner diameter of the nipple 6 has been described as an example. However, the inner diameter of the nipple 6 is formed to have a predetermined same diameter, the inner diameter of the pipe end of the hose 1 is formed in advance to a large diameter into which the insertion portion 11 of the nipple 6 can be inserted, and the nipple 6 is formed at the pipe end. The insertion portion 11 may be inserted, and the socket 7 may be caulked on the outside of the insertion portion 11 so as to be attached so that a step does not occur in the inner diameter. Alternatively, a tube in which the inner diameter of the nipple 6 is formed to have a predetermined same diameter, the inner diameter of the hose 1 is formed in advance to a large diameter into which the insertion portion 11 of the nipple 6 can be inserted, and the insertion portion 11 of the nipple 6 is inserted. A hose having an inner diameter of a predetermined inner diameter except for an end portion is formed in a hose 1 having a double-tube structure in which a hose having an inner diameter is inserted, and an insertion portion 11 of a nipple 6 is inserted into a tube end portion of the hose 1, and the outer side thereof is inserted. The socket 7 may be caulked and attached so that a step does not occur in the inner diameter. Alternatively, the inner diameter of the nipple 6 and the hose 1 are formed to have the same predetermined diameter, the insertion portion 11 of the nipple 6 is press-fitted into the tube end of the hose 1, and the socket 7 is caulked on the outside thereof, so that there is no step in the inner diameter. It may be mounted as follows.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the connection pipe for an air belt device according to the present invention has flexibility and excellent pressure resistance, and also has no step on the inner surface of the connecting portion between the nipple and the hose, so that the pressure loss is reduced. Because it is small, the connection between the gas generator of the air belt device of the vehicle and the buckle device is easy, and the high pressure gas from the gas generator can flow smoothly and instantly, and the air belt bag can be inflated instantly. Therefore, protection of the occupant in the event of a collision can be expected more than before.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a connection pipe for an air belt device according to the present invention, wherein a is an overall view, and b is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an X part of a.
FIG. 2 shows a connection fitting before being connected to the hose according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Hose 2: Connection fitting 3: Internal rubber layer 4: Fiber reinforcement layer 5: External rubber layer 6: Nipple 7: Socket 8: Spanner hook 9: Screw part 10: Concave part 11: Insertion part 12: Convex part 13: Projection Part G: Gas generator B: Buckle device

Claims (2)

A connection pipe for an air belt device used to connect between a gas generator and a gas passage to an air belt, a hose having a reinforcing layer of a high-strength low-stretch material, and an inner side of a pipe end of the hose. An air belt comprising: a nipple inserted into the hose; and a socket attached to the outside of a tube end of the hose, wherein an inner diameter of the hose and an inner diameter of the nipple are formed to be substantially equal. Connection pipe for equipment. The connection pipe for an air belt device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reinforcing layer of the high-strength low-elongation material is a fiber composite wire formed using PEN fiber, aramid fiber, carbon fiber, glass fiber, or the like.

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