JP2004284425A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device capable of adjusting development pressure of an airbag according to weight of an occupant. <P>SOLUTION: This airbag device 10 includes an impact sensor 12 detecting collision of an automobile 11, a controller 15 outputting an operation signal on the basis of the detected signal from the impact sensor 12, an inflator 13 instantaneously generating gas on the basis of the operation signal from the controller 15, and the airbag 14 instantaneously expanding by introduction of the gas from the inflator 13 and developing in the front part of the occupant. The device further comprises a weight sensor 16 detecting weight of the occupant and a gas escape opening. The controller 15 adjusts the size of the gas escape opening according to the occupant weight from the weight sensor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an airbag device that instantaneously deploys an airbag in front of an occupant at the time of a frontal collision of an automobile or the like to mitigate sudden movement of the occupant forward due to a collision or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, vehicles have been equipped with airbag devices as occupant protection devices. This airbag device generally includes an impact sensor, an inflator, an airbag, and a control device. The impact sensor detects an impact acting on the vehicle body of the vehicle at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle and outputs a detection signal. The inflator operates based on an operation signal from a control device, generates gas rapidly, and sends the gas to an airbag.
[0003]
The airbag is inflated rapidly by the introduction of gas sent from the inflator, and is deployed in front of the occupant. The control device transmits an operation signal to the inflator when the detection signal is input from the impact sensor, and operates the inflator.
[0004]
According to the airbag device having such a configuration, when an impact sensor detects an impact and outputs a detection signal to the control device at the time of a frontal collision of an automobile, the control device immediately sends an operation signal to the inflator. Then, the inflator instantaneously generates gas and sends it to the airbag. The airbag is instantly inflated by the gas from the inflator, and is completely inflated, for example, about 0.03 seconds after the collision, and deploys in front of the occupant.
[0005]
As a result, the airbag receives the occupant's body moving forward by the impact due to the gas pressure inside, and contracts while absorbing its kinetic energy. In this way, at the time of a frontal collision of an automobile or the like, a sudden forward movement of the occupant due to an impact such as a collision is mitigated by the airbag, and occupant safety can be ensured.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such an airbag device, the gas blowing pressure from the inflator to the airbag is set to be constant. For this reason, since the deployment pressure of the airbag at the time of a collision or the like is constant, if the occupant in the driver's seat or the front passenger's seat is a relatively light weight woman or child, for example, during a low-speed collision, the occupant will be excessively affected. There is a possibility that the airbag deployment pressure may act.
[0007]
On the other hand, there is also known an airbag device in which the weight of an occupant is detected by a weight sensor, and the pressure of blowing gas is made variable in two stages based on the weight.
Also in this case, since the gas blowing pressure cannot be finely adjusted, for example, for an occupant whose weight slightly exceeds the switching threshold of the blowing pressure, the gas blowing pressure is set to a relatively high gas blowing pressure. I will.
[0008]
Therefore, even in a two-stage variable airbag device, a relatively large deployment pressure may act on the occupant due to the deployment of the airbag at the time of a collision or the like. Particularly, in the case of a driver's seat of a car, the occupant is an adult, but a child also sits in a passenger seat, so the above problem is particularly important.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an airbag device capable of adjusting a deployment pressure of an airbag, that is, a pressure at which gas is blown from an inflator to an airbag, in accordance with the weight of an occupant. It is an object.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an airbag device of the present invention includes an impact sensor for detecting a collision of an automobile, a control device for outputting an operation signal based on a detection signal from the impact sensor, An inflator that generates gas instantaneously based on the operation signal, an airbag that expands and expands in front of the occupant by introducing gas from the inflator, a weight sensor that detects the occupant's weight, and an inflator A gas release opening for discharging a part of the generated gas to the outside, wherein the control device adjusts the size of the gas release opening according to the occupant weight from the weight sensor. And
[0011]
In the airbag device of the present invention, the inflator is movably disposed with its gas ejection port facing a gas introduction port and an excess pressure relief port for the airbag, and the control device is configured to control the By moving the inflator, the ratio of the opening area ratio of the gas outlet to the gas inlet and the excess pressure relief port can be changed, and the size of the gas relief opening relative to the excess pressure relief port of the gas nozzle can be changed. It is configured as follows.
[0012]
Further, the airbag device of the present invention includes an airbag case that houses the inflator and the airbag, and the airbag case has the gas inlet and the excess pressure relief port formed therein.
[0013]
Further, the airbag device of the present invention includes a moving means for moving the inflator, and the moving means is controlled by the control device to move the inflator.
[0014]
Further, in the airbag device of the present invention, preferably, the inflator is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has a gas ejection port extending in a longitudinal direction on a peripheral surface thereof, and the moving means rotates the inflator. The control device controls the motor according to the occupant weight from the weight sensor to rotate the inflator, thereby opening the gas injection port to the gas introduction port and the excess pressure release port. It is configured to change the area ratio.
[0015]
According to the above configuration, when the occupant sits on the driver's seat or the passenger's seat, the weight sensor detects the weight of the occupant and outputs a detection signal to the control device. Thus, the control device adjusts the size of the gas release opening of the inflator according to the detection signal from the weight sensor. Such adjustment is performed every time the occupant sits in the driver's seat or the passenger's seat, and the adjustment suitable for the occupant's weight at that time is always performed.
[0016]
In such a state, when the vehicle encounters a frontal collision or the like, a part of the gas generated at a predetermined pressure by the inflator leaks out from the gas release opening of the inflator and is introduced into the airbag. As a result, the deployment pressure for deploying the airbag is reduced.
The deployment pressure of this airbag is adjusted to an optimal deployment pressure for the weight of the occupant by adjusting the size of the gas release opening of the inflator corresponding to the weight of the occupant, rather than stepwise, but steplessly. In addition, the size of the gas release opening can be changed continuously according to the weight of the occupant by continuously changing the deployment pressure of the airbag. Is set.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.
1 and 2 show a configuration example of an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the airbag device 10 is applied to an airbag device for a passenger seat of a vehicle, and includes an impact sensor 12, an inflator 13, an airbag 14, a control device 15, a vehicle And a weight sensor 16 disposed near the seat surface of the eleventh passenger seat 11a. The inflator 13 and the airbag 14 are integrally attached to an airbag case 17 as shown in detail in FIG.
[0018]
The impact sensor 12 has a known configuration such as a mechanical sensor or an electronic sensor. The impact sensor 12 is provided, for example, at a front portion of the vehicle body of the automobile 11 and detects an impact acting on the automobile body at the time of a frontal collision of the automobile. It detects and outputs a detection signal.
[0019]
The inflator 13 operates based on an operation signal from the control device 15, generates gas rapidly, and sends the gas to the airbag 14. In addition, the inflator 13 is set to the highest pressure, for example, for so-called AM95 dummy.
Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the inflator 13 has a cylindrical shape extending in the lateral direction, and is formed by closing both end surfaces thereof, and is rotatably supported at both ends around a central axis. The motor 13a rotates around the central axis.
[0020]
Further, the inflator 13 has a rectangular gas outlet 13b extending in the longitudinal direction on a part of the peripheral surface thereof.
The motor 13a includes a disk-shaped rotating plate 13c attached to a drive shaft thereof and a hook 13d provided upright on the rotating plate 13c. The inflator 13 rotates so as to interlock with the rotation of the motor 13a. It is configured. For this reason, on the end face of the inflator 13, for example, an engaging portion 13e that engages with the hook 13d is protruded. Instead of the engaging portion 13e, another configuration may be adopted so that the hook 13d and the end face of the inflator 13 are engaged.
[0021]
The airbag 14 is folded and accommodated in the airbag case 17, and is inflated rapidly by the introduction of gas sent from the inflator 13, and pushes out the airbag door 18 of the airbag case 17. , In front of the occupant in the cabin of the automobile 11.
[0022]
The airbag case 17 includes a base 17a formed in a box shape and capable of housing the inflator 13 in a hollow interior, and a cylindrical airbag housing 17b extending from the base 17a. The area defined by the back accommodating portion 17b communicates with the inside of the base 17a via a gas inlet 17c into the airbag 14 formed on the peripheral surface of the base 17a. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the peripheral portion 17e of the base 17a in which the inlet 17c is formed is formed in parallel with the cylindrical peripheral surface of the inflator 13.
Further, an extra pressure relief port 17d to the outside is formed side by side with the gas introduction port 17c at a position separated from the gas introduction port 17c in a peripheral surface portion 17e of the base parallel to the peripheral surface of the inflator 13. As shown in FIG. 4 described later, a pipe 17f for guiding the exhaust of the excess pressure gas is attached to the excess pressure release port 17d. As the pipe 17f, for example, an iron pipe having a thickness of 2 to 3 mm is used.
[0023]
The gas introduction port 17c and the extra pressure relief port 17d are provided in the airbag case 17 corresponding to the gas ejection ports 13b of the inflator 13 rotatably housed in the airbag case 17.
Then, as the inflator 13 rotates around the central axis as shown by the arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening area ratio of the gas ejection port 13b to the gas introduction port 17c and the extra pressure relief port 17d is increased. Has been changed. The size and shape of the airbag case 17 are designed so that the surface of the inflator 13 can slide and rotate with respect to the cylindrical surface portion 17e of the base 17a of the airbag case 17. It is desirable to effectively deliver gas from the gas outlet 13b of the inflator 13 to the gas inlet 17c and the excess pressure relief port 17d.
[0024]
The control device 15 is provided inside the automobile 11 and, when a detection signal is input from the impact sensor 12, sends an operation signal to the inflator 13 to operate the inflator 13. .
[0025]
The weight sensor 16 is disposed, for example, in the seat portion 11b of the passenger seat 11a. When an occupant sits on the passenger seat 11a, the weight is applied to detect the weight, and a detection signal is transmitted to the control device 15. Output. Note that, instead of the weight sensor 16, an occupant detection sensor or the like configured to detect the weight and the physique of the occupant may be used.
[0026]
Thereby, the control device 15 controls the drive of the motor 13a based on the detection signal from the weight sensor 16 to move the inflator 13 around the central axis in accordance with the weight of the occupant sitting on the passenger seat 11a. It is configured to rotate by a predetermined angle. The rotation angle of the inflator 13 is set in advance in a storage means such as a ROM in accordance with a detection signal from the weight sensor 16 for reference.
[0027]
The airbag device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, and operates as follows.
First, when the occupant sits in the passenger seat 11a of the car in the engine start state, or when the engine is started in a state where the occupant sits in the passenger seat 11a of the car, the weight sensor 16 detects the weight of the occupant. , And outputs a detection signal to the control device 15.
[0028]
Then, the control device 15 controls the driving of the motor 13a in accordance with the detection signal from the weight sensor 16, and controls the inflator 13 from the initial position shown in FIG. 4 (B), a predetermined angle as indicated by the arrow B. As a result, the gas outlet 13b of the inflator 13 indicated by oblique lines in FIG. 4 is opposed to the gas inlet 17c and the excess pressure relief port 17d of the airbag case 17 at an appropriate opening area ratio. Become.
[0029]
When the automobile 11 encounters a frontal collision or the like in such a state, the impact sensor 16 detects an impact due to the frontal collision or the like and outputs a detection signal to the control device 15. As a result, the control device 15 immediately sends an operation signal to the inflator 13, and the inflator 13 instantaneously generates gas at a predetermined pressure, and the gas is introduced into the airbag 14 in the airbag case 17.
[0030]
Accordingly, the airbag 14 is instantly inflated by gas introduction, pushes the airbag door 18 open, and deploys in front of the occupant in the cabin of the automobile 11. As a result, the deployed airbag 14 receives a sudden forward movement due to a collision or the like of the occupant, and contracts while absorbing its kinetic energy.
[0031]
At this time, a part of the gas generated at a predetermined pressure in the inflator 13 is G2, as shown in FIG. 4B, the gas outlet 13b of the inflator 13 and the excess pressure release port 17d of the airbag case 17. Is discharged to the outside from the gas release opening defined by. As a result, the amount of gas G1 introduced into the airbag 14 from the inflator 13 is smaller than the amount of gas G when the gas outlet 13b of the inflator 13 shown in FIG. Since the airbag 14 is reduced, the deployment pressure for deploying the airbag 14 is reduced.
[0032]
Here, the amount of gas G2 leaking from the gas release opening to the outside is determined by the rotation of the motor 13a by the appropriate opening of the gas outlet 13b of the inflator 13 with respect to the gas introduction port 17c and the excess pressure release port 17d of the airbag case 17. It is adjusted steplessly as appropriate based on the area ratio.
[0033]
Thereby, the deployment pressure of the airbag 14 according to the weight of the occupant at that time is obtained. Therefore, particularly at the time of collision of the automobile at a low speed, the deployment of the airbag 14 can prevent an excessive airbag deployment pressure from acting on the occupant.
[0034]
In the above-described embodiment, the case of the airbag device 10 for a passenger seat of an automobile has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to an airbag device for another seat such as a driver's seat or a rear seat of an automobile. It is obvious that the present invention can be applied, and the present invention can be applied to an airbag device for a side airbag or a curtain shield airbag.
[0035]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the gas release opening is adjusted by rotating the inflator 13 by the motor 13a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other movements such as swinging and translation of the inflator 13 are performed. It is obvious that a moving means other than the motor may be provided to adjust the gas release opening of the inflator 13.
[0036]
In the above description, the gas outlet 13b provided in the inflator 13 and the gas inlet 17c and the excess pressure relief 17d formed in the airbag case 17 corresponding to the gas outlet 13b are each formed in a rectangular shape. Although the case has been illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this form.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, while keeping the amount of gas generated by the inflator constant, the gas used for the safety protection of the occupant is appropriately adjusted and used. That is, the size of the gas release opening of the inflator is steplessly adjusted in accordance with the weight of the occupant, and the deployment pressure of the airbag, that is, the amount of gas ejected into the airbag is optimized for the weight of the occupant. Is set to
Therefore, particularly at the time of collision of the vehicle at a low speed or the like, an excessive airbag deployment force does not act on the occupant due to the deployment of the airbag.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a main part in the airbag device of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the airbag case of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of the inflator before (A) adjustment and after (B) adjustment of the inflator in the airbag device of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 airbag device 11 automobile 11a passenger seat 11b seat portion 12 impact sensor 13 inflator 13a motor 13b gas outlet 13c rotating plate 13d hook 13e engaging portion 14 airbag 15 control device 16 weight sensor 17 airbag case 17a base 17b airbag Housing 17c Gas inlet 17d Excess pressure relief 17e Cylindrical surface portion 17f Pipe 18 Airbag door

Claims (5)

An impact sensor for detecting an automobile collision,
A control device that outputs an operation signal based on a detection signal from the impact sensor;
An inflator that generates gas instantaneously based on an operation signal from the control device;
An airbag that is inflated by the introduction of gas from the inflator and expands in front of the occupant;
A weight sensor for detecting the weight of the occupant;
A gas release opening for discharging a part of the gas generated by the inflator to the outside,
The airbag device, wherein the control device adjusts the size of the gas release opening according to the occupant's weight from the weight sensor. The inflator is arranged movably, with its gas ejection port facing a gas introduction port and an excess pressure relief port for the airbag,
By moving the inflator, the control device changes an opening area ratio of the gas ejection port to the gas introduction port and the extra pressure relief port, and the gas ejection port has The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the size can be changed. The airbag device according to claim 2, further comprising an airbag case that houses the inflator and the airbag, wherein the gas introduction port and the excess pressure relief port are formed in the airbag case. The airbag device according to claim 2, further comprising a moving unit that moves the inflator, wherein the moving unit moves the inflator under the control of the control device. The inflator is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has a gas ejection port extending in a longitudinal direction on a peripheral surface thereof, and the moving unit is configured by a motor that rotates the inflator,
The control device controls the motor in accordance with the occupant weight from the weight sensor to rotate the inflator, thereby changing an opening area ratio of the gas ejection port to the gas introduction port and the excess pressure relief port. The airbag device according to claim 4, characterized in that:

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