JP2006306312A - Base cloth for airbag, and airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lighten the whole base cloth for an airbag while ensuring the airtightness of the airbag. <P>SOLUTION: A front panel 1 used for an airbag device for an automobile is made of a flat fiber bundle 100 formed into a flat cross sectional shape by bundling two or more flat yarns 101 of less than 1.5 nor more than 8 in an aspect ratio a/b of a cross-section shape with flat directions approximately arranged. A rear panel 2 is made of a normal fiber bundle formed into an approximately circular cross sectional shape by bundling two or more normal yarns having the approximately circular cross sectional shape. In the flat fiber bundle 100, the flat directions of two or more flat yarns 101 are almost arranged by controlling applied tension in weaving. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device including an airbag body that is inflated and deployed at the time of a collision of an automobile or the like to ensure the safety of an occupant.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various airbag devices such as a driver airbag device, a passenger airbag device, a side airbag device, a curtain airbag device, and the like have been used as automobile airbag devices.

  In general, the airbag (airbag body) used in these airbag devices is composed of a bag body in which a highly airtight base fabric is sewn in order to ensure a predetermined deployment performance. When stored, it is held in a folded state (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, it has been proposed to perform various processes for ensuring airtightness on the base fabric of the airbag body (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2001-277777 A Japanese Patent No. 3480585

  By the way, since each part which comprises the said airbag apparatus is a vehicle-mounted component including a base fabric, weight reduction is always calculated | required. In particular, from the viewpoint of energy saving and global environmental protection in recent years, further reduction in weight of in-vehicle components is being demanded in order to reduce fuel consumption. In particular, the weight reduction is important because the airbag device itself operates in a single-use mode only in an emergency and does not function at all in normal times.

  In order to reduce the weight of the airbag fabric, it is most effective to reduce the number of fiber bundles (made up of a plurality of yarns or filaments) that have been manufactured. However, if the number of fiber bundles is reduced, the woven fabric structure of the base fabric becomes coarse accordingly, so that the pressure fluid flowing from the inflator may easily leak to the outside.

  The objective of this invention is providing the base fabric for airbags and an airbag apparatus which can achieve weight reduction of the whole base fabric for airbags, ensuring the airtightness of an airbag.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first invention is an airbag base fabric used in an automobile airbag device, wherein a plurality of flat yarns having an aspect ratio of a cross-sectional shape of 1.5 or more and 8 or less, It is characterized by having a flat fiber bundle that is bundled so that the flat directions are substantially aligned and has a flat cross section.

  The airbag fabric is inflated and deployed by the pressure fluid that flows in from the inflator side. After the base fabric is inflated and deployed, a part of the pressure fluid that flows in this way is passed through the gap in the woven structure of the base fabric to the outside. And leak. Here, when the fiber bundle constituting the base fabric bundles a plurality of flat yarns so that the flat directions are substantially aligned and has a flat cross-sectional shape, the weave structure is relatively densely packed. Therefore, the airtightness of the airbag can be secured.

  In the first invention of the present application, the number of fiber bundles is reduced more than usual while utilizing the fact that the leak of pressure fluid can be reduced in the above-described flat fiber bundles, the deployment performance of the base fabric is kept to a normal level. Can be made. Thereby, weight reduction of the whole base fabric for airbags can be aimed at by the part of the thin-shaped fiber bundle thinned out, ensuring airtightness. Further, since the fiber bundle has a flat shape, there is an effect that the volume of the entire airbag can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

  A second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, a normal fiber bundle having a substantially circular cross section is formed by bundling a plurality of normal yarns having a substantially circular cross section.

  A flat fiber bundle that uses flat yarn for the entire base fabric results in a large cost increase. However, only a part of the important part is a flat fiber bundle and the other part is a normal fiber bundle. It can be suppressed to the limit. In addition, the flat fiber bundle part has the property that it is easier to fold than the normal fiber bundle part, so that the flat fiber bundle region is arranged so as to match the folding state when stored in the airbag device, thereby providing a base fabric. The folding work can be easily performed, and the working efficiency is improved.

  According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the first fiber bundle is formed by weaving a first fiber bundle and a second fiber bundle extending in directions orthogonal to each other, and the flat fiber bundle is the first fiber bundle. And at least one of the second fiber bundles.

  By including a flat fiber bundle in at least one of the first and second fiber bundles (so-called warp and weft) orthogonal to each other, the number of fiber bundles in the first or second fiber bundle is reduced more than usual, and for airbags The overall weight of the base fabric can be reduced.

  In order to achieve the above object, the fourth invention provides a flat fiber having a cross-sectional shape by bundling a plurality of flat yarns having a cross-sectional aspect ratio of 1.5 or more and 8 or less so that the flat directions are substantially aligned. It has the airbag provided with the flat fiber base fabric which has a bundle, and the inflator which ejects the pressure fluid for inflate-deploying this airbag.

  The pressure fluid ejected from the inflator flows into the airbag and inflates and deploys the airbag. At this time, a part of the inflowing pressure fluid leaks outside through the gap of the weaving structure of the base fabric after the inflation and deployment. Here, when the fiber bundle constituting the base fabric bundles a plurality of flat yarns so that the flat directions are substantially aligned and has a flat cross-sectional shape, the weave structure is relatively densely packed. Therefore, the leakage of the pressure fluid flowing from the inflator tends to be small.

  In the fourth invention of the present application, by utilizing the fact that the leak of the pressure fluid can be reduced in the above-mentioned flat-shaped fiber bundle, the fiber bundle having the normal deployment performance of the airbag provided with the base fabric is obtained. The number can be reduced more than usual. Thereby, while ensuring the airtightness of the airbag, the weight of the entire airbag fabric can be reduced by the thinned flat fiber bundle. Further, since the fiber bundle has a flat shape, there is an effect that the volume of the entire airbag can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention based on the fourth aspect, the airbag includes a normal fiber base fabric having a normal fiber bundle having a substantially circular cross section by bundling a plurality of normal yarns having a substantially circular cross section, and the flat fiber base. And is arranged so that the flat fiber base fabric is located on the driver side and the normal fiber base fabric is located on the windshield side during expansion and deployment due to the ejection of the pressure fluid. It is characterized by.

  A flat fiber base fabric with relatively little leakage is positioned on the driver side, a normal fiber base fabric with relatively high leakage is positioned on the windshield side, and the leak characteristics are different between the driver side and the windshield side. Thus, the driver can be quickly deployed without providing a vent hole, and the driver can be protected quickly and reliably.

  A sixth invention is the curtain airbag according to the fourth invention, wherein the airbag is a curtain airbag that can be deployed from an upper side portion of a vehicle cabin substantially downward by jetting the pressure fluid. A base fabric includes the flat fiber bundle in a direction substantially orthogonal to the expansion and deployment direction.

  The flat fiber bundle is generally easier to fold than the fiber bundle, so that it matches the folding mode when the curtain airbag is stored, and is substantially perpendicular to the inflating and deploying direction from the upper side of the vehicle compartment to the substantially lower side ( In other words, by arranging the flat fiber bundles in a substantially horizontal direction), it is possible to easily fold the base fabric when manufacturing the curtain airbag, and to improve the work efficiency.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, weight reduction of the whole base fabric for airbags can be achieved, ensuring the airtightness of an airbag.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a driver's airbag for a driver.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic structure of an airbag device including an airbag using the airbag fabric of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main part structure in FIG.

  1 and 2, the airbag apparatus includes a folded airbag 9, an inflator 24 for ejecting a pressure fluid (gas) for inflating and deploying the airbag 9, and the inflator 24. The substantially plate-shaped retainer 20 is provided.

  The airbag 9 is covered with a module cover 32. The module cover 32 is provided with a tear line 34 that is torn when the airbag 9 is inflated, and is connected and fixed to the leg piece 20a of the retainer 20 via a rivet (not shown). Further, the peripheral edge portion of the opening 4 of the airbag 9 is sandwiched between a retainer 20 and a ring-shaped airbag mounting tool (metal member for mounting an airbag base fabric) 26 via a metal washer 35.

  The retainer 20 is provided with an opening 22 for inserting the inflator 24 at the center thereof, and a leading side 24a of the inflator 24 is inserted through the opening 22 and a flange 24b is overlapped with the back side surface of the retainer 20. Are arranged as follows. The flange 24b is penetrated by the bolt 28 together with the airbag fitting 26, the metal washer 35, and the airbag 9, and is connected and fixed to the retainer 20 by screwing a nut 30 into the bolt 28. Yes.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded perspective views showing a method for manufacturing the airbag 9.

  3 (a) and 3 (b), the airbag 9 has a structure in which the base fabric (= rear panel) 2 on one side is bonded to the base fabric (= front panel) 1 on the other side ( FIG. 3 (a)), and the peripheral portions thereof are constructed by sewing with a suture thread 3 (FIG. 3 (b)). At this time, the rear panel 2 is provided with the aforementioned opening 4 for inserting the inflator 24. At this time, in this embodiment, the front panel 1 is a flat fiber base fabric (details will be described later) having a flat fiber bundle having a flat cross section, and the rear panel 2 bundles a plurality of normal yarns having a substantially circular cross section. Thus, a normal fiber base fabric (details will be described later) provided with a normal fiber bundle having a substantially circular cross section.

  In the case of a resin-coated type airbag, the airbag 9 is completed in the reverse state, so that the front panel 1 side of the rear panel 2 (the lower side in FIG. 3A) and the front panel 1 are completed. The resin coating is applied to the rear panel 2 side (the upper side in FIG. 3A).

  4 is a plan view of the airbag 9 bonded together as described above, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG.

  4 and 5, the rear panel 2 is sewn with sutures 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d from the periphery to the vicinity of the opening 4 in addition to the suture 3 at the periphery. Yes. The peripheral edge suture thread 3 is provided through the rear panel 2 and the front panel 1 as shown in FIG. At this time, a slit-like slit 10 is extended from the edge of the opening 4. In addition, as shown with a dashed-two dotted line in FIG.4 and FIG.5, you may use the well-known coating cloth (reinforcement cloth) B for intensity | strength reinforcement.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of folding the airbag 9.

  When the airbag 9 is folded, first, the airbag 9 is extended flat (FIG. 6A, the airbag in this state is referred to as 9A). Next, the airbag 9A is folded back from both sides to form an elongated intermediate folded body 9B. 6 (d) is a top view of the intermediate folded body 9B, FIG. 6 (c) is a CC side view in FIG. 6 (d), and FIG. 6 (b) is in FIG. 6 (d). It is a cross-sectional view by a BB cross section.

  Thereafter, the intermediate folded body 9B is folded a plurality of times so that the folding line is in the width direction (in this example, a folded shape), thereby obtaining the final folded body 9C. FIG. 6F is a top view of the final folded body 9C, and FIG. 6E is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG. 6F.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a process of turning the vicinity of the airbag opening upside down. The airbag 9C having the final folded body shape as described above is first folded as indicated by a two-dot chain line arrow so that the edge of the opening 4 is turned over as shown in FIG. Thereby, the completed folded airbag 9 (finished product) 9 shown in FIG. 7B is obtained. In the airbag 9, a portion 11 of the rear panel 2 near the opening 4 surrounds the front panel 1 and the folded portion 12 of the rear panel 2 (see also FIG. 1 described above). And the rear panel 2 provided with the opening 4 is arranged so that it is located on the windshield side when inflated and deployed, and the front panel 1 is located on the passenger (driver) side when inflated and deployed.

  In the airbag 9 having the above basic configuration, the greatest feature of the present embodiment is that the flat fiber base has a flat fiber bundle having a flat cross section in at least a part of the base fabric (in this example, the total fiber bundle of the front panel 1). The use of cloth. That is, the front panel 1 is formed by weaving a first fiber bundle (so-called warp yarn) and a second fiber bundle (so-called weft yarn) that extend in directions orthogonal to each other, as in a normal base fabric of this type. At least one of the first fiber bundle and the second fiber bundle (in this example, the second fiber bundle) is a flat fiber bundle. Hereinafter, details of the flat fiber base fabric will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the cross-sectional shape of the flat fiber bundle. As shown in the figure, the flat fiber bundle 100 is configured by bundling a plurality of flat yarns 101 having an aspect ratio of a cross-sectional shape of 1.5 or more and 8 or less so that the flat directions are substantially aligned to have a flat cross-sectional shape. Has been.

  FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are cross-sectional views each showing an example of a single yarn cross-sectional shape of the flat yarn 101 constituting the flat fiber bundle 100. The flat yarn 101 has an oval shape in cross section in the example of FIG. 9A, and an oval shape in which the sides facing each other in the cross section shape are parallel in the example of FIG. 9B. At this time, the flatness ratio (= aspect ratio; ratio of the length of the major axis a to the minor axis b) is 1.5 to 8, preferably 2 to 6. When the flatness is less than 1.5, it is close to a circular cross-section yarn, and the effect of using the flat cross-section yarn, that is, a fabric (base fabric) having both low air permeability, flexibility, and storage property cannot be obtained. On the other hand, when the flatness ratio exceeds 8, not only the effect of using the flat cross-sectional yarn is saturated, but it is difficult to stably produce high strength and high toughness fibers with good quality.

  In addition, even if the shape is other than the above, as long as the major axis and the minor axis satisfy the above relationship, a right / left asymmetric type such as a rectangle, a rhombus, and a saddle type may be used. The combination type may be used. The major axis and minor axis in these cases correspond to the major axis and minor axis of an ellipse, and the center line passing through the center of gravity is drawn in the single yarn cross-sectional shape, and the longest line segment is defined as the major axis. The longest line segment in the direction perpendicular to the major axis is defined as the minor axis. Further, with the above as a basic mold, there may be a protrusion, a depression, or a hollow part within a range not impairing the effect of the present invention.

  FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic structure of a system for manufacturing the front panel 1 using the flat fiber bundle 100 using the flat yarn 101.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in this system, the flat yarn 101 is unwound from a plurality of unwinding devices 102 in which the flat yarn 101 is previously wound around a roll or the like, and these are applied to a tension applying mechanism 103 (details will be described later). As a result, the flat fibers 100 are converged and converged so as to form one bundle. A large number of flat fiber bundles 100 formed in this way are introduced into a known weaving machine 104 as second fiber bundles (wefts) for forming the front panel 1, and the first fiber bundles (warp yarns) supplied separately are supplied. As a normal fiber bundle 105 (a plurality of normal yarns having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape and a substantially circular cross-section) are woven to form a woven fabric 106 (a material for cutting and cutting the front panel 1), Furthermore, it is driven to be pulled by the driving roller 107 on the winding side and is wound on a winding device (not shown). The front panel 1 can be obtained by cutting the wound fabric 106 into a predetermined shape.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a detailed main structure of the tension applying mechanism 103. In the tension applying mechanism 103 shown in FIG. 11, the flat yarn 101 is wound around the outer peripheral sides of the pair of tension rolls 151 and 151 in opposite directions (not shown). The tension rolls 151 and 151 are configured to be operable such that a line connecting the axes of the rolls 151 and 151 swings their heads, and the tension value applied to the flat yarn 101 can be changed by this operation. It has become. The delivery frame 153 is provided with an AC servo motor 154 that generates a driving force for tension control. The driving force of the servo motor 154 is a worm speed reducer (not shown) in the delivery gear box 155. Is reduced to a predetermined reduction ratio and transmitted to the warp beam pinion 156 and the warp beam gear 157, whereby the tension rolls 151 and 151 finally perform the swinging (turning) operation. Note that this swinging (turning) operation at this time is detected by the sensor (load cell) 158 via the turning operation of the tension lever 152.

  Returning to FIG. 10, the detection signal (tension detection signal) from the sensor 158 is input to the control device 159, and the control device 159 drives the servo motor 154 and the drive motor of the drive roller 107 based on the detection signal. The feedback control 160 is performed, and the tension applied to the flat yarn 101 and the flat fiber bundle 100 is controlled based on, for example, an operation command signal from an operating means (not shown). Thereby, when supplied to the weaving machine 104, the flat fiber bundle 100 in which the flat directions of the flat yarns 101 that are separated are forcibly substantially aligned and the cross-sectional shape is flat is ensured. It is designed to generate.

  In the airbag apparatus configured as described above, when the inflator 24 ejects gas due to an automobile collision or the like, the airbag 9 starts to expand, and the module cover 32 is cleaved along the tear line 34. Is inflated in front of the occupant. In this case, a portion 13 (see also FIG. 1) of the airbag 9 on the side opposite to the opening 4 of the front panel 1 is first inflated, and then the front panel 1 and the rear panel 2 surrounded by the vicinity 11 of the rear panel 2 are inflated. The folded portion 12 expands while turning over through the passage between the folded portions 12 and 12. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the completely inflated airbag 9 is inverted inside and outside, and the stitched portion by the above-described suture 3 is disposed inside the airbag 9. Then, the rear panel 2 that is a normal fiber base fabric is deployed on the windshield side, and the front panel 1 that is a flat fiber base fabric is deployed on the occupant (driver) side.

  During such inflation and deployment, a part of the pressure fluid that flows into the airbag 9 from the inflator 24 inflates and deploys the front panel 1 and the rear panel 2 and then passes through the gap between the woven structures of the panels 1 and 2 to the outside. Leaks out.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the flat fiber bundle 100 constituting the front panel 1 has a flat cross section by bundling a plurality of flat yarns 101 so that the flat directions are substantially aligned, and the woven structure is relatively Since it is densely packed, the pressure fluid tends to leak less. Therefore, by utilizing such a tendency that leakage does not occur, even when the number of fiber bundles of the front panel 1 including the flat fiber bundle 100 is reduced from the normal level, the deployment performance of the front panel 1 can be maintained at a normal level. Is possible. As a result, the weight of the entire front panel 1 can be reduced by the thinned flat fiber bundle 100. Further, since the flat fiber bundle 100 has a flat shape, there is an effect that the entire volume of the airbag 9 can be reduced and compact.

  In the present embodiment, the front panel 1 having a flat fiber base fabric with relatively little leakage is positioned on the driver side, and the rear panel 2 with a normal fiber base fabric having relatively high leakage is used as the windshield. The leakage characteristics are different between the driver and the windshield. Thereby, without providing the vent hole normally provided in the rear panel 2 side, the airbag 9 can be rapidly deployed by the driver side, and the driver can be protected quickly and reliably.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a curtain airbag. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 13 is a view for explaining a state in which a curtain airbag device having a curtain airbag provided with an airbag base fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to an automobile.

  In FIG. 13, a curtain airbag device is attached to a crossing corner portion between a ceiling portion and a side portion in a room of an automobile (vehicle) 201. The curtain airbag device is attached to a roof side rail 202 of an automobile, and protects the head of an occupant during a side collision or rollover of the automobile 201, and from the rear end side of the airbag 220. An inflator 210 that supplies gas to the airbag 220, a detection sensor (not shown) that detects a collision and sends an ignition signal to the inflator 210, and the rear end side of the inflator 210 and the airbag 220 are connected to the C pillar 213. It has a bracket 211 and a bolt 212 to be fixed.

  The attachment location of the curtain airbag 220 is not limited to the roof side rail 202, and may be an A pillar 215, a B pillar 214, a C pillar 213, or the like.

  FIG. 14A is a perspective view showing a partial cross section showing the detailed structure of the curtain airbag, and FIG. 14B is a diagram showing the curtain airbag body 221 extracted.

  14 (a) and 14 (b), a curtain airbag 220 includes a curtain airbag body 221 that is folded in a zigzag manner so as to exhibit an elongated elliptical columnar cross-sectional shape, and the curtain airbag body 221. A cover (covering member) 222 is provided.

  From the curtain airbag main body 221, an ear-shaped attachment portion 223 is projected upward, and the attachment portion 223 is provided with an insertion hole 224 for a fastener such as a bolt. The attachment portion 223 extends above the covering member 222 through an elongated slot (slit-like opening) 225 provided on the upper surface portion of the covering member 222. On one side surface of the covering member 222, openings 226 are provided at predetermined intervals in a line in the longitudinal direction of the folded body of the curtain airbag body 221, and the curtain airbag is passed through the opening 226 from the outside of the covering member 222. The main body 221 can be visually observed.

  Note that an inlet (not shown) for introducing gas from the inflator 210 or an insertion port (not shown) for the inflator 210 is provided on one end side of the curtain airbag body 221. The curtain airbag 220 is normally covered with a vehicle interior material (not shown), but this vehicle interior material is torn or opened to the vehicle compartment side when the curtain airbag body 221 is inflated. The curtain airbag main body 221 is allowed to inflate into the passenger compartment.

  Fig.15 (a) is a cross-sectional view by the XV-XV cross section in FIG.

  In FIG. 15A and FIG. 14A described above, the folding surface of the curtain airbag body 221 is substantially horizontal. Therefore, a streak portion generated by folding or folding the curtain airbag body 221 appears on the side surface of the folded body of the curtain airbag body 221.

  Further, the covering member 222 is formed by forming a long and slender belt-like base fabric into a cylindrical shape, and joining both edges in the longitudinal direction with a suture thread 222a. A folded body of the curtain airbag main body 221 is introduced into the cylindrical covering member 222 to form the curtain airbag 220.

  FIG. 15B is a diagram showing an inflated state when the airbag having the structure shown in FIG. 15A is activated (details will be described later).

  In FIG. 15 (b), the curtain airbag main body 221 is formed into a bag shape (bag shape) by superposing two airbag base fabrics 221a and 221b and stitching and joining the peripheral edge portions with a suture thread 221c. Is.

  The suture thread 221c is strong enough to tear when the curtain airbag body 221 is inflated. Note that a bonding means such as adhesion or fusion may be employed instead of the suturing with the suture thread 221c. Further, in order to prevent the curtain airbag body 221 from being excessively thick when inflated, or to form a gas passage or a small chamber in the curtain airbag body 221, other than the peripheral edges of the base fabrics 221 a and 221 b. The central side portions may be joined by stitching or the like.

  In the above configuration, when the inflator 210 is ignited by the detection sensor at the time of the collision of the automobile 201 and the inflator 210 is operated to release gas from the inflator 210 to the airbag body 221 of the airbag 220, the airbag body 221 is shown in FIG. As shown by the middle two-dot chain line 221 ′, the vehicle starts to expand along the door of the vehicle, breaks the covering member 222, expands downward along a side member such as an indoor window like a curtain, and the occupant Take the upper body of your head and shoulders.

  FIG. 16 is a view showing the airbag main body 221 ′ in a state of being deployed as described above.

  In FIG. 16, the airbag base fabrics 221a and 221b of the airbag body 221 'are woven with a first fiber bundle 322 (so-called warp) and a second fiber bundle 323 (so-called weft). The greatest feature of the present embodiment is that a part of the first fiber bundle 322 and a part of the second fiber bundle 323 (in this example, a plurality of fibers in a region where the base fabrics 221a and 221b are folded in the second fiber bundle 323). The bundle is provided with a flat fiber bundle 323A having a flat cross section.

  These flat fiber bundles 323A are not shown in detail and will not be described, but have the same configuration as the flat fiber bundle 100 of the first embodiment and are woven by the same method. A plurality of flat yarns 101 having a ratio of 1.5 or more and 8 or less are configured by bundling them so that the flat directions are substantially aligned to have a flat cross-sectional shape. Then, in the step of folding the airbag main body 221 at the time of manufacturing the airbag, the bag is folded in a region where the flat fiber bundles 323A are provided so that the bag can be deployed in a predetermined order, and the folded airbag main body 221 is covered with the covering member 222. And is constrained or held in shape.

  At the time of inflating and deploying as shown, a part of the pressure fluid flowing into the airbag 220 from the inflator 210 inflates and deploys the base fabrics 221a and 221b, and then passes through the gaps in the woven structure of the base fabrics 221a and 221b. And leak.

  Here, in the present embodiment, a part of the second fiber bundles 323 of the base fabrics 221a and 221b (in this example, a plurality of fiber bundles positioned in the folding region of the base fabrics 221a and 221b) is flattened with a flat cross section. Like the flat fiber bundle 100 of the first embodiment, the flat fiber bundle 323A has a flat cross section by bundling a plurality of flat yarns 101 so that the flat directions are substantially aligned. Since the woven structure is relatively densely packed, the pressure fluid tends to leak less. Therefore, if such a tendency to leak out is utilized, even if the number of the flat fiber bundles 323A is reduced more than usual, the deployment performance of the airbag body 221 including the base fabrics 221a and 221b is reduced to a normal level. Can be maintained. As a result, the weight of the entire base fabric 221a, 221b can be reduced by the thinned flat fiber bundle 323A.

  Further, if the entire base fabric 221a, 221b is a flat fiber bundle 323A using the flat yarn 101, a large cost increase is caused. In this embodiment, however, only a part of the flat fabric bundle 323A is a normal fiber bundle and the other part is a normal fiber. By using a bundle (fiber bundle 323 and fiber bundle 325), an increase in cost can be minimized.

  Further, in this embodiment, the flat fiber bundle part is provided with the property that the flat fiber bundle part is easier to fold than the normal fiber bundle part, and the flat fiber is matched with the folding mode when the airbag body 221 is stored in the airbag device. A bundle area is provided. That is, of the weft 323 that extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the deployment direction of the airbag body 221 that expands and deploys from the upper side of the passenger compartment to the substantially lower side (in other words, the substantially horizontal direction), the entire folded portion is flattened. A fiber bundle 323A is disposed. Thereby, folding work of base fabrics 221a and 221b at the time of curtain air bag manufacture can be performed easily, and work efficiency can be improved. In addition, since the folded region (in other words, the folded region) is a flat fiber bundle 323A that is easy to break, there is an effect that the entire airbag body 221A can be made compact.

  In addition, although the said 1st and 2nd embodiment applies this invention to the airbag for a driver's seat and a curtain airbag, it is not restricted to this, The airbag for a passenger's seat, a side airbag, a knee airbag The present invention can be applied to various airbag base fabrics such as rear seat airbags and airbag manufacturing methods. Moreover, it is applicable also to the base fabric for airbags other than a motor vehicle, and the manufacturing method of an airbag. Further, the present invention is not limited to an airbag, and can be applied to a method for manufacturing a resin-coated base fabric other than an automobile and a base fabric without a resin coat, and to other weaving methods (for example, an air jet weaving machine, a Lapier weaving machine, etc.). Can also be applied, and can also be applied to attached members (for example, tethers, wrapping materials, protectors, diffusers, etc.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a schematic structure of an airbag apparatus including an airbag using an airbag base fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the principal part structure in FIG. 1 which shows the attachment structure of an airbag. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the manufacturing method of an airbag. It is a top view of an airbag. It is a cross-sectional view by the VV cross section in FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the folding method of an airbag. It is sectional drawing showing the process of turning over the vicinity part of an airbag opening. It is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the cross-sectional shape of a flat fiber bundle. It is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the single yarn cross-sectional shape of the flat yarn which comprises a flat fiber bundle. It is a conceptual diagram showing the schematic structure of the system which manufactures a front panel using the flat fiber bundle provided with the flat yarn. It is a perspective view showing the detailed principal part structure of the tension | tensile_strength provision mechanism shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the airbag expanded fully. It is a figure explaining the state which attached the curtain airbag apparatus which has a curtain airbag provided with the base fabric for airbags by one Embodiment of this invention to the motor vehicle. It is the perspective view represented with the partial cross section showing the detailed structure of the curtain airbag shown in FIG. 13, and the figure which extracts and shows the curtain airbag main body. It is a cross-sectional view by the XV-XV cross section in FIG. 14, and the figure showing the expansion | swelling state at the time of airbag operation. It is a figure showing the airbag main body of the state which expand | deployed.

Explanation of symbols

1 Front panel (flat fiber fabric, airbag fabric)
2 Rear panel (usually fiber fabric, airbag fabric)
3 suture 9 airbag 24 inflator 100 flat fiber bundle 101 flat yarn 103 tension applying mechanism 210 inflator 220 airbag 221 airbag body 221a, b airbag base fabric 322 first fiber bundle (warp)
323 Second fiber bundle (weft)
323A flat fiber bundle

Claims (6)

An airbag base fabric used in an automobile airbag device,
A base fabric for an airbag characterized by having a flat fiber bundle in which a plurality of flat yarns having a cross-sectional aspect ratio of 1.5 or more and 8 or less are bundled so that the flat directions are substantially aligned to have a flat cross-sectional shape . In the air bag base fabric according to claim 1,
A base fabric for an air bag comprising a normal fiber bundle having a substantially circular cross section by bundling a plurality of normal yarns having a substantially circular cross section. In the airbag fabric according to claim 1 or 2,
It is configured by weaving a first fiber bundle and a second fiber bundle extending in directions orthogonal to each other,
The flat fiber bundle is included in at least one of the first fiber bundle and the second fiber bundle. An airbag including a flat fiber base fabric having a flat fiber bundle in which a plurality of flat yarns having an aspect ratio of a cross-sectional shape of 1.5 or more and 8 or less are bundled so that the flat directions are substantially aligned to have a flat cross-sectional shape; ,
And an inflator that ejects a pressure fluid for inflating and deploying the airbag. The airbag apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
The airbag is
A normal fiber base fabric provided with a normal fiber bundle having a substantially circular cross-section by bundling a plurality of normal yarns having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, and the flat fiber base fabric is formed by sewing,
An airbag device, wherein the flat fiber base fabric is positioned on a driver side and the normal fiber base fabric is positioned on a windshield side when the pressure fluid is inflated and deployed. The airbag apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
The airbag is a curtain airbag that can be deployed substantially downward from the upper side of a vehicle compartment by the ejection of the pressure fluid, and the flat fiber airbag base fabric is substantially perpendicular to the inflating and deploying direction. An air bag apparatus comprising the flat fiber bundle.

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