JP2007091112A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device, adjusting the area of a protection area of an airbag as well as the thickness of projection to the occupant side in an airbag when inflation is completed. <P>SOLUTION: This airbag device M1 includes the air bag 35, wherein the airbag 35 includes: a bottom wall part 40 having an inflow opening 42 of inflation gas; and a ceiling wall part 36 disposed opposite to the bottom wall part to receive an occupant. Further, the airbag includes: a thickness regulating tethers 46, 50 for regulating the thickness of the airbag; and a width regulating tether 51 for regulating the width of the airbag from the inflow opening to the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall part. In this case, in the tethers 50, 51, the end part on the inflow opening side is connected to a length adjusting mechanism 57. The length adjusting mechanism 57 is controlled to operate by a control device for determining a favorable inflation mode of the airbag for receiving the occupant, thereby adjusting the substantial length of the thickness regulating tethers 46, 50 and the width regulating tether 51. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a bottom wall portion having an inflow opening for an inflation gas, and a ceiling wall portion disposed so as to face the bottom wall portion and receiving an occupant, the bottom wall portion and the ceiling wall portion It is related with the airbag apparatus comprised including the airbag which inflate | swells the gas for expansion | swelling between these.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been an airbag device that adjusts the inflation completion shape of an airbag in accordance with the seating position or seating posture of an occupant (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In this airbag device, the length of the tether disposed inside the airbag is adjusted, and the ceiling wall portion disposed on the passenger side is moved to the bottom wall portion side provided with the inflow opening for the inflation gas. Adjustments were made to approach or move away from the bottom wall.
JP-A-9-240403

  However, in the conventional airbag device, the passenger is protected only by adjusting the length dimension from the peripheral edge of the airbag inflow opening to the ceiling wall, that is, the thickness dimension protruding toward the passenger side of the airbag. The protected area could not be adjusted actively and there was room for improvement.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and not only the thickness dimension of the airbag that protrudes toward the occupant at the time of completion of the inflation according to the seating state of the occupant or the collision state of the vehicle, It aims at providing the airbag apparatus which can also adjust the area of a protection area.

An airbag device according to the present invention includes a bottom wall portion having an inflow opening for an inflation gas, and a ceiling wall portion that is disposed so as to face the bottom wall portion and receives an occupant. An airbag device configured to include an airbag that inflates by inflating an inflating gas between a wall portion and a ceiling wall portion,
In the airbag,
By connecting the peripheral edge of the inflow opening in the bottom wall portion and the portion facing the inflow opening in the ceiling wall portion, from the inflow opening at the completion of expansion to the portion facing the inflow opening in the ceiling wall portion A thickness tether that regulates the thickness of the airbag;
An airbag from the inflow opening when the inflation is completed to the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion by connecting the peripheral edge of the inflow opening in the bottom wall portion and the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion away from the inflow opening. A width regulation tether that regulates the width dimension of the
Is arranged,
The ends on the inflow opening side of the thickness regulation tether and the width regulation tether are connected to the length adjustment mechanism,
The operation of the length adjustment mechanism is controlled by a control device that determines the preferred inflation mode of the airbag that catches the occupant. Before the inflation of the airbag, the thickness and width dimensions of the airbag at the time of completion of inflation The substantial length dimension of the thickness regulation tether and the width regulation tether is adjusted so as to be adjustable.

  In the airbag device according to the present invention, when the control device that inputs a signal from a predetermined sensor detects that an occupant is seated close to the airbag device, for example, Prior to inflation, the airbag is inflated by controlling the operation of the length adjustment mechanism in advance so as to shorten the length dimension of the thickness regulating tether. In that case, since the airbag completes the inflation by suppressing the thickness dimension, the airbag that has completed the inflation in the preferred inflation mode without unnecessarily pressing an occupant seated close to the airbag. , Can protect the passengers accurately. Further, for example, when the control device detects that an occupant is seated far away from the airbag device, the length of the thickness regulation tether is increased in advance before the airbag is inflated. In addition, the operation of the length adjusting mechanism is controlled to inflate the airbag. In that case, the airbag can be protected quickly from being close to the occupant and completing the inflation so as to be in the preferred inflation mode by increasing the thickness dimension.

  Further, the control device that receives a signal from a predetermined sensor detects, for example, that the occupant is seated by shifting from the center of the airbag device to the left or right or the like, or the vehicle is directed obliquely. If the collision is detected, the operation of the length adjustment mechanism is controlled in advance to increase the length of the width regulating tether before the airbag is inflated. The bag will be inflated. In that case, since the airbag is inflated by extending the outer diameter so as to be in a suitable inflation mode, the protection area is widened, and the occupant seated in a shifted position or in an oblique direction It is possible to protect occupants moving from Of course, if the control device detects, for example, a state where the occupant is not displaced from the airbag device to the left or right, or a state where the vehicle collides in a straight traveling state in front of the vehicle, the length dimension of the width restriction tether is previously set to be larger than necessary. Therefore, the operation of the length adjusting mechanism is controlled so as not to make it long.

  Therefore, in the airbag apparatus according to the present invention, not only the thickness dimension of the airbag that protrudes toward the occupant when the inflation is completed, but also the protection area of the airbag, depending on the seated state of the occupant, the collision state of the vehicle, and the like. It is possible to adjust, and according to the seating state of various occupants and the collision state of the vehicle, the occupant can be accurately protected by the airbag in the suitable inflation mode.

  In addition, before the airbag is inflated when the length adjustment mechanism is activated, it includes the period until the length of the thickness regulation tether or width regulation tether can be adjusted after the airbag device is mounted on the vehicle. This includes not only before the inflating gas flows into the airbag but also immediately after the inflating gas flows.

  Moreover, the length adjustment of the thickness regulation tether and the width regulation tether by the length adjustment mechanism only needs to be able to adjust the substantial length dimension of the thickness regulation tether or the width regulation tether. For example, the length regulation tether may have an infinite length. In other words, it includes adjustment for releasing the connection with the thickness regulation tether and the width regulation tether.

  Further, it is desirable that a plurality of thickness regulation tethers and width regulation tethers arranged in the airbag are arranged radially around the inflow opening. In such a configuration, if all the thickness regulation tethers or all the width regulation tethers are adjusted uniformly, the airbag can be inflated in a well-balanced shape with the inflow opening as the center. Of course, the lengths of the thickness regulating tether and the width regulating tether may be adjusted around the inflow opening, respectively. In this case, for example, the outer surface of the ceiling wall portion is inclined. Adjustments such as changing the thickness dimension and width dimension can be made around the inflow opening, such as facing the occupant moving from the direction.

  In addition, the length adjustment mechanism is arranged on the side of the thickness control tether as a band shape in which the thickness control tether and the width control tether that are arranged close to each other at the periphery of the inflow opening are connected in series. When shortening the length, pull the thickness regulation tether side, extend the width regulation tether side to lengthen it, and when lengthening the thickness regulation tether side, pull out the thickness regulation tether side and extend the width regulation tether side. The length dimension of the thickness regulation tether and the width regulation tether may be adjusted in conjunction with each other so that the side is drawn and shortened.

  In such a configuration, with respect to the shape when the airbag is completely inflated, the thickness dimension is reduced to increase the width dimension, or conversely, the thickness dimension is increased to reduce the width dimension. In this way, the length dimension of the thickness regulation tether and the width regulation tether can be greatly adjusted by the shared length adjustment mechanism so as to be inversely proportional. Further, in such a configuration, the shape when the airbag is completely inflated is a shape in which the thickness is reduced to increase the width, or conversely, the thickness is increased to reduce the width. In these cases, the airbag can be completely inflated without changing the volume of the airbag as much as possible, and the time from the start of inflation to the completion of inflation can be stabilized.

  Of course, each of the thickness regulation tether and the width regulation tether may be configured to be adjustable in length and connected to a length adjustment mechanism to adjust the inflation completion shape and volume of the airbag. .

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An airbag device M1 according to a first embodiment is a driver seat airbag device M1 disposed on a steering wheel W as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, the steering wheel W includes an annular ring portion R that is gripped during steering, a boss portion B that is disposed in the center of the ring portion R, and a ring portion R and a boss portion B. The four spoke portions S are connected to each other, and the airbag device M1 is disposed on the upper portion of the boss portion B.

  In addition, the steering wheel W is comprised from the airbag apparatus M1 and the steering wheel main body 1 other than that.

  Further, in the present specification, the up / down / front / back / left / right directions are based on the state in which the steering wheel W provided with the airbag device M1 is mounted on the vehicle, and the up / down directions are the steering shaft SS to which the steering wheel W is attached. The front and rear correspond to the front and rear of the vehicle along the direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft SS during straight-ahead steering of the vehicle, and the left and right correspond to the direction orthogonal to the axis of the steering shaft SS during the straight-ahead steering of the vehicle. It corresponds to the left and right of the vehicle along.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the steering wheel body 1 includes a cored bar 2 disposed in each of the ring part R, the boss part B, and the spoke part S, and the ring part cored bar 3 and the spokes in the cored bar 2. A synthetic resin coating layer 7 that covers the ring portion R side portion of the cored bar 4 and a synthetic resin lower cover 8 that covers the lower surface side are provided. Furthermore, the cored bar 2 includes a boss part cored bar 5 arranged in the boss part B in addition to the ring part cored bar 3 arranged in the ring part R and the spoke part cored bar 4 arranged in each spoke part S. The boss cored bar 5 includes a boss 5a connected to the steering shaft SS, and a covering 5b that covers the periphery of the boss 5a. And as for the metal core 2, the boss | hub 5a is made from steel, and the coating | coated part 5b, the spoke part metal core 4, and the ring part metal core 3 are made from die-casting which consists of light alloys, such as aluminum integrally cast, etc. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the airbag device M1 includes a bag-shaped airbag 35 that is folded and stored, an inflator 30 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 35, and a folded airbag 35. A pad 22 as an airbag cover to cover, an airbag 35, an inflator 30, a bag holder 11 that holds the pad 22, and a length adjustment mechanism 57 are configured. The inflator 30 and the length adjustment mechanism 57 The operation is controlled by the control device 61.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 61 detects the distance between the steering wheel W and an occupant (driver) DR seated on the seat FS, or moves the driver DR from the steering wheel W in the left-right direction. It is electrically connected to a position detection sensor 62 that can detect a deviation, a weight sensor 63 that can detect the weight of the driver DR, a collision detection sensor 64 that can detect the vehicle acceleration, the direction of acceleration, and the like. The operation of the length adjusting mechanism 57 is controlled so that the inflator 30 is operated by inputting electric signals from these sensors 62, 63, 64, etc. and the airbag 35 is inflated in a suitable inflation mode. .

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inflator 30 includes a substantially cylindrical main body 30a having a gas discharge port 30b in the upper part, and a flange 30c provided on the outer periphery of the main body 30a. A through hole 30d through which the bolt 32a (see FIG. 2) of the retainer 32 is inserted is formed in the flange portion 30c.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bag holder 11 is formed by joining several sheets of metal using welding, caulking, or the like, and has a substantially rectangular plate-like bottom wall portion 12 and an outer wall of the bottom wall portion 12. And a cylindrical side wall portion 13 extending upward from the peripheral edge. An insertion hole 12a having a circular opening through which the main body 30a of the inflator 30 is inserted from below is formed at the center of the bottom wall part 12. In order to attach the airbag 35 to the bottom wall part 12 around the insertion hole 12a. Four through holes 12b through which the respective bolts 32a of the retainer 32 are inserted are formed. Further, around the insertion hole 12 a of the bottom wall portion 12, there are four through holes 12 c through which the loop portions 55 a of the connection portion 55 arranged at the connection portion between the thickness restriction tether 50 and the width restriction tether 51 are inserted. It is formed in the place (refer FIG. 4). Furthermore, the front end of each locking pin 59a in the operating piece 59 of the actuator 58 constituting the length adjusting mechanism 57 is supported on the periphery of each through hole 12c on the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 12 on the insertion hole 12a side. A support 12d is disposed (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  The bag holder 11 holds the side wall 28 of the pad 22 by using a rivet or the like at a portion (not shown) of the side wall 13.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, connecting piece portions 14 projecting outward are provided in the vicinity of the four corners of the side wall portion 13 of the bag holder 11. A horn switch 16 is attached to these connecting pieces 14 on the lower surface side using bolts 18.

  And each horn switch 16 is hold | maintained by the connection board 20 extended in the front-back direction in the front-rear pair of each right and left at the lower end side mutually. Each connecting plate 20 is supported on the lower surface side of the front and rear ends by the front and rear two spoke part cores 4 on each of the left and right sides of the steering wheel body 1. In addition, each connecting plate 20 is attached to a mounting seat (not shown) of the steering wheel body 1 that connects the front and rear spoke cores 4 at the center portion in the front-rear direction, and by attaching to the mounting seat, The inflator 30, the airbag 35, and the pad 22 held by the bag holder 11 are fixed to the steering wheel body 1.

  Each horn switch 16 has a pressing rib 26 of the pad 22 in contact with the upper surface side of each connecting piece 14, and pushes down the pad 22 against the urging force of the coil spring 17 of each horn switch 16. Then, the predetermined contacts are brought into contact with each other to operate the horn.

  The pad 22 as an airbag cover is formed from a synthetic resin such as an olefin-based or styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, and is formed so as to be continuous with the surface side of the covering layer 7 of each spoke portion S. The ceiling wall part 23 which covers the upper surface side of the boss | hub part B, the press rib 26, and the side wall part 28 are comprised. The pressing rib 26 and the side wall portion 28 protrude downward on the lower surface side of the ceiling wall portion 23. The ceiling wall portion 23 is provided with door portions 25 and 25 that are pushed by the airbag 35 at the time of deployment and inflated to break the surrounding break planned portion 24 and open to both the front and rear sides. The side wall 28 is riveted to the side wall 13 of the bag holder 11. The pressing rib 26 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is disposed so as to be in contact with the upper surface side of each connecting piece portion 14 of the bag holder 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the airbag 35 is disposed on the driver DR side on the upper surface side when the inflation is completed, and the ceiling wall portion 36 serving as the driver side wall portion, and the steering wheel body 1 on the lower surface side. And a bottom wall portion 40 which is disposed on the side and serves as a side wall portion of the vehicle body. The wall portions 36 and 40 are formed of a foldable flexible polyester or polyamide woven cloth, are formed in a disk shape having the same outer shape, and the outer peripheral edges 37 and 41 are sewn together. The outer peripheral wall of the airbag 35 is comprised. In the center of the bottom wall portion 40, circular inflow openings 42 into which the main body portion 30a of the inflator 30 for supplying the inflation gas can be inserted from below are arranged. The mounting hole 43 through which the bolt 32a of the retainer 32 is inserted is vertically penetrated so that the airbag 35 can be attached to the bag holder 11. In addition, a vent hole (not shown) capable of exhausting excess inflation gas is disposed at a predetermined portion of the bottom wall portion 40.

  The peripheral edge of the inflow opening 42 in the bottom wall portion 40 is pressed by a substantially annular retainer 32 made of a sheet metal and is attached to the bottom wall portion 12 of the bag holder 11. The four bolts 32a provided are respectively inserted. Each bolt 32a passes through each mounting hole 43 of the airbag 35, each through hole 12b of the bag holder 11, and each through hole 30d in the flange portion 30c of the inflator 30, and is fastened with a nut 33. The inflator 30 is attached and fixed to the bottom wall portion 12 of the bag holder 11 together with the airbag 35.

  Furthermore, a through-hole 44 through which each loop portion 55a of the connecting portion 55 disposed at the connecting portion between the thickness regulating tether 50 and the width regulating tether 51 is inserted in the periphery of the inflow opening 42 of the bottom wall portion 40. It is formed in four places.

  Further, in the airbag 35, two kinds of thicknesses for regulating the separation distance between the vicinity of the center 38 of the ceiling wall portion 36 and the inflow opening 42 at the completion of the inflation, that is, the thickness dimension of the airbag 35. Regulation tethers 46 and 50 are provided. In the case of the first embodiment, the thickness regulation tether 46 is disposed in the airbag 35 on both sides in the front-rear direction of the vehicle during straight-ahead steering, with the inflow opening 42 as the center. Further, each tether 46 connects the tips of a tether cloth 47 sewn on the ceiling wall portion 36 side and two tether cloths 48 and 48 sewn on the bottom wall portion 40 side. Is formed. The tether cloth 47 is disposed by sewing a central portion 47a obtained by extending strips 47b and 47b from both the front and rear sides to the center 38 of the ceiling wall portion 36 on the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag 35. Then, the tether fabrics 48 and 48 are sewn at the lower ends to the periphery of the inflow opening 42 and the upper ends are sewn to the lower ends of the strips 47b and 47b, respectively. 35.

  The thickness regulating tether 50 has an upper end 50a connected to the vicinity of the center 38 of the ceiling wall portion 36, and a lower end 50b side connected to the length adjusting mechanism 57, and the thickness dimension T0 of the airbag 35 at the completion of the inflation. Is smaller than the thickness dimension T1 of the airbag 35 by the regulation of the thickness regulation tether 46, and is regulated. In the case of the first embodiment, the thickness regulating tether 50 is disposed in the airbag 35 on both sides in the left-right direction of the vehicle during straight-ahead steering with the inflow opening 42 as the center. In the case of the first embodiment, the lower ends 50 b of the left and right thickness regulation tethers 50, 50 are connected to the length adjustment mechanism 57 and are connected to the width regulation tether 51 that adjusts the width dimension of the airbag 35. Yes.

  The width regulating tether 51 has an inner end 51 b connected to the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the inflow opening 42 in the bottom wall portion 40, and an outer end 51 a is connected to the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge 41 of the bottom wall portion 40 away from the inflow opening 42. The width dimension (radius dimension) of the airbag 35 from the inflow opening 42 when the inflation is completed to the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge 41 of the bottom wall portion 40 is regulated. In the case of the first embodiment, the width regulation tether 51 is disposed in the airbag 35 on both sides in the left-right direction of the vehicle at the time of straight steering, with the inflow opening 42 being the center, and the inner end 51b is While being connected to the length adjusting mechanism 57, it is connected to the lower end 50 b of the thickness regulating tether 50. The width regulation tether 51 regulates the width dimension (outer diameter dimension) L0 of the airbag 35 to be smaller than the width dimension (outer diameter dimension) L1 when the airbag 35 is completely inflated by the regulation of the thickness regulation tethers 46 and 46 only. Will be.

  In the case of the first embodiment, the thickness regulating tether 50 and the width regulating tether 51 are the tether cloth 52 sewn on the ceiling wall portion 36 side, the outside of the ceiling wall portion 36 and the bottom wall portion 40. It is formed by connecting the tips of two tether fabrics 53 and 53 sewn between the peripheral edges 37 and 40 to each other. The tether cloth 52 is disposed by sewing a central portion 52a obtained by extending the strips 52b and 52b from both the left and right sides to the center 38 of the ceiling wall portion 36 on the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag 35. The tether cloths 53 and 53 are sewn at the outer ends between the outer peripheral edges 37 and 40 of the ceiling wall portion 36 and the bottom wall portion 40, and the inner ends are sewn to the tips of the strips 52b and 52b, respectively. Thus, two thickness regulation tethers 50 and two width regulation tethers 51 are arranged in the airbag 35.

  The cloths 47, 48, 52, and 53 forming the tethers 46, 50, and 51 are formed of a foldable flexible cloth such as polyester or polyamide.

  A connecting portion 55 connected to the length adjusting mechanism 57 is formed at a boundary portion between the pair of thickness restricting tethers 50 and width restricting tethers 51 connected in series. In the case of the first embodiment, the connecting portion 55 is formed of two halved annular loop portions 55a. The connecting portion 55 is fixed to the tether cloth 52.

  The length adjusting mechanism 57 includes an actuator 58 fixed to the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 12 of the bag holder 11 below the left and right connecting portions 55. The actuator 58 includes two locking pins 59a. The operating piece 59 is operated so as to be retracted. Then, the actuator 58 shifts from a state in which each locking pin 59a locks each loop portion 55a of the connecting portion 55 to a state in which the locking is released during the operation of retracting the operating piece 59. If this actuator 58 can move the operating piece 59 by an electrical signal from the control device 61, a piston cylinder that uses fluid pressure including the case where hydraulic pressure, water pressure, air pressure, or inflating gas pressure such as an inflator is generated, A motor utilizing such fluid pressure or electricity, an electromagnetic solenoid, a spring utilizing an urging force at the time of restoration, or the like can be used.

  In the driver seat airbag apparatus M1, after the airbag 35 is manufactured, the retainer 32 is disposed in the airbag 35, and the airbag 35 is folded in a state where the bolts 32a protrude from the mounting holes 43. . The loop portions 55 a of the left and right connecting portions 55 are projected from the through holes 44 of the bottom wall portion 40. After the airbag 35 is folded, the folded airbag 35 is arranged on the bottom wall portion 12 of the bag holder 11 so that each bolt 32a protrudes from the through hole 12b, and each loop of the left and right connecting portions 55 is arranged. The portion 55 a is projected to the outside from the through hole 12 c of the bottom wall portion 12, and is locked to each locking pin 59 a of the operating piece 59 of the actuator 58 fixed to the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 12.

  Thereafter, the pad 22 is put on and the side wall 28 of the pad 22 is riveted to the side wall 13 of the bag holder 11.

  Then, the horn switch 16 is attached together with the connecting plate 20 to the front and rear connecting pieces 14 and 14 on the left and right sides of the bag holder 11 by using bolts 18. Next, the main body 30a of the inflator 30 is inserted into the airbag 35 from the inflow opening 42 through the insertion hole 12a of the bag holder 11 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and from the through holes 12b of the bag holder 11. The projecting bolt 32a is passed through each through hole 30d in the flange portion 30c of the inflator 30, each bolt 32a is fastened with a nut 33, and the inflator 30 together with the airbag 35 is attached to the bottom wall portion 12 of the bag holder 11. The airbag apparatus M1 can be assembled by attaching and fixing.

  The airbag device M1 assembled in this way can be attached to the steering wheel body 1 by being connected to a mounting seat (not shown) of the steering wheel body 1 already attached to the vehicle. It will be completed. When the airbag device M1 is mounted on a vehicle, an operation signal input lead wire extending from the control device 61 is connected to the inflator 30 and the length adjusting mechanism 57.

  If the traveling vehicle collides after the driver airbag device M1 is mounted on the vehicle, the control device 61 outputs an operation signal to the inflator 30, so the inflator 30 supplies the inflation gas to the gas discharge port 30b. The airbag 35 is inflated, the doors 25 and 25 of the pad 22 are opened on both the front and rear sides, protrudes to the driver DR side, and the inflation is completed.

  At that time, in the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, the control device 61 to which signals from the predetermined sensors 62, 63, and 64 are input is, for example, a position P0 where the driver DR approaches the airbag device M1. When it is detected that the seat is seated (see FIG. 1), before the airbag 35 is inflated, the length adjusting mechanism 57 of the length regulating tether 46/50 is shortened in advance. Control operation. That is, in the case of the first embodiment, the airbag 35 is inflated by controlling so that the operating piece 59 of the actuator 58 is not retracted. In that case, the airbag 35 is configured so that each loop portion 55a of the connecting portion 55 is connected to the locking pin 59a of the operating piece 59, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1, A in FIG. 6, and a solid line in FIG. The thickness dimension of the airbag 35 which is the separation distance between the inflow opening 42 and the center 38 of the ceiling wall 35 is suppressed to a small thickness dimension T0 by the thickness regulating tethers 50 and 50 that are locked. Complete the expansion. For this reason, the driver DR seated at the approached position P0 is not unnecessarily pressed, and the airbag 35 that has been inflated in the preferred inflation mode can accurately protect the driver DR.

  In addition, when the control device 61 detects that the driver DR is seated at a position P1 (see FIG. 1) away from the airbag device M1, for example, before the airbag 35 is inflated, The operation of the length adjusting mechanism is controlled so that the length dimension of the thickness regulating tethers 46 and 50 is increased. That is, in the case of the first embodiment, the operating piece 59 of the actuator 58 is retracted to release the connection between the thickness regulating tether 50 and the length adjusting mechanism 57, and the length of the thickness regulating tether 50 is increased. The airbag 35 is inflated while being controlled to be substantially infinitely long. In that case, the airbag 35 is connected to the inflow opening 42 and the ceiling by the thickness regulating tethers 46 and 46 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, B in FIG. 6, and the two-dot chain line in FIG. The thickness of the airbag 35, which is the separation distance from the center 38 of the wall 35, is set to a large thickness T1 to complete the inflation. Therefore, since the airbag 35 is made to approach the driver | operator DR and inflate it so that it may enlarge thickness dimension T1 and may be in a suitable inflation mode, it can protect driver | operator DR rapidly.

  Further, the control device 61 to which signals from the predetermined sensors 62, 63 and 64 are input detects that the driver DR is seated while being shifted from the vicinity of the center of the airbag device M1 to the left and right, for example. Or, when it is detected that the vehicle collides obliquely (obliquely), before the airbag 35 is inflated, the length dimension of the width regulating tethers 51 and 51 is increased in advance. The operation of the length adjusting mechanism 57 is controlled. That is, in the first embodiment, the operating piece 59 of the actuator 58 is retracted to release the connection between the width regulation tether 51 and the length adjustment mechanism 57, and the length of the width regulation tether 51 is substantially infinite. In this way, the airbag 35 is inflated. In that case, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, B in FIG. 6, and the two-dot chain line in FIG. Since the expansion is completed, the steering wheel W can be covered widely, and the protection area is widened, so that it is possible to protect the driver DR seated in a shifted position or the driver DR moving from an oblique direction. It becomes.

  Of course, when the control device 61 detects, for example, a state where the driver DR is not shifted left or right from the airbag device M1 or a state where the vehicle collides in a straight traveling state in front, the length of the width restriction tether 51 is previously set. The operation of the length adjusting mechanism 57 may be controlled so that the operating piece 59 cannot be retracted so as not to unnecessarily increase the length.

  Therefore, in the airbag apparatus M1 of the first embodiment, the thickness dimensions T0 and T1 projecting toward the driver DR in the airbag 35 when the inflation is completed according to the seating state of the driver DR, the collision state of the vehicle, and the like. In addition, the protection area of the airbag 35 can be adjusted, and the airbag 35 in a suitable inflation mode can be used to accurately and accurately adjust the driver according to the sitting state of various drivers DR and the collision state of the vehicle. It can be protected.

  Before the airbag 35 is inflated when the length adjusting mechanism 57 is activated, the lengths of the thickness regulation tethers 46 and 50 and the width regulation tether 51 can be adjusted after the airbag device M1 is mounted on the vehicle. The time period is included and includes not only before the inflation gas flows into the airbag 35 but also immediately after the inflation gas 35 flows.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the thickness regulating tether 50 and the width regulating tether 51 disposed in the airbag 35 are radially arranged around the inflow opening 42 (two in the first embodiment). Book). In such a configuration, if all the thickness regulation tethers 50 and 50 or all the width regulation tethers 51 and 51 are adjusted equally, the airbag has a well-balanced shape around the inflow opening 42. 35 can be inflated. Of course, the lengths of the thickness regulating tether 50 and the width regulating tether 51 may be adjusted around the inflow opening 42, respectively. That is, in the case of the first embodiment, the operation is performed so that the operation piece 59 of the length adjustment mechanism 57 is pulled out only on one of the left and right sides. In that case, for example, the thickness dimension and the width dimension are set around the inflow opening 42 so that the outer surface of the ceiling wall portion 36 faces the occupant moving from an oblique direction. Can be adjusted.

  In the first embodiment, using the thickness regulation tether 46, the length adjustment mechanism 57 makes the length dimension of the thickness regulation tether 50 and the width regulation tether 51 infinitely long. The case where the airbag 35 is inflated by being restricted by the thickness restriction tether 46 when the connection with the 50/51 is released has been shown, but the length adjustment mechanism is not used without using the thickness restriction tether 46. 57, when the connection with the tethers 50 and 51 is released so that the length dimension between the thickness regulation tether 50 and the width regulation tether 51 is infinitely long, the thickness and width dimensions of the airbag 35 are reduced. You may inflate without restricting. Furthermore, you may comprise like 2nd Embodiment shown in FIGS.

  In the driver's seat airbag apparatus M2 according to the second embodiment, the airbag 35A includes a band-shaped tether 69 in which a thickness regulation tether 70 and a width regulation tether 71 disposed inside are connected in series. When the thickness adjusting tether 70 side is configured to shorten the thickness regulating tether 70 side, the length regulating tether 70 side is pulled in, the width regulating tether 71 side is extended and lengthened, and the thickness regulating tether is configured. When lengthening the 70 side, the thickness regulating tether 70 side is extended, and the length regulating tether 70 and the width regulating tether 71 are interlocked with each other so that the width regulating tether 71 side is retracted and shortened. Have been adjusted.

  The belt-like tether 69 is formed of a foldable flexible polyester or polyamide woven fabric, and is centered on an inflow opening 42 provided in the center of the bottom wall portion 40 of the airbag 35A. The side of the outer end 71a bent in an L shape is used as the thickness regulating tether 70 side disposed on both sides of the vehicle in the left-right direction and having the upper end 70a coupled to the vicinity of the center 38 of the ceiling wall 36. The width regulating tether 71 is connected between the outer peripheral edges 37 and 41 of the wall portion 36 and the bottom wall portion 40. The lower end 70 b side of the thickness regulating tether 70 and the inner end 71 b side of the width regulating tether 71 penetrate the through hole 44 of the bottom wall portion 40 and the through hole 12 c of the bottom wall portion 12 of the bag holder 11. The belt is wound around the feeding roller 79 and is continuous in a single band shape.

  The belt-like tether 69 includes two pieces of tether cloth 72 sewn on the ceiling wall portion 36 side and two pieces of sewn between the outer peripheral edges 37 and 40 of the ceiling wall portion 36 and the bottom wall portion 40. The tip ends of the tether cloths 73 and 73 are connected to each other. The tether cloth 72 is disposed by sewing a central portion 72a obtained by extending the strips 72b and 72b from the left and right sides to the center 38 of the ceiling wall portion 36 on the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag 35A. The tether cloths 73 and 73 are sewn at the outer ends between the outer peripheral edges 37 and 40 of the ceiling wall portion 36 and the bottom wall portion 40, and the inner ends are sewn to the tips of the strips 72b and 72b, respectively. Thus, two thickness regulation tethers 70 and two width regulation tethers 71 are arranged in the airbag 35A.

  A connecting portion 75 connected to the length adjusting mechanism 77 is formed at a boundary portion between the pair of thickness restricting tethers 70 and width restricting tethers 71 connected in series. In the case of the second embodiment, the connecting portion 75 has a plurality of feeding holes 75 a into which the protrusions 79 a of the feeding roller 79 are inserted in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the belt-like tether 69, and the through-holes in the bottom wall portion 40. 44 and the through hole 12 c of the bottom wall portion 12 of the bag holder 11, and is wound around the feeding roller 79.

  The length adjusting mechanism 77 includes an actuator 78 that rotates the feeding roller 79, and the feeding roller 79 includes a plurality of protrusions 79 a that can be inserted into a number of feeding holes 75 a provided in the connecting portion 75 of the belt-like tether 69. However, it is projecting. When the actuator 78 receives an operation signal from the controller 61, the feeding roller 79 is rotated in a predetermined direction according to the operation signal, and the protrusion 79a is inserted into the predetermined feeding hole 75a. One side of the length regulation tether 70 side or the width regulation tether 71 side is pulled in and the other side is extended. In the vicinity of the feeding roller 79, the tethers 70 and 71 rotate in conjunction with the rotation direction of the feeding roller 79 so that the tethers 70 and 71 can be fed into the airbag 35A while suppressing the slack when the tethers 70 and 71 are fed. A feed roller 80 is provided.

  In the driver's seat airbag device M2 of the second embodiment, the configurations of the belt-like tether 69 and the length adjusting mechanism 77 disposed in the airbag 35A as described above are different from those of the first embodiment. However, the other constituent members are the same as those in the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the control device is mounted on a vehicle and inputs signals from predetermined sensors 62, 63, and 64. The operation of the inflator 30 and the length adjusting mechanism 77 is controlled by 61.

  In the second embodiment, when the airbag 35A is inflated by the operation of the inflator 30, the length adjusting mechanism 77 controls the feeding roller 79 in a predetermined direction by the control of the control device 61 performed before the airbag 35A is inflated. The airbag 35A completes the inflation by rotating and extending the thickness regulating tether 70 side of the left and right belt-like tethers 69 or extending the width regulating tether 71 side.

  At that time, when the control device 61 detects that the driver is seated at a position away from the airbag device M2, for example, the control device 61 extends the thickness regulation tether 70 side of the left and right belt-like tethers 69, The operation of the length adjustment mechanism 77 is controlled so that the length dimension of the thickness regulation tether 70 is lengthened and the length dimension of the width regulation tether 71 is shortened so that the regulation tether 71 side is retracted. Then, as shown in B of FIG. 11 and the two-dot chain line of FIG. 12, the airbag 35A completes the inflation with a shape in which the thickness dimension T1 is increased and the width dimension L0 is decreased as the expansion completion shape. It will be. Such an inflation mode of the airbag 35A is such that the airbag 35A, which has been completely inflated, approaches the center 38 of the ceiling wall 36 near the driver who is seated at a position away from the steering wheel W. Therefore, the driver can be quickly protected near the center 38 of the ceiling wall portion 36, which is preferable.

  Further, the control device 61 detects that the driver is seated while being shifted from the center of the airbag device M2 to the left or right or the like, or detects that the vehicle has collided diagonally. In such a case, the length of the thickness regulation tether 70 is shortened so that the thickness regulation tether 70 side of the left and right belt-like tethers 69 is pulled in and the width regulation tether 71 side is extended, and the length of the width regulation tether 71 is increased. The operation of the length adjusting mechanism 77 is controlled so as to increase the length. Then, as shown in A of FIG. 11 and the solid line of FIG. 12, the airbag 35A completes the inflation with a shape in which the thickness dimension T0 is reduced and the width dimension L1 is increased as the inflation completion shape. Become. Such an expansion mode of the airbag 35A is that the area where the airbag 35A covers the steering wheel W is widened, and the protection area of the airbag 35A is widened. This is preferable in that it protects the driver moving from the vehicle.

  Therefore, also in the airbag apparatus M2 of the second embodiment, only the thickness dimensions T0 and T1 projecting toward the driver side in the airbag 35A at the time of completion of the inflation according to the sitting state of the driver, the collision state of the vehicle, and the like. In addition, the protection area of the airbag 35A can be adjusted, and the driver can be accurately protected by the airbag 35A in a suitable inflation mode according to various driver seating states and vehicle collision states. It becomes.

  Further, in the second embodiment, a single length adjusting mechanism 77 is used so that the length dimensions of the thickness regulating tether 70 and the width regulating tether 71 constituted by one strip-shaped tether 69 are inversely proportional. Can be adjusted greatly. Further, in such a configuration, with respect to the shape when the airbag 35A is completely inflated, the thickness dimension is reduced to increase the width dimension, or conversely, the thickness dimension is increased to reduce the width dimension. It can be adjusted to the shape, and in those cases, the inflation of the airbag 35A can be completed without changing the volume of the airbag 35A as much as possible, and the time from the start of inflation to the completion of inflation can be stabilized. Become.

  As a modified example of the second embodiment, in the connecting portion 75 of the belt-like tether 69, the length regulation tether 70 side and the width regulation tether 71 side are overlapped with each other with the feeding holes 75a aligned with each other. Thus, the projection 79 a may be inserted into the predetermined feeding hole 75 a and wound around the feeding roller 79. In such a configuration, the length dimension of the thickness regulation tether 70 side and the width regulation tether 71 side can be increased or decreased simultaneously by the rotation of the feeding roller 79 in a predetermined direction. With such a configuration, even if the driver (occupant) is seated while shifting from side to side or back and forth, the length restriction tether 70 side and the width restriction tether 71 side are simultaneously increased in length. Thus, the driver can be easily protected by adjusting and enlarging the airbag when the inflation is completed. If the driver (occupant) is seated at an appropriate position, the thickness regulating tether 70 side and the width regulating tether 71 side are adjusted so that the length dimension is shortened at the same time, and a small air The driver can be protected by the bag.

  Of course, like the airbag apparatus M3 for the driver's seat according to the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, the length regulation tether 90 and the width regulation tether 91 are connected to the corresponding length adjustment mechanisms 93 and 97, respectively. The length may be adjusted separately. That is, in the airbag apparatus M3, the thickness regulating tether 90 disposed in the airbag 35B is disposed on the left and right of the inflow opening 42 in the straight traveling state of the vehicle, and the upper end 90a is respectively connected to the ceiling wall. The lower end 90b side is connected to the vicinity of the center 38 of the portion 36, and the through hole 44 disposed at the periphery of the inflow opening 42 of the bottom wall portion 40 and the through hole 12c of the bottom wall portion 12 of the bag holder 11 are passed through. Thus, it is wound around the winding roller 95 of the actuator 94 of the length adjusting mechanism 93. Further, the width regulating tether 91 disposed in the airbag 35B is disposed on the left and right of the inflow opening 42 in a straight traveling state of the vehicle, and the outer end 91a is respectively connected to the ceiling wall portion 36 and the bottom wall portion 40. And the inner end 91b side is connected to the through hole 44 arranged at the periphery of the inflow opening 42 of the bottom wall portion 40 and the bottom wall portion 12 of the bag holder 11. It passes through the through hole 12 c and is wound around the winding roller 99 of the actuator 98 of the length adjusting mechanism 97.

  The two thickness regulating tethers 90 and 90 are constituted by a single tether cloth 92, and the tether cloth 92 is a central portion obtained by extending the strips 92b and 92b constituting the thickness regulating tether 90 from the left and right sides. 92a is sewn to the center 38 of the ceiling wall portion 36 on the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag 35B. The tethers 90 and 91 are also formed from a woven fabric such as polyester or polyamide having flexibility that can be folded.

  Further, the actuators 94 and 98 of the length adjusting mechanisms 93 and 97 are respectively provided with take-up rollers 95 and 99 that can draw and feed out the tethers 90 and 91 when rotating. In the vicinity of the take-up rollers 95 and 99, the tethers 90 and 91 rotate in conjunction with the rotation direction of the take-up rollers 95 and 99, and when the tethers 90 and 91 are extended, slack is suppressed and the tethers 90 and 91 are placed in the airbag 35B. The feed rollers 96 and 100 are disposed so as to feed them.

  Note that the configuration of the tethers 90 and 91 and the length adjusting mechanisms 93 and 97 disposed in the airbag 35B as described above is also the first and second embodiments in the driver seat airbag device M3 of the third embodiment. The other structural members are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, and are mounted on the vehicle, and from predetermined sensors 62, 63, and 64, as in the first and second embodiments. The operation of the inflator 30 and the length adjusting mechanisms 93 and 97 is controlled by the control device 61 to which the above signal is input.

  In the third embodiment, when the airbag 35B is inflated by the operation of the inflator 30, the length adjusting mechanisms 93 and 97 are controlled by the control device 61 before the airbag 35B is inflated. 99 is rotated in a predetermined direction, and the thickness regulation tether 90 and the width regulation tether 91 are extended or retracted, and the airbag 35B is moved to a solid line, an alternate long and short dash line, two points in FIG. As indicated by the chain line, the expansion is completed in the preferred expansion mode.

  At that time, in the third embodiment, since the length regulation tether 90 and the width regulation tether 91 can be adjusted separately in length, the inflation completion shape and volume of the airbag 35B can be adjusted in various types, The airbag 35B can be inflated in a suitable inflation mode corresponding to the driver.

  In particular, in the third embodiment, a plurality of thickness regulation tethers 90 and width regulation tethers 91 arranged in the airbag 35B are arranged radially around the inflow opening 42, respectively. The length is adjusted by the actuators 94 and 98 of the length adjusting mechanisms 93 and 97. Therefore, it is possible to uniformly adjust the lengths of all the thickness regulation tethers 90 or all the width regulation tethers 91, and, of course, the length dimensions of the respective thickness regulation tethers 90 and width regulation tethers 91, If necessary, it may be adjusted differently. In this case, for example, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 16, the outer surface of the ceiling wall portion 36 is moved toward the occupant moving from an oblique direction. Adjustments such as changing the thickness dimension and the width dimension around the inflow opening 42 can be made, such as making them face each other.

  In each embodiment, the thickness regulating tethers 50, 70, 90 and the width regulating tethers 51, 71, 91 for adjusting the length are arranged on both the left and right sides of the vehicle in the straight traveling state around the inflow opening 42. As shown, the thickness regulating tethers 50, 70, 90 and the width regulating tethers 51, 71, 91 are arranged on the front and rear sides of the vehicle around the inflow opening 42 or in the inflow direction. Thickness control tethers 50, 70, 90 and widths on the left and right sides and front and rear sides of the vehicle 42 around the opening 42, or on three or six equal radial places around the opening 42 The regulation tethers 51, 71, 91 may be disposed as appropriate.

  Incidentally, when the thickness regulating tether 90 and the width regulating tether 91 in the airbag 35B of the third embodiment are arranged on both the front and rear sides of the vehicle in the straight traveling state around the inflow opening 42, FIG. Like the airbag 35C shown by the one-dot chain line and the two-dot chain line, the ceiling wall portion 36 is arranged along the vertical direction, the upper side is thickened, the head DH of the driver DR is protected thickly, and Adjustment is also possible in which the lower side is made thinner and the lower side of the airbag 35C smoothly enters the narrow gap between the ring portion R and the abdomen DB.

  Moreover, although each embodiment demonstrated airbag apparatus M1, M2, and M3 for driver's seats, the thickness dimension between the periphery of the opening for inflow and the ceiling wall part located in a passenger | crew side, and the opening for inflow By adjusting the width dimension between the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion extending from the peripheral edge thereof, various airbag devices for passenger seats and the like can be set as long as the airbag can set an appropriate expansion mode for an occupant. In addition, the present invention can be applied.

It is a side view which shows the state of the steering wheel and driver | operator (passenger) in which the airbag apparatus for driver's seats of 1st Embodiment of this invention is mounted. It is a partial top view of the steering wheel which shows the mounting state of the airbag apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the airbag apparatus of 1st Embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the III-III site | part of FIG. It is a schematic fragmentary sectional view of the airbag apparatus of 1st Embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the IV-IV site | part of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structural member of the airbag used for the airbag apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing explaining the expansion | swelling state in the single body of the airbag used for the airbag apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view at the time of the action | operation of the airbag apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view of the airbag apparatus for driver's seats of 2nd Embodiment. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view of the airbag apparatus of 2nd Embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the IX-IX site | part of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structural member used for the airbag of the airbag apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing explaining the expansion | swelling state in the single body of the airbag used for the airbag apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view at the time of the action | operation of the airbag apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view of the airbag apparatus for driver's seats of 3rd Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structural member used for the airbag of the airbag apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing explaining the expansion | swelling state in the single body of the airbag used for the airbag apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view at the time of the action | operation of the airbag apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the time of the action | operation of the modification of 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

35 ・ 35A ・ 35B ・ 35C… Airbag,
36 ... ceiling wall,
37 ... outer periphery,
38 ... center,
40 ... bottom wall,
41 ... outer periphery,
42 ... inflow opening,
46, 50, 70, 90 ... thickness regulation tether,
51, 71, 91 ... Width regulation tether,
57, 77, 93, 97 ... length adjustment mechanism,
61 ... Control device,
DR ... (Crew) Driver,
W ... Steering wheel,
M1, M2, M3 ... Driver airbag devices.

Claims (4)

A bottom wall portion having an inflow opening for inflating gas, and a ceiling wall portion disposed so as to face the bottom wall portion and receiving an occupant, the bottom wall portion and the ceiling wall portion An airbag device configured to inflate by inflating with an inflating gas between,
In the airbag,
By connecting a peripheral edge of the inflow opening in the bottom wall portion and a portion of the ceiling wall portion facing the inflow opening, the inflow opening in the ceiling wall portion from the inflow opening upon completion of expansion A thickness regulation tether that regulates the thickness dimension of the airbag up to the portion facing the opening;
The peripheral edge of the inflow opening in the bottom wall portion is connected to the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion away from the inflow opening, so that the outside of the bottom wall portion is removed from the inflow opening when the expansion is completed. A width regulation tether that regulates the width dimension of the airbag to the vicinity of the periphery;
Is arranged,
Ends on the inflow opening side of the thickness regulation tether and the width regulation tether are connected to a length adjustment mechanism,
The operation of the length adjustment mechanism is controlled by a control device that determines a suitable inflation mode of the airbag that catches the occupant, and the thickness of the airbag at the time of completion of the inflation is in advance before the airbag is inflated. An airbag device, wherein a substantial length dimension of the thickness regulating tether and the width regulating tether is adjusted so that a dimension and a width dimension can be adjusted.   2. The plurality of the thickness regulation tethers and the width regulation tethers arranged in the airbag are respectively arranged radially around the inflow opening. Airbag device. The thickness regulating tether and the width regulating tether, which are arranged close to each other at the periphery of the inflow opening, are in a band shape connected in series with each other,
When the length regulation mechanism shortens the thickness regulation tether side, the length regulation tether side is pulled in, the width regulation tether side is extended and lengthened, and the thickness regulation tether side is lengthened. When adjusting, the length dimension of the thickness regulation tether and the width regulation tether are adjusted in conjunction with each other so that the thickness regulation tether side is extended and shortened by pulling the width regulation tether side. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is provided. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thickness regulating tether and the width regulating tether are connected to the length adjusting mechanism so that the length can be adjusted. .

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