JP2007168466A - Occupant protection device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant protection device for a vehicle capable of protecting an occupant from a coolant at the leakage of the coolant into a cabin. <P>SOLUTION: The occupant protection device for the vehicle is provided with a detection means 3 for detecting the leakage of the coolant of an air conditioner into the cabin (or the possibility of leakage into cabin); and a shutting off means 5 for shutting off the approaching of the coolant to the occupant by injecting gas into the cabin when the leakage of the coolant into the cabin (or possibility of leakage into cabin) is detected by the detection means 3. According to the occupant protection device for the vehicle, when the coolant of the air conditioner is leaked into the cabin (or the case of the possibility that the coolant has leaked), air is injected into the cabin so as to obstruct that the leaked coolant approaches to the occupant by the shutting off means 5, thereby the rise of a coolant concentration in the neighborhood of the head of the occupant is prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device including a heat exchanger in which a refrigerant circulates in a vehicle interior.

  In recent years, a vehicle is generally equipped with an air conditioner. In order to warm the temperature in the passenger compartment, preheating of the engine is used. When the temperature in the passenger compartment is cooled or dehumidified, a cooling circuit of an air conditioner is used. In the cooling circuit, the refrigerant is circulated between a vehicle interior heat exchanger that evaporates the refrigerant and lowers the temperature in the vehicle interior by the heat of vaporization, and a condenser that cools and liquefies the refrigerant disposed at the front end of the engine room.

As the refrigerant, carbon dioxide or hydrocarbons are used for protecting the global environment. Therefore, in the prior art, when the refrigerant of the air conditioner leaks into the vehicle interior, an invention is also known in which the air conditioner is set to the outside air introduction mode and the blower fan is turned to take in outside air from outside the vehicle interior to reduce the refrigerant concentration in the vehicle interior. (See [Patent Document 1] below).
JP 2004-1670 A

  In addition to the one that sets the air conditioner to the outside air mode, the one that opens the side window when the refrigerant leaks is also known. However, since these do not operate when the blower fan or power window breaks down due to a vehicle collision or the like, a desired effect cannot be obtained. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle occupant protection device that can effectively prevent an increase in refrigerant concentration when refrigerant leaks into the vehicle compartment.

  The vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention includes a detection unit that detects leakage of a refrigerant in an air conditioner (or a possibility of leakage in the vehicle interior), and leakage of refrigerant into the vehicle interior (or vehicle interior) by the detection unit. And a blocking means for blocking the approach of the refrigerant to the occupant by injecting gas between the air conditioner and the occupant's head when the possibility of leakage) is detected.

  According to the vehicle occupant protection device of the present invention, when the refrigerant of the air conditioner leaks into the passenger compartment (or when there is a possibility that the refrigerant has leaked), the refrigerant leaked by the blocking means approaches the occupant's head. A gas is injected into the passenger compartment so as to prevent this from happening. By doing so, the refrigerant concentration in the vicinity of the passenger's head is effectively reduced.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vehicle configuration diagram of the present embodiment as viewed from the side of the vehicle. This vehicle is equipped with a normal air conditioner. Since this air conditioner is a known general air conditioner with respect to a normal air conditioning function, detailed description thereof is omitted. However, only the heat exchanger 1 arranged in the vehicle compartment is shown in the figure. In the heat exchanger 1, the refrigerant circulating inside is vaporized, and the vehicle interior is cooled by the heat of vaporization. Here, carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant. The heat exchanger 1 is disposed inside an air conditioner unit in the instrument panel 2.

Also, as a detection means for detecting the possibility of leakage of the air conditioner refrigerant in the vehicle interior,
A refrigerant concentration sensor (refrigerant concentration detecting means) 3 for detecting the refrigerant concentration is disposed on the vehicle rear side of the heat exchanger 1 (downstream side of the air path of the air conditioner). The refrigerant concentration sensor 3 is connected to the ECU 4. An air injection device (blocking means) 5 attached to the vicinity of the upper end of the A pillar is also connected to the ECU 4. The air injection device 5 according to the present embodiment includes a tank that stores compressed air therein and a valve for injecting the compressed air. By opening the valve, the air inside the tank is brought into the vehicle interior. Let spray. The driving of the air injection device 5 is controlled by the ECU 4 described above.

  The air injection direction by the air injection device 5 is a direction that prevents the leaked refrigerant from approaching the passenger (particularly the head) when the refrigerant leaks from the vehicle interior heat exchanger 1. In the case of the present embodiment, air is jetted from the upper side toward the lower side in front of the occupant, and this prevents the leaked refrigerant from approaching the occupant. The air injection device 5 is attached to all or a part of a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a rear seat (not shown). For the rear seat occupant, an air injection device can be provided using the B pillar. By injecting air, the amount of gas in the passenger compartment increases, but that amount of gas is released outside the vehicle from a drafter 6 provided behind the rear bumper of the vehicle.

  When it is detected by the refrigerant concentration sensor 3 that the air conditioner refrigerant has leaked into the vehicle interior, air is injected from the air injection device 5 into the vehicle interior. Air is injected so as to block the leaked refrigerant from approaching the head of the passenger, so that the passenger does not suck the refrigerant. Further, the refrigerant concentration in the passenger compartment is also diluted. In particular, even when the vehicle interior heat exchanger 1 is damaged and a sudden leakage of the refrigerant occurs, it can be dealt with quickly.

  Since the detection means is a refrigerant concentration detection means (in this embodiment, the refrigerant concentration sensor 3) that detects the refrigerant concentration in the vehicle compartment, by detecting the refrigerant concentration and injecting air, the occupant accompanying the refrigerant leakage is detected. Adverse effects can be prevented in advance. Further, since the refrigerant concentration detecting means (refrigerant concentration sensor 3) is disposed in the vicinity of the heat exchanger inside the vehicle interior of the air conditioner, refrigerant leakage is detected by detecting the refrigerant concentration in the vicinity of the vehicle interior heat exchanger 1. It can be detected early.

  FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the vehicle occupant protection device of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component same or equivalent to 1st embodiment mentioned above, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Below, the characteristic part of this embodiment is demonstrated in detail. In the first embodiment described above, the refrigerant concentration sensor 3 is used as detection means for detecting the possibility of refrigerant leakage into the passenger compartment. In the present embodiment, an air bag sensor (collision detection device: vehicle collision detection means) 7 that detects a vehicle collision is used as the detection means in order to detect the possibility of refrigerant leakage into the vehicle compartment.

  The collision detection device (airbag sensor) 7 is also an airbag collision detection means, and is shared with the detection means of this embodiment in this embodiment. The airbag sensor 7 is connected to the ECU 4. The ECU 4 may also be shared with the airbag ECU, or a separate ECU may be provided for air injection. Here, ECU4 is shared with airbag ECU, and sends out the signal for the air injection mentioned later. The ECU 4 is connected to an air injection device (blocking means) 5 as in the first embodiment described above.

  When a vehicle collision is detected by the airbag sensor 7, the vehicle body may be crushed, the refrigerant circulation path of the air conditioner (or the vehicle interior heat exchanger 1) may be damaged, and the air conditioner refrigerant may leak into the vehicle interior. is there. In such a case, air is injected from the air injection device 5 to the vicinity of the passenger's head. The air is injected near the head of the passenger so that the passenger does not suck the refrigerant. Further, the refrigerant concentration in the passenger compartment is also diluted.

  Since the detection means is a vehicle collision detection means (airbag sensor 7 in the present embodiment) that detects a vehicle collision, the vehicle interior heat exchange at the time of the vehicle collision is detected by detecting the vehicle collision and injecting air. It becomes possible to cope with a sudden refrigerant leakage such as when the container 1 is damaged. Further, as described above, since the vehicle collision detection means is shared with the airbag collision detection means as the airbag sensor 7, there are effects of reducing the number of parts, reducing the weight, and reducing the cost. Further, the air injection device 5 can be operated with high reliability by detecting the collision itself.

  FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the vehicle occupant protection device of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Below, the characteristic part of this embodiment is demonstrated in detail. In the first embodiment described above, air is injected into the vehicle interior by the air injection device 5 disposed in the vicinity of the upper end of the A pillar. In the present embodiment, an air injection device (blocking means) 8 is disposed inside the instrument panel 2. The air injection device 8 has a built-in compressed air tank. The compressed air is injected from the front of the occupant toward the occupant so as to block the leaked refrigerant from approaching the occupant (particularly the head). Moreover, since the air injection apparatus 8 is arrange | positioned inside an instrument panel, an external appearance can be made clear.

  Also in the present embodiment, when it is detected by the refrigerant concentration sensor 3 that the air conditioner refrigerant has leaked into the vehicle interior, air is injected from the air injection device 5 into the vehicle interior. Air is injected so as to block the leaked refrigerant from approaching the head of the passenger, so that the passenger does not suck the refrigerant. Further, the refrigerant concentration in the passenger compartment is also diluted. In particular, even when the vehicle interior heat exchanger 1 is damaged and a sudden leakage of the refrigerant occurs, it can be dealt with quickly. Furthermore, the air injection device 8 can be reliably operated with a simple structure.

  FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the vehicle occupant protection device of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Below, the characteristic part of this embodiment is demonstrated in detail. In 3rd embodiment mentioned above, air was injected in the vehicle interior by the air injection apparatus 8 which has the tank which stored the compressed air. In this embodiment, outside air is taken in using the fan 9 and this outside air is injected into the passenger compartment to block the leakage refrigerant from approaching the passenger. Even if it does in this way, the approach of the leaking refrigerant | coolant to a passenger | crew can be suppressed reliably, clearing an external appearance.

  FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the vehicle occupant protection device of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Below, the characteristic part of this embodiment is demonstrated in detail. In the first embodiment described above, air is injected into the vehicle interior by the air injection device 5 disposed in the vicinity of the upper end of the A pillar. In the present embodiment, an air injection device (blocking means) 10 is disposed in the vicinity of the shoulder of an occupant at the upper part of the seat back. The air injection device 10 has a built-in compressed air tank, and blocks the leaked refrigerant from approaching the passenger (particularly the head) by injecting the compressed air forward from the shoulder of the passenger.

  Also in the present embodiment, when it is detected by the refrigerant concentration sensor 3 that the air conditioner refrigerant has leaked into the vehicle interior, air is injected from the air injection device 5 into the vehicle interior. Air is injected so as to block the leaked refrigerant from approaching the head of the passenger, so that the passenger does not suck the refrigerant. Further, the refrigerant concentration in the passenger compartment is also diluted. In particular, the air injection device 10 is disposed in the vicinity of the occupant's shoulder, and when the refrigerant is shut off so that the occupant does not suck the refrigerant, the amount of air to be injected can be reduced. It is also possible to reduce the capacity of the compressed air tank or the like.

  In each embodiment mentioned above, air is injected between the vehicle interior heat exchanger 1 and a passenger | crew (especially head). By doing in this way, the approach to the passenger | crew of a leaking refrigerant | coolant can be suppressed and the density | concentration raise of a refrigerant | coolant can be prevented effectively. Moreover, in each embodiment mentioned above, the air injection means is provided separately from the ventilation means of an air conditioner. By providing the air injection means separately from the blower blower of the air conditioner, air can be injected even when the blower fails, and the refrigerant concentration can be reduced.

  Various air injection methods by the air injection means are conceivable. The air stored in the air storage tank may be injected by a fan or the like, or the outside air may be injected into the vehicle interior using the fan. Alternatively, the air may be stored in the air storage tank under high pressure and injected into the passenger compartment by opening a valve at the time of injection. Needless to say, the third to fifth embodiments may be configured to use the airbag sensor 7 instead of the refrigerant concentration sensor 3.

  Furthermore, although air is used in the present embodiment, it is not limited to air, and any gas that does not affect the human body, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and helium, may be used.

1 is a vehicle configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a vehicle occupant protection device of the present invention. It is a vehicle block diagram which shows 2nd embodiment of the passenger protection device for vehicles of this invention. It is a vehicle block diagram which shows 3rd embodiment of the passenger protection device for vehicles of this invention. It is a vehicle block diagram which shows 4th embodiment of the passenger protection device for vehicles of this invention. It is a vehicle block diagram which shows 5th embodiment of the vehicle occupant protection apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Car interior heat exchanger 2 Instrument panel 3 Refrigerant concentration sensor (detection means: refrigerant concentration detection means)
4 ECU
5, 8, 10 Air injection device (blocking means)
7 Airbag sensor (collision detection device: detection means: airbag collision detection means)

Claims (7)

Detecting means for detecting the possibility of leakage of the refrigerant of the air conditioner into the vehicle interior or the leakage into the vehicle interior;
When the detection means detects the possibility of leakage of the vehicle interior or the leakage into the vehicle interior, gas is injected between the air conditioner and the head of the passenger to block the refrigerant from approaching the passenger. An occupant protection device for a vehicle, comprising: a blocking means.   The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the gas is air.   The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection means is a refrigerant concentration detection means for detecting a refrigerant concentration in a passenger compartment.   4. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerant concentration detection means is disposed in the vicinity of a heat exchanger in a passenger compartment of an air conditioner.   The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection means is a vehicle collision detection means for detecting a vehicle collision, and the vehicle collision detection means is shared with an airbag collision detection means. Occupant protection device.   The vehicle occupant protection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shut-off means is for injecting compressed air from a compressed air tank built in the instrument panel.   The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the blocking means is provided separately from the air blowing means of the air conditioner.

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