JP2007302192A - Airbag device for steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device for a steering wheel capable of restricting an inflation completion shape of the airbag according to a driver at steering. <P>SOLUTION: The airbag device M1 for the steering wheel is provided with the bag-like airbag 29 inflated on a ring part R of the steering wheel W at completion of inflation. The airbag 29 is provided with a driver side wall part 38 making a neighborhood to a center to a restriction surface 38a for receiving the driver, and in the airbag 29, a leaving distance from a storage portion of the driver side wall part 38 at completion of inflation is restricted by a plurality of tethers 43 arranged at the inside. Length dimension of the tethers 43 arranged at at least four positions can be adjusted by a length adjustment mechanism controlling operation by a control device. The restriction surface 38a of the airbag 29 at inflation is positioned approximately parallel to an upper half body of the driver at restriction by adjustment of the length dimension of the respective tethers 43 to complete the inflation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering wheel airbag apparatus having a bag-shaped airbag that is folded and stored in a storage portion, and has an inflation gas flowing into the storage portion and protrudes and expands from the storage portion.

  Conventionally, there has been an airbag device that adjusts the inflation completion shape of an airbag according to the physique, seating position, seating posture, and the like of an occupant (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this airbag apparatus, the distance from the storage part of the wall part arrange | positioned at a passenger | crew side is adjusted by adjusting the length dimension of the tether arrange | positioned inside an airbag.

Conventionally, as an airbag device for a steering wheel, a plurality of tethers are arranged inside the airbag, and by changing the length of the tether, the thickness of the airbag at the time of completion of inflation is partially determined. There is one that adjusts the expansion completion shape so that it can be changed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP-A-9-240403 US Patent Publication No. 6,254,130

  In the steering wheel airbag device, the airbag completes the expansion so as to cover the entire surface of the ring portion of the steering wheel gripped by the driver during steering, thereby preventing the driver from coming into direct contact with the steering wheel. Will be. In the steering wheel airbag device having such a configuration, depending on the physique of the driver, the seating position, the seating posture, etc., the driver side wall disposed on the driver side when the inflation is completed may be fixed to the upper body of the driver when restrained. It is preferable to position it substantially in parallel with. However, the steering angle of the steering wheel constantly changes during driving, and the case where the steering wheel is steered when the airbag is deployed and inflated is also considered. Therefore, there is room for improvement in that the inflation completion shape of the airbag can be regulated according to the driver not only when the steering wheel is steered straight, but also when turning.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel airbag device capable of regulating the inflation completion shape of an airbag according to a driver during steering.

An airbag device for a steering wheel according to the present invention includes a ring part that is gripped during steering, a boss part that is disposed near the center of the ring part and fastened to a steering shaft, and a spoke part that connects the ring part and the boss part. And the steering wheel in a state in which the ring surface on the upper surface side of the ring portion is inclined rearwardly downward so as to be substantially orthogonal to the steering shaft that is inclined downwardly forwardly. It is configured to be disposed on the top of the boss portion in the steering wheel main body fastened with the shaft,
It is folded and stored in the storage part arranged on the upper side of the boss part, and it is configured to inflate the expansion gas into the interior and project from the storage part to expand and expand. Comprising a bag-like airbag disposed so as to swell larger than the outer diameter of the portion;
The airbag includes a driver side wall portion that is disposed on the driver side when the inflation is completed and serves as a restraint surface that receives the driver near the center, and a vehicle body side wall portion that is disposed on the storage portion side and attached to the storage portion. At the same time, the plurality of tethers disposed inside and coupled to the storage portion side and the driver side wall portion of the restraint surface area regulate the separation distance of the driver side wall portion from the storage portion when the inflation is completed. An air bag device for a steering wheel having a configuration,
The tethers are arranged in at least four places apart from each other around the attachment part to the storage part of the vehicle body side wall,
Each tether is configured to be adjustable in length by a length adjustment mechanism whose operation is controlled by a control device that determines a preferred inflation mode of an airbag that receives a seated driver,
The airbag at the time of inflation is configured to complete the inflation by positioning the restraint surface substantially parallel to the upper body of the driver at the time of restraint by adjusting the length dimension of each tether by the length adjustment mechanism. It is characterized by that.

  In the airbag apparatus for a steering wheel according to the present invention, the tether that is disposed inside the airbag and is coupled to the storage part side and the driver side wall part has a periphery around the attachment part of the vehicle body side wall part to the storage part. In FIG. 4, the airbag is arranged at least at four locations apart from each other and can be changed in length by a length adjusting mechanism. In response to the operation signal from the control device that detects the physique of the seated driver, the seating position, the seating posture, etc. together with the steering angle of the steering wheel, the length adjustment mechanism of each tether is activated, Each tether has a length dimension of the tether located on the rear side of the steering wheel at the time of turning steering, which is longer than the length dimension of the tether located on the front side. Kusuru so on, and be adjusted length. In the steering wheel airbag device of the present invention, the tether is coupled to the area of the restraint surface that receives the driver in the driver side wall. Therefore, when the inflation of the airbag is completed, the restraint surface is substantially parallel to the upper body of the driver during restraint so that the separation distance from the storage part is increased on the front end side and decreased on the rear end side. As will be described. Therefore, it is possible to secure a wide flat restraint surface along the driver's upper body, and with this restraint surface, the driver's upper body (chest and abdomen) can be reduced in reaction force, with good cushioning, and It can be received softly.

  Further, in the steering wheel airbag device according to the present invention, the tethers are arranged at least at four locations apart from each other around the attachment portion of the vehicle body side wall portion to the storage portion. Even if the turning angle differs by about 90 °, the restraint surface can be arranged in a well-balanced manner so as to be substantially parallel to the upper body of the driver at the time of restraint when the airbag is completely inflated.

  Therefore, in the steering wheel airbag device according to the present invention, the airbag inflation completion shape can be regulated according to the driver during steering.

In the steering wheel airbag device according to the present invention, specifically, the tether is positioned radially with respect to the time when the steering wheel is linearly steered, and the radial position is centered on the attachment portion of the vehicle body side wall portion to the storage portion. It is configured to be arranged at positions shifted from each other by approximately 90 ° between the two places on the front and the two places on the rear from the attachment site,
Each tether during operation is adjusted by adjusting the length adjustment mechanism so that the length dimension of the two tethers located at the front is longer than the length dimension of the two tethers located at the rear. Is preferably arranged along a substantially vertical plane corresponding to the upper body of the driver at the time of restraint.

  Further, in the steering wheel airbag apparatus having the above-described configuration, if each tether is configured so that the length dimension can be changed in three stages, the separation distance from the storage portion of the restraint surface can be determined by the turning angle of the steering wheel. Accordingly, it is possible to change it appropriately, which is preferable.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an airbag apparatus M1 for a steering wheel according to an embodiment which is an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the front / rear, up / down, and left / right directions in the embodiment correspond to the front / rear, up / down, left / right directions of the vehicle when traveling straight, unless otherwise specified.

  The airbag apparatus M1 is a structure arrange | positioned at the upper part in the boss | hub part B of the center of the steering wheel W, as shown to FIG. The steering wheel W includes an airbag device M1 and a steering wheel body 1 on the component parts.

  The steering wheel body 1 includes a ring portion R that is gripped during steering, a boss portion B that is disposed near the center of the ring portion R and is fastened to the steering shaft SS, and four rings that connect the ring portion R and the boss portion B. Spoke portion S. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 12, the steering shaft SS is disposed so as to incline forward and downward. The steering wheel body 1 is attached to the steering shaft SS in a state where the ring surface Rf (see FIG. 12) on the upper surface side in the ring portion R is inclined rearwardly downward so as to be substantially orthogonal to the steering shaft SS. The configuration is fastened. The steering wheel body 1 includes a cored bar 2 made of an aluminum alloy or the like disposed so as to connect the ring part R, the boss part B, and the spoke part S, and the spokes on the ring part R and the ring part R side. A synthetic resin coating layer 3 that covers the core 2 with the portion S and a synthetic resin lower cover 4 disposed below the boss B are configured (see FIG. 3). In the case of the embodiment, the steering wheel W is configured to be rotatable about 2.5 to 6 rotations to the left and right with the steering shaft SS as a rotation axis.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the airbag device M <b> 1 stores and holds the folded airbag 29, the inflator 8 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 29, and the airbag 29 and the inflator 8. A bag holder 11 as a storage part, a pad 25 as an airbag cover disposed so as to cover the opening of the bag holder 11, and four tethers 43 (43A, 43A, 43) described later disposed in the airbag 29 43B, 43C, 43D), and four locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D) as length adjusting mechanisms for adjusting the length dimensions of the respective lengths. The operation of the inflator 8 and each locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D) is controlled by the control device 60.

  The inflator 8 includes a substantially cylindrical main body 8a provided with a plurality of gas discharge ports 8b for discharging inflation gas at an upper portion, a substantially square plate-like flange portion 8c arranged to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the main body 8a, It is configured with.

  The retainer 6 is made of a sheet metal having a substantially quadrangular annular body, and includes bolts 6a protruding downward at the four corners. The retainer 6 is configured such that each bolt 6a protrudes from a flange portion 8c of the inflator 8 through a peripheral edge 33 of a gas inlet 32 (to be described later) of the airbag 29 and the bag holder 11, and a nut 7 is fastened to each bolt 6a. In this configuration, the airbag 29 and the inflator 8 are attached to the bag holder 11.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bag holder 11 includes a holder main body 12 made of sheet metal and a holding plate 16. The holder main body 12 is made of sheet metal, and includes a substantially square plate-like bottom wall portion 13 and a side wall portion 14 that extends upward from the periphery of the bottom wall portion 13 and has an upper end opened. In the vicinity of the center of the bottom wall portion 13 that is configured, an insertion hole 13a that is opened in a circular shape and into which the main body 8a of the inflator 8 can be inserted from below is formed. At the four peripheral edges of the insertion hole 13a in the bottom wall portion 13 that are radially centered on the insertion hole 13a, there are intermediate tethers 43 (43A, 43B, 43C, 43D) disposed in the airbag 29. A through hole 13b is formed through which the loop portion 45 formed in the part can be inserted (see FIG. 4). Specifically, the through-hole 13b is arranged by being shifted by 90 ° so that the center of the through-hole 13b coincides with the center of the insertion hole 13a and the vicinity of the apex of the square arranged so that one side is substantially along the left-right direction. Has been.

  Then, at the lower side of the bottom wall portion 13 and in the vicinity of each through hole 13b, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the intermediate portion of each tether 43 (43A, 43B, 43C, 43D) is provided. Four locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D) capable of connecting the formed loop portion 45 are respectively disposed. Each locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D) is fixed to the lower surface side of the locking pin 22 inserted through the loop portion 45 and the bottom wall portion 13 and operates so that the locking pin 22 can be retracted. And an actuator 23. When the actuator 23 is operated so as to retract the locking pin 22, the state in which the locking pin 22 locks the loop portion 45 shifts to a state in which the locking is released. If this actuator 23 can move the locking pin 22 by an electrical signal from the control device 60, the 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 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. As shown in FIG. 5, the periphery of each through-hole 13b on the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 13 and on the edge side facing the actuator 23 supports the tip of the locking pin 22 and locks it. A support base 13c for preventing the loop portion 45 from coming off from the locking pin 22 at the time is disposed.

  The holding plate 16 fixed to the holder main body 12 includes holding portions 16a extending to the vicinity of the portion of the coating layer 3 near the ring portion R in the spoke portions S on the left and right sides, and a horn switch 17 is attached to each holding portion 16a. It has been. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag device M1 is supported by the connecting plate 19 fixed to the cored bar 2 on the lower surface side of the horn switch 17 with the horn switch 17 interposed therebetween. It will be attached to the upper part of the boss part B.

  The pad 25 as the airbag cover is made of a synthetic resin such as an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, and is configured to cover the upper side of the boss portion B as shown in FIGS. A door portion 26 that is opened when the airbag 29 is inflated is provided at a portion covering the opening 11 a surrounded by the side wall portion 14 of the bag holder 11 in the pad 25, with a scheduled break portion 27 provided around the door. In the case of the embodiment, the door portion 26 is configured as two pieces that can be opened on both the front and rear sides by disposing a substantially H-shaped break planned portion 27 around the door portion 26. The pad 25 is configured to be fixed to the side wall portion 14 of the bag holder 11 using a rivet or the like (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the airbag 29 includes a bag-shaped bag body 30 that inflates by inflating an inflation gas, and tethers 43 (43 </ b> A, 43 </ b> B, 43 </ b> C, 43D).

  The bag body 30 has a substantially circular shape that can cover the entire ring portion R when the inflation is completed. As shown in FIG. 12, the outer diameter when the inflation is completed is larger than the outer diameter of the ring portion R. The outer peripheral wall at the time of completion of expansion is formed of a flexible woven fabric made of polyamide yarn, polyester yarn or the like. The outer peripheral wall of the bag body 30 includes a vehicle body side wall portion 31 that is on the steering wheel W side when inflation is completed, and a driver side wall portion 38 that is on the driver MD side when inflation is completed. Near the center of the vehicle body side wall portion 31, a gas inlet 32 is formed for inserting the main body 8a of the inflator 8 from below and allowing the inflation gas discharged from the inflator 8 to flow into the bag main body 30. ing. A mounting hole 34 through which the bolt 6 a formed in the retainer 6 is inserted is formed in the peripheral edge 33 of the gas inlet 32, and the airbag 29 uses the retainer 6 to make a peripheral edge 33 of the gas inlet 32. Is attached to the bag holder 11. In addition, there are four tethers 43 (43A, 43B, 43B, 43A, 43B, 43B), which are the peripheral edge 33 of the gas inflow port 32 and in the vicinity of the connection portion of each tether 43 (43A, 43B, 43C, 43D) to the vehicle body side wall 31 43C and 43D) are formed with through holes 35 through which the loop portions 45 formed can be inserted. Further, a vent hole 36 for exhausting excess inflation gas is formed at a predetermined location of the vehicle body side wall 31.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the bag body 30 includes a circular vehicle body side base fabric 40 that forms the vehicle body side wall portion 31, and a driver side base fabric 41 that forms the driver side wall portion 38. The gas inlet 32 is formed at the center of the vehicle body side base fabric 40, and the attachment hole 34, the through hole 35, and the vent hole 36 are respectively formed at predetermined positions of the vehicle body side base fabric 40. .

  The tethers 43 (43A, 43B, 43C, 43D) disposed in the bag body 30 are each formed in a belt shape having substantially the same length, and the end 43a side is a gas inlet 32 in the vehicle body side wall 31. The end 43b side is coupled to a portion that is near the center of the driver side wall portion 38. In the case of the embodiment, the tether 43 (43A, 43B, 43C, 43D) is centered on the center of the gas inlet 32 (center of the driver side wall 38) in a plan view in a state where the airbag 29 is flatly deployed. It is arrange | positioned so that it may be located in the vicinity of the vertex of the square arrange | positioned so that one side may be followed along a substantially horizontal direction. In other words, the tether 43 (43A, 43B, 43C, 43D) has a radial shape around the gas inlet 32 at the peripheral edge 33 of the gas inlet 32 in a plan view of the airbag 29 deployed flat. , Each is shifted by 90 °. And the loop part 45 is each formed in the inner peripheral side of the intermediate part in each tether 43 (43A, 43B, 43C, 43D). Each loop portion 45 protrudes from a through hole 13 b formed in the bottom wall portion 13 of the bag holder 11 through a through hole 35 formed in the vehicle body side wall portion 31 when the airbag 29 is folded and stored. The locking pin 22 is inserted into the locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D). Each of the locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D) receives the operation signal from the control device 60, and when the actuator 23 is operated, the locking pin 22 is pulled in to lock the loop portion 45. Will be released.

  In the case of the embodiment, the tether 43 (43 </ b> A, 43 </ b> B, 43 </ b> C, 43 </ b> D) is configured from a tether base fabric 48, and each loop portion 45 is configured from a loop portion fabric material 57. As shown in FIG. 9, the tether base fabric 48 includes a vehicle body side member 49 disposed on the vehicle body side wall portion 31 side, and a driver side member 53 disposed on the driver side wall portion 38 side. ing.

  The vehicle body side member 49 is formed in a substantially circular shape and is connected to the vehicle body side wall portion 31, and four belt-like tethers that extend radially from the periphery of the connection fabric portion 50 and have the same length dimension. And a portion 51 for use. Openings (not shown) are formed in the connecting cloth portion 50 corresponding to the gas inlet 32, the attachment hole 34, and the through hole 35. The connecting fabric portion 50 is sewn to the vehicle body side base fabric 40 (vehicle body side wall portion 31) at the periphery of the gas inlet 32. The driver-side member 53 has a substantially circular shape and is connected to the driver side wall portion 38, and is connected to the driver side wall portion 38. The belt-like member 53 extends radially from the periphery of the connection cloth portion 54 and has the same length. And the tether portion 55. The connecting cloth portion 54 is sewn to the driver-side base cloth 41 at the periphery so that the center substantially coincides with the center of the driver-side base cloth 41. Each tether 43 (43A, 43B, 43C, 43D) is configured by sewing the tips 51a, 55a of the tether portions 51, 55 of the vehicle body side member 49 and the driver side member 53 together. Each loop portion fabric material 57 has a band shape narrower than that of the tether portions 51 and 55, and both ends of the looped portion near the center are placed between the tips 51a and 55a of the tether portions 51 and 55. The loop portion 45 is configured by arranging and sewing together with the tips 51a and 55a.

  That is, each tether 43 (43A, 43B, 43C, 43D) is connected to the end portion 43a side of the gas inlet 32 by the stitched portion 52 with the vehicle body side base fabric 40 (vehicle body side wall portion 31) of the connecting fabric portion 50. The end 43b side is connected to the driver side wall portion by the stitching portion 56 with the driver side base cloth 41 (driver side wall portion 38) connected to the bag holder 11 side as a storage portion together with the peripheral edge 33. It will be coupled to the 38th side. In the airbag 29 according to the embodiment, in the driver side wall portion 38, the portion surrounded by the stitched portion (joint portion) 56 between the connecting cloth portion 54 and the driver side base cloth 41 (driver side wall portion 38) When the inflation is completed, the vicinity of the center of the restraining surface 38a that receives the driver MD is configured.

  In the embodiment, each tether 43 is shortened by the length of the tether portion 55 in the state in which the loop portion 45 is kept locked by the locking means 21, and The short distance mode DM1 in which the separation distance from the bag holder 11 side is reduced is set. In the state where the loop portion 45 is unlocked from the locking means 21, each tether 43 is lengthened to increase the separation distance of the driver side wall portion 38 from the bag holder 11 side. The long distance mode DM2 is set. In other words, in the case of the embodiment, the tether 43 has a configuration in which the length dimension is adjusted by the locking means 21 in two stages of the short distance mode DM1 and the long distance mode DM2. The difference in length dimension between the short distance mode DM1 and the long distance mode DM2 in each tether 43 changes the ratio of the length dimensions of the tether portions 51 and 55, that is, the arrangement position of the loop portion 45. Can be adjusted. In the case of the embodiment, the arrangement position of the loop portion 45 (the ratio of the length dimension of each tether portion 51, 55) is set to 2 located on the rear side, with the two tethers 43 located on the front side being the long distance mode DM2. One tether 43 is set to the short distance mode DM1 so that when the airbag 29 is deployed and inflated, the restraining surface 38a of the driver side wall portion 38 of the airbag 29 at the completion of the inflation can be arranged along the substantially vertical direction. Is set.

  In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the control device 60 includes a steering angle sensor 61 disposed on the lower end side of the steering shaft SS capable of detecting the steering angle of the steering wheel W, and the direction of acceleration and acceleration of the vehicle. Are electrically connected to a collision detection sensor 62 or the like that is capable of detecting, for example, an electric signal from the collision detection sensor 62 to operate the inflator 8, and from the rudder angle sensor 61 and the collision detection sensor 62 The operation of each locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D) is controlled. In the case of the embodiment, the steering angle sensor 61 is configured to be able to detect the turning angle of the steering wheel W on the basis of the angle at the time of the straight steering of the steering wheel W. When the collision detection sensor 62 detects a collision of the vehicle, the control device 60 detects the steering angle of the steering wheel W from the electric signal from the steering angle sensor 61, and the steering wheel W at the time of collision detection It is comprised so that an operation signal can be output to the two latching means 21 located in the side.

  Next, production of the airbag 29 of the embodiment will be described. A gas inlet 32 is formed in advance in the vehicle body side fabric 40. In addition, an opening (not shown) constituting the gas inlet 32 is also formed in the connecting cloth portion 50 of the vehicle body side member 49 in the tether base cloth 48. First, the driver side member 53 in the tether base cloth 48 is arranged on the inner surface side of the driver side base cloth 41, and the connecting cloth portion 54 is sewn at the stitched portion 56. Similarly, the vehicle body side member 49 of the tether base fabric 48 is disposed on the inner surface side of the vehicle body side base fabric 40, and the connecting fabric portion 50 is sewn at the sewing site 52. Thereafter, the vent hole 36, the mounting hole 34, and the through hole 35 are drilled into the vehicle body-side base fabric 40 and the connecting fabric portion 50. Of course, you may form the gas inflow port 32 at the time of this drilling process.

  Thereafter, the vehicle body side base fabric 40 and the driver side base fabric 41 are overlapped so that the outer surface faces each other, and the outer peripheral edges are sewn together. After the outer peripheral edge is sewn, the bag body 30 is inverted using the gas inlet 32 so that the seam allowance of the outer peripheral edge does not appear on the outer surface of the airbag 29. After the reversal, the tips 51a and 55a of the tether portions 51 and 55 are pulled out from the gas inlet 32, and the loop portion fabric material 57 folded back near the center is sandwiched between the tips 51a and 55a, respectively. The airbag 29 can be manufactured by forming the tethers 43A, 43B, 43C, and 43D by sewing the tips 51a and 55a so as to sew the loop portion fabric material 57 together.

  And the airbag apparatus M1 is assembled using the airbag 29 manufactured as mentioned above. First, the retainer 6 is inserted into the airbag 29 from the gas inlet 32, and the airbag 29 is folded so that it can be accommodated in the bag holder 11 with each bolt 6a protruding from the mounting hole 34. At this time, each loop part 45 is projected from the through hole 35. Next, each of the bolts 6a is protruded from the bottom wall portion 13 and each loop portion 45 is protruded from the through hole 13b so that the folded airbag 29 is preliminarily secured to the locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D), the horn switch 17 and the connecting plate 19 are housed in the bag holder 11 to which they have been attached. Then, the locking pin 22 of each locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D) is inserted through each loop portion 45, and the front end side of the locking pin 22 is supported by the support base 13c so that each loop The part 45 is locked to each locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D). After that, if the main body 8a of the inflator 8 is inserted into the insertion hole 13a of the bottom wall portion 13 from below and the nut 7 is fastened to each bolt 6a protruding from the flange portion 8c, the airbag 29 And the inflator 8 can be held. Thereafter, the airbag 25 can be assembled by covering the airbag 29 with the pad 25 and connecting the pad 25 to the side wall 14 of the bag holder 11 using a rivet (not shown).

  The airbag apparatus M1 assembled in this manner can be obtained by connecting the connecting plate 19 to a mounting seat (not shown) of the steering wheel body 1 already attached to the vehicle by using a predetermined bolt. At this time, the assembly of the steering wheel W and the mounting of the steering wheel W on the vehicle are completed. When the airbag device M1 is mounted on a vehicle, an operation signal input lead wire extending from the control device 60 is connected to the inflator 8 and each locking means 21 (21A, 21B, 21C, 21D).

  If the traveling vehicle collides after the airbag device M1 is mounted on the vehicle, the control device 60 outputs an operation signal to the inflator 8, and the inflator 8 supplies the inflation gas from the gas discharge port 8b. The airbag 29 is inflated, the door portion 26 of the pad 25 is pushed, and the airbag 29 is expanded and inflated so as to cover the upper surface side of the steering wheel W, thereby completing the inflation.

  In the airbag apparatus M1 according to the embodiment, the tethers 43A, 43B, 43C, and 43D that are disposed inside the airbag 29 and are coupled to the bag holder 11 side as the storage portion and the driver side wall 38 are provided on the vehicle body. Locking means as a length adjusting mechanism are arranged at least at four locations apart from each other around the attachment portion (the peripheral edge 33 of the gas inlet port 32) to the bag holder 11 in the side wall 31. The length dimension can be changed by 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D. Therefore, for example, when the airbag 29 is deployed and inflated at the time of turning steering of the steering wheel W, if the operation signals are received from the control device 60 and the locking means 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D are operated, The length dimension of each tether 43A, 43B, 43C, 43D can be adjusted.

  For example, in the airbag apparatus M1 of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, when the steering wheel W is steered with the steering angle being substantially the same as that during straight-ahead steering, the locking means 21A and 21B located on the front side are provided. Only the operation signal from the control device 60 is input. Further, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the steering wheel W is steered in a state where the steering wheel W is inclined approximately 90 ° to the right, only the locking means 21A and 21C located on the front side are separated from the control device 60. An operation signal is input. Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the steering wheel W is steered in a state of being substantially reversed in the front-rear direction, only the locking means 21 </ b> C and 21 </ b> D positioned in front receive an operation signal from the control device 60. As shown in FIG. 10C, when the steering wheel W is steered in a state tilted approximately 90 ° to the left, only the locking means 21B and 21D located on the front side are controlled by the control device. The operation signal from 60 is input.

  Then, in each locking means 21 to which the operation signal from the control device 60 is input, the actuator 23 operates so as to pull in the locking pin 22, and before the airbag 29 is deployed and inflated, the loop is previously set. The locking state of the portion 45 to the locking means 21 is released, and the tether 43 is set to the long distance mode DM2. In a state where the operation signal from the control device 60 is not input, the airbag 29 is inflated while the locking of the loop portion 45 to the locking means 21 is maintained, and the tether 43 is set to the short distance mode DM1. Will be.

  That is, in the airbag apparatus M1 of the embodiment, the steering wheel W is in a position substantially the same as that during straight-ahead steering, is inclined approximately 90 ° to the right during straight-ahead steering, and is substantially 180 ° during straight-ahead steering. The two tethers 43 located on the front side set the length dimension to the long-distance mode DM2 in either the inverted state or the state inclined approximately 90 ° to the left with respect to the straight-ahead steering. Thus, the two tethers 43 located on the rear side are set to the short distance mode DM1 in the length dimension, and the end portions 43b of the four tethers 43 (43A, 43B, 43C, 43D) are combined. The portion near the center of the restraint surface 38a of the driver side wall 38 formed by the surface surrounded by the connecting portion (stitched portion) 56 increases the separation distance from the bag holder 11 on the front end side, and the rear end. The so as to reduce the air bag 29 as shown in FIG. 11 is that completes inflation. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the airbag 29 completes inflating so that the restraint surface 38a is disposed along a substantially vertical surface corresponding to the upper body of the driver MD at the time of restraint. . Therefore, a wide flat restraint surface 38a along the upper body of the driver MD can be secured, and the restraint surface 38a allows the upper body (chest and abdomen) of the driver MD to be cushioned while suppressing reaction force. It can be taken well and softly.

  Further, in the airbag apparatus M1 of the embodiment, the tethers 43A, 43B, 43C, and 4D are disposed at at least four locations apart from each other around the gas inlet 32, so that the steering wheel W Even when the turning angle differs by about 90 °, the restraint surface 38a can be arranged in a well-balanced manner so as to be substantially parallel to the upper body of the driver MD at the time of restraint when the airbag 29 is completely inflated.

  Therefore, in the airbag apparatus M1 for the steering wheel of the embodiment, the inflation completion shape of the airbag 29 can be regulated according to the driver MD at the time of steering.

  In particular, in the airbag apparatus M1 of the embodiment, the tethers 43A, 43B, 43C, and 43D are arranged at four locations that are radially centered on the gas inlet 32 when the airbag 29 is completely inflated when the steering wheel W is linearly steered. The steering wheel W is, for example, disposed at positions shifted by approximately 90 ° from each other at the two locations that are forward from the gas inlet 32 and the two locations that are rearward. , In the same position as in straight-ahead steering, incline to the right about 90 ° with respect to the straight-ahead steering, inverted about 180 ° with respect to the straight-ahead steering, and about 90 ° to the left with respect to the straight-ahead steering The two tethers 43 are positioned in front of the gas inlet 32 when the airbag 29 is completely inflated. 3 is positioned in the rear of the gas inlet 32. Therefore, the angle of the restraining surface 38a can be stabilized, which is preferable. In the airbag apparatus M1 of the embodiment, for example, when the collision of the vehicle is detected in a state where the steering wheel W is inclined approximately 45 ° with respect to the straight-ahead steering, the tethers 34A, 43B, 43C, 43D Although it will be arranged on the front, back, left and right with the entrance 32 as the center, only one tether 43 located on the front side is set as the long distance mode DM2, and three tethers 43 located on the left and right sides and the rear side are set in the short distance mode. DM1 may be used, or the three tethers 43 positioned on the front side and the left and right sides may be set as the long distance mode DM2, and one tether 43 positioned on the rear side may be set as the short distance mode DM1.

  Further, in the airbag apparatus M1 of the embodiment, the length dimension of the tether 43 disposed in the airbag 29 can be adjusted in two stages. However, as in the airbag apparatus M2 shown in FIG. You may comprise so that the length dimension of the tether 65 arrange | positioned inside can be adjusted in three steps. The airbag apparatus M2 shown in FIG. 13 is arranged in the airbag 29A, and has four tethers 65 coupled to the driver side wall 38A so as to regulate the separation distance of the driver side wall 38A from the bag holder 11. Except for the above, the configuration is the same as that of the airbag apparatus M1 described above, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Similar to the tether 43 in the above-described airbag device M1, the tether 65 has four locations that are radially centered on the gas inlet 32 when the airbag 29A is completely inflated during the straight steering of the steering wheel W. At the two locations on the front side and the two locations on the rear side from the gas inlet 32, they are arranged at positions shifted from each other by approximately 90 ° (see A in FIG. 14). Each tether 65 is pulled by a pulling means 66 as a length adjusting means that is coupled to the driver side wall 38 on the tip 65a side and disposed on the bag holder 11 side on the base 65b side. The separation distance from the bag holder 11 side of the driver side wall portion 38 in the airbag 29A is configured to be regulated.

  Each pulling means 66 includes a pulling roller 67 in which the base portion 65b side of the tether 65 protruding from the through hole 13b is connected to the lower surface side of the bottom wall portion 13 of the bag holder 11 so as to be wound or fed out. Has been. This pulling roller 67 is actuated so as to be able to wind or unwind the base portion 65b side of the tether 65 in response to an operation signal from the control device. In the airbag apparatus M2 of the embodiment, each tether 65 is The state wound by the pulling roller 67 is the short distance mode DM1, the state fed from the pulling roller 67 is the long distance mode DM2, and the state where the pulling roller 67 is not operated is the medium distance mode DM3.

  In the airbag apparatus M2 having such a configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the airbag 29A is deployed and inflated with a turning angle of approximately 45 °, that is, the steering wheel W, that is, the tether 65 and the traction means. Also when 66 is arranged on the front, rear, left and right of the gas inlet, the tether 65 positioned on the front side is extended from the pulling roller 67 to the long distance mode DM2, and the tether 65 positioned on the rear side is moved by the pulling roller 67. If the control unit controls the tethers 65 positioned on the left and right sides, which are in the middle of the front and rear, to the middle distance mode DM3 in a state where the pulling roller 67 is not operated as the short distance mode DM1, 38, the restraint surface 38a surrounded by the portion to which the tether 65 is coupled is balanced with the upper half of the driver MD at the time of restraint. It can be arranged substantially in parallel when. That is, in the airbag apparatus M2 configured as described above, the length dimension of each tether 65 can be more accurately changed according to the turning angle of the steering wheel.

  Further, in the airbag apparatus M2 having the above-described configuration, since each tether 65 can be adjusted in length in three stages, the tether 65 located on the front side is connected to the long distance mode DM2 as indicated by a solid line in FIG. The airbag 29A is inflated with the tether 65 positioned on the rear side as the medium distance mode DM3, or the tether 65 positioned on the front side is set as the medium distance mode DM3 as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The airbag 29A can be inflated with the tether 65 positioned as the short distance mode DM1. That is, in the airbag apparatus M2 configured as described above, for example, when the controller 29 detects a driver seated close to the steering wheel W while keeping the angle of the restraining surface 38a substantially constant. When the control device detects a driver seated away from the steering wheel W, on the contrary, the driver side is made to protrude largely to the driver side. It can also be inflated to change the amount of protrusion.

  Of course, in the airbag devices M1 and M2 of the embodiment, the airbags 29 and 29A can be inflated with the lengths of the tethers 43 and 65 being constant. For example, when the driver MD does not wear the seat belt, the locking means 21 and the traction means 66 are operated so that the restraining surface 38a of the driver side wall 38 is substantially parallel to the upper body of the driver MD. When the driver MD is wearing the seat belt, the airbag 29, 29A is inflated with the restraint surface 38a substantially parallel to the ring surface Rf without operating the locking means 21 and the traction means 66. It is good also as a structure. Depending on the vehicle, when the driver is wearing a seat belt, the driver's waist is fixed to the seat and the vehicle is in an inclined state in which only the head side of the upper body moves forward during a frontal collision of the vehicle. In this case, it is possible to receive the driver's upper body moving in an inclined manner on a wider surface by arranging the restraint surface 38a so as to be substantially parallel to the ring surface Rf. .

  In the airbag apparatus M1 (M2) according to the embodiment, when the driver is wearing the seat belt, the airbag 29 (the airbag 29 (so that the restraint surface 38a is substantially parallel to the ring surface Rf of the steering wheel W)). 29A) is inflated, by adjusting the length of the tethers 43 and 65, the thickness of the airbag 29 (29A) when the inflation is completed according to the physique and seating position of the seated driver. It is also possible to change the size (separation distance of the driver side wall 38 from the bag holder 11). That is, for example, when a small driver or a driver approaching the steering wheel W is detected, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. When inflating the bag 29, 29A and detecting a large driver or a driver away from the steering wheel W, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 16, all the tethers 43 (65) are set to the long distance mode DM2. It is also possible to inflate the airbag 29 (29A).

It is a side view which shows the state of the steering wheel and driver | operator with which the airbag apparatus for steering wheels which is one 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 embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the airbag apparatus of embodiment, and is a figure corresponding to the III-III site | part of FIG. In the airbag apparatus of embodiment, it is the elements on larger scale which show the site | part of a latching means. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the VV site | part of FIG. It is a top view of the state where the air bag used for the air bag device of an embodiment was rolled flat. It is a bottom view of the state which unfolded the air bag of Drawing 6 flat. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the airbag of FIG. 6, and shows the state which protruded the loop part from the through-hole. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structural member of the airbag of FIG. It is a schematic partial top view which shows the state which turned the steering wheel carrying the airbag apparatus of embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing along the front-back direction which shows the state which expanded the airbag of FIG. 6 alone. It is a schematic side view which shows the state which mounted the airbag apparatus of embodiment on the steering wheel, and completed the airbag. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the airbag apparatus which shows other embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic partial top view of the steering wheel carrying the airbag apparatus of FIG. 13, and is a figure which shows the state at the time of straight-ahead steering, and the 45 degree rotation. It is a schematic side view which shows the state which mounted the airbag apparatus of embodiment on the steering wheel, and completed the airbag. It is a schematic side view which shows the state which mounted the airbag apparatus of embodiment on the steering wheel, and completed the airbag.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Steering wheel body,
8 ... Inflator,
11 ... Bag holder (storage part),
21: Locking means (length adjusting mechanism),
29.29A ... Airbag,
30 ... Bag body,
31 ... the side wall of the vehicle body,
32 ... Gas inlet,
38 ... Driver side wall,
38a ... restraint surface,
43.65 ... Tether,
45 ... Loop part,
60 ... Control device,
61 ... rudder angle sensor,
66 ... Towing means (length adjusting mechanism),
MD ... Driver,
R ... Ring part,
SS ... Steering shaft,
W ... Steering wheel,
M1, M2 ... Airbag device (steering wheel airbag device).

Claims (3)

And a ring portion that is gripped during steering, a boss portion that is disposed near the center of the ring portion and fastened to a steering shaft, and a spoke portion that connects the ring portion and the boss portion. Steering fastened to the steering shaft in a state where the ring surface on the upper surface side of the ring portion is inclined rearward and downward so as to be substantially perpendicular to the steering shaft that is inclined downward and forward. It is configured to be disposed on top of the boss portion in the wheel body,
The ring portion is folded and housed in a housing portion arranged on the upper side of the boss portion, and is inflated by inflating gas flowing into the housing portion, and is expanded and inflated when the expansion is completed. Comprising a bag-like airbag arranged to swell larger than the outer diameter of the ring part above,
A driver side wall part that is disposed on the driver side when the inflation is completed and uses a restraint surface that receives the driver near the center, and a vehicle body side wall part that is disposed on the storage part side and attached to the storage part And the storage of the driver side wall portion at the time of completion of expansion by a plurality of tethers disposed inside and coupled to the storage side and the driver side wall portion of the area of the restraint surface An airbag device for a steering wheel configured to regulate a separation distance from a part,
The tethers are arranged in at least four locations apart from each other around the attachment portion of the vehicle body side wall portion to the storage portion,
Each of the tethers is configured to be adjustable in length by a length adjustment mechanism that is controlled by a control device that determines a suitable inflation mode of the airbag that receives the seated driver.
The airbag at the time of inflation is configured to complete the inflation by positioning the restraint surface substantially parallel to the upper body of the driver at the time of restraint by adjusting the length dimension of each tether by the length adjustment mechanism. A steering wheel airbag device comprising: The tether has four radial positions centered on the attachment portion of the vehicle body side wall portion to the storage portion as the reference position when the steering wheel is driven straight ahead, and is forward of the attachment portion. As a configuration that is arranged at a position shifted by approximately 90 ° between the two places and the two places at the rear,
Each tether in operation is adjusted so that the length dimension of the two tethers located at the front is longer than the length dimension of the two tethers located at the rear by the adjustment of the length adjustment mechanism. 2. The steering wheel airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the restraint surface is configured to be disposed along a substantially vertical surface corresponding to the upper body of the driver at the time of restraint. .   The airbag device for a steering wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the tethers is configured such that the length dimension can be changed in three stages.

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