JP2007302237A - Filter for airbag inflator, and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filter for an airbag inflator capable of removing any solid residue by filtering a gas generated inside the inflator when an airbag is operated, and its manufacturing method. <P>SOLUTION: When manufacturing the filter 10 for the airbag inflator, one metal wire 20 having a rectangular section with the thickness of 0.20-0.40 mm and the width of 0.50-1.0 mm is firstly locked to an adequate part of a tool on one end of the metal wire, the metal wire is wound around the tool and knit to form a cylindrical body. Then, the other end of the metal wire is joined with an adequate part of the cylindrical body. The tool is drawn out of the cylindrical body. The hollow cylindrical body is sintered under a nitrogen gas atmosphere in a temperature range of 1,000-1,500°C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a filter for an airbag inflator and a manufacturing method thereof. More specifically, it is a filter provided in an inflator that is one of the components constituting an airbag that operates when a vehicle collides, and removes solid residues by filtering the gas generated inside the inflator when the airbag operates. The present invention relates to an air bag inflator filter that can be used, and a method for producing the same.

  Currently, airbags that protect passengers from secondary collisions in the event of a collision of a vehicle such as a passenger car or a truck are in practical use. This airbag detects a vehicle collision quickly, determines the extent of the collision, sends an activation signal, an inflator that generates gas by the activation signal from this sensor, and an inflator that inflates with the gas flowing in from this airflator It is made up of a bag that is fastened and protects the passenger.

  The inflator, which is one of the components constituting the airbag, is roughly classified into three types: a high-pressure gas inflator, a solid propellant inflator, and a hybrid inflator, depending on the gas generation method. Among these, a solid propellant inflator used mainly for an airbag for a driver's seat includes an igniter that is ignited by an operation signal from the sensor, a gas generating agent that explosively burns by the igniter and generates gas. It is equipped with a storage section, a filter for filtering a gas having a solid residue at a high temperature generated by explosive combustion of the gas generating agent, a diffuser for flowing the gas that has passed through the filter into the bag, and the like. It is common.

  As a conventional filter equipped in the above-mentioned solid propellant inflator, (1) one end of a belt-shaped wire mesh is locked to a rotating winding jig, and the rotating winding jig is rotated at a constant speed. A cylindrical body is formed, and then the rotary winding jig is extracted from the cylindrical body to prepare a hollow cylindrical shape. (2) A belt-shaped wire mesh is wound around a hollow cylindrical case with predetermined holes. And the like prepared.

  The conventional filter of the above (1) has a low rigidity due to the structure in which a wire mesh is wound to form a hollow cylindrical body, and the shape collapses due to the impact when the gas generating agent burns explosively to generate gas. There was a drawback that it was easy. In addition, when manufacturing the filter of (2) above, it is necessary to separately prepare a hollow cylindrical case in addition to the wire mesh, which not only makes the manufacturing process complicated, but also increases the manufacturing cost, and is further manufactured. There was a drawback that the structure of the filter was also complicated.

In addition, if the deployment (inflation) speed of the airbag is too fast, it will damage the occupant, and if it is too slow, the deployment will not be in time to protect the occupant, so depending on the size and structure of the equipped vehicle. It is required to deploy the airbag at an appropriate speed. This deployment speed can be adjusted according to the type and amount of the gas generating agent and the characteristics of the filter. However, in the conventional filter manufacturing methods (1) and (2) described above, there are various types according to the characteristics of various vehicles. There was a drawback that it was difficult to manufacture the filter easily.
JP-A-6-55991 JP-A-1-293112 JP-A-9-226507

  In view of the above situation, the present inventor has solved the drawbacks of the low rigidity of conventional air bag inflator filters, the complexity of the structure, and has the strength to withstand the impact of combustion gas generated explosively, The air bag inflator with various different characteristics is solved by removing the solid residue and allowing the combustion gas to easily pass through, and solving the drawbacks such as the complexity of the manufacturing process and the increased manufacturing cost. As a result of intensive research to provide a filter technology for use, the present invention has been completed.

That is, the object of the present invention is as follows.
1. To provide a method for manufacturing a filter for an air bag inflator that has a simple structure but has high rigidity that can withstand the impact of combustion gas, and that removes solid residue and allows the combustion gas to pass through.
2. To provide a method for manufacturing a filter for an air bag inflator, in which the manufacturing process is not complicated and the manufacturing cost is not increased.
3. To provide a method for efficiently producing a filter for an air bag inflator having various different characteristics.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the first invention, when manufacturing a filter for an airbag inflator, a single rectangular cross section having a thickness of 0.20 to 0.40 mm and a width of 0.50 to 1.0 mm is used. First, lock one end of the metal wire at a proper position on the jig, wrap it around the jig to form a cylindrical body, and then join the other end of the metal wire to the appropriate position on the cylindrical body. The jig is extracted, and the hollow cylindrical body is sintered in a temperature range of 1000 to 1500 ° C. in a nitrogen gas atmosphere.

  In the second invention, in the airbag inflator, one metal wire having a cross-sectional rectangle having a thickness of 0.20 to 0.40 mm and a width of 0.50 to 1.0 mm is firstly connected to one end of the metal wire. Lock the jig in place, wind it around the jig and knit it up into a cylinder, then join the other end of the metal wire to the cylinder in place, pull out the jig from the cylinder, An air bag inflator filter characterized by being manufactured by sintering in a temperature range of 1000 to 1500 ° C. in a nitrogen gas atmosphere.

The present invention is as described in detail below, has the following particularly advantageous effects, and its industrial utility value is extremely large.
1. According to the manufacturing method according to the present invention, a metal wire having a specific thickness is wound and knitted by a specific method, and sintered under specific conditions to manufacture a filter. Therefore, the filter has rigidity and has a simple structure. However, it is possible to obtain an air bag inflator filter that has high rigidity, removes solid residues, and allows combustion gas to pass through.
2. According to the manufacturing method according to the present invention, a metal wire having a specific thickness is wound and knitted by a specific method, and the filter is manufactured by sintering under a specific condition, so that the manufacturing cost does not increase.
3. A metal wire having a specific thickness is wound and knitted by a specific method, and a filter is manufactured by sintering under specific conditions. Therefore, the type of metal wire, the number of windings, the winding angle, the pitch, and the sintering conditions By changing variously, it is possible to easily obtain a specific airbag inflator filter having various different characteristics.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. A filter for an airbag inflator manufactured by the manufacturing method according to the present invention ignites a gas generating agent by a signal passing through an igniter from a sensor, and a gas having a solid residue at a high temperature generated by explosive combustion of the gas generating agent. Is filtered, and in some cases, cooled at the same time. The external appearance of the filter is a hollow cylindrical body, and is installed in an inflator that can be incorporated into a front airbag installed in a steering wheel of a driver's seat or a side airbag installed in a door of a driver's seat or a passenger seat.

  The size of the hollow cylindrical filter can be appropriately determined according to the structure and size of the inflator to be equipped. For example, if it is equipped with a disc-type inflator that can be incorporated into the front airbag, it can be incorporated into a side airbag that can have an inner diameter of 40 to 50 mm, an outer diameter of 60 to 70 mm, and a length of 30 to 50 mm. If it equips with the possible inflator, it can be set as inner diameter 20-30mm, outer diameter 40-50mm, and length 150-180mm. Examples of the metal used as the material of the filter include iron, cast iron, mild steel, stainless steel, nickel alloy, copper alloy, and austenitic stainless steel (SUS304) is preferable.

  The metal wire for manufacturing the filter for an airbag inflator has a rectangular cross section with a thickness of 0.20 to 0.40 mm and a width of 0.50 to 1.0 mm. Among these, the thickness is 0.25 to 0 .35 mm and a width of 0.60 to 0.80 are preferable. This metal wire can be obtained by rolling a metal wire having a perfectly circular cross section. For example, a metal wire having a cross section having a diameter of 0.5 mm is rolled to have a thickness of 0.30 mm and a width of 0 mm. A metal wire having a rectangular shape with a cross section of 65 mm can be used. Rolling is performed by, for example, a method in which upper and lower cylindrical rolls having grooves of a specific shape are rotated, the above-described circular metal wire is passed between these rolls, and the cross section is made rectangular. be able to.

  In order to manufacture an air bag inflator filter, at least one metal wire is prepared, one end of the metal wire is locked at an appropriate position of the jig, and a jig having a circular cross section cut at right angles to the length direction is used. Wrapped 300 to 5000 times with a tension of 2 to 5 kgf and knitted, and the ends of the metal wires are joined in place by welding or the like to form a cylindrical body. The number of windings is preferably determined within a range that does not cause a significant pressure loss in the gas passing through the filter. A particularly preferable tension for winding around the jig is 2.5 to 3.5 kgf, and a preferable number of times for winding is 400 to 500. If the jig has a structure that can change the circular diameter of the cross section, the metal wire can be wound around the surface of the jig to complete the process, and then the diameter can be reduced and extracted from the metal wire. ,preferable. The material of the jig is generally a metal such as stainless steel, copper alloy, aluminum alloy.

  When winding a metal wire around the jig and knitting it, the pressure loss of the gas generated inside the filter due to the explosive combustion of the gas generant is varied by changing the thickness of the metal wire, the knitting pattern, the number of windings, etc. Can be controlled to an appropriate value. As an example of this braiding method, prepare a single metal wire, guide this metal wire with a guide tool, and rotate the jig while reciprocating this guide tool within the range of the filter to be manufactured. And a method of winding a metal wire around a predetermined position on the surface of the jig and knitting it. By the reciprocation of the guide tool, the metal wire can be wound around the jig at a constant angle (hereinafter referred to as “winding angle”) with respect to the central axis of the jig.

  By changing the winding angle and the distance between the ends in the width direction of metal wires adjacent to each other (hereinafter referred to as “pitch”), the metal wire braiding pattern, winding density, etc. Can be. These winding angles and pitches can be variously changed by appropriately adjusting the ratio of the moving speed when the guide tool reciprocates and the rotating speed of the jig in accordance with the width of the metal wire.

  When the above winding and knitting are completed, the metal wires are joined as described above, and the jig is extracted from the obtained cylindrical body to obtain a hollow cylindrical air bag inflator filter. After the jig is extracted from the cylindrical body, it can be used as a filter as it is, but it is preferably sintered at a high temperature. The temperature at the time of sintering varies depending on the type of metal wire, the thickness, the number of windings, the pitch, the winding angle, and the like, but is performed in the range of 500 to 1500 ° C. Among these, the range of 1100-1200 is suitable.

  The sintering is performed for the purpose of relaxing internal strain of the metal wire generated during rolling and joining overlapping portions of the metal wire. Sintering is preferably performed in an electric furnace set at a predetermined temperature, and the sintering time varies depending on the type, thickness, number of windings, winding density, pitch, and sintering temperature of the metal wire, but is 30 to 80. It is preferable to select in the range of minutes. Sintering can be performed in the air, but it is preferable to perform the sintering in an inert gas that does not cause the metal wire to become brittle or cause a chemical reaction. Examples of the inert gas include nitrogen gas and argon. Among them, nitrogen gas is preferable.

  The solid propellant inflator equipped with the filter includes, for example, an igniter that is ignited by an operation signal from a sensor, a gas generating agent that is ignited and burned by the igniter, a gas generating agent storage unit, and a gas generating agent. A structure in which the above-described filter that passes through the gas generated by the combustion of each is installed in a predetermined case can be mentioned. A plurality of diffusers serving as distribution ports that have passed through the filter are provided at appropriate positions of the case.

  Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular as a kind of said gas generating agent, The mixture of sodium azide and an oxidizing agent is typical. Since high temperature nitrogen gas is generated by explosive combustion of the gas generant, the solid residue is filtered and the high temperature nitrogen gas is rapidly cooled by installing the above inflator with a coolant separately from this filter. Can do. The airbag is equipped with at least the inflator and the bag.

  When the vehicle receives an impact of a certain level or more due to a collision, the airbag detects (1) a sensor that detects the impact sends a signal to the inflator, and (2) the igniter of the inflator is ignited by the operation signal. The gas generating agent burns explosively to generate gas, and after passing through the filter according to the present invention, the solid residue is removed, and then flows into the bag to quickly expand the bag. The occupant is protected by the inflated bag.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings and test examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following description examples unless the gist thereof is exceeded.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an air bag inflator filter manufactured by the manufacturing method according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a state in which gas passes through the filter of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an example of an inflator equipped with the filter of FIG. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the measurement results of the relationship between the air flow rate and pressure loss in Test Examples 1 to 3 to be described later.

  FIG. 1 shows an airbag inflator filter 10 manufactured by the manufacturing method according to the present invention. The filter 10 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape by winding and knitting a metal wire 20 having a predetermined width and thickness a predetermined number of times. FIG. 2 shows a state where gas passes in the direction of the arrow through the gap of the filter 10 of FIG. 1 wound with a metal wire.

  FIG. 3 shows an inflator 30 equipped with the filter 10 of FIG. The outer disk-shaped case 31 is provided with a diffuser 32. An igniter 33, a gas generating agent 34, a storage portion 35 thereof, and a filter 10 are provided inside the disc-shaped case 31. The igniter 33 is connected to a sensor not shown. The gas generating agent 34 is ignited by the igniter 33 and burns explosively to generate gas. This gas flows into the filter 10 through the through hole 36 formed in the gas generating agent storage portion 35. The gas that has flowed into the filter 10 is filtered to remove the solid residue, and then flows out of the diffuser 32. Then, the gas flows into a bag (not shown) to inflate the bag.

[Test example]
<Test Example 1 to Test Example 3>
[Preparation of Filter] Filters used in Test Examples 1 to 3 were prepared according to the following procedure. First, a stainless steel wire having a circular cross section with a diameter of 0.5 mm was rolled, the thickness was 0.31 mm, the width was 0.63 mm (Test Example 1), the thickness was 0.30 mm, the width was 0.65 mm (Test Example 2), and the thickness was Three types of rectangular stainless steel wires having a thickness of 0.28 mm and a width of 0.70 mm (Test Example 3) were used. One end of these stainless steel wires is locked in place on a cylindrical jig, wound 400 times while applying a tension of 3.0 kgf, and the other end of the stainless steel wire is joined to the appropriate location on the cylindrical body. Was extracted to form a hollow cylindrical body having an inner diameter of 47 mm, an outer diameter of 64, and a length of 30 mm. Next, these hollow cylindrical bodies made of stainless steel wires were sintered in an electric furnace at 1150 ° C. for 60 minutes in a nitrogen atmosphere to prepare three types of filters with different pitches. Note that the pitch increases as the width of the stainless steel wire becomes narrower, and when arranged in order of increasing pitch, Test Example 1, Test Example 2, and Test Example 3 are obtained.

[Filter Evaluation] Close the top and bottom of the three types of filters prepared by the above process, and send compressed air with a flow rate in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 m ³ / min to the hollow part of the filter to observe pressure loss The results are shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the vertical axis represents the pressure loss (Pa), and the horizontal axis represents the air flow rate (m ³ / min). 41 is the measurement result of the filter of Test Example 1, 42 is the filter of Test Example 2, and 43 is the measurement result of the filter of Test Example 3.

The following becomes clear from FIG.
(1) In the three types of filters with different pitches, the pressure loss for the same air flow rate was all different. Specifically, the pressure loss with respect to the same air amount became smaller as the pitch of the filter was larger (see Test Example 1 to Test Example 3, Curve 41 to Curve 43).
(2) The pitch of the filter can be changed, and the pressure loss for the same air flow rate can be controlled to various values.

[Preparation of Filter] Filters used in Test Example 4 (Comparative Example), Test Example 5 (Comparative Example), and Test Example 6 (Example) were prepared according to the following procedure. First, a stainless steel wire having a cross-sectional rectangular shape with a thickness of 0.30 mm and a width of 0.65 mm was locked at one end to a jig of the same type as used in Test Example 1 and loaded with a tension of 3.0 kgf. After winding and knitting, the other end of the stainless steel wire was joined to an appropriate position of the cylindrical body, and then this jig was removed to form a hollow cylindrical body having an inner diameter of 47 mm, an outer diameter of 64, and a length of 30 mm. Next, these hollow cylindrical bodies made of stainless steel wires were sintered in an electric furnace at 0 to 1150 ° C. for 60 minutes in a nitrogen atmosphere to prepare three types of filters.

[Evaluation of Filter] A punching tube is inserted into the inside of the three types of filters prepared by the above process, and one of the filters is placed and fixed at a predetermined position with one end in the longitudinal direction facing downward, and the other is fixed. These filters were compressed by 2 mm by applying a load from above the longitudinal end. Next, the load was removed, the length of the restored filter was measured, and the difference from the filter length during compression (hereinafter referred to as “restoration amount”) was calculated. Furthermore, the ratio (hereinafter referred to as “restoration rate”) between the amount of change (2 mm) and the amount of restoration during compression was calculated. These values are shown in Table 1. In addition, it can be said that it is suitable as a product when the restoration rate is large in the compression test, especially when it exceeds 50%.

From Table 1, the following becomes clear.
(1) The filter that was not sintered and the filter that was sintered at 700 ° C. had a restoration rate of less than 50% {See Test Example 4 (Comparative Example) and Test Example 5 (Comparative Example)}. .
(2) The filter sintered at 1150 degrees has a restoration rate of 50% or higher {Test Example 5 (Example)}, and it is understood that the sintering temperature is preferably 1000 ° C. or higher.

<Test Example 7, Test Example 8>
[Preparation of Filter] Filters used in Test Example 7 (Comparative Example) and Test Example 8 (Example) were prepared according to the following procedure. First, a stainless steel wire having a rectangular cross section having a thickness of 0.03 mm and a width of 0.65 mm was knitted by winding 400 times while applying a 3.0 kgf tension to the same type of jig used in Test Example 1, The jig was extracted to form two hollow cylinders having an inner diameter of 47 mm, an outer diameter of 64 mm, and a length of 30 mm. Next, the hollow cylindrical body was sintered in an electric furnace at 1150 ° C. for 60 minutes in a hydrogen gas atmosphere {Test Example 7 (Comparative Example)} or in a nitrogen gas atmosphere {Test Example 8 (Example)}. A filter was prepared.

[Evaluation of Filters] Inside the two types of filters prepared by the above-mentioned process, the same type of punching tube as used in Test Example 4 was inserted, and one end of each of these filters in the lengthwise direction was placed in a predetermined direction. The filter was placed and fixed in place, and the other was compressed from the upper end of the lengthwise direction by compressing these filters by 2 mm. Subsequently, the load was removed, the length of the restored filter was measured, and the restoration amount and the restoration rate were calculated. These values are shown in Table 2.

The following becomes clear from Table-2.
(1) The filter sintered in a hydrogen gas atmosphere had a restoration rate of less than 50% {Test Example 7 (Comparative Example)}.
(2) A filter sintered in a nitrogen gas atmosphere has a restoration rate of 50% or more {see Test Example 8 (Example)}, and it is understood that the sintering is preferably performed in a nitrogen gas atmosphere.

The present invention is as described in detail above, and has the following particularly advantageous effects, and its industrial utility value is extremely large.
1. According to the manufacturing method according to the present invention, a metal wire having a specific thickness is wound and knitted by a specific method, and sintered under specific conditions to manufacture a filter. Therefore, the filter has rigidity and has a simple structure. However, it is possible to obtain an air bag inflator filter that has high rigidity, removes solid residues, and allows combustion gas to pass through.
2. According to the manufacturing method according to the present invention, a metal wire having a specific thickness is wound and knitted by a specific method, and the filter is manufactured by sintering under a specific condition, so that the manufacturing cost does not increase.
3. A metal wire having a specific thickness is wound and knitted by a specific method, and a filter is manufactured by sintering under specific conditions. Therefore, the type of metal wire, the number of windings, the winding angle, the pitch, and the sintering conditions By changing variously, it is possible to easily obtain a specific airbag inflator filter having various different characteristics.

  The filter for an airbag inflator according to the present invention is equipped in an airbag for a driver seat or a passenger seat of a vehicle, a rear seat airbag, or an inflator that can be incorporated in a side airbag mounted on a vehicle door.

It is a perspective view of an example of the filter for airbag inflators manufactured by the manufacturing method concerning the present invention. It is a partial expansion perspective view of the state which is passing the filter of FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of an example of the inflator equipped with the filter of FIG. It is a graph which shows the measurement result of the relationship between the air flow rate of test example 1 thru / or test example 3, and pressure loss.

Explanation of symbols

10: Filter 20: Metal wire 30: Inflator 31: Disk type case 32: Diffuser 33: Igniter 34: Gas generating agent 35: Storage part 36: Through hole 41: Air flow rate-pressure loss curve 42 of Test Example 1: Test Example 2 air flow-pressure loss curve 43: Test example 3 air flow-pressure loss curve

Claims (2)

  When manufacturing a filter for an air bag inflator, a metal wire having a cross-sectional rectangle with a thickness of 0.20 to 0.40 mm and a width of 0.50 to 1.0 mm, and first one end of the metal wire as a jig It is locked in place, wound around a jig and knitted to form a cylindrical body, and then the other end of the metal wire is joined to the cylindrical body at an appropriate position, and the jig is removed from the cylindrical body. A method for producing a filter for an air bag inflator, comprising sintering in a temperature range of 1000 to 1500 ° C in a gas atmosphere. In an air bag inflator, one metal wire with a cross-section rectangle having a thickness of 0.20 to 0.40 mm and a width of 0.50 to 1.0 mm is first locked to an appropriate position on the jig. Then, the jig is wound around a jig to form a cylindrical body, and then the other end of the metal wire is joined to an appropriate position of the cylindrical body, and the jig is removed from the cylindrical body. A filter for an airbag inflator, which is manufactured by sintering in a temperature range of ˜1500 ° C.

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