JP2008137588A - Actuator with working pin - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an actuator having a working pin capable of moving the working pin at high speed, and preventing the working pin from returning after working. <P>SOLUTION: This actuator 33 includes an actuator body 34, and the working pin 39 jointed with the actuator body 34. The actuator body 34 includes a squib 35 and a metallic bag 37 which flows expansion gas generated by the squib 35 into the inside, expands while performing plastic deformation so as to keep the shape at the completion timing of expansion, and is jointed with the working pin 39 at a part of the circumferential wall. The metallic bag 37 expands so as to attract the joint part with the working pin 39 toward the center of a bag shape at the completion timing of expansion and so as to movably attract the working pin 39 in an axial direction, thus deploying at least around the joint part with the working pin 39 before working in a flat state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an actuator having an actuator pin configured to include an actuator body movable so as to retract the actuation pin along an axial direction during actuation, and an actuation pin coupled to the actuator body. The present invention relates to an actuator that needs to operate an operation pin, for example, an internal pressure control in an airbag of an airbag device mounted on a vehicle, an airbag shape control, and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an actuator, for example, there has been a configuration including a cylindrical sleeve that is capable of expanding and contracting in the longitudinal direction and the radial direction by injecting gas, liquid, solid, or the like inside during operation. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-105262 A

  However, in conventional actuators, the sleeve is deformed by injecting gas, liquid, solid, etc. into the inside, so when using this actuator with an operating pin connected, the operating pin may not be able to move at high speed. It was difficult to apply to actuators that required the actuating pin to be actuated instantaneously during operation. Also, in the conventional actuator, the sleeve is made of a synthetic resin sheet material. After operation, if the gas, liquid, solid, etc. injected inside leaks, the sleeve returns to the pre-operation state and operates. There was a possibility that the pin would return to the position before the movement.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an actuator having an operating pin that can move the operating pin at high speed and can prevent the return of the operating pin after the operation. And

An actuator having an operation pin according to the present invention includes an actuator main body and an operation pin coupled to the actuator main body.
The actuator body is an actuator having an operation pin configured to be movable so as to retract the operation pin along the axial direction by inflating the fluid by flowing a fluid into the inside when the operation is performed,
The actuator body
A squib that is ignited during operation to enable gas generation;
The expansion gas generated from the squib is introduced into the bag so that it can be inflated to form a bag shape that expands while plastically deforming so that the shape at the completion of expansion can be maintained, and an operating pin is connected to a part of the peripheral wall A metal bag with a configured structure,
Composed of
When the metal bag is inflated with inflation gas discharged from the squib, the connecting portion with the working pin is inflated so as to draw toward the center of the bag shape when the inflation is completed, and the working pin is moved in the axial direction. It is characterized in that at least the vicinity of the connecting portion with the operating pin is disposed so as to be flattened before operation so as to be movable so as to be drawn along.

  In the actuator of the present invention, during operation, the expansion gas discharged from the squib is caused to flow into the inside, and the metal bag is plastically deformed, and the connection portion with the operation pin is drawn toward the center side of the bag shape when the expansion is completed. Thus, the operating pin is pulled toward the actuator body as the metal bag expands. In the actuator according to the present invention, when the squib is ignited during operation, the expansion gas discharged from the squib is caused to flow into the interior, so that the metal bag is inflated. Can be moved at high speed. Further, in the actuator of the present invention, the metal bag is inflated while being plastically deformed so that the shape at the time of completion of expansion is maintained, so that after the operation pin is moved, the discharge of the inflation gas from the squib is stopped or the metal bag is Even if the inflation gas leaks from the bag, the metal bag does not return to the state before the operation, and the operation pin can be prevented from returning to the position before the movement.

  Therefore, in the actuator of the present invention, the operating pin can be moved at high speed, and the return of the operating pin after the operation can be prevented.

  Further, in the actuator of the present invention, the actuator main body is arranged separately from the metal bag inside the metal bag, and a bag-shaped core bag made of a flexible sheet material is disposed. In the operation, the core bag is preferably inflated by inflating the inflation gas discharged from the squib into the interior, and the metal bag is inflated by the expanded core bag.

  In the actuator having the above-described configuration, a separate core bag is inflated inside the metal bag, and the metal bag is plastically deformed by being pressed by the inflated core bag. Without being greatly inflated, it can be inflated evenly, and the operating pin can be moved reliably.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An actuator 33 (see FIGS. 2 to 6) of the embodiment is arranged in an airbag device M mounted on a steering wheel W as shown in FIG. It is installed. The actuator 33 is configured to be controlled in operation by the control device 43 shown in FIG. 1 together with the inflator 6 of the airbag device M.

  Note that the front-rear, up-down, left-right directions in the embodiment are based on the straight-ahead steering of the steering wheel W mounted on the vehicle unless otherwise specified, and the steering shaft SS (see FIG. 2) to which the steering wheel W is assembled. The vertical direction along the axial direction of the steering shaft SS is the vertical direction, the longitudinal direction of the vehicle that is orthogonal to the steering shaft SS is the longitudinal direction, and the lateral direction of the vehicle that is orthogonal to the steering shaft SS is the horizontal direction. As shown, the front-rear, up-down, left-right directions are shown.

  The control device 43 is an occupant detection sensor that can detect the physique and seating position of the driver (occupant) MD seated in the seat SE, for example, a position detection sensor 44 that can detect the distance between the steering wheel W and the driver MD. And a weight detection sensor 45 capable of detecting the weight of the driver MD, and electrically connected to a collision detection sensor 46 capable of detecting the acceleration and acceleration direction of the vehicle. Electric signals from the position detection sensor 44, the weight detection sensor 45, or the collision detection sensor 46 are input to operate the inflator 6, and the actuator 33 is operated. In the case of the embodiment, the actuator 33 uses the inflation gas flowing into the airbag 16 to suppress the internal pressure of the airbag 16 when the airbag 16 is inflated when the airbag apparatus M is activated. It is controlled and operated by the control device 43 so as to exhaust outside and inflate the airbag in a suitable inflation mode.

  Moreover, the airbag apparatus M is 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 a ring portion R that is gripped during steering, a boss portion B that is disposed in the center and connected to a steering shaft (not shown), and a predetermined number of spoke portions (not shown) that connect the boss portion B and the ring portion R. And is configured. In addition, the steering wheel W includes an airbag device M and a steering wheel body 1 on the component parts.

  The steering wheel body 1 covers a cored bar 2 made of an aluminum alloy or the like disposed so as to connect each part such as a ring part R and a boss part B, and a cored bar 2 at a ring part R or a spoke part (not shown). The synthetic resin coating layer 3 and the synthetic resin lower cover 4 disposed below the boss portion B are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag apparatus M stores and holds the airbag 16 that is folded and stored, the inflator 6 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 16, and the airbag 16 and the inflator 6. And a pad 12 as an airbag cover that is held by the side wall portion 10 of the bag holder 8 and covers the upper part of the folded airbag 16. In the embodiment, the actuator 33 is configured integrally with a retainer 27 that attaches the inflow opening 17 of the airbag 16 and the inflator 6 to the bag holder 8.

  The inflator 6 includes a substantially cylindrical main body portion 6a having a plurality of gas discharge ports 6b for discharging inflation gas at the upper portion, and a substantially square plate-like flange portion 6c arranged to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 6a. And is configured. An insertion hole (not shown) for inserting a later-described bolt 28b protruding from the retainer 27 is formed in the flange portion 6c.

  The bag holder 8 as a case includes a substantially square plate-like bottom wall portion 9 and a side wall portion 10 extending vertically from the periphery of the bottom wall portion 9. Near the center of the bottom wall portion 9, there is formed an insertion hole 9a that opens in a circular shape and allows the main body portion 6a of the inflator 6 to be inserted from below to above. Four insertion holes (not shown) through which the bolts 28b of the retainer 27 are inserted are formed at the periphery of the insertion hole 9a. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom wall portion 9 has a substantially rectangular opening on the front side of the insertion hole 9 a into which a storage recess 30 formed in the retainer 27 for storing the actuator body 34 can be inserted. An insertion opening 9b is formed.

  On the side wall 10 of the bag holder 8, a side wall 14 of the pad 12 is fixed to the rivet 11, and a bracket (not shown) that is attached and fixed to the core metal 2 side of the steering wheel body 1 is formed.

  The pad 12 as an airbag cover is formed of a synthetic resin such as an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, and as shown in FIG. 2, a ceiling wall portion 13 that covers the upper side of the boss portion B, and an outside of the ceiling wall portion 13 And a substantially square cylindrical side wall portion 14 extending downward from the periphery. The inner side part of the side wall part 14 in the ceiling wall part 13 is configured as a part that covers the folded airbag 16, and the two door parts 13 a that are pushed when the airbag 16 is inflated and opened to both the front and rear sides. Is arranged. As described above, the side wall portion 14 is attached to the side wall portion 10 of the bag holder 8 by using the rivet 11.

  The airbag 16 is composed of a flexible woven fabric made of polyamide, polyester yarn, or the like, and as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. As a shape, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, an inflow opening 17 through which an inflating gas flows is provided. The inflow opening 17 is a part for allowing the inflation gas discharged from the gas discharge port 6b of the inflator 6 to flow into the airbag 16 by inserting the main body portion 6a of the inflator 6 from below. Further, four attachment holes 18 through which the bolts 28b formed in the retainer 27 are inserted are formed on the periphery of the inflow opening 17 (see FIG. 7). Further, as shown in FIG. 7, an insertion opening 19 that is opened in a substantially rectangular shape into which the storage recess 30 of the retainer 27 can be inserted is formed in the vicinity of the front side of the inflow opening 17. An exhaust hole 20 that is opened in a circular shape is formed in a portion that is in front of. In the vicinity of the rear edge of the exhaust hole 20, a slit-like insertion hole 21 is formed along the left-right direction so that a belt 24 described later can be inserted.

  A flap 23 capable of closing the exhaust hole 20 is coupled to the periphery of the exhaust hole 20 on the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag 16 on the side away from the inflow opening 17 as shown in FIG. The flap 23 has a substantially rectangular shape, and is formed of a flexible woven fabric made of polyamide, polyester yarn, or the like, like the airbag 16, and is connected to the airbag 16 on one side. The connecting portion to the airbag 16 is a hinge portion 23a, and is arranged so as to be opened by being pushed by an inflating gas that is about to flow out from the exhaust hole 20.

  A tip 24 a of a belt 24 is connected to the flap 23. The belt 24 is formed of a cloth material such as polyester having flexibility, and is disposed so as to extend in a direction from the hinge portion 23a of the flap 23 toward the tip 23b, and is an end portion on the inflow opening 17 side. Is formed with a cylindrical connecting portion 24b. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an operating pin 39 is inserted into the connecting portion 24 b before the actuator 33 is operated. When the airbag 16 is inflated with the operating pin 39 locked to the connecting portion 24b, the front end 23b side of the flap 23 is pressed by the belt 24 that passes through the insertion hole 21, and FIG. As shown in A, the airbag 16 is inflated with the flap 23 closing the exhaust hole 20. On the other hand, when the airbag 33 is inflated in a state where the actuator 33 is actuated and the operating pin 39 is removed from the connecting portion 24b, the flap 23 is pushed by the inflating gas flowing out from the exhaust hole 20, As shown in FIG. 7B, the flap 24 is opened and the exhaust hole 20 is opened while the belt 24 is moved through the insertion hole 21, so that the inflation gas flows out of the airbag 16 from the exhaust hole 20. The internal pressure of the airbag 16 can be suppressed.

  In addition, the operation of the actuator 33 that releases the locking of the belt 24 is that the control device 43 detects that the driver MD is too close to the steering wheel W based on a signal from the position detection sensor 44. Or when the driver MD detects that the driver MD is small by a signal from the weight detection sensor 45, the internal pressure of the airbag 16 is increased simultaneously with or slightly delayed from the operation of the airbag apparatus M. The control device 43 will be operated so as to reduce it.

  The retainer 27 has a substantially rectangular plate shape made of sheet metal. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a main body 28 that can hold the periphery of the inflow opening 17 in the airbag 16, and a front of the main body 28. And an actuator holding portion 29 that is arranged on the portion side and holds the actuator 33. The main body portion 28 is formed with a through hole 28a that is circularly opened so that the main body portion 6a of the inflator 6 can be inserted. Around the through hole 28a, four bolts 28b that protrude downward are disposed. . The actuator holding portion 29 includes a storage recess 30 that stores an actuator main body 34 that will be described later, and a locking portion 31 that locks an operating pin 39 that will be described later. The storage recess 30 is configured so as to partially dent the actuator holding portion 29 downward, and is configured such that a squib 35 described later is attached to the bottom wall 30a. In the storage recess 30, a portion 37 a on the squib 35 side in the core bag 36 and the metal bag 37 described later is stored. In the case of the embodiment, the locking portions 31 are disposed at two locations along the left-right direction, which is the axial direction side of the operating pin 39, respectively, The sheet metal material constituting the actuator holding portion 29 is cut and raised so as to prevent the movement to the side and allow the movement of the operation pin 39 in the left-right direction along the axial direction. It is comprised so that the upper side of may be latched.

  The actuator 33 includes an actuator main body 34 and an operation pin 39 connected to the actuator main body 34. The actuator body 34 includes a squib 35 that can generate gas, a core bag 36 that can be inflated by inflating an expansion gas generated from the squib 35, and a metal that is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the core bag 36. And a bag 37.

  The squib 35 is electrically connected to the control device 43, and the control device 43 detects that the driver MD is too close to the steering wheel W by a signal from the position detection sensor 44, Alternatively, when the signal from the weight detection sensor 45 detects that the driver MD is small, the operation signal from the control device 43 is sent simultaneously with or slightly delayed from the operation of the airbag device M. In response, the expansion gas is discharged into the core bag 36.

  In the case of the embodiment, the core bag 36 is composed of a flexible woven fabric made of polyamide yarn, polyester yarn, or the like, like the airbag 16 of the airbag device M, and is used for inflation inside. The bag is inflatable by inflowing gas. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6A, the core bag 36 is disposed inside the metal bag 37 so as to be in contact with the entire inner peripheral surface of the metal bag 37. In addition, the metal bag 37 is folded so that it can be stored in the storage recess 30. The shape when the expansion is completed is substantially the same as the expansion shape of the metal bag 37 (see B in FIG. 6), and the surrounding metal bag 37 is inflated, and the working pin 39 is moved along the axial direction by the inflated metal bag 37 so that the working pin 39 can be pulled out from the connecting portion 24 b of the belt 24.

  The metal bag 37 is configured by forming a thin sheet metal material made of aluminum or the like into a bag shape, and is configured to be plastically deformable so as to maintain the shape when the expansion is completed. In the case of the embodiment, the metal bag 37 has a portion 37 a on the squib 35 side disposed in the storage recess 30 so that the core bag 36 folded inside is disposed, and protrudes from the storage recess 30. The projecting portion 37b arranged in this manner is placed on the actuator holding portion 29 in a state of being flatly developed, and is arranged at the left edge of the projecting portion 37b from the storage recess 30. The base 39a side of the operating pin 39 is connected to the 37c side. When the metal bag 37 is inflated through the inflated core bag 36, the left edge 37c side to which the operating pin 39 is connected is formed in a bag shape when the inflation is completed, as shown in FIG. In this configuration, the operation pin 39 expands so as to be drawn toward the center, and is moved so as to be drawn rightward along the axial direction. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the metal bag 37 is large upward so that the left and right width dimension W2 is reduced from the width dimension W1 before the expansion through the core bag 36. The side of the left edge 37c, which expands so as to protrude and connects the operating pin 39, is drawn toward the center side of the bag shape when the expansion is completed, and the operating pin 39 is moved to the right side along the axial direction. It will be moved to pull in.

  The operating pin 39 is arranged so that the axial direction is substantially along the left-right direction. The operating pin 39 is connected to the metal bag 37 on the base portion 39a side, and has a substantially cylindrical shape that can be inserted into the connecting portion 24b of the belt 24. ing. The operating pin 39 is locked to the locking portion 31 at both ends when the actuator 33 is not operated.

  The actuator 33 according to the embodiment is attached to the bag holder 8 by using a nut (not shown) while the airbag 16 and the inflator 6 are folded with the retainer 27 in a state where the actuator 33 is attached to the retainer 27 in advance. The assembled airbag device M is attached to the steering wheel main body 1 already attached to the vehicle, and is electrically connected to the control device 43 to the inflator 6 and the squib 35 of the actuator 33. If this lead wire is connected, it can be mounted on a vehicle. At this time, the handling of the belt 24 extending from the airbag 16 is performed with the connecting portion 24b side of the belt 24 inserted into the operating pin 39 as shown in FIGS. Both ends of the operating pin 39 are locked to the locking portion 31 so that the connecting portion 24 b is disposed between the locking portions 31, 31, and the connecting portion 24 b is connected to the operating pin 39.

  In the embodiment, when the actuator 33 is operated by the control device 43, as shown in FIG. 6B, the squib 35 is ignited and the inflation gas is discharged, and the core bag 36 is discharged from the squib 35. The expanded gas is caused to flow into the interior to expand. Then, as the core bag 36 is inflated, the metal bag 37 is inflated, and as shown in FIG. 6B, the operating pin 39 is moved so as to be pulled rightward along the axial direction. 39 is pulled out from the latching part 31 and the connection part 24b, and the connection state of the action | operation pin 39 and the connection part 24b will be cancelled | released.

  In the actuator 33 according to the embodiment, during operation, the metal bag 37 is inflated by inflating the inflating gas discharged when the squib 35 is ignited, so that the metal bag 37 can be rapidly inflated. The operating pin 39 can be moved at high speed. Further, in the actuator 33 of the embodiment, since the metal bag 37 expands while being plastically deformed so as to maintain the shape when the expansion is completed, the discharge of the expansion gas from the squib 35 is stopped after the operation pin 39 is moved. Even if the inflation gas leaks from the metal bag 37, the metal bag 37 does not return to the state before the operation, and the operation pin 39 can be prevented from returning to the position before the movement.

  Therefore, in the actuator 33 of the embodiment, the operating pin 39 can be moved at a high speed, and the return of the operating pin 39 after the operation can be prevented.

  In the actuator 33 of the embodiment, the core bag 36 is provided separately from the metal bag 37 inside the metal bag 37, and the metal bag 37 is inflated by the expanded core bag 36 during operation. is there. That is, in the actuator 33 of the embodiment, the separate core bag 36 is inflated inside the metal bag 37 and pressed by the inflated core bag 36 to plastically deform the metal bag 37. The shape at the time of deformation can be inflated evenly without partially inflating, and the operating pin 39 can be moved reliably, which is preferable. Of course, if such a point is not taken into consideration, an actuator having a configuration in which an expansion gas discharged from a squib flows directly into a metal bag to inflate the metal bag may be used.

  In the embodiment, the actuator 33 is configured integrally with the retainer 27. However, the position of the actuator is not limited to this, and the actuator may be disposed on the bag holder (case) side. .

It is a figure explaining the airbag apparatus for steering wheels in which the actuator which is one Embodiment of this invention is used. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag apparatus for steering wheels in which the actuator of embodiment is used. It is sectional drawing of the III-III site | part of FIG. It is a top view of the retainer to which the actuator of an embodiment is attached. It is a bottom view of the retainer to which the actuator of the embodiment is attached. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the site | part of the actuator in the retainer of FIG. 4, and is a figure which shows the state before and after the action | operation of an actuator. It is a figure which shows the circumference | surroundings of the exhaust hole of the airbag by which an action | operation is controlled by the actuator of embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

16 ... Airbag,
20 ... exhaust hole,
23 ... Flap,
24 ... Belt,
24b ... connection part,
33 ... Actuator,
34 ... Actuator body,
35 ... Squibb,
36 ... Core bag,
37 ... metal bag,
39 ... Actuation pin,
M: Airbag device.

Claims (2)

An actuator main body, and an operation pin coupled to the actuator main body.
The actuator main body is an actuator having an operation pin configured to be movable so as to be pulled in along an axial direction by inflating the fluid by flowing a fluid into the inside when the operation is performed,
The actuator body is
A squib that is ignited during operation to enable gas generation;
An expansion gas generated from the squib is introduced into the bag so as to be inflatable, and the bag is inflated while being plastically deformed so as to maintain the shape when the expansion is completed. A metal bag configured to be connected,
Composed of
When the inflation gas discharged from the squib is caused to flow inside, the metal bag is inflated so as to draw the connection portion with the actuation pin toward the center of the bag shape when the inflation is completed, and the actuation pin An actuator having an actuating pin, wherein the actuating pin is arranged so as to be retracted along the axial direction, and at least the vicinity of the connecting portion with the actuating pin is deployed flat before actuating.   The actuator body is configured such that a bag-shaped core bag made of a flexible sheet material is disposed inside the metal bag and separated from the metal bag. The core bag is configured to inflate by inflating an inflating gas discharged from the squib and to inflate the metal bag with the inflated core bag. An actuator having the actuating pin described in 1.

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