JP2009023396A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly inflate and deploy an airbag between a steering wheel and an occupant at a collision of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: This airbag device 20 includes: a pad cover 24 arranged in the center of the steering wheel 10 with a rim 13 coupled to a hub 11 through at least one spoke 12, and fixed to the hub 11; the airbag 23 arranged in the pad cover 24, and inflated and deployed by rupturing the pad cover 24 when the vehicle is collided, to thereby constrain the occupant; and an inflator 22 supplying inflation gas to the airbag 23. The pad cover 24 includes a peripheral wall 24b having an opening formed at an end at the side of the occupant, and a rear end wall 24c closing the opening of the peripheral wall 24b. The peripheral wall 24b has initial rupture sections TD, TR and TL which are ruptured in the initial deployment of the airbag 23 in a portion adjacent to the spoke 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device mounted on a steering handle of a vehicle, and in particular, a rim is disposed at a central portion of a steering handle connected to a hub via at least one spoke, and is fixed to the hub. A pad cover, an airbag disposed in the pad cover and breaking the pad cover to inflate and restrain an occupant when the vehicle collides, and an inflator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag. The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus.

  In this type of airbag device, when the vehicle collides, the airbag inflates and deploys in the direction toward the occupant by breaking the end wall (rear end wall) of the pad cover on the vehicle rear side (occupant side). When the distance between the rim of the steering handle and the occupant is short (the interval is narrow), it is difficult for the airbag to enter between the rim of the steering handle and the occupant.

The above-described problems can be solved by the airbag device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. The airbag apparatus shown in the following Patent Document 1 includes a base plate that moves to the side opposite to the occupant by the inflating and deploying force of the airbag, and a pad cover that has a moving force transmitting portion that transmits the moving force of the base plate. As the base plate moves, the tear line provided at the peripheral edge of the vehicle rear end wall (rear end wall) of the pad cover is broken, and the airbag moves laterally from the peripheral edge of the pad cover rear wall of the vehicle ( It is configured so that it can be spread out radially.
JP-A-10-278717

  In the airbag device described in Patent Literature 1 described above, the airbag spreads laterally from the peripheral edge of the end wall of the pad cover at the rear of the vehicle when the vehicle collides. By the way, the surface formed by the end wall on the rear side of the pad cover is generally located on the same plane as the surface formed by the rim or in front of the vehicle. For this reason, the airbag of the airbag device described in Patent Document 1 described above spreads laterally (in the direction of the rim) from the peripheral edge of the end wall of the pad cover at the rear of the vehicle at the time of a vehicle collision. When deploying, the rim may interfere with the rim and cannot be smoothly deployed between the rim and the occupant.

  The present invention has been made in order to address the above-described problems, and a rim is disposed at a central portion of a steering handle connected to a hub via at least one spoke, and is a pad fixed to the hub. A cover, an airbag that is disposed in the pad cover and that inflates and deploys to restrain the occupant by breaking the pad cover in the event of a vehicle collision, and an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag In the apparatus, the pad cover includes a peripheral wall having an opening at an end on the passenger side, and an end wall that closes the opening of the peripheral wall, and the peripheral wall of the airbag is located at a site close to the spoke. It is characterized in that an initial breaking portion that breaks at the initial stage of deployment is provided.

  In the airbag device according to the present invention, the pad cover is provided with a peripheral wall having an opening at the occupant side end and an end wall that closes the opening of the peripheral wall, and is provided at an initial position provided in the vicinity of the spoke of the peripheral wall The rupture portion breaks at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag. For this reason, the airbag can be deployed radially outward from the peripheral wall of the pad cover toward the spoke, and can be deployed to the occupant side along the rim connected to the spoke and the spoke. . Therefore, even when the distance between the rim and the occupant is narrow, the airbag can be smoothly inflated and deployed between the steering handle and the occupant, and when the occupant starts moving toward the rim, the airbag Inflated and deployed between the occupant and the rim is sufficiently necessary or inflated and deployed, and it is possible to accurately prevent the occupant from coming into contact with the rim.

  In carrying out the present invention, the initial fracture portion may be formed by forming a U-shaped tear line having the end wall side as a hinge portion at the time of the fracture. In this case, the initial fracture portion formed by forming the U-shaped tear line is fractured and opened so that the end wall side is a hinge portion at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag. For this reason, the initial fracture portion can guide the airbag to the spoke, and can deploy the airbag to the occupant side along the spoke and the rim connected to the spoke, thereby improving the deployability of the airbag. It is possible to make it.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 13 show a first embodiment of an airbag device 20 according to the present invention. In the airbag device 20 of the first embodiment, an annular rim 13 is interposed between three spokes 12 and a hub 11. It is arrange | positioned in the center part of the steering handle 10 connected with.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering handle 10 is assembled with a hub 11 connected to the steering main shaft 30 using a nut 31, and the hub 11 is assembled to the left and right and below when viewed from the passenger side. 3 spokes 12 (see FIG. 1) and a rim 13 assembled to each spoke 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hub 11 includes a cylindrical portion 11a for connecting to the steering main shaft 30 so that torque can be transmitted, and a flange portion integrally formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 11a on the vehicle rear side. 11b. The cylindrical portion 11a has a connecting hole 11a1 through which the steering main shaft 30 can be inserted, and is fitted to the upper end portion (rear end portion of the vehicle) of the steering main shaft 30 through the connecting hole 11a1 so that torque can be transmitted. ing. The steering main shaft 30 is secured by a nut 31 screwed to the upper end screw portion 30a. Thereby, the hub 11 can be rotated around the axis of the steering main shaft 30, that is, around the rotation center O1.

  Each spoke 12 is fixed to the outer periphery of the flange portion 11b of the hub 11, and the spoke 12 fixed to the lower portion of the flange portion 11b is shown as an example in FIG. A base portion 12a fixed to the portion 11b and extending in the radially outward direction, and an extending portion 12b extending in the radially outward direction from the other end portion of the base portion 12a toward the rear of the vehicle are provided. The extending portion 12b passes through a through hole 24b1 provided in the peripheral wall 24b of the pad cover 24 on the front side of the vehicle, and the distance from the peripheral wall 24b increases toward the rear of the vehicle. It is connected to the rim 13 at the end.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rim 13 has a circular surface facing the occupant and is supported by the spokes 12 on the front side of the vehicle. The rim 13 is steered together with the spokes 12 and the hub 11. The main shaft 30 can be rotated around the rotation center O1. The rim 13 is composed of a core metal fixed to the rear end of the extension 12b of the spoke 12 and a resin that covers the core metal.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag device 20 is inflated by a retainer 21 assembled to the hub 11, an inflator 22 supported by the retainer 21, and an inflating gas supplied from the inflator 22. An airbag 23 to be deployed, a retainer 21, an inflator 22, and a pad cover 24 for accommodating the airbag 23 therein are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the retainer 21 is fixed to the flange portion 11b of the hub 11 via bolts (not shown) and extends radially outward from the radially outer end of the front wall 21a. A pair of upper and lower middle walls 21b extending toward the rear of the vehicle is provided, and an annular rear wall 21c extending radially inward from the vehicle rear end of each middle wall 21b is provided. The rear wall 21c is an attachment portion for the inflator 22, the airbag 23, and the like, and has an insertion hole 21c1 through which a plurality of stud bolts 25 can be inserted.

  The inflator 22 includes a substantially cylindrical main body portion 22a that generates an expansion gas when a vehicle collides, and an annular flange portion 22b provided at the center of the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 22a. The main body portion 22a has a plurality of gas discharge holes 22a1 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the vehicle rear side at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and capable of discharging expansion gas radially outward. The inflation gas can be injected and supplied toward the internal space of the airbag 23 through the discharge hole 22a1. The flange portion 22 b has insertion holes 22 b 1 through which the stud bolts 25 can be inserted vertically and horizontally, and is fixed to the retainer 21 via the stud bolts 25.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag 23 is configured by stitching the outer peripheral edge in a state in which two base fabric bodies cut into a circle are overlapped, and is attached to the base fabric body on the vehicle front side. Are provided with an insertion hole 23a through which the main body 22a on the vehicle rear side of the inflator 22 is inserted into the airbag and an insertion hole 23b through which the stud bolt 25 can be inserted. The air bag 23 is folded through the steps shown in FIGS. 3 to 9 and is airtight to the retainer 21 using the stud bolt 25, the nut 26, and the ring plate 27 as shown in FIG. It is assembled. The stud bolt 25 is welded to the ring plate 27, and these are assembled in the airbag 23 before the airbag 23 is stitched.

  4 shows a state in which the constituent surface portion A on the upper portion of the airbag 23 shown in FIG. 3 is folded by roll folding. In this state, as shown in FIG. Is rolled up from the upper end of the paper toward the center (back) toward the center. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the left and right constituent surface portions B of the airbag 23 shown in FIG. 4 are folded by roll folding. In this state, as shown in FIG. 6 is wound from the left end or the right end of FIG. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the constituent surface portion C of the lower portion of the airbag 23 shown in FIG. 6 is folded by roll folding. In this state, as shown in FIG. It is rolled up from the lower end of the paper toward the center of the paper. Thus, when the inflation gas is supplied from the inflator 22, the configuration surface portion C of the airbag 23 illustrated in FIG. 8 first expands downward in the drawing, and then the configuration surface portion B illustrated in FIG. Is expanded toward the right and left in the figure, and then the component surface portion A shown in FIG. 4 is expanded toward the upper side in the figure.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the pad cover 24 includes a front end wall 24a that is fixedly supported on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 11a of the hub 11 and extends radially outward, and an outer peripheral edge of the front end wall 24a. A peripheral wall 24b extending from the rear portion toward the vehicle rear and having an opening at the passenger side end, and a rear end wall 24c for closing the opening of the peripheral wall 24b.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the peripheral wall 24b includes a left side surface portion 24bL, a right side surface portion 24bR, a lower side surface portion 24bD, and a left side surface portion 24bL and a right side surface portion 24bR. The upper side surface portion 24bU connecting the upper side, the left inclined surface portion 24bLC connecting the lower side of the left side surface portion 24bL and the left side of the lower side surface portion 24bD, the lower side of the right side surface portion 24bR and the right side of the lower side surface portion 24bD. And a right inclined surface portion 24bRC connected thereto.

  The left side surface portion 24bL, the right side surface portion 24bR, and the lower side surface portion 24bD have initial rupture portions TL, TR, and TD that break at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag 23, respectively, at positions on the vehicle rear side (occupant side) from the through hole 24b1. ing. Each initial fracture portion TL, TR, TD has a U-shaped tear line L1 (groove portion) indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 10 on each inner side surface of each left side surface portion 24bL, right side surface portion 24bR, and lower side surface portion 24bD. As shown in FIG. 11, the rear end wall 24c side is used as a hinge portion with the development of the constituent surface portion B and the constituent surface portion C (see FIGS. 3 to 9) of the airbag 23. It is configured to tilt and deploy.

  Further, the initial fracture portion TD has a tear line L2 (groove portion) indicated by a two-dot broken line in FIGS. 10 and 11 on the inner side surface thereof, and this tear line L2 is the inner side surface of the rear end wall 24c. It is connected to a tear line L3 (groove portion) provided on the (front surface of the vehicle). The tear line L3 is formed in a mountain shape, and when the airbag 23 is inflated and deployed toward the rear of the vehicle, the initial fracture portions TD, TL, TR are shown in FIG. 11 in detail. After unfolding, the pad cover 24 is configured to be broken into three parts. For this reason, the groove depth of the tear lines L2 and L3 is formed shallower than the groove depth of the tear line L1, and after the pad cover 24 is broken at the tear line L1, the tear lines L2 and L3 It is broken and divided into three parts, and is configured to expand as shown in FIG.

  In the first embodiment configured as described above, when the inflation gas is supplied from the inflator 22 to the airbag 23 at the time of a vehicle collision, first, the component surface portion C of the airbag 23 is deployed downward. Thus, the initial fracture portion TD of the pad cover 24 is broken at the U-shaped tear line L1 (see FIG. 13). Next, the constituent surface portion B of the airbag 23 is deployed left and right, and the initial fracture portions TR and TL of the pad cover 24 are broken at the U-shaped tear line L1. Thereby, at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag 23, as shown in FIG. 11, the initial fracture parts TD, TR, TL are tilted and deployed with the rear end wall 24c side as a hinge part. In the middle and late deployment of the airbag 23, the pad cover 24 is broken at the tear lines L2 and L3 as the airbag 23 is inflated and deployed, and is divided into three parts as shown in FIG. To do.

  Therefore, at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag 23, the airbag 23 can be deployed radially outward from the peripheral wall 24b of the pad cover 24 toward the spoke 12, and is connected to the spoke 12 and the spoke 12. It is possible to develop the occupant side along the rim 13. Accordingly, even when the distance between the rim 13 and the occupant is narrow, the airbag 23 can be smoothly inflated and deployed between the steering handle 10 and the occupant, and the occupant starts moving toward the rim 13. The air bag 23 is inflated and deployed between the occupant and the rim 13 as necessary and inflated and deployed, so that the occupant can be prevented from coming into contact with the rim 13 accurately. The airbag 23 is inflated and deployed to the rear of the vehicle at the tear lines L2 and L3 when the peripheral wall 24b and the rear end wall 24c of the pad cover 24 are inflated and deployed toward the rear of the vehicle. Since it breaks and is divided into three parts as shown in FIG. 12, it is not restricted by the peripheral wall 24b and the rear end wall 24c of the pad cover 24.

  Further, in the first embodiment, each initial break portion TD, TR, TL is configured by forming a U-shaped tear line L1 having a hinge portion on the rear end wall 24c side at the time of the break. In the initial stage of deployment of the airbag 23, the rear end wall 24c side is broken and opened so as to be a hinge portion. For this reason, each initial fracture part TD, TR, TL guides the airbag 23 to the spoke 12, while the airbag 23 extends along the spoke extension 12b and the rim 13 connected to the extension 12b. Can be deployed on the passenger side, and the deployability of the airbag 23 can be improved.

  In the first embodiment described above, each initial fracture portion TD, TR, TL is configured by forming a U-shaped tear line L1 with the rear end wall 24c side as a hinge portion at the time of the fracture. Each initial fracture portion TD, TR, TL is configured and implemented as in the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, or as in the third embodiment shown in FIGS. It is also possible to configure and implement. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 and the third embodiment shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, it is not necessary to divide the initial fracture portion TD into left and right parts. It is not done.

  In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, each initial fracture portion TD, TR, TL is configured by forming an H-shaped tear line L1 as shown in FIG. . As shown in FIG. 15, the lower initial fracture portion TD can be tilted and deployed with the left and right sides as hinges when fractured, and the component surface portion (23C) of the airbag (23) can be deployed through the opening. . On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15, the left and right initial fracture portions TR and TL can be tilted and deployed with the upper and lower sides as hinges when fractured, and the component surface portion (23B) of the airbag (23) can be opened through the opening. It can be deployed.

  Therefore, also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, even when the distance between the rim 13 and the occupant is narrow, the airbag (23) can be smoothly inserted between the steering handle 10 and the occupant. When the occupant can be inflated and deployed and starts moving toward the rim 13, the airbag (23) is inflated and deployed between the occupant and the rim 13, or has been fully inflated or deployed. It is possible to prevent the contact of the rim 13 with the rim 13 accurately.

  In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, each initial fracture portion TD, TR, TL is configured by forming a U-shaped tear line L1 as shown in FIG. . As shown in FIG. 17, the lower initial fracture portion TD can be tilted and deployed with the spoke-side end as a hinge portion at the time of fracture, and the component surface portion (23C) of the airbag (23) is deployed through the opening. Is possible. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17, the left and right initial fracture portions TR and TL can be tilted and deployed with the spoke-side end portion as a hinge portion at the time of the fracture, and through the opening, the component surface portion of the airbag (23) ( 23B) can be developed.

  Therefore, also in the third embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment described above, even when the distance between the rim 13 and the occupant is narrow, the airbag (23) can be smoothly inserted between the steering handle 10 and the occupant. When the occupant can be inflated and deployed and starts moving toward the rim 13, the airbag (23) is inflated and deployed between the occupant and the rim 13, or has been fully inflated or deployed. It is possible to prevent the contact of the rim 13 with the rim 13 accurately.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the steering handle 10 has three spokes 12 and the rim 13 is circular. However, the number of spokes 12 (at least one) and the shape of the rim 13 can be appropriately changed. The shape and number of the initial fracture portion can be changed as appropriate in accordance with the change in the number and shape. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the airbag 23 is folded and accommodated in the pad cover 24 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 9, but the folding method of the airbag 23 can be changed as appropriate. Yes, it is not limited to the above embodiment.

It is the front view which showed 1st Embodiment of the airbag apparatus by this invention. It is the expanded sectional view longitudinally cut in the center of FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the airbag unit shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the front side of the vehicle. FIG. 4 is a front view of a state in which the upper constituent surface portion of the airbag shown in FIG. 3 is folded by roll folding. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a front view of a state in which left and right constituent surface portions of the airbag shown in FIG. 4 are folded by roll folding. It is sectional drawing of the airbag along the 7-7 line | wire of FIG. It is a front view of the state by which the component surface part of the lower part of the airbag shown in FIG. 6 was folded by roll folding. It is sectional drawing of the airbag along the 9-9 line | wire of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing an initial fracture portion and a tear line below and to the left and right of the pad cover shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a state in which the lower and left and right initial fracture portions shown in FIG. 10 are tilted and deployed. FIG. 12 is a schematic development view of a portion of the pad cover shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 that is divided into three parts. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 when the constituent surface portion of the lower portion of the airbag is deployed downward. It is the perspective view which showed the lower part of the pad cover of 2nd Embodiment, and the right and left initial fracture part, and the tear line roughly. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state where the lower and left and right initial fracture portions shown in FIG. 14 are tilted and deployed. It is the perspective view which showed the lower part of the pad cover of 3rd Embodiment, and the right and left initial fracture part, and the tear line roughly. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower and left and right initial fracture portions shown in FIG. 16 are tilted and deployed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Steering handle, 11 ... Hub, 12 ... Spoke, 13 ... Rim, 20 ... Air bag apparatus, 21 ... Retainer, 22 ... Inflator, 23 ... Air bag, 24 ... Pad cover, 24a ... Front end wall, 24b ... Circumferential wall, 24c ... rear end wall, 25 ... stud bolt, 26 ... nut, 27 ... ring plate, 30 ... steering main shaft, 31 ... nut, TD, TR, TL ... initial fracture portion, L1, L2, L3 ... tear line

Claims (2)

  A rim is disposed at a central portion of a steering handle connected to the hub via at least one spoke, and a pad cover fixed to the hub, and the pad is disposed in the pad cover so as to be used in the event of a vehicle collision. An airbag device comprising an airbag that breaks a cover and inflates and restrains an occupant, and an inflator that supplies an inflation gas to the airbag, wherein the pad cover has an opening at an end on the occupant side And an end wall that closes the opening of the peripheral wall, and the peripheral wall is provided with an initial breaking portion that breaks at an initial stage of deployment of the airbag at a portion close to the spoke. Air bag device.   2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the initial fracture portion is configured by forming a U-shaped tear line having the end wall side as a hinge portion at the time of the fracture. Airbag device.

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