JP2009040075A - Airbag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize accurate expansion and spreading-out of an airbag even with narrow space between a steering handle rim and a passenger in collision. <P>SOLUTION: An airbag device 20 for use in a vehicle includes the airbag 23 disposed at the center of the steering handle 10 with a rotatable rim 13 to expand and spread out between the steering handle 10 and the passenger in collision to bind the passenger and an inflator 24 disposed in front of the rim to supply an inflating gas into the airbag 23 in collision. The device 20 has an actuator realizing predetermined rearward movement of the inflator 24 to hold it in position in collision. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag device mounted on a steering handle of a vehicle, and in particular, disposed at a central portion of a steering handle provided with a rim that can be rotated, between the steering handle and an occupant during a vehicle collision. The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag device including an airbag that inflates and restrains an occupant, and an inflator that is disposed in front of the vehicle from the rim and supplies inflation gas into the airbag.

  In this type of vehicle airbag device, the airbag is inflated and deployed from the center portion of the steering handle toward the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision, and in the radially outward direction (outward direction of the steering handle) from the rim of the steering handle. Even if the distance between the steering wheel rim and the occupant (between the lower part of the steering wheel rim and the occupant's chest or abdomen) is narrow, the occupant abuts against the steering wheel rim. Before, it is necessary to quickly inflate and deploy between the rim of the steering handle and the occupant.

For this reason, in the airbag apparatus shown in Patent Document 1 below, the airbag includes an outer bag and an inner bag disposed in the outer bag, and the inner bag is supplied from the inflator. The upper outlet and the lower outlet for allowing the inflation gas to flow vertically from the inside of the inner bag are arranged so as to be closer to the occupant side than the rim of the steering handle when the inner bag is inflated. It is configured so that it can be quickly inflated and deployed between the rim of the steering handle and the occupant in the vertical direction.
JP 2001-80440 A

  In the airbag apparatus described in Patent Document 1 described above, the gas flow direction of the inflation gas supplied from the inflator is changed from the direction toward the occupant on the occupant side from the rim of the steering handle by the inner bag. Therefore, the outer bag can be inflated and deployed in the vertical direction without being obstructed by the rim of the steering handle. However, in this airbag apparatus, since the inflation gas supplied from the inflator can weaken its momentum by the inner bag, the completion of inflation and deployment of the airbag as a whole is delayed as compared with an airbag that does not include the inner bag. There is a fear. Further, in this airbag device, since a large load is applied to the inner bag by the inflation gas, it is necessary to ensure the strength reliability of the inner bag, and the airbag provided with the inner bag tends to be an expensive and bulky structure. There is.

  The present invention has been made to cope with the above-described problems, and is disposed at the center portion of a steering handle provided with a rim that can be rotated, and is inflated and deployed between the steering handle and the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. In a vehicle airbag device comprising a restraining airbag and an inflator disposed in front of the vehicle from the rim and supplying inflation gas into the airbag during a vehicle collision, at least a predetermined amount of the inflator is rearward of the vehicle during a vehicle collision. It is characterized in that an actuator is provided that is moved to and held at the moving position.

  In the vehicle airbag device according to the present invention, the inflator supplies inflation gas into the airbag during a vehicle collision. For this reason, the airbag is inflated and deployed between the steering handle and the occupant to restrain the occupant. Further, at the time of a vehicle collision, the actuator holds at least a predetermined amount of the inflator at a moving position after moving the inflator to the vehicle rear side (occupant side). Therefore, if the inflating gas is set to be supplied from the inflator to the occupant side as well as to the outside of the steering handle in the airbag, the airbag is hardly obstructed by the rim of the steering handle. Even when the distance between the rim of the steering handle and the occupant is narrow, the airbag can be inflated and deployed accurately.

  By the way, in the vehicle airbag device according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to provide an airbag in which the gas flow direction of the inflation gas is changed, the inflation gas supplied from the inflator can weaken its momentum. Rather, it is possible to quickly inflate and deploy the airbag. In addition, the airbag is not bulky and can be accommodated compactly in the center of the steering handle.

  Further, when the present invention is implemented, the moving position of the inflator moved to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount by the actuator may be a position behind the rim of the vehicle. In this case, when the vehicle collides, the inflator is moved by the actuator from the initial position ahead of the vehicle from the rim to the position behind the rim, so that the inflation supplied to the steering handle radially outward in the airbag is performed. It is possible to effectively reduce the flow of the working gas from being obstructed by the rim. Therefore, it is possible to improve the inflatable and deployability of the airbag inflating and deploying between the rim and the occupant in the radially outward direction.

  In carrying out the present invention, the actuator is an actuator that uses an inflating and deploying operation of the airbag as an operating source, or an actuator that uses a part of gas supplied from the inflator as an operating source. Is also possible. In these cases, the inflator can be moved to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount based on the inflating and deploying operation of the airbag, and the actuator is configured by effectively utilizing the components of the vehicle airbag device. Therefore, it can be carried out at a lower cost than when the actuator is configured separately from the constituent members of the vehicle airbag device.

  In implementing the present invention, the actuator can be an actuator that can be operated separately from the constituent members of the vehicle airbag device. In this case, since the actuator is an actuator that can be operated separately from the components of the vehicle airbag device, for example, in the event of a vehicle collision, the actuator is operated before the airbag starts inflating and deploying. It is possible to move the inflator a predetermined amount rearward of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to optimally control the inflation and deployment of the airbag by accurately controlling the timing of movement of the inflator.

  In carrying out the present invention, the function of holding the inflator by the actuator at a moving position behind the vehicle by a predetermined amount may be set so as to decrease after restraining the occupant by the airbag. In this case, after restraining the occupant by the airbag, even if the occupant comes into contact with the inflator that has been moved to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount, the inflator can easily move to the front of the vehicle (with a small force) It is possible to mitigate the impact received by the occupant from the inflator.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 12 show a first embodiment of a vehicle airbag device 20 according to the present invention. In the vehicle airbag device 20 of the first embodiment, an annular rim 13 is a hub via a spoke 12. 11 is disposed at the center of the steering handle 10 connected to the steering wheel 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering handle 10 includes a hub 11 connected to the steering main shaft 30 using a nut 31 and four spokes 12 (see FIG. 1), a circular annular rim 13 assembled to each spoke 12, and a metallic housing 14 fixed to the hub 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hub 11 has a connecting hole 11a for connecting to the steering main shaft 30 so that torque can be transmitted. The upper end of the steering main shaft 30 (rear of the vehicle) is connected to the connecting hole 11a. (End part) is fitted so that torque can be transmitted. 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.

  As shown in FIG. 2 as an example, each spoke 12 is fixed to the hub 11 at one end, extends radially outward toward the rear of the vehicle, and has a rim 13 at the other end. It is connected to. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rim 13 is supported by the spokes 12 on the front side of the vehicle, and rotates around the rotation center O1 of the steering main shaft 30 together with the spokes 12 and the hub 11. Is possible. The rim 13 includes a cored bar 13a fixed to the rear end of each spoke 12 and a resin 13b covering the cored bar.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 14 is fixedly supported by the hub 11 at the inner peripheral portion and extends radially outward, and extends from the outer peripheral edge of the front end wall 14a toward the rear of the vehicle. A substantially rectangular peripheral wall 14b is provided. The peripheral wall 14b is for accommodating and supporting the vehicle airbag device 20, and an insertion hole through which a rivet 27 for mounting the back plate 22 of the vehicle airbag device 20 can be inserted into the upper side surface portion and the lower side surface portion. Two 14b1 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle airbag apparatus 20 includes a back holder 21 attached to the peripheral wall 14 b of the housing 14, a retainer 22 movably assembled to the back holder 21, and the retainer 22, an air bag 23 assembled to 22, a cylinder type inflator 24 supported by the retainer 22, and a resin pad cover that is assembled to the housing 14 so as to cover the air bag 23. 25.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the back plate 21 has a pair of both end portions 21 a attached to the peripheral wall 14 b of the housing 14, and each upper surface portion extending inward from the vehicle rear end of each end portion 21 a. 21b, each side surface portion 21c extending from the inner end of each upper surface portion 21b toward the vehicle front, and a bottom surface portion 21d extending from the vehicle front end of each side surface portion 21c toward the inside. . Each end portion 21 a is provided with two insertion holes 21 a 1 for inserting the rivets 27, and is attached to the peripheral wall 14 b of the housing 14 using the rivets 27.

  Each side surface portion 21c is provided with two slits 21c1 for assembling the retainer 22 so as to be movable in the vehicle front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3), and two ribs 21c2 are provided at the center side of each slit 21c1. It is provided one by one. Each rib 21c2 is for frictional engagement with the side surface portion 22a of the retainer 22, and is formed by punching the outer surface of each side surface portion 21c inward as shown in FIGS. Thus, the length (width) between the ribs 21c2 on the vehicle front side is set to L1, and the length between the ribs 21c2 on the vehicle rear side is set to L2 (L2 <L1).

  The bottom surface portion 21d is provided with a relief hole 21d1 for allowing the stud bolt 24b of the cylinder type inflator 24 and the nut 26 screwed to the stud bolt 24b to move in the vehicle front-rear direction at the center. The diameter of the escape hole 21d1 is set so that the nut 26 does not interfere with the bottom surface portion 21d.

  The retainer 22 is moved to the rear of the vehicle (occupant side) by a predetermined amount together with the airbag 23 and the cylinder-type inflator 24 at the time of a vehicle collision, and is held at the moving position. As shown in FIG. A pair of side surface portions 22a that frictionally engage with the ribs 22c2 of the 22 and a bottom surface portion 22b that extends inward from the vehicle front end of each side surface portion 22a.

  Each side surface portion 22a is assembled to the back plate 21 by being press-fitted between the ribs 21c2 of the side surface portion 21c of the back plate 21. The length L3 between the side surface portions 22a is set to be equal to or larger than the length L1 between the ribs 21c2 on the vehicle front side, and between the side surface portion 22a and the ribs 22c2 of the retainer 22, A frictional engagement force is generated to such an extent that no play occurs in the normal use state.

  Each side surface portion 22a is provided with two stoppers 22a1 at portions corresponding to the respective slits 21c1 of each side surface portion 21c of the back plate 21. Each stopper 22a1 is for restricting the rearward movement of the retainer 22 relative to the back plate 21, and is formed by cutting a part of the side surface portion 22a into a U shape and bending it. The stopper 22a1 is engaged with the slit 21c1 of each side surface portion 21c of the back plate 21 by bending each side surface portion 22a of the retainer 22 after being assembled to the back plate 21 (see FIG. 2).

  The bottom surface portion 22b is provided with an insertion hole 22b1 through which the stud bolt 24b of the cylinder type inflator 24 can be inserted. Further, the bottom surface portion 22b supports a cylinder type inflator 24 inserted into the airbag 23, and is movable rearward of the vehicle together with the airbag 23 and the cylinder type inflator 24.

  The airbag 23 is inflated and deployed between the steering handle 10 and the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision to restrain the occupant. As shown in FIG. 7, two base fabric bodies cut into a circle are overlapped. In this state, the outer peripheral edge is stitched. The base fabric body on the vehicle front side of the airbag 23 includes an inflator insertion hole 23a for inserting the cylinder-type inflator 24 into the airbag 23 and a stud bolt 24b of the cylinder-type inflator 24 inside the airbag 23. Are provided with an inflator mounting hole 23b for exposing to the outside and two vent holes 23c for discharging excess inflation gas and reducing the gas pressure in the airbag 23.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the airbag 23 is accommodated in a folded state between the back plate 21 and the pad cover 25, and extends in the vertical direction in the drawing along the upper surface portions 21 b of the back plate 21. An inflatable / deployable portion 23A that can be inflated and deployed, and an inflatable and deployable portion 23B that can be inflated and deployed by breaking the pad cover 25 in front of the vehicle from the inflated and deployed portion 23A.

  The cylinder type inflator 24 supplies inflation gas toward the internal space of the airbag 23 through the gas supply hole 24a1 at the time of a vehicle collision, and is disposed in front of the vehicle from the rim 13. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the cylinder-type inflator 24 is formed in a cylindrical shape and generates a gas for inflation, and is fixed to the outer periphery of the center of the main body 24a so that the front side of the vehicle (shown) A stud bolt 24b extending downward is provided. The cylinder-type inflator 24 is operated by a detection unit that detects a vehicle collision outputs a detection signal to the ECU, and an ECU that determines a vehicle collision based on the detection signal outputs an operation signal to the cylinder-type inflator 24. Is to be done.

  The main body 24a is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the vehicle rear side (upper side in FIG. 8) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and is capable of supplying inflation gas to the occupant side and the radially outward direction of the rim 13. A connector 24a2 is provided which has a supply hole 24a1 and keeps the electric circuit in a connected state at the left end of FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the main body 24 a is inserted into the airbag 24 through the inflator insertion hole 23 a of the airbag 24.

  The stud bolt 24 b protrudes out of the airbag 23 through the inflator mounting hole 23 b of the airbag 23 when the main body 24 a of the cylinder inflator 24 is inserted into the airbag 23. As shown in FIG. 10, the stud bolt 24 b is supported by the retainer 22 by being inserted into an insertion hole 22 b 1 provided in the bottom surface portion 22 b of the retainer 22 and being prevented from coming off by a nut 26.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pad cover 25 is assembled to the peripheral wall 14b of the housing 14, extends toward the rear of the vehicle, and has a substantially rectangular peripheral wall 25a having an opening at the occupant side end, and the peripheral wall 25a A rear end wall 25b for closing the opening is provided. The rear end wall 25b has a tear line T (groove portion) on the inner side surface, and is configured to tear at the tear line T when the airbag 23 is inflated and deployed, and to be broken into two vertically. .

  In the first embodiment configured as described above, when the inflation gas is supplied from the cylinder type inflator 24 to the airbag 23 at the time of a vehicle collision, the airbag 23 shown in FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. After the state, it expands and develops to the state shown in FIG. 12, and the occupant is restrained between the steering handle 10 and the occupant.

  Here, in the state shown in FIG. 11, the inflating and deploying portion 23 </ b> A of the airbag 23 is inflating and deploying so as to be pulled in the vertical direction in the drawing along each upper surface portion 21 b of the back plate 21. A tensile force is exerted to move the vehicle rearward. Accordingly, the cylinder-type inflator 24 moves to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount together with the airbag 23 and the retainer 22 based on the inflation and deployment operation of the airbag 23.

In the state shown in FIG. 12, the stopper 22 a 1 of the retainer 22 that supports the cylinder-type inflator 24 is moved and held to the vehicle rear side end portion of the slit 21 c 1 of the back plate 21. Thereby, the expansion gas in the A region or the B region supplied from the gas supply holes 24a1 located at the upper and lower ends of the cylinder type inflator 24 in the figure is
The rim 13 and the pad cover 25 do not hinder the injection.

  For this reason, in this first embodiment, the inflation gas is supplied from the cylinder type inflator 24 into the airbag 23 not only to the passenger side but also to the radially outward direction of the rim 13. The airbag 23 can be inflated and deployed accurately even when the distance between the rim 13 and the occupant is narrow, because the airbag 23 is inflated and deployed in the radially outward direction without being obstructed by the pad 13 and the pad cover 25.

  Further, in the first embodiment, since it is not necessary to provide an airbag 23 that changes the gas flow direction of the inflation gas, the inflation gas supplied from the cylinder-type inflator 24 can weaken its momentum. The airbag 23 can be quickly inflated and deployed. Further, the airbag 23 is not bulky and can be accommodated in the center of the steering handle 10 in a compact manner.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the actuator is an actuator having an operation of inflating and deploying the airbag 23 as an operating source, and the cylinder-type inflator 24 is moved to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount based on the inflating and deploying operation of the airbag 23. It is possible to make it. For this reason, the actuator is configured by effectively utilizing the structural members of the vehicle airbag device 20, and is less expensive than when the actuator is configured separately from the structural members of the vehicle airbag device 20. It is possible to implement.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the retainer 22 does not receive a tensile force to move to the rear of the vehicle due to a decrease in gas pressure in the airbag 23 after the occupant is restrained by the airbag 23 (the cylinder-type inflator 24). Is held at the moving position on the rear side of the vehicle by a frictional engagement force with the rib 21c2 on the rear side of the vehicle. For this reason, after the occupant is restrained by the airbag 23, even if the occupant comes into contact with the cylinder-type inflator 24 that has been moved to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount, the cylinder-type inflator 24 easily moves forward (with a small force). It is possible to alleviate the impact received by the occupant from the cylinder-type inflator 24.

  In the first embodiment described above, the cylinder-type inflator 24 is moved by a predetermined amount to the rear of the vehicle and held by an actuator that includes the back plate 21 and the retainer 22 and uses the inflation and deployment operation of the airbag 23 as an operating source. Instead of this actuator, the actuator of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 or the actuator of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 15 can be adopted.

  The actuator of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 includes a resin casing 121 that is assembled to a metal housing 114 fixedly supported by the hub 111 so as to be movable rearward of the vehicle. Therefore, a part of the gas supplied from the cylindrical inflator 122 housed and supported in the casing 121 is used as an operating source.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the casing 121 has a substantially rectangular peripheral wall 121a that is movably assembled with respect to the peripheral wall 114b of the housing 114, and extends inward from the vehicle front end of the peripheral wall 121a. It includes a pair of upper and lower front end walls 121b and a rear end wall 121c that closes the opening at the passenger side end of the peripheral wall 121a. The peripheral wall 121a has a guide long hole 121a1 extending linearly along the vehicle front-rear direction (left-right direction in the figure) on the upper surface and the lower surface, and a housing 114 is provided at the rear end of the guide long hole 121a1. A guide pin 114b1 provided at the rear end of the vehicle on the peripheral wall 114b is inserted.

  Each front end wall 121b is for supporting the cylindrical inflator 122 and has an insertion hole 121b1 through which a plurality of stud bolts 124 can be inserted. Each stud bolt 124 is welded to each front end wall 121b, and a nut 125 is screwed to the rear end portion. The rear end wall 121c has a tear line (groove portion) on the inner side surface, and is configured to tear at the tear line when the airbag 123 is inflated and deployed, and to be broken into two vertically.

  The cylindrical inflator 122 supplies an inflating gas toward the interior space of the airbag 123 and a working gas to a space SP defined by the housing 114, the casing 121, and the cylindrical inflator 122 in the event of a vehicle collision. It is arranged in front of the vehicle from the rim 113. The cylindrical inflator 122 includes a main body portion 122a that is formed in a cylindrical shape and generates an expansion gas and a working gas, and a flange portion 122b that is fixed to the center outer periphery of the main body portion 122a.

  The main body 122a has a plurality of gas discharge holes 122a1 that are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the vehicle rear side at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and can supply the inflation gas radially outward of the rim 113. . The main body 122a has a plurality of gas discharge holes 122a2 that are provided on the outer peripheral surface on the front side of the vehicle at equal intervals in the circumferential direction so that the working gas can be supplied to the space SP described above. The front end wall 114a of the housing 114 is provided with an orifice 114a1 for discharging the working gas and reducing the gas pressure in the space SP.

  The flange portion 122 b has an insertion hole 122 b 1 into which each stud bolt 124 can be inserted, and is supported by the casing 121 via the stud bolt 124. Moreover, the flange part 122b has the protrusion part 122b1 extended toward the vehicle rear in an outer peripheral end part. The protrusion 122b1 is for restricting the movement of the cylindrical inflator 122 toward the rear of the vehicle, and abuts against the guide pin 114b1 provided on the peripheral wall 114b of the housing 114 when the protrusion 122b1 moves toward the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount. That movement is regulated.

  The airbag 123 has the same configuration as a known airbag, and inflates and deploys between the steering handle 110 and the occupant to restrain the occupant when the vehicle collides. In addition, the airbag 123 is sandwiched between the flange portion 122b of the cylindrical inflator 122 and the ring plate 126 at the opening (left end portion in FIG. 13) and assembled in an airtight manner.

  In the second embodiment configured as described above, when a working gas is supplied to the space SP from the gas supply hole 122a2 of the main body 122a of the cylindrical inflator 122 in the event of a vehicle collision, the cylindrical inflator shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, 122 moves to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount. For this reason, also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, the airbag 123 is inflated and deployed in the radially outward direction of the rim 113 without being obstructed by the rim 113 and the casing 121, and the rim 113 and the occupant Even when the distance between the airbag 123 and the airbag 123 is narrow, the airbag 123 can be accurately inflated and deployed. The airbag 123 of the second embodiment described above is inflated in the radially outward direction of the rim 113 because the inflation gas is supplied radially from the gas supply hole 122a1 of the cylindrical inflator 122 in the radially outward direction of the rim 113. It expands and expands to the occupant side while expanding.

  Further, in the second embodiment, at the time of a vehicle collision, the position of the gas supply hole 122a1 of the cylindrical inflator 122 moves from the initial position ahead of the vehicle from the rim 113 to the position behind the vehicle from the rim 113. For this reason, it is possible to effectively reduce that the flow of the inflation gas supplied to the radially outward direction of the rim 113 in the airbag 123 is obstructed by the rim 113. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the inflating / deploying property of the airbag 123 inflating and deploying between the rim 113 and the occupant in the radially outward direction.

  Moreover, in this 2nd Embodiment, an actuator is an actuator which uses a part of working gas supplied from the gas supply hole 122a2 of the cylindrical inflator 122 as a working source. For this reason, the actuator is configured by effectively utilizing the constituent members of the vehicle airbag device 120, and is less expensive than the case where the actuator is configured separately from the constituent members of the vehicle airbag device 120. It is possible to implement. In the second embodiment, instead of providing the gas supply hole 122 a in the cylindrical inflator 122, it is also possible to implement by providing a gas discharge hole in the flange portion 122 b of the cylindrical inflator 122.

  Further, in the second embodiment, the cylindrical inflator 122 is disposed on the rear side of the vehicle when the operating gas is discharged from the orifice 114a1 of the housing 114 and the gas pressure in the space SP decreases after the occupant is restrained by the airbag 123. No power to move. For this reason, after the occupant is restrained by the airbag 123, even if the occupant comes into contact with the cylindrical inflator 122 that has been moved to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount, the cylindrical inflator 122 easily moves forward (with a small force). It is possible to reduce the impact that the occupant receives from the cylindrical inflator 122.

  The actuator of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 15 is a pyroactuator 230 that can be operated separately from the components of the vehicle airbag device 220 of the third embodiment. The pyroactuator 230 is a front end of the housing 214. The wall 214a and the flange portion 222b of the cylindrical inflator 222 are assembled. The vehicle airbag device 220 according to the third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the airbag device 120 according to the second embodiment except that the vehicle airbag device 220 includes the pyroactuator 230.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the pyroactuator 230 is for moving the cylindrical inflator 222 to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount in the event of a vehicle collision, and a cylinder 231 that is formed long in the vehicle front-rear direction, Piston 232 assembled so as to be able to advance and retreat within 231, and piston with one end fixed to this piston 232 and the other end protruding out of cylinder 231 is fixed to flange 222 b of cylindrical inflator 222 A rod 233, a gas generating agent 234 filled in a space defined by the cylinder 231 and the piston 232, and a squib 235 for igniting the gas generating agent 234 by energization to generate a small amount of gas are provided.

  In the third embodiment configured as described above, when the gas generating agent 234 is ignited by the squib 235 during a vehicle collision, a small amount of gas is generated in the space defined by the cylinder 231 and the piston 232. Thereby, the piston 232 and the piston rod 233 move to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount together with the cylindrical inflator 222 and the casing 221. Therefore, also in the third embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as those of the second embodiment described above. In the third embodiment, the end wall of the cylinder 231 on the vehicle front side may be provided with an orifice for reducing the gas pressure in the space defined by the cylinder 231 and the piston 232.

  In the third embodiment, since the pyroactuator 230 is an actuator that can be operated separately from the components of the vehicle airbag device 220, for example, the airbag 223 is inflated and deployed in the event of a vehicle collision. Before starting, it is possible to operate the pyroactuator 230 to move the cylindrical inflator 222 rearward by a predetermined amount. Therefore, it is possible to optimally control the inflation / deployability of the airbag 223 by accurately controlling the moving timing of the cylindrical inflator 222.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the inflator is configured to move to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount together with the airbag at the time of a vehicle collision. However, the inflator moves to the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined amount regardless of the movement of the airbag. It is also possible to configure and implement as described above. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the shape of the rim is circular, but the shape of the rim can be changed as appropriate.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, a plurality of cylinder-type inflators and cylindrical inflators are provided on the outer peripheral surface on the rear side of the vehicle at equal intervals in the circumferential direction so that the inflation gas can be discharged in the radially outward direction of the rim. Although it was configured to have a single gas discharge hole, the shape of the inflator, the position of the gas supply hole, the number of gas supply holes (at least one), and the direction in which the inflation gas is supplied can be changed as appropriate. The invention 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 an enlarged vertical side view along 2-2 in FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the back plate shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a side view of a single back plate shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a front view of the back plate shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the vehicle rear side. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the retainer shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a front view of the airbag unit shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the front side of the vehicle. It is a disassembled perspective view of the cylinder type inflator shown in FIG. It is the front view which showed the relationship between the airbag shown in FIG. 2, and a cylinder type inflator. It is the side view which showed the relationship between the retainer shown in FIG. 2, a cylinder type inflator, an airbag, and a nut. FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the airbag of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in the initial stage of inflation and deployment. FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram when the airbag of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is inflated and deployed. FIG. 3 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a second embodiment of a vehicle airbag device according to the present invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of 2nd Embodiment shown in FIG. It is a side view equivalent to FIG. 2 which showed 3rd Embodiment of the airbag apparatus for vehicles by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Steering handle, 11 ... Hub, 12 ... Spoke, 13 ... Rim, 14 ... Housing, 20 ... Vehicle airbag apparatus, 21 ... Back plate, 22 ... Retainer, 23 ... Air bag, 24 ... Cylinder type inflator, 25 ... Pad cover, 26 ... Nut, 27 ... Rivet, 30 ... Steering main shaft, 31 ... Nut

Claims (6)

  An airbag that is disposed at the center of a steering handle that includes a rim that can be rotated and that is inflated and deployed between the steering handle and an occupant to restrain the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. In a vehicle airbag apparatus having an inflator that supplies inflation gas into the airbag sometimes, an actuator is provided that moves at least the predetermined amount of the inflator to the rear of the vehicle and holds it at the moving position in the event of a vehicle collision. A vehicle airbag device characterized by the above.   2. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a movement position of the inflator moved to a vehicle rearward by a predetermined amount by the actuator is a vehicle rearward position from the rim. .   3. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is an actuator that uses an inflating and deploying operation of the airbag as an operation source. 4.   3. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is an actuator having a part of gas supplied from the inflator as an operating source. 4.   3. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is an actuator that can be operated separately from a constituent member of the vehicle airbag device. 4.   The vehicle airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a function of holding the inflator by the actuator at a moving position at a rearward position of the vehicle by a predetermined amount is lowered after occupant restraint by the airbag. An air bag device for a vehicle, characterized in that it is set to

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