JP2009214615A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely protect an airbag from gas, by guiding the gas supplied from a gas jetting port, without arranging a metallic guide cylinder in an inflator of an airbag device. <P>SOLUTION: The inflator 40 wound with a cloth-like member 60 is inserted and installed inside an inner tube 50 connected to a gas introducing port 13 of the airbag 10. The cloth-like member 60 is arranged in a cylindrical shape by winding a plurality of times around the inflator 40 so that one end part opens toward the inside of the airbag 10, by enclosing a plurality of gas jetting ports 42 of the inflator 40. This cloth-like member 60 is formed of base cloth having a fine line obliquely crossed in the winding direction. When operating the inflator 40, the gas from the gas jetting port 42 is guided in the inner tube 50 by the cloth-like member 60, and is guided up to respective air chambers 31, 32 through a gas passage 54, and the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device that is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and protects an occupant by inflating and deploying the airbag with gas supplied from an inflator.

  In order to protect occupants in the driver's seat and passenger's seat in the event of a vehicle collision or emergency, for example, there are a wide variety of automobiles equipped with an airbag device equipped with an inflatable airbag on the steering wheel or instrument panel. It is popular. Further, in recent years, in order to further enhance the protection function for passengers including the rear seats, airbags (so-called curtain airbags) are deployed in a curtain shape so as to cover the entire side window portion inside the vehicle. A side airbag device for a side surface is also known (see Patent Document 1).

  The airbag apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is provided with an airbag attached to a roof rail portion or the like on the side of a vehicle, and the airbag is inflated and deployed so as to cover the vehicle wall by closing the opening inside the vehicle with the gas from the inflator. And protect the head mainly for the front and rear passengers. Further, in this airbag device, a cylinder type inflator is used, and a metal guide tube (guide tube portion) is fixed to the outer periphery of the cylindrical main body portion so as to surround a plurality of gas ejection ports at one end portion, The tip opening of the guide tube is inserted into the airbag, and an inflator is attached to the gas inlet of the airbag. The airbag device guides, for example, a gas ejected radially from the gas ejection port to the inner tube in the airbag, and supplies the gas into the airbag through them to inflate and deploy the airbag. .

  Here, the gas introduction port of the airbag is usually formed by sewing the end portion of the base fabric constituting the airbag into a cylindrical shape by sewing, and one end portion of the inflator is inserted with the guide tube inside thereof, The inflator is attached to the gas inlet by being fixed from the outside by the fixing means. Therefore, in such a conventional airbag device, the guide tube relieves the pressure of the gas ejected from the gas ejection port of the inflator, or prevents the gas from being directly sprayed onto the base fabric, thereby preventing the air It also has a function for protecting the bag. For this reason, a metal member is generally used for the guide tube as described above in order to ensure these functions.

  However, in such a metal guide tube, in addition to the increase in manufacturing cost, it is necessary to caulk and fix it on the outer periphery of the inflator. . As a result, there arises a problem that the manufacturing cost of the airbag device increases and the structure around the inflator becomes complicated. Therefore, as in this conventional airbag device, without providing a metal guide tube so as to surround a plurality of gas ejection ports of the inflator, while supplying gas from the gas ejection port into the airbag, There is a need to reliably protect the airbag from the radially expelling gas.

Japanese Patent No. 3689845

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to guide gas ejected radially from a plurality of gas ejection ports without providing a metal guide tube in an inflator of an airbag device. Thus, the air bag is supplied into the air bag, and the air bag is protected from the gas more reliably. Another object is to reduce the manufacturing cost by simplifying the structure of the airbag device.

  The present invention includes an airbag that can be inflated and deployed so as to cover a vehicle wall by introducing gas, and an inflator that ejects gas radially from a plurality of gas ejection ports and supplies the gas into the airbag. Is an air bag device having a gas inlet port to which the inflator is attached and an air chamber inflated by the gas from the gas inlet port, and surrounds the plurality of gas ejection ports, A cloth-like member wound around the inflator a plurality of times so as to open toward the opening, and arranged with a thread line obliquely arranged in the winding direction, and a plurality of gas jets of the inflator together with the cloth-like member A mouth is inserted into the gas inlet.

  According to the present invention, without providing a metal guide tube in the inflator of the airbag device, the gas ejected radially from the plurality of gas ejection ports can be guided into the airbag and supplied from the gas. The airbag can be protected more reliably. Further, the structure of the airbag device can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an airbag device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The airbag device is a side airbag device (side airbag device) that deploys an airbag in a predetermined range on the vehicle side inner side, for example, from a driver seat or a passenger seat of an automobile to a rear seat on the rear side of the vehicle. Protects passengers in the vehicle when the vehicle collides or rolls over. Further, in the following embodiments, a head protection airbag device that mainly inflates and deploys an airbag in a curtain shape from the roof rail portion above the vehicle side portion to mainly protect the heads of front and rear passengers is taken as an example. explain.

  FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a main part of the airbag device of the present embodiment, and is a plan development view showing a schematic shape of the airbag in a deployed state. Further, in the drawing, the internal configuration is also shown by seeing through the inside of the airbag.

  In FIG. 1, the inflator 40 side (the right side of the horizontally long airbag 10 in the figure) described later is the rear side (rear pillar side) in the vehicle, and the opposite side (the left side of the airbag 10 in the figure) is the front side in the vehicle. (Front pillar side). Moreover, in the airbag apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the airbag 10 is arrange | positioned and accommodated in the roof rail part etc. (not shown) above a vehicle side part (upper side of the airbag 10 in the figure), and the state from the accommodated state. It develops in a curtain shape downward. As a result, the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed so as to cover the entire side window portion (positioned on the back side in the drawing in the figure) (not shown) (not shown) inside the vehicle, and closes the opening in the vehicle. The vehicle is inflated and deployed between the occupant and the vehicle wall.

  Specifically, as shown in the figure, the airbag apparatus 1 includes an airbag 10 that can be inflated and deployed so as to cover a vehicle wall by introducing (inflowing) gas, and one end side thereof (here, the vehicle rear side). And an inflator 40 that supplies gas into the airbag 10. In addition, the airbag device 1 stores the airbag 10 and the inflator 40 in a predetermined state when not in operation, and an airbag cover provided inside the vehicle and a fixing means for fixing the airbag 10 and the inflator 40 to the vehicle. Other configurations similar to conventional ones are provided (not shown).

  The airbag 10 has a horizontally long substantially bag shape corresponding to the shape of the vehicle side window portion to be covered, and the like (six in the figure) attached to the roof rail portion of the vehicle along the upper edge. A rectangular upper mounting piece 11 is provided. Further, the airbag 10 is formed with a substantially triangular front mounting piece 12 that protrudes toward the front side of the vehicle, and a front end portion (a protruding end portion) of the airbag 10 is attached to the front pillar portion of the vehicle. The airbag 10 is attached to the vehicle with the mounting pieces 11 and 12 being fixed to a predetermined position in the vehicle by a fixing means such as a bolt, and the airbag cover provided in each part of the vehicle is in a state before being inflated. It is stored and placed inside. At that time, the airbag 10 can be inflated and deployed in a downward direction, such as being folded in order toward the attachment pieces 11 and 12 (upper edge side) or wound from the lower edge side to the upper edge side toward the vehicle inner side. Stored in a safe state. On the other hand, when the inflator 40 is actuated, the airbag 10 is inflated from the stored state to push open the airbag cover, and is inflated and deployed mainly in a curtain shape in the downward direction of the vehicle.

  Such an airbag 10 is formed by, for example, stacking two base fabrics having the same shape formed by cutting a woven fabric or the like, or folding one base fabric having a symmetric shape, along the edges. The opposing base fabrics, such as sewing and bonding, are joined together in an airtight state at a predetermined position, and an inflatable air chamber (partition chamber) 30 is formed between them to form a substantially bag shape.

  In the present embodiment, the airbag 10 is composed of a passenger-side front base fabric 20 and a window-side back base fabric 21 that are symmetrical to each other (here, horizontally long), and are overlapped to face each other. The base fabrics 20 and 21 are formed by sewing along the outer edge joint portion 22. The outer edge joint portion 22 is a joint portion that defines the outer edge shape of the air chamber 30 by dividing the inside and outside of the airbag 10, and along the position corresponding to the outer edge portion of the air chamber 30 to be formed, the base fabric 20. , 21 are sewn over one circumference or a plurality of circumferences. As a result, the air chamber 30 mainly protects the front seat occupant having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view that mainly protects the front seat occupant, and the rear seat occupant having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view smaller than that. It consists of a rear air chamber 32 and a connecting portion 33 that connects the upper sides of the air chambers 31 and 32, and is formed in a bag shape extending continuously in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. However, the connecting portion 33 is formed to have a narrow width smaller than the air chambers 31 and 32, and is linearly disposed between the air chambers 31 and 32 along the upper edge of the airbag 10.

  In the airbag 10, the opposing base fabrics 20 and 21 are joined to each other by sewing at the inner joint portions 23 to 26 provided in the air chambers 31 and 32. The inner joint portions 23 to 26 suppress the expansion of the air chambers 31 and 32 in the thickness direction (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in the drawing) and restrict the expansion thickness, shape, etc., or the air chambers Functions as a partition or the like for partitioning the inside of 31 and 32 to form a gas flow path portion and an expansion portion, and is formed in a predetermined shape according to each purpose, and one or a plurality are arranged at a predetermined position in the air chamber 30 Is done.

  Here, in the front air chamber 31, the three inner joint portions 23, 24, and 25 extend obliquely upward from the lower outer edge joint portion 22, and are separated from the upper outer edge joint portion 22. A predetermined position is formed and terminated in the front air chamber 31. Further, these inner joint portions 23, 24, and 25 are arranged at predetermined intervals (substantially equidistant here) in the vehicle front-rear direction to partition the front air chamber 31 in the vehicle front-rear direction. As a result, four small air chambers (partition chambers) 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D arranged in order in the front-rear direction of the vehicle in the front air chamber 31 are closed at one end side (lower end side), and The other end side (upper end side) is open and communicates with each other through the upper part of the front air chamber 31, and each is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. In addition, in this airbag 10, the base fabrics 20 and 21 are sewn in a circular shape at the end portions (terminal portions) 23T, 24T, and 25T of the inner joint portions 23, 24, and 25, and the strength in the vicinity thereof is improved. And prevent damage.

  On the other hand, in the rear air chamber 32, one inner joint portion 26 in which both end portions 26T end together is inclined in the vertical direction, and both end portions 26T are sewn in a circular shape. . As a result, the rear air chamber 32 is partitioned in the vehicle front-rear direction with the upper and lower portions communicating with each other, and two small air chambers 32A and 32B are formed therein.

  In addition, in the airbag apparatus 1, the base fabrics 20 and 21 protrude outwardly at the upper end of one end side (here, the vehicle rear side) of the airbag 10, and between the outer edge joint portions 22 that join them. A portion that does not join the base fabrics 20 and 21 is provided to form a substantially cylindrical gas inlet 13. That is, the gas introduction port 13 is an opening part where a part of the rear air chamber 32 is opened toward the outside of the airbag 10 and communicates the inside and outside of the air chamber 30, and gas from the inflator 40 is passed through the inside of the airbag 10. It functions as a gas inflow port (supply port) that is introduced into the air chamber 30 and supplied to and into the air chamber 30.

  Here, the inflator 40 is a cylinder-type gas generator having a substantially cylindrical shape, and a plurality of gas jets are ejected along the circumferential direction at one end in the longitudinal direction (the tip in the airbag 10 in the figure). A small diameter portion 41 in which the opening 42 is formed is provided so as to protrude concentrically. In the airbag device 1, one end of the inflator 40 on the small diameter portion 41 side is inserted into the gas inlet 13 of the airbag 10, and the gas ejection port 42 is positioned in the vicinity of the rear air chamber 32. The airbag 10 is clamped and fixed to the outer periphery of the inflator 40 by a clamp (band) 45.

  In this way, the inflator 40 is attached to the gas inlet 13, and the gas ejected radially from the plurality of gas outlets 42 of the inflator 40 is introduced from the gas inlet 13 and supplied into the airbag 10. The air chambers 31 and 32 are expanded by flowing into the air. At this time, here, the gas generated by the inflator 40 is guided by the inner tube 50 disposed in the airbag 10 and the cloth-like member (base fabric) 60 wound around the inflator 40. Supply toward a predetermined position.

  The inner tube 50 is a guide member that guides the gas from the gas inlet 13 (the inflator 40) to the rear air chamber 32 and the front air chamber 31 of the air chamber 30, and is connected to the gas inlet 13 from which the rear portion The air bag 10 is disposed in the airbag 10 so as to pass through the upper portion of the air chamber 32 and the connecting portion 33 and extend to the front air chamber 31. Further, in the airbag apparatus 1, the inner tube 50 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and one end thereof is extended to the inside of the gas inlet 13, and the clamp 45 is attached to the outer periphery of the inflator 40 together with the airbag 10. It is pinched and fixed. Further, one or a plurality of (one in this case) gas outlets 51 are formed in the inner tube 50 in the rear air chamber 32, and gas is supplied from there to the rear air chamber 32. An opening 52 is provided at the end (tip), and gas is supplied from there to the front air chamber 31.

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of the inner tube 50 cut in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line W-W in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 includes a cross-sectional view taken along arrows X-X in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing the Y region of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the inner tube 50 (see FIG. 2A) is folded by folding the substantially strip-shaped base fabric in half along the longitudinal direction, and is sewn and joined along the edge (sewn portion 53). A gas passage 54 extending continuously between the opposing base fabrics is provided to form a cylindrical shape (cylindrical shape in the figure). In addition, the edge side (the upper side in the figure) of the inner tube 50 sandwiching the sewing portion 53 is sandwiched between the base fabrics 20 and 21 of the airbag 10, and the portion is sewn at the same time when the outer edge joint portion 22 is sewn. The inner tube 50 is fixed along the upper edge of the airbag 10. Further, a through hole is formed in the inner tube 50 (see FIG. 2B) to form a gas outlet 51, the inside of which is communicated with the rear air chamber 32, and the gas in the gas passage 54 is transferred from the gas outlet 51 to the rear air chamber. It is made to flow out into 32 and is supplied.

  On the other hand, at the tip of the inner tube 50 (see FIG. 3), the reverse side (the lower side in the drawing) of the above-described sewing portion 53 so that the internal gas passage 54 gradually narrows toward the opening 52. Are sewn at an angle, and a sewing portion 55 is provided. With this sewing portion 55, the inner tube 50 is formed such that the opening width K of the opening 52 is narrower (H> K) than the width H of the gas passage 54 at a position where there is no sewing portion 55. The inner tube 50 guides the gas from the inflator 40 to the front air chamber 31 through this gas passage 54 and supplies the gas through the opening 52, and enters each small air chamber 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D. Gas is allowed to flow and each expands. On the other hand, on the other end side (see FIG. 1) of the inner tube 50, the inflator 40 and the cloth-like member 60 are inserted into the gas passage 54, and they are arranged so as to overlap each other over a predetermined range.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing the Z region of FIG. 1 including the cloth-like member 60, and shows the respective states at the time of gas ejection from the inflator 40 in the order of FIGS. 4A and 4B.
The cloth-like member 60 is a cloth-like winding member formed by, for example, cutting a base cloth into a belt having a predetermined shape and size, and as shown in the drawing, the cloth-like member 60 is sequentially overlapped on the outer periphery of the inflator 40 several times. It is wound over (three times in the figure). At that time, the cloth-like member 60 is disposed so as to protrude from the small-diameter portion 41 of the inflator 40 to a position on the rear air chamber 32 side, and the plurality of gas ejection ports 42 are located on the inner side (inner peripheral side), While surrounding the whole from the outer periphery, it is wound around the inflator 40 and arranged so that one end (open end) opens into the airbag 10.

  The airbag device 1 is arranged in the inner tube 50 by inserting the plurality of gas ejection ports 42 of the inflator 40 into the gas inlet 13 of the airbag 10 together with the cloth-like member 60 arranged around the inflator 40. They are put together and clamped and fixed to the outer periphery of the inflator 40 by a clamp 45. In this way, a plurality of overlapping cloth-like members 60 are arranged between the gas ejection port 42 of the inflator 40, the inner tube 50, and the airbag 10 (gas introduction port 13).

  The airbag device 1 receives a gas (see an arrow in FIG. 4A) that is radially ejected from the plurality of gas ejection ports 42 toward the radially outer side of the small-diameter portion 41 by the cloth-like member 60, and is inflated by the pressure. Guidance is directed toward the open end of the shaped member 60 (see the arrow in FIG. 4B). Thereby, the gas generated by the inflator 40 is rectified and guided into the airbag 10 (inner tube 50) outside in the axial direction, and the gas is supplied to the air chamber 30 of the airbag 10 through them. Inflow. Therefore, the cloth-like member 60 has a function as a guide member that guides the gas from the inflator 40. At the same time, the cloth-like member 60 receives the gas ejected from the gas ejection port 42 to relieve the pressure, or prevents the gas from being directly sprayed onto the airbag 10 or the inner tube 50 to reduce damage. It also functions as a protective member that protects them.

  Here, when the inflator 40 is operated, the cloth-like member 60 is torn from the edge portion of the innermost winding start portion constituting the inner peripheral surface by a pressure or impact acting from the injected gas, and a tear ( Breaks and damage may occur. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the extending direction of the yarn constituting the cloth-like member 60 is inclined from the longitudinal direction that is the winding direction of the cloth-like member 60 around the inflator 40, thereby The stitches (fabrics) are arranged obliquely with respect to the winding direction, and the above-described functions of the cloth-like member 60 are ensured.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the cloth-like member 60. The state before and after the operation of the inflator 40 (FIG. 5A is the front and FIG. 5B is the rear) is shown in FIG. It is shown in a flat development.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a cloth-like member 90 arranged without obliquely crossing the yarn in the winding direction as a comparative example. Like FIG. 5, before and after the inflator 40 operates (FIG. 6A). FIG. 6B shows the respective states of FIG. 6B and FIG.

  The cloth-like member 90 (see FIG. 6A) of the comparative example is formed, for example, by cutting a base cloth into a rectangular shape (strip shape) along the stitches, and the yarn stitches (cloth stitches) 91 are wound around the inflator 40 in the winding direction M. It is a base cloth piece made substantially parallel and orthogonal to. At the time of winding around the inflator 40, the cloth-like member 90 is wound in an overlapping manner from one end side in the longitudinal direction to the other end side (from the upper side to the lower side in the figure), and the direction of the thread 91 is the tube It arrange | positions so that the circumferential direction and axial direction of the cloth-like member 90 which make a shape may be followed. When the inflator 40 is actuated in this state, the cloth-like member 90 has a tear 92 (see FIG. 6B) at the edge of the winding where the gas hits due to the impact of the gas pressure injected radially from the gas outlet 42. Is generated and progresses along the thread 91, and the tear 92 tends to grow greatly in the winding direction M (circumferential direction). As described above, the cloth-like member 90 is likely to generate a large tear 92 at a portion (see FIG. 4) surrounding the gas ejection port 42 of the inflator 40, and the tear 92 reaches the outer peripheral portion so that the inside and the outside communicate with each other. May leak gas. Therefore, in this cloth-like member 90, in order to prevent the tear 92 from reaching the outer peripheral portion and causing gas leakage, it is formed sufficiently longer than the length of the tear 92 to be generated in the inflator 40. It is necessary to wind.

  On the other hand, the cloth-like member 60 (see FIG. 5A) of the airbag device 1 changes the direction of the thread (cloth) 61 with respect to the winding direction M by changing the cutting direction of the base fabric. Are formed in a similar rectangular shape by crossing in the direction intersecting with. Therefore, when the cloth-like member 60 is wound around the inflator 40, the direction of the thread 61 is inclined with respect to the winding direction M (circumferential direction), and each thread spirals in the axial direction while sequentially intersecting. It is arranged to extend. If the inflator 40 is operated in this state, a tear 62 (see FIG. 5B) may be generated at the edge of the winding at the beginning of the cloth-like member 60 due to the impact of gas pressure or the like.

  However, in this cloth-like member 60, the tear 62 has a tendency to develop in an oblique direction with respect to the winding direction M along the thread 61. It grows obliquely from one direction toward one edge. Thus, the cloth-like member 60 hardly develops in the winding direction M even when the tear 62 occurs, and even when it grows most, the edge along the winding direction M (the long side on the right side in FIG. 5B). And stops there, and the formation of a large tear 62 is suppressed. As a result, in this airbag apparatus 1, it is prevented that the tear 62 which reaches an outer peripheral part is produced in the cloth-like member 60 of the part surrounding the gas ejection opening 42 (refer FIG. 4) of the inflator 40, and gas leaks out. There is nothing. Therefore, in the airbag device 1, the cloth-like member 60 can be maintained in a state of being wound around the inflator 40 and surrounding the gas ejection port 42, and as described above, as a guide member or a protective member for the cloth-like member 60. The function is secured. Further, in this cloth-like member 60, gas leakage can be sufficiently prevented even if it is shorter as the generated tear 62 becomes shorter than the cloth-like member 90 (see FIG. 6) of the comparative example. The length is shorter and the number of windings is smaller.

  In the cloth-like member 60, when the angle of the thread 61 is less than 15 degrees or greater than 75 degrees with respect to the winding direction M, the progress direction of the tear 62 also approaches the winding direction M, and the tear 62 is more It becomes easy to grow for a long time. Accordingly, it is necessary to make the length of the cloth-like member 60 longer, and the above-described effect of shortening may not be sufficiently obtained. Therefore, the cloth-like member 60 has an angle of the thread 61 with respect to the winding direction M. Is preferably formed at an angle in the range of 15 to 75 degrees. In addition, the cloth-like member 60 of the present embodiment is a base cloth (bias) in which the thread 61 is obliquely crossed with respect to the winding direction M by cutting at a predetermined angle (here, about 45 ° obliquely) with respect to the cloth. Cloth). This bias cloth is a cloth used for a hemming tape, for example, and has a relatively large stretchability in the winding direction M due to the direction of the thread 61. The cloth-like member 60 is wound by pulling around the outer periphery of the inflator 40 using this stretchability, and as a result, the winding work can be performed relatively easily.

  In addition, the cloth-like member 60 of the present embodiment is made of an airbag base fabric (fabric) that can form the airbag 10, and has the same type and equivalent performance as the fabric of the airbag 10. The cloth-like member 60 may be a non-coated base cloth, but a base cloth provided with a coating layer of a heat-resistant material such as heat-resistant resin or rubber (for example, silicone resin or rubber). May be used. Here, a base fabric formed by coating one or both surfaces with a heat-resistant material by surface treatment (coating layer forming treatment) such as coating or laminating is used for the cloth-like member 60. The cloth-like member 60 has a coating layer of a heat resistant material on at least one surface. In addition, the cloth-like member 60 is wound around the outer periphery of the inflator 40 so that the coating layer of the heat-resistant material is on the inner side, and the same surface is disposed toward the inner periphery (the gas ejection port 42). Yes.

  In the airbag apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1) configured as described above, the airbag 10 folded in a predetermined state is attached to and stored in the roof rail portion or the front pillar portion together with the inflator 40, the cloth-like member 60, and the like. And mounted on the vehicle. After that, the airbag device 1 operates the inflator 40 to generate gas when a predetermined impact is detected, etc., and guides the gas ejected from the gas ejection port 42 by the cloth-like member 60 and the inner tube 50. The air bag 10 is supplied into the air bag 10 (air chamber 30).

  As a result, gas is introduced into the air chambers 31 and 32 to be inflated, and the airbag 10 is lifted from the side of the mounting pieces 11 and 12 attached to the vehicle while the folded shape is eliminated. Inflated and deployed in the form of a curtain toward In this manner, the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed between the occupant and the vehicle wall on the side of the vehicle, and the occupant is received by the inflated air chamber 30 to protect the occupant mainly with the head as the center.

  In the airbag device 1 according to the present embodiment at the time of inflating and deploying, the cloth member 60 wound around the inflator 40 guides the gas ejected radially from the plurality of gas ejection ports 42, and the gas is contained in the airbag 10. Supply towards. At this time, according to the cloth-like member 60, as described above, the occurrence of a large tear or damage (see FIG. 5) and the occurrence of gas leakage can be suppressed, and each function can be ensured more reliably. Through the inside, the function as a guide member and a protective member can be maintained and fully exhibited. Accordingly, the airbag 10 can be inflated and deployed reliably and appropriately, and the protection function for the occupant can be enhanced. At the same time, since the airbag 10 and the inner tube 50 can be protected from the generated gas by the cloth-like member 60, damage and gas leakage can be suppressed, and the airbag apparatus 1 can be operated reliably and accurately.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the inflator 40 of the airbag device 1 does not have a metal guide tube as in the prior art, and guides the gas ejected radially from the plurality of gas ejection ports 42 to provide the airbag. 10 and the air bag 10 and the like can be more reliably protected from the gas. In addition, since the metal guide tube is not necessary, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the structure of the airbag device 1 can be relatively simplified around the inflator 40. . Furthermore, since the cloth-like member 60 only needs to be wound around the inflator 40, the labor and time required for the mounting operation can be reduced as compared with the case where a metal guide tube is fixed. . Furthermore, as described above, the length of the cloth-like member 60 can be relatively short, and the cost can be reduced. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the airbag device 1 can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, in the airbag device 1, for example, when a fire occurs during transportation or storage, the cloth-like member 60 is also burned. Therefore, even if the inflator 40 is activated in that state, a plurality of gases are used. The gas from the ejection port 42 is ejected radially outward in the radial direction. As described above, as a result of preventing the gas from being blown out in one direction from the inflator 40, it is possible to prevent a driving force from acting on the inflator 40 in the same state, and the inflator 40 jumps out into the air or moves along the ground at high speed. And the like can be suppressed, and the danger can be reduced. Further, even if the cloth-like member 60 remains unburned, the cloth-like member 60 is opened radially outward by the gas pressure when the inflator 40 is operated, and the gas escapes in that direction, so that the driving force is applied to the inflator 40 in the same manner as described above. Therefore, the risk does not increase.

  Here, since the cloth-like member 60 is only wound around the inflator 40, when the inflator 40 is operated, the pressure of the generated gas acts to swell rapidly, and its circumferential position changes. As a result, fluctuation occurs in the location where the gas ejected from the gas ejection port 42 is hit. Therefore, in this cloth-like member 60, it is possible to prevent the gas from being continuously injected to one place, and it is possible to suppress damage to the cloth-like member 60 and maintain its function for a longer time. In the present embodiment, since the cloth-like member 60 is formed of an airbag base cloth, the cloth-like member 60 has high performance with respect to gas such as airtightness, and the above-described functions and performances are sufficiently exhibited. A greater effect can be obtained.

  Furthermore, since the cloth-like member 60 is provided with a coating layer of a heat-resistant material, durability against a relatively high temperature gas generated from the inflator 40 can be improved, and the cloth-like member 60 is further damaged by the gas. Can be prevented. In addition, since the cloth-like member 60 is formed from a bias cloth and wound around the inflator 40 using its stretchability, it is easy to wind, and the burden and time required for the work can be reduced. The cloth-like member 60 can be wound around the inflator 40 more reliably and accurately. At that time, if the cloth-like member 60 is wound around the inflator 40 so that the coating layer is on the inner side (on the gas ejection port 42 side), damage due to gas can be prevented more reliably, and the cloth-like member 60 can be easily wound around the inflator 40. Therefore, it is desirable to wind in that way.

  If the number of times the cloth-like member 60 is wound around the inflator 40 is increased, the effect of absorbing the impact of the gas is increased, and the generated tear 62 and damage are more reliably caused in the middle of the overlapping cloth-like member 60. Because it stops, its function becomes even higher. Therefore, the number of times the cloth-like member 60 is wound around the inflator 40 may be set as appropriate so that the function of the cloth-like member 60 can be maintained according to the gas pressure, the impact force, or the like. In addition, one cloth-like member 60 may be wound around the inflator 40 in sequence, or a plurality of cloth-like members 60 previously stacked may be wound.

  Further, in the airbag device 1, the gas from the inflator 40 is guided to a predetermined position in the air chamber 30 by the inner tube 50 disposed in the air bag 10, and each of the air chambers 31 and 32 and the air bag 10. Is inflated and deployed reliably and appropriately. At that time, as described above, the inner tube 50 is extended to the inside of the gas inlet 13 of the airbag 10 so that the gas can be supplied smoothly into the gas passage 54 and the gas to the outside can be supplied. Leakage and the like are suppressed, and the gas can be guided and supplied to the air chambers 31 and 32 reliably. However, even if the inner tube 50 is not provided, the gas from the inflator 40 can be supplied to the entire air chamber 30 via the cloth-like member 60 and the connecting portion 33, so that the airbag 10 can be inflated and deployed.

FIG. 7 is a front view schematically showing a main part of the airbag apparatus 1 ′ that does not include the inner tube 50 as described above, and shows a schematic shape of the airbag 10 in a deployed state corresponding to FIG. FIG.
In the airbag apparatus 1 ′ of this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the inflator 40 in which the cloth-like member 60 is wound is directly inserted into the gas inlet 13 without providing the inner tube 50 in the airbag 10. It arrange | positions in the airbag 10. FIG.

  Therefore, when the inflator 40 is operated, the gas from the gas ejection port 42 is guided by the cloth-like member 60 in the same manner as described above, flows into the rear air chamber 32, passes through the connecting portion 33, and passes through the front air chamber. 31 flows into. In this way, the airbag device 1 ′ supplies gas to the entire air chamber 30 to inflate and deploy the airbag 10, and protects the occupant by covering the vehicle wall with the airbag 10. As described above, the inner tube 50 may not be provided in the airbag 10 in accordance with the size of the airbag 10 and the required performance. Even in this case, the passenger can be sufficiently protected.

  As described above, the airbag apparatus 1 (1 ′) in which the cloth-like member 60 is a base cloth has been described as an example. However, the yarn-like line 61 is obliquely arranged on the cloth-like member 60 with respect to the winding direction M. Other members such as blade tubes may be used. The blade tube is an assembly in which a plurality of yarns are knitted and assembled into a cylindrical shape, and is a cylindrical member in which each yarn is arranged so as to extend in a spiral shape, and the thread is formed in a spiral shape in the longitudinal direction. . By cutting the blade tube having the spiral thread line linearly or inclined along the longitudinal direction, the cloth-like member 60 in which the thread line 61 crosses the winding direction M is formed. Therefore, even if the cloth-like member 60 formed in this way is wound around the inflator 40, the same effects as described above can be obtained.

  Further, the blade tube may be formed in a size corresponding to the outer periphery of the inflator 40, and the inflator 40 may be inserted therein and used instead of the cloth-like member 60 without performing cutting and the like. In this case, one or a plurality of stacked blade tubes are covered with the inflator 40 so as to surround the plurality of gas ejection ports 42 and open into the airbag 10, similarly to the cloth-like member 60. Along with this blade tube, a plurality of gas ejection ports 42 of the inflator 40 are inserted into the gas introduction port 13 of the airbag 10, and the gas from the gas ejection ports 42 is guided by the blade tube on the outer peripheral side thereof to air. Supply into bag 10. In addition, since these blade tubes can improve the durability etc. by covering one or both of the inner and outer surfaces with a heat resistant material in the same manner as the cloth-like member 60, the heat resistant material is provided on at least one surface. It is more desirable to provide the coating layer.

It is a front view which shows typically the principal part of the airbag apparatus of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnects and shows a part of longitudinal direction of the inner tube of this embodiment typically. It is the elements on larger scale which show the Y area | region of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale which show Z area | region of FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the structure and effect | action of the cloth-like member of this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the cloth-like member of a comparative example. It is a front view which shows typically the principal part of the airbag apparatus of other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Airbag apparatus, 10 ... Airbag, 11 ... Upper attachment piece, 12 ... Front part attachment piece, 13 ... Gas inlet, 20 ... Front side base fabric, 21. ..Back side base fabric, 22 ... outer edge joint portion, 23, 24, 25, 26 ... inner joint portion, 30 ... air chamber, 31 ... front air chamber, 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D: Small air chamber, 32: Rear air chamber, 32A, 32B ... Small air chamber, 33 ... Connecting portion, 40 ... Inflator, 41 ... Small diameter portion, 42 ... Gas outlet, 45 ... Clamp, 50 ... Inner tube, 51 ... Gas outlet, 52 ... Opening, 53 ... Sewing part, 54 ... Gas passage, 55 ... -Sewing part, 60 ... cloth-like member.

Claims (6)

An airbag that can be inflated and deployed to cover the vehicle wall by introducing gas, and an inflator that ejects gas radially from a plurality of gas ejection ports and supplies the gas into the airbag,
The airbag is an airbag device having a gas inlet port to which the inflator is attached, and an air chamber inflated by gas from the gas inlet port,
A cloth-like member that surrounds the plurality of gas ejection ports and is wound a plurality of times around the inflator so as to open toward the inside of the airbag, and the yarn-like members are arranged obliquely with respect to the winding direction. And an airbag device in which a plurality of gas ejection ports of the inflator are inserted into the gas introduction port together with the cloth-like member. In the airbag apparatus described in Claim 1,
The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cloth-like member has an angle of a thread line with respect to the winding direction in a range of 15 degrees to 75 degrees. In the airbag apparatus described in Claim 1,
The airbag apparatus, wherein the cloth-like member is formed by cutting a blade tube having a spiral thread. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The airbag device, wherein the cloth-like member has a coating layer of a heat-resistant material. An airbag that can be inflated and deployed to cover the vehicle wall by introducing gas, and an inflator that ejects gas radially from a plurality of gas ejection ports and supplies the gas into the airbag,
The airbag is an airbag device having a gas inlet port to which the inflator is attached, and an air chamber inflated by gas from the gas inlet port,
A blade tube having a spiral thread covering the inflator so as to surround the plurality of gas ejection ports and open toward the inside of the airbag; and the plurality of gas ejections of the inflator together with the blade tube An air bag apparatus, wherein a mouth is inserted into the gas inlet. In the airbag apparatus described in Claim 5,
The air bag apparatus, wherein the blade tube has a coating layer of a heat resistant material.

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