JP2010155564A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To assure sufficiently the volume of airbag at the completion of development while assuring occupant restricting performance at the start of development of the airbag. <P>SOLUTION: A pair of gas supplying chambers 33 sewn against an inner bag 31 at a breaking part S6 and an occupant restricting chamber 34 communicated with ends of the gas supplying chambers 33 facing against an occupant are disposed between the inner bag 31 and an outer bag 32, and the inner surfaces of the inner bag 31 opposing each other are connected with tethers 36. Gas supplied from an inflator develops at first the inner bag 31 to generate a requisite minimum occupant restricting performance, thereafter this gas is supplied from the gas supplying holes 31b of the inner bag 31 to the gas supplying chambers 33 to break the breaking part S6 and develops the occupant restricting chamber 34. At this time, since the tethers 36 restrict an expansion of the inner bag 31 to promote increasing of inner pressure, it is possible to increase firstly the inner pressure of the gas supplying chambers 33 and perform a positive rupturing of the breaking part S6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes an inner bag that is inflated by gas generated by an inflator, and a gas supply hole that is sewn so as to cover at least a part of the inner bag on the outer side of the inner bag and is formed at an end of the inner bag on the inflator side. The present invention relates to an airbag device including an outer bag that is inflated with supplied gas.

  In the airbag device for the passenger seat, the front wall portion 54 is sewn on the surface of the airbag 42 that divides the first chamber 46 and faces the occupant to divide the second chamber 49, and the first chamber 46 and the second chamber 49, the vent hole 51 formed in the front wall portion 54 is closed by sewing the airbag 42 and the front wall portion 54 with the sewing portion 39A. 22.

According to this airbag device, when the first chamber 46 of the airbag 42 is deployed with the gas supplied from the inflator 31, it is partitioned between the airbag 42 and the front wall portion 50 with the gas passing through the communication path 48. When the second chamber 49 expands and the internal pressure of the second chamber 49 increases, the sewing portion 39A breaks, the vent hole 51 of the front wall 50 opens, and the internal pressure is released by letting the gas in the second chamber 49 to the outside. An excessive increase in the amount can be suppressed.
JP 2006-224748 A

  By the way, it is desirable that the airbag has a large volume in order to restrain passengers in various postures. However, if the volume of the airbag is increased, it takes time until the airbag is fully deployed. There is a possibility that sufficient occupant restraint performance cannot be exhibited by contact with the occupant in a state where the amount of the air is insufficient. In order to prevent this, a large-capacity inflator may be attached. However, if this is done, there is a problem in that the airbag device is increased in size and cost.

  Therefore, the airbag has a double structure including an inner bag and an outer bag. First, the inner bag having a small volume is deployed to ensure the minimum necessary passenger restraining performance, and the outer bag having a large volume is delayed from the deployment of the inner bag. It is conceivable to secure a wide range in which the occupant can be restrained by deploying the bag.

  However, what is described in Patent Document 1 described above is that the first chamber 46 (inner bag) and the second chamber 49 (outer bag) of the airbag 42 are merely communicated with each other via the communication passage 48. There was a problem that the bag and the outer bag could not be deployed with an appropriate time difference.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to ensure a sufficient volume of an airbag when deployment is completed while ensuring occupant restraint performance at the initial stage of airbag deployment.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention described in claim 1, an inner bag that is inflated with gas generated by an inflator and an outer bag of the inner bag are sewn so as to cover at least a part thereof, In an airbag device comprising an outer bag inflated with gas supplied from a gas supply hole formed at an end portion of the inner bag on the inflator side, a side surface of the inner bag is provided between the inner bag and the outer bag. Alternatively, a gas supply chamber that extends from the inflator side toward the occupant side along the upper and lower surfaces, and an occupant restraint chamber that covers a surface of the inner bag facing the occupant and communicates with an occupant side end of the gas supply chamber. A gas supplied to the gas supply chamber, the inner bag and the outer bag defining the gas supply chamber. Together joined by breakable breaking portion in pressure, the air bag device characterized by comprising a restricting means for restricting the expansion of the said gas supply chamber side of the inner bag is proposed.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the configuration of claim 1, the restricting means is disposed closer to the passenger restraint chamber than the gas supply hole of the gas supply chamber. An airbag device is proposed.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the configuration of claim 1 or claim 2, the restricting means connects the pair of gas supply chambers arranged so as to face each other. An airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the airbag device is constituted by a tether.

  The sewing S6 of the embodiment corresponds to the fracture portion of the present invention, and the tether 36 of the embodiment corresponds to the regulating means of the present invention.

  According to the configuration of claim 1, between the inner bag and the outer bag, the gas supply chamber extending from the inflator side toward the passenger side along the side surface or the upper and lower surfaces of the inner bag is opposed to the passenger of the inner bag. Since the passenger restraint chamber that covers the surface and communicates with the passenger side end of the gas supply chamber is provided, the gas supplied from the inflator first generates the minimum required passenger restraint performance by deploying the inner bag , By supplying to the gas supply chamber from the gas supply hole of the inner bag and flowing to the occupant side while breaking the rupture portion, the occupant restraint chamber can be deployed to finally secure a volume that can reliably restrain the occupant it can. Therefore, while ensuring high initial restraint performance, the airbag can be quickly deployed to the final deployed shape to protect a wide area, and a rapid change in internal pressure of the airbag can be suppressed. In particular, when the inner bag is inflated, the expansion to the gas supply chamber side is regulated by the regulating means, so that the internal pressure of the gas supply chamber can be increased at an early stage and the fracture portion can be reliably broken.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the restricting means is disposed on the passenger restraint chamber side of the gas supply hole of the gas supply chamber, the gas flowing into the gas supply chamber from the gas supply port flows toward the passenger restraint chamber. In some cases, the internal pressure of the gas supply chamber can be increased at an early stage by the restricting means so that the fracture portion can be reliably broken.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the restricting means is configured by the tether connecting the pair of gas supply chambers arranged so as to face each other, not only the structure is simple and inexpensive, but also one The internal pressure of both the pair of gas supply chambers can be increased with the tether.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front part of a passenger compartment of an automobile, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state after the airbag is completely deployed, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4 and a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the airbag after completion of deployment, and FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the airbag.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an airbag device 13 is provided on an instrument panel 12 positioned in front of a passenger seat 11 of an automobile. The airbag device 13 includes two lids 15 and 15 that open and close a rectangular opening 14 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) formed in the instrument panel 12, and these lids 15 and 15 are provided on the instrument panel 12. And molded integrally.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a thin-walled rupture portion 12 a that defines the outer edges of the lids 15, 15 is formed on the lower surface of the instrument panel 12, and the rupture portion 12 a breaks when the airbag 16 is deployed and the lid 15 , 15 are opened to form the opening 14. A metal reinforcing plate 17 formed in a rectangular frame shape is fixed to the lower surface of the instrument panel 12 surrounding the opening 14. A pair of front and rear belt-like bent portions 17b and 17b are integrally formed on the inner periphery of the fixing portion 17a of the reinforcing plate 17 fixed to the instrument panel 12, and these bent portions 17b and 17b are formed in the opening 14. The instrument panel 12 extends downward along the front and rear edges of the instrument panel 12. A plurality of L-shaped extensions 17c... Extend downward from the lower end of each bent portion 17b.

  The front edge of the front lid 15 and the rear edge of the rear lid 15 are supported by the instrument panels 12 before and after the opening 14 via metal hinge plates 18 and 18 so as to be freely opened and closed. Each hinge plate 18 includes a fixed portion 18a that is superimposed on the lower surface of the fixed portion 17a of the reinforcing plate 17, a movable portion 18b that is fixed to the lower surface of the lid 15 by thermal caulking, the fixed portion 18a and the movable portion 18b. A plurality of hinge portions 18c to be connected. Each hinge portion 18 c is formed in a U-shaped cross section and extends toward the inside of the instrument panel 12. The bent portion 17b of the reinforcing plate 17 is fitted into the hinge portion 18c of the hinge plate 18, and the extended portions 17c of the reinforcing plate 17 pass between the adjacent hinge portions 18c of the hinge plate 18 and downward. It extends.

  A fixing portion 19a of a metal mounting bracket 19 is overlapped and fixed to the lower surface of the fixing portion 18a of each hinge plate 18. A plurality of L-shaped module support portions 19b... Extend downward from the fixing portion 19a of the mounting bracket 19.

  And the fixing | fixed part 17a of the reinforcement plate 17 superimposed on the lower surface of the instrument panel 12, the fixing | fixed part 18a of the hinge plate 18, and the fixing | fixed part 19a of the attachment bracket 19 are fastened together with the volt | bolt 20 ... and the nut 21 .... The

  The airbag module 23 is fixed to the retainer 24 with a container-shaped retainer 24 having an open upper surface, a cylindrical inflator 25 supported on the bottom of the retainer 24, and bolts 26 and nuts 27 in a folded state. The airbag 16 is provided. The upper end opening of the retainer 24 is fastened together with the extensions 17 c of the reinforcing plate 17 and the module support 19 b of the mounting bracket 19 with clips 28.

  Next, the structure of the airbag 16 is demonstrated based on FIGS.

  The airbag 16 includes an inner bag 31 located on the inner side and an outer bag 32 that covers the left and right side surfaces and the occupant-facing surface. The inner bag 31 is formed in a perfect bag shape, and includes a base portion 31a connected to the inflator 25 and a pair of gas supply holes 31b and 31b formed on both left and right side surfaces in the vicinity of the base portion 31a. The outer bag 32 includes a pair of side walls 32a and 32a that cover the left and right side surfaces of the inner bag 31, and a shallow bag-like occupant restraint wall 32b that is continuous with the side walls 32a and 32a.

  The upper edge, the lower edge, and the front edge of each side wall 32a of the outer bag 32 are sewn on the side surface of the inner bag 31 by sewing S1 to S3 that cannot be broken. The upper and lower edges of the occupant restraint wall 32b of the outer bag 32 are sewn on the upper and lower surfaces of the inner bag 31 by sewing S4 and S5 that cannot be broken. As a result, a closed space is defined between the outer surface of the inner bag 31 and the inner surface of the outer bag 32, and the closed space is formed between the pair of gas supply chambers 33 and 33 inside the side walls 32 a and 32 a of the outer bag 32. And an occupant restraint chamber 34 inside the occupant restraint wall 32b of the outer bag 32. The pair of gas supply chambers 33, 33 extends from the gas supply holes 31b, 31b toward the occupant side, and communicates with the occupant restraint chamber 34 at an end portion on the occupant side.

  Each side wall 32a of the outer bag 32 is sewn by a plurality of breakable sewing S6 extending in the vertical direction on the inner bag 31 on which the outer bag 32 is superimposed. The sewing S6... Is arranged in a zigzag pattern in which the upper edge of the upper edge of the side wall 32a extends from the unbreakable sewing S1 and the upper edge extends from the non-breakable sewing S3 of the lower edge of the side wall 32a. A labyrinth is formed so as to block the gas flowing from the front to the rear in the supply chamber 33.

  Two places in the front-rear direction between the pair of gas supply chambers 33, 33 and the occupant restraint chamber 34 on the left and right side surfaces of the inner bag 31 are sewn S7 at both ends of each of the three tethers 36 extending in the left-right direction. The The tethers 36 ... are stretched to the maximum length in the process of inflating the inner bag 31 to generate tension, and restrict the inner bag 31 from expanding further in the left-right direction.

  Next, the operation of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

  When the vehicle collides and a deceleration of a predetermined value or more is detected, high pressure gas is generated in the inflator 25 of the airbag module 23, and the airbag 16 in a folded state is inflated with the gas. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the airbag 16 is inflated inside the retainer 24, the pressure acts on the lower surfaces of the lids 15 and 15 of the instrument panel 12, and the instrument panel 12 surrounding the lids 15 and 15. When the broken portion 12a is broken and the lids 15 and 15 are opened, the airbag 16 is deployed from the opening 14 formed in the instrument panel 12 into the vehicle interior.

  When the pair of front and rear lids 15 and 15 are opened, the hinge plates 18 and 18 provided on the lower surfaces of the lids 15 and 15 rotate upward with the hinge portions 18c as fulcrums, but the hinge portions 18c are formed in a U shape. Therefore, the lids 15 and 15 can be smoothly opened by being bent easily.

  When the airbag 16 is deployed, the gas generated by the inflator 25 first flows into the base 31a of the inner bag 31 and deploys only the inner bag 31 as shown in FIG. Even if the gas is going to flow into the gas supply chambers 33, 33 of the outer bag 32 from the gas supply holes 31b, 31b in the process of developing the inner bag 31, the gas pressure is low and the gas supply chambers 33, 33 are sewn S6. Since it has a labyrinth shape, gas does not flow into the passenger restraint chamber 34 of the outer bag 32. Therefore, most of the gas generated by the inflator 25 flows only into the inner bag 31, and the inner bag 31 can be deployed quickly and with sufficient internal pressure to ensure the minimum necessary passenger restraint performance.

  If the six tethers 36 are fully extended and generate tension when the inner bag 31 is deployed, the inner bag 31 becomes difficult to deploy further in the left-right direction. The gas flows into the gas supply chambers 33, 33 of the outer bag 32 from 31b, 31b at a high pressure. Since this gas has a high pressure corresponding to the internal pressure of the inner bag 31, the plurality of breakable sewing S6... In the gas supply chambers 33, 33 are successively broken in the vertical direction toward the unbreakable sewing S1, S3. The internal space of the bag 31 communicates with the passenger restraint chamber 34 via the gas supply chambers 33 and 33. As a result, the gas generated by the inflator 25 flows into the occupant restraint chamber 34 through the gas supply chambers 33, 33, and the occupant restraint chamber 34 of the outer bag 32 outside the inner bag 31 as shown in FIGS. Expand. Since the occupant restraint wall 32b of the occupant restraint chamber 34 after deployment has a larger area than the inner bag 31, it can be reliably restrained by the occupant restraint wall 32b having a large area even if the posture of the occupant is variously different.

  As described above, in the event of a vehicle collision, first, gas is supplied only to the inner bag 31 to quickly deploy the inner bag 31 to ensure the minimum necessary passenger restraining performance, and subsequently to deploy the outer bag 32. In addition, since a sufficiently large passenger restraint area can be secured, the passenger restraint performance of the airbag 16 can be improved. Moreover, by restricting the development of the inner bag 31 with the tethers 36..., Sufficient internal pressure can be generated in the gas supply chambers 33, 33 and the sewing S 6.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the airbag device for the passenger seat has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to the airbag device for the driver seat and the rear seat.

  In the embodiment, the gas supply chambers 33 are provided on both the left and right side surfaces of the inner bag 31, but they may be provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the inner bag 31 or only on the upper surface.

  The number and arrangement of the tethers 36 are not limited to the embodiment.

  Further, instead of the sewing S1 to S7, two base fabrics may be joined by bonding or weaving. In that case, the joint strength which can be fractured | ruptured and the joint part which cannot be fractured can be formed by varying joint strength.

The perspective view of the compartment front part of the motor vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment 2-2 line enlarged sectional view of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state in the middle of deployment of an airbag Sectional drawing which shows the state after completion of deployment of an airbag 4-5 sectional view and its BB sectional view 6-6 sectional view of FIG. Perspective view of airbag after completion of deployment Exploded perspective view of airbag

Explanation of symbols

25 Inflator 31 Inner bag 31b Gas supply hole 32 Outer bag 33 Gas supply chamber 34 Passenger restraint chamber 36 Tether (regulation means)
S6 Sewing (breaking part)

Claims (3)

An inner bag (31) that is inflated by gas generated by an inflator (25), and is sewn on the outer side of the inner bag (31) so as to cover at least a part thereof, and the inflator (25) of the inner bag (31) In an airbag device comprising an outer bag (32) that is inflated with a gas supplied from a gas supply hole (31b) formed at an end on the side,
Between the inner bag (31) and the outer bag (32), a gas supply chamber (33) extending from the inflator (25) side toward the passenger side along the side surface or the upper and lower surfaces of the inner bag (31). And an occupant restraint chamber (34) that covers a surface of the inner bag (31) facing the occupant and communicates with an occupant side end of the gas supply chamber (33),
The inner bag (31) and the outer bag (32) that define the gas supply chamber (33) are joined at a breakable portion (S6) that can be broken by the pressure of the gas supplied to the gas supply chamber (33). In addition, the airbag apparatus includes a regulating means (36) for regulating expansion of the inner bag (31) toward the gas supply chamber (33).   The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the restricting means (36) is disposed closer to the occupant restraint chamber (34) than the gas supply hole (31b) of the gas supply chamber (33). apparatus.   The said restriction | limiting means is comprised by the tether (36) which connects between a pair of said gas supply chambers (33) arrange | positioned so that it may mutually oppose, The Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Airbag device.

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