JP2012046072A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device in which a vent hole is brought into a closed state suppressing exhaust in an initial stage when an airbag body is expanded and developed, the vent hole is brought into a closed state stopping exhaust when internal pressure in the airbag reaches predetermined internal pressure, and is brought into an opened state completely carrying out the exhaust when an occupant etc. contacts with the airbag and consequently the internal pressure of the airbag is higher than the predetermined internal pressure.SOLUTION: A flow-straightening cloth (3) for switching the vent hole (5) to an opened state via a closed state and again, the opened state is locked into the inside of the airbag body through a fragile part which is broken when the internal pressure of the airbag body becomes higher than the predetermined internal pressure. When the occupant etc. contacts with the airbag body and consequently the internal pressure of the airbag body is higher than the predetermined internal pressure, the fragile part is broken and the flow-straightening cloth (3) having brought the vent hole (5) into the closed state is projected to the outside from the vent hole (5) to start the exhaust.

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus including an airbag that can be inflated and deployed by a gas supplied from a gas generator such as an inflator when a vehicle collides. In particular, at the initial stage when the airbag is inflated and deployed, it is possible to quickly inflate and deploy while suppressing exhaust from the airbag, so that the inside of the airbag can be brought to a predetermined internal pressure, and an occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag. In particular, the present invention relates to an airbag apparatus including an exhaust section that can reliably start exhaust when the internal pressure in the airbag becomes higher than a predetermined internal pressure.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an air bag device is installed in a vehicle such as an automobile in order to protect an occupant from an impact when the vehicle collides. In addition to protecting the driver and passengers in the passenger seat, the airbag device includes protection for the passengers in the rear seats and protection of pedestrians, protection of the passengers from impacts in the event of a side collision of the vehicle or rollover of the vehicle, etc. Various types have been put to practical use. Moreover, the shape of the airbag and the like are different depending on the installation location and application.

  Many airbag devices are configured to inflate and deploy bag-shaped airbags with high-pressure gas generated from a gas generator such as an inflator at the time of a vehicle collision or the like, and absorb and mitigate impacts such as collisions with the airbag. It has become. Thus, as an airbag device, a configuration for protecting an occupant from an impact or the like is employed.

  The air bag device instantly inflates and deploys the air bag with the high-pressure gas ejected from the gas generator, and then, in the stage of restraining the occupant, appropriately releases the gas inside the air bag, The occupant can be effectively restrained by adjusting the pressure.

  As a configuration for appropriately releasing the gas inside the airbag, a configuration in which a vent hole for gas discharge is formed in the airbag body is employed. Conventionally, various configurations have been proposed as the configuration of the exhaust portion via the vent hole. For example, until the internal pressure of the airbag becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the vent hole is closed or in a small opening state, and when the internal pressure of the airbag becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure and the passenger comes into contact with the airbag, the vent hole is An airbag device (see Patent Document 1) that is in an open or large opening state has been proposed.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag device described in Patent Document 1 as a conventional example of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, a vent hole 44 is provided in the rear panel 42 of the airbag 40. The vent hole 44 is covered with a lid member 45 from the inside of the airbag 40. Inside the airbag 40, a hanging strap 47 that connects the front panel 41 and the rear panel 42 is provided. The lid member 45 is connected to the hanging strap 47 via the tether 46. The tether 46 is sandwiched between the front panel 41 and the rear panel 42 on the center side of the airbag 40 with respect to the vent hole 44, and between the front panel 41 and the rear panel 42 sandwiching the tether 46. Are configured to be decoupled by the linear coupling portions 48 and 49.

  Until the airbag 40 is inflated and deployed and the internal pressure becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure, the inflation of the airbag 40 is partially restricted by the linear coupling portions 48 and 49. When the internal pressure of the airbag 40 rises above a predetermined pressure, the linear coupling portions 48 and 49 are broken. The airbag 40 can be inflated until the maximum volume is reached.

  At this time, the lid member 45 is restricted from moving from the vent hole 44 to the outside of the airbag 40 by the tether 46, and is in a state of overlapping the vent hole 44. The vent hole 44 can be in a closed state or a small opening state. The internal pressure of the airbag 40 can be maintained at a predetermined pressure or higher.

  In this state, when the occupant comes into contact with the airbag 40, the occupant-facing surface of the airbag 40 is pushed back by the occupant, and the tether 46 is loosened accordingly. The lid member 45 can protrude to the outside of the airbag 40 by the amount that the tether 46 is loosened. Then, the lid member 45 is separated from the position where the vent hole 44 is blocked by the gas pressure in the airbag 40. As a result, the vent hole 44 is in an open state or a large opening state, gas flows out of the airbag 40 from the vent hole 44, and the passenger can be softly received by the airbag 40.

  If the occupant comes into contact with the airbag 40 before the internal pressure of the airbag 40 exceeds a predetermined pressure, that is, before the linear coupling portions 48 and 49 break, the tether 46 is attached to the airbag 40 by the hanging strap 47. Therefore, even if the occupant-facing surface of the airbag 40 is pushed by the occupant's contact and retreats, the tether 46 does not sag.

  For this reason, the lid member 45 does not operate to open the vent hole 44, and the vent hole 44 remains covered with the lid member 45. Therefore, gas does not flow out of the airbag 40 from the vent hole 44, and the internal pressure of the airbag 40 does not decrease. The passenger can be restrained by the airbag 40.

  Thereafter, the internal pressure of the airbag 40 reaches a predetermined pressure or more, and the linear coupling portions 48 and 49 are broken. At this time, since the occupant-facing surface of the airbag 40 has already been pushed back by the occupant, the tether 46 is in a relaxed state rather than a tension state. Therefore, the lid member 45 is immediately separated from the vent hole 44 by the gas pressure in the airbag 40, and the vent hole 44 is in an open state or a large opening state. Thereby, gas flows out of the airbag 40 from the vent hole 44, and the airbag 40 is deflated, so that the passenger can be softly received by the airbag 40.

JP 2008-56175 A

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the vent hole 44 can be moved from the closed state to the released state by using the tether 46. Further, although the tether 46 is sandwiched and coupled between the front panel 41 and the rear panel 42 by the linear coupling portions 48 and 49, the portion where the vent hole 44 is formed is also the linear coupling portion 48. , 49 is arranged in a combined configuration.

  Therefore, even if the occupant contacts the airbag 40 before the internal pressure of the airbag 40 becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure, that is, before the linear coupling portions 48 and 49 break, the gas is exhausted from the vent hole 44. It is a configuration that can not be. Conversely, if the occupant contacts the airbag 40 before the linear coupling portions 48, 49 break, the internal pressure of the airbag 40 rises to a predetermined pressure or more, and the linear coupling portions 48, 49 break. In the meantime, the internal pressure in the airbag 40 continues to rise. Then, due to the increase of the internal pressure in the airbag 40, a repulsive force is applied from the airbag 40 to the occupant in contact with the airbag 40.

  In the present invention, the above-mentioned conventional problems are solved, and in the initial stage where the airbag is inflated and deployed, it is possible to cause rapid inflation and deployment while suppressing exhaust from the airbag, If an occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag during inflation and deployment, the exhaust can be surely performed, and when the internal pressure in the airbag reaches a predetermined internal pressure, the exhaust is stopped to The internal pressure state can be maintained, and when an occupant or the like comes into contact with an air bag having a predetermined internal pressure and the internal pressure in the air bag becomes higher than the predetermined internal pressure, exhaust is surely performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag apparatus having an exhaust section that can be used.

The object of the present invention can be achieved by the inventions described in claims 1 to 3.
That is, in the present invention, in an airbag device including an airbag that can be inflated and deployed by gas supplied from a gas generator,
The airbag includes a vent hole for gas discharge formed in the airbag body, and a rectifying cloth that is arranged in the airbag body and switches the vent hole from an open state to a closed state through a closed state. ,
One end portion of the rectifying cloth is locked to the airbag body, and the other end side is locked to the airbag body via a fragile portion,
The length dimension from the one end part locked to the airbag body in the rectifying cloth to the other end part side locked to the airbag body is the length dimension of the airbag body locked to the one end part. Consists of a length dimension substantially the same as the length dimension of the airbag body from the part to the part of the airbag body that locks the other end side,
The rectifying cloth is arranged in a state in which the opening of the vent hole is opened when the airbag body is in a state before inflating and deploying, and the airbag body performs inflating and deploying so that the internal pressure of the airbag body is expanded. When the air pressure reaches a predetermined internal pressure, the opening of the vent hole is closed. When the internal pressure of the airbag body becomes higher than the predetermined internal pressure, the fragile portion is broken and the vent hole is broken. The most important feature is that the opening is opened.

Further, in the present invention, the configuration in which the weakened portion and the other end portion side of the rectifying cloth are locked to the airbag body forms a ear portion by folding a part of the airbag body, The other end side portion of the rectifying cloth is sewn together with the ear portion, and when the predetermined internal pressure is further increased, the sewn by the pulling force from the airbag body The main feature is that the sewing thread is broken.
Furthermore, in the present invention, the weakened portion is formed on the other end portion side of the rectifying cloth, and the other feature is that the other end portion of the rectifying cloth is locked to the airbag body.

  In the present invention, the vent hole can be controlled from the open state to the closed state, and further from the closed state to the open state, with the flow regulating cloth, as the internal pressure of the airbag body changes. That is, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag body, the airbag body can be expanded and deployed in a state where the exhaust amount from the airbag body is reduced. When the internal pressure in the airbag body reaches a predetermined internal pressure state, the vent hole is closed with a rectified cloth that is in a tension state, the vent hole is closed, and the internal pressure in the airbag body is changed to a predetermined internal pressure state. Can be maintained.

  For example, when an occupant comes into contact with the airbag body that has been maintained at a predetermined internal pressure, the fragile portion is broken by an increase in internal pressure in the airbag body, and the tension of the rectifying cloth that has blocked the vent hole Since the state can be released and a free end can be formed in the rectifying cloth, the vent hole can be opened again.

  And by exhausting the gas filled in the airbag body to the outside from the opened vent hole, it is possible to give a more preferable reaction force to the occupant etc. in contact with the airbag body and restrain it softly. .

  The rectifying cloth can be placed outside the airbag body or inside the airbag body. In the stage until the internal pressure in the airbag body reaches the specified internal pressure state, when the flow rectifying cloth is arranged outside the airbag body, the vent hole is opened by the bending of the flow rectifying cloth and the bending of the airbag body. Can be in a state. In addition, when the rectifying cloth is arranged inside the airbag body, a part of the rectifying cloth protrudes outside from the vent hole, and the vent hole can be left open.

  When the internal pressure in the airbag body reaches the specified internal pressure state, if the rectifying cloth is placed outside the airbag body, the vent hole opening is blocked by the rectifying cloth that is in tension. I can keep it. In addition, when the rectifying cloth is disposed inside the airbag body, the vent hole opening can be closed with the rectifying cloth in a tensioned state.

  In addition, when an occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag body that is in a predetermined internal pressure state, if the rectifying cloth is disposed outside the airbag body, the rectifying cloth that has blocked the vent hole by breaking the fragile portion is used. The tension state is released and the vent hole can be opened. In addition, when the rectifying cloth is placed inside the airbag body, the tension state of the rectifying cloth that has blocked the vent hole by the breakage of the fragile portion is released, and the free end of the rectifying cloth is exposed to the outside from the vent hole opening. The vent hole can be opened by projecting into the area.

  By the way, when the vehicle is traveling, passengers such as drivers and passenger seats do not always maintain proper riding positions and riding postures, and physiques and the like differ depending on the passengers. For example, the driver is driving in an extremely forward leaning posture with the upper body close to the steering wheel (this state is called “Out of position”, hereinafter abbreviated as OOP). There is.

  In the initial stage of inflation when the airbag body is inflated and deployed, if an occupant who was in the OOP state touched the airbag body, the vent hole opening was not completely blocked by the rectifying cloth at this time. It is in an open state. Therefore, if the internal pressure of the airbag body increases due to the contact of the occupant, when the rectifying cloth is disposed inside the airbag body, the protruding amount of the rectifying cloth protruding outside from the vent hole can be increased. . When the rectifying cloth is disposed outside the airbag body, the interval between the vent hole and the rectifying cloth can be increased. Thereby, the discharge flow rate of the gas discharged through the rectifying cloth protruding to the outside can be increased, and the occupant can be secured in a state where the repulsive force against the occupant is reduced.

  That is, when the occupant comes into contact with the airbag in a state that can cope with the OOP state, an increase in the internal pressure of the airbag body can be suppressed. Then, the airbag body is inflated and deployed in a state where the load on the occupant in contact with the airbag body is small. In addition, the exhaust passage that passes through the protruding rectifying cloth is a period during which there is a high possibility that an occupant in the OOP state is in contact with the airbag body, that is, until the initial stage after the airbag body starts inflating and deploying. , Never closed. For this reason, the state where gas is discharged from the airbag body is maintained, and the load on the occupant in contact with the airbag body can be kept low.

  After a period when there is a high possibility that an occupant in the OOP state will contact the airbag body, that is, after the initial stage when the airbag body starts inflating and deploying, the rectifying cloth is in a tension state due to the inflation and deployment of the airbag body. It becomes a state where the opening of the vent hole is closed. That is, it is possible to cope with a state that assumes that the occupant is in an appropriate riding state. And when the internal pressure of an airbag main body will be in a predetermined internal pressure state, the opening of a vent hole can be closed with the baffle cloth.

  In other words, the opening of the vent hole can be left open at the initial stage when the airbag body starts inflating and deploying, so that the occupant or the like does not come into contact with the airbag body during inflation and the internal pressure of the airbag body can be maintained. When the pressure reaches a predetermined internal pressure state, the closed state can be maintained.

  Also, when an occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag body during inflation, the discharge flow rate of the gas discharged through the rectifying cloth can be increased, so that the occupant is secured with a reduced repulsive force against the occupant. Can do.

  Furthermore, when an occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag body after the internal pressure of the airbag body reaches a predetermined internal pressure state, the tension state of the rectifying cloth that has closed the vent hole opening is Since it can be solved, the opening of the vent hole can be fully opened.

  In the present invention, as the configuration in which the weakened portion and the other end side of the rectifying cloth are locked to the airbag main body, a part of the airbag main body is folded to form an ear portion, and the rectifying cloth is the airbag main body. When it is arranged on the inner side, the portion on the other end side of the rectifying cloth housed in the ear portion and the ear portion can be sewn together. In addition, when the rectifying cloth is disposed on the outer side of the airbag main body, the portion on the other end side of the rectifying cloth disposed on the outer side of the ear part and the ear part can be sewn together.

  With this configuration, when the internal pressure in the airbag body becomes higher than a predetermined internal pressure, that is, when an occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag body, the air pressure in the airbag body increases due to the increase in the internal pressure in the airbag body. The bag body becomes more tensioned. And the sewing thread | sew which sewn the ear | edge part and the site | part of the other end part side of a baffle cloth by a tension | tensile_strength from the airbag main body used as the tension | tensile_strength state will fracture | rupture.

  When the sewing thread breaks, the other end of the rectifying cloth becomes a free end, and when the rectifying cloth is arranged inside the airbag body, the other end of the rectifying cloth protrudes outside from the vent hole opening. become. Further, when the flow straightening cloth is arranged outside the airbag body, the flow straightening cloth is separated from the opening of the vent hole by the gas flow discharged from the vent hole. And opening of a vent hole can be open | released and the gas in an airbag main body can be exhausted outside from a vent hole.

  In this invention, it can also be set as the structure which formed the weak part in the other end part side of the baffle cloth, and latched the other end part of the baffle cloth to the airbag main body. By forming the fragile portion on the other end side of the rectifying cloth, when an occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag body having a predetermined internal pressure, the airbag body is tensioned due to an increase in the internal pressure in the airbag body. Thus, the fragile portion can be broken.

And by the fracture | rupture of a weak part, a baffle cloth will be cut | disconnected in two before and behind a weak part. And when the baffle cloth is distribute | arranged inside the airbag main body, the free end side formed by the cutting | disconnection will protrude outside from opening of a vent hole. Further, when the flow straightening cloth is arranged outside the airbag body, the flow straightening cloth is separated from the opening of the vent hole by the gas flow discharged from the vent hole. And opening of a vent hole can be open | released and the gas in an airbag main body can be exhausted outside from a vent hole.

It is a principal part inner surface figure which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between a vent hole and a baffle cloth. Example 1 It is the perspective view and principal part sectional drawing of the vent hole periphery in the expansion | swelling initial stage. Example 1 It is the perspective view and principal part sectional drawing of a vent hole periphery in case the internal pressure in an airbag is a predetermined internal pressure state. Example 1 It is the perspective view and principal part sectional drawing of a vent hole periphery in the state in which the internal pressure in an airbag became higher than a predetermined internal pressure. Example 1 It is the figure which showed the relationship between the elapsed time after an airbag started inflate-deployment, and internal pressure. (Examples and comparative examples) It is a figure which shows the restraint G waveform. (Examples and comparative examples) It is sectional drawing which shows the expansion | deployment deployment process of an airbag. (Example 2) It is a modification of Example 2, and is sectional drawing which shows the expansion | deployment process of an airbag. (Example 2) It is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the expansion | swelling of the airbag was controlled. (Conventional example)

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As an airbag apparatus according to the present invention, an airbag body having a bag-like shape will be described below as an example. The airbag device according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the airbag body is formed in a single bag shape, but a side airbag having a secondary airbag body, a side curtain airbag, and a rear seat. The present invention can also be suitably applied to airbags, front curtain airbags, outdoor airbags, and the like. For this reason, this invention is not limited to the Example demonstrated below, A various change is possible.

  The structure of the airbag main body 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the inflator 7 disposed on the back surface side of the airbag body 10 is illustrated. However, in FIG. 1, the inflator 7 is omitted from the illustration of the inflator 7. 8 configurations are shown.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag body 10 is provided on the main panel 2 by stitching the outer peripheral edge of the main panel 2 on the windshield side and the outer peripheral edge of the main panel 1 on the occupant side at the sewing portion 12. The inflator 7 is attached to the inflator attachment portion 8. A vent hole 5 is formed in the main panel 2, and a rectifying cloth 3 for opening and closing the vent hole 5 is provided in the airbag body 10. The main panel 1 and the main panel 2 constitute an airbag body 10.

  The airbag body 10 is made of a non-breathable flexible material, for example, a nylon base fabric panel with a rubber coating on the inside, that is, a configuration in which the main panels 1 and 2 are sewn into a bag shape. It has become. As the configuration of the airbag body 10, a disk-shaped configuration is shown, but this configuration is an example, and other configurations can be adopted as long as the configuration is necessary as an airbag. Further, the rectifying cloth 3 can be constituted by a belt-like tether made of the same material as the main panels 1 and 2. Note that the rectifying cloth 3 can be configured using other materials as necessary.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rectifying cloth 3 has one end side locked to the main panel 2 by the sewing portion 6, and the other end side partially overlaps the main panel 1 and the main panel 2. The other end portion of the rectifying cloth 3 is housed in the ear portion 11 and is sewn together with the ear portion 11 by the sewing portion 4. The sewing thread used for the sewing part 4 is composed of a thread that breaks when the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 becomes higher than a predetermined internal pressure. The fragile portion 13 is configured by the sewing portion 4.

  The width of the rectifying cloth 3 is formed to a width that can cover the opening of the vent hole 5, and the length L from the sewing part 4 to the sewing part 6 in the rectifying cloth 3 is sewn in the main panel 2. The length is substantially the same as the length from the portion 4 to the sewing portion 6.

  In addition, although the structure which used the sewing part 6 is illustrated as a structure which latches the one end part side of the baffle cloth 3 to the main panel 2, the stud which provided the one end part side of the baffle cloth 3 in the inflator attachment part 8 It can also be set as the structure latched by the volt | bolt 9. Alternatively, the one end portion side of the rectifying cloth 3 can be locked by both the sewing portion 6 and the stud bolt 9.

  In the description of the first embodiment, a description will be given using a configuration in which the rectifying cloth 3 that opens and closes the vent hole 5 formed in the airbag body 10 is disposed inside the airbag body 10. However, as the arrangement configuration of the rectifying cloth 3, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, it can be configured to be arranged outside the airbag body 10, and the present invention is provided inside the airbag body 10. The configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the rectifying cloth 3 is provided.

  In the configuration in which the rectifying cloth 3 is disposed outside the airbag body 10, one end side of the rectifying cloth 3 is locked from the outside of the main panel 2 to the main panel 2 by the sewing portion 6, The other end side of the cloth 3 can be sewn together with the ear portion 11 from the outside of the ear portion 11 by the sewing portion 4. At this time, the sewing thread used for the sewing portion 4 needs to be constituted by a thread that breaks when the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 becomes higher than a predetermined internal pressure.

  2 to 4 show a perspective view and a main part sectional view as seen from the main panel 2 side, and FIG. 2 shows an initial stage state in which the airbag body 10 starts inflating and deploying. . FIG. 3 shows a state in which the airbag body 10 is at a predetermined internal pressure, and FIG. 4 shows that an occupant or the like is in contact with the airbag body 10 that has been at the predetermined internal pressure. The internal pressure of the bag body 10 is higher than a predetermined internal pressure, and the weakened portion 13 that has locked the flow regulating cloth 3 is broken.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), at the initial stage when the airbag body 10 starts inflating and deploying, a part of the central portion of the rectifying cloth 3 protrudes from the opening of the vent hole 5 to the outside. It has become. In this state, while the airbag main body 10 is inflated and deployed by the gas injected by the inflator 7, a part of the gas flows through the rectifying cloth 3 protruding outward from the opening of the vent hole 5. A part of the gas that inflates and deploys the airbag body 10 from the road is discharged to the outside of the airbag body 10 as indicated by an arrow.

  As the rectifying cloth 3, the vent hole 5 is in a period during which there is a high possibility that an occupant in the OOP state is in contact with the airbag body 10, that is, until the initial stage after the airbag body 10 starts to expand and It is in a state protruding from the outside. Since the exhaust passage is configured to pass through the rectifying cloth 3 bent in two, it is possible to increase the ventilation resistance in the exhaust passage and suppress the gas discharge flow rate. .

In addition, the exhaust flow path formed by the rectifying cloth 3 is gradually narrowed as the airbag body 10 is inflated and deployed, so the discharge flow rate of the gas discharged from the exhaust flow path Can be suppressed. Therefore, the gas generated from the inflator 7 can be used more efficiently.

  If the occupant does not come into contact with the airbag body 10 before the initial stage of the inflation and deployment of the airbag body 10 is completed, the main panel 2 becomes tensioned and the outside of the vent hole 5 opens. The rectifying cloth 3 protruding to the inside of the airbag body 10 is drawn through the opening of the vent hole 5. Then, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the rectifying cloth 3 can cover the opening of the vent hole 5 from the inside so that the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 can be set to a predetermined internal pressure state.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the rectifying cloth 3 drawn into the airbag body 10 is pulled by the main panel 2 which is in a tension state, and also in the tension state, The opening can be closed. The length dimension L from the sewing part 4 to the sewing part 6 in the rectifying cloth 3 is configured to be substantially the same as the length dimension from the sewing part 4 to the sewing part 6 in the main panel 2, and the rectifying cloth 3 Is formed in a width dimension that can cover the opening of the vent hole 5, so that the opening of the vent hole 5 can be closed.

  In this state, the thread of the sewing part 4 forming the ear part 11 is not broken, and the ear part 11 protrudes from the airbag body 10. The gas that inflates and deploys the airbag body 10 stays in the airbag body 10 as indicated by an arrow.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, when the occupant contacts the main panel 1 on the occupant side when the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 is in a predetermined internal pressure state, FIG. ), (B), the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 becomes higher than a predetermined internal pressure, and the thread of the sewing portion 4 configured as the fragile portion 13 is broken. And the structure of the ear | edge part 11 is lose | eliminated, and the other end part of the baffle cloth 3 accommodated in the ear | edge part 11 becomes a free end which is not restrained by the sewing part 4.

  As the gas in the airbag body 10 is discharged from the vent hole 5 to the outside, the other end portion of the rectifying cloth 3 protrudes from the vent hole 5 to the outside. Thereby, the opening of the vent hole 5 can be fully opened. Since the gas in the airbag body 10 can be discharged to the outside from the vent hole 5, the occupant in contact with the airbag body 10 can be restrained softly and reliably.

  In the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag main body 10 shown in FIG. 2, when the occupant at the OOP position comes into contact with the airbag main body 10, the gas inflating and deploying the airbag main body 10 has a larger flow rate. Will be discharged from the vent hole 5 to the outside. Then, the protruding amount of the rectifying cloth 3 protruding outside from the vent hole 5 is increased, and the exhaust passage for discharging the gas to the outside is widened.

  As a result, the passenger in contact with the airbag body 10 is received and restrained, so that the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 can be lowered in a desired reduced pressure state. Thus, since the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 can be reduced in a desired reduced pressure state, the occupant can be reliably secured and restrained.

  The effects achieved by the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis indicates the elapsed time t after the airbag main body 10 starts to inflate and deploy, and the vertical axis indicates the internal pressure P in the airbag main body 10. The graph shown by the solid line shows the case where a normal airbag device is used. As a normal airbag device, an airbag device of a type in which a vent hole formed in the airbag is always open is used. The graph shown with a dotted line has shown the case where the airbag apparatus concerning this invention is used.

In the graphs indicated by the solid line and the dotted line, the peak that appears first indicates the primary pressure, and the peak that appears next indicates the secondary pressure. As for the primary pressure, a high-pressure gas flows inside the folded airbag body, and the airbag body rises while unfolding the folded state, breaking the tear line formed on the cover body that protected the airbag body. This is the pressure in the airbag body immediately before the start.
The secondary pressure is an internal pressure in the airbag body in a state where the airbag body is fully expanded after the cover body is ruptured and received by the occupant.

  As shown in FIG. 5, it can be seen that in the present invention, the secondary pressure rises earlier than in a normal airbag device. This means that the inflation and deployment of the airbag body 10 according to the present invention is performed more rapidly than the inflation and deployment in a normal airbag device. Then, the airbag main body 10 can be started up to a state where an occupant or the like is quickly received.

  Moreover, as the internal pressure in the airbag body, the airbag body 10 according to the present invention can be made higher than a normal airbag device. Further, as the time for maintaining the state in which the internal pressure in the airbag body is increased, the airbag body 10 according to the present invention can be maintained for a longer time than a normal airbag device.

  FIG. 6 shows a state where an occupant or the like is received by the airbag body when the occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag body. FIG. 6 shows the load element stroke amount S from the position where the load element is launched when the mass body called the load element is launched toward the airbag body in a predetermined internal pressure state. 5 is a graph showing a deceleration acceleration G, which is a detection value of an acceleration sensor provided inside, as a vertical axis.

  The graph shown by the solid line shows the case where a normal airbag device is used as in FIG. 5, and the graph shown by the dotted line shows the airbag device configured from the airbag body 10 according to the present invention. The case where it is used is shown.

  In the graph shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6, the state of the airbag body 10 at the point A indicates the state where the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 is a predetermined internal pressure as shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the position where the loaded load element contacts the airbag body 10 is shown. Further, the state of the airbag main body 10 at the point B shows a state where the internal pressure in the airbag main body 10 shown in FIG. 4 is higher than a predetermined internal pressure and the configuration of the ear portion 11 is lost. Point C indicates a state where the load element is stopped, that is, a state where the load element is reliably restrained by the airbag body 10.

  In the graph shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6, when the load element contacts the airbag body 10 at point A, the load panel presses the main panel 1 of the airbag body 10, and the load element is decelerated rapidly. Become. That is, the deceleration acceleration G of the load element detected by the acceleration sensor provided in the load element rises greatly.

  At point B, the deceleration acceleration G of the loader is maximized. After that, as shown in FIG. 4, the opening of the vent hole 5 is opened, so that the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 is rapidly reduced and the deceleration of the load element is greatly reduced. become.

  At point C, the loader loses speed and can stop. That is, when an occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag main body 10, the occupant or the like can be reliably restrained by the airbag main body 10 at the point C. In other words, the movement amount of the occupant or the like can be reduced and restrained softly without causing the occupant or the like contacting the airbag body 10 to repel.

The stroke of the load element from point A to point B in the graph indicated by the dotted line is the maximum deceleration acceleration of the load element after the load element contacts the airbag body in the normal airbag device indicated by the solid line. It is shorter than the stroke of the load element up to. Further, the stroke amount of the load element required to stop the load element in contact with the airbag body can be made shorter in the case of the present invention than in the case of a normal airbag device. That is, if the airbag apparatus of the present invention is used, the occupant or the like in contact with the airbag body 10 can be surely restrained softly without having to move greatly.
Thus, in the airbag device of the present invention, the restraint can be started earlier and the restraint time can be sustained as compared with the case of a normal airbag device.

  The configuration of Embodiment 2 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The configuration of the fragile portion 13 in the second embodiment is a configuration in which the fragile portion 15 is formed on the rectifying cloth 14 instead of the sewing portion 4 and the ear portion 11 in the first embodiment. Further, one end portion of the rectifying cloth 14 is locked to the main panel 2 by the sewing portion 6 as in the first embodiment, but the other end portion of the rectifying cloth 14 is also locked to the main panel 2 by the sewing portion 16. Has been.

  The sewing portion 6 and the sewing portion 16 are configured not to break even when the internal pressure of the airbag body 10 is higher than a predetermined internal pressure. Instead, the fragile portion 15 formed on the rectifying cloth 14 is configured to break when the internal pressure of the airbag body 10 becomes higher than a predetermined internal pressure.

  The fragile portion 15 may be configured by forming perforations in the rectifying cloth 14, or the internal pressure of the airbag body 10 may be a predetermined internal pressure among the woven yarns knitting the rectifying cloth 14. When it rises more, the yarn in the direction intersecting the direction of the force acting on the rectifying cloth 14 can be taken out. In addition, a configuration in which a cut is formed in a direction that intersects the direction of the force acting on the rectifying cloth 14 when the internal pressure of the airbag main body 10 increases can be adopted, and the internal pressure of the airbag main body 10 is set to a predetermined internal pressure. Other configurations may be employed as long as the fragile portion 15 is broken when the preset internal pressure is reached.

  Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, about the structure similar to the structure in Example 1, the description about the member is abbreviate | omitted by using the member code | symbol used in Example 1. FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration in which the rectifying cloth 14 is arranged in the airbag main body 10, and FIG. 8 shows a configuration in which the rectifying cloth 14 is arranged outside the airbag main body 10. The length dimension between the sewing part 6 and the sewing part 16 in the rectifying cloth 14 is configured to be substantially the same as the length dimension between the sewing part 6 and the sewing part 16 in the main panel 2. Yes. The width dimension of the rectifying cloth 14 is configured to be a width dimension that can cover the opening of the vent hole 5.

  Initially, the structure which has arrange | positioned the baffle cloth 14 in the airbag main body 10 is demonstrated using Fig.7 (a)-(c). As shown in FIG. 7 (a), at the initial stage when the airbag main body 10 starts inflating and deploying, the airbag main body 10 is not in a tension state, so that part of the rectifying cloth 14 is moved from the vent hole 5 to the outside. The flow path for gas discharge can be formed by the bent rectifying cloth 14.

Since the exhaust passage is configured to pass through the rectifying cloth 14 folded in two, it is possible to increase the ventilation resistance in the exhaust passage and suppress the gas discharge flow rate. . In addition, the exhaust flow path formed by the rectifying cloth 14 is gradually narrowed as the airbag body 10 is inflated and deployed, so the discharge flow rate of the gas discharged from the exhaust flow path Can be suppressed. Therefore, the gas generated from the inflator 7 (not shown) can be used more efficiently.

  If the occupant does not come into contact with the airbag body 10 before the initial stage of the inflation and deployment of the airbag body 10 is completed, the main panel 2 becomes tensioned and the outside of the vent hole 5 opens. The rectifying cloth 14 that has protruded into the air bag is drawn into the airbag body 10 from the opening of the vent hole 5. And as shown in FIG.7 (b), the baffle cloth 14 can coat | cover the opening of the vent hole 5 from an inner side, and can make the internal pressure in the airbag main body 10 into a predetermined | prescribed internal pressure state.

  In this state, the fragile portion 15 formed on the rectifying cloth 14 is not broken. The gas inflating and deploying the airbag body 10 remains in the airbag body 10 as indicated by the arrows.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, when the occupant comes into contact with the occupant-side main panel 1 when the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 is in a predetermined internal pressure state, as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 becomes higher than a predetermined internal pressure, and the fragile portion 15 is broken. Then, the rectifying cloth 14 is cut into two with the fragile portion 15 as a boundary.

  As the gas in the airbag body 10 is discharged from the vent hole 5 to the outside, the free part of the rectifying cloth 14 protrudes from the vent hole 5 to the outside. Thereby, the opening of the vent hole 5 can be fully opened. Since the gas in the airbag body 10 can be discharged to the outside from the vent hole 5, the occupant in contact with the airbag body 10 can be restrained softly and reliably.

  In the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag body 10 shown in FIG. 7 (a), when an occupant in the OOP state contacts the airbag body 10, more gas is used to inflate and deploy the airbag body 10. The flow rate is discharged from the vent hole 5 to the outside, and the protruding amount of the rectifying cloth 14 protruding to the outside from the vent hole 5 is increased, and the exhaust passage for discharging the gas to the outside is widened. Further, when the tensile stress acting on the rectifying cloth 14 is larger than the breaking strength of the fragile portion 15 due to the gas flowing out from the vent hole 5, the fragile portion 15 is broken.

  As described above, since the passenger in contact with the airbag body 10 is received and restrained, the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 can be lowered in a desired reduced pressure state. And since the internal pressure in the airbag main body 10 can be reduced in a desired reduced pressure state, the occupant can be reliably secured and restrained.

  Next, a configuration in which the rectifying cloth 14 is disposed outside the airbag body 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 8 (a), at the initial stage when the airbag body 10 starts to inflate and deploy, the airbag body 10 is not in a tension state, so that the rectifying cloth 14 is in a disposition relationship away from the vent hole 5. The opening of the vent hole 5 can be kept open.

  If the occupant does not come into contact with the airbag body 10 before the initial stage of the inflation and deployment of the airbag body 10 ends, the main panel 2 moves away from the opening of the vent hole 5 as the main panel 2 becomes in tension. The rectifying cloth 14 that has been moved approaches the opening of the vent hole 5 so as to block the opening of the vent hole 5. And as shown in FIG.8 (b), the baffle cloth 14 can coat | cover the opening of the vent hole 5 from the outside, and can make the internal pressure in the airbag main body 10 into a predetermined | prescribed internal pressure state.

  In this state, the fragile portion 15 formed on the rectifying cloth 14 is not broken. The gas inflating and deploying the airbag body 10 remains in the airbag body 10 as indicated by the arrows.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, when the occupant contacts the main panel 1 on the occupant side when the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 is in a predetermined internal pressure state, as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 becomes higher than a predetermined internal pressure, and the fragile portion 15 is broken. Then, the rectifying cloth 14 is cut into two at the fragile portion 15 as a boundary.

  Then, as the gas in the airbag body 10 is discharged from the vent hole 5 to the outside, the rectifying cloth 14 opens the opening of the vent hole 5. Thereby, the opening of the vent hole 5 can be fully opened. Since the gas in the airbag body 10 can be discharged to the outside from the vent hole 5, the occupant in contact with the airbag body 10 can be restrained softly and reliably.

  In the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag body 10 shown in FIG. 8 (a), when an occupant in the OOP state contacts the airbag body 10, more gas is inflated and deployed to the airbag body 10. The flow rate is discharged to the outside from the vent hole 5, increasing the protruding amount of the rectifying cloth 14 protruding to the outside from the vent hole 5, and widening the exhaust passage for discharging the gas to the outside of the airbag body 10. It will be. In addition, when the tensile stress acting on the rectifying cloth 14 is larger than the breaking strength of the fragile portion 15 due to the gas flowing out from the vent hole 5, the fragile portion 15 is broken and the rectifying cloth 14 is Can be cut in two.

  As described above, since the passenger in contact with the airbag body 10 is received and restrained, the internal pressure in the airbag body 10 can be lowered in a desired reduced pressure state. And since the internal pressure in the airbag main body 10 can be reduced in a desired reduced pressure state, the occupant can be reliably secured and restrained.

  As the configuration of the present invention, the configuration in which the rectifying cloths 3 and 14 are provided in the open-air vent hole 5 has been described, but the present invention has a configuration in which the rectifying cloth is provided in the open-air vent hole. The present invention is not limited, and a configuration in which a rectifying cloth is provided for a vent hole that is open to the inside air can also be used. That is, in the configuration in which the pressure regulating bag which is the second chamber is provided outside the first chamber, a rectifying cloth is provided for the open-air vent hole which communicates the first chamber and the second chamber. You can also.

  The technical idea of the present invention can be applied to other configurations of airbags.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main panel (passenger side), 2 ... Main panel (wind shield side), 3 ... Rectification cloth, 4 ... Sewing part, 5 ... Vent hole, 10 ... Air bag Main body, 11 ... ear part, 13, 15 ... fragile part, 14 ... rectifying cloth, 40 ... airbag, 44 ... vent hole, 45 ... lid member, 46 ... Tether, 47... Hanging strap, 48, 49... Linear connecting portion, L.

Claims (3)

In an airbag device including an airbag that can be inflated and deployed by gas supplied from a gas generator,
The airbag is a vent hole for gas discharge formed in the airbag body,
A rectifying cloth disposed in the airbag body and switching the vent hole from the open state to the open state through the closed state; and
One end portion of the rectifying cloth is locked to the airbag body, and the other end side is locked to the airbag body via a fragile portion,
The length dimension from the one end part locked to the airbag body in the rectifying cloth to the other end part side locked to the airbag body is the length dimension of the airbag body locked to the one end part. Consists of a length dimension substantially the same as the length dimension of the airbag body from the part to the part of the airbag body that locks the other end side,
The rectifying cloth is arranged in a state in which the opening of the vent hole is opened when the airbag body is in a state before inflating and deploying, and the airbag body performs inflating and deploying so that the internal pressure of the airbag body is expanded. When the air pressure reaches a predetermined internal pressure, the opening of the vent hole is closed. When the internal pressure of the airbag body becomes higher than the predetermined internal pressure, the fragile portion is broken and the vent hole is broken. An air bag device characterized in that the opening of the air bag is opened.   In the configuration in which the weakened portion and the other end side of the rectifying cloth are locked to the airbag body, a part of the airbag body is folded to form an ear portion, and the other end side of the rectifying cloth is The part is sewn together with the ear portion, and when the predetermined internal pressure is further increased, the sewn thread that has been sewn is broken by the pulling force from the airbag body. The airbag device according to claim 1.   The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the weakened portion is formed on the other end portion side of the rectifying cloth, and the other end portion of the rectifying cloth is engaged with the airbag body.

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