JP2013203301A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device in which an airbag can be inflated promptly and after the lapse of a prescribed time from the end of expansion gas discharge and expansion, inner pressures in a plurality of expansion parts can be made uniform.SOLUTION: In an airbag device, an airbag 20 includes an airbag body 21 and an inner tube 60. The inner tube 60 is provided within a branch passage 25 of the airbag body 21 and supplies an expansion gas G of an inflator to a plurality of expansion parts (front window shielding expansion part 28, rear window shielding expansion part) and after the discharge end of the expansion gas G, a check valve part 65 provided in a gas outflow part 63 of the inner tube 60 is closed by an inner pressure in the expansion part (front window shielding expansion part 28). In the plurality of expansion parts communicated by an auxiliary communication passage E1 formed between an inner peripheral surface of the branch passage 25 and an outer circumferential surface of the inner tube 60, the inner pressures are then made substantially uniform after the lapse of a prescribed time, thereby protecting an occupant during rolling-over.

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device including a plurality of inflatable portions, which can appropriately maintain internal pressures of the plurality of inflatable portions when an occupant is restrained.

  Conventionally, a plurality of inflatable portions have been provided, and each inflatable portion has a main air chamber, a sub air chamber, and a small opening provided between the main air chamber and the sub air chamber, and for inflating discharged from the inflator Gas is an airbag device that flows into each main air chamber via a communication portion that communicates a plurality of main air chambers. In the communication portion, the inflation gas that has flowed into the main air chamber flows into one main air chamber. There is known a configuration in which a check valve is provided that restricts backflow to another main air chamber due to an increase in internal pressure. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  According to this airbag device, when the vehicle receives an impact, the inflation gas discharged from the inflator flows into the plurality of main air chambers via the communication portion. Next, when one main air chamber is pressed by the restraint of the occupant, the internal pressure of the main air chamber increases. At this time, the inflation gas in the main air chamber flows into the auxiliary air chamber through the small opening. At this time, a check valve is provided in the communication portion, and the expansion gas in the communication portion is circulated. Because it is regulated, the flow of inflation gas from one main air chamber to the other main air chamber does not flow out, or even if it flows out, it can be a very small amount. The inflation gas in the room flows out into the auxiliary air chamber through the small opening.

  According to the above configuration, the expansion gas in the plurality of main air chambers flows out into the sub air chamber through the small opening, so even if the pressure in one main air chamber increases, The pressure in the main air chamber can be adjusted by the volume of the air chamber and the sub air chamber communicating with each other through a small opening, and the pressure adjustment in the main air chamber is performed almost as designed. Can be made.

JP 2010-143528 A

  However, in general, the rollover of the vehicle often occurs after a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle was shocked. In this case, the airbag device has a plurality of inflating portions in the initial stage of inflation. The protection object such as the passenger can be restrained to each, and in the next rollover, the protection object such as the passenger can be moved in the vehicle interior, so that the internal pressure of the entire airbag device is as uniform as possible. It is preferable.

  Considering these points, in the conventional airbag device, it is possible for each of the plurality of inflating parts to independently exert restraint performance, but a check valve is provided in the communication part to inflate between the plurality of inflating parts. The possibility of exchanging the working gas is small, and at the time of rollover, it is a problem to reduce the internal pressure difference between the multiple inflatable parts of the airbag device and make the internal pressure of the inflated part of the entire airbag device as uniform as possible Has occurred.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and in the initial stage of inflation, a plurality of inflatable portions can exhibit accurate restraint performance with respect to an object to be protected such as an occupant and are expected to occur next. In the rollover, an object is to provide an airbag device capable of reducing the internal pressure difference between the plurality of inflating portions as much as possible and making the internal pressures of the plurality of inflating portions as uniform as possible.

<Explanation of Claim 1>
An airbag apparatus according to the present invention is an airbag apparatus configured to include an inflator and an airbag that is inflated by an inflating gas discharged from the inflator, and the airbag is foldable and flexible. And an airbag main body that is inflated by introducing the inflation gas, and the inflation gas from the inflator is supplied to the airbag main body in a predetermined manner. An inner tube that flows out to the inflated portion, and the airbag main body communicates between the plurality of inflating portions and the plurality of inflating portions that are partitioned by the non-inflow portion of the inflating gas. A branch passage portion, and the inner tube is a gas upstream portion that is a gas upstream portion of the inflation gas from an inflator in the connecting portion; In the branch passage portion, the air bag body includes a gas outflow portion that opens on the plurality of inflatable portion sides of the airbag body and causes the inflating portion to flow out the inflating gas, and the inner tube includes the gas outlet portion. After the discharge of the inflation gas in the inflator, a check valve portion that suppresses the backflow of the inflation gas to the inside of the inner tube is provided, and the inner tube is further inflated to the inside. In a state where the working gas flows in and expands, the expanding gas that has flowed into the plurality of expanding portions is between the outer wall surface of the inner tube and the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion. An auxiliary communication passage portion that communicates with each other is formed.

  In the airbag apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the inflator is activated to discharge the inflation gas, the inflation gas reaches the gas outflow portion from the gas upstream portion of the inner tube, and from the gas outflow portion. The airbag body flows out to the inflation site of the airbag body, and the airbag body is inflated. The airbag main body includes a plurality of inflatable portions partitioned by a non-inflow portion of the inflating gas and a branch passage portion communicating between the plurality of inflatable portions, and the inner tube has a gas outflow portion in the branch passage portion. Opening facing the plurality of expansion portions, the expansion gas flows in and the plurality of expansion portions expand. The inner tube is provided with a check valve that suppresses the backflow of the expansion gas to the inside of the inner tube after the discharge of the expansion gas from the inflator is completed. Further, in a state where the inner side of the inner tube is expanded with the expansion gas, the expansion gas that has flowed into the plurality of expansion portions is interposed between the outer wall surface of the inner tube and the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion. Auxiliary communication passages communicating with each other are formed.

In the airbag apparatus of the present invention, when the vehicle receives an impact, the plurality of inflating portions are inflated by the inflating gas discharged from the inflator, and the protection target such as an occupant can be restrained. Next, when one inflating part is pressed and the internal pressure rises due to restraint of an object to be protected such as an occupant, the inflation gas tends to flow backward to the inner tube side, but the inflation gas backflows into the inner tube. Since the check valve is provided to suppress the expansion gas, the expansion gas does not flow into the inner tube, or even if it flows, the expansion gas is limited to a very small amount. Alternatively, most of the fluid flows into the auxiliary communication passage portion formed between the outer wall surface of the inner tube and the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion, and flows into the other inflatable portion through the auxiliary communication passage portion. Therefore, at the initial stage of the impact of the vehicle, the plurality of inflatable portions can restrain the object to be protected such as an occupant, and if an internal pressure difference occurs between the plurality of inflatable portions due to the restraint or the like, the inside of the auxiliary communication passage portion The inflation gas circulates, the internal pressure difference between the inflatable parts is reduced, the inflated part of the airbag body part has a substantially uniform internal pressure, and the protection object such as the occupant passes through the passenger compartment like a rollover. Even if it is moved, it is possible to allow accurate restraint.

<Explanation of Claim 2>
In the airbag device according to the present invention, in addition to the invention of claim 1, in the state where the inflation gas flows in and expands, the outer wall surface of the inner tube faces the inflator in the branch passage portion. The gas upstream portion side is in contact with the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion, and the outer wall surface facing the plurality of expansion portions can be separated from the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion. A communication path is formed.

In the airbag device of the invention according to claim 2, in the state where the inflation gas flows in and expands, the outer wall surface of the inner tube is located on the side of the gas upstream portion facing the inflator in the branch passage portion. The auxiliary communication passage portion is formed by being in contact with the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion and being separable from an outer wall surface facing the plurality of expansion portions and an inner peripheral surface of the branch passage portion. It was. In the expanded state where the expansion gas has flowed in, the gas upstream portion surface on the gas upstream portion side facing the inflator on the outer wall surface of the inner tube is close to or in contact with the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion, so An auxiliary communication passage that suppresses the flow of the expansion gas and allows the gas downstream portion surface facing the plurality of expansion portions of the inner tube to be separated from the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion to allow the expansion gas to flow. It was set as the structure made into the part. In this way, when the inflating gas that has flowed into the plurality of inflating portions is pressed against a protection object such as an occupant and the internal pressure rises, the inflating gas flows back to the inflating portion of the inner tube. The gas flows into the other expansion portion via the auxiliary communication passage portion formed by the gas downstream portion surface and the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion, and the entire expansion portion has a substantially uniform internal pressure.

Since the auxiliary communication passage portion is formed between the inner wall surface of the gas downstream portion facing the expansion portion of the inner tube and the inner wall surface of the separated branch passage portion, the expansion gas in the expansion portion whose internal pressure has increased It is easy to flow in, and the internal pressure of the entire expansion part can be made uniform smoothly. Here, since the auxiliary communication passage portion is formed with a supply passage that is a passage through which the expansion gas is supplied from the inflator in the gas upstream portion facing the inflator of the inner tube, the auxiliary communication passage portion Is formed between the outer wall surface of the gas upstream portion facing the inflator of the inner tube and the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion, and this supply path becomes a resistance, and the expansion gas that flows backward from the expansion portion whose internal pressure has increased Therefore, it is not preferable to form the auxiliary communication passage portion at this portion.

<Explanation of Claim 3>
In the airbag device according to the present invention, in addition to the invention according to claim 1 or 2,
The check valve is pushed by the inflation gas so that the inflation gas can flow out to the plurality of inflation portions of the airbag body when the inflation gas is discharged from the inflator. And is bent from the substantially cylindrical state by the internal pressure of the inflated portion of the airbag body after the inflation gas is discharged from the inflator. The length of the gas outlet is pushed back to the inner tube while closing the gas outlet and is provided corresponding to the plurality of outlets opened on the side of the plurality of expansion portions of the inner tube. It is characterized by that.

In the airbag device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the check valve is configured to push the inflation gas against the inflation gas so that the inflation gas can flow out to the plurality of inflation portions of the airbag body when the inflation gas is discharged from the inflator. In a substantially cylindrical shape that has flexibility and opens while extending toward the plurality of inflatable portions, and after the inflation gas discharge from the inflator is completed, the inner pressure of the inflated portion of the airbag body is substantially cylindrical. A structure that has a length dimension that can be pushed back to the inner tube side while being curled up to close the gas outflow portion, and is provided corresponding to a plurality of outflow portions that are opened at a plurality of expansion portions of the inner tube. It was. Therefore, when one of the plurality of inflating portions that are expanded by the inflow of the inflating gas is pressed by the restraint of an object to be protected such as an occupant and the internal pressure rises and the inflating gas tries to reversely flow, The gas outflow portion of the inner tube is pushed back by the gas to block the gas outflow portion, the backflow of the expansion gas into the inner tube is regulated, and the backflowing expansion gas smoothly flows into the auxiliary communication passage portion. It becomes possible to do.

<Explanation of Claim 4>
In the airbag device according to the present invention, in addition to the inventions of the first to fourth aspects, the plurality of inflating portions correspond to the inflating portions, the pressure regulating chambers, the inflating portions, and the pressure regulating chambers. A communication path that communicates with each other, and the opening area of the plurality of communication paths provided corresponding to the plurality of the expansion portions at the time of expansion when the expansion gas flows in is the auxiliary communication path It is characterized by being larger than the cross-sectional area of the part.

In the airbag device according to claim 4, the plurality of inflating portions are provided with a pressure regulating chamber, a communication path that communicates the plurality of inflating portions, and the pressure regulating chamber corresponding to each inflating portion, In the expanded state where the gas flowed in, the opening area of the communication passage was configured to be larger than the cross-sectional area of the auxiliary communication passage portion. When the inflated part that is inflated by the inflow of the inflating gas is pressed against an object to be protected such as an occupant and the internal pressure rises, the inflating gas has an opening larger than the cross-sectional area of the auxiliary communication passage part from the inflating part. It will flow out preferentially to the pressure regulating chamber through the connecting channel. By doing so, it is possible to further improve the restraining performance of the plurality of inflatable portions in the initial stage of inflation of the airbag body.

  The airbag apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of inflatable portions, and in the initial stage of inflation when the inflating gas flows, the inflating gas discharged from the inflator flows into the respective inflating portions, and the airbag body When the part expands and expands, and a protection object such as an occupant can be restrained, and then rollover or the like occurs after a predetermined time elapses, the internal pressure of the inflated part pressed by restraining the protection object such as an occupant becomes high, The inflating gas in the inflating part flows into the other inflating part via the auxiliary communication part, and the internal pressure difference between the inflating parts of the airbag main body part is reduced, so that the passenger can move in the vehicle interior. The object to be protected can be restrained in a wide area.

It is the front view seen from the vehicle inner side of the vehicle by which the head protection airbag apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention was mounted. It is a front view showing the state where the airbag (curtain airbag) used for the head protection airbag device of a 1st embodiment was developed flat. It is a front view which shows the airbag main body of the airbag of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the inner tube used for the airbag of 1st Embodiment, and is a figure which shows the state which folded the inner tube sheet | seat and formed the inner tube by folding the inner tube sheet | seat. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the inflation state of the airbag of 1st Embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the VV site | part of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the inflated state of the airbag of 1st Embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the VI-VI position of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the inflation state of the airbag of 1st Embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the VII-VII site | part of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the inflation state of the airbag of 1st Embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the VIII-VIII site | part of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the inflation state of the airbag of 1st Embodiment, and also corresponds to the IX-IX site | part of FIG. 2, and also shows the state which the pressure regulation chamber expand | swelled with the dashed-two dotted line. It is a partial fracture perspective view explaining the state where the check valve part of the inner tube in the air bag of a 1st embodiment is flowing out the gas for expansion, and the state where the gas outflow part is obstructed. It is a front view of the state where the air bag of a 1st embodiment closed the gas outflow part with the non-return valve part. It is the front view seen from the vehicle inside which shows the state where the head protection air bag device of a 1st embodiment completed inflation of an air bag. It is a front view which shows the modification of the airbag of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the state which the airbag shown in FIG. 13 obstruct | occluded the front gas outflow part and the back gas outflow part. It is a front view explaining the state which the airbag of the airbag apparatus of 2nd Embodiment expanded, and the state which the check valve part of the inner tube obstruct | occluded the lower gas outflow part. It is a figure explaining the process of manufacturing the airbag used for the airbag apparatus of 2nd Embodiment in order.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag device of the first embodiment is a head protection airbag device S1, which is a curtain airbag (hereinafter simply referred to as an airbag). 20), an inflator 16 as an inflator for discharging the inflation gas G, an airbag cover 11, and mounting brackets 13 and 17. The airbag 20 is arranged from the lower edge side of the front pillar portion FP on the upper edge WU side of the windows (side windows) W1 and W2 arranged side by side on the side of the front seat and the rear seat inside the vehicle V. It is folded and stored in a range from above the intermediate pillar portion CP to above the rear pillar portion RP. Further, the airbag 20 includes an airbag main body 21 that is inflated so as to cover the windows W1 and W2 and an inner tube 60 that is disposed so as to be inserted into the airbag main body 21. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inflator 16 is inserted into a connection port 23 for allowing the inflation gas G in the airbag 20 to flow in as a substantially cylindrical cylinder type, and is connected to the airbag 20. The inflator 16 is held by a mounting bracket 17, and the mounting bracket 17 is fastened by a bolt 18, so that the inflator 16 is below the roof panel lining 5 with respect to the inner panel 2 of the roof side rail portion RR near the upper portion of the intermediate pillar portion CP. Covered and fixed by the edge 5a. The inner panel 2 is a member on the body (vehicle body) 1 side of the vehicle V.

  The inflator 16 is operated by a predetermined control device that detects a side collision of the vehicle V, and its output corresponds to the capacity of the airbag 20 (specifically, the airbag body 21). A protective inflating portion 27 described later of the bag body 21 is set so that a predetermined internal pressure can be maintained from the side collision of the vehicle V to the time of rollover.

  Each mounting bracket 13 fixes a mounting portion 48 (described later) of the airbag 20 to the inner panel 2 by mounting bolts 14. Each mounting bolt 14 is fastened to a screw hole provided with a nut or the like in the inner panel 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag cover 11 includes a lower edge 4a side of the front pillar garnish 4 disposed on the front pillar portion FP and a lower edge 5a side of the roof head lining 5 disposed on the roof side rail portion RR. And is composed of.

  The airbag 20 is configured to be foldable, and as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, as shown in FIGS. And an inner tube 60 that allows the inflation gas G from the inflator 16 to flow out to a predetermined inflation portion of the airbag main body 21. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 12, the airbag main body 21 flows in the inflation gas G from the inflator 16 and expands from the folded state, so that the windows W 1 and W 2, the intermediate pillar portion CP, and the rear pillar It expands and expands so as to cover the inside of the part RP. Further, the airbag body 21 is supported by the vehicle body side member (door trim in the illustrated example) DT of the belt line BL on the lower edge WD side inside the windows W1 and W2 when the inflation is completed. It is configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the airbag main body 21 is inflated so that the inflating gas G flows in and separates the vehicle interior wall 22 a and the vehicle exterior wall 22 b that face each other. And a non-inflow portion 42 that does not allow the inflation gas G to flow in such a state that the inner wall portion 22a and the outer wall portion 22b of the vehicle are coupled to each other. The airbag main body 21 is manufactured by bag weaving from yarns such as polyamide and polyester except for the vicinity of the connection port portion 23 connected to the inflator 16 and the vicinity of the front-end-side attachment portion 48 (48F).

The non-inflow portion 42 includes a peripheral portion 43, a mounting portion 48, and a closing portion 49.
The peripheral edge portion 43 is formed so as to surround the gas inflow portion 22, and an upper edge 43 a located on the upper edge 21 a side of the airbag body 21 is formed with a bag weaving portion 45 formed by bag weaving, and a bag weaving And a bag coupling portion 46 formed by subsequent post-processing stitching. The bag weaving portion 45 is divided into a front portion 45a and a rear portion 45b at the center in the front-rear direction. And the connection port part 23 connected with the inflator 16 is arrange | positioned so that the inflation gas G may flow in into the airbag 20 so that it may protrude upwards in the division | segmentation site | part 45c. In the case of the embodiment, the connection port portion 23 includes a gas upstream portion 61 (described later) of the inner tube 60.

  An opening part (parting part) 45c between the front part 45a and the rear part 45b of the bag weaving part 45 connects the vehicle inner side wall parts 22a and 70a and the vehicle outer side wall parts 22b and 70b by sewing of the suture thread 80 to each other. The bag is closed by the bag coupling portion 46 (see FIGS. 2, 6, and 7). The bag coupling portion 46 includes a front horizontal line portion 46a, a front oblique line portion 46b, a rear oblique line portion 46c, and a rear horizontal line portion 46d. The front horizontal line portion 46a is formed by connecting the vehicle interior side wall portion 22a and the vehicle exterior side wall portion 22b of the airbag body 21 to each other so as to extend rearward from the front portion 45a of the bag weaving portion 45 along the front-rear direction. ing. The rear horizontal line portion 46d is formed by mutually connecting the vehicle interior side wall portion 22a and the vehicle exterior side wall portion 22b of the airbag body 21 so as to extend forward from the rear portion 45b of the bag weaving portion 45 in the front-rear direction. Yes.

  The front oblique line portion 46b is a portion that joins the front edge 23a of the connection port portion 23, and is formed to extend obliquely rearward and upward from the rear end of the front horizontal line portion 46a, and the rear oblique line portion 46c is connected to the connection port portion 23. The rear edge 23b is connected to the rear horizontal line portion 46d and is formed to extend obliquely rearward and upward from the front end of the rear horizontal line portion 46d. The front oblique line portion 46b and the rear oblique line portion 46c are outside the inner wall portion 70a and the outer wall portion 70b when the inner tube 60 (inner tube seat 70) constituting the connection port portion 23 is folded. The peripheral edges are joined together.

  It should be noted that at the portion between the front horizontal line portion 46a and the rear horizontal line portion 46d of the divided portion 45c, the suture 80 is used so that there is no leakage of the inflation gas G from between the airbag body 21 and the inner tube 60. A tube coupling portion 82 is formed, the vehicle interior side wall portion 22a of the airbag main body 21 and the vehicle interior side wall portion 70a of the inner tube 60 are coupled to each other, and the vehicle outer side wall portion 22b of the airbag main body 21 and the inner tube. 60 vehicle exterior wall portions 70b are connected to each other (see FIGS. 2 and 7).

  A plurality (6 in the embodiment) of the attachment portions 48 are formed so as to protrude upward from the upper edge 43a of the peripheral edge portion 43 on the upper edge 21a side of the airbag body 21. Each mounting portion 48 is formed with a mounting hole 48a through which the mounting bolt 14 is inserted. As described above, the mounting bracket 13 for mounting to the inner panel 2 on the body 1 side is fixed to each mounting portion 48, and the mounting bolts 14 that pass through the mounting holes 48 a are attached to the screws of the inner panel 2. Each attachment portion 48 is fixed to the inner panel 2 by being fastened to the hole.

  The front end mounting portion 48F is formed by sewing a separate cloth material made of woven fabric such as polyamide to the front edge 43c of the peripheral edge portion 43 formed by bag weaving of the airbag body 21. ing. Further, the mounting portion 48F is fixed near the lower portion of the front pillar portion FP, and when the airbag 20 is completely inflated, the lower edge 21b side of the airbag 20, specifically, the mounting portion 48F and the front pillar portion FP. On the line connecting the mounting portion 48 (48B) away from the vehicle, strong tension is exerted, and the restraint property of the airbag 20 on the passenger side of the occupant M is improved (see FIG. 12). ).

  The closing part (partition part) 49 is formed at the time of bag weaving so as to enter the gas inflow part 22 and is disposed so as to partition the inside of the gas inflow part 22. In the case of the embodiment, the closing portion 49 includes a substantially T-shaped central partition portion 50, a front lower extension partition portion 55, and a rear lower extension partition portion 56.

  The central partition 50 extends downward from the center of the lower edge partition 51 in the front-rear direction and extends to the lower edge 43 b of the peripheral edge 43. And a partition section 54. The lower edge partition part 51 partitions the lower edge side of the branch passage part 25 described later. The front-rear partitioning section 54 partitions a front window shielding expansion section 28 and a rear window shielding expansion section 33, which will be described later, as expansion sections.

  Further, a front extending partition 52 extending downward is disposed at the front end of the lower edge partition 51, and a rear extending partition 53 extending downward is disposed at the rear end of the lower edge partition 51. ing.

  The front lower extending section 55 extends upward from the lower edge 43b of the peripheral edge 43 below the front extending section 52 so as to approach the front extending section 52, and the rear lower extending section 56 is The lower extension 43 extends downward from the lower edge 43 b of the peripheral edge 43 so as to approach the rear extension partition 53. In addition, between the front lower extension division part 55 and the front extension division part 52 comprises the communication path 30 mentioned later, and between the rear lower extension division part 56 and the rear extension division part 53 is mentioned later. The communication path 35 is configured.

  The gas inflow portion 22 includes a connection port portion 23 connected to the inflator 16, a branch passage portion 25, and a protective expansion portion 27. The connection port portion 23 is configured as a single unit on the upper end 61 a side of the gas upstream portion 61 of the inner tube 60.

  The branch passage portion 25 is disposed so as to extend in the front-rear direction on the upper edge 21 a side near the center in the front-rear direction when the airbag body 21 is completely inflated. Specifically, the branch passage portion 25 is disposed between the upper edge 43 a of the peripheral edge portion 43 and the lower edge partition portion 51 of the central partition portion 50.

  The protective expansion portion 27 includes a front window shielding expansion portion 28 and a rear window shielding expansion portion 33 that are disposed on both front and rear sides near the lower portion of the branch passage portion 25. The front window shielding / expanding portion 28 and the rear window shielding / expanding portion 33 are partitioned by the front / rear partitioning portion 54 of the central partitioning portion 50, and the front window shielding / expanding portion 28 is located on the side of the front seat side of the vehicle V when the expansion is completed. The rear window shielding and expanding portion 33 covers the rear side window (rear side window) W2 and the rear pillar portion RP when the expansion is completed. (See FIGS. 1 and 12).

  Furthermore, the front window shielding / expanding portion 28 and the rear window shielding / expanding portion 33 are respectively provided with expansion main body portions 29 and 34 that largely cover the windows W1 and W2 and receive the head H of the occupant M, and the pressure regulating chambers 31 and 36, respectively. And is configured. The pressure regulating chambers 31 and 36 are disposed so as to be close to each other, and are disposed adjacent to the front and rear of the front and rear partition 54, respectively, and the expansion body is interposed through the narrowed communication passages 30 and 35, respectively. It communicates with the parts 29 and 34. The pressure regulating chambers 31 and 36 flow in the expansion gas G in the expansion main body portions 29 and 34 through the communication passages 30 and 35 so that the increase in the internal pressure can be suppressed when the internal pressure of the expansion main body portions 29 and 34 increases. Will be allowed to.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the inner tube 60 includes a gas upstream portion 61 and a gas outflow portion 62 through which the expansion gas from the gas upstream portion 61 flows out. In the case of the embodiment, the inner tube 60 has a three-pronged substantially inverted T shape, and the gas upstream portion 61 extends upward in a cylindrical shape from the vicinity of the center of the upper edge 21a of the airbag body 21 in the front-rear direction. The upper end 61a is opened, and the gas outflow portion 62 is composed of a front gas outflow portion 63 and a rear gas outflow portion 64 that extend at the lower end 61b of the gas upstream portion 61 in a branched manner on both the front and rear sides. As described above, the gas upstream portion 61 has the connection port portion 23 connected to the inflator 16 on the upper end 61a side. When the inflation gas G is discharged from the inflator 16, the gas upstream portion 61 Become.

  The front gas outflow portion 63 and the rear gas outflow portion 64 of the gas outflow portion 62 are configured as gas downstream portions of the expansion gas G in the gas upstream portion 61 and are disposed in the branch passage portion 25. Further, the front gas outflow portion 63 and the rear gas outflow portion 64 have the respective leading ends as outflow ports 62a through which the expansion gas G flows out, and the respective outflow ports 62a are located near the front and rear ends of the lower edge partition portion 51. It arrange | positions in the entrance parts 28a and 33a of the front window shielding expansion part 28 and the rear window shielding expansion part 33 which are located. In the case of the embodiment, the front gas outflow portion 63 and the rear gas outflow portion 64 are for the valve portion in which the lower end 84b is separated upward from the lower edge partition portion 51 when the expansion gas G is inflated and inflated. The connecting portion 84 is formed by connecting the inner tube 60 to the inner peripheral surface 25 a side of the branch passage portion 25 of the airbag body 21.

  The front gas outflow portion 63 has a tapered tubular shape that narrows toward the front end 63a, and the lower edge 63b is continuous in the circumferential direction, but the upper edge 63c side is separated in a slit shape.

  The front gas outflow part 63 constitutes a check valve part 65 as a whole. The gas upstream portion 61 side in the vicinity of the check valve portion 65 is connected to the vehicle inner side wall portion 22a and the vehicle outer side wall portion 22b of the airbag body 21 in the circumferential direction by using the suture thread 80, thereby connecting the valve portion connecting portion 84. And a lower end 84b of the valve portion connecting portion 84 is formed so as to be spaced upward from the lower edge partition portion 51 (see FIGS. 2 and 8).

  The length dimension CL (see A in FIG. 10) from the valve portion coupling portion 84 to the front end 63a is reversed due to the internal pressure of the front window shielding expansion portion 28 when the inflator 16 finishes discharging the expansion gas G. The stop valve portion 65 is bent and is pushed back to the gas upstream portion 61 side to have a length dimension that blocks the front gas outflow portion 63.

  Further, the inner tube 60 has an outer diameter dimension GD at the time of expansion that can be press-contacted to the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface 25a of the branch passage portion 25, and has already been described in the portion of the valve portion coupling portion 84. Thus, the lower end 84b is spaced upward from the lower edge partition 51, and the inner tube 60 is coupled to the inner peripheral surface 25a side of the branch passage 25 of the airbag body 21. Further, the upper end 84 a is sewn so as to intersect with the peripheral edge 43 of the non-inflow portion 42. In the case of the embodiment, the valve coupling portion 84 is formed in a linear shape that is inclined so that the upper end 84a is disposed forward of the lower end 84b (see FIG. 2).

  Further, in the vicinity of the lower end 61b of the gas upstream portion 61 of the inner tube 60, as described above, it is inflated from between the front horizontal line portion 46a and the rear horizontal line portion 46d on the upper edge 43a side of the peripheral edge portion 43 of the airbag body 21. The vehicle inner wall 22a of the airbag body 21 and the vehicle inner wall 70a of the inner tube 60, the vehicle outer wall 22b of the airbag main body 21, and the vehicle outer wall of the inner tube 60 so that the working gas G does not leak. The tube 70 is joined to each other to form the tube coupling portion 82 (see FIGS. 2 and 7).

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the inner tube 60 includes a triangular plate-like inner tube sheet 70 formed of a woven fabric such as polyamide. Then, the inner tube 60 is folded in half so that the inner tube sheet 70a and the vehicle outer wall portion 70b overlap with each other, with the portion of the lower edge 60c extending in the front-rear direction as a crease 71. The overlapped front upper edge 60a and rear upper edge 60d are formed by joining (sewing) with a suture thread 80, respectively. The stitched portions are the front oblique line portion 46b and the rear oblique line portion 46c of the bag coupling portion 46.

  The production of the inner tube 60 and the airbag 20 will be described. First, after the airbag body 21 is cut after weaving the bag and formed as shown in FIG. 3, the dividing portion 45c is opened to open the inner tube. The entire area near the fold line 71 of the seat 70 is put into the branch passage portion 25, and a suture thread 80 is used for the vehicle interior side wall portion 22 a and the vehicle exterior wall portion 22 b of the airbag main body 21. The inner wall portion 70a and the outer wall portion 70b of the vehicle are joined together to form a tube coupling portion 82 and a valve portion coupling portion 84.

  Thereafter, the inner tube seat 70 is folded at the crease 71 to overlap the vehicle inner side wall portion 70a and the vehicle outer side wall portion 70b, and the dividing portion 45c is closed, and the vehicle inner side wall portion 22a and the vehicle outer side wall portion 22b of the airbag body 21 are closed. Are stacked on top of each other and flattened.

  Next, using the suture thread 80, the inside wall portion 22a and the outside wall portion 22b of the airbag body 21, and the inside wall portion 70a and the outside wall portion 70b of the inner tube 60 are sewn together. The airbag 20 can be manufactured by forming the front horizontal line portion 46a, the front oblique line portion 46b, the rear oblique line portion 46c, and the rear horizontal line portion 46d of the bag coupling portion 46.

  The cloth material provided with the front end attachment portion 48F may be coupled to the front edge 43c of the airbag main body 21 immediately after the bag weaving of the airbag main body 21 or the bag coupling portion 46. After forming, the front edge 43c may be bonded.

  In mounting the head protection airbag device S1 of the first embodiment on the vehicle V, first, the lower edge 21b side of the airbag 20 that is flatly deployed approaches the upper edge 21a side where the attachment portion 48 is provided. Then, the airbag 20 is wrapped with a wrapping material (not shown) that can be broken to prevent it from collapsing. The airbag 20 is folded by folding the area on the upper edge 21a side of the airbag 20 including the branch passage portion 25 by accordion-folding and rolling the area below it.

  After the airbag 20 is folded, the inflator 16 to which the mounting bracket 17 is attached is connected to the connection port portion 23 of the airbag 20, and the mounting bracket 13 is attached to each mounting portion 48 of the airbag 20. A bag assembly is formed.

  Thereafter, each mounting portion 48 to which the mounting bracket 13 is assembled is disposed at a corresponding mounting portion of the inner panel 2 on the body 1 side, and inserted into each mounting hole 48a, thereby fastening the mounting bolt 14 to the screw hole. Further, the mounting bracket 17 is fixed to the bolt 18, the inflator 16 is fixed to the inner panel 2, and the airbag assembly is attached to the body 1. Next, lead wires (not shown) extending from a predetermined control device for inflator operation are connected to the inflator 16, the front pillar garnish 4 and the roof head lining 5 are attached to the body 1, and the intermediate pillar garnish 7 and the rear pillar garnish 8 are further attached. If attached to the body 1, the head protection airbag device S1 can be mounted on the vehicle V.

  When the inflator 16 is activated and the inflation gas G is discharged at the time of a side collision of the vehicle V after the head protection airbag device S1 of the first embodiment is mounted on the vehicle V, the inflation gas G becomes as shown in FIG. 2, the gas upstream portion 61 of the inner tube 60 in the airbag 20 reaches the front gas outlet portion 63 and the rear gas outlet portion 64 of the gas outlet portion 62, and the front gas outlet portion 63. Then, the air bag main body 21 is inflated by flowing out from the rear gas outflow portion 64 to the front window shielding inflating portion 28 and the rear window shielding inflating portion 33 which are inflated portions of the air bag main body 21. At that time, even if the front gas outflow portion 63 of the gas outflow portion 62 is provided with the check valve portion 65, the check valve portion 65 is expanded as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. G has a substantially cylindrical shape that is flexible and opens to the front window shielding / inflatable portion 28 while being pushed by the inflation gas G so as to be able to flow out to the front window shielding / inflating portion 28 of the airbag body 21; The inflation gas G can flow out smoothly to the front window shielding / inflating portion 28 side of the airbag body 21.

  Then, after the discharge of the inflating gas G in the inflator 16 is completed, the protective expansion portion 27 side has a higher pressure than the gas upstream portion 61 side on the inflator 16 side, which has finished discharging, and therefore FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the check valve 65 is pushed back to the inner tube 60 side while being bent from the substantially cylindrical state by the internal pressure P of the front window shielding / inflating portion 28 in the airbag main body 21 and is moved to the front gas outflow portion 63. Thus, the backflow of the inflation gas G from the inflated front window shield inflating portion 28 of the airbag body 21 to the inside of the inner tube 60 is suppressed.

  In other words, the inner tube 60 of the airbag 20 is simply supplied to the front gas outflow portion 63 for allowing the inflation gas G to flow out to the front window shielding inflating portion 28 of the airbag body 21. By simply providing the check valve portion 65 having a cylindrical shape, the check valve mechanism can be provided with a simple configuration. When the expansion gas G flows out, the check valve portion 65 simply has a substantially cylindrical shape that extends and opens toward the front window shielding expansion portion 28 as an expansion portion, and has a large flow resistance. As described above, the expansion gas G can smoothly flow through the front window shielding expansion portion 28 without interfering with the expansion gas G.

  Next, when the inflator 16 finishes discharging the inflation gas G, the inflation gas G in the front window shielding / expansion portion tends to flow back toward the inner tube 60 due to the internal pressure of the front window shielding / expansion portion 28. However, since the front gas outflow portion 63 is blocked by the check valve portion 65 and the backflow is suppressed, the expansion gas G in the front window shielding expansion portion 28 has an inner tube at the portion where the check valve portion 65 is present. The expansion gas G is prevented from flowing into the 60.

However, as described above, the lower end 84 b of the valve portion coupling portion 84 is formed away from the lower edge partition portion 51. Therefore, the lower edge 60c of the inner tube 60 is pushed upward from the lower edge partition part 51 in the branch passage part 25 due to the inflow pressure from the front window shielding / expanding part 28 into the inner tube 60. A gap serving as the auxiliary communication path E1 is formed between the edge 60c and the lower edge partition 51, that is, between the outer wall 60e of the inner tube 60 and the inner wall 25b of the branch path 25. . In this way, the expansion gas G in the front window shielding / expanding portion 28 can communicate via the auxiliary communication passage portion E1 and flow into the rear window shielding / expanding portion 33.

In the first embodiment, when the check valve portion 65 is pushed back to the inner tube 60 side so as to close the front gas outflow portion 63 as the inflation gas discharge of the inflator 16 ends, the check valve portion 65 is The air bag body 21 is bent without being pushed back to the inner tube 60 side with respect to the valve portion coupling portion 84 with the air bag body 21, and the backflow restraining position can be stabilized and the inflated air bag. The volume and internal pressure of the front window shielding expansion portion 28 of the main body 21 can be stabilized. That is, the valve connecting portion 84 functions as a bend restricting portion 85 that can restrict the position when the check valve portion 65 is bent.

In such a configuration, when the inflator 16 finishes discharging the inflation gas G, the check valve portion 65 of the front gas outflow portion 63 is caused to move by the internal pressure of the front window shielding expansion portion 28. From the state extended to the 28 side, it is pushed back and bent to close the front gas outflow part 63. However, the lower end 84b of the coupling part 84 for the valve part is separated from the lower edge partition part 51, and the auxiliary communication path part E1 is provided between the lower edge 60c of the inner tube 60 and the inner peripheral surface of the branch path part 25. The gap is generated. Therefore, through this auxiliary communication passage portion E1 of the branch passage portion 25, the front window shielding / expanding portion 28 and the rear window shielding / expanding portion 33 are in communication with each other, and after a predetermined time has elapsed after the discharge of the inflation gas from the inflator, The airbag 20 can make the internal pressures of the front window shielding inflating portion 28 and the rear window shielding inflating portion 33 substantially equal. (See Figure 10)

  That is, in such an airbag 20, by adjusting the gap as the auxiliary communication passage portion E1, at the time of a vehicle side collision, by closing the front gas outflow portion 63 of the check valve portion 65, the front window shielding inflating portion 28 is A predetermined internal pressure value is secured so that the head of the occupant can be received. Thereafter, after the discharge of the inflation gas G from the inflator 16 is completed, for example, after 5 to 6 seconds, the entire internal pressure of the airbag 20 is equalized. Thus, the passengers can be prevented from being released from the windows W1, W2.

Further, in such an airbag 20, a gap formed between the lower edge 60 c of the inner tube 60 and the lower edge partition part 51 is used as the auxiliary communication path part E1. That is, the auxiliary communication passage portion E1 is located in the branch passage portion 25, and the inner tube 60 is connected to the tube coupling portion 82 on the upstream side near the inflator 16 that discharges the inflation gas G, as shown in FIG. 10B. The outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 84 for valve portion is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the branch passage portion 25, and the expansion gas G in the front window shielding expansion portion 28 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 60 and the branch passage portion. 25, the branch passage defined by the lower edge partition 51 that partitions the front window shield expansion portion 28 and the branch passage 25 on the downstream surface side of the expansion gas G. Since the gap formed between the inner peripheral surface of the portion 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 60 is used as the auxiliary communication passage portion E1, the expansion gas G is supplied to the auxiliary communication passage portion E1 close to the front window shielding expansion portion 28. Smoothly flows into the front window The equalization of the internal pressure difference between the rear window shield portion 33 and the expansion portion 28 can be performed quickly.

That is, on the outer peripheral surface side of the inner tube 60, the gas upstream portion 61 side facing the inflator 16 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the branch passage portion 25 in the branch passage portion 25, so that no gap is formed. Although there is no inflow in the expansion portion 28, the inner tube 60 corresponding to the gas downstream portion and the lower edge partition portion 51 of the branch passage portion 25 are check valves by the expansion gas G in the front window shielding expansion portion 28. When the portion 65 is pressed, the auxiliary communication passage portion E1 is formed. Accordingly, the auxiliary communication passage E1 is formed at a position close to the front window shielding / expanding portion 28 where the expansion gas G can flow smoothly without resistance. Therefore, the front window shielding / expanding portion 28 and the rear window shielding are provided. The internal pressure with the inflating part 33 can be equalized smoothly.

That is, in such an airbag 20, not only at the time of a side collision of the vehicle but also at the subsequent rollover of the vehicle, the entire inner pressure of the airbag 20 is made uniform so that the airbag 20 is formed in an integral substantially plate shape. Since it can be inflated, good restraint performance of the occupant can be exhibited, and the occupant can be suitably protected when the vehicle rolls over.

Further, in the airbag 20, as described above, the front window shielding inflating portion 28 and the rear window shielding inflating portion 33 are respectively provided with an inflating main body portion that covers the window W1 and the window W2 and receives the head H of the occupant M. 29 and 34, and pressure regulation chambers 31 and 36.

Therefore, after the front gas outflow portion 63 is blocked by the check valve portion 65, the front window shielding expansion portion 28 and the rear window shielding expansion portion 33 are communicated with each other by the already described auxiliary communication passage portion E1. When the expansion main bodies 29 and 34 receive the head H of the occupant M, the internal pressure may suddenly rise. In such a case, as shown in FIG. However, the expansion gas G in the expansion main body portions 29 and 34 is given priority over flowing into the auxiliary communication passage portion E1 through the communication passages 30 and 35. As a result, the fluid quickly flows into the pressure regulating chambers 31 and 36 from the communication passages 30 and 35, and the head H of the occupant M can be received with good cushioning properties.

Further, the cross-sectional area that is substantially perpendicular to the flow direction of the expansion gas G when the expansion gas G passes through the communication passages 30 and 35 that communicate with the expansion main body portions 29 and 34 and the pressure regulating chambers 31 and 36 is It is preferable that the cross-sectional area of the auxiliary communication passage E1 that communicates the window shielding expansion portion 28 and the rear window shielding expansion portion 33 is larger than the cross-sectional area that is substantially perpendicular to the flow direction of the expansion gas G. By doing so, in response to the sudden increase in internal pressure of the expansion main body portions 29 and 34 that have received the head H of the occupant M, via the communication passages 30 and 35 that are larger than the cross-sectional area of the auxiliary communication passage portion E1, It can flow into the pressure regulating chambers 31 and 36 more smoothly, and can receive the head H of the occupant M with good cushioning properties.

Further, in the airbag apparatus S1 of the first embodiment, the airbag 20 is configured as a head protection airbag apparatus that is a curtain airbag that covers the inside of the windows W1 and W2 arranged in front of and behind the vehicle V. ing. And the airbag main body 21 is arranged on the upper edge 21a side near the center in the front-rear direction when the inflation is completed so as to extend the branch passage portion 25 in the front-rear direction, and before and after the branch passage portion 25, The front window shielding inflating portion 28 and the rear window shielding inflating portion 33 as inflating portions covering the windows W1 and W2 are respectively communicated with the branch passage portion 25 and disposed, and the inner tube 60 is provided on the airbag body 21. It is arranged to extend upward on the upper edge 21a side in the vicinity of the center in the front-rear direction, and branches to the front and rear at a gas upstream portion 61 connected to the inflator 16 and a lower end 61b of the gas upstream portion 61, thereby branching passage portions 25, a front gas outflow portion 63 and a rear gas outflow portion 64 as gas outflow portions 62 are provided.

In such a configuration, the inflator 16 is disposed above the vicinity of the center in the front-rear direction of the airbag 20 in a state where the front window shielding inflating portion 28 and the rear window shielding inflating portion 33 as the inflating portions are arranged on the front and rear sides. The inner tube 60 has a lower end 61b extending downward from the gas upstream portion 61 connected to the inflator 16 into the branch passage portion 25, and is moved forward and backward. A front gas outflow portion 63 and a rear gas outflow portion 64 are provided so as to be branched to each other.

Therefore, since the flow path of the inflation gas G from the inflator 16 to the front and rear front window shielding and inflating portions 28 and the rear window shielding and inflating portion 33 is short, the time from the start of inflation of the airbag 20 to the completion of inflation can be shortened as much as possible. And even if the inner tube 60 is provided with the check valve portion 65, it is not configured to increase the flow resistance of the inflation gas G, so that it can be achieved in a short time from the start of inflation of the airbag 20 to the completion of inflation. Suitable for curtain airbags. Furthermore, the inner tube 60 can be stored in a compact manner when the airbag 20 is folded and stored as much as possible because the length of the inner tube 60 can be shortened.

In the first embodiment, the case where the check valve portion 65 is provided only in the front gas outflow portion 63 of the inner tube 60 is shown. However, like the airbag 20A shown in FIGS. A check valve portion 65A may also be provided in the rear gas outflow portion 64A. The check valve portion 65A is formed symmetrically with the check valve portion 65 provided in the front gas outflow portion 63 of the inner tube 60 of the first embodiment in the front-rear direction. A similar valve connecting portion 84 </ b> A is provided and connected to the inner peripheral surface 25 a side of the branch passage portion 25 of the airbag body 21.

In the airbag 20A, the rear gas outflow portion 64A is provided with a check valve portion 65A provided with a valve portion coupling portion 84A and coupled to the airbag body 21. The other parts are configured in the same manner as the airbag 20, and further, like the airbag 20, are assembled with the inflator 16 or the like and used in the airbag device for protecting the head. .

In the airbag apparatus using such an airbag 20A, the airbag 20A is provided with check valve portions 65 and 65A in the front gas outflow portion 63 and the rear gas outflow portion 64A of the inner tube 60A. Therefore, after the discharge of the inflation gas from the inflator 16 is finished, as shown in FIG. 14, the front window shielding / expanding portion 28 and the rear window shielding / expanding portion 33 have the check valve portions 65 and 65A, respectively. And a gap as an auxiliary communication passage E1 can be formed between the lower edge partition 51 and the lower edge 60c of the inner tube 60. After the discharge of the expansion gas G is completed, the front window The shield inflating portion 28 and the rear window shielding inflating portion 33 are communicated with each other so that the head H of the occupant M can be received with good cushioning properties. Can be suppressed.

In the airbag 20A, the front window shielding / inflating portion 28 and the rear window shielding / inflating portion 33 are communicated with each other via the communication passages 30 and 35 in addition to the inflating main body portions 29 and 34, respectively. Chambers 31 and 36 are provided. And the cross-sectional area of the communication paths 30 and 35 is set smaller than the cross-sectional area of the auxiliary | assistant communication path part E1. Therefore, due to the increase in internal pressure of each expansion body 29, 34, the expansion gas G first flows into 31, 36, and then passes through the auxiliary communication passage E1, which is another expansion site. It will flow out to the window shielding / expanding portion 33 side and the front window shielding / expanding portion 28 side, and it is possible to suitably manage internal pressure when receiving the head of the occupant M by each of the expansion main body portions 29 and 34, and at the time of rollover Further, the internal pressure difference between the front window shielding / expanding portion 28 and the rear window shielding / expanding portion 33 can be equalized, and the release of the passenger to the outside of the vehicle can be suppressed as much as possible.

Of course, if not configured as described above, but configured as the airbag 20 of the first embodiment,
After the discharge of the inflation gas G from the inflator 16 is completed, the front window shielding / expansion part 28 can maintain the internal pressure by closing the check valve part 65. For example, the flow rate of the inflation gas G in the inflator 16 is If the opening area of the front gas outflow portion 63 and the rear gas outflow portion 64 is adjusted so as to increase the front window shielding expansion portion 28 as compared with the shielding expansion portion 33, the inflation gas G is being discharged from the inflator 16. Even after the end of the discharge, the front window shielding / expanding portion 28 can maintain a higher internal pressure value than the rear window shielding / expanding portion 33 and receive the head H of the occupant M seated in the front seat. .

Next, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the second embodiment portable airbag device S2 will be described. The airbag device S2 is for a side mounted on the side of the backrest portion 91 of the vehicle seat 90. It is. The side airbag device S2 includes an inflator 100 as an inflator and an airbag 110.

The inflator 100 is housed in an airbag 110 and has a substantially cylindrical main body 101;
A cylindrical retainer 102 including a bolt (not shown) that holds the main body 101 and is attached to the backrest 91 is configured. The main body 101 is provided with a gas jet port (not shown) on the lower end side, and the retainer 102 has two discharge ports 103 and 104 for discharging expansion gas from the gas jet port.

The airbag 110 includes an airbag main body 111 that swells in a substantially oval shape that is long in the vertical direction, and an inner tube 130 that is disposed in the airbag main body 111.

The airbag main body 111 is formed by folding a main body sheet 125 (see FIG. 16) made of a woven fabric such as polyamide having flexibility at the center fold 126 and stitching the outer periphery. . The airbag main body 111 includes a gas inflow portion 112 that is inflated so as to be separated from the vehicle inner wall portion 112a and the vehicle outer wall portion 112b by the inflation gas G, and a non-inflow portion 120 that does not allow the inflation gas to flow. Has been.

The gas inflow part 112 includes a branch passage part 114 and a protective expansion part 116. The branch passage portion 114 is disposed near the center in the vertical direction on the rear end side near the fold 126. The protective expansion portion 116 includes a lower expansion portion 117 and an upper expansion portion 118, and the lower expansion portion 117 and the upper expansion portion 118 are disposed above and below the branch passage portion 114.

And the non-inflow part 120 is provided with the peripheral part 121 which sewn the outer periphery of the sheet | seat 125 for main bodies folded in half, and the closed part (partition part) 122 which sewn so that the airbag main body 111 might be divided | segmented up and down. Configured. The closing portion 122 is disposed so as to extend from the outer peripheral edge of the airbag body 111 to the vicinity of the branch passage portion 114, and divides a lower inflating portion 117 and an upper inflating portion 118 as inflating portions.

The branch passage portion 114 is disposed between the front end 122a of the closing portion 122 and the fold line 126. In the case of the second embodiment, as will be described later, the inner peripheral surface of the branch passage portion 114 is a valve portion coupling portion. The outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 130 in the vicinity of the gas upstream portion 131 (to be described later) of the inner tube 130 is coupled by the 154, and the valve coupling portion 154 is closed from the fold 126 to form an auxiliary communication passage portion E2 to be described later. The branch passage portion 114 is sewn together until it reaches the middle of the end 122a of 122. However, in the expanded state where the expansion gas G has flowed in, the branch passage portion 114 has an inner diameter dimension that matches the outer dimension of the inner tube 130 near the gas upstream portion 131.

As shown in FIG. 16, the inner tube 130 is formed in a tapered tubular shape in which an inner tube sheet 140 made of a woven fabric such as polyamide having flexibility is sewn into a cylindrical shape. As shown in FIG. 15, the inner tube 130 has a gas upstream portion 131 in which the inflator 100 is disposed in the vicinity of an intermediate portion in the vertical direction, and gas that flows out the expansion gas G by opening the outlet 132a at both the upper and lower ends. The outflow part 132 is provided. The lower gas outflow portion 133 on the lower side is tapered compared to the upper gas outflow portion 134 on the upper side, and the lower end side thereof is a check valve portion 135. As described above, the vicinity of the gas upstream portion 131 is located near the branch passage of the airbag main body 111 on the rear side of the front end 122a of the closing portion 122 by the valve portion connecting portion 154 constituting the passage closing connecting portion 156. The circumferential direction is coupled to the inner circumferential surface of the portion 114, and the uncoupled portion forms the auxiliary communication path portion E2. That is, the auxiliary communication passage portion E2 is formed by a gap formed between the outer wall surface 130a of the inner tube 130 and the inner wall surface 114a of the branch passage portion 114.

When the inflator 100 finishes discharging the inflation gas G, the check valve portion 135 is pushed by the internal pressure of the lower inflation portion 117, pushed back toward the gas upstream portion 131 side of the inner tube 130, and bent. The lower gas outflow portion 133 is closed while hitting the lower end. In the case of the second embodiment, the lower end of the inflator 100 restricts the position of the check valve portion 135 when it is bent, and thus constitutes the bend restricting portion 160 of the check valve portion 135.

Thus, when the check valve portion 135 blocks the branch passage portion 114, the expansion gas G does not communicate with the lower expansion portion 117 and the upper expansion portion 118 via the branch passage portion 114, but the connection for the valve portion. Since the portion 154 connects the inner tube 130 and the branch passage portion 114 only halfway from the fold 126 to the closing portion 122, as described above, the tip of the valve portion connecting portion 154 and the closing portion 122 In the meantime, the expansion gas G flows in to form a gap as the auxiliary communication passage portion E2, and the lower expansion portion 117 and the upper expansion portion 118 are communicated with each other via the auxiliary communication passage portion E2. Become.

In the airbag 110 according to the second embodiment, the lower inflating portion 117 receives the waist of the seated occupant, and the upper inflating portion 118 receives the chest of the seated occupant. Then, the lower inflating portion 117 is inflated with an internal pressure higher than that of the upper inflating portion 118 so that the waist portion having a heavy weight can be accurately received. The internal pressure is adjusted such that the tip 122a toward the inside of the closing portion 122 is close to the inflator 100, and the inflator 100 is located below the closing portion 122 on the lower inflating portion 117 side on the discharge ports 103 and 104 side. The inflator 100 disposed in the gas upstream portion 131 of the inner tube 130 causes the expansion gas G to flow out from the lower gas in the branch passage portion 114 that communicates the lower expansion portion 117 and the upper expansion portion 118. This is achieved by flowing more through the portion 133 toward the lower expansion portion 117 side.

When manufacturing the airbag 110, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, a flatly deployed inner tube sheet 140 is placed on the center of the flatly deployed main body sheet 125, and the suture 150 is formed. The inner tube sheet 140 is fixed to the main body sheet 125 while forming the valve portion coupling portion 154 to be the passage blockage coupling portion 156 by stitching. Next, two bolt mounting holes 110a (not shown) in the retainer 102 of the inflator 100 and a slit-shaped insertion hole 110b for inserting the inflator 100 into the airbag 110 are connected to the inner tube sheet 140 and the main body sheet. 125 so as to penetrate through to 125. The mounting hole 110a and the insertion hole 110b are formed on the upper gas outflow portion 134 side from the passage closing coupling portion 156.

After that, the inner tube sheet 140 is folded in half, and the overlapped outer peripheral edges are stitched together using the suture thread 150 to form a tapered tubular inner tube 130.

  Next, the airbag 110 can be manufactured by folding the main body sheet 125 at the fold 126 and stitching the stacked outer peripheral edges together to form the peripheral portion 121 and forming the closed portion 122. The closing portion 122 is stopped at the end of the branch passage portion 114 so as to form the auxiliary communication passage portion E2.

  If the inflator 100 is inserted into the airbag 110 manufactured in this way through the insertion holes 110b, the bolts (not shown) of the retainer 102 are protruded from the mounting holes 110a, and then the airbag 110 is folded, the airbag device S2 Can be assembled. When the vehicle seat 90 is mounted on the backrest portion 91, the airbag device S2 is attached to the frame of the backrest portion 91 using a bolt (not shown) of the retainer 102, and a predetermined operation lead is attached to the main body 101 of the inflator 100. If a predetermined cushion material is disposed on the backrest portion 91 while connecting the wires, and the vehicle seat 90 is attached to the vehicle, the side airbag device S2 can be mounted on the vehicle.

  Even in the side airbag device S2, when the inflator 100 is activated and discharges the inflation gas G during operation, the inflation gas G flows from the gas upstream portion 131 of the inner tube 130 in the airbag 110 to the gas outflow portion 132. The lower gas outflow portion 133 and the upper gas outflow portion 134 reach the lower gas outflow portion 133 and the lower gas outflow portion 133 has the check valve portion 135 disposed therein. The flexible main body has a flexible cylindrical shape that is pushed by the inflation gas G and extends toward the lower inflation portion 117 so that it can flow out to the lower inflation portion 117. The inflating gas G can flow out to the inflating part 117 side.

  Then, after the discharge of the inflation gas G in the inflator 100 is completed, the check valve portion 135 is bent from the substantially cylindrical shape by the internal pressure of the lower inflation portion 117 in the airbag body 111, and the gas in the inner tube 130 is The back gas outflow portion 133 is pushed back to the upstream portion 131 side, and the backflow of the inflation gas G from the inflated lower inflatable portion 117 of the airbag main body 111 to the inner tube 130 side is suppressed. . Then, when the check valve portion 135 closes the lower gas outflow portion, the internal pressure of the lower expansion portion 117 presses the inner tube 130, and the auxiliary communication passage portion E 2 is connected between the closing portion 122 and the valve portion coupling portion 154. It will be formed between.

  Thereafter, the expansion gas G in the lower expansion portion 117 flows into the upper expansion portion 118 via the auxiliary communication passage portion E2, and after a predetermined time (3 to 5 seconds) has elapsed from the start of operation, the lower expansion portion. The internal pressure difference between 117 and the upper expansion portion 118 can be made as small as possible, and the entire gas inflow portion 112 can be made to have a substantially uniform internal pressure.

  That is, the inner tube 130 of the airbag 110 is simply formed into a flexible tube having a predetermined length with a predetermined length in the lower gas outflow portion 133 through which the inflation gas G flows out to the lower expansion portion 117 of the airbag body 111. Only by providing the check valve portion 135, a check valve mechanism can be provided with a simple configuration. When the expansion gas G flows out, the check valve portion 135 simply has a substantially cylindrical shape that extends toward the lower expansion portion 117 and opens, and the expansion gas G has a large flow resistance. The inflation gas G can flow smoothly through the lower inflation portion 117 without interfering with the lower inflation portion 117.

  Therefore, also in the side airbag device S2 of the second embodiment, the airbag 110 can be rapidly inflated, the backflow of the inflation gas G can be smoothly suppressed, and the auxiliary communication passage portion E2 As a result, the lower inflating portion 117 and the upper inflating portion 118 are communicated with each other, and it becomes possible to make the inner pressure almost equal after a predetermined time has elapsed after the end of the expansion. Thus, the occupant's waist can be restrained, and then the restraint can be appropriately restrained from the occupant's chest to the entire waist with the lower inflating portion 117 and the upper inflating portion 118 at substantially equal internal pressure. Can be possible.

  As described above, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, when the expansion is completed, the outer diameter of the inner tubes 60 and 130 is set to be substantially equal to the inner diameter of the branch passage portions 25 and 114, and the expansion gas G is smooth. It is possible to flow into a plurality of expansion parts (front window shielding expansion 28 and rear window shielding expansion part 33, lower expansion part 117 and upper expansion part 118), but a plurality of expansion parts (front window shielding expansion 28 and rear window shielding). In order to quickly equalize the internal pressure difference between the expansion portion 33, the lower expansion portion 117, and the upper expansion portion 118), the inner diameter of the branch passage portions 25, 114 is made larger than the outer diameter of the inner tubes 60, 130. The auxiliary communication passage portions E1 and E2 are formed at a relatively early stage of discharge of the expansion gas G from 16, 100, and a plurality of front window shielding expansion portions 28 and rear window shielding expansion portions 33, Lower expansion part 117 and upper expansion part 1 It is possible to quickly equalize the pressure of 8).

  An airbag device equipped with multiple inflatable parts can equalize the internal pressure of multiple inflatable parts after a predetermined time has elapsed after completion of inflation, and can properly restrain passengers, especially during rollover. Can be.

16 (inflator) inflator 20, 20A, 20B, 20C (curtain) airbag, 21, 21C ... airbag main body, 22, 22C ... gas inflow portion, 22a ... vehicle interior side wall portion, 22b ... vehicle exterior wall portion, 25 ... branch passage part, 27C ... (expansion part) protective expansion part, 28 ... (expansion part) front window shielding expansion part, 29, 34 ... expansion main body part, 30, 35 ... communication path, 31, 36 ... pressure regulation chamber , 33 (expansion part) rear window shielding expansion part, 42 ... non-inflow part, 60, 60A, 60C ... inner tube, 61, 61C ... gas upstream part, 62, 62C ... gas outflow part, 63 ... front gas outflow part 64, 64A ... rear gas outflow part, 65, 65A, 65B, 65C ... check valve part, 84, 84A, 84C ... coupling part for valve part, 85 ... folding control part, 100 ... (inflator) inflator, 11 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Airbag, 111 ... Airbag main body, 112 ... Gas inflow part, 112a ... Car inner side wall part, 112b ... Car outer side wall part, 114 ... Branch passage part, 117 ... (Expansion part) Lower inflating part, 118 ... (Inflation part) ) Upper expansion part, 120 ... Non-inflow part, 130 ... Inner tube, 131 ... Gas upstream part, 132 ... Gas outlet part, 133 ... Lower gas outlet part, 134 ... Upper gas outlet part, 135 ... Check valve part, 154 ... valve coupling part, 156 ... passage coupling part, 160 ... folding restriction part,
V ... Vehicle, W1 ... (front) window, W2 ... (rear) window, E1, E2 ... Auxiliary communication passage part, G ... Expansion gas, CL ... Length of check valve part, GD ... (gas Outer diameter dimension (outflow part), M ... occupant, H ... head, S1 ... head protection airbag device, S2 ... side airbag device, S3 ... head protection airbag device.

Claims (4)

An airbag device comprising an inflator and an airbag inflated by an inflation gas discharged from the inflator,
The airbag is configured to be foldable and flexible,
An airbag body that inflates by inflating the inflation gas;
An inner tube that is disposed within the airbag body and causes the inflation gas from the inflator to flow out to a predetermined inflation site of the airbag body;
Configured with
The airbag body is
A plurality of inflatable portions partitioned by the non-inflow portion of the inflating gas and a cylindrical branch passage portion communicating between the inflatable portions;
With
The inner tube is
A gas upstream portion that is a gas upstream portion of the inflation gas from the inflator in the connecting portion;
A gas outflow portion that opens on the plurality of inflatable portion sides of the airbag body in the branch passage portion, and causes the inflating portion to flow out the inflating gas; and
With
The inner tube is configured to include a check valve portion that suppresses the backflow of the inflation gas to the inside of the inner tube after the completion of the discharge of the inflation gas in the inflator.
Further, in a state where the expansion gas flows into the inner tube and expands, the inner tube flows into the plurality of expansion portions between the outer wall surface of the inner tube and the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion. An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an auxiliary communication passage portion through which the inflating gas communicates between the plurality of inflating portions is formed. In the state where the expansion gas flows in and expands,
The outer wall surface of the inner tube has the gas upstream portion facing the inflator in contact with the inner wall surface of the branch passage portion and the outer wall surfaces facing the plurality of expansion portions in the branch passage portion. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary communication passage is formed by allowing separation from an inner wall surface of the branch passage portion. The check valve
When the inflation gas is discharged from the inflator, the inflation gas is allowed to flow out to the plurality of inflatable portions of the airbag body, and can be opened while being pushed by the inflation gas and extending toward the plurality of inflatable portions. It has a substantially cylindrical shape with flexibility, and
After the end of the inflation gas discharge in the inflator, the gas outflow portion can be blocked by being pushed back to the inner tube side while being bent from the substantially cylindrical shape by the internal pressure of the inflation portion in the airbag body. 3. The device according to claim 1, having a length dimension, provided corresponding to the plurality of outflow portions opened on the plurality of inflatable portions of the inner tube. 4. 2. The airbag device according to item 1.   The plurality of inflating portions are provided with pressure regulating chambers corresponding to the respective inflating portions, and communication passages that connect the inflating portions and the pressure regulating chambers, and correspond to the plurality of inflating portions. The opening area of the plurality of communication passages provided at the time of expansion when the expansion gas flows in is larger than the cross-sectional area of the auxiliary communication passage portion. The airbag apparatus of Claim 1.

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