JP2014226954A - Air bag and air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag which can reduce the used amount of a base fabric of the air bag, can reduce a weight of the air bag, and can achieve downsizing of a folded package, and to provide an air bag device.SOLUTION: An air bag device includes: an air bag 1 which inflates and expands on an instrument panel I without using a reaction force from a windshield W; an inflator 2 which supplies a gas to the air bag 1; a retainer 3 which holds the air bag 1 and the inflator 2; and an air bag cover 4 which covers the air bag 1 and forms a part of the instrument panel I. The air bag 1 includes: a front expansion part 11 which expands to the windshield W side so as to be pressed against a surface of the instrument panel I; and a rear expansion part 12 which expands to the occupant M side. The front expansion part 11 includes a virtual expansion part 13 which expands beyond the instrument panel I when it is assumed that the instrument panel I does not exist.

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag and an airbag device, and more particularly to an autonomous airbag and an airbag device.

  It has become common for vehicles such as automobiles to be equipped with an airbag device for inflating and deploying an airbag in the vehicle in the event of an emergency such as a collision or sudden deceleration to absorb the impact generated on the passenger. Yes. These airbag devices generally include an airbag that is normally folded and inflated and deployed in an emergency, an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag, a retainer that holds the airbag and the inflator, and And an airbag cover that covers the airbag.

  When the vehicle collides or suddenly decelerates, gas is supplied from the inflator to the airbag, the airbag is inflated, the airbag cover is opened, the airbag is released into the vehicle, and is inflated and deployed. In particular, in the case of an airbag device for a passenger seat, the airbag is mounted in an opening formed in the instrument panel, and the airbag is inflated and deployed in a space surrounded by the instrument panel, the windshield (windshield) and the passenger. Is done.

  By the way, in such an airbag device, the airbag is inflated and deployed on the instrument panel without using the reaction force from the windshield (windshield) from the viewpoint of cost reduction, parts commonality, miniaturization, etc. Have also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). Thus, the airbag that is inflated and deployed on the instrument panel without using the reaction force from the windshield is referred to as a “self-supporting airbag”.

  The self-supporting airbag described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 is an airbag that is inflated and deployed so as not to come into contact with the windshield, and has a rectifier that is disposed inside the airbag and controls the flow of gas. The rectifying means includes a first opening for supplying gas so as to press a part of the passenger side of the airbag against the instrument panel, and a second opening for supplying gas so as to lift the airbag upward. And a third opening for supplying gas to the base end of the airbag on the windshield side.

JP 2011-131666 A JP 2012-144201 A

  Since the self-supporting airbags described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above have rectifying means inside, the amount of base fabric used in the entire airbag increases, and the weight of the airbag increases. There is a problem that the folding package becomes large.

  The present invention has been devised in view of such problems, and can reduce the amount of airbag fabric used, reduce the weight of the airbag, and reduce the size of the folded package. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is normally folded and accommodated in the opening of the instrument panel, and gas is supplied in an emergency without using the reaction force from the windshield between the windshield and the occupant. In the airbag inflated and deployed on the instrument panel, a front inflating portion that inflates to the windshield side so as to be pressed against the surface of the instrument panel, and a rear inflating portion that inflates to the occupant side. The airbag has a virtual inflating portion that is inflated beyond the instrument panel when the front inflating portion is assumed to have no instrument panel.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is normally folded and accommodated in the opening of the instrument panel, and gas is supplied in an emergency and the reaction force from the windshield is utilized between the windshield and the occupant. An air bag that is inflated and deployed on the instrument panel without the air bag, an inflator that supplies the gas to the air bag, a retainer that holds the air bag and the inflator, and covers the air bag and the instrument An airbag cover comprising a part of an instrument panel, wherein the airbag is inflated toward the windshield so as to be pressed against the surface of the instrument panel, and the occupant A rear inflating portion that inflates to the side, and the front inflating portion has the instrument Ntopaneru having a virtual expansion unit to expand beyond the instrument panel when it is assumed that there is no, an airbag device is provided, characterized in that.

  In the airbag and the airbag apparatus described above, the airbag may be configured such that a height H at the attachment center portion is larger than a length X from the attachment center portion to the front end. Moreover, the lower limit of the length X from the attachment center portion of the airbag to the front end may be set within a range of 135 to 140 mm, or set within a range of 15 to 25% with respect to the total length of the airbag. May be.

  The center of gravity of the airbag includes a center line that passes through the mounting center and is perpendicular to the instrument panel, a vertical line that passes through the rear end of the instrument panel, and a contact portion between the front inflating portion and the instrument panel. It may be set in a region surrounded by an extended ground line and a horizontal line passing through the intersection of the center line and the airbag and perpendicular to the vertical line.

  The airbag attachment angle θ may be set within a range of 75 to 90 °. Moreover, the virtual inflating part may have a capacity of 1 to 4% of the airbag. In the airbag, a patch cloth that reinforces an outer surface may be disposed at an intermediate portion between the front inflating portion and the rear inflating portion.

  According to the airbag and the airbag apparatus according to the present invention described above, the virtual inflation portion is formed on the front inflation portion of the airbag, so that the virtual inflation portion is pressed against the surface of the instrument panel when the airbag is inflated and deployed. As a result, the degree of adhesion between the airbag and the instrument panel can be improved, the inflation and deployment behavior of the airbag can be stabilized, and the airbag can be made independent without any rectifying means being disposed in the airbag. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of airbag fabric used, to reduce the weight of the airbag, and to reduce the size of the folded package.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B are explanatory views showing a virtual inflating portion of the airbag shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A shows a case where the attachment angle θ is 90 °, and FIG. 2B shows a case where the attachment angle θ is 75 °. 2A and 2B are explanatory views showing the center of gravity of the airbag shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A shows a case where the attachment angle θ is 90 °, and FIG. 2B shows a case where the attachment angle θ is 75 °. It is a whole block diagram which shows the airbag apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing the airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B are explanatory views showing a virtual inflating portion of the airbag shown in FIG. 1, where FIG. 2A shows a case where the attachment angle θ is 90 °, and FIG. 2B shows a case where the attachment angle θ is 75 °. ing. 2A and 2B, the configuration of the airbag device is partially simplified.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is normally folded and accommodated in the opening of the instrument panel I, and is supplied with gas in an emergency. An airbag 1 that is inflated and deployed on the instrument panel I without using a reaction force from the windshield W between the windshield W and the occupant M, an inflator 2 that supplies gas to the airbag 1, and an air A retainer 3 that holds the bag 1 and the inflator 2, and an airbag cover 4 that covers the airbag 1 and forms part of the instrument panel I. The airbag 1 is a surface of the instrument panel I. A front inflatable portion 11 that inflates to the windshield W side and a rear inflatable portion 12 that inflates to the occupant M side. 11 includes a virtual expansion section 13 to expand beyond the instrument panel I when it is assumed that there is no instrument panel I. In the airbag apparatus according to the present embodiment, the vertical direction means the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction means a direction that matches the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

  The airbag device shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called passenger seat airbag device, and the airbag 1 is inflated into a space surrounded by, for example, an occupant M seated on a seat S, a windshield W, and an instrument panel I. Be expanded.

  As shown in the figure, the airbag 1 is a self-supporting airbag that does not come into contact with the windshield W in the inflated and deployed state. Such a self-supporting airbag is configured so that the bottom of the airbag 1 can be kept in close contact with the surface of the instrument panel I without using the reaction force from the windshield W in the inflated and deployed state. Yes.

  Here, “the airbag 1 is self-supporting” is not limited to the case where the airbag 1 after completion of the inflation and deployment has a certain gap with the windshield W, as shown in the figure. Even when W is in contact with the windshield W, the reaction force from the windshield W is small and the airbag 1 is substantially independent.

  As shown in the figure, the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed forward (windshield W side) from the center line La of the opening of the airbag cover 4 and rearward from the center line La (occupant M). And a rear inflating portion 12 that is inflated and deployed on the side). Since the airbag 1 is a self-supporting airbag, it is preferable that the airbag 1 is attached to the surface of the instrument panel I. Therefore, it is preferable that the bottom part of the airbag 1, that is, the bottom part of the front inflating part 11 and the bottom part of the rear inflating part 12 are in close contact with the surface of the instrument panel I.

  In particular, in order to bring the airbag 1 into close contact with the surface of the instrument panel I without arranging the rectifying means, it is important to make the bottom of the front inflating portion 11 in close contact with the surface of the instrument panel I. By bringing the bottom portion of the front inflatable portion 11 into close contact with the surface of the instrument panel I, the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed rearward from this close-contact portion, and the inflating and deploying behavior can be stabilized.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the airbag 1 according to the present embodiment introduces the concept of the virtual inflating portion 13 (the filled portion in the figure). The virtual expansion portion 13 is a portion that expands beyond the instrument panel I when it is assumed that there is no instrument panel I. The virtual expansion unit 13 can be designed on a CAD (Computer Aided Design) system, for example.

  The capacity | capacitance of the virtual expansion | swelling part 13 is set so that it may have the capacity | capacitance of 1-4% of the airbag 1, for example, Preferably, it sets within the range of 1.5-3.0%. If the capacity of the virtual inflating portion 13 is too small with respect to the capacity of the airbag 1, a sufficient degree of adhesion cannot be obtained. The reaction to try to separate will occur.

  Further, the rear inflating portion 12 may be formed with a vent hole 14 for releasing the gas in the airbag 1 to the outside when the occupant M comes into contact with the airbag 1. It is preferable that the vent hole 14 is formed at a position separated so as not to affect the internal pressure retention of the front expansion portion 11. Although not shown, a patch cloth may be disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the front inflating portion 11 of the airbag 1 to increase the rigidity of the front portion (front inflating portion 11) of the airbag 1.

  In FIG. 1, the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 1 is illustrated, but the surface of the airbag cover 4 forms a part of the instrument panel I before the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. The airbag cover 4 has a plate-like portion (not shown) that constitutes a vehicle interior surface, and an inner case 41 that is disposed on the back surface of the plate-like portion and constitutes a discharge port of the airbag 1. The part has a door part (not shown) formed so as to be cleavable when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed.

  Here, although the structure which fits the airbag cover 4 in the opening part formed in the instrument panel I is illustrated, the airbag cover 4 may be formed integrally with the instrument panel I. In addition, the structure of the airbag cover 4 is not limited to what was illustrated, What was used conventionally can be selected suitably and can be used.

  The inflator 2 has a substantially columnar outer shape, and a gas outlet is formed on the side peripheral surface of the tip portion included in the airbag 1. The inflator 2 is fitted into an opening formed in the retainer 3 and is fixed to the retainer 3 by fixing means such as a bag ring. The inflator 2 is connected to an ECU (electronic control unit) (not shown) and is controlled based on measurement values of an acceleration sensor or the like. When the ECU detects an emergency such as a vehicle collision or sudden deceleration, the chemical stored in the inflator 2 is burned to generate gas, and the gas is supplied to the airbag 1. Note that the shape and fixing method of the inflator 2 are not limited to the illustrated configuration, and a conventionally used configuration can be appropriately selected and used.

  For example, the retainer 3 is locked to a locking hole formed in the inner case 41 by a hook connected to the side surface portion, and is connected to an in-vehicle structure 5 such as a reinforcement through a joining member. Has been. In addition, about the retainer 3 and its connection structure, it is not limited to what was illustrated, What was used conventionally can be selected suitably and can be used.

  The airbag 1 having the virtual inflating portion 13 described above may further satisfy the following conditions. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the height H at the attachment center may be configured to be greater than the length X from the attachment center to the front end F. Moreover, the lower limit of the length X from the attachment center part of the airbag 1 to the front end may be set within a range of 135 to 140 mm, or set within a range of 15 to 25% with respect to the total length of the airbag 1. May be.

  Here, the center line La is displayed as a straight line that passes through the center point of the opening of the inflator 2 or the airbag cover 4 and is perpendicular to the instrument panel I. The angle of the center line La with respect to the horizontal line indicates the attachment angle θ of the airbag 1. 2A illustrates the case where the attachment angle θ of the airbag 1 is 90 °, and FIG. 2B illustrates the case where the attachment angle θ of the airbag 1 is 75 °. is there. In the airbag 1 in the present embodiment, it is preferable to set the attachment angle θ within the range of 75 to 90 ° in order to be independent without arranging the rectifying means. When the attachment angle θ is less than 75 °, the degree of adhesion of the airbag 1 may be reduced due to its own weight.

  If the central point of the opening of the airbag cover 4 is P, the point P substantially coincides with the intersection of the center line La and the instrument panel I. The length X of the airbag 1 means the horizontal distance from the point P to the front end F. If the intersection of the center line La and the airbag 1 is Q, the height H of the airbag 1 means the vertical distance from the point P to the point Q. In the present embodiment, the “mounting center” means a point (for example, point P) on the center line La.

  As described above, by setting the height H> length X of the airbag 1, the front inflation portion 11 having a sufficient capacity can be disposed on the virtual inflation portion 13, and the airbag 1 (front inflation) The degree of adhesion of the part 11) can be improved. Moreover, if the length X of the airbag 1 is made shorter than 135 mm or less than 15% of the total length of the airbag 1, the contact area between the airbag 1 and the instrument panel I becomes small. A sufficient degree of adhesion cannot be obtained.

  The upper limit of the length X of the airbag 1 is set, for example, within a range in which the airbag 1 does not contact the windshield W, and is appropriately determined depending on conditions such as the vehicle type, the shape of the instrument panel I, the angle of the windshield W, etc. Is set.

  Here, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the center of gravity of the airbag shown in FIG. 1, where (A) shows a case where the mounting angle θ is 90 °, and (B) shows a case where the mounting angle θ is 75 °. Show. 3A and 3B, the configuration of the airbag device is partially simplified.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B), a vertical line passing through the rear end R of the instrument panel I is Li, and a grounding wire extending the contact portion between the front expansion portion 11 and the instrument panel I is used. If Lg is a horizontal line passing through the point Q and perpendicular to the vertical line Li, then the center of gravity G of the airbag 1 is in the region C surrounded by the center line La, the vertical line Li, the ground line Lg, and the horizontal line Lq. It is set to (filled area of the figure).

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the shape of the region C is deformed depending on the size of the mounting angle θ of the airbag 1 and the shape of the instrument panel I, and is limited to the illustrated shape. It is not a thing. 3A and 3B, for convenience of explanation, the airbag 1 is described in a planar state as viewed from the side, but in reality, the region C is a three-dimensional object that is long in the lateral width direction of the airbag 1. It has a shape.

  By arranging the center of gravity G of the airbag 1 in the region C, the inflation and deployment behavior of the airbag 1 can be stabilized on the instrument panel I when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. In a conventional airbag (ie, a non-self-supporting airbag) that is stabilized by bringing the airbag 1 into contact with the windshield W, the airbag 1 uses the reaction force from the windshield W when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider where the center of gravity G of the airbag 1 is set. Therefore, the setting of the arrangement of the center of gravity G of the airbag 1 is a matter specific to the self-supporting airbag.

  Next, an airbag 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram showing the airbag apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, about the same component as 1st embodiment mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The airbag 1 which concerns on 2nd embodiment shown in FIG. 4 arrange | positions the patch cloth 15 which reinforces an outer surface in the intermediate part of the front expansion part 11 and the back expansion part 12. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the patch cloth 15 is hatched for convenience of explanation. By disposing the patch cloth 15, it is possible to suppress damage to the airbag 1 when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. Further, by arranging the patch cloth 15, the rigidity of the intermediate portion of the airbag 1 can be increased, the binding force to the instrument panel I can be improved, and the degree of adhesion of the airbag 1 can be improved. Can do.

  Furthermore, by increasing the rigidity of the intermediate portion of the airbag 1, the expansion of the intermediate portion can be suppressed, and the gas from the inflator 2 can be easily supplied to the front inflating portion 11 and the rear inflating portion 12, A gas flow can be formed in the airbag 1, the internal pressure of the front inflating portion 11 can be increased, the pressing force against the instrument panel I can be improved, and the inflating and deployment of the rear inflating portion 12 can be promoted. Can do.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Airbag 2 Inflator 3 Retainer 4 Airbag cover 5 Car interior structure 11 Front expansion part 12 Back expansion part 13 Virtual expansion part 14 Vent hole 15 Patch cross 41 Inner case

Claims (8)

Normally, the instrument panel is folded and accommodated in the opening of the instrument panel, and gas is supplied in the event of an emergency, so that the reaction force from the windshield is not utilized between the windshield and the occupant. In the airbag inflated and deployed at
A front inflating part that inflates to the windshield side so as to be pressed against the surface of the instrument panel, and a rear inflating part that inflates to the occupant side,
The front inflatable portion has a virtual inflatable portion that inflates beyond the instrument panel when it is assumed that there is no instrument panel.
An airbag characterized by that.   The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured such that a height H at the attachment center portion is greater than a length X from the attachment center portion to the front end.   The lower limit of the length X from the attachment center portion of the airbag to the front end is set within a range of 135 to 140 mm or within a range of 15 to 25% with respect to the total length of the airbag. Item 3. The airbag according to Item 1 or 2.   The center of gravity of the airbag includes a center line that passes through the mounting center and is perpendicular to the instrument panel, a vertical line that passes through the rear end of the instrument panel, and a contact portion between the front inflating portion and the instrument panel. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ground line is set in a region surrounded by an extended ground line and a horizontal line passing through an intersection of the center line and the airbag and perpendicular to the vertical line. The airbag as described in any one of Claims.   The airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an attachment angle θ of the airbag is set in a range of 75 to 90 °.   The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the virtual inflating portion has a capacity of 1 to 4% of the airbag.   The air bag according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a patch cloth that reinforces an outer surface is disposed in an intermediate portion between the front inflating portion and the rear inflating portion. bag. Normally, the instrument panel is folded and accommodated in the opening of the instrument panel, and gas is supplied in the event of an emergency, so that the reaction force from the windshield is not utilized between the windshield and the occupant. An airbag that is inflated and deployed in the air, an inflator that supplies the gas to the airbag, a retainer that holds the airbag and the inflator, and covers the airbag and constitutes a part of the instrument panel In an airbag device having an airbag cover,
The said airbag is an airbag as described in any one of Claims 1-7, The airbag apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.