JP2017159702A - Curtain airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably bring a curtain airbag into an inner-pressure adjusted state.SOLUTION: A communication mechanism 50 of a curtain airbag device 10 has a cylindrical communication part 52 in which a curtain airbag 12 is formed, and a tether 54 for connecting the communication part 52 and an inner tube 30. In a storage state of the curtain airbag 12, the communication part 52 is protruded to the outside of the curtain airbag 12, and makes the inside and outside of the curtain airbag 12 communicate with each other. When the expansion/deployment of the inner tube 30 is hindered at the expansion/deployment of the curtain airbag 12, the communication part 52 is prevented from being withdrawn into a gas supply passage 14 by the tether 54. By this constitution, a communication state of the communication mechanism 50 with respect to the curtain airbag 12 can be maintained. Accordingly, the curtain airbag 12 can be brought into an inner-pressure adjusted state according to a form of the inner tube 30 when the curtain airbag 12 is not normally expanded and deployed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a curtain airbag device.

  Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a curtain airbag device having an internal pressure adjusting structure. This internal pressure adjustment structure has an internal pressure adjustment chamber communicated with the main chamber of the curtain airbag via a communication portion, and the communication portion disables communication between the main chamber and the internal pressure adjustment chamber. A tear seam is provided. Then, when the internal pressure of the main chamber becomes equal to or higher than the set value, the tear seam is broken so that the main chamber communicates with the internal pressure adjusting chamber. Thereby, the gas in the main chamber flows out to the internal pressure adjustment chamber. Therefore, for example, when the curtain airbag is not normally inflated and deployed by the head of a seated occupant taking an inappropriate seating posture, an increase in the internal pressure of the main chamber (curtain airbag) can be suppressed.

JP 2013-124029 A JP 2001-171464 A

  However, in the curtain airbag device, there is a possibility that the internal pressure of the curtain airbag when the tear seam is broken varies due to the variation in the bonding strength of the tear seam. For this reason, in the said curtain airbag apparatus, there exists room for improvement in the point which makes a curtain airbag stably an internal pressure adjustment state (state which suppresses the raise of internal pressure).

  An object of the present invention is to provide a curtain airbag device that can stably bring the curtain airbag into an internal pressure adjustment state in consideration of the above facts.

  The curtain airbag device according to claim 1 is stored along a roof side portion that constitutes an upper side portion of the vehicle, and is inflated and deployed in a curtain shape to the lower side of the vehicle by being supplied with gas generated by an inflator. A curtain airbag having a chamber for protecting the head of an occupant, the curtain airbag being provided inside the curtain airbag, supplying the gas to the interior of the curtain airbag, and under the vehicle together with the curtain airbag. An inner tube that is inflated and deployed to the side of the vehicle and disposed on the upper side of the chamber, and is formed in the curtain airbag to communicate the interior and exterior of the curtain airbag, and in the retracted state of the curtain airbag A tubular communicating portion projecting to the outside of the curtain airbag, the communicating portion and the innach Connecting the blanking, and a, a tether to pull the communicating portion to the inside of the curtain airbag with the inflation and deployment of the vehicle lower side of the inner tube.

  In the curtain airbag device having the above-described configuration, the curtain airbag is stored along the roof side portion that constitutes the upper side portion of the vehicle, and the curtain airbag has a chamber that protects the head of the occupant. Yes. An inner tube is provided inside the curtain airbag. The gas generated by the inflator is supplied into the curtain airbag by the inner tube, so that the curtain airbag and the inner tube are inflated and deployed to the vehicle lower side, and the inner tube is arranged on the vehicle upper side of the chamber. The

  Here, the curtain airbag is formed with a cylindrical communication portion that communicates the inside and the outside of the curtain airbag, and the communication portion protrudes outside the curtain airbag when the curtain airbag is stored. (Hereinafter, this state is referred to as a communication state of the communication unit). The communication portion is connected to the inner tube by a tether.

  Then, as the inner tube is inflated and deployed to the vehicle lower side, the tether pulls the communication portion into the curtain airbag. For this reason, the communication portion is closed so as to reduce the diameter by the pressure of the gas supplied to the interior of the curtain airbag, and the communication portion is in a state of preventing or suppressing the outflow of gas inside the curtain airbag. As a result, the interior of the curtain airbag is filled with gas, and the curtain airbag is inflated and deployed. Therefore, the occupant's head that moves outward in the vehicle width direction at the time of a side collision or the like can be restrained by the chamber.

  On the other hand, for example, when the chamber is not properly inflated and deployed by the head of a seated occupant who takes an inappropriate seating posture, the inflation and deployment of the inner tube to the vehicle lower side is suppressed. For this reason, it is suppressed that a communication part is drawn in into the inside of a curtain airbag by a tether. That is, the communication state of the communication portion with respect to the curtain airbag is maintained. Thereby, the gas in a curtain airbag flows out of the curtain airbag via a communicating part. Therefore, when the curtain airbag is not normally inflated and deployed, it is possible to suppress the internal pressure of the curtain airbag from rising above a predetermined value. Thus, according to the curtain airbag device having the above-described configuration, the curtain airbag can be brought into the internal pressure adjustment state in accordance with the form of the inner tube when the inner tube is not normally inflated and deployed. Therefore, the curtain airbag can be stably adjusted to the internal pressure.

  As described above, according to the curtain airbag device of the present disclosure, the curtain airbag can be stably brought into the internal pressure adjustment state.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway schematic side view showing a non-operating state of a communication mechanism in the curtain airbag device according to the present embodiment as viewed from the vehicle interior side. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic side view of the entire curtain airbag device according to the present embodiment as viewed from the passenger compartment side showing the curtain airbag in an inflated and deployed state. FIG. 3A is a partially cutaway schematic side view showing a state in which the communication portion of the communication mechanism shown in FIG. 1A is drawn into the curtain airbag by the tether as viewed from the vehicle interior side. FIG. 3B is a side view showing a state in which the communicating portion shown in FIG. 3A is closed by the pressure of the gas.

  Hereinafter, the curtain airbag device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the arrow FR and arrow UP which are suitably shown in each figure have shown the front side and the upper side of the motor vehicle V to which the curtain airbag apparatus 10 was applied, respectively. Hereinafter, when the description is made simply using the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, the front-rear direction of the vehicle and the up-down direction of the vehicle are indicated unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 2 shows a state after the curtain airbag device 10 is actuated in a side view as seen from the interior of the automobile V. The curtain airbag device 10 is provided on both sides of the upper portion of the automobile V, respectively. The curtain airbag device 10 disposed on the right side of the automobile V and the curtain airbag device 10 disposed on the left side of the automobile V are configured symmetrically. Therefore, in the following description, the curtain airbag device 10 disposed mainly on the right side of the vehicle V will be described, and the description of the curtain airbag device 10 disposed on the left side of the vehicle V will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the curtain airbag device 10 includes a curtain airbag 12 and an inflator 40 (gas generation device). Further, the curtain airbag device 10 includes a communication mechanism 50 for communicating the inside and the outside of the curtain airbag 12 to suppress an increase in the internal pressure of the curtain airbag 12. Each configuration will be described below.

(About curtain airbag 12)
The curtain airbag 12 is formed of a plurality of base fabrics and is formed in a bag shape. The curtain airbag 12 is stored along the roof side portion 62 that constitutes both sides of the upper portion of the automobile V. The roof side portion 62 extends in the front-rear direction above the front seat side glass 60F, the center pillar 68, and the rear seat side glass 60R in the automobile V. Moreover, in the retracted state of the curtain airbag 12, the curtain airbag 12 is folded in a roll shape or a bellows shape, and is formed in a long shape with the front-rear direction as the longitudinal direction. And the gas generated by the inflator 40 to be described later is supplied to the curtain airbag 12, so that the curtain airbag 12 is mounted on the vehicle on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (vehicle compartment side) of the side glass 60F, the center pillar 68, and the side glass 60R. It expands and deploys in the form of a curtain downward. In the following description of the curtain airbag 12, the configuration (shape) of the curtain airbag 12 in the inflated and deployed state will be described unless otherwise specified.

  The curtain airbag 12 includes a gas supply passage 14, a front main chamber 18 as a “chamber” communicated with the gas supply passage 14, and a sub communicated with the gas supply passage 14 and disposed on the front side of the front main chamber 18. The chamber 20 is configured to include a rear main chamber 22 that communicates with the gas supply passage 14 and is disposed on the rear side of the front main chamber 18. Further, an inner tube 30 for supplying gas to the interior of the curtain airbag 12 is provided inside the curtain airbag 12.

  The gas supply passage 14 constitutes the upper part of the curtain airbag 12. Further, the gas supply passage 14 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having the longitudinal direction as the longitudinal direction, and extends in the longitudinal direction along the roof side portion 62. Further, a gas introduction passage 16 having a substantially cylindrical shape is provided in the middle part in the front-rear direction of the gas supply passage 14, and the lower end portion of the gas introduction passage 16 is connected to the gas supply passage 14. Thereby, the inside of the gas supply passage 14 and the inside of the gas introduction passage 16 are communicated. The gas introduction path 16 extends upward and obliquely rearward from the gas supply path 14, and the rear portion of the gas introduction path 16 is bent rearward.

  Further, an inner tube 30 for supplying gas generated by an inflator 40 described later to the curtain airbag 12 is provided in the gas supply passage 14 and the gas introduction passage 16. The inner tube 30 is composed of a plurality of base fabrics. The inner tube 30 includes a tube main body portion 30 </ b> A disposed in the gas supply passage 14 and a tube side gas introduction portion 30 </ b> B disposed in the gas introduction path 16. The tube main body portion 30 </ b> A is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a longitudinal direction in a substantially front-rear direction, and is disposed in a middle portion in the front-rear direction of the gas supply passage 14. Further, the front side portion of the tube main body 30A is inclined downward as it goes to the front side.

  The tube side gas introduction part 30 </ b> B is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape along the gas introduction path 16. One end of the tube-side gas introduction part 30B is connected to the middle part in the front-rear direction of the tube body part 30A, and the tube-side gas introduction part 30B extends upward from the tube body part 30A, so that the curtain air It is arranged inside the gas introduction path 16 of the bag 12. An inflator 40, which will be described later, is connected to the other end of the tube side gas introduction part 30B. Thereby, the gas generated by the inflator 40 is configured to be supplied into the gas supply passage 14 via the inner tube 30. Specifically, the gas generated by the inflator 40 is supplied into the curtain airbag 12 (gas supply passage 14) from the opening at the front end and the rear end of the tube main body 30A.

  Further, in the retracted state of the curtain airbag 12, the inner tube 30 is folded together with the curtain airbag 12. When the curtain airbag 12 is inflated and deployed, the inner tube 30 is inflated and deployed together with the curtain airbag 12, and the front side portion of the tube main body portion 30A is disposed inside the front seat side glass 60F in the vehicle width direction. It has become so.

  The front main chamber 18 constitutes a middle portion in the front-rear direction at the lower part of the curtain airbag 12. Specifically, the front main chamber 18 communicates with the middle part in the front-rear direction of the gas supply passage 14 and corresponds to the head protection area that protects the head of the seated occupant in the front seat. The vehicle is inflated and deployed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the head of the seated occupant moving in the vehicle width direction outside is protected by the front main chamber 18. The front main chamber 18 has a lower chamber portion 18A, and the lower chamber portion 18A extends from the lower end portion of the front main chamber 18 to the rear side and is disposed below the rear main chamber 22 described later. Has been. Further, the front side portion of the tube main body 30 </ b> A described above is disposed above the front main chamber 18.

  The sub chamber 20 constitutes a front end portion at the lower part of the curtain airbag 12. Specifically, the sub-chamber 20 communicates with the front end portion of the gas supply passage 14 and is inflated and deployed on the front side of the front main chamber 18. Thereby, for example, the head of the occupant moving to the front side and the outside in the vehicle width direction is protected by the sub-chamber 20.

  The rear main chamber 22 constitutes a rear end portion in the lower part of the curtain airbag 12. Specifically, the rear main chamber 22 is communicated with the rear end portion of the gas supply passage 14 and is inflated and deployed on the rear side of the front main chamber 18 and on the upper side of the lower chamber portion 18A in the front main chamber 18. It has become. Further, the rear main chamber 22 is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the rear seat side glass 60 </ b> R corresponding to the head protection area for protecting the head of the seated passenger in the rear seat. As a result, the rear main chamber 22 protects the head of the seated occupant moving rearward in the vehicle width direction.

  A plurality of mounting tabs 24 are provided at the upper end of the curtain airbag 12. Each of the mounting tabs 24 is fixed to the front pillar 64, the roof side portion 62, and the rear pillar 66 of the automobile V by a fixing tool such as a clip, a bolt, or a nut.

(About the inflator 40)
The inflator 40 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with the front-rear direction as the axial direction, and is disposed along the roof side portion 62. The inflator 40 is configured as a combustion type or cold gas type gas generator, and gas is generated when the inflator 40 is operated. In addition, the front end portion of the inflator 40 is connected to the other end portion of the inner tube 30, and the gas outlet formed at the front end portion of the inflator 40 is communicated with the inside of the inner tube 30. Thereby, the gas generated by the inflator 40 is supplied into the curtain airbag 12.

  In addition, an airbag ECU 42 is electrically connected to the inflator 40, and a side collision sensor 44 and a rollover sensor 46 are electrically connected to the airbag ECU 42. The side collision sensor 44 is configured to predict or detect a side collision (unavoidable) of the vehicle V and output a side collision detection signal to the airbag ECU 42. The rollover sensor 46 is configured to predict or detect the rollover of the vehicle V and output a rollover detection signal (hereinafter referred to as R / O detection signal) to the airbag ECU 42. . When a side collision detection signal is input from the side collision sensor 44 to the airbag ECU 42, the side collision (near side) inflator 40 is activated by the airbag ECU 42. Specifically, when a side collision occurs in the automobile V, the near-side curtain airbag 12 is inflated by being supplied with gas and is deployed. Further, when an R / O detection signal is input to the airbag ECU 42 from the rollover sensor 46, the inflator 40 on both sides in the vehicle width direction is operated by the airbag ECU 42. When the R / O detection signal is input to the airbag ECU 42 after the side collision, the airbag ECU 42 operates the inflator 40 on the side opposite to the side collision side that has already been operated.

(About the communication mechanism 50)
Next, the communication mechanism 50 which is a main part of the present invention will be described.
The communication mechanism 50 allows the inside and the outside of the curtain airbag 12 to communicate with each other so that the communication mechanism 50 suppresses an increase in the internal pressure of the curtain airbag 12 when the curtain airbag 12 is not normally inflated and deployed. ing. Specifically, in a non-operating state of the communication mechanism 50, the communication mechanism 50 allows the inside and the outside of the curtain airbag 12 to communicate with each other and allows the outflow (release) of the gas inside the curtain airbag 12. (Hereinafter, this state is referred to as “communication state”). On the other hand, when the inner tube 30 is normally inflated and deployed downward when the curtain airbag 12 is inflated and deployed, the communication mechanism 50 is activated to prevent or suppress the outflow (release) of gas inside the curtain airbag 12. It is designed to switch to a state to do. In other words, when the curtain airbag 12 is not normally inflated and deployed, the communication mechanism 50 is not operated, and the communication state of the communication mechanism 50 is maintained (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). ). Hereinafter, the configuration of the communication mechanism 50 will be described. In the following description of each configuration of the communication mechanism 50, the curtain airbag 12 will be described in an inflated and deployed state for convenience.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication mechanism 50 includes a communication part 52 formed in the curtain airbag 12 and a tether 54 that connects the communication part 52 and the inner tube 30.

  The communication portion 52 is formed integrally with the upper end portion of the gas supply passage 14 of the curtain airbag 12 and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. Specifically, the communication portion 52 is disposed above the front end portion of the tube main body portion 30 </ b> A, and the proximal end portion of the communication portion 52 is connected to the gas supply passage 14. Thereby, the inside and the outside of the curtain airbag 12 are communicated with each other by the communicating portion 52. And the inside of the communication part 52 is made into the communication path 52A. In the retracted state of the curtain airbag 12, the communication portion 52 is projected from the curtain airbag 12 to the upper side (outside) and folded together with the curtain airbag 12.

  The tether 54 is formed in a substantially long shape, and connects the communication portion 52 and the inner tube 30. Specifically, one end portion of the tether 54 is coupled to the opening end portion of the communication portion 52 by sewing or the like. When the communication mechanism 50 is in an inoperative state, the tether 54 is extended from the one end to the gas supply passage 14 side in the communication passage 52A. On the other hand, the other end portion of the tether 54 is wound around the front end portion of the tube main body portion 30A and joined to the front end portion by sewing or the like.

  Then, the communication mechanism 50 is operated in accordance with the expansion and deployment to the lower side of the inner tube 30. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the communication mechanism 50 is operated, the other end portion of the tether 54 is pulled downward by the front end portion of the tube main body portion 30A, so that the tether 54 is straight. It moves to the lower side in a stretched state. As a result, the tether 54 draws (draws out) the communicating portion 52 into the curtain airbag 12 (gas supply passage 14), and the communicating portion 52 is arranged inside the gas supply passage 14. When the inflating and deploying of the inner tube 30 is completed, the communication part 52 is arranged inside the gas supply passage 14 in a state of protruding downward from the upper end part of the curtain airbag 12. That is, the surface constituting the outer periphery (inner periphery) of the communication portion 52 in the non-operating state of the communication mechanism 50 (the retracted state of the curtain airbag 12) is the inner periphery (outer periphery) of the communication portion 52 after the operation of the communication mechanism 50. ), The communicating portion 52 is turned upside down.

  Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described.

  The curtain airbag device 10 configured as described above includes a communication mechanism 50. When the curtain airbag 12 is stored, the communication mechanism 50 is in a communication state in which the interior and the exterior of the curtain airbag 12 communicate with each other. Has been. Specifically, the interior and the exterior of the curtain airbag 12 are communicated with each other by a cylindrical communication part 52 formed in the curtain airbag 12 (gas supply passage 14). 12 protrudes from the outside.

  When a side collision occurs in the automobile V, the airbag ECU 42 that has received a side collision detection signal from the side collision sensor 44 operates the inflator 40 on the side collision side. When a rollover occurs in the automobile V following the side collision, the airbag ECU 42 that receives the R / O detection signal from the rollover sensor 46 activates the inflator 40 on the opposite side. On the other hand, when a rollover occurs in the vehicle V independently of the side collision, the airbag ECU 42 that receives the R / O detection signal from the rollover sensor 46 activates the left and right inflators 40.

  When the inflator 40 is activated, the gas generated by the inflator 40 is supplied from the inner tube 30 into the curtain airbag 12, and the inner tube 30 and the curtain airbag 12 are inflated and deployed downward from the retracted state. The Further, the communication mechanism 50 operates when the inner tube 30 is inflated and deployed to the lower side. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the inner tube 30 is inflated and deployed downward, the other end of the tether 54 is pulled downward by the front end of the tube main body 30A. The tether 54 moves downward with the straight line extended. When the tether 54 moves downward, the open end of the communication portion 52 is drawn downward (inside the gas supply passage 14) by the tether 54 so that the communication portion 52 is turned over. When the inflating and deploying of the inner tube 30 is completed, the communication portion 52 protrudes downward from the upper end portion of the curtain airbag 12 and is disposed inside the gas supply passage 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, when the communication portion 52 is disposed inside the gas supply passage 14, the communication portion 52 is connected to the communication portion by the pressure of the gas supplied into the curtain airbag 12. It is pressed from the outer peripheral side of 52 (see the arrow shown in FIG. 3B). For this reason, a force for reducing the diameter of the communication portion 52 acts on the communication portion 52 and the communication passage 52A is closed (in other words, the communication portion 52 flows out (releases) the gas inside the curtain airbag 12. This prevents the gas in the curtain airbag 12 from flowing out of the communication passage 52A of the communication portion 52 to the outside of the curtain airbag 12. As a result, the curtain airbag 12 is filled with gas, and the curtain airbag 12 is normally inflated and deployed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (the vehicle interior side) of the side glass 60F, the center pillar 68, and the side glass 60R. The head of the occupant who moves outward in the vehicle width direction at the time of rollover can be restrained by the curtain airbag 12.

  On the other hand, for example, by the head of a seated occupant P (see FIG. 1) that takes an inappropriate seating posture (a seating posture that is located outside the normal seating position in the vehicle width direction, also called OOP: out-of-position) When the expansion and deployment of the curtain airbag 12 (front main chamber 18) to the lower side is inhibited, the front main chamber 18 is not normally expanded and deployed. In this case, the downward expansion and development at the front end portion of the inner tube 30 (tube main body portion 30A) is suppressed. Specifically, the front end portion of the tube main body portion 30A is arranged on the upper side as compared with the position of the front end portion of the tube main body portion 30A when the curtain airbag 12 is normally inflated and deployed. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the tether 54 of the communication mechanism 50 is in a loosened state, and the opening end of the communication portion 52 is suppressed from being pulled downward (in the gas supply passage 14) by the tether 54. The Thereby, the communication mechanism 50 is not operated, and the communication state of the communication mechanism 50 with respect to the curtain airbag 12 is maintained. That is, the state in which the communication part 52 is protruded to the outside from the curtain airbag 12 is maintained, and the force for reducing the diameter of the communication part 52 as described above does not act on the communication part 52. As a result, the gas in the curtain airbag 12 flows out of the curtain airbag 12 from the communication passage 52A of the communication portion 52 (see arrow A in FIG. 1). Therefore, when the curtain airbag 12 is not normally inflated and deployed, it is possible to suppress the internal pressure of the curtain airbag 12 from rising above a predetermined value.

  Thus, in the curtain airbag device 10 of the present embodiment, the curtain airbag 12 can be brought into the internal pressure adjustment state in accordance with the form of the inner tube 30 when the curtain airbag 12 is not normally inflated and deployed. . That is, unlike the curtain airbag device described in the background art, the curtain airbag 12 can be brought into the internal pressure adjustment state without a configuration in which the tear seam is broken by the internal pressure of the curtain airbag. Thereby, according to the curtain airbag apparatus 10 of this Embodiment, the curtain airbag 12 can be made into an internal pressure adjustment state, without receiving to the influence of the dispersion | variation in the coupling strength of a tear seam like background art. Accordingly, the curtain airbag 12 can be stably adjusted to the internal pressure.

  In addition, in this Embodiment, although the communication part 52 is formed in the cylindrical shape, the shape of the communication part 52 is not restricted to this. For example, the communication part 52 may be formed in an elliptic cylinder, or the communication part 52 may be formed in a substantially rectangular cylinder. Further, the diameter of the communication part 52 may be changed in the axial direction of the communication part 52. For example, the diameter dimension of the base end part of the communication part 52 may be set larger than the diameter dimension of the distal end part (opening part) of the communication part 52. In this case, the communication portion 52 can be easily turned over when the communication mechanism 50 is operated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Curtain airbag apparatus 12 Curtain airbag 30 Inner tube 40 Inflator 52 Communication part 54 Tether 62 Roof side part

Claims (1)

A chamber that is stored along a roof side portion that constitutes an upper side portion of the vehicle, is inflated and deployed in a curtain shape to the lower side of the vehicle by supplying gas generated by an inflator, and protects a passenger's head A curtain airbag having
An inner tube that is provided inside the curtain airbag, supplies the gas into the curtain airbag, is inflated and deployed to the vehicle lower side together with the curtain airbag, and is disposed on the vehicle upper side of the chamber;
A communication portion formed in the curtain airbag, communicating with the interior and the exterior of the curtain airbag, and having a cylindrical shape protruding to the exterior of the curtain airbag in the retracted state of the curtain airbag;
A tether that connects the communication portion and the inner tube, and draws the communication portion into the curtain airbag as the inner tube is inflated and deployed to the vehicle lower side;
Curtain airbag device equipped with.