JP2019151203A - Airbag for pedestrian - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an airbag for a pedestrian capable of increasing an absorption amount of kinetic energy of the pedestrian in a pillar cover section with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: An airbag includes: a body section which covers an upper surface side of a cowl in the vicinity of a rear end of a hood panel of a vehicle upon completion of inflation; and a pillar cover section 28 which extends from an end of the body section and covers the upper surface side of a front pillar 5. An outer peripheral wall 30 of the airbag 23 is constituted by mutually connecting outer peripheral edges of an upper surface side panel 31 and a lower surface panel 32. The pillar cover section upon completion of inflation is divided into an inside chamber 44 at a center side in a right and left direction of the vehicle and an outside chamber 45 outside in the right and left direction by a bulkhead 40 disposed along a substantially longitudinal direction. In the bulkhead, panels 31 and 32 are overlapped and deployed flat, and an upper edge coupling section 41 coupled with the panel 31 is arranged and disposed at a position shifted to the center side in the right and left direction of the vehicle from a lower edge coupling section 42 coupled with the panel 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedestrian airbag used in a pedestrian airbag device mounted on the lower side of the rear end of a hood panel of a vehicle.

  Conventionally, an airbag of a pedestrian airbag device has a body portion (a cowl cover portion) that covers the upper surface side of the cowl near the rear end of the hood panel of the vehicle when inflation is completed, and an upper surface side of the front pillar that extends from the body portion And an outer peripheral wall configured by combining outer peripheral edges of the upper surface side panel on the upper surface side and the lower surface side panel on the lower surface side (see, for example, Patent Literatures). 1). The pillar cover portion is provided with a partition wall extending in the front-rear direction. The pillar cover portion is formed by the partition wall into an inner chamber on the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle and an outer chamber on the outer side in the left-right direction of the vehicle. In addition to being partitioned, the expansion gas flows from the inner chamber into the outer chamber so that flutter during expansion can be suppressed. Further, the lower coupling portion coupled to the lower surface side panel on the lower edge side of the partition wall is located above (frontward) the front pillar so that the pillar cover portion when the expansion is completed is stably supported on the upper surface side of the front pillar. The portions of the inner chamber and the outer chamber on the left and right sides of the lower edge coupling portion in the pillar cover portion are supported on both sides of the front pillar projecting position. It was configured to complete the expansion while being prevented from shifting in the direction.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-134666

  However, in the conventional pedestrian airbag, when the inflation is completed, the pillar cover portion is supported on both sides of the lower edge coupling portion of the partition wall in the pillar cover portion on both sides of the protruding position of the front pillar, that is, The inner and outer chambers of the pillar cover part are in contact with the left and right upper surface sides of the pillar cover part in the vicinity of the partition wall, and the pillar cover part is already in front before receiving the pedestrian. It is in contact with the upper surface of the pillar, and the distance that the pedestrian is received and approaches the front pillar, that is, the pedestrian's receiving stroke, tends to be shortened, and the kinetic energy absorption amount of the pedestrian is increased. There was room for. In this case, an inflator having a large output can be used to increase the internal pressure of the airbag, or the volume of the pillar cover portion can be increased so as to increase the thickness of the pillar cover portion when the inflation is completed. However, both increase the weight and volume of the pedestrian airbag device, which is not preferable.

  This invention solves the above-mentioned subject, and it aims at providing the pedestrian airbag which can increase the absorption amount of the kinetic energy of the pedestrian in a pillar cover part by simple structure. .

In the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, a main body portion covering the upper surface side of the cowl near the rear end of the hood panel of the vehicle when the inflation is completed, and an upper surface of the front pillar extending from the left and right end portions of the main body portion And a pillar cover portion that covers the side,
The outer peripheral wall is a pedestrian airbag configured by combining outer peripheral edges of the upper surface side panel on the upper surface side and the lower surface side panel on the lower surface side,
When the expansion is completed, the pillar cover portion is formed by a partition wall disposed substantially along the front-rear direction. And is divided into
In the state in which the partition wall is developed in a state where the upper surface side panel and the lower surface side panel are overlapped and flattened, the upper edge coupling portion coupled to the upper surface side panel on the upper edge side is connected to the lower surface side panel on the lower edge side. It is characterized by being disposed at a position shifted from the lower edge coupling portion coupled to the vehicle to the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

  In the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, when the inflation is completed, the partition wall that partitions the inner chamber and the outer chamber of the pillar cover portion is coupled to the lower surface side panel from the upper edge coupling portion that is coupled to the upper surface side panel. The lower edge coupling portion is disposed so as to be inclined to the outside of the vehicle. That is, the outer chamber has a structure that is disposed above the inclined partition wall and protrudes obliquely upward from the inner chamber in a direction substantially orthogonal to the partition wall. Therefore, the outer chamber can quickly catch the pedestrian by the projecting dimension from the inner chamber and can secure a long receiving stroke, so that the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian can be increased. Such a configuration can be easily dealt with simply by placing the partition wall at an angle.

  Therefore, in the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, the absorption amount of kinetic energy of the pedestrian in the pillar cover portion can be increased with a simple configuration.

  In the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, the partition wall allows the inflation gas from the inner chamber to flow into the outer chamber and suppresses the reverse flow from the outer chamber to the inner chamber. It is desirable that preventive means be provided.

  In such a configuration, if the expansion of the outer chamber is completed by the expansion gas from the inner chamber, the flow of the expansion gas from the outer chamber to the inner chamber is regulated, and the outer chamber is high when the expansion is completed. The internal pressure can be maintained. For this reason, when the outer chamber receives a pedestrian, a high internal pressure can be maintained, and the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian that is substantially proportional to the receiving stroke can be further increased. In addition, even if the pedestrian is received near the outer edge of the outer chamber where the thickness of the pillar cover portion tends to be thin, a high internal pressure is maintained and sufficient reaction force can be secured, so that the pedestrian can be accurately identified. Can be protected by receiving. Therefore, for example, a pedestrian can be accurately received and protected without using an inflator with a large output that increases the internal pressure or increasing the thickness (volume) of the pillar cover portion.

  In the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, the partition may extend to the front edge side of the main body.

  In such a configuration, if the outer chamber extends to the front edge side of the airbag main body, the vicinity of the front edge is located above the left and right edges on the rear end side of the hood panel and the fender panel in the vicinity thereof. Even if a pedestrian moves in the vicinity thereof, the outer chamber can quickly receive and protect the pedestrian.

  In the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, the pillar cover portions are arranged so as to extend from the left and right sides of one main body portion so as to cover the upper surface sides of the left and right front pillars of the vehicle, respectively. It is possible to have a configuration in which one vehicle is provided, or two on both the left and right sides of the vehicle are covered so that the upper surface of the cowl and the front pillar on each side in the left-right direction can be covered. It is good also as a structure arranged.

1 is a schematic partial plan view of a vehicle equipped with a pedestrian airbag device in which a pedestrian airbag according to a first embodiment of the present invention is used, and also includes a pedestrian airbag when inflation is completed. Indicated by a two-dot chain line. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view at the time of the action | operation of the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of 1st Embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the II-II site | part of FIG. It is a general | schematic expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view of the inflator vicinity at the time of the action | operation of the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic fragmentary sectional view explaining the action | operation of the backflow prevention means in the airbag for pedestrians of 1st Embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the IV-IV site | part of FIG. It is a general | schematic fragmentary perspective view explaining the action | operation of the backflow prevention means in the airbag for pedestrians of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic fragmentary sectional view explaining the time of expansion | swelling of the front edge side of the airbag for pedestrians of 1st Embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the VI-VI site | part of FIG. It is a top view in the state where the inflator in the airbag for pedestrians of a 1st embodiment was inserted. It is a top view which shows the structural member of the airbag for pedestrians of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view in the state where the inflator in the air bag for pedestrians of a 2nd embodiment was inserted. It is a general | schematic fragmentary perspective view explaining the action | operation of the backflow prevention means in the airbag for pedestrians of 2nd Embodiment. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view explaining the action | operation of the backflow prevention means in the airbag for pedestrians of 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view in the state where the inflator in the air bag for pedestrians of a 3rd embodiment was inserted. It is a general | schematic fragmentary perspective view explaining the action | operation of the backflow prevention means in the airbag for pedestrians of 3rd Embodiment. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view explaining the action | operation of the backflow prevention means in the airbag for pedestrians of 3rd Embodiment. It is a top view in the state where the inflator in the airbag for pedestrians of a 4th embodiment was inserted. It is a top view which shows the structural member of the airbag for pedestrians of 4th Embodiment. It is a schematic fragmentary sectional view explaining the action | operation of the backflow prevention means in the airbag for pedestrians of 4th Embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A pedestrian airbag (hereinafter abbreviated as “airbag” as appropriate) 23 according to a first embodiment is a walking as shown in FIGS. It is used for a person's airbag device (hereinafter abbreviated as “airbag device” as appropriate) M. The airbag device M is mounted on the lower engine room ER side in the vicinity of the rear end 9a of the hood panel 9 of the vehicle V, and is folded with an airbag 23, an inflator 15 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 23, and And a case 10 for storing the airbag 23.

  In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions will be described in accordance with the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of the vehicle V, respectively.

  The case 10 of the airbag apparatus M is made of metal (made of sheet metal), and the bolts of the mounting bracket 18 of the inflator 15 are attached to the mounting portion 2 composed of a flange extending from the hood ridge rein hose on the body 1 side of the vehicle V. 19, the nut 20 is fixed and fixed. The case 10 has a rectangular plate-like bottom wall portion 11 extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle V as a substantially rectangular box shape having an opening 13 for projecting the airbag 23 when inflated. And a peripheral wall portion 12 having a substantially square cylindrical shape extending upward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 11. The case 10 is mounted on an upper position on the front side of a cowl 6 that extends forward from the lower side of the front end 4a side of a front windshield (also referred to as a windshield, hereinafter simply referred to as a windshield) 4. 1 is a wiper. The cowl 6 includes a metal cowl panel 6a having high rigidity and a synthetic resin cowl louver 6b having rigidity lower than that of the cowl panel 6a.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the inflator 15 has a cylindrical shape in which the axial direction is arranged along the left-right direction of the vehicle V, and is configured by disposing a gas discharge portion 16 that discharges an inflation gas at the tip. ing. The inflator 15 is held by a plurality (three in the embodiment) of the mounting brackets 18 and inserted into the airbag 23 in a state of being wrapped in the inner tube 39. It is being fixed to the bottom wall part 11 (refer FIG.2, 3). As described above, the bolt 19 of the mounting bracket 18 passes through the bottom wall portion 11 and is fixed to the mounting portion 2 on the body 1 side of the vehicle V with the nut 20, and the case 10 is attached to the mounting portion 2 together with the inflator 15. Further, the inflator 15 is inserted into the airbag 23, and the airbag 23 is also attached and fixed to the bottom wall portion 11 of the case 10.

  In the case of the embodiment, the front bumper 3 of the vehicle V is provided with a sensor 3a that can detect a collision with a pedestrian, and an operation circuit (not shown) that inputs a signal from the sensor 3a. When the collision of the vehicle V with a pedestrian is detected based on the signal from the sensor 3a, the inflator 15 of the airbag apparatus M is activated.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the airbag 23 includes a main body 24 that covers the cowl 6 and the front edge 4 a of the windshield 4 from the rear end 9 a of the hood panel 9 when inflation is completed, and left and right of the main body 24. Pillar cover portions 28 (L, R) extending rearward from both ends 24a and covering the upper sides of the left and right front pillars 5 (5L, 5R) are provided. The outer peripheral wall 30 of the airbag 23 includes an upper surface side panel 31 that catches a pedestrian on the upper surface side, and a lower surface side panel 32 that is supported by the hood panel 9, the windshield 4, and the front pillar 5 on the lower surface side. It is prepared for. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 are configured by airbag base fabrics 70 and 71 having the same outer shape, and the outer peripheral wall 30 of the airbag 23. Is formed by overlapping the airbag base fabrics 70 and 71 and stitching the outer peripheral edges 70a and 71a together.

  In addition, the airbag 23 is a front tether 34 disposed around the center of the main body 24 so as to regulate the separation distance between the upper panel 31 and the lower panel 32 of the main body 24 when the inflation is completed. And the rear tether 35, the left tether 36 and the right tether 37 disposed near the left and right ends of the main body 24, and the vicinity of the left and right ends 24a of the main body 24 from the rear ends 28a of the left and right pillar cover portions 28L and 28R. Partition walls 40 (L, R) disposed so as to extend to the vicinity of the front edge 24b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the front tether 34 is configured by mutually bonding tether base fabrics 72 and 73 that are separately coupled to the upper panel 31 and the lower panel 32. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the rear tether 35 is configured by mutually bonding tether base fabrics 74 and 75 that are separately bonded to the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32. The left and right tethers 36 and 37 are configured by mutually joining tether base fabrics 76 and 77 that are separately coupled to the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32. The partition wall 40 is connected to the inner peripheral surfaces 31 a and 32 a of the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32, except for a part (non-bonding portion) 50.

  The inflator 15 is accommodated between the front tether 34 and the rear tether 35 in the airbag 23. The front tether 34 and the rear tether 35 are configured such that the expansion gas from the inflator 15 can flow forward and backward from both the left and right ends, and the width dimension in the left-right direction is shorter than the total length in the left-right direction of the main body 24. It is arranged.

  The left and right partition walls 40L, 40R are positioned at positions shifted from the left and right tethers 36, 37 outward in the left-right direction, respectively, from the rear end 28a side of the pillar cover portion 28 in the airbag 23 to the left and right ends of the main body portion 24. The region up to the front edge 24b in the vicinity of 24a is linearly arranged so as to be substantially along the front-rear direction so as to be divided on the left and right. The left and right partition walls 40L and 40R respectively include an inner chamber 44 located on the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle V, and an outer chamber 45 (L, R) located on the outer side in the left-right direction of the vehicle V. It is divided into. The inner chamber 44 includes a central portion 24c excluding the vicinity of the left and right ends 24a and 24a of the main body portion 24, and an inner portion 28b that is a central side in the left and right direction of the vehicle V in the left and right pillar cover portions 28L and 28R. The outer chamber 45 includes left and right ends 24a of the main body 24 and outer portions 28c that are the outer sides of the vehicle V in the left and right directions in the left and right pillar cover portions 28L and 28R. Since the inflator 15 is disposed in the inner chamber 44, it becomes an upstream chamber for the inflation gas, and the outer chamber 45 becomes a downstream chamber for the inflation gas.

  Further, the left and right partition walls 40L and 40R are respectively connected to the upper edge side panel 31 on the upper edge 40aa side in a state where the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 are overlapped and flattened. Is arranged at a position shifted from the lower edge coupling portion 42 coupled to the lower surface panel 32 on the lower edge 40ab side to the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle V.

  The partition walls 40L and 40R are provided with backflow prevention means 47 that allows the expansion gas from the inner chamber 44 to flow into the outer chamber 45 and suppresses the backflow from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44. ing. In the embodiment, the backflow preventing means 47 includes an upper surface side panel 31 and a lower surface side panel in which the partition wall 40 that partitions the outer chamber 45 and the inner chamber 44 forms the outer peripheral wall 30 of the airbag 23 on the entire periphery of the outer peripheral edge 40a. Rather than being coupled to the inner peripheral surfaces 31a and 32a with the outer peripheral edge 40a, the seam allowance portion 40d extending from the sewing portion 40c of the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40 is connected to the inner peripheral surface side of the outer chamber 45 (in the illustrated example, the lower surface side) The fin portion 51 is provided to extend the length dimension so as to be able to contact the inner surface 32a side of the panel 32 for a long time, that is, between the joint portion 49 with the lower surface side panel 32 on the lower edge 40ab side of the outer peripheral edge 40a. Partially, the non-bonding portion 50 is provided, and the seam allowance portion 40d is a fin portion 51 that constitutes a check valve so as to be able to contact the inner peripheral surface 32a of the lower surface side panel 32 and extend outward in the left-right direction. Formed There.

  In the backflow prevention means 47, when the inflator 15 is operated and the inner chamber 44 is expanded by increasing the internal pressure, the fin portion 51 of the non-bonded portion 50 is expanded as shown in A of FIG. Due to the pressure of the gas G, the supply port 52 that floats from the inner peripheral surface 32 a side of the lower surface side panel 32 and flows the expansion gas G from the inner chamber 44 into the outer chamber 45 is opened. The working gas G completes the expansion of the outer chamber 45. After that, even if the expansion gas G tries to flow backward from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44, the fin portion 51 constituting the check valve does not move inside the lower surface side panel 32 as shown in B of FIG. Since the supply port 52 is closed by being pressed against the peripheral surface 32a, the expansion gas G in the outer chamber 45 does not flow back to the inner chamber 44, and the outer chamber 45 can maintain the inner pressure when the expansion is completed. Therefore, compared with the inner chamber 44, the outer chamber 45 is able to receive and protect the pedestrian PD by suppressing the decrease in internal pressure and exhibiting a good cushioning action.

  The lower panel 32 between the front and rear tethers 34 and 35 of the main body 24 is provided with slits 25 extending in the left-right direction and mounting holes 26 through which the bolts 19 of the mounting brackets 18 pass. Yes. The slit 25 is for inserting the inflator 15 wrapped in the inner tube 39 into the airbag 23, and a cover cloth 33 covering the slit 25 is disposed on the outer surface side of the slit 25. .

  The cover cloth 33 is sewn to the lower surface panel 32 on the rear side of the slit 25 on the rear edge 33a side, and an attachment hole 33b through which the bolt 19 of each attachment bracket 18 passes is formed.

  The inner tube 39 has an insertion tube portion 39c into which the inflator 15 to which the mounting bracket 18 is already attached is inserted, and outlets 39a and 39b that extend from both sides of the gas discharge portion 16 to discharge the inflation gas to the tip. And a three-pronged cylindrical shape. A mounting hole 39d through which the bolt 19 of each mounting bracket 18 passes is formed in the insertion tube portion 39c. As shown in FIG. 8, the inner tube 39 is formed from a tube base fabric 79. The tube base fabric 79 is folded in two with a fold 79a, and the predetermined outer peripheral edges overlapped with each other. The inner tube 39 can be formed by sewing.

  Note that the airbag base fabrics 70 and 71 constituting the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32, the tether base fabrics 72, 73, 74, 75, 75, 76 and 77, and the partition wall base fabric constituting the partition wall 40. 78, the tube base fabric 79, and the cover fabric 33 are formed of a woven fabric such as a flexible sheet-like polyester yarn or polyamide yarn.

  In the airbag 23 of the first embodiment, the tether base fabrics 72, 74, 76 are sewn to the airbag base fabric 70 using the suture thread 81 (see FIG. 7), and the airbag base fabric 71 is then stitched. The tether base fabrics 73, 75 and 77 are sewn, and the tether base fabrics 72 and 73, the tether base fabrics 74 and 75, and the tether base fabrics 76 and 77 are sewn together. Then, the airbag base fabrics 70 and 71 are overlapped and flattened, and the outer peripheral edges 70a and 71a are stitched together, and the predetermined portion (bonding) of the outer peripheral edge 78a of the partition wall fabric 78 is provided at the portion where the partition wall 40 is disposed. If the part 49) is sewn to the airbag base fabrics 70 and 71 to form the partition wall 40 and the remaining outer peripheral edges 70a and 71a are sewn together, the airbag 23 can be formed. The airbag base fabric 71 constituting the lower panel 32 is formed with slits 25 and attachment holes 26 in advance, and the cover fabric 33 is sewn into a predetermined position.

  Thereafter, the airbag 23 is folded so as to be housed in the case 10, and the inflator 15 having the mounting bracket 18 in a state of being inserted into the inner tube 39 is inserted into the airbag 23 using the slit 25. Then, the bolt 19 of each mounting bracket 18 is protruded from the mounting hole 39 d of the inner tube 39 and the mounting hole 26 of the airbag 23, and the cover cloth 33 covers the slit 25 so that the cover cloth 33 covers the slit 25. The mounting holes 33b are fitted into the respective bolts 19 to form an airbag assembly, housed in the case 10, and then the airbag cover 14 is assembled to the case 10 so as to cover the opening 13 of the case 10. Then, the case 10 is arranged at a predetermined position of the vehicle V, the bolt 19 protruding from the case 10 is fastened with a nut 20 to the mounting portion 2, and an operation signal line extending from the inflator 15 is connected to a predetermined operation circuit. Then, the airbag device M can be mounted on the vehicle V.

  Thereafter, when an operation signal is input to the inflator 15, the inflation gas G is discharged from the gas discharge unit 16, the folded airbag 23 is expanded and inflated, and the airbag cover 14 is pushed open to open the airbag. 23 covers the upper surface 9b of the rear end 9a of the hood panel 9 and the front end 4a of the cowl 6 / windshield 4, and the pillar cover portion 28 (L, R) is the front pillar 5 (L, R). The upper surface 5a is covered.

  In the airbag 23 of the first embodiment, when the inflation is completed, the partition 40 that partitions the inner chamber 44 and the outer chamber 45 of the pillar cover portion 28 (L, R) is coupled to the upper edge panel 31. A lower edge coupling portion 42 coupled to the lower surface side panel 32 from the portion 41 is disposed so as to be inclined toward the vehicle outer side. That is, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and FIGS. 6A and 6B, the outer chamber 45 has an expansion gas G flowing from the inner chamber 44 through the supply port 52 formed by lifting the fin portion 51. Thus, when the expansion is completed, the structure is disposed above the inclined partition wall 40 and protrudes obliquely upward from the inner chamber 44 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the partition wall 40. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the outer chamber 45 protrudes upward from the inner chamber 44 by the protrusion dimension H (which can be said to be the front side that the front pillar 5 is inclined rearwardly upward). Thus, since the pedestrian PD can be received quickly and the receiving stroke can be secured for a long time, the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian PD can be increased. Such a configuration can be easily dealt with simply by placing the partition wall 40 at an angle.

  Therefore, in the pedestrian airbag 23 of the first embodiment, the absorption amount of the kinetic energy of the pedestrian PD in the pillar cover portion 28 can be increased with a simple configuration.

  In the case of the embodiment, the lateral displacement S0 (see FIG. 7) between the upper edge coupling portion 41 and the lower edge coupling portion 42 is about 180 mm within a range of 150 to 220 mm. If the deviation dimension S0 is too small, it is difficult to secure the projection dimension H from the inner chamber 44. If it is too large, it is difficult to dispose the outer chamber 45 outside the inner chamber 44. It becomes difficult to ensure the area of the pillar cover part 28 to cover. Further, since the inclination of the partition wall 40 also changes depending on the substantial width dimension B0 (see FIG. 8) of the partition wall fabric 78 that determines the thickness dimension when the pillar cover portion 28 is expanded, the upper edge coupling portion 41 is changed. It is desirable that the horizontal displacement dimension S0 between the lower edge coupling portion 42 and the lower edge coupling portion 42 is approximately equal to the substantial width dimension B0 (see FIG. 8) of the partition wall fabric 78. Incidentally, the substantial width dimension B0 of the partition wall fabric 78 of the embodiment is about 180 mm, which is equivalent to the displacement dimension S0.

  In the pedestrian airbag 23 according to the first embodiment, the partition wall 40 is allowed to flow the inflation gas G from the inner chamber 44 into the outer chamber 45, and the backflow from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44 is prevented. A backflow preventing means 47 for suppressing is provided.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the outer chamber 45 completes expansion by the expansion gas G from the inner chamber 44, the fin portion 51 as the check valve that has opened the supply port 52 is changed to the lower panel. 32, the supply port 52 is blocked, the flow of the expansion gas G from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44 is restricted, and the outer chamber 45 has a high internal pressure at the completion of the expansion. Can be maintained. As a result, when the outer chamber 45 receives the pedestrian PD, a high internal pressure can be maintained, and the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian PD that is substantially proportional to the receiving stroke can be further increased. That is, when receiving the pedestrian PD, even if the kinetic energy of the pedestrian PD is equal, as shown in FIG. 4B, when receiving by the outer chamber 45, it can be received as a small receiving stroke SS. In the inner chamber 44, since the internal pressure is reduced, it is received as a large receiving stroke SL.

  Further, even if the pedestrian PD is received near the outer edge 28ca of the outer chamber 45 where the thickness of the pillar cover portion 28 tends to be thin, a high internal pressure is maintained near the outer edge 28ca, so that sufficient reaction is achieved. Since the force can be secured, the pedestrian PD can be accurately received and protected.

  Therefore, for example, a pedestrian can be accurately received and protected without using an inflator with a large output that increases the internal pressure or increasing the thickness (volume) of the pillar cover portion.

  In order to promote the completion of the expansion of the outer chamber 45, a plurality of backflow prevention means 47 having a fin portion 51 that forms a check valve may be provided on the outer peripheral edge 40 a of the partition wall 40.

  In the pedestrian airbag 23 according to the first embodiment, the partition wall 40 extends to the front edge 24 b side of the main body 24.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment, since the outer chamber 45 extends to the front edge 24b side of the main body 24 of the airbag 23, the vicinity of the front edge 24b is located behind the hood panel 9 as shown in FIG. The outer chamber 45 can be disposed above the left and right edges 9d on the end 9a side and the fender panel 8 in the vicinity thereof, and the front end 45a ( 1 and 7) can quickly receive and protect the pedestrian PD.

  Furthermore, in the pedestrian airbag 23 according to the first embodiment, when the inflation is completed, as shown in FIG. 4B, the partition wall 40 is disposed so as to be inclined so that the upper surface 40b side is inclined outward. In addition, a linear lower edge coupling portion 42 coupled to the lower surface side panel 32 is disposed in the vicinity of the top portion 5b protruding upward from the front pillar 5, and the inner chamber 44 is disposed on the inner side in the left-right direction from the top portion 5b. And the outer chamber 45 is disposed outside the top 5b in the left-right direction. Therefore, when the outer chamber 45 completes expansion, the outer chamber 45 completes expansion so as to protrude in the orthogonal direction from the partition wall 40 whose upper surface 40b is inclined obliquely outward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the expansion is completed, the pillar cover portion 28 does not cover the portion 32c of the lower surface side panel 32 on the outer chamber 45 side with respect to the front shield 4 and the front pillar 5 on the vehicle body side. It will be in the form of contact, and the part 32b of the lower surface side panel 32 on the inner chamber 44 side will be placed in contact.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the expansion of the pillar cover portion 28 is completed, the outer chamber 45 is lifted from the vehicle body side member of the front pillar 5 and the windshield 4 on the vehicle body side, compared to the inner chamber 44 by the lifting dimension h. Since it floats and expands, it is further arranged to float from the upper surface 5a side of the front pillar 5, and the moving pedestrian PD can be received more quickly.

  Examples of the backflow prevention means include backflow prevention means 47A and 47B shown in FIGS. 9 to 14 in addition to the backflow prevention means 47 of the first embodiment.

  The backflow prevention means 47A used in the pedestrian airbag 23A of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is on the rear end 28a side of the pillar cover portion 28 in the partition wall 40A that partitions the inner chamber 44 and the outer chamber 45. , That is, the rear edge 40ad disposed at the boundary portion between the upper surface panel 31 and the lower surface panel 32 serves as a non-bonding portion 55, and the rear edge 40ad is used as the inner periphery of the outer chamber 45. A fin portion 56 is provided to extend the surface side (in the case of the example, the inner peripheral surface 31a, 32a side near the boundary portion between the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32) for a long dimension. It is configured. In other words, the fin portion 56 of the backflow preventing means 47A has the upper and lower edges 40aa and 40ab and the front edge 40ac of the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40A as the inner peripheral surfaces 31a and 32a of the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32. And a non-joining portion 55 is partially provided on the rear edge 40ad between the upper and lower joining portions 54, 54, and the non-joining portion 55 is a fin portion constituting a check valve. 56. Therefore, the fin portion 56 is disposed so as to be able to contact the inner peripheral surfaces 31 a and 32 a of the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 and extend outward in the left-right direction.

  In the backflow prevention means 47A, when the inflator 15 is activated and the inner chamber 44 is expanded by increasing the internal pressure, the fin portion 56 of the non-bonding portion 55 is used for expansion as shown in A and 11A of FIG. Due to the pressure of the gas G, the expansion gas G flows from the inner chamber 44 to the outer chamber 45 away from the inner peripheral surfaces 31a, 32a of the boundary portion between the upper surface panel 31 and the lower surface panel 32 inward. The supply port 57 is opened, and the expansion of the outer chamber 45 is completed by the expansion gas G from the inner chamber 44. In the outer chamber 45 that has completed the expansion, even if the expansion gas G is about to flow to the inner chamber 44 side, the fin portion 56 that constitutes the check valve, as shown in FIG. Since the supply port 57 is closed by being pressed against the inner peripheral surfaces 31a and 32a of the side panel 31 and the lower panel 32, the expansion gas G in the outer chamber 45 does not flow back to the inner chamber 44, and the outer chamber 45 The internal pressure at the completion of expansion can be maintained, a good cushioning action can be achieved, and the pedestrian PD can be received and protected, and the same actions and effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the pedestrian airbag 23A according to the second embodiment, in order to promote the completion of expansion of the outer chamber 45, the backflow prevention means 47A having a fin portion 56 that forms a check valve is provided with a partition wall. The front edge 40ac side of 40 may be provided.

  The backflow prevention means 47B of the pedestrian airbag 23B of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 forms a supply port 59 provided in the partition wall 40B in the left-right direction and a check valve that covers the supply port 59. And a valve panel 60. The supply port 59 is disposed in the partition wall 40B as a circular opening. In 3rd Embodiment, the valve panel 60 is arrange | positioned so that the supply port 59 may be covered by the outer surface (upper surface) 40b side used as the outer chamber 45 side of the partition 40B, and the upper and lower edges which interposed the supply port 59 in between The coupling portions 61 and 61 coupled to the partition wall 40B are provided on 60a, and the front and rear edges 60b in the direction orthogonal to the coupling portions 61 and 61 are disposed as non-coupling portions 62 that are not coupled to the partition wall 40B. In other words, the valve panel 60 is in the form of a rectangular sheet having flexibility, and the upper and lower edges 60a, 60a are sewn and joined to the partition wall 40B, and the front and rear edges 60b, 60b are not sewn to the partition wall 40B. As shown in FIG.

  In the backflow prevention means 47B, when the inner chamber 44 allows the expansion gas G from the inflator 15 to flow in to increase the internal pressure, the valve panel 60 on the outer side of the supply port 59 is shown in FIG. This part moves outward, passes through both the front and rear edges 60b, 60b, which are the non-bonding part 62 of the valve panel 60, the expansion gas G flows into the outer chamber 45, and the outer chamber 45 completes expansion. Let Thereafter, when the expansion gas G tries to flow backward from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44, the valve panel 60 coupled to the partition wall 40B by the coupling portions 61 and 61 as shown in B of FIG. Since the valve portion 60c of the substantially circular area facing the supply port 59 in the valve panel 60 is pressed against the partition wall 40B (inward side) so as to close the supply port 59, the supply port 59 is blocked. Thus, the backflow of the expansion gas G from the supply port 59 to the inner chamber 44 is prevented, and the outer chamber 45 maintains the internal pressure at the completion of the expansion, exhibits a good cushioning action, and the pedestrian PD It can be received and protected, and the same operation and effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Note that the pedestrian airbag 23B of the third embodiment also has a backflow prevention comprising a supply port 59 and a valve panel 60 forming a check valve in order to promote the completion of expansion of the outer chamber 45. A plurality of means 47B may be provided on the partition wall 40B.

  Further, in the pedestrian airbags 23, 23A, 23B of each embodiment, the front edge 40ac side is used as the partition walls 40, 40A, 40B disposed substantially along the front-rear direction in the left and right pillar cover portions 28. The main body 24 is disposed so as to extend to the front edge 24b near the left and right ends 24a. However, as shown in the pedestrian airbag 23C of the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, the partition wall 40C may be disposed along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. That is, the partition wall 40C is configured such that the front edge 40ac extending straight forward from the rear edge 40ad coupled to the rear end 28a of the pillar cover portion 28 is shifted outward from the front edge 24b in the vicinity of the left and right ends 24a of the main body portion 24. In the vicinity of the side edge 28e on the front edge 28d side of the pillar cover portion 28.

  In the airbag 23C, as shown in FIG. 16, the airbag 23 according to the first embodiment is provided except that the partition wall 40C made of the partition fabric 78C is disposed along the front-rear direction. The same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Similarly to the backflow prevention means 47 of the first embodiment, the backflow prevention means 47C provided in the partition wall 40C is also provided with a fin portion 67. That is, the partition wall 40C that partitions the outer chamber 45 and the inner chamber 44 has an inner peripheral surface 31a of the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 that form the outer peripheral wall 30 of the airbag 23 on the entire periphery of the outer peripheral edge 40a. , 32a, and the seam allowance 40d extending from the sewing portion 40c of the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40C is connected to the inner peripheral surface side of the outer chamber 45 (in the example shown, the inner peripheral surface 32a of the lower surface side panel 32). A fin portion 67 is provided to extend the length dimension so as to allow long contact with the fin), and the fin portion 67 constitutes backflow prevention means 47C. In other words, a non-joining portion 66 is partially provided between the joint portion 65 with the lower surface panel 32 on the lower edge 40ab side of the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40C, and the non-joint portion 66 has a seam allowance. The part 40d forms a fin part 67 constituting a check valve. And this fin part 67 is extended and arrange | positioned to the outward of the left-right direction so that the inner peripheral surface 32a of the lower surface side panel 32 can be contacted.

  Similarly to the backflow prevention means 47 of the first embodiment, when the inflator 15 is activated and the inner chamber 44 is inflated by increasing the internal pressure, the backflow prevention means 47C also has a non-bonded portion as shown in FIG. 66 is lifted from the inner peripheral surface 32 a side of the lower panel 32 by the pressure of the expansion gas G, and opens a supply port 68 through which the expansion gas G flows from the inner chamber 44 to the outer chamber 45. In other words, the expansion gas G from the inner chamber 44 completes the expansion of the outer chamber 45. Thereafter, when the expansion gas G tries to flow backward from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44, the fin portion 67 constituting the check valve is formed on the inner peripheral surface 32a of the lower surface side panel 32 as shown in FIG. Since the supply port 68 is closed by pressure contact, the expansion gas G in the outer chamber 45 does not flow back to the inner chamber 44, and the outer chamber 45 maintains the internal pressure at the completion of the expansion and has a good cushioning action. Playing and receiving and protecting pedestrian PD.

  Also in this airbag 23C, in order to promote the completion of the expansion of the outer chamber 45, the backflow prevention means 47C having a fin portion 67 forming a check valve is provided at a plurality of locations on the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40C. It may be provided.

  In the airbag 23 </ b> C of the fourth embodiment, the partition wall 40 </ b> C that partitions the inner chamber 44 and the outer chamber 45 of the pillar cover portion 28 (L, R) is coupled to the upper panel 31 when the inflation is completed. A lower edge coupling portion 42 coupled to the lower surface side panel 32 from the upper edge coupling portion 41 is disposed so as to be inclined toward the vehicle outer side. That is, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the outer chamber 45 is completely expanded by the expansion gas G flowing from the inner chamber 44 through the supply port 68 formed by lifting the fin portion 67. At this time, the structure is arranged on the upper side of the inclined partition wall 40C and protrudes obliquely upward from the inner chamber 44 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the partition wall 40C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17B, the outer chamber 45 protrudes upward (front side) from the inner chamber 44 by the protruding dimension H, and the pedestrian PD is quickly received by the protruding dimension H. And since the receiving stroke can be ensured long, the absorbed amount of the kinetic energy of the pedestrian PD can be increased.

  Further, also in the airbag 23C of the fourth embodiment, when the inflation is completed, the partition wall 40C is disposed so as to be inclined so that the upper surface 40b side faces obliquely outward, and is coupled to the lower surface side panel 32. The straight lower edge coupling portion 42 is disposed in the vicinity of the top portion 5b protruding upward from the front pillar 5, and the inner chamber 44 is disposed on the inner side in the left-right direction from the top portion 5b, and the left-right direction from the top portion 5b. The outer chamber 45 is disposed outside the first chamber. Therefore, when the outer chamber 45 completes expansion, the outer chamber 45 completes expansion so as to protrude in the orthogonal direction from the partition wall 40 whose upper surface 40b is inclined obliquely outward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 17B, when the expansion is completed, the pillar cover portion 28 does not cover the portion 32c of the lower surface side panel 32 on the outer chamber 45 side with respect to the front shield 4 and the front pillar 5 on the vehicle body side. It will be in the form of contact, and the part 32b of the lower surface side panel 32 on the inner chamber 44 side will be placed in contact.

  Therefore, in the airbag 23C of the fourth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the expansion of the pillar cover portion 28 is completed, the outer chamber 45 is separated from the vehicle body side member of the vehicle body side front pillar 5 and the windshield 4. Compared to the inner chamber 44, it floats and expands by the lifting dimension h, and is further arranged to float from the upper surface 5 a side of the front pillar 5, so that the moving pedestrian PD can be moved further. , Can catch quickly.

  In the airbags 23, 23A, 23B, and 23C of the respective embodiments, the pillar cover portions 28L and 28R are disposed on the left and right sides so as to cover the left and right front pillars 5L and 5R. A pedestrian airbag may be configured so as to cover the front pillar 5 and the cowl 6 on each side in the left-right direction. As a configuration in this case, a main body that covers the upper side of the cowl 6 on one side in the left-right direction. 24 and a pillar cover portion 28 that extends rearward from the left and right end portions of the main body portion and covers the top of the front pillar 5, and partition walls 40, 40 </ b> A, 40 </ b> B, and 40 </ b> C are disposed on the pillar cover portion 28. What is necessary is just to comprise so that an inflator may be arrange | positioned in the inner side chamber 44 by the side of the main-body part 24. FIG.

  In the pedestrian airbags 23, 23 </ b> A, 23 </ b> B, and 23 </ b> C of the embodiments, the inflator 15 that supplies the inflation gas G is disposed inside the inner chamber 44. As a bag, a cylindrical connection port is projected from the inner chamber to the outside of the airbag, an inflator is connected to the connection port, and the connection port is used from the inflator disposed outside the airbag. Thus, the inner chamber may be configured to allow the inflation gas to flow.

  Further, as the pedestrian airbag device M in which the pedestrian airbag 23 is used, the one mounted on the front side of the cowl 6 below the rear end 9a of the hood panel 9 is exemplified. You may use an airbag for the airbag apparatus for pedestrians mounted in the lower surface side of rear-end 9a itself of the food panel 9. FIG.

  5 (5L, 5R) ... front pillar, 5a ... upper surface, 5b ... top, 6 ... cowl, 15 ... inflator, 16 ... gas discharge part, 23, 23A, 23B, 23C ... (for pedestrian) airbag, 24 ... Main body part, 28 (L, R) ... pillar cover part, 30 ... outer peripheral wall, 31 ... upper surface side panel, 32 ... lower surface side panel, 40, 40A, 40B, 40C ... partition wall, 41 ... upper edge coupling part, 42 ... Lower edge coupling portion, 44 ... inner chamber, 45 ... outer chamber, 47, 47A, 47B, 47C ... backflow prevention means, 51, 56, 67 ... (check valve) fin portion, 52, 57, 59, 68 ... supply Mouth, 60 ... (check valve) valve panel, PD ... pedestrian, G ... inflation gas.

Claims (4)

A main body that covers the upper surface side of the cowl in the vicinity of the rear end of the hood panel of the vehicle when the expansion is completed, and a pillar cover that extends from the left and right end portions of the main body and covers the upper surface of the front pillar. Composed and
The outer peripheral wall is a pedestrian airbag configured by combining outer peripheral edges of the upper surface side panel on the upper surface side and the lower surface side panel on the lower surface side,
When the expansion is completed, the pillar cover part is provided with an inner chamber located on the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle and an outer chamber located on the outer side in the left-right direction of the vehicle by a partition wall disposed substantially along the front-rear direction. And is divided into
In the state in which the partition wall is developed in a state where the upper surface side panel and the lower surface side panel are overlapped and flattened, the upper edge coupling portion coupled to the upper surface side panel on the upper edge side is connected to the lower surface side panel on the lower edge side. A pedestrian airbag characterized by being disposed at a position shifted from a lower edge coupling portion coupled to the vehicle to a center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle.   The partition wall is provided with a backflow preventing means that allows the expansion gas from the inner chamber to flow into the outer chamber and suppresses the backflow from the outer chamber to the inner chamber. The pedestrian airbag according to claim 1.   The pedestrian airbag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the partition wall extends to a front edge side of the main body.   The said pillar cover part is arrange | positioned so that it may extend from the left-right both sides of one said main-body part so that the upper surface side of the said front pillar of the right and left of a vehicle may respectively be covered. The pedestrian airbag according to any one of claims 3 to 4.

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