JP2020050282A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an airbag device which can make a protection range of the airbag larger with respect to a front pillar, even when the airbag is small.SOLUTION: An airbag device E includes a resin pillar cover 50 on the front side of a front pillar 5. Inside the pillar cover 50, a pantograph mechanism 110 is provided for crossing a plurality of frame parts 110a and for pivotally supporting an intersection, and an airbag 101 is arranged below a pivotally supporting part 110b. When an inflation gas is supplied by an inflator, the airbag 101 pushes up the frame parts 110a of the pantograph mechanism 110 by an inflation force of the airbag and raises the pillar cover 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device that absorbs collision energy to a front pillar for a person to be protected that has collided with a vehicle.

  BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, when a person to be protected such as a pedestrian collides with a vehicle, an airbag device is known which deploys an airbag in front of a front pillar of the vehicle to inflate and protect the person to be protected. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-235007 A

  However, the airbag device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is stored in a storage space outside the vehicle, and the storage space of the airbag device is stored in a vacant space outside the vehicle while suppressing a decrease in the strength of the structure of the vehicle body. It is difficult to secure a large airbag, and it is also difficult to increase the protection range of the airbag with respect to the front pillar.

  In particular, in the case where the person to be protected that collided with the vehicle is a cyclist running on a bicycle, the position of the center of gravity of the cyclist is high, and the relative speed between the bicycle and the vehicle is also high. Not only is the trajectory unstable, but also the flight distance is long, and it is desired to collide with the front pillar in various directions and velocities, thereby increasing the protection range of the airbag with respect to the front pillar. For example, a pedestrian can assume a flight trajectory in which the lower body is paid by a vehicle bumper and makes a secondary collision with a hood or a cowl, and then a tertiary collision with a windshield or a front pillar. A flight trajectory that directly collides with the windshield or the upper end side of the front pillar without secondary collision can also be assumed. Thus, considering that the person to be protected is a cyclist, it has been desired to increase the protection range of the airbag with respect to the front pillar.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can increase the protection range of the airbag with respect to the front pillar, even though the airbag is small.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides an airbag device including an airbag that inflates on the front side of a front pillar of a vehicle, and an inflator that supplies an inflation gas that inflates the airbag. On the front side, a resin pillar cover is provided, and between the front pillar and the pillar cover, a pantograph mechanism that intersects a plurality of frames and supports the intersection is provided, and a pantograph mechanism is provided above the intersection. Alternatively, the airbag is disposed below, and when the inflator is supplied with inflation gas, the airbag pushes up the frame of the pantograph mechanism by the inflation force of the airbag to raise the pillar cover. And

  Further, it is preferable that the frame is made of a flexible resin material.

  In addition, it is preferable that an intersection or another pivot of the pantograph mechanism is configured with a one-way lock structure that suppresses rotation in a direction of pushing down the frame.

  Further, it is preferable that the pantograph mechanism has a fragile portion that is easily broken.

  Further, it is preferable that the fragile portion is a cut portion that can be broken.

  Further, it is preferable that the fragile portion is provided on the opposite side of the airbag with respect to the intersection.

  In addition, it is preferable that the fragile portion is provided on the side where the airbag is disposed with respect to the intersection.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, although it is a small airbag, the protection range of an airbag with respect to a front pillar can be enlarged more.

1 is a front view of a vehicle provided with the airbag device of the present invention. It is a side view of the vehicle provided with the airbag device. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the front pillar, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle when the airbag is deployed. It is an enlarged view of an airbag and a pantograph mechanism. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a shaft support of the pantograph mechanism. It is a front enlarged view of the front pillar when the pillar cover is removed. It is a side view of the vehicle which shows the rising form of a pillar cover.

The airbag device of the present invention is for absorbing the collision energy to the front pillar for the person to be protected that has collided with the vehicle.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle 1 provided with the airbag device E of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle 1 provided with the airbag device E. The airbag device E of the present invention is disposed symmetrically with respect to the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 1, and the description will be focused on one airbag device, and the other airbag device will be described in detail. Description is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle 1 equipped with an airbag device E includes a front fender 2, a front hood 3, a roof 4 partitioning an upper surface of a vehicle compartment, a front pillar 5, and side surfaces of the vehicle compartment. It is composed of a main body whose outer shell is the side door 6 and the like that are partitioned.

  The front pillars 5 fix both side edges of a windshield 10 that defines the front of the passenger compartment, and support the roof 4 above. Although not shown, the roof 4 is disposed in addition to the front pillar 5 disposed on the front side of the vehicle compartment, the front pillar disposed on the center side of the vehicle compartment, and the rear side of the vehicle compartment. It is also supported by rear pillars.

  The side door 6 holds an ascending / descending side glass 11 and a non-ascending / descending triangular window 12, and a door mirror 20 is mounted on an upper portion of the side door 6.

  The airbag device E is housed inside a pillar cover 50 attached to the front side of the front pillar 5.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of the front pillar 5, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 3A shows a state before the airbag is deployed, and FIG. 3B shows a state after the airbag is deployed.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, a flexible resin pillar cover 50 is attached to the front side of the front pillar 5, and a resin pillar trim 30 is attached to the back side of the front pillar 5. Have been.

  A pillar flange portion 5 a is spot-welded to the front pillar 5, and the pillar flange portion 5 a fixes the windshield 10 via an adhesive 31.

  A water guide 32 for preventing rainwater from entering is provided in a gap between the front glass 10 and the front pillar 5 and on the front side of the pillar flange portion 5a. The pillar trim 30 is attached so as to cover the vehicle interior side of the front pillar 5 and the pillar flange portion 5a.

  The airbag device E includes an airbag 101 having flexibility, an inflator (not shown) for supplying an inflation gas for inflating the airbag 101, and a pantograph mechanism 110 for raising the pillar cover 50. And is arranged inside the pillar cover 50.

  The pantograph mechanism 110 includes a pair of left and right resin frame portions 110a and a shaft support portion 110b that intersects the pair of left and right frame portions 110a and supports the intersection as a single-stage pantograph. And a slider 110c for sliding the frame 110a at the lowermost end of the pantograph.

  In the present embodiment, the pantograph mechanism 110 is configured by a three-stage pantograph, but may be a single-stage pantograph, and is not limited to the number of pantograph stages.

  At the top end of the three-stage pantograph, the pantograph mechanism 110 attaches one frame portion 110a to the pillar cover 50 with a fastener 111, and attaches the other frame portion 110a to the pillar cover 50 with an elastic body 112 such as rubber. . In the pantograph mechanism 110, the slider 110c is attached to the front pillar 5.

  The airbag 101 is arranged below the lowermost shaft support 110b of the pantograph mechanism 110.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, when the inflation gas is supplied by the inflator, the airbag 101 inflates, pushes up the lowermost frame portion 110a, and raises the pillar cover 50.

  Here, the pantograph mechanism 110 is arranged such that the center line connecting the plurality of shaft supports 110b faces inward in the vehicle width direction, and the airbag 101 raises the pillar cover 50 inward in the vehicle width direction. Become. As a result, it is possible to protect the person to be protected from a direction that is more likely to collide.

  In the present embodiment, the pantograph mechanism 110 is arranged such that the center lines of the plurality of shaft supports 110b face inward in the vehicle width direction, but the center lines of the plurality of shaft supports 110b face outward in the vehicle width direction. And may be arranged so as to be directed to the front side perpendicular to the vehicle width direction.

  FIG. 4 is a side view of the vehicle 1 when the airbag 101 is deployed, and also corresponds to the side view of the vehicle 1 in the state of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, when the airbag device E detects the collision of the vehicle 1, the airbag 101 and the pantograph mechanism 110 raise the flexible resin pillar cover 50 greatly. Thus, the collision energy of the person to be protected against the front pillar 5 can be absorbed.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, since the small airbag 101 is sufficient while the pillar cover 50 is largely raised by the pantograph mechanism 110, the bag capacity of the airbag 101 can be reduced in size.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the airbag 101 and the pantograph mechanism 110.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, a notch 113 a as a thin “fragile portion” that is easily broken is formed in the frame 110 a on the opposite side of the airbag 101 with respect to the shaft support 110 b on the airbag 101 side. There are two locations.

  Thus, when the person to be protected collides with the pillar cover 50, the notch 113a breaks the frame 110a, so that the collision energy of the person to be protected to the front pillar 5 can be absorbed.

  Further, when the cut portion 113a is provided on the opposite side of the airbag 101, the cut portion 113a is not broken by the inflation of the airbag 101 when the airbag 101 is inflated.

  In the present embodiment, the number of cut portions 113a is two, but may be one or three or more. When a plurality of cuts 113a are provided, it is preferable to provide the cuts 113a in the same frame 110a connected by a joint at the end of the frame 110a. This is because both hands of a so-called pantograph are cut off so that the pillar cover 50 does not fall off the front pillar 5.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the frame portion 110a may be provided with a thin cut portion 113b that is easily broken on the side where the airbag 101 is disposed with reference to the shaft support portion 110b on the airbag 101 side. Good.

  As described above, when the cut portion 113b is provided on the side where the airbag 101 is disposed, if the cut portion 113b does not break even when the airbag 101 is inflated, the protection target collides with the pillar cover 50. After the collision energy is effectively absorbed by the pantograph mechanism 110, the remaining collision energy can be absorbed by the airbag 101, and the collision energy can be more efficiently absorbed.

  In FIG. 5, the fragile portion that is easily broken is configured as the cut portions 113a and 113b of the frame portion 110a. However, the frame portion 110a may be configured in a tapered shape, and a thin portion may be configured as the fragile portion. Furthermore, a pantograph having different thicknesses may be configured by the thick frame portion 110a and the thin frame portion 110a, and the thin frame portion 110a may be configured as a weak portion.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the shaft support 110b of the pantograph mechanism 110.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the shaft support 110b includes a ratchet 114a having an inclined pawl, and an engaging pawl 114b having flexibility and engaging with the pawl of the ratchet 114a. It has a one-way lock structure that suppresses rotation in the direction of pushing down 110a.

  In the present embodiment, all the shaft supports 110b of the pantograph mechanism 110 are configured with a one-way lock structure. However, some of the shaft supports 110b of the pantograph mechanism 110 may be configured with a one-way lock structure. For example, only the shaft support 110b on the side where the airbag 101 is arranged (back side) in the pantograph mechanism 110 may be configured with a one-way lock structure, or the shaft support on the side where the pillar cover 50 is arranged (front side) in the pantograph mechanism 110. Only 110b may be configured with a one-way lock structure.

  By configuring the shaft support 110b of the pantograph mechanism 110 in a one-way lock structure in this way, the pantograph mechanism 110 can quickly raise the pillar cover 50 when pushing up the frame 110a due to the inflation of the airbag 101. When the frame 110a is pressed down by the collision of the target person with the pillar cover 50, the rotation of the shaft support 110b is suppressed, so that the collision energy of the protection target with the front pillar 5 can be absorbed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the pantograph mechanism 110 is configured to include the fragile portions (cut portions 113a, b, etc.) that are easily broken in the frame portion 110a and the one-way lock structure in the shaft support portion 110b. It may be configured to include only one of them, or may be configured without both.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the front pillar 5 when the pillar cover 50 is removed.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, inside the pillar cover 50, a plurality of sets of lifting mechanisms 200 are arranged as one set of lifting mechanisms 200 with the airbag 101 and the pantograph mechanism 110. 101 is connected by a gas tube 115.

  In the present embodiment, the inflator is connected to the uppermost gas tube 115 of the front pillar 5. For this reason, the inflation gas is supplied to the airbag 101 in order from the top, and the airbag 101 is inflated in order from the top. Priority can be given to collision protection.

  The inflator may be connected to the gas tube 115 at the lowermost end of the front pillar 5 so that the airbag 101 inflates in order from the bottom. In this case, the collision from the lower end side of the front pillar 5 can be preferentially protected.

Further, in the present embodiment, by setting the plurality of sets of the lifting mechanisms 200 to have the same configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, the pillar cover 50 is raised by the same lifting distance.
However, the lifting distance of the pillar cover 50 is changed by changing the size of the airbag 101, the number of pantograph stages of the pantograph mechanism 110, and the length of the frame portion 110a of the pantograph mechanism 110 for a plurality of sets of the lifting mechanisms 200. May be.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, when it is desired to increase the inclination of the upper end side of the pillar cover 50, the (A) airbag 101 is enlarged in order from the raising mechanism 200 at the lower end side of the front pillar 5. Or (B) increasing the number of pantograph stages, or (C) increasing the length of the frame section 110a.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, when it is desired to increase the inclination of the lower end of the pillar cover 50, the (A) airbag 101 is made smaller in order from the raising mechanism 200 at the lower end of the front pillar 5. Or (B) reducing the number of stages of the pantograph, or (C) reducing the length of the frame section 110a.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the pillar cover 50 is raised in one form, but the pillar cover 50 may be raised in a plurality of forms.

  FIG. 7B is an enlarged front view of the front pillar 5 when the pillar cover 50 is detached when the pillar cover 50 is raised in a plurality of forms.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, inside the pillar cover 50, a set of the first lifting mechanism 201 corresponding to the first embodiment of the pillar cover 50 and including the first airbag 101a and the first pantograph mechanism 121 is provided. A plurality of sets of first lifting mechanisms 201 are arranged, and each first airbag 101a is connected by a first gas tube 115a. The first inflator is connected to the first gas tube 115a at the uppermost end of the front pillar 5.

  Further, inside the pillar cover 50, a plurality of sets of the second lifting mechanism 202 corresponding to the second mode of the pillar cover 50 are provided as one set of the second lifting mechanism 202 including the second airbag 101b and the second pantograph mechanism 122. A mechanism 202 is provided, and each of the second airbags 101b is connected by a second gas tube 115b. Further, a second inflator different from the first inflator is connected to the second gas tube 115 b at the uppermost end of the front pillar 5.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the first mode in which the inclination of the upper end side of the pillar cover 50 is increased is adopted, the first raising mechanism 201 on the lower end side of the front pillar 5 is sequentially arranged. (A) Enlarge the airbag 101a, (B) Increase the number of pantograph stages, or (C) Increase the length of the frame portion 110a.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8B, in the case of adopting the second mode in which the inclination of the lower end of the pillar cover 50 is increased, the second lifting mechanism 202 on the lower end of the front pillar 5 is sequentially arranged. It is only necessary to (A) reduce the size of the airbag 101b, (B) reduce the number of pantograph stages, or (C) reduce the length of the frame portion 110a.

  Then, the control unit of the airbag device E may select a plurality of inflators in accordance with the collision situation of the vehicle 1 and determine the ascending mode of the pillar cover 50.

  Here, the vehicle 1 is provided with a collision situation detection unit that grasps a collision situation, and sequentially detects a situation in front of the vehicle 1. Examples of the collision situation detection unit include a camera that acquires an image, a radar that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave and a radio wave, and the like.

  The control unit of the airbag device E determines the collision state of the vehicle 1 based on the detection information obtained from the collision state detection unit, and determines whether the person to be protected that collided with the vehicle 1 is a pedestrian or a cyclist. Is determined.

  When the control unit of the airbag device E determines that the vehicle has collided with the cyclist, the control unit activates the first inflator and moves the pillar cover 50 in the first mode to increase the inclination of the upper end side of the pillar cover 50. To raise. When the control unit of the airbag device E determines that the vehicle has collided with the pedestrian, the control unit activates the second inflator to increase the inclination of the lower end side of the pillar cover 50 in the second form. To rise.

  This makes it possible to determine the optimal ascending form of the pillar cover 50 according to the collision situation of the vehicle 1, and to more safely protect the person to be protected that has collided with the vehicle 1.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the first and second forms in which the inclination of the upper end side or the lower end side of the pillar cover 50 is increased, and as shown in FIG. As a first mode, raising the pillar cover 50 outward in the vehicle width direction may be adopted as a second mode.

  When the first embodiment in which the pillar cover 50 is raised inward in the vehicle width direction is adopted, and the second embodiment in which the pillar cover 50 is raised outward in the vehicle width direction is adopted, all the first pantographs corresponding to the first embodiment are used. The mechanism 121 may be arranged so as to face inward in the vehicle width direction, or all the second pantograph mechanisms 122 corresponding to the second embodiment may be arranged so as to face outward in the vehicle width direction.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the rising form of the pillar cover 50 is set to two forms, but may be configured to three or more forms.

  In the present embodiment, the airbag 101 is arranged below the lowermost pivot 110b of the pantograph mechanism 110, but is arranged above the uppermost pivot 110b of the pantograph 110. May be. In such a configuration, the pantograph mechanism 110 may be arranged upside down.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the airbag device E of the present invention detects the collision of the vehicle 1, the airbag 101 and the pantograph mechanism 110 increase the size of the flexible resin pillar cover 50. Since the energy to be raised can be used to absorb the collision energy of the person to be protected against the front pillar 5, the protection range of the airbag with respect to the front pillar can be made larger even with the small airbag 101.

  1: vehicle, 5: front pillar, 50: pillar cover, 101: airbag, 101a: first airbag, 101b: second airbag, 110: pantograph mechanism, 110a: frame, 110b: shaft support, 110c: Slider, 111: fastener, 112: elastic body, 113a, b: notch, 114a: ratchet wheel, 114b: engaging claw, 115: gas tube, 121: first pantograph mechanism, 122: second pantograph mechanism, 200 : Elevating mechanism, 201: First elevating mechanism, 202: Second elevating mechanism, E: Airbag device.

Claims (7)

An airbag device including an airbag that inflates on the front side of a front pillar of a vehicle and an inflator that supplies an inflation gas that inflates the airbag,
On the front side of the front pillar, a resin pillar cover is provided,
Between the front pillar and the pillar cover, a pantograph mechanism intersecting a plurality of frames and pivotally supporting an intersection, and disposing the airbag above or below the intersection,
The airbag,
When inflation gas is supplied by the inflator,
The inflating force of the airbag pushes up the frame of the pantograph mechanism to raise the pillar cover,
An airbag device characterized by the above-mentioned. The frame is made of a flexible resin material,
The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein: Intersections or other pivots of the pantograph mechanism are configured with a one-way lock structure that suppresses rotation in a direction to push down the frame.
The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The pantograph mechanism has a fragile portion that is easily broken,
The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The fragile portion is a cut portion that can be broken,
The airbag device according to claim 4, wherein: The fragile portion is provided on the opposite side of the airbag with respect to the intersection,
The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein: The fragile portion is provided on the side where the airbag is disposed on the basis of the intersection.
The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein: