JP2605539B2 - Air bag equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air bag apparatus arranged in a passenger seat of a motor vehicle or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an air bag apparatus arranged in a passenger seat of a motor vehicle, an air bag, an inflator for supplying gas to the air bag, an air bag and the inflator are held, and the lower and side of the folded air bag and the inflator. (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,368).

[0003] The conventional air bag is formed in a bag shape with a large opening at the lower portion, and the peripheral edge of the lower opening portion is attached to the peripheral wall of the upper opening portion of the case, and is held by the case. And the inflator was held at the lower part in the peripheral wall of the case.

[0004]

However, in the conventional air bag apparatus, when the gas is supplied from the inflator, the air bag inflates instantaneously, so that a large impact load is applied to the case. It was made of metal from the viewpoint of.

[0005] Therefore, in the conventional air bag apparatus, it is necessary to increase the weight and reduce the weight.

In this case, it is conceivable to form a part of the case from a lightweight synthetic resin.

However, even if a part of the case is simply made of synthetic resin, when the folded air bag expands and expands, it is necessary to consider the sealing properties of the case so that gas does not escape.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is possible to secure a sealing property of gas supplied from an inflator when an air bag is opened, to make a part of a case synthetic resin, and to reduce the weight of the case. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air bag device that can achieve the improvement.

[0009]

An air bag device according to the present invention comprises an air bag, an inflator for supplying gas to the air bag, and an air bag and the inflator which hold the air bag and the inflator and are folded. A case covering the lower side and the side, wherein the inflator has a substantially cylindrical shape in a horizontal direction, and has gas discharge ports on both left and right sides of a peripheral surface, and the case is a metal reinforcing frame. Part, and a cover part made of synthetic resin, and the reinforcing bone frame part, the side walls facing each other in the horizontal direction, and at least four left and right and up and down for connecting the side walls to each other A connecting rod, wherein each side wall holds the inflator by fitting both ends thereof, and the gas discharge of the inflator when held. Fitting holes for arranging openings at positions facing the connecting rods on the lower left and right sides, respectively, are provided, and the cover portion has a substantially U-shaped cross section arranged so as to close between side walls inside the reinforcing bone frame portion. A bag-like bag body which is covered with the air bag so as to wrap around the inflator and protrudes both ends of the inflator, and a bag-like bag body which is substantially completely closed; A mounting bracket made of metal, which is disposed in the air bag, and the mounting bracket of the air bag is fixed to a connecting rod at the lower left and right of the case with the bag body and the cover interposed. An inflator is housed in the bag body, and both ends of the inflator are projected from a through hole of the bag body, and a fitting hole of the case is provided. And it is held,
It is characterized by being assembled.

[0010]

In the air bag apparatus according to the present invention, since the inflator is housed in the bag body which is almost completely closed, even if gas is discharged from the gas discharge port of the inflator, the bag body itself is used. Gas sealing performance can be ensured, and it is not necessary to consider the sealing performance of the case itself as in the case of a conventional air bag apparatus.

Therefore, the cover occupying most of the area of the case can be made of synthetic resin, and the weight of the airbag device can be reduced.

[0012] Further, connecting rods on the left and right lower sides of the metal reinforcing bone frame portion are disposed at the opposing portions of the gas discharge ports on both the left and right sides of the inflator, and the bag body and the cover are interposed between the connecting rods. As a result, the metal mounting bracket of the air bag is fixed.

[0013] Therefore, the portion of the bag body facing the gas discharge ports on both sides of the inflator can be provided with an interval and shielded by the mounting bracket, so that even if the bag body is wrapped around the inflator, the gas in the inflator is not affected. When the high-temperature gas is discharged from the discharge port, breakage of the bag body can be prevented. In addition, the connecting brackets on the left and right lower sides of the reinforcing bone frame portion are disposed at the opposing portions of the gas discharge ports on both the left and right sides of the inflator with the mounting bracket, the bag body, and the cover interposed therebetween. Even if the gas is discharged at a high pressure, the case can be prevented from being deformed.

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, an air bag apparatus M according to the embodiment is disposed at a portion of an instrument panel P in front of a passenger seat of an automobile, and includes an air bag 1 and an inflator for supplying gas to the air bag 1. 4, a case 5 that holds the airbag 1 and the inflator 4 and covers the lower part and the side of the folded airbag 1 and the inflator 4, and a lid 13 that is fixed to the case 5 and covers the upper part of the folded airbag 1. And is composed of

In the embodiment, the air bag device M is shown with the lid 13 attached to the case 5, but the air bag device M may be attached to the periphery of the opening O of the instrument panel P.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the inflator 4 has a plurality of gas discharge ports 4a on the right and left sides of the peripheral surface, and has a substantially cylindrical shape in a horizontal direction. Also, inflator 4
A bolt portion 4b is formed on the tip end of the bolt portion 4b.
Are formed. Further, a flange portion 4d is formed on the base portion side of the inflator 4 so as to have a step and project outward in the radial direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the case 5 comprises a reinforcing frame 6 made of a steel plate and a synthetic resin having heat resistance and strength against low-temperature brittleness, such as modified PPO (poniphenylene oxide) containing glass fibers. And a cover part 12 made of the same.

The reinforcing bone frame portion 6 has side walls 7.8 opposed to each other in the horizontal direction, and four connecting rods 9, 9, 10 11 and
It is composed of

The side wall 7 has a fitting hole 7a at a lower portion for inserting the bolt portion 4b of the inflator 4 and fitting the deformed portion 4c. Side wall 8 is inflator 4
And a fitting hole 8a through which the flange 4d can be brought into contact with the peripheral edge. These fitting holes 7a and 8a hold both ends of the inflator 4, and their disposition positions are such that when the inflator 4 is fitted and held,
This is a position where the left and right gas discharge ports 4a of the inflator 4 are disposed so as to face the lower left and right connecting rods 9. In addition, 7b, 7c, 8b, and 8c are ribs for reinforcement.

The connecting rods 9, 9 are provided with reinforcing ribs 9a at upper and lower edges, and formed with insertion holes 9b at four positions in the longitudinal direction. These connecting rods 9 are welded to the side walls 7.8 with both ends bent.

The connecting rods 10 and 11 have ribs 10 at the upper and lower edges.
a, 11a, which are bent at both ends and welded to the side walls 7, 8 at their ribs 10a, 11a. Further, the connecting rod 11
Are formed with bolts 11b protruding outward for attaching the lid 13 at four positions in the longitudinal direction.

The cover portion 12 has a substantially U-shaped cross section which is disposed so as to close the space between the side walls 7 and 8 inside the reinforcing bone frame portion 6. A rib 12a is formed at the upper end, and a flat portion 12b is formed at a portion that comes into contact with each of the connecting rods 9, 10 and 11. A connecting rod 9 is formed at each of the lower flat portions 12b. Insertion hole 1 corresponding to the insertion hole 9b of
2c is formed.

The air bag 1 comprises a bag body 2 and two mounting brackets 3 arranged on the inner peripheral side of the bag body 2.
And is composed of

The bag body 2 is formed of a flexible woven fabric such as nylon, and is formed in a substantially closed bag shape so as to cover the inflator 4 so as to cover it. And, on both sides in the front-rear direction, the inflator 4
Through holes 2a and 2b are formed so as to protrude both ends. A core 2e made of a steel wire or the like is sewn to the periphery of each of the through holes 2a and 2b. The left and right sides of the through holes 2a and 2b at the edges of both sides of the airbag body 2
Notches 2c are formed to project both ends of the mounting bracket 3. Furthermore, four insertion holes 2d are formed between the notches 2c on the side of the airbag body 2 where the through holes 2a and 2b are not formed.
These insertion holes 2d allow the bolts 14 to be inserted when the airbag body 2 is attached to the connecting rods 9 of the reinforcing bone frame portion 6 using the attachment bracket 3.

In the bag main body 2, a woven fabric is double-laid to improve the strength of a portion below the inflator 4.

The mounting brackets 3 are formed from a steel plate, and have reinforcing ribs 3a and 3b formed on upper and lower edges, respectively. The rib 3b is longer than the rib 3a, and is configured to guide the gas discharged from the gas discharge port 4a of the inflator 4 upward. Also, the mounting brackets 3.3 have four insertion holes 3 respectively.
c is formed, and a nut 3d for screwing the above-described bolt 14 is welded to a peripheral edge of the inner through hole 3c. Further, both ends of the mounting brackets 3 are bent, and positioning holes 13e are formed in the bent portions 3f.

And, these mounting brackets 3.3
Are housed in the bag body 2 with the bent portions 3 f at both ends protruding from the air bag body 2.

Reference numerals 15 and 16 denote annular retainers made of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer). After the mounting brackets 3 are stored in the bag body 2, the through holes 2a and 2b of the bag body 2 are provided. And seals between the inflator 4 and the through holes 2a and 2b. The flange portions 15a of these retainers 15 and 16
Locking projections 15b and 16b are formed on the mounting bracket 3 to be locked in the positioning holes 3e of the mounting bracket 3.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
It is made of a synthetic resin (not shown) having a skin layer of PP (polypropylene) and a foam layer on a PE base material, and has a bracket 13a extending downward on the lower surface. The bracket 13a is formed with four insertion holes 13b through which bolts 11b protruding from the connecting rod 11 of the reinforcing bone frame 6 are inserted.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a bracket 1 of the lid 13.
3a is a retainer made of a steel plate used when attaching the connecting rod 3a to the connecting rod 11 of the reinforcing bone frame portion 6.
An insertion hole 17a through which the b is inserted is formed.

Next, the assembling of the air bag apparatus M of the embodiment will be described.
c, the mounting brackets 3, 3 are housed in the bag body 2, and the locking projections 15b, 16b are locked in the positioning holes 3e of the mounting bracket 3, so that the through holes 2a of the bag body 2 are formed. · Arrange the retainers 15 and 16 on the periphery of 2b, and assemble the air bag 1 in advance.

Then, the cover part 12 is housed in the reinforcing bone frame part 6 and the air bag 1 is housed in the cover part 12, and then the bolts 14 are inserted into the insertion holes 9b, 12c.
The airbag 1 is attached to the case 5 by screwing it through the nuts 3d of the mounting bracket 3 via 2d and 3c.

Then, the air bag 1 is folded.

Thereafter, the bolt 11b of the connecting rod 11 of the reinforcing frame 6 is inserted into the insertion hole 13b of the bracket 13a and the insertion hole 17a of the retainer 17, and the nut 18 (see FIG. 2) is screwed into the bolt 11b. Then, the lid 13 is attached to the case 5.

The bolt 4b of the inflator 4
The air bag device M can be assembled by inserting the side from the fitting hole 8a side of the case 5 into the fitting hole 7a and screwing the nut 19 (see FIG. 3) to the bolt portion 4b.

When the airbag device M thus assembled is mounted on a vehicle, the airbag device M is mounted using a bracket (not shown) fixed to the reinforcing frame 6 such as the side walls 7 and 8 or the connecting rod 9.

In the air bag apparatus M of the embodiment, since the inflator 4 is housed in the bag body 2 which is almost completely closed, even if the gas is discharged from the gas discharge port 4a of the inflator 4, the bag body 2 itself is removed. It is possible to secure the gas sealing property, and it is not necessary to consider the sealing property of the case itself as in the case of the conventional air bag device,
Therefore, the cover 1 occupying most of the area of the case 5
2 can be made of a synthetic resin, and the weight of the airbag device M can be reduced.

By the way, in the case of the embodiment, the weight can be reduced by 35% or more as compared with the conventional one.

In addition, connecting rods 9 on the left and right lower sides of the metal reinforcing bone frame 6 are disposed at the positions opposite to the gas discharge ports 4a on both the left and right sides of the inflator 4. The metal mounting bracket 3 of the air bag 1 is fixed with the air bag 1 and the cover 12 interposed therebetween.

Therefore, the portions of the bag body 2 facing the gas discharge ports 4a on both sides of the inflator 4 are separated by a distance h.
(Refer to FIG. 2) and can be shielded by the mounting bracket 3. Even when the bag body 2 wraps the inflator 4, when the high-temperature gas is discharged from the gas discharge port 4a of the inflator 4, The breakage of the bag body 2 can be prevented. Further, connecting rods 9 on the right and left lower sides of the reinforcing bone frame portion 6 are disposed at the positions opposed to the gas discharge ports 4a on both left and right sides of the inflator 4 with the mounting bracket 3, the bag body 2 and the cover portion 12 interposed therebetween. Therefore, even if the gas is discharged from the gas discharge port 4a at a high pressure, the case 5 can be prevented from being deformed.

In the air bag apparatus M of the embodiment, when the air bag apparatus M is assembled, the heaviest inflator 4 is stored in the case 5 at the end, so that the previous assembling work is easy. I can do it. By the way, in the conventional air bag apparatus, the inflator is assembled before the air bag is folded, so that it is difficult to fold the air bag.

In the embodiment, the reinforcing bone frame 6 and the cover 12 of the case 5 are shown as separate bodies. However, since the cover 12 is made of synthetic resin, the reinforcing bone frame 6 is made of a synthetic resin. May be used as an insert to form the cover portion 12, and the case 5 may be integrated with the reinforcing bone frame portion 6 when the cover portion 12 is formed.

In the embodiment, the case where the retainers 15 and 16 are used in order to secure the sealing property between the through holes 2a and 2b of the bag body 2 and the inflator 4 has been described.
If the core material 2e disposed on the peripheral edge of the through holes 2a and 2b is formed from a spring material, or if the seal material is disposed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the through holes 2a and 2b, the retainers 15 and 16 are separately provided. It is not necessary. In this case, the bent portion 3f of the mounting bracket 3 becomes unnecessary, and the notch 2c of the bag body 2 becomes unnecessary.

Further, in the embodiment, the mounting bracket 3
To attach the nut to the connecting rod 9 of the reinforcing bone frame 6,
Although the case where d is provided is shown, the bolt 14 may be welded to the mounting bracket 3 side, or a fixing means such as a rivet may be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an air bag apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the vehicle is mounted on the automobile of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, taken along the line III-III in FIG.
Indicates the site.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lid of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Air bag, 2 ... Bag main body, 2a, 2b ... Through-hole, 3 ... Mounting bracket, 4 ... Inflator, 4a ... Gas discharge port, 5 ... Case, 6 ... Reinforcement bone frame part, 7.8 ... Side wall, 7a 8a: fitting hole; 9, 10, 11: connecting rod; 12: cover; M: air bag device.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yuji Kuriyama 1 Ochiai Ogata, Kasuga-cho, Nishikasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. 4-504091 (JP, A) Special table 4-504092 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An air bag comprising: an air bag; an inflator for supplying gas to the air bag; and a case holding the air bag and the inflator, and covering a lower portion and a side of the folded air bag and the inflator. The device, wherein the inflator has a substantially cylindrical shape in a lateral direction and includes gas discharge ports on both left and right sides of a peripheral surface, and the case includes a metal reinforcing bone frame portion and a synthetic resin cover portion. The said reinforcing bone frame part, The side wall mutually opposed in the horizontal direction,
And at least four connecting rods arranged on the left, right, up and down for connecting the side walls to each other, wherein each of the side walls fits and holds both ends of the inflator, and holds the inflator when held. A fitting hole for arranging the gas discharge port at a position facing the connecting rod on the lower left and right sides, respectively; a cross-sectional view in which the cover portion is arranged to close a gap between inner side walls of the reinforcing bone frame portion; As a U-shape, the air bag covers the inflator so as to surround the inflator and has a through hole protruding both ends of the inflator, and is substantially completely closed. And a mounting bracket made of metal disposed on both left and right sides of the air bag. The mounting bracket of the air bag is interposed between the bag body and the cover. Then, the inflator is housed in the bag main body, and both ends of the inflator are projected from the through holes of the bag main body, and are fixed to the fitting holes of the case. An air bag device which is held and assembled.