JP3664753B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an airbag device that protects an occupant at the time of a vehicle collision, and more particularly to an airbag device that protects an occupant in a passenger seat or a rear seat.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An airbag device for a passenger seat is fitted and stored in a space provided in an instrument panel facing the passenger seat.
Conventionally, what is described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-68250 is provided as this type of airbag device. This is an inflator for operating an airbag, which contains a gas generating agent and is provided with a number of gas outlets on a cylindrical peripheral wall, and inflates and deploys the airbag by injecting high-temperature gas from these gas outlets. A so-called pyro type was used. The airbag and the inflator housed in the housing are configured to communicate with each other.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional airbag apparatus, since a pyro-type inflator is used, the generated gas becomes hot and may damage the airbag.
By the way, in recent years, a hybrid inflator that ejects a low-temperature gas that does not affect the airbag has been used. This hybrid inflator uses a compressed gas mainly composed of argon, and requires a pressure accumulation volume part that accumulates sufficient gas for inflation and deployment of the airbag. Therefore, one end of the cylindrical inflator body in the longitudinal direction Only a gas outlet can be provided.
When this hybrid inflator is used, there are only two gas outlets at the longitudinal end of the inflator main body, so that the airbag cannot be uniformly inflated and deployed as in the case of using a conventional pyro inflator. The occupant could not be protected reliably.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and the purpose thereof is to use a hybrid inflator to uniformly inflate and deploy an airbag. It is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag device that ensures the protection of passengers.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an airbag apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing having an opening that is open to the passenger compartment side, an airbag housed in the housing, an inflator having a gas outlet at one end, and a gas A partition plate having a discharge port, and an intermediate partition plate having an outlet and interposed between the inflator and the partition plate, as viewed from the partition plate in the inflator direction, the gas discharge port and the intermediate partition plate of the partition plate The opening position of the outlet is shifted.
[0006]
[Action]
When the vehicle collides, the compressed gas is ejected from the gas ejection port with the operation of the inflator.
In the hybrid inflator, the gas outlet is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction. However, since the inflator is disposed with the gas outlet facing the wall surface of the partition plate or the inner wall of the housing, the jet gas flows between the housing and the partition plate. And pass through the gas discharge port of the partition plate.
In addition, since the gas discharge port is formed so that the opening area is smaller on the one end side of the partition plate corresponding to the one end portion where the gas jet port of the inflator is provided than on the other end side in the longitudinal direction, Regardless of the distance from the outlet, the gas discharged into the airbag is made uniform in the longitudinal direction of the partition plate, and the airbag is inflated and deployed uniformly.
If an intermediate partition plate is interposed between the inflator and the partition plate, the gas ejected from the inflator is once retained in the space formed by the housing and the intermediate partition plate, and the distance from the gas outlet of the inflator Regardless of this, the momentum of the ejected gas is stabilized and discharged into the airbag through the gas discharge port of the partition plate, and the airbag is inflated and deployed more uniformly.
[0007]
【Example】
Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
The airbag apparatus according to the present invention is for protecting an occupant at the time of a vehicle collision, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a state where the airbag apparatus is mounted for a passenger seat.
[0008]
Reference numeral 11 denotes a housing that houses an inflator 12 having a cylindrical shape and a folded airbag 13.
As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 11 is disposed inside the instrument panel 14 and is fixed inside the instrument panel 14 via a bracket 15.
[0009]
The housing 11 has a hollow box shape and is formed with an opening 16 that is open on the side facing the passenger (vehicle compartment side). The opening 16 is closed by a lid 17 that also serves as a part of the instrument panel 14.
For example, if the concave recess 19 is formed by beading the housing 11 on the edge of the lower wall 18 or the like substantially parallel to the mouth end of the opening 16, the gas applied when the airbag 13 is inflated and deployed. The deformation of the housing 11 due to pressure can be suppressed, and damage to the instrument panel 14 can be prevented.
[0010]
At the upper end and lower end of the lid body 17, mounting pieces 20 and 21 are formed so as to protrude. The mounting pieces 20 and 21 are attached to the upper wall 22 and the lower wall 18 of the housing 11, respectively.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the attachment piece 21 has a wall thickness so that the lid 17 can be easily broken and the airbag 13 can be quickly inflated and deployed when the inflator 12 is operated. The groove-like fragile portion 23 is formed by thinning.
[0011]
The inflator 12 is a hybrid type using a compressed gas mainly composed of argon.
Reference numeral 24 denotes a gas outlet provided on both the front and back surfaces of one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the inflator 12 for jetting the compressed gas accumulated in the pressure accumulation volume 25 into the housing 11. By ejecting gas from both of these gas ejection ports 24, 24, no reaction force is applied to the mounting portion of the inflator 12.
[0012]
Reference numeral 26 denotes a horizontally long partition plate that is attached to the housing 11 so as to be interposed between the inflator 12 and the airbag 13 in the housing 11.
As shown in FIG. 1, the partition plate 26 may be formed in a U-shaped cross section, or as shown in FIG. May be. When the partition plate 26 has a curved surface, it becomes easy to discharge the gas from the partition plate 26 in the vertical direction of the airbag 13, and the airbag 13 can be inflated and deployed uniformly.
[0013]
A gas discharge port 27 is formed in the partition plate 26 so that the gas ejected from the inflator 12 is discharged into the airbag 13.
The inflator 12 is arranged so as to face the wall surface of the partition plate 26 or the inner wall of the housing 11 without directing the gas outlet 24 toward the gas discharge port 27. This is because the ejected gas is uniformly discharged into the airbag 13.
Note that when the gas outlet 24 is directed in the vertical direction (in the direction of the upper surface wall 22 and the lower surface wall 18 of the housing 11), there is a possibility that the ejected gas may leak out from the joint portion between the housing 11 and the partition plate 26, as shown in FIG. It is preferable to arrange the gas outlets 24 as described above.
[0014]
The gas discharge port 27 formed in the partition plate 26 is also configured so that the gas ejected from the inflator 12 is uniformly discharged into the airbag 13.
The gas discharge port shown in FIG. 3 has a gas discharge port 28a having a small opening area at one end portion of the partition plate 26 corresponding to one end portion of the inflator 12 provided with the gas discharge port 24, and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the partition plate 26. The gas discharge ports 28b having a larger opening area are formed respectively.
[0015]
If the opening area ratio between the gas discharge port 28a and the gas discharge port 28b is 1: 1.5 to 1: 3, the airbag 13 can be inflated uniformly.
When the total area of the partition plate 26 including the gas discharge port 28a and the gas discharge port 28b is 150 to 350 square centimeters, the total opening area of the gas discharge port 28a and the gas discharge port 28b is 20 to 100 square centimeters. Good.
When the opening area is 20 square centimeters or less, the pressure in the space surrounded by the housing 11 and the partition plate 26 increases, and the load on the housing 11 and the like increases. Moreover, the deployment time of the airbag 13 will become long. Furthermore, if the opening area exceeds 100 square centimeters, the gas discharged from the partition plate 26 becomes non-uniform, and the airbag 13 does not inflate uniformly.
[0016]
The gas discharge port shown in FIG. 4 is formed by forming a plurality of small-hole-shaped gas discharge ports 29a and 29b at one end and the other longitudinal end of the partition plate 26, respectively. Then, the number of gas discharge ports 29a formed on the side corresponding to one end portion of the inflator 12 provided with the gas discharge ports 24 is made smaller than the number of gas discharge ports 29b on the other end side, so that all of the gas discharge ports 29a. The opening area is smaller than the total opening area of the gas discharge port 29b.
The opening area ratio between the gas discharge port 29a and the gas discharge port 29b and the total opening area between the gas discharge port 29a and the gas discharge port 29b are configured in the same manner as in the case of the gas discharge port 28a and the gas discharge port 28b. That's fine.
[0017]
The gas discharge port shown in FIG. 5 has a gas discharge port so that the opening gradually increases from one end of the partition plate 26 corresponding to one end of the inflator 12 provided with the gas discharge port 24 toward the other end in the longitudinal direction. The outlet 30 is formed.
When the gas discharge port 30 is formed in this manner, the jet gas can be easily discharged from the gas discharge port 30 in the vertical direction of the airbag 13, and the airbag 13 can be uniformly inflated and deployed.
[0018]
The gas discharge port shown in FIG. 6 has a gas discharge port 31a having a small opening area at the upper end and lower end of one end of the partition plate 26 corresponding to one end of the inflator 12 provided with the gas discharge port 24, and the partition plate 26. The gas discharge ports 31b having a larger opening area are formed at the upper end and the lower end of the other end in the longitudinal direction.
The opening area ratio between the gas discharge port 31a and the gas discharge port 31b and the total opening area between the gas discharge port 31a and the gas discharge port 31b are configured in the same manner as in the case of the gas discharge port 28a and the gas discharge port 28b. That's fine.
[0019]
The gas discharge port shown in FIG. 7 is a gas discharge port at one end portion of the partition plate 26 corresponding to one end portion of the inflator 12 provided with the gas discharge port 24 and having a shape with a large opening at the upper and lower end portions from the center portion. The outlet 32a is formed by forming a gas discharge port 32b having a larger opening at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the partition plate 26 at both upper and lower ends than the center and having a larger opening area than the gas discharge port 32a. With such an opening shape, the gas discharged in the vertical direction of the partition plate 26 increases, and the vertical deployment of the airbag 13 can be accelerated.
The opening area ratio between the gas discharge port 32a and the gas discharge port 32b and the total opening area between the gas discharge port 32a and the gas discharge port 32b are configured in the same manner as in the case of the gas discharge port 28a and the gas discharge port 28b. That's fine.
[0020]
Further, an intermediate partition plate 34 may be interposed between the inflator 12 and the partition plate 26.
The intermediate partition plate 34 may be formed integrally with the housing 11 or may be formed separately and attached to the housing 11.
Further, the intermediate partition plate 34 may be formed in a planar shape as shown in FIG. 8, or as shown in FIG. 9, its central portion projects toward the partition plate 26 so as to surround the inflator 12. A curved surface may be formed. By forming the curved surface in this way, the pressure resistance of the intermediate partition plate 34 can be increased.
[0021]
Reference numeral 35 denotes an outlet provided in the intermediate partition plate 34.
The outlet 35 is formed at a position shifted from the gas outlets 33a and 33b of the partition plate 26, as shown in FIG. The gas ejected from the inflator 12 is temporarily retained in the space formed by the housing 11 and the intermediate partition plate 34, so that the gas discharge ports 33a and 33b formed in the partition plate 26 have the same opening area.
Thus, the gas ejected from the inflator 12 diffuses the gas ejected from the gas ejection port on the back side of the inflator 12 and is temporarily retained in the space formed by the housing 11 and the intermediate partition plate 34. Since the air is discharged into the airbag 13 through the gas discharge port of the plate 26, the airbag 13 can be inflated and deployed more uniformly regardless of the distance of the gas outlet 24 of the inflator 12.
[0022]
Reference numeral 36 denotes a bag fixing plate for holding the airbag 13 by the partition plate 26.
According to this apparatus, the compressed gas is ejected from the gas ejection port 24 with the operation of the inflator 12 at the time of a vehicle collision. The ejection direction and discharge flow rate of the jet gas into the airbag 13 are adjusted by the gas discharge port of the partition plate 26 and the intermediate partition plate 34, so that the airbag 13 can be controlled regardless of the distance of the gas jet port 24 of the inflator 12. It will expand and expand uniformly.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is configured as described above. The inflator is arranged with the gas jet port facing the wall surface of the partition plate or the inner wall of the housing, and one end portion of the partition plate corresponding to the one end portion where the gas jet port of the inflator is provided. Since the gas discharge port is formed so that the opening area is smaller on the side than the other end in the longitudinal direction, even a hybrid inflator having a gas discharge port at one end is discharged from the gas discharge port into the airbag. The gas is made uniform, the airbag is uniformly inflated and deployed, and the occupant can be reliably protected in the event of a vehicle collision.
In addition, by interposing the intermediate partition plate between the inflator and the partition plate, the gas ejected from the inflator is once retained in the space formed by the housing and the intermediate partition plate, so even in the hybrid inflator, The momentum of the ejected gas is stabilized and discharged into the airbag through the gas discharge port of the partition plate, so that the airbag is inflated and deployed more uniformly, thereby ensuring occupant protection in the event of a vehicle collision.
Furthermore, even with the same inflator, the deployment speed and shape of the airbag can be easily set by determining the opening position, opening shape, and opening area of the gas outlet of the partition plate as desired. It is.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of an airbag apparatus according to another embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the airbag device.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an essential part of an airbag apparatus according to another embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an essential part of an airbag apparatus according to another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an essential part of an airbag apparatus according to another embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an essential part of an airbag apparatus according to another embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the airbag device provided with an intermediate partition plate.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of an airbag apparatus provided with an intermediate partition plate according to another embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a front view of an essential part of the airbag apparatus provided with an intermediate partition plate.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Housing 12 Inflator 13 Airbag 16 Opening part 24 Gas outlet 26 Partition plates 27, 28a, 28b, 29a, 29b, 30, 31a, 31b, 32a, 32b, 33a, 33b Gas outlet 34 Intermediate partition plate 35 Outlet

Claims (1)

A housing having an opening opened to the passenger compartment side, an airbag housed in the housing, an inflator having a gas outlet at one end, a partition plate having a gas outlet, and an inflator and a partition having an outlet An air bag comprising an intermediate partition plate interposed between the partition plate and the gas outlet of the partition plate and the outlet of the intermediate partition plate as viewed from the partition plate in the inflator direction apparatus.

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