JP4323397B2 - Vehicle occupant protection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an improved technology for a vehicle occupant protection device that enhances occupant protection in a pillar portion and a roof side portion of a vehicle when an impact force is applied to a side portion of the vehicle.

In recent years, development has been advanced in order to improve the protection performance of the occupant's head when an impact force is applied to the side of the vehicle.
In this type of vehicle occupant protection device, for example, a roof side airbag is stored from the pillar to the side edge of the roof, and the roof side airbag is curtained along the side glass when subjected to a certain level of impact force. A technique for bulging has been developed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 3510061

  The conventional vehicle shown in Patent Document 1 is a passenger car in which one seat or two front and rear seats are provided in a passenger compartment, and a pillar garnish is provided with a certain pillar space on the passenger compartment side of the front pillar. A fixed roof space portion that is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle compartment is provided on the vehicle compartment side at the side corner of the attachment and roof, and a vehicle occupant protection device is further provided.

This vehicle occupant protection device houses a roof side airbag in the pillar space and the roof space, attaches an inflator to the roof side rail, and attaches the roof side airbag to the roof side rail with bolts at a constant pitch. Further, the roof side airbag is connected to the inflator via a gas supply pipe.
According to such a vehicle occupant protection device, when the sensor detects that an impact force of a certain level or more has been received from the side of the vehicle body, the inflator generates gas, so that the roof side airbag is moved along the side glass. Can be expanded to the passenger compartment side.

  For example, when the roof side airbag of the vehicle occupant protection device is mounted on a vehicle having a three-row seat, the roof side airbag becomes long in the vehicle front-rear direction. It may be divided into (expansion chamber). When the roof side airbag is divided into a plurality of chambers, an inner tube is provided in the roof side airbag in order to stably inflate and deploy the front and rear end chambers.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle occupant protection device that can distribute gas flowing through an inner tube to a chamber in front of the front and rear end chambers when the gas flows through the inner tube.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is a constant space portion elongated in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body at the side corner of the roof of the vehicle body, and the roof side airbag is accommodated in the space portion, and a shock exceeding a certain level. In the vehicle occupant protection device in which the roof side airbag is inflated to the passenger compartment side along the side glass by the gas generated by the inflator under the force, the roof side airbag is arranged at the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment. The front and rear gas inlet portions arranged, the gas main passage for guiding the gas generated by the inflator, the plurality of chambers to be expanded by communicating with the gas main passage, and the plurality of chambers accommodated in the gas main passage An inner tube that distributes gas to the inner tube, and the inner tube is formed by winding a flexible sheet such as an airtight cloth into a tubular shape and sewing it. A by straight tube, with the rod comprising a steel round bar is a configuration in which along a longitudinal direction of the straight pipe as the metal core to the edge of the straight pipe, to the inner tube, a gas to a plurality of chambers partitioned The jet hole is set at the inlet of the chamber and toward the upstream side of the gas flow, and the front and rear gas inlets are formed in an elongated tubular shape at the end on the center side of the gas main flow path. The gas inlet portion is connected to the elongated tube of the gas main flow path and the end portion of the inner tube, and only the end portion of the inner tube is coupled in these tubes while being tightly fitted. It is a double tube, and is arranged concentrically in the longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment .

  For example, when the gas flows into the inner tube, if the gas to be ejected from the ejection hole to the inlet of the chamber can be directed to the tip of the chamber, it is possible to avoid obstructing the gas flow, It is preferable to perform rapid chamber expansion (bulging).

Therefore, the roof side airbag is inflated by communicating with the front and rear gas inlet portions disposed substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment, the main gas passage for guiding the gas generated by the inflator, and the main gas passage. The inner tube includes a plurality of chambers and an inner tube that distributes the gas to the plurality of chambers by being housed in the gas main passage, and the inner tube includes an ejection hole that distributes the gas to the plurality of chambers. Set at the inlet of the chamber and upstream of the gas flow.

That is, the inner tube is a straight pipe formed by rolling a sheet having flexibility such as airtight cloth into a tubular shape and sewing it, and a rod made of a steel round bar at the edge of the straight pipe with the a configuration in which along a longitudinal direction of the straight pipe as the metal core, the inner tube, provided with injection holes for distributing gas to the plurality of chambers, the injection holes, and the flow upstream of the gas to the inlet of chamber The front and rear gas inlets are formed by forming the central end of the gas main flow path into a long and narrow tube, and only the end of the inner tube is connected to these tubes while maintaining airtightness. with fitted has a gas inlet portion is a double pipe with an end portion of the elongated tube and the inner tube of the gas main passage, at Rukoto arranged concentrically in the longitudinal direction passenger compartment, the inner tube When gas is flowed, The gas to be ejected into the inlet can be toward the distal end of the chamber. As a result, obstruction of the gas flow can be avoided, gas can be supplied to the bulging portion in a well-balanced manner, and the chamber can be rapidly expanded (bulged). Further, since the ejection hole is brought closer to the upstream side of the inlet of the chamber, unnecessary stress is not applied to the downstream chamber (to the roof side airbag). Therefore, the development stability can be ensured.

In the invention according to claim 1, the inner tube is a straight pipe formed by rolling and sewing a sheet having flexibility such as a cloth having airtightness into a tubular shape, and is made of steel at an edge of the straight pipe. a rod made of a round bar with a configuration in which along a longitudinal direction of the straight tube as the core metal of the inner tube, provided with injection holes for distributing gas to the plurality of chambers, the injection holes, the inlet of the chamber In addition , the front and rear gas inlets are formed in the shape of an elongated tube at the upstream side of the gas flow , and only the end of the inner tube is connected to these tubes. However, the gas inlet part is a double pipe consisting of an elongated pipe of the gas main flow path and an end of the inner tube and is arranged concentrically in the longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment while fitting with airtightness. When gas flows into the inner tube, The gas to be injected into the inlet of the chamber from can be toward the distal end of the chamber. As a result, it is possible to avoid obstructing the gas flow, and there is an advantage that the gas can be supplied to the bulging portion in a well-balanced manner and the chamber can be rapidly expanded (bulged).

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, and “lower” follow the direction seen from the driver.
FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle according to the present invention as viewed from the passenger compartment side, and shows that the vehicle 10 includes a vehicle occupant protection device 50 (a state in which the roof side airbag 53 is deployed). In addition, about the vehicle occupant protection device 50, only the structure arrange | positioned on the right side of the vehicle 10 is shown. The vehicle occupant protection device 50 on the left side has the same configuration as that on the right side, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The vehicle 10 is an automobile generally referred to as a minivan, in which three front and rear seats including a front seat 12, an intermediate seat 13, and a rear seat 14 are provided in a passenger compartment 11. A vehicle body 20 in such a vehicle 10 includes a front front pillar 21, two middle front pillars 22 and a rear middle pillar 23, and a rear rear pillar 24, and each of these pillars 21 to 24. The roof side rail 25 is provided at the upper end of the roof, and the roof 26 is supported by the roof side rail 25. The vehicle 10 further includes a front side glass 31, an intermediate side glass 32, and a rear side glass 33 between the pillars 21 to 24.

  Further, FIG. 1 shows that the occupant Ma sitting on the rightmost side of the rear seat 14 is restrained by the seat belt device 40. The seat belt device 40 is configured such that the seat belt 42 wound around the retractor 41 is pulled out and passed through the through ring 43 and then hooked to the lower anchor 44. The retractor 41 is a belt winder attached to the lower part of the rear pillar 24. The through ring 43 is a member attached to the upper part of the rear pillar 24. The lower anchor 44 is a member attached to the side of the cushion of the rear seat 14. The upper part of the occupant Ma and the waist can be restrained by the seat belt 42.

The vehicle occupant protection device 50 detects that an impact force of a certain level or more is applied to the side portion of the vehicle 10 with an impact detection sensor (not shown), and the inflator 51 generates gas in response to the sensor signal. By supplying this gas to the roof side airbag 53 via the supply pipe 52, the roof side airbag 53 is inflated toward the vehicle compartment 11 along the side glasses 31 to 33.
The roof side airbag 53 inflated and deployed in the passenger compartment 11 covers the side glasses 31 to 33 and can protect particularly the head He of the occupant Ma sitting on the seats 12 to 14.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention as viewed from the passenger compartment side, and shows a state in which the roof side airbag 53 is stored.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the supply pipe 52 is a gas pipe that supplies gas from the inflator 51 to the roof side airbag 53. The inflator 51 and the supply pipe 52 extend in the vehicle body front-rear direction (left-right direction on the paper surface) and are arranged in parallel with the roof side airbag 53.

The vehicle body 20 has a fixed roof space portion S1 (space portion S1) elongated in the vehicle longitudinal direction (that is, the vehicle longitudinal direction) on the side of the vehicle compartment 11 at the side corner 26a of the roof 26, and this roof space portion. The inflator 51, the supply pipe 52, and the roof side airbag 53 are accommodated in S1.
In addition, the vehicle body 20 has a pillar space portion S2 and a pillar garnish 54 attached to the front pillar 21 provided at the front portion on the side of the passenger compartment 11, and the front portion of the roof side airbag 53 is attached to the pillar space portion S2. It is what was stored.

Further, the vehicle body 20 is (1) the front end portion 53a of the roof side airbag 53 is attached to the front pillar 21 via the bracket 55 by a fastening member 56 such as a band, and (2) the roof side is attached to the rear pillar 24 via the bracket 57. The rear end portion 53b of the airbag 53 is attached by a fastening member 58 such as a band, and is attached to the roof side rail 25 by various fixing mechanisms 61 to 67.
As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing mechanism 63 includes a first mounting bracket 151 and a second mounting bracket 152.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the vehicle occupant protection device in a state in which the roof side airbag according to the present invention is deployed as viewed from the passenger compartment side.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the roof side airbag 53 is made of a flexible seat such as a cloth having airtightness, and (1) two front and rear pieces arranged substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment. (2) two front and rear gas main flow paths 72F and 72R extending in the longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment along the roof space S1 from the gas inlet portions 71F and 71R, and (3) these Passing through the gas main flow paths 72F and 72R individually, one end of each of the front and rear gas inlets 71F and 71R is individually connected to the front and rear inner tubes 73F and 73R, and (4) the front inner tube 73F. The front bag part 74F communicates via the front gas main flow path 72F and expands at a position corresponding to the front seat 12, and (5) the rear inner tube 73R via the rear gas main flow path 72R. Communication with the intermediate seat 13 An intermediate bag portion 74M that expands at a corresponding position, and (6) a rear bag portion 74R that communicates with the rear inner tube 73R via the rear gas main flow path 72R and expands at a position corresponding to the rear seat 14. , In one piece.

When the front bag part 74F expands the front bag part 74F along the front side glass 31 toward the vehicle compartment 11, the gas flowing in from the front gas main flow path 72F moves downward and forwards upward. The three inflatable parts 75a to 75c are configured to flow in the direction of folding.
These inflating portions 75a to 75c have a configuration in which a front inflating portion 75a at the front end, an intermediate inflating portion 75b, and a rear inflating portion 75c at the rear end are arranged in a line. The front expansion part 75a and the intermediate expansion part 75b are in close contact with each other, and the intermediate expansion part 75b and the rear expansion part 75c are in close contact with each other.

  In the front bag portion 74F, the intermediate inflating portion 75c has an upper end opening arranged near the front end of the front gas main flow path 72F and communicated, and a front lower end communicated with an opening at the rear lower end of the front inflating portion 75a. It is. The front inflating part 75a has an opening only at the rear lower end. The rear inflating portion 75c is in communication with the upper end opening disposed near the front end of the front gas main flow path 72F.

  The intermediate bag portion 74M includes three front and rear inflatable portions 76a to 76c arranged below the two front and rear gas inlet portions 71F and 71R. These inflatable portions 76a to 76c have a configuration in which a front inflatable portion 76a at the front end, an intermediate inflatable portion 76b, and a rear inflatable portion 76c at the rear end are arranged in a line. The front expansion part 76a and the intermediate expansion part 76b are in close contact with each other, and the intermediate expansion part 76b and the rear expansion part 76c are in close contact with each other.

  In the intermediate bag portion 74M, the intermediate inflating portion 76b communicates with the rear upper end opening disposed near the rear end in the rear gas main flow path 72R, and the front upper end communicated with the rear upper end opening in the front inflating portion 76a. Is. The front expansion portion 76a has an opening only at the rear upper end. The rear inflating portion 76c is in communication with the upper end opening disposed in the vicinity of the rear end in the rear gas main flow path 72R.

The rear bag portion 74R includes two front and rear inflatable portions 77a and 77b arranged rearward of the rear gas main flow path 72R. These inflating portions 77a and 77b have a configuration in which a front inflating portion 77a at the front end and a rear inflating portion 77b at the rear end are arranged in a line.
The front inflating portion 77a communicates the opening at the front lower end with the rear end of the rear gas main flow path 72R via the upper communication pipe 78A and the opening at the front lower end in the intermediate bag portion 74M via the lower communication pipe 78B. It communicates with the rear opening of the rear expansion portion 76c.
The rear inflating part 77b communicates the opening at the front lower end with the opening at the rear lower end of the front inflating part 77a.

By the way, the roof side airbag 53 is integrally provided with a non-inflatable portion 79 around each bag portion 74F, 74M, 74R. The non-expandable portion 79 includes a front non-expandable portion 79A at the front end, an intermediate non-expandable portion 79B, and a rear non-expandable portion 79C at the rear end.
The front non-inflatable portion 79A includes a string-like or band-like front strap 81. The rear non-inflatable portion 79B includes a string-like or band-like rear strap 82 and a slit 83.
In FIG. 3, 86F and 86R are jet holes opened in the two front and rear inner tubes 73F and 73R, respectively.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of the vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention, and is shown corresponding to FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.
5, the storage structure of the vehicle occupant protection device 50 will be described in more detail. As described above, the vehicle body 20 has the roof space portion S1 on the side of the vehicle compartment 11 at the side corner 26a of the roof 26, and the inflator 51, the supply pipe 52, and the folded roof side airbag in the roof space portion S1. 53 is stored.
Here, the roof space S <b> 1 is a space formed between the side corner 26 a of the roof 26 and the roof lining 84 that serves as the lining of the roof 26.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the inflator 51 elongated in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body extends from the gas outlet 51a at the front end to the front of the vehicle body (left side in FIG. 4). Such an inflator 51 and the supply pipe 52 are arranged along the roof side airbag 53 in a folded state. The front end of the supply pipe 52 is configured to be connected to the gas inlet portions 71F and 71R of the roof side airbag 53.

As shown in FIG. 5, the roof side airbag 53 is in a housed state wrapped by a cloth tubular bag cover 91 in a spirally folded (wrapped) state. The bag cover 91 has a perforation such as a perforation and can be easily opened by a force when the roof side airbag 53 is inflated.
The roof side airbag 53 in such a folded state can be attached to the roof side rail 25 by the bag bracket 92.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inflator 51 can be attached to the roof side rail 25 by an inflator bracket 93. The supply pipe 52 can be attached to the roof side rail 25 by a supply pipe bracket 94.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bag bracket 92 is a bent product of a steel plate, and a fork-shaped main body 92 a that holds the roof side airbag 53 wrapped by the bag cover 91 so as to sandwich it, It comprises a plate-like attachment portion 92b extending upward from the main body portion 92a along the roof side rail 25.

  On the other hand, the supply pipe bracket 94 is a bent product of a steel plate, and includes a main body portion 94a fixed to the supply pipe 52 by welding or the like, and a plate-like attachment portion 94b extending from the main body portion 94a to the bag bracket 92 side. Become.

These mounting portions 92b, 94b are overlapped on the roof side rail 25, and each mounting portion 92b, 94b is fixed to the roof side rail 25 with one bolt 95, whereby each bracket 92, 94 is bolted to the vehicle body 20. It can be attached by tightening 95. As a result, the supply pipe 52 and the roof side airbag 53 can be attached to the vehicle body 20 by tightening the bolts 95 together.
The combination structure of the bag bracket 92, the supply pipe bracket 94 and the bolt 95 constitutes a fixing mechanism 64 for the vehicle body 20.

The inflator bracket 93 shown in FIG. 5 has the same configuration as the supply pipe bracket 94. For this reason, the brackets 92 and 93 can be attached to the vehicle body 20 by fastening the bolts 95 together. As a result, the inflator 51 and the roof side airbag 53 can be attached to the vehicle body 20 by fastening the bolts 95 together.
The combination structure of the bag bracket 92, the inflator bracket 93 and the bolt 95 constitutes a fixing mechanism 65 for the vehicle body 20.

  As is clear from the above description, the vehicle occupant protection device 50 extends the supply pipe 52 that supplies gas from the inflator 51 to the roof side airbag 53 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and is in parallel with the roof side airbag 53. And at least one of the inflator 51 and the supply pipe 52 and the roof side airbag 53 are fastened together with bolts 95 and 95 to the vehicle body 20 together with the inflator 51 and the roof side airbag 53. It is attached by.

  The roof side airbag 53 can be attached to the vehicle body 20 in a state in which the roof side airbag 53 is adjusted to a more appropriate position with respect to the inflator 51. Therefore, the roof side airbag 53 is fixed to the inflator 51 in a twisted state. Never happen. Therefore, the gas of the inflator 51 can be appropriately supplied to the roof side airbag 53, and the roof side airbag 53 can be inflated and deployed more appropriately and stably.

  Furthermore, since at least one of the inflator 51 and the supply pipe 52 and the roof side airbag 53 are attached to the vehicle body 20 by fastening the bolts 95 and 95 together, it is possible to reduce the amount of attachment to the vehicle body 20 correspondingly. it can. Therefore, the number of attachment parts of the inflator 51 and the roof side airbag 53 to the vehicle body 20 can be reduced, the number of attachment steps can be reduced, and the attachment can be easily performed.

FIG. 6 is a side view around the gas inlet portion of the roof side airbag according to the present invention and is shown corresponding to FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the roof side airbag 53 includes two front and rear gas inlet portions 71 </ b> F and 71 </ b> R disposed in the center of the bag 53 in the longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment, and the two gas inlet portions. It is characterized by comprising a bridge portion 87 that connects the neighborhoods of 71F and 71R.

  The two front and rear gas inlet portions 71F and 71R are arranged in a row in the front and rear direction so as to face each other. As described above, the supply pipe 52 is arranged in parallel to the roof side airbag 53, extends to the center of the bag 53 in front of the passenger compartment, and bends toward the gas inlet portions 71F and 71R with its front end bent. By extending the portion 52a and providing two front and rear connecting pipe portions 52b and 52b that branch into a bifurcated shape at the tip, the gas supply tip portion of the supply pipe 52 is connected to the drooping portion 52a and the two connecting pipe portions 52b, 52b and a substantially T-shape.

  As shown in FIG. 6, at the central portion of the bag 53, the front and rear gas main flow paths 72F and 72R are separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the front and rear, and the notched recess 101 is separated from the bag main body portion ( It is the structure connected by the non-bulged part.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the front and rear gas inlet portions 71F and 71R are formed by forming the end portions on the center side of the gas main flow paths 72F and 72R into an elongated tubular shape. The ends of the tubes 73F and 73R are fitted with airtightness. For this reason, the gas inlet portions 71F and 71R are double tubes composed of the elongated tubes of the gas main flow paths 72F and 72R and the end portions of the inner tubes 73F and 73R, and are concentric in the longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment (the left-right direction in FIG. 6). Will be arranged.
The two connecting pipe portions 52b and 52b extending in the front-rear direction can be connected to each other by being inserted into the gas inlet portions 71F and 71R and stopped at the bands 102 and 102.

  The inner tubes 73F and 73R are straight pipes formed by rolling and sewing a flexible sheet, such as a cloth having airtightness, into a tubular shape. From the steel round bar to the edge of the straight pipe The rods 103L and 103R to be arranged along the core metal.

  By the way, since the recessed part 101 is a notch shape, the one end side is open | released. The bridge part 87 connects the open ends of the recess 101. More specifically, in the gas main flow paths 72F and 72R, the base end portions of the gas inlet portions 71F and 71R or the vicinity thereof are connected by the bridge portion 87. Such a bridge portion 87 may be constituted by a band having a constant width obtained by extending a part of the edge in the sheet forming the gas main flow paths 72F and 72R, for example.

  FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the main part of the vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention. The vehicle occupant protection device 50 is arranged on the vehicle compartment 11 side at the side corner 26a of the roof 26 of the vehicle body 20 shown in FIG. The vehicle body 20 has a constant space portion S1 that is elongated in the front-rear direction. The roof side airbag 53 is accommodated in the space portion S1, and the roof side airbag 53 is generated by the gas generated by the inflator 51 under a certain impact force. In the vehicle occupant protection device that inflates the vehicle to the vehicle compartment 11 side along the side glasses 31 to 33, the main gas passages 72F and 72R before and after the roof side airbag 53 guides the gas generated by the inflator 51. , Front, middle, and rear expansion portions (cells or expansion chambers) 75a as chambers that are expanded by communicating with these gas main passages 72F and 72R, 5b, 75c, front / middle / rear expansion portions (cells or expansion chambers) 76a, 76b, 76c as chambers, front / rear expansion portions (cells or expansion chambers) 77a, 77b as chambers, and front and rear gases By storing in the main passages 72F and 72R, gas is supplied to the front / middle / rear expansion portions 75a, 75b and 75c, the front / middle / rear expansion portions 76a, 76b and 76c, and the front / rear expansion portions 77a and 77b. The inner tubes 73F and 73R are arranged before and after the distribution, and the front inner tube 73F is provided with an ejection hole 86F for distributing gas to the rear expansion portion 75c, and this ejection hole 86F is connected to the inlet 111 of the rear expansion portion 75c. In addition, the rear inner tube 73R is provided with an ejection hole 86R that distributes the gas to the middle expansion portion 76b. The ejection holes 86R, and said to those set Intention to flow upstream of the gas inlet 112 of the central inflatable portion 76 b.

  For example, when the gas flows into the inner tube, if the gas to be ejected from the ejection hole to the inlet of the chamber can be directed to the tip of the chamber, it is possible to avoid obstructing the gas flow, It is preferable to perform rapid chamber expansion (bulging).

  Therefore, the front inner tube 73F is provided with an ejection hole 86F for distributing gas to the rear expansion portion 75c, and the ejection hole 86F is set near the inlet 111 of the rear expansion portion 75c and upstream of the gas flow. The rear inner tube 73R is provided with an ejection hole 86R for distributing gas to the middle expansion part 76b, and this ejection hole 86R is set close to the inlet 112 of the middle expansion part 76b and upstream of the gas flow. When the gas flows through the front and rear inner tubes 73F, 73R, the gas to be ejected from the ejection holes 86F, 86R to the inlet 111 of the rear inflating portion 75c and the inlet 112 of the middle inflating portion 76b is rear inflating portion 75c and middle inflating. It can make it go to each front-end | tip part 113,114 of the part 76b. As a result, it is possible to avoid obstructing the gas flow, and it is possible to supply the gas in a balanced manner to the rear inflating portion 75c and the middle inflating portion 76b, and at the same time, the rear inflating portion 75c and the middle inflating portion 76b (chamber ) Can be expanded (bulged).

  Further, since the ejection holes 86F and 86R are moved to the upstream side of the inlet 111 and the middle expansion part 76b of the rear expansion part 75c, respectively, they are placed in the downstream chamber (the middle expansion part 75b, the rear expansion part 76c, etc.) or on the roof side. Unnecessary stress is not applied to the airbag 53. Therefore, the development stability can be ensured.

  The vehicle occupant protection device 50 causes the roof side airbag 53 to communicate with gas main passages (gas main passages) 72F and 72R before and after guiding the gas generated by the inflator 51, and these gas main passages 72F and 72R. Front / middle / rear expansion portions (chambers) 75a, 75b, 75c, front / middle / rear expansion portions (chambers) 76a, 76b, 76c, and front / rear expansion portions (chambers) 77a, 77b, and front / middle / rear inflatable portions 75a, 75b, 75c, front / middle / rear inflatable portions 76a, 76b, 76c and front / rear inflatable portions by being housed in the front and rear gas main passages 72F, 72R. The inner tubes 73F and 73R before and after distributing gas to 77a and 77b, and the inner tubes 73F and 73R before and after the inner tube by gas pulsation. Bed 73F, the inner tube 73F violently to prevent the 73R, rods 103F as posture stabilization member to maintain a predetermined shape of the 73R, also as that provided 103R it says.

  For example, when a gas is flowed into the inner tube, it is preferable that a predetermined gas can be supplied to a plurality of chambers if the turbulence of the inner tube can be prevented by the pulsating flow of the gas.

  Therefore, the front and rear inner tubes 73F and 73R are provided with rods (posture stabilizing members) 103F and 103R that prevent the inner tubes 73F and 73R from being disturbed due to gas pulsation and maintain the predetermined shapes of the inner tubes 73F and 73R. The gas flow stability can be maintained, and the front / middle / rear expansion portions (chambers) 75a, 75b, 75c, front / middle / rear expansion portions (chambers) 76a, 76b, 76c shown in FIG. In addition, the gas can be accurately supplied to the front and rear expansion portions (chambers) 77a and 77b (to a predetermined chamber). As a result, the deployment stability of the roof side airbag 53 can be ensured.

  FIGS. 9A to 9C are explanatory views showing the action of the setting position of the ejection hole of the vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention. (A) shows the vehicle occupant protection device 200 of the comparative example, and (b) shows the vehicle occupant protection device 50 of the example.

  In (a), the vehicle occupant protection device 200 is inflated by allowing the roof side airbag 201 to communicate with the gas main passage 202 that guides the gas generated by an inflator (not shown) and the gas main passage 202. A plurality of chambers 203 to 207, and an inner tube 209 that distributes the gas to the plurality of chambers 203 to 207 by being housed in the gas main passage 202, and the inner tube 209 includes a plurality of chambers. 203 to 207 are provided with ejection holes 211 and 212 for distributing gas, and these ejection holes 211 and 212 are set in the central portions of the chambers 205 and 206, respectively.

  However, in the vehicle occupant protection device 200, the gas flowing through the inner tube 209 has inertia, so that the gas flowing from the ejection holes 211 and 212 as indicated by arrows a1 and a2 and flowing to the walls of the chambers 205 and 206 hits. In some cases, gas cannot be smoothly supplied to the front ends of the chambers 205 and 206. Accordingly, excessive stress may be applied around the ejection holes 211 and 212 and the wall surfaces of the chambers 205 and 206, thereby preventing stable expansion and deployment of the chambers 205 and 206.

  In (b), in the vehicle occupant protection device 50, the front inner tube 73F is provided with an ejection hole 86F that distributes gas to the rear inflating portion 75c, and this ejection hole 86F is connected to the inlet 111 of the rear inflating portion 75c and The inner tube 73R is provided with a jet hole 86R for distributing gas to the middle inflated portion 76b. The jet hole 86R is provided at the inlet 112 of the middle inflated portion 76b and the gas. When the gas flows into the front and rear inner tubes 73F and 73R, the gas is ejected from the ejection holes 86F and 86R to the inlet 111 of the rear expansion portion 75c and the inlet 112 of the middle expansion portion 76b. As shown by arrows a3 and a4, the gas to be directed is directed to the respective front end portions 113 and 114 of the rear expansion portion 75c and the middle expansion portion 76b. That.

  10 (a) to 10 (c) are explanatory views showing the action of the posture stabilizing member of the vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention. (A), (b) shows the passenger protection device 220 for vehicles of a comparative example, (b) shows the passenger protection device 50 for vehicles of an Example.

  In (a), the vehicle occupant protection device 220 is inflated by communicating the roof side airbag 221 with the gas main passage 222 that guides the gas generated by the inflator (not shown) and the gas main passage 222. A plurality of chambers 223 to 227 and an inner tube 229 that distributes the gas to the plurality of chambers 223 to 227 by being accommodated in the gas main passage 222, and the inner tube 229 includes the plurality of chambers 223 to 227. Are provided with ejection holes 231 and 232 for distributing the gas to each other.

  In (b), in the vehicle occupant protection device 220, gas generated by an inflator (not shown) may become a pulsating flow and flow into the chambers 223 to 227 via the inner tube 229. In such a case, turbulence occurs in the inner tube 229 due to the pulsating flow of the gas, and the tip of the inner tube 229 enters the specific chamber 225, 226 as indicated by arrows b1, b2, thereby preventing stable expansion and expansion of the chamber. There is.

  In (c), rods (posture stabilizing members) 103F and 103R that prevent the inner tubes 73F and 73R from being disturbed by gas pulsation and maintain the predetermined shapes of the inner tubes 73F and 73R are provided on the front and rear inner tubes 73F and 73R. Since the gas flow stability is provided, the front / middle / rear inflatable portions (chambers) 75a, 75b, 75c, the front / middle / rear inflatable portions (chambers) 76a, 76b, 76c, and Gas can be accurately supplied to the front / rear expansion portions (chambers) 77a and 77b (to a predetermined chamber).

  In the vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the ejection hole 86F is set close to the inlet 111 of the rear expansion portion 75c and upstream of the gas flow, and the ejection hole 86R. However, the present invention is not limited to this and is offset from the center of the inlet of the chamber (expanding section) to the input side of the gas flow. If it is.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention uses the rods 103F and 103R for the posture stabilizing member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the posture stabilizing member stabilizes the shape of the inner pipe. Any member may be used, and for example, a plate material, a pipe, a wire, or the like may be used, and a material having a posture stabilizing function such as a shape-stable material may be used as the material.

  The vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention is suitable for use in a vehicle occupant protection device (side airbag) for a vehicle having a plurality of rows (for example, three or more rows) of seat rows such as wagons and minivans.

It is the side view which looked at the vehicle concerning the present invention from the compartment side. It is the perspective view which looked at the passenger protection device for vehicles concerning the present invention from the cabin side. It is the side view which looked at the crew protection device for vehicles in the state where the roof side air bag concerning the present invention was developed from the compartment side. It is a principal part enlarged view of the passenger protection device for vehicles concerning the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. It is a side view around the gas inlet part of the roof side airbag which concerns on this invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6. It is principal part side surface sectional drawing of the vehicle occupant protection apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of the setting position of the ejection hole of the passenger | crew protection device for vehicles which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of the attitude | position stabilization member of the vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... drive both, 11 ... vehicle compartment, 20 ... body, 26 ... roof, 26a ... side corner, 31-33 ... side glass (front, intermediate portion, a rear side window), 50 ... vehicle occupant protection apparatus, 51 ... Inflator, 53 ... roof side airbag, 72F, 72R ... front and rear gas main flow paths, 73F, 73R ... front and rear inner tubes, 75a, 75b, 75c ... chambers (front, middle, rear inflated portions), 76a, 76b, 76c ... Chamber (front / middle / rear inflatable part), 77a, 77b ... Chamber (front / rear inflated part), 103L, 103R ... Posture stabilizing member (rod), S1 ... Space part (roof space part), 111 112, inlet, 113, 114 tip.

Claims (1)

The side corner of the roof of the car body has a constant space that is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the car body on the vehicle compartment side. The roof side airbag is housed in this space, and an inflator is generated by receiving an impact force that exceeds a certain level. In the vehicle occupant protection device, in which the roof side airbag is inflated to the passenger compartment side along the side glass by the gas,
The roof side airbag is inflated by communicating with the front and rear gas inlet portions disposed substantially in the center in the longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment, the gas main passage for guiding the gas generated by the inflator, and the gas main passage. A plurality of chambers, and an inner tube that distributes the gas to the plurality of chambers by being housed in the gas main passage,
The inner tube is a straight pipe formed by rolling a flexible sheet such as an airtight cloth into a tubular shape and sewing it, and a rod made of a steel round bar is attached to the edge of the straight pipe. The metal core has a configuration along the longitudinal direction of the straight pipe, and includes a jet hole for distributing the gas to the plurality of chambers, and the jet hole is provided at the inlet of the chamber and on the upstream side of the gas flow. set Preface to,
The front and rear gas inlet portions are formed by forming an end on the center side of the gas main flow path into an elongated tubular shape, and only the end of the inner tube is connected to these tubes while providing airtightness. And the gas inlet portion is a double tube of an elongated tube of the gas main flow path and an end portion of the inner tube, and is arranged concentrically in the vehicle front-rear direction. A vehicle occupant protection device.

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