JP4423747B2 - Air belt device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for protecting a passenger of a moving body such as a vehicle, an aircraft, a high-speed ship, etc., in the event of a vehicle collision, and in particular, is mounted on the passenger like a seat belt and gas from a gas generator The present invention relates to an apparatus having an inflatable belt.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the air belt device, at least a part of the webbing of the seat belt device (particularly, the portion that hits the occupant's body) is configured by an inflatable air belt. When the vehicle collides or rolls over, the gas generator operates and the air belt expands. As disclosed in JP-A-5-85301 (US Pat. No. 5,346,250) and the like, as this air belt device, one end of an air belt is connected to a tongue, and each gas passage is connected to the tongue and a buckle to which the tongue is attached. And introducing gas into the air belt through the gas passage. The other end of the air belt is connected to a belt-like body similar to that of a normal seat belt device by stitching, and the belt-like body is wound around a seat belt retractor. A lap belt made of a belt-like body similar to a normal seat belt is connected to the tongue.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If the gas pressure from the gas generator is excessively high, the stress applied to the air belt increases, so that it is necessary to sew the air belt firmly and the cost increases. Further, the thickness of the air belt or the like is increased, and the air belt is easily bulky.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide an air belt apparatus having a mechanism for reducing a pressure load applied to a member such as an air belt.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Air belt apparatus of the present invention, the air belt inflated by the gas is introduced, met belt apparatus and a gas generator for supplying gas through the gas passage into the air belt, one end of the air belt tongue In the air belt device in which the gas passage and the gas generator are provided in the buckle to which the tongue is attached, a pipe-shaped gas duct is fixed inside the buckle cover constituting the outer shell of the buckle. The gas duct is surrounded by the buckle cover, and the gas duct has the gas passage, and a discharge flow for discharging a gas pressure of a predetermined level or more to the outside of the gas passage in the gas passage. It is characterized by providing a road.
[0006]
In such an air belt device, an excessive gas pressure in the gas passage is released to the outside through the discharge flow path, so that an excessive stress is prevented from being applied to the air belt or the like.
[0007]
This discharge flow path may consist of a hole that is always open. Moreover, this discharge flow path is closed, and a member that opens when the pressure becomes a predetermined pressure or more may be provided.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0009]
1 is a perspective view of the air belt device according to the embodiment in a steady state, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a tongue, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a buckle, and FIG. 4 is along the line IV-IV in FIG. It is sectional drawing.
[0010]
This air belt device includes an air belt 1 in which a shoulder belt 2 and a lap belt 3 are joined together, a buckle 4 disposed on a vehicle body floor or the like, and a tongue 5 that is inserted and locked to the buckle 4 when the belt is mounted. A shoulder anchor 6 for guiding the shoulder belt 2 is provided.
[0011]
The shoulder belt 2 includes the inflatable portion 2a and a non-inflatable belt-like body 2b connected to the inflatable portion 2a. As shown in FIG. 2, the inflatable portion 2 a includes a mesh webbing 7, a bag 8 disposed in the mesh webbing 7, and a mesh cover 9 surrounding the mesh webbing 7.
[0012]
The belt-like body 2b of the shoulder belt 2 is slidably passed through the shoulder anchor 6 and can be wound around a shoulder retractor 12 formed of a seat belt retractor (ELR) with an emergency locking mechanism fixed to the vehicle body. It is connected. The shoulder belt 2 is routed along the front surface of the upper body of the occupant.
[0013]
The lap belt 3 is routed along the front surface of the occupant's waist and is connected to a wrap retractor (ELR) 13 fixed to the vehicle body or the like so as to be wound.
[0014]
Connected to the buckle 4 is an inflator 10 that is activated in the event of an emergency such as a vehicle collision and generates high-pressure gas. The buckle 4 is provided with a pipe-shaped gas duct 11 for guiding the gas from the inflator 10 to the gas passage member 14 of the tongue 5. When the tongue 5 is attached to the buckle 4, the tip of the gas passage member 14 faces the gas duct portion 11.
[0015]
A belt hook 15 is provided in the tongue 5, and the lap belt 3 is inserted into the belt hook 15.
[0016]
The bag 8 is made of a woven fabric and expands when gas is introduced, but does not substantially stretch during the expansion.
[0017]
The bag 8 is folded so as to have substantially the same width as the belt-like body 2 b and is surrounded by the mesh webbing 7. The mesh webbing 7 is held in a flat hollow cylindrical strip shape.
[0018]
As clearly shown in FIG. 2, an opening 16 for allowing the front end side portion 8 a of the bag 8 to pass is provided in the front end side portion of the mesh webbing 7. The front end portion 8 a of the bag 8 is drawn out of the mesh webbing 7 through the opening 16, and the front end thereof is fixed to the gas passage member 14 by a fastening ring 18.
[0019]
A mesh cover 9 is provided so as to surround the mesh webbing 7. The mesh cover 9 is also shaped like a flat hollow cylindrical belt.
[0020]
A hook 30 is provided at the rear end of the tongue cover 25, and an opening (not shown) engaged with the hook 30 is provided at the tip of the mesh cover 9.
[0021]
After the bag 8 and the mesh webbing 7 are inserted into the mesh cover 9, the opening at the tip of the mesh cover 9 is locked to the hook 30. When the bag 8 is inflated, a force is applied to the mesh cover 9 in a direction away from the tongue 5, and the hook 30 is deformed or torn, or the edge of the opening is torn, so that the mesh cover 9 Get away from.
[0022]
The mesh webbing 7 is made of a knitted fabric that freely expands and contracts in the diameter increasing direction but does not substantially extend in the longitudinal direction. The rear end sides of the mesh webbing 7 and the mesh cover 9 are fixed to the belt-like body 2b by stitching.
[0023]
The gas passage member 14 has a pipe shape, and a cap 17 is attached to the distal end side. The cap 17 has a strength that opens when a gas jet pressure is applied from the gas jet port 11 a at the tip of the gas duct 11.
[0024]
A convex portion 14 a is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end side of the gas passage member 14, and the front end side portion 8 a of the bag 8 is fitted on the rear end side of the gas passage member 14 and is fixed by the tightening ring 18. Has been.
[0025]
The tongue plate 20 of the tongue 5 has an opening 21 that is latched by the buckle 4. The gas passage member 14 is fixed to the tongue plate 20 with screws 22. A synthetic resin tongue cover 25 is provided so as to cover the tongue plate 20 and the rear side of the gas passage member 14.
[0026]
Note that the mesh webbing 7 and the bag 8 and the mesh webbing 7 and the mesh cover 9 may be joined by adhesion, adhesion, or fusion. By joining the mesh cover 9, the mesh webbing 7 and the bag 8 in this manner, the interface between them does not slip, and the shoulder belt 2 becomes easy to handle.
[0027]
The joining of the mesh cover 9, the mesh webbing 7 and the bag 8 is released by peeling or the like when the bag 8 is inflated, and the bag 8 is inflated without being restrained by the mesh webbing 7.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 3, the buckle 4 is a latch for latching the tongue plate 20 by engaging the entry portion 40 of the tongue plate 20 and the opening 21 of the tongue plate 20 inserted into the entry portion 40. It has a device 42 and a press button 43 for releasing this latch.
[0029]
The gas duct 11 is fixed to the buckle base 44 with screws 45.
[0030]
The gas duct 11, the latch device 42, and the like are surrounded by a buckle cover 49. The rear part of the inflator 10 protrudes outward from the lower part (rear part) of the buckle cover 49. The tip of the inflator 10 is connected to the gas duct 11 via a connecting member 46.
[0031]
The gas duct 11 is provided with a small hole 50 as a discharge channel for discharging an excessive gas pressure in the gas duct 11 to the outside of the gas duct 11.
[0032]
The air belt device configured as described above is used for occupant protection by attaching the tongue 5 to the buckle 4.
[0033]
In a state where the inflator 10 is not activated, the air belt 1 restrains the occupant to the seat in the same manner as the webbing of a normal seat belt device. At this time, the inflatable portion 2a of the shoulder belt 2 has a flat belt shape.
[0034]
In the state where the tongue 5 is attached to the buckle 4, when the inflator 10 is actuated due to a vehicle collision or the like, gas is introduced from the gas duct 11 through the gas passage member 14 into the bag 8, and the bag 8 is inflated. Is protected. At this time, when the gas pressure in the gas duct 11 is excessive, the gas pressure is released through the small hole 50, so that excessive stress is not applied to the bag 8 or the like.
[0035]
In this embodiment, the shoulder belt 2 is shortened when the bag 8 is inflated, and the tension generated thereby is transmitted to the lap belt 3 so that the entire air belt 1 fits the occupant. ing.
[0036]
That is, when the gas from the inflator 10 is introduced into the bag 8 and the bag 8 is inflated, the inflatable portion 2a of the shoulder belt 2 expands into a thick cylindrical shape, and the sewing thread of the mesh cover is cut and deployed. The rear end of the belt-like body 2b of the shoulder belt 2 is wound around the ELR 12, and the ELR 12 prevents the shoulder belt 2 from being pulled out in the event of a vehicle collision. Therefore, the length of the mesh webbing 7 constituting the shoulder belt 2 is shortened by expanding the diameter of the expandable portion 2a, and tension is generated in the mesh webbing 7. As a result, the lap belt 3 is pulled toward the shoulder belt 2, and the lap belt 3 moves the air belt hook 15 through the shoulder belt to the required length. At this time, the front end side portion 8a of the bag 8 is pulled out from the bag insertion port 16 of the mesh webbing 7, so that the lap belt 3 moves smoothly to the shoulder belt 2 side.
[0037]
The tension generated in the shoulder belt 2 is transmitted to the lap belt 3 in this way, the air belt 1 is tightened as a whole to fit the occupant, and the occupant is firmly restrained by the seat.
[0038]
When the upper body of the occupant leans on the inflated shoulder belt 2, the gas gradually flows out from the small holes 50, and the impact applied to the occupant is absorbed.
[0039]
With reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 9, other forms of the gas pressure discharge flow path will be described.
[0040]
In FIG. 5, the small holes 51 of the gas duct 11 are provided obliquely toward the rear. The released gas is easy to move away from the occupant, and during normal gas supply, since the angle is acute with respect to the gas traveling direction, there is little gas leakage.
[0041]
In FIG. 6A, a sealing tape 52 made of a metal such as aluminum is attached to the gas duct 11 as a closing member for closing the small hole 50. If the gas pressure in the gas duct 11 is excessive, the seal tape 52 is broken as shown in FIG. 6B, and the gas is released to the outside of the gas duct 11.
[0042]
In FIG. 7A, a seal tape 53 having a thin center and a thick periphery is used. When the gas pressure in the gas duct 11 is slightly excessive, only a thin portion at the center is broken as shown in FIG. 7B, and a small amount of gas is released. When the gas pressure in the gas duct 11 is extremely excessive, the thick portion of the seal tape 53 is broken as shown in FIG. 7C, and a large amount of gas is released from the gas duct 11.
[0043]
In FIG. 8, a plurality of small holes 50 are provided, and each small hole 50 is covered with a seal tape 52. As the degree of excessive gas pressure in the gas duct 11 increases, the number of locations where the seal tape 52 is torn (that is, the number of small holes 50 to be opened) increases, and more gas is released from the gas duct 11.
[0044]
9 (a) and 9 (b), a gap 60 is partially formed between the connecting member 46 'connecting the inflator 10 and the gas duct 11 and the gas duct 11, and this gap 60 is used for gas discharge. The discharge flow path. Although not shown, a sealing tape that closes the gap 60 may be provided so that the sealing tape is broken when an excessive gas pressure is applied. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the air belt device of the present invention includes a mechanism for releasing the gas pressure when the gas pressure supplied from the gas generator to the air belt is excessive, and is required for members such as the air belt. The pressure resistance can be relaxed and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. It is also possible to make the air belt thinner and more compact.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air belt device according to an embodiment in a steady state.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tongue of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the buckle of FIG. 1;
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 4 showing another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 4 showing still another embodiment.
7 is a cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 4 showing a different embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 4 showing a further different embodiment.
9A is a cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 4 showing another embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 9A.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air belt 2 Shoulder belt 2a Inflatable part 2b Band-like body 3 Lap belt 4 Buckle 5 Tongue 6 Shoulder anchor 7 Mesh webbing 8 Bag 8a Tip side part 9 Mesh cover 10 Inflator 11 Gas duct 12, 13 Seat belt retractor (ELR)
14 Gas passage member 15 Air belt hooking port 16 Bag insertion port 18 Tightening ring 20 Tang plate 30 Hook 46, 46 'Connecting member 50, 51 Small hole (discharge flow path)
52, 53 Seal tape 60 Clearance (discharge channel)

Claims (4)

And air belt that expands by the gas is introduced, it met belt apparatus and a gas generator for supplying gas through the gas passage into the air belt,
In the air belt apparatus, one end of the air belt is connected to a tongue, and the gas passage and the gas generator are provided in a buckle to which the tongue is attached.
A pipe-shaped gas duct is fixed inside the buckle cover constituting the outer shell of the buckle, the gas duct is surrounded by the buckle cover, and the gas duct is the gas passage.
An air belt device characterized in that a discharge passage for discharging a gas pressure higher than a predetermined value to the outside of the gas passage is provided in the gas passage. Oite to claim 1, the air belt apparatus characterized by the exhaust overhead stream path is open at all times. Oite in claim 1, it is provided with exhaust overhead stream path to close the closure member, the closure member and characterized in that to open when the gas pressure within the gas passage becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure Air belt device. In claim 3, the discharge flow path is a small hole provided in the side surface of the gas duct,
The air belt device, wherein the closing member has a tape shape, and the center thereof is thinner than the surroundings.

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