JP4494949B2 - Outside air bag apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle-installed airbag apparatus that inflates and deploys an airbag along an upper surface of a hood or a front surface of a windshield.

  Various forms of collision of the obstacle with the vehicle are assumed, and it is conceivable that the obstacle hits another part of the vehicle after hitting the front bumper of the vehicle. The first collision when the obstacle hits the front bumper or the like will be referred to as “primary collision”, and the next collision with another part of the vehicle will be referred to as “secondary collision”.

  As a vehicle-mounted airbag device, immediately after the primary collision, the airbag is inflated and deployed to cover the outside of the vehicle, such as the front pillar and windshield, to reduce the impact when an obstacle collides with the outside of the vehicle. Air bags have been proposed.

As such a vehicle-mounted airbag device, an airbag provided with a tether (strap) that regulates the deployment shape of the airbag is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-306100 A (page 9, FIG. 5)

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a conventional basic configuration. A vehicular air bag apparatus 240 is provided with a belt-like tether (strap) 245 extending from the upper end to the lower end of the airbag 241 at the approximate center in the airbag 241. In addition to extending the tether 245 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, connecting the front and rear edges of the tether 245 to the inner periphery of the airbag 241, respectively, the neck portion 246, 246 is formed in the airbag 241; Swelling portions (convex curved portions) 247 and 247 that can come into contact with the front window glass 242 and the garnish 243 are formed with the constricted portions 246 and 246 interposed therebetween.

  In general, short obstacles (for example, pedestrians with low elongation) hit the airbag from the upper end (for example, the head), and long obstacles (for example, pedestrians with high elongation) are generally centered (for example, It hits from the waist or chest) and exhibits a movement in which the upper end rotates with this substantially central portion as a fulcrum. Therefore, since the upper end portion can be directly received by a short obstacle, the force for rotating the upper end portion by the airbag does not act. However, in the case of a long obstacle, the upper end is set with the substantially central portion as a fulcrum by being stopped by the airbag. Since the force which rotates a part acts, it wants to receive so that rotation of an upper end part may be relieved.

  However, in the vehicle-mounted airbag device 240, for example, when the substantially center portion of the obstacle hits the airbag 241, the distance between the upper end portion of the obstacle and the airbag 241 is greatly increased. Therefore, there is a problem that the upper end portion rotates toward the airbag 241 and the impact when the upper end portion hits the airbag cannot be sufficiently reduced.

  That is, there is a demand for a vehicle-mounted airbag device that can sufficiently absorb the impact of an obstacle when obstacles of different lengths (long obstacles or short obstacles) come into contact with the airbag.

  The present invention solves the problem that the effect of reducing the rotation of the upper end when a long obstacle comes into contact with the airbag is reduced, and even when a long obstacle comes in contact, the impact of the obstacle is sufficiently absorbed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle-mounted air bag device that can be realized.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle exterior airbag device in which a substantially cylindrical airbag is inflated and deployed by a front inflator in a longitudinal direction while being along a front surface of a front pillar of the vehicle. In addition, when viewing a cross-section cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the airbag in the expanded state, a plurality of tethers that divide the central portion of the airbag into a plurality of chambers along the longitudinal direction are provided. The left and right sides of the tether are provided with communication holes or openings that allow the plurality of chambers to communicate with each other, and the left and right gas flow paths are formed by the gas generated by the inflator to swell the plurality of chambers. A vent hole that releases the internal pressure of the airbag is provided in the other chamber, and the tether contacts the front bumper of the vehicle and falls into the vehicle hood. Both pedestrian waist or chest that slides up the hood, when pushed into the air bag, to Oko in the bow of the air bag in its push, along with going to pick the pedestrian's head, tethered to adjust to the shape of the air bag It is characterized by functioning as a member.

  For example, if a long obstacle comes into contact with the airbag and can be received so as to moderate the rotation of the upper end, the same shock absorbing effect can be exerted on both obstacles of different lengths. This is preferable because it is possible.

Therefore, when looking at a cross section cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the airbag with the airbag inflated and deployed, a plurality of tethers that divide the central portion of the airbag into a plurality of chambers along the longitudinal direction are provided. The communication holes or openings that allow the plurality of chambers to communicate with each other are provided on the left and right sides of these tethers, and left and right gas flow paths are formed to bulge the plurality of chambers with the gas generated by the inflator. the vent hole to release the internal pressure of the air bag provided on the farthest end side of the chamber, the tether, comes into contact with the front bumper of the vehicle, the waist or chest of pedestrian slides up the hood along with the falling down of the vehicle hood, the air when pushing the bag, to Oko in the bow of the air bag in its push, along with going to pick the pedestrian's head, the air bag It made to function as a tethered member to arrange the Jo.

That is, when viewing a cross-section cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the airbag with the airbag inflated and deployed, a plurality of tethers that divide the central portion of the airbag into a plurality of chambers along the longitudinal direction are provided. The communication holes or openings that allow the plurality of chambers to communicate with each other are provided on the left and right sides of these tethers, and left and right gas flow paths are formed to bulge the plurality of chambers with the gas generated by the inflator. the vent hole to release the internal pressure of the air bag provided on the farthest end side of the chamber, the tether, comes into contact with the front bumper of the vehicle, the waist or chest of pedestrian slides up the hood along with the falling down of the vehicle hood, the air when pushing the bag, to Oko in the bow of the air bag in its push, along with going to pick the pedestrian's head, air bag By functioning as a tethering member that adjusts the shape, the pedestrian's approximate center (waist or chest) abuts the airbag, and when the airbag is pushed in at the approximate center, the airbag wakes up and walks The upper end (head) of the person can be picked up. Thereby, the distance from an upper end part to an airbag can be shortened.

In the invention according to claim 1, when a cross section cut in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the airbag in a state in which the airbag is inflated and deployed is viewed, the central portion of the airbag is provided with a plurality of chambers along the longitudinal direction. A plurality of tethers that are divided into two, a communication hole or an opening that communicates a plurality of chambers on the left and right of these tethers, and left and right gas flow paths that swell the plurality of chambers with gas generated by an inflator, A vent hole that releases the internal pressure of the airbag is provided in the rearmost chamber farthest from the inflators of the plurality of chambers, and the tether is brought into contact with the front bumper of the vehicle, falling into the hood of the vehicle and sliding up the hood . Tomo waist or chest, when pushing the air bag, to Oko to bow the air bag in its push, and go to pick the pedestrian head Because it functions as a tethering member that adjusts the shape of the airbag, the pedestrian's approximate center (waist or chest) abuts the airbag, and when the airbag is pushed in at the approximate center, the rear of the airbag Can be raised and the pedestrian's upper end (head) can be picked up. Thereby, the distance from an upper end part to an airbag can be shortened. As a result, when the upper end hits the airbag, there is an advantage that the airbag can be received so as to moderate the rotation of the upper end.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are viewed in the direction of the reference numerals.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle employing a vehicle-mounted airbag device according to the present invention. A vehicle 10 includes a hood (bonnet) 12 at the front of a vehicle body 11, and a front window glass behind the hood 12. 13, a vehicle-mounted air bag device 30 (hereinafter abbreviated as “airbag device 30”) is provided between the hood 12 and the front window glass 13. The airbag apparatus 30L, 30R is provided.

  In the figure, 15 is a roof, 16 is a front bumper, 17 is a headlamp, 18 is a front fender, 19 is a front side door, 21 is a front side window glass, 22 is a door mirror, and 23 is a front wheel. It shows that the airbag 31 of the airbag device 30 and the airbags 31L, 31R of the vehicle-mounted airbag devices 30L, 30R are inflated and deployed.

The airbag device 30 is a device that causes the airbag 31 to inflate and deploy on the front surface of the front window glass 13 that is outside the passenger compartment, so as to reduce the impact when the obstacle collides with the outside of the passenger compartment.
The airbag devices 30L and 30R inflate and deploy the airbags 31L and 31R on the front surfaces of the left and right front pillars 14 and 14 as the outer surface of the vehicle, and alleviate the impact when an obstacle secondarily collides with the outside of the passenger compartment. This device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and shows a cross section of the airbag device 30 when the airbag 31 is inflated and deployed.
The airbag device 30 includes an airbag 31 that is inflated and deployed on the front surface of the front window glass 13, a storage case (bag storage case) 32 that stores the airbag 31, and an upper opening (case opening) 34 of the storage case 32. A case lid (case lid body) 36 to be covered, and an inflator 39 disposed on the bottom 37 of the airbag 31 and the bottom 38 of the storage case 32.

  The air bag 31 has tethers 41..., 42... Passed to the inside in order to inflate and deploy into a predetermined shape, and a discharge port (vent hole) 43 for discharging (releasing) gas. And a bag-side through hole 44 through which the set screw of the inflator 39 is passed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the airbag is inflated and deployed in the vehicle exterior airbag device according to the present invention.
The storage case 32 has case-side through holes 45 and 45 (in order to pass through the opening 71 communicating with the discharge port 43 of the airbag 31 and the set screw portions 67 and 67 of the inflator 39 (the inner 67 is not shown)). The back 45 is not shown) and the upper opening 34 for covering the case lid 36 and expanding and deploying the airbag 31 is provided.
Note that the outlet 43 of the airbag 31 and the openings 71 of the storage case 32 are integrally fixed by a plurality of fasteners (rivets) 46.

  The case lid 36 has one end of a hinge 53 attached to the front end portion 51, the other end of the hinge 53 attached to the front side surface 54 of the storage case 32, and the rear end portion 52 attached to the rear side surface 55 of the storage case 32. A weak portion 56 is provided that is broken when the airbag 31 is inflated and deployed. The fragile portion 56 is a portion of a broken line formed thinly, and this broken line may be called a tear line.

  In the figure, 57 denotes a mounting screw for attaching the hinge 53 to the front end portion 51 of the case lid 36, 58 denotes a mounting screw for attaching the hinge 53 to the front side surface 54, and 59 denotes a rear end portion 52 of the case lid 36 to the rear side surface 55. Indicates the mounting screw.

The inflator (inflator assembly) 39 includes an inflator cylinder 62 in which an explosive 61 is incorporated, and a support fitting 63 that supports the inflator cylinder 62.
The inflator cylinder 62 includes gas discharge holes 64 that discharge gas generated when the explosive 61 is exploded into the airbag 31.

  The support metal fitting 63 includes a base metal fitting 65, ring portions 66 and 66 (not shown in the back 66) for stopping the inflator cylinder 62 by attaching to the base metal fitting 65, the bag side through hole 44 and the case side through hole 45. Are provided with set screw portions 67 and 67 (67 is not shown in the back) that are fastened together with the airbag 31 and the storage case 32. Reference numeral 68 denotes a nut screwed into the set screw portion 67, and reference numeral 69 denotes a washer interposed between the nut 68 and the bottom portion 38 of the storage case 32.

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG. 1 and shows the airbag device 30 when the airbag 31 is inflated and deployed.
The airbag device 30 stores an airbag 31 in a storage case 32, an inflator 39 is provided in the airbag 31, and the internal pressure of the airbag 31 is increased by gas generated by igniting the inflator 39, The fragile portion 56 of the case lid 36 is broken by the airbag 31, the case lid 36 is rotated forward, and the airbag 31 is inflated and deployed with the gas generated from the inflator 39. It is an apparatus that covers the front surface of the window glass 13 (see FIG. 1).

  Hereinafter, the vehicle-mounted airbag device 30L will be described in detail. In addition, the vehicle exterior airbag device 30R for the right front pillar 14 (see FIG. 1) is symmetrical with respect to the vehicle body center with respect to the vehicle exterior airbag device 30L, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vehicle exterior airbag device for the left front pillar according to the present invention. The vehicle exterior airbag device 30L is substantially cylindrical in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the vehicle outer surface. In the vehicle outside air bag apparatus in which the bag 31L is inflated and deployed by the inflator 139 in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of tethers 145 to 148 that divide the longitudinal direction of the bag into a plurality of chambers 151 to 155 in a state in which the airbag 31L is inflated and deployed. And provided with openings 145a to 148a and openings 145b to 148b for communicating a plurality of chambers 151 to 155 on the left and right sides of these tethers 145 to 148, and to protect obstacles (for example, pedestrians) This is an airbag device that can be used. Incidentally, 145C～148c及Beauty 1 45D～148d shows seams of the tether 145-148 (connection portion).

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5, and is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle-mounted air bag device 30L.
The outside air bag apparatus 30L includes an airbag 31L that is inflated and deployed on the front surface of the left front pillar 14, a storage case (retainer) 132 that stores the airbag 31L, and an upper opening (case) of the storage case 132. (Opening) 134 and a case lid (case lid) 136, and a bottom 137 of the airbag 31 </ b> L and an inflator 139 disposed on the bottom 138 of the storage case 132.

The airbag 31L includes an airbag main body 142 and tethers 145 to 148 that partition the airbag main body 142 into first to fifth chambers 151 to 155.
The airbag main body 142 includes a vent hole (discharge port) 143 that opens the internal pressure of the airbag 31L.
The tethers 145 to 148 are partition members that partition the airbag main body 142 into a plurality of chambers 151 to 155, and are also tethers that communicate the plurality of chambers 151 to 155 and adjust the airbag main body 142 into a predetermined shape.

The storage case 132 is a member having substantially the same configuration as the storage case 32 (see FIG. 2).
The case lid 136 is a member having substantially the same configuration as the case lid 36 (see FIG. 2), and includes a fragile portion 156 that opens the storage case 132.

  The inflator 139 is a member having substantially the same configuration as that of the inflator 39 (see FIG. 2), 161 is an explosive, 162 is an inflator cylinder, 163 is a support fitting for supporting the inflator cylinder 162, and 164 is formed in the inflator cylinder 162. The gas discharge hole 168 indicates a nut for fixing the support fitting 163 to the bottom 138 of the storage case 132.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5 and is a vertical cross section of the airbag 31L of the vehicle-mounted airbag device 30L.
The airbag 31L includes an airbag main body 142 and tethers 145 to 148 (only 147 shown) that divide the airbag main body 142 into first to fifth chambers 151 to 155 (only 153 shown). Inflator 139 (shown in FIG. 14) is provided by passing tethers 145 to 148 to airbag body 142 and providing openings 145a to 148a (only 147a shown) and openings 145b to 148b (only 147b shown) on the left and right sides of tethers 145 to 148. 6), left and right communication paths (gas flow paths) 158 and 159 are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, since the openings 145a to 148a and the openings 145b to 148b for communicating the plurality of chambers 151 to 155 are provided on the left and right sides of the tethers 145 to 148, the gas generated by the inflator 139 is quickly supplied to each chamber 151. ~ 155 can be supplied. As a result, the responsiveness of the airbag 31L can be improved.

  FIGS. 8A to 8F are explanatory views showing the difference in the mechanism of the secondary collision that occurs when the obstacles have different sizes. T1 indicates the length of a long obstacle (for example, a tall pedestrian) 204, and T2 indicates the length of a short obstacle (for example, a short pedestrian) 207 (T1> T2).

  (A)-(c) is an illustration in case the long obstruction (tall pedestrian) 204 collides with the vehicle 200. In (a), the long obstruction 204 is a front bumper (front end) of the vehicle 200. When hitting 201, it falls down as shown by arrow a1. In this state, the airbag 203 starts to expand and deploy. In (b), the obstacle 204 slides up the hood (upper surface) 202 of the vehicle 200 as indicated by an arrow a2. On the other hand, when the airbag 203 is inflated and deployed, the substantially central portion (for example, the pedestrian's waist or chest) 206 of the obstacle 204 is stopped at the front end of the airbag 203, and the upper end portion (for example, the head of the obstacle 204). ) 205 is subjected to a rotating force as indicated by an arrow a3 with the substantially central portion 206 of the obstacle 204 as a fulcrum. In (c), the upper end 205 of the obstacle 204 is received by the airbag 203.

  That is, in (b), when the substantially central portion (for example, the pedestrian's waist or chest) 206 of the obstacle 204 pushes in the airbag 203, the upper portion of the airbag 203 rises, and the upper end portion of the obstacle 204 It is considered that the impact at the upper end 205 can be reduced if the distance is closer to 205.

(D)-(e) is an illustration in case the short obstacle (for example, short pedestrian) 207 collides with a vehicle. In (d), when the short obstacle 207 hits the front bumper (front end) 201 of the vehicle 200, it falls down as shown by an arrow a4. In (e), the obstacle 207 slides up the hood (upper surface) 202 of the vehicle 200 as shown by an arrow a5. In (f), the upper end (for example, the head) 208 of the obstacle 207 is directly received by the airbag 203.
That is, in the short obstacle 207, since the upper end 208 directly hits the airbag 203, the problem like the long obstacle 204 does not occur.

9 (a) and 9 (b) are explanatory views showing an initial stage of expansion and deployment of the vehicle-mounted air bag device according to the present invention.
In (a), the front bumper (front end) 16 of the vehicle 10 abuts as indicated by an arrow c1, and an obstacle 49 (for example, a long obstacle or a tall pedestrian) is placed on the hood 12 of the vehicle 10 as indicated by an arrow c2. While falling down, the hood 12 slides up as indicated by an arrow c3. On the other hand, when the sensor 49 (not shown) senses that the obstacle 49 has come into contact with the front bumper (front end) 16 of the vehicle 10, the airbag 31L starts to expand.

  In (b), as a result of the obstacle 49 falling down on the hood 12 and sliding up the hood 12, while the airbag 31L is inflated and deployed, a substantially central portion of the obstacle 49 (for example, a pedestrian) at the front end of the airbag 31L. 49b). As a result, the rotation of the upper end portion (for example, the head of the pedestrian) 49a of the obstacle 49 starts to rotate as indicated by the arrow c4.

10 (a) and 10 (b) are explanatory views showing the final stage of the inflation and deployment of the vehicle-mounted air bag device according to the present invention.
In (a), since the airbag 31L is provided with a plurality of tethers 145 to 148, when the airbag 31L is pushed at the substantially central portion 49b of the obstacle 49, the airbag 31L is directed toward the obstacle 49 as indicated by an arrow c5. Can wake up. As a result, the distance S between the upper end 49a of the obstacle 49 and the airbag 31L can be reduced.
For example, than through the tethers in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the arose effect can not be expected.

  In (b), as the upper end 49a of the obstacle 49 moves, the upper end 49a can be received by the airbag 31L while the airbag 31L is tilted as indicated by the arrow c6, and the rotation of the upper end 49a can be eased. it can.

  That is, the airbag 31L is provided with a plurality of tethers 145 to 148 that divide the longitudinal direction of the bag into a plurality of chambers 151 to 155 in a state where the airbag 31L is inflated and deployed, and a plurality of chambers 151 to 155 on the left and right sides of these tethers 145 to 148. Since the openings 145a to 148a (see FIG. 5) and the openings 145b to 148b are provided to communicate with each other, the substantially central portion (waist or chest) 49b of the long obstacle (a tall pedestrian) 49 comes into contact with the airbag 31L. When pushing the airbag 31L at the substantially central portion 49b, the airbag 31L can be raised like a bow and the upper end (head) 49a of the long obstacle 49 can be picked up. Thereby, the distance from the upper end part 49a to the airbag 31L can be shortened. As a result, when the upper end portion 49a hits the airbag 31L, the airbag 31L can receive the upper end portion 49a so as to moderate the rotation.

  The vehicle-installed airbag device 30L inflates and deploys a substantially cylindrical airbag 31L on the left front pillar 14, and the substantially cylindrical airbag 31L is placed on the left front pillar 14. By adopting the vehicle outside airbag device that is inflated and deployed, the bowing effect can be exhibited remarkably.

Although the vehicle-mounted airbag device according to the present invention has been described so as to approach the obstacle 49 when the substantially central portion of the obstacle comes into contact with the airbag 31L, as shown in FIG. For example, when the airbag is inflated by setting the pitch of the tether on the obstacle side (upper surface) smaller than the pitch of the tether on the front pillar side (lower surface). The tether may be arranged so as to be curved and approach the obstacle.
In addition, for example, the material of the airbag may be curved (easily raised) by adopting a material whose upper surface is hard to extend (hard) and a material whose bottom is easy to stretch (soft).

As shown in FIG. 8, the vehicle exterior air bag apparatus according to the present invention has openings for communicating a plurality of chambers on the left and right sides of the tether. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the openings for communicating the chambers are communication holes. It may be.
Furthermore, by improving the shape of the base portion of the airbag, further improvement of the impact absorbing effect can be expected.

  The vehicle exterior air bag structure according to the present invention is suitable for use around a front pillar (A pillar) of a passenger car (vehicle) such as a sedan or a wagon having a relatively short front nose.

1 is a perspective view of a vehicle that employs an outboard vehicle airbag device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state before the expansion | deployment deployment of the airbag of the vehicle-mounted air bag apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG. 1. It is. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle exterior airbag device for a left front pillar according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5. It is explanatory drawing which shows the difference in the mechanism of the secondary collision which arises when the magnitude | size of an obstruction is different. It is explanatory drawing which shows the initial stage of the expansion | deployment expansion | deployment of the vehicle outside air bag apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the last stage of the expansion | deployment expansion | deployment of the vehicle outside air bag apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the conventional basic composition.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle, 14 ... Vehicle outer surface (front pillar), 30L ... Out-vehicle air bag apparatus, 31L ... Air bag, 139 ... Inflator, 145-148 ... Tether, 145a-148a ... Opening, 145b-148b ... Opening, 151-155 ... chambers.

Claims (1)

A vehicle-mounted air bag device in which a substantially cylindrical airbag (31L) is inflated and deployed in the longitudinal direction by a front inflator (139) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle while being along the front surface of the front pillar (14) of the vehicle (10). (30L)
When viewing a cross section cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the airbag (31L) in a state where the airbag (31L) is inflated and deployed , a plurality of central portions of the airbag (31L) are disposed along the longitudinal direction. A plurality of tethers (145 to 148) are provided to divide the chambers (151 to 155), and communication holes or openings (145a to 145a to communicate with the plurality of chambers (151 to 155) on the left and right sides of the tethers (145 to 148). 148a, 145b to 148b), and left and right gas flow paths (158, 159) for expanding the plurality of chambers (151 to 155) with the gas generated by the inflator (139) are formed. The inner pressure of the air bag 31L is applied to the rearmost chamber (155) farthest from the inflator (139) of the chamber (151 to 155). The vent hole (143) to release provided,
The tethers (145 to 148) are in contact with the front bumper (16) of the vehicle (10), fall into the hood (12) of the vehicle (10) and slide up the hood (12). the waist or chest, when pushed into the air bag (31L), to Oko in the bow of the air bag (31L) in the push-in, along with going to pick the head of the pedestrian (49), said air bag (31L The vehicle outside air bag apparatus characterized by functioning as a tethering member that adjusts to the shape of

Images