JP5044439B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus including an inflator having a gas ejection port on a lateral surface, a retainer disposed on the lateral outer side of the inflator, and an airbag having a base fixed by the retainer.

According to the airbag apparatus, the gas outlet is provided on the side surface of the inflator, and the airbag is inflated not toward the occupant but toward the side first at the time of a vehicle collision. (If the gas ejection direction from the inflator is the occupant direction, the air bag will inflate rapidly toward the occupant side, so let's move it forward of the vehicle. There is a risk that a strong impact will be applied to the passenger.
As a prior art of such an airbag device, for example, as disclosed in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1, a retainer having a ring-shaped side wall (a member for fixing the airbag base) surrounds the inflator. The gas blown out from the gas outlet on the lateral surface of the inflator is attached to the side wall of the retainer and then flows in the direction of the occupant by the guide on the side wall, thereby efficiently deploying the airbag. Airbag devices that can be used are known.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-123355

However, the ring-shaped side wall in the above-described conventional airbag apparatus needs to be installed in a state where an appropriate distance is provided between the gas outlet of the inflator. This is because when the side wall of the retainer is too close to the gas outlet of the inflator, the gas injection efficiency is lowered and the airbag deployment speed is reduced.
That is, in the above-described conventional airbag device, a space for installing the side wall of the retainer is required. Therefore, the airbag (especially near the base portion) can be folded and stored on the outer peripheral portion just beside the inflator. This is difficult and there is room for improvement in that the airbag is folded more compactly in the apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to allow the airbag to be folded and stored more compactly in the apparatus, and to deploy the airbag efficiently in the event of a vehicle collision. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air bag device that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention,
In an airbag apparatus comprising: an inflator having a gas ejection port on a lateral side; a retainer disposed on a lateral outer side of the inflator; and an airbag having a base fixed by the retainer.
A guide portion capable of regulating the flow of the inflation gas supplied from the inflator extends from the retainer;
The guide portion includes a first wall that can face the gas outlet, and a second wall that is connected to the first wall and extends along an airbag deployment side surface of the inflator.
The first wall of the guide portion receives the pressure of the expansion gas ejected from the gas outlet, and the guide portion rotates laterally outward of the inflator. It is characterized in that it is erected in a state along the deployment direction of the airbag so that the inflation gas can be guided in the airbag deployment direction.

[Action and effect]
When the present invention is not in operation, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, the first wall 9 a and the second wall 9 b of the guide portion 9 are formed by the lateral side surface 5 a of the inflator 5 and the airbag deployment. Since the side surfaces 5b can be set close to each other, the space for installing the guide (retainer side wall) is less than that of the conventional airbag device, and as a result, the airbag (especially near its base) is reduced. The inflator 5 can be easily folded and stored on the outer peripheral portion on the lateral side, and can be folded into the apparatus more compactly.

Further, at the time of operation of the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the expansion gas is ejected from the gas ejection port 6 on the lateral side surface 5 a of the inflator 5, and the first wall of the guide portion 9 When the first wall 9a hits 9a and receives the pressure of the expansion gas, the guide portion 9 tries to rotate outwardly from the inflator 5 with the root of the first wall 9a as a fulcrum.
Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), when the guide portion 9 rotates laterally outward of the inflator 5, the first wall 9 a of the guide portion 9 falls down laterally outward of the inflator 5, and the guide In a state in which the second wall 9b of the portion 9 is spaced apart from the gas outlet 6 of the inflator 5 by an appropriate distance (for example, a distance corresponding to the height of the first wall 9a), It is comprised so that it can stand in the state along.
Therefore, in the present invention, in the same manner as the above-described conventional airbag device, the inflation gas is ejected from the lateral side surface of the inflator, so that rapid inflation and deployment of the airbag is suppressed, and a strong impact is applied to the occupant. There is no fear. Further, the inflation wall is guided in the airbag deployment direction by the second wall standing upright by the rotation of the guide portion in the same manner as the side wall of the retainer in the conventional airbag device, so that the airbag can be efficiently deployed. can do.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment
An embodiment of an airbag device 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
In FIG. 1, the airbag device 1 applied to the passenger seat side is (a) inactive (the airbag 2 is accommodated in the device), and (b) in operation (the airbag 2 is inflated and deployed). The overall side view is shown schematically. Note that symbols F and R in FIG. 1 indicate the front and rear of the vehicle, respectively.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing states (b) and (c) when the airbag 2 of the airbag apparatus 1 is inflated and deployed from the state (a) folded in the apparatus. , (A) (b) (c) in this order. In addition, the arrow in FIG.2 (b) and (c) shows the outflow direction of the gas for expansion | swelling.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retainer 8 that fixes the base of the airbag 2 to the apparatus.
Further, in the following description, vehicle front, vehicle rear, vehicle upper, and vehicle lower are respectively indicated as front, rear, upper, and lower.

(Configuration of Airbag Device 1)
As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 2 (a), the airbag apparatus 1 includes an instrument panel 4 (hereinafter referred to as an instrument panel) positioned in front of a passenger seat and behind a front glass 3 (front glass). 4 is abbreviated as 4), the folded airbag 2, the inflator 5 for generating inflation gas to be supplied to the airbag 2, and the retainer 8 disposed on the lateral outer side of the inflator 5. And a case 12 for housing the airbag 2, the inflator 5 and the retainer 8.

  The airbag 2 is made of, for example, a soft and airtight material in which a woven fabric is coated with rubber or synthetic resin. The airbag 2 is provided with a vent hole (not shown) at a predetermined position. When the occupant thrusts into the airbag 2 which is inflated and deployed due to a vehicle collision, the vent hole is provided. The expansion gas contained therein is caused to flow out and the impact is absorbed more efficiently.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the inflator 5 is a thin cylindrical container having a gas generating agent enclosed therein, and the lateral side surface 5a thereof is spaced at an appropriate interval along the circumferential direction. A plurality of gas outlets 6 are formed. Therefore, it is configured that the generated expansion gas is ejected from the gas ejection port 6 in a direction perpendicular to the axis A of the inflator 5 by detonating the gas generating agent.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the retainer 8 has a rectangular plate shape, and a circular opening 8a in which the inflator 5 can be installed is provided inside thereof. From the periphery of the opening 8a, a plurality of guide portions 9 that can regulate the flow of the inflation gas supplied from the inflator 5 are extended upward at an appropriate interval along the circumferential direction. In addition, each guide part 9 is comprised so that it may each be arrange | positioned in the position corresponding to the gas jet nozzle 6 of the inflator 5. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the guide portion 9 includes a first wall 9 a that can be opposed to the gas outlet 6 of the inflator 5, and an airbag deployment side surface of the inflator 5 that is connected to the first wall 9 a. 5b (surface facing the deployment direction of the airbag 2), and a second wall 9b along the direction of the deployment direction of the airbag 2, as shown in FIG. 2 (a) and FIG. A weak portion 11 having a weak strength is formed at the base of the one wall 9a by forming a long hole 10 (through hole) along the same.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the case 12 is formed in a box shape, and an inflator mounting hole 12a for fixing the inflator 5 from below is formed at the center of the bottom of the case 12. .

Bolt insertion holes (not shown) through which the bolts 13 can be inserted are respectively provided at the base of the airbag 2, the flange 7 provided on the lateral surface 5 a of the inflator 5, the retainer 8, and the bottom of the case 12. As shown in FIG. 2A, the retainer 8, the base of the airbag 2, the bottom of the case 12, and the flange 7 of the inflator 5 are configured to be fastened together by bolts 13 and nuts 14. Yes.
The base portion of the airbag 2 is fixed to the bottom of the case 12 by the retainer 8, and the gas outlet 6 of the inflator 5 is surrounded by the first wall 9 a of the guide portion 9 extending from the retainer 8 and the airbag 2. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (b), when the inflation gas from the inflator 5 is supplied to the airbag 2, an openable lid (not shown) swings forward to open the opening 15 of the instrument panel 4. Is opened, and the airbag 2 is configured to bulge out of the instrument panel 4 (upward after the vehicle).

(Operation of Airbag Device 1)
Next, the operation of the airbag apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2A, when the airbag apparatus 1 is not in operation, the airbag 2 is accommodated in a folded state inside the case 12. At this time, since the first wall 9a and the second wall 9b of the guide portion 9 can be set close to each other so as to cover the lateral side surface 5a and the airbag deployment side surface 5b of the inflator 5, Compared to the space required for installing the guide, the air bag (especially near its base) can be folded and folded into the outer periphery of the inflator just next to the inflator, allowing it to be folded more compactly. Can do.

When the airbag apparatus 1 is operated, that is, when the vehicle collides with another vehicle or an obstacle and the magnitude of the deceleration exceeds a certain magnitude, a collision detection sensor (not shown) issues a collision signal. . And the gas generating agent in the inflator 5 detonates by the signal, and the gas for expansion is generated.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the generated expansion gas is ejected from the gas ejection port 6 of the inflator 5 in a direction perpendicular to the axis A and strikes the first wall 9 a of the guide portion 9.
When the first wall 9a of the guide portion 9 receives the pressure of the expansion gas ejected from the gas ejection port 6 of the inflator 5, the first wall 9a bends at the base (the first wall 9a has a weak portion 11 formed by the long hole 10 at the base). Therefore, the guide portion 9 tends to rotate outwardly from the inflator 5 with the root of the first wall 9a as a fulcrum. At this time, the inflating gas ejected from the lateral surface 5a of the inflator 5 is guided by the first wall 9a and the second wall 9b of the guide portion 9, and the axis A above the inflator 5 (the upward direction along the axis A is , Which coincides with the deployment direction of the airbag 2 in the initial stage of operation of the airbag device 1). Is deployed in the direction of passengers early.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the first wall 9 a of the guide portion 9 is bent at the base of the guide portion 9 as the guide portion 9 rotates laterally outward of the inflator 5. The airbag 2 in a state in which the second wall 9b of the guide portion 9 is spaced apart from the gas outlet 6 of the inflator 5 by a suitable distance (a distance corresponding to the height of the first wall 9a). Can be erected in a state along the unfolding direction.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the inflation gas is ejected from the lateral side surface 5a of the inflator 5, similarly to the conventional airbag device, so that rapid inflation and deployment of the airbag 2 is suppressed, and a strong impact is given to the occupant. There is no risk of being added. Further, since the second wall 9b erected by the rotation of the guide portion 9 guides the inflation gas in the airbag deployment direction, similarly to the side wall of the retainer in the conventional airbag apparatus, the airbag 2 is made efficient. Can be deployed well.

  In the guide portion 9, the combustion residue of the gas generating agent that can be included in the inflation gas easily collides with the second wall 9 b of the guide portion 9 and falls downward. It is easy to prevent the combustion residue from being released into the vehicle interior, and the second wall 9b of the guide portion 9 serves as a barrier, so that the base portion of the airbag 2 is thermally protected from the high-temperature expansion gas. Can be done.

[Another embodiment]
[1] The airbag apparatus 1 in the above-described embodiment may be configured to be provided in the steering wheel on the driver's seat side or on the back surface of the passenger seat or the driver's seat.
[2] The weak portion 11 of the first wall 9a in the above-described embodiment may be configured by providing a bead portion at the base of the first wall 9a, or the base of the first wall 9a is made thin. You may do it.
[3] The second wall 9b in the above-described embodiment (during non-operation) may be extended to the vicinity of the axis A of the inflator 5.
[4] The guide portions 9 in the above-described embodiment need not be provided for all the gas jets 6 of the inflator 5, but may be provided for some of the gas jets 6.
[5] In the above-described embodiment (see FIG. 1B), the configuration in which the airbag 2 is first deployed on the passenger compartment ceiling side and then deployed on the passenger side is described. The configuration is not limited, and the airbag 2 may be directly deployed on the passenger side.

(A) When the airbag apparatus according to the present invention is not operated (a state where the airbag is accommodated in the apparatus), and (b) when the airbag apparatus is activated (a state where the airbag is inflated and deployed to receive an occupant). Overall side view schematically showing The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state when the airbag of the airbag apparatus which concerns on this invention expand | deploys from the state folded in the apparatus The perspective view of the retainer which fixes the base part of an airbag to an apparatus in the airbag apparatus which concerns on this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air bag apparatus 2 Air bag 3 Front glass 4 Instrument panel 5 Inflator 5a Lateral side surface 5b Air bag expansion side surface 6 Gas outlet 7 Flange 8 Retainer 8a Opening 9 Guide part 9a 1st wall 9b 2nd wall 10 Long hole 11 Fragile portion 12 Case 12a Inflator mounting hole 13 Bolt 14 Nut 15 Instrument panel opening

Claims (1)

In an airbag apparatus comprising: an inflator having a gas ejection port on a lateral side; a retainer disposed on a lateral outer side of the inflator; and an airbag having a base fixed by the retainer.
A guide portion capable of regulating the flow of the inflation gas supplied from the inflator extends from the retainer;
The guide portion includes a first wall that can face the gas outlet, and a second wall that is connected to the first wall and extends along an airbag deployment side surface of the inflator.
The first wall of the guide portion receives the pressure of the expansion gas ejected from the gas outlet, and the guide portion rotates laterally outward of the inflator. An airbag device that is erected in a state along the airbag deployment direction and configured to guide the inflation gas in the airbag deployment direction.

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