JP5312087B2 - Side airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promptly and surely develop an air-bag while securing sufficient occupant restraint performance in a side air-bag device for use in side collision. <P>SOLUTION: The first J-shaped air chamber 20 is formed between the first base cloth 17 and the third base cloth 19. Between the second base cloth 18 and the third base cloth 19, the second rectangular air chamber 21 is formed which is larger than the first air chamber 20 in volume. Since the gas from an inflator 22 is supplied to the interior of the second air chamber 21 from the interior of the first air chamber 20 through a communication hole 19a, the second air chamber 21 is developed so as to fully enhance the occupant restraint performance after the first air chamber 20 is promptly developed first so as to secure the occupant restraint performance at a required minimum level. When only the first air chamber 20 is developed first, the development can be achieved smoothly without interfering with an occupant since its thickness in a vehicle width direction is small. Subsequently, the development of the second air chamber 21 is completed so as to secure the full thickness of the whole air-bag 16 in the vehicle width direction, thereby effectively protecting the occupant. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a side airbag device including an airbag that is disposed in a folded state on an inner side of a vehicle body, expands with a gas supplied from an inflator, and expands in a vehicle body front-rear direction between a vehicle body inner surface and an occupant.

  In a side airbag device that protects an occupant from the impact of a side collision by deploying the airbag 11 between the inner surface of the door and the occupant in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, the airbag 11 is connected to the window side reinforcing cloth 14, The first cut cloth 15 on the occupant side and the second cut cloth 16 sandwiched between them are sewn on the outer periphery, and the airbag body 12 includes the first cut cloth 15 and the second cut cloth 16. , A space 19 is formed between the reinforcing cloth 14 and the second cut cloth 16, and the interior of the airbag body 12 and the space 19 are communicated with each other through a vent hole 20 formed in the center of the second cut cloth 16. This is known from Patent Document 1 below.

  According to this side airbag device, when the airbag main body 12 is deployed with the gas generated by the inflator 17, a part of the gas passes through the vent hole 20 formed in the central portion of the second cut cloth 16 and is in the space. By deploying 19, the airbag body 12 can be protected even if the reinforcing cloth 14 is damaged by broken pieces of the window glass scattered by the impact of the side collision.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-76903

  By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional one, in the process of deploying the airbag main body 12 with the gas generated by the inflator 17, before the airbag main body 12 is completely deployed, the gas in the airbag main body 12 is second cut cloth 16. Since the airbag main body 12 passes through the vent hole 20 formed in the central portion thereof and flows into the space 19, there is a possibility that the timing of completing the deployment of the airbag body 12 is delayed and effective occupant restraint force cannot be exhibited.

  In addition, when the airbag of the side airbag device is configured as a single chamber without being separated into two chambers, when the airbag passes through a narrow gap between the door and the occupant and deploys in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, May interfere with passengers and prevent smooth deployment. This problem can be solved by reducing the thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction after completion of the deployment, but if this is done, there is a problem in that the protection performance of the occupant against side collisions decreases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and aims to enable quick and reliable deployment of an airbag while ensuring sufficient occupant restraint performance in a side airbag device for side collision. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention described in claim 1, it is arranged in a folded state on the inner side of the vehicle body, expands with a gas supplied from the inflator, and is interposed between the vehicle inner surface and the occupant. In a side airbag device including an airbag that is deployed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, the airbag is disposed on a first base fabric disposed on one of the vehicle body inner surface and the occupant side, and on the other of the vehicle body inner surface and the occupant side. A second base fabric, a third base fabric sandwiched between the first and second base fabrics, a first air chamber constituted by the first base fabric and the third base fabric, and the second base fabric A second air chamber having a volume smaller than that of the first air chamber, which is constituted by a cloth and the third base fabric, and the first and second air chambers are formed on the third base fabric so as to communicate with each other. a communication hole, the gas for inflating the air bag from the interior of the first air chamber Through the serial communication hole includes an inflator for supplying the inside of the second air chamber, upstream of the communication hole of the first air chamber exits the inflator in the direction of the flow of the gas flowing toward the communication hole The first base fabric and the third base fabric are joined to each other at a joint portion, and the joint portion is broken by an increase in internal pressure of the first air chamber due to the gas supplied from the inflator. A side airbag device characterized by opening a hole is proposed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the first air chamber includes a vertical expansion portion extending in the vertical direction along the upper body of the occupant and the vertical expansion. side air bag device characterized by comprising a longitudinal direction inflatable portion from the upper and lower ends of the parts extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction Ru been proposed.

According to the invention described in claim 3 , in addition to the configuration of claim 1 or claim 2 , the joint portion may be broken along the gas flow path of the first air chamber. A side airbag device characterized by being formed is proposed.

  The sewing S3 in the embodiment corresponds to the joint portion of the present invention.

According to the configuration of the first aspect, the first base fabric disposed on one of the vehicle body inner surface and the occupant side, the second base fabric disposed on the vehicle body inner surface and the occupant side, and the first and second The third base fabric sandwiched between the base fabrics constitutes the first air chamber having a smaller volume between the first base fabric and the third base fabric, and the volume between the second base fabric and the third base fabric. The larger second air chamber is configured, and the gas from the inflator is supplied from the inside of the first air chamber to the inside of the second air chamber through the communication hole of the third base fabric. The second air chamber can be deployed to sufficiently enhance the occupant restraint performance after promptly deploying to secure the minimum necessary occupant restraint performance. When only the first air chamber is deployed for the first time, its thickness in the vehicle width direction is small, so that it can be smoothly deployed without interfering with the occupant. Subsequently, when the deployment of the second air chamber is completed, It is possible to effectively protect the occupant by securing a sufficient thickness in the vehicle width direction as the entire bag.

In particular, the first and third base fabrics are joined to each other at a joining portion on the upstream side of the communication hole in the flow direction of the gas flowing out of the inflator and flowing in the first air chamber toward the communication hole. Since the joint is broken and the communication hole is opened by the increase in the internal pressure of the first air chamber due to the gas supplied from the second air chamber, the communication hole is kept closed until the first air chamber is completely deployed. The gas can be prevented from flowing into the first chamber, and the completion of the expansion of the first air chamber can be further accelerated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first air chamber of the airbag includes the vertical inflating portion extending in the vertical direction along the occupant's upper body and the front and rear extending from the upper and lower ends of the vertical inflating portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction. since it is configured in the direction expanding portion, Ru can ensure maximum possible restraint region of the passenger while reducing the volume of the first air chamber.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the breakage of the joining portion proceeds along the gas flow path of the first air chamber, the communication hole can be opened after the first air chamber is completely deployed.

The figure which shows the state which the side airbag apparatus for the driver's seats of a motor vehicle operated ( reference embodiment) 2 direction arrow view of FIG. 1 ( reference embodiment) Sectional view along line 3-3 in FIG. 2 ( reference embodiment) Sectional view along line 4-4 in FIG. 2 ( reference embodiment) Exploded perspective view of airbag fabric ( reference embodiment) The figure corresponding to the said FIG. 2 ( 1st Embodiment of this invention ). The figure corresponding to the said FIG. 3 ( 2nd Embodiment of this invention ).

Hereinafter, a reference embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a seat on the driver's seat side of an automobile includes a seat cushion 11, a seat back 12, and a headrest 13, and is folded on a side surface of the seat back 12 on the door 14 (see FIG. 3) side. The airbag 16 of the side airbag device 15 embedded in the vehicle is deployed in front of the vehicle body so as to break the sewn portion of the skin of the seat back 12 and block between the door 14 and the occupant at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. The occupant is protected from a collision load applied to the outer surface of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the airbag 16 includes a first base fabric 17 located on the door 14 side, a second base fabric 18 located on the passenger side, and first and second base fabrics 17 and 18. The first base chamber 19 positioned on the door 14 side is constituted by the first base fabric 17 and the third base fabric 19, and the second base fabric 18. And the 2nd air chamber 21 located in a passenger | crew side is comprised by the 3rd base fabric 19. FIG. The inflator 22 that generates gas for deploying the airbag 16 by combustion of propellant is accommodated in the rear end portion of the first air chamber 20, and the inflator 22 and the folded airbag 16 are accommodated inside the skin of the seat back 12. Is done.

  The second base fabric 18 and the third base fabric 19 have the same rectangular shape, but the first base fabric 17 is formed in a smaller J shape. With this J-shaped first base fabric 17, the first air chamber 20 is moved forward from the upper and lower ends of the up-and-down direction inflating portion 20a along the upper body of the occupant and from the upper and lower ends of the up-and-down inflating portion 20a. And two longitudinally expanding portions 20b and 20c extending toward the front. The inflator 22 is accommodated in the vertical direction at the rear portion of the vertical expansion portion 20a. In addition, two communication holes 19 a and 19 a that allow the first air chamber 20 to communicate with the second air chamber 21 are opened in the third base fabric 19 corresponding to the front ends of the two front-rear expansion portions 20 b and 20 c.

  The first base fabric 17 and the third base fabric 19 are joined by sewing S1, and the second base fabric 18 and the third base fabric 19 are joined by sewing S2. The two sewing S1 and S2 are connected to the airbag 16. It overlaps at the rear edge of the trailing edge, the lower edge and the upper edge.

Next, the operation of the reference embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

  When the vehicle collides sideways and a collision acceleration of a predetermined value or more is detected, the inflator 22 is actuated, gas is supplied to the first air chamber 20 on the door 14 side of the airbag 16, and the first air chamber 20 inflates. The skin of the seat back 12 is broken by this pressure, and the airbag 16 is deployed toward the front of the vehicle body from the opening formed there.

  At this time, the gas generated by the inflator 22 first expands the vertical expansion portion 20a of the first air chamber 20 on the door 14 side, and then expands the two front-rear expansion portions 20b and 20c. Since the volume of the first air chamber 20 that is initially developed is set to be smaller than the volume of the second air chamber 21, the first air chamber is compared with the case where the first and second air chambers 20 and 21 are simultaneously deployed. The time until 20 completes the deployment can be greatly shortened, and the minimum required occupant restraint force can be generated in the shortest time. Moreover, by arranging the vertical inflating portion 20a and the two front and rear inflating portions 20b and 20c in a J shape, it is possible to maximize the area for restraining the occupant while reducing the volume of the first air chamber 20. it can.

  When the deployment of the first air chamber 20 of the airbag 16 is completed, the gas in the first air chamber 20 passes through the communication holes 19a and 19a at the tips of the two front and rear direction inflating portions 20b and 20c and enters the second air chamber 21. Inflow. As a result, the deployment of the airbag 16 is completed by the deployment of the second chamber 21 following the first chamber 20, and the right side surface of the occupant can be widely covered and protected.

  Thus, when the airbag 16 is deployed forward from the side surface of the seat back 12 to the front of the vehicle body in the case of a side collision, only the first air chamber 20 of the first and second air chambers is first deployed. A narrow gap between the door 14 and the occupant can be reliably deployed without interfering with the occupant. When the deployment of the second chamber 21 is completed after the deployment of the first chamber 20 is completed, the thickness of the airbag 16 in the vehicle width direction is equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the first and second chambers 20 and 21. Thus, the occupant can be reliably protected from the impact of the side collision. In particular, since the volume of the first air chamber 20 is smaller than the volume of the second air chamber 21, the time until the first air chamber 20 completes deployment and generates the minimum required passenger restraining force is shortened. can do.

Next, the first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the reference embodiment , the communication holes 19a and 19a are formed at the front ends of the two front-rear expansion portions 20b and 20c of the first air chamber 20, but in the first and second embodiments, the longer one is used. A communication hole 19a is formed only at the front end of the lower front-rear expansion part 20c, and the lower front-rear expansion part 20c exits from the inflator 22 to form the first air chamber 20 (lower front-rear expansion part). 20c) The flow path is narrowed by sewing S3 the first base cloth 17 and the third base cloth 19 upstream of the communication hole 19a in the flow direction of the gas flowing toward the communication hole 19a . . The difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that the shape of the sewing S3 is different.

  As a result, the third sewing S3 sequentially breaks from the rear part toward the front part when the lower front / rear direction expansion part 20c of the first air chamber 20 is deployed, thereby developing the lower front / rear direction expansion part 20c. It is possible to prevent the communication hole 19a from opening until the last moment when the process is completed. Thereby, before the 1st air chamber 20 expand | deploys completely, it can prevent that a gas flows in into the 2nd air chamber 21 via the communicating hole 19a, and can expand | deploy the 1st air chamber 20 earlier.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, although the embodiment has described the side airbag device for the driver's seat, the present invention can also be applied to the side airbag device for the passenger seat and the rear seat.

  In the embodiment, the airbag 16 is deployed from the side surface of the seat back 12, but it may be deployed from the side surface or the pillar of the door 14 on the passenger compartment side.

  Further, instead of the sewing S1 to S3, two base fabrics may be joined by bonding or weaving. In that case, the joint strength which can be fractured | ruptured and the joint part which cannot be fractured can be formed by varying joint strength.

  Further, in the embodiment, the first air chamber 20 that is deployed first is disposed on the door 14 side, and the second air chamber 21 that is deployed later is disposed on the passenger side, but the positional relationship may be reversed. it can.

16 Airbag 17 1st base fabric 18 2nd base fabric 19 3rd base fabric 19a Communication hole 20 1st air chamber 20a Vertical expansion part 20b Front-rear direction expansion part 20c Front-rear direction expansion part 21 2nd air chamber 22 Inflator S3 Sewing (Joint part)

Claims (3)

A side airbag device comprising an airbag (16) that is arranged in a folded state on the inner side of a vehicle body, expands in a gas supplied from an inflator (22), and expands in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body between the vehicle body inner surface and an occupant. In
The airbag (16) includes a first base fabric (17) disposed on one of the inner surface of the vehicle body and the occupant side, a second base fabric (18) disposed on the other of the inner surface of the vehicle body and the occupant side, A first base fabric (19) sandwiched between the first and second base fabrics (17, 18), and a first air composed of the first base fabric (17) and the third base fabric (19). chamber (20), wherein constructed in accordance with a second base cloth (18) and the third base fabric (19), the first air chamber (20) volume than smaller second air chamber (21), their A communication hole (19a) formed in the third base fabric (19) so as to communicate between the first and second air chambers (20, 21) and a gas for inflating the airbag (16) inside supplies inflator 1 air chamber (20) the second air chamber from the interior through the hole (19a) (21) (22) Equipped with a,
The first base fabric upstream of the communication hole (19a) in the flow direction of the gas flowing out of the inflator (22) and flowing in the first air chamber (20) toward the communication hole (19a) (17) and the third base fabric (19) are joined to each other by a joining portion (S3), and the joining is performed by an increase in internal pressure of the first air chamber (20) due to the gas supplied from the inflator (22). A side airbag device , wherein the communication hole (19a) is opened by breaking the portion (S3) . The first air chamber (20) includes a vertical expansion portion (20a) extending in the vertical direction along the upper body of the occupant, and a longitudinal expansion extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction from both upper and lower ends of the vertical expansion portion (20a). parts (20b, 20c), characterized in that it comprises a side air bag equipment according to claim 1. The side airbag according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the joint portion (S3) is formed so that breakage proceeds along a gas flow path of the first air chamber (20). apparatus.

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