JP5437161B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is an airbag device that absorbs an impact by deploying a tubular airbag, in which a metal plate is folded and both longitudinal ends are closed by a closing member, with gas generated by an inflator, and the airbag after deployment However, the present invention relates to a device having a completely developed portion having a substantially constant diameter located on the center side in the longitudinal direction and an incompletely deployed portion located on both ends in the longitudinal direction and having a diameter gradually decreasing toward the closing member.

  By storing a cloth airbag folded inside the pillar garnish that covers the front of the front pillar of an automobile, and supplying the gas generated by the inflator at the time of collision with a pedestrian to the airbag, from the gap where the pillar garnish broke A pedestrian protection airbag apparatus that protects a pedestrian by deploying an airbag along the front surface of the front pillar is known from Patent Document 1 below.

  In addition, the pillar garnish that covers the front of the front pillar of the automobile is supported on the pillar skeleton member via a link-type pillar drive mechanism, and the pillar garnish is lifted from the pillar skeleton member by the pillar drive mechanism at the time of a collision with a pedestrian, A pedestrian protection shock absorbing structure that absorbs collision energy by allowing a pillar garnish to stroke is known from Patent Document 2 below.

JP 2002-283939 A JP 2006-282105 A

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to maintain the deployed state for a long time because the airbag is made of cloth, and depending on the timing at which the pedestrian collides with the front pillar, the impact is sufficient. There was a possibility that the absorption effect could not be exhibited.

  Further, the invention described in Patent Document 2 has a complicated structure of a link-type pillar drive mechanism that movably supports the pillar garnish on the pillar skeleton member, which increases the number of parts and causes a cost increase. was there.

  Therefore, the present applicant arranges a metal airbag folded in a zigzag manner between the front window glass and the front pillar, and deploys the airbag in a tube shape along the front pillar when colliding with a pedestrian, This has already been proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-224380.

  However, the one proposed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-224380 has both longitudinal ends of the folded airbag fixed to the opening of the end cap by press-fitting. While it is deployed in a cylindrical shape with a constant diameter (completely deployed portion), both ends in the longitudinal direction of the airbag are deployed in a cone shape so that the diameter gradually decreases toward the end cap (incompletely deployed portion). The folded state of the incompletely developed part is not fully released, and the rigidity becomes high, and there is a possibility that the shock absorption performance when the pedestrian collides is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. By reducing the rigidity of the incompletely deployed portion on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the metal airbag using a vent hole, the overall length in the longitudinal direction of the airbag is reduced. The purpose is to ensure uniform shock absorption performance.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a tubular air bag in which a metal plate is folded and closed at both ends in the longitudinal direction with a closing member is expanded with a gas generated by an inflator and subjected to an impact. The airbag device after being deployed is located at the center in the longitudinal direction and has a substantially constant diameter, and at both ends in the longitudinal direction toward the closing member. The airbag has a plurality of vent holes formed in a folded valley or abdomen in the incompletely deployed portion, and the vent hole is formed on the airbag. There is proposed an airbag apparatus characterized in that it is arranged at a predetermined pitch in the longitudinal direction and the circumferential direction , and disposed more on the front side of the airbag and less on the rear side .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air bag apparatus that absorbs an impact by deploying a tubular air bag in which a metal plate is folded and closed at both ends in a longitudinal direction with a closing member, with a gas generated by an inflator. The deployed airbag is located at the center in the longitudinal direction and has a completely deployed portion having a substantially constant diameter, and the inflated airbag is located at both ends in the longitudinal direction and the diameter gradually decreases toward the closure member. The airbag has a plurality of vent holes formed at a predetermined pitch in a longitudinal direction and a circumferential direction of the airbag formed in a folded valley or abdomen in the incompletely deployed portion. The fully deployed portion includes an auxiliary vent hole at a position adjacent to the incompletely deployed portion, and the auxiliary vent hole is located on the front surface of the airbag more than the vent hole. Airbag apparatus is proposed which is characterized in that arranged biased.

According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the configuration of claim 1 or 2, wherein the vent hole is Ru is the airbag device proposed characterized in that it is formed in the abdomen of the folding.

According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the configuration of claim 1 , the completely deployed portion includes an auxiliary vent hole at a position adjacent to the incompletely deployed portion. device Ru been proposed.

According to the invention described in claim 5 , in addition to the configuration of any one of claims 1 to 4 , the number of the vent holes decreases as the fully developed portion is approached. An airbag device is proposed.

  The garnish portion 18a of the embodiment corresponds to the front surface of the airbag of the present invention, the inflator support portion 18d of the embodiment corresponds to the rear surface of the airbag of the present invention, and the end cap 24 of the embodiment is the main This corresponds to the closing member of the invention.

According to the present invention , a tubular air bag in which a metal plate is folded and closed at both ends in the longitudinal direction with a closing member does not deflate once deployed, and absorbs the impact of collision by plastic deformation of the metal. Not only can we reduce the weight and cost by adopting a small inflator, but also can exhibit stable shock absorbing performance regardless of the timing of collision.

  The airbag after deployment has a fully deployed portion having a substantially constant diameter located on the center side in the longitudinal direction, and an incompletely deployed portion located on both ends in the longitudinal direction and gradually decreasing in diameter toward the closing member. The imperfectly developed part is more rigid than the fully developed part, so it is difficult to deform at the time of collision and the shock absorption performance is reduced. By disposing at a predetermined pitch in the direction, the rigidity of the incompletely deployed portion can be reduced to improve the shock absorbing performance, and uniform shock absorbing performance can be obtained over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the airbag.

  In addition, since the vent hole is formed in the folded valley or abdomen in the incompletely deployed portion, it is difficult to open the vent hole in the initial stage of deployment and the airbag can be deployed quickly.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 1, since the vent holes of the incompletely deployed portion are arranged on the front side of the airbag to which the impact of the collision is input, the function of reducing the rigidity of the incompletely deployed portion by the vent hole is provided. It can be exhibited more effectively.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, since the fully deployed portion of the airbag is provided with an auxiliary vent hole at a position adjacent to the incompletely deployed portion, when the airbag is deformed by colliding with the incompletely deployed portion, the deformation is prevented. By making it easy to be transmitted to the completely expanded portion, the rigidity of the incompletely expanded portion can be effectively further reduced. In addition, since the auxiliary vent hole in the fully deployed part is more biased to the front side of the airbag to which the impact of the collision is input than the vent hole in the incompletely deployed part, the rigidity of the incompletely deployed part is more effectively improved. Can be reduced.

In particular , according to the invention of claim 3, since the vent hole of the incompletely deployed part is formed in the folded abdomen, the vent hole is difficult to be opened at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag, thereby improving the deployment performance and the vent hole. It is possible to effectively exert the rigidity reduction function of the incompletely deployed portion.

In particular , according to the invention of claim 4, the fully deployed portion of the airbag is provided with an auxiliary vent hole at a position adjacent to the incompletely deployed portion. by easily transmitted to the full deployment unit, Ru can effectively further reduce the rigidity of the incomplete deployment portion.

In particular , according to the invention of claim 5, since the number of vent holes in the incompletely deployed portion decreases as approaching the fully deployed portion that is easily deformed at the time of collision, a uniform impact over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the airbag. Absorption performance can be exhibited.

The top view of the vehicle body front part of a motor vehicle. (First embodiment) FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. (First embodiment) The perspective view of an airbag. (First embodiment) FIG. (First embodiment) FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of part 5 of FIG. (First embodiment) FIG. (First embodiment) 7 (A) -7 (A) line and 7 (B) -7 (B) line sectional drawing of FIG. (First embodiment) Action explanatory drawing at the time of air bag deployment corresponding to FIG. (First embodiment) The figure corresponding to the said FIG. (Second Embodiment) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10 (A) -10 (A) and line 10 (B) -10 (B) of FIG. 9. (Second Embodiment)

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automobile is provided with a front window glass 12 behind a hood 11, and between the left and right edges 12 a and 12 a of the front window glass 12 and the door glasses 14 and 14 of the front doors 13 and 13. Front pillars 15 and 15 are arranged so as to be sandwiched.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front pillar 15 has a closed cross-section formed by connecting an outer panel 16 positioned on the outer side of the vehicle body and an inner panel 17 positioned on the inner side of the vehicle body. A metal airbag 18 also serving as a garnish is provided in a folded state. The edge portion 12a of the front window glass 12 is overlapped with the front surface of the coupling portions 16c and 17a of the outer panel 16 and the inner panel 17 via the dam rubber 20, and is bonded with an adhesive 21.

  The airbag 18 made of a folded metal tube includes a garnish portion 18a, a window glass side folding portion 18b, an outer panel side folding portion 18c, and an inflator support portion 18d. The garnish portion 18a is smoothly connected from the side surface 16b of the outer panel 16 of the front pillar 15 toward the front window glass 12, and functions as a pillar garnish disposed between the outer panel 16 and the front window glass 12. Yes.

  The window glass side folding portion 18b and the outer panel side folding portion 18c are folded in a zigzag manner on the back surface side (rear side) of the garnish portion 18a in order to secure an allowance when the airbag 18 is deployed.

  As apparent from FIGS. 3 and 5, both ends of the folded airbag 18 are thinly press-molded, and end caps 24 and 24 are fitted and welded to the ends of the airbag 18. The part is sealed. In addition, if the space which arrange | positions the both ends of the airbag 18 can be ensured in the vehicle body side, it will become unnecessary to press-mold both ends thinly and press moldability will improve. Each end cap 24 includes a mounting portion 24 a, and a nut 27 is screwed into a bolt 26 passing through the bolt hole 24 b of the mounting portion 24 a and the vehicle body panel 25, so that the airbag 18 extends along the front pillar 15. Fixed.

  An inflator 19 that generates gas for deploying the airbag 18 is attached to a lower end portion of the inflator support portion 18d facing the garnish portion 18a with the window glass side folding portion 18b and the outer panel side folding portion 18c interposed therebetween.

  As is apparent from FIGS. 2 to 4, the cylindrical inflator 19 is fixed to the inner surface of a mounting bracket 28 having a U-shaped cross section by two fixing tools 29, 29. The mounting bracket 28 is an airbag. The opening 18e formed in the 18 inflator support portion 18d is covered from the outside and fixed with bolts 30 and nuts 31.

  As apparent from FIG. 2, an outer panel side lip 32 is provided at the boundary between the garnish portion 18 a of the airbag 18 and the outer panel side folded portion 18 c, and this outer panel side lip 32 is the front surface 16 a of the outer panel 16. Abut. Further, a window glass side lip 33 is provided at the boundary between the window glass side folding portion 18b and the inflator support portion 18d of the airbag 18, and this window glass side lip 33 contacts the front surface of the edge portion 12a of the front window glass 12. Touch. The outer panel side lip 32 and the window glass side lip 33 can prevent rainwater and the like from entering the inflator support portion 18d side of the airbag 18, thereby protecting the inflator 19.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the airbag 18 includes two incompletely deployed portions 18 </ b> A and 18 </ b> A located on both ends in the longitudinal direction, and one complete deployed portion 18 </ b> B located on the center side in the longitudinal direction. The fully expanded portion 18B is a portion in which the cross-sectional shape at the time of expansion becomes a substantially circular shape with a constant diameter, and the rigidity is reduced by having a circular cross-section. Can be demonstrated. On the other hand, since the end portions of the incompletely expanded portions 18A and 18A are restrained by the end caps 24 and 24 and cannot be freely expanded, the incompletely expanded portions 18A and 18A have a cone shape so that the diameter gradually decreases from the fully expanded portion 18B toward the end cap 24. It is a part that unfolds and has a cross-sectional shape with unevenness that is not fully released, and the unevenness functions like a reinforcing rib to increase rigidity, making it difficult to deform when a pedestrian collides The effective shock absorbing effect cannot be exhibited. In the present embodiment, vent holes 18g are formed in the incompletely deployed portions 18A, 18A, so that the rigidity thereof is reduced to be equal to that of the completely deployed portion 18B, and the airbag 18 is uniform over the entire length in the longitudinal direction. The shock absorbing performance is obtained.

  Next, the structure of the vent holes 18g ... of the airbag 18 will be described.

  In the case of a cloth-made airbag, a predetermined deployment shape is maintained by continuously supplying gas from the inflator and maintaining the internal pressure at a high level from the completion of the deployment until the pedestrian collides. There is a need. On the other hand, in the case of the metal airbag 18, the airbag 18 that has been deployed can maintain its deployed shape with its own rigidity, and the deployed airbag 18 is plastically deformed by a collision and absorbs the impact. There is no need to keep the internal pressure high after deployment is complete. On the contrary, if the internal pressure of the airbag 18 after completion of the deployment is maintained at a high level, the airbag 18 is not easily crushed when a pedestrian collides, and the shock absorbing performance cannot be exhibited. It is necessary to discharge the gas and maintain the internal pressure of the airbag 18 at atmospheric pressure.

If the opening area of the vent hole 18g is excessive, the gas generated by the inflator 19 leaks before the airbag 18 is completely deployed, and the airbag 18 cannot be fully deployed. If the opening area of the holes 18g is too small, the internal pressure does not decrease to atmospheric pressure even after the airbag 18 has been deployed, so that the airbag 18 is difficult to collapse when a pedestrian collides. Therefore, the opening area of the vent hole 18g... Can be set so that the airbag 18 can be fully deployed, and the internal pressure is reduced to atmospheric pressure when the pedestrian collides after the completion of deployment. . From the above, it is appropriate that the total opening area of the vent holes 18g ... is 700 mm ² ± 100 mm ² .

  If the vent holes 18g are formed in the flat garnish portions 18a of the incompletely deployed portions 18A, 18A, gas leaks through the vent holes 18g from the initial stage of deployment, and the airbag 18 cannot be rapidly deployed. On the other hand, if the vent holes 18g are formed in the window glass side folded portion 18b and the outer panel side folded portion 18c of the incompletely expanded portions 18A and 18A, the vent holes 18g can be closed at the initial stage of expansion to suppress gas leakage. The airbag 18 can be quickly deployed. Further, if the plurality of vent holes 18g... Are arranged at predetermined positions, the rigidity at the time of deployment of the incompletely deployed portions 18A and 18A can be finely adjusted.

  As is apparent from FIGS. 6 and 7, in the first embodiment, the window glass side folding part 18b and the outer panel side folding part 18c of the incompletely developed parts 18A and 18A are far from the side close to the end cap 24. Bent holes 18g... Are formed in four rows toward the side. The arrangement of the vent holes 18g in the first to third rows from the side close to the end cap 24 (see FIG. 7A) is the same, and the arrangement of the vent holes 18g in the fourth row farthest from the end cap 24. Only (see FIG. 7B).

  The zigzag folding of the window glass side folding portion 18b and the outer panel side folding portion 18c includes four peak portions a, four valley portions b, and seven abdominal portions c connecting the peak portions a and the valley portions b, respectively. Is provided. The peak portion a is a portion protruding toward the outside of the airbag 18, and the valley portion b is a portion protruding toward the inside of the airbag 18.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (A), the vent holes 18g in the first to third rows from the side near the end cap 24 of the window glass side folding portion 18b are totaled one for each of the four troughs b. Four vent holes 18g in the first to third rows from the side close to the end cap 24 of the outer panel side folding portion 18c are similarly formed, one for each of the four troughs b. Individually formed.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the fourth row of vent holes 18g farthest from the end cap 24 of the window glass side folding portion 18b excludes one trough b closest to the inflator support portion 18d. A total of three each of the valley portions b are formed, and similarly, the fourth row of vent holes 18g farthest from the end cap 24 of the outer panel side folding portion 18c is closest to the inflator support portion 18d. A total of three are formed in each of the three valleys b excluding one valley b.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

  During normal times when the airbag 18 is not deployed, the garnish portion 18a of the airbag 18 is smoothly connected to the side surface 16b of the outer panel 16 of the front pillar 15 to exhibit the function of the pillar garnish. The number of parts can be reduced. Moreover, since the airbag 18 is compactly disposed between the front pillar 15 and the front window glass 12 by replacing the conventional pillar garnish, the front pillar is eliminated while eliminating the case and cover for storing the folded airbag 18. The appearance around 15 can be maintained well.

  Now, when it is detected that the vehicle has collided with a pedestrian, the inflator 19 is activated, and the internal pressure of the airbag 18 is increased by the gas generated by the inflator 19. As shown in FIG. 8, the window glass side folding portion 18 b and the outer panel side folding portion 18 c of the airbag 18 are first inflated toward the outside of the vehicle body and then the outer panel of the front pillar 15, as shown in FIG. 16 is developed in the left-right direction so as to cover the front surface 16a and the side surface 16b.

  At this time, since the airbag 18 includes the window glass side folding portion 18b and the outer panel side folding portion 18c, a large circumferential length of the airbag 18 after deployment is ensured, and a large area of the front pillar 15 is covered to absorb shock. Performance can be increased.

  The airbag device for pedestrians has a characteristic that a relatively large difference is likely to occur in the time until the pedestrian collides with the front pillar 15 according to the physique of the pedestrian and the vehicle speed at the time of the collision. Therefore, the conventional fabric airbag has a problem that a large-capacity inflator that continuously generates gas is required to maintain the deployed state for a predetermined time. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the metal airbag 18 is adopted, the airbag 18 once deployed is maintained in the deployed state even after the supply of gas is stopped. Since the impact of the collision is absorbed, effective impact absorbing performance can be exhibited regardless of the timing at which the pedestrian collides with the front pillar 15 while reducing the capacity of the inflator 19.

  By the way, when the airbag 18 is deployed, the incompletely deployed portions 18A and 18A are coupled to the closing members 24 and 24 in a folded state, so that it is difficult to deploy compared to the fully deployed portion 18B. As a result, the fully deployed portion 18B of the airbag 18 is deployed in a substantially circular cross section, whereas the incompletely deployed portions 18A and 18A are deployed in a shape having irregularities because the folding is not completely released, and the irregularities are reinforced. By functioning as a rib, there is a possibility that the rigidity when an occupant collides becomes too high and effective shock absorbing performance cannot be exhibited.

  However, in this embodiment, since the plurality of vent holes 18g are formed in the incompletely deployed portions 18A, 18A of the airbag 18, the rigidity of the incompletely deployed portions 18A, 18A is completely achieved by the vent holes 18g. It can be lowered until it becomes equal to the rigidity of the deployment portion 18B, and uniform shock absorbing performance can be exhibited over the entire length of the airbag 18 in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, since the vent holes 18g are formed in the folded valley b, the vent holes 18g are difficult to open at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag 18, and the airbag 18 can be rapidly deployed.

  Further, the airbag 18 is relatively completely deployed at a position close to the fully deployed portion 18B of the incompletely deployed portions 18A and 18A, so that its rigidity is also relatively low. Therefore, the rigidity of the airbag 18 is extended over the entire length in the longitudinal direction by reducing the number of the vent holes 18g in the fourth row of the window glass side folding portion 18b and the outer panel side folding portion 18c by one. Further uniformization can be achieved (see FIG. 6).

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 9 and FIG.

  In the first embodiment, vent holes 18g... Are formed in four rows in each of the incompletely developed portions 18A, 18A. A fifth row of auxiliary vent holes 18g ′ are formed adjacent to the fourth row of vent holes 18g of the fully expanded portions 18A, 18A.

  The four rows of vent holes 18g of the incompletely developed portions 18A, 18A of the first embodiment are formed in the zigzag valley b, but in the second embodiment, they are formed in the abdomen c. The number of vent holes 18g in each row is three for each of the window glass side folding portion 18b and the outer panel side folding portion 18c, and is biased toward the front side of the airbag 18 (garnish portion 18a side). It is formed (see FIG. 10A).

  Further, the number of auxiliary vent holes 18g in the fifth row formed in the abdominal portion c of the fully expanded portion 18B is the same as the vent holes 18g in the first to fourth rows, and the window glass side folding portion 18b and the outer panel. Although there are three for each of the side folding parts 18c, the positions are further shifted by 1 pitch to the front side (garnish part 18a side).

  As described above, since the vent holes 18g and the auxiliary vent holes 18g 'are arranged so as to be biased toward the front surface side (garnish portion 18a side) of the airbag 18, a load caused by a pedestrian collision is input to the front surface side of the airbag 18. In this case, the vent holes 18g and the auxiliary vent holes 18g 'can be concentrated in the vicinity of the load input portion to effectively reduce the rigidity and enhance the impact absorbing effect.

  In addition, since the vent holes 18g and the auxiliary vent holes 18g 'are formed in the abdomen c instead of the folded valley b, the rigidity can be further effectively reduced as compared with the case where they are formed in the valley b. . And the effect which suppresses the gas leak in the deployment initial stage of the airbag 18 is not inferior compared with the case where they are compared with the trough part b.

  In addition, auxiliary vent holes 18g 'are formed at both ends of the fully deployed portion 18B, and the auxiliary vent holes 18g' are arranged at a position closer to the front side of the airbag 18 than the vent holes 18g. The deformation of the incompletely expanded portions 18A and 18A can easily propagate to the fully expanded portion 18B, and the rigidity of the incompletely expanded portions 18A and 18A can be further effectively reduced.

  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, the method of folding the airbag 18 is not limited to the embodiment, and any folding method can be adopted.

  The arrangement of the vent holes 18g and the auxiliary vent holes 18g 'is not limited to the embodiment.

18 airbag 18A incomplete deployment part 18B complete deployment part 18a garnish part (front)
18d Inflator support (rear surface)
18g Vent hole 18g 'Auxiliary vent hole 24 End cap (blocking member)
b Valley c c Abdomen

Claims (5)

A tubular airbag (18) in which a metal plate is folded and closed at both ends in the longitudinal direction with a closing member (24) is deployed with a gas generated by an inflator (19) to absorb an impact,
The deployed airbag (18) has a fully deployed portion (18B) having a substantially constant diameter located on the central side in the longitudinal direction, and a diameter toward the closing member (24) located on both longitudinal sides. Having an incompletely expanded portion (18A) gradually decreasing,
The airbag (18) includes a plurality of vent holes (18g) formed in the folded valley (b) or the abdomen (c) of the incompletely deployed portion (18A),
The vent hole (18 g) is in the longitudinal direction and the circumferential direction at a predetermined pitch of the airbag (18), is and placed less on many rear (18 d) side to the front (18a) side of the airbag (18) An airbag device characterized by that. A tubular airbag (18) in which a metal plate is folded and closed at both ends in the longitudinal direction with a closing member (24) is deployed with a gas generated by an inflator (19) to absorb an impact,
The deployed airbag (18) has a fully deployed portion (18B) having a substantially constant diameter located on the central side in the longitudinal direction, and a diameter toward the closing member (24) located on both longitudinal sides. Having an incompletely expanded portion (18A) gradually decreasing,
The airbag (18) is formed in a folded valley (b) or abdomen (c) of the incompletely deployed portion (18A), and has a predetermined pitch in the longitudinal direction and the circumferential direction of the airbag (18). It has a plurality of vent holes (18g) to be arranged,
The fully expanded portion (18B) includes an auxiliary vent hole (18g ') at a position adjacent to the incompletely expanded portion (18A),
The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary vent hole (18g ') is arranged to be biased toward the front surface (18a) of the airbag (18) with respect to the vent hole (18g). The vent hole (18 g) is characterized by being formed in the abdomen (c) of the folding, the airbag equipment according to claim 1 or 2. The full deployment portion (18B) is characterized by comprising said incomplete deployment portion (18A) auxiliary vent hole at a position adjacent to the (18 g '), the air bag equipment according to claim 1. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the number of the vent holes (18g) decreases as the full deployment portion (18B) is approached.

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