JP5760929B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device for protecting an occupant mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

  In the airbag device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, a reinforcing cloth for preventing damage to the bag due to the heat of gas ejected from the inflator is provided in the bag. The reinforcing cloth is formed with slits corresponding to the slits for inserting the inflator formed in the bag, and the inflator is inserted into the bag through these slits. In addition, a closing cloth is provided on the outside of the bag. The closing cloth has a structure in which one end side is stitched to the bag together with the reinforcing cloth, and the other end side is locked to the inflator attachment portion (stud bolt). This closing cloth is in close contact with the outside of the bag and covers the slit of the bag, thereby preventing gas leakage from the bag.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-115673

  However, in the airbag apparatus as described above, when the close contact state between the closed cloth and the outside of the bag is not satisfactorily ensured, the high-pressure gas ejected from the inflator (gas generator) There is a possibility of leaking to the outside through the slit (insertion port for the gas generator) and between the bag and the closing cloth. In order to prevent this, it is conceivable to sew the other end of the closing cloth to the bag after the gas generator is inserted into the bag, but the sewing work becomes complicated, and the assembly of the gas generator is difficult. There is a risk that the workability will deteriorate.

  In consideration of the above facts, the present invention can effectively suppress gas leakage from the insertion port for the gas generator formed in the airbag, and can improve the assembly workability of the gas generator. The object is to obtain a bag device.

The airbag apparatus according to the invention described in claim 1 is configured to be able to pass through the airbag case, an airbag formed in a bag shape, and an insertion port for a gas generator, and the insertion port. The air bag case is fastened and fixed to the air bag case in a state where the insertion port side of the air bag is sandwiched between the air bag case. A cylindrical gas generator that ejects gas and a part of the plurality of gas outlets is disposed to face the insertion port, and the gas generation device and the air together with the insertion port side of the airbag wherein in a state sandwiched between the bag case provided in the airbag, with interposed between a portion and the insertion opening of said plurality of gas ejection ports, one end sewn to the air bag Is provided with a flame cloth covering the insertion opening and the periphery thereof in the airbag and the other end is a free end, wherein the airbag case is top of the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat of the vehicle The airbag is provided on the back side of the wall, and when the gas generator is activated, the airbag is inflated and deployed to the passenger seat side while the airbag door provided on the top wall is deployed, and the insertion is performed. A mouth is arranged to face the bottom wall portion of the airbag case, and one end side of the flameproof cloth is sewn to the airbag on the vehicle front side of the insertion port, and is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the gas generator. The gas generator is passed through the pair of fasteners penetrated on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the insertion port of the airbag and on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the flameproof cloth corresponding to the insertion port of the airbag. Air bar It has entered into fixed to Gukesu.

In the airbag device according to claim 1, an insertion port for a gas generation device is formed in the airbag, and the gas generation device provided in the airbag is inserted in the airbag between the airbag case. It is fastened and fixed to the airbag case with the mouth side in between. In this gas generator, some of the plurality of gas ejection ports are arranged to face the insertion port. Further, a flameproof cloth sandwiched between the gas generator and the airbag case is provided in the airbag together with a part of the airbag. The flameproof cloth is interposed between a part of the plurality of gas ejection ports and the insertion port, and covers the insertion port and its peripheral part in the airbag. For this reason, when the gas generator is activated and gas is ejected from the plurality of gas ejection ports, the flameproof cloth is inserted into the airbag by the pressure of the gas ejected from a part of the plurality of gas ejection ports. It is in close contact with the mouth and its surroundings. Thereby, since an insertion port can be obstruct | occluded favorably, the gas leak from an insertion port can be suppressed effectively. Moreover, as described above, the flameproof cloth is brought into close contact with the airbag using the pressure of the gas ejected from the gas ejection port. For this reason, when assembling the gas generator to the airbag, after inserting the gas generator into the airbag through the insertion port, no additional processing such as sewing a flameproof cloth on the airbag, The gas leakage suppressing effect can be ensured satisfactorily. Therefore, the assembly workability of the gas generator can be improved. In addition, since the flameproof cloth sewn to the airbag at one end is a free end at the other end, when inserting the gas generator into the airbag through the insertion port of the airbag, By inserting the other end side toward the one end side, the insertion port can be opened. Moreover, since one end of the flameproof cloth is sewn to the airbag, the flameproof cloth is prevented from being accidentally displaced with respect to the airbag when the gas generator is fastened and fixed to the airbag case. it can. Thereby, the assembly workability | operativity of a gas generator can be made still better. Furthermore, when the fastener that fastens and fixes the gas generator to the airbag case penetrates the airbag and the flameproof cloth, the airbag and the flameproof cloth can be satisfactorily locked to the airbag case and the gas generator. it can. Thereby, it can prevent or effectively suppress that the flameproof cloth is inadvertently displaced with respect to the insertion port of the airbag due to the pressure of the gas ejected from the gas ejection port of the gas generator. . Furthermore, an airbag case is provided on the back side of the top wall portion of the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat of the vehicle (this is a so-called top mount type airbag device for the passenger seat). The airbag housed in a folded state in the airbag case has an insertion port for the gas generator arranged to face the bottom wall of the airbag case. When the gas generator is operated, the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the passenger seat while the airbag door provided on the top wall is deployed. In the case of such a configuration, in the airbag, from the vehicle rear side of the insertion port to the front passenger seat side from the vehicle front side of the insertion port to the front passenger seat side (hereinafter referred to as the upper portion). In many cases, the portion extending rearward of the instrument panel and reaching the passenger seat side is stretched more strongly. In this respect, in the present invention, since one end side of the flameproof cloth is sewn on the vehicle front side of the insertion port in the airbag, that is, on the upper portion side, the flameproof cloth is pulled by the airbag when the airbag is inflated and deployed. Can be suppressed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent or effectively suppress the accidental displacement of the flameproof cloth with respect to the insertion port of the airbag when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

  As described above, in the airbag apparatus according to the present invention, gas leakage from the insertion port for the gas generator formed in the airbag can be effectively suppressed, and the assembly workability of the gas generator is excellent. Can be.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration around an instrument panel in a vehicle equipped with a passenger seat airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the principal part of the airbag apparatus for passenger seats. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the airbag which is a structural member of the airbag apparatus for passenger seats, an inflator, and a flameproof cloth. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for demonstrating the condition at the time of an inflator being inserted in the airbag of the airbag apparatus for passenger seats.

  Hereinafter, a passenger seat airbag apparatus 10 as an airbag apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that an arrow FR appropriately shown in each drawing indicates a vehicle front direction, an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upward direction, and an arrow W indicates a vehicle width direction.

<Configuration>
As shown in FIG. 1, a passenger seat airbag device 10 according to the present embodiment is a so-called top mount type passenger seat airbag device, and is provided on the passenger seat side of the top wall portion 12 </ b> A of the instrument panel 12. Has been placed. The passenger seat airbag device 10 includes an airbag case 14, airbag doors 16 and 18, an airbag 20, an inflator 22 as a gas generator, and a flameproof cloth 24.

  The airbag case 14 is a box (see FIG. 2) made of a metal material or the like, and is arranged in front of the passenger seat (not shown) on the back side of the instrument panel 12 so that the upper side of the vehicle is the opening side. Yes. The airbag case 14 is supported by a strength member such as an instrument panel reinforcement (not shown) via a bracket and is connected to the instrument panel 12 via a retainer (not shown).

  Airbag doors 16 and 18 are provided on the top wall portion 12 </ b> A of the instrument panel 12 above the airbag case 14. These airbag doors 16 and 18 are configured to expand in the front-rear direction under the inflation pressure of the airbag 20 and form an opening 26 for airbag expansion in the top wall portion 12A. In FIG. 1, the airbag doors 16 and 18 are shown in a deployed state, but these airbag doors 16 and 18 are usually connected by a fragile tear line portion (scheduled fracture portion). When the bag is inflated, the tear line portion is broken.

  The airbag 14 is formed in a bag shape by sewing the main body panel 28 and the pair of left and right side panels 30 shown in FIG. 3, and is normally folded in the airbag case 14. It is stored. The airbag 20 is configured to inflate and deploy toward the passenger seat side while expanding the airbag doors 16 and 18 forward and backward by being inflated by the pressure of gas ejected from the inflator 22 (FIG. 1). As shown). When viewed from the vehicle width direction in the inflated and deployed state, the airbag 20 has a shape in which the front end side is narrowed and the rear end side is expanded in the vehicle vertical direction.

  The inflator 22 is disposed in the airbag 20. The inflator 22 is a cylinder type inflator with stud bolts, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The inflator 22 is a so-called dual stage inflator and includes two gas generators 32 and 34 (see FIG. 4) arranged side by side in the axial direction of the inflator 22. The inflator 22 has one stage at the time of a collision in a low-speed collision (a collision at a predetermined speed or less) or in a close occupant state (a state in which a passenger in the front passenger seat is located in front of the vehicle from a predetermined position). By operating the second-stage gas generator 34 after a lapse of a predetermined time after the eye gas generator 32 is operated, the deployment speed of the airbag 20 can be reduced. On the other hand, at the time of high-speed collision or the like, the deployment speed of the airbag 20 can be increased by simultaneously operating the first-stage and second-stage gas generators 32 and 34. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately protect the occupant in any of the cases of the low-speed collision, the collision in the close occupant state, and the high-speed collision.

  Near the central portion of the inflator 22 in the axial direction, there are a plurality of gas outlets 36 corresponding to the first-stage gas generator 32 and a plurality of gas outlets 38 corresponding to the second-stage gas generator 34. Is formed. The plurality of gas ejection ports 36 and 38 are both arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the inflator 22 and are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the inflator 22. In the inflator 22, when the first-stage gas generator 32 is operated, gas is ejected from the plurality of gas outlets 36, and when the second-stage gas generator 34 is operated, a plurality of gases is discharged. Gas is ejected from the ejection port 38. In the following description, description of the operation timing of the two gas generators 32 and 34 is omitted, and only the inflator 22 is described.

  A pair of stud bolts 40 projecting outward in the radial direction of the inflator 22 are provided at both axial ends of the inflator 22. These stud bolts 40 include a pair of mounting holes 42 (see FIG. 3) formed in the root portion 20A of the airbag 20 and a pair of mounting holes (not shown) formed in the bottom wall portion 14A of the airbag case 14. ) And screwed into the nut 48. Thereby, the inflator 22 is fastened and fixed to the airbag case 14. In addition, a part of the base portion 20A (the side of the insertion port 50 described later) of the airbag 20 is sandwiched between the inflator 22 and the airbag case 14, whereby the base portion 20A of the airbag 20 is The airbag case 14 is locked.

  An insertion port 50 for the inflator 22 is formed in a base portion 20A of the airbag 20 at a portion facing the bottom wall portion 14A of the airbag case 14. The insertion port 50 is formed in a circular shape that is the same as or slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the inflator 22, and, as shown in FIG. 50A is formed. Thereby, the inflator 22 can pass through the insertion port 50. In the insertion port 50, the vicinity of the central portion in the axial direction of the inflator 22 overlaps from the upper side, and a part of the plurality of gas ejection ports 36 and 38 provided in the inflator 22 that faces the airbag case 14 side. Opposite the insertion port 50.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the left and right side panels 30 of the airbag 20 are respectively formed with connector openings 52, and connectors provided in a wire harness (not shown) are connected through the openings 52. It is configured to be connected to both ends of the inflator 22 in the axial direction. The wire harness is connected to the airbag ECU. When the airbag ECU determines a frontal collision of the vehicle based on a signal from the collision sensor or predicts a frontal collision, the airbag ECU It is comprised so that an operating current may flow.

  On the other hand, the flameproof cloth 24 is a rectangular cloth material to which a silicon coat is applied, and is provided in the airbag 20 together with the inflator 22. The flameproof cloth 24 is formed sufficiently larger than the insertion port 50 and is disposed between the root portion 20 </ b> A of the airbag 20 and the inflator 22. The flameproof cloth 24 covers the insertion port 50 and the periphery thereof in the airbag 20, and the center side is interposed between the inflator 22 and the insertion port 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the flameproof cloth 24 has one end 24 </ b> A located on the vehicle front side of the insertion port 50 sewn to the main body panel 28 of the airbag 20 at the sewing portion S, and the other end. 24B is a free end. Further, the flameproof cloth 24 is formed with a pair of attachment holes 54 through which the pair of stud bolts 40 in the inflator 22 penetrates, and between the airbag case 14 and the inflator 22, the root portion 20 </ b> A of the airbag 20. And a part of the flameproof cloth 24 are sandwiched. The shape of the flameproof cloth 24 is not limited to a rectangular shape and can be changed as appropriate. The coating applied to the flameproof cloth is not limited to a silicon coat, but may be another type of coating such as a PET coat.

  When the passenger airbag device 10 having the above-described configuration is manufactured, first, the inflator 22 is inserted into the airbag 20 through the insertion port 50 as shown in FIG. Next, the stud bolt 40 of the inflator 22 is inserted into the mounting hole 54 of the flameproof cloth 24 and the mounting hole 42 of the airbag 20, and the connector of the wire harness is connected to both axial ends of the inflator 22. Thereafter, the airbag 20 is folded in a predetermined folding manner and accommodated in the airbag case 14. At this time, the stud bolt 40 of the inflator 22 is inserted into the mounting hole 46 of the bottom wall portion 14 </ b> A of the airbag case 14, and the nut 48 is screwed to the stud bolt 40. Thereafter, the airbag case 14 is connected to the instrument panel 12 via a retainer and fixed to a strength member such as instrument panel reinforcement via a bracket.

<Action and effect>
Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  In the passenger seat airbag apparatus 10 having the above-described configuration, an insertion opening 50 for inserting an inflator is formed in the airbag 20, and the inflator 22 provided in the airbag 20 has an air bag between the airbag case 14. The bag 20 is fastened and fixed to the airbag case 14 with the insertion port 50 side interposed therebetween. In the inflator 22, a part of the plurality of gas ejection ports 36 and 38 is disposed to face the insertion port 50. Further, a flameproof cloth 24 sandwiched between the inflator 22 and the airbag case 14 is provided in the airbag 20 together with a part of the airbag 20. This flameproof cloth 24 is interposed between a part of the plurality of gas ejection ports 36 and 38 and the insertion port 50, and covers the insertion port 50 and its peripheral portion in the root portion 20A of the airbag 20. Yes.

  For this reason, when the inflator 22 operates and the gas G (see FIG. 2) is ejected from the plurality of gas ejection ports 36, 38, the gas G ejected from a part of the plurality of gas ejection ports 36, 38. Due to the pressure, the flameproof cloth 24 is brought into close contact (pressed) with the insertion port 50 and its peripheral portion in the airbag 20. The reaction force at this time is supported by the bottom wall portion 14 </ b> A of the airbag case 14. Thereby, since the insertion port 50 can be obstruct | occluded favorably, the gas leak from the insertion port 50 can be suppressed effectively.

  Moreover, as described above, the flameproof cloth 24 is in close contact with the airbag 20 by using the pressure of the gas G ejected from the gas ejection ports 36 and 38. For this reason, when the inflator 22 is assembled to the airbag 20, the inflator 22 is inserted into the airbag 20 through the insertion port 50, and then the other end 24B side of the flameproof cloth 24 is sewn to the airbag 20. Even without additional processing, it is possible to satisfactorily ensure the effect of suppressing gas leakage. Therefore, the workability of assembling the inflator 22 can be improved.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the one end 24A side of the flameproof cloth 24 is sewn to the airbag 20 in the sewing part S, and the other end 24B of the flameproof cloth 24 is a free end. For this reason, when inserting the inflator 22 into the airbag 20 through the insertion port 50 of the airbag 20, the insertion port 50 is opened by turning the other end 24B side of the flameproof cloth 24 toward the one end 24A side. can do. In addition, since the one end 24A side of the flameproof cloth 24 is sewn to the airbag 20, the flameproof cloth 24 is inadvertently positioned with respect to the airbag 20 when the inflator 22 is fastened and fixed to the airbag case 14. It can prevent shifting. Thereby, the assembly workability of the inflator 22 can be further improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a pair of stud bolts 40 that fasten and fix the inflator 22 to the airbag case 14 pass through the mounting hole 42 of the airbag 20 and the mounting hole 24 of the flameproof cloth 24. Thereby, since the airbag 20 and the flameproof cloth 24 can be satisfactorily locked to the airbag case 14 and the inflator 22, the flameproof cloth 24 is brought into the airbag by the pressure of the gas G ejected from the inflator 22. It is possible to prevent or effectively suppress inadvertent displacement with respect to the 20 insertion ports 50.

  In the present embodiment, since the one end 24A side of the flameproof cloth 24 is sewn to the airbag 20 on the vehicle front side of the insertion port 50, the flameproof cloth 24 is in contact with the airbag 20 when the airbag 20 is inflated and deployed. Misalignment can be prevented or effectively suppressed. That is, in the airbag apparatus 10 for the passenger seat of the top mount type, in the airbag 20, the upper portion 20U shown in FIG. 1 (the passenger seat side from the vehicle front side of the insertion port 50 to the upper side of the instrument panel 12). The lower part 20L shown in FIG. 1 (the part extending from the vehicle rear side of the insertion port 50 to the rear side of the instrument panel 12 and reaching the passenger seat side) is often more strongly stretched than the lower part). . This is because the length dimension L2 of the lower part 20L is generally set shorter than the length dimension L1 of the upper part 20U. In this respect, in the present embodiment, the one end 24A side of the flameproof cloth 24 is sewn on the side of the upper portion 20U from the insertion port 50 in the airbag 20. Accordingly, the flameproof cloth 24 can be restrained from being pulled by the airbag 20 when the airbag 20 is inflated and deployed, so that the flameproof cloth 24 is inadvertently displaced with respect to the insertion port 50 of the airbag 20. Can be prevented or effectively suppressed. Therefore, the gas leak from the insertion port 50 can be prevented satisfactorily.

<Supplementary explanation of the embodiment>
In the said embodiment, although the flameproof cloth 24 was set as the structure sewn on the airbag 20 by the vehicle front side of the insertion port 50, the invention which concerns on Claims 1-3 is not restricted to this, A flameproof cloth is used. You may make it the structure sewn on the airbag by the vehicle rear side of the insertion port.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where this invention was applied with respect to the airbag apparatus 10 for passenger seats of a top mount type, the invention which concerns on Claims 1-3 is not restricted to this, This invention The invention can also be applied to a mid-mount type passenger seat airbag device disposed in the middle in the vertical direction of the instrument panel, a knee airbag device for protecting a passenger's knee in the event of a vehicle collision, and the like. it can.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the pair of stud bolt 40 (fastener) provided in the inflator 22 (gas generator) was set as the structure which penetrated the airbag 20 and the flameproof cloth 24, Claim 1 and Claim The invention which concerns on 2 is not restricted to this, You may make it the structure by which the fastener which fastens and fixes a gas generator to an airbag case does not penetrate a flameproof cloth. In this case, the flameproof cloth is simply sandwiched between the gas generator and the airbag case together with a part of the airbag.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the one end 24A side of the flameproof cloth 24 was sewn to the airbag 20, and the other end 24B of the flameproof cloth 24 was made into the free end, the invention which concerns on Claim 1 by this Not limited to this, the construction may be such that the flameproof cloth is not sewn to the airbag at all.

  Furthermore, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where a gas generator was comprised only by the inflator 22, the invention which concerns on Claim 1 may be set as the structure provided with the retainer not only in this but the gas generator. In this case, the inflator is attached to the retainer, and the retainer is fixed to the airbag case by a stud bolt or the like provided on the retainer.

  In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say, the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

10 Airbag device for passenger seat (airbag device)
12 instrument panel 12A top wall 14 airbag case 14A bottom wall 20 airbag 22 inflator (gas generator)
24 Flameproof Cloth 24A One end 24B The other end 38 Gas outlet 40 Stud bolt (fastener)
50 insertion slot

Claims (1)

An airbag case,
An airbag formed in a bag shape and having an insertion port for a gas generator,
It is configured to be able to pass through the insertion port, is provided in the airbag, is fastened and fixed to the airbag case with the insertion port side of the airbag sandwiched between the airbag case and operates. A cylindrical gas generator in which gas is ejected from a plurality of gas ejection ports, and a part of the plurality of gas ejection ports is disposed to face the insertion port;
Provided in the airbag in a state of being sandwiched between the gas generating device and the airbag case together with the insertion port side of the airbag, and a portion of the plurality of gas ejection ports and the insertion port A flameproof cloth interposed between the one end side of the airbag and the other end being a free end and covering the insertion port and its periphery in the airbag;
With
The airbag case is provided on the back side of the top wall portion of the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat of the vehicle,
When the gas generator is operated, the airbag is inflated and deployed to the passenger seat side while deploying an airbag door provided on the top wall, and the insertion port is a bottom wall of the airbag case. Placed opposite the part,
One end side of the flameproof cloth is sewn to the airbag on the vehicle front side of the insertion port,
A pair of fasteners provided on the outer periphery of the gas generator are connected to both sides in the vehicle width direction of the insertion port of the airbag and both sides in the vehicle width direction of the flameproof cloth corresponding to the insertion port of the airbag. The gas generator is fastened and fixed to the airbag case.
Airbag device.

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