JP5831270B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device for protecting an occupant from an impact by deploying and inflating an airbag at a location approaching an occupant seated on a vehicle seat when an impact is applied to the vehicle due to a collision or the like. is there.

  A side airbag device including an airbag and an inflator is widely known as a device for protecting an occupant from an impact when a vehicle is impacted from the side due to a side collision or the like. In the side airbag device, the airbag is incorporated in a seat back (backrest) of a vehicle seat together with the inflator in a folded state. In this side airbag device, when an impact is applied from the side to a member (body side portion) constituting a side portion of the vehicle, such as a side door, inflation gas is supplied from the inflator into the airbag. The airbag is deployed and inflated by the inflating gas and jumps out of the vehicle seat with a part left in the seat back. The airbag is deployed and inflated from the seat back toward the front of the vehicle in a narrow space between the occupant seated on the vehicle seat and the body side portion. The deployed and inflated airbag is interposed between the occupant and the body side portion that enters the vehicle, restrains the occupant, and mitigates the side impact transmitted to the occupant through the body side portion.

  By the way, in the side airbag device, the airbag is pressed against the occupant by the body side portion entering the vehicle inside. Along with this pressing, the occupant receives an impact load through the airbag. This load is determined by the product of the area in which the occupant receives pressure from the airbag (the pressure receiving area on the airbag side of the occupant) and the internal pressure of the airbag. From the viewpoint of protecting the occupant from impact, this load reaches a predetermined value in a short time after the start of entry of the body side portion, and thereafter, is maintained at the predetermined value regardless of the amount of entry (stroke) of the body side portion. It is desirable.

  In this respect, in the side airbag device of the type in which the interior of the airbag is not partitioned, the internal pressure and the pressure receiving area increase as the amount of entry (stroke) of the body side portion increases, so the load that the occupant receives from the airbag is It gradually increases as the approach to the body side proceeds. The load does not reach a predetermined value until the body side part has entered to some extent. Moreover, the load continues to increase after reaching the predetermined value, and eventually exceeds the predetermined value. As a result, sufficient protection of the passenger is not started until the load reaches a predetermined value. After the load reaches a predetermined value, the occupant receives a load larger than the predetermined value through the airbag.

With respect to this, various side airbag devices have been proposed in which the internal pressure of the airbag is adjusted (adjusted) to meet the above-described demand for the load.
For example, in the “vehicle body side energy absorption structure” described in Patent Document 1, a pressure regulating valve (pressure control valve) having an opening is provided in a partition that partitions an airbag into an upper airbag and a lower airbag. It has been. The phrase in parentheses following the member name indicates the member name used in Patent Document 1. In this energy absorption structure, the opening is opened and closed by a pressure regulating valve (pressure control valve), so that the flow of the inflation gas in the opening is adjusted, and the lower airbag is deployed and inflated before the upper airbag. Be made.

JP-A-10-67297 (FIGS. 9 and 10)

  However, in the said patent document 1, the pressure regulation valve (pressure control valve) which has an opening part is provided in the location which does not restrain a passenger | crew directly in a partition part. Therefore, it is considered that the pressure regulating valve (pressure control valve) is actuated to open the opening only by increasing the internal pressure of the lower airbag. As a result, it is difficult to adjust (regulate) the internal pressure of the airbag so that the characteristics of the load received by the occupant through the airbag become the desirable characteristics described above.

Such a problem may occur not only in the side airbag device but also in other types of airbag devices.
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to appropriately adjust the flow of the inflation gas in the opening and appropriately adjust the internal pressure of the airbag. The object is to provide a bag device.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an inflatable portion that expands and expands at a location close to an occupant seated on a vehicle seat by an inflation gas supplied in response to an impact on the vehicle. And an upstream inflatable portion to which the inflation gas is supplied by a planar partition member, and the upstream inflatable portion adjacent to the upstream inflatable portion. An air bag device that divides the occupant with the inflating portion and includes a downstream inflating portion to which an inflating gas is supplied. A pressure regulating valve having an opening formed of a slit extending in a direction to be added and a pair of valve body portions is provided, and both the valve body portions are disposed in the upstream expansion portion before restraint by the upstream expansion portion. Pressed against each other by the inflation gas By touching, the flow of the inflation gas in the opening is restricted, and when the occupant is restrained by the upstream-side inflating part, the external force applied along with the restraint is bent through the partition member and separated from each other, The flow of the expansion gas through the opening is allowed, and the projection surface onto which the partition member is projected with respect to the surface orthogonal to the flow direction of the expansion gas through the opening is orthogonal to the slit The ratio of the direction dimension to the dimension in the slit extending direction is 1.1 to 5.0, and the partition member is in a state where the edges of the two members are matched. in the overlapping portion ends is superimposed on the strip, comprises two members is not overlapped non-overlapping portion, the part of the boundary portion between the non-overlapping portions and the overlapping portions, the Bonding both members Parts are provided, the opening, the coupling portion at the boundary between the overlapping portions and the non-overlapping portion is formed in a portion not provided, the two valve body portion, said at the overlapping portions The gist is that it corresponds to the opening.

  According to the above configuration, when an impact is applied to the vehicle, the upstream-side inflation portion of the airbag receives supply of the inflation gas and starts deployment. Before the upstream inflating portion restrains the occupant, tension is applied to the partition member in the direction orthogonal to the slit or in the direction in which the slit extends (impact direction), and the partition member is in a tensioned state. I will try.

  Here, the projection surface on which the partition member is projected onto the surface orthogonal to the flow direction of the inflation gas at the opening has an elliptical portion. Moreover, in this elliptical portion, the ratio of the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the slit to the dimension in the direction in which the slit extends is set to “1.1” or more.

  Therefore, the partition member has a longer shape in the direction perpendicular to the slit than in the direction in which the slit extends. In the partition member, the tension in the direction in which the partition extends is greater than in the direction orthogonal to the slit. It is easy to start. Therefore, the opening is pulled more strongly in the closing direction than in the opening direction. Moreover, a pair of valve body part is pressed by the expansion gas in an upstream expansion part, and mutually contacts, and distribute | circulates the expansion gas in an opening part. The expansion gas in the upstream side expansion portion does not flow to the downstream side expansion portion through the opening or is small even if it flows. As a result, the internal pressure of the upstream-side expansion portion of the expansion portion exclusively increases.

  On the other hand, when a member constituting the vehicle (vehicle component) enters the inside of the vehicle due to the impact and the airbag is pressed against the occupant, the occupant is mainly restrained by the upstream inflating portion. At this time, the expansion portion is pressed and deformed by an external force applied in accordance with the occupant restraint. Accordingly, the tension that is strongly applied to the partition member in the direction in which the slit extends is reduced, and the tension applied in the orthogonal direction is increased. Due to these changes in tension, the difference in tension in both directions is reduced and the opening is opened. Further, both valve body portions are bent and separated from each other through the partition member. The distribution restriction is released, and the expansion gas in the upstream expansion portion is allowed to flow out to the downstream expansion portion through the opening.

  It should be noted that there is a correlation between the external force applied to the inflating portion in accordance with the occupant restraint necessary to open the closed opening and the ratio of the elliptical portion. As the ratio increases (the ellipse becomes longer in the direction perpendicular to the slit), a larger external force is required. However, if a large external force is applied to the inflating portion, the load applied from the airbag to the occupant when the occupant is restrained also increases.

  In this regard, in the invention described in claim 1, the ratio of the elliptical portion is set to “5.0” or less, and even when an external force is applied, the load applied to the occupant falls within the allowable range. Excessive external force required to open the opening is suppressed. As a result, when an appropriate external force is applied to the inflatable portion in accordance with the occupant restraint, the difference in tension between the two directions is reduced, and the opening is opened. At this time, it is difficult for an excessive load to be applied to the occupant.

  Due to the outflow of the expansion gas through the opening, the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion is reduced and the internal pressure of the downstream expansion portion is increased. The downstream inflating portion is expanded and inflated, and the inflating portion is pressed against the occupant in the downstream inflating portion in addition to the upstream inflating portion.

Moreover, according to said structure, a partition member overlaps edge parts in a strip | belt shape in the state which matched the edge of two members, Furthermore, both the members are made into a non-overlapping part and an overlapping part. It is formed by joining at the boundary part. An opening is formed when a part of the joint part is released (both members are not joined). Moreover, the part corresponding to an opening part in an overlap part is made into both valve body parts. In this way, each of the partition member, the opening portion, and both valve body portions is formed at a time by joining the boundary portion between the non-overlapping portion and the overlapping portion of the two members while leaving a part of them. Is done. No special work is required for forming the opening and forming both valve bodies.

  In particular, both valve bodies are integrated with the partition member. Therefore, compared with the case where both valve body parts consist of members different from the partition member, not only the number of parts is reduced, but the operation of connecting the members to the partition member is unnecessary.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the inflatable portion of the airbag is caused by an inflating gas supplied in response to an impact applied to the vehicle from a side of the vehicle seat. The gist of the invention is that the vehicle seat expands and expands forward on the side of the vehicle seat.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the inflation portion of the airbag is supplied with an inflation gas supplied in response to an impact applied to the vehicle from the front of the vehicle seat. Thus, the gist of the present invention is to expand and inflate from the front of the vehicle seat toward the lower limbs of the occupant.

According to the configuration of the invention described in claim 2 (or claim 3 ), when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the side (or the front) of the vehicle seat, the upstream expansion portion supplies the expansion gas. In response, it begins to expand. The slit constituting the opening extends in the width direction (or front-rear direction) of the vehicle seat, which is a direction to which an impact is applied. Further, the ratio is set to “1.1” or more in the elliptical portion on the projection surface of the partition member. Therefore, before restraining the upper body (or lower limbs) of the occupant by the upstream inflating portion, the partition member is more than the direction perpendicular to the width direction (or front-rear direction) of the vehicle seat, which is the direction in which the slit extends. Easy to apply strong tension. The opening is pulled more strongly in the closing direction than in the opening direction. Moreover, a pair of valve body part is pressed by the gas for expansion | swelling in an upstream expansion part, and mutually contacts. The flow of the expansion gas at the opening is restricted, and the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion exclusively increases.

  On the other hand, due to the impact, the vehicle component member enters the occupant side from the side (or front) of the vehicle seat, and when the airbag is pressed from the side (or from the front against the lower limbs) against the upper body of the occupant, The upper body (or lower limb) of the occupant is mainly restrained by the upstream inflating portion. The expansion part is pressed and deformed by an external force applied in accordance with the restraint. Along with this, the difference in tension in both directions is reduced, and the opening is opened. Here, since the ratio is set to “5.0” or less, it is suppressed that the external force necessary to open the opening is excessive, and an excessive load is applied to the upper body (or lower limbs) of the occupant. It is difficult to join.

  When the expansion portion is deformed, both valve body portions are bent and separated from each other through the partition member. The distribution restriction is released, and the expansion gas in the upstream expansion portion is allowed to flow out to the downstream expansion portion through the opening. Due to the outflow of the expansion gas through the opening, the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion decreases, and the internal pressure of the downstream expansion portion increases. The downstream inflating portion is deployed and inflated, and the inflating portion is pressed against the upper body (or lower limb) of the occupant in the downstream inflating portion in addition to the upstream inflating portion.

  According to the airbag device of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately adjust the flow of the inflation gas in the opening and to appropriately adjust the internal pressure of the airbag.

In 1st Embodiment which actualized this invention, the side view which shows the vehicle seat provided with the side airbag apparatus with a passenger | crew. In 1st Embodiment, the plane sectional view which shows the positional relationship of a vehicle seat, a passenger | crew, and a body side part. FIG. 3 is a partial plan cross-sectional view showing an airbag module incorporated in a seat back storage portion in the first embodiment. In 1st Embodiment, the side view which shows the airbag module by which the airbag was made into the non-expanding deployment state. The partial expanded sectional view which shows typically sectional structure, such as a division member along the AA line of FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial plan cross-sectional view showing a state in which the airbag has left a part in the seat back and has been deployed and inflated from the vehicle seat from the state of FIG. 3. (A) is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the airbag module together with the vehicle seat and the occupant, in which the airbag in a non-inflated and deployed state in FIG. 4 is cut at the central portion in the vehicle width direction. The fragmentary sectional side view which expands and shows the T section in A). Sectional drawing which shows the state seen from the upstream expansion part side about the internal structure of the airbag module which the airbag of 1st Embodiment expand | deployed and the division member was tense. It is a figure which shows 1st Embodiment and is the fragmentary perspective view which shows the state seen from the upstream expansion part side about the vicinity part of the pressure regulation valve in a division member. The schematic diagram which shows the upstream expansion | swelling part modeled as an ellipsoid in 1st Embodiment. The characteristic view which shows the relationship between the ratio of the dimension about the ellipse part in the projection surface of a division member, and a tension difference in 1st Embodiment. (A)-(C) are schematic diagrams which show operation | movement of the pressure regulation valve in 1st Embodiment. The characteristic view which shows the relationship between the internal pressure at the time of an airbag being pressed on a passenger | crew by the body side part which approachs into a vehicle inner side, a pressure receiving area, a load, and the approach amount (stroke) of a body side part in 1st Embodiment. The side view which shows the 2nd Embodiment which actualized this invention, and shows the vehicle seat provided with the side airbag apparatus with a passenger | crew. In 2nd Embodiment, the side view which shows the airbag module by which the airbag was made into the non-expanding deployment state. (A) is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the airbag module in which the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state in FIG. 15 is cut at the center portion in the vehicle width direction together with the vehicle seat and the occupant. The fragmentary sectional side view which expands and shows the U part in A). (A) is sectional drawing which shows the state seen from the upstream expansion part side about the internal structure of the airbag module which the airbag of 2nd Embodiment expand | deployed and the partition member was tensioned, (B) is the said The schematic diagram explaining the dimensional relationship of the ellipse part in the projection surface of (A). It is a figure which shows 3rd Embodiment which applied this invention to the airbag apparatus for knee protection, and is a partial side view which shows the vicinity part of the steering column provided with the airbag with a passenger | crew's leg. In 3rd Embodiment, the front view which shows the airbag module by which the airbag was made into the non-expanding deployment state. Sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the airbag module of FIG. The schematic diagram explaining the dimensional relationship of the ellipse part in a projection surface about the airbag module which the airbag of 3rd Embodiment expanded | deployed and inflated and the division member was tense.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a side airbag device applied to a vehicle as a vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle will be described as the front, and the reverse direction of the vehicle will be described as the rear. In the following description, the vertical direction means the vertical direction of the vehicle. Further, with the central portion in the vehicle width direction (vehicle width direction) as a reference, the side approaching the central portion is defined as “vehicle inside”, and the side away from the central portion is defined as “vehicle outside”.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the vehicle 10, a vehicle seat 12 is disposed as a vehicle seat in the vicinity of the vehicle inner side (upper side in FIG. 2) of the body side portion 11. Here, the body side portion 11 refers to a vehicle constituent member (vehicle constituent member) disposed on a side portion of the vehicle 10, and mainly includes a door, a pillar, and the like. For example, the body side part 11 corresponding to the front seat is a front door, a center pillar (B pillar), or the like. The body side portion 11 corresponding to the rear seat is a rear portion of a side door (rear door), a C pillar, a front portion of a tire house, a rear quarter, and the like.

  The vehicle seat 12 includes a seat cushion (seat portion) 13 and a seat back (backrest) 14 that stands up from the rear side of the seat cushion 13 and whose inclination angle is adjusted by an inclination adjustment mechanism (not shown). ing. The vehicle seat 12 is disposed on the vehicle 10 with the seat back 14 facing forward. The width direction of the vehicle seat 12 arranged in this way matches the vehicle width direction.

Next, the internal structure of the side portion on the vehicle outer side in the seat back 14 will be described.
A seat frame that forms the skeleton is disposed in the seat back 14. As shown in FIG. 3, a part of the seat frame is disposed on the vehicle outer side (lower side in FIG. 3) in the seat back 14, and this part (hereinafter referred to as “side frame part 15”) is made of metal. It is formed by bending a plate. A seat pad 16 made of an elastic material such as urethane foam is disposed on the front side of the seat frame including the side frame portion 15. A hard backboard 17 made of synthetic resin or the like is disposed on the rear side of the seat frame. The seat pad 16 is covered with a skin, but the skin is not shown in FIG. The same applies to FIG. 6 described later.

  In the seat pad 16, a storage portion 18 is provided in the vicinity of the vehicle exterior side of the side frame portion 15. The position of the storage portion 18 is in the vicinity of the rear of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 12 (see FIG. 2). An air bag module AM that forms the main part of the side air bag device is incorporated in the storage portion 18.

  A slit 19 extends from a corner on the vehicle outer side and front side of the storage unit 18 toward the diagonal front vehicle outer side. A portion sandwiched between the corner 16C on the front side of the seat pad 16 and the slit 19 (a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line frame in FIG. 3) constitutes a planned breaking portion 21 to be broken by the airbag 40 described later. ing.

  On the side of the seat back 14, a webbing is formed around the side frame 15, the airbag module AM, the seat pad 16, and the like in a belt shape with a material that is less stretched for the purpose of improving the deployability of the airbag 40. (Not shown) is wound. The force cloth is in an expanded state at the initial stage of deployment and inflation of the airbag 40, thereby suppressing the inflation of the airbag 40 in a direction different from a predetermined deployment direction. Further, the baffle suppresses the deformation of the seat pad 16 and the elongation of the skin, and causes the fracture of the planned fracture portion 21 by breaking itself.

The airbag module AM incorporated in the seat back 14 includes an inflator assembly 30 and an airbag 40 as main components.
Next, each of these structural members will be described. Here, in the present embodiment, when the airbag module AM and its constituent members are referred to as “vertical direction” and “front-rear direction”, as shown in FIG. 1, the seat back 14 of the vehicle seat 12 is used as a reference. The direction in which the seat back 14 stands is the “vertical direction” of the airbag module AM or the like, and the thickness direction of the seat back 14 is the “front-rear direction” of the airbag module AM or the like. As described above, since the seat back 14 is normally used in a state of being slightly inclined rearward, the “vertical direction” of the airbag module AM or the like strictly matches the vertical direction (vertical direction) of the vehicle 10. It is not inclined and is slightly inclined. Similarly, the “front-rear direction” of the airbag module AM or the like does not match the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) of the vehicle 10 and is slightly inclined.

<Inflator assembly 30>
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inflator assembly 30 includes an inflator 31 as a gas generation source, and a retainer 32 attached to the outside of the inflator 31. In the present embodiment, a type called a pyro type is employed as the inflator 31. The inflator 31 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a gas generating agent (not shown) that generates an expansion gas is accommodated therein. A harness (not shown) serving as an input wiring for an operation signal to the inflator 31 is connected to one end (the lower end in the present embodiment) of the inflator 31 in the length direction.

  As the inflator 31, instead of the pyro type using the gas generating agent, a type (hybrid type) in which a partition wall of a high pressure gas cylinder filled with a high pressure gas is broken with an explosive or the like to eject an expansion gas is used. May be.

  On the other hand, the retainer 32 is a member that functions as a diffuser and has a function of fastening the inflator 31 to the side frame portion 15 together with the airbag 40. Most of the retainer 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape by bending a plate material such as a metal plate. The retainer 32 is provided with a window 33, and most of the inflation gas G ejected from the inflator 31 is ejected to the outside of the retainer 32 through the window 33.

  A plurality of bolts 34 are fixed to the retainer 32 as a locking member for attaching the retainer 32 to the side frame portion 15. In other words, the plurality of bolts 34 are indirectly fixed to the inflator 31 via the retainer 32.

The inflator assembly 30 may be one in which the inflator 31 and the retainer 32 are integrated.
<Airbag 40>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the airbag 40 is subjected to an impact on the vehicle 10 (the body side portion 11) from the side of the vehicle seat 12 due to a side collision or the like while the vehicle 10 is running, The supply of the expansion gas G is received from the inflator 31. The airbag 40 jumps out substantially forward from the storage unit 18 with a part (rear part) of the airbag 40 left in the storage unit 18. The airbag 40 is located at a location close to the occupant P when the occupant P (adult) having a standard physique is seated on the vehicle seat 12 in a standard posture, here, the upper body of the occupant P. The upper body (chest PT etc.) of the occupant P is protected from the impact of the side collision by expanding and inflating between (the chest PT etc.) and the body side part 11. Here, the chest PT and the like include not only the chest PT but also a peripheral portion thereof, particularly a rear side (back side) portion of the chest PT.

  FIG. 4 shows the airbag module AM in a state where the airbag 40 is deployed in a plane without being filled with the inflation gas G (hereinafter referred to as “non-inflated and deployed state”). 7 shows the airbag module AM in which the airbag 40 in the non-inflated and deployed state of FIG. 4 is cut at the center in the vehicle width direction to show the internal structure of the airbag module AM. It is shown together with the passenger P.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the airbag 40 is a vehicle in which a single piece of cloth 41 (also called a base cloth, panel cloth, etc.) is folded in two along a fold line 42 set at the center thereof. It is formed by overlapping in the width direction and joining the overlapped portions in a bag shape. Here, in order to distinguish the two overlapped portions of the airbag 40, the one located on the inside of the vehicle is referred to as the cloth portion 43 (see FIG. 7), and the one located on the outside of the vehicle is referred to as the cloth portion 44 ( (See FIG. 4).

  In the present embodiment, the cloth piece 41 is folded in two so that the folding line 42 is positioned at the front end of the airbag 40, but the folding line 42 is positioned at the other end, for example, the rear end. The cloth piece 41 may be folded in half. The airbag 40 may be composed of two pieces of cloth divided along the fold line 42. In this case, the airbag 40 is formed by superimposing two pieces of cloth in the vehicle width direction and connecting the two pieces of cloth so as to form a bag shape. Further, the airbag 40 may be composed of three or more pieces of cloth.

  In the airbag 40, the outer shapes of the cloth portions 43 and 44 are in a line-symmetric relationship with each other with the folding line 42 as the axis of symmetry. The shape and size of each of the cloth portions 43 and 44 is the same as that of the upper body of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 12 when the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated between the vehicle seat 12 and the body side portion 11. It is set so as to be able to occupy an area corresponding to a part (chest PT etc.).

  As the cloth parts 43 and 44, a woven cloth formed using a material having high strength and flexibility and can be easily folded, for example, polyester yarn, polyamide yarn or the like is suitable.

  The above-described connection between the cloth parts 43 and 44 is performed at a peripheral connection part 45 provided at the peripheral part thereof. In the present embodiment, the peripheral edge coupling portion 45 sews (sews with a sewing thread) the portions of the peripheral portions of the cloth portions 43 and 44 except for the rear lower end portion and the front end portion (the vicinity of the folding line 42). It is formed by. This also applies to the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 and the inner coupling portion 63 described later. Further, the same applies to the peripheral joint 84 and the partition 91.

  Regarding the above-described sewing, in FIGS. 4, 7 to 9, and further to FIGS. 15 to 17A, 19, and 20, the sewing portion is expressed by two line types. One line type is a line (a kind of broken line) expressed by arranging thick lines of a certain length intermittently (this is a kind of broken line), which is outside the cloth parts 43 and 44 to be stitched (between the cloth parts 43 and 44). No) is shown (see FIG. 4 etc.). The other line type is a line (a type of broken line) in which points are arranged at regular intervals, and this indicates the state of the sewing thread between the cloth portions 43 and 44 to be sewn (in FIG. 7). Refer to the peripheral joint 45). That is, the drawing in which the sewing is expressed in the latter manner shows a cross-sectional structure along a cross section passing through the sewing portion.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the space between the cloth portions 43 and 44 and surrounded by the peripheral edge coupling portion 45 is located on the side of the upper body (such as the chest PT) of the occupant P by the inflation gas G. By expanding and inflating, it becomes an inflating portion 46 for restraining a part of the upper body (chest PT etc.) and protecting it from impact.

  In addition, the periphery coupling | bond part 45 may be formed by the means different from the sewing using the said sewing thread, for example, adhesion | attachment using an adhesive agent. This also applies to the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 and the inner coupling portion 63, which will be described later, as well as the downstream expansion portion 89 and the partition portion 91.

  The inflator assembly 30 is disposed in the lower portion of the rear end in the airbag 40 in a posture inclined so as to become lower toward the front side. And the bolt 34 of the retainer 32 is penetrated by the cloth part 43 inside a vehicle (refer FIG. 3). By such insertion, the inflator assembly 30 is locked in a state of being positioned with respect to the airbag 40. Further, the rear lower end of the airbag 40 is fastened to the lower end of the inflator assembly 30 in an airtight state by an annular fastener 37 (see the two-dot chain lines in FIGS. 4 and 7).

The inflatable portion 46 of the airbag 40 is partitioned into a plurality of portions by a planar partition member 50. The partition member 50 has the same configuration as that generally called a tether.
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional structure along the line AA in FIG. In FIG. 5, each member is drawn with the thickness omitted, and each inner coupling portion 63 is drawn in a zigzag shape. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the airbag 40 is in a non-inflated and deployed state, the partition member 50 is folded back along a folding line 51 extending in the up-down direction, so that opposing opposing ends. 52 and 53 are made close to each other. The two-folded partition member 50 is disposed in the inflatable portion 46 with the fold line 51 positioned on the upstream side (side closer to the inflator 31) than the opposing end portions 52 and 53.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the partition member 50 has a length in a direction along the fold line 51 (hereinafter referred to as a “longitudinal direction”) when the partition member 50 is tensioned in a planar shape with the expansion and expansion of the expansion portion 46. L1 has a long shape longer than a length L2 in a direction orthogonal to the fold line 51 (hereinafter referred to as “short direction”). The partition member 50 is coupled to both cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by outer coupling portions 54 and 55 extending in the vertical direction at each of the opposing end portions 52 and 53.

  The partition member 50 is bridged between the cloth part 43 on the vehicle inner side and the cloth part 44 on the vehicle outer side by the above-described coupling. The partition member 50 is folded in two when the airbag 40 is in a non-inflated and deployed state (see FIGS. 5 and 7). The partition member 50 is in a state of being tensioned in the width direction (vehicle width direction) of the vehicle seat 12 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) when the inflating portion 46 is deployed and inflated. Regulate the thickness of the direction.

  Further, the partition member 50 in a folded state is coupled to the airbag 40 at both ends in the direction along the fold line 51. That is, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the partition member 50 are coupled (sewed together) to the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the both cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by the above-described peripheral edge coupling portion 45 (see FIG. 7). .

  Here, in FIG. 7, outer coupling portions 54 and 55 that couple the opposing end portions 52 and 53 of the partition member 50 to the cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 temporarily extend parallel to the fold line 51. In the case (not shown), the distance between the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 and the fold line 51 is the same in any position in the longitudinal direction.

  On the other hand, the partition member 50 is tensioned in a plane shape orthogonal to the expansion direction as the expansion portion 46 expands. The opposing end portions 52 and 53 of the partition member 50 are coupled to the cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by the outer coupling portions 54 and 55, whereas the folded portion of the partition member 50 has both longitudinal ends. Only at the portion, it is connected to the cloth portions 43 and 44 by the peripheral connecting portion 45. Therefore, when the partition member 50 is tensioned in a planar shape as described above, the folded portion along the fold line 51 of the partition member 50 is on the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 side (front side) in the expansion direction of the expansion portion 46. It is pulled to move. The joint portion 51C of the folded portion with the cloth portions 43, 44, that is, the intersecting portion 51C of the fold line 51 with the peripheral joint portion 45 is also pulled and moved toward the outer joint portions 54, 55 in the same manner as other portions of the folded portion. To do. At this time, the amount of movement of the intersecting portion 51C that is far away from the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 is large, and accordingly, the tensile force acting on the intersecting portion 51C is increased. As a result, stress may concentrate on the intersection 51C.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the distance between the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 and the fold line 51 is greater than the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction at the intersection 54C of the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 with the peripheral coupling portion 45. Is set to be smaller. In the present embodiment, the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 are formed in an arc shape that swells forward. Therefore, compared with the case where each outer coupling part 54 and 55 is parallel to the fold line 51 (not shown), the intersection 51C of the fold line 51 with the peripheral coupling part 45 and each outer coupling part 54 and 55 are connected. The interval is reduced. The amount by which the intersection 51C of the fold line 51 with the peripheral coupling portion 45 is pulled and moved toward the outer coupling portions 54, 55 is reduced, and the tensile force acting on the intersection 51C is reduced, so that the intersection 51C is reduced. The stress concentration against is relaxed.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the partitioning member 50 constitutes the latter half of the inflating portion 46, and the upstream inflating portion 47 on which the inflator assembly 30 is disposed, and the inflating portion 46. The front half portion is divided into a front-side downstream expansion portion 48 where the inflator assembly 30 is not disposed. With such a configuration, the expansion gas G from the inflator 31 is first supplied to the upstream expansion portion 47. The expansion gas G that has passed through the upstream expansion section 47 is then supplied to the downstream expansion section 48 adjacent to the front side of the upstream expansion section 47.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the partition member 50 includes two members 56 and 57 arranged in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction) that is the direction along the fold line 51. The members 56 and 57 are formed in a sheet shape using the same material as the cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40. Both members 56 and 57 are provided in the inflatable portion 46 at a location that is lateral to the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the upper body of the occupant P when the inflatable portion 46 is deployed and inflated.

  In the upper and lower members 56, 57, the end portions 58, 59 are overlapped in a band shape with the end edges 58E, 59E of the end portions 58, 59 being matched. The upper and lower members 56 and 57 are each in a direction perpendicular to the fold line 51 (short) at a boundary portion between a pair of overlapping portions 61 each having a band shape and other portions (hereinafter referred to as “non-overlapping portions 62”). They are coupled by an inner coupling part 63 extending in the hand direction). This boundary portion is separated from the end edges 58E and 59E by a certain distance in the longitudinal direction.

  In the partition member 50, the central portion in both the longitudinal direction and the short direction is closed at the initial stage of the supply period of the expansion gas G to the expansion portion 46, and the downstream side from the upstream expansion portion 47. A pressure regulating valve 70 is provided that regulates the flow of the inflation gas G to the inflating portion 48 and opens the valve by an external force applied along with the passenger restraint from the middle of the supply period to release the regulation.

  Next, the configuration of the pressure regulating valve 70 will be described. The coupling of the inner coupling portion 63 is released at a part thereof (a portion straddling the folding line 51 in the present embodiment). In other words, the inner coupling portion 63 that couples the upper and lower members 56 and 57 is not provided in a portion straddling the folding line 51 at the boundary portion between the overlapping portion 61 and the non-overlapping portion 62. In this way, the portion where the inner coupling portion 63 is not provided, where the coupling is released, extends in the short-side direction, and is an inner portion made of a slit that communicates the upstream expansion portion 47 and the downstream expansion portion 48. An opening 71 is configured. The inner opening 71 corresponds to the opening in the claims. The short direction here is the same as the direction in which an impact is applied to the vehicle 10.

  A portion (proximal portion) corresponding to the inner opening 71 in the overlapping portion 61 constitutes a pair of valve body portions 73 and 74. More precisely, a valve body 73 is constituted by a portion between the inner opening 71 and the end edge 58E, and a valve body 74 is constituted by a portion between the inner opening 71 and the end edge 59E. Yes. The flow of the expansion gas G in the inner opening 71 is restricted by the valve bodies 73 and 74 being in contact with each other in at least a part of them, for example, the tip portions 73T and 74T (FIG. 12B). reference). In addition, since the inner opening 71 is opened and the entire valve body 73 is separated from the entire valve body 74, the flow of the expansion gas G in the inner opening 71 is allowed (FIG. 12 ( C)).

Furthermore, as described above, the two overlapping portions 61 having both the valve body portions 73 and 74 are arranged in the upstream inflating portion 47 before the inflating portion 46 is expanded and inflated.
The overlapping portions 61 are folded upward or downward (upward in the present embodiment) at the boundary portion with the non-overlapping portion 62 and overlapped with the non-overlapping portion 62. Further, the folded belt-like two overlapping portions 61 are respectively connected to the cloth portions 43 of the airbag 40 by the outer connecting portions 54 and 55 described above at both ends in the direction along the inner connecting portion 63 (short direction). 44 and the non-overlapping portion 62 of the partition member 50 (see FIGS. 5, 7A and 7B).

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, in the airbag module AM having the inflator assembly 30 and the airbag 40 as main components, the airbag 40 (see FIGS. 4 and 7) in a non-inflated and deployed state is folded. Thus, a compact form (hereinafter referred to as “storage form”) is adopted. This is because the airbag module AM is suitable for storage with respect to the storage unit 18 having a limited size in the seat back 14.

  The airbag module AM in the storage configuration is disposed in the storage portion 18 of the seatback 14 with the inflator assembly 30 positioned on the rear side and most of the airbag 40 positioned on the front side. Yes. As described above, the bolt 34 extending from the retainer 32 and inserted into the airbag 40 (cloth portion 43) is inserted into the side frame portion 15 and is tightened by the nut 36. By this tightening, the inflator assembly 30 is fixed to the side frame portion 15 together with the airbag 40.

The inflator assembly 30 may be fixed to the vehicle 10 (side frame portion 15) by means different from the bolts 34 and nuts 36 described above.
Here, in the airbag 40, when the upstream-side inflating portion 47 is deployed and inflated, the partition member 50 inflates to the front side like the front half of the vertically long ellipsoid. From this, as shown in FIG. 10, the upstream expansion part 47 can be modeled as an ellipsoid. The projection surface PR on which the partition member 50 is projected onto the surface S orthogonal to the flow direction of the inflation gas G at the inner opening 71 is composed of an elliptical portion PR1. The flow direction of the expansion gas G can also be referred to as a direction in which the upstream expansion portion 47 and the downstream expansion portion 48 are adjacent to each other with the pressure regulating valve 70 interposed therebetween (in the present embodiment, the front-rear direction). In FIG. 10, a portion with a halftone dot indicates the elliptical part PR1.

  The major axis (length of the major axis) of the ellipsoid corresponds to the dimension L3 in the direction perpendicular to the slit in the ellipse portion PR1, and corresponds to the length L1 in the longitudinal direction of the partition member 50 described above. The length of the ellipsoid that extends in the vehicle width direction corresponds to the dimension L4 in the direction in which the slit extends in the ellipse portion PR1, and the length of the partition member 50 in the short direction. This corresponds to L2.

  The shape of the elliptical part PR1 can be expressed by a ratio (L3 / L4) of the dimension L3 to the dimension L4. If the ratio (L3 / L4) is larger than “1.0”, the elliptical part PR1 is vertically long.

  Here, when the partition member 50 is tensioned in a curved surface shape as the upstream expansion portion 47 is expanded and inflated, a tension (tension) is applied to the location where the inner opening 71 formed of the slit is provided in the partition member 50. . Of these tensions, there is a correlation between the difference between the tension applied in the direction in which the slit extends and the tension applied in the direction perpendicular to the slit (tension difference) and the ratio (L3 / L4). It is done. FIG. 11 shows that when the ratio (L3 / L4) is changed by changing the dimension L4 while keeping the dimension L3 at a constant value (250 mm), the tension difference is the ratio (L3 / L4). It shows how it changes according to.

  From FIG. 11 above, the following can be said. When the ratio (L3 / L4) is “1.0”, that is, when the projection plane PR is circular, the tension in the direction perpendicular to the slit and the tension in the direction in which the slit extends are the same. Thus, the tension difference becomes “0”, and the inner opening 71 is easily opened. The tension difference increases as the ratio (L3 / L4) increases in the region where the ratio (L3 / L4) is “1.6” or less, and the ratio (L3 / L4) is “1.6”. In the region where the ratio (L3 / L4) is larger than “1.6”, the ratio decreases as the ratio (L3 / L4) increases. When this tension difference is large, the force for closing the inner opening 71 is sufficiently stronger than the opening force, and the inner opening 71 is easily closed. When the ratio (L3 / L4) is “1.6”, the tension difference is maximized and the inner opening 71 is most easily closed. In the region where the ratio (L3 / L4) is 1.1 to 5.0, the tension difference is considered to be a size that can close the inner opening 71.

  On the other hand, when the body side part 11 enters the inside of the vehicle due to a side collision or the like, the inflated part 46 is pressed against the upper body (chest PT, etc.) of the occupant P by the body side part 11, and the upper body (chest PT) Etc.) is restrained.

  At this time, the expansion part 46 is pressed and deformed by an external force applied in accordance with the occupant restraint. Accordingly, the tension (tension) that is strongly applied to the partition member 50 in the width direction of the vehicle seat 12 is reduced, and the tension (tension) that is applied in a direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the slit is increased. Due to these changes in tension (tension), the difference in tension is reduced, the valve body parts 73 and 74 are bent through the partition member 50 and separated from each other, and the inner opening 71 is opened.

  It should be noted that there is a correlation between the external force applied to the inflating portion 46 in accordance with the occupant restraint and the ratio (L3 / L4) required to open the closed inner opening 71. As the ratio (L3 / L4) increases (the elliptical portion PR1 becomes longer in the vertical direction), a large external force is applied to the inflatable portion 46 in accordance with the occupant restraint in order to open the closed inner opening 71. Necessary. However, if a large external force is applied to the inflatable portion 46, the load applied from the airbag 40 to the upper body of the occupant P (such as the chest PT) when the occupant is restrained also increases. According to experiments, when the ratio (L3 / L4) is equal to or less than “5.0”, it is possible to keep the load on the occupant P within an allowable range even when an external force is applied. Incidentally, the difference in tension when the ratio (L3 / L4) is “5.0” is almost the same as the difference in tension (tension) when the ratio (L3 / L4) is “1.1”.

  Considering the above points, from the viewpoint of closing the inner opening 71 before restraining the occupant and opening the inner opening 71 while restraining an excessive load from being applied to the occupant P when restraining the occupant, the ratio (L3 / It is important that L4) is 1.1 to 5.0. The ratio (L3 / L4) is preferably 1.2 to 4.5, and more preferably 1.4 to 2.0. In the side airbag device of the present embodiment, in which the upper body of the occupant P (mainly the chest PT) is to be protected and the dimension L3 is relatively short, the ratio (L3 / L4) is set to “1.6”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the side airbag device includes an impact sensor 75 and a control device 76 in addition to the airbag module AM described above. The impact sensor 75 is composed of an acceleration sensor or the like, and is provided on the body side portion 11 (see FIG. 2) of the vehicle 10 and detects an impact applied to the body side portion 11 from the side. The control device 76 controls the operation of the inflator 31 based on the detection signal from the impact sensor 75.

Furthermore, although the vehicle is equipped with a seat belt device for restraining the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 12, the seat belt device is not shown in FIG.
The side airbag device of the first embodiment is configured as described above. Next, as an operation of the side airbag device, a typical mode of operation (mode) will be described with reference to FIGS. 12A to 12C schematically show how the configuration of the pressure regulating valve 70 and the like change with time after the supply of the expansion gas G is started, and details are omitted. It has been simplified. Further, FIG. 13 shows the pressure (internal pressure) of the inflation gas G in each of the upstream and downstream expansion portions 47, 48, the pressure receiving area of each of the expansion portions 47, 48 of the occupant P, and the occupant P It shows how the load received from the bag 40 changes according to the amount of entry (stroke) of the body side portion 11 that enters the vehicle interior due to impact. The load is determined by the product of the internal pressure and the pressure receiving area.

  In this side airbag device, when no impact is applied from the side to the vehicle 10 (body side portion 11) due to a side collision or the like, an operation signal for operating the vehicle is output from the control device 76 to the inflator 31. Therefore, the inflation gas G is not supplied from the inflator 31 to the expansion part 46 (upstream side expansion part 47). The airbag 40 continues to be stored in the storage portion 18 together with the inflator assembly 30 in the storage form (see FIG. 3). At this time, in the airbag 40, both the cloth parts 43 and 44 are approaching each other. The partition member 50 is in a double-folded state in which the fold line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53. Both valve body parts 73 and 74 overlap in the upstream expansion part 47. The approach amount (stroke) of the body side portion 11 is “0”. The internal pressures of the expanding portions 47 and 48 are both low (substantially atmospheric pressure), and the pressure receiving area and the load are both “0”.

  On the other hand, when the vehicle 10 is traveling, an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the vehicle 10 (body side portion 11) due to a side collision or the like, and when this is detected by the impact sensor 75, based on the detection signal. An operation signal for operating the inflator 31 is output from the control device 76. The amount of entry (stroke) of the body side portion 11 at this time is S0. In response to this operation signal, in the inflator 31, the gas generating agent generates a high-temperature and high-pressure expansion gas G. The expansion gas G is first supplied to the upstream expansion section 47, and the upstream expansion section 47 starts to expand and expand.

  In the inflating portion 46, the two-folded partition member 50 is disposed in a state where the folding line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53. In addition, the partition member 50 is coupled to the corresponding cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 at each of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 (see FIG. 5). Moreover, the partition member 50 is couple | bonded with both the cloth parts 43 and 44 by the periphery coupling | bond part 45 in each of the both ends (upper end part and lower end part) of the direction along the fold line 51 (refer FIG. 7). Therefore, when the expansion and expansion of the upstream expansion portion 47 starts as described above, the partition member 50 in a folded state is pulled into a curved surface shape like the front half of the ellipsoid (see FIG. 10). A tension (tension) is applied to the partition member 50 in a direction orthogonal to the slit on the curved surface or in a direction in which the slit extends, and the partition member 50 tends to be in a tension state (see FIG. 8).

  However, the whole partition member 50 is not in a uniform tension state. From the coupling mode of the partition member 50 to the cloth portions 43 and 44 described above, the longitudinal section of the upstream inflating portion 47 during expansion and expansion has a large curvature in the vicinity of the upper and lower end portions as shown in FIG. This is because the portion has a vertically long, substantially elliptical shape with a small curvature. Because of such an irregular (non-circular) cross section, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 of the partition member 50 have tension (in the direction perpendicular to the slit and the direction in which the slit extends in comparison with the part between them (intermediate part P1)). Tension) is difficult to apply. For this reason, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 of the partition member 50 position the folding line 51 on the upstream side of the opposed end parts 52 and 53 even when the intermediate part P1 is in a curved surface-like tension state that swells forward. It will be in the bent state (however, it will be in the state opened rather than the half-folded state) (refer FIG. 12 (A)).

  An internal pressure PI is applied to both valve body parts 73 and 74 located in the upstream expansion part 47 from the overlapping direction (thickness direction). The internal pressure PI is not as high as when the occupant P is restrained by the inflating portion 46. Both valve body portions 73 and 74 are brought into close contact with each other over the entire surface by the internal pressure PI, and are in a self-sealing state that restricts the flow of the expansion gas G between the both valve body portions 73 and 74. Further, the overlapping portion 61 that is bent and overlapped with the non-overlapping portion 62 of the partition member 50 is pressed against the non-overlapping portion 62 by the internal pressure PI (see FIG. 9). Also from these things, it becomes easier to close both valve body parts 73 and 74 further.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the elliptical part PR1 constituting the projection surface PR of the partition member 50 has an outer shape in which the ratio (L3 / L4) is “1.6”. In other words, the partition member 50 is approximately 1.6 times longer in the direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the slit than the direction in which the slit extends (the width direction of the vehicle seat 12 and the vehicle width direction). . From this, in the said intermediate part P1 of the division member 50, it is easy to apply a strong tension | tensile_strength (tensile force) to the direction where a slit is extended rather than the direction orthogonal to a slit. In the present embodiment, since the inner opening 71 formed of a slit extends in a direction in which this strong tension (tension) is easily applied, the inner opening 71 is easily closed.

  However, although there is a tension relationship as described above, tension (tension) is also applied in the direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the slit to open the inner opening 71, so The opening 71 is not necessarily closed reliably, and the inner opening 71 may be opened. However, even in this case, both valve body portions 73 and 74 are closed at least at their tip portions 73T and 74T. This is because even if the inner opening 71 is pulled by the tension of the intermediate portion P1 and a force to open the inner opening 71 acts, the force is the largest in the inner opening 71, and the inner opening 71 This is because the distance between the valve body portions 73 and 74 becomes smaller at the distal end portions 73T and 74T.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the overlapping portion 61 that is bent toward the non-overlapping portion 62 side has the opposite end portions 52, 52 at both ends in the extending direction of the slit (inner connecting portion 63) by the outer connecting portions 54, 55. 53 and the cloth parts 43 and 44 (see FIG. 9). For this reason, when the upstream expansion portion 47 is expanded and inflated, not only a strong tension (tension) is applied to the intermediate portion P1 of the partition member 50 in the slit extending direction but also the overlapping portion 61 in the same direction. A strong tension is applied.

  When both valve body parts 73 and 74 contact each other in at least a part of them, the expansion gas G in the upstream side expansion part 47 passes between the valve body parts 73 and 74 and through the inner opening 71 to the downstream side. Outflow to the expansion part 48 is restricted. The expansion gas G in the upstream side expansion portion 47 does not flow to the downstream side expansion portion 48 through the inner opening 71 or even if it flows. Therefore, the expansion gas G accumulates in the upstream expansion portion 47, and the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 starts to rise exclusively after the approach amount (stroke) S0.

  In this embodiment, since the expansion part 46 is divided into the upstream expansion part 47 and the downstream expansion part 48 by the partition member 50, the volume of the upstream expansion part 47 is the case where the expansion part 46 is not partitioned. The volume of the expansion portion 46 is smaller. For this reason, the internal pressure of the upstream inflating portion 47 starts to rise faster than when the inflating portion 46 is not partitioned, and becomes higher. In particular, the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 is allowed to flow only between the valve body portions 73 and 74, and flows out to the downstream expansion portion 48 without passing between the valve body portions 73 and 74. Never do. Therefore, the increase rate of the internal pressure of the upstream side expansion portion 47 does not decrease due to the outflow of the expansion gas G.

At this time, the airbag 40 (inflatable portion 46) is not yet in contact with the occupant P. Therefore, both the pressure receiving area and the load are still “0”.
When the upstream inflatable portion 47 is inflated while the upstream inflatable portion 47 is inflated while canceling (deploying) the folded state in the reverse order to the order in which the upstream inflatable portion 47 is folded, the bundling is performed. And the seat pad 16 of the seat back 14 is pressed by the upstream inflating portion 47 and is broken at the planned breaking portion 21 (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 6, the airbag 40 jumps out of the seat back 14 through the broken portion in a state where a part (the vicinity of the inflator assembly 30) remains in the seat back 14.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 2, the upstream side expansion portion 47 to which the expansion gas G is supplied includes the body side portion 11 and the rear half portion of the upper body of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 12 (such as the chest PT). Deploy while canceling the folded state toward the front.

  The approach amount (stroke) of the body side part 11 becomes S1, and the inflating part 46 starts to be pressed against the upper body (chest part PT or the like) of the occupant P by the body side part 11. As a result of this pressing, the occupant P starts to be restrained in the upper body (such as the chest PT) mainly by the upstream-side inflating portion 47.

  At the time of this restraint, the upstream inflatable portion 47 is exclusively expanded and inflated in the inflatable portion 46. Therefore, the place where the occupant P contacts while receiving the pressure of the inflatable portion 46 is exclusively the upstream inflatable portion 47. Therefore, the area of the surface where the occupant P receives the pressure of the expansion part 46 (pressure receiving area on the expansion part 46 side) is the area of the surface receiving the pressure of the upstream expansion part 47 (pressure reception area on the upstream expansion part 47 side). Same and small. However, the pressure receiving area on the upstream expansion portion 47 side increases as the approach to the vehicle inner side of the body side portion 11 in accordance with the impact of the side collision proceeds (the amount of entry (stroke) increases).

  The impact load that the occupant P receives through the inflating portion 46 also increases as the pressure receiving area and the internal pressure increase. As described above, since the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 starts to rise quickly, the approach amount (stroke) S1 at which the load starts to increase is the case where the expansion portion 46 is not partitioned (in FIG. 13, a comparative example). ), The load becomes smaller than the approach amount (stroke) S10 at which the increase starts. In other words, the load starts to increase at an earlier timing than when the inflatable portion 46 is not partitioned, and reaches a predetermined value β for protecting the upper body (chest PT, etc.) of the occupant P from an impact earlier. (See FIG. 13).

  In a state where both valve body portions 73 and 74 are in close contact with each other (closed), the expansion gas G continues to be supplied into the upstream side expansion portion 47, while the amount of entry (stroke) of the body side portion 11 When the internal pressure of the upstream side expansion portion 47 rises to the value α due to the external force applied from the body side portion 11, the pressure regulating valve 70 starts to open.

  That is, from the middle of the supply period of the inflation gas G to the inflatable portion 46, an external force accompanying the occupant restraint is applied and the inflatable portion 46 is pressed and deformed. Along with this, the tension (tension) strongly applied to the partition member 50 in the direction in which the slit extends (width direction of the vehicle seat 12) decreases, and the tension (tension) applied in the direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the slit. Will increase. Due to these changes in tension, the difference between the tensions in both directions is reduced.

  Further, the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 further increases with the deformation of the expansion portion 46, and the intermediate portion P1 of the partition member 50 is pressed toward the downstream expansion portion 48 (see FIG. 12B). The tension applied to the intermediate portion P1 changes. Further, due to the increased internal pressure, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 of the partition member 50 are pressed and deformed so as to swell toward the downstream inflating part 48 side. As described above, the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3 are in a bent state in which the folding line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 before the occupant is restrained (see FIG. 12A). . At the time of occupant restraint, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 are deformed into a shape that is inverted from the shape before restraint of the occupant (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 12B). Due to such shape change (inversion) of the upper part P2 and the lower part P3, a change in tension (tension) easily occurs in the intermediate part P1. Due to this change in tension (tensile force), deformation of the inner opening 71 located in the intermediate portion P1 is allowed, and operation of the valve body portions 73 and 74 located in the intermediate portion P1 is allowed.

  At this time, due to the inversion of the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3, the tensioned region of the partition member 50 expands in a direction orthogonal to the region. An upward tension (tension) is increased for the upper member 56 of the partition member 50, and a downward tension (tension) is increased for the lower member 57. Due to these changes in tension, the slits forming the inner opening 71 are easily pulled up and down.

  On the other hand, the overlapping portion 61 is overlapped with the non-overlapping portion 62 and is coupled to the cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 at both ends in the extending direction of the slit (inner coupling portion 63). Has been. For this reason, in the overlapping portion 61, the portion near the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 has a strong force for maintaining the overlapping state. However, this force decreases as the distance from the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 increases, and becomes minimum at the central portion in the extending direction of the slit (inner coupling portion 63), that is, both valve body portions 73 and 74. For this reason, the overlapping portion 61 pulled in the direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the slit is deformed in the same direction only in the valve body portions 73 and 74 and the vicinity thereof.

  When the inner opening 71 opens to some extent, in the overlapping portion 61, only in both valve body portions 73 and 74 that have received the high internal pressure PI of the upstream expansion portion 47, the inner opening 71 passes through the inner opening 71 to the downstream expansion portion 48. Extruded (reversed). When the vertical width W1 of the inner opening 71 is narrow, the tip portions 73T and 74T are in contact with each other, and both valve body portions 73 and 74 are closed at the tip portions 73T and 74T (see FIG. 12B). ). This state continues for a period in which the width W1 of the inner opening 71 is narrower than the total value (= 2 · W2) of the widths W2 (see FIG. 12C) of the valve body portions 73 and 74.

  When the width W1 of the inner opening 71 becomes larger than the total value (= 2 · W2), the distal ends 73T and 74T are separated (see FIG. 12C), and the distribution restriction is released. By releasing the restriction, the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 is allowed to flow between the inner opening 71 and the valve body portions 73 and 74 in order to flow out to the downstream expansion portion 48.

  Here, as described above, the ratio (L3 / L4) of the ellipse portion PR1 on the projection surface PR of the partition member 50 increases (the ellipse portion PR1 becomes longer in the direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the slit). A large external force is required to open the inner opening 71. However, if a large external force is applied to the inflatable portion 46, the load applied from the airbag 40 to the upper body of the occupant P (such as the chest PT) when the occupant is restrained also increases.

  In this regard, if the ratio (L3 / L4) is “5.0” or less, even if an external force is applied, the load on the occupant P falls within the allowable range. In the present embodiment, the ratio (L3 / L4) is set to “1.6” which is smaller than “5.0”. Therefore, the appropriate setting for the ratio (L3 / L4) suppresses an excessive external force required to open the inner opening 71. As a result, when a moderately large external force is applied to the inflating portion 46 in accordance with the occupant restraint, the difference between the tensions in both directions is reduced, and the inner opening 71 is opened. When the inner opening 71 is opened, it is difficult for an excessive load to be applied to the occupant P.

  Due to the outflow of the expansion gas G, the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 changes from increasing to decreasing. However, since the body side portion 11 continues to enter the vehicle inner side and the inflating portion 46 is pressed against the occupant P in the upstream inflating portion 47, the pressure receiving area on the upstream inflating portion 47 side of the occupant P continues to increase. .

  Further, after the approach amount (stroke) S2, the downstream side expansion portion 48 starts to expand and expand by the expansion gas G, and accordingly, the internal pressure of the downstream side expansion portion 48 starts to increase. Further, when the approach amount (stroke) becomes S3 with a slight delay from the start of the increase of the internal pressure, the downstream side inflating part 48 is in addition to the upstream side inflating part 47 by the body side part 11 entering the vehicle inside. It comes in contact with and can be pressed. The upper body of the occupant P (chest PT, etc.) begins to be restrained by the upstream inflating portion 47 and the downstream inflating portion 48, and the area of the surface on which the occupant P receives the pressure of the downstream inflating portion 48 (on the downstream inflating portion 48 side). Pressure-receiving area) starts to increase.

Note that the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 and the internal pressure of the downstream expansion portion 48 become equal after the approach amount (stroke) S4.
As described above, after the pressure regulating valve 70 is opened (entry amount (stroke) S2), the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 decreases and the internal pressure of the downstream expansion portion 48 increases. Further, the pressure receiving area on the upstream expansion portion 47 side and the pressure receiving area on the downstream expansion portion 48 side of the occupant P increase with a time difference. For this reason, after the approach amount (stroke) S2, the load received by the occupant P from the entire inflatable portion 46, that is, the sum of the load received from the upstream inflatable portion 47 and the load received from the downstream inflatable portion 48 is the inflatable portion 46. Is lower than the maximum value when it is not partitioned (comparative example in FIG. 13), and becomes a substantially constant value (predetermined value β).

  Further, at the beginning of the supply period of the inflation gas G, the load received by the occupant P from the inflation portion 46 increases early, and thereafter the load is maintained at a low value (substantially predetermined value β). Therefore, the energy absorption amount of the expansion portion 46 is approximately the same as the energy absorption amount when the expansion portion 46 is not partitioned (comparative example in FIG. 13). The stroke-load characteristics of the present embodiment are as follows. In the case where the expansion portion 46 is not partitioned (comparative example in FIG. 13), a high load region (upward-slashed diagonal line) in the latter half of the supply period of the expansion gas to the expansion portion. The portion Q) indicated by is shifted to a region with a low load in the first half of the supply period (a portion R indicated by a slanting line slanting to the right). The portions Q and R have different shapes, but the areas are substantially the same.

  By the way, due to the above-described expansion and expansion of the downstream side expansion part 48, the folded state tries to be canceled in the reverse order of the order in which the downstream side expansion part 48 is folded. The downstream-side inflating portion 48 cancels (deploys) the folded state forwardly between the body side portion 11 and the front half of the upper half of the occupant P (chest PT) (see FIG. 2).

  In this way, the airbag 40 is interposed between the upper body (such as the chest PT) of the occupant P and the body side portion 11 that enters the vehicle interior side. The airbag 40 presses and restrains the upper body (chest PT, etc.) toward the vehicle interior side. And the impact from the side transmitted to upper body (chest part PT etc.) through the body side part 11 is relieved by the airbag 40, and the upper body (chest part PT etc.) is protected.

  Here, the impact resistance when an impact is applied from the side to the upper body of the occupant P is generally superior to the front half in the rear half. This is because the rear half has a spine and the rib is connected to the spine at the rear part, whereas the front part of the rib is not connected to the spine having the strength as described above. Therefore, it is desirable that the internal pressure of the inflating portion 46 acting on the upper body of the occupant P from the side as the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated is lower in the front half than in the rear half.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, the expansion portion 46 expands and expands so that the partition member 50 is positioned in the vicinity of the boundary portion between the front half and the rear half of the upper body in the front-rear direction. In the state in which the inflating portion 46 of the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated, the upstream inflating portion 47 is located on the side of the rear half of the upper body, and the downstream inflating portion 48 is located on the side of the front half (FIG. 2). reference). Therefore, in the early stage of restraining the occupant P by the airbag 40, the rear half of the upper half of the occupant P, which has higher impact resistance than the front half, is pressed by the upstream-side inflating portion 47 whose internal pressure increases early. In the initial stage of the restraint, the front half of the upper body of the occupant P, which has a relatively low impact resistance, is pressed by the downstream inflatable portion 48 whose internal pressure is not as high as that of the upstream inflatable portion 47.

According to the first embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The inflation portion 46 of the airbag 40 is adjacent to the upstream side inflation portion 47 to which the inflation gas G is supplied by the planar partition member 50 and the front side of the upstream side inflation portion 47, and the upstream side inflation portion It divides into the downstream side expansion part 48 to which the gas G for expansion | swelling via the part 47 is supplied. The partition member 50 includes a pressure regulating valve 70 having an inner opening 71 formed of a slit extending in a direction in which an impact is applied to the vehicle 10 (the width direction of the vehicle seat 12), and a pair of valve body portions 73 and 74. Provide. Furthermore, the projection surface PR on which the partition member 50 is projected on the surface S orthogonal to the flow direction of the expansion gas G in the inner opening 71 is configured by the ellipse portion PR1. In this elliptical part PR1, the ratio (L3 / L4) of the dimension L3 in the direction orthogonal to the slit to the dimension L4 in the direction in which the slit extends is set to 1.1 to 5.0 (FIG. 10).

  Therefore, before the occupant is restrained by the upstream expansion portion 47, the inner opening 71 is closed, and the valve body portions 73 and 74 are brought into contact with each other, thereby restricting the flow of the expansion gas G in the inner opening 71. And the internal pressure of the upstream expansion part 47 can be raised. Further, when the occupant is restrained by the upstream inflating portion 47, the inner opening 71 is opened while preventing an excessive load from being applied to the occupant P, and both the valve body portions 73 and 74 are separated from each other, whereby the inner opening 71 Is allowed to flow, the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 can be reduced, and the internal pressure of the downstream expansion portion 48 can be increased.

In this way, the internal pressure of the upstream side expansion part 47 and the downstream side expansion part 48 can be adjusted appropriately by appropriately adjusting the flow of the expansion gas G in the inner opening 71.
(2) The end portions 58 and 59 of the two members 56 and 57 are overlapped in a strip shape in a state where the end edges 58E and 59E of the two members 56 and 57 are matched. Further, the partition members 50 are formed by coupling both the members 56 and 57 by an inner coupling portion 63 provided at a boundary portion between the both overlapping portions 61 and the non-overlapping portion 62. The inner opening 71 is formed by releasing the coupling of the members 56 and 57 in a part of the inner coupling portion 63. And the location (vicinity part) corresponding to the inner opening part 71 in both the overlapping parts 61 is made into both valve body parts 73 and 74 (FIG. 9).

  Therefore, the partition member 50, the inner opening 71, and both valve body portions are joined by joining the boundary portions between the non-overlapping portion 62 and the overlapping portion 61 in the two members 56 and 57 while leaving a part of them. 73 and 74 can be formed at a time. There is no need to perform a special operation for forming the inner opening 71 and forming both valve body portions 73 and 74.

  In particular, both valve body portions 73 and 74 are integrated with the partition member 50. More precisely, one valve body 73 is integrated with the member 56, and the other valve body 74 is integrated with the member 57. Therefore, compared with the case where both valve body parts 73 and 74 consist of parts different from the division member 50 (members 56 and 57), a number of parts can be decreased. Moreover, it is not necessary to perform the operation | work which couple | bonds the said components to the division member 50 (members 56 and 57).

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a vehicle side airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 17 in addition to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9. To do.

  In the second embodiment, the configuration of the airbag 40 is different from that of the first embodiment. FIG. 14 shows the airbag 40 together with the occupant P and the vehicle seat 12. FIG. 15 shows the airbag module AM in which the airbag 40 is in a non-inflated and deployed state. 16 shows the airbag module AM in which the airbag 40 in a non-inflated and deployed state in FIG. 15 is cut at the center in the vehicle width direction to show the internal structure of the airbag module AM. It is shown together with the passenger P.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the shape and size of the airbag 40 is such that the airbag 40 is seated in a vehicle seat in a situation where an occupant P (adult) having a standard physique is seated in a standard posture. 12 and the body side part 11 are set so as to be able to occupy an area corresponding to many parts of the upper body (parts from the waist part PP to the chest part PT and the shoulder part PS). The airbag 40 is longer downward than the airbag 40 in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16A, in the second embodiment, one piece of cloth 41 is folded in two so that the folding line 42 is located at the rear end of the airbag 40.
The expansion part 46 is divided into an upstream expansion part 47 and a downstream expansion part 48 by a partition member 50. The partition member 50 is disposed so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the boundary portion between the rear half portion and the front half portion of the upper half of the occupant P when the inflating portion 46 is deployed and inflated. The upstream inflating part 47 is a part that expands and inflates in the side of the region from the rear part of the waist PP to the shoulder part PS in the rear half of the upper half of the occupant P, and is elongated in the vertical direction. In order to distinguish the protection part of the occupant P by the upstream inflatable part 47, the upper part of the upstream inflatable part 47 is developed at the side of the region including at least the rear end PSR of the shoulder PS and the center PSC. The portion that expands is referred to as a shoulder protection expansion portion 64. Further, the lower part of the upstream inflating part 47 and the part that expands and inflates at the rear side of the waist part PP is referred to as a waist protection inflating part 65. In the process of expanding and inflating, the shoulder protection expansion portion 64 breaks the planned break portion 21 (see FIG. 3) of the seat back 14 and jumps out of the storage portion 18. On the other hand, the waist protection expansion portion 65 expands and expands inside the seat back 14. The airbag 40 in FIGS. 14 and 16 shows a non-inflated and deployed state, and the waist protection inflating portion 65 is shown in a state of protruding forward from the seat back 14.

On the other hand, the downstream expansion portion 48 is a portion that expands and expands on the side of the chest PT, and most of the downstream expansion portion 48 is located on the front side of the shoulder protection expansion portion 64.
As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the projection surface PR of the partition member 50 has an elliptical portion PR1 in the upper half. In this elliptical part PR1, the ratio of dimensions (L3 / L4) is set to 1.1 to 5.0.

Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. For this reason, the same elements as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
In the side airbag device according to the second embodiment having the above-described configuration, the slit configuring the inner opening 71 extends in the width direction (vehicle width direction) of the vehicle seat 12, which is a direction to which an impact is applied.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 16A and 16B, when an impact is applied from the side of the vehicle seat 12 to the vehicle 10 (the body side portion 11), the inflation gas G is upstream from the inflator 31. Supplied to the side expansion section 47, the upstream expansion section 47 starts to expand and expand. Before the occupant P is restrained at the time when the upstream inflating portion 47 is deployed and inflated, the partition member 50 is perpendicular to the slit (up and down direction), the direction in which the slit extends (the width direction of the vehicle seat 12). ) Is tensioned, and the partition member 50 tends to be in tension.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 16 (A), 16 (B) and FIGS. 17 (A), (B), in the elliptical part PR1 on the projection surface PR of the partition member 50, the ratio (L3 / L4) is 1. The partition member 50 has a shape that is longer in the vertical direction than in the width direction of the vehicle seat 12. For this reason, the partition member 50 is more likely to be applied with a stronger tension (tension) in the width direction of the vehicle seat 12 than in the vertical direction. Therefore, the inner opening 71 is pulled more strongly in the closing direction than in the opening direction. Further, the pair of valve body portions 73 and 74 are pressed by the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 and come into contact with each other. The expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 is restricted from flowing to the downstream expansion portion 48 through the inner opening 71, and the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 exclusively increases.

  Then, when the upstream inflating portion 47 is inflated while canceling (deploying) the folded state in the reverse order of the folded order, the seat pad 16 of the seat back 14 is pressed by the airbag 40 and is scheduled to break. It is broken at the portion 21 (see FIG. 3). The shoulder protection inflatable portion 64 jumps forward from the seat back 14 through the broken portion with a part of the shoulder protective inflatable portion 64 left in the storage portion 18. After that, the shoulder protection inflating portion 64 to which the inflating gas G is supplied is released forwardly between the body side portion 11 and the shoulder portion PS of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 12. Expand (see FIG. 2). The inflatable portion 46 starts to be pressed against the shoulder portion PS of the occupant P by the body side portion 11. By this pressing, the shoulder portion PS is pressed toward the inside of the vehicle.

  On the other hand, the waist protection expansion portion 65 of the upstream expansion portion 47 expands and expands in the seat back 14. The lower portion of the side portion (side support portion) on the vehicle outer side in the seat back 14 is pressed by the waist protecting and expanding portion 65, and bulges to the front side or the diagonally front vehicle inner side. By the swelled side support portion, the rear portion of the waist portion PP of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 12 is pushed toward the inside of the vehicle.

  Then, the occupant P is moved to the inside of the vehicle by the pressing of the shoulder PS by the shoulder protection expansion part 64 and the pressing of the waist part PP by the waist protection expansion part 65. By this movement, the space | interval of the passenger | crew P and the body side part 11 is expanded (refer FIG. 2). At this time, the shoulder portion PS is a portion that protrudes to the vehicle outer side (the body side portion 11 side) in the upper half of the occupant P. Therefore, the expansion part 46 starts to press the upper body (shoulder part PS) to the vehicle inner side with a smaller expansion amount to the vehicle inner side than when pressing a part other than the shoulder part PS in the upper body of the occupant P. In addition, the pressing of the occupant P by the inflating portion 46 (shoulder protection inflating portion 64) is started in a short time, that is, from an early time, after the inflating portion 46 (shoulder protecting inflating portion 64) starts to expand. Further, when the impact is applied from the side to the upper body of the occupant P, the impact resistance is better in the shoulder PS than in the back portion and the chest PT. Therefore, the shoulder portion PS is strongly pressed by the shoulder protection expansion portion 64 whose internal pressure is increased early.

  In a state where both valve body portions 73 and 74 are in close contact with each other (closed), the expansion gas G continues to be supplied into the upstream expansion portion 47, while the amount of entry of the body side portion 11 increases. Thus, the pressure regulating valve 70 starts to open due to the external force applied from the body side portion 11.

  That is, from the middle of the supply period of the inflation gas G to the inflatable portion 46, an external force accompanying the occupant restraint is applied and the inflatable portion 46 is pressed and deformed. Accordingly, the tension (tension) that is strongly applied to the partition member 50 in the width direction of the vehicle seat 12 is reduced, and the tension (tension) that is applied in the vertical direction is increased. Due to these changes in tension (tension), the difference between the tensions (tensions) in both directions becomes small, the deformation of the inner opening 71 is allowed, and the operation of the valve body parts 73 and 74 is allowed.

  When the inner opening 71 opens to some extent in the vertical direction, both valve body parts 73 and 74 are pushed out (reversed) through the inner opening 71 to the downstream expansion part 48. Both valve body parts 73 and 74 are separated from each other, and the flow restriction is released. By releasing the restriction, the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 is allowed to flow out to the downstream expansion portion 48 through the pressure regulating valve 70.

  Here, in the elliptical part PR1 on the projection surface PR of the partition member 50, the ratio (L3 / L4) is set to “5.0” or less, so that an external force necessary to open the inner opening 71 is generated. It is suppressed that it becomes excessive. As a result, when a moderately large external force is applied to the inflating portion 46 in accordance with the occupant restraint, the difference between the tensions in both directions is reduced, and the inner opening 71 is opened. When the inner opening 71 is opened, it is difficult for an excessive load to be applied to the occupant P.

  By the outflow of the expansion gas G, the internal pressure of the upstream side expansion portion 47 is reduced, the internal pressure of the downstream side expansion portion 48 is increased, and the downstream side expansion portion 48 is expanded and expanded. In addition to the upstream inflatable portion 47, the downstream inflatable portion 48 comes into contact with and pressed against the occupant P by the body side portion 11 entering the vehicle interior. The chest PT of the occupant P starts to be restrained by the downstream inflating portion 48.

  An attempt is made to eliminate the folded state in the reverse order of the order in which the downstream expansion portion 48 is folded. The distance between the body side portion 11 and the chest PT of the occupant P is widened by the shoulder protection expansion portion 64 and the waist protection expansion portion 65 as described above. The downstream expansion portion 48 expands and expands toward the front in the space whose space is expanded as described above. The chest PT is pressed and restrained by the downstream inflating portion 48 toward the vehicle interior side. And the impact from the side transmitted to the chest PT through the body side part 11 is alleviated by the downstream inflating part 48 and the chest PT is protected.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the portion to be protected of the occupant P by the airbag 83 is increased, and the manner of deployment and inflation of the airbag 83 is different, but the elliptical portion PR1 on the projection plane PR of the partition member 50 is different. Since the ratio (L3 / L4) is set to 1.1 to 5.0, the same effects as in the above (1) and (2) can be obtained. In addition, the following effects can be obtained.

  (3) The upper half of the expansion part 46 is partitioned into two front and rear parts (shoulder protection expansion part 64 and downstream expansion part 48) by the partition member 50. By providing the pressure regulating valve 70 in the partition member 50, the downstream side expansion portion 48 is prevented from being expanded and expanded in the initial stage of expansion and expansion of the expansion portion 46.

Therefore, even if an obstacle exists in the region where the downstream-side inflatable portion 48 is to be inflated and inflated at the initial stage of the expansion and expansion of the inflatable portion 46 (in front of the seat back 14), the obstacle is inflated on the downstream side. The pressing by the portion 48 can be suppressed.
(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a knee protection airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the knee protection airbag device is configured such that the passenger P (adult) having a standard physique sits in a standard posture against the vehicle due to a front collision or the like. When an impact is applied from the front of the seat (not shown) for the passenger, the part extending from the front of the occupant P toward the lower limbs is expanded and inflated to protect the region from the shin PD to the knee PK of the occupant P. is there. The knee protection airbag device is stored in a storage portion 82 provided below the steering column 81, for example. The storage portion 82 may be provided in the instrument panel 80 at the front lower side of the passenger in the passenger seat.

  When an impact from the front due to a frontal collision or the like is applied to the vehicle, the airbag 83 of the knee protection airbag device starts to be expanded and inflated by the inflating gas G, exits from the storage portion 82 to the rear side, and the passenger P Between the lower limbs and the steering column 81, it expands and expands in a region from the shin PD of the legs of the occupant P to the knee PK.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the airbag 83 of the knee protection airbag device has a pair of front and rear cloth portions 83 </ b> A formed into a bag shape by a peripheral joint portion 84 provided at the peripheral portion. It is formed by bonding. The inflatable portion 85 of the airbag 83 includes an inflator accommodating portion 86 in which the inflator assembly 30 is accommodated, an upstream inflating portion 87 that protects the knee portion PK, and an inflating gas G in the inflator accommodating portion 86 as an upstream inflating portion. A pair of gas passage portions 88 led to 87 and a downstream side expansion portion 89 located downstream of the upstream side expansion portion 87 (lower side in FIG. 19) are provided. The downstream expansion portion 89 is formed between the upstream expansion portion 87 and the inflator accommodating portion 86. Both gas passages 88 are formed on both sides of the downstream expansion portion 89 in the vehicle seat width direction (vehicle width direction: left-right direction in FIG. 19). The inflator accommodating portion 86 and both gas passage portions 88 and the downstream-side inflating portion 89 are partitioned by a partition portion 91 provided between them in a substantially U-shape in front. The partition portion 91 may be configured by a tether in which a piece of cloth is installed between the front and rear cloth portions 83A of the airbag 83, or is sewn (coupled) in a state where the front and rear cloth portions 83A are in contact with each other. May be constituted by a seam.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a bi-folded partition member 50 is provided between the upstream expansion portion 87 and the downstream expansion portion 89. The partition member 50 is disposed in a state where the folding line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposing end portions 52 and 53 (upper side in FIGS. 19 and 20) in the inflatable portion 85 in a non-inflated and deployed state. . Both opposing end portions 52 and 53 are respectively coupled to corresponding cloth portions 83A by outer coupling portions 54 and 55, respectively. Both end portions in the direction along the fold line 51 of the partition member 50 (both left and right end portions in FIGS. 19 and 20) are coupled to both cloth portions 83A by a part (upper end portion) of the partition portion 91.

  As in the first and second embodiments described above, the partition member 50 includes two members 56 and 57 arranged in the vehicle width direction that is the direction along the fold line 51. Both members 56 and 57 are coupled by an inner coupling portion 63 that extends in a direction orthogonal to the folding line 51. In the portion straddling the fold line 51, the inner coupling portion 63 that couples both the members 56 and 57 is not provided. In this way, the portion where the inner coupling portion 63 is not provided, where the coupling is released, is composed of a slit extending in the direction in which the impact is applied (the longitudinal direction of the vehicle seat 12 (vehicle 10)), and is expanded upstream. An inner opening 71 that communicates between the portion 87 and the downstream expansion portion 89 is formed. In both members 56 and 57, a pair of valve body portions (not shown) are provided in the vicinity of the inner opening 71.

  As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the projection surface PR on which the partition member 50 is projected with respect to the surface S orthogonal to the flow direction of the inflation gas G at the inner opening 71 has an elliptical portion PR1. . In the elliptical part PR1, the ratio (L3 / L4) is set to 1.1 to 5.0.

Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. For this reason, the same elements as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
In the knee protection airbag device of the third embodiment having the above-described configuration, as shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front of the vehicle seat, the inflation gas G is supplied from the inflator 31. Is ejected. The expansion gas G is supplied to the upstream expansion portion 87 through the gas passage portions 88, so that the upstream expansion portion 87 starts to expand and expand. Before deploying and inflating the upstream inflatable portion 87 and before restraining the lower limb of the occupant P, with respect to the partition member 50, the direction perpendicular to the slit (the width direction of the vehicle seat, the vehicle width direction), Tension (tension) is applied in the extending direction (front-rear direction of the vehicle seat), and the partition member 50 tends to be in a tension state.

  Here, in the elliptical part PR1 on the projection surface PR of the partition member 50, the ratio (L3 / L4) is set to “1.1” or more (see FIG. 21). The vehicle seat is longer in the width direction (vehicle width direction) than the vehicle seat. From this, in the partition member 50, it is easy to apply the tension | tensile_strength (tension | tensile_strength) with respect to the width direction (vehicle width direction) of a vehicle seat with respect to the front-back direction. Therefore, the partition member 50 is pulled more strongly in the closing direction than in the opening direction. Further, both valve body portions are pressed by the expansion gas G in the upstream side expansion portion 87 and come into contact with each other. The expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 87 is restricted from flowing to the downstream expansion portion 89 through the inner opening 71, and the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 87 exclusively increases.

  On the other hand, when the vehicle component (instrument panel 80 or the like) enters the occupant P side from the front of the vehicle seat due to the impact and the airbag 83 is pressed against the lower limb of the occupant P, the lower limb mainly expands upstream. Restrained by the portion 87.

  At this time, the expansion portion 85 is pressed and deformed by an external force applied in accordance with the occupant restraint. Accordingly, the tension (tension) that is strongly applied to the partition member 50 in the front-rear direction decreases, and the tension (tension) applied in the width direction of the vehicle seat (vehicle) increases. The difference between the tensions in both directions is reduced, and the inner opening 71 is opened. Both valve body parts are separated from each other, the flow regulation is released, and the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion part 87 is allowed to flow out to the downstream expansion part 89 through the inner opening 71.

  Here, in the elliptical part PR1 on the projection surface PR of the partition member 50, the ratio (L3 / L4) is set to “5.0” or less (see FIG. 21), so that the inner opening 71 is opened. It is suppressed that the external force necessary for the operation becomes excessive. As a result, when an external force having an appropriate magnitude is applied to the inflating portion 85 in accordance with passenger restraint, the difference between the tensions in both directions is reduced, and the inner opening 71 is opened. When the inner opening 71 opens, it is difficult for an excessive load to be applied to the lower limbs of the passenger P.

  By the outflow of the expansion gas G through the inner opening 71, the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 87 decreases. Moreover, the internal pressure of the downstream side expansion part 89 rises, and the downstream side expansion part 89 expands and expands. The inflatable portion 85 is pressed against the lower limb of the occupant P in the downstream inflatable portion 89 in addition to the upstream inflatable portion 87, and the lower limb is restrained by the upstream inflatable portion 87 and the downstream inflatable portion 89.

  As described above, before the occupant is restrained by the upstream expansion portion 87, the flow of the expansion gas G in the inner opening 71 is restricted, and the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 87 exclusively increases. Further, when the occupant is restrained by the upstream-side inflating portion 87, an excessive load is not applied to the lower limb of the occupant P, and the flow of the inflation gas G through the inner opening 71 is allowed. The internal pressure of the upstream side expansion part 87 decreases, and the internal pressure of the downstream side expansion part 89 increases.

  In addition, among the lower limbs of the occupant P, the knee part PK having a relatively high impact resistance is restrained and protected early by the upstream-side inflating part 87 whose internal pressure rises quickly. Further, the shin PD having relatively low impact resistance is softly constrained and protected by the downstream inflating portion 89 whose internal pressure rises later than the upstream inflating portion 87.

  Thus, according to the third embodiment, although the protection target portion of the occupant P by the airbag 83 is different, the ratio (L3 / L4) is 1.1 to 1.1 in the elliptical part PR1 on the projection surface PR of the partition member 50. Since it is set to 5.0, the same effects as in the above (1) and (2) can be obtained.

Note that the present invention can be embodied in another embodiment described below.
<About the partition member 50>
-At least one of the members 56 and 57 in the partition member 50 may be divided into two along the fold line 51.

The opposing end portions 52 and 53 of the partition member 50 may be coupled to the fabric portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 in the upstream inflating portion 47 or in the downstream inflating portion 48. Good.
Further, one of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 may be coupled within the upstream expansion portion 47 and the other may be coupled within the downstream expansion portion 48.

The inner opening 71 and the inner coupling portion 63 are not limited to the direction orthogonal to the fold line 51 of the partition member 50, and may be provided along a direction that intersects obliquely.
-As the division member 50, what consists of a single member (cloth piece) may be used.

  In the overlapping portion 61, the valve body portions 73 and 74 function as the portions corresponding to the inner opening 71 (in the vicinity of the inner opening 71, more precisely, the inner opening 71 and the edge 58E). , 59E). Therefore, if at least the tip end portions 73T and 74T of both valve body portions 73 and 74 are closed in contact with each other when the upstream side expansion portion 47 is expanded and expanded, the overlapping portion 61 does not correspond to the inner opening portion 71. The form of (non-neighboring part) may be changed. For example, portions (non-neighboring portions) that do not correspond to the inner opening 71 in the overlapping portion 61 may be partially or entirely combined. As a means for this connection, stitching or adhesion may be used. By changing in this way, only the portion corresponding to the inner opening 71 in the overlapping portion 61 is operated as both valve body portions 73 and 74, and the phenomenon in which the non-corresponding portions move unnecessarily, for example, fluttering is suppressed. Can do.

In addition, a cutout may be made in at least a part of the overlapping portion 61 that does not correspond to the inner opening 71.
The partition member 50 and the valve body portions 73 and 74 may be configured by different members.

-The fold line 51 in the partition member 50 in the folded state may be slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction of the airbag module AM.
-The location where the coupling between the inner coupling portions 63 is released does not necessarily have to be provided in a portion straddling the fold line 51, and is provided in a location that deviates from the fold line 51 in a direction perpendicular to the fold line 51. May be.

A plurality of locations where the coupling between the inner coupling portions 63 is released may be provided.
The pair of overlapping parts 61 including both valve body parts 73 and 74 may be arranged in the downstream side expansion part 48 instead of the upstream side expansion part 47 before the expansion part 46 is deployed and expanded.

  The partition member 50 in a folded state in which the opposing end portions 52 and 53 facing each other by being folded along the fold line 51 extending in the longitudinal direction causes the fold line 51 to be more than the opposing end portions 52 and 53. Alternatively, it may be disposed in the inflating portion 46 in a non-inflated and deployed state in a state where it is positioned on the downstream side. In this case, the overlapping portion 61 including both valve body portions 73 and 74 may be disposed in the downstream side expansion portion 48 before the expansion portion 46 is expanded and expanded.

In the members 56 and 57 of the partition member 50, the end portions 58 and 59 may be overlapped in a band shape in a state where the end edges 58E and 59E of the end portions 58 and 59 do not match each other.
<About inflating part 46>
The airbag 40 may be substantially entirely composed of the inflating portion 46 as in the first to third embodiments, but the non-inflating portion that is not inflated without being supplied with the inflating gas G. May be included in part.

  -The expansion part 46 may be divided into three or more parts by a partition member. In this case, the two portions adjacent to each other in the flow direction of the expansion gas G across the partition member in the expansion portion 46 are located on the upstream side (side closer to the inflator 31) as the upstream expansion portion, and the downstream side What is located on the side far from the inflator 31 is the downstream side expansion portion. And the pressure regulation valve is provided in the partition member between these upstream expansion parts and downstream expansion parts.

-The dimension L3, L4 in the ellipse part PR1 may be changed on condition that those ratios (L3 / L4) will be 1.1-5.0.
-The waist protection expansion part 65 in 2nd Embodiment may fracture | rupture the seat pad 16 of the seat back 14, and may jump out ahead.

<About Inflator Assembly 30>
The inflator assembly 30 may be provided outside the airbag 40. In this case, the inflator 31 and the upstream side expansion part 47 may be connected by a pipe, and the expansion gas G from the inflator 31 may be supplied to the upstream side expansion part 47 via this pipe.

<About the storage unit 18 of the airbag module AM>
In place of the seat back 14 of the vehicle seat 12, the housing side 18 may be provided in the body side portion 11, and the airbag module AM may be incorporated therein.

<Others>
-Protection object at the time of applying this invention to a side airbag apparatus is not restricted to the site | part (2nd Embodiment) from waist part PP etc. (1st Embodiment) and waist part PP to shoulder part PS. The present invention can also be applied to a side airbag device that protects various parts such as a part from the chest PT to the head and a part from the waist to the head from a shock such as a side collision.

  In the vehicle in which the vehicle seat 12 is arranged in a posture in which the seatback 14 is different from the front of the vehicle, for example, in a lateral direction, the present invention is lateral to the vehicle seat 12 (front-rear direction of the vehicle). When a shock is applied from the side, it can also be applied to a side airbag device that protects the passenger P from the shock.

  As the knee protection airbag device, in addition to the one described in the third embodiment, the airbag module AM may be provided in a grab door that opens and closes the opening of the grab box.

The present invention can also be applied to a different type of airbag device from the side airbag device (first embodiment, second embodiment) and the knee protection airbag device.
-Vehicles to which the side airbag device of the present invention is applied include not only private vehicles but also various industrial vehicles.

  -This invention is applicable not only to a vehicle but to the airbag apparatus with which the vehicle seat in other vehicles, such as an aircraft and a ship, is equipped.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle (vehicle), 12 ... Vehicle seat (vehicle seat), 40, 83 ... Air bag, 46, 85 ... Expansion part, 47, 87 ... Upstream side expansion part, 48, 89 ... Downstream side expansion part, 50 ... partition member, 56, 57 ... member, 58, 59 ... end, 58E, 59E ... end edge, 61 ... overlapping portion, 62 ... non-overlapping portion, 70 ... pressure regulating valve, 71 ... inner opening (opening) Part), 73, 74 ... valve body part, G ... gas for expansion, L3 ... dimension in the direction perpendicular to the slit, L4 ... dimension in the direction in which the slit extends, P ... passenger, PR ... projection surface, PR1 ... ellipse part, S ... surface.

Claims (3)

An airbag provided with an inflating portion that is deployed and inflated at a location approaching an occupant seated on a vehicle seat by an inflating gas supplied in response to an impact on the vehicle. The member includes at least an upstream expansion portion to which the expansion gas is supplied and a downstream expansion portion that is adjacent to the upstream expansion portion and to which the expansion gas is supplied via the upstream expansion portion. An airbag device that divides into a plurality of parts and restrains the occupant with the inflatable portion,
The partition member is provided with a pressure regulating valve having an opening made of a slit extending in the direction of the impact and a pair of valve body portions,
Before the occupant is restrained by the upstream inflating part, the two valve body parts are pressed by the inflating gas in the upstream inflating part and come into contact with each other, thereby restricting the flow of the inflating gas through the opening. And, when the occupant is restrained by the upstream inflating portion, the external force applied along with the restraint is bent through the partition member and separated from each other, thereby allowing the inflation gas to flow through the opening.
The ratio of the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the slit to the dimension in the direction in which the slit extends is 1 on the projection plane on which the partition member is projected with respect to the plane perpendicular to the flow direction of the inflation gas at the opening. Has an oval part of 1 to 5.0,
The partition member includes ends in a state where the edges between the two members is matched and the overlapping portion which is superimposed on the strip, the non-overlapping portions of the two members is not overlapped,
A part of the boundary part between the non-overlapping part and the overlapping part is provided with a coupling part that couples the two members ,
The opening is formed in a portion where the coupling portion is not provided in a boundary portion between the overlapping portion and the non-overlapping portion ,
Wherein both the valve body portion, an air bag device characterized in that in the overlapping portions are portions corresponding to the opening. The inflatable portion of the airbag is deployed and inflated forward on the side of the vehicle seat by an inflating gas supplied in response to an impact applied to the vehicle from the side of the vehicle seat. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1 . The inflatable portion of the airbag is deployed and inflated from the front of the vehicle seat toward the occupant's lower limb by an inflation gas supplied in response to an impact applied to the vehicle from the front of the vehicle seat. The airbag device according to claim 1 .