JP5912458B2 - Gas supply device and airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device mounted on a vehicle and a gas supply device for an airbag.

  An airbag is a device that inflates and deploys between an occupant and a steering wheel or between an occupant and a passenger compartment side wall in the event of a vehicle collision to protect the occupant. The airbag is configured to inflate and deploy using gas, and is provided with a gas generator called an inflator as a gas generation source. The inflator is filled with a gas generating agent, burns the gas generating agent due to detection of an impact by a sensor or the like, and jets gas. There are various types of inflators, such as a disk-shaped disk type and a cylindrical cylinder type, depending on the type of airbag.

  In order for the airbag to inflate and deploy instantaneously, it is necessary to efficiently distribute the gas ejected from the inflator to the inside of the airbag. In response to this, many airbags include a member called a deflector or a diffuser in order to adjust the flow of gas ejected from the inflator.

  For example, in the side airbag described in Patent Document 1, a cloth-made diffuser covers the periphery of a cylinder-type inflator. This diffuser is formed by winding a cloth material cut into a rectangular shape around an inflator so as to form a cylindrical shape. Both ends of the diffuser in the longitudinal direction (both ends in the longitudinal direction of the inflator) are open, and the diffuser has a function of guiding the gas ejected from the inflator in the longitudinal direction.

  Also in the knee airbag described in Patent Document 2, a cylinder-type inflator is covered with a cylindrical diffuser. The diffuser described in Patent Document 2 seems to be made of metal, and after inserting the inflator inside the cylindrical shape, the inflator is fixed by being caulked from the outside.

JP 2011-126499 A JP 2010-36882 A

  Currently, there is a tendency for the vehicle to become more compact, and the above-described deflector and diffuser are desired to have a simpler and cheaper configuration. Here, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the inflator has a stud bolt for attachment to a vehicle, and the cloth diffuser is provided with a hole through which the stud bolt is passed. On the other hand, in the configuration of Patent Document 2, the inflator does not have a stud bolt, and the stud bolt is provided in a metal diffuser that covers the outside of the inflator.

  For the inflator with a stud bolt described in Patent Document 1, considering heat resistance and the like, it is more convenient to combine with the metal diffuser described in Patent Document 2 than the cloth diffuser There is. However, in that case, in the metal and cylindrical diffuser described in Patent Document 2, it is difficult to insert the inflator with the stud bolt as it is, so it is necessary to change the shape, resulting in a complicated and expensive configuration. End up.

  In addition, a general airbag is attached to a vehicle while being wound or folded to be miniaturized. However, when an inflator having a metal diffuser or a deflector is provided, these may become an obstacle when the airbag is wound. In this case, it is difficult to reduce the size of the airbag, which may require a wide installation area for the vehicle, and may complicate the installation work on the vehicle.

  In view of such a problem, the present invention is a gas supply device mainly for an air bag including a metal deflector and a cylinder-type inflator, and is more compactly installed with a simple and inexpensive configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas supply device that can be used, and an airbag device using the gas supply device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a typical configuration of a gas supply device according to the present invention is a gas supply device that is attached to an airbag and supplies inflation and deployment gas to the airbag, and ejects the gas. An inflator having a gas ejection port on its outer surface, and a deflector made of sheet metal, wound around the inflator without gaps and covering at least the gas ejection port, the deflector having a circular first hole, An inflator having a second hole portion provided at a position away from the first hole portion toward the winding end side of the deflector and being elongated along the direction in which the deflector is wound and overlapping the first hole portion Further includes one or more stud bolts protruding from the outer surface and fastened to the vehicle through the first hole and the second hole, and the deflector receives gas from the gas outlet. Its diameter winding of deflectors is eliminated partially so the stud bolt is moved relative to the winding end of the second hole portion of the long, characterized in that the spread to a predetermined size.

  The deflector having the above configuration is originally a sheet metal, and does not take up space because it is wound around the inflator without any gaps at the time of installation. During the operation of the airbag, the gas is blown out from the inflator so that the diameter is increased and the gas is guided in the longitudinal direction of the airbag. Since this deflector is made of metal, it has excellent heat resistance. Furthermore, since the deflector can be assembled to the inflator without performing welding, bolting or the like, labor during assembling work can be reduced. By these, if it is the above-mentioned composition, composition is simple and can hold down cost, and since it was small before operation, it does not take an installation place and installation work is easy, and it was excellent in heat resistance. A gas supply device can be provided.

  Said 2nd hole part is an interference part which is provided so that the width | variety of 2nd hole part may be narrowed, and interferes with a stud bolt, Comprising: Interference which interferes with a stud bolt when the diameter of a deflector spreads to a predetermined magnitude | size You may have a part. By providing this interference part, it becomes possible to set the diameter of the deflector to an arbitrary size when the airbag is activated.

  As for said 2nd hole part, the both ends are circular shaped according to the diameter of the stud bolt, and the width | variety except the both ends may be narrowed. If it is the 2nd hole part of this structure, since winding is not easily eliminated, the form can be maintained stably at the time of installation. Further, since the stud bolt fits into the end of the second hole portion even when the gas is ejected, the deformed form is stabilized and the gas rectifying performance is also stabilized.

  The deflector is preferably made of mild steel. If the mild steel has a certain degree of softness, the deflector having the above configuration can be suitably realized.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a typical configuration of an airbag device according to the present invention includes the above-described gas supply device. As a result, it is possible to realize an airbag device that has a simple configuration, can reduce costs, and is small in size before operation, so that it does not take an installation place and is easy to install.

  According to the present invention, a gas supply device mainly for an airbag including a genus-made deflector and a cylinder-type inflator, and the gas supply device can be installed in a smaller size with a simple and inexpensive configuration. It is possible to provide an airbag device using the gas supply device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the figure which illustrated the outline | summary of the gas supply apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention, and an airbag apparatus. It is the figure which illustrated each element which comprises the gas supply apparatus of FIG.1 (b), respectively. It is the figure which illustrated the state before performing the bending process of the deflector of FIG.2 (d). It is the figure which illustrated the process of attaching the deflector of FIG. 3 to an inflator. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a deformation process during operation of the airbag of the deflector of FIG. 4. It is the figure which illustrated the 1st modification of the deflector of FIG. It is the figure which illustrated the process of attaching the deflector of FIG. 6 to an inflator. It is the figure which illustrated the deformation | transformation process at the time of the airbag operation | movement of the deflector of FIG. It is the figure which illustrated the 2nd modification of the deflector of FIG. It is the figure which illustrated the deformation | transformation process at the time of the airbag operation | movement of the deflector of FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a gas supply device 100 and an airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 1A, the gas supply device 100 is applied to a side airbag 102 which is an example of an airbag device. The gas supply device 100 can be applied to various airbag devices such as a knee airbag and a curtain airbag in addition to the side airbag.

  The side airbag 102 illustrated in FIG. 1A illustrates a state before inflating and deploying. The side airbag 102 is mainly installed in the housing 103 at the side of the seat 101, and is inflated and deployed between the occupant and the vehicle interior side wall when an impact such as a collision accident occurs. This expansion and expansion is performed by a gas for expansion and expansion supplied from the gas supply device 100.

  FIG.1 (b) is the figure which illustrated the gas supply apparatus 100 of Fig.1 (a) independently. The gas supply device 100 includes a cylinder-type inflator 104 and a deflector 106 that rectifies the gas ejected from the inflator 104. The inflator 104 is a gas generator and is filled with a gas generating agent (not shown). The deflector 106 is a member formed in a cylindrical shape that covers the periphery of a part of the inflator 104. The deflector 106 is deformed when gas is ejected, and functions to guide the gas back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the inflator 104.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating each element constituting the gas supply device 100 of FIG. FIG. 2A illustrates the inflator 104 of FIG. 1B alone. A plurality of gas outlets 108 are provided on the outer surface of the inflator 104, and the gas generated by burning the internal gas generating agent is jetted from the gas outlet 108. In addition, two stud bolts 110a and 110b are provided on the outer surface of the inflator 104, and the inflator 104 is installed by fastening the stud bolts 110a and 110b to the housing 103 (FIG. 1A). .

  FIG. 2B is an arrow A view of the inflator 104 of FIG. A connector 112 is provided at one end of the inflator 104 illustrated in FIG. A harness (not shown) is connected to the connector 112, and the inflator 104 receives a signal from a sensor (not shown) through the harness, and ignites the gas generating agent inside due to this.

  FIG.2 (c) has illustrated the deflector 106 of FIG.1 (b) independently. The deflector 106 is formed by bending a sheet metal, and is attached to a position that covers the gas ejection port 108 in the inflator 104 illustrated in FIG. The inner diameter R1 of the deflector 106 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the inflator 104 in the state before the gas ejection illustrated in FIG. Not. As described above, the deflector 106 has a very small form before the gas ejection.

  FIG.2 (d) is the B view of FIG.2 (c). A plurality of holes (first hole portions 114a and 114b and second hole portions 116a and 116b) through which stud bolts 110a and 110b (see FIG. 2A) of the inflator 104 are passed are provided in the deflector 106 in an overlapping manner. ing. In the present embodiment, the shapes of these holes are characteristic, and thereby, the configuration in which the deflector 106 is deformed into a form capable of guiding the gas when the gas is ejected is realized.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state before bending the deflector 106 of FIG. The deflector 106 is formed by providing a rectangular sheet metal with two first holes 114a and 114b and second holes 116a and 116b through which the stud bolts 110a and 110b pass, respectively. When the deflector 106 is installed, the deflector 106 is attached by being bent so as to be wound around the inflator 104 (see FIG. 2A). In this case, mild steel having a certain degree of softness is used as the material of the deflector 106 so that bending can be easily performed. The deflector 106 is wound along the long side direction indicated by the arrow D1. Hereinafter, this long side direction is referred to as a winding direction D1.

  Of the two types of holes, the first holes 114a and 114b are formed in a substantially circular shape. The second hole portions 116a and 116b are provided at positions away from the winding end side (winding direction D1) when viewed from the first hole portions 114a and 114b, and are further elongated along the winding direction D1. It is formed in a long hole shape.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a process of attaching the deflector 106 of FIG. 3 to the inflator 104. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the deflector 106 is first attached to the inflator 104 through the stud bolts 110a and 110b in the first holes 114a and 114b. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the deflector 106 is bent so as to be wound around the inflator 104.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4C, the deflector 106 is wound around the inflator 104 so as to go around the inflator 104, and then the stud bolts 110a and 110b are passed through the second holes 116a and 116b. From that state, the deflector 106 is further wound so that the stud bolts 110a and 110b slide in the second holes 116a and 116b. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 4D, the deflector 106 is in a very small form in contact with the inflator 104 without a gap. In this form, the gas supply device 100 is assembled to the airbag and further installed in the vehicle.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a deformation process of the deflector 106 of FIG. 4 when the airbag is activated. FIG. 5A illustrates the gas supply device 100 before the deflector 106 is deformed. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the initial deflector 106 is wound around the inflator 104. FIG. 5B is an arrow view of FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, there is no gap between the deflector 106 at the time of installation and the inflator 104. When an impact occurs in the vehicle in this state, the inflator 104 is activated, gas is ejected from the gas ejection port 108, and the gas pressure G1 is applied to the deflector 106 from the inside.

  FIG. 5C illustrates the deflector 106 deformed from the state of FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 5C, the shape of the deflector 106 is not fixed because the second holes 116 a and 116 b have a long hole shape. With this configuration, when the gas pressure G1 is applied to the deflector 106 from the inside, the deflector 106 is deformed so that the stud bolts 110a and 110b relatively move toward the winding end side in the second holes 116a and 116b. , Part of the winding is eliminated. By deforming in this way, the inner diameter of the deflector 106 is expanded as illustrated in FIG. 5D (FIG. 5D is an arrow view of FIG. 5C). As a result of this deformation, a gap S1 is formed between the deflector 106 and the inflator 104, and the gas is guided to both sides in the longitudinal direction of the inflator 104 through the gap S1, as shown in FIG. It is supplied to the airbag 102 (see FIG. 1A).

  By providing the deflector 106 described above, the gas supply device 100 and the side airbag 102 are in a more compact form at the time of installation before operation, and therefore do not take up space for installation. In addition, the deflector 106 has a simple structure that does not require welding, bolting, or the like to assemble the deflector 106. Since the labor during assembly work is reduced, the cost of the deflector 106 can be reduced not only as a single member but also in terms of assembly work. It is possible to suppress. When the gas supply device 100 is in operation, the deflector 106 is made of metal and can exhibit excellent heat resistance.

(First modification)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a first modification of the deflector 106 in FIG. 3. The deflector 200 illustrated in FIG. 6 is different from the deflector 106 in FIG. 3 in the shape of the second holes 202a and 202b. The second holes 202a and 202b also have a long shape along the winding direction D1, but the second holes 202a and 202b are provided with interference portions 204a and 204b so as to narrow the width. The interference portions 204a and 204b are passed through the second holes 202a and 202b when the diameter of the deflector 200 is expanded to a predetermined size by the gas pressure G1 (see FIG. 8A) during gas ejection. This is a part that works to maintain the diameter of the deflector 200 at a predetermined size by interfering with the stud bolts 110a and 110b (see FIG. 8A).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of attaching the deflector 200 of FIG. 6 to the inflator 104. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, first, the deflector 200 is wound around the inflator 104 through the stud bolts 110a and 110b around the first holes 114a and 114b and the second holes 202a and 202b. From that state, the deflector 200 is further wound so that the stud bolts 110a and 110b exceed the interference portions 204a and 204b. In this way, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the deflector 200 is wound so as to contact the inflator 104 without a gap. The interference portions 204a and 204b may be processed so that the stud bolts 110a and 110b cannot pass again, such as by caulking again after the stud bolts 110a and 110b are passed.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a deformation process when the airbag of the deflector 200 of FIG. 7 is activated. FIG. 8A illustrates the gas supply device before the deflector 200 is deformed. When the inflator 104 is activated, the gas pressure G1 is applied from the inside to the deflector 200 wound around the inflator 104 illustrated in FIG. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the deflector 200 is deformed so that the winding is partially canceled and the inner diameter is widened. By this deformation, a gap S1 is generated between the deflector 200 and the inflator 104, and gas is supplied to the airbag (see FIG. 1A).

  Here, the interference holes 204a and 204b are provided in the second holes 202a and 202b, and the interference portions 204a and 204b interfere with the stud bolts 110a and 110b, so that the inner diameter of the deflector 200 is unnecessarily widened. It is gone. In this manner, by providing the interference portions 204a and 204b at arbitrary positions, the diameter of the deflector 200 when the airbag is operated is arbitrarily large regardless of the size (length) of the second holes 202a and 202b. It becomes possible to set to.

(Second modification)
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a second modification of the deflector 106 in FIG. The deflector 300 illustrated in FIG. 9 is also different from the deflector 106 in FIG. 3 in the shape of the second holes 302a and 302b. The second hole portions 302a and 302b have both ends (end portions 304a and 304b and end portions 306a and 306b) having a circular shape corresponding to the diameters of the stud bolts 110a and 110b. (Narrow portions 308a and 308b). The deflector 300 is also assembled so as to be wound around the inflator 104, similarly to the deflector 106 described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a deformation process of the deflector 300 when the airbag of FIG. 9 is activated. FIG. 10A illustrates a gas supply device before the deflector 300 is deformed. In the deflector 300 wound around the inflator 104 illustrated in FIG. 10A, the end portions 306a and 306b are fitted into the stud bolts 110a and 110b, and the winding is not easily eliminated.

  When the inflator 104 is activated, a gas pressure G1 is applied from the inside. Then, the end portions 306a and 306b are separated from the stud bolts 110a and 110b, the stud bolts 110a and 110b pass through the narrow portions 308a and 308b, and the end portions 304a and 304b fit into the stud bolts 110a and 110b. By this deformation, a gap S1 is generated between the deflector 300 and the inflator 104, and gas is supplied to the airbag. Also at this time, the shape of the deflector 300 is stable because the end portions 304a and 304b are fitted into the stud bolts 110a and 110b.

  As described above, the end portion 306a and 306b of the deflector 300 are not easily eliminated because the end portions 306a and 306b fit into the stat bolts 110a and 110b. In addition, since the end portions 304a and 304b fit into the stud bolts 110a and 110b even when the gas is ejected, the deformed form can be stably maintained, and the gas rectification performance is also stable.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments described above are preferred examples of the present invention, and other embodiments can be implemented or performed in various ways. Can be carried out. The invention is not limited to the detailed shape, size, configuration, and the like of the components shown in the accompanying drawings unless otherwise specified in the present specification. In addition, expressions and terms used in the present specification are for the purpose of explanation, and are not limited thereto unless otherwise specified.

  Therefore, it is obvious for those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the example which applied the gas supply apparatus concerning this invention to the side airbag with which a motor vehicle is provided was demonstrated. However, the present invention can be applied to other types of airbags other than side airbags, aircrafts and ships other than automobiles, and the same effects can be obtained.

  The present invention can be used for an airbag device mounted on a vehicle and a gas generator for an airbag.

R1 ... inner diameter of deflector, R2 ... outer diameter of inflator, D1 ... winding direction, S1 ... gap, G1 ... gas pressure, 100 ... gas supply device, 101 ... seat, 102 ... side airbag, 103 ... housing, 104 ... Inflator, 106, 200, 300 ... Deflector, 108 ... Gas outlet, 112 ... Connector, 114a, 114b ... First hole, 116a, 116b, 202a, 202b, 302a, 302b ... Second hole, 204a, 204b ... Interference part, 304a, 304b, 306a, 306b ... end, 308a, 308b ... narrow part

Claims (5)

A gas supply device that is attached to an airbag and supplies gas for inflation and deployment to the airbag,
A cylinder-type inflator having a gas ejection port for ejecting the gas on its outer surface;
And a deflector for cylindrical sheet metal is in at least the gas port to cover a gap without winding One had form around the inflator,
The deflector is
A circular first hole;
A second hole portion provided at a position away from the first hole portion toward the winding end side of the deflector, being elongated along a direction in which the deflector is wound, and overlapping the first hole portion; Have
The inflator further includes one or more stud bolts protruding from the outer surface and fastened to the vehicle through the first hole and the second hole,
When the deflector receives the gas from the gas outlet, the winding of the deflector is partially eliminated so that the stud bolt moves relatively to the winding end side of the long second hole. A gas supply device characterized in that the diameter is expanded to a predetermined size.   The second hole portion is an interference portion that is provided so as to narrow the width of the second hole portion and interferes with the stud bolt. When the diameter of the deflector expands to a predetermined size, The gas supply device according to claim 1, further comprising an interference unit that interferes.   2. The gas supply according to claim 1, wherein both end portions of the second hole portion have a circular shape corresponding to the diameter of the stud bolt, and the width is narrowed except for the both end portions. apparatus.   The gas supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the deflector is made of mild steel.   An airbag device comprising the gas supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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