JP7043009B2 - Crew protection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is a occupant protection device including an airbag that is folded and stored on the front side of a seated occupant in a vehicle and expands and expands to the rear side from the storage portion so that the occupant can be received when an expansion gas flows in. Regarding.

Conventionally, as a occupant protection device, an airbag that protects a seated occupant can quickly complete expansion, and a loop-shaped expansion is completed so as to suppress an increase in reaction force when the occupant is received. It is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In these airbags, when the expansion is completed, the expansion portion is not provided in the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction, and the volume of the expansion portion is small, so that the expansion can be completed quickly and the occupant can be accommodated. When receiving, the space portion arranged in the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction was crushed to reduce the reaction force acting on the occupant.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-344844 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-22231

However, in any of the occupant protection devices, the airbag at the time of completion of expansion is configured to be easily crushed on the front side by providing a space portion in the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction, and there is a possibility that the reaction force cannot be secured.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and protects the occupant so that the airbag can quickly complete the expansion and the airbag after the expansion is completed can secure a stable reaction force when the occupant is received. The purpose is to provide the device.

The occupant protection device according to the present invention is an airbag that is folded and stored on the front side of a seated occupant in a vehicle, and expands and expands rearward from the storage portion so that the occupant can be received when the expansion gas flows in. Equipped with
The airbag has an inflow opening for inflowing expansion gas, and the peripheral edge of the inflow opening is fixedly arranged to the storage portion.
The expansion complete shape is provided with an upper portion and a lower portion that branch up and down from the inflow opening side, and also has a connection portion between the rear ends of the upper portion and the lower portion as a confluence portion on the tip side. A loop-shaped occupant protection device with a rear side
The airbag
A bag body having the upper side portion, the lower side portion, and the rear side portion.
Disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion are connected so as to regulate the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion when expansion is completed. Flexible connecting material and
It is characterized in that it is configured with.

In the occupant protection device according to the present invention, when the bag body of the airbag completes the expansion and receives the occupant, the rear side portion receives the occupant. At that time, the rear side portion moves forward to cause a behavior of expanding the upper portion and the lower side portion, but the upper portion and the lower side portion are connected by a flexible connecting material. Since the separation distance between the two is not widened, the forward movement of the rear side portion is restricted, the reaction force of the bag body is secured, and the occupant can be accurately received. Further, since the bag body merely disposes a connecting material between the upper portion and the lower portion on the front side of the rear side portion and does not provide an expansion portion, the volume itself can be reduced. It is possible to complete the expansion quickly when the expansion gas flows in.

Therefore, in the occupant protection device according to the present invention, the airbag can quickly complete the expansion, and the airbag after the expansion is completed can secure a stable reaction force when the occupant is received.

Then, in the occupant protection device according to the present invention, the connecting material has at least a long and short distance between the first distance and the second distance that makes the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion longer than the first distance. It is desirable that they are arranged so that they can be adjusted in two types.

In such a configuration, when the bag body receives the occupant by the rear side portion, if the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is set to the first distance, the reaction force can be increased to receive the occupant. , It is possible to accurately catch the occupants who move forward by increasing the kinetic energy. However, if the reaction force becomes too high and the connecting material can increase the separation distance between the upper part and the lower part from the first distance to the second distance, the increase in the reaction force can be suppressed and the occupant receives it by the bag body. Can be suitably protected.

In this case, the adjustment of the second distance of the connecting material is performed in a state where the connecting material is released from the connection between the upper portion and the lower portion or the connection state between the upper portion and the lower portion is maintained. , Adjustment to make it longer than the first distance can be exemplified.

Further, in the occupant protection device according to the present invention, the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion of the connecting material can be adjusted to a first distance and a second distance longer than the first distance. With various length adjustment means connected
As a configuration in which the adjustment between the first distance and the second distance in the length adjusting means is controlled by the control device.
When the control device detects that the receiving occupant is a large occupant based on a signal from the occupant detecting means capable of detecting whether the receiving occupant of the bag body is a large occupant or a small occupant, the length adjusting means is subjected to the upper portion. Adjust so that the separation distance between the lower part and the lower part is the first distance.
When the receiving occupant detects that the occupant is a small occupant, it is desirable to adjust the length adjusting means so that the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is the second distance.

In such a configuration, when the bag body at the completion of expansion receives a large occupant, the control device sets the length adjusting means so that the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is the first distance. By adjusting, it is possible to increase the reaction force and accurately receive a large occupant with high kinetic energy. On the other hand, when the bag body at the completion of expansion receives the petite occupant, the control device adjusts the length adjusting means so that the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is the second distance. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the reaction force and preferably receive a small occupant with low kinetic energy.

In this case, the occupant protection device according to the present invention is a seatbelt device provided with a pretensioner mechanism and a force limiter mechanism for restraining an occupant seated on the seat, and pulls the belt that restrains the occupant during operation. Equipped with a seatbelt device that can adjust the force in at least two stages, high and low,
The control device controls the operation of the inflator that supplies the expansion gas to the airbag when the vehicle collides, and also adjusts the length adjusting means during operation and the tensile force of the seatbelt device. It is controllable, and it is configured to be able to detect whether the vehicle speed is high speed or medium and low speed.
When the control device controls to operate the inflator,
When the occupant detecting means detects that the occupant seated on the seat is a large occupant, the length adjusting means is adjusted so that the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is the first distance. In addition, at vehicle speed,
If high speed is detected, the tensile force of the belt is adjusted as a high tensile force.
If it is detected as medium or low speed, the tensile force of the belt is adjusted as a low tensile force, or
When the occupant detecting means detects that the occupant seated on the seat is a small occupant, the length adjusting means is adjusted so that the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is the second distance. In addition, at vehicle speed,
If high speed is detected, the tensile force of the belt is adjusted as a high tensile force.
If it is detected as medium and low speed, it is desirable to adjust the tensile force of the belt as a low tensile force.

In such a configuration, when the vehicle collides, if the seated occupant is a large occupant, the control device activates the inflator to inflate the airbag, and the occupant seated from the occupant detection means is the large occupant. By detecting this, the length adjusting means is adjusted so that the separation distance between the upper part and the lower part is the first distance, so that the bag body that has completed the expansion increases the reaction force. Therefore, it is possible to accurately receive a large occupant with high kinetic energy. Further, at this time, if the vehicle collides at high speed, the control device increases the tensile force of the belt of the seatbelt device and pulls the belt hung on the occupant, so that the large occupant with high kinetic energy moves forward. Can be accurately suppressed. In addition, if the vehicle at the time of a collision is at medium or low speed, the control device lowers the tensile force of the belt of the seatbelt device and pulls the belt hung on the occupant, so that a large occupant with relatively low kinetic energy. Can accurately suppress the forward movement of.

When the seated occupant is a petite occupant at the time of a vehicle collision, the control device activates the inflator to inflate the airbag and detects from the occupant detection means that the seated occupant is a petite occupant. Since the length adjusting means is adjusted so that the separation distance between the upper part and the lower part is the second distance, the bag body that has completed the expansion lowers the reaction force and kinetic energy. It can favorably accept low petite occupants. Further, at this time, if the vehicle collides at high speed, the control device increases the tensile force of the belt of the seatbelt device and pulls the belt hung on the occupant, so that the small occupant with high kinetic energy moves forward. Can be accurately suppressed. In addition, if the vehicle at the time of a collision is at medium or low speed, the control device lowers the tensile force of the belt of the seatbelt device and pulls the belt hung on the occupant, so that the small occupant with relatively low kinetic energy. Can accurately suppress the forward movement of.

That is, the above-mentioned occupant protection device can accurately protect the occupant according to the physique of the occupant and the speed of the vehicle.

It is a schematic side view which shows the operating state of the occupant protection device of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic vertical sectional view of the airbag at the time of operation of the occupant protection device of 1st Embodiment, and shows the II-II part of FIG. It is a top view which shows the constituent material of the airbag of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic side view in the state that the separation distance between the upper part and the lower part of the bag body in the airbag of the occupant protection device of 1st Embodiment is the 2nd distance. It is a figure which shows the operating state of the occupant protection device of 2nd Embodiment, and is the schematic side view when the occupant is a large-sized occupant. It is a figure which shows the operating state of the occupant protection device of 2nd Embodiment, and is the schematic side view in the case where the occupant is a small occupant. It is a top view which shows the constituent material of the airbag of 2nd Embodiment. By adjusting the length adjusting means of the second embodiment, the connecting material maintains the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion at the first distance, and the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is second. It is a figure explaining the state which makes it a distance. It is a table which shows the state which the control device of the occupant protection device of 2nd Embodiment adjusts the length adjusting means of the connecting material, and the seat belt device according to the physique of an occupant and the vehicle speed. It is a figure which shows the operating state of the occupant protection device of 3rd Embodiment, and is the schematic side view in the case where the occupant is a large occupant. It is a figure which shows the operation state of the occupant protection device of 3rd Embodiment, and is the schematic side view in the case where the occupant is a small occupant. By adjusting the length adjusting means of the third embodiment, the connecting material maintains the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion at the first distance, and the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is the second. It is a figure explaining the state which makes it a distance.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment is located on the vehicle body side portion in front of the passenger seat on the front seat side of the vehicle 1. That is, it is mounted on the part of the instrument panel (instrument panel) 2.

The passenger seat 4 includes a backrest portion 4a and a seat portion 4b, and the occupant OP seated on the seat 4 is usually seated with the belts 6a and 6b of the seatbelt device 6 attached, and the buckle 6d. A shoulder belt 6a extending from the tongue plate 6c for assembling to the occupant OP is arranged in front of the chest B of the occupant OP, and a lap belt 6b extending from the tongue plate 6c is arranged in front of the waist portion W.

The occupant protection device 10 includes an airbag 20 and an inflator 14 that supplies an expansion gas G to the airbag 20. The airbag 20 is folded and stored in a case 12 as a storage portion. The inflator 14 is attached to the case 12 so that the inflatable gas can be supplied to the folded airbag 20. The case 12 is attached and fixed to a vehicle body side member (not shown) on the upper surface side of the instrument panel 2 and arranged. Then, the airbag 20 at the time of expansion pushes open the airbag cover (not shown) provided on the instrument panel 2 and expands and expands to the rear side as shown in FIG.

The operation of the inflator 14 in the occupant protection device 10 is controlled by the control device ECU. The control device ECU inputs a signal from a collision detection sensor (not shown) arranged on a front bumper or the like for detecting a collision of the vehicle 1, and determines that the collision has occurred, and activates the inflator 14.

The airbag 20 includes a bag main body 21 and a connecting member 35.

The bag main body 21 has an inflow opening 23 for inflowing the expansion gas, and is arranged by fixing the peripheral edge of the inflow opening 23 to the case 12 as a storage portion. As shown in FIG. 1, the bag main body 21 includes an upper portion 31 and a lower portion 30 that vertically branch from the inflow opening 23 side, and the upper portion 31 as a confluence portion on the tip side. It has a loop shape provided with a rear side portion 32 which is a connecting portion between the rear ends 30a and 31a of the lower side portion 30 and the rear end portions 30a and 31a. The inflow opening 23 is arranged on the lower surface of the lower side portion 30 on the front end side.

The connecting member 35 is disposed between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30, and is arranged between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 so as to regulate the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 when the expansion is completed. It is arranged in connection with 30. The connecting material 35 is formed of a flexible woven fabric such as polyamide or polyester, and in the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting material 35 is divided into upper and lower halves to form a vertically symmetrical trapezoidal shape. It is composed of the upper cloth 36 and the lower cloth 37. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper edge 36a of the upper cloth 36 is sewn to the upper portion 31, the lower edge 37b of the lower cloth 37 is sewn to the lower portion 30, and the lower edge 36b and the lower edge of the upper cloth 36 are sewn. The upper edge 37a of the side cloth 37 is bonded, and the binding site 35b is formed by suturing the suture thread 38. The suture thread 38 is formed of a thread such as polyamide or polyester, and if the reaction force of the bag body 21 becomes too high when the occupant OP of the bag body 21 is received, the suture thread 38 is broken as shown in FIG. The upper cloth 36 and the lower cloth 37 are configured to be separated from each other.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the connecting material 35 of the first embodiment has the vicinity of the rear side portion 32 of the upper portion 31 and the lower side portion 30 (the leading edge of the connecting material 35) before the suture thread 38 is broken. The separation distance of 35a) is regulated as the first distance L1, and when the suture 38 is broken, the separation distance on the leading edge 35a side of the connecting member 35 is longer than the first distance L1 as shown in FIG. It is arranged so as to have a two-distance L2.

The base cloth constituting the outer peripheral wall 22 of the bag body 21 is formed of a woven fabric such as polyamide or polyester, and as shown in FIG. 3, constitutes the inner base cloth 45 and the outer wall 22b constituting the inner side wall 22a. It is composed of a base cloth 46 for the outer side, a base cloth 47 for the left side constituting the left side wall 22c, and a base cloth 48 for the right side constituting the right side wall 22d. Then, the outer peripheral wall 22 stitches the outer peripheral edge 47a of the left base cloth 47 and the side edge 46a of the outer base cloth 46, and the inner peripheral edge 47b of the left base cloth 47 and the side edge 45a of the inner base cloth 45. And the side edge 46b of the outer peripheral edge 48a of the right side base cloth 48 and the outer base cloth 46 are sewn together, and the inner peripheral edge 48b of the right side base cloth 48 and the side edge of the inner base cloth 45 are sewn together. Both ends 45c and 45d of the inner base cloth 45 are sewn together with 45b, and both ends 46c and 46d of the outer base cloth 46 are sewn together. After finishing these stitches, the inflow opening 23 is used to turn over the seam allowance so that the seam allowance does not appear on the outer surface side.

Further, in the bag main body 21, a rectifying cloth 25 for flowing the expansion gas flowing from the inflow opening 23 on both the left and right sides is disposed on the peripheral edge of the inflow opening 23, and the inner side wall 22a and the outer wall 22b are arranged. The connecting pieces 26, 27, 28 connecting the inner side wall 22a and the outer wall 22b are arranged so that the inner side wall 22a and the outer wall surface 22b are not separated from each other by a predetermined value or more. The connecting pieces 26, 27, 28 are composed of inner cloths 26a, 27a, 28a connected to the inner base cloth 45 and outer cloths 26b, 27b, 28b connected to the outer base cloth 46, respectively. , The inner cloths 26a, 27a, 28a were connected to the inner base cloth 45, respectively, and the outer cloths 26b, 27b, 28b were connected to the outer base cloth 46, respectively, and then the outer peripheral wall 22 was sutured to form the outer cloth 26a, 27a, 28a. After the bag body 21 is inverted through the inflow opening 23, the corresponding inner cloths 26a, 27a, 28a and the outer cloths 26b, 27b, 28b are pulled out from the inflow opening 23 and connected to each other to form a bag. It is housed and arranged in the main body 21.

In the rectifying cloth 25, the rectifying cloth sheet material 25a is sewn to the peripheral edge of the inflow opening 23, the bag body 21 is inverted through the inflow opening 23, and then the front and rear ends 25b and 25c are used for inflow. It is pulled out from the opening 23 and sutured to each other, and the sutured portion is housed in the bag body 21 and arranged.

Then, after forming the bag main body 21, the airbag 20 can be manufactured by suturing the connecting member 35.

In the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment, the airbag 20 is folded and stored in the case 12, the peripheral edge of the inflow opening 23 is fixed to the case 12, the inflator 14 is attached to the case 12, and the case 12 is an instrument panel. If a lead wire for inputting an operation signal from the control device ECU is connected to the inflator 14 while being mounted and fixed in 2, the vehicle can be mounted on the vehicle 1.

After that, when the vehicle 1 collides and the control device ECU detects the collision of the vehicle 1, the inflator 14 is operated to supply the expansion gas G to the bag body 21 of the airbag 20, so that the bag body 21 Will expand and expand rearward from the case 12 as a storage part.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, when the bag body 21 of the airbag 20 completes the expansion and receives the occupant OP, the rear side portion 32 receives the occupant OP. At that time, the rear side portion 32 moves forward to cause a behavior of expanding the upper portion 31 and the lower side portion 30, but the upper portion 31 and the lower side portion 30 have flexibility. Since they are connected by the connecting member 35 and do not widen the separation distance (first distance L1) between the two, the forward movement of the rear side portion 32 is restricted, the reaction force of the bag body 21 is secured, and the occupant OP. Can be accurately received. Further, since the bag main body 21 merely disposes the connecting member 35 between the upper portion 31 and the lower side portion 30 on the front side of the rear side portion 32 and does not provide an expansion portion, the volume is increased. It is possible to reduce itself, and when the expansion gas G flows in, the expansion can be completed quickly.

Therefore, in the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment, the bag body 21 of the airbag 20 can quickly complete the expansion, and the bag body 21 of the airbag 20 after the expansion is completed when the occupant is received. A stable reaction force can be secured.

Further, in the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment, the connecting material 35 sets the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 to the first distance L1 before and after the break of the suture 38 of the binding site 35b. It is arranged so that it can be adjusted to at least two types, a second distance L2 which is longer than the first distance L1 and a second distance L2.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the bag body 21 receives the occupant OP by the rear side portion 32, if the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower side portion 30 is the first distance L1, the reaction force is high. It is possible to receive the occupant OP, increase the kinetic energy, and accurately receive the occupant OP moving forward. However, when the reaction force becomes too high, that is, in that case, a large tensile force acts to separate the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the connecting member 35 However, the suture 38 of the binding site 35b can be broken to increase the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 from the first distance L1 to the second distance L2, and the increase in the reaction force can be suppressed. The occupant OP received by the main body 21 can be suitably protected.

In particular, in this case, since the connecting member 35 connecting the upper portion 31 and the lower side portion 30 releases the connection between the upper portion 31 and the lower side portion 30, when the occupant OP is received, simply, Since the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 each bend and deform, the occupant OP is compared with the case where the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 is maintained as the first distance L1. The reaction force can be greatly reduced.

In this case, the adjustment of the second distance L2 of the connecting material 35 is such that the connecting material 35 breaks the suture thread 38 and connects the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 as in the first embodiment. Although it may be released, the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 is determined by the actuator 16 as the length adjusting means as in the occupant protection device 10A of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. It may be configured to be adjustable to one distance L1 and a second distance L2 longer than the first distance L1. In the case of the second embodiment, the operation (adjustment of the separation distance) of the actuator 16 as the length adjusting means is controlled by the control device ECU.

The occupant protection device 10A of the second embodiment includes an airbag 20A provided with a bag body 21A and a connecting member 35A, an inflator 14 for supplying an expansion gas to the bag body 21A, the actuator 16 described above, and the actuator 16 being locked. A connection maintenance material 40 for connecting the base 42 side to the pin 17, and a control device ECU, and a camera S as an occupant detection means for detecting whether the physique of the occupant OP is a large occupant OPF or a small occupant OPS. It is configured with. Further, in the occupant protection device 10A of the second embodiment, the seatbelt device 6 is provided with a pretensioner mechanism and a force limiter mechanism for restraining the occupant OP (OPF, OPS) seated on the seat 4. It is configured to include a mechanism 6f.

The actuator 16 is formed of a micro gas generator (MGG) or the like, and when an operation signal from the control device ECU is input, the locking pin 17 is pulled out from the connection hole 42a provided in the base portion 42 of the connection maintenance material 40. , Activated. In the case of the second embodiment, the actuator 16 is fixed to the leading edge 12a side of the case 12.

The airbag 20A of the second embodiment is composed of a bag body 21A and a connecting member 35A.

Similar to the bag main body 21 of the first embodiment, the bag main body 21A has an inflow opening 23, and the peripheral edge of the inflow opening 23 is fixed to the case 12 and arranged. As shown in 6, the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 branching up and down from the inflow opening 23 side are provided, and the rear ends 30a and 31a of the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 are connected to each other. The loop shape is provided with the side portion 32, and the inflow opening 23 is arranged on the lower surface of the lower side portion 30 on the front end side.

As shown in FIG. 7, the base cloth constituting the outer peripheral wall 22 of the bag body 21A constitutes the inner base cloth 45A constituting the inner side wall 22a, the outer base cloth 46A constituting the outer wall 22b, and the left side wall 22c. It is composed of a base cloth 47 for the left side and a base cloth 48 for the right side constituting the right side wall 22d. Then, on the outer peripheral wall 22 of the bag body 21A, the outer peripheral edge 47a of the left side base cloth 47 and the side edge 46a of the outer base cloth 46A are sewn together, and the inner side of the left side base cloth 47 is sewn together. The peripheral edge 47b and the side edge 45a of the inner base cloth 45A are sewn together, and the outer peripheral edge 48a of the right side base cloth 48 and the side edge 46b of the outer base cloth 46A are sewn together to form the right base cloth 48. The inner peripheral edge 48b and the side edge 45b of the inner base cloth 45A are sewn together, both ends 45c and 45d of the inner base cloth 45A are sewn together, and both ends 46c and 46d of the outer base cloth 46A are sewn together. , Is formed. After finishing these stitches, the inflow opening 23 is used to turn over the seam allowance so that the seam allowance does not appear on the outer surface side.

In the second embodiment, the mutual suture sites of both ends 45c and 45d of the inner base cloth 45A and the mutual suture sites of both ends 46c and 46d of the outer base cloth 46A are located near the center in the left-right direction. , Unsewn parts 45e and 46e are arranged, and through holes 22aa and 22ba made of unsewn parts 45e and 46e through which the connection maintenance material 40 is passed are formed on the inner side wall 22a and the outer wall 22b.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the connection maintaining material 40 has the lower edge 36b of the upper cloth 36 sewn to the upper portion 31 of the connecting material 35A and the lower side of the connecting material 35A on the front end (rear end) 41 side. It is arranged so as to suture the binding site 35c with the upper edge 37a of the lower cloth 37 sutured to the portion 30. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8B, if the connection hole 42a on the base portion 42 side is locked to the locking pin 17 of the actuator 16 when the bag body 21A is expanded, the connection maintenance material 40 can be used. The tip 41 side comes out of the joint portion 35c between the lower edge 36b of the upper cloth 36 and the upper edge 37a of the lower cloth 37, separates the upper cloth 36 and the lower cloth 37, and separates the upper cloth 36 and the lower cloth 37 from the upper portion 31 and the lower part of the bag body 21A. The bag body 21A is expanded by setting the separation distance between the side portion 30 and the rear side portion 32 (the front edge 35a of the connecting member 35A) as the second distance L2. Further, if the connection maintaining material 40 disengages the locking pin 17 of the actuator 16 from the connection hole 42a on the base 42 side when the bag body 21A expands, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8A, The tip 41 side does not come off from the joint portion 35c between the lower edge 36b of the upper cloth 36 and the upper edge 37a of the lower cloth 37, and the connecting member 35A composed of the upper cloth 36 and the lower cloth 37 is on the upper side of the bag body 21A. The bag body 21 is inflated by setting the separation distance of the connecting member 35A between the portion 31 and the lower portion 30 at the front edge 35a as the first distance L1 shorter than the second distance L2.

In the seatbelt device 6, the shoulder belt 6a is connected to the take-up mechanism 6f via the guide 6e, and the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a can be adjusted in two stages of high and low (for example, 4KN and 3KN) at the time of a vehicle collision. And this adjustment is controlled and adjusted by the control device ECU according to whether the speed of the vehicle 1 is high speed or medium and low speed.

Then, the control device ECU controls the operation of the inflator 14 that supplies the expansion gas to the airbag 20A at the time of the collision of the vehicle 1, and the speed of the vehicle 1 is high speed (for example, 55 km / h or more) or medium / low speed (for example, 55 km / h or more). (Less than 55km / h), and based on the signal (image data) from the camera S as the occupant detection means, as shown in FIG. 9, depending on whether the occupant is a large occupant OPF or a small occupant OPS. It controls the adjustment at the time of operation of the actuator 16 as the length adjusting means (adjustment of the magnitude of the reaction force of the bag body 21A) and the adjustment of the height of the tensile force in the winding mechanism 6f of the seatbelt device 6.

That is, when the control device ECU detects the collision of the vehicle 1 and controls to operate the inflator 14, as shown in FIG. 5, the occupant OP seated on the seat 4 by the camera S as the occupant detecting means. Is determined to be a large occupant OPF, the actuator 16 as a length adjusting means is operated so that the reaction force of the bag body 21A at the completion of expansion can be largely secured, and the locking pin 17 is operated from the connecting hole 42a of the connection maintaining material 40. The distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 of the bag body 21A is adjusted to be the first distance L1 so that the tip 41 side of the connection maintaining material 40 is not pulled out from the binding site 35c. Further, at that time, if the control device ECU detects that the speed of the vehicle 1 is high, the winding mechanism 6f of the seatbelt device 6 is adjusted to adjust the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a as a high tensile force. Alternatively, if the control device ECU detects that the speed of the vehicle 1 is medium or low, the winding mechanism 6f of the seatbelt device 6 is adjusted to reduce the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a to a low tensile force. (See FIG. 9).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the control device ECU determines that the occupant OP seated on the seat 4 is the small occupant OPS by the camera S as the occupant detecting means, the reaction force of the bag body 21A at the completion of expansion is increased. The locking pin 17 is kept inserted in the connecting hole 42a without operating the actuator 16 as a length adjusting means so that the bag body 21A can be made smaller without operating the bag body 21A when the bag body 21A is expanded and expanded. The tip 41 side of the connection maintenance material 40 whose 42 side is locked to the locking pin 17 is pulled out from the connection portion 35c of the connection material 35A, and the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 of the bag body 21A is set. Adjust so that the distance is L2. Further, at that time, if the control device ECU detects that the speed of the vehicle 1 is high, the winding mechanism 6f of the seatbelt device 6 is adjusted to adjust the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a as a high tensile force. Alternatively, if the control device ECU detects that the speed of the vehicle 1 is medium or low, the winding mechanism 6f of the seatbelt device 6 is adjusted to reduce the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a to a low tensile force. (See FIG. 9).

That is, in the occupant protection device 10A of the second embodiment, when the vehicle 1 collides, when the seated occupant OP is a large occupant OPF, the control device ECU operates the inflator 14 to inflate the bag body 21A of the airbag 20A. At the same time, it is detected from the image data from the camera S as the occupant detecting means that the seated occupant OP is a large occupant OPF, and the actuator 16 as the length adjusting means is operated to operate the connection maintenance material. The tip 41 side of the 40 is movable together with the connecting portion 35c of the connecting member 35A, and the bag body 21A is adjusted so that the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 is the first distance L1. The bag body 21A that has completed expansion can increase the reaction force and accurately receive the large occupant OPF having high kinetic energy (see FIG. 5). Further, at this time, if the vehicle 1 collides at high speed, the control device ECU increases the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a of the seatbelt device 9 and pulls the shoulder belt 6a hung on the occupant OP. It is possible to accurately suppress the forward movement of a large occupant OPF with high energy. Further, if the vehicle 1 at the time of a collision is at medium and low speeds, the control device ECU lowers the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a of the seatbelt device 6 and pulls the shoulder belt 6a hung on the occupant OP, so that kinetic energy is obtained. It is possible to accurately suppress the forward movement of the large occupant OPF in a relatively low state.

When the seated occupant OP is a small occupant OPS at the time of a vehicle collision, the control device ECU operates the inflator 14 to inflate the bag body 21A of the airbag 20A, and the image from the camera S as the occupant detection means. Based on the data, it detects that the seated occupant OP is a small occupant OPS, and maintains the locked state of the connecting hole 42a of the locking pin 17 without operating the actuator 16 of the length adjusting means. Then, the tip 41 side of the connection maintenance material 40 is pulled out from the joint portion 35c of the connection material 35A of the bag body 21A during expansion, and the bag body 21A during expansion reduces the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30. Since the bag body 21A that has completed expansion can be adjusted so as to have a second distance of L2, the reaction force can be lowered and the small occupant OPS with low kinetic energy can be suitably received (see FIG. 6). .. Further, at this time, if the vehicle 1 collides at high speed, the control device ECU increases the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a of the seatbelt device 6 and pulls the shoulder belt 6a hung on the occupant OP. It is possible to accurately suppress the forward movement of the small occupant OPS with high energy. Further, if the vehicle 1 at the time of a collision is at medium and low speeds, the control device ECU lowers the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a of the seatbelt device 6 and pulls the shoulder belt 6a hung on the occupant OP, so that kinetic energy is obtained. It is possible to accurately suppress the forward movement of the petite occupant OPS in a relatively low state.

That is, in the occupant protection device 10A of the second embodiment, the occupant OP (OPF, OPS) can be accurately protected according to the physique of the occupant OP (OPF, OPS) and the speed of the vehicle 1.

In the occupant protection device 10A of the second embodiment, the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a by the winding mechanism 6f of the seat belt device 6 is adjusted to be high or low according to the speed of the vehicle 1, but the tension of the belt is adjusted. By eliminating the force adjustment and using the camera S as the occupant detection means, the control device ECU detects whether the occupant OP seated on the seat 4 is the large occupant OPF or the small occupant OPS, and in the case of the large occupant OPF, the length is adjusted. The actuator 16 as a means is operated to increase the reaction force of the bag body 21A when the expansion is completed, and in the case of the small occupant OPS, the bag body when the expansion is completed without operating the actuator 16 as the length adjusting means. The reaction force of the bag body 21A may be lowered to protect the occupant by adjusting the reaction force of the bag body 21A according to the physique of the occupant.

That is, even in this case, as shown in FIG. 5, when the bag body 21A at the time of completion of expansion receives the large occupant OPF, the control device ECU sets the actuator 16 as the length adjusting means to the upper portion 31. Since the separation distance from the lower portion 30 is adjusted to be the first distance L1, the reaction force can be increased and a large occupant with high kinetic energy can be accurately received. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the bag body 21A at the time of completion of expansion receives the petite occupant OPS, the control device ECU sets the actuator 16 as the length adjusting means to the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30. Since the separation distance from the vehicle is adjusted to be the second distance L2, the reaction force can be reduced and the small occupant OPS with low kinetic energy can be suitably received.

In the case of the second embodiment, the adjustment of the second distance L2 of the connecting material 35A releases the binding of the binding site 35c, and the connecting material 35A releases the connection between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30. However, as in the connecting material 35B of the occupant protection device 10B of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 are maintained in a connected state even at the second distance L2. Therefore, the adjustment may be made longer than the first distance L1.

In this connecting material 35B, as shown in A of FIG. 12, the tip 41 side of the connecting maintenance material 40B sutures the binding site 35c between the lower edge 36b side of the upper cloth 36 and the upper edge 37a side of the lower cloth 37. It is arranged like this. Further, the connecting material 35B disposed on the airbag 20B is connected to the lower edge 36b side of the upper cloth 36 and the upper edge 37a side of the lower cloth 37 by the suture thread 39 which does not break, and is on the tip side of the binding site 35c. The edges 36c and 37c are sewn together.

In the airbag 20B of the third embodiment, the connecting material 35B is attached to the upper portion 31 and the lower side of the bag main body 21B having the same upper portion 31, lower side portion 30, and rear side portion 32 as the bag main body 21A. It is arranged so as to be connected to the portion 30. That is, the upper edge 36a of the upper cloth 36 away from the binding site 35c is sutured to the upper portion 31, and the lower edge 37b of the lower cloth 37 is sutured to the lower portion 30.

In the occupant protection device 10B of the third embodiment, the configuration of the connecting material 35B is different, the bag body 21B and the connecting maintenance material 40B are the same as those of the second embodiment, and further, the other inflator 14 and the actuator 16 are used. , The seatbelt device 6, the camera S, and the control device ECU also have the same configuration as that of the second embodiment.

Then, in the occupant protection device 10B of the third embodiment, when the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 is set to the first distance L1, the actuator 16 is operated to keep the locking pin 17 connected. The bag body 21B is inflated by pulling it out from the connecting hole 42a on the base portion 42 side of the material 40B. At that time, the tip 41 side of the connecting material 35B does not come off from the binding site 35c of the connecting material 35B, and the connecting material 35B causes the bag body 21B at the time of completion of expansion to be the connecting material as shown in A of FIGS. 10 and 12. Since the expansion is completed by setting the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 as the first distance L1 by the 35B, even if the large occupant OPF is received, the reaction force is increased and preferably. You can receive the large crew OPF.

On the other hand, when the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 is set to the second distance L2, which is longer than the first distance L1, the locking pin 17 is inserted into the connecting hole 42a without operating the actuator 16. Leave it in the same state. Therefore, when the bag body 21B expands and expands, the tip 41 side of the connection maintaining material 40B comes off from the binding site 35c of the connecting material 35B, the binding state of the binding site 35c is eliminated, and the connecting material 35B does not break the suture 39. The upper cloth 36 and the lower cloth 37 are maintained in a connected state at the binding site 35d where the upper cloth 36 and the lower cloth 37 are sewn together. Since the bag body 21B completes the expansion as the second distance L2 longer than the distance L1, when receiving and stopping the petite occupant OPS, the reaction force can be suppressed and the petite occupant OPS can be suitably received.

In the third embodiment, if the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower side portion 30 is the second distance L2 longer than the first distance L1, the upper portion 31 and the lower side portion 30 are likely to be bent and deformed. In particular, the lower portion 30 is widened so as to be separated from the upper portion 31, protrudes from the instrument panel 2 into the free space, and is easily bent and deformed. Therefore, the separation distance between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 When the second distance L2 is longer than the first distance L1, the reaction force at the time of receiving the occupant can be reduced even if the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 30 are connected by the connecting member 35B. ..

The operation of the seatbelt device 6 of the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the control device ECU adjusts the take-up mechanism 6f, and when the speed of the vehicle 1 is high, the shoulder The tensile force of the belt 6a is increased, and in the case of medium and low speeds, the tensile force of the shoulder belt 6a is decreased, so that the seatbelt device 6 restrains the occupant OP (large occupant OPF or small occupant OPS). (See FIG. 9).

1 ... vehicle, 4 ... seat, 6 ... seatbelt device, 6a ... shoulder belt, 6f ... winding mechanism, 10,10A, 10B ... occupant protection device, 12 ... (storage part) case, 14 ... inflator, 16 ... ( Length adjusting means) Actuator, 20, 20A, 20B ... Airbag, 21,21A, 21B ... Bag body, 23 ... Inflow opening, 30 ... Lower part, 30a ... Rear end, 31 ... Upper part, 31a ... Rear Edge, 32 ... rear side, 35, 35A, 35B ... connecting material, 36 ... upper cloth, 37 ... lower cloth,
L1 ... 1st distance, L2 ... 2nd distance, G ... Expansion gas, ECU ... Control device, S ... (Passenger detection means) Camera, OP ... Crew, OPF ... Large occupant, OPS ... Small occupant.

Claims (2)

It is equipped with an airbag that is folded and stored on the front side of the seated occupant in the vehicle and expands and expands to the rear side from the storage part so that the occupant can be received when the expansion gas flows in.
The airbag has an inflow opening for inflowing expansion gas, and the peripheral edge of the inflow opening is fixedly arranged to the storage portion.
The expansion complete shape is provided with an upper portion and a lower portion that branch up and down from the inflow opening side, and also has a connection portion between the rear ends of the upper portion and the lower portion as a confluence portion on the tip side. A loop-shaped occupant protection device with a rear side
The airbag
A bag body having the upper side portion, the lower side portion, and the rear side portion.
Disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion are connected so as to regulate the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion when the expansion is completed. Flexible connecting material and
Is configured with
The connecting material is arranged so that the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion can be adjusted to at least two types, a first distance and a second distance longer than the first distance. Being done
A length adjusting means that can adjust the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion to a first distance and a second distance that is longer than the first distance is connected to the connecting material, and at the same time.
As a configuration in which the adjustment between the first distance and the second distance in the length adjusting means is controlled by the control device.
When the control device detects that the receiving occupant is a large occupant based on a signal from the occupant detecting means capable of detecting whether the receiving occupant of the bag body is a large occupant or a small occupant, the length adjusting means is subjected to the upper portion. Adjust so that the separation distance between the lower part and the lower part is the first distance.
A occupant protection device characterized in that when the receiving occupant detects that the occupant is a small occupant, the length adjusting means is adjusted so that the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is the second distance . It is a seatbelt device equipped with a pretensioner mechanism and a force limiter mechanism for restraining the occupant seated on the seat, and the tensile force of the belt that restrains the occupant during operation can be adjusted in at least two stages, high and low. Equipped with a seatbelt device
The control device controls the operation of the inflator that supplies the expansion gas to the airbag when the vehicle collides, and also adjusts the length adjusting means during operation and the tensile force of the seatbelt device. It is controllable, and it is configured to be able to detect whether the vehicle speed is high speed or medium and low speed.
When the control device controls to operate the inflator,
When the occupant detecting means detects that the occupant seated on the seat is a large occupant, the length adjusting means is adjusted so that the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is the first distance. In addition, at vehicle speed,
If high speed is detected, the tensile force of the belt is adjusted as a high tensile force.
If it is detected as medium or low speed, the tensile force of the belt is adjusted as a low tensile force, or
When the occupant detecting means detects that the occupant seated on the seat is a small occupant, the length adjusting means is adjusted so that the separation distance between the upper portion and the lower portion is the second distance. In addition, at vehicle speed,
If high speed is detected, the tensile force of the belt is adjusted as a high tensile force.
The occupant protection device according to claim 1 , wherein if it is detected as medium and low speed, the tensile force of the belt is adjusted as a low tensile force.

Images