JP7313276B2 - protective body - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to armor.

BACKGROUND ART Guardrails, fences, and the like are widely known as protective bodies fixed to the ground to protect objects to be protected such as pedestrians. For example, a guardrail is a protective body provided for the purpose of preventing vehicles from deviating, etc., and is extended along the boundary between a roadway and a sidewalk to divide the space into a protected area (e.g. sidewalk) and a non-protected area (e.g. roadway).

A guardrail generally consists of a beam with appropriate rigidity and toughness and supports that support the beam, and absorbs energy from the impact of a vehicle collision by deforming the beams and supports. Such protective bodies such as guardrails are designed so that beams and columns are allowed to deform to some extent in order to absorb collision energy when a collision object such as a vehicle collides with them. Therefore, when a collision object such as a vehicle collides with a protective body such as a guardrail, the protective body may be greatly deformed, and a protective body that can further improve the safety of the protected area (e.g. sidewalk) is desired.

In this regard, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for reducing damage to vehicles and guardrails that come into contact with the guardrail by attaching a cushioning member filled with cushioning material to the side of the steel member on the roadway side so as to extend along the steel member in a guardrail in which a steel member is installed between pillars.

JP 2011-241571 A U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,811

However, the guardrail disclosed in Patent Literature 1 protects the side surface of the steel member on the roadway side with the cushioning member, and does not protect the sidewalk side. In addition, since the cushioning member attached to the guardrail is exposed to the outside, the cushioning member may deteriorate due to exposure to ultraviolet rays, rain and wind, etc., making it difficult to maintain protective performance over a long period of time.

The technique of the present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a technique that is superior in safety to a protective body that is fixed to the ground, and that can suppress deterioration in protective performance over a long period of time.

In order to solve the above problems, the technology of the present disclosure employs the following configuration. That is, the protective body of the present disclosure is a protective body that is fixed to the ground and partitions a space into a protected area and a non-protected area, and includes a gas generator, an airbag bag that expands into the protected area by being inflated by the gas supplied from the gas generator when the gas generator is actuated, and an outer shell part that accommodates the gas generator and the airbag bag.

Here, the outer shell portion may have a bag outlet for deploying the airbag body to the outside when the gas generator is actuated, and the bag outlet may be provided so as to face the protection target area.

Further, the protector according to the present disclosure may include a protection partition member extending along a boundary portion between the protection target area and the non-protection target area and having a protection inner surface facing the protection target area and a protection outer surface facing the protection non-target area, and the outer shell portion may be provided on the protection partition member.

Further, the protector according to the present disclosure may include a protective partition member extending along a boundary between the protection target area and the non-protection target area and having a protective inner surface facing the protection target area and a protection outer surface facing the non-protection target area;

Further, the strut may be joined to the protective inner surface of the protective partition member such that the strut is located in the protected area.

Further, the airbag body may have a deployment width in a height direction after deployment larger than a height dimension of the protection partition member.

Further, the outer shell portion may have a cover member for shielding the bag outlet, and the bag outlet may be opened by the inflation pressure of the airbag body when the gas generator is actuated.

Further, the cover member may have a lower strength than the outer shell portion, and the gas generator may be arranged in the outer shell portion at a position not facing the cover member.

The airbag body includes an introducing portion into which gas supplied from the gas generator is introduced when the gas generator is actuated, arms communicating with the introducing portion and extending along the extending direction of the protective partition member when deployed by the gas supplied from the introducing portion, a plurality of support portions communicating with the arm portions at a plurality of locations and extending in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the arm portions when deployed by the gas supplied from the arm portions, and attached to the outer surface of the airbag body. A cushioning material stretched over a region surrounded by the plurality of support portions and the arm portions when the bag is deployed may be provided.

Further, the protective body may be a guardrail installed at the border position between the sidewalk and the roadway.

According to the technology according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a technology that is superior in safety to a ground-fixed protective body compared to the conventional technology and that can suppress deterioration in protective performance over a long period of time.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a guardrail according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a guardrail according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the airbag device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the detailed structure of the diffuser section and its surroundings of the gas generator according to the first embodiment. 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining the operating state of the airbag device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining the operating state of the airbag device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the actuation piece pulled by the actuation wire is separated from the support in the airbag device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the airbag body after being deployed in the protection target area in the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the airbag body after it has been deployed in the protection target area in Embodiment 1. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a guardrail according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining the internal structure of the pillars in the guardrail according to the second embodiment. FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing the airbag body after it has been deployed in the protection target area in the guardrail according to the second embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an airbag body according to a modification of Embodiment 2. FIG. 14A and 14B are diagrams illustrating an airbag body according to a modification of Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a protective body according to another embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a protective body according to another embodiment.

Embodiments of the protective body according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that each configuration and combination thereof in each embodiment is an example, and addition, omission, replacement, and other changes of configuration are possible as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention. This disclosure is not limited by the embodiments, but only by the claims.

<Embodiment 1>
1 and 2 are perspective views of a guardrail 1 as a protector provided with an airbag device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the guardrail 1 viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the guardrail 1 viewed from the rear side.

A guardrail 1 includes a plurality of struts 2, a beam 3 supported between the struts 2, an airbag device 4, and the like. A guardrail 1 is an example of a protective body fixed to the ground GR. A guardrail 1 is installed at a boundary position between a sidewalk and a roadway, and extends along them. The guardrail 1 is a protective body that divides a space into a protection target area AR1 and a non-protection target area AR2 in order to protect the protection target area AR1 located on the sidewalk side, and suppresses the entry of a vehicle or the like that has come in contact with or collided with the protection target area AR1 on the sidewalk side. 1 and 2 show a portion of the guardrail 1, that is, a pair of support columns 2 and a beam 3 installed between the support columns 2, for convenience of explanation.

The column 2 is, for example, a cylindrical steel column having a hollow structure inside. The beam 3 is a steel beam formed by bending a steel plate, for example. The beam 3 is an example of a protective partition member, and extends along the boundary between the protection target area AR1, which is the space on the sidewalk side, and the non-protection target area AR2, which is the space on the roadway side. The beam 3 has an inner protected surface 31 facing the protected area AR1 and an outer protected surface 32 facing the non-protected area AR2. Further, the strut 2 is joined to the protection inner surface 31 of the beam 3 so that the strut 2 is arranged in the protected area AR1. The beam 3 is attached to the stanchion 2 by means of fixtures 5, for example.

In the following description, the protective outer surface 32 side facing the non-protected area AR2 is the front side of the guardrail 1 (beam 3), and the protective inner surface 31 side facing the protected area AR1 is the rear side of the guardrail 1 (beam 3). Also, the direction in which the support column 2 extends with respect to the ground GR will be described as the vertical direction of the guardrail 1 . The beam 3 is formed with a central recessed portion 33 recessed toward the back side when viewed from the front side at the center portion in the height direction. The central recessed portion 33 extends along the extending direction (longitudinal direction) of the beam 3 . However, the shape of the beam 3 and the strut 2 is not particularly limited.

The guardrail 1 includes an airbag device 4 for protecting pedestrians and the like located on the sidewalk (protected area AR1) when a vehicle or the like traveling on the roadway contacts or collides with the guardrail 1, for example. Details of the airbag device 4 will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the airbag device 4 according to the first embodiment. The airbag device 4 has an outer shell case 41 made of steel, and inside the outer shell case 41 is formed a housing portion 40 as a housing space for housing various components of the airbag device 4 . Outer shell case 41 is an example of an outer shell. The outer shell case 41 (accommodating portion 40 ) of the airbag device 4 may be arranged inside the guardrail 1 or may be attached to the outside of the guardrail 1 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, an example in which an outer shell case 41 (receiving portion 40) of the airbag device 4 is attached to the beam 3 of the guardrail 1 will be described.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer shell case 41 of the airbag device 4 is arranged in the beam 3 in the vicinity of the central portion of the span sandwiched between the pair of struts 2 . An outer shell case 41 of the airbag device 4 is provided in the central recessed portion 33 of the beam 3 . The outer shell case 41 has a front wall 411, a rear wall 412, an upper wall 413, a lower wall 414, a pair of left and right side walls 415, and the like.

A bag outlet 416 is formed in the rear wall 412 of the outer shell case 41 , and the bag outlet 416 is blocked by a cover member 417 . The cover member 417 is made of a material having a lower strength than the steel walls forming the outer shell case 41, such as a thin resin material. A part of the outer shell case 41 may be made of the steel plate that forms the beam 3 . In other words, part of the steel plate forming the beam 3 may also serve as part or the whole of the outer shell case 41 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the gas generator 50, the airbag body 60, the operating mechanism 70, and the like are accommodated inside the outer shell case 41, that is, in the accommodation portion 40. As shown in FIG. The airbag body 60 is arranged in a folded state at a predetermined position in the housing portion 40 . The mode of the airbag body 60 in the housing portion 40 is not particularly limited. For example, the airbag body 60 in the housing portion 40 may be folded in accordion folds, may be folded in rolls, or may be folded in other forms. The airbag body 60 may be positioned at a predetermined position of the housing portion 40 by being held by a suitable holding member (not shown) provided on the inner wall surface of the outer shell case 41, for example. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the arrangement position of the airbag body 60 and the position, size, etc. of the cover member 417 are determined so that the airbag body 60 faces the cover member 417 when housed in the outer shell case 41. 3 shows the state of the airbag device 4 before the gas generator 50 is activated.

Although the type of the gas generator 50 is not particularly limited, the gas generator 50 in this embodiment is a stored gas type gas generator having a filling bottle 51 filled with pressurized gas. Pressurized gas is supplied to the airbag body 60 by opening the filling bottle 51 when the gas generator 50 is activated, and the airbag body 60 is inflated. As the pressurized gas filled in the filling bottle 51, an appropriate gas suitable for inflating and deploying the airbag body 60, such as argon or helium, can be used. A filling bottle 51 of the gas generator 50 is fixed to the outer shell case 41 by an appropriate fixing member 53 . In the example shown in FIG. 3 , the filling bottle 51 of the gas generator 50 is fixed to the inner wall surface 411A of the front wall 411 of the outer shell case 41 . However, the filling bottle 51 of the gas generator 50 may be fixed to another wall surface of the outer shell case 41 .

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bag outlet 416 of the outer shell case 41 of the airbag device 4 is opened in the rear wall 412 facing the protected area AR1 located on the sidewalk side. The bag outlet 416 is an opening for deploying the airbag body 60 to the outside of the outer shell case 41 (accommodating portion 40) when the gas generator 50 is activated. A cover member 417 that shields the bag outlet 416 of the outer shell case 41 is disengaged from the rear wall 412 or destroyed by the inflation pressure of the airbag body 60 during the process in which the airbag body 60 is inflated by the pressurized gas supplied from the filling bottle 51 when the gas generator 50 is activated. As a result, bag outlet 416 is opened. In this way, the bag outlet 416 of the outer shell case 41 is opened by the inflation pressure of the airbag body 60, so that the inside and the outside of the outer shell case 41 are communicated with each other.

The cover member 417 of the outer shell case 41 may be simply attached to the rear wall 412 so that it can be detached from the rear wall 412 toward the outside by the inflation pressure of the airbag body 60 when the gas generator 50 is activated. Also, a fragile portion (for example, a tear line) having a thickness smaller than that of other portions of the cover member 417 may extend at an appropriate position on the cover member 417 . In this case, when the gas generator 50 is activated, the bag outlet 416 is opened by breaking the cover member 417 starting from the fragile portion due to the inflation pressure of the airbag body 60 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the gas generator 50 has a filled bottle 51 filled with pressurized gas, a diffuser portion 52 provided on the outlet end portion 511 side of the filled bottle 51, and the like. The filling bottle 51 and the diffuser portion 52 are made of metal such as stainless steel. The filling bottle 51 and the diffuser portion 52 may be joined together by welding or the like, or may be integrally formed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the detailed structure of the diffuser section 52 and its surroundings of the gas generator 50 according to the first embodiment. A pressurized gas chamber 510 is formed inside the filling bottle 51, and the inside of the pressurized gas chamber 510 is filled with a pressurized gas. An outlet end portion 511 of the filling bottle 51 has a cylindrical shape, and a gas discharge port 512 is opened in the outlet end portion 511 . A closing member 513 such as a burst disk for closing the gas discharge port 512 is provided at the outlet end 511 of the filling bottle 51 . The closing member 513 is formed of a thin disk made of metal such as iron or stainless steel, and closes the gas discharge port 512 . Further, in the example shown in FIG. 4 , the closing member 513 is deformed into a bowl shape toward the diffuser chamber 523 side of the diffuser portion 52 under the pressure of the pressurized gas filled in the pressurized gas chamber 510 .

The diffuser portion 52 is, for example, a member having a bottomed tubular shape, and includes a tubular wall portion 521 and a bottom wall portion 522 that closes the end portion of the tubular wall portion 521, and a hollow diffuser chamber 523 is formed inside. As shown in FIG. 4 , the closing member 513 that closes the gas outlet 512 of the filling bottle 51 is arranged so that its outer surface 513A faces the diffuser chamber 523 . Here, when the gas discharge port 512 is opened by cleaving the closing member 513 , the pressurized gas in the pressurized gas chamber 510 flows out from the gas discharge port 512 to the diffuser chamber 523 .

One end of a discharge pipe 524 having a hollow cylindrical shape for discharging the pressurized gas from the diffuser chamber 523 is connected to the cylindrical wall portion 521 of the diffuser portion 52 . Inside the discharge pipe 524, an internal passage is formed for circulating the pressurized gas. However, the discharge pipe 524 only needs to be able to discharge the pressurized gas to be supplied from the filling bottle 51 to the airbag body 60 from the diffuser chamber 523 .
22 may be connected. A communication hole 521A is formed at a position where the exhaust pipe 524 is connected in the cylindrical wall portion 521 of the diffuser portion 52, and the internal passage of the exhaust pipe 524 and the diffuser chamber 523 are communicated by the communication hole 521A.

A gas discharge port 524</b>A is formed at the other end of the discharge pipe 524 to discharge the pressurized gas flowing from the diffuser chamber 523 toward the airbag body 60 . The airbag body 60 has a gas introduction port 61 for introducing pressurized gas therein, and the gas discharge port 524A of the discharge pipe 524 and the gas introduction port 61 of the airbag body 60 are airtightly connected by a flexible connecting pipe 54 (see FIG. 3). The connecting pipe 54 may be, for example, a bellows-shaped flexible hose.

Next, the detailed structure of the operating mechanism 70 will be described. The actuation mechanism 70 includes a support 71, an actuation piece 72 as an actuation portion, an actuation wire 73 as a transmission member, a pulley 74, and the like. The support 71 is a member that supports the activation piece 72 and is fixed to the cylindrical wall portion 521 of the diffuser portion 52 . The support 71 extends from the cylindrical wall portion 521 toward the center in the radial direction of the diffuser chamber 523 , and the activation piece 72 is integrally connected to a fragile portion 711 formed at the tip of the support 71 . A fragile portion 711 formed at the tip of the support 71 is made of a material that is fragile against external force, and its cross section is smaller than the cross section of the activating piece 72 .

In addition, the activation piece 72 has a first surface 721 facing the outer surface 513A of the closing member 513 and a second surface 722 facing the opposite side. In this embodiment, the first surface 721 and the second surface 722 of the activation piece 72 are formed as flat surfaces.

As shown in FIG. 4, before the gas generator 50 is activated, the outer surface 513A of the closing member 513 is in contact with the first surface 721 of the activation piece 72 of the actuation mechanism 70. As shown in FIG. Here, the strength of the closing member 513 is set so that the burst pressure when the closing member 513 splits is smaller than the filling pressure of the pressurized gas. In other words, the strength of the closing member 513 is set to such an extent that it cannot withstand the filling pressure of the pressurized gas. The activating piece 72 supported by the support 71 in the operating mechanism 70 supports the closing member 513 from the diffuser chamber 523 side, thereby suppressing the opening of the closing member 513 . That is, the blocking member 513 is restrained from splitting as long as it is supported by the activating piece 72, but is split when the supporting force from the activating piece 72 is lost. As shown in FIG. 4, the position where the starting piece 72 is arranged in the initial state before the gas generator 50 is activated is defined as "initial position P1". That is, in the initial state where the activating piece 72 is arranged at the initial position P1, the activating piece 72 supports the closing member 513 from the diffuser chamber 523 side, thereby suppressing the opening of the closing member 513 . On the other hand, when the activating piece 72 is displaced from the initial position P1 to a predetermined activating position P2 different from the initial position P1, the supporting force of the activating piece 72 to support the closing member 513 is lost. As a result, the closing member 513 is cleaved to open the gas discharge port 512 in the filling bottle 51 and the pressurized gas is discharged from the gas discharge port 512 .

A first end portion 731 of the operating wire 73 is fixed to the second surface 722 of the activating piece 72 of the operating mechanism 70 . A first end 731 of actuation wire 73 may be anchored to a fixture 723 such as, for example, a ring member or the like secured to second surface 722 of actuation piece 72 . A sealing member 75 is provided at the first end 731 of the operating wire 73 . The seal member 75 may have, for example, a disk shape. On the other hand, a second end portion 732 of the operating wire 73 opposite to the first end portion 731 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the outer shell case 41 (see FIG. 3). In the example shown in FIG. 3 , the second end 732 of the operating wire 73 is fixed to a fixture 76 provided on the inner wall surface 411A of the front wall 411 of the outer shell case 41 . In this embodiment, the fixture 76 is an example of the fixing part. The fixture 76 may be, for example, a circular ring member provided on the inner wall surface of the outer shell case 41 , and the second end 732 of the operating wire 73 may be anchored to the fixture 76 . In this embodiment, the actuating wire 73 is made of metal wire, but may be made of another material. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 , the operating wire 73 is stretched over a pulley 74 provided in the housing portion 40 of the outer shell case 41 . The pulley 74 is a fixed pulley, and has a disc that guides the direction of the suspended operating wire 73 and a rotation shaft that rotatably supports the disc. The rotation shaft of the pulley 74 is fixed to, for example, the upper wall 413 or the lower wall 414 of the outer shell case 41 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 , an insertion hole 522A through which the operating wire 73 is inserted is formed in the bottom wall portion 522 of the diffuser portion 52 . The insertion hole 522A penetrates the bottom wall portion 522 in the thickness direction. The insertion hole 522A has an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the operating wire 73, and the operating wire 73 is slidable along the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 522A. Also, the inner diameter of the insertion hole 522A in the diffuser portion 52 is set smaller than the diameter of the seal member 75 .

Next, the details of operation of the airbag device 4 provided on the guardrail 1 will be described. In the airbag device 4 of the present embodiment, for example, when a vehicle or the like traveling on the roadway (non-protected area AR2) contacts or collides with the guardrail 1, the gas generator 50 is activated and the airbag body 60 is deployed in the protected area AR1 located on the sidewalk side to protect pedestrians and the like. More specifically, in the airbag device 4, the actuation mechanism 70 functions when the beam 3 and the outer shell case 41 installed on the beam 3 are deformed by an external force caused by a vehicle or the like contacting or colliding with the guardrail 1 from the roadway side.

5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining the operation state of the airbag device 4 according to the first embodiment. FIG. For example, when a vehicle traveling on the road collides with the protective outer surface 32 of the beam 3 of the guardrail 1, the outer shell case 41 installed on the beam 3 deforms due to the external force accompanying the collision of the vehicle. For example, of the outer shell case 41, the front wall 411 mainly facing the roadway (non-protected area AR2) is deformed so as to curve toward the protected area AR1 side. Thus, when the outer shell case 41 (mainly the front wall 411) is deformed by an external force, the relative positions of the activating piece 72 to which the first end 731 of the operating wire 73 is connected and the fixture 76 to which the second end 732 of the operating wire 73 is connected change, and the path length of the operating wire 73 (hereinafter referred to as "wire path length") increases compared to before the outer shell case 41 deforms.

The wire path length of the actuation wire 73 is the path length of the actuation wire 73 from the fixture 76 provided on the inner wall surface 411A of the front wall 411 of the outer shell case 41 to the fixture 723 provided on the actuation piece 72 . In this embodiment, because actuation wire 73 is strung over pulley 74, the wire path length of actuation wire 73 approximately matches the sum of the linear distance between fixture 76 and pulley 74 plus the linear distance between fixture 723 and pulley 74.

As described above, both ends of the actuating wire 73 are fixed to the fixture 723 of the actuating piece 72 and the fixture 76 of the front wall 411, respectively. Therefore, when the wire path length increases due to the deformation of the outer shell case 41, the actuating wire 73 becomes tense and a tensile stress is generated in the path length direction of the actuating wire 73 (also referred to as the extension axial direction of the actuating wire 73). Thus, tension acting on the actuation wire 73 is transmitted to the fixture 723 of the actuation piece 72 via the actuation wire 73 . That is, the actuating wire 73 transmits the tension (external force) accompanying the collision of the vehicle against the guardrail 1 from the fixture 76 of the front wall 411 to the fixture 723 of the activating piece 72 . As a result, the actuating piece 72 arranged in the diffuser chamber 523 is pulled by the actuating wire 73 in the direction of arrow F shown in FIG. As a result, the fragile portion 711 of the support 71 is broken, such as torn, and the activating piece 72 is separated (detached) from the support 71 . As a result, the activating piece 72 is displaced from the initial position P1 described in FIG. 4 to the activating position P2 different from the initial position P1.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the activation piece 72 pulled by the activation wire 73 is separated from the support 71 in the airbag device 4 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, when the activating piece 72 is displaced from the initial position P1 to the activating position P2, the activating piece 72 loses the supporting force that had supported the closing member 513 until then, and the closing member 513 cannot withstand the filling pressure of the pressurized gas filled in the filling bottle 51 (pressurized gas chamber 510), and the closing member 513 is torn open. As a result, the gas outlet 512 in the filled bottle 51 is opened, and the pressurized gas in the pressurized gas chamber 510 is discharged from the gas outlet 512 to the diffuser chamber 523 . That is, the gas generator 50 is activated.

In this embodiment, a seal member 75 is attached to the first end portion 731 of the operating wire 73 , and the inner diameter of the insertion hole 522A in the bottom wall portion 522 of the diffuser portion 52 is smaller than the diameter of the seal member 75 . Therefore, after the activating piece 72 is separated from the support body 71, as shown in FIG. 7, the sealing member 75 provided at the first end 731 of the actuating wire 73 prevents the actuating wire 73 from coming off and closes the insertion hole 522A in the bottom wall portion 522 of the diffuser portion 52.

The pressurized gas discharged from the gas discharge port 512 of the filled bottle 51 to the diffuser chamber 523 passes through the communication hole 521A formed in the cylindrical wall portion 521, the discharge pipe 524, and the connecting pipe 54, and is supplied to the inside of the airbag body 60 from the gas introduction port 61 of the airbag body 60 (see FIG. 3, etc.). In this way, the supply of pressurized gas to the airbag body 60 arranged in the housing portion 40 is started, and the inflation of the airbag body 60 is started.

In the process of inflating the airbag body 60 in the housing portion 40 of the outer shell case 41 , the inflation pressure of the airbag body 60 acts on the cover member 417 blocking the bag outlet 416 of the outer shell case 41 . As a result, the cover member 417 is pressed from the inside to the outside and is separated from the rear wall 412 or destroyed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the bag outlet 416 is opened, and the airbag body 60, which is inflated by the supply of pressurized gas, can be deployed from the bag outlet 416 to the outside of the outer shell case 41 (accommodating portion 40). Further, since the bag outlet 416 of the outer shell case 41 is provided facing the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk), the airbag body 60 can be deployed in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk). Note that FIG. 5 shows a state in which the airbag body 60 is in the process of being deployed in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk).

8 and 9 are diagrams schematically showing the airbag body 60 after being deployed in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk) in the first embodiment. FIG. 8 schematically shows the guardrail 1 viewed from above, and FIG. 9 schematically shows the guardrail 1 viewed from the side.

The guardrail 1 in this embodiment can operate the airbag device 4 (gas generator 50) when a large external force acts on the guardrail 1, such as when a collision object such as a vehicle collides, and deploys the airbag body 60 in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk). As a result, protection targets such as pedestrians in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk) can be favorably protected. In other words, the guardrail 1 can further ensure the safety of the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk).

Further, according to the guardrail 1 of the present embodiment, normally (before the operation of the airbag device 4), the airbag body 60 is compactly stored inside the outer shell case 41 in a folded state, so the guardrail 1 can be made less bulky. Therefore, it is difficult to block the passage of pedestrians. In addition, as described above, since the airbag body 60 is housed inside the outer shell case 41 during normal operation (before the airbag device 4 is activated), it is possible to prevent the airbag body 60 from being exposed to ultraviolet rays, rain and wind, etc. for a long period of time. Therefore, even when the guardrail 1 is used for a long period of time, deterioration of the airbag body 60 can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to provide the guardrail 1 whose protection performance does not deteriorate over a long period of time.

Furthermore, since the guardrail 1 of the present embodiment uses the gas supplied from the gas generator 50 to inflate and deploy the airbag body 60, excessive weight increase of the guardrail 1 can be suppressed. Therefore, the mounting structure for mounting the beam 3 to the column 2 does not become large-scaled, and there is no need to increase the strength, and the material cost does not increase excessively. As described above, according to the guardrail 1 of the present embodiment, the safety of the protection target area AR1 can be further ensured as compared with the conventional guardrail 1. Moreover, the guardrail 1 does not become excessively bulky or excessively heavy.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the airbag body 60 is designed so that the deployment width (height dimension) Ha in the height direction after deployment is larger than the height dimension Hb of the beam 3 as the protection partition member. According to such an airbag body 60, the entire height direction of the beam 3 can be covered by the airbag body 60 after deployment. Therefore, pedestrians in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk) can be protected more safely.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 , in the airbag device 4 according to this embodiment, the gas generator 50 housed in the outer shell case 41 (housing section 40 ) is arranged at a position not facing the cover member 417 . Thus, by arranging the gas generator 50 so as not to face the cover member 417 having a lower strength than the wall forming the outer shell case 41, even if the housing of the gas generator 50 (in this embodiment, the filling bottle 51) is damaged in the event that a vehicle or the like collides violently with the guardrail 1, the surrounding safety can be more preferably secured.

In addition, in the guardrail 1 according to the present embodiment, the airbag body 60 is arranged in the housing portion 40 so as to face the cover member 417 of the outer shell case 41. Therefore, in the process of inflating the airbag body 60 in the housing portion 40, the inflation pressure of the airbag body 60 can be easily applied to the cover member 417, and the bag outlet 416 of the outer shell case 41 can be smoothly opened.

The airbag device 4 of the guardrail 1 in this embodiment includes an operating mechanism 70 that mechanically operates the gas generator 50 by utilizing the external force that deforms the outer shell case 41 when the outer shell case 41 is deformed by an external force when an object such as a vehicle collides with the guardrail 1. According to this, it is not necessary to secure a power source for operating the gas generator 50 . Therefore, the airbag device 4 in this embodiment is particularly suitable as an airbag device installed in a protective body fixed to the ground where it is not easy to secure a power source. Further, according to the airbag device 4 of the present embodiment, a sensor for detecting collision of an object against the guardrail 1 is also unnecessary. Further, according to the airbag device 4 and its operating method of the present embodiment, the airbag device 4 can be operated without using electric power, and the airbag body 60 can be inflated and deployed. In other words, by applying the airbag device 4 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the guardrail 1 with a very high degree of freedom regarding the installation location.

Furthermore, in the airbag device 4 of the present embodiment, the arrangement position of the fixture 76 in the outer shell case 41 (outer shell) and the initial position P1 of the activation piece 72 (activation portion) are set at different positions along the extension direction of the beam 3 (protection partition member), and the operating wire 73 (transmission member) is configured to extend along the extension direction of the beam 3 (protection partition member). According to this, when the outer shell case 41 is deformed due to the collision of the vehicle against the beam 3 , tension is easily generated in the operating wire 73 . As a result, when the vehicle collides with the beam 3, the activating piece 72 can be smoothly displaced from the initial position P1 to the activating position P2, and the airbag device 4 (gas generator 50) can be operated with high accuracy.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 7, the airbag device 4 of the present embodiment is configured such that when the operating mechanism 70 operates the gas generator 50, the sealing member 75 provided at the first end 731 of the operating wire 73 prevents the insertion hole 522A of the bottom wall portion 522 from coming off. As a result, the pressurized gas discharged from the filling bottle 51 into the diffuser chamber 523 can be prevented from leaking from the insertion hole 522A. At this time, the seal member 75 positioned in the insertion hole 522A in the diffuser portion 52 is pressed against the bottom wall portion 522 by the pressure of the pressurized gas while the pressurized gas is being supplied from the filling bottle 51 to the diffuser chamber 523. Therefore, the seal member 75 can more reliably block the insertion hole 522A and suppress leakage of the pressurized gas. Therefore, the pressurized gas can be quickly supplied from the gas generator 50 (filling bottle 51) to the airbag body 60, and the airbag body 60 can be inflated. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the amount of pressurized gas supplied from the gas generator 50 (filling bottle 51) to the airbag body 60 from decreasing.

In the airbag device 4 of the present embodiment, the gas discharge port 524A of the discharge pipe 524 and the gas introduction port 61 of the airbag body 60 are connected by the flexible connecting pipe 54 as described above. Therefore, when a vehicle or the like collides with the guardrail 1, even if the outer shell case 41 is greatly deformed, it is possible to preferably prevent the passage of the pressurized gas supplied from the gas generator 50 side to the airbag body 60 from being clogged or excessively narrowed. However, the connecting pipe 54 does not necessarily have to be flexible. For example, the discharge pipe 524 may be directly connected to the gas introduction port 61 of the airbag body 60 without interposing the connecting pipe 54 between the discharge pipe 524 of the diffuser portion 52 and the gas introduction port 61 of the airbag body 60.

Further, in the actuation mechanism 70 of the airbag device 4 according to the present embodiment, the pulley 74 may be a tension pulley (tensioner) that applies tension to the actuation wire 73 . By providing the actuating mechanism 70 with a pulley 74 that functions as a tensioner, it is possible to suppress bending of the actuating wire 73 . As a result, when a vehicle or the like collides with the guardrail 1, tension is likely to be generated in the operating wire 73, and the airbag device 4 (gas generator 50) can be operated with high accuracy. When the pulley 74 is a tension pulley, the magnitude of the tension (initial tension) that the pulley 74 (tensioner) exerts on the actuation wire 73 in the initial state before the vehicle or the like collides with the guardrail 1 is set smaller than the actuation tension that acts on the actuation wire 73 when the actuation piece 72 disposed in the diffuser chamber 523 is displaced from the initial position P1 to the actuation position P2. As a result, it is possible to prevent the airbag device 4 (gas generator 50 ) from erroneously operating before the vehicle or the like collides with the guardrail 1 . It goes without saying that a tensioner that applies tension to the operating wire 73 in the initial state may be arranged separately from the pulley 74 .

In addition, in the guardrail 1 having the airbag device 4 according to the present embodiment, the mode of deployment of the airbag body 60, for example, the mode of the shape, position, size, etc. of the airbag body 60 after deployment is not particularly limited. Further, there are no particular restrictions on the installation locations, the number of installations, etc. of the airbag devices 4 on the guardrail 1 . Further, in the present embodiment, the actuation wire 73, which is a wire rod, is used as the transmission member in the actuation mechanism 70, but the actuation wire 73 is not limited to this. For example, a band material may be used instead of the operating wire 73 to transmit the external force acting on the outer shell case 41 from the fixture 76 provided on the outer shell case 41 to the activating piece 72, and various forms can be adopted as long as the transmission function is exhibited.

In the above-described embodiment, the burst pressure of the closing member 513 that seals the gas discharge port 512 of the filling bottle 51 in the gas generator 50 is set to a value lower than the filling pressure of the pressurized gas, and the opening of the closing member 513 is suppressed by directly supporting the closing member 513 with the activation piece 72 in the initial state before the vehicle or the like collides with the guardrail, but the present invention is not limited to this aspect. For example, the initial position P<b>1 where the activation piece 72 in the actuation mechanism 70 is arranged in the initial state may be separated from the closing member 513 . In this case, in the initial state, the burst pressure of the closing member 513 is made higher than the filling pressure of the pressurized gas so that the closing member 513 is not cleaved by the filling pressure of the pressurized gas. In such a mode, when a vehicle or the like collides with a guardrail, when the activating piece 72 is displaced from the initial position P1 to the activating position P2 by the tension transmitted through the actuating wire 73, the actuating mechanism 70 preferably has an opening mechanism that opens the closing member 513 in conjunction with the displacement of the activating piece 72.

The opening mechanism as described above may include, for example, a detonator containing a detonator therein and a firing pin (trigger) biased by a spring or the like so as to collide with the detonator. In the initial state, the activating piece 72 may be engaged with the firing pin of the opening mechanism to prevent the firing pin from colliding with the detonator against the urging force of the spring. For example, the primary charge contained in the detonator chamber is an explosive that burns when pressure is applied.

In such an opening mechanism, the firing pin collides vigorously with the detonator due to the biasing force of the spring, thereby burning the detonator in the detonator, and the flame generated by the combustion of the detonator and the thermal energy of the combustion gas can open the closing member 513. Further, the opening mechanism may have a transfer charge chamber for containing transfer charge different from the detonator's detonator, and the detonator chamber and transfer charge chamber may be communicated by a transfer hole (flash hole). In this case, flame or combustion gas generated by combustion of the detonator in the detonator may be introduced into the explosive chamber through the transfer hole, and the transfer charge may be ignited by its thermal energy. Then, the blocking member 513 may be cleaved by flame generated by combustion of transfer charge or thermal energy of combustion gas.

In the opening mechanism, as long as the activating piece 72 is placed at the initial position P1 in the initial state before the vehicle or the like collides with the guardrail, the firing pin is restricted from colliding with the detonator. As a result, the gas outlet 512 of the filling bottle 51 is kept sealed by the closing member 513 . On the other hand, when the vehicle or the like collides with the guardrail and the actuating wire 73 displaces the activating piece 72 from the initial position P1 to the activating position P2, the engagement between the activating piece 72 and the firing pin is released. As a result, the firing pin violently collides with the detonator due to the biasing force of the spring, igniting the primer of the detonator and opening the blocking member 513 . As a result, the gas discharge port 512 of the filling bottle 51 is opened, and the gas generator 50 can be operated.

As another aspect of the opening mechanism, for example, when a vehicle or the like collides with a guardrail, a splitting member formed of a rod member or an arrowhead member having a sharp tip may be made to collide with the closing member 513 by using an urging force of a spring or the like, and the impact may directly open the closing member 513. In this case, in the initial state before the vehicle or the like collides with the guardrail, for example, a stopper member configured as an activating portion may be engaged with the cleaving member to restrict the cleaving member from being shot toward the closing member 513 against the urging force of the spring. The stopper member (starting portion) is connected to a first end portion 731 of the operating wire 73, and is pulled by the operating wire 73 when the vehicle or the like collides with the guardrail, thereby displacing the stopper member (starting portion) from the initial position P1 where the stopper member (starting portion) engages with the cleaving member to the starting position P2 where the engaged state is released. Triggered by this, the cleaving member is fired toward the closing member 513 by the urging force of the spring, and the cleaving member vigorously collides with the closing member 513 to open the closing member 513 and open the gas outlet 512 of the filling bottle 51.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a guardrail 1A as a protective body provided with an airbag device according to Embodiment 2 will be described. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of guardrail 1A according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a state of the guardrail 1A viewed from the rear side, and detailed description thereof will be omitted by assigning the same reference numerals to the configurations common to those of the first embodiment.

In the guardrail 1A according to the present embodiment as well, the beam 3 is supported by the struts 2 as in the guardrail 1 according to the first embodiment. Further, the strut 2 is joined to the protection inner surface 31 of the beam 3 so that the strut 2 is arranged in the protected area AR1. Further, in the guardrail 1A of this embodiment, the airbag device 4A is provided on the support 2 instead of on the beam 3. As shown in FIG. The column 2 has a hollow structure inside, and a housing portion 40 for housing various parts of the airbag device 4A is formed inside the column 2 . Reference numeral 20 shown in FIG. 10 denotes a cylindrical wall of the column 2 , and a housing portion 40 is formed inside the cylindrical wall 20 . In this embodiment, the cylindrical wall 20 inside which the accommodating portion 40 is formed is an example of the outer shell portion. A bag outlet 416 is formed in the cylindrical wall 20 of the post 2 at a position facing the protected area AR1, and the bag outlet 416 is shielded by a cover member 417. As shown in FIG.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, the guardrail 1A is equipped with the photovoltaic power generation unit 85. As shown in FIG. The photovoltaic power generation unit 85 has a photovoltaic panel that generates power from solar energy arranged on the upper surface, and is attached to the guardrail 1A while being supported by the upper end of a pole-shaped support pole 86 . The support pole 86 may, for example, be attached to a fixture 5 that attaches the beam 3 to the stanchion 2 . The electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generation unit 85 is used to operate the airbag device 4A provided on the strut 2 . Therefore, the support pole 86 that supports the photovoltaic power generation unit 85 is installed in the vicinity of the support 2 that houses the airbag device 4A.

11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining the internal structure of the pillar 2 in the guardrail 1A according to the second embodiment. A housing portion 40 formed inside the cylindrical wall 20 houses a gas generator 50A, an airbag body 60, a control unit 80, a power source 81, a collision detection sensor 82, and the like. The gas generator 50A, the airbag body 60, the control unit 80, the power source 81, and the collision detection sensor 82 are fixed at predetermined positions in the housing portion 40 by appropriate fixing members (not shown) provided on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical wall 20.

Here, the type of gas generator 50A is not particularly limited. Here, a case where a pyro-type inflator using a solid gas generating agent is applied to the gas generator 50A will be described as an example. The gas generator 50A has an electric igniter (not shown). By activating the electric igniter, the gas generating agent is ignited, the generated gas is cooled with coolant, and then discharged from the gas outlet 512A formed in the housing. Of course, the gas generator 50A may be a stored gas type gas generator having a filling bottle 51 filled with pressurized gas, as in the first embodiment.

The airbag body 60 is arranged in the vicinity of the gas generator 50A in a folded state inside the housing portion 40 . When the gas generator 50A is activated, the airbag body 60 is inflated by being supplied with gas ejected from the gas discharge port 512A of the gas generator 50A. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the airbag body 60 is arranged at a position facing the bag outlet 416 and the cover member 417 formed in the cylindrical wall 20 of the strut 2 .

The control unit 80 is a control unit for controlling the gas generator 50A, and is connected to the electric igniter of the gas generator 50A, the power supply 81, and the collision detection sensor 82 via lead wires and the like. The collision detection sensor 82 is a sensor for detecting that a collision object such as a vehicle has collided with the guardrail 1A, and a known airbag sensor can be applied. Also, the power source 81 is, for example, a secondary battery (storage battery). The power supply 81 is connected to the photovoltaic power generation unit 85 by a lead wire, and stores electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generation unit 85 .

The control unit 80 also has a microcomputer or the like for determining the collision level detected by the collision detection sensor 82 based on the signal input from the collision detection sensor 82 . The control unit 80 determines the collision level based on the signal received from the collision detection sensor 82, and when it determines that the airbag body 60 needs to be inflated, it sends an activation signal to the electric igniter of the gas generator 50A to activate the electric igniter. For example, the control unit 80 may determine that the vehicle has collided with the guardrail 1A and activate the gas generator 50A when the collision level received from the collision detection sensor 82 is greater than the reference collision level for determination. At this time, the control unit 80 preferably sets the reference collision level for the determination so that, for example, the guardrail 1A is not activated by a person kicking it. When the gas generator 50A is activated based on the activation signal from the control unit 80, the gas generated in the gas generator 50A is ejected from the gas discharge port 512A and supplied to the airbag body 60. Note that the collision detection sensor 82 may be mounted on the control unit 80 .

When the supply of gas from the gas generator 50A to the airbag body 60 is started, the airbag body 60 is first inflated within the housing portion 40 . In the process of inflating the airbag body 60 within the housing portion 40 , the inflation pressure of the airbag body 60 acts on the cover member 417 that shields the bag outlet 416 of the cylindrical wall 20 of the strut 2 . The bag outlet 416 is opened by removing or breaking the cover member 417 from the cylindrical wall 20 . As a result, the airbag body 60 can be deployed from the bag outlet 416 to the outside of the cylindrical wall 20 (accommodating portion 40). Since the bag outlet 416 of the cylindrical wall 20 of the column 2 faces the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk), the airbag body 60 can be deployed in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk).

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing the airbag body 60 after being deployed in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk) in the guardrail 1A according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 shows the guardrail 1 viewed from above. Also, in FIG. 12, the photovoltaic power generation unit 85 and the support pole 86 are omitted for convenience.

As shown in FIG. 12, also in the guardrail 1A of the present embodiment, when a collision object such as a vehicle collides with the guardrail 1A, the airbag device 4A (gas generator 50A) is activated and the airbag body 60 deploys in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk). As a result, pedestrians in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk) can be favorably protected, and the safety of the protection target area AR1 can be further ensured.

In the airbag device 4A of the present embodiment, an example in which the power source 81 is a secondary battery (storage battery) and the power generated by the photovoltaic power generation unit 85 is used as the operating power source for the airbag device 4A has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, power may be supplied to the airbag device 4A from an external power source. Further, in the present embodiment, the strut 2 is arranged in the protection target area AR1 by joining the strut 2 to the protection inner surface 31 of the beam 3 . By arranging the struts 2 in this way, there is an advantage that the airbag body 60 can be easily deployed from the accommodating portion 40 formed inside the struts 2 to the protection target area AR1 when the airbag device 4A is activated.

In addition, the guardrail 1A in the present embodiment has the cylindrical wall 20 of the column 2 that supports the beam 3 as an outer shell portion, and the gas generator 50A, the airbag body 60, and the like are accommodated in the accommodating portion 40 formed inside the cylindrical wall 20, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the outer shell case 41 as in the first embodiment may be attached to the outside of the strut 2, and the airbag body 60 may be deployed in the protected area AR1 (sidewalk) when the vehicle collides with the guardrail 1A.

<Modification>
Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described. 13 and 14 are diagrams illustrating an airbag body 60A according to a modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 schematically shows a state in which the deployed airbag body 60A according to the modified example is viewed from the rear side of the guardrail 1A, and FIG. 14 schematically shows a state in which the deployed airbag body 60A according to the modified example is viewed from above the guardrail 1A. 13 and 14, the illustration of the photovoltaic power generation unit 85 and the support pole 86 is omitted.

The airbag body 60A shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 includes an introduction portion 62 into which the gas supplied from the gas generator 50A is introduced when the gas generator 50A is activated, an arm portion 63 communicating with the introduction portion 62, a plurality of support portions 64 communicating with the arm portions 63 at a plurality of points, and a cushioning material 65 attached to the outer surface of the airbag body 60A. The arm portion 63 is a portion that extends along the extension direction of the beam 3 as a protection partition member when deployed by the gas supplied from the introduction portion 62 . The support portion 64 is a portion that extends in a direction that intersects the extension direction of the arm portion 63 when deployed by gas supplied from the arm portion 63 .

In the example shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, three support portions 64 extend upward from both end portions 63A and 63B and a central portion 63C of the arm portion 63. As shown in FIGS. Here, the support portion 64 extending upward from the central portion 63C of the arm portion 63 is called a central support portion 64A. The support portion 64 extending upward from the end portion 63A of the arm portion 63 is called a first support portion 64B, and the support portion 64 extending upward from the end portion 63B of the arm portion 63 is called a second support portion 64C. Further, of the arm portion 63, a region from the end portion 63A to the central portion 63C is called a first arm region 631, and a region from the end portion 63B to the central portion 63C is called a second arm region 632. The introduction portion 62, the arm portions 63, and the support portions 64 of the airbag body 60A are in communication with each other, and the gas supplied from the gas generator 50A flows into the airbag body 60A from the introduction portion 62, and is supplied from the introduction portion 62 to the arm portions 63 and the support portions 64 in sequence. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the introduction portion 62, the arm portion 63, and the support portion 64 of the airbag body 60A are inflated and deployed in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk).

Furthermore, a cushioning material 65 is attached to the outer surface of the airbag body 60A according to this modification. A cushioning material 65 is stretched over a region surrounded by the support portions 64 and the arm portions 63 when the airbag body 60A is deployed. Although the material of the cushioning material 65 is not particularly limited, it is preferably made of a cloth material or a net material having appropriate flexibility and durability. For example, the cushioning material 65 may be made of the same material as the airbag fabric (base fabric) that forms the support portion 64, the arm portions 63, and the like. The cushioning material 65 attached to the outer surface of the airbag body 60A has a structure in which gas is not introduced.

The airbag device 4A including the airbag body 60A according to this modification can protect pedestrians and the like in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk) not only by the introduction portion 62, the arm portions 63, and the support portions 64, but also by the cushioning material 65 stretched over the area surrounded by the support portions 64 and the arm portions 63. Since the airbag body 60A does not require gas to be introduced into the area over which the cushioning material 65 is stretched after deployment, a sufficient area that can be protected by the airbag body 60A can be secured without supplying a large amount of gas from the gas generator 50A to the airbag body 60A. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the airbag body 60A. Also, it is possible to reduce the size of the gas generator 50A that supplies gas to the airbag body 60A.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the airbag body 60A according to this modified example is configured so that the arm portion 63 has a V-shape when viewed from above after deployment, and the arm portion 63 after deployment is separated from the strut 2 and the beam 3. That is, when viewed from above, the first arm region 631 and the second arm region 632 of the arm portion 63 are connected so as to form an angle of less than 180° with the central support portion 64A as a reference. As a result, the cushioning material 65 of the airbag body 60A can be stretched over the struts 2 and the beams 3 of the guardrail 1A. That is, a buffer space As can be formed between the cushioning material 65 and the beam 3 in the airbag body 60A deployed in the protection target area AR1 (sidewalk).

As a result, when a vehicle or the like collides with the guardrail 1A and a pedestrian is caught by the cushioning material 65, the pedestrian can be protected more safely by forming a cushioning space As between the cushioning material 65 and the beam 3. 14 is an angle formed by the first arm region 631 and the second arm region 632 of the arm 63 (hereinafter referred to as "arm angle"). The arm angle D1 may be set within a range of 150° or less. By doing so, a sufficient buffer space As can be secured between the cushioning material 65 of the airbag body 60A and the beam 3 after deployment.

<Other embodiments>
In the above-described embodiments and modifications, the case where the protective body according to the present disclosure is applied to guardrails installed along roads has been described as an example, but it may be applied to protective bodies other than guardrails. That is, the protective body according to the present disclosure is fixed to the ground and can be applied to various fences, protective fences, etc. for partitioning a space into a protected area and a non-protected area. In addition, it goes without saying that the area to be protected and the area not to be protected that are partitioned by the protector are not limited to the sidewalk and the roadway. For example, the protective body may be a fence, protective fence, or the like installed along the boundary between a work area where work is performed by a forklift or the like and a non-work area in a facility such as a factory or warehouse.

15 and 16 are diagrams illustrating a protector 1B according to another embodiment. 15 is a rear view of the protector 1B, and FIG. 16 is a top view of the protector 1B. The same reference numerals are assigned to the same configurations as those of the guardrails according to the above-described embodiments, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The protector 1B has a protective partition member 3B extending along the boundary between the protected area AR1 and the non-protected area AR2, and a plurality of struts 2B supporting the protective partition member 3B. The protection partition member 3B includes a plurality of horizontal beam members 300 extending along the boundary between the protected area AR1 and the non-protected area AR2. Each cross member 300 has a protective inner surface 31 facing the protected area AR1 and a protective outer surface 32 facing the non-protected area AR2. The protective body 1B is, for example, a protective fence fixed to the floor surface (ground) in facilities such as factories and warehouses. The protector 1B is installed along the boundary between a work area where work is performed by a forklift or the like and a traffic area where employees and the like pass.

The protective body 1B has an airbag device 4B, and an outer shell case 41 of the airbag device 4B is attached to the protective inner surface 31 of the protective partition member 3B. The internal structure of the outer shell case 41 may be the same as the structure described in FIGS. 3, 4, etc. of the first embodiment, or may be the same as the structure described in FIG. 11, etc. of the second embodiment. In such a protective body 1B, when a collision object collides with the protective body 1B, gas is supplied from the gas generator to the airbag body accommodated in the outer shell case 41, and the airbag body is deployed in the protection target area AR1, thereby safely protecting the person in the protection target area AR1.

In addition, in the example shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a mode in which the outer shell case 41 is attached to the protective partition member 3B of the protective body 1B has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the protection partition member 3B in the protection body 1B may be of a hollow structure, and an accommodation portion for accommodating the airbag body, the gas generator, and the like constituting the airbag device 4B may be formed inside the protection partition member 3B. Further, instead of arranging the outer shell case 41 on the protective partition member 3B of the protective body 1B, the outer shell case 41 may be arranged on the support 2B.

Each aspect disclosed in this specification may be combined with any other feature disclosed in this specification.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Guardrail 2 Strut 3 Beam 4 Airbag device 40 Accommodating portion 41 Outer shell case 50 Gas generator 51 Filling bottle 52 Diffuser portion 60 Airbag bag 70 Actuating mechanism 71 Support 72 Actuating piece 73 Actuating wire 74 Pulley 75 Sealing member 76 Fixing tool

Claims (11)

A guard fixed to the ground for partitioning a space into a protected area and a non-protected area,
a gas generator;
an airbag body that deploys in the protected area by being inflated by the gas supplied from the gas generator when the gas generator is activated;
an outer shell housing the gas generator and the airbag;
a protection partition member extending along the boundary between the protection target area and the non-protection target area and having a protection inner surface facing the protection target area and a protection outer surface facing the protection non-target area;
with
wherein the outer shell is provided on the protective barrier member;
protective body. A guard fixed to the ground for partitioning a space into a protected area and a non-protected area,
a gas generator;
an airbag body that deploys in the protected area by being inflated by the gas supplied from the gas generator when the gas generator is activated;
an outer shell housing the gas generator and the airbag;
a protection partition member extending along the boundary between the protection target area and the non-protection target area and having a protection inner surface facing the protection target area and a protection outer surface facing the protection non-target area;
a strut supporting the protective barrier member;
with
wherein the outer shell is provided on the strut;
protective body. The outer shell portion has a bag outlet for deploying the airbag body to the outside when the gas generator is actuated, and the bag outlet is provided so as to face the protected area.
3. A protector according to claim 1 or 2 . The gas generator includes a pressurized gas chamber filled with a pressurized gas, a closing member that closes the gas outlet end of the pressurized gas chamber, and a diffuser portion provided at the outlet end and having a communication hole formed therein,
the diffuser section includes an activating piece that contacts the outer surface of the closing member and a support that supports the activating piece, and the activating piece and the outer shell are connected by a transmission member;
When the outer shell is deformed by an external force, a tensile stress is generated in the path length direction of the transmission member, the tension is transmitted to the activation piece via the transmission member, and the activation piece is pulled by the transmission member in a direction away from the closing member.
4. A body protector according to any one of claims 1-3. further comprising a photovoltaic power generation unit in which a photovoltaic power generation panel that generates power using solar energy is arranged, and the power generated by the photovoltaic power generation unit is used as an operating power source for deploying the airbag body;
5. A body protector according to any one of claims 1-4. the struts are joined to the protective inner surface of the protective bulkhead member such that the struts are located in the area to be protected;
3. A body protector according to claim 2 . The airbag body has a deployment width in the height direction after deployment that is larger than the height dimension of the protection partition member.
7. A body protector according to any one of claims 1-6 . The outer shell has a cover member that shields the bag outlet, and the bag outlet is opened by the inflation pressure of the airbag body when the gas generator is actuated.
4. A body protector according to claim 3 . The cover member has a lower strength than the outer shell,
The gas generator is arranged in the outer shell at a position not facing the cover member,
A body protector according to claim 8 . The airbag body is
an introduction portion into which the gas supplied from the gas generator is introduced when the gas generator is in operation;
an arm portion communicating with the introducing portion and extending along the extending direction of the protective partition member when deployed by the gas supplied from the introducing portion;
a plurality of support portions communicating with the arm portion at a plurality of locations and extending in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the arm portion when deployed by gas supplied from the arm portion;
a cushioning material attached to the outer surface of the airbag body and stretched over a region surrounded by the plurality of support portions and the arm portions when the airbag body is deployed;
having
10. Armor according to any one of claims 1-9 . The protective body according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein said protective body is a guardrail installed at a boundary position between a sidewalk and a roadway.

Images