JPH02286448A - Air bag device for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a child surely protectible for custody by controlling gas pressure of an air bag being taken into a space in opposition to a rider so as to be lowered as compared with normal time at a time when such a state that the child stands in front of an assistant driver's seat (standing child state) is detected. CONSTITUTION:At an air bag unit 20 in an air bag device 2 at the side of an assistant driver's seat, an inner part of the air bag 21 is partitioned off into both upper and lower chambers 23, 24 by a partition sheet 22 extending in the horizontal direction in a state of expansion. In addition, the inside of a rectangular parallelopipedic casing 25 is partitioned off into both upper and lower chambers 28, 29 by a partition wall 27 extending in the horizontal direction, and a gas generator 31 is set up in an opening installed in this partition wall 27. This gas generator 31 is provided with a case fitted with multirow openings free of rotation, and when a proximity sensor 41 has detected a standing child state, it is constituted so as to control a turning angle of the case so as to lower an amount of gas ejection to the side of the lower chamber 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an airbag device for an automobile.

(Prior Art) Airbag devices have conventionally been used as safety devices for automobile collisions.
An airbag unit equipped with a gas generator, etc. is installed above the glove box in the instrument panel. When a car crashes, the gas generator operates to inflate and deploy the airbag, thereby causing , which protects the head and chest of occupants who attempt to move forward in the event of a collision. Additionally, conventional airbag devices are generally designed for adults sitting in a seat.

However, there are cases where a child is standing in front of the passenger seat next to the driver's seat (hereinafter referred to as a standing child), and in such cases, the car collides and the gas generator is activated to deploy the airbag. If deployed, this airbag could cause a significant impact to a child.

Therefore, in the airbag device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-2729, a plurality of gas generators are provided, and a sensor for detecting the above-mentioned standing child condition is provided, and when the standing child condition is detected by this sensor, By reducing the number of gas generators that are activated, the speed and force with which the airbag inflates is reduced so that the child is not thrown backwards).

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, by reducing the number of operating gas generators and reducing the speed and force with which the airbag inflates, the ability of the airbag to protect the occupants is reduced. The problem is that it can become too weak.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can reduce the impact on a child due to bag deployment when the child is standing, and can reliably restrain and protect the child.

(Means for Solving the Problem) The present invention is normally folded and stored inside a seat front member provided in front of the seat of an automobile, and in the event of a collision, gas is introduced and the seat is expanded and expanded toward the seat side. In an airbag device for an automobile equipped with an airbag, a detection means is provided for detecting that an occupant is away from the seat and in close proximity to the seat front member, and the airbag is arranged in a vertical direction of the vehicle body. Alternatively, when the vehicle is divided into a plurality of rooms in the width direction to form a plurality of rooms, and the detection means detects an occupant in the above state,
The airbag is characterized in that a control means is provided for lowering the pressure of the gas introduced into the room facing the occupant of the airbag compared to normal times.

(Operations and Effects of the Invention) As described above, in the airbag device of the present invention,
When it detects that the occupant is standing up close to the front seat member, that is, a standing child condition, the system lowers the pressure of the gas introduced into the airbag chamber facing the occupant compared to normal times. Therefore, the pressure (cushion pressure) of only the portion of the airbag facing the passenger, ie, the child, is reduced. As a result, the impact force on the child can be reduced, and the child can be restrained by other parts of the airbag that have normal cushioning pressure, thereby improving occupant protection performance.

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, an automobile airbag device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an instrument panel of an automobile incorporating an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1. be.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates an instrument panel as a member in front of the front seat of an automobile, and an airbag device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in a predetermined portion of the instrument panel on the passenger seat side. There is.

The structure of the vehicle body in which the airbag device 2 is installed is as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a dash upper panel 4 is joined to the upper end of the darts lower panel 3 located at the rear end of the engine room. An upper panel 5 is joined at the rear end. Furthermore, although not shown,
A cowl front panel is joined between the front end of the cowl upper panel 5 and the front end of the dash upper panel 4 to form a cowl box 6 having a cowl closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction.

A front windshield 7 is fixed to a predetermined portion of the cowl upper panel 5 with an adhesive 8.

Further, a cooling unit 9 serving as an air conditioner is disposed in the interior space of the instrument panel 1 at a position behind the dash lower panel 3 and below the dash upper panel 4.

On the underside of the top deck of the instrument panel 1, there is a defroster nozzle 1 that blows hot air from the cooling unit 9 to the front windshield 7 through the differential door to prevent the front windshield 7 from fogging.
0 is set.

A glove box 14 including a glove tray 11, a glove lid 12, and a glove pocket 13 is disposed at a rear position of the cooling unit 9.

A steering support member 15 is disposed directly above the glove box 14. The steering support member 15 extends in the width direction of the vehicle body, and has both ends connected to hinge pillars (not shown) on both sides via brackets (not shown). (not shown). This is also not shown, but
A reinforcing member extending in the vertical direction is stretched between the center portion of the steering support member 15 and the floor tunnel portion, thereby forming a cylindrical steering support structure.

A bracket 16 is attached to the steering support member 15.
is fixed, and an airbag unit 20 of the airbag group [2 is attached to this bracket 16 in a front mounting manner.

This airbag unit 20 includes a casing, an airbag accommodated in a folded state within the casing,
It consists of a gas generator, etc. to generate the gas to be introduced into the airbag, and when a car crashes, a collision sensor detects this collision and ignites it with an igniter, which is built into the gas generator. The chemical substance is ignited, and the gas generated from this chemical substance is introduced into the airbag.
The airbag is inflated and deployed to protect the head and chest of an occupant who is moving forward in the event of a collision. Note that a lid 17, which is an extension of the instrument panel 1, is provided on the front surface of the airbag unit 20, and the lid 17 is formed with a weakness 'a18 extending in the vehicle width direction. When the airbag deploys, the lid 17 is exposed to the fragile I! It splits at 18 and opens like a double door to help deploy the airbag.

However, if the airbag unit 20 simply maintains this structure, as shown in FIG.
The above-mentioned problem occurs when the child is standing upright away from the seat S, that is, when the child is standing in the passenger seat.

Therefore, the airbag unit 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has an airbag 21 as shown in FIG. This airbag 21 includes an upper chamber 23 and a lower chamber 24 that are divided vertically in the vehicle body by a partition sheet 22 that extends horizontally when deployed, and when the child is standing, the airbag 21 is provided with an upper chamber 23 and a lower chamber 24 that face the child. The pressure in the lower chamber 24, which is a room, is lowered compared to normal pressure to prevent the child from being subjected to sudden force when the airbag is deployed, and at least the child can be restrained by the upper chamber 23, which is at a normal pressure. This makes it possible to improve occupant protection performance.

Therefore, the airbag unit 20 in this embodiment is configured as follows.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and subsequent figures, the airbag unit 20 includes a rectangular parallelepiped casing 25 that is long in the vehicle width direction, and this casing 25 has an opening 26 facing the seat S. .

The inside of the casing 25 is equally divided in the vertical direction by a partition wall 27 extending in the horizontal direction to form an upper chamber 28 and a lower chamber 29. The upper chamber 28 and the lower chamber 29 are respectively connected to the airbag 2.
It communicates with an upper chamber 23 and a lower chamber 24 of No. 1.

The partition wall 27 has an opening 30 extending in its longitudinal direction.
A gas generator 31 is formed in this opening 3o.
is included. In the normal state, the airbag 21 is connected to the gas generator 31 as shown in FIG.
Stored in a folded position at the front. As shown in FIG. 5, the gas generator 31 includes a tubular case 32, and a chemical substance that is ignited to generate gas is housed inside the case 32.

As shown in FIG. 5, a large number of openings 33 are formed on the front surface of the case 32 to release the generated gas. This large number of openings 33 are arranged in the first to fourth opening rows 33a to 33d arranged in the vertical direction. The case 32 is arranged to be rotatable about its longitudinal center axis, but in a normal state, as shown in the 62nd factor, the second
A partition wall 27 is provided between the opening row 33b and the second opening row 3'3c.
is located so that it is located. As a result, under normal conditions, the gas from the gas generator 31 is evenly introduced into the upper and lower chambers 28, 29 of the casing 25, as well as the upper and lower chambers 23, 24 of the airbag 21.

One side end of the case 32 is connected to a motor 35 via a drive plate 34 and the like, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, this motor 35 is composed of a microcomputer, etc., and is connected to a control circuit 36 that controls the direction of rotation and activation/deactivation of the motor 35. 36, a proximity sensor 41 and a seat switch 42 are connected to detect the standing child state. As the proximity sensor 41, a signal wave sensor or an infrared sensor can be used. The signal wave sensor uses radar (microwaves), ultrasonic waves, and lasers as signal waves, and includes, for example, a radar antenna as a transceiver installed on a predetermined part of the front of the instrument panel 1, and this radar antenna. It is equipped with a signal processor connected to the instrument panel 1, and detects the presence of an occupant near the front of the instrument panel 1 based on the time difference between the transmitted signal and the received signal. On the other hand, the infrared sensor determines whether a heating element equivalent to a human body is present near the front surface of the instrument panel 1.

Further, the seat switch 42 uses a sensor that determines whether or not a load of a predetermined value or more is applied downward onto the cushion of the seat S. Specifically, detection is performed by contacting a spring member with a predetermined spring constant;
Alternatively, the detection is performed by measuring the load using a signal from a strain gauge type pressure-electrical signal converter.

The control circuit 36 receives signals from the proximity sensor 41 and the seat switch 42, determines a standing child state when the proximity sensor 41 is on and the seat switch 42 is off, and determines when the standing child state is present. The motor 35 is rotated counterclockwise, and the gas generator 31 is also rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined angle. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6b, the first to third opening rows 33a to 33c of the case 32 of the gas generator 31 are arranged above the partition wall 27, while only the fourth opening row 33d is disposed above the partition wall 27. Above partition wall 2
Place it below 7. In this state, when the gas generator 31 is operated and gas is generated, the gas is introduced into the lower chamber 24 of the airbag 21 only through the fourth opening row 33d. , the speed and force of expansion of this lower chamber 24, which is the room facing the child, is reduced compared to the normal state in which the case 32 is in the position shown in FIG. 6a, and its cushion pressure is also reduced. . On the other hand, the upper chamber 23 has the first to third opening rows 33a to 33c.
Since gas is introduced through the upper chamber 23, the rate and force of expansion of the upper chamber 23 will be greater than in the normal situation with the case 32 in the position shown in FIG. 6a. However, the maximum gas amount in the upper chamber 23 is approximately the same due to the vent hole formed at the base of the airbag.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 4, when the airbag 21 is disposed within the casing 25, it is desirable that the opening on the front side of the casing 25 be covered with a cover 43.

Next, an airbag device 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8 and subsequent figures.

In the first embodiment described above, an embodiment in which the airbag 21 is divided vertically has been described.
In the embodiment, the airbag 51 is divided into three parts in the vehicle width direction by two vertically extending partition sheets 52 and 53 to form three chambers, namely a central chamber 54 and left and right side chambers 55 and 56. At the same time, in the standing child state, the gas pressure introduced into the central chamber 54, which is the room facing the child, is reduced. Therefore, the airbag device 50 according to this embodiment has the following structure.

The airbag device 50 includes an airbag 51 as described above.
and a casing 57 that accommodates the airbag 51 in a folded state in a normal state. A gas generator 58 similar to the gas generator in the above embodiment is fixedly arranged inside the cane puffer 5 . The casing 57 has a central chamber 54 and left and right side chambers 55.5.
6, the vehicle is divided into three rooms in the vehicle width direction by two partition plates 59, 60, namely, a central room 61 and left and right side rooms 62, 63.

An exhaust device 64 is provided at the back of the central chamber 61 of the casing 57.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, this exhaust device 64 includes a housing 65.
communicates with the central chamber 61 of the casing 57 through an opening 66. Further, the housing 65 has an exhaust opening 67 formed on its back surface. This frontage 67
A valve device 68 is provided at the portion. This valve device 68 includes a valve seat 69 provided at the opening 67 of the housing 65, a valve body 70 that closes the opening 67 while seated on the valve seat 69, and a valve body 70 that closes the opening 67 when seated on the valve seat 69. A drive device 71 is provided for moving the valve between a state where it is seated on the seat 69 and a state where it is separated from the valve seat 69. This drive device 71 includes a motor 72 and a
The actuating rod 73 has one end connected to the valve body 70 and the other end connected to the valve body 70 . The operating rod 73 is provided so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction by a horizontally arranged pivot 74, and opens when it is rotated upward from the position shown in FIG.

A control circuit 75 similar to that of the first embodiment is connected to the motor 72, and a proximity sensor 76 and a seat switch 77 for detecting a standing child state are connected to the control circuit 75. There is.

With the above structure, when the standing child state is detected by the proximity sensor 76 and the seat switch 77, the control circuit 75 operates the motor 72 to rotate the valve body 70 upward and open the opening 67. It looks like this. When the gas generator 58 operates with the opening 67 open, a portion of the gas in the central chamber 61 is exhausted through the opening 67, so the airbag 51
The amount of gas introduced into the central chamber 54 is reduced.

Therefore, the speed and force of inflation and deployment of this central chamber 54 facing the child is reduced and does not exert a sudden force on the child in the standing child position. On the other hand, even in this state, the left and right side chambers 55.56
Since it is inflated and deployed in the normal state, it can wrap around the child, further improving the protection performance for the occupant.

In the embodiments described above, the structure of the gas generator 58 is left as is, and the exhaust device 64 is provided, and the airbag 58 is
1 has been described, but as shown in FIG. Divide into corresponding parts 81.82.83,
An electric igniter (not shown) is arranged in each part, and an igniter (not shown) that operates only a part of the part 81 is arranged in the part 81 corresponding to the central chamber 61. In this case, all the igniters are activated and all parts 81, 82 .
83 in the normal state, while in the standing child state, the side chambers 62.
63, and the igniter that activates only a portion of the portion 81 corresponding to the central chamber 61, the side chambers 55.63 of the airbag 51 are activated.
Alternatively, only the chamber 56 may be inflated and deployed at normal pressure, and the central chamber 54 may be inflated and deployed at a relatively low pressure. in this case,
As shown in FIG. 11, two lead wires 84 and 85 are connected to the gas generator 80, and all parts 81, 82, 8 of the gas generator 88 are connected to one lead wire 84.
3 is connected to the igniter for normal operation, while the other lead wire 85 is connected to the igniter for the side portions 82 and 83 of the gas generator 80 and for operating a part of the portion 81. Connect the igniter. As a result, when a standing child condition is detected, the lead wire 85 is energized to operate the igniters in the side portions 82 and 83 of the gas generator 80 and a portion of the portion 81. For example, normal pressure gas is introduced only into the side chambers 55 and 56 of the airbag 51, and relatively low pressure gas is introduced into the central chamber 54 facing the child, so that sudden force is not exerted on the child. Moreover, since the left and right side chambers 55 and 56 are inflated and deployed in the same state as in the normal state, the child can be wrapped around the child, further improving the protection performance for the occupant.

In the first embodiment, the gas pressure in the part of the airbag facing the child was controlled by moving the opening of the gas generator, but it could also be controlled by providing an exhaust device as in the first embodiment. Alternatively, other control mechanisms may be provided in the second embodiment as well.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a perspective view showing an instrument panel of an automobile in which an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1; 4 is a diagram for explaining the deployed state of the airbag of the airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a standing child state; FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the airbag unit of the airbag device; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the gas generator used in the airbag unit of the airbag device, and Fig. m6a and Fig. 6b show the states of the gas generator in a normal state and a standing child state, respectively. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the rotational drive system of the casing of the gas generator; FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the deployed state of the airbag of the airbag device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the airbag device incorporating an exhaust device, FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 shows a modification of the gas generator. FIG. 20 Airbag unit 21 Airbag 23 Upper chamber 24 Lower chamber 31 Gas generator 35 Motor 41 Proximity sensor 42 Seat switch 51 Airbag 54 Central chamber 55, 56 Side chamber 64 Exhaust device

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An airbag device for an automobile that includes an airbag that is normally folded and stored inside a seat front member provided in front of the automobile seat, and in the event of a collision, gas is introduced and the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the seat side. The airbag is provided with a detection means for detecting that the occupant is away from the seat and in close proximity to the seat front member, and the airbag is divided into a plurality of parts in the vertical direction of the vehicle body and is arranged in a plurality of rooms. is formed, and control means is provided for lowering the pressure of the gas introduced into the room facing the airbag occupant compared to normal times when the detection means detects the occupant in the above state. An automobile airbag device characterized by: (2) An airbag device for an automobile that includes an airbag that is normally folded and stored inside a seat front member provided in front of the automobile seat, and in the event of a collision, gas is introduced and the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the seat side. The airbag is provided with a detection means for detecting that the occupant is away from the seat and in close proximity to the seat front member, and the airbag is divided into a plurality of parts in the width direction of the vehicle and is arranged in a plurality of rooms. is formed, and control means is provided for lowering the pressure of the gas introduced into the room facing the airbag occupant compared to normal times when the detection means detects the occupant in the above state. An automobile airbag device characterized by: