JPH03157242A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve compactness of an air bag device, and to improve reliability thereof by providing a shock detecting sensor in the vicinity of a steering shaft, and by providing a control unit above it. CONSTITUTION:When an automobile collides, the shock is transmitted to a steering shaft 1, and is detected by a sensor 7, and a detection signal thereof is transmitted to a shock judging circuit of a control unit 11. An ignition current runs from an ignition circuit of the control unit 11 to a gas generator 12, whereby gas is generated. The gas is blown out from a gas nozzle 14, and is discharged into an air bag 15. The upper part of a pad cover 6 is opened thereby, while the air bag 15 is spread. By integrating the sensor 7, the control until 11, the generator 12, and the air bag 15 and so on, with one another, so as to be arranged in a focused manner, compactness of the entire device can be achieved, and reliability thereof can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an airbag device for protecting occupants installed in vehicles such as automobiles.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, airbag devices have been increasingly installed in vehicles to protect occupants in the event of a collision. This airbag-related device is equipped with an airbag device consisting of a gas generator, an airbag, etc. on the steering wheel of the vehicle, and sensors for detecting collisions are installed at the front and both sides of the vehicle body. It had a sensor and a control unit, and each component was placed separately, and each element was connected by wire harnesses.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, the above-mentioned conventional airbag-related devices have complicated configurations because each element is arranged separately, and require a large number of sensors and wire harnesses to connect each element. Therefore, there was a problem that the accuracy was insufficient.

An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that is simpler, more compact, more accurate, and less expensive than conventional airbag devices.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a gas generator, an airbag located outside the gas generator and having an end fixed to the gas generator, and an airbag disposed near the gas generator. The control unit includes a deceleration detection means and is electrically connected to the gas generator, and a sensor is electrically connected to the control unit and placed near the steering shaft. A method that allows it to be worn is adopted.

[Effect]

By adopting the above means, when a vehicle collides and receives an impact, the impact is transmitted to the steering shaft of the steering wheel, a sensor placed near the steering shaft detects the impact, and a signal from the sensor is transmitted. is transmitted to the control unit. If this control unit determines that an occupant will be injured, the gas generator is activated and gas is released from the gas generator, and the gas is ejected into the airbag located outside the gas generator. The airbag deploys and protects the occupants from injury.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a boss plate 2 is attached to the steering shaft 1 at the center position of the steering wheel 20, and a ring part 4 is supported at the tips of spoke parts 3 fixed to the boss plate 2. There is. By rotating the ring portion 4, the steering wheel 20 can be rotated. A support plate 5 is fixed to the upper center of the boss plate 2, and a box-shaped pad cover 6 is attached to the support plate 5.

A sensor 7 is mounted on the support plate 5 near the steering shaft I in the lower part of the pad cover 6,
This sensor 7 converts the deceleration of the vehicle at the time of a collision into an electrical signal using a strain line or piezoelectric effect, and has an electronic circuit.

A base plate 9 fixed to the inner surface of the pad cover 6 with rivets 8 is fixed above the sensor 7, and a mounting plate 10 is attached to the lower part of the base plate 9.
A control unit 11 is fixed to the lower surface of this mounting plate 1O. The control unit 11 is composed of an electronic circuit including a collision judgment circuit, a failure diagnosis circuit, a recording circuit, and an ignition circuit. Further, the control unit 11 is electrically connected to the sensor 7.

A gas generator 12 is fastened to the upper part of the base plate 9 by screws 13.

The gas generator 12 incorporates a squib as an igniter (not shown), an igniter, and a gas generating agent such as pelletized sodium azide. When the squib is activated and ignites, the igniter burns and generates gas. Gas such as nitrogen gas is released from the agent. This gas generator 12 is
It is electrically connected to the control unit 1. A gas ejection hole 14 for ejecting the gas is provided in the outer circumferential portion of the gas generator 12.

An air bag 15 made of nylon or the like is folded up and placed on the outer periphery and above the gas generator 12, the end of which is fixed to the outside of the gas generator 12 and communicates with the gas ejection hole 14. It is housed within the cover 6.

The functions and effects of the airbag device configured as described above will be explained.

When a vehicle collides, the impact is applied to the steering shaft 1.
The sensor 7 attached to the support plate 5 near the steering shaft 1 senses the impact, and the sensor 7
A signal from the vehicle is transmitted to the collision determination circuit of the control unit 11 which is electrically connected. If the collision determination circuit determines that an occupant will be injured, an ignition current flows from the ignition circuit to a squib (not shown) in the gas generator 12, and gas, for example, nitrogen gas, is released from the gas generator 12. .

This gas is ejected from the gas ejection hole 14, and the airbag 1
5 is released into the body. Then, the opening force of the airbag 15 opens the upper part of the pad cover 6, and the airbag 15 deploys. The deployed airbag 15 protects the occupant from injury.

As described above, the airbag device of this embodiment has the sensor 7 installed in the vicinity of the steering shaft l of the steering wheel 20, and the control unit 1 installed above the sensor 7.
1, and they are a gas generator 12 and an airbag 15.
Since it is also integrated into the steering wheel 20, it is compact and lightweight, and since the sensor 7 and control unit 11 are integrated into electronic circuits, accuracy is improved.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The airbag device of the present invention integrates sensors, control units, gas generators, airbags, etc., which were conventionally arranged separately in various parts of the vehicle body, and is formed so that it can be mounted on the steering wheel, making the entire device compact. This has the effect of reducing weight and improving accuracy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an airbag device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A gas generator (12), an airbag (15) located outside the gas generator (12) and having an end fixed to the gas generator (12), and the gas generator (12) a control unit (11) disposed near the gas generator (12), which includes a deceleration detection means and is electrically connected to the gas generator (12); and a steering shaft which is electrically connected to the control unit (11). (1) and a sensor (7) placed near the airbag device, which can be attached to a steering wheel (20).