JPH06239198A - Vehicular air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a vehicular air bag device for minimizing damage to the weak such as a pedestrian in unexpected collision with an automobile. CONSTITUTION:An air bag device is composed of an inflator and an air bag 72 mounted on the inflator in such a way that airtight may be retained in its inner part and is housed in a front hood 12 on the bumper 11 of an automobile 20. In the air bag 72, its front 72F covers the bumper 11 to approach its lower surface 72L to a road so that inflation shape in expecting collision may form to have its upper surface 72L located at the position lower than the lower end of a windowscreen 13. In addition, its upper face visual shape is of nearly wedge shape with its front end on the vehicular central axis as a summit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a protective device which is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and operates in the event of a collision of the vehicle, and particularly protects a weak person such as a pedestrian against the vehicle in the event of an unexpected collision with the vehicle. The present invention relates to an airbag device for a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in automobiles, an installation rate of a driver's seat and a passenger seat airbag device for protecting an occupant at the time of collision with another automobile or a roadside obstacle is increasing, and the airbag device operates at the time of collision. It helps to reduce the damage to the passengers. On the other hand, vehicles such as vehicles and pedestrians may be driven by various causes such as simple driver's mistakes in driving, unavoidable lane departure due to steering to avoid collision with other vehicles, or sudden pedestrians jumping into lanes. Collisions with vulnerable people have occurred on a daily basis.

[0003]

As described above, the conventional vehicle is equipped with the protective device for protecting the occupant in the event of a collision, but is completely equipped with the protective device for protecting the weak such as a pedestrian. Therefore, in the event of an accidental collision between a pedestrian and a car, they are bounced off by the bumper of the car, caught in the lower part of the car body, or hit by tires. There was the problem of suffering physical and material damage.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in the event of an accidental collision with an automobile,
An object of the present invention is to obtain an airbag device for a vehicle that can minimize damage to vulnerable people such as pedestrians.

[0005]

The airbag device for a vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention is housed at the front end portion in the vehicle traveling direction when not in operation, and a collision with an obstacle in the vehicle traveling direction is predicted. At the time of deployment, the airbag is equipped with an airbag that deploys toward the direction of travel of the vehicle, the lower surface of which is close to the road surface, the upper surface of which is located below the lower end of the windscreen of the vehicle, and the front surface of which is at least the bumper of the vehicle. And has a developed shape such that its top view shape is a substantially wedge shape with its front end portion on the vehicle center axis as the apex.

Further, the vehicle airbag device according to the second aspect of the present invention is housed at the front end of the bonnet vehicle traveling direction when the vehicle is not in operation, and when the collision with the obstacle in the bonnet vehicle traveling direction is predicted. Equipped with an airbag that deploys in the direction of travel of the vehicle, the airbag is
Its lower surface is close to the road surface, its upper surface covers at least a part of the hood top of the bonnet vehicle, its front surface covers at least the bumper of the bonnet vehicle, and its top view shape is its front end portion on the vehicle center axis. The developed shape is a wedge shape with the apex.

The vehicle airbag device according to the third aspect of the present invention is housed at the front end of the vehicle traveling direction when the vehicle is not in operation, and the vehicle traveling direction is predicted when a collision with an obstacle in the vehicle traveling direction is predicted. The plurality of airbags are deployed toward each other, and the plurality of airbags have at least a front surface and an upper surface when they are deployed connected to each other between adjacent airbags, and when deployed, their lower surfaces are close to the road surface. , Its upper surface is located below the lower end of the vehicle windscreen, and its front surface covers at least the vehicle bumper,
Further, the top view shape is a developed shape having a substantially wedge shape with the front end portion on the vehicle center axis as an apex.

[0008]

In the first aspect of the present invention, when the collision with the obstacle in the traveling direction of the vehicle is predicted, the airbag is
Its lower surface is close to the road surface, its upper surface is located below the lower end of the vehicle windscreen, its front surface covers at least the bumper of the vehicle, and its top view shape has its front end on the vehicle center axis as the apex. Since it deploys so as to form a substantially wedge shape, when a pedestrian or the like accidentally collides, the pedestrian or the like does not directly contact the bumper, the impact force at the time of the collision is mitigated, and Even if the vehicle is guided and falls down before the collision, it is prevented from being caught in the lower part of the vehicle body.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
When a collision with an obstacle in the vehicle traveling direction is predicted, the airbag has its lower surface close to the road surface, its upper surface covers at least a part of the hood top of the bonnet vehicle, and its front surface at least the bumper of the bonnet vehicle. And covers
Since it is developed so that its top view shape is a substantially wedge shape with its front end portion on the vehicle center axis as the apex, it acts in the same manner as in the above-mentioned first invention, and the position of the bumper of the bonnet vehicle is the same as that of a pedestrian. Even if a pedestrian falls on the hood top at the time of a collision due to being lower than the center of gravity, the impact force is mitigated.

In the third invention of the present invention,
Since at least the front surface and the upper surface of the plurality of airbags are connected to each other between the adjacent airbags when they are deployed, the volume of each airbag is reduced and the deployment speed is increased.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Example 1. The first embodiment is an embodiment according to the first invention of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an airbag actuation system in an airbag device for a vehicle according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an automobile equipped with an airbag device for a vehicle according to FIG. 1, in which 1 is an ultrasonic sensor, for example, and obstacle detection is provided at three points on the left, right, center of the front end of the automobile 20. Sensor, 2 in front of the car 20,
A vehicle speed sensor attached near the rear wheel, 3 is an automobile 2
An acceleration sensor attached to 0, 4 is a brake switch, and 5 is an accelerator switch. 6 is a collision predicting unit having a built-in microprocessor, 7 is an airbag device mounted at the front end of the automobile 20, 8 is a collision warning unit arranged on the instrument panel, 9 is a seat belt tension drive unit, and 10 is a seat. It is a belt.

The obstacle detection sensor 1, the vehicle speed sensor 2, the acceleration sensor 3, the brake switch 4 and the accelerator switch 5 are connected to the input port of the collision predicting section 6,
The airbag device 7, the collision warning unit 8, and the seat belt tension drive unit 9 are connected to the output port of the collision prediction unit 6.

Next, the airbag actuation system according to the first embodiment will be explained. 3 at the front end of the car 20
Each obstacle detection sensor 1 attached to the location emits ultrasonic waves in the traveling direction of the automobile 20, receives ultrasonic waves reflected from obstacles such as pedestrians in the traveling direction,
It is detected whether there is an obstacle in the traveling direction of the automobile 20. When any of these obstacle detection sensors 1 detects that there is an obstacle such as a pedestrian in the traveling direction of the automobile 20, the obstacle detection sensor 1 outputs a detection signal to the collision prediction unit 6. Therefore, in the collision prediction unit 6, the vehicle speed calculated from the wheel speeds of the front and rear wheels obtained from the vehicle speed sensor 2, the vehicle deceleration obtained from the acceleration sensor 3,
Further, the brake switch 4 and the accelerator switch 5
The degree of collision risk with a front obstacle is determined based on the brake pedal and accelerator pedal depression states obtained from the above.

Then, when a collision with a front obstacle is predicted, the collision collision unit 6 outputs a collision alarm signal to the collision alarm unit 8, an airbag drive signal to the airbag device 7, and the seat. A drive signal is output to the belt tension drive unit 9. Then, the collision warning unit 8 warns the driver with a collision warning signal by voice, display, etc., and the airbag device 7
In the air bag drive signal, the air bag is deployed in the traveling direction, and in the seat belt tension drive unit 9, the seat belt 10 is tensioned by the drive signal to correct the driving posture of the driver and assist the collision avoidance operation of the driver. To do.

Here, the structure of the airbag device 7 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. This airbag device 7 is
Inflator 70, drive circuit 71, airbag 72,
It is configured by a case 73 having a surface panel 73a in which a groove portion 73b which is a thin portion is provided. The inflator 70 includes an ignition device 70a, a transfer agent 70b, a gas generating agent 70c, and a filter 70d, and is attached to the case 73. The airbag 72 is built in the case 73 and attached to the inflator 70 so that the inside thereof is kept airtight. As shown in FIG. 4, the airbag device 7 configured as described above is housed inside the front hood 12 on the bumper 11 of the automobile 20 so as not to block the driver's view from the windscreen 13, and 73 is locked and mounted on the chassis, and normally only the front panel 73a is exposed on the vehicle body surface.
Therefore, the surface shape of the surface panel 73a is the same as that of the automobile 20.
It is decided in consideration of the front design.

Therefore, when the air bag drive signal is output from the collision predicting unit 6 to the air bag device 7, the air bag drive signal is input to the drive circuit unit 71 and the drive circuit unit 71.
The ignition device 70a of the inflator 70 is further energized to heat the filament of the ignition device 70a, which ignites the igniting agent in the ignition device 70a. The flame generated by the ignition device 70a is transferred to the transfer agent 70b and the gas generating agent 70c.
To a very short time, and the flame of the transfer agent 70b causes a large amount of nitrogen gas to be generated from the gas generating agent 70c. When the nitrogen gas passes through the filter 70d, burnt residue is removed and the nitrogen gas is cooled and filled in the airbag 72, and the airbag 72 is expanded. Air bag 72
While expanding, the groove portion 7 of the front panel 73a of the case 73
3b is squeezed and further expanded, and as shown in FIG. 5, it is rapidly expanded so as to cover the bumper 11 on the front surface of the automobile 20 to prevent a pedestrian or the like from directly colliding with the vehicle body.

At this time, the upper surface 7 of the airbag 72 at the time of deployment
2U is set to a position lower than the lower end of the wind screen 13, and it is prevented that the driver's view is blocked and the collision avoidance operation is prevented. Also, the lower surface 7
2L is set so as to be close to the road surface, so that even if a pedestrian or the like falls down before a collision, the 2L is not caught in the lower part of the vehicle body. Further, the front surface 72F is formed in a wedge shape so as to form a substantially triangular shape with the front end surface of the airbag 72 on the center axis of the vehicle body as the apex when viewed from the upper surface 72U, and a pedestrian or the like contacts the airbag 72. After that, the vehicle 20 is guided to the outside in the traveling direction.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the airbag 72 of the airbag device 7 is deployed, the upper surface 72 of the airbag 72 is expanded.
U is at a position lower than the lower end of the windscreen 13, its lower surface 72L is close to the road surface, and its front surface 7
The 2F has a developed shape such that it has a wedge shape that is a substantially triangular shape with the front end surface of the airbag 72 on the center axis of the vehicle body as the top when viewed from the upper surface 72U. Even when the vehicle 20 collides with the vehicle 20, the vehicle body is not directly contacted with a large acceleration or caught in the lower portion of the vehicle body, and the damage to a pedestrian or the like can be minimized.

Further, even if the vehicle collides with an obstacle such as another automobile or a structure, the cushioning effect of the airbag 72 can reduce the damage to the obstacle, the own vehicle, or an occupant thereof.

Further, the driver's avoidance operation is sufficiently performed without hindering the driver's view when the airbag 72 is deployed.

Further, since only the front panel 73a is exposed on the vehicle body surface, the design of the vehicle is not impaired by mounting the airbag device 7.

Example 2. The second embodiment is an embodiment according to the second invention of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front perspective view showing a vehicle equipped with the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention when the airbag is deployed. This Example 2
Shows a case where the automobile is a hood vehicle 21, the airbag device 7 is always housed inside the bumper 11, and the lower surface 72L of the airbag 72 is predicted at the time of collision prediction.
Are close to the road surface, the front surface 72F covers the bumper 11, the upper surface 72U covers the hood top 14, and the front surface 72F has the front end surface of the airbag 72 on the center axis of the vehicle body as the apex when viewed from the upper surface 72U. It is configured so as to be developed into a wedge shape having a substantially triangular shape. The rest of the configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment.

Generally, the hood car 21 has a bumper 11
Since the position of is lower than the center of gravity of the pedestrian, when the pedestrian collides with the bonnet vehicle 21, first, the pedestrian's head collides with the hood top 14 with a large impact force on the hood top 14 when the pedestrian collides with the bumper 11. In some cases, it is struck and causes serious damage. However, according to the airbag apparatus 7 according to the second embodiment, the airbag 72 has the front surface 72F that covers the bumper 11 and the upper surface 72U that is the upper surface 72U.
Since it is deployed so as to cover the pedestrian, the pedestrian does not directly collide with the vehicle body such as the bumper 11 and the pedestrian does not collide with the front surface 72.
Even if it falls on the hood top 14 after coming into contact with F, the shock is greatly mitigated by the cushioning effect of the upper surface 72U of the airbag 72, and the damage on the pedestrian side can be minimized.

Also, the hood top 14 of the airbag 72
It is not necessary to make the upper thickness thicker than the front side, and it does not hinder the driver's view and does not hinder the driver's avoidance operation.

Example 3. The third embodiment is another embodiment of the first and second inventions of the present invention. In the above-described first and second embodiments, the airbag device 7 includes one airbag 72.
The inflator 70 is inflated by one inflator 70, but in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, three inflators 70 are attached to one airbag 72 to configure the airbag device 7. There is.

According to the third embodiment, the above first and second embodiments are performed.
In addition to the effect similar to the above, the three inflators 70 can be simultaneously operated to increase the flow rate of the working gas in the airbag 72, and the deployment speed of the airbag 72 can be further increased.

Example 4. The fourth embodiment is still another embodiment according to the first and second inventions of the present invention. In the above-described first and second embodiments, one air bag 72 is provided.
Although it is assumed that the vehicle airbag device is configured by the airbag devices 7 of the two vehicles, in the fourth embodiment, two airbag devices 7 each including one airbag 72 are arranged adjacent to each other to provide the airbag of the vehicle. It is assumed that the back device is configured.

In the fourth embodiment, the two air bag devices 7 are normally housed adjacent to each other inside the bumper 11 on the left and right sides, and at the time of collision prediction, the two air bag devices 7 are placed.
Are driven simultaneously, and the airbag 7 of both airbag devices 7 is driven.
2 are deployed so as to be in contact with each other at substantially the center axis of the bonnet vehicle 21, and the overall shape of the airbag is such that its lower surface is close to the road surface and its front surface is the bumper 11 as shown in FIG.
And a top surface thereof covers the hood top 14, and further, a front surface of the hood top 14 is developed so as to have a wedge shape having a substantially triangular shape with its front end surface on the center axis of the vehicle body as an apex. There is.

According to the fourth embodiment, the above-described first and second embodiments are performed.
In addition to the same effect as the above, the volume of each airbag 72 can be reduced, and the deployment speed of the airbag can be increased.
Can be downsized and the degree of freedom when mounted on a vehicle can be increased.

In the fourth embodiment, the hood 2
2 air bag devices 7 mounted on 1
However, even if the air bag device mounted on the automobile 20 is composed of two air bag devices 7, the same effect can be obtained.

In the fourth embodiment, the air bag device is described as being composed of two air bag devices 7, but the air bag device is composed of three or more air bag devices 7. May be.

Example 5. The fifth embodiment is an embodiment according to the third invention of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a sectional view schematically showing the structure of the vehicle airbag device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Airbag device 7 according to the fifth embodiment
The two inflators 70 are attached to the case 73, the airbags 72 are attached to each of the inflators 70 so as to maintain airtightness, and the airbag 72 in which the coupling band 74 connecting the airbags 72 is expanded.
A plurality of them are provided on the front surface and the top surface with a predetermined gap so that they are in close contact with each other. The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In the fifth embodiment, at the time of predicting a collision, the two inflators 70 of the airbag device 7 are driven simultaneously to deploy both airbags 72 at the same time. Both airbags 72 apply appropriate tension to the coupling bands 74 provided on the front and upper surfaces of the airbags 72, and are deployed so as to be in contact with each other at the substantially central axis of the vehicle. At this time, the overall expanded shape formed by both airbags 72 is the same expanded shape as that of the first embodiment.

According to the fifth embodiment, even if a pedestrian or the like comes into contact with the middle of the two airbags 72 at the time of a collision, they will not be caught in the gap between the airbags 72 by the joint band 74, and the airbag will be integrated. Can function as Further, the volume of each airbag 72 can be reduced, and the deployment speed can be increased.

Example 6. The sixth embodiment is another embodiment according to the third invention of the present invention. In the above Example 5,
The inflator 70 and the airbag 7 are provided in the airbag device 7.
Two sets of 2 and 2 are accommodated, and the air bags 72 are connected by the coupling band 74. However, in the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the inflator 70 and the air bag 72 are provided in the air bag device 7. Airbag 7 that holds 3 pairs of
The same effect can be obtained by connecting the two with a coupling band 74.

Although the fifth and sixth embodiments are described as being applied to the automobile 20 of the first embodiment,
Even when applied to the hood vehicle 21 of the second embodiment, the same effect can be obtained.

In the fifth and sixth embodiments described above, the air bag device is composed of one air bag device 7, but the air bag device may be composed of a plurality of air bag devices 7.

In each of the above embodiments, the air bag device is described as being installed in the front part of the vehicle, but it can be installed in the rear part of the vehicle. Effective for time protection.

[0039]

Since the present invention is constituted as described above, it has the following effects.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the airbag is housed at the front end portion in the vehicle traveling direction when not in operation, and is deployed in the vehicle traveling direction when a collision with an obstacle in the vehicle traveling direction is predicted. The air bag is equipped with
Its lower surface is close to the road surface, its upper surface is located below the lower end of the vehicle windscreen, its front surface covers at least the bumper of the vehicle, and its top view shape has its front end on the vehicle center axis as the apex. Since it has a substantially wedge-shaped deployment shape, when a pedestrian or the like accidentally collides, the pedestrian does not come into direct contact with the bumper and the impact force at the time of the collision is mitigated, and Even if the vehicle is guided and further falls before a collision, it is prevented from being caught in the lower part of the vehicle body, and damage to pedestrians can be minimized. In addition, the deployed airbag does not hinder the driver's view, and a sufficient collision avoidance operation can be performed. further,
Even when the obstacle is another vehicle or structure, the damage of the obstacle, the own vehicle, and its occupants can be reduced by the cushioning effect of the airbag.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the vehicle is not in operation, it is housed at the front end of the bonnet vehicle traveling direction, and when the collision with the obstacle in the bonnet vehicle traveling direction is predicted, the vehicle goes toward the bonnet vehicle traveling direction. When deployed, the airbag has a lower surface close to the road surface, an upper surface covering at least a part of the hood top of the hood vehicle, and a front surface covering at least the bumper of the hood vehicle, and Since the top view shape is a developed shape having a substantially wedge shape with the front end portion on the vehicle center axis as the apex, the same effect as that of the above-described first invention is exerted, and the position of the bumper of the bonnet vehicle walks. Even if a pedestrian falls on the hood top at the time of a collision because it is lower than the center of gravity of the pedestrian, the impact force is mitigated and the damage to the pedestrian is minimized. It can be.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, when not in operation, it is stored at the front end portion of the vehicle traveling direction, and is deployed in the vehicle traveling direction when a collision with an obstacle in the vehicle traveling direction is predicted. The airbag includes a plurality of airbags, and at least a front surface and an upper surface of the plurality of airbags when they are deployed are connected to each other between adjacent airbags. Is located below the lower end of the windscreen, its front surface covers at least the bumper of the vehicle, and its top view shape is a developed shape that is a substantially wedge shape with its front end portion on the vehicle center axis as the apex, The same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention can be achieved, and the volume of each airbag can be reduced, so that the deployment response of the airbag can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an airbag operating system in an airbag device for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an automobile equipped with an airbag device for a vehicle according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the vehicle airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view showing the time of deploying the airbag of the vehicle equipped with the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view showing the time of deploying the airbag of the vehicle equipped with the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a vehicle airbag device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view showing an air bag of a vehicle equipped with an air bag device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention when the air bag is deployed.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a vehicle airbag device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a vehicle airbag device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7 Airbag device 11 Bumper 13 Windscreen 14 Hood top 20 Car 21 Bonnet vehicle 72 Airbag 72U Airbag upper surface 72F Airbag front surface 72L Airbag lower surface 74 Coupling band

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 1, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Next, when a collision with a front obstacle is predicted, the collision prediction section 6 outputs a collision warning signal to the collision warning section 8, an airbag drive signal to the airbag apparatus 7, and a seat. A drive signal is output to the belt tension drive unit 9. Then, the collision warning unit 8 warns the driver with a collision warning signal by voice, display, etc., and the airbag device 7
In the air bag drive signal, the air bag is deployed in the traveling direction, and in the seat belt tension drive unit 9, the seat belt 10 is tensioned by the drive signal to correct the driving posture of the driver and assist the collision avoidance operation of the driver. To do.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An airbag, which is housed at a front end portion in the vehicle traveling direction when not in operation, and is deployed in the vehicle traveling direction when a collision with an obstacle in the vehicle traveling direction is predicted, is provided. Sometimes the bottom surface is close to the road,
Its upper surface is positioned below the lower end of the windscreen of the vehicle, its front surface covers at least the bumper of the vehicle, and its top view shape is a substantially wedge shape with its front end portion on the vehicle center axis as the apex. An airbag device for a vehicle, which has a developed shape. 2. An airbag, which is housed at a front end portion in the traveling direction of the bonnet when not in operation, and which deploys in the traveling direction of the bonnet when a collision with an obstacle in the traveling direction of the bonnet is predicted. At the time of deployment,
Its lower surface is close to the road surface, its upper surface covers at least a part of the hood top of the hood vehicle, its front surface covers at least the bumper of the hood vehicle, and its top view shape is its front end on the vehicle center axis. An airbag device for a vehicle, which has a developed shape having a substantially wedge shape with the portion at the top. 3. A plurality of airbags, which are housed at a front end portion in the vehicle traveling direction when not operating, and which are deployed in the vehicle traveling direction when a collision with an obstacle in the vehicle traveling direction is predicted. At the time of deployment, at least the front surface and the top surface of the bag are connected to each other between the adjacent air bags, and when the bag is deployed, the bottom surface of the bag is close to the road surface, and the top surface is positioned below the lower end of the windscreen of the vehicle. An airbag device for a vehicle, the front surface of which covers at least the bumper of the vehicle, and the top view shape of which is a developed shape having a substantially wedge shape with the front end portion on the vehicle center axis as an apex. .