JPH06312645A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a special connector cable for size reduction by holding an initiation element which expands a bag by generating gas onto an inflator with a holding member, and connecting the electric connection terminals of the initiation element directly to an electronic controller. CONSTITUTION:This air bag is provided with an inflator 1 which expands a bag by generating gas with a squib 2 serving as an initiation element, an electronic controller which judges if collision occurs by a signal from a sensor which detects the collision of a vehicle, namely, an ECU circuit board, two of which are stored in a covered pad. With this constitution, the electric connection terminal 2b of the squib 2 is jointed directly to the ECU circuit board 3, and the ECU circuit board 3 is fixed onto a case 4. The squib 2 is mounted onto the lower surface of the inflator 1. Since gas pressure is held when gas occurs, and a holding member 5 composed of a spring part 5a and a sliding part 5b is disposed. It is thus possible to eliminate a special connector cable and attain size reduction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device, and is used, for example, in a connecting structure between an inflator and an electronic control device in an airbag device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an airbag device that protects an occupant by deploying a bag at the time of a collision, gas is generated by a gas for the purpose of incorporating an electronic acceleration sensor for detecting a vehicle collision in the steering wheel. In some steering systems, an inflator for deploying the vehicle, an electronic acceleration sensor, and an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as an ECU) that determines a vehicle collision based on a signal from the sensor are built in the steering wheel.

In such a case, conventionally, a squib which is a detonating element as an inflator component is built in the inflator, and the ECU and the squib described above are electrically connected by a connector cable, and the ECU determines that there is a collision. At times, an electric current is passed through the squib via the connector cable to detonate the squib, and gas is generated from a gas generating agent provided in the inflator to inflate the bag.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, the squib and the EC built in the inflator are incorporated.
Since it is electrically connected to U by a connector cable, a space for wiring the connector cable must be provided in the lid-shaped pad, which causes a problem that the airbag device becomes large. .

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides an airbag device in which an inflator and an electronic control device are built in a pad, which can be downsized. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

Therefore, the present invention has an inflator having a detonator, which inflates a bag by generating gas by the detonator, and an electronic acceleration sensor for detecting a vehicle collision. An electronic control device that performs collision determination or the like based on a signal from a sensor, and an airbag device that is housed in a lid-shaped pad, comprising a holding member that holds the detonator at a predetermined position of the inflator, and the holding member The electrical connection terminal of the held detonator is directly joined to the electronic control unit, and an airbag device is adopted.

[0007]

With the above construction, the detonator element of the inflator is held at a predetermined position of the inflator by the holding member, and its electric connection terminal is directly joined to the electronic control unit. It is not necessary to wire a connector cable or the like for electrically connecting to the electronic control device in the pad, and there is an excellent effect that the wiring space can be eliminated and the airbag device can be downsized.

[0008]

The present invention will be described below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the airbag device. In FIG. 11, a bag 20 for inflating and protecting an occupant is provided with an insertion hole 21 for inserting the inflator component 10 in the bottom surface and a plurality of fixing holes 22 provided around the insertion hole 21. There is. Then, the inflator component 1 for generating gas to deploy the bag 20.
0 is provided with a plurality of gas ejection holes 11 and a flange portion 12 having a plurality of mounting bolts 13 and nuts 70, and the bag 20 is sandwiched between the flange portion 12 and a back plate 200 described later. It is worn.

Housing 14 of inflator component 10
Is divided into a medicine chamber 15 and an ECU chamber 40a by a partition plate 18. The chemical chamber 15 is loaded with known gas generating agents, transfer agents, squibs (initiating elements), filters and the like. Further, the ECU chamber 40a is provided with an acceleration sensor that detects a collision of a vehicle and a control circuit that performs a collision determination or the like based on a signal from the sensor. This control circuit is provided on the ECU circuit board 3 fixed to the housing 14 of the inflator component 10 with a screw (not shown).

Further, the ECU chamber 40a is hermetically sealed by attaching the cover 50 to the housing 14 of the inflator component 10 with screws 90. Details of the internal configuration of the inflator component 10 will be described later. A hole (not shown) is provided substantially in the center of the partition plate 15, and the electrical connection terminal 2b of the squib 2 (FIG. 1) of the inflator component 10 and the ECU circuit board 3 are electrically connected by soldering. As a result, the inflator component 10 and the ECU chamber 40a are electrically connected.
The details of the connection structure between the electrical connection terminals 2b of the squib 2 and the ECU circuit board 3 will be described later.

A hole 240 for inserting the housing 14 of the inflator component 10 is provided in the back plate 200 substantially in the center thereof, and the housing 14 built in the ECU 40a chamber is attached to the periphery of the hole 240 by means of a mounting bolt 13 and a nut 70. A plurality of holes 230 for fixing are provided. In addition, the outer peripheral portion 210 of the back plate 200
A nut 43 for fixing to the steering 60 is provided by welding or integrally molding, and a plurality of holes 220 for fixing the pack plate 200, the pad 30, and the retainer 500 with rivets 250 are provided. . And, this airbag module parts,
It is fixed to the steering wheel 60 with bolts 80.
In addition, in the pad 30 having the lip line 32 for breaking when the bag 20 is inflated, the fixing portion 3
1 has a flat shape.

Now, the internal structure of the inflator component 10 in the airbag device constructed as described above will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of an inflator component 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the electrical connection terminals 2b of the substantially cylindrical squib 2 are directly joined to the ECU circuit board 3 by soldering or the like, and the ECU circuit board 3 is provided with a case 4
It is fixed to.

A gripping member 5 (corresponding to a holding member) including a spring portion 5a and a sliding portion 5b is attached to the lower surface of the inflator 1 for the purpose of attaching the squib 2 and holding the gas pressure when gas is generated. Is provided.
One end of the spring portion 5a of the grip member 5 is the inflator 1
The other end is joined to the sliding portion 5b. The surface of the sliding portion 5b on the side of the inflator 1 is provided in close contact with the housing of the inflator 1 so that the pressure of the gas generated from the inflator 1 does not escape to the side of the case 4 as much as possible. As shown in FIG. 3 which is a cross section taken along the line A-A ', the end of the sliding portion 5b has a semicircular shape according to the cross-sectional shape of the squib 2.

The plate 6 has a hole for inserting the squib 2, and is fixed with a bolt 7 after the grip member 5 is set on the inflator 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the squib 2 is a portion 2 that is gripped by the sliding portion 5b of the gripping member 5.
a is recessed, and the sliding portion 5b of the gripping member 5 grips the squib 2 to set it at a predetermined position in the inflator 1.

Now, a procedure for assembling the squib 2 and the ECU circuit board 3 in the above-described structure to the inflator 1 will be described. First, the grip member 5 is installed on the lower surface of the inflator 1, and the spring portion 5 a of the grip member 5 is attached to the inflator 1.
To join. Then, the plate 6 causes the inflator 1
The gripping member 5 is sandwiched between and, and the plate 6 is tightened and fixed to the inflator 1 with the bolt 7.

Then, the squib 2 is inserted into the inflator 1 by pushing the head (ignition portion) of the squib 2 against the grip member 5, and the sliding portion 5b is fitted into the recessed portion 2a of the squib 2. Fix it. Then squib 2
The electric connection terminal 2b is directly joined to the ECU circuit board 3 by soldering or the like, the case 4 is covered, and the case 4 is fixed so as not to come off by welding, press fitting, caulking or the like.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the electrical connection terminal 2b of the squib 2 is connected to the ECU circuit board 3
Since the gripping member 5 is provided on the lower surface of the inflator 1 so as to be directly joined to the inflator 1, it is not necessary to wire the connector cable electrically connecting the squib 2 and the ECU circuit board 3 in the pad 30, and this wiring space It is possible to reduce the size of the airbag device by eliminating the above.

Next, the second embodiment will be described. Although the squib 2 is fixed at a predetermined position in the inflator 1 by the gripping member 5 in the first embodiment,
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a thread groove 8a is formed in a mating portion of the inflator 1 and the squib 2, and a thread groove 8b is carved in a mating portion of the inflator 1 and the case 4, respectively. The squib 2 is fixed at a predetermined position in the inflator 1 by being tightened and fixed by the screw grooves 8a and 8b.

By doing so, the electrical connection terminal 2b of the squib 2 can be directly joined to the ECU circuit board 3, and the size of the airbag device can be reduced, and the assemblability and the number of parts can be reduced. It can combine a small amount. Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the squib 2 is fixed to the predetermined position in the inflator 1 by the gripping member 5, but in this embodiment, the squib 2 is press-fitted into the inflator 1 as shown in FIG. The squib 2 is fixed at a predetermined position on the inflator 1. Then, the case 4 is fixed by welding together with the inflator 1. By doing this, the electrical connection terminal 2b of the squib 2 is EC
It can be directly bonded to the U circuit board 3.

Although the case 4 and the inflator 1 are fixed by welding in the example shown in FIG. 5, the case 4 and the inflator 1 may be caulked as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.
The case 4 and the inflator 1 may be press-fitted as described above. Next, a third embodiment will be described.

In the first embodiment, the squib 2 is fixed to the predetermined position in the inflator 1 by the gripping member 5, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
An elastic material 9 is enclosed between the inflator 1 and the squib 2 to fix the squib 2 at a predetermined position inside the inflator 1. By doing so, the electrical connection terminal 2b of the squib 2 can be directly bonded to the ECU circuit board 3,
Not only can the size of the airbag device be reduced, but the pressure generated when the squib 2 is ignited is maintained.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, a stopper 16 made of an elastic material may be enclosed between the inflator 1 and the squib 2. By doing so, not only the above advantages can be obtained but also the squib 2 can be prevented from coming off when the squib 2 is ignited. Next, a fifth embodiment will be described.

In the first embodiment described above, the squib 2 is fixed at a predetermined position in the inflator 1 by the gripping member 5, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
A holding member 17 for holding the squib 2 housed in the inflator 1, a spring 18a joined at one end to the upper portion of the inflator 1 and the other end to the holding member 17 are provided, and the case 4 and the ECU circuit board 3 are provided. Between the springs 18b, 18c
Is provided.

In this way, the holding member 17 holds the pressure generated when the squib 2 is ignited, and the springs 18a, 18b, 18c alleviate the stress generated during and after the connection of the respective components. it can. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can of course be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of an inflator component that is a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a squib.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of the holding member in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of an inflator component that is a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of an inflator component that is a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a modified example of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of an inflator component according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a modified example of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of an inflator component which is a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of an airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 inflator 2 squib 3 ECU circuit board 5 gripping member 30 pad

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An inflator having a detonating element, which inflates a bag by generating gas by the detonating element, and an electronic acceleration sensor for detecting a vehicle collision. An electronic control unit for
In an airbag device in which the detonator is housed in a lid-shaped pad, a holding member that holds the detonator at a predetermined position of the inflator is provided, and the electrical connection terminal of the detonator held by the holding member is the electronic control unit. An airbag device which is directly joined to the device.