JPH0659169U - Safety device for starter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Even when the occupant protection device such as an airbag device is dropped during assembly work, etc., the non-sensing state of the starter device is reliably maintained, and the number of parts is reduced. A switching lever 70 for setting the sensor 44 in a non-sensing state and a sensing state is connected to a release body 74 having a dish shape and an occupant-side end portion 74A of which is in contact with the inflator. The release body 74 is rotated by the release bolt 82 being screwed into the release body 74 to rotate the switching lever 70. Therefore, even if an operator carelessly drops the airbag device during assembling work or the like, the load is transmitted to the inflator side and the releasing body 74 does not rotate. This allows
It is not necessary to provide a conventional cover, and the number of parts can be reduced.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applied to a starting device that activates a member protection device mounted on a vehicle component during sudden vehicle deceleration, and relates to a safety device that keeps the starting device in a non-sensing state except when necessary.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In recent years, automobiles equipped with an airbag device as one of occupant protection devices have become popular. Although there are various types of airbag devices of this type, a conventional technique will be described below by taking an airbag device of a type that is attached to a steering wheel and equipped with a mechanical ignition type sensor (starting device) as an example.

As an example of this type of mechanical ignition type sensor, a swingable axially supported drive shaft is arranged in contact with one end of the drive shaft in the axial direction, and the inertia is generated during rapid deceleration of the vehicle. An inertial body such as a moving ball, a bias pin that abuts the other end of the drive shaft in the axial direction and presses the inertial body through the drive shaft in the direction opposite to the inertial movement direction, and is locked to the middle part of the drive shaft Some of them are equipped with an ignition pin that moves by the urging force when the drive shaft swings and pierces the detonator.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned sensor is required to reliably maintain the non-sensing state until the airbag device is completely attached to the hub of the steering wheel, and to make sure the sensing state after the attachment. It A safety device installed in the sensor plays this role.

Various types of safety devices have been devised, but basically, many of them basically prevent the swing of the drive shaft directly or indirectly. For example, a lock shaft that is slidable along its axis is provided in the sensor, and normally this lock shaft indirectly prevents the drive shaft from swinging, and when the lock shaft is inserted into the sensor. There is a safety device in which the sensor can be detected.

Some safety devices of this type include a release lever that is integrally connected to a switching device such as a lock shaft and that operates the switching device from the outside. In such a safety device, since the release lever is exposed to the outside of the starter, a cover is provided to protect it. By providing this cover, the release lever can be released even if the operator inadvertently drops it on the floor during transportation of the airbag device or assembling work to the steering wheel. I try not to be done.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the case of the above-mentioned configuration, since it is necessary to separately manufacture the cover, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps increase, which further leads to an increase in cost.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention reliably maintains the non-sensing state of the starter device even when the occupant protection device such as the airbag device is dropped during assembly work, etc., and reduces the number of parts. The aim is to obtain a safety device for an actuating device which can be.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention is a safety device applied to a starting device for activating an occupant protection device assembled to a vehicle constituent member at the time of sudden deceleration of a vehicle, wherein the starting device makes the starting device in a non-sensing state and the starting device. A switching means that is provided so as to be movable between second positions that make the device in a sensible state, and that is placed in the first position when the occupant protection device is not assembled to the vehicle constituent member. Is connected to the switching means and is disposed outside the starting device and with the end portion in contact with the occupant protection device side, and is rotated to change the position of the switching means from the first position. And a dish-shaped release body for switching to the second position.

[0010]

[Action]

 According to the above configuration, the switching means is located at the first position when the occupant protection device is not assembled to the vehicle constituent member. Therefore, in this state, the activation device remains insensitive.

Here, if the worker accidentally drops the occupant protection device on the floor or the like before assembling the occupant protection device to the vehicle component, the collision load at this time is against the starter device. Acts as a load in the compression direction. Further, since the releasing body is provided outside the starting device, the collision load at this time can also act on the releasing body.

However, since the releasing body is configured to switch the switching means from the first position to the second position by rotating, the position of the switching means moves from the first position to the second position depending on the load in the compression direction. It is never switched to the 2 position. Moreover, since the release body is in the shape of a dish and is placed outside the starter and with its end part in contact with the occupant protection device side, the load when the release body contacts the floor etc. Is transmitted to the occupant protection device side. Therefore, even if a component force in the direction of rotating the release body is generated, the component force is already small and the release body cannot be rotated. As a result, even when the occupant protection device is dropped on the floor or the like, the switching means is surely positioned at the first position. Since most of the load at the time of dropping is transmitted to the occupant protection device side, the load input to the inside of the starting device is significantly reduced, which is also preferable from the viewpoint of maintaining the performance of the starting device.

Further, since the above-described operation can be obtained by adopting the above-mentioned configuration, even if the releasing body is arranged outside the starting device, it is not necessary to provide a cover as in the conventional case.

When the assembly of the occupant protection device to the vehicle constituent member is completed, the worker rotates the eliminator to switch the position of the switching means from the first position to the second position.

[0015]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, an air bag device 10 as an occupant protection device to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 6 shows an airbag device 10 according to this embodiment attached to a hub 12A of a steering wheel 12 as a vehicle constituent member. Hereinafter, the schematic configuration of the airbag device 10 will be described with reference to this drawing.

The airbag device 10 includes an airbag cover 14 having a substantially box shape. An H-shaped thin portion 16 is formed on the occupant side of the air bag cover 14, and is broken so that the airbag cover 14 is expanded when a load above a predetermined value acts from the inside.

An insert plate 18 is embedded in the airbag cover 14 by insert molding. A part of the insert plate 18 projects toward the side opposite to the occupant side, and the projecting portion and the side portion of the base plate 20 are fastened by a fastener not shown.

The base plate 20 has a substantially box shape, and a bag body 22 is stored in a folded state between a center portion of the base plate 20 and the airbag cover 14. A circular hole having a predetermined diameter is formed in the bag body 22, and a ring plate 24 is arranged on the side of the occupant at the folded back end. Correspondingly, a circular hole having a predetermined diameter is also formed in the central portion of the base plate 20, and the ring plate 24 is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the circular hole by a fastener (not shown). Thereby, the bag body 22 is supported by the base plate 20.

The passenger side half of the substantially cylindrical inflator 26 is inserted into the circular hole of the base plate 20 described above. The inflator 26 includes a hollow upper case 28 and a lower case 30 arranged on the occupant side. The inflator 26 is formed in a substantially columnar shape as a whole by welding the mutual contact portions in a state where the both are combined.

A sensor accommodating portion 30A, which is bulged in a cylindrical shape toward the inside of the upper case 28, is integrally formed at the shaft center portion of the lower case 30. A detonator 32 (ignition agent) is arranged substantially in the center of the bottom wall of the sensor housing portion 30A. On the other hand, on the upper case 28 side, a thin-walled cylindrical transfer agent 34 is arranged directly above the detonator 32. Further, a gas generating agent 36 that burns via a transfer agent 34 is enclosed between the upper case 28 and the lower case 30, and a coolant 38 for cooling the high temperature gas and a combustion of the gas generating agent 36 are performed. A filter 40 for removing pieces is provided. Further, gas holes 42 are formed in the peripheral wall of the upper case 28 at predetermined intervals. Gas flows into the bag body 22 through the gas holes 42.

A cylindrical mechanical ignition type sensor 44 is housed in the sensor housing portion 30 A of the lower case 30 described above. The sensor 44 is housed in the sensor housing portion 30A while being housed in a can cover (not shown).

The end portion of the sensor 44 opposite to the occupant is fixed in a pressed state by a support ring 46 having a through hole in the shaft core portion. A female screw is formed on the inner circumference of the peripheral wall of the support ring 46, and the sensor 44 is fixed and held in the sensor housing portion 30A by being screwed into a male screw formed on the rear end side of the sensor housing portion 30A. (See Figure 2).

Next, the structure of the sensor 44 described above will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sensor 44 includes an upper body 48 arranged on the occupant side and a lower body 50 arranged on the opposite occupant side. By making it into a cylinder shape as a whole.

A substantially cruciform drive shaft 52 is arranged in the contact surface between the upper body 48 and the lower body 50. The drive shaft 52 includes a shaft 52A and a columnar locking portion 52B that is integrally provided with the shaft 52A as a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 52A. A support shaft 54 is formed so as to project from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the locking portion 52B. The support shaft 54 is inserted into a notch (not shown) formed in the end surface of the lower body 50, and in this state, the notch is closed by fitting the upper body 48, and the drive shaft 52 swings into the body. It is movably supported.

A ball 56 that inertially moves when the vehicle rapidly decelerates is in contact with one end of the shaft 52A of the drive shaft 52. The ball 56 is housed in a cylinder 58 arranged in the upper body 48. The tip of the bias pin 60 is in contact with the other end of the shaft 52A of the drive shaft 52. The bias pin 60 is biased by a bias spring 62 in the inertial movement direction. Therefore, the ball 56 is pressed by the bias pin 60 and the bias spring 62 in the direction opposite to the inertial movement direction.

Further, a cutout 64 is formed in the locking portion 52B of the drive shaft 52, and a flange portion 66A of an ignition pin 66 accommodated on the lower body 50 side is abutted and locked in the cutout 64. ing. A compression coil spring 68 is wound around the ignition pin 66. Therefore, the compression coil spring 68 presses and urges the ignition pin 66 toward the detonator 32 arranged on the movement trajectory thereof.

A rod-shaped switching lever 70 is arranged at the shaft core of the sensor 44 described above. This switching lever 70 includes an upper shaft 70A located on the occupant side, a lower shaft 70B located on the occupant side opposite to the upper shaft 70A and having a diameter smaller than that of the upper shaft 70A, and an occupant side end of the upper shaft 70A. It comprises an arm 70C protruding in a radial shape from the section, and an angular connecting portion 70D formed at the end of the lower shaft 70B on the side opposite to the occupant.

A return spring 72 is wound around the upper shaft 70 A of the switching lever 70. One end of the return spring 72 is locked to the arm 70C of the switching lever 70, and the other end is locked to the lower body 50. Therefore, the return spring 72 urges the switching lever 70 in the direction in which the arm 70C is located on the side opposite to the occupant of the shaft 52A of the drive shaft 52.

Further, the lower shaft 70 B of the switching lever 70 penetrates the lower body 50 and is in contact with the bottom surface of the dish-shaped releasing body 74. A rectangular opening 76 is formed at the center of the releasing body 74, and the connecting portion 70D of the switching lever 70 is fitted into the opening 76. Further, a groove is formed on the peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the connecting portion 70D, and a retaining ring 78 is fitted in the groove. As a result, the switching lever 70 and the release body 74 are integrated. The releasing body 74 is made of resin and has a predetermined energy absorbing function.

The release member 74 has a larger diameter than the support ring 46 that fixes the sensor 44, and its occupant-side end portion 74 A contacts the end face of the inflator 26 opposite to the occupant side of the lower case 30. (See Figure 2).

Further, the release member 74 is notched at a quarter thereof, and a disc-shaped contact portion 80 is formed on one end face thereof (see FIG. 1). A release bolt 82 is arranged opposite to the contact portion 80. The release bolt 82 is screwed into an L-shaped bracket 84 (not shown in FIG. 6) fixed to the hub 12A of the steering wheel 12. Therefore, when the release bolt 82 is screwed in by a predetermined amount, it comes into contact with the contact portion 80 of the release body 74, and when it is further screwed in, the release body 74 can be rotated. The sensor 44 described above corresponds to the starting device in the present invention, the switching lever 70 and the return spring 72 correspond to the switching means in the present invention, and further, the switching lever 70, the return spring 72, the releasing body 74, and the release. The bolt 82 and the like correspond to the safety device for the starting device according to the present invention.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. When the airbag device 10 is being transported or during the assembling work for assembling the airbag device 10 to the steering wheel 12, the switching lever 70 is moved by the urging force of the return spring 72 to show the solid line in FIG. Is located in position. Therefore, the release body 74 connected to the switching lever 70 is also in the state shown in FIG. In this state, since the arm 70C of the switching lever 70 is located on the side of the shaft 52A of the drive shaft 52 opposite to the occupant, the drive shaft 52 is prevented from swinging. Therefore, the sensor 44 is also in the non-sensing state. The position of the arm 70C of the switching lever 70 corresponds to the first position of the switching means in the present invention.

Here, when the worker carelessly drops the airbag device 10 from the sensor 44 side to the floor or the like during transportation or assembling work, the load at the time of contact causes the sensor 44 to act in the compression direction. . However, since the release member 74 whose operation direction is the rotation direction in the plane orthogonal to the compression direction is arranged on the side opposite to the occupant of the sensor 44, the air bag device 10 is dropped from the sensor 44 side. However, the releasing body 74 does not rotate. By the way, if the load acting direction at the time of dropping is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the releasing body 74, no component force is generated in the direction of rotating the releasing body 74, but it is inclined to the bottom surface of the releasing body 74. If so, a component force in the direction of rotating the release body 74 is generated. However, since the release member 74 is dish-shaped and the occupant-side end portion 74A is in contact with the side of the lower case 30 of the inflator 26 that is opposite to the occupant side, most of the load at the time of dropping is via the release member 74. Be transmitted to. Therefore, even if the component force is generated, it is small. Therefore, the releasing body 74 does not rotate due to this slight component force.

On the other hand, when the work of assembling the airbag device 10 to the steering wheel 12 is completed, the work of changing the sensor 44 from the non-sensing state to the sensing state is performed. That is, the release bolt 82 in the state shown in FIG. 4 is screwed in by the operator. When the release bolt 82 is screwed in by a predetermined amount, the tip end of the release bolt 82 comes into contact with the contact portion 80 of the release body 74, and when further released, the release body 74 rotates. Therefore, the arm 70C of the switching lever 70 connected to the releasing body 74 is also rotated to the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3 against the biasing force of the return spring 72. As a result, the swing of the drive shaft 52 is allowed, and the sensor 44 is in a state in which it can detect. The position of the arm 70C of the switching lever 70 corresponds to the second position of the switching means in the present invention.

Next, the operation of the airbag device 10 will be briefly described. In a normal vehicle traveling state, the ball 56 does not move inertially, so the airbag device 10 maintains the non-operating state. When the vehicle rapidly decelerates from this state, the ball 56 inertially moves, so that the drive shaft 52 swings around the support shaft 54. Therefore, the flange portion 66A of the ignition pin 66 is disengaged from the locking portion 52B of the drive shaft 52, and is moved by the urging force of the compression coil spring 68 to pierce the detonator 32. When the detonator 32 ignites, the gas generating agent 36 burns via the transfer agent 34. As a result, a large amount of gas is generated and flows into the bag body 22. Therefore, the bag body 22 is inflated and the airbag cover 14 is broken at the thin portion 16 and expanded. As a result, the bag body 22 swells and is interposed between the occupant and the steering wheel 12 to protect the occupant.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the release body 74 that switches the position of the switching lever 70 by rotating is disposed outside the sensor 44 (on the side opposite to the occupant), and the release body 74 has a dish shape. Further, since the occupant side end portion 74A is brought into contact with the anti-occupant side end surface of the inflator 26, even when the airbag device 10 is dropped during transportation or during the assembly operation to the steering wheel 12, It is possible to reliably maintain the non-sensing state of the sensor 44.

Further, because of this effect, it is no longer necessary to provide a cover for protecting the switching lever as in the prior art, so that it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the number of assembling steps, which in turn reduces the cost. it can.

Further, as described above, the load at the time of dropping is transmitted to the inflator 26 and the like via the releasing body 74, so that the load input to the sensor 44 is significantly reduced. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect that it is preferable for maintaining the performance of the sensor 44.

Although the airbag device 10 is applied as the occupant protection device in the present embodiment, the invention is not limited to this, and the take-up shaft of the webbing take-up device is rapidly rotated in the webbing take-up direction when the vehicle decelerates rapidly. The present invention can be applied to a preloader or the like.

[0041]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, the safety device for an activation device according to the present invention is movably provided between a first position where the activation device is in a non-sensing state and a second position where the activation device is in a sensing state. Is connected to the switching means and is disposed outside the starting device and with the end portion in contact with the occupant protection device side, and rotates to switch the switching means from the first position to the second position. Since it has a releasing body, it is possible to reliably maintain the non-sensing state of the starting device and reduce the number of parts even when the occupant protection device such as the airbag device is dropped during assembly work. It has an excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a sensor and a safety device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an assembled state of the sensor and the safety device of FIG.

3 is a bottom perspective view showing the states before and after the rotation of the switching lever shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as viewed from the side opposite to the occupant in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the state before the release bolt is screwed in in relation to the release body.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a state after the release bolt is screwed in in relation to the release body.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an airbag device including the sensor shown in FIG. 2 and the like is attached to a steering wheel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Airbag device (occupant protection device) 12 Steering wheel (vehicle constituent member) 44 Sensor (starting device) 70 Switching lever (switching means) 72 Return spring (switching means) 74 Release body 82 Release bolt

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A safety device applied to a starting device for actuating an occupant protection device assembled to a vehicle constituent member at the time of sudden deceleration of a vehicle, the first position and the starting position in which the starting device is in a non-sensing state. Switching means that is provided so as to be movable between second positions that make the device sensible and that is located at the first position when the occupant protection device is not assembled to the vehicle constituent member. The switching means is connected to the switching means and is disposed outside the starting device and with the end portion in contact with the occupant protection device side, and is rotated to change the position of the switching means to the first position.
A safety device for a starting device, comprising: a dish-shaped releasing body that switches from the position of 2 to the second position.