JPH07101299A - Release device for air bag safety mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a release device for air bag safety mechanism capable of putting the air bag safety mechanism positively in the release state with simple structure without requiring manufacture and assembly of high accuracy. CONSTITUTION:A release rod 48 is connected to a release bolt 42, movably along an air bag assembling direction. A release part 50 can be engaged with the safety lever 28 of a start sensor 26. At the time of assembling an air bag, the release part 50 is moved being pressed by the start sensor 26. Accordingly, even with the generation of dislocation in the assembling direction, the release rod 48 moves in the direction of this dislocation to absorb the dislocation, and the release part 50 is positively placed in the opposed state to the safety lever. Afterwards, with the release bolt 42 screwed in, the safety lever 28 is moved to obtain the release state of safety mechanism.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for releasing an air bag safety mechanism, and more particularly, when the air bag is attached to a steering wheel, the safety lever is moved toward the steering shaft to prevent the operation of the air bag. The present invention relates to a releasing device used in an airbag safety mechanism that releases a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For an airbag that protects an occupant by expanding the bag when the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the device is inadvertently operated even if an impact is applied to the airbag (sensor) before being attached to the steering wheel. A safety mechanism is provided to prevent the bag body from inflating. In this safety mechanism, for example, a lock bar that blocks the movement of the ball is built into the airbag (sensor), and the lock bar forcibly blocks the movement of the ball before the airbag is attached to the steering wheel. The safety mechanism is activated.

On the other hand, the steering wheel is provided with a releasing device for releasing such a safety mechanism. The release device includes a release bolt attached to the steering wheel and movable toward the safety mechanism. After fixing the airbag to the steering wheel, move the release bolt toward the safety mechanism, pull out the safety lever for moving the lock bar from the airbag, and move the lock bar to release the lock bar. Inertia movable state (safety mechanism released state)
It is a structure that becomes.

[0004]

By the way, the airbag provided with the safety mechanism as described above and the releasing device for releasing the safety mechanism are configured as separate parts before being assembled to the steering wheel. Therefore, in other words, since they are individually assembled to the steering wheel, if the assembly position of both is not appropriate (there is a positional deviation), the release bolts are suitable for the safety lever for moving the lock bar. There is a risk that the vehicle will not be engaged with or that either one of the airbag and the releasing device cannot be attached. Particularly, in the axial direction of the steering wheel (the direction along the steering shaft), such a positional deviation is likely to occur, and a measure for eliminating the above-mentioned problems has been desired.

In this case, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned problems, it is possible to manufacture and assemble the parts such as the airbag, the releasing device, and the steering wheel with high accuracy to prevent the position deviation of the parts. It is conceivable, but the cost will increase due to high-precision manufacturing and assembly.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention is a device for releasing the airbag safety mechanism, which can surely bring the airbag safety mechanism into the released state without requiring a simple structure and highly accurate manufacture and assembly. The purpose is to obtain.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An airbag safety mechanism releasing device according to the present invention prevents the operation of an airbag assembled to a steering wheel and is safe in a state where the airbag is assembled to the steering wheel. An airbag safety mechanism used for an airbag safety mechanism that releases the operation inhibition by moving a lever to the steering shaft side, and an airbag safety mechanism that moves the safety lever to release the operation inhibition of the airbag safety mechanism. A release device for a mechanism, which is attached to a steering wheel and is movable to the side of an airbag safety mechanism attached to the steering wheel, and an airbag whose tip is attached to the steering wheel, It is a release part that can be engaged with the safety lever, and the release part is the air bar. A release rod that is movably connected to the release bolt along the assembly direction of the grip, and a spring that constantly biases the release rod in a direction in which the release portion approaches the airbag safety mechanism, When the airbag is fixed to the steering wheel, the release portion is pressed by the airbag to move to the steering shaft side against the biasing force of the spring and face the safety lever. In the facing state, the release rod moves together with the release bolt so that the release portion engages with the safety lever and moves to the steering shaft side.

[0008]

In the present invention having the above structure, when the airbag is assembled to the steering wheel, the release portion of the release rod is pressed by the airbag and moved to the steering shaft side against the biasing force of the spring. , It will be in the state of facing the safety lever. That is, since the release rod is connected to the release bolt so that the release portion is movable along the assembling direction of the airbag, the airbag may be slightly displaced along the assembling direction. However, this positional deviation is absorbed by the movement of the release rod in the direction of displacement, so that the release rod surely faces the safety lever.

When releasing the airbag safety mechanism, when the release bolt is moved to the side of the airbag safety mechanism in the above state (the release rod faces the safety lever), the release rod moves together with the release bolt. Then, the release portion is engaged with the safety lever, and the safety lever is moved to the steering shaft side. As a result, the airbag safety mechanism is released.

As described above, in the releasing device according to the present invention,
Since the release rod is connected to the release bolt so as to be movable along the assembling direction of the airbag, even if the airbag is slightly displaced along the assembling direction,
This displacement is absorbed by the release rod moving in accordance with the displacement. Therefore, it is possible to reliably move the safety lever to release the airbag safety mechanism, and it is not necessary to manufacture or assemble with high precision, and it is possible to significantly reduce the cost.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a releasing device 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The airbag 10 to which is applied is shown.

In the airbag 10, the base plate 12
The bag body 14, the airbag cover 16, the inflator 18
Is attached.

The bag body 14 is arranged in a folded state on the occupant side of the base plate 12 (upper side in FIG. 1).
An edge of the bag body 14 on the opening side is attached to a substantially central portion of the base plate 12 via a ring plate 20. The ring plate 20 is fastened to the base plate 12 with a bolt (not shown), and the edge of the bag body 14 on the opening side is pressed against the base plate 12.

The air bag cover 16 is arranged on the occupant side of the bag body 14 and stores the bag body 14 between itself and the base plate 12. A frame-shaped core metal (not shown) is embedded in the periphery of the airbag cover 16, and is attached to the base plate 12 by a rivet or the like via the core metal. A thin portion 16A is formed in a portion of the airbag cover 16 facing the base plate 12, and is easily broken at this portion.

The inflator 18 has a columnar shape, and is arranged in a state of being inserted into the bag body 14 while penetrating substantially the central portion of the base plate 12. A flange 18A is formed on the outer periphery of the inflator 18, and is fixed to the surface of the base plate 12 on the side opposite to the occupant (lower side in FIG. 1) with a bolt (not shown). A gas generating substance 22 is enclosed in the inflator 18, and a detonator 24 is provided around the gas generating substance 22.
Is provided. When the detonator 24 explodes, an igniting agent (not shown) is ignited to burn the gas generating substance 22, and the gas generating substance 22 is decomposed by the combustion to release a large amount of gas. 14 can be inflated.

The inflator 18 also has a built-in activation sensor 26 for detonating the detonator 24.

The starting sensor 26 accommodates a ball as an inertial body and parts such as an ignition pin which is actuated by the movement of the ball and collides with the detonator 24 (all are not shown), and indicates a rapid deceleration state of the vehicle. The detonator 24 can be exploded by detecting it. Further, the activation sensor 26 has a built-in safety mechanism. This safety mechanism includes a lock bar (not shown) capable of blocking the movement of the ball and a safety lever 28. The safety lever 28 is arranged so as to be engageable with the lock bar, and a part of the safety lever 28 projects outward from the bottom wall of the activation sensor 26. Further, the activation sensor 26
An engaging portion 30 is formed at the tip of the safety lever 28 protruding outward from the engaging portion 30 and can engage with a releasing portion 50 of a releasing rod 48 described later. The safety lever 28 normally holds (when the safety mechanism is activated) the lock bar in a state in which the movement of the ball is blocked. On the other hand, when the engaging portion 30 is pulled out toward the outside of the activation sensor 26, the lock bar can be released and moved, whereby the ball can be inertially moved (safety mechanism released state). It is a configuration. Note that FIG. 1 shows the safety mechanism in a released state.

In the airbag 10 having the above structure, the lower portion 12A of the base plate 12 corresponds to the bracket portion 34 formed on the steering wheel 32, and is fixed to the steering wheel 32 via the fixing bolt 36.

A bolt hole 38 is formed in the bracket portion 34.
Is formed, and further, a releasing device 40 is arranged on the side of the bolt hole 38.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 2-4, the release device 40 includes a release bolt 42. This release bolt 4
2 is formed with a male screw portion 42A and is screwed into the bolt hole 38 from the outside.
4 inside the holding case 44 arranged inside.

The holding case 44 is made of resin and formed in a rail shape having a U-shaped cross section, and is fixed to the hub 32A of the steering wheel 32. A through hole 46 is formed in the side wall of the holding case 44, and an intermediate portion of the release bolt 42 after being screwed into the bolt hole 38 is penetrated. The tip of the release bolt 42 reaches the inside of the holding case 44, and the release rod 48 is connected to it.

The release rod 48 is located on the holding case 44 and is movable along the holding case 44 (that is, in the direction of approaching and separating from the activation sensor 26 of the airbag 10). The tip of the release rod 48 is formed in a wedge shape, and serves as a release portion 50 that can be engaged with the bottom wall of the activation sensor 26 and the engagement portion 30 of the safety lever 28. Further, at the other end portion of the release rod 48, the release portion 50 is arranged along the assembling direction of the airbag 10 (that is, the steering wheel 3).
2 is movably connected to a release bolt 42.

A plate-shaped spring 52 is arranged between the release rod 48 and the holding case 44, and always urges the release rod 48 toward the activation sensor 26.

A cutout window 54 is formed outside the release bolt 42, that is, on the side surface of the hub 32A of the steering wheel 32, and a cover (not shown) is attached to the cutout window 54.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. In the airbag 10 having the above structure, the lower portion 12A of the base plate 12 is fixed to the bracket portion 34 of the steering wheel 32 via the fixing bolt 36.

Here, in the state before the airbag 10 is fixed, as shown in FIG. 2, the release bolt 42 is in the most pulled out state from the bolt hole 38, and the release rod 48 of the spring 52. Release part 50 by urging force
Are spaced apart from the hub 32A.

Next, when the lower portion 12A of the base plate 12 is positioned on the bracket portion 34 of the steering wheel 32 for assembling the airbag 10, the releasing portion 50 of the releasing rod 48 causes the release portion 50 of the release rod 48 to be activated along with this assembling operation. It is pressed against the bottom wall of 26 and is moved to the side of the hub 32A against the biasing force of the spring 52, and is brought into a state of facing the engaging portion 30 of the safety lever 28 (state shown in FIG. 3). That is, since the release rod 50 is connected to the release bolt 42 such that the release portion 50 is movable along the assembly direction of the airbag 10, the airbag 10 is temporarily located at a certain position along the assembly direction. Even if there is a displacement, this displacement is absorbed by the release rod 48 moving in the displacement direction as described above, and the release rod 48 (release portion 50) is securely attached to the safety lever 28 (engagement portion 30). It will be facing each other.

Then, when the safety mechanism is released after the fastening and fixing of the airbag 10 by the fixing bolts 36 is completed, the above state (the releasing portion 50 of the releasing rod 48 faces the engaging portion 30 of the safety lever 28). (State), when the release bolt 42 is screwed into the holding case 44 (start sensor 26) side, the release rod 48 moves with the release bolt 42 and the release portion 50 engages with the engagement portion 30 of the safety lever 28. The safety lever 28 is forcibly moved toward the hub 32A. As a result, the airbag 10 (start sensor 26)
4 is released (state shown in FIG. 4).

As described above, the releasing device 40 according to the present embodiment.
Since the release rod 48 is movably connected to the release bolt 42 along the assembling direction of the airbag 10,
Even if the airbag 10 is slightly displaced along the assembling direction, this displacement is caused by the release rod 48.
Are absorbed by moving according to the positional deviation. Therefore, it is possible to reliably move the safety lever 28 to release the safety mechanism, and it is not necessary to manufacture or assemble the airbag 10 and the release device 40 itself with high precision, which can significantly reduce the cost. it can.

In the above embodiment, the spring 52 for biasing and holding the release rod 48 is formed in a plate shape and is arranged between the release rod 48 and the holding case 44. Not limited to this, other shapes and arrangement positions may be used as long as the release rod 48 can always be urged toward the activation sensor 26.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the release bolt 60
A side wall 62A of the release rod 62 connected to the main body is slightly inclined, and a compression coil spring 64 is wound around the tip of the release bolt 60 (between the side wall 62A of the release rod 62). May be In this case, the side wall 62A is pressed by the urging force of the compression coil spring 64 and the release rod 62 causes the activation sensor 26 to operate.
It is held in the state of being lifted up to the side of.

Even in the release rod 62 urged by the compression coil spring 64, the release rod 62 can move along the assembling direction of the airbag 10, and the airbag 10 is temporarily moved along the assembling direction. Even if a slight displacement occurs, this displacement is absorbed by the release rod 62 moving according to the displacement. Therefore, the safety mechanism can be reliably released, and highly accurate manufacturing and assembling of each component are not required, and the cost can be significantly reduced.

[0033]

As described above, the releasing device for the airbag safety mechanism according to the present invention has a simple structure and does not require high-accuracy manufacturing or assembling, and reliably releases the airbag safety mechanism. It has an excellent effect that the cost can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an airbag to which an airbag safety mechanism releasing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the details of the release device of the airbag safety mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention, in a state before the airbag is assembled.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the details of the release device of the airbag safety mechanism according to the embodiment of the invention, in a state where the airbag is assembled.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing details of an airbag safety mechanism releasing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a state where the safety mechanism is released after the airbag is assembled.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a releasing device for an airbag safety mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Airbag 26 Activation Sensor 28 Safety Lever 30 Engagement Part 32 Steering Wheel 40 Release Device 42 Release Bolt 48 Release Rod 50 Release Part 52 Spring

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The operation prevention is released by preventing the operation of an airbag assembled to a steering wheel and moving a safety lever toward a steering shaft in a state where the airbag is assembled to the steering wheel. An airbag safety mechanism releasing device for use in an airbag safety mechanism for moving the safety lever to release the operation blocking of the airbag safety mechanism, the steering wheel being attached to a steering wheel. And a release bolt movable toward the side of the airbag safety mechanism, the tip of which is a release portion engageable with the airbag and safety lever assembled to the steering wheel, and the release portion is Connected to the release bolt so as to be movable along the assembling direction of the airbag A release rod and a spring that constantly biases the release rod in a direction in which the release portion approaches the airbag safety mechanism, and when the airbag is fixed to a steering wheel, the release portion is provided. When the airbag is pressed, it moves to the steering shaft side against the biasing force of the spring to face the safety lever, and in the facing state, the release rod moves with the release bolt to release the release. An apparatus for releasing an airbag safety mechanism, wherein a portion is engaged with the safety lever and moved to the steering shaft side.