JPH07223504A - Inflator module structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To further uniform gas injection flow into a bag by well controlling the gas injection flow into the bag, and simplify construction. CONSTITUTION:A partition 28 is provided in a case 26 between an inflator 18 and a bag 24, and a cut and raised part 32 and a partition through-hole 30 for injecting gas into bag can be obtained by forming the partition 28 by cutting and raising it. They are formed of multiple pieces, respectively, along the axial direction of the inflator 18. Also high-pressure gas injected from an injection port 22 is injected into the bag 24 through the through-hole 30. The more the cut up part 32 is separated from the injection port 22 positioned at one end and in the axial direction of the inflator 18, the more the cut and raised length L is shortened, and the cut and raised part 32 nearer to the injection port 22 gives larger gas passing resistance to pressure gas passing through the through-hole 30 corresponding to that part. Then the gas injection flow passing the partition 28 through the through-hole 30 is made uniform over the entire surface of the partition.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inflator module structure used in an air bag system and inflating a bag with high pressure gas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an airbag device for a passenger seat of a vehicle,
A cylindrical inflator is accommodated in a case whose passenger seat side is open, and a bag is folded and accommodated in the case by closing an opening of the case.

Of the various inflators, the pyro-inflator 102 shown in FIG. 7 contains a gas generating agent inside and has a plurality of gas ejection ports (having a diameter of about φ3 to about φ3) on the outer peripheral surface.
7 mm) 104 are formed side by side along the axial direction in several rows. As a result, the gas jet flow into the bag is equalized, and the bag can be properly deployed.

An aluminum thin plate is provided inside the inflator 102 so as to correspond to the gas ejection port 104.
Normally, the thin aluminum plate is the gas ejection port 104.
However, at the time of gas generation, the aluminum thin plate is broken by the gas generation pressure and the gas ejection port 104 is opened so that the gas can be ejected.

On the other hand, among the inflators, a hybrid inflator and a high-pressure gas inflator are filled with a gas such as argon at a high pressure inside, and the number and position of the ejection ports are limited (for example, one ejection port is provided). And is located at one end of the inflator on either the left or right side in the axial direction). In Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-93257, as shown in FIG.
The high pressure gas supplied to the inside of the bag 14 is prevented from being locally concentrated and ejected at a predetermined position inside the bag 114, so that the ejection port 11
2, a baffle 116 is provided to disperse the gas jet flow.

[0006]

However, in the case of a bag having a large capacity such as a passenger airbag device,
It is difficult to obtain a smooth deployment simply by dispersing the high-pressure gas jetted into the bag so as not to be jetted locally as in the above-mentioned conventional technique, and for the smooth deployment, the high-pressure gas is evenly distributed in the bag. It is preferable to blow out.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention satisfactorily controls the gas jet flow into the bag to further equalize the gas jet flow into the bag and simplify the structure. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

In an inflator module structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, a case having an opening, a high pressure gas which is housed in the case and has an ejection port and ejects high pressure gas from the ejection port. An inflator, a bag that closes the opening of the case and is folded inside the case facing the inflator, and expands outside the case by the high-pressure gas to protect an occupant; and an inflator and a bag inside the case. And a partition having an ejection flow control unit that controls the ejection of the high-pressure gas evenly into the bag.

According to a second aspect, in the configuration of the first aspect,
The jet flow control unit of the partition wall cuts and raises the partition wall toward the inflator side to form a gas passage resistance to the pressure gas passing through the partition wall through hole for injecting gas in the bag and passing through the partition wall through hole for injecting gas in the bag. In addition, it is characterized in that it is provided with a plurality of cut-and-raised portions that have a shorter cut-and-raised length as they are farther from the ejection port and reduce the gas passage resistance.

According to a third aspect, in the configuration of the first aspect,
The ejection flow control unit of the partition wall is characterized by including a plurality of partition wall penetrating holes for injecting gas in the bag, the hole diameter of which increases with increasing distance from the ejection port.

[0011]

According to the above construction, the high pressure gas is ejected from the ejection port of the inflator, and the ejected high pressure gas is supplied into the bag. This allows the bag to expand outside the case and protect the occupant.

The high-pressure gas ejected from the ejection port of the inflator is evenly ejected into the bag by the ejection flow control unit of the partition wall.

Therefore, for example, it is applied to a passenger seat (P seat) airbag device provided in an instrument panel of an automobile, and the inflator becomes horizontally long, and one inflator has one ejection port in the longitudinal direction of the inflator. Even if it is provided on the side, the gas jet flow into the bag is well controlled, and the gas jet flow into the bag is further equalized. It is realized by a simple structure in which only a partition wall having a jet flow control unit is provided.

Further, the jet flow control portion of the partition wall is formed by cutting and raising the partition wall toward the inflator side, and is formed at an edge portion of the partition wall through hole for injecting gas in the bag to pass through the partition wall through hole for injecting gas in the bag. According to the configuration of a plurality of cut-and-raised portions that reduce the gas-passage resistance by shortening the cut-and-raised length as the distance from the jet outlet increases, the cut-and-raised portion closer to the jet outlet, The gas passage resistance corresponding to the high-pressure gas passing through the in-bag gas ejection partition through hole corresponding to the cut-and-raised portion is large. Therefore, the gas ejection flow into the bag is equalized regardless of the distance from the ejection port. Further, the cut-and-raised part can be formed in the process of obtaining the partition wall through hole for injecting gas in the bag, and the above-described action and effect can be achieved with a simple structure.

Further, according to the constitution in which the jet flow control portion of the partition wall is constituted by a plurality of through-gas partition wall through holes for jetting gas in the bag, the farther from the jet port, the gas in the bag close to the jet port is formed. The gas passage resistance of the high-pressure gas passing therethrough is larger as the jetting partition wall through hole is larger. Therefore,
The gas ejection flow into the bag is equalized regardless of the distance from the ejection port. This is achieved with a simple structure in which the diameter of the partition wall through hole for ejecting gas in the bag is increased as the distance from the ejection port increases.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the inflator module structure according to the present invention applied to a passenger seat (P seat) airbag device provided on an instrument panel of an automobile will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. To do.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an inflator 18 is housed in a case 16 having one side (passenger seat side, arrow A direction) opened and having an opening 14 with a flange 12. The inflator 18 has a cylindrical shape, and is located along the bottom wall of the case 16 that is bent in a semi-arcuate shape with the left and right as viewed from the opening 14 of the case 16 in the axial direction.
The inflator 18 is attached to the side wall of the case 16.
An insertion hole 20 for inserting the inside is formed. The inside of the inflator 18 is filled with high pressure gas such as argon,
On the outer peripheral surface of the inflator 18, an ejection port 22 is formed at one end in the axial direction toward the opening 14 of the case 16. When an acceleration sensor (not shown) detects sudden vehicle deceleration,
The high-pressure gas in the inflator 18 is ejected from the ejection port 22.

At the opening 14 of the case 16, the flange 1
The bag 24 is attached to 2. The bag 24 closes the opening 14 of the case 16 and is folded and accommodated in the case 16 so as to face the inflator 18.
When high-pressure gas is ejected into the bag 24, the case 16
The bag 24 bulges outward (toward the passenger in the passenger seat),
It becomes possible to protect passengers.

A deployment door 26 is attached to the opening 14 of the case 16 from the outside, and the deployment door 26 can be deployed by the inflation pressure of the bag 24. by this,
Swelling of the bag 24 to the outside of the case 16 is allowed.

A partition 28 is provided in the case 16 between the inflator 18 and the bag 24. The partition 28 is
The inflator 18 has a rectangular plate shape and is curved along the outer peripheral surface of the inflator 18, and the peripheral edge portion is bent and fixed to the inner surface of the case 16. Plural rows (three rows in this embodiment) of in-bag ejection partition through holes 30 are formed in the partition 28 along the axial direction of the inflator 18. The high-pressure gas ejected from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18 is ejected into the bag 24 through the in-bag ejection partition through hole 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cut-and-raised portion 32 formed by cutting and raising the partition wall 28 (for example, by bending with a press) is provided at the edge of each partition wall penetrating hole 30 for jetting in the bag. . Each of the cut-and-raised parts 32 constitutes a jet flow control part, and the cut-and-raised direction is on the inflator side, and when viewed from the opening 14 of the case 16, the jet outlet 22 side of the inflator 18 is the base end, and the inflator 18 is formed. Is oriented so that the tip thereof is on the side opposite to the ejection port 22, and the cut-and-raised angle is an angle inclined so as to face the ejection port 22, and further, the inflator is arranged along the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the inflator 18. The cut-raised length L is shortened as the distance from the ejection port 22 of 18 increases. In the present embodiment, the cut-and-raised portion 32 of the inflator 18 closest to the ejection port 22 (the one located on the rightmost side in FIG. 1) has the longest cut-and-raised length L and the cut-and-raised portion farthest from the ejection port 22. The cut-and-raised length of the portion 32 (the one located on the leftmost side in FIG. 1) is set to 0 (the cut-and-raised portion 32).
There is no). The cut-and-raised portion 32 exerts a resistance on the pressure gas passing through the in-bag ejection partition through hole 30, and this resistance becomes greater as the cut-and-raised length L of the cut-and-raised portion 32 becomes longer.

As shown in FIG. 4, the in-bag jetting partition through holes 30 have the same hole pitch P along the axial direction of the inflator 18, and the size of the holes (a and b shown in FIG. 4). , Hole diameter) are also the same. Further, the partition wall through hole 30 for jetting in the bag has a rectangular shape whose one side is a semi-circular arc, and the cut-and-raised portion 32 is on the side opposite to the one side which is the semi-circular arc.
The base end of is located.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. According to the above configuration, when the high pressure gas is ejected from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18, the ejected high pressure gas is supplied into the bag 24. This allows the bag 24 to bulge out of the case 16 and protect the occupant.

Here, the cut-and-raised portion 32 of the partition wall 28 is
With the configuration in which the cut-and-raised length L is shortened as the distance from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18 is increased, the cut-and-raised portion 32 closer to the ejection port 22 is provided with the partition wall through hole 30 for injecting gas in the bag. The high-pressure gas passing therethrough has a large resistance. Therefore, a portion of the partition wall 28 that receives a higher pressure has a higher gas passage resistance of the high-pressure gas that passes through the in-bag gas ejection partition wall through hole 30 of the partition wall 28, and a portion that is apart from the ejection port 22 and receives a smaller pressure. The gas passage resistance of the high-pressure gas becomes smaller as the pressure increases. As a result, the gas ejection flow passing through the partition wall 28 through the in-bag gas ejection partition wall through hole 30 becomes uniform over the entire surface of the partition wall 28, and the gas ejection flow into the bag 24 (see the gas ejection flow in FIG. 1). (The direction is indicated by arrow B) is further equalized regardless of the size of the distance from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18.

Further, the in-bag gas ejection partition wall through hole 30 and the cut-and-raised portion 32 are simultaneously formed by pressing, that is, the cut-and-raised portion 32 is formed in the process of obtaining the in-bag gas ejection partition through-hole 30. It is possible to achieve the above effects with a simple structure.

In this way, the ejection port 2 of the inflator 18
Since the high-pressure gas ejected from 2 is evenly ejected into the bag 24, the inflator 18 is used in the airbag device for the passenger seat (for the P seat) as in the present embodiment, and the inflator 18 is horizontally long. Even when the number of the ejection ports 22 of the inflator 18 is one and is provided at one end side in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the inflator 18 and the number and the position of the ejection ports 22 are limited, the gas ejection flow into the bag 24 Is well controlled to further equalize the gas jet flow into the bag 24. This is realized by a simple structure in which a partition wall 28 is provided between the inflator 18 and the bag 24.

In addition, the partition wall through hole 3 for injecting gas in the bag
0, each shape of the cut and raised portion 21, the number of rows, the total number,
The size, pitch, etc. can be selected as appropriate, and the direction in which the cut and raised portion 21 is cut and raised (for example, the bag 24
(Cutting and raising to the side) and the cutting and raising angle can be appropriately selected.

Further, the cut-and-raised length L of the cut-and-raised portion 21 of the partition wall 28 is defined by the axial direction of the inflator 18 (the partition wall 28).
It is more effective not only to shorten the distance from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18 along the longitudinal direction of the inflator 18 but also to shorten the distance along the width direction of the partition wall 28 from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18. is there.

Next, a second embodiment of the inflator module structure applied to the P-seat airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
It will be explained based on.

In this embodiment, the cut-and-raised portion 32 of the first embodiment is not provided, and the in-bag ejection partition through holes 52 of the partition 50 are circular in shape, and the hole diameter c is the axial direction of the inflator 18. It is made smaller as it goes away from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18 along the (longitudinal direction) to form an ejection flow control unit.

In addition, the hole pitch P along the axial direction of the inflator 18 of the partition wall penetrating holes 52 for jetting in the bag is the same.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. According to the second embodiment, the hole diameter c of the in-bag ejection partition through hole 52 of the partition 50 is set to the ejection port 2 of the inflator 18.
By increasing the distance from 2, the spout 2
The partition wall through hole 52 for injecting gas in the bag closer to 2 has a larger hole diameter c and a higher resistance to high-pressure gas passing therethrough. Therefore, the gas passage resistance of the high-pressure gas passing through the in-bag gas ejection partition through-hole 52 increases nearer the ejection port 22, and the gas of the high-pressure gas in the in-bag gas ejection partition through-hole 52 increases as the distance from the ejection port 22 increases. Passage resistance decreases. As a result, the gas ejection flow passing through the partition 50 through the in-bag gas ejection partition through hole 52 becomes uniform over the entire surface of the partition 50, and the gas ejection flow into the bag 24 becomes
Further equalization is achieved regardless of the distance from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18. This is achieved by a simple structure in which the diameter c of the partition wall through hole 52 for ejecting gas in the bag is increased as the distance from the ejection port 22 increases.

Even when the number and position of the ejection ports 22 of the inflator 18 are limited, the gas ejection flow into the bag 24 is well controlled, and the gas ejection flow into the bag 24 is further equalized. Similar to the first embodiment, the realization is achieved and the realization thereof is realized with a simple structure.

In addition, the partition wall through hole 52 for injecting gas in the bag
The shape, the number of rows, the total number, the size, the pitch, etc. can be selected as appropriate.

Further, a partition wall through hole 52 for injecting gas in the bag is provided.
Not only is the hole diameter c of the inflator 18 shorter along the axial direction of the inflator 18 (longitudinal direction of the partition wall 28) from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18, but also along the width direction of the partition wall 28. It is more effective if the distance from 22 is shorter.

Next, other means can be used as the jet flow control unit for uniformly jetting the high-pressure gas into the bag.
Explain how.

That is, in the second embodiment described above, the hole diameter c of the in-bag gas ejection partition through hole 52 is made smaller as the distance from the ejection port 22 increases. Rather than making the hole diameters different, the pitches of the in-bag gas ejection partition through holes are made different, that is, the pitch of the in-bag gas ejection partition through holes is made narrower as the distance from the ejection port increases. Also in this case, the gas ejection flow passing through the partition through the in-bag gas ejection partition through hole becomes uniform over the entire surface of the partition, and the gas ejection flow into the bag 24 is further equalized. This is achieved by a simple structure in which the pitch of the partition wall through holes for injecting gas in the bag is made smaller as the distance from the ejection port 22 increases.

Further, a means for reducing the hole diameter of the partition wall through holes for injecting gas into the bag is made smaller as it is farther from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18, and a pitch of the partition wall through holes for injecting gas as the bag is smaller as it is farther from the ejection port 22. It is possible to further equalize the gas jet flow into the bag 24 by using this means together with a simple structure.

Further, means for reducing the cut-and-raised length of the cut-and-raised portion as it is farther from the ejection port 22 of the inflator 18, and the hole diameter of the in-bag gas ejection partition through hole is smaller as it is farther from the ejection port 22. It is also possible to further equalize the gas ejection flow into the bag 24 by using the means for reducing the pitch of the partition wall through holes for ejecting gas in the bag as the distance from the ejection port 22 increases. Is.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but various modifications can be made. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the inflator module structure applied to the P-seat airbag device has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the P-seat airbag device.

[0041]

As described above, in the inflator module structure of the present invention, the gas ejection flow into the bag is well controlled, and the gas ejection flow into the bag is further equalized. , The structure is simple.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an end view showing a first embodiment of an inflator module structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an inflator module structure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing an inflator module structure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a partition wall of the inflator module structure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an end view showing an inflator module structure of a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a partition wall of the inflator module structure of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pyro-inflator.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional inflator module structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 Opening Port 16 Case 18 Inflator 22 Spout 24 Bag 28 Partition 30 In-bag Ejection Partition Through Hole 32 Cut-and-raised Part (Ejection Flow Control) 52 In-Bag Injecting Partition Through-hole (Ejection Flow Control)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A case having an opening, an inflator housed in the case, having an ejection port and ejecting high-pressure gas from the ejection port, and closing the opening of the case and facing the inflator. And a bag that is folded inside the case and inflates to the outside of the case by the high-pressure gas to protect an occupant, and is provided between the inflator and the bag in the case to uniformly eject the high-pressure gas into the bag. An inflator module structure comprising: a partition having an ejection flow control unit; 2. The pressure gas passing through the partition wall penetrating hole for injecting gas in a bag is formed at an edge of the partition wall penetrating hole for injecting gas in the bag by cutting and partitioning the partition wall toward the inflator. 2. The inflator module structure according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cut-and-raised portions that have a gas-passing resistance to, and a cut-and-raised length that is shortened toward a portion farther from the ejection port to reduce the gas-passing resistance. 3. The inflator module structure according to claim 1, wherein the ejection flow control unit of the partition wall comprises a plurality of partition wall through holes for injecting gas in the bag, the hole diameters of which are farther from the ejection port.