JPH0971215A - Operational device of acceleration sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a product of an acceleration sensor by which no careless forcible ignition can be performed when the acceleration sensor is operated in transient between its operative and inoperative conditions, a comparatively simple different kind of operation can be achieved in the case of applying forcibly ignition and for ] which the structure is simple and the cost is low. SOLUTION: A base support part 72 and a forcibly operated part 74 are mutually movably combined with each other as an operational device of an acceleration sensor 10 and in a position where the base support part 72 and the forcibly operated part 74 are combined with each other between the inoperative condition and the operative condition in their state of making mutual switching operation, the thickness of an operational device is formed in a specified thin thickness and in the case of making forcible operational control, the basic support part 72 and the forcibly operated part 74 are relatively moved to change their position of combination and then combined with each other so as to make the thickness of the operational device to be in a specific large thickness.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating device for performing a switching operation of a mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor with a forced operating mechanism used in an occupant protection device such as an airbag device and a pretensioner device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air bag device is generally known as a vehicle occupant protection device. In such an airbag device, in order to protect an occupant at the time of sudden deceleration of the vehicle, the acceleration sensor device detects the sudden deceleration of the vehicle and the bag body is inflated.

That is, at the time of sudden deceleration of the vehicle, the acceleration sensor device of the inflator incorporated in the airbag device detects this sudden deceleration, and the acceleration sensor device ignites the detonator, thereby supplying gas from the inflator into the bag body. The bag is inflatable.

On the other hand, when a vehicle equipped with such an air bag device is discarded or the steering wheel is replaced, when the air bag device is discarded, the acceleration of the inflator in the air bag device is taken into consideration in consideration of safety. It is necessary to forcibly ignite the sensor device and keep it in the used state.

For this reason, it has been proposed that the acceleration sensor device is provided with a switching mechanism that is switched by the switching device so that the sensor device is inoperable, operable, and forcibly ignited.

The acceleration sensor device provided with such a switching mechanism must be handled with care so as not to inadvertently ignite when performing a switching operation with the switching device. In particular, when operating the acceleration sensor to shift from the inoperable state to the inoperable state, it is necessary to pay close attention to prevent forced ignition by continuing the same switching operation with the switching device. There is a problem that work is troublesome and work efficiency deteriorates.

Therefore, when the switching device is moved from the inoperable state to the operable state, it can be performed by a normal operation, but when the operation is performed from the operable state to the forced ignition state, it must be unlocked separately. It is possible to configure.

However, there is a problem that the cost of the product increases if a complicated and expensive lock mechanism is mounted to lock the operation of shifting from the operable state to the forced ignition state.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above facts, the present invention prevents the acceleration sensor from being inadvertently forcibly ignited during the operation of the switching operation device, and makes the operation device relatively simple and inexpensive. It is an object to provide an operating device for an acceleration sensor.

[0010]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an acceleration sensor operating device, which is switched to an inoperable state, an operable state or a forced operating state by changing a distance between an operation plate of an operation lever and a cover. An operating device of an operable acceleration sensor, which is mounted so as to be movable relative to a base part provided with an insertion inclined part for inserting between an operation plate and a cover, When operating the acceleration sensor from the inoperable state to the operable state, set the gap between the operation plate and the cover in combination with the base to set the operable state to the acceleration sensor from the operable state to the forced operation state. When operating, it is provided with a forcibly actuating part which is combined with a position relatively moved with respect to the base part to set the distance between the operation plate and the cover to the forcibly actuated state. To With this configuration, when the operation of switching the acceleration sensor between the inoperable state and the inoperable state is performed, the thickness of the operating device in which the base unit and the forced operating unit are integrally combined can be operated. The operating plate of the acceleration sensor can be switched by inserting or removing the operating device between the operating plate and the cover in a state where the space between the operating plate and the cover of the acceleration sensor in this state is matched. The distance between the cover and the cover does not open until the forced operation is reached. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the acceleration sensor from being forcibly operated accidentally during this operation.

Further, when the acceleration sensor is forcibly operated, unlike the operation of inserting and removing the operation position between the operation plate and the cover as described above, the base portion of the operation device and the force operation portion are relatively moved. By moving to the position, the gap between the operation plate of the acceleration sensor and the cover is opened to the gap of the forced operation operation, and the forced operation operation is executed. This ensures that the forced actuation operation can be executed only when the intention is to perform the forced actuation operation.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Description of Configuration of Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an acceleration sensor operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this acceleration sensor operating device 70, a base portion 72 and a forced operating portion 74 are used in combination.

The base portion 72 is generally rectangular in shape, and a through groove 76, which is a U-shaped through groove, is provided at the tip portion thereof, and the base end portion is shown in an inverted U shape in the drawing. A fitting concave portion 80 is provided from the central portion of the base end to the distal end portion, leaving the peripheral wall 78. A guide slope 82 that rises obliquely is formed on the tip side of the fitting recess 80.

Stops 84 are integrally projectingly provided at predetermined positions on both lateral middle portions of the peripheral wall 78 so as to be bent inwardly in a hook shape.

Further, an insertion inclined portion 86 which is a side surface inclined in the same direction as the guide inclined surface 82 is formed so that the free end is tapered in the lower portion of the base portion 72 in the drawing.

Further, each flat surface portion 8 at the tip of the base portion 72
The through groove 76 side portion of 3 is cut out in the shape of a short groove, and an insertion guide groove 85 is formed.

A force actuating portion 74 is integrally fitted in the fitting recess 80 of the base portion 72. The forcibly actuating portion 74 is formed in a substantially L-shape as a whole, and the tip end portion thereof has a fitting recess 8
A through groove 88 having substantially the same lateral width as the base portion 72 and corresponding to the through groove 76 is provided so as to fit in a space between the end of the peripheral wall 78 of 0 and the guide slope 82 without a gap. A mating slope 90 corresponding to the guide slope 82 is provided, and an insertion guide groove 89 continuous with each insertion guide groove 85 is provided.

On the base end side of the forced operating portion 74, its free end portion is bent in an L shape so as to stand up, and the operation standing piece 9
2 is formed. The base end side of the forced operating portion 74 is
It is formed one step narrower than the front end so that it can be fitted in the fitting recess 80 surrounded by the peripheral wall 78 without any gap.

The forcibly actuating portion 74 formed in this manner is fitted into the fitting recess 80 of the base portion 72 as shown in FIG. 1, is anchored by the two locking portions 84, and is integrally assembled. It is assumed to be a normal usage form.

Acceleration sensor 10 used in this embodiment
Is an operation plate 11 fixed to the free end of the shaft of the operation lever.
A three-step control operation is performed by changing the height of and pulling out. That is, in the first state where the operation plate 11 shown in FIG. 3 is in contact with the end surface 10A of the acceleration sensor 10, the operation plate 11 is in an inoperable state, and the operation plate 11 shown in FIG. 4 extends from the acceleration sensor end surface 10A to a predetermined intermediate height position. When it is pulled out, it is in an operable state, and the operation plate 11 shown in FIG.
When the is pulled out from the acceleration sensor end surface 10A to the upper limit position, the forced ignition operation is performed.

The mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor 10 is provided with a case 12 which constitutes a sensor main body portion as shown in the drawing. The case 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a bottom wall 14 at one end, and a plate 16 which similarly constitutes a sensor main body portion is fixed and sealed by a cover 18 on the opening side. A through hole 20 is formed on the bottom wall 14 of the case 12 on the axis, and a cylindrical guide hole 22 is formed in the case 12.

An ignition pin 24 is arranged inside the case 12. The ignition pin 24 is composed of a main body 26 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and a convex portion 28 formed integrally with the bottom wall 26A of the main body 26 so as to slide in the case 12 along the axis. By moving, the convex portion 28 can enter the through hole 20 formed in the bottom wall 14. The convex portion 28 protrudes from the through hole 20 to the outside when the ignition pin 24 (main body 26) is moved to the side of the bottom wall 14 of the case 12 most.

A fire ring spring 30 is arranged between the plate 16 fixed to the opening side of the case 12 and the ignition pin 24, and the ignition pin 24 is always provided in the through hole 20.
Is biased in the direction of.

An inertial mass body 32 is arranged in the guide hole 22 of the case 12. The inertial mass body 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and is housed in the guide hole 22 so as to be movable along the axial direction. A bias spring 34 is arranged between the inertial mass body 32 and the plate 16 and always biases the inertial mass body 32 toward the bottom wall 14.

A trigger lever 36 is arranged between the inertial mass body 32 and the ignition pin 24. One end of the trigger lever 36 in the longitudinal direction is rotatably supported by a shaft 38. Further, the tip end of the trigger lever 36 is bent toward the ignition pin 24 to form an engagement portion 40,
The ignition pin 24 can be engaged. That is, when the trigger lever 36 rotates about the shaft 38, the engaging portion 40
Can approach or separate the ignition pin 24. In a state where the engaging portion 40 of the trigger lever 36 is engaged with the main body 26 of the ignition pin 24, the ignition pin 24 urged by the firing spring 30 is located at a position where the convex portion 28 is pulled out from the through hole 20. keeping.

On the side opposite to the ignition pin 24 near the tip of the trigger lever 36, a slide holding portion 42 is formed to project toward the inertial mass body 32. The slide holding portion 42 corresponds to the release hole 44 formed in the inertial mass body 32, and is configured to be able to enter the release hole 44 when the inertial mass body 32 moves. That is,
Normally, the inertial mass 32 is in a position closest to the bottom wall 14 of the case 12 by the bias spring 34,
In this state, the inertial mass body 32 is in contact with the slide holding portion 42 of the trigger lever 36, the engaging portion 40 of the trigger lever 36 engages with the body 26 of the ignition pin 24, and the ignition pin 24 is projected. The portion 28 is held at a position where it is pulled out from the through hole 20. Further, when the inertial mass body 32 moves in the direction away from the bottom wall 14, the inertial mass body 32 relatively moves in linear contact with the slide holding portion 42 of the trigger lever 36, and the slide holding portion 42 moves. It is configured to enter the release hole 44.

On the other hand, an operation lever 45 is arranged in the central portion of the plate 16 (between the ignition pin 24 and the cover 18). The operation lever 45 includes a disc-shaped main body 46,
And a shaft portion 47 integrally fixed to the main body portion 46, and supported by the plate 16 and the cover 18 so as to be movable along the axis. An arm portion 48 is formed on the operation lever 45. Arm 48 is plate 1
6 and extends toward the inertial mass body 32, and a locking portion 50 is formed at the tip. The locking portion 50 is fitted in an engaging groove 52 formed along the axial direction at the end of the inertial mass body 32. As a result, when the locking portion 50 approaches the one end portion 52A of the engagement groove 52 (the state shown in FIG. 3), the inertial mass body 32 moves the operating lever 45.
In the state (state shown in FIG. 4) in which the holding portion 50 is held by the (arm portion 48) and is prevented from moving in the axial direction, and the locking portion 50 is separated from the one end portion 52A of the engaging groove 52 (the state shown in FIG. 4), the inertial mass body 32 is in the axial direction. It is a structure that enables movement.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the locking portion 50 of the operating lever 45 is separated from the one end portion 52A of the engagement groove 52 (close to the other end portion 52B of the engagement groove 52), further operation is performed. When the lever 45 moves in the axial direction, the locking portion 50 engages with the other end portion 52B of the engagement groove 52, and the inertial mass body 32 is forcibly moved together with the operation lever 45, and the state shown in FIG. It is a composition.

A compression coil spring 54 is arranged between the operating lever 45 and the cover 18, and the locking portion 50 is provided.
Always biases the operation lever 45 in a direction approaching the one end portion 52A of the engagement groove 52.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shaft portion 47 of the operation lever 45 is projected to the outside from the through hole 19 formed in the cover 18, and the operation plate 11 is attached thereto. The operation plate 11 is operated from the outside by the acceleration sensor operation device 70. That is, when the acceleration sensor operating device 70 is fitted between the operation plate 11 and the cover 18, the operation plate 11 is separated from the cover 18.
In a normal operation, the locking portion 50 is moved toward the one end portion 52A of the engaging groove 52 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 54, and the operating lever 45 is moved in the axial direction by a predetermined amount so that the locking portion 50 is engaged. This is a configuration that can be separated from the one end portion 52A of 52.

The mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor 10 having the above structure is assembled to the plate 56 of the inflator in the airbag apparatus. A detonator 60 for igniting and burning the gas generating agent in the inflator is arranged on the plate 56. The detonator 60 is a mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor 10
Is located on the axis of the mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor 10 in the assembled state. Therefore, in this assembled state, the through hole 20 of the case 12 faces the detonator 60, and the projection 2 of the ignition pin 24 that can project from this through hole 20.
8 can collide with the detonator 60.

(Explanation of Operation of Embodiment) In the mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor 10 configured as described above, normally,
As shown in FIG. 3, the ignition pin 24 is at a position separated from the detonator 60 against the urging force of the firing spring 30 (a position extracted from the through hole 20 of the case 12), and the trigger lever 36 is an engaging portion. 40 is the body 26 of the ignition pin 24
To hold the ignition pin 24. Further, the inertial mass body 32 enters the position closest to the bottom wall 14 by the bias spring 34, that is, the rotation locus of the trigger lever 36, and the inner peripheral wall abuts on the slide holding portion 42 of the trigger lever 36, so that the trigger lever 36 moves. Is prevented from rotating and the ignition pin holding state is maintained.

Further, in the inoperative state of the acceleration sensor shown in FIG. 3, the locking portion 50 of the operating lever 45 approaches the one end portion 52A of the engaging groove 52 of the inertial mass body 32, and this state is the compression coil spring. It is maintained by the biasing force of 54. Therefore, in this state, even if a large acceleration acts on the mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor 10, the inertial mass body 32 has the one end portion 52A of the engaging groove 52 engaged with the locking portion 50 of the operation lever 45. It does not move (the slide holding portion 42 of the trigger lever 36 does not enter the release hole 44), and therefore the trigger lever 36 does not rotate and the ignition pin holding state is not released. .

Next, when the acceleration sensor is in the operable state, the acceleration sensor operating device 70 is fitted between the operation plate 11 and the cover 18 through the tapered insertion inclined portion 86 at the tip thereof, and both of them are inserted. The spaces are separated by the thickness of the operating device 70. That is, the tip of the insertion slanted portion 86 enters the space between the operation plate 11 and the part where the cover 18 is lowered by one step as shown in the drawing, and the small-diameter stepped projecting portion of the cover 18 in contact with the operation plate 11 is inserted into the insertion guide grooves 85 and 89. The insertion inclined portion 86 is inserted between the end surface 10A of the acceleration sensor and the operation plate 11 which are in contact with each other, and the operation plate 11 is moved along the inclined surface of the insertion inclined portion 86 in the direction opposite to the arrow B in the figure. Pull out in the direction,
It is mounted on the base 72. As a result, the operating lever 45 is moved in the axial direction against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 54, and the locking portion 50 is separated from the one end portion 52A of the engaging groove 52, as shown in FIG. The inertial mass body 32 can be moved in the axial direction, and the acceleration sensor can be operated.

When a large acceleration acts on the mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor 10 while the acceleration sensor is in an operable state, the inertial mass body 32 inertially moves toward the plate 16 and the release hole is formed in the rotation locus of the trigger lever 36. 44 corresponds. When the slide holding portion 42 of the trigger lever 36 faces the release hole 44 of the inertial mass body 32 and the holding is released, the direction in which the slide holding portion 42 is separated from the ignition pin 24 by the ignition pin 24 urged by the firing spring 30. The trigger lever 36 pressed against is rotated in a direction away from the ignition pin 24. As a result, the trigger lever 3
6, the engaging portion 40 of the ignition pin 24 is separated from the main body 26 of the ignition pin 24 to release the holding of the ignition pin 24.
Moves in the axial direction by the urging force of the firing spring 30, and the convex portion 28 projects outward from the through hole 20.

As a result, the convex portion 28 of the ignition pin 24 collides with the detonator 60 and the detonator 60 is ignited. When the detonator 60 is ignited, the gas generating agent of the inflator 104 is ignited and burned, and the airbag device is operated.

Next, when the mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor 10 is forcibly operated at the time of disposal of the vehicle, the locking portion 84 of the base portion 72 of the acceleration sensor operating device 70.
And remove it from the forced operating unit 74. In addition, the forced operating unit 7
The locking portion 84 may be detachably attached to the unit 4 and the locking portion 84 may be removed in this case. When the locking portion 84 is disengaged from the forced operating portion 74 in this way, the forced operating portion 74 becomes movable in the fitting recess 80, so that by pulling the base portion 72 back with respect to the forced operating portion 74, The distal end portion of the forced operating portion 74 is relatively moved so as to advance toward the distal end portion side of the base portion 72.

By this operation, the mating slope 90 of the forced operating portion 74 slides along the guide slope 82 of the base 72,
The vehicle rides on the flat surface portion 83 of the base portion 72 and enters the state shown in FIG. In this state, the thickness of the acceleration sensor operating device 70 at the position between the operation plate 11 and the end surface 10A is the same as the thickness of the insertion guide groove 85 of the forced operating portion 74 and the thickness of the fitting recess 80 of the base portion 72. The thing that added the force is the forced operating part 7
By increasing the thickness of the insertion guide groove 85 of 4 to the thickness from the bottom surface of the base portion 72 to the flat surface portion 83, the gap between the operation plate 11 and the end surface 10A is further widened, The operation lever 45 is pulled out to a required position and a forced operation is performed.

In this way, the mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor 1
When 0 is forcibly ignited, as shown in FIG.
0 engages with the other end portion 52B of the engagement groove 52 and the inertial mass body 3
2 is forcibly moved in the axial direction, and the slide holding portion 42 of the trigger lever 36 faces the release hole 44 of the inertial mass body 32 to release the holding. After that, as in the case of the large acceleration action described above, the ignition pin 24 moves by the urging force of the firing spring 30, the convex portion 28 collides with the detonator 60, the detonator 60 is ignited, and the gas generating agent of the inflator is generated. Ignition and combustion.

As described above, the mechanical ignition type acceleration sensor 10
In order to ignite the detonator 60 by forcibly moving the inertial mass body 32 in the axial direction by operating the operation lever 45 without applying a predetermined inertial force to the sensor, the machine may be disposed when the vehicle is discarded. It is no longer necessary to deactivate the airbag device using the ignition type acceleration sensor 10 from the steering wheel and dispose of the airbag device.
Workability is improved.

Further, since the acceleration sensor operating device 70 has a simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost, a low-priced product can be provided.

[0043]

As described above, in the acceleration sensor device according to the present invention, the acceleration sensor is switched by the operation device.
When switching between an inoperable state and an operable state, it is possible to prevent inadvertent forced operation during this operation, and a simple different type of operation to shift from the operable state to the forced operation state. I can do it. Further, since the operating device of the present invention has a simple structure, it has an excellent effect that an inexpensive product can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an operating device for an acceleration sensor according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an operating device for an acceleration sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the operating device and the acceleration sensor according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied are in an inoperable state.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the acceleration sensor according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied is in an operable state by an operating device.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the acceleration sensor according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied is in a forced operating state by an operating device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Acceleration Sensor 11 Operation Plate 16 Plate 18 Cover 24 Ignition Pin 32 Inertial Mass Body 45 Operating Lever 70 Operating Device 72 Base Part 74 Forced Actuating Part 80 Fitting Recess 82 Guide Slope 83 Plane 84 Locking Part 90 Mating Slope

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operating device for an acceleration sensor, which can be switched to an inoperable state, an operable state, or a forced operating state by changing a distance between an operating plate of an operating lever and a cover, the operating plate comprising: A base portion provided with an insertion slope portion for inserting between the cover and the cover, and is mounted so as to be movable relative to the base portion, and operates the acceleration sensor from an inoperable state to an operable state. When operating the acceleration sensor from the operable state to the forcibly activated state by setting the distance between the operation plate and the cover to the operable state in combination with the base portion, An acceleration sensor operation, comprising: a force actuating portion configured to set a distance between the operation plate and the cover to a force actuated state in combination with a position moved relative to apparatus.