JPH10157558A - Gas generator for air bag, and air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely regulate the fitting position and direction of devices by forming a sensor positioning part to position a sensor into a shell having a gas generator fitting part of a diffuser shell or a closure shell. SOLUTION: A housing 1 is formed by joining a diffuser shell having a gas discharge port 4 with a closure shell 3 having a center hole 7 in which a fitting flange 5 of a gas generator to a vehicle and a sensor 6 are arranged. A recess 6 is formed in a sensor storage part of an inner circumferential wall of the center hole of the closure shell parallel to the axis of the housing. The recess 16 is regulated to a shape to be complementarily fitted to a projection 18 formed on a peripheral wall of the sensor 6. When the forming part of the fitting flange 5 and the forming part of the recess 16 are regulated in advance, a safety device 19 of the sensor 6 can surely be released by operating a safety release device 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas generator for an airbag which protects an occupant from an impact, and more particularly to a positioning of a gas generator for an airbag which detects an impact by using a mechanical sensor when the sensor is attached. Regarding the structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional gas generators include an electric ignition type and a mechanical ignition type. In an electric ignition type gas generator, an igniter (squib) is activated by the generation of electric current to ignite a transfer charge. On the other hand, in the mechanical ignition type gas generator, a primer is activated by a mechanical sensor to ignite a transfer charge. Among them, a mechanical ignition type gas generator has an advantage that electric wiring and the like are not required and can be manufactured at low cost.

A general mechanical ignition type gas generator houses a mechanical sensor having a piercing pin inside a housing, and the piercing pin pops out by a mechanical mechanism due to an impact and strikes a detonator to charge the charge. Is ignited, and the flame ignites the gas generating agent to generate combustion gas. The gas is cooled and purified while passing through the coolant and the filter, and flows into the airbag from the gas outlet. The gas generator housing is formed by integrating a diffuser shell having a gas discharge port and a closure shell having a sensor accommodation port by various welding methods such as friction welding and beam welding. On one side, a gas generator mounting portion such as a flange for fixingly mounting the gas generator at a predetermined position such as a driver's seat or a passenger seat is formed.

The above-mentioned sensor has directionality in detecting an impact at the time of a collision, and when the sensor is mounted on a housing and when the gas generator mounting portion is mounted on a predetermined position, the sensor is mounted on the housing. Consideration must be given to the sensing direction. Further, the sensor is provided with a safety device to prevent malfunction when the gas generator is mounted, and the safety device must be released after the gas generator is mounted. However, in order to release this safety device, it is necessary to make sure that the release device for releasing the safety device functions, and for this purpose, the release device has a specific function with respect to the safety device of the sensor. The mounting direction must be secured.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-165003 discloses a structure for positioning a sensor case with respect to a piece in order to keep the mutual positional relationship between a primer and an output member constant. Since the mutual position and directional relationship between the release device and the safety device is not ensured, it is not guaranteed that the safety device is reliably released by the safety release device.

[0006]

In a conventional gas generator, each of the housing, the sensor, and the safety release device must be adjusted in a specific direction so that the housing, the sensor, and the safety release device can be operated in relation to each other. Therefore, it was very difficult to adjust the mounting position and direction.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel and simple method for adjusting the mounting direction of the gas generator to the vehicle, the mounting direction of the sensor to the gas generator, and the mounting location and direction of the sensor to the safety release device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas generator for an airbag.

[0008]

A gas generator for an air bag according to the present invention has a gas generator mounting portion for mounting and fixing the gas generator to a vehicle, and a sensor for positioning the sensor when the sensor is mounted. By forming both of the positioning portion on one of the diffuser shell and the closure shell constituting the housing, the mounting position and direction of the vehicle, the gas generator and the sensor are ensured, and the vehicle such as a steering wheel is provided. By operating the safety release device provided on the side or the gas generator mounting portion, the safety device of the sensor can be reliably released.
If the safety release device is provided in the gas generator mounting portion, the mounting location and direction of the vehicle, the gas generator, the sensor, and the safety release device can be easily and reliably adjusted.

That is, the present invention provides an air having a housing having a gas outlet and a gas generator mounting portion, gas generating means provided in the housing, and ignition means for igniting the gas generating means. In the gas generator for a bag, the ignition means has a sensor that operates by sensing an impact, and the housing includes a diffuser shell having a gas outlet and a closure shell having a sensor receiving port, and the sensor has a sensor. The sensor positioning part for positioning
A gas generator for an airbag, wherein the shell is provided with a diffuser shell or a closure shell having a gas generator mounting portion.

[0010] The ignition means includes, for example, a sensor that detects an impact and activates the piercing pin, and a primer that is struck by the piercing pin and ignites. The sensor is provided with a safety device so as not to operate the piercing pin due to a malfunction in a gas generator mounting process.
After the gas generator is mounted, it is released by a safety release device provided on the gas generator, and the sensor is set to be operable upon sensing an impact.

In the gas generator for an air bag according to the present invention, both the gas generator mounting portion of the housing and the positioning portion of the sensor must be formed on one of the diffuser shell and the closure shell constituting the housing. . For example, when the gas generator mounting part is formed on the closure shell, the sensor positioning part is also formed on the closure shell, and when the gas generator mounting part is formed on the diffuser shell, the sensor positioning part is also formed. Formed on the diffuser shell. As a result, when assembling the gas generator, it is not necessary to adjust the mounting location and direction of the sensor with respect to the mounting direction of the gas generator. This means that the relative directionality between the gas generator mounting portion and the sensor positioning portion is properly maintained, especially when the diffuser shell and the closure shell are joined by friction welding to form a housing, and the The mounting directions of all the sensors can be easily set as desired, which is convenient.

As described above, by forming the gas generator mounting portion and the sensor positioning portion on any of the shells constituting the housing, the gas generator is oriented by the mounting portion and mounted on the vehicle. Since the safety device is fixed and attached while maintaining the mutual positional and directional relationship with the attachment portion, the safety release device can be operated on the vehicle side or in relation to the attachment position of the gas generator. If it is formed on the handle, the safety device can be reliably released by the operation of the safety release device.

When the above-mentioned safety releasing device is provided on the same shell constituting the housing with reference to the location where the gas generator mounting portion is formed, the safety releasing device is
Similarly, the mutual position and direction relationship with the sensor positioning unit provided on the same shell can be specified based on the gas generator mounting unit. For example, when a gas generator mounting portion is formed on the closure shell, a safety release device is provided on the gas generator mounting portion, and a sensor positioning portion is provided on the basis of the gas generator mounting portion, a gas A gas generator for an airbag which does not need to adjust a mounting position and a direction of a gas generator mounting portion, a safety release device, and a sensor positioning portion at the time of assembling the generator and mounting the generator on a vehicle is realized.

The above-mentioned sensor positioning portion has a structure capable of determining a mounting position at least when the sensor is mounted, and has a shape capable of preventing rotation of the mounted sensor. As such, for example, a recess of an appropriate size is formed in the inner peripheral wall of the sensor accommodating opening in the axial direction of the housing to form a sensor positioning portion, and on the outer wall surface of the sensor, the sensor positioning portion corresponds to the formation portion. There is a structure in which a projection having a shape that can be fitted complementarily to the recess is formed at a location.

In the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned sensor and squib, the squib and the squib are fixed in the housing. Gas generating agent and coolant for removing and cooling combustion residue from generated combustion gas
The members necessary for constituting the gas generator for an air bag, such as a filter, are appropriately accommodated.

As the gas generating agent, known gas generating agents such as an azide-based gas generating agent and a non-azide-based gas generating agent can be used. Examples of the azide-based gas generating agent include those based on inorganic azides, particularly sodium azide (sodium azide), which have been widely used in the past, such as an equivalent mixture of sodium azide and copper oxide. As the main component, a nitrogen-containing organic compound such as tetrazole, triazole, or a metal salt thereof and an oxygen-containing oxidizing agent such as an alkali metal nitrate, triaminoguanidine nitrate, carbohydrazide, nitroguanidine, etc. There is a composition using a nitrogen source and an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal nitrate, chlorate, perchlorate or the like as an oxidizing agent. Considering safety and the like, non-azide gas generating agents are advantageous.

The coolant filter serves to remove combustion residues generated by the combustion of the gas generating agent and to cool the combustion gas. For example, stainless steel, SUS304, SUS310S, SUS316
A wire mesh made of (JIS standard symbol) or the like may be used as an annular laminate and compression molded. In addition, as for the filter coolant, a combination of a filter and a coolant that have been widely used in the past can be used.

The primer piece may be formed separately from housing components such as a diffuser shell and a closure shell, or may be formed integrally with these housing components.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a gas generator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of the gas generator of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the gas generator of the present invention, and FIG. The configuration diagrams of the airbag device are respectively shown.

In the gas generator shown in FIG. 1, a diffuser shell 2 having a gas outlet 4 and a closure shell 3 having a central hole 7 in which a mounting flange 5 of the gas generator to a vehicle and a sensor 6 are arranged. The housing 1 is formed by joining by friction welding. The interior of the housing 1 is defined by a partition wall 20 into two chambers, an ignition means storage chamber 8 and a combustion chamber 9. In the ignition means storage chamber 8, a detonator piece 11 for storing and disposing a detonator 10 is sandwiched. Transfer powder 12
And the sensor 6 are housed in the combustion chamber 9.
3. The coolant 14 and the filter 15 are housed.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 denotes a combustion ring having an opening. In this gas generator, the mounting flange 5 of the gas generator is used.
Since is provided in the closure shell 3, the recess 16 for positioning the sensor and the safety release device 17 are also provided in the closure shell.

The operation of this gas generator will be described.
Piercing pin (not shown) in the sensor when it detects an impact
Protrudes and strikes the primer 10 housed in the primer piece 11 to ignite. Thereby, the transfer charge 12 is ignited, and the flame of the transferred transfer charge 12 passes through the through-hole 22 and the gas generating agent 1
3 is burned to generate gas. The generated gas passes through the coolant filters 14 and 15, is cooled and purified, is discharged from the gas discharge port 4, and flows into the airbag.

FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the gas generator shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. The protrusion 1 which can be fitted complementarily to the recess 16 for positioning
8 is formed, and a safety device 19 for preventing malfunction during assembly is provided on the bottom surface. The safety device 19 is released by rotating the safety device 19 of the sensor 6 with the tip of the arm-shaped safety release device 17 after the gas generator is assembled and attached to the vehicle.
The safety release device 17 is mounted on a mounting flange of the gas generator or a steering wheel on the vehicle side.

The recess 16 is formed at a sensor storage location on the inner peripheral wall of the central hole of the closure shell, in parallel with the axis of the housing. The depression 16 is restricted to a shape that can be complementarily fitted to the projection 18 formed on the peripheral wall of the sensor 6.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the gas generator shown in FIG.
9 to allow the safety device 19 to be released. The safety device 19 is directed by the sensor 6, which is directed by a recess 16 for positioning the sensor. Since the safety release device 17 is directed in the direction of operation in relation to the sensor 6, if the location where the mounting flange 5 is formed and the location where the recess 16 is formed are adjusted in advance, the safety device 19 for the sensor 6 can be used. Is
By operating the safety release device 17, the release can be reliably performed.

FIG. 4 is a structural view of the airbag apparatus, and shows the gas generator of the present invention and an airbag (bag) 100.
And a module case 101. The gas discharged from the gas discharge port 4 of the gas generator is
00, the airbag 100 breaks the module cover 102 and bulges out, forming a cushion between the steering wheel 103 and the occupant for absorbing impact.

As the gas generator, the gas generator described with reference to FIGS.

The module case 101 is made of, for example, polyurethane, and includes a module cover 102. In this module case 101, the airbag 10
The gas generator and the gas generator are housed in the pad module, and attached to the steering wheel 103 of the automobile.

The airbag 100 is formed from nylon (eg, nylon 66), polyester, or the like.
The bag mouth surrounds the gas outlet 4 of the gas generator, and is fixed to the flange portion 5 of the gas generator in a folded state.

[0030]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the positioning of the sensor safety device and the safety release device and the direction of the sensor with respect to the vehicle can be performed simply and reliably. In addition, even when the diffuser shell and the closure shell are joined by friction welding to form a housing, the direction of the sensor with respect to the vehicle and the direction of the safety release device with respect to the safety device do not shift.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a gas generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of the gas generator of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the gas generator of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 2 Diffuser shell 3 Closure shell 5 Mounting flange 6 Sensor 16 Recess 17 Safety release device 18 Projection 19 Safety device

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A gas for an airbag, comprising: a housing having a gas outlet and a gas generator mounting portion; gas generating means provided in the housing; and ignition means for igniting the gas generating means. In the generator, the ignition means has a sensor that operates by sensing an impact, and the housing includes a diffuser shell having a gas discharge port and a closure shell having a sensor receiving port, and the positioning of the sensor is performed. A gas generator for an air bag, wherein the sensor positioning portion to be formed is formed on a shell having a gas generator mounting portion of a diffuser shell or a closure shell. 2. A gas generator for an airbag according to claim 1, wherein a positioning portion of said sensor and a gas generator mounting portion are formed in a closure shell. 3. The sensor positioning part positions the sensor such that the release operation direction of the safety device provided on the sensor matches the operation direction of the safety release device for releasing the safety device. The gas generator for an airbag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The gas generator for an airbag according to claim 3, wherein the safety release device is provided on a vehicle to which the gas generator is attached. 5. The gas generator for an airbag according to claim 3, wherein said safety release device is provided at a gas generator mounting portion. 6. The gas generator mounting portion is a depression formed on an inner wall surface of the sensor accommodating port, and a projection having a shape that can be complementarily fitted to the depression is formed on an outer peripheral wall of the sensor. The gas generator for an airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: 7. The gas generator for an air bag according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed by joining a diffuser shell and a closure shell by friction welding. 8. A gas generator for an airbag that generates gas by sensing an impact, an airbag that inflates by introducing gas generated by the gas generator, and a module case that houses the airbag. An airbag apparatus, wherein the gas generator for an airbag is the gas generator for an airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 7.