JPH10297407A - Air bag module for front passenger seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag module in which reduction in size and in weight can be accomplished. SOLUTION: In an air bag module, which is provided with a folded air bag 14, a cylindrical inflator 16, and a bag case 18 holding them integrally, for a front passenger seat, the hybrid type inflator 16 provided with a gas discharge port 16a in one end part of the cylinder is used. The bag case 18 is provided with an inflator holding part 22, which is provided with a rectangular horizontal cross section, and an air bag holding part 24 which is formed continuously on the upper face opening side of the inflator holding part 22. In the boundary part between the inflator holding part 22 and the air bag holding part 24, a rectangular bag mounting flange is formed, and in the mounting flange, the front and rear side parts 26a positioned on the axial directional both end sides of the inflator 16 are positioned on the inside of the rectangular cross section of the inflator holding part 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a passenger airbag module using a tubular hybrid inflator having a gas discharge port at one end.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A passenger airbag module generally includes a folded airbag, a tubular inflator connected to the airbag so that air can flow into the airbag, and a bag holder integrally holding the airbag and the inflator. This is a configuration including:

[0003] As the inflator, a hybrid type having a gas discharge port at one end of a cylinder has been frequently used. Here, the hybrid type refers to a composite type in which the gas generation system uses both high-pressure gas and explosive.
Specifically, an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon is compressed and stored in a pressure vessel, and the sealing plate is broken by an electric detonator or the like to open and discharge the gas.At the same time, a small amount of explosive is burned to reduce the gas temperature. This is a method to prevent the specific volume from lowering (see “New Edition of Automotive Engineering Handbook” edited by the Japan Society of Automotive Engineers, 1983, Vol. 7, pp. 1-133-134).

[0004]

However, in the case of this hybrid type inflator, the discharge gas pressure is lower than that of a conventional explosive type inflator in which a conventional explosive (gas-generating agent) is sealed and detonated to discharge gas from the inflator. When the gas directly collides with the folded airbag, there is a high possibility of damaging the airbag.

For this reason, it is conceivable to form a bag mounting flange outside the gas discharge port at one end of the cylinder of the inflator in the bag case, or to offset the gas with a diffuser to discharge the gas into the gas bag.

However, if the bag mounting flange is located outside both ends in the axial direction of the inflator, the size of the airbag module becomes relatively large, which contradicts the recent demand for a compact airbag module. Further, when a differential user is used, it is necessary to make the thickness thick enough to withstand the gas pressure, which is contrary to the demand for reducing the weight of the airbag module.

[0007] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag module that can meet the demand for compactness and weight reduction.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems, an airbag module for a passenger seat of the present invention has the following configuration.

An airbag in a folded state, a cylindrical inflator connected to the airbag so that air can flow into the airbag,
An airbag module for a passenger seat including a bag case that integrally holds an airbag and an inflator,
The inflator is of a hybrid type having a gas discharge port at one end of a cylinder, and a bag case is provided with a rectangular inflator holding portion having a horizontal cross section and an airbag holding portion formed continuously on an upper surface opening side of the inflator holding portion. A rectangular bag mounting flange is formed at the boundary between the inflator holding portion and the airbag holding portion, and the front and rear sides of the bag mounting flange located on both ends in the axial direction of the inflator,
It is characterized in that it is located inside the rectangular cross section of the inflator holding portion.

In the airbag module having the above structure, the bag mounting flange of the bag case is formed in a separate piece, and the mounting mode of the bag mounting flange to the bag case is determined by determining whether the left and right sides of the bag mounting flange are inflators of the bag case. The fastening section is fastened by a mounting protruding member from the bag retainer through a mounting step formed on the left and right sides of the plane cross section of the holding section, and the inflator holding section is formed along the inner edges of the left and right sides of the bag mounting flange. It is preferable to form a polymerization fin portion that overlaps with both side standing walls.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The description will be made based on Nos.

(1) The basic configuration of a passenger airbag module (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as an “airbag module”) 12 of the present embodiment is as follows.

The airbag 14 includes a folded airbag 14, a cylindrical inflator 16 connected to the airbag 14 so that air can flow into the airbag 14, and a bag case 18 integrally holding the airbag 14 and the inflator 16.

In this configuration, the inflator 16 is
It is a hybrid type having a gas discharge port 16a at one end of the cylinder. Further, the bag case 18 includes a rectangular inflator holding portion 22 having a horizontal cross section, and an airbag holding portion 24 formed continuously on an upper surface opening side of the inflator holding portion 22.
And Then, a rectangular bag mounting flange (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as “mounting flange”) 26 is formed at the boundary between the inflator holding portion 22 and the airbag holding portion 24, and the shaft of the inflator 16 of the mounting flange 26. Front and rear sides 26a, 26 located at both ends in the direction
a is located inside the rectangular cross section of the inflator holding portion 22.

(2) The specific configuration of the airbag module of the present invention is as follows.

The bag mounting flange 26 of the bag case 18 is formed as a separate piece. The mounting flange 2
6 has a first bolt hole 27 corresponding to a mounting bolt 36 of a bag retainer 32 described later. In the present embodiment, the overlapped fin portions 29 that overlap the upright walls on both sides of the inflator holding portion 22 are formed over the entire length along the inner edges of the left and right sides of the mounting flange portion 26. As described later, this is to prevent gas leakage due to gas ejected from the inflator 16.

That is, the main body of the bag case 18 excluding the mounting flange 26 is formed as follows (see FIG. 3).

After a pair of both end component pieces 28, 28 and one main body component piece 30 are stamped out, the main body component piece 30 is press-formed into a cylindrical shape, and a welding margin 28a formed on both end component pieces 28, 28 is formed. , 28a,... Are integrated with spot welding.

At the time of press forming of the main body constituting piece 30, flange mounting steps 30 a, 30 a located outside the left and right sides of the inflator holding section 22 in a plane cross section are formed. The second bolt holes 31 corresponding to the mounting bolts 36 of the bag retainer 32 described later are also formed in the flange mounting steps 30a, 30a.
Are formed.

Further, after the airbag 14 is folded by assembling the bag retainer 32 inside, the temporary fixing band 34
Alternatively, the folded form is temporarily held by a film. The bag retainer 32 has a rectangular ring shape corresponding to the bag mounting flange 26, and has a mounting bolt 3
6 (usually 4 to 6). Mounting bolt 3
6 protrudes outward through the periphery of the air inlet 14 a of the airbag 14.

The assembling of the folded airbag 14 to the main body of the bag case 18 via the bag mounting flange (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "mounting flange") 26 is as follows. .

First, a separate mounting flange 26 is provided.
The airbag 14 is assembled. The mounting bolt 36 of the bag retainer 32 assembled to the airbag 14 is fitted in the first bolt hole 27 of the mounting flange 26.

The airbag 14 / mounting flange 26 assembly is assembled to the main body of the airbag case 18. The mounting bolt 36 of the bag retainer 32 fits into the second bolt hole 31 of the flange mounting step 30a, and projects below the flange mounting step 30a.

A nut 38 is screwed into the mounting bolt 36 in this state. Thus, the airbag module 12 of the present embodiment is completed.

The airbag module 12 is disposed immediately below a bag pad 40 that closes the airbag outlet 20 of the instrument panel 38. The airbag module 12 is conventionally mounted on a vehicle body via a bracket or the like (not shown).

(2) The usage of the above embodiment will be described.

When the airbag is inflated, the breakable portion 40a of the upper wall of the bag pad 40 is broken, and the airbag outlet 20 is opened, as in the conventional case.

At this time, front and rear side portions 26a, 26 located at both axial ends of the inflator 16 of the mounting flange 26.
“a” is located inside the rectangular cross section of the inflator holding portion 22. For this reason, gas is ejected from the gas discharge port 16a at one end of the inflator 16,
Collision at the front and rear sides 26a, 26a of the airbag 14
There is no direct gas collision.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the overlapped fin portions 29 are formed so as to overlap with the standing walls on both sides of the inflator holding portion 22. Therefore, the ejected gas G acts so as to press the overlapped fin portions 29 against both standing walls of the inflator holding portion 22 as indicated by white arrows, thereby sealing between the contact portions between the overlapping fin portions 29 and the both standing walls.

Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent gas leakage from between the overlapping portion between the mounting flange 26 and the inner wall of the bag case 18 and, in an extreme case, the floating of the mounting flange 26. That is, it is not necessary to fix the mounting flange 26 to the bag case 18 by welding in order to prevent the mounting flange 26 from floating.

(4) The airbag module of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has the basic configuration of (1) without being limited to the above embodiment.

For example, in the above embodiment, the overlapping fins 29 of the mounting flange 26 are eliminated, and the mounting flange 2 is removed.
6 may be fixed by welding to the flange attachment step 30a of the bag case 18.

Further, as shown in FIG.
8, the inflator holding portion 122 having the receiving flange 122a at the upper end, and the bag holding portion 124 having the mounting flange 126 at the lower end overlapped with and fixed to the receiving flange 122a are press-formed by sheet metal, and then integrated by welding. Is also good. In the example of the drawing, 127 and 131 are first and second bolt holes, respectively.

[0034]

According to the airbag module of the present invention, the bag case comprises a rectangular inflator holding portion having a horizontal cross section,
An airbag holding portion continuously formed on the upper surface opening side of the inflator holding portion, wherein a rectangular bag mounting flange is formed at a boundary between the inflator holding portion and the airbag holding portion; With the configuration in which the front and rear sides located at both ends in the axial direction of the inflator are located inside the rectangular cross section of the inflator holding portion, the following operational effects are obtained.

The gas ejected from the gas discharge port at one end of the inflator does not collide with the front and rear sides of the mounting flange, and does not directly collide with the airbag. Therefore, it is not necessary to form a bag mounting flange outward of the front and rear ends and to provide a separate diffuser in order to avoid direct injection of gas, and to meet the demands for downsizing and weight reduction of the airbag module. Becomes possible.

Further, the bag mounting flange of the bag case is formed as a separate piece, and the manner in which the bag mounting flange is mounted on the bag case is determined in such a manner that the left and right sides of the bag mounting flange correspond to the left and right plane cross sections of the inflator holding portion of the bag case. Attached by an attachment protruding member from the bag retainer via an attachment step formed on the outside,
When the overlapped fins are formed along the inner edges of the left and right side portions of the bag mounting flange and overlapped with the upright walls on both sides of the inflator holding portion, the gas pressure with respect to the overlapped fins between the overlapped portions. Acts in the direction of sealing. In this case, it is not necessary to use a semi-permanent fixing means by welding or the like to the mounting flange to the bag case, and as a result, the number of manufacturing steps of the airbag module can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an airbag module showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an airbag case used in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another example of an airbag case that can be used in the airbag module of the present invention before integration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Airbag Module 14 Airbag 16 Inflator 16a Gas Discharge Port 18, 118 Bag Case 22, 122 Inflator Holder 24, 124 Airbag Holder 26, 126 Bag Mounting Flange (Mounting Flange) 29 Overlap Fin 32 Bag Retainer 36 Mounting Bolt (mounting protrusion)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Noriyoshi Suzuki 1 Ochiai Nagahata, Kasuga-cho, Nishi-Kasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuji Kuriyama 1 Ochiai Nagahata, Kasuga-cho, Nishi-Kasugai-gun, Aichi Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An airbag module for a passenger seat, comprising: an airbag in a folded state; a cylindrical inflator connected to the airbag so that air can flow into the airbag; and a bag case integrally holding the airbag and the inflator. Wherein the inflator is of a hybrid type having a gas discharge port at one end of the cylinder, and the bag case is a rectangular inflator holding section having a horizontal cross section, and continuously connected to an upper surface opening side of the inflator holding section. An airbag holding portion to be formed, a rectangular bag mounting flange is formed at a boundary between the inflator holding portion and the airbag holding portion, and front and rear positions of the bag mounting flange at both ends in the axial direction of the inflator. An airbag module for a passenger seat, wherein a side portion is located inside a rectangular cross section of the inflator holding portion. . 2. The bag mounting flange of the bag case is formed in a separate piece, and the bag mounting flange is mounted on the bag case in such a manner that left and right sides of the bag mounting flange hold the inflator of the bag case. The mounting inflator is fastened by a mounting protruding member from a bag retainer via a mounting step formed on the left and right sides of the plane cross section of the portion, and the inflator is held along the inner edges of the left and right sides of the bag mounting flange. The airbag module for a passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein a fin portion that overlaps with both standing walls of the portion is formed.