JPH106913A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To assemble an inflator in simple constitution. SOLUTION: Bolts 1 are mounted in the hole parts 40 of a base 43 from the inside, the thread parts 12 are projected outside a case 4, a cylindrical inflator 3 is placed on the base 43, and the head parts 11 are sandwiched with a main body part 30 and the base 43. A jet part 34 with jet holes 33 formed on the circumferential face is provided on the first end face 32a of the end part 32 in the direction of X-axis, and a bolt part 35 is provided on the end face 34a in the direction of X-axis. The bolt part 35 is inserted into the hole part 42 of a fixed wall 41 provided nearly squarely crossing with the base 43, and the bolt part 35 and a nut 2 are threadedly engaged with each other sandwiching the fixed wall 41 so that the end part 46a of a direction control plate 46 provided on the base 43 covering the jet part 34 is pressure-contacted with the end face 32a. Gas jetted from the jet part 34 is derived in a fixed direction from the opening part of the direction control plate 46. A belt-like caulking part 44 is provided on the base 43 so as to cover the circumference of the main body part 30, and caulked inward in the radial direction so as to pressure contact with the main body part 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device used to protect an occupant when a moving body collides. In particular, the present invention relates to an airbag device capable of fixing an inflator that generates gas for inflating an airbag at the time of a collision with a favorable and simple configuration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an airbag device having a cylindrical inflator, a bolt portion 56 provided on one end 58a side of an inflator 58 is connected to a nut 55 as shown in FIG. And the other end 58b of the inflator 58 is held in the circumferential direction by the holding member 57, and the inflator 58 is fixed to the case 50 (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-56676). . Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12B, a bolt portion 62 provided on an inflator 61 is screwed with a nut 63 via a case 60 and a plurality of U bands 65 are provided.
Thus, the body portion of the inflator 61 is held and fixed to the case 60 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-69789).

[0003]

However, in the former disclosed technique, the holding member 57 is formed separately from the case 50, and in order to fix the holding member 57 to the case 50, assembling parts such as bolts and nuts. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of parts of the airbag device increases, the number of assembly steps increases, and the product cost increases. Also, in the latter disclosed technology, a plurality of U-bands 65 are provided, and assembling parts for fixing them to the case 60 are required. Therefore, similarly to the former disclosed technology, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are increased. This makes it difficult to reduce the cost of the airbag device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an inflator that can be fixed to a case with a simple configuration, reduce the number of parts, reduce the number of assembly steps, and realize a low cost airbag device. It is.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problems, the means described in claim 1 can be adopted.
According to this means, the direction control unit provided in the holding unit functions to determine the injection direction of the gas generated from the injection unit of the inflator, and holds the inflator by pressing against the end face of the main body of the inflator. By having two functions, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost of the airbag device can be reduced. In addition, since the inflator is held by pressing the direction control unit and the end surface of the main body, the number of parts to be assembled such as bolts and nuts can be reduced, and the airbag device can have a simple structure and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the direction control unit of the holding unit is made of a plate material, and is provided so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the injection unit of the inflator. An opening is formed in the direction control unit in the direction of the airbag, and an end of the opening is pressed against an end surface of the main body of the inflator. This allows the direction control unit to more specifically and effectively hold the inflator in the axial direction and guide the gas in the predetermined direction.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the jetting portion of the inflator is provided with a mounting portion protruding in the axial direction at an end face thereof, and is provided at the fixing portion of the holding means made of a plate material at the mounting portion of the inflator. A corresponding hole is formed. By inserting the mounting portion into the hole of the fixing portion, the movement of the inflator in the axial direction is restricted, and the inflator can be satisfactorily fixed to the holding means.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the screw is formed in the axial direction of the mounting portion provided on the injection portion of the inflator, the mounting portion is fixed to the fixing portion of the holding means using a nut or the like. By screwing, the inflator can be easily fixed to the holding means.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the belt-like member is formed so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the inflator, and the belt-like member is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inflator by caulking the belt-like member inward in the radial direction. Let it. As a result, the movement of the inflator in the radial direction is restricted, so that the inflator can be better fixed to the holding means.

According to the means described in claim 6, the number of parts of the airbag device can be further reduced by integrally forming the fixing part of the holding means and the direction control part.

According to the means of the present invention, since the fixing portion of the holding means and the direction control section are formed separately, the processing of each part of the holding means becomes easy.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on specific embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an airbag device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The airbag device 100 is housed in, for example, a seat or a door of a vehicle and is activated when a side collision occurs. Used for airbags and the like. 2 shows a schematic configuration of an AA cross section in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of a BB cross section in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of FIG. Each is shown.

The hybrid inflator 3 has a cylindrical shape and is mounted on a base 43 of a case (holding means) 4. Inside the main body 30 of the inflator 3, a squib (not shown) as a detonating element and an explosive and a high-pressure gas (both not shown) are stored as gas generating agents. or,
One end portion 32 of the inflator 3 is formed in a tapered shape, and a gas injection portion 34 having a plurality of gas injection holes 33 formed on a peripheral surface thereof is provided on a first end surface 32a thereof so as to protrude in the axis X direction. ing. Since the gas injection portion 34 has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the main body 30, the first end face 32 a is exposed in the peripheral portion, and a step is formed between the gas injection portion 34 and the main body 30. Then, a bolt portion (attachment portion) 3 is provided on the end surface 34a of the gas injection portion 34 in the axis X direction.
A protrusion 5 is provided, and the inflator 3 can be fixed to the case 4 by screwing the nut 2 and the bolt 35 together. The second end face 3 of the other end 31 of the inflator 3
A connector 6 electrically connected to the harness 5 is provided on 1a.

The case 4 is made of a press-formed product.
A fixed wall (fixed portion) 41, a direction control plate (direction control portion) 46, and a caulking portion (band-shaped member) 44 are provided on 3. As shown in FIG. 1, a hole 40 having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the screw portion 12 of the bolt 1 and smaller than the diameter of the head portion 11 of the bolt 1 is formed at a predetermined position of the base 43 of the case 4. ing. The bolt 1 is mounted in the hole 40 from the inside of the case 4, the head 11 of the bolt 1 is pressed against the main body 30 of the inflator 3, and the screw portion 12 of the bolt 1 projects outside the case 4. The bolt 1 is fixed to the case 4 by being sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the case 4 and the outer peripheral surface of the inflator 3.

At one end 43a of the base 43, a base 4
A fixed wall 41 is provided substantially orthogonal to 3. A hole 42 is formed in the fixed wall 41 and the inflator 3
Can be mounted. As shown in FIG. 2, the direction control plate 46 is connected to the gas injection unit 3 of the inflator 3.
4, and has an opening 48, and is provided in a substantially “U” shape so as to surround the gas injection unit 34. As shown in FIG. 1, the end (side end) 46 a of the direction control plate 46 on the main body 30 side is the first end face 3 of the inflator 3.
2a, and the movement of the inflator 3 toward the gas jetting portion 34 in the axis X direction is restricted.

The pressure contact portion between the end 46a of the direction control plate 46 and the first end surface 32a of the inflator 3 is connected to the axis X and the base 4
3 is substantially perpendicular to and has a certain length.
And a rotation force about the fixed end by the nut 2 can be held, and the vibration of the inflator 3 can be prevented. Gas injection window 4
Numeral 8 is provided on the side opposite to the side of the harness 5 (see FIG. 4), and has a function of guiding gas ejected from the gas ejection holes 33 of the inflator 3 in a predetermined direction (direction in which the airbag is located). ing. On the other end 43b side of the base 43, a caulking portion 44 having a slit 49 formed in the axis X direction is provided at a position corresponding to the hole 40 so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the inflator 3. The caulked portion 44 is caulked radially inward, and is in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inflator 3.

Here, the order of assembling the airbag device 100 will be described. First, the bolts 1 are mounted in the holes 20 from the inside of the case 4, the respective heads 11 are hooked on the inner peripheral surface of the case 4, and the respective screw portions 12 protrude out of the case 4. Next, the inflator 3 is housed in the case 4 from the end 43b side of the case 4 with the bolt 35 first, and the bolt 35 is inserted into the hole 42 of the fixed wall 41, and the bolt 35 is fixed to the fixed wall 41. Project outside.
Subsequently, the nut 2 is bolted from outside the fixed wall 41 to the bolt portion 35.
The nut 2 and the bolt 35 are tightened until the first end surface 32a of the inflator 3 is pressed against the end 46a of the direction control plate 46. This nut 2 and bolt 35
The force with which the first end face 32a is pressed against the end 46a by the screw tightening of the above corresponds to the holding force referred to in the claims. Here, the position and the posture of the inflator 3 are fixed by the pressure contact between the first end face 32a and the direction control plate 46.

Then, the caulking portion 44 is caulked radially inward, and the caulking portion 44 is pressed against the main body 30 of the inflator 3 to fix the inflator 3 and the main body 3
The head 11 of the bolt 1 is held between the base 0 and the base 43 of the case 4, and the bolt 1 is fixed to the case 4. An airbag (not shown) is added to the airbag device 100 assembled in this manner.
The airbag device 100 is fixed to the vehicle by assembling a cover or the like and screwing the screw portion 12 protruding out of the cover to a nut or the like on a vehicle frame (not shown) or the like.

Next, the airbag device 1 having the above-described configuration will be described.
The operation of 00 will be described. When a collision of the vehicle is detected, power is supplied to the squib in the main body 30 of the inflator 3 via the harness 5 and the connector 6, and the squib is ignited. Then, the explosive in the main body 30 is ignited, and compressed gas is ejected from the gas ejection holes 33, and the opening 48 of the case 4 is opened.
Through the airbag in the direction in which the airbag is located. The airbag expands in volume by being filled with the generated gas, and the cover is opened by the force of the volume expansion of the airbag. The inflated airbag goes out of the area where the cover is opened and is deployed to the occupant to be protected. At this time, the inflator 3 attempts to move toward the connector 6 in the direction of the axis X due to the ejection of gas, but the bolt 35 of the inflator 3 is fixed to the fixed wall 41 of the case 4, and the main body 30 is swaged by the caulking portion 44. Since it is fixed by swaging, the movement of the inflator 3 in the radial direction and the axis X direction is restricted.

In a state before the activation of the airbag device 100, vibrations during traveling of the vehicle are transmitted to the inflator 3, and the inflator 3 is rotated about the axis X around the bolt 35.
However, since the pressure contact portion between the inflator 3 and the direction control plate 46 is orthogonal to the axis X direction, the vibration of the inflator 3 around the bolt portion 35 is reduced. Is prevented. As a result, the load due to the weight of the inflator 3 generated at the time of vibration is reduced to the bolt portion 35.
Therefore, the bolt portion 35 can be prevented from being damaged due to the concentration of stress during vibration.

As described above, in this embodiment, the end 46a of the direction control plate 46 is connected to the first end face 3 of the inflator 3.
2a, the bolt portion 35 with the case 4 in between
By screwing the nut 2 and the nut 2, the inflator 3 can be positioned at the end 46a, vibration of the inflator 3 can be prevented, and the inflator 3 can be fixed to the case 4 satisfactorily. In addition, by providing the direction control plate 46 with a function of guiding the generated gas in a predetermined direction and a function of holding the inflator 3, assembly parts such as bolts and nuts for holding the inflator 3 and assembly man-hours are reduced. Thus, the cost reduction of the airbag device 100 can be realized.

In the above embodiment, only one caulking portion 44 is provided on the base 43. However, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of (two in FIG. 5) caulking portions 44 and 45 are
3 may be provided. At this time, by providing the caulking portions 44 and 45 corresponding to the positions of the bolts 1, the force at the time of caulking is effectively applied to the bolts 1, and the bolts 1 can be better fixed to the case 4.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the direction control plate 46 and the case 4 are integrally formed.
The present embodiment is characterized in that the direction control unit described in the claims is configured separately from the case 4. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an airbag device 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. The direction control member 7 is formed separately from the case 4, has a cylindrical shape, and has an opening 78. Injector 3 of inflator 3
The gas generated from 4 is led out through the opening 78 of the direction control member 7 in the direction in which the airbag is located. The direction control member 7 is disposed between the fixed wall 41 and the first end face 32 a of the inflator 3, and the direction control member 7 is fixed to the fixed wall 41 and the inflator 3 by screwing the bolt 35 of the inflator 3 and the nut 2. 3 and pressed against the first end surface 32a. Other configurations of the airbag device 101 are the same as those of the first embodiment.

With such a configuration, the direction control member 7 is pressed and held between the first end face 32a and the fixed wall 41, so that the inflator 3 can be positioned similarly to the first embodiment, and the inflator 3 can be positioned. Vibration can be prevented, and the inflator 3 can be fixed to the case 4 satisfactorily.
In addition, by providing the direction control member 7 with a function of extracting gas and a function of holding the inflator 3, the number of components for fixing the inflator 3 to the case 4 can be reduced, and the cost of the airbag device 101 can be reduced. realizable. In addition, since the direction control member 7 is formed separately from the case 4, a simple component shape can be obtained, and the processing of the component becomes easy.

(Third Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the fixed wall 41 and the direction control plate 46 are separated from each other and the base 43
However, the present embodiment is characterized in that the direction control plate 46, the base 43, and the fixed wall 41 are integrally formed. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the airbag device 102 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The direction control plate 46 is formed integrally with the base 43 and the fixed wall 41, and this portion is formed in a cylindrical shape. Further, the direction control plate 46 is provided with an opening (not shown) so that gas is led out in the direction in which the airbag is located. By screwing the bolt portion 35 of the inflator 3 and the nut 2, the first end face 32 a of the inflator 3 and the direction control plate 46
Is pressed into contact with the end 46a, and the inflator 3 is held in the axis X direction by the direction control plate 46. Airbag device 1
Other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

With this configuration, the inflator 3 can be positioned at the end 46a as in the above-described embodiments, and the vibration of the inflator 3 can be prevented by the pressure contact between the direction control plate 46 and the first end surface 32a. , Can be fixed to the case 4 satisfactorily. Further, by providing the direction control plate 46 with a plurality of functions (derivation of gas, holding of the inflator 3), the number of components for fixing the inflator 3 to the case 4 can be reduced. Low cost can be realized.

In the configuration shown in FIG.
The end 46a is pressed against the first end face 32a of the inflator 3, but as shown in FIG.
6 has a diameter substantially equal to that of the caulking portion 44, and the claw 47 provided on the direction control plate 46 is bent in a tapered shape inward in the radial direction to press the tip of the claw 47 and the first end face 32 a. Is also good. With the configuration shown in FIG. 9,
An effect equivalent to that of the configuration shown in FIG. 8 can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 10, the claw 471 is bent radially inwardly in a tapered shape in accordance with the end 32 of the inflator 3 so that the inner surface of the claw 471 and the end 32 are pressed against each other. Is also good. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, a convex portion 461 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the direction control plate 46, and the convex portion 461 is attached to the first end surface 32 of the inflator 3.
It is good also as a structure made to press-contact with a. 9 and 10, the claw bent in a tapered shape is configured to be pressed against the inflator 3, but the claw bent shape is not limited to the tapered shape, and the end portion 32 and the first end surface 32a of the inflator 3 are not limited to the tapered shape.
Any shape can be used as long as it can be pressed against the surface.

In each of the above embodiments, the inflator 3 is fixed to the case 4 by screwing the nut 2 and the bolt 35 provided on the gas injection section 34 of the inflator 3. The inflator 3 may be fixed to the case 4 by a method. For example, as an attachment part, the axis X
A mounting shaft having a groove formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction is provided in the gas injection unit 34 so as to protrude in the axis X direction, and this mounting shaft is inserted into the hole 42 of the fixed wall 41, and the wave is The inflator 3 may be fixed to the case 4 by locking a locking member such as a clip to a groove of the mounting shaft via an elastic member such as a washer.

As indicated above, according to the present invention,
The direction control unit is pressed against the end face of the tubular inflator to perform axial positioning of the inflator, and holds the inflator in the axial direction to prevent vibration of the inflator,
The inflator can be satisfactorily fixed to the holding means (case). Also, by having the function of determining the injection direction of the gas injected from the injection unit of the inflator and the function of holding the inflator in the axial direction in the direction control unit, it is possible to reduce screwed parts such as bolts and nuts, Low cost of the airbag device can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an AA cross section in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a BB cross section in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration provided with a plurality of caulking portions in the airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a cross section taken along line CC in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an airbag device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration in which an inflator is held by a claw formed on a direction control plate in the airbag device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a configuration in which a claw formed on a direction control plate is caulked in a tapered shape in the airbag device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a configuration in which an inflator is held by a convex portion formed on an inner peripheral surface of a direction control plate in the airbag device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic structural view showing a configuration of a conventional airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Assembly bolt 2 Nut 3 Hybrid inflator 4 Case 5 Harness 6 Connector 7 Direction control member 11 Bolt head 12 Screw part 30 Body part 31, 32 End part 33 Gas ejection hole 34 Gas ejection part 35 Bolt part 41 Fixed wall 42 Hole Part 43 Base 44, 45 Caulking part 46 Direction control plate 47, 471 Claw 48, 78 Opening 100-102 Airbag device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Sugimura 1-1-1, Showa-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi, Japan

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An airbag apparatus comprising: a tubular inflator for injecting a gas in response to an ignition signal; an airbag inflated and deployed by the gas; and holding means for fixing the inflator. The inflator includes: a main body that generates the gas in response to an ignition signal; and an injection unit that is formed by providing a step on an end surface of the main body and that injects the gas. A fixing unit that fixes the gas ejected from the ejection unit of the inflator in a predetermined direction, and a holding unit that holds the gas ejected from the ejection unit of the inflator in a predetermined direction. An airbag device holding the inflator by pressing the direction control section and the end face of the main body section by pressure. 2. The direction control section of the holding means is made of a plate material, is provided so as to cover an outer peripheral surface of the injection section of the inflator, and has an opening in a direction in which the airbag is located. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein an end portion is pressed against the end surface of the inflator. 3. The jetting portion of the inflator is provided with a mounting portion protruding in the axial direction on an end face thereof, and the fixing portion of the holding means is a plate material having a hole corresponding to the mounting portion. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion of the ejection portion is inserted into the hole of the fixing portion. 4. The inflator according to claim 3, wherein the mounting portion provided on the ejection portion is formed with a screw in the axial direction and screwed to a fixing portion of the holding means. Airbag equipment. 5. The holding means includes a band-shaped member formed so as to cover an outer peripheral surface of the inflator, and the band-shaped member is attached to an outer peripheral surface of the inflator by radially inwardly caulking the band-shaped member. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is brought into pressure contact, and the radial movement of the inflator is restricted. 6. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit and the direction control unit are integrally formed in the holding unit. 7. The holding means, wherein the fixing section and the direction control section are formed separately, and the direction control section is sandwiched between the fixing section and the end face of the main body section. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein: