JPH11139243A - Gas-charging container for air bag - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily position a gas-charging jig by mounting a projection comprising a charging hole communicated with a gas storing space of a gas-charging container, on the container. SOLUTION: First of all, a shell-type sealing member is inserted into a gas- charging hole 10 of an inflater 1. Then a gas-charging jig 20 is set on the inflater 1. This setting is performed by engaging an acceptor 26 of the jig 20 with a projection 6 of the inflater 1 by the screwing. Then a gas-charging path 30 of the gas-charging jig 20 is connected with a gas source through a connection piping 46, and the gas is charged into the inflater 1 through the charging path 30. After the gas charging is completed, a first operating shaft 34 is rotated and driven to rotate and advance a sealing member through a second operating shaft 40, and a taper part of a point of the sealing member is press fitted to the taper-shaped part 16 to temporarily seal the gas-charging hole 10 of the inflater 1. After a series of these processes are completely, the jig 20 is removed from the inflater 1 to for the main sealing, whereby the gas-charging operation is completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag system which is mounted on a vehicle and protects the occupant by interposing an expanded airbag between the occupant and a member inside the vehicle in the event of a collision. The present invention relates to a gas-filled container incorporated in an airbag module.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An airbag module is composed of a gas-filled container housed in a case and an airbag in a folded state. For example, an airbag module receives a signal from a collision sensor and blows out the gas from the gas-filled container. Is expanded. This type of airbag module is assembled by filling a pressure container with gas and then attaching the gas-filled container to a case. Made through a small hole.

[0003]

However, it is difficult to position the gas filling tool through the small hole of the container when the operation is performed through the small hole of the container. In particular, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-278554, it has been used until then. In recent years, flammable gas mixtures have tended to be used in place of inert gases such as nitrogen and argon gases. In fact, there is an increasing need to avoid gas leaks in the process.

The present inventor has devised the present invention in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a gas used for filling a container with a gas for deploying an airbag. An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag gas filling container in which a filling jig can be easily positioned and an airbag module incorporating the same.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas filling container for an airbag, wherein a gas filling container for containing a gas for deploying the airbag is provided with a gas filling port communicating with a gas containing space of the container. A projection provided with a module is provided, and the module is fixed to a module or a mounting body to which the module is mounted using the projection. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gas filling container for an air bag according to the first aspect, the projection has a cylindrical shape, and a thread portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical projection. Features. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gas filling container for an air bag according to the second aspect, the gas filling port is sealed by a sealing member inserted therein. The gas filling container for an air bag according to claim 4,
The gas-filled container for an air bag according to claim 3,
A male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sealing member, and a female screw that is screwed to the male screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the gas filling port, and the side of the gas storage space in the gas filling port is smaller than the sealing member. It is characterized by being made in diameter. The gas filling container for an air bag according to claim 5,
The gas-filled container for an air bag according to claim 3,
The gas filling port has an end portion on the gas storage space side formed of a small-diameter stepped hole, and a locking projection that is disposed near the step of the stepped hole and protrudes radially inward. In addition, the sealing member expands radially outward by being pressed against the step portion of the gas filling port, and the enlarged portion engages with the locking projection to form the gas filling port. It is characterized by being made to seal. The gas-filled container for an air bag according to the sixth aspect is the first aspect.
Alternatively, in the gas filling container for an air bag according to claim 2, the gas filling port has a large-diameter stepped hole on the gas storage space side, and a stepped portion of the stepped hole serves as a valve seat. A ball valve is provided at a large diameter portion of the gas filling port. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the gas filling container for an air bag according to the sixth aspect, a spring for urging the ball valve toward the valve seat is provided at a large diameter portion of the gas filling port. It is characterized by having been done.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the gas bag for an air bag according to the first or second aspect, the gas filling port has a small-diameter stepped hole at an end on the gas storage space side. In the large-diameter portion of the stepped hole, a packing provided with a communication hole, and a communication hole offset from the communication hole of the packing and provided on the opposite side to the step portion with the packing interposed therebetween. The plate-shaped member to be arranged is inserted, the packing is made of a material softer than the plate-like member and the gas-filled container, and the diameter of the end of the stepped hole on the gas storage space side is reduced. It is characterized in that it is formed smaller in diameter than the plate-shaped member. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the gas filling container for an air bag according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the projection is disposed coaxially with an axis of the gas filling container. And
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the gas filling container for an air bag according to the first or second aspect, a tip arranged so as to face an opening end of the gas filling opening on the gas storage space side is tapered. It is characterized by comprising a sealing member, and pressure receiving means for receiving the pressure of the gas filled in the gas storage space and pushing the distal end side of the sealing member into a gas filling port. According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the gas filling container for an air bag according to the first or second aspect, a plate-shaped sealing member is disposed so as to face an opening end of the gas filling port on the gas storage space side. A communication hole is formed in an outer peripheral portion of the sealing member that does not face the gas filling port.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The gas filling container according to the first embodiment of the present invention can perform gas filling in a state in which a gas filling jig is fitted to a projection of the container by using the projection of the container. Thus, the positioning of the jig can be assured. Further, the module can be fixed to the mounting body on which the module is mounted by utilizing the projection. The gas-filled container according to the second embodiment of the present invention is provided with a screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical projection. The nut can be used to secure the gas-filled container.

In the gas filling container according to the third embodiment of the present invention, since the gas filling port of the projection is sealed by the sealing member inserted therein, the gas filling port is immediately closed immediately after gas filling. It can be closed, thereby preventing outflow of gas immediately after gas filling. Fourth Embodiment of the Present Invention
The gas-filled container in the embodiment of
By applying a rotational force to the sealing member, the gas filling port can be reliably sealed, thereby preventing gas outflow immediately after gas filling.

In the gas filling container according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the gas filling port can be sealed by pushing down the sealing member after gas filling, thereby preventing gas outflow immediately after gas filling. Can be. In the gas filling step according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, in the gas filling step, the ball valve is pushed away from the valve seat in order to form a gas filling path. By releasing the force applied to the valve, the gas valve in the gas filling container allows the ball valve to sit on the valve seat and seal the gas filling port, thereby preventing gas outflow immediately after gas filling. .

In the gas filling container according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the ball valve is urged by a spring so as to be seated on the valve seat. When the applied force is released, the ball valve can be forcibly seated on the valve seat by the spring force in addition to the gas pressure in the gas filling container, so that the gas filling port is closed more quickly than in the sixth embodiment. be able to.

In the gas filling container according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, after the gas is filled, the plate is pushed toward the gas storage space so that the plate fits into the side wall of the gas filling port. Further, since the communication hole of the plate-shaped member is closed by the packing, the gas filling port can be sealed thereby.

In the gas filling container according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention, since the projection provided with the gas filling port is arranged coaxially with the axis of the gas filling container, a jig for performing gas filling is provided. When an operating mechanism for sealing the gas-filled container is provided, the operating mechanism may be arranged along the axis of the gas-filled container and moved or rotated along this axis. It can be simple.

[0012] In a gas filling container according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention, in the gas filling step, the sealing member is separated from the gas filling port and the gas inflow path is moved by the pressure of the gas supplied into the gas filling container. Can be formed. When gas filling is completed and the supply of gas to the gas filling container is shut off,
The gas pressure in the gas filling container acts on the pressure receiving means, and the tip side of the sealing member is automatically pushed into the gas filling port. Therefore, the gas filling port can be automatically opened and closed in synchronization with the filling of the gas and the completion of the filling, and the gas filled container after the filling of the gas is maintained in a state sealed by the sealing member. Can be.

In the gas filling container according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention, in the gas filling step, the plate-shaped sealing member is separated from the gas filling port by the pressure of the gas supplied into the gas filling container. An inflow path can be formed. When the gas supply is completed and the supply of gas to the gas filling container is shut off, the gas pressure in the gas filling container acts on the sealing member to automatically close the gas filling port. The gas-filled container after gas-filling can be maintained in a sealed state by the member. 3 to 11 of the above embodiments
In the method described above, after the gas is filled in the filling container, until the filling container is finally sealed, the filled fluid is securely held in the container without leaking to the outside.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment according to the present invention. 1 is a sectional view showing a state in which a gas filling jig is set on an inflator which is a gas filling container for an air bag, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a sealing member included in a container and an operating shaft included in a gas filling jig for pushing the sealing member. Referring to FIG. 1, this inflator 1 has a shape of a bottomed cylinder, and is provided with an ignition source (not shown), a plurality of gas outlets 2 and the like at a lower end thereof in the drawing. . The gas outlets 2 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. In addition, a protrusion 6 that protrudes outward along the axis C is provided at the upper end of the inflator 1, that is, at the center of the bottom wall 4 of the inflator. At the lower end, a locking portion 8 enlarged in the radial direction is provided.

Referring to FIG. 2, projection 6 has a cylindrical shape, and external thread 8 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of projection 6. The protrusion 6 has a through hole 10 extending coaxially with the axis C and communicating with the gas accommodating space 12 of the inflator 1 and the outside. The through hole 10 is used as a gas filling port (hereinafter, the through hole 10 of the protrusion is referred to as a protrusion). Gas inlet). The gas filling port 10 has a circular cross-sectional shape as a whole, and has a female screw 14 and a tapered shape located below the female screw 14 and gradually reduced in diameter toward the gas storage space 12 at an inner end portion thereof. A portion 16 is formed.

In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes a gas filling jig. The jig 20 has a cylindrical main body 22 and a cap 24 screwed to an upper end portion of the main body 22. The cylindrical main body 22 has a receiving port 26 opened on the lower surface thereof to receive the protrusion 6 of the inflator 1, and a vertical through hole 28 having a circular cross section continuous with the receiving port 26.
Are coaxially arranged with the axis C. The jig 20 also has a radially extending gas filling passage 30, which joins the vertical through hole 28. A female screw 32 that can be screwed with the male screw 8 of the projection 6 is formed in the receiving port 26.

A first operating shaft 34 extending through the cap 24 is rotatably attached to the cap 24. The first operating shaft 34 is arranged along the axis C, and the cap 2
4, the flange 34 a and the spacer 36 are installed so as not to be relatively displaceable in the axial direction. The operating shaft 34 extends into the vertical through hole 28 of the main body 22, and has a recess 34 b that opens downward at the lower end of the operating shaft 34. A pair of long holes 34c extending in the axial direction are formed on the peripheral wall of the recess 34b so as to face each other.
4b, the upper end of the second operating shaft 40 is vertically movably fitted through a spring 34d, and a pin 42 extending in the diametric direction is attached to the second operating shaft 40.
Are engaged with the long holes 34c described above. FIG.
Reference numeral 44 shown in FIG.

The lower end of the second operating shaft 40 is
Is formed at the lower end of the operating shaft 40 to form a small-diameter portion 40a for engaging with a sealing member 50 described later. The small-diameter portion 40a has a non-circular cross-section such as a cross, for example. (See FIG. 3).

Next, a method of filling the inflator 1 with a flammable gas and an oxidizing gas and filling with at least one kind of fluid of nitrogen, argon or helium gas using the gas filling jig 20 described above. Will be described. Prior to gas filling, first, a shell type sealing member 50 is inserted into the gas filling port 10 of the inflator 1. This sealing member 50
As shown in FIG. 3, a male screw 50a is formed on the outer peripheral surface, and a concave portion 50b having a non-circular cross section for receiving the non-circular small-diameter portion 40a of the second operating shaft 40 is formed at the upper end. .

Next, the gas filling jig 20 is set on the inflator 1. This setting is performed by screwing the receiving port 26 of the jig 20 to the projection 6 of the inflator 1. Next, the gas filling passage 30 of the gas filling jig 20 is connected to a gas source (not shown) through the connection pipe 46 and a valve (not shown) is opened to fill the gas into the inflator 1 through the filling passage 30. I do. When the predetermined gas is filled, the sealing member 50 is rotated and advanced through the second operating shaft 40 by rotating and driving the first operating shaft 34, and the tapered portion at the tip is formed into a tapered shape. Part 1
6, the gas filling port 10 of the inflator 1 is temporarily sealed. When this series of steps is completed, the jig 20 is removed from the inflator 1 to perform the main sealing, thereby completing the gas filling operation.

FIG. 4 shows the airbag module 52 after the inflator 1 has been assembled. The case 54 of the airbag module 52 holds the airbag 58 in a state where the airbag 58 is folded over the partition wall 56.
0 and an inflator storage chamber 62 for storing the inflator 1
The partition wall 56 has a plurality of communication holes 56a. Assembling of the inflator 1 is performed as follows. First, the inflator 1 is inserted into the inflator accommodating chamber 62 through the large-diameter opening 64, and the projection 6 is exposed to the outside through the small-diameter opening 66. Then, a nut 70 is screwed into the projection 6 via a washer 68, and Nut 70
Is fixed to the case 54 by tightening.
At this time, the large diameter opening 64 is closed by pressing the locking portion 8 of the inflator 1 against the case 54.

5 to 19 show the second to sixth embodiments of the present invention.
1 shows a gas container according to an embodiment. In the description of these other embodiments, the same elements as those in the first embodiment described above or elements common to other embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.
The features of each of these other embodiments will be described.

FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention.
A locking projection 74 protruding toward the axis C is formed on the inner side of the wall forming the zero. The gas filling port 10 has a small diameter stepped hole at the end of the gas storage space 12. It is configured. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the sealing member 50 has a thin wall 5 formed by a recess provided at the tip of the cylindrical body.
0b. In addition, the sealing member 50 is provided with an enlarged portion 50c having a partial notch at the rear end portion of the cylindrical body to prevent the cylindrical body from being tilted in the gas filling port 10. The sealing member 50 is made of a material having a relatively lower hardness than the inflator 1. Also, the jig 20
As can be understood from FIG. 5, the first operating shaft 34 has a small-diameter portion 34e extended into the gas filling port 10.

FIG. 5 shows the state of the gas filling step. In the gas filling step, the inflator 1 is filled with gas while the operating shaft 34 is raised. After the gas filling step is completed, as shown in FIG. 7, the operating shaft 34 is pushed down, and the sealing member 50 is pressed downward by the small diameter portion 34e of the operating shaft 34. The pushing-down force of the operating shaft 34 and the reaction force that the tip of the sealing member 50 receives from the step of the gas filling port 10 change the shape of the thin wall 50b at the tip of the sealing member to substantially expand the diameter. The inflator 1 is sealed.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the gas filling port 10 is constituted by a stepped hole, and a stepped portion 76 constituting a valve seat is provided. The inner side is formed to have a large diameter with the ball valve 78 and a
A spring 80 for urging the ball valve 78 toward the stepped portion 76
Is housed. In the gas filling step, gas filling is performed in a state where the ball valve 78 is pushed down against the urging force of the spring 80 at the small diameter portion 34e of the first operating shaft. When the gas filling is completed, the first operating shaft 34 is returned to receive the urging force of the spring 80 and the pressure of the gas filled in the inflator 1 so that the ball valve 78 is seated on the stepped portion 76 and the gas filling port is opened. Block 10. The presence of the spring 80 is not always essential. By providing the spring 80, the responsiveness of the temporary sealing of the inflator 1 can be enhanced, and the outflow of gas after gas filling can be minimized.

FIGS. 9 to 14 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this fourth embodiment, a sealing member is provided with a plurality of communication holes 82a which are separated in the circumferential direction. A metal disk 82 provided near the outer periphery (see FIGS. 10 and 11) and a washer-like packing 84 having a communication hole 84a at the center (see FIGS. 12 and 13) are provided. Like a relatively soft resin, the disk 82
And, it is made of a material having a lower hardness than the inflator 1. Further, the gas filling port 10 is formed so that the inner side end thereof, that is, the portion approaching the gas storage space 12 gradually becomes smaller in diameter.

After the gas filling step is completed, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, by pushing down the first operating shaft 34 having the small-diameter distal end portion 30e to push down the disk 82, the disk 82 fits tightly on the wall surface of the gas filling port 10, and the disk 82 The packing 84 is pressed against the disk 82
The communication hole 82a is sealed with a packing 84.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, the inner end of the gas filling port 10, that is, the opening on the gas storage space side, is provided. A taper-shaped plug member 90 is disposed along the axis C to face,
The base of the plug member 90 is attached to a dish-shaped partition member 92 fixed to the inflator 1. The partition member 92 has a relatively small communication hole 9 in its side wall.
At least one 2a is formed.

Gas filling into the inflator 1 is performed using a jig 20 composed of only a main body.
As shown in FIG. 15, the gas filling port 10 is opened by pushing down the dish-shaped partition member 92 by the pressure of the gas to be filled. When the member 92 is pushed up, the tip portion of the plug member 90 automatically enters the gas filling port 10 to seal it (see FIG. 16).

FIGS. 17 and 18 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment corresponds to a modification of the above-described fifth embodiment. In the sixth embodiment, the outer peripheral edge of the plate-shaped sealing member 94 is fixed so as to cover the opening end of the gas filling hole 10 from the side of the gas accommodating space. That is, the gas filling port 10
A plurality of relatively small communication holes 94a
Are formed. At the time of gas filling using the jig 20, the central portion of the plate-shaped sealing member 94 of the gas to be filled is pushed down to open the gas filling port 10 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the plate-shaped sealing member 94 is formed by the pressure in the gas accommodating space 12.
Is pushed up to automatically close the gas filling port.

Although the embodiment has been described above, as another mode, when filling the gas with the filling jig 20 instead of screwing it into the protrusion 6, the gas is filled by a pressing means such as a hydraulic cylinder. The jig 20 may be pressed against the protrusion 6. In this case, the airbag module is fixed to the case 54 using the projection 6 by press-fitting,
General techniques such as caulking and welding may be used.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the positioning of the jig in gas filling and the fixing of the gas filling container to the module case can be performed by effectively utilizing the projections of the gas filling container.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a gas filling jig is set in a gas filling container according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing a sealing member and a second operating shaft.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an airbag module to which the gas-filled container of the first embodiment is fixed.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which a gas filling jig is set in the gas filling container of the second embodiment.

6 is a side sectional view and a top view showing a sealing member used for the gas-filled container in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a temporary sealing step of the gas-filled container of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state where a gas filling jig is set in the gas filling container of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a state in which a gas filling jig is set in the gas filling container of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a sealing member used for a gas-filled container according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the sealing member shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a packing used for a gas-filled container according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the packing of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a temporary sealing step of the gas-filled container of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a process of setting a gas filling jig in the gas filling container of the fifth embodiment to perform gas filling.

16 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 15, showing a state in which gas filling is completed.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing a state after the gas filling jig has been set in the gas filling container of the sixth embodiment and gas filling has been completed.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 17, showing a process of gas filling.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inflator 6 Projection 10 Gas filling port 12 Gas accommodation space 20 Filling jig 50 Sealing member 52 Airbag module 54 Case 70 Nut

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Takeyama 3-10-1 Higashi-Mita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Matsushita Giken Co., Ltd.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A gas-filled container containing a gas for deploying an airbag is provided with a projection provided with a gas-filling port communicating with a gas-containing space of the container. A gas-filled container for an airbag, which is fixed to a mounting body to be mounted. 2. The gas filling container for an air bag according to claim 1, wherein the projection has a cylindrical shape, and a thread portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical projection. 3. The gas bag for an air bag according to claim 2, wherein the gas filling port is sealed by a sealing member inserted therein. 4. A male screw is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the sealing member, and a female screw that is screwed to the male screw is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the gas filling port. The gas filling container for an air bag according to claim 3, wherein the gas filling container is formed to have a smaller diameter than the stop member. 5. The gas filling port has a small-diameter stepped hole at an end on the gas storage space side, and is disposed near the stepped portion of the stepped hole and protrudes radially inward. The sealing member is expanded radially outward by being pressed against the step portion of the gas filling port, and the enlarged portion engages with the locking projection. 4. The gas filling container for an air bag according to claim 3, wherein the gas filling port is made so as to seal the gas filling port. 6. The gas filling port has a large-diameter stepped hole on the gas storage space side, and a ball valve having a stepped portion of the stepped hole as a valve seat has a large diameter. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second parts are arranged in a part.
A gas-filled container for an airbag according to claim 1. 7. The airbag gas according to claim 6, wherein a spring for urging the ball valve toward the valve seat is provided at a large diameter portion of the gas filling port. Filling container. 8. The gas filling port has a small-diameter stepped hole at the end on the gas storage space side, and a packing provided with a communication hole in a large-diameter portion of the stepped hole; A plate-like member having a communication hole offset from the communication hole of the packing and disposed on the side opposite to the step portion with the packing interposed is inserted, and the packing is formed by the plate member and the gas. It is made of a softer material than the filling container, and the diameter of the end of the stepped hole on the gas storage space side is:
The gas-filled container for an air bag according to claim 1, wherein the gas-filled container is formed to have a smaller diameter than the plate-shaped member. 9. The gas filling container for an air bag according to claim 1, wherein the projection is disposed coaxially with an axis of the gas filling container. 10. A sealing member having a tapered tip disposed so as to face the opening end of the gas filling port on the gas storage space side and a pressure of the gas filled in the gas storage space, The gas filling container for an air bag according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising pressure receiving means for pushing a distal end side of the sealing member into a gas filling port. 11. A plate-like sealing member is disposed facing an opening end of the gas filling port on the gas storage space side, and a communication hole is formed in an outer peripheral portion of the sealing member not facing the gas filling port. The gas-filled container for an airbag according to claim 1, wherein the gas-filled container is formed.