JPH11165604A - Air belt device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the restraining performance of an occupant by generating a sufficient tension in a belt when an air belt device is actuated without using a pretensioner. SOLUTION: When an inflator 11 generates a high pressure gas at collision of a vehicle, a cylinder 23 installed at a buckle housing 21 of a buckle device 9 sinks relatively with a piston 24 furnished at the top of an anchor member 25 whose bottom is fixed to a seat base 10, so that a tension is generated in a belt 6 leading to a tongue device 8 coupled with the buckle device 9, which heightens the restraining performance of an occupant. If the gas flow-in port 23 of the cylinder 23 is put in communication with the gas flow-out port 23 owing to the relative movement of the piston 24 with the cylinder 23, the high pressure gas from the inflator 11 is supplied to a bag 12 accommodated inside the belt 6, and the bag 12 is inflated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air belt device for inflating a belt for restraining an occupant to a seat at the time of a vehicle collision with high-pressure gas supplied from an inflator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A bag is stored inside a seat belt,
An air belt device that inflates the bag at the time of a vehicle collision to softly restrain an occupant is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-5600.
No. 1 has already known this.

[0003]

By the way, in order to prevent the seat belt from restraining the movement of the occupant during normal times other than the time of a vehicle collision, the belt can be freely pulled out of the retractor. When an inertia force acts on the occupant's body due to a vehicle collision, the occupant's body cannot be restrained if the belt can be freely pulled out of the retractor, so the belt is forcibly pulled into the retractor and locked. There is known a pretensioner that generates tension on a belt.

[0004] In an air belt device in which the belt itself can be inflated, even if a retractor is not provided with a pretensioner, in addition to the inflation of the belt, the longitudinal dimension of the belt shrinks with the inflation of the belt. In the event of a collision, a certain amount of tension can be generated in the belt simply by locking the belt so that it cannot be pulled out. However, the tension generated by the expansion of the belt is not always sufficient compared to the tension generated by the pretensioner.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to generate a sufficient tension in a belt when an air belt device is operated without using a pretensioner, thereby enhancing occupant restraint performance.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a belt including an inflatable bag therein, one end of which is supported by a fixed portion, and A tongue device provided at the other end of the tongue, a buckle device that is supported by a fixed portion and can be coupled with the tongue device,
An inflator connected to a buckle device, wherein the airbag device inflates the bag by supplying high-pressure gas generated by the inflator at the time of collision of the vehicle to the bag via the buckle device and the tongue device. An anchor member fixed to the fixing portion, and a buckle housing slidably supported by the anchor member and coupled with the tongue device. The buckle housing is fixed to the anchor member by high-pressure gas generated by the inflator. The belt is slid to generate tension on the belt.

According to the above configuration, the high-pressure gas generated by the inflator at the time of the collision of the vehicle is supplied from the buckle device to the belt via the tongue device, and inflates the bag stored inside the belt. At this time, the pressure of the high-pressure gas supplied to the buckle housing of the buckle device causes the buckle housing to move with respect to the anchor member fixed to the fixing portion. The binding performance is enhanced. Without using a pretensioner with a complicated structure, tension is generated on the belt using the high-pressure gas generated by the inflator.
Not only the number of parts is reduced and the cost is reduced, but also tension can be generated in the belt prior to inflation of the bag, so that the occupant restraint performance is further enhanced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the buckle housing is provided on the anchor member with a gas inlet connected to the inflator and a gas outlet connected to the tongue device. The piston is provided with a cylinder in which the piston is slidably fitted, and the high-pressure gas supplied to the gas inflow port moves the cylinder relative to the piston so that the gas inflow port communicates with the gas outflow port. .

According to the above construction, when the high-pressure gas generated by the inflator flows into the inside of the cylinder from the gas inlet of the buckle housing, the cylinder moves with respect to the piston by the pressure, and after the tension is generated in the belt, the gas is released. Since the high pressure gas flows into the belt through the communication between the inflow port and the gas outflow port, tension can be reliably generated in the belt prior to inflation of the bag.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect, when the cylinder moves relative to the piston and the gas inlet and the gas outlet communicate with each other, the cylinder moves relative to the piston. And a lock means for fixing the

According to the above construction, when the cylinder moves relative to the piston and tension is generated in the belt, the locking means restricts the movement of the cylinder relative to the piston, so that the belt is prevented from loosening and the tension is secured. In addition, communication between the gas inlet and the gas outlet is ensured.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 to 11 show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view of a front seat portion of a vehicle, FIG. 2 is a view in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1, and FIG. Perspective view,
4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 5 in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4, and FIG. 8 and FIG.
9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7, FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of an operation at the time of a vehicle collision, and FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an air belt device for restraining an occupant (driver in the embodiment) to the front right seat 1 includes a shoulder belt retractor 3 provided below a center pillar 2 and a retractor 3 for the shoulder belt. A wrap belt retractor 4 provided below the shoulder belt retractor 3, a shoulder belt 6 drawn out of the shoulder belt retractor 3 and extending around a slip guide 5 provided above the center pillar 2, A lap belt 7 pulled out from the belt retractor 4,
A tongue device 8 fixed to the ends of the shoulder belt 6 and the lap belt 7, a buckle device 9 fixed to a seat base 10 and coupled with the tongue device 8, and an inflator 11 provided integrally with the buckle device 9 And

The known shoulder belt retractor 3 and the lap belt retractor 4 rewind the shoulder belt 6 and the lap belt 7, respectively, so that an acceleration sensor (not shown) detects an acceleration equal to or higher than a predetermined value. At normal times, the belts 6 and 7 can be pulled out to allow the movement of the occupant's body. When the acceleration sensor detects an acceleration equal to or more than a predetermined value during a vehicle collision, the belts 6 and 7 cannot be pulled out. It locks and restrains the occupants. Known inflator 1
1 ignites when the acceleration sensor detects acceleration equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and generates high-pressure gas due to combustion of the propellant.

The lap belt 7 is composed of a plain synthetic fiber plain woven belt. On the other hand, the portion of the shoulder belt 6 that contacts the occupant's chest, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a cylindrical rubber bag 12 and a cover 13 that covers the outside thereof. The cover 13 made of a circular knit has a property of easily expanding and contracting in the radial direction and hardly expanding and contracting in the longitudinal direction. Normally, the bag 12 and the cover 13 have a flat band shape. However, when high-pressure gas is supplied from the inflator 11 to the bag 12, the bag 12 and the cover 13 expand to the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and softly restrain the occupant.

As shown in FIG. 4 to FIG.
The inflator 11 is fixed to a lower portion of the buckle housing 21 which constitutes the main body, and a buckle 22 is fixed to an upper portion thereof. A piston 24 is slidably fitted in a cylinder 23 formed inside the buckle housing 21, and an anchor member 25 extending downward from the piston 24 extends through the lower wall of the cylinder 23 to the outside. The lower end of the anchor member 25 is pivotally supported on the side wall of the seat base 10 by bolts 26 so as to be able to swing back and forth.

At the lower and upper parts of the cylinder 23 respectively
Gas inlet 23₁And gas outlet 23_TwoIs formed
And gas inlet 23₁Is inflated through the gas passage 27
The gas outlet 23 is connected to the_TwoIs
On the upper wall of the buckle housing 21 via the gas passage 28
It communicates with the connection port 29 that opens. With the upper surface of the piston 24
The spring 30 is contracted between the cylinder 23 and the upper wall.
And is urged downward by the spring force of the spring 30.
The piston 24 is provided with a stopper 31 provided on its lower surface.
It contacts the lower wall of the cylinder 23. At this time, the gas flow
Entrance 23₁Opens on the lower surface of the piston 24. Again pis
The ton 24 moves upward, and a stopper provided on the upper surface thereof
When the cylinder 32 abuts the upper wall of the cylinder 23, the gas flow
Exit 23 _TwoOpens on the lower surface of the piston 24.

The bag 12 and the cover 13 of the shoulder belt 6 fitted on the upper outer peripheral surface of the tongue housing 33 of the tongue device 8 and the lap belt 7 superimposed on the outside are fastened and fixed by an annular holder 36. Is done. A tongue 37 having an upper half embedded in the tongue housing 33 is provided with a bolt 38 penetrating the holder 36, the lap belt 7, the cover 13, and the bag 12.
Is fixed to the tongue housing 33. The connection port 2 of the buckle housing 21 is provided on the lower surface of the tongue housing 33.
A connection pipe 39 that can be inserted into the projection 9 is protruded. A gas passage 40 that connects the connection port 29 to the inside of the bag 12 is formed inside the connection pipe 39.

A locking means 41 provided on the side wall of the buckle housing 21 includes a hook member 43 pivotally supported via a pin 42 and a hook member 43 for connecting the hook member 43 to the cylinder 2.
3 includes a spring 44 for urging in a direction protruding into the inside, and a screw 45 for locking one end of the spring 44. The hook member 43 is capable of abutting against the cam surface 43 ₁ to the upper surface of the piston 24, which can be brought into contact with the lower surface of the piston 24 the locking surface 43
₂ and hook member 4 in the direction in which spring 44 extends.
3 is provided with a stopper surface 433 for restricting the swing of the _{third member} .

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the air belt device is not worn, the buckle device 9 and the tongue device 8 are separated. From this state, when the tongue 37 of the tongue device 8 is coupled to the buckle 22 of the buckle device 9 to mount the air belt device, as shown in FIG.
9 is inserted into the connection port 29 of the buckle device 9.

When the acceleration sensor detects an acceleration equal to or higher than a predetermined value due to a vehicle collision, the inflator 11 ignites to generate high-pressure gas, and the generated high-pressure gas is supplied to the buckle device 9.
Through the buckle housing 21 gas passages 27 and gas inlet 23 ₁ formed in and supplied to the lower portion of the piston 24 slidably fitted in the cylinder 23. As shown in FIG. 10, since the piston 24 is fixed to the seat base 10 via the anchor member 25, the buckle housing 21 moves relative to the piston 24 by the pressure of the high-pressure gas supplied to the lower part of the cylinder 23. And the tongue device 8 connected to the buckle housing 21 also moves down. At this time, the shoulder belt retractor 3 and the lap belt retractor 4 that support one end of the shoulder belt 6 and the lap belt 7 are locked so that they cannot be pulled out. When the other end is pulled down, the slack of the shoulder belt 6 and the lap belt 7 disappears, and tension is generated.

As the cylinder 23 descends with respect to the piston 24, as shown in FIG.
Is the cam surface 43 of the hook member 43 of the locking means 41.
₁ and the hook member 43 is retracted from the cylinder 23 against the elastic force of the spring 44. As a result, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the piston 24
, The hook member 43 projects again into the cylinder 23 by the elastic force of the spring 44. And Thus, locking surface 43 ₂ of the hook member 43 engages the lower surface of the piston 24, and the stopper surface 43 ₃ of the hook member 43 comes into contact with the buckle housing 21 to restrict the swinging of the hook member 43 As a result, the cylinder 23
Is locked unable to ascend.

The pressure when the cylinder 23 against the piston 24 in this manner is lowered, as shown in FIG. 10, in which the gas inlet port 23 ₁ and the gas outlet 23 ₂ of the cylinder 23 are communicated, the inflator 11 is generated The gas is supplied from the gas passages 27 and 28 of the buckle housing 21 to the bag 12 of the shoulder belt 6 via the gas passage 40 of the tongue device 8, and inflates the bag 12. When the shoulder belt 6 expands in this way, the contact area with the occupant's chest increases compared to the shoulder belt 6 before expansion, so that the occupant can be restrained more softly.

Since tension can be generated in the shoulder belt 6 and the lap belt 7 using the high-pressure gas generated by the inflator 11, the retractor for the shoulder belt 3 and the retractor for the lap belt 4 can be used.
This eliminates the need to provide a pretensioner, thereby contributing to cost reduction. In addition, since the tension of the shoulder belt 6 and the lap belt 7 is generated prior to the inflation of the bag 12, the occupant restraint performance of the airbag device can be further improved.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, various design changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, in the embodiment, the inflator 11 is provided integrally with the buckle device 9.
Can be provided separately from the buckle device 9 and both can be connected by a flexible pipe. Further, in the embodiment, the buckle device 9 is provided on the seat base 10 as the fixing portion, but the buckle device 9 is provided on the upper portion of the center pillar 2 as the fixing portion, and the buckle housing 21 is provided at the time of collision of the vehicle.
Can be pulled upward to generate tension in the shoulder belt 6.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the high-pressure gas generated by the inflator at the time of collision of the vehicle is supplied to the belt from the buckle device via the tongue device, and stored inside the belt. Inflate the bag. At this time, the pressure of the high-pressure gas supplied to the buckle housing of the buckle device causes the buckle housing to move with respect to the anchor member fixed to the fixing portion. The binding performance is enhanced. Without using a pretensioner with a complicated structure, tension is generated in the belt using the high-pressure gas generated by the inflator, so that not only the number of parts is reduced and cost is reduced, but also the Since tension can be generated in the belt, the occupant restraint performance is further enhanced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
When the high-pressure gas generated by the inflator flows into the cylinder from the gas inlet of the buckle housing, the cylinder moves with respect to the piston at that pressure and tension is generated in the belt, and then the gas inlet and the gas outlet communicate with each other. Since the high-pressure gas flows into the belt, tension can be reliably generated in the belt prior to inflation of the bag.

According to the invention described in claim 3,
When the cylinder moves relative to the piston and tension is generated in the belt, the locking means restricts the movement of the cylinder relative to the piston, so that the belt is prevented from loosening and tension is secured, and the gas inlet and the gas flow are prevented. Exit communication is ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a front seat portion of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a view in the direction of arrows in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an air belt device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in the direction of arrows in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view of a buckle device and a tongue device.

8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation at the time of a vehicle collision.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a lock unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Center pillar (fixed portion) 6 Shoulder belt (belt) 8 Tongue device 9 Buckle device 10 Seat base (fixed portion) 11 Inflator 12 Bag 21 Buckle housing 23 Cylinder 23 ₁ Gas inlet 23 ₂ Gas outlet 24 Piston 25 Anchor member 41 Locking means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A belt (6) containing an inflatable bag (12) therein and having one end supported by a fixing portion (2), and a tongue device (2) provided at the other end of the belt (6). 8)
A buckle device (9) supported by the fixing portion (10) and to which the tongue device (8) can be coupled; and an inflator (11) connected to the buckle device (9).
And the inflator (1
An air belt device for inflating the bag (12) by supplying the high-pressure gas generated in 1) to the bag (12) through the buckle device (9) and the tongue device (8), wherein the buckle device (9) An anchor member (25) fixed to the fixing portion (10), and the anchor member (25)
And a buckle housing (21) slidably supported by the tongue device (8) and connected to the buckle housing (21) by the high-pressure gas generated by the inflator (11). An air belt device, wherein the belt (6) is slid to generate tension in the belt (6). The buckle housing (21) has a gas inlet (23 ₁ ) connected to the inflator (11) and a gas outlet (23 ₂ ) connected to the tongue device (8), and is attached to the anchor member (25). provided piston (24) is provided with a cylinder (23) which fits slidably, relative to the cylinder (23) high-pressure gas supplied to the gas inlet (23 ₁₎ for the piston (24) The air belt device according to claim 1, wherein the gas inlet (23 ₁ ) is moved to communicate with the gas outlet (23 ₂ ). 3. The cylinder (2) with respect to the piston (24).
When 3) gas flow inlet relative movement (23 ₁₎ and a gas outlet (23 ₂₎ is in communication, further comprising a locking means (41) for fixing the cylinder (23) with respect to the piston (24) The air belt device according to claim 2, characterized in that: