WO2013058328A1

WO2013058328A1 - Airbag device

Info

Publication number: WO2013058328A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/076977
Authority: WO
Inventors: 山路　直樹; 一斗十倉
Original assignee: 芦森工業株式会社
Priority date: 2011-10-20
Filing date: 2012-10-18
Publication date: 2013-04-25
Also published as: JP5766577B2; JP2013086707A

Abstract

This invention prevents forceful projecting of an airbag and stops gas discharge outside the airbag in a short period of time. Gas supplied from an inflator (3) causes an inner bag (30) to expand. Gas supplied from flow ports (31-33) causes an outer bag (20) to expand. A discharge tube (40) is disposed so as to reach the exterior of the outer bag (20), the discharge tube discharging gas from a discharge port (41) on a folded section (43). A connecting member (14) connects the folded section (43) to the front surface of the outer bag (20) and retains the folded section (43) and the discharge port (41) inside the discharge tube (40). The connecting member (14) is pulled out from the inner bag (30) as the outer bag (20) expands. The connecting member (14) moves the front surface of the outer bag (20) in the passenger direction (E) and closes the discharge port (41) by pulling in the folded section (43).

Description

Airbag device

The present invention relates to an airbag device that is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and protects an occupant.

In order to protect passengers in the event of a vehicle emergency or a collision, an airbag device for the driver's seat is used. The airbag device is attached to the steering wheel and inflates and deploys the airbag in front of the driver's seat. The occupant is received and restrained by the airbag. In that case, in order to protect a passenger | crew reliably, it is necessary to inflate the airbag quickly to the side.

On the other hand, the airbag apparatus which expands an airbag to the side quickly by dividing the inside of an airbag into several chambers conventionally is known (refer to patent documents 1).
In a conventional airbag device, a first chamber is partitioned in the center of the airbag by an inner panel, and a second chamber and a third chamber are partitioned around the first chamber by a separate panel. After the first chamber is greatly expanded toward the occupant by the high-pressure gas generated by the inflator, the second chamber and the third chamber are sequentially expanded. The first to third chambers are inflated in order, and the airbag is spread to the side early.

However, in the conventional airbag device, the airbag expands to a thickness corresponding to the length of the inner panel, and when the inner panel is fully extended, the protrusion of the airbag is abruptly stopped. Therefore, if the inner panel is too long, the distance that the airbag protrudes becomes longer, and the airbag may collide strongly with the occupant. If the inner panel is too short, the airbag becomes thin, and there is a possibility that the occupant cannot be received. There is also a risk that the passenger will hit the steering wheel. Further, the airbag may stretch and bounce in the thickness direction due to the reaction when the inner panel suddenly stops.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a conventional airbag that bounces. In FIG. 14, the passenger | crew who contacts a steering wheel and an airbag is shown typically.
As shown in the figure, the conventional airbag 100 may bounce (arrow W in FIG. 14A) on the steering wheel 90 after being inflated and deployed. Along with this, the shape of the airbag 100 varies between the thickest shape V1 and the thinnest shape V2.

If the shape of the airbag 100 is not stable, the performance of the airbag 100 may become unstable. When the occupant 91 (see FIG. 14B) contacts the airbag 100 having the thinnest shape V2, the absorption stroke of the airbag 100 may be insufficient. Here, the absorption stroke is the stroke of the airbag 100 when absorbing the impact and energy of the occupant 91. Therefore, the conventional airbag 100 is required to be more stably inflated and deployed from the viewpoint of restraining the occupant 91 safely.

Further, in the conventional airbag device, there is a possibility that the first chamber may protrude vigorously and hit an occupant at the start of inflation of the airbag. In this case, the impact received by the occupant increases. In particular, when the occupant is approaching the steering wheel, the impact of the occupant is greater. On the other hand, a gas bag is known in which gas is discharged to the outside at the start of inflation to alleviate the impact of an occupant (see Patent Document 2).

The conventional gas bag has an orifice for gas outflow and a control band attached to the orifice. The orifice discharges gas from the inside of the gas bag at the start of expansion and suppresses expansion of the gas bag. The control band pulls the orifice into the gas bag when the gas bag is expanded to a predetermined state. The orifice is closed in the gas bag to stop gas discharge. At that time, in the conventional gas bag, it is necessary to greatly displace the orifice from the outside to the inside of the gas bag. Along with this, the time taken to stop the discharge of gas tends to become longer. Since the gas is continuously discharged until the orifice is closed, the internal pressure of the gas bag may not be increased rapidly.

JP 2007-284026 A JP 2004-161257 A

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the airbag from protruding vigorously toward the occupant and stably inflate and deploy the airbag. Another object is to enable gas discharge to be stopped in a short time while discharging the gas to the outside of the airbag and suppressing the inflation of the airbag at the start of the inflation of the airbag.

The present invention is an airbag device that protects a vehicle occupant, and includes an inflator that supplies gas, an inner bag that has a gas circulation port, and is inflated by gas supplied from the inflator, and an inner bag. The outer bag is inflated by the gas supplied from the distribution port, and the outer bag is arranged from the inner bag to the outside of the outer bag through the passage port formed in the outer bag. The discharge tube to be discharged, the tip of the discharge tube are folded inward, the folded portion provided with the discharge port, the folded portion is connected to the front surface of the outer bag through the inner bag, and the folded portion and the gas are discharged. A connecting member that holds the discharge port in the discharge tube, and the connecting member is inflated with the expansion of the outer bag. Drawn from the Baggu moves the front surface of the outer bag to the occupant direction, an air bag device for closing the outlet by pulling the folded portion and the discharge port to the inside of the discharge tube.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the airbag from protruding vigorously toward the occupant and to stably inflate and deploy the airbag. Further, at the start of the inflation of the airbag, the gas can be stopped in a short time while the gas is discharged outside the airbag and the inflation of the airbag is suppressed.

It is a front view which shows the steering wheel which provided the airbag apparatus. It is a figure which shows the airbag apparatus of this embodiment. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the airbag apparatus of this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the inner bag before expansion | swelling. It is the figure which expanded the part shown by Y of the inner bag shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the inner bag after expansion | swelling. It is sectional drawing which shows the protrusion part of a discharge cylinder. It is sectional drawing which shows the airbag which inflate-deploys in order. It is a side view which shows the airbag apparatus which protects a passenger | crew. It is a figure which shows the discharge cylinder of a comparative example. It is a top view which shows the discharge cylinder which provided the discharge port of other embodiment. It is a top view which shows the discharge cylinder which provided the discharge port of other embodiment. It is a top view which shows the discharge cylinder which provided the discharge port of other embodiment. It is a side view which shows the conventional airbag which bounces.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an airbag device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The airbag device of the present embodiment is installed in a vehicle and receives and protects a vehicle occupant by an airbag that is inflated and deployed. That is, the airbag device is provided around a seat such as a driver seat or a passenger seat in the vehicle to protect the occupant. Hereinafter, the airbag apparatus of the present invention will be described by taking an example of an airbag apparatus for a driver's seat disposed on a steering wheel.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a steering wheel provided with an airbag device, and shows a steering wheel 90 as viewed from the occupant side.
The steering wheel 90 is disposed in front of the driver's seat. As shown in the figure, the airbag device 1 is mounted at the center of the steering wheel 90 and is disposed in front of the occupant. The airbag device 1 includes an airbag cover 2 that covers the surface of the airbag device 1, and an airbag (not shown) disposed in the airbag cover 2.

The airbag is accommodated in the airbag cover 2 in a folded state, and the airbag cover 2 is pushed open by expansion so as to cover the steering wheel 90 in the vehicle interior. The airbag is inflated between the steering wheel 90 and the occupant in the direction in which the occupant is positioned (referred to as the occupant direction) and the side.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the airbag apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the airbag 10 being deployed (inflated) when the airbag apparatus 1 is viewed from the direction of the arrow X in FIG. . FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the airbag device 1 disassembled and parts of the airbag device 1 being separated in the vertical direction. In FIG. 3, the relationship between the members to be combined and the combination position of the members are also indicated by arrows.

As shown in the figure, the airbag device 1 includes an airbag 10 that can be inflated and deployed, an inflator 3, a cushion ring 4 disposed in the airbag 10, and a reaction plate 5 (not shown in FIG. 2). Yes. The airbag 10 is inflated and deployed toward the occupant by the gas supplied from the inflator 3.

The inflator 3 is a disk-type gas generator and has a plurality of gas jets (not shown) on the outer periphery of one end in the thickness direction. One end of the inflator 3 is inserted into the airbag 10 from an attachment port 11 formed in the airbag 10. In this state, the inflator 3 is attached to the attachment port 11. The inflator 3 generates gas in the airbag 10 by radially ejecting gas from a plurality of gas outlets at the time of vehicle emergency or impact detection, and the airbag 10 is inflated from a predetermined folded shape by the supplied gas. Expand.

The cushion ring 4 is formed in a rectangular shape, and a hole 4A (see FIG. 3) into which the inflator 3 is inserted is formed at the center thereof. Four bolts 4B are fixed around the hole 4A of the cushion ring 4. The cushion ring 4 fixes the airbag 10 to the reaction plate 5. At that time, the peripheral portion of the attachment port 11 of the airbag 10 is sandwiched between the cushion ring 4 and the reaction plate 5.

When fixing the airbag 10, first, the bolt 4 B of the cushion ring 4 is inserted into the insertion hole 12 provided in each member of the airbag 10 to temporarily fix each member of the airbag 10. Subsequently, the bolt 4 B is inserted into an attachment hole (not shown) of the reaction plate 5, and then the inflator 3 is attached to the reaction plate 5. The bolt 4 B is an attachment member that attaches the inflator 3 to the airbag 10, and is inserted into the insertion hole 3 A of the inflator 3. Next, the bolt 4 B is fixed to the reaction plate 5 with the lock nut 6. As a result, the cushion ring 4, the airbag 10, and the inflator 3 are fixed to the reaction plate 5.

The cushion ring 4 and the airbag 10 are attached to one surface of a reaction plate 5 having a rectangular peripheral wall. One end of the inflator 3 is inserted into a central opening (not shown) of the reaction plate 5, and the inflator 3 is attached to the other surface of the reaction plate 5 in this state. A folded airbag 10 is arranged inside the reaction plate 5. The airbag cover 2 is attached to the reaction plate 5 so as to cover the airbag 10. Thereafter, the reaction plate 5 is fixed to the steering wheel 90.

The airbag 10 includes a circular protective cloth 13, a belt-shaped connecting member 14, a reinforcing cover 15, an outer bag 20, and an inner bag 30. The inner bag 30 is disposed in the outer bag 20, and the connecting member 14 is disposed in the inner bag 30. Each part of the airbag 10 is formed by cutting a base fabric made of a woven fabric or a sheet. The protective cloth 13 and the reinforcing cover 15 are disposed at predetermined positions between the cushion ring 4 and the reaction plate 5, and an attachment port 11 is formed at the center of each.

The outer bag 20 and the inner bag 30 are an outer inflating portion and an inner inflating portion of the airbag 10, respectively. The cushion ring 4 is inserted into the inner bag 30 from the attachment port 11 of the inner bag 30. The outer bag 20 and the inner bag 30 are fixed to the reaction plate 5 by the cushion ring 4, and the peripheral portion of each attachment port 11 is held between the cushion ring 4 and the reaction plate 5.

Next, each part of the airbag 10 will be described in detail.
In the present embodiment, with respect to the outer bag 20, the inner bag 30, and the airbag 10, the portions on the occupant side (upper side in FIGS. 2 and 3) in the vehicle are the front side and the vehicle body side (FIG. 2, The part which becomes the lower side in FIG. Regarding the outer bag 20 and the inner bag 30, in a state where the outer bag 20 and the inner bag 30 are assembled as the airbag 10, the outer surface is referred to as an outer surface and the inner surface is referred to as an inner surface.

One end of the inflator 3 is disposed inside the inner bag 30. The inner bag 30 has at least one (here, three) gas circulation ports (outlet ports) 31 to 33 and an air chamber 34 as an internal space thereof, and is inflated by the gas supplied from the inflator 3. To do. The first to third circulation ports 31 to 33 are formed of circular holes and allow gas to flow between the inside and outside of the inner bag 30. The first circulation port 31 is formed on the front surface of the inner bag 30, and the second and

third circulation ports

32 and 33 are formed on the side portion of the inner bag 30. The inner bag 30 first starts to expand in the airbag 10 and supplies gas into the outer bag 20 through the distribution ports 31 to 33.

The inner bag 30 has a front base fabric (front panel) 35 as a front surface and a rear base fabric (rear panel) 36 as a rear surface. A protective cloth 13 is attached to the inner surface of the rear base cloth 36. The protective cloth 13 is disposed between the rear base cloth 36 and the cushion ring 4 and protects the rear base cloth 36 from the cushion ring 4. The inflator 3 is attached to the attachment port 11 provided in the center of the rear base fabric 36 and the rear surface of the inner bag 30, and generates gas in the inner bag 30. The first circulation port 31 is provided at the center of the front base fabric 35 and allows gas to flow out from the inner bag 30 in the occupant direction E.

The

base fabrics

35 and 36 of the inner bag 30 include

circular portions

35A and 36A and at least one (here, two)

rectangular portions

35B and 36B. The two

rectangular portions

35B and 36B are formed on the outer periphery of the

circular portions

35A and 36A so as to extend in the opposite direction from the

circular portions

35A and 36A. The

base fabrics

35 and 36 are joined along the edges by sewing or bonding (here, sewing), and the

circular portions

35A and 36A and the two

rectangular portions

35B and 36B are joined. An air chamber 34 is formed inside the inner bag 30 by the

base fabrics

35 and 36.

The inner bag 30 has a main body inflating portion 37 and at least one (here, a pair) gas discharge tube 40. The main body inflating portion 37 is a spherical inflating portion of the inner bag 30 formed in a spherical shape by the

circular portions

35A and 36A (FIG. 6). The discharge cylinder 40 is a cylindrical inflating part of the inner bag 30 formed in a cylindrical shape by the

rectangular parts

35B and 36B. The inner bag 30 includes a main body inflating portion 37 and a pair of discharge cylinders 40 connected inside. The main body inflating part 37 is inflated into a spherical shape at the center of the inner bag 30 by the gas supplied from the inflator 3. The gas flows from the main body expansion part 37 to the pair of discharge cylinders 40, and the discharge cylinder 40 is expanded in a cylindrical shape toward the outside of the main body expansion part 37 by the gas supplied from the main body expansion part 37. The inflated main body inflating portion 37 and the discharge cylinder 40 are deformed and contracted as the airbag 10 is inflated, as will be described later.

The inner bag 30 has a pair of discharge cylinders 40 protruding in the opposite direction toward the side of the inner bag 30 when inflated, and a gas discharge port 41 provided in the protruding end portion 42 of the discharge cylinder 40. The gas generated by the inflator 3 is discharged from the inside of the inner bag 30 to the outside by the pair of discharge cylinders 40. That is, the discharge cylinder 40 discharges the gas from the discharge port 41 of the projecting end portion 42 toward the side of the inner bag 30.

The outer bag 20 is a bag body having a circular shape when viewed from the front (FIG. 3), and is a main bag that houses the inner bag 30. When the airbag 10 is inflated, the outer bag 20 starts to inflate following the inner bag 30 by the gas supplied from the distribution ports 31 to 33 of the inner bag 30, and around the inner bag 30 than the inner bag 30. It expands greatly.

The outer bag 20 has a front base fabric (front panel) 21 as a front surface and a rear base fabric (rear panel) 22 as a rear surface (FIG. 3). The

base fabrics

21 and 22 are formed in a circular shape having the same diameter, and are joined along the outer periphery. An air chamber 23 (FIG. 2) is formed inside the outer bag 20 by the

base fabrics

21 and 22. The outer bag 20 has at least one (here, two) vent holes 24 and a passage port 25 for the discharge tube 40. The vent holes 24 are formed at two locations on the rear base fabric 22 and discharge gas from the inside of the outer bag 20 to the outside in the direction of the vehicle body (referred to as the vehicle body direction).

On the outer surface of the rear base fabric 22 of the outer bag 20, the rear base fabric 22 is reinforced to protect the rear base fabric 22 from the gas and heat generated by the inflator 3 and to cover the vent hole 24. A reinforcing cover 15 is attached. The reinforcing cover 15 is made of a rectangular base cloth, has a mounting opening 11 formed in the center, and two circular open holes 15A, and is arranged on the outer surface of the outer bag 20 so as to cover the vent hole 24. The Both side edges of the reinforcing cover 15 are joined to the outer surface of the rear base fabric 22 by sewing. The opening hole 15 A is a circular hole similar to the vent hole 24, and allows the gas discharged from the vent hole 24 to overlap with the vent hole 24 when the reinforcing cover 15 is in close contact with the rear base fabric 22.

The two passage openings 25 of the outer bag 20 are formed by slits formed in the rear base fabric 22, and are provided at positions that are covered by the reinforcing cover 15 of the rear base fabric 22. The two passage openings 25 are formed at positions close to the vent hole 24 and on the inflator 3 side of the two vent holes 24, and the discharge tube 40 of the inner bag 30 is directed outward or inward of the outer bag 20. Let it pass. The discharge tube 40 is disposed from the inner bag 30 to the outside of the outer bag 20 through the passage port 25 formed in the outer bag 20. Thereby, the protruding end portion 42 of the discharge cylinder 40 is disposed outside the outer bag 20 before the airbag 10 is inflated.

The discharge tube 40 is disposed outside the outer bag 20 and between the reinforcing cover 15 and the outer bag 20 (inside the reinforcing cover 15). The protruding end portion 42 of the discharge tube 40 is disposed outside the reinforcing cover 15 through the open end portion of the reinforcing cover 15. The pair of discharge cylinders 40 expands in the reinforcing cover 15 due to the expansion of the inner bag 30, and discharges the gas in the inner bag 30 from the discharge port 41 to the outside of the outer bag 20. The inner bag 30 discharges the gas supplied from the inflator 3 to the outside of the airbag 10 by a pair of discharge cylinders 40.

When the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed, first, the inner bag 30 that accommodates the inflator 3 is inflated in the outer bag 20, and the outer bag 20 is gradually inflated outside the inner bag 30. At that time, the inner bag 30 and the outer bag 20 are unfolded in the occupant direction E and in the lateral direction in front of the occupant in a state where the inner bag 30 and the outer bag 20 are connected on the rear surface to which the inflator 3 is attached. After the entire inner bag 30 is inflated and deployed, the entire outer bag 20 is inflated and deployed. At that time, expansion and deployment of the outer bag 20 are restricted by the connecting member 14, whereby the outer bag 20 expands in the lateral direction and then gradually expands in the occupant direction E. Further, the connecting member 14 controls the opening and closing of the discharge tube 40 (discharge port 41), and closes the discharge tube 40 after the inner bag 30 starts to be inflated.

The connecting member 14 is a tether belt made of a belt-like member (here, a belt-like cloth), and connects a predetermined portion in the pair of discharge tubes 40 to the front surface of the outer bag 20. The length of the connecting member 14 is shorter than the

base fabrics

35 and 36 of the inner bag 30. The connecting member 14 is disposed in the inner bag 30 and the pair of discharge cylinders 40 and is connected to the discharge cylinder 40 by joining both end portions 14 A to predetermined portions in the discharge cylinder 40. The connecting member 14 is joined to the front surface (front base fabric 21) of the outer bag 20 at the position of the first flow port 31, and the connecting member 14 and the front base fabric 21 are sewn in a circular shape at the central connecting portion 14B. Is done. The connecting member 14 is connected to the front surface of the outer bag 20 through the first flow port 31 of the inner bag 30, and before the airbag 10 is inflated, the front base fabric 35 and the rear base fabric 36 are connected in the inner bag 30. Arranged between.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the inner bag 30 before being inflated. In FIG. 4, members in the inner bag 30 are indicated by dotted lines.
As shown in the figure, the pair of discharge cylinders 40 is provided with a folded portion 43 and a discharge port 41, respectively. The tip of the discharge tube 40 is folded back inside the discharge tube 40. As a result, the folded portion 43 is formed in the protruding end portion 42 of the discharge tube 40. The discharge port 41 is formed at the tip of the discharge tube 40 and is provided in the folded portion 43 of the discharge tube 40. The folding portion 43 positions the discharge port 41 in the discharge tube 40.

The connecting member 14 is disposed between the folded portions 43 of the pair of discharge tubes 40 in the inner bag 30, and is connected to the distal end portion of the folded portion 43 in the discharge tube 40 to block the distal end portion of the folded portion 43. Yes. The connecting member 14 is linearly arranged between the pair of folded portions 43 and without slack, and is coupled to the front surface of the outer bag 20 at an intermediate position between the pair of folded portions 43. The connecting member 14 passes through the inner bag 30 and connects the folded portion 43 in the pair of discharge tubes 40 to the front surface of the outer bag 20.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by Y of the inner bag 30 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows the protruding end 42 of one discharge cylinder 40. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the discharge tube 40 before the folded portion 43 is formed. FIG. 5B is a plan view of the discharge tube 40 after the folded portion 43 is formed. FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of the discharge tube 40 as viewed in the direction of arrows Z1-Z1 in FIG. 5B.

The

base fabrics

35 and 36 of the inner bag 30 are formed in a trapezoidal shape at the tip of the discharge tube 40 as shown in the figure. The entire edges of the base fabrics 35 and 36 (including the trapezoidal portion) are joined, and the edges of the discharge tube 40 are closed. Next, the front end portion of the discharge cylinder 40 is folded back by inverting the front end portion of the discharge cylinder 40 into the discharge cylinder 40. The folded portion 43 of the discharge tube 40 has a tapered shape and is disposed in the discharge tube 40.

The folded portion 43 of the discharge tube 40 has a pair of facing portions (facing surfaces) 44 that are disposed to face each other in the discharge tube 40. The tip of the discharge tube 40 is folded back so that the pair of opposed portions 44 overlap. The pair of opposed portions 44 are respectively composed of the

base fabrics

35 and 36 of the folded portion 43 and are sandwiched between the

base fabrics

35 and 36 of the discharge tube 40. The discharge port 41 includes a pair of through holes 45 formed in the same circular shape that penetrates the opposing portions 44 formed in the pair of opposing portions 44. The pair of through holes 45 are formed at the same position and the same size in the pair of opposed portions 44.

When the front end portion of the discharge cylinder 40 is folded back along the fold line T, the pair of through holes 45 are arranged at predetermined positions apart from but close to the fold line T of the discharge cylinder 40 and discharged together with the pair of opposed portions 44. Overlap in the cylinder 40. As a result, the entire pair of through holes 45 overlap in the discharge tube 40. When a pair of opposing part 44 leaves | separates around the through-hole 45, a part or whole of a pair of through-hole 45 leaves | separates. Thereby, a space between the pair of through holes 45 is opened, and a discharge port 41 is formed in the folded portion 43 in the discharge tube 40. When the inner bag 30 is inflated, the discharge tube 40 discharges gas only from the discharge port 41.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the inner bag 30 after being inflated. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the protruding end 42 of the discharge tube 40. In FIG. 7, the discharge cylinder 40 is shown corresponding to FIG. 5C.
When the inner bag 30 is inflated, gas is filled into the air chamber 34 between the

base fabrics

35 and 36 as shown in FIG. The inner bag 30 expands from a planar shape to a three-dimensional shape.

The pair of discharge tubes 40 expands from the base end portion 46 on the main body expansion portion 37 side to the protruding end portion 42. Due to the expansion of the discharge cylinder 40, the pair of facing portions 44 and the pair of through holes 45 are separated so as to open outward from the discharge cylinder 40, and the discharge cylinder 40 discharges gas from the discharge port 41 of the folded portion 43 ( (See FIG. 7A). That is, when the inner bag 30 is inflated, the folded portion 43 is pushed outward of the discharge tube 40 by the gas pressure. Since the pair of folded portions 43 pulls the connecting member 14 between them with the same force, the connecting member 14 pulls the pair of folded portions 43 that are pushed outward of the discharge tube 40. By pulling the folded portion 43 toward the base end portion 46 side by the connecting member 14, the folded portion 43 and the discharge port 41 for discharging the gas are maintained in the discharge cylinder 40, and the folded portion 43 is outside the discharge cylinder 40 by the pressure of the gas. It is also prevented from being pushed out.

As the outer bag 20 expands, the connecting member 14 is pulled by the outer bag 20 and gradually pulled out from the expanded inner bag 30. Accordingly, the connecting member 14 pulls the folded portion 43 of the discharge tube 40 and the discharge port 41 for discharging the gas. When the connecting member 14 pulls the folded portion 43 and the discharge port 41 into the inside (the base end portion 46 side) of the discharge tube 40 (see FIG. 7B), the discharge port 41 becomes gradually smaller and the gas discharge amount decreases. To do. When the connecting member 14 further retracts the folded portion 43, the pair of opposed portions 44 and the pair of through holes 45 overlap in the discharge cylinder 40, and when the folded portion 43 is pulled to a predetermined position in the discharge cylinder 40, The facing portion 44 overlaps within the discharge tube 40 and the discharge port 41 is closed (see FIG. 7C). At that time, the pair of opposed portions 44 around the through hole 45 are brought into close contact with each other by the pressure of the gas in the discharge cylinder 40 to close the pair of through holes 45, and the discharge cylinder 40 discharges the gas from the discharge port 41. To stop.

As described above, the connecting member 14 displaces the folded portion 43 in the discharge cylinder 40, and thereby discharges the gas from the discharge port 41 of the discharge cylinder 40 (open state) (see FIG. 7A) and the gas. Is switched between a state in which the discharge of the gas is stopped (closed state) (see FIG. 7C). In a state immediately after the discharge port 41 is switched from the open state to the closed state (see FIG. 7B), gas is discharged from the discharge port 41 according to the situation of the airbag 10. Even after the discharge port 41 is completely closed, when the connecting member 14 is returned into the inner bag 30, the discharge port 41 is opened again by the pressure of the gas.

Next, the manufacturing procedure of the airbag apparatus 1 (refer FIG. 3) is demonstrated.
Regarding the outer bag 20, first, the reinforcing cover 15 is sewn to the outer surface of the rear base fabric 22 (the sewn portion is indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 3). Next, the outer surfaces of the

base fabrics

21 and 22 are overlapped to sew the

base fabrics

21 and 22 along the outer periphery, and then the

base fabrics

21 and 22 are reversed through the attachment port 11. In addition, in FIG. 3, the arrangement | positioning state of each member after inverting the outer bag 20 and the inner bag 30 is shown.

With respect to the inner bag 30, first, the protective cloth 13 is sewn on the inner surface of the rear base cloth 36, and then the outer surfaces of the

base cloths

35 and 36 are overlapped to sew the

base cloths

35 and 36 along the edges. . Further, both end portions 14 A of the connecting member 14 are joined to both end portions of the inner bag 30. Thereafter, the

base fabrics

35 and 36 are reversed through the attachment port 11, and the connecting member 14 is disposed in the inner bag 30. The discharge tube 40 (see FIG. 4) is disposed so as to protrude outward from the inner bag 30. The leading end of the discharge tube 40 is folded inward to form a folded portion 43 in the discharge tube 40.

Subsequently, the cushion ring 4 (see FIG. 3) is inserted into the inner bag 30 from the attachment port 11, and the four bolts 4 B of the cushion ring 4 are inserted into the four insertion holes 12 of the inner bag 30. The inner bag 30 and the cushion ring 4 are put into the outer bag 20 from the attachment port 11 of the outer bag 20, the main body inflating portion 37 and the outer bag 20 are arranged concentrically, and the inner bag 30 and the outer bag 20 are cushioned. Temporarily fix with the bolt 4B of the ring 4. Moreover, the position of each attachment port 11 and the 1st distribution port 31 of the inner bag 30 is match | combined, In that state, the connection part 14B of the connection member 14 is an outer bag inside the attachment port 11 and the 1st distribution port 31. Sewing to 20 front base fabrics 21. The pair of discharge cylinders 40 are respectively inserted into the reinforcing cover 15 through the passage ports 25, and the projecting end portions 42 of the discharge cylinders 40 are arranged outside the outer bag 20.

Next, the airbag 10 including the inner bag 30 and the outer bag 20 is attached to the reaction plate 5 by the cushion ring 4. Subsequently, the inflator 3 is attached to the reaction plate 5 and the lock nut 6 is fitted into the bolt 4B. As a result, the cushion ring 4, the airbag 10, and the inflator 3 are fixed to the reaction plate 5. Next, the airbag 10 is folded and placed in the reaction plate 5. However, the airbag 10 may be folded in advance before being fixed to the reaction plate 5.

Finally, the airbag cover 2 (not shown in FIG. 3) is attached to the reaction plate 5 to complete the manufacture of the airbag device 1. The airbag device 1 is attached to a steering wheel 90 (see FIG. 1). Thereafter, when the inflator 3 is operated during vehicle emergency or impact detection, the inflator 3 generates gas. With this gas, the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed so as to cover the steering wheel 90 while eliminating the folding.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view sequentially illustrating the airbag 10 that is inflated and deployed. In FIG. 8, the airbag 10 of each step is shown corresponding to FIG.
At the initial stage of deployment of the airbag 10, first, the inner bag 30 is inflated in the outer bag 20 by the gas supplied from the inflator 3 (see FIG. 8A). The discharge tube 40 expands from a portion inside the outer bag 20 to a protruding end portion 42 outside the outer bag 20 (see FIG. 8B). The passage port 25 of the outer bag 20 is expanded by the discharge tube 40, and the discharge port 41 of the folded portion 43 is also opened in the discharge tube 40. The inner bag 30 directly discharges the gas generated by the inflator 3 from the discharge port 41 to the outside of the airbag 10, thereby suppressing the expansion of the inner bag 30 and the airbag 10.

Since both end portions 14 A of the connecting member 14 are pulled by the folded portions 43 of the pair of discharge cylinders 40, the connecting member 14 is held in the inner bag 30. At the same time, the pair of folded portions 43 are pulled inward of the discharge tube 40 by the connecting member 14, and the folded portions 43 and the discharge port 41 are held in the discharge tube 40. The discharge cylinder 40 discharges the gas from the discharge port 41 to the outside of the outer bag 20.

The connecting member 14 applies tension to the front surface of the outer bag 20 (the connecting portion 14B), pulls the front surface in the direction opposite to the occupant direction E (the vehicle body direction), prevents the front surface of the outer bag 20 from moving, Stop moving in occupant direction E. That is, the movement of the front surface of the outer bag 20 in the occupant direction E is restricted by the connecting member 14 and the inner bag 30. Further, since the expansion and deployment of the outer bag 20 are restricted by the tension received from the connecting member 14, the outer bag 20 expands sideways and then gradually expands in the occupant direction E. As a result, the outer bag 20 is restrained from expanding and protruding in the occupant direction E, and greatly expands laterally with respect to the occupant direction E. That is, the central portion of the airbag 10 is inflated to a predetermined thickness without protruding in the occupant direction E due to the expansion of the outer bag 20.

The outer bag 20 starts to expand by the gas supplied from the flow ports 31 to 33 of the inner bag 30 (only the first flow port 31 is shown in FIG. 12). At that time, since the connecting member 14 restricts the expansion of the outer bag 20 in the passenger direction E, the outer bag 20 expands preferentially to the side. The outer bag 20 is expanded over a wide area so as to spread outward, and is inflated evenly laterally around the inner bag 30. Next, as the internal pressure of the outer bag 20 increases, the outer bag 20 expands in the passenger direction E, and the thickness of the outer bag 20 increases.

The inflated inner bag 30 causes gas to flow out from the distribution ports 31 to 33 and supply the gas to the entire outer bag 20. As a result, the internal pressure of the outer bag 20 gradually increases, and the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the inner bag 30 decreases. Along with this, the strength for maintaining the rigidity and the inflated shape of the inner bag 30 decreases, and the inner bag 30 gradually contracts due to the outflow of gas, and the volume and the outer diameter thereof decrease. As the outer bag 20 is inflated, the connecting member 14 is pulled in the occupant direction E by the front surface of the outer bag 20, and is gradually pulled out from the inflated inner bag 30 to the occupant direction E through the first circulation port 31. (See FIG. 8C).

The connecting member 14 gradually moves the front surface of the outer bag 20 in the occupant direction E while being drawn out of the inner bag 30, and draws the folded portion 43 and the discharge port 41 inward of the discharge tube 40. The folded portion 43 is gradually drawn deeper into the discharge tube 40 (inner bag 30), and the folded portion 43 around the discharge port 41 is brought into close contact with the discharge tube 40 due to the pressure of the gas. 41 closes. The connecting member 14 closes the discharge port 41 through which the gas is discharged by the folded portion 43, and stops the discharge of the gas through the discharge port 41.

The front surface of the outer bag 20 moves in the occupant direction E according to the pulling amount of the connecting member 14, and the outer bag 20 gradually inflates in the occupant direction E accordingly. The connecting member 14 pulls the folded portion 43 of the expanded discharge tube 40 and pulls the discharge tube 40 into the inner bag 30. The discharge tube 40 is deformed into the inner bag 30, is gradually reversed, and moves toward the outside of the reinforcing cover 15 (inside the outer bag 20) by pulling the connecting member 14. Subsequently, the discharge tube 40 is drawn into the outer bag 20 through the passage port 25 (see FIG. 8D). The discharge cylinder 40 moves out of the reinforcing cover 15, and when the reinforcing cover 15 comes into close contact with the rear surface of the outer bag 20, the passage opening 25 is closed by the reinforcing cover 15. At the same time, the opening hole 15A of the reinforcing cover 15 overlaps the vent hole 24, and the gas in the outer bag 20 is discharged out of the outer bag 20 from the vent hole 24 and the opening hole 15A.

The connecting member 14 is pulled out of the inner bag 30 while the discharge tube 40 and the inner bag 30 are contracted. At that time, since the deformation of the inner bag 30 and the discharge cylinder 40 is suppressed by the expansion force, resistance is added to the connecting member 14. This resistance is a force that prevents the connection member 14 from being pulled out, and is generated by a force for contracting the inner bag 30 or a force for retracting the discharge tube 40. Accordingly, a stable resistance is added to the front surface of the outer bag 20 by the connecting member 14 and the inner bag 30 from the initial deployment stage to the late stage of the outer bag 20.

Since the pulling of the connecting member 14 is suppressed by the resistance received from the inner bag 30, the connecting member 14 is gradually pulled out from the inner bag 30. As a result, the connecting member 14 gradually moves the front surface of the outer bag 20 with tension applied to the front surface of the outer bag 20. Since the front surface of the outer bag 20 moves stably, the outer bag 20 expands gradually and thickly without causing partial protrusion or high-speed protrusion. Thus, the outer bag 20 is inflated and deployed stably.

When the connecting member 14 is pulled out, the outer bag 20 is completely inflated and deployed in front of the occupant (see FIG. 8E). The connecting member 14 and the inner bag 30 are stretched between the front surface and the rear surface of the outer bag 20, function as a tether belt between the front surface and the rear surface of the outer bag 20, and stop the front surface of the outer bag 20. The expansion of the outer bag 20 is restricted by the connecting member 14 and the inner bag 30 and expands to a predetermined thickness, and the front surface thereof is disposed at a predetermined position in front of the occupant.

The airbag device 1 receives and protects an occupant with an outer bag 20 (airbag 10) at each stage of inflation. The airbag 10 mainly receives and restrains the upper body of the occupant and absorbs the impact and energy, thereby reducing the occupant's impact. When the airbag 10 receives the occupant, the gas in the outer bag 20 is discharged from the vent hole 24 and the opening hole 15A, thereby reducing the impact of the occupant.

As described above, in the airbag device 1 according to the present embodiment, the airbag 10 can be prevented from projecting toward the passenger, and the airbag 10 can be stably inflated and deployed. Since the airbag 10 can be prevented from striking the occupant vigorously, the impact received by the occupant can be reduced. Even when the occupant approaches the steering wheel 90, the impact received by the occupant can be greatly reduced. When the connecting member 14 pulls the expanded discharge tube 40, a large resistance is applied to the connecting member 14 from the discharge tube 40. As a result, the movement of the front surface of the outer bag 20 can be reliably and firmly restricted by the connecting member 14.

Since the partial protrusion of the airbag 10 is suppressed, the front surface of the airbag 10 moves in a relatively flat state. Therefore, an occupant can be received in a wide area of the airbag 10 and can be safely restrained. Since the airbag 10 is gradually inflated in the occupant direction E, the expansion and contraction of the airbag 10 in the thickness direction is suppressed after the completion of the inflation. As a result, the bounce of the airbag 10 is reduced. Since the inflation shape of the airbag 10 and the position of the front surface are stabilized at an early stage, the performance of the airbag 10 is stabilized. Even immediately after the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed, the occupant can be safely restrained. When the occupant comes into contact, an effective absorption stroke can always be ensured in the airbag 10, so that the impact and energy of the occupant can be reliably absorbed.

The connecting member 14 and the inner bag 30 function as a tether belt, whereby the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed to a set thickness and shape, and fluctuations after the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed are also suppressed. Moreover, since the expansion | swelling of the passenger | crew direction E of the airbag 10 can be restrict | limited, the safety | security with respect to the passenger | crew of the airbag 10 can be improved. When only the inner bag 30 is used as a tether belt without providing the connecting member 14, it is necessary to enlarge the inner bag 30 in order to secure the thickness of the airbag 10, but in this embodiment, the connecting member 14 is used. By providing, even with the small inner bag 30, the airbag 10 can be inflated to a required thickness.

The occupant can be safely protected by the airbag 10 that is inflated as described above. Moreover, since the airbag 10 can respond to the difference in the state of the occupant sitting in the driver's seat, the occupant in each state can be protected.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing the airbag apparatus 1 that protects the occupant. FIG. 9 shows two passengers 91 (91A, 91B) having a difference in physique.

When a large occupant 91A (see FIG. 9A) sits in the driver's seat 92, the occupant 91A positions the driver's seat 92 behind the vehicle, so the distance L1 between the occupant 91A and the airbag device 1 becomes longer. When a small occupant 91B (see FIG. 9B) sits in the driver's seat 92, the occupant 91B positions the driver's seat 92 in front of the vehicle, and therefore the distance L2 between the occupant 91B and the airbag device 1 is shortened. Accordingly, the small occupant 91B contacts the airbag 10 at an earlier timing than the large occupant 91A.

According to the present embodiment, when the airbag 10 is inflated, a dangerous protrusion (indicated by a dotted line in FIGS. 9C and 9D) is prevented from occurring in the airbag 10. The airbag 10 is gradually inflated in the occupant direction E so that the front surface of the airbag 10 remains flat. Therefore, the passengers 91 A and 91 B are appropriately received by the airbag 10 without being damaged by the protrusion of the airbag 10. The large occupant 91A (see FIG. 9C) is protected by contacting the normally inflated airbag 10.

The small occupant 91B (see FIG. 9D) is protected by contacting the airbag 10 in the middle of inflation and deployment. The small occupant 91 B contacts the fully inflated airbag 10 and the planar airbag 10. Therefore, the small passenger 91 B is safely protected by the airbag 10. Thus, regardless of the state of the

occupants

91A and 91B, the airbag 10 can protect the

occupants

91A and 91B without harming them. In this airbag 10, since the performance which restrains passenger |

crew

91A, 91B is high and high initial restraint performance is obtained especially, passenger |

crew

91A, 91B can be restrained safely.

Outer bag 20 is quickly inflated to the side and deployed over a wide range in a short time. Therefore, even when the occupant 91 enters the airbag 10 at a high speed, the occupant 91 can be reliably received by the airbag 10. When the occupant 91 enters the airbag 10 being deployed, the occupant 91 is also received by the inner bag 30 that maintains a high internal pressure, and the inner bag 30 absorbs the impact and energy of the occupant 91. The inner bag 30 can also prevent the occupant 91 from hitting the steering wheel 90.

The outer bag 20 is inflated in preference to the side, with the connecting member 14 restricting the expansion in the passenger direction E. Therefore, even when the occupant 91 is close to the airbag 10, it is possible to prevent the occupant 91 from being damaged by the protrusion of the airbag 10. Even when the occupant 91 is in close contact with the steering wheel 90, the outer bag 20 is inflated laterally from a slight space between the occupant 91 and the steering wheel 90 generated by the expansion of the inner bag 30. Thus, the airbag 10 is deployed between the occupant 91 and the steering wheel 90, and the occupant 91 is protected by the airbag 10.

When the occupant 91 is in contact with (or close to) the airbag apparatus 1, the occupant 91 contacts the airbag 10 at an early stage (see FIG. 8B). Thus, even when the occupant 91 is in the OOP (Out Of Position) state, the occupant 91 in an abnormal riding posture can be protected by the airbag 10. When the occupant 91 contacts the airbag 10, the gas supplied from the inflator 3 is discharged out of the outer bag 20 from the discharge port 41 of the discharge tube 40. Thereby, the expansion | swelling to the passenger | crew direction E of the airbag 10 is suppressed. The energy supplied to the airbag 10 is also reduced. Therefore, the impact that the occupant 91 receives from the airbag 10 is reduced.

The gas supplied from the inflator 3 passes through the discharge cylinder 40 and is efficiently discharged at a high speed. Therefore, a large amount of gas can be discharged from the discharge port 41 in a short time. Even when the discharge port 41 is small, a sufficient gas discharge amount can be secured. As a result, it is possible to suppress injury to the passenger 91 in the OOP state. When the occupant 91 is not in the OOP state, the discharge port 41 is closed as the outer bag 20 expands. By stopping the gas discharge, the amount of gas supplied to the outer bag 20 is increased, and the occupant 91 is protected by the outer bag 20 that is greatly inflated and deployed.

While the gas is discharged from the discharge port 41, the folded portion 43 and the discharge port 41 are held in the discharge tube 40 by the connecting member 14 (see FIG. 7). The connecting member 14 draws the folded portion 43 inward of the discharge cylinder 40 and causes the folded portion 43 to close the discharge port 41. Since the discharge port 41 can be closed by displacing the folded portion 43 within the discharge tube 40, the displacement distance of the folded portion 43 required for closing the discharge port 41 is shortened. As a result, the time taken to stop the gas discharge can be shortened. The response of the closing mechanism of the discharge port 41 is also improved. In particular, the time taken to stop the gas discharge is significantly shortened as compared with a discharge cylinder that does not have the folded portion 43.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a discharge tube 110 of a comparative example. FIG. 10A is a plan view showing the protruding end portion 111 of the discharge cylinder 110. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the discharge tube 110 viewed along the line Z2-Z2 in FIG. 10A. 10C to 10E are cross-sectional views of the expanded discharge cylinder 110. FIG.
The discharge port 112 of the discharge tube 110 includes a non-joined portion provided at the tip of the discharge tube 110 as illustrated. The connecting member 113 is joined to the opening of the discharge tube 110, and the discharge tube 110 discharges gas from the discharge port 112 (see FIG. 10C).

When the leading end of the discharge tube 110 is pulled into the discharge tube 110 (see FIG. 10D), the connecting member 113 is inverted. The discharge port 112 is closed when the tip of the discharge tube 110 comes into close contact with the discharge tube 110 (see FIG. 10E). In the discharge cylinder 110 of the comparative example, when stopping the gas discharge, it is necessary to greatly displace the tip of the discharge cylinder 110 from the outside to the inside of the discharge cylinder 110. Therefore, the time taken to stop the gas discharge becomes longer according to the displacement distance of the tip of the discharge tube 110.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment (see FIG. 7), when the airbag 10 starts to be inflated, the gas is discharged outside the airbag 10 to suppress the inflation of the airbag 10 and the gas discharge is stopped in a short time. it can. As a result, gas can be used effectively. When the occupant 91 is not in the OOP state, the internal pressure of the outer bag 20 can be quickly increased. By closing the discharge port 41, the resistance applied from the folded portion 43 to the connecting member 14 increases, and the movement of the front surface of the outer bag 20 is restricted from an early stage. The total length of the inner bag 30 can be shortened by folding back the tip of the discharge tube 40.

When the occupant 91 is received by the airbag 10 inflated to some extent, the gas is discharged from the discharge port 41 as necessary (see FIG. 7B). Thereby, the impact of the passenger | crew 91 is relieved. While the folded portion 43 is drawn into the discharge cylinder 40, the occupant 91 may enter the airbag 10 (see FIG. 8C). At that time, the connecting member 14 is returned into the inner bag 30. The folded portion 43 is pushed by the gas, and the closed discharge port 41 is opened. The airbag 10 discharges gas from the exhaust port 41 opened again, and absorbs the impact and energy of the occupant 91.

When connecting the connecting member 14 to the folded portion 43 of the pair of discharge cylinders 40, the pair of folded portions 43 can be pulled by one connecting member 14. The connecting member 14 between the pair of folded portions 43 can also pull the pair of folded portions 43 evenly. Since the pair of folded portions 43 attracts the connecting member 14, the position of the pair of folded portions 43 is stabilized in the discharge tube 40. Since the leading end portion of the folded portion 43 is pulled by the band-shaped connecting member 14, the state of the folded portion 43 can be stabilized. The discharge port 41 can be easily and reliably closed by overlapping the pair of opposed portions 44 of the folded portion 43 and closing the discharge port 41.

The initial deployment thickness of the airbag 10 can be set by the thickness of the inner bag 30 when inflated. Depending on the distance between the occupant 91 and the airbag apparatus 1, the danger of the occupant 91 can be avoided by reducing the initial thickness of the airbag 10. Thereafter, the connecting member 14 is pulled out from the inner bag 30, and the outer bag 20 is completely inflated. The airbag 10 exhibits the maximum absorption stroke with respect to the occupant 91. When the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed, first, the inner bag 30 is inflated. Subsequently, after the outer bag 20 is expanded laterally, the outer bag 20 is completely expanded. Meanwhile, since the airbag 10 is gradually inflated while maintaining a sufficient internal pressure, the passenger 91 can be restrained safely by the airbag 10.

Next, another embodiment of the discharge port 41 will be described.
11 to 13 are plan views showing a discharge tube 40 provided with a discharge port according to another embodiment. 11 to 13 show the discharge tube 40 before the folded portion 43 is formed. The discharge cylinder 40 shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 is different only in the discharge port.

In the discharge cylinder 40 shown in FIG. 11A, the discharge port 41 is composed of a pair of through holes 50 formed in a semicircular shape. By making the through hole 50 a semicircular shape, the discharge port 41 is closed earlier than the circular through hole 45.
In the discharge tube 40 shown in FIG. 11B, the discharge port 41 is composed of a pair of through holes 51 formed in a trapezoidal shape. Thus, the pair of through holes can be formed in various shapes that can discharge gas.

In the discharge cylinder 40 shown in FIG. 11C, the discharge port 41 includes a pair of through holes 52 formed in a circular shape. The pair of opposed portions 44 overlap in the discharge tube 40 with the pair of through holes 52 being shifted. Thereby, the area of the discharge port 41 and the amount of gas discharged from the discharge port 41 can be adjusted.

11D, the discharge port 41 includes a pair of through holes 53 formed in a circular shape. A plurality of pairs of through holes 53 are formed in the pair of opposed portions 44. By providing a plurality of pairs of through holes 53, each through hole 53 can be made small. As a result, the through hole 53 is difficult to deform. Since the shape of the through hole 53 can be maintained during gas discharge, the gas can be discharged reliably. Gas emission can be stabilized.

In the discharge cylinder 40 shown in FIG. 12A, the discharge port 41 includes a pair of through holes 54 formed in a circular shape. The pair of through holes 54 are partitioned into a plurality (here, two) by partition members 54A. The partition member 54A makes it difficult for the through hole 54 to be deformed, so that the shape of the through hole 54 can be maintained during gas discharge. Therefore, the gas can be reliably discharged from the through hole 54. Gas emission can be stabilized.

In the discharge cylinder 40 shown in FIG. 12B, the discharge port 41 is composed of a pair of through holes 55 formed in a semicircular shape. The through hole 55 is partitioned by a partition member 55A. The shape of the through hole 55 can be maintained by the partition member 55A.
In the discharge cylinder 40 shown in FIG. 12C, the discharge port 41 includes a pair of through holes 56 formed in a trapezoidal shape. The through hole 56 is partitioned by a partition member 56A. The shape of the through hole 56 can be maintained by the partition member 56A.

In the discharge tube 40 shown in FIG. 13A, the discharge port 41 includes an opening 60. The opening 60 is an arc-shaped hole, and is formed at the side edge portions (here, both side edge portions) of the pair of facing portions 44. When the gas is discharged, the opening 60 is expanded. The opening 60 is closed by overlapping the pair of facing portions 44. When the discharge port 41 includes the opening 60, the effect of maintaining the shape of the discharge port 41 during gas discharge is obtained. Therefore, gas can be reliably discharged from the discharge port 41. Gas emission can be stabilized.

In the discharge cylinder 40 shown in FIG. 13B, the discharge port 41 includes an opening 61. The opening 61 is a notch and is formed at the side edge of the pair of opposed portions 44. When the discharge port 41 includes the opening 61, the effect of maintaining the shape of the discharge port 41 during gas discharge is obtained.
In the discharge cylinder 40 shown in FIG. 13C, the discharge port 41 includes a slit-shaped opening 62. The opening 62 includes a non-joined portion provided at the side edge of the pair of opposed portions 44. When the discharge port 41 includes the opening 62, the effect of maintaining the shape of the discharge port 41 during gas discharge is obtained.

In the present embodiment, the airbag device 1 for a driver's seat has been described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to an airbag device for a passenger's seat and other airbag devices. Further, the connecting member 14 (see FIG. 3) may be a member other than a belt-like member (for example, a string or a ribbon). The connecting member 14 may be connected to the outer bag 20 through another opening of the inner bag 30 without passing through the first flow port 31. However, if the connecting member 14 is connected to the outer bag 20 through the first flow port 31, work and man-hours for forming other openings can be reduced.

The discharge tube 40 may be disposed outside the outer bag 20 through the vent hole 24. When the vent hole 24 is used as a passage port for the discharge tube 40, it is not necessary to form the passage port 25 in the outer bag 20. Therefore, the work and man-hours for forming the passage port 25 can be reduced. The protruding end portion 42 of the discharge tube 40 may be disposed between the reinforcing cover 15 and the outer bag 20. One or three or more discharge cylinders 40 may be provided in the inner bag 30. The main body inflating portion 37 of the inner bag 30 may be formed in various shapes (for example, a spherical shape, an ellipsoid shape, or a pyramid shape).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Airbag apparatus, 2 ... Airbag cover, 3 ... Inflator, 4 ... Cushion ring, 5 ... Reaction plate, 6 ... Lock nut, 10 ... Air bag, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Attachment port, 12 ... Insertion hole, 13 ... Protective cloth, 14 ... Connection member, 15 ... Reinforcement cover, 20 ... Outer bag, 21 ... Front base fabric, 22 ... rear base fabric, 23 ... air chamber, 24 ... vent hole, 25 ... passage port, 30 ... inner bag, 31-33 ... distribution port, 34 ... air Chamber, 35 ... front base fabric, 36 ... back base fabric, 37 ... main body expansion part, 40 ... discharge cylinder, 41 ... discharge port, 42 ... projecting end part, 43 ... -Folded part, 44 ... Opposite part, 45 ... Through hole, 46 ... Base end part, 50-56 ... Through hole 60-62 ... opening, 90 ... steering wheel, 91 ... passenger, 92 ... driver's seat.

Claims

An airbag device for protecting a vehicle occupant,
An inflator for supplying gas;
An inner bag having a gas distribution port and inflated by the gas supplied from the inflator;
An outer bag containing the inner bag and inflated by the gas supplied from the distribution port;
A discharge cylinder that is arranged from the inner bag to the outside of the outer bag through a passage port formed in the outer bag, and discharges the gas in the inner bag from the discharge port to the outside of the outer bag;
A folded portion where the tip of the discharge tube is folded inward and provided with a discharge port;
Connecting the folded portion through the inner bag to the front surface of the outer bag, and holding the folded portion and a discharge port for discharging gas in the discharge cylinder,
As the outer bag is inflated, the connecting member is pulled out from the inflated inner bag to move the front surface of the outer bag toward the occupant, and the folded portion and the discharge port are drawn inward of the discharge tube to close the discharge port. Air bag device to let you.
In the airbag apparatus described in Claim 1,
The inner bag has a pair of discharge tubes each provided with a folded portion and a discharge port,
An airbag device in which the connecting member is disposed between the folded portions of the pair of discharge tubes in the inner bag, and connects the folded portions of the pair of discharge tubes to the front surface of the outer bag.
In the airbag apparatus described in Claim 1 or 2,
The folded portion has a pair of facing portions disposed facing each other in the discharge cylinder;
An airbag device that overlaps within a discharge tube and closes a discharge port when a pair of opposing portions are drawn inward of the discharge tube.
In the airbag apparatus described in Claim 3,
An airbag device comprising a pair of through holes, each having a discharge port formed in a pair of opposing portions and overlapping in a discharge cylinder.
In the airbag apparatus described in Claim 4,
An airbag device in which a pair of opposing portions overlap each other by shifting a pair of through holes in a discharge cylinder.
In the airbag apparatus described in Claim 4 or 5,
An airbag device in which a through hole is partitioned into a plurality of portions by a partition member.
The airbag device according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
An airbag device in which a plurality of pairs of through holes are formed in a pair of opposing portions.
In the airbag apparatus described in Claim 3,
The airbag apparatus which a discharge port consists of an opening formed in the side edge part of a pair of opposing part.
In the airbag apparatus described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 8,
An airbag device comprising a band-shaped member in which a connecting member is connected to a distal end portion of a folded portion and pulls the distal end portion of the folded portion inward of the discharge tube.
The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The airbag apparatus with which the connection member was connected with the front surface of the outer bag through the circulation port of the inner bag.