WO2018179844A1

WO2018179844A1 - Side airbag device

Info

Publication number: WO2018179844A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/003862
Authority: WO
Inventors: 哲哉岩田; 真孝福田; 輝幸浅田; 鈴木　秀典
Original assignee: オートリブディベロップメントエービー; 哲哉岩田; 真孝福田; 輝幸浅田; 鈴木　秀典
Priority date: 2017-03-27
Filing date: 2018-02-05
Publication date: 2018-10-04
Also published as: JPWO2018179844A1; JP6748293B2

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a side airbag device which employs a three-dimensionally deployable airbag, and which has a simple structure and can reliably discharge gas when a passenger contacts the deployed airbag. [Solution] This side airbag device has an airbag which is accommodated in a vehicle seat and protects a passenger by being inflated and deployed, wherein the airbag includes: a front panel that faces the vehicle front side during inflation and deployment; and a side panel connected to the side of the front panel. In addition, in the front panel, a slit is formed along the direction in which tension is applied during inflation and deployment.

Description

Side airbag device

The present invention relates to a side airbag device that protects an occupant by deploying at a seat side portion of a vehicle.

It is well known to provide a vehicle with one or more airbags to protect passengers in the event of a vehicle accident. As an airbag, for example, a so-called driver airbag that inflates from the vicinity of the center of a steering wheel of an automobile to protect the driver, an impact in a lateral direction of the vehicle that is deployed downward inside an automobile window, and so on. There are various forms such as a curtain airbag that protects the occupant in the event of a rollover or rollover, and a side airbag that is deployed on the side of the occupant to protect the occupant in the event of a lateral impact. The present invention relates to a side airbag device provided in a vehicle seat.

In a side airbag device, a three-dimensional (three-dimensional) structure may be employed to regulate the deployment shape of the airbag. For example, as described in Patent Document 1 below, a three-dimensional airbag is formed by connecting a plurality of panels.

By the way, in a side airbag apparatus, it is preferable to deploy an airbag at the time of an accident and to restrain an occupant quickly, and to discharge | emit the gas of an airbag and to reduce an internal pressure, when an occupant contacts. In Patent Literature 1, a vertically long seam is formed at the boundary between the front surface and the side surface of the airbag.
However, in the exhaust type as in Patent Document 1, when the occupant comes into contact with the deployed airbag, the seam may not be sufficiently opened and exhaust may be insufficient. Other structures have also been proposed, but all have complicated structures.

International Publication WO2013 / 030995

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and in a side airbag device employing a three-dimensionally deployable airbag, the occupant comes into contact with the deployed airbag while having a simple structure. An object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag device capable of exhausting reliably at times.

(Claim 1)
The present invention that achieves the above object includes a side airbag device having an airbag that is accommodated in a vehicle seat and protects an occupant by inflating and deploying, and the airbag is a front panel that faces the front of the vehicle when inflated and deployed. And a side panel connected to the side of the front panel. A slit is formed in the front panel along a direction in which a tension is applied during expansion and deployment.
In the side airbag device having such a structure, when an occupant collides (contacts) with the side surface of the inflated airbag, the tension on the front panel is loosened, and accordingly, the slit is perpendicular to the tension (generally up and down). The expansion gas is surely discharged to the outside.

(Claim 2)
The left and right edge portions of the front panel may be connected to the side panel.
Thus, by making the side panel and the front panel completely separate members, it becomes easy to control the direction of the tension applied to the front panel when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

(Claim 3)
The front panel can be formed around a position (height) corresponding to at least a passenger's head.
By forming a slit in the front panel arranged and formed in this way, when the occupant's head contacts the airbag, the slit can be opened and the exhaust gas can be discharged reliably. Further, the range of the front panel can be minimized, and the degree of freedom in the configuration of the airbag panel is increased.

(Claim 4)
The front panel may be configured to form the entire front surface of the airbag.
Such a structure makes it easy to maintain the deployed shape of the airbag in a three-dimensional shape, and increases the degree of freedom of the slit forming position. For example, an arrangement in which a slit is added relatively downward for an occupant having a small physique is possible.

(Claim 5)
The front panel can be formed such that at least one of the upper end and the lower end gradually becomes narrower toward the end.
By adopting such a structure, the overall shape of the inflated airbag can be made smoother with fewer protrusions.

(Claim 6)
The slit can be configured to extend substantially horizontally when the airbag is inflated and deployed.
If the slit is inclined obliquely with respect to the horizontal, the direction of the tension applied to the front panel and the direction in which the slit extends will cross, and the slit will not close securely during the process of inflation and deployment of the airbag, and inflation gas will not be closed. There is a risk of leakage.

(Claim 7)
The slit may have a structure extending to the vicinity of the connecting portion with the side panel.
With such a structure, when the occupant collides with the side panel of the inflated airbag, the looseness of the tension of the front panel directly reaches the end of the slit, so that the slit is quickly opened.

(Claim 8)
The slit can be formed at a height corresponding to the head of the passenger.
By adopting such a structure, when the head of an occupant collides with the side panel of the inflated airbag, the drop in the tension of the front panel directly affects the slit, and the slit opens quickly. .

(Claim 9)
A plurality of the slits may be formed, and at least one slit may be formed at a height corresponding to the head of the occupant.
By adopting such a structure, it is possible to appropriately cope with passengers having different physiques. For example, assuming an occupant with a small physique, if a slit is added below the front panel, damage to the occupant can be alleviated more reliably.

(Claim 10)
A reinforcing structure that increases the rigidity of the peripheral portion of the slit can be provided.
By adopting such a structure, when an occupant collides with the side panel of the inflated airbag, the slit formed in the front panel is surely and quickly opened. On the other hand, when the rigidity around the slit is insufficient, even if the tension of the front panel is lowered, the force is hardly transmitted to the slit, and the slit is not sufficiently opened.

(Claim 11)
The reinforcing structure may be sewn along the upper and lower edges of the slit. The sewing referred to here includes “overlock sewing”.
By adopting such a structure, the rigidity around the slit can be increased with a simple configuration.

(Claim 12)
The sewing is preferably crossed at the end of the slit.
With such a configuration, it is possible to ensure sufficient rigidity at the end where the highest rigidity is required. As a result, when an occupant collides with the side panel of the inflated airbag, the slit is more reliably opened.

(Claim 13)
As the reinforcing structure, a reinforcing panel provided so as to overlap the front panel can be employed. In this case, the slit is formed through both the front panel and the reinforcing panel. The rigidity around the slit can be increased by a relatively simple work process.

(Claim 14)
At least one inner panel for connecting the left and right side panels may be provided inside the airbag.
By providing the inner panel in addition to the front panel, the airbag can be easily maintained in a desired three-dimensional shape as a whole.

(Claim 15)
The inner panel can be disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the front panel when the airbag is inflated and deployed.
According to such a structure, a large tension is applied in the left and right direction to reliably restrict the airbag together with the front panel from expanding in the left and right width direction, and the opening and closing function of the slit provided in the front panel Will be fully demonstrated.

(Claims 16 and 17)
The airbag may include a main chamber that restrains an occupant by inflating and deploying, and an inner chamber that is disposed inside the main chamber and contains an inflator that generates inflation gas. An opening that is in fluid communication with the main chamber can be formed in the inner chamber.
Furthermore, a plurality of openings that are in fluid communication with the main chamber are formed in the inner chamber, and the expansion gas that flows out of the plurality of openings is guided to each space partitioned by the inner panel. it can.
By adopting such a configuration, the flow of the inflation gas becomes smooth, which contributes to the improvement of the airbag deployment speed and the stabilization of the deployment shape.

(Claim 18)
The airbag device can be configured to be accommodated in a vehicle inner side portion (the side opposite to the door panel) of the vehicle seat. Such a type of airbag is referred to as, for example, a far side airbag, a front center airbag, a rear center airbag, or the like.
Compared with a side airbag of the type that is deployed on the door panel side of the vehicle, it is necessary to positively regulate the deployment shape of the airbag, and the significance and effect of the present invention become more remarkable.

In the present application, “front” or “front” means the traveling direction of the vehicle, “back” or “rear” means the opposite side of the vehicle traveling direction, and “width direction” means the vehicle direction. It means the horizontal direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the traveling direction, “right” means the right side toward the vehicle traveling direction, “left” means the left side toward the vehicle traveling direction, “inside "Means the center side of the vehicle from the position, and" outside "means the outside of the vehicle from the position (door panel side).

The side airbag according to the present invention is applicable not only to a type that is deployed on the vehicle inner side (center side) of the seat but also to a type that is deployed on the outer side (door side) of the seat.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a side airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state where an airbag is observed from the center side (opposite side of a door panel) of a vehicle. FIG. 2: is the front view (A) and side view (B) which show the expansion | deployment state of the side airbag apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic shape of a panel constituting the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4A and 4B are front views showing the operation of the side airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A shows a state immediately after inflating and deploying, and FIG. 4B shows that the head of the passenger contacts the airbag. Indicates the state of the hour. 5 (A) to 5 (D) are schematic plan views showing other embodiments of the front panel used in the side airbag device according to the present invention. 6 (A) to 6 (E) are schematic plan views showing aspects of the structure around the slit of the front panel used in the side airbag device according to the present invention.

A vehicle seat equipped with a side airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that “front” displayed in each figure is the front of the vehicle (traveling direction), “rear” is the rear of the vehicle (opposite the traveling direction), and “inside” is the inner side of the vehicle width (occupant side) "Outside" indicates the vehicle width direction outside (door panel side).

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the side airbag device according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which the airbag 10 is deployed from the inside in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the side airbag device is accommodated on the side surface (far side) far from the door of the vehicle seat. When viewed as a part, the vehicle seat includes a seat cushion 2 where a passenger sits; a seat back 1 that forms a backrest; and a headrest 3 that is coupled to the upper end of the seat back 1.

A seat back frame (not shown) that forms a skeleton of the seat is provided inside the seat back 1, and a pad made of urethane foam or the like is provided on the surface and the periphery thereof, and the surface of the pad is leather, fabric. Covered by epidermis etc. The seat back 1 includes a side support portion 12 that bulges in the vehicle traveling direction (front of the vehicle) on the side (end) in the vehicle width direction. Inside the side support portion 12, the side airbag device is accommodated in a gap where no urethane pad is disposed.

The side airbag device includes an airbag 10 that restrains an occupant by inflating and deploying; and an inflator 14 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 10 (see FIG. 2). When the airbag 10 starts to expand, the seam of the skin of the seat back 1 is cleaved, and the airbag 10 is deployed toward the front of the side support portion 12.

FIG. 2 is a front view (A) and a side view (B) showing a deployed state of the side airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic shape of a panel constituting the airbag 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

(Airbag structure)
The side airbag 10 according to the present embodiment includes a main chamber 30 that is directly involved in restraining an occupant and a sub chamber 32 that is accommodated in the main chamber 30 and that houses the inflator 14 therein.

The main chamber 30 is formed from one center panel 16 and two

side panels

18R and 18L, as shown in FIG. The outer edge of the center panel 16 and the front edge of the

side panels

18R and 18L are connected by sewing 24. In the portion where the center panel 16 is not interposed, the

side panels

18R and 18L are connected to each other in a bag shape by sewing 22.

The sub-chamber 32 includes three

vent openings

38a, 38b, and 38c for guiding the inflation gas released from the inflator 14 to the main chamber 30.

The inflator 14 can be, for example, a cylindrical cylinder type inflator. A pair of upper and lower stud bolts protrudes from the outer periphery of the inflator 14 toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction. These stud bolts are attached to the side frame by a nut (fastened and fixed). A plurality of gas jets arranged in the circumferential direction are formed in the inflator 14, and gas is jetted radially from the gas jets.

Also, the inflator 14 is electrically connected to an airbag control ECU mounted on the vehicle. A satellite sensor for detecting a side collision is electrically connected to the airbag control ECU. The inflator 14 can be configured to operate when the airbag control ECU detects a side collision based on a signal from the satellite sensor.

Inner baffles 40 and 42 are connected to the inside of the main chamber 30. One

end

40a, 42a of the

inner baffles

40, 42 is connected to the inner surface of the side panel 18R by sewing or the like, and the

other end

40b, 42b is connected to the inner surface of the side panel 18L by sewing or the like. The widths of the

inner baffles

40 and 42 and the width of the front panel 16 can be made substantially the same. This makes it possible to reliably control the thickness of the inflated airbag 10 in the vehicle width direction.

The mounting angle of the

inner baffles

40, 42 is preferably close to the angle of the front panel 16, as shown in FIG. In addition, the

openings

38a, 38b, 38c of the sub-chamber 32 are arranged so as to face the three spaces partitioned in the front-rear direction by the

inner baffles

40, 42, respectively. Thus, the inflation gas can be filled into the main chamber 30 smoothly and quickly.

(Structure of front panel 16)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front panel 16 forms at least a part of the front surface of the airbag 10, and when the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed, tension is applied in the left-right direction of the front panel 16. . The direction of this tension is almost horizontal. A slit 20 is formed along the direction of the tension. The position of the slit 20 in the vertical direction (height direction) is preferably designed so as to correspond to the position where the head of the occupant P contacts (see FIG. 4B).

The shape of the front panel 16 has a uniform width as a whole, but is shaped so as to narrow slightly toward the upper and lower ends. As a result, when the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed, the corners are reduced, and the entire bag is easily filled with gas at a uniform pressure. The inclination in the narrowing direction at the upper end and the lower end of the front panel 16 may be either linear or curved, and the angle can be changed as appropriate.

Further, the length of the front panel 16 in the vertical direction may be formed so as to reach not only a part of the front surface of the airbag 10 but also the upper, lower and rear portions of the

side panels

18R and 18L as in the embodiment. Is possible. By expanding the range (length) of the front panel 16, the thickness of the entire airbag 10 can be easily controlled.

(Airbag deployment)
4A and 4B are front views showing the operation of the side airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A shows a state immediately after inflating and deploying, and FIG. 4B shows that the head of the passenger contacts the airbag. Indicates the state of the hour.

When the vehicle 10 is inflated and the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed, the shape generally becomes as shown in FIG. At this time, the front panel 16 is tensioned in the horizontal direction, and the slit 20 is closed. Thereafter, when the head of the occupant P collides with the side panel 18L, the tension of the front panel 16 decreases, the slit 20 opens, and the gas inside the airbag 10 is discharged to the outside. As a result, the impact on the occupant P by the airbag 10 is reduced.

(Front panel mode)
5 (A) to 5 (D) are schematic plan views showing other embodiments of the front panel used in the side airbag device according to the present invention.

The front panel 116 shown in FIG. 5 (A) is formed in a generally rectangular shape, and a slit 120 is formed at a position corresponding to the head of the occupant P.

The front panel 216 shown in FIG. 5 (B) is generally formed in a rectangular shape, and slits 220H and 220L are formed at a position corresponding to the head of the occupant P and at a position lower than that. For example, the lower slit 220L can effectively exhaust the inflation gas even to a small occupant. In other words, the exhaust operation can be performed without depending on the physique of the passenger.

The front panel 316 shown in FIG. 5C has a shape that narrows toward the lower end, and a slit 320 is formed at a position corresponding to the head of the occupant P.

The front panel 416 shown in FIG. 5D has a slit 420 formed at a position corresponding to the head of the occupant P, and the width becomes narrower from the slit 420 toward the upper end and the lower end.

In any of the front panel 16 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and the

front panels

116, 216, 316, and 416 shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the number of slits is set to two or more. Is possible. In this case, it is preferable to set in consideration of the height of the head of the passenger.

(Slit mode)
6 (A) to 6 (E) are schematic plan views showing an aspect of the structure around the slit 20 of the front panel used in the side airbag device according to the present invention. The slit 20 can be a structure in which the front panel 16 is simply cut or a structure having a slight width (gap). What is important is that when the airbag 10 is inflated and deployed, the front panel 16 is tensioned, whereby both ends of the slit 20 are pulled and closed, and the side panel 18R of the airbag 10 that is inflated and deployed. When the occupant comes into contact with 18L, the slit 20 opens to open the mouth as the tension of the front panel 16 decreases.

The slit 20 shown in FIG. 6A corresponds to that shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and both end portions extend to the vicinity of the connecting portion (sewing line) 24 between the front panel 16 and the

side panels

18R and 18L. But not. If the gap between the end portion of the slit 20 and the coupling portion 24 is too large, the slit 20 is difficult to open. Note that when the airbag 10 is actually inflated and deployed and an occupant enters, the slit 20 may be extended to the coupling portion 24.

6B, both ends of the slit 25 reach the connecting portion (sewing line) 24 between the front panel 16 and the

side panels

18R and 18L.

The slit 20 shown in FIG. 6 (C) is the same as that shown in FIG. 6 (A), but reinforcing sewing (over stitching) 500 is formed along the edge. Both ends of the sewing 500 form an intersection 500a, and the rigidity at the end is increased.

The slit 20 and sewing 500 shown in FIG. 6D are the same as those shown in FIG. 6C, but a reinforcing panel 600 is provided around the slit 20. The reinforcing panel 600 can be formed of the same material as the front panel 16 and can have a structure in which the panel is partially doubled. The reinforcing panel 600 can be provided inside the front panel 16.

The slit 20 shown in FIG. 6 (E) is the same as that shown in FIG. 6 (A), and the reinforcing panel 600 employed in FIG. 6 (D) is provided. That is, the sewing 500 is omitted from the structure shown in FIG.

(Other aspects of the present invention)
In the mode for carrying out the invention, the side airbag on the so-called far side (the side far from the vehicle door of the vehicle seat) has been described mainly, but the near side airbag (the side near the vehicle door of the vehicle seat) or It can also be used for single-seat vehicles such as small mobility vehicles (such as vehicles that include only one seat in a row regardless of whether there is a door) or the like.

Claims

In a side airbag device having an airbag housed in a vehicle seat and protecting an occupant by inflating and deploying,
The airbag includes a front panel facing the front of the vehicle when inflated and deployed, and a side panel connected to a side of the front panel,
The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a slit is formed in the front panel along a direction in which a tension is applied during inflation and deployment.
The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein left and right edge portions of the front panel are connected to the side panel.
The side airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the front panel is formed at least around a position corresponding to an occupant's head.
The side airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the front panel forms the entire front surface of the airbag.
5. The side according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an upper end and a lower end of the front panel is formed so that a width gradually decreases toward the end portion. Airbag device.
The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slit extends substantially horizontally when the airbag is inflated and deployed.
The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the slit extends to the vicinity of a connecting portion with the side panel.
The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the slit is formed at a height corresponding to an occupant's head.
A plurality of the slits are formed,
The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one slit is formed at a height corresponding to a head of an occupant.
The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a reinforcing structure that increases rigidity of a peripheral portion of the slit.
The side airbag device according to claim 10, wherein the reinforcing structure is sewn along upper and lower edges of the slit.
The side airbag device according to claim 11, wherein the sewing intersects in the vicinity of the end of the slit.
The reinforcing structure is a reinforcing panel provided to overlap the front panel,
The side airbag device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the slit is formed so as to penetrate both the front panel and the reinforcing panel.
The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein at least one inner panel that connects the left and right side panels is provided inside the airbag.
The side airbag device according to claim 14, wherein the inner panel is disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the front panel when the airbag is inflated and deployed.
The airbag is inflated and deployed to restrain a passenger, and a main chamber;
An inner chamber disposed inside the main chamber and containing an inflator that generates inflation gas,
The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the inner chamber is formed with an opening in fluid communication with the main chamber.
The airbag is inflated and deployed to restrain a passenger, and a main chamber;
An inner chamber disposed inside the main chamber and containing an inflator that generates inflation gas,
Inside the airbag, at least one inner panel that connects the left and right side panels is provided,
The inner chamber is formed with a plurality of openings that are in fluid communication with the main chamber, and inflation gas that flows out of the openings is guided to each space partitioned by the inner panel. Item 14. The side airbag device according to any one of Items 1 to 13.
The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the airbag device is housed in a vehicle inner portion of the vehicle seat.