JP2015231808A - Airbag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

In an airbag having a second bag portion that is inflated and deployed on the center side in the vehicle width direction, the airbag is stably inflated and deployed. In a folded state of an airbag 40, after the airbag 40 is folded in the front-rear direction, a first folding portion 40A is folded toward the center in the vehicle width direction, and a second folding portion 40B is located outside in the vehicle width direction. Folded to. Here, the folding length L2 of the second folding part 40B is set to be longer than the folding length L1 of the first folding part 40A. For this reason, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 40, the pushed-up height of the second folded portion 40B by the inflated base portion 40C is higher than the pushed-up height of the first folded portion 40A by the inflated base portion 40C. Thus, the second folding part 40B is deployed before the first folding part 40A. Thereby, in the airbag 40 expanded to the center side in the vehicle width direction by the center airbag portion 44, the center airbag portion 44 side can be inflated and deployed first. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag device.

  In the vehicle airbag device described in Patent Document 1 below, the airbag has a pair of bulging portions, and the vehicle is moved from a height portion corresponding to the head or shoulder of the occupant in the pair of bulging portions. A pair of extensions are extended toward the rear side. Thereby, it is possible to restrain the passenger in the passenger seat that moves diagonally forward in the event of an oblique collision of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as an oblique collision). There are other vehicle airbag devices described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 below.

  By the way, in order to improve the restraint property with respect to the passenger | crew who moves diagonally forward at the time of the vehicle's diagonal collision, it is possible to provide the airbag integrally with the 2nd bag part expanded to the vehicle width direction center side.

JP 2012-056371 A JP-A-6-72276 JP-A-6-24282

  However, if the second bag portion is provided in the airbag, the airbag capacity increases toward the center in the vehicle width direction, and the airbag has an asymmetrical shape, making it difficult to stably inflate and deploy the airbag. become.

  In consideration of the above-described facts, the present invention provides a vehicle airbag device that can stably inflate and deploy an airbag in an airbag having a second bag portion that is inflated and deployed on the center side in the vehicle width direction. With the goal.

  The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1 is provided on the back side of the instrument panel, and is stored in a folded state in an inflator that ejects gas by being actuated, and a case provided on the back side of the instrument panel. And a first bag portion that is disposed on the vehicle upper side of the inflator, is inflated and deployed to the front side of the instrument panel upon receiving gas supply from the inflator, and is inflated and deployed on the front side of the occupant's vehicle, and An airbag having a second bag portion that is inflated and deployed on the center side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the first bag portion, and after the airbag is folded in the vehicle front-rear direction in the folded state of the airbag , A first folding part in which the outer part in the vehicle width direction is folded toward the center side in the vehicle width direction, and a second folding part in which the center part in the vehicle width direction is folded toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction When, is formed, folding the length of the second folding portion is set longer than the folded length of the first folding unit.

  In the vehicle airbag device according to the first aspect, the airbag is stored in a folded state in a case provided on the back side of the instrument panel, and an inflator is disposed on the vehicle lower side of the airbag. This airbag has a first bag portion and a second bag portion. When the inflator is activated and the airbag receives gas supply from the inflator, the airbag is inflated and deployed to the front side of the instrument panel. Specifically, the first bag portion is inflated and deployed on the front side of the occupant's vehicle, and the second bag portion is inflated and deployed on the center side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the first bag portion. For this reason, the passenger | crew who tries to move to the vehicle width direction center side diagonally forward at the time of the vehicle's oblique collision can be restrained by the 2nd bag part.

  Further, in the folded state of the airbag, after the airbag is folded in the vehicle front-rear direction, the first folding portion in which the outer portion in the vehicle width direction is folded toward the center side in the vehicle width direction and the central portion in the vehicle width direction are And a second folded portion that is folded outward in the width direction. For this reason, at the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag, a portion (hereinafter referred to as a base portion) between the first folded portion and the second folded portion in the airbag is ahead of the first folded portion and the second folded portion. The first folded portion and the second folded portion are pushed up in the unfolding direction by the expanded base portion. Further, in the expansion of the base portion at this time, the bulge in the center portion in the vehicle width direction of the base portion is larger than the bulges in both side portions in the vehicle width direction of the base portion.

  Here, the folding length of the second folding part is set to be longer than the folding length of the first folding part. For this reason, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag, the push-up height of the second folding part pushed up by the inflated base part is higher than the push-up height of the first folding part pushed up by the inflated base part. It becomes high and acts so that the 2nd folding part expands before the 1st folding part. Thereby, the 2nd bag part side can be inflate-deployed first in an airbag. Therefore, by providing the second bag portion in the airbag, the airbag can be stably inflated and deployed even when the capacity of the airbag increases toward the center in the vehicle width direction.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle airbag device according to the first aspect, wherein the inflator includes a first inflator disposed on a vehicle lower side of the first folding portion, and the second folding portion. A second inflator disposed on the lower side of the vehicle, and a wrap length between the second folded part and the second inflator in plan view is a wrap between the first folded part and the first inflator. It is set larger than the length.

  In the vehicle airbag device according to the second aspect, the inflator includes a first inflator and a second inflator. The 1st inflator is arrange | positioned at the vehicle lower side of the 1st folding part, and the 2nd inflator is arrange | positioned at the vehicle lower side of the 2nd folding part. For this reason, at the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag, the first folding portion is pushed upward mainly by the pressure of the gas ejected from the first inflator, and the first pressure is mainly exerted by the pressure of the gas ejected from the second inflator 62. Two folding parts are pushed up in the unfolding direction.

  Here, the wrap length between the second folded portion and the second inflator in plan view is set to be larger than the wrap length between the first folded portion and the first inflator. For this reason, the area | region which receives the pressure of the gas injected from a 2nd inflator in a 2nd folding part becomes large compared with the area | region which receives the pressure of the gas injected from a 1st inflator in a 1st folding part. Thereby, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag, the push-up force acting on the second foldable portion is larger than the push-up force acting on the first foldable portion, so that the second foldable portion is made even more than the first foldable portion. Can be deployed first.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle airbag device according to the second aspect, the first inflator and the second inflator are formed in a columnar shape with the vehicle vertical direction as an axial direction, A plurality of injection holes for injecting gas are formed along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first inflator and the second inflator, and the diameter size of the first inflator is larger than the diameter size of the second inflator. Is set large.

  In the vehicle airbag device according to the third aspect, the first inflator and the second inflator are formed in a columnar shape having the vehicle vertical direction as an axial direction. A plurality of injection holes for injecting gas are formed along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second inflators.

  Here, the diameter dimension of the first inflator is set larger than the diameter dimension of the second inflator. For this reason, for example, compared with the case where the diameter size of a 1st inflator and a 2nd inflator is set to the same, the gas injected from a 1st inflator can be efficiently injected to the 2nd folding part side. Thereby, since the pushing-up force which acts on the 2nd folding part in the initial stage of inflation deployment of an airbag becomes large, the 2nd folding part can be developed ahead of the 1st folding part.

  The vehicle airbag device according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the first inflator and the second inflator are formed in a columnar shape with the vehicle vertical direction as an axial direction, A plurality of injection holes for injecting gas are respectively formed in the outer peripheral surfaces of the first inflator and the second inflator along the circumferential direction, and the injection holes of the first inflator are formed with respect to the second inflator. It is arranged on the upper side of the vehicle.

  In the vehicle airbag device according to claim 4, since the injection hole of the first inflator is disposed on the vehicle upper side with respect to the second inflator, the gas injected from the first inflator to the second inflator side It can suppress that 2 inflator interrupts | blocks. For this reason, the gas ejected from the first inflator is efficiently ejected to the second folding portion side. Thereby, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag, the push-up force acting on the second folding part is increased, and therefore the second folding part can be deployed before the first folding part.

  As described above, according to the vehicle airbag device of the present invention, the airbag can be stably inflated and deployed in the airbag having the second bag portion.

(A) is typical sectional drawing seen from the vehicle rear side which shows the inside of the vehicle airbag apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment, (B) is the airbag apparatus for vehicles shown by (A). It is typical sectional drawing seen from the vehicle rear side which shows the operation | movement initial stage state. It is a top view which shows the cabin of the vehicle to which the airbag apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1 was applied. FIG. 3 is a side view of the cabin of the vehicle shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the driver's seat side. (A) is a schematic perspective view for explaining how to fold the airbag shown in FIG. 1 (A), and (B) is a module in which the airbag shown in (A) is folded. It is a typical perspective view which shows the state accommodated in the case. (A) is a top view which shows an example of the modification of the inflator with respect to this Embodiment, (B) is typical sectional drawing which looked at the inflator shown by (A) from the vehicle rear side. (A) is a top view which shows the other example of the modification of the inflator with respect to this Embodiment, (B) is typical sectional drawing which looked at the inflator shown by (A) from the vehicle rear side. is there.

  Hereinafter, the vehicle airbag device 30 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, arrow FR, arrow UP, and arrow LH appropriately shown in the drawings are respectively on the front side, the upper side, and one side in the vehicle width direction of the automobile V (see FIGS. 2 and 3) to which the vehicle airbag device 30 is applied. The left side is shown. In the following description, when using the front / rear, up / down, and left / right directions, unless otherwise indicated, the front / rear direction of the vehicle, the up / down direction of the vehicle, the left / right direction of the vehicle (when facing the front) To do.

(About the schematic configuration inside the automobile V)
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a part including the front portion in the cabin C in the automobile V to which the vehicle airbag device 30 is applied. FIG. 2 shows a state in which an airbag 40 of a vehicle airbag device 30 described later is inflated and deployed. As shown in this figure, in the cabin C, a pair of left and right vehicle seats 10 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle seat 10 includes a seat cushion 12 that functions as a seat portion and a seat back 14 that functions as a backrest portion, and a lower end portion of the seat back 14 is a rear end portion of the seat cushion 12. It is connected to.

  In the present embodiment, the vehicle seat 10 disposed on the left side is the driver's seat 10D, and the vehicle seat 10 disposed on the right side is the passenger seat 10P. A center console 16 is disposed between the driver's seat 10D and the passenger seat 10P. That is, the automobile V of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the central seat is not disposed between the driver's seat 10D and the passenger seat 10P. The automobile V may be configured not to include the center console 16 (for example, a configuration in which the passage between the left and right vehicle seats 10 can be used).

  Further, an instrument panel 18 extending in the vehicle width direction is provided on the front side of the driver's seat 10D and the passenger seat 10P, and a center panel 20 is provided in the center of the instrument panel 18 in the vehicle width direction. . The front end of the center console 16 described above is connected to the center portion of the instrument panel 18 in the vehicle width direction. A steering wheel 22 is disposed on the instrument panel 18 on the side of the driver's seat 10D in the vehicle width direction. The steering wheel 22 is supported via a steering column 24 and is arranged on the rear side (driver seat 10D side) with respect to the instrument panel 18.

  Further, the driver's seat 10D and the passenger seat 10P are respectively provided with seat belt devices (not shown) for restraining passengers, and the seat belt devices are so-called three-point seat belt devices. For this reason, the lap portion of the occupant D of the driver's seat 10D (hereinafter referred to as “driver D”) and the occupant P of the passenger seat 10P (hereinafter referred to as “passenger seat occupant P”) is restrained by the lap belt, and the driver The upper body of D and the passenger seat passenger P is restrained by a shoulder belt.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a room mirror 26 is provided in front of and above the vehicle seat 10 in the cabin C. The room mirror 26 is disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction at the upper part of the windshield glass WS or at the front end of the roof RF.

(Vehicle airbag device 30)
As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle airbag device 30 is housed in a module case 32 as a substantially rectangular box-like “case” opened upward, and folded in the module case 32. The air bag 40 is configured to include an air bag 40 and an inflator 50 (gas generator) that ejects gas and supplies the air bag 40 to the air bag 40. The folded state (how to fold) the airbag 40 will be described later. The vehicle airbag device 30 is disposed in the instrument panel 18 on the front side of the passenger seat 10P, and the center line CL in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle airbag device 30 (module case 32) is the seat width of the passenger seat 10P. It is set at a position that substantially coincides with a direction center line (not shown). Further, the vehicle airbag device 30 is supported by an instrument panel reinforcement (not shown) or the like extending in the vehicle width direction in the instrument panel 18. The instrument panel 18 is formed with an airbag door at a portion covering the module case 32.

(About airbag 40)
As an example, the airbag 40 is formed in a bag shape by sewing the outer peripheral portions of a plurality of base fabrics. In the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 40, the airbag 40 communicates with the passenger seat airbag section 42 as the “first bag section” inflated in front of the passenger seat occupant P, and the passenger seat airbag section 42. And a center airbag portion 44 as a “second bag portion” that is adjacent to the passenger seat airbag portion 42 at the center in the vehicle width direction and inflated in the front-rear direction.

  The passenger seat airbag portion 42 includes a left bag portion 42L and a right bag portion 42R, and is inflated and deployed in a shape that is substantially symmetric in plan view. Further, the boundary line between the left bag part 42L and the right bag part 42R (that is, the center line in the vehicle width direction of the passenger seat airbag part 42) substantially coincides with the center line CL in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle airbag device 30. It is said that. Further, in the inflated and deployed state of the passenger seat airbag portion 42, the rear end of the left bag portion 42L is positioned on the front side of the left shoulder of the passenger seat occupant P, and the rear end of the right bag portion 42R is the right shoulder of the passenger seat occupant P. It is located on the front side. Further, a recess 42N formed between the rear ends of the left bag portion 42L and the right bag portion 42R is positioned on the front side of the head of the passenger seat occupant P.

  As described above, the center airbag portion 44 is inflated and deployed in the front-rear direction adjacent to the passenger seat airbag portion 42 at the center in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the center airbag portion 44 is offset toward the center in the vehicle width direction with respect to a first inflator 52 and a second inflator 62 described later, and is inflated and deployed on the upper side of the center console 16. As a result, the airbag 40 is expanded toward the center in the vehicle width direction, and is inflated and deployed in a shape that is left-right asymmetric in plan view.

  Further, in the inflated and deployed state of the center airbag portion 44, the rear end 44R of the center airbag portion 44 is located rearward of the rear end of the passenger seat airbag portion 42 in the front-rear direction. That is, the rear end portion of the center airbag portion 44 projects rearward with respect to the passenger seat airbag portion 42 in plan view, and is positioned on the left front side of the passenger seat occupant P. Thereby, the length in the front-rear direction of the center airbag portion 44 is set to be longer than the length in the front-rear direction of the passenger seat airbag portion 42.

  Further, the center airbag portion 44 is formed with an overhanging portion 44P that protrudes toward the driver's seat 10D at the front end portion, and the overhanging portion 44P is located above the center panel 20 of the instrument panel 18. It is supposed to be positioned. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper end 44U of the center airbag portion 44 is set lower than the upper end 42U of the passenger seat airbag portion 42. Specifically, the center airbag portion 44 is configured not to interfere with the room mirror 26.

(About the inflator 50)
As shown in FIG. 2, the inflator 50 includes a first inflator 52 and a second inflator 62. The first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 are built in the front end portion of the airbag 40 (specifically, the passenger seat airbag section 42) and are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the first inflator 52 is made of metal and is formed in a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape. The first inflator 52 is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the center line CL in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle airbag device 30 with the vertical direction as the axial direction. A mounting flange 54 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the first inflator 52 at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction, and the mounting flange 54 protrudes radially outward from the first inflator 52. The first inflator 52 is inserted into the mounting hole 34 formed in the bottom wall 32A of the module case 32, and the mounting flange 54 is fixed by a fastening member (not shown) such as a bolt. Accordingly, the upper portion of the first inflator 52 protrudes upward with respect to the bottom wall 32 </ b> A of the module case 32, and the lower portion of the first inflator 52 protrudes downward with respect to the module case 32.

  The upper part of the first inflator 52 is a gas ejection part 56. A plurality of gas ejection holes 56 </ b> A are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the gas ejection portion 56, and the gas ejection holes 56 </ b> A are arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction of the first inflator 52. Thereby, the gas generated by the first inflator 52 is ejected radially from the first inflator 52 in a plan view.

  The second inflator 62 is disposed at a position that is substantially symmetrical with the first inflator 52 with respect to the vehicle width direction center line CL of the vehicle airbag device 30. The second inflator 62 is configured in the same manner as the first inflator 52. That is, a mounting flange 64 protruding outward in the radial direction is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the second inflator 62. The second inflator 62 is inserted into the mounting hole 36 formed in the bottom wall 32A of the module case 32, and the mounting flange 64 is fixed by a fastening member. The upper part of the second inflator 62 is a gas ejection part 66, and a plurality of gas ejection holes 66 </ b> A are formed at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction of the second inflator 62 on the outer peripheral surface of the gas ejection part 66. Has been. Thereby, also in the second inflator 62, the gas generated by the second inflator 62 is ejected radially from the second inflator 62 in plan view.

  Further, the outer shape of the first inflator 52 and the outer shape of the second inflator 62 are set to the same size. That is, the outer diameter dimension of the first inflator 52 is set to the same dimension as the outer diameter dimension of the second inflator 62, and the outputs (pressures of the ejected gas) of the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 are the same. Is set to

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 are electrically connected to an airbag ECU 70 (control device). When the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 are actuated by the airbag ECU 70, the airbag 40 that is supplied with gas from the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 is inflated and deployed. Further, as the airbag 40 is inflated and deployed, the airbag 40 tears the airbag door (instrument panel 18), and the airbag 40 is inflated and deployed outside the instrument panel 18. Hereinafter, the airbag ECU 70 will be described.

  The airbag ECU 70 is electrically connected to the collision sensor (or sensor group) 72 and is also electrically connected to the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 described above. The airbag ECU 70 can detect or predict various frontal collisions (occurrence or unavoidable) with respect to the applied vehicle V based on information from the collision sensor 72 (or for each collision mode). It is said that. When detecting or predicting a frontal collision based on information from the collision sensor 72, the airbag ECU 70 operates the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 substantially simultaneously. The form of frontal collision in which the airbag ECU 70 operates the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 includes a frontal collision at a position offset to one side in the vehicle width direction such as an oblique collision and a minute lap collision.

  Here, the oblique collision (MDB oblique collision, oblique collision) is, for example, an oblique forward defined by NHSTA (for example, a collision with a relative angle of 15 ° with the collision partner and a lap amount of about 35% in the vehicle width direction). It is said. In this embodiment, an oblique collision at a relative speed of 90 km / hr is assumed as an example. Further, the micro lap collision is a collision in which the lap amount in the vehicle width direction with the collision partner prescribed by IIHS is 25% or less among the front collision of the automobile V. For example, a collision to the outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to a front side member that is a vehicle body skeleton corresponds to a minute lap collision. In this embodiment, a minute lap collision at a relative speed of 64 km / hr is assumed as an example.

(How to fold airbag 40)
Next, how to fold the airbag 40 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4A, the airbag 40 that is first deployed in a planar shape is folded in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the airbag 40 is folded in the front-rear direction by a combination of accordion fold, roll fold, accordion fold, and roll fold (in the present embodiment, the airbag 40 is folded by a combination of accordion fold and roll fold). Folded). Thereby, the airbag 40 is formed in the substantially strip shape which makes a vehicle width direction a longitudinal direction.

  Next, the vehicle width direction outer side portion of the airbag 40 folded in the front-rear direction is folded counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 4A) as viewed from the rear side in the vehicle width direction center side. The vehicle width direction center side portion of the airbag 40 folded in the direction is folded clockwise (in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 4A) outward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear side. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the folded vehicle width direction outer side portion is the first folding portion 40A, and the folded vehicle width direction center side portion is the second folding portion 40B. The portion of the airbag 40 between the first folding portion 40A and the second folding portion 40B is a base portion 40C (see FIG. 1A), and the airbag 40 is accommodated in the module case 32. . Thereby, as shown in FIG. 1A, in the folded state of the airbag 40, the first folded portion 40A and the second folded portion 40B are disposed on the upper side of the base portion 40C.

  Furthermore, the front end part of the first folding part 40A and the front end part of the second folding part 40B are set so as not to wrap in the vertical direction, and the folding length L2 of the second folding part 40B is the first folding part 40A. Is set longer than the folding length L1. Specifically, the tips of the first folding part 40A and the second folding part 40B are disposed on the vehicle width direction outer side with respect to the vehicle width direction center line CL of the vehicle airbag device 30, and the first folding part The tip side portion of 40A is arranged above the center in the vehicle width direction of the base portion 40C. That is, the airbag 40 is folded so as to be asymmetrical when viewed from the rear side. Further, as described above, since the length of the center airbag portion 44 in the front-rear direction is set longer than the length of the passenger airbag portion 42, the second folding portion 40B is in the folded state of the airbag 40. The folding height H2 is set slightly higher than the folding height H1 of the first folding part 40A.

  Further, the first inflator 52 described above is disposed below the first folding part 40A, and a part of the first inflator 52 wraps vertically with the first folding part 40A when viewed from the rear side. Furthermore, the 2nd inflator 62 is arrange | positioned under the 2nd folding part 40B, and the 2nd inflator 62 has entirely wrapped with the 2nd folding part 40B in the up-down direction seeing from the rear side. Thereby, in plan view, the wrap length between the second inflator 62 and the second folded portion 40B is larger than the wrap length between the first inflator 52 and the first folded portion 40A.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the automobile V includes a driver seat airbag device 90, and the driver seat airbag device 90 is provided in the rear end portion of the steering column 24 at the center of the steering wheel 22. Yes. The driver seat airbag device 90 includes a driver seat airbag 92 and an inflator (gas generator) (not shown) that jets gas and supplies the gas to the driver seat airbag 92. Further, the inflator of the driver seat airbag device 90 is electrically connected to the airbag ECU 70. When the airbag ECU 70 activates the inflator, the driver seat airbag 92 is located on the driver seat 10D side with respect to the steering wheel 22. Inflated and deployed. At this time, the driver's seat airbag 92 and the center airbag portion 44 of the airbag 40 are configured not to interfere with each other in the vehicle width direction.

  Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  When the airbag ECU 70 detects or predicts a frontal collision with the vehicle V based on a signal from the collision sensor 72, the first inflator 52, the second inflator 62, and the inflator of the driver seat airbag device 90 are activated. As a result, the airbag 40 that has been supplied with the gas from the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 is inflated and deployed while the airbag door set on the instrument panel 18 is torn. The passenger airbag portion 42 of the airbag 40 is inflated and deployed in front of the passenger occupant P, and the center airbag portion 44 of the airbag 40 is centered in the vehicle width direction with respect to the passenger seat airbag portion 42. Inflated and deployed. On the other hand, when the inflator of the driver seat airbag device 90 is activated, the driver seat airbag 92 is inflated and deployed on the front side of the driver D.

(An oblique collision or micro lap collision on the driver's seat side)
When the frontal collision to the vehicle V is an oblique collision or a small lap collision to the driver's seat 10D side (left side), the passenger occupant P moves forward as indicated by an arrow d in FIG. It moves to the left, which is the collision side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle body. That is, the passenger seat occupant P moves diagonally leftward forward (see the passenger seat occupant P indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). Since the passenger seat occupant P is equipped with the three-point seat belt device, the passenger seat occupant P moves forward with the waist as a center.

  Then, the passenger seat occupant P moving diagonally to the left collides with the passenger seat airbag section 42 and the center airbag section 44. At this time, since a reaction force acts on the passenger seat airbag section 42 and the center airbag section 44 from the instrument panel 18 and the windshield glass WS, the passenger seat occupant P can pass the passenger seat airbag section 42 and the center airbag section. Supported by the portion 44, the movement of the passenger occupant P is restricted. As a result, at the time of an oblique collision or a minute lap collision, the passenger seat occupant P that moves diagonally to the left can be restrained by the passenger seat airbag section 42 and the center airbag section 44.

(An oblique collision or small lap collision on the passenger side)
When the frontal collision to the vehicle V is an oblique collision or a minute lap collision to the passenger seat 10P side (right side), the driver D moves forward as indicated by an arrow e in FIG. In contrast, the vehicle moves to the right, which is the collision side in the vehicle width direction. That is, the driver D moves diagonally right forward. At this time, similarly to the above, since the driver D is equipped with the three-point seat belt device, the forward movement of the driver D is inclined forward about the waist.

  Then, the driver D moving diagonally forward to the right collides with the driver's seat airbag 92 and the center airbag portion 44. At this time, a reaction force acts on the driver's seat airbag 92 from the steering column 24, and a reaction force acts on the center airbag portion 44 from the instrument panel 18 and the windshield glass WS. Accordingly, the driver D is supported by the driver's seat airbag 92 and the center airbag portion 44, and the movement of the driver D is restricted. As a result, the driver D moving diagonally forward to the right can be restrained by the driver's seat airbag 92 and the center airbag portion 44 at the time of an oblique collision or a minute lap collision.

  Next, the inflatable and deployability of the airbag 40 of the vehicle airbag device 30 will be described. In the folded state of the airbag 40, after the airbag 40 is folded in the front-rear direction, the first folding portion 40A is folded toward the center in the vehicle width direction, and the second folding portion 40B is folded outward in the vehicle width direction. It is rare. When the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 are operated, gas is ejected from the gas ejection hole 56A of the first inflator 52 to the radially outer side of the first inflator 52, and the gas is ejected from the gas ejection hole 66A of the second inflator 62. 2 Gas is ejected to the outside in the radial direction of the inflator 62. As a result, the airbag 40 is inflated and deployed by the pressure of the gas ejected from the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1B, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 40, the base portion 40C of the airbag 40 is inflated before the first folding portion 40A and the second folding portion 40B. Thus, the expanded first base portion 40C and the second folded portion 40B are pushed up in the unfolding direction (upward). Further, in the airbag 40, the boundary portion between the first folding portion 40A and the base portion 40C and the boundary portion between the second folding portion 40B and the base portion 40C are folded. The bulge of the center part in the vehicle width direction of the portion 40C is larger than the bulges of both side parts of the base portion 40C in the vehicle width direction.

  Here, the folding length L2 of the second folding part 40B is set to be longer than the folding length L1 of the first folding part 40A. Specifically, the tips of the first folding part 40A and the second folding part 40B are disposed on the vehicle width direction outer side with respect to the vehicle width direction center line CL of the vehicle airbag device 30, and the first folding part The tip side portion of 40A is arranged above the center in the vehicle width direction of the base portion 40C. For this reason, in the initial stage of inflating and deploying the airbag 40, the height of the second folded portion 40B pushed up by the inflated base portion 40C in the deploying direction (upward) is the deployment of the first folded portion 40A by the inflated base portion 40C. The height is higher than the pushing-up height in the direction (upper side), and the second folding part 40B acts so as to be deployed before the first folding part 40A. Thereby, in the airbag 40 expanded to the center side in the vehicle width direction by the center airbag portion 44, the center airbag portion 44 side can be inflated and deployed first. Accordingly, when the center airbag portion 44 is provided in the airbag 40, the capacity of the airbag 40 increases toward the center in the vehicle width direction (when the inflation and deployment state of the airbag 40 in a plan view is asymmetrical). However, the airbag 40 can be stably inflated and deployed.

  The first inflator 52 is disposed on the vehicle lower side of the first folding part 40A, and the second inflator 62 is disposed on the vehicle lower side of the second folding part 40B. For this reason, at the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 40, the first folding portion 40A is mainly pushed up in the deployment direction (upward) by the pressure of the gas ejected from the first inflator 52 and ejected from the second inflator 62. The second folding part 40B is pushed up mainly in the unfolding direction (upward) by the pressure of the gas.

  Here, the wrap length between the second folded portion 40B and the second inflator 62 in plan view is set to be larger than the wrap length between the first folded portion 40A and the first inflator 52. For this reason, the region receiving the pressure of the gas ejected from the second inflator 62 in the second folding portion 40B is larger than the region receiving the pressure of the gas ejected from the first inflator 52 in the first folding portion 40A. . Thereby, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 40, the push-up force acting on the second folding portion 40B is larger than the push-up force acting on the first folding portion 40A, and therefore the second folding portion 40B is folded into the first folding portion. It can be developed further than the portion 40A. Therefore, the inflation and deployment of the airbag 40 can be stabilized effectively.

(Modification of the form of the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62)
In the present embodiment, the outer shapes of the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 are set to the same size, and the outputs of the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 (pressure of the gas to be ejected) are set to be the same. ing. Instead of this, the outer shape of the first inflator 52 and the outer shape of the second inflator 62 may be made different in size so that the output of the first inflator 52 and the output of the second inflator 62 are different.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the outer diameter of the first inflator 52 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the second inflator 62, and the first inflator 52 The gas ejection hole 56 </ b> A may be disposed on the upper side with respect to the second inflator 62. That is, the output of the second inflator 62 is set to be smaller than the output of the first inflator 52. 5A and 5B, the outer shape of the first inflator 52 is illustrated in the same size as the outer shape of the first inflator 52 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1A for convenience. However, the output of the first inflator 52 of the present modification and the output of the first inflator 52 of the present embodiment may be set to different outputs.

  For this reason, as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the gas ejected from the first inflator 52 is ejected to the upper side of the second inflator 62. It is suppressed that the gas injected toward the 2 inflator 62 side is blocked by the second inflator 62. Thereby, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 40, the gas ejected from the first inflator 52 is efficiently ejected to the second folding portion 40B side (not shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B). The push-up force acting on the second folding part 40B can be increased. Therefore, also in this case, the second folding part 40B can be deployed before the first folding part 40A.

  Further, even after the second folding portion 40B is deployed, the gas ejected from the first inflator 52 can be efficiently supplied to the center airbag portion 44 side. Thereby, after deployment of the second folding part 40B, the center airbag part 44 can be inflated and deployed satisfactorily toward the rear side. Furthermore, since the outer shape of the second inflator 62 is smaller than the outer shape of the first inflator 52, the second inflator 62 can be reduced in size, which contributes to downsizing and cost reduction of the vehicle airbag device 30. be able to.

  In the modification shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the gas ejection holes 56A of the first inflator 52 are arranged on the upper side with respect to the second inflator 62. The vertical position of the first inflator 52 may be set so that the ejection hole 56 </ b> A is disposed below the upper surface of the second inflator 62. Even in this case, since the outer diameter dimension of the first inflator 52 is larger than the outer diameter dimension of the second inflator 62, the gas ejected from the first inflator 52 to the second folding portion 40 </ b> B side is discharged from the second inflator 62. It can wrap around the outer periphery (see arrow f in FIG. 5A). Thereby, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 40, it is possible to increase the push-up force acting on the second folding portion 40B.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the outer diameter of the second inflator 62 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the first inflator 52, and the second inflator is set. The 62 gas ejection holes 66 </ b> A may be disposed on the upper side with respect to the first inflator 52. That is, the output of the second inflator 62 is set to be larger than the output of the first inflator 52. 6A and 6B, the outer shape of the second inflator 62 is illustrated in the same size as the outer shape of the second inflator 62 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1A for convenience. However, the output of the second inflator 62 of the present modification and the output of the second inflator 62 of the present embodiment may be set to different outputs. Even in this case, since the push-up force acting on the second folding portion 40B in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 40 is larger than the push-up force acting on the first folding portion 40A, the second folding portion 40B is changed to the first folding portion 40B. It can be developed before the folding part 40A.

  In the present embodiment and the above modification, the airbag ECU 70 is configured so that the first inflator 52 and the second inflator 62 are simultaneously operated. Alternatively, the first inflator 52 may be operated after the second inflator 62 is operated. Thereby, in the early stage of inflation deployment of air bag 40, the 2nd folding part 40B can be developed further ahead of the 1st folding part 40A.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment and the said modification, in the folded state of the airbag 40, it sets so that the front-end | tip part of 40 A of 1st folding parts and the front-end | tip part of 2nd folding part 40B may not wrap up and down. . Instead, the front end of the first folding part 40A and the front end of the second folding part 40B are set so as to wrap in the vertical direction, and the front end of the second folding part 40B is the first folding part 40A. You may comprise so that it may arrange | position above a front-end | tip part. Thereby, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 40, the second folding portion 40B can be deployed before the first folding portion 40A.

  Further, in the present embodiment and the above-described modification, in the airbag 40, the passenger seat airbag portion 42 and the center airbag portion 44 are formed in an integral bag shape. Instead of this, the passenger seat airbag section 42 and the center airbag section 44 may be formed as separate bags and integrated by sewing or the like. In this case, the passenger seat airbag portion 42 and the center airbag portion 44 are configured to communicate with each other at least at the front end portion.

18 Instrument Panel 30 Airbag Device for Vehicle 32 Module Case (Case)
40 airbag 40A 1st folding part 40B 2nd folding part 42 Passenger seat airbag part (1st bag part)
44 Center airbag part (second bag part)
50 inflator 52 first inflator 56A first inflator gas ejection hole 62 second inflator 66A second inflator gas ejection hole L1 first folding part folding length L2 second folding part folding length

Claims (4)

An inflator which is provided on the back side of the instrument panel and ejects gas by operating;
It is housed in a folded state in a case provided on the back side of the instrument panel, and is disposed on the vehicle upper side of the inflator, and is inflated and deployed to the front side of the instrument panel upon receiving gas supply from the inflator. And an airbag having a first bag portion inflated and deployed on the vehicle front side of the occupant and a second bag portion inflated and deployed on the center side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the first bag portion;
With
In the folded state of the airbag, after the airbag is folded in the vehicle front-rear direction, the first folding portion in which the vehicle width direction outer side portion is folded toward the vehicle width direction center side and the vehicle width direction center side portion are A second folding portion folded outward in the width direction is formed,
The airbag apparatus for vehicles by which the folding length of the said 2nd folding part was set longer than the folding length of the said 1st folding part. The inflator is configured to include a first inflator disposed on the vehicle lower side of the first folding portion and a second inflator disposed on the vehicle lower side of the second folding portion,
2. The vehicle airbag according to claim 1, wherein a wrap length between the second folded portion and the second inflator in a plan view is set larger than a wrap length between the first folded portion and the first inflator. apparatus. The first inflator and the second inflator are formed in a columnar shape whose axial direction is the vehicle up-down direction, and a plurality of gas jets are injected to the respective outer peripheral surfaces of the first inflator and the second inflator. Injection holes are formed along the circumferential direction,
The vehicle airbag device according to claim 2, wherein a diameter dimension of the first inflator is set larger than a diameter dimension of the second inflator. The first inflator and the second inflator are formed in a columnar shape whose axial direction is the vehicle up-down direction, and a plurality of gas jets are injected to the respective outer peripheral surfaces of the first inflator and the second inflator. The injection holes are respectively formed along the circumferential direction,
The vehicle airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the injection hole of the first inflator is disposed on the vehicle upper side with respect to the second inflator.

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