JPH07172256A - Vehicle air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] It has a structure that is advantageous for impact testing without changing the configuration of the can body, the cross-sectional shape of the closing plate, and the function of the mounting legs, and does not hinder the assembly work and is designed. Provided is an air bag device for a vehicle, which contributes to a reduction in cost by increasing various degrees of freedom. [Structure] An opening a provided in an instrument panel P on the front side of a passenger seat, and a breakage in which the opening is openably and closably closed and is broken under a strong pressure to open the opening of the instrument panel. Closure plate 2 having part 10
And an inflator 1a which is arranged inside the instrument panel so as to face the closing plate, and which inflates by receiving the gas and inflates by receiving the gas, breaks the broken portion and deploys in the vehicle compartment to protect an occupant. Can body 1
The breaking portion is a projection for heat staking integrally provided on the back surface of the closing plate, and one end portion is locked to the breaking portion, and the other end portion is fixedly attached to the can body. Bracket 1
Equipped with 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a vehicle air bag device for restraining an occupant in a passenger seat from a shock when a vehicle crashes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an air bag system has been frequently used to ensure the safety of passengers in the event of a collision.

This air bag system is basically composed of three subsystems of a sensor, an inflator (gas generator), and an air bag.

Then, the above-mentioned sensor judges the degree of collision of the vehicle and sends a signal, and the signal causes the inflator to generate a gas of a predetermined type, which gas is supplied into the air bag to inflate and expand, and the occupant. It protects your chest and head.

By the way, such an air bag system includes an air bag device for a driver's seat for restraining a passenger in a driver's seat, that is, a driver to protect it from an impact, and an assistant for restraining a passenger in a passenger's seat from an impact. It is classified as a seat airbag device.

As shown in FIG. 7, the passenger-side airbag device S is mounted inside the instrument panel P by utilizing a part of the instrument panel P.

Conventionally, as an airbag device for a passenger seat,
USP 4,893,833 has been proposed. This is similar to the configuration shown in FIG.

That is, the mounting legs 3 integrally provided on the closing plate 2 along both upper side surfaces of the can body 1 which is a container for accommodating the inflator 1a and the air bag 1b therein.
The a and 3b are brought into contact with each other and attached and fixed to the side surface of the can body 1 via a fixture 4 such as a weld bolt.

The can body 1 is obtained by pressing a metal plate body. The closing plate 2 having the mounting legs 3a and 3b is
It is fitted into an opening a provided in the instrument panel P.

The upper end of the mounting leg 3b on the front side of the passenger seat (hereinafter referred to as the occupant side) is a constricted portion 5 with respect to the closing plate 2 so that the mounting leg 3b is reliably broken under a strong pressure. Has become.

When a rear-end collision actually occurs, the inflator 1a operates to inflate and deploy the airbag 1b. The constricted portion 5 receives the pressure of the air bag 1b.
Breaks, and the closing plate 2 separates from the mounting leg 3b.

That is, the closing plate 2 is provided on the front side of the vehicle (hereinafter,
The occupant-side end pivots upward to open the opening a of the instrument panel P, with a connecting portion with the mounting leg 3a on the side opposite to the occupant as a fulcrum. From here, the airbag 1b is inflated and deployed to the front of the passenger seat to protect the passenger in the passenger seat.

[0013]

By the way, in such an air bag device for a passenger seat, the degree of impact received when an occupant in the passenger seat hits the head against the closing plate 2, for example, is determined. As a measurement test, the model A of the head is dropped on the closing plate 2 and the impact received by the model A is measured.

According to the structure described above, the mounting leg 3b on the occupant side supports the closing plate 2 in a state substantially close to the standing wall, so that the model A receives a large impact and the impact test. Is disadvantageous in terms of.

Moreover, in the case of a general domestic vehicle, there is no room in the internal space of the instrument panel P, and therefore the closing plate 2 which is the same as this is bent to a position close to the passenger side of the can body 1. Absent.

On the other hand, in order to improve productivity, the fixture 4
There is a demand to attach and fix the attachment legs 3a and 3b to the can body 1 in a short time by using a dedicated tool K for automatically fastening the.

However, the cross-sectional shape of the closing plate 2 cannot be changed due to the relationship with the instrument panel P. Therefore, the closing plate 2 shields the fixing tool 4 for mounting the occupant-side mounting leg 3b, and the work with the dedicated tool K cannot be performed.

Inevitably, the end of the closing plate 2 and the mounting leg 3b
Since a tool for manual work is inserted from between and to fix the fixture 4 by tightening, the workability is extremely poor.

Therefore, the special tool K can be used in the structure shown in FIG. That is, the same can body 1 is used. Although the cross-sectional shape of the closing plate 2 itself does not change, the position of the mounting leg 3b connected to the closing plate 2 via the constricted portion 5 is further shifted to the occupant side.
Then, the mounting leg 3b and the can body 1 are connected by a bracket 6 formed by bending a thin metal plate.

In practice, one end of the bracket 6 is first attached and fixed to the can body 1 via the fixture 4a, and the attachment leg 3b is attached and fixed to the other end of the bracket via the fixture 4b. To do.

At this time, since the mounting legs 3b are opposed to each other between the end edge of the closing plate 2 and the can body 1, it is possible to insert the special tool K, and there is no problem in tightening the fixture 4b. Therefore, productivity can be improved.

However, even if such a structure is adopted, the bracket 6 has a substantially V-shape, and the fixtures 4a for attaching the can body 1 and the fixtures for attaching the mounting legs 3b are provided at both ends thereof. There is 4b.

In other words, since the rigid bodies such as the fixtures 4a and 4b are located in close proximity to each other, in the case of the impact test as described above, the degree of absorbing the impact is small, which is disadvantageous. It becomes a condition.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to configure and dispose the can body.
A vehicle that has a structure that is advantageous for impact testing while maintaining the cross-sectional shape of the closing plate and the function of the mounting legs, that does not hinder assembly work, and that increases design flexibility and contributes to cost reduction. To provide an air bag device for a vehicle.

[0025]

In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle air bag device of the present invention comprises an opening provided in an instrument panel on the front side of a passenger seat, and the opening which is openably and closably closed. And a closing plate having a breaking portion that ruptures under a strong pressure and opens the opening of the instrument panel, and is disposed inside the instrument panel while facing the closing plate and receiving a collision detection signal. And an inflator that ignites to generate gas and expands by receiving this gas, destroys the ruptured portion, opens the opening of the inner panel, and expands into the passenger compartment to accommodate an airbag that protects an occupant. In the airbag device for a vehicle including the above, the fractured portion is a protrusion for thermal staking integrally projectingly provided on the back surface of the closing plate, and one end portion is engaged with the fractured portion. Is characterized by comprising a bracket to which the other end portion in the can body is mounted and fixed.

[0026]

[Function] Even if a large impact is applied to the closing plate, the bracket has a flexible structure that easily absorbs the impact.

When the airbag is inflated and deployed,
There is no hindrance to the breakage portion being easily broken to open the closing plate.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an opening a is provided in an instrument panel P provided in the front part of the passenger seat,
In addition, the closing plate 2 having the same cross-sectional shape as that of the conventional one is fitted therein so as to be openable and closable.

The blocking plate 2 is made of, for example, PP, olefin elastomer, or the like. Naturally, the colors are the same, and the same surface treatment is performed.

Inside the instrument panel P facing the closing plate 2, a can body 1 which is a container for accommodating the inflator 1a and the air bag 1b is arranged.
This can body 1 is a pressed product of a thin metal plate as in the conventional case, and the inflator 1a and the air bag 1b are not changed at all.

A mounting leg 3a is integrally provided on the side opposite to the occupant of the closing plate 2, is abutted against the side surface of the can body 1, and is mounted and fixed to the can body via a fixture 4 such as a weld bolt. It

A breaking portion 10 is integrally provided at a position near the occupant side end of the closing plate 2. The breaking portion 10 is a hollow cylindrical protrusion having a small diameter, and a bracket 11 described later.
After penetrating the hole 12 provided in the bracket, the tip of the fractured part protruding from the bracket is heated and melted to be deformed into a diameter larger than the diameter of the fractured part.

The bracket 11 is an extension of a holding tool for holding the end of the air bag 1b against the can body 1.

In the air bag device constructed in this way, the assembly procedure is as follows: the can body 1 containing the inflator 1a and the air bag 1b is placed and fixed in a predetermined position, and the can body side of the can body is closed. The bracket 11 is attached and fixed to the upper end through the fixture 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bracket 11 has a V-shaped cross-section with one end having an extremely long piece, and the short piece 11a is attached to the can body 1 via the fixture 4. . The long piece 11b is provided with an opening 13 so that a dedicated tool K for fastening the fixture 4 can penetrate therethrough.

The lower end of the long piece 11b of the bracket 11 is a bent portion bent at a right angle, and the hole 12 described above is provided only on this horizontal plane.

Then, the closing plate 2 is attached. That is, the mounting leg 3a similar to the conventional one is integrally provided on the side opposite to the occupant, and the fixing member 4 is tightened and fixed by being brought into contact with the side portion of the can body 1.

In this state, the back surface of the closing plate 2 on the occupant side contacts the long piece 11b of the bracket 11. Then, the breaking portion 10 provided at this end portion is inserted into the hole portion 12 provided at the bracket, and the end portion is projected. Then, a heating element (not shown) is pressed against this protruding end to melt and deform it,
Get heat crimped.

Therefore, there is no problem in attaching the closing plate 2 to the can body 1 via the bracket 11, and the closing plate 2 is reliably supported.

Then, when an impact test is performed on the corners of the closing plate 2, since the bracket 11 which is a thin metal plate is curved and formed, a so-called flexible structure that absorbs the impact at this part is obtained. Is extremely advantageous for.

When a rear-end collision actually occurs, the airbag 1b is instantly inflated and deployed. This air bag 1
In b, the pressure reaches the breaking portion 10 from the point where the closing plate 2 is pushed up with a strong pressure.

As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.
The heat-crimped portion, which is the tip, breaks, and the closing plate 2 rotates under the pressure of the airbag 1b to open the opening a of the instrument panel P. The airbag 1b is inflated and deployed in the passenger seat, and restrains and protects the occupant.

In the above embodiment, the breaking portion 10 is integrally projected at a position close to the lower end portion of the closing plate so as to be fixedly attached to the bracket 11. The so-called isoi, which conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the ment panel P, can be reliably obtained, which is advantageous in terms of assembling workability.

If such an iso is not taken into consideration, the structure shown in FIG. 4, for example, can be adopted.

That is, the position of the breakage portion 10A provided integrally with the closing plate 2 is set to a position above the mounting position of the bracket 11A on the can body 1. In this case bracket 1
The material removal of 1A is small, which is advantageous in terms of material cost, and it is not necessary to provide the bracket 11 with the opening 13 for inserting the tool as in the above-described embodiment, so that the tool K is not hindered.

As described above, according to the present invention, the shape structure of the closing plate 2 can be obtained without interfering with the work of the tool K, and the mounting leg 3b can be obtained.
Also, the degree of freedom in shape of the brackets 11 and 11A can be increased, which is advantageous in terms of design.

Moreover, the brackets 11 and 11A are
It suffices to extend the retainer for attaching and fixing the end portion of the airbag 1b to the can body 1, there is no need to manufacture a new separate part, which is advantageous in terms of cost, and the break portions 10 and 10A are crimped by heat. Therefore, a separate fixture is not required, and the weight can be reduced.

Besides, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the closing plate for opening and closing the opening of the instrument panel is provided with the breaking portion, and the inflator and the air are provided inside the instrument panel while facing the closing plate. A can body for accommodating a bag is provided, and the breaking portion serves as a protrusion for heat staking, and one end is locked to the breaking portion, and the other end is attached and fixed to the can body. With a configuration that is advantageous for impact testing without changing the configuration of the can body, the cross-sectional shape of the closing plate, and the function of the mounting legs,
There is no hindrance to the assembling work, the degree of freedom in shape is large, the degree of freedom in design is increased, and it is possible to contribute not only to weight reduction and cost reduction but also to sharing of parts.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a passenger seat airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the essential parts of the airbag device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining an assembling work of the airbag apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an assembling work of an air bag device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an assembling work of a conventional air bag device.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an assembling work of an air bag device of another conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an instrument panel including a passenger airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

P ... Instrument panel, a ... Opening part, 10 ... Break part, 2 ... Closure plate, 1a ... Inflator, 1b ... Air bag, 1 ... Can body, 11 ... Bracket.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An opening provided in an instrument panel in the front of the passenger seat, and the opening is openably and closably closed, and the opening of the instrument panel is opened by breaking under a state of strong pressure. A blocking plate having a ruptured portion, an inflator that faces the blocking plate and is disposed inside the instrument panel, ignites in response to a collision detection signal to generate gas, and inflates in response to the gas to inflate the ruptured portion. A vehicle air bag device comprising a can body that is destroyed to open an opening of an inner panel and expands into an interior of a vehicle to protect an occupant, wherein the breaking portion is integrated with a back surface of a closing plate. A protrusion for heat staking, which is provided at a portion of the can body, and has a bracket whose one end is locked to the broken portion and whose other end is fixedly attached to the can body. Air bag device for vehicles.