JPH04143143A - Air bag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a steering wheel from being oscillated due to the weight of an inflator by forming a dynamic damper with each damper interposed between a flange shaped mounting base section projected out of the inflator and a base plate. CONSTITUTION:In an air bag unit 30, a center pad 3 is mounted onto a section faced to the cabin N side of a steering wheel 1, and an air bag 7 is housed in the inside of the section while being folded, and a base plate is concurrently disposed therein. In this case, the inflator 5 arranged in the inside of the base plate 33 is provided with a flange shaped mounting base section 5a while being projected sideward from the outer wall surface. And a first damper 39 and a second damper 41 are interposed at the upper section and the lower section of the mounting base section 5a respectively, and these are fastened by a bolt 43 and a nut 45. This thereby allows the inflator 5 itself to act as a damper mass, thereby making it possible to prevent the steering wheel from being oscillated due to the weight of the inflator 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention is incorporated into a center pad of a steering wheel or a part of an instrument panel corresponding to a passenger in a front passenger seat to reduce the impact received by the passenger in the event of a vehicle collision, etc. This invention relates to an airbag device.

Conventional technology Traditionally, if the sudden acceleration of a vehicle during a collision is above a predetermined value, the detonator is ignited to start the gas container, and the gas container is folded into the center pad of the instrument panel or steering wheel. 2. Description of the Related Art An airbag device is known that inflates and deploys a stored airbag to soften the impact of an occupant on an instrument panel or a steering wheel.

Regarding the airbag device installed in the center pad mentioned above, the R issued by Ford Motor Company in 1990
TEMPo/TOPAZ, ESCORTJ's CAR5H
There is a structure disclosed in OP MANUAL No. 13-04-2 and 13-04-3, and a structure similar to this is shown in FIG. 4 and will be explained.

That is, an airbag 7 in a folded state is housed inside a surface-through center pad 3 on the vehicle interior N side of the steering wheel 1 together with an inflator 5 that generates high-pressure gas. A mounting base 5a extending laterally from the outer wall surface of the inflator 5 and an end edge 7 of the airbag 7
A base plate 9 is inserted between the mounting base 5a and the mounting base 5a.

The edge portion 7a and the base plate 9 are fixed by a fastener 11. The base 9a of the base plate 9 is a support piece 3a extending from near the peripheral edge of the center pad 3.
is fixed to the inside of the end.

The inflator 5 is activated when an input signal from a collision detection sensor (not shown) is equal to or higher than a set value.

Reference numeral 13.15 denotes a support member extending from the steering wheel 1, and a recess 1 formed in the support member 15.
The tip of the screw shaft 17 passed through 5a is in contact with the base plate 9, and is fixed by a lock nut 19 from the outside of the support member 15.

Furthermore, an annular bracket 21 is attached to a screw 23 inside the support member 13 located on the front FR side of the inflator 5.
A damper 25 made of an elastic material is vulcanized and bonded to this bracket 21.
A damper mass 27 consisting of a mass body is vulcanized and bonded to the other end.

According to such an airbag device, when a sudden decrease in acceleration is detected such as during a vehicle collision, a signal from a detection sensor (not shown) is transmitted to the detonator built in the inflator 5, and high pressure is emitted from the inflator 5. Gas is generated and this gas is released into the airbag 7. Then, the center pad 3 is ruptured by the inflation force of the airbag 7, and the airbag 7 inflates and deploys in the N direction of the vehicle interior, instantly stopping the impact on the driver's face. This provides the effect of alleviating the applied impact.

Furthermore, under normal conditions, a dynamic damper is constituted by the damper 25 and the damper mass 27, which are arranged inside the center pad 3 and on the front FR side of the inflator 5, so that the weight of the inflator 5 is reduced by the vibration-proofing effect of this dynamic damper. It is possible to prevent the steering wheel 1 from swinging due to.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the case of such conventional airbag devices,
Damper 25 and damper mass 27 inside center pad 3
Because it has a built-in dynamic damper,
In addition to the risk of increasing the weight of the steering wheel 1 itself, there is a problem in that the center pad 3 becomes larger because space is required to arrange the dynamic damper within the center pad 3. was there.

Furthermore, the damper 25, the damper mass 27, etc. have to be manufactured separately, and a complicated assembly process is required to incorporate them into the center pad 3, resulting in an increase in costs.

Therefore, the present invention solves the problems that conventional vehicle airbag devices have, making it possible to reduce the weight and size of the steering wheel itself, and reduce the material cost and man-hours per assembly. An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can achieve cost reduction.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an airbag comprising an inflator that generates high-pressure gas, a base plate that supports the inflator, and an airbag stored in a folded state. The inflator in the airbag device in which the unit is arranged is provided with a flange-shaped mounting base projecting laterally from an outer wall surface constituting the inflator, and an elastic body is provided between the mounting base and the base plate. This is a configuration in which a damper is inserted.

According to this airbag device, a dynamic damper is formed by the inflator and the damper inserted between the base plate and the flange-shaped mounting base that projects laterally from the outer wall surface of the inflator. The inflator itself functions as a damper mass,
Therefore, under normal conditions, based on the vibration damping effect of the dynamic damper, it is possible to prevent the steering wheel from swinging due to the weight of the inflator.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle airbag device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 in the drawings, with the same reference numerals attached to the same components as in the conventional structure. Describe.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of an airbag unit 30 on the driver's seat side of a vehicle to which this embodiment is applied, and in the figure, 1 is a steering wheel.
A center pad 3 is attached to a portion facing the N side of the vehicle interior.

A cylindrical body 3b extends from near the peripheral edge of the center pad 3 toward the front FR direction (downward in the drawing), and an airbag 7 is provided in a region surrounded by the cylindrical body 3b and the center pad 3. is stored in a folded state.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a base plate disposed inside the center pad 3, and this base plate 33 includes a base portion 33 having a hollow portion formed inside, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG.
a, an annular flange 33c protruding from the center of the upper wall 33b of the base 33a, and a hole 33d opened on the upper surface of the flange 33c.
Mounting holes 35, 35, etc. for fixing the base plate 33 are opened in the upper wall 33b and the upper wall 33b thereof. The base 33a of the base plate 33 is fixed to the inside of the cylindrical body 3b of the center nozzle 3.

The above-mentioned flange portion 33c includes at least the inflator 5
It is formed with a shape and size that allows it to be surrounded.

Further, a plurality of gas discharge ports 37, 37, . . . are opened in the side wall surface constituting the flange portion 33c.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base plate 33
The inflator 5 disposed inside the inflator 5 has a flange-shaped mounting base 5a projecting laterally from the outer wall surface of the inflator 5, and a first damper is mounted on the upper surface of the mounting base 5a. 39 is inserted, and a second damper 41 is inserted on the lower surface of the mounting base 5a, and is inserted from the inside of the airbag 7 to the edge 7a of the airbag 7 in the presence of a washer 47. The first damper 39 and the second damper 41 are supported by bolts 43 and nuts 45.

The first damper 39 and the second damper 41 have a generally rectangular shape as shown in FIG. Bolt insertion holes 51a, 51a are open.

Reference numeral 13.15 denotes a support member extending from the steering wheel 1, and a recess 1 formed in the support member 15.
The tip of the screw shaft 17 passed through the inside of the screw shaft 5a is in contact with the upper wall 33b of the base plate 33, and is fixed by a lock nut 19.

The inflator 5 is activated when an input signal from a detection sensor (not shown) is equal to or higher than a set value. The inflator 5 is made up of a non-decomposable module, with multiple chambers formed inside, the central chamber housing an electric ignition device and ignition agent, and the surrounding chambers filled with pelleted nitrogen gas generating agent. has been done. A plurality of through holes 49 for blowing out high pressure gas are opened in the outer wall of the inflator 5.

According to such an airbag unit 30, the flange-shaped mounting base 5a protruding laterally from the outer wall surface of the inflator 5 is connected to the first damper 39 and the second damper 39.
Since the inflator 5 itself is supported by the damper 41, the inflator 5 itself functions as a damper mass. In other words, the inflator 5 is connected to the first damper 39 and the second damper 39.
Since the first damper 39. is supported by the base plate 33 with the intervention of the damper 41, Second damper 41
and the inflator 5 constitute a kind of dynamic damper. Therefore, under normal conditions, it is possible to prevent the steering wheel 1 from swinging due to the weight of the inflator 5 based on the vibration damping effect of the dynamic damper.

In addition, in the event of a vehicle collision, etc., the ignition agent is ignited based on the action of the electric ignition device built into the inflator 5 in response to a signal from a detection sensor (not shown), and the nitrogen gas generating agent is combusted. High-pressure nitrogen gas is released into the airbag 7 from the through hole 49 through the gas release port 37 opened in the base plate 33 .

The airbag 7 is inflated by the nitrogen gas, and the center pad 3 is ruptured by this inflation force, and the airbag 7 is inflated and deployed in the N direction of the vehicle interior, and the driver's face is instantly stopped. This can reduce the impact on the driver.

Effects of the Invention As explained in detail above, according to the vehicle airbag device according to the present invention, there is a gap between the base plate and the flange-shaped mounting base that protrudes laterally from the outer wall surface of the inflator. By inserting a damper, this damper and inflator constitute a dynamic damper, and the inflator itself functions as a damper mass. Under normal conditions, the weight of the inflator is reduced based on the vibration-proofing effect of this dynamic damper. This can prevent the steering wheel from shaking.

Furthermore, since there is no need to separately manufacture a damper mass, the cost of materials can be reduced and costs can be reduced, and the weight of the steering wheel itself can be reduced.

Furthermore, the space within the airbag device can be used effectively, and the device itself can be made smaller, which is a great effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an external view showing an example of the shape of the base plate, Fig. 3 is an external view showing an example of the shape of the damper, and Fig. 4 is a conventional air conditioner. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of an example of a bag device. ■... Steering wheel, 3... Center para 3b... Cylindrical body, 5... Inflator, 5a...
Mounting base, 7... Airbag, 9a, 9b... Housing, 9C... Outer wall, 11.13... Partition wall, 15
...Electric ignition device, 16...Ignition agent, 17 Nitrogen gas generating agent, 21.23...Through hole, 25.37...Gas discharge port, 30...Air bag unit, 33...・Base plate, 33a... base, 33b
...Top wall, 33C...Flange part, 33d...Hole part. Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An airbag unit consisting of an inflator that generates high-pressure gas, a base plate that supports the inflator, and an airbag stored in a folded state is placed in front of the passenger in the vehicle interior, and the inflator is In a vehicle airbag device configured to inflate and deploy an airbag toward a vehicle interior based on a signal from a control means to be activated, the inflator includes an inflator that protrudes laterally from an outer wall surface constituting the inflator. 1. A vehicle airbag device comprising: a flange-shaped mounting base; and a damper made of an elastic body inserted between the mounting base and the base plate.