JPH0478747A - Starter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify structure of the starter in the title by energizing it with an inertial body to move at the time when a car suddenly decelerates, actuating one actuator by way of colliding an ignition member with magnetism against a detonator and actuating another actuator by a change of magnetic flux density. CONSTITUTION:A cylinder 42 and a ball 44 (inertial body) are provided in a case of a starter main body 32 of an air bag and moved in the arrow C direction at the time when a car suddenly decelerates. Accordingly, a drive shaft 46 is rotated in the arrow E direction and its engagement part is released from a collar part 54B of an ignition pin 54 (ignition member), and the ignition pin 54 collides against a detonator 62 by energization of a coil spring 58 so that gas is generated. Change of magnetic flux density to avoid movement of a shaft part lower step 254 is generated, and an induced electromotive force is generated and detected. A plural number of actuators are actuated certainly in a simple structure by way of controlling another actuator through a switch on the side of an assistant by this electric signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a starting device that operates a plurality of actuators when a vehicle suddenly decelerates.

[Conventional technology]

There are various types of actuators that operate when a vehicle suddenly decelerates, and among them, a case will be described in which an electrically ignited air bag device is installed in both the driver's seat and the passenger's seat.

In this type of airbag device, sensors that detect sudden deceleration of the vehicle are arranged near the front wheels of the vehicle.

These sensors are connected via wire harnesses to the electrically ignited airbag device body installed in the steering wheel of the driver's seat, the control device installed near the center console, and the airbag device body for the auxiliary seat. is connected to.

When the vehicle suddenly decelerates, one of the sensors disposed near the front wheels senses this sudden deceleration, and the airbag device bodies for the driver's seat and the passenger's seat are respectively activated via the wire harness. As a result, the occupants seated in the driver's seat and the front passenger seat are protected by the respective inflatable bags.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in this type of airbag device, high reliability is required for the wire harness that connects the sensor near the front wheels of the vehicle and each airbank device main body, etc. The condition must be detected by a sensor and the electrical signal from this sensor must be reliably sent to the air bang device body through the wiring group in the wire harness, so a wire harness that strongly protects the wiring group must be used. This led to an increase in the cost of the entire air hang device.

In addition, this type of airbag device requires sensors near the front wheels in addition to the wire harness mentioned above, which increases the number of parts and complicates the structure, which also increases the cost of the entire airbag device. Ta.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned facts, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an activation device that can be simplified in structure and that can reliably operate a plurality of actuators when a vehicle suddenly decelerates.

Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a starting device in which a single starting device body operates a plurality of actuators that are activated when a vehicle suddenly decelerates, wherein the starting device body moves inertially when the vehicle suddenly decelerates. an inertial body, an ignition member having at least a portion of a magnetic body or a magnet, and which moves in the direction of a detonator due to an urging force due to inertial movement of the inertial body and collides with the detonator to activate one actuator; and this ignition member. an induced electromotive force generating means that is provided at a predetermined position on the magnetic body or magnet and generates an induced electromotive force based on a magnetic flux density that changes due to interaction with the magnetic body or magnet, and is connected to a control means that operates the other actuator. It is characterized by having the following.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, when the vehicle is normally running, the acceleration applied to the inertial body is small, so the inertial body does not move or the amount of inertial movement is small. Therefore, the ignition member does not move toward the detonator due to the urging force. Therefore, the magnetic body or magnet provided in a part of the ignition member does not move.
The induced electromotive force generating means provided at a predetermined position with respect to the ignition member does not generate induced electromotive force. As a result, the activation device will not operate.

When the vehicle suddenly decelerates from this state, the acceleration applied to the inertial body increases, so that the inertial body undergoes a large inertial movement.

Therefore, the ignition member moves toward the detonator due to force, and the ignition member collides with the detonator. Therefore, one actuator is activated. Furthermore, as the ignition member moves toward the detonator, the magnetic flux density changes due to the relative movement between the induced electromotive force generating means and the magnetic body or magnet. Based on this changing magnetic flux density, the induced electromotive force generating means generates an induced electromotive force, and the control means operates the other actuator.

Note that when the control means operates the other actuator, when detecting the magnetic flux density itself that changes due to relative movement between the induced electromotive force generation means and the magnetic body or magnet, the induced electromotive force generated by the induced electromotive force generation means is detected. When detecting the electric power itself, when detecting an induced current flowing based on the induced electromotive force generated by the induced electromotive force generating means, when detecting the resistance generated in the induced electromotive force generating means, etc.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the activation device according to the present invention has the excellent effect of simplifying the structure and reliably operating a plurality of actuators when the vehicle suddenly decelerates.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 shows an airbag device A on the driver's seat side according to this embodiment.
A schematic cross-sectional view of the airbag device B on the passenger seat side is also shown.

In the airbag device A on the driver's seat side, a hub 14 of a steering wheel 12 is fixed to the tip of a steering wheel 10, and a substantially box-shaped pace plate 16 is mounted parallel to the hub 14. It is supported via a support bracket 18. A pad 20, a bag body 22, and an inflation flake 24 are attached to the base plate 16.

The pad 20 is arranged on the passenger side of the base plate 16 (the side opposite to the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1). A frame-shaped core metal (not shown) is embedded around the pad 20, and the base plate 16 is connected to the base plate 16 with rivets or the like via this core metal.
is fixed to the periphery of the Further, a thin wall portion 26 is formed at a portion of the pad 20 facing the base plate 16, and the pad 20 is easily broken at this thin wall portion 26.

The bag body 22 is arranged in a folded state on the passenger side of the base plate 16 and is connected to the base plate 16 and the pad 20.
is stored between. The opening side edge of the bag body 22 is attached to the approximate center of the base plate 16 via a ring plate 28. The ring plate 28 is fastened to the base plate 16 with bolts (not shown), and the bag body 2
The opening side edge of 2 is pressed against the base plate 16.

The inflator 24 has a cylindrical shape and is attached to the base plate 1.
6, and is disposed so as to be penetrated by an oval hole. The inflator 24 has a flange 30 extending in the radial direction of the inflator 24 at an axially intermediate portion thereof.
is formed.

The flange 30 is attached to the base plate 16 with bolts (not shown).
It is fixed on the side opposite to the passenger. Also, Inflake 24
A plurality of gas holes (not shown) are formed at predetermined intervals on the circumferential surface of the vehicle on the passenger side. Also, this inflation 24
A starter main body 32, which will be described later, is built into the shaft core of the starter main body 32, and an explosive charge (not shown) is disposed on the outer periphery of the starter main body 32, and a gas generating substance 34 is sealed.

The starting device main body 32 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the starting device main body 32 includes a substantially cylindrical upper case 36 and a lower case 38, and when the upper case 36 and the lower case 38 are fitted together, the inside of the cover 40 is The ends are fixed by caulking.

Inside the upper case 36, there is a cylinder 4 along the axial direction.
2 is disposed, and a ball 44 as an inertial body is accommodated in this cylinder 42. This ball 44 moves by inertia in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1 when the vehicle suddenly decelerates. Note that two of each component in the starting device main body 32, including the ball 44, which will be described later, are arranged in symmetrical positions with respect to the axis of the starting device main body 32, but only one component will be explained below. do.

One end in the axial direction of a shaft 46A of the drive shaft 46, which is disposed within the contact surface between the upper case 36 and the lower case 38, is in contact with the end of the ball 44 on the side opposite to the passenger. This drive shaft 46 includes a shaft 4
A locking portion 46B is formed near the axially intermediate portion of the shirt 6A and perpendicular to the shirt 46A, and a pair of support shafts 46C protrude and are pivotally supported by the locking portion 46B.

A bias pin 50 that is biased by a bias spring 48 is disposed inside the upper case 36, and the tip of the bias pin 50 is in contact with the other end of the shaft 46A of the drive shaft 46. .

A coil spring 52 is disposed inside the lower case 38 on the opposite side of the ball 44 with respect to the shaft 46A of the drive shaft 46. The coil spring 52 includes a coil portion and a hook portion that protrudes in the radial direction from the passenger side end of the coil portion. Although the hook part is not shown in FIG. 1, its coil part side is engaged with a release pin (not shown) inserted into the axis of the starter main body 32, and its tip end is engaged with the other ball (the first In the figure, the ball 44 is located at the opposite end of the ball 44 with respect to the axis of the starting device main body 32. Before the airbag device A is assembled to the steering wheel 12, the coil spring 52 causes the other ball to move in the inertial movement direction and the drive shaft 46 to move.
However, in the assembled state, the release pin is pressed by the protruding portion 18A of the support bracket 18 and moves toward the side opposite to the passenger against the biasing force of the coil spring 52, thereby releasing the hook portion. makes the device main body 32 configured from the above position ready for operation.

Now, within the starter main body 32, an ignition pin 54 (also shown in FIG. 3) as an ignition member is disposed.

The ignition pin 54 has a shaft portion 54A, and a flange portion 54B is formed in the axially intermediate portion thereof. Further, a disk-shaped locking plate 54C is integrally formed on the passenger side surface of the collar portion 54B, and a stepped portion formed by the passenger side locking plate 54C and the collar portion 54B is provided with the drive shaft. 46 locking portions 4'6B are locked.

Here, when describing the shaft portion 54A and its surroundings in further detail below, the shaft portion 54A on the passenger side is referred to as the upper shaft portion 250, and the shaft portion 54A on the non-occupant side is located in the middle in the axial direction. The part on the passenger side is the middle part of the shaft part 25.
2. Of the shaft portion 54A on the side opposite to the passenger, the portion on the side opposite to the passenger with the axial intermediate portion thereof as a boundary is referred to as a shaft lower stage 254.

The upper shaft portion 250, the middle shaft portion 252, and the lower shaft portion 254 are made of iron, which is a magnetic material. Note that iron is a ferromagnetic material.

The shaft portion 54A is loosely fitted into a compression coil spring 58 inserted into a cylindrical spring support portion 56 formed in a portion of the lower case 38 on the passenger side in the axial direction. In the loosely fitted state, the middle shaft portion 252 is disposed within the compression coil spring 58, and the lower shaft portion 254 passes through the spring support portion 56.

One end of the compression coil spring 58 is held in contact with the opposite side of the passenger side of the spring portion 54B, and the other end is held in contact with the passenger side of the bottom surface of the spring support portion 56. Therefore, the compression coil spring 58 presses and urges the ignition pin 54 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and a detonator 62 is disposed on the movement locus of the ignition pin 54.

A cylindrical recess is formed in the lower case 38 at a portion coaxial with the spring support portion 56 and on the side opposite to the passenger, and a female thread is formed in a portion of the circumferential surface of the recess on the passenger side. A coil case 100 for accommodating a coil 106, which will be described later, is inserted into this recess, and this coil case 100 is screwed and fixed to the female thread. The coil case 100 has a cylindrical shape with a closed surface facing away from the passenger, and two small holes 1 are formed in the closed surface facing away from the passenger.
02.104 is formed.

A coil 106 serving as an induced electromotive force generating means is housed in the coil case 100. A shaft lower stage 254 of the ignition pin 54 is inserted into the coil portion 106A of the coil 106 at its shaft center position.

A current is constantly supplied to the coil 106 from a vehicle body power source 82, which will be described later. Further, the positional relationship between the coil 106 and the shaft lower stage 254 of the ignition pin 54 is set such that the magnetic flux density can be changed by relative movement between the coil 106 and the shaft lower stage 254.

That is, as shown in FIG.
4) is in a non-moving state, and in this state, the coil portion 106
The magnetic flux density generated at A does not change and remains constant. However, as shown in FIG. 3(B), when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, the ignition pin 54 (particularly the shaft lower stage 254) is in a moving state, and in this state, magnetic flux that prevents the movement of the ignition pin 54 is generated. A change in density occurs in the coil portion 106A.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the above-mentioned coil 10
One end 106B of the coil 106 passes through one small hole 102 and then further connects to the steering shaft 10, and the other end 106C of the coil 106 passes through the other small hole 104 and then further connects to the insulator 6.
6 to a fixed rotating ring 68. A protrusion 68A is formed on the rotary ring 68, and the protrusion 68A is in contact with a connecting plate 72 fixed to the vehicle body 70. Therefore, the projection 68A is always connected to the connection plate 7 regardless of whether the steering wheel 12 is rotating or not.
It is in contact with 2.

Further, the connection plate 72 is connected to a control device 76 by wiring 74, and is further connected to an electric detonator 78 via a filament (not shown) disposed in an electrically ignited airbag device B on the passenger seat side.

Steering shaft 10 is connected to wiring 80 and vehicle power source 82
It is connected to an electric detonator 78 via.

The control device 76 is connected via wiring 88 to a buckle switch 86 in a buckle device 84 on the passenger seat side.

In the airbag device B on the passenger seat side, current flows to the filament only when both the buckle switch 86 and the reed switch 64 are turned on. When the current flows to the filament, Joule heat is generated and the electric detonator is activated. 7
8 is ignited, the gas generating agent 90 reacts, and the bag 92 is expanded.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

Under normal vehicle running conditions, the pole 44 does not move or the amount of inertial movement is small;
The locking portion 46B of the drive shaft 46 is
The ignition pin 54 does not come off from the collar 54B.

Therefore, the ignition pin 54 does not move toward the detonator 62,
It is in the state shown in FIG. 3(A). As a result, the starting device main body 32 does not operate, and the normal vehicle running state is maintained.

Furthermore, in this state, magnetic flux is generated in the coil portion 106A due to the current flowing through the coil 106. For this reason,
The lower shaft portion 254 made of iron, which is a ferromagnetic material, is magnetized. However, since the lower shaft portion 254 is stationary, there is no change in the magnetic flux density occurring in the coil portion 106A. Therefore, no induced electromotive force is generated in the coil portion 106A, so no induced current flows within the coil portion 106A. As a result, since no change in current is detected by the control device 76, the airbag group WB on the passenger seat side does not operate.

When the vehicle suddenly decelerates from this state, the ball 44 moves to the first position.
Large inertial movement in the direction of arrow C in the figure.

As a result, the drive shaft 46 rotates about the support shaft 46C in the direction of the arrow E in FIG.

As a result, the ignition pin 54 moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 due to the urging force of the compression coil spring 58 and collides with the detonator 62. As a result, the detonator 62 ignites and the gas generating substance 34 reacts via a booster (not shown), generating a large amount of gas. Accordingly, the bag 22 expands, causing the pad 20 to break at the thin portion 26. The inflated bag 22 after being broken is interposed between the steering wheel 12 and the passenger. As a result, the occupants are reliably protected from impact when the vehicle suddenly decelerates.

On the other hand, as the ignition pin 54 moves, the lower shaft 254 moves together with the ignition pin 54, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 3(B). This movement of the shaft lower stage 254 causes a change in magnetic flux density in the coil portion 106A that prevents this movement. Therefore, an induced electromotive force is generated in the coil portion 106A. Due to this induced electromotive force, an induced current flows through the coil 106. Therefore, a change occurs in the current flowing in the coil 106, and this change in current is detected by the controller 76 via the wires 74,80.

Here, if no passenger is seated in the passenger seat, that is, if the buckle switch 86 on the passenger seat side is not turned on, this electrical signal is not sent to the control device 76.
This air bag device B does not operate regardless of whether or not the control device 76 detects the above-described change in current. but,
When a passenger is seated in the passenger seat, that is, when the buckle switch 86 is turned on, this electric signal is sent to the control device 76, so that current flows through the filament, generating Joule heat, and the electric detonator 78 is ignited and the gas generating agent 90 generates a large amount of gas. As a result, the airbag device B on the passenger seat side is activated and the bag 92 is inflated, thereby protecting the passenger seated in the passenger seat.

As described above, in this embodiment, a mechanically ignited airbag device A is provided on the driver's seat side, an electrically ignited airbag device B is provided on the passenger's seat side, and a shaft is provided in the activation device main body 32. Since the lower stage 254 is provided with a coil 106 that generates an induced electromotive force by changing the magnetic flux density as the ignition pin 54 made of iron moves, the single starting device main body 32 can be used to control the driver's seat. The side airbag device A and the passenger seat side airbag device B can be activated simultaneously when the vehicle suddenly decelerates.

Additionally, compared to the conventional case where electrically ignited airbag devices are installed on both the driver's and passenger's seats, there is no need for sensors or wire harnesses installed near both front axles of the vehicle. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and costs can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, since there is no need to secure space in the vehicle body for arranging sensors, wire harnesses, etc., there is an advantage in terms of design.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control device 76 prevents the airbag device B on the passenger seat side from operating when no occupant is seated in the passenger seat. can be prevented from operating unnecessarily, and can contribute to improving safety.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the coil portion 106 of the coil 106
A and the shaft portion 54A of the ignition pin 54 are in a state of non-contact with each other, but the movement of the ignition pin 54 can be detected, so the movement of the ignition pin 54 causes the contact point to come into contact with the ignition pin, thereby establishing conduction. Compared to conventional structures, the sensitivity to sudden vehicle deceleration can be improved.

In this embodiment, the airbag device A on the driver's seat side is used as one actuator, and the airbag device B on the passenger seat side is used as the other actuator. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The take-up shaft drive member of the buri loader, which is installed in the webbing take-up device on the seat side and forcibly winds the webbing onto the take-up shaft when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, is installed as the other actuator in the webbing take-up device on the passenger seat side. The present invention is applicable to any method in which a plurality of actuators are actuated by a single actuator, such as applying a take-up shaft drive member of a PJ O-da having a similar structure.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the starter body 32 of the type in which the drive shaft 46 is disposed.
For example, the drive shaft 46 is not limited to this, but a cylindrical mass with a part protruding in the axial direction may be used as the inertial body, and the protruding part of the mass may directly engage the flange 54B of the ignition pin 54. The present invention may be applied to an airbag device activation device having a structure that has been abolished.

Further, in this embodiment, a structure is adopted in which a current is constantly flowing through the coil 106 and the lower shaft 254 of the ignition pin 54 is made of iron, but the structure is not limited to this, and a permanent magnet is disposed in the lower shaft 254. may be set.

In this case, there is no need to apply current to the coil 106; in other words, when the permanent magnet moves with the movement of the ignition pin 54, the magnetic flux changes, so an induced electromotive force is generated in the coil portion 106A, and an induced current flows. Therefore, the other airbag device B can be activated. in this case,
Compared to a structure using iron material as in this embodiment, this embodiment has an advantage in that a permanent magnet of a desired strength can be easily selected and applied.

In addition, in this embodiment, the upper shaft portion 250 and the middle shaft portion 252
Although the entire lower shaft 254 is made of iron, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only the lower shaft 254 is made of a magnetic material such as iron, and the other shaft parts 250 and 252 are made of a highly hard synthetic material. It may be formed of resin or the like, or only the surface of the shaft lower stage 254 may be coated with a magnetic material such as iron.

Further, in this embodiment, the control device 76 determines whether the ignition pin 54 has moved by detecting a change in the induced current.
However, the control device 76 may determine whether or not the ignition pin 54 has moved by detecting the changing magnetic flux density itself using, for example, a magnetic sensor. Further, the ignition pin 54 detects a change in the induced electromotive force generated in the coil portion 106A or a resistance generated in the coil portion 106A.
The control device 76 may determine whether or not the object has moved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the coil portion 106A uses a spiral, that is, a curved coil 106, but is not limited to this.
A coil wound in a square or rectangular shape may also be used. Further, in this embodiment, a single coil 106 is applied, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the coil 106, a group of linear coil type coils (i.e., a plurality of coils having the same structure as the coil 106 are used in a linear manner). It is also possible to arrange the ignition pin 54 adjacent to this coil group.

Further, in this embodiment, the control device 76 is only connected to the coil 106, the airbag device B on the passenger seat side, and the buckle switch 86, but if the electrically ignited airbag device B breaks down for some reason, The configuration may be such that it is connected to a failure memory or the like that stores information when a failure occurs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the main body of the activation device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the driver seat side and passenger side airbag devices to which the activation device according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is the first
Arranged in the main body of the starting device shown in the figure are 58, 62, 76, ・Compression coil spring, ・Detonator, ・Control device (control means), ・Coil (induced electromotive force generation means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A starting device that operates a plurality of actuators that operate when a vehicle suddenly decelerates, with a single starting device main body, wherein the starting device main body includes an inertial body that inertially moves when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, and a magnetic material at least in part. or an ignition member having a magnet and moving in the direction of the detonator due to the inertial movement of the inertial body and colliding with the detonator to actuate one of the actuators; an induced electromotive force generating means that generates an induced electromotive force based on a magnetic flux density that changes due to relative movement with a magnetic body or a magnet, and is connected to a control means that operates the other actuator. Device.