JP2011213196A - Occupant crash protection device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant crash protection device of a vehicle more surely protecting also a large-sized occupant in addition to a small-sized occupant.SOLUTION: The occupant crash protection device includes: an airbag 17 stored in a portion of an instrument panel 3 in front of a front passenger seat, and provided with a receiving portion 63 inflating and deploying in a collision of the vehicle 1 so as to receive a face of the occupant corresponding to the size of the occupant 13 seated in the front passenger seat 11; an inflator 19 stored together with the airbag 17 in the portion of the instrument panel 3 in front of the front passenger seat 11, and supply gas to the airbag 17 in a collision of the vehicle 1 to inflate and deploy the airbag 17 before the front passenger seat 11; a weight sensor 59 detecting the size of the occupant 13 seated in the front passenger seat 11; and a shape adjusting mechanism 21 adjusting the deployment shape of the airbag so that the face of the passenger 13 comes into contact with the receiving portion 63 in correspondence with the size of the occupant 13 detected by the weight sensor 59 when the airbag 17 inflates and deploys.

Description

  The present invention relates to an occupant protection device for a vehicle, and more particularly to an occupant protection device for protecting an occupant seated on a passenger seat side.

  Conventionally, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, when an airbag for a passenger seat is inflated and deployed, the airbag is formed so that a recessed shape is formed on a surface facing the passenger in the passenger seat. A vehicle occupant protection device is known. In such an occupant protection device, the surface facing the occupant on the upper side of the recessed shape functions as a receiving surface that receives the face of an occupant with a large physique, and the lower inclined surface that constitutes the recessed shape, By functioning as a receiving surface that receives the face of an occupant having a small physique, the occupant is appropriately protected according to the physique of the occupant.

JP 2002-19560 A

  However, although the above-mentioned occupant protection device forms a concave shape in the airbag to protect the occupant with a small physique, there is also a large occupant with a small physique while protecting the occupant with a small physique. It is desirable to protect more reliably.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle occupant protection device that can more reliably protect not only small-sized occupants but also large-sized occupants.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a vehicle occupant protection device that restrains and protects a passenger seated in a passenger seat at the time of a vehicle collision, and is housed in a portion in front of the passenger seat of an instrument panel, An airbag with a receiving portion for receiving the occupant's face according to the physique of the occupant who inflated and deployed in the passenger seat at the time of a vehicle collision, and the airbag is housed in the front part of the passenger seat of the instrument panel together with the airbag. An inflator that inflates and deploys the airbag forward of the passenger seat by supplying gas to the airbag in the event of a collision, a physique detection means that detects the physique of the occupant seated in the passenger seat, and the physique when the airbag is inflated and deployed Shape adjusting means for adjusting the deployment shape of the airbag so that the occupant's face abuts on the receiving portion according to the physique of the occupant detected by the detecting means. And butterflies.

  According to the present invention thus configured, the deployed shape of the airbag can be adjusted by the shape adjusting means according to the physique of the occupant seated in the passenger seat. Specifically, according to the present invention, when an occupant having a small physique is seated, a receiving portion having a predetermined shape for receiving the occupant's face is formed on the airbag, and an occupant having a small physique is seated. In this case, it is possible to prevent the receiving portion having a predetermined shape from being formed on the airbag. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately protect an occupant having a small physique and more reliably protect an occupant having a small physique.

  Preferably, in the present invention, the shape adjusting means has one end having a tether attached to the inside of the airbag at a position where the airbag receiving portion is to be formed, a holding means for holding the other end of the tether, and the holding Holding control means for controlling the holding of the tether by the means, and the holding control means holds the other end of the tether when it is determined that the physique of the occupant detected by the physique detection means is small, and the physique detection When it is determined that the occupant's physique detected by the means is large, the other end of the tether is separated.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, whether or not the receiving portion is formed in the airbag is controlled by a simple control and mechanism of holding or releasing the other end of the tether by the holding control means. be able to.

  Preferably, in the present invention, there is further provided a seating position detection means for detecting a seating position in the front-rear direction of a passenger seated in the passenger seat, and the holding control means detects a small passenger by the physique detection means, and When the seating position detecting means detects that the occupant is seated in front of a predetermined position, the other end of the tether is held, and in the other cases, the other end of the tether is separated.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, when the occupant having a small physique is seated on the front side of the predetermined position, the receiving portion having a predetermined shape can be formed on the airbag. Thereby, the passenger | crew of a small physique can be detected reliably, and the passenger | crew can be protected reliably.

  In the present invention, preferably, one end of the tether is attached to at least a central portion of the airbag in the vehicle width direction.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, the receiving portion can be formed at the center portion in the vehicle width direction of the airbag where the occupant's face is located, thereby reliably protecting the occupant having a small physique. can do.

  Preferably, in the present invention, the physique detection means is a weight detection means for detecting the weight of the occupant seated in the passenger seat, and the holding control means is based on the detection result of the occupant's weight by the weight detection means. Judging the physique.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, the physique of the occupant can be determined by a simple mechanism using the weight detection means.

  Preferably, in the present invention, the sitting position detecting means is a position detecting means for detecting a sliding position in the front-rear direction of the passenger seat.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, the seating position of the occupant can be detected by a simple mechanism using the position detecting means.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately protect an occupant having a small physique in addition to an occupant having a small physique.

It is a front view which shows the compartment front part of the vehicle by which the passenger | crew protection device by embodiment of this invention is mounted. It is a side view of the compartment of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the shape adjustment mechanism of the airbag by embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the passenger | crew protection apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the expansion | deployment deployment state of the airbag at the time of the actuator non-operation by embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the airbag of FIG. FIG. 6 is a top view of the airbag of FIG. 5. It is a sectional side view showing the state of inflation and deployment of an air bag at the time of actuator operation by an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a front part of a passenger compartment of a vehicle on which an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the passenger compartment of FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, an instrument panel 3 extending in the vehicle width direction is provided on the front side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1, and a steering wheel 5 and various types are provided on the driver seat side of the instrument panel 3. An instrument 7 is provided. Further, an airbag unit 9 is accommodated on the passenger seat side of the instrument panel 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag unit 9 protects the occupant 13 seated on the passenger seat 11 when the vehicle collides. The airbag unit 9 includes a casing 15 having an opening, an airbag 17 accommodated in the casing 15 in a folded state, an inflator 19 accommodated in the casing 15 and supplying gas to the airbag 17; And a shape adjusting mechanism 21 of the airbag 17 disposed adjacent to the inflator 19. The casing 15 of the airbag unit 13 is fixed to a steering support member 25 extending in the vehicle width direction via a bracket 23. A fracture groove 29 having a substantially V-shaped cross section is formed on the lower surface of the upper panel 27 constituting the instrument panel 3. The breaking groove 29 is broken by the inflation and deployment pressure of the airbag 17 so that the upper panel 27 does not hinder the inflation and deployment of the airbag 17.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the airbag shape adjusting mechanism 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the shape adjustment mechanism 21 includes a tether 31 having a certain length and a holding portion 33 that selectively holds the tether 31. The tether 31 is formed in a belt shape, and one end portion thereof (hereinafter referred to as “first end portion 35”) is bifurcated.

  The end surface of the first end portion 35 extending in the width direction of the tether 31 is curved in the width direction of the tether 31, and the first end portion 35 is sewn to the inner surface of the airbag 17 along the curved end surface. Fixed by. The first end 35 of the tether has two branch portions 37 and 39 of the first end 35 that are bifurcated along the center in the vehicle width direction of the airbag 17 when inflated and deployed. It is fixed inside the airbag 17 so as to extend in the direction. The tether 31 forms a receiving portion having a receiving surface for receiving the occupant's face, which will be described later, on the surface of the airbag 17 that faces the passenger seat 11 when a tensile force is applied to the tether 31. In addition, it is fixed to the airbag 17. An opening 43 is formed at the other end of the tether 31 (hereinafter referred to as “second end 41”). The tether 31 is made of a material that has little stretchability and a certain tensile strength.

  The holding portion 33 includes an actuator 47 fixed on the bracket 45, a pin 49 having one end fixed to the actuator 47, and a receiving portion 51 that can receive the other end of the pin 49. The actuator 47 moves the pin 49 in the axial direction so that the other end of the pin 49 is separated from the receiving portion 51 during operation. The pin 49 extends from the actuator 47 in the vehicle width direction and has a diameter that allows the pin 49 to pass through the opening 43 formed in the second end 41 of the tether 31. The receiving portion 51 is fixed to the bracket 45 at a constant interval from the actuator 47 in the vehicle width direction. The receiving portion 51 contacts the other end of the pin 49 when the actuator 47 is not operated, and prevents the second end portion 37 of the tether 31 from being detached from the pin 49. And the holding | maintenance part 33 is mounted in the vehicle 1 so that the moving direction of the pin 49 may correspond with a vehicle width direction.

  The shape adjusting mechanism 21 having such a configuration is disposed inside the folded airbag 17 by folding the tether 31 so as not to hinder the inflation and deployment of the airbag 17. The shape adjusting mechanism 21 is fixed to the bottom of the casing 15 adjacent to the inflator 19 by fixing means that penetrates the cloth portion of the airbag 17. Further, the shape adjusting mechanism 21 is disposed on the vehicle rear side of the inflator 19 so as not to prevent the inflow of gas from the inflator 19 into the airbag 17.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the occupant protection device.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control system of the occupant protection device includes a collision sensor 53 including an acceleration sensor for detecting a frontal collision of the vehicle 1 and a vehicle 1 and an obstacle positioned in front of the vehicle 1. A distance sensor 55 for detecting the distance of the passenger seat 11, a position sensor 57 for detecting the seat position of the passenger seat 11, and a weight sensor 59 for detecting the weight of the passenger 13 seated on the passenger seat 11. These sensors 53, 55, 57, 59 are each connected to the controller 61. The detection results from the sensors 53, 55, 57 and 59 are input to the controller 61.

  The distance sensor 55 includes, for example, a transmitter that transmits a detection wave (infrared ray, millimeter wave, etc.) to the front of the vehicle, and a receiver that receives a reflected wave that is reflected by the detection wave hitting an obstacle in front of the vehicle. The distance between the vehicle and the obstacle ahead of the vehicle is detected by measuring the time from when the detection wave is transmitted until the reflected wave is received. And the controller 61 determines the magnitude of the collision possibility of a vehicle according to the distance with the obstacle ahead of the vehicle detected by the distance sensor.

  The weight sensor 59 detects the weight of the occupant 13 seated on the passenger seat 11. Then, the detection result is input to the controller 61. Then, the controller 61 determines the physique of the occupant 13 based on the detection result of the weight sensor 59. Specifically, when the weight of the occupant 13 detected by the weight sensor 59 is heavier than a predetermined weight, the controller 61 determines that the physique of the occupant 13 sitting on the passenger seat 11 is large. When the weight of the occupant 13 detected by the weight sensor 59 is lighter than a predetermined weight, it is determined that the physique of the occupant 13 sitting on the passenger seat 11 is small.

  Here, in this specification, the “small physique occupant” refers to a small person who, for example, arranges American women in physique order and falls within the lower 5%. Further, in the present specification, the “occupant with a large physique” refers to an occupant other than the “occupant with a small physique”.

  The position sensor 57 inputs the detection result of the front / rear position of the passenger seat 11 to the controller 61. Then, the controller 61 determines whether the occupant's seating position is in front of or behind the predetermined position according to the input result of the position sensor 57.

  In addition to the above processing, the controller 61 inputs an initiation signal to the inflator 19 or activates the actuator 47 based on the detection results from the sensors 53, 55, 57 and 59.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle occupant protection device according to this embodiment will be described.

  The controller 61 determines whether or not the vehicle 1 has collided with an obstacle or the like according to the detection result from the collision sensor 53, and when determining that the vehicle 1 has collided with the obstacle or the like, An initiation signal is input to inflate and deploy the airbag 17. Further, the controller 61 determines the occupant's physique based on the detection result of the weight sensor 59, and further determines the occupant's seating position based on the detection result of the position sensor 57. The controller 61 determines whether or not to activate the actuator 47 of the shape adjustment mechanism 21 based on the detection results when the airbag 17 is inflated and deployed. Specifically, the controller 61 determines that the physique of the occupant 13 seated in the passenger seat 11 is small based on the detection result of the weight sensor 59, and based on the detection result of the position sensor 57, If it is determined that the seat position is in front of the predetermined position, the actuator 47 is not operated. On the other hand, the controller 61 operates the actuator 47 when determining that the above condition is not satisfied based on the detection results of the weight sensor 59 and the position sensor 57.

  FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing an inflated and deployed state of the airbag when the actuator is not operated, FIG. 6 is a front view of the airbag of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is an upper surface of the airbag of FIG. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, when the airbag 17 is inflated and deployed when the actuator is not operated, the second end portion 41 of the tether 31 remains held by the pin 49 of the cage 33. Thus, when the airbag 17 is inflated, the first end portion 35 of the tether 31 pulls a part of the airbag 17 forward of the vehicle. And the receiving part 63 is formed in the vehicle width direction center part of the airbag 17 to which the 1st end part 35 of the tether 31 is being fixed. The lower surface 65 forming the receiving portion 63 functions as a receiving surface for receiving the face of the occupant 11 having a small physique. And the receiving part 63 is positioned by the height which can receive the face of the passenger | crew 13 of a small physique by the lower surface 65 which forms the receiving part 63. FIG. Further, when a tensile force is applied to the airbag 17 by the tether 31, a pair of projecting portions 66 and 67 extending in the vertical direction are formed on the left and right sides of the receiving portion 63. The pair of projecting portions 66 and 67 are arranged so as to sandwich the receiving portion 63, and when the face of the occupant 13 enters the receiving portion 63, the occupant is located on the inner side of the pair of projecting portions 66 and 67. The two sides of the face of the vehicle receive the shock and absorb the shock, and the pair of protrusions 66 and 67 receive the shoulder and chest of the occupant 13. In this way, by pulling a part of the airbag 17 by the tether 31 to form the surface 65 on the airbag 17, the vehicle in a state where the occupant 13 having a small physique is seated in front of a predetermined position. When the vehicle 1 collides, the waist 13 of the occupant 13 is restrained by the lap belt 70 of the seat belt device, but is restrained by the shoulder belt 71 of the seat belt device having a retractor with a load limiter mechanism, so that the occupant 13 is inclined forward. The face of the occupant 13 having a small physique can be received by the face 65. Thereby, the passenger | crew 13 of a small physique can be protected reliably.

  FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing an inflated and deployed state of the airbag when the actuator is operated. When the actuator 43 is operated when the airbag 17 is inflated and deployed, the pin 49 moves in a direction away from the receiving portion 51, so that the pin 49 comes out of the opening 43 of the second end portion 41 of the tether 31. As a result, the tether 31 is released from the holding portion 21 and the second end 41 of the tether 31 is released. When the airbag 17 is inflated and deployed in this state, the tether 31 is suspended from the airbag 17 in the airbag 17. At this time, since no tensile force is applied to the tether 31, the above-described receiving portion 63 is not formed in the airbag 17, and the surface of the airbag 17 that faces the passenger seat 11 is a flat that extends in a substantially vertical direction. It becomes a serious aspect. Thereby, a passenger with a large physique can be reliably protected.

  As described above, according to the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the deployment shape of the airbag can be adjusted according to the physique of the seated occupant. Thereby, it is possible to reliably protect both small and large occupants.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, Each structure of the passenger | crew protection apparatus concerning the above-mentioned embodiment can be suitably changed in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the weight sensor 55 is used as the physique determining means for determining the occupant's physique. However, the position sensor 57 may be used to determine the occupant's physique without providing the weight sensor 59. Good. In this case, the controller 61 forms the receiving portion 63 in the airbag 17 without operating the actuator 47 when the seating position of the occupant is in front of the predetermined position. On the other hand, when the seating position of the occupant is on the rear side of the predetermined position, the controller 61 does not form the receiving portion 63 in the airbag 17 by operating the actuator 47. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to reliably protect a passenger with a large physique and a passenger with a small physique.

17 Airbag 19 Inflator 21 Shape adjustment mechanism 31 Tether 33 Cage 57 Position sensor 59 Weight sensor 61 Controller 63 Receiving part

Claims (6)

An occupant protection device for a vehicle that restrains and protects an occupant seated in a passenger seat at the time of a vehicle collision,
An airbag that is housed in a portion in front of the passenger seat of the instrument panel and includes a receiving portion that receives the face of the occupant according to the physique of the occupant who inflated and deployed in the passenger seat and seated in the passenger seat at the time of a vehicle collision;
An inflator that is housed in the front part of the passenger seat of the instrument panel together with the airbag, supplies gas to the airbag in the event of a vehicle collision, and inflates and deploys the airbag forward of the passenger seat;
Physique detection means for detecting the physique of an occupant seated in the passenger seat;
Shape adjusting means for adjusting the deployment shape of the airbag so that the occupant's face abuts on the receiving portion according to the occupant's physique detected by the physique detection means during inflation and deployment of the airbag;
An occupant protection device for a vehicle, comprising: The shape adjusting means includes one end having a tether attached to the inside of the airbag at a position where a receiving portion of the airbag is to be formed, a holding means for holding the other end of the tether, and the holding means. Holding control means for controlling the holding of the tether,
The holding control means holds the other end of the tether when it is determined that the occupant's physique detected by the physique detection means is small, and the occupant's physique detected by the physique detection means is large The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the tether is separated when it is determined. Furthermore, it has a seating position detection means for detecting the seating position in the front-rear direction of the occupant seated in the passenger seat,
The holding control means is configured to detect the occupant other than the tether when the physique detection means detects a small occupant and the seating position detection means detects that the occupant is seated in front of a predetermined position. The occupant protection device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the end is held and the other end of the tether is separated in other cases.   4. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 2, wherein one end of the tether is attached to at least a central portion in the vehicle width direction of the airbag. 5. The physique detection means is a weight detection means for detecting the weight of an occupant seated in the passenger seat,
The occupant protection device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the holding control means determines the physique of the occupant based on a result of detection of the occupant's weight by the weight detection means.   4. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 3, wherein the seating position detection unit is a position detection unit that detects a sliding position of the front passenger seat in the front-rear direction. 5.

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