JP2015116912A - Air bag device for driver seat - Google Patents

Abstract

A driver airbag device capable of suppressing rotation of an occupant's head in an oblique collision or a minute lap collision is obtained. A driver airbag device includes an airbag that is inflated and deployed in front of an occupant in response to a gas supply in the event of a collision at the front of the vehicle, and both longitudinal ends of the airbag device. And a tether 28 that is deployed so as to be longitudinal in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle rear side in the airbag 18 when the airbag 18 is inflated and deployed. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a driver's seat airbag device.

  A configuration in which the occupant-side base fabric and the anti-occupant-side base fabric in the driver's seat airbag are connected by a plurality of tethers at a radial position corresponding to the rim of the steering wheel is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-94224 A

  For example, in the case of an oblique collision in which the counterpart vehicle collides obliquely from the front, the occupant moves to the collision side obliquely forward. In this case, since the head of the occupant contacts the airbag from an oblique direction, the occupant's head easily rotates in a direction in which the face faces the anti-collision side. The same applies to the case of a minute lap collision.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a driver's seat airbag device capable of suppressing the rotation of an occupant's head during an oblique collision or a minute lap collision.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driver's seat airbag device comprising: an airbag that is inflated and deployed in front of an occupant in response to a gas supply when a collision occurs in a front portion of a vehicle; A tether connected to the bag and deployed so as to be longitudinal in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle rear side in the airbag when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

  In this driver's seat airbag device, when a collision occurs in the front portion of the vehicle, the airbag is inflated and deployed by receiving gas supply. When this collision is an oblique collision or a minute lap collision, the occupant contacts the airbag while moving to an obliquely forward collision side. Here, a tether is deployed at a rear portion in the airbag. For this reason, the passenger | crew's head which contacted the deployment area | region of the tether in an airbag is restrained by an airbag so that it may be pinched | interposed from the both sides of a vehicle width direction by a tether. Thereby, the difference of the restraining force which acts on the right and left of a passenger | crew's head is suppressed small, and rotation of this passenger | crew head is suppressed.

  Thus, in the structure of Claim 1, rotation of a passenger | crew's head can be suppressed in the case of a diagonal collision or a micro lap collision.

  A driver's seat airbag device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the configuration of the first aspect, wherein the length of the tether is shorter than a distance between portions of the airbag to which both ends of the tether are connected.

  In the driver airbag device, the tether is tensioned by tension when the airbag is inflated and deployed. For this reason, the effect of suppressing the rotation of the passenger's head by the tether is great.

  A driver's seat airbag apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the driver seat airbag apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the tether is a head of the AF05 dummy as the occupant when a frontal collision occurs in the airbag. The region where the head of the AM50 dummy as the occupant contacts is crossed in a rear view when an oblique collision or a minute lap collision occurs in the airbag above the upper end in the vehicle vertical direction of the region where the vehicle contacts. Be expanded.

  In this driver's seat airbag device, the AF05 dummy modeled on a small female occupant has a head that is not restrained by the tether during a frontal collision, so that the load (reaction force) that accompanies restraint by the airbag can be kept small. . On the other hand, the AM50 dummy modeled on a male occupant with a standard body shape is located rearward from the airbag deployment position, so that the contact area with the airbag in the case of an oblique collision or a minute lap collision is the air bag. It tends to shift in the vehicle width direction with respect to the center of the bag. The rotation of the head of the AM50 dummy is effectively suppressed by restraining the head by the tether as described above.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the third aspect, the driver's seat airbag device is supported by a portion that rotates integrally with a steering wheel, and the plurality of tethers include the airbag. When a frontal collision occurs, the outer side of the AF05 dummy is provided outside the region in contact with the head of the AF05 dummy along the circumferential direction of the airbag.

  Since the driver's seat airbag device is provided with a plurality of tethers even when an oblique collision or a minute lap collision occurs while the steering wheel is rotating, the head of the AM50 dummy can be restrained by the tethers. Probability increases. On the other hand, the restraint by the tether can be avoided for the head of the AF05 dummy regardless of the rotational position of the steering wheel.

  As described above, the driver's seat airbag device according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the rotation of the passenger's head can be suppressed in the case of an oblique collision or a minute lap collision.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows typically the protection aspect of the driver | operator's head by the driver | operator seat airbag apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a top view before a head contacts an airbag. , (B) is a plan view before the head comes into contact with the airbag and is restrained by the lateral tether, (C) is a plan view when the head is restrained by the lateral tether, and (D) is a lateral tether. It is a top view in the state where rotation of the head is controlled by. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows the driver's seat airbag apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a side view which shows a schematic whole structure, (B) is the area | region where each dummy head in an airbag contacts. FIG. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows the airbag and lateral tether which comprise the driver's seat airbag apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a sectional side view which shows the internal structure and lateral tether of an airbag, (B ) Is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the connection state of the horizontal tether to the airbag. It is a rear view which shows typically the airbag and the side tether which comprise the driver's seat airbag apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  A driver's seat airbag device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that an arrow FR, an arrow UP, and an arrow LH, which are appropriately described in each drawing, indicate the left side that is one side of the front direction, the upward direction, and the vehicle width direction of the automobile to which each is applied. 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.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the driver's seat airbag device 10 is provided on a steering column 14 that protrudes rearward (driver's seat side) from the instrument panel 12. A steering wheel 16 operated by the driver D is attached to the rear end of the steering column 14. The driver's seat airbag apparatus 10 is configured to inflate and deploy an airbag 18 accommodated in a steering column 14 that rotates integrally with the steering wheel 16 behind the steering wheel 16.

  Specifically, at least a gas ejection portion of an inflator 20 as a gas supply device is built in the base end side of the airbag 18, and the airbag 18 is stored in an airbag case 22 together with the inflator 20 in a folded state. ing. The airbag case 22 is fixed to the rear end portion of the steering column 14. The opening on the rear end side of the airbag case 22 is closed by a steering wheel pad (not shown). The steering wheel pad is torn by the inflation pressure of the airbag 18 that has been supplied with gas. As a result, the airbag 18 is allowed to inflate and deploy rearward with respect to the steering wheel 16.

  3A, the airbag 18 includes an occupant side base fabric 18D facing the driver D side in an inflated and deployed state, and an anti occupant side base fabric facing the counter occupant side, that is, the steering wheel 16 side. 18R is sewn and formed into a bag shape. A front and rear tether 26 that adjusts (sets) the deployment thickness in the front-rear direction is provided in the airbag 18.

  The front / rear tether 26 is connected to the front tether 26F connected to the anti-occupant side fabric 18R of the airbag 18 together with the inflator 20 and the rear tether 26R connected to the occupant side fabric 18D by sewing. It is comprised as a tension member which restrict | limits 18 expansion | deployment thickness. In this embodiment, the front tether 26F and the rear tether 26R are connected to each other on both the upper and lower sides with respect to the connection portion (vertical center portion) with the airbag 18, and constitute a pair of upper and lower tension members.

  And in the airbag 18 which comprises the driver's seat airbag apparatus 10 which concerns on this embodiment, the horizontal tether 28 as a tether in this invention is provided. The lateral tether 28 is configured to be deployed in the vehicle width direction (along the vehicle width direction) at the upper part and the rear part in the airbag 18 in the inflated and deployed state.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3B, both longitudinal ends of the lateral tether 28 made of a long base fabric are in the vehicle width direction when the airbag 18 is inflated and deployed on the occupant side base fabric 18D. Are connected by sewing S to two connected parts 18 </ b> F which are located apart from each other. In this embodiment, the length of the lateral tether 28 is longer than the distance between the two connected parts 18F in the occupant side fabric 18D of the airbag 18 (the shortest distance along the surface of the occupant side fabric 18D). It is set short.

  For this reason, both ends of the lateral tether 28 are connected to the two connected parts 18F in a state where the extra length (slack part) 18S is formed on the occupant side fabric 18D of the airbag 18. With this configuration, when the airbag 18 is inflated and deployed, the lateral tether 28 is in a state of being deployed (tightly tensioned) in a state of receiving tension in the vehicle width direction.

  Next, a more specific deployment position of the lateral tether 28 in the airbag 18 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the lateral tether 28 is configured to be deployed so as to cross the region A36 in the vehicle width direction above the upper end of the region A34 in the airbag 18. Here, the area A34 is an area of the airbag 18 where the head H of the AF05 dummy 34 (a 5th percentile dummy doll of an adult woman in the United States) as the driver D comes into contact with a full-wrap frontal collision (frontal collision). Is done. In addition, the area A36 is an area of the airbag 18 where the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 (a 50th percentile dummy of an adult male in the United States) as the driver D contacts in the case of an oblique collision.

  Hereinafter, the behavior of the AF05 dummy 34 at the time of a full-wrap frontal collision, the behavior of the AM50 dummy 36 at the time of an oblique collision, and the deployed position of the lateral tether 28 will be supplemented.

  The AF05 dummy 34 is a model of a small female occupant, and sits with his / her back up (in an upright posture) near the steering wheel 16 with the three-point seat belt device mounted. Although not shown, the upper body of the AF05 dummy 34 tilts forward around the waist restrained by the lap belt during a full wrap frontal collision, so the locus of the head H is forward and downward along the arc. It becomes a form that moves. A line L shown in FIG. 2A is a tangent line of the locus at the point where the arc-shaped locus of the top of the AF05 dummy 34 passes below the lateral tether 28. The lateral tether 28 is deployed above the line L, that is, in a region where it does not contact the head H of the AF05 dummy 34 when a full-wrap frontal collision occurs in the occupant side fabric 18D of the airbag 18. Yes.

  The AM50 dummy 36 is a model of a male occupant with a standard body shape, and is seated in a posture that is tilted rearward and farther from the steering wheel 16 than the AF05 dummy 34 with the three-point seat belt device mounted. Although not shown in the figure, the upper body of the AM50 dummy 36 is shifted from the backward leaning posture to the forward leaning posture around the waist restrained by the lap belt, and also on the collision side in the vehicle width direction. Moving. Then, the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 comes into contact with a position offset to the collision side with respect to the center of the airbag 18 in the vehicle width direction after the upper body shifts forward (see FIG. 2B).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), the region A36 where the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 contacts during an oblique collision in the airbag 18 is the area A36 when the head H of the AF05 dummy 34 undergoes a full-wrap frontal collision. It is offset above the contacting area A34 and in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 2B shows both the area A36 when the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 moves to the left and the area A36 when it moves to the right. Then, as described above, the horizontal tether 28 is developed so as to cross the substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the region A36. That is, the lateral tether 28 is configured to be able to restrain the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 in the case of an oblique collision.

  Note that the oblique collision (MDB oblique collision, oblique collision) is, for example, obliquely 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 that the other party's vehicle (barrier) collides. In this embodiment, an oblique collision at a relative speed of 90 km / hr is assumed as an example.

  Further, the lateral tether 28 is deployed at a position where the substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 can be restrained in the case of a minute lap collision (the collision mode will be described later). Note that the micro lap collision is a collision in which the lap amount in the vehicle width direction with a counterpart vehicle (barrier) defined by, for example, IIHS is 25% or less among the frontal collision of an automobile. 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.

  Also in the case of this minute lap collision, as in the case of the oblique collision, the vehicle moves to the collision side in the vehicle width direction while shifting from the backward inclined posture to the forward inclined posture. In the case of the minute lap collision, the movement toward the collision side in the vehicle width direction is delayed as compared with the case of the oblique collision. Therefore, the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 has the vehicle of the airbag 18 as compared with the case of the oblique collision. Contact the center in the width direction. Therefore, the lateral tether 28 set to be able to restrain the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 against an oblique collision can restrain the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 even in the case of a minute lap collision. As shown in FIG. 2A, the deployed position of the lateral tether 28 in this embodiment is above the upper end of the steering wheel 16 in the airbag 18.

  The operation of the inflator 20 of the driver's seat airbag device 10 is controlled by an airbag ECU 30 as a control device. The airbag ECU 30 is electrically connected to the inflator 20 and the collision sensor 32.

  The airbag ECU 30 is capable of detecting or predicting a frontal collision against the applied automobile based on information from the collision sensor 32. In this embodiment, the airbag ECU 30 does not distinguish between various frontal collisions such as full-lap frontal collision, offset frontal collision, minute lap collision, and diagonal collision based on information from the collision sensor 32 (or for each collision mode). ) It can be detected or predicted. When the airbag ECU 30 detects or predicts a frontal collision based on information from the collision sensor 32, the airbag ECU 30 operates the inflator 20.

[Action]
Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  When the airbag ECU 30 detects or predicts a frontal collision to the automobile based on a signal from the collision sensor 32, the airbag ECU 30 operates the inflator 20. Then, the airbag 18 that has received the gas supply from the inflator 20 is inflated and deployed behind the steering wheel 16 by cleaving the steering wheel pad. Hereinafter, when the driver D is the AF05 dummy 34 and the AM50 dummy 36, the protective action by the driver's seat airbag device 10 against a frontal collision and an oblique collision will be described.

(When driver D is AF05 dummy)
When the above-described collision is a full-wrap frontal collision, the upper body of the AF05 dummy 34 comes into contact with the inflated airbag 18 and is restrained. At this time, the head H of the AF05 dummy 34 does not come into contact with the deployed region of the lateral tether 28 in the airbag 18. For this reason, the load (reaction force) received by the AF05 dummy 34 with relatively low resistance (a delicate) AF 15 is restrained.

  When the above-described collision is an oblique collision, the head H of the AF05 dummy 34 seated close to the steering wheel 16 as described above moves to the collision side in the vehicle width direction until it contacts the airbag 18. Is small. For this reason, the head H of the AF05 dummy 34 is appropriately protected by the airbag 18 without relying on the lateral tether 28.

(When driver D is AM50 dummy)
When the above-described collision is a full-wrap frontal collision, the upper body of the AM50 dummy 36 comes into contact with the inflated airbag 18 and is restrained. At this time, the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 is in contact with a region including a portion of the airbag 18 above the steering wheel 16. Since the lateral tether 28 is deployed in a portion of the airbag 18 above the steering wheel 16, the restraint of the head H is good.

  A case where the above-described collision is an oblique collision to the left front portion of the vehicle body will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (A) to 1 (D). Note that the head H indicated by an imaginary line in FIGS. 1B to 1D indicates the position of the head H before the movement due to the collision (same as the position in FIG. 1A).

  As shown by an arrow A in FIG. 1 (A), the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 moves diagonally forward to the collision side (left side), and as shown in FIG. 1 (B), the airbag 18 To touch. Further, the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 pushes the lateral tether 28 in the airbag 18 toward the left front as shown in FIG. 1C while pushing the airbag 18 toward the left front. The horizontal tether 28 is deformed so as to sandwich the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 from the left and right while receiving tension. As shown in FIG. 1D, the lateral tether 28 is further deformed.

  Then, the horizontal tether 28 prevents the head H of the AM 50 dummy 36 from rotating about the axis along the vertical direction in accordance with the restraint by the airbag 18. This point will be supplemented while comparing with the comparative example. For example, in the case of the comparative example having no lateral tether 28, the head portion H of the AM50 dummy 36 mainly has its right side portion in contact with the airbag 18 to restrict forward movement, while the left side portion is forward due to inertia. Will continue to move. In this case, the head portion H of the AM50 dummy 36 moves forward with the left side portion preceding the right side portion, so that the face tends to rotate in the direction facing the right side (anti-collision side).

  On the other hand, in the driver's seat airbag device 10, the lateral tether 28 is deployed in the airbag 18. Then, the lateral tether 28 sandwiches the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 from the left and right while receiving the tension acting due to the force (inertial force) pushed by the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 (FIG. 1 ( C), see FIG. That is, the lateral tether 28 generates a force that restrains (brakes) the left side portion of the head H of the AM 50 dummy 36, and the left side portion of the head H is prevented from moving forward ahead of the right side portion. Thereby, in this embodiment, compared with the comparative example which does not have the horizontal tether 28 described above, the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 is effectively suppressed from rotating about the axis along the vertical direction.

  Further, in the driver's seat airbag device 10, since the length of the lateral tether 28 is shorter than the distance between the connected parts 18F in the occupant-side base cloth 18D of the airbag 18, The lateral tether 28 is in a deployed form under tension (tightly tensioned). For this reason, compared with the configuration in which the lateral tether 28 is unfolded, the timing at which the lateral tether 28 starts to restrain the head H of the AM 50 dummy 36 is earlier, and the position at which the restraint starts is determined. It will be located behind. Thereby, rotation of the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 by the lateral tether 28 is more effectively suppressed.

  Although explanation is omitted, in the case of a minute lap collision, the movement amount of the AF05 dummy 34 and AM50 dummy 36 to the collision side in the vehicle width direction before contacting the airbag 18 is larger than in the case of the diagonal collision. Therefore, an occupant protection effect equivalent to or better than that in the case of an oblique collision can be obtained.

(Second Embodiment)
A driver airbag device 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that components and portions that are basically the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and description and illustration thereof are omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality (six in the illustrated example) of horizontal tethers 28 are provided in the airbag 18 constituting the driver's seat airbag device 50. The plurality of lateral tethers 28 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the airbag 18 so as to form a ring as a whole outside the region A34 in the airbag 18. Thus, even when an oblique collision or a minute lap collision occurs in a state where the steering wheel 16 is operated (rotated), the rotation of the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 is easily suppressed by any of the lateral tethers 28. In other words, there is a higher probability that the rotation of the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 can be suppressed by the horizontal tether 28 as compared with the configuration in which only one horizontal tether 28 is provided.

  On the other hand, the installation region of the plurality of horizontal tethers 28 is outside the region A34 at each rotational position of the steering wheel 16. For this reason, regardless of the rotational position of the steering wheel 16, the head H of the AF05 dummy 34 does not come into contact with the deployment region of any lateral tether 28 in the airbag 18 in the case of a full-wrap frontal collision.

(Modification)
In the second embodiment, the example in which the restraining action of the driver D by the lateral tether 28 is obtained even when the plurality of lateral tethers 28 are arranged in an annular shape and the steering wheel 16 rotates 360 ° or more is shown. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the plurality of horizontal tethers 28 may be set in a range of 180 °.

  In the first and second embodiments, the example in which the length of the lateral tether 28 is shorter than the distance between the connected portions 18F in the occupant-side base cloth 18D of the airbag 18 is shown. It is not limited. For example, the length of the lateral tether may be the same as the distance between the connected parts 18F in the occupant side fabric 18D of the airbag 18 (the extra length 18S is not set). The lateral tether having this configuration is deployed so as to be longitudinal in the vehicle width direction in a state in which the airbag 18 is inflated and relaxed without receiving tension, but the head H of the AM50 dummy 36 is deployed in the airbag 18. The tension acts after contacting the surface, and thereafter functions in the same manner as the horizontal tether 28 described above.

  Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, the example in which the lateral tether 28 is deployed so that the longitudinal direction coincides with the vehicle width direction is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the lateral tether is deployed in a deformable manner so as to sandwich the head H of the driver D. For example, a lateral tether that is deployed while being inclined with respect to the vehicle width direction may be employed. A pair or a plurality of pairs of horizontal tethers deployed in a manner intersecting in a letter shape may be employed.

  Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, the example in which the installation area of the horizontal tether 28 is specified in relation to a specific dummy doll has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention only requires a configuration in which the lateral tether is deployed in an area where the rotation of the head H of the driver D (which may be a specific protection target) can be suppressed in the case of an oblique collision or a minute lap collision. .

  In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Driver's seat airbag apparatus 16 Steering wheel 18 Air bag 18F Connected part (part where both ends of tether are connected)
28 Horizontal tether (tether)
34 AF05 dummy 36 AM50 dummy 50 Driver's seat air bag device A34 AF05 dummy 34 head area that contacts the head of a full-wrap frontal collision (AF05 dummy head contacts when a frontal collision occurs in an airbag) Area)
A36 Airbag area where the head of the AM50 dummy 36 comes into contact with an oblique collision (area where the head of the AM50 dummy comes into contact when an oblique collision or minute lap collision occurs in the airbag)
H Head (AF05 dummy head, AM50 dummy head)

Claims (4)

An airbag that is inflated and deployed in front of an occupant in response to a gas supply when a collision occurs in the front of the vehicle;
Both ends in the longitudinal direction are connected to the airbag, and the tether is deployed so as to be longitudinal in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle rear side in the airbag in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag;
A driver's seat airbag device comprising:   The driver's seat airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a length of the tether is shorter than a distance between portions to which both ends of the tether are connected in the airbag.   The tether is located above the upper end in the vehicle vertical direction in the region where the head of the AF05 dummy as the occupant contacts when a frontal collision occurs in the airbag, and an oblique collision or minute lap collision occurs in the airbag. The driver's seat airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when it occurs, the driver's seat airbag device is deployed so as to cross an area where the head of the AM50 dummy as an occupant contacts in a rear view. The airbag is supported by a portion that rotates integrally with the steering wheel,
A plurality of the tethers are provided so as to be deployed along a circumferential direction of the airbag outside a region where the head of the AF05 dummy contacts when a frontal collision occurs in the airbag. Item 4. The driver airbag device according to Item 3.

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