Pedestrian protection airbag device and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

A pedestrian protection airbag and its manufacturing method are provided, which can stabilize the deployment of the airbag in a safe manner. The airbag includes: a central chamber extending along the width direction of the vehicle near the lower edge of the windshield; and side chambers extending upwards from both ends of the central chamber at least along the A-pillars. The airbag is configured such that gas supplied from the inflator flows from the central chamber to the side chambers. In the airbag's contained state, a folding portion is formed where the side chambers fold back and overlap with the central chamber. A pair of left and right partitions are provided near the folding portion to separate the central chamber and the side chambers. Furthermore, each of the pair of partitions is provided with a check valve to prevent backflow of gas from the side chambers to the central chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a pedestrian protection airbag device for protecting pedestrians and cyclists in collisions with vehicles, and a method for manufacturing the same. Background Technology

[0002] As is well known, vehicles are equipped with one or more airbags to protect occupants in the event of an accident. Types of airbags include, for example, driver's airbags that inflate near the center of the steering wheel to protect the driver; curtain airbags that deploy downwards from the inside of the windows to protect occupants in lateral impacts or rollovers; and side airbags that deploy between the occupant and the side panel to protect occupants in lateral impacts. Additionally, there are pedestrian protection airbags to protect pedestrians and cyclists in collisions with vehicles.

[0003] Pedestrian protection airbag devices typically consist of: a central chamber extending laterally (in the width direction) near the boundary between the vehicle's hood and windshield; and side chambers that deploy upwards from the left and right ends of the central chamber, covering the A-pillars. Because this airbag design is roughly U-shaped, the side chambers tend to sway (vibrate) during deployment. This results in unstable airbag deployment, making it difficult to provide rapid and reliable protection for pedestrians (or cyclists).

[0004] Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for connecting the central chamber and the side chambers with straps. However, there is a possibility that the straps could get caught around the neck of a pedestrian or cyclist who collides with the vehicle.

[0005] Existing technical documents

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-219046 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0009] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a pedestrian protection airbag and a method thereof that can stabilize the deployment action of the airbag in a safe manner.

[0010] Problem Solving Methods

[0011] To address the aforementioned issues, the present invention provides a pedestrian protection airbag device comprising: an inflator that supplies expanding gas; and an airbag that expands and deploys using the expanding gas to protect a pedestrian in a collision with a vehicle. The airbag includes: a central chamber extending along the width of the vehicle near the lower edge of the windshield; and side chambers extending upwards from both ends of the central chamber along at least the A-pillars. The airbag is configured such that gas supplied from the inflator flows from the central chamber to the side chambers. In the airbag's contained state, a folding portion is formed where the side chambers fold back and overlap with the central chamber. Near the folding portion, a pair of left and right partitions are provided to separate the central chamber and the side chambers. Furthermore, each of the pair of partitions is provided with a check valve to prevent backflow of gas from the side chambers to the central chamber.

[0012] Here, the protected object of this invention includes not only "pedestrians" but also cyclists.

[0013] Additionally, the "windshield" is also referred to as the front glass. Although described as "the side chambers extending upwards at least along the A-pillars," the side chambers not only include the area covering the A-pillars, but may also include a portion extending along the width of the vehicle near the connection with the central chamber.

[0014] In this invention, because a partition plate with a check valve is provided near the folding section of the central chamber and the side chambers, and the side chambers are folded towards the central chamber (central direction) near this folding section, when the airbag begins to deploy, the central chamber first expands and deploys in the longitudinal direction (long side direction). At this time, the side chambers remain folded. Then, the expanding gas from the central chamber flows into the side chambers through the check valve of the partition plate, the folded portion is unfurled, and the side chambers deploy. Furthermore, the gas flowing into the side chambers does not flow back towards the central chamber due to the action of the check valve. As described above, in this invention, a stable foundation is first established by the central chamber, and then the side chambers deploy, thus stabilizing the deployment action of the airbag (especially the side chambers).

[0015] The inflator can be configured and housed near the left or right center of the central chamber. Alternatively, multiple inflators can be provided and arranged in a row along the left-right direction within the central chamber.

[0016] When the reversing section reverses the side chamber, the ends of the left and right pairs of side chambers overlap each other.

[0017] The airbag can be configured such that, after forming the portion corresponding to the central chamber into a roll shape, the side chambers on the left and right sides are folded toward the central side at the folding portion.

[0018] The airbag may be configured to have a transverse strap extending along the long side of the central chamber inside the airbag, which can limit the thickness of the airbag when deployed, and the pair of partitions are respectively disposed near the left and right ends of the transverse strap.

[0019] As described above, due to the presence of the transverse frenulum, the unfolding shape of the central chamber in the left-right width direction (lateral direction) becomes stable, and as a result, the unfolding action of the side chambers that unfold after the central chamber becomes stable.

[0020] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a pedestrian protection airbag device, comprising: an inflator that supplies inflatable gas; and an airbag that expands and deploys using the inflatable gas to protect a pedestrian in a collision with a vehicle. The airbag includes: a central chamber extending along the width of the vehicle near the lower edge of the windshield; and side chambers extending upwards from both ends of the central chamber at least along the A-pillars, with gas supplied from the inflator flowing from the central chamber to the side chambers. Furthermore, the method of the present invention includes: a step of setting a folding portion between the side chambers and the central chamber of the airbag; a step of setting a pair of left and right partitions near the folding portion to separate the central chamber from the side chambers; and a step of folding the side chambers back towards the central chamber at the folding portion to overlap them.

[0021] Furthermore, in the specification and claims of this application, when an occupant is seated in a proper posture, the direction the occupant is facing (the direction of vehicle travel) is referred to as "forward," and the opposite direction is referred to as "rear," which is called "front-rear direction" when representing coordinate axes. Additionally, when an occupant is seated in a proper posture, the occupant's right side is referred to as "right direction," and the occupant's left side is referred to as "left direction," which is called "left-right direction" or "left-right width direction" when representing coordinate axes. Moreover, when an occupant is seated in a proper posture, the direction of the occupant's head is referred to as "above," and the direction of the occupant's waist is referred to as "below," which is called "up-down direction" when representing coordinate axes. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the pedestrian protection airbag device according to the present invention when it is activated (deployed).

[0023] Figure 2 This is a top view showing the structure of the pedestrian protection airbag device according to the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 (A) is Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction. Figure 3 (B) is Figure 3 (A) Cross-sectional view in the BB direction.

[0025] Figure 4 (A) and (B) are top views showing the manufacturing method (airbag compression method) of the pedestrian protection airbag device according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 (A) and (B) are top views showing the manufacturing method (airbag compression method) of the pedestrian protection airbag device according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams (top views) illustrating the deployment action of the pedestrian protection airbag according to the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7 The figures shown are of a pedestrian protection airbag device according to other embodiments of the present invention. (A) is a top view showing the airbag in the deployed state, and (B) is a cross-sectional view showing the airbag in the compressed state. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Hereinafter, the side airbag device according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 This is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the pedestrian protection airbag device 1 according to the present invention when it is activated (deployed). Figure 2 This is a top view showing the structure of the pedestrian protection airbag device 1 according to the present invention. Figure 3 (A) is Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction. Figure 3 (B) is Figure 3 (A) Cross-sectional view in the BB direction.

[0031] The pedestrian protection airbag device 1 according to the present invention includes: an inflator 20 ( Figure 2 The airbag 10 is supplied with inflating gas and inflates and deploys using the inflating gas to protect pedestrians in a collision with the vehicle. The airbag 10 includes: a central chamber 12C extending along the width of the vehicle near the lower edge of the windshield 4; and side chambers 12R and 12L extending upwards from both ends of the central chamber 12C at least along the A-pillars. The airbag is configured such that gas supplied from the inflator 20 flows from the central chamber 12 to the side chambers 12R and 12L.

[0032] As will be described in detail later, the side chambers 12R and 12L are configured to overlap with the central chamber 120 (center side) by turning back towards the central chamber 120 near the reversing portions 16R and 16L. Furthermore, near the central chamber 12C, the side chambers 12R and 12L, and the reversing portions 16L and 16R, a pair of left and right partition plates 26R and 26L are provided to separate the central chamber 12C from the side chambers 12R and 12L. Check valves (30 and 32) are provided on the partition plates 26R and 26L to prevent backflow of gas from the side chambers 12R and 12L to the central chamber 12C.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, multiple longitudinal straps 24 extending in the front-to-back direction are provided inside the central chamber 12C and the side chambers 12R and 12L to limit the thickness of the deployed airbag 10. The longitudinal straps 24 connect the inner and outer panels of the formed airbag 10 by sewing, and an opening (not shown) is formed along the way to allow the inflated gas to pass through. In addition, reference numeral 28 is the sewn part that directly connects the inner and outer panels.

[0034] Inside the central chamber 12C, there is also a transverse strap 22, which extends along the long side (left-right direction) of the central chamber 12C and can limit the thickness of the airbag 10 during deployment. Like the longitudinal strap 24, the transverse strap 22 also sews between the inner and outer panels of the formed airbag 10, forming an opening (not shown) along its length for the passage of inflated gas. By positioning the transverse strap 22 relatively close to the inflator 20, the gas released from the inflator 20 flows rapidly in the left-right direction, allowing the left-right width direction of the central chamber 12C to be determined early, which helps stabilize the deployment of the airbag 10.

[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, a pair of left and right partition plates 26R and 26L are respectively positioned near the left and right ends of the transverse strap 22.

[0036] The inflator 20 is a cylinder-shaped inflator, housed near the center in the left-right width direction within the central chamber 12C.

[0037] Figure 3 (A) and (B) show the structure around the partition plate 26L. Since the partition plate 26R has the same structure, only the partition plate 26L will be described. Furthermore, to clearly distinguish the partition plate 26L from other structures, shading lines are inserted. An opening 30 for gas passage is formed near the center of the partition plate 26L, and a flexible membrane (filter membrane) 32 is provided to cover this opening 30 from the side panel 12. These openings 30 and the membrane 32 constitute a check valve.

[0038] (Manufacturing method of airbag device)

[0039] Figure 4 (A), (B) and Figure 5 (A) and (B) are top views showing the manufacturing process (compression process of airbag 10) of the pedestrian protection airbag device 1 according to the present invention. The airbag 10 of the present invention is then... Figure 2 When the state is folded and compressed, firstly, as... Figure 4 As shown in (A), the front portion of the airbag 10 is folded longitudinally (front-back direction).

[0040] Next, as Figure 4 As shown in (B), the front part of the airbag 10 is rolled up longitudinally (front-back direction) with the rearward side facing away.

[0041] Next, as Figure 5 As shown in (A), the airbag 10 is further rolled up while the upper ends of the side chambers 12R and 12L are folded downwards (forwards).

[0042] After that, as Figure 5 As shown in (B), the parts corresponding to the partition plates 26R and 26L are used as folding parts (16L and 16R), and the parts corresponding to the side chambers 12R and 12L are folded back toward the central chamber 2C (center side), thus forming the final containment state.

[0043] (The effect of this invention: the deployment of the airbag)

[0044] Figure 6 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams (top views) illustrating the deployment action of the pedestrian protection airbag according to the present invention. When the airbag 10 begins to deploy, as... Figure 6 As shown in (A), initially only a portion of the central chamber 12C expands and unfolds. In this invention, since the central chamber 12C and the side chambers 12R and 12L are configured with partition plates 26R and 26L equipped with check valves (30, 32) near the folding portions 16L and 16R, and the side chambers 12R and 12L are folded back towards the central chamber 12C (central direction) near these folding portions, when the airbag 10 begins to deploy, the central chamber 12C first expands and unfolds in the longitudinal direction. At this time, the side chambers 12R and 12L remain folded.

[0045] Then, the expansion gas from the central chamber 12C flows into the side chambers 12R and 12L through the check valves 30 and 32 of the partition plates 26R and 26L, as... Figure 6As shown in (B), the folded portion is unfurled and the side chambers 12R and 12L unfold. In addition, the gas flowing into the side chambers 12R and 12L will not flow back to the central chamber 120 due to the action of the check valves (30, 32).

[0046] As described above, in this invention, since a stable foundation is initially constructed through the central chamber 12C, and then a structure is formed for the side chambers 12R and 12L to deploy, the deployment action of the airbag 10 (especially the side chambers 12R and 12L) becomes stable.

[0047] In addition, due to the presence of the transverse tether 22, the unfolded shape of the central chamber 12C in the left-right width direction (lateral direction) is stable. As a result, the unfolding action of the side chambers 12R and 12L, which unfold after the central chamber 12C, becomes stable.

[0048] (Other embodiments of the present invention)

[0049] Figure 7 This diagram illustrates a pedestrian protection airbag device 101 according to another embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a top view showing the airbag 110 deployed, and (B) is a cross-sectional view showing the airbag 110 compressed. Furthermore, reference numerals are used to denote the same or identical components as in the above embodiments, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0050] In the airbag device 101 of this embodiment, two inflators 120a and 120b are housed inside the central chamber 102C of the airbag 110. The two inflators 120a and 120b are arranged and housed in a row in the left-right direction within the central chamber 102C.

[0051] The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and appropriate modifications can be made within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pedestrian protection airbag device, comprising: an inflator supplying inflatable gas; and an airbag that inflates and deploys using the inflatable gas to protect a pedestrian in a collision with a vehicle, characterized in that... The airbag includes: The central chamber extends along the width of the vehicle near the lower edge of the windshield; Side chambers, which extend upwards from both ends of the central chamber at least along column A. The gas supplied from the inflator flows from the central chamber to the side chambers. In the airbag's contained state, a folding portion is formed where the side chambers fold back and overlap with the central chamber. Near the folding section, a pair of left and right partition plates are provided to separate the central chamber and the side chambers. Each of the pair of partition plates is equipped with a check valve to prevent gas from flowing back from the side chamber to the central chamber. When the reversing section reverts the side chamber, the ends of the left and right pair of side chambers overlap each other. The pair of partitions extend along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The folding section is the part corresponding to the pair of partition plates.

2. The pedestrian protection airbag device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inflator is positioned and housed near the left and right centers within the central chamber.

3. The pedestrian protection airbag device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple inflators are provided and arranged in a row along the left-right direction within the central chamber.

4. The pedestrian protection airbag device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The airbag is configured such that, after the portion corresponding to the central chamber is formed into a roll, the side chambers on the left and right sides are folded back towards the center near the folding portion.

5. The pedestrian protection airbag device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The airbag has a lateral strap that extends along the long side of the central chamber inside the airbag, which can limit the thickness of the airbag when deployed. The pair of partitions are respectively disposed near the left and right ends of the transverse strap.

6. A method for manufacturing a pedestrian protection airbag device, comprising: an inflator that supplies inflatable gas; and an airbag that inflates and deploys using the inflatable gas to protect a pedestrian in a collision with a vehicle, characterized in that... include: The process of preparing an airbag, wherein the airbag is configured to include: a central chamber extending along the width of the vehicle near the lower edge of the windshield; and side chambers extending upward along at least the A-pillars from the left and right ends of the central chamber, with gas supplied from the inflator flowing from the central chamber to the side chambers. The process of setting a return section between the side chamber and the central chamber of the airbag; A process of setting up a pair of left and right partition plates near the reversing section to separate the central chamber from the side chamber; In the process of folding and overlapping the side chambers towards the central chamber at the folding section, Specifically, the pair of partitions extend along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The folding section is the part corresponding to the pair of partition plates.

7. The method for manufacturing a pedestrian protection airbag device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, After the portion corresponding to the central chamber of the airbag is formed into a roll, the side chambers on the left and right sides are folded back towards the center near the folding portion.

8. The method for manufacturing a pedestrian protection airbag device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The side chamber is folded back so that the ends of the pair of side chambers overlap each other.

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