Novel elastic bushing, automobile driver safety airbag module and steering wheel

Abstract

The utility model discloses a novel elastic lining which is sleeved on an air bag hook of an air bag support assembly of an automobile driver safety air bag module. The novel elastic bushing comprises an elastic nesting part, a connecting part and a connecting part, wherein the elastic nesting part is arranged on an air bag hook in a sleeving manner and is nested in a mounting hole formed in an air bag bracket assembly; the elastic embedding part is arranged on the air bag hook in a sleeving manner and is embedded into a mounting hole formed in the steering wheel framework; the elastic deformation part is arranged on the air bag hook in a sleeving mode and located between the elastic nesting part and the elastic embedding part. The utility model further discloses an automobile driver safety air bag module and a steering wheel which comprise the novel elastic bushing. The utility model has the advantages of simple and convenient structure, convenience in installation and debugging, larger size, better damping effect and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of automobile safety airbags, in particular to a novel elastic bushing, an automobile driver's safety airbag module and a steering wheel. Background Art

[0002] The driver airbag module of an automobile usually consists of an airbag cover assembly, a bag assembly, a retainer, a gas generator, contacts (wires or sheets), a horn spring, a fastening nut and an airbag bracket assembly. The bag assembly, the retainer and the gas generator are components that realize the protection function of the airbag. The airbag cover assembly mainly plays a packaging and protection role, and the airbag bracket assembly realizes the installation connection between the driver airbag and the steering wheel. Among them, the horn spring is set between the driver airbag and the steering wheel as an elastic reset element to ensure that the driver airbag is elastically suspended above the steering wheel. When the driver airbag is pressed down, the pressing force overcomes the spring force until the horn switch contacts set between the driver airbag and the steering wheel are closed; when the driver airbag is released, the spring force resets the driver airbag to the initial position.

[0003] However, the existing automobile driver airbag module and steering wheel are connected to the automobile chassis and steering system through the steering column system. Therefore, the vibration excitation on the automobile chassis and steering system will inevitably be transmitted to the steering wheel and even the automobile driver airbag module, resulting in the following problems:

[0004] 1. The steering wheel resonates in a certain vibration frequency range, causing abnormal vibration and noise, making the driver uncomfortable to hold, and even causing fatigue fracture of the internal structural parts of the steering wheel;

[0005] 2. The car driver's airbag module and the steering wheel produce relative movement, resulting in fatigue and wear failure of the guide and connection structures as well as abnormal vibration and noise.

[0006] There are many patents that have made beneficial improvements to the above-mentioned issues, and some of them have been applied to actual mass-produced products. For example, the vibration damping system for the steering wheel device of a motor vehicle disclosed in Chinese invention patent application CN112739931A, see Figure 1 , which absorbs the vibration transmitted to the steering wheel device through the steering column by arranging several elastic supporting elements made of elastic materials between the connecting mechanism of the driver's airbag and the steering wheel, and using the driver's airbag module as a mass block. For another example, the device for attenuating the vibration of an airbag or an airbag device disclosed in Chinese invention patent CN105073507B, see Figure 2, which sets a number of barreled elastic elements between the connection mechanism of the driver airbag and the steering wheel, and uses the driver airbag module as a mass block to absorb the vibration transmitted to the steering wheel device through the steering column. For another example, the damping system for the steering wheel disclosed in Chinese invention patent application CN103029741A, see Figure 3 , which utilizes an elastic member arranged on a mounting hole formed by a rear retaining frame and also uses a driver's airbag module as a mass block to suppress (control) the vibration of a steering wheel equipped with an airbag device.

[0007] The principles of the above patents are basically the same, and the structural schemes are also highly similar. Although the vibration reduction effect between the steering wheel and the car driver airbag module is achieved to varying degrees, the actual vibration reduction effect is very limited due to the small size of the elastic damping element. In addition, in order to realize the horn switch function, the above patents all use springs made of steel wire as the supporting element of the suspended driver airbag (also serving as the reset element of the horn switch), which makes the system structure very complicated, the actual application debugging is difficult, and the practicality is reduced, resulting in high development and application costs, low cost performance, and is not conducive to widespread promotion and application. Utility Model Content

[0008] One of the technical problems to be solved by the utility model is to provide a new elastic bushing with simple structure, convenient installation and debugging, larger size and better vibration reduction effect in view of the deficiencies of the prior art.

[0009] The second technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to provide a vehicle driver safety airbag module including the novel elastic bushing.

[0010] The third technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to provide a steering wheel including the above-mentioned automobile driver airbag module.

[0011] As a new type of elastic bushing in the first aspect of the utility model, it is sleeved on the airbag hook of the airbag bracket assembly of the driver's airbag module of the automobile; it is characterized in that the new type of elastic bushing includes:

[0012] An elastic nesting portion, which is sleeved on the airbag hook and nested in a mounting hole provided in the airbag bracket assembly;

[0013] An elastic embedding portion, wherein the elastic embedding portion is sleeved on the airbag hook and embedded in a mounting hole provided in the steering wheel frame; and

[0014] The elastic deformation part is sleeved on the airbag hook and is located between the elastic nesting part and the elastic embedding part.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic nesting portion comprises:

[0016] A nested cylinder, wherein the outer cylinder surface of the nested cylinder is formed with a first conical surface and / or a first cylindrical surface, and forms an elastic interference fit with the inner hole surface of the mounting hole of the airbag bracket assembly, and forms a clearance fit with the inner cylinder surface of the nested cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook;

[0017] A first radial limiting flange formed at the upper end of the nested cylinder and extending radially outward; and

[0018] A second radial limiting flange is formed at the lower end of the nested cylinder and extends radially outward.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gap between the inner cylinder surface of the nested cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook is 0.5mm~2mm; the outer diameter of the first radial limit flange and the second radial limit flange is larger than the maximum inner diameter of the mounting hole of the airbag bracket assembly.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic embedding portion comprises:

[0021] An embedded cylinder, the outer cylinder surface of which is a cylindrical surface and forms an elastic interference fit with the inner hole surface of the mounting hole of the steering wheel frame, and the inner cylinder surface of which forms an elastic interference fit with the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook; and

[0022] A third radial limiting flange is formed at the lower end of the embedded cylinder and extends radially inward and cooperates with the annular groove of the airbag hook.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, a conical guide surface is formed at the lower end of the outer cylinder surface of the embedded cylinder.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, the elastic deformation portion includes:

[0025] A deformed conical cylinder, wherein a clearance fit is formed between the inner cylinder surface of the deformed conical cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook;

[0026] A deformed circular cylinder disposed at the upper end of the deformed conical cylinder, wherein a clearance fit is formed between the inner cylinder surface of the deformed circular cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook; and

[0027] A fourth radial limiting flange is formed at the lower end of the deformed conical cylinder and extends radially inward.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment of the utility model, the gap between the inner cylinder surface of the deformed conical cylinder, the inner cylinder surface of the deformed circular cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook is 0.5mm~2mm; the outer diameter of the fourth radial limiting flange is larger than the maximum inner diameter of the mounting hole of the steering wheel frame.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic nesting portion, the elastic deformation portion and the elastic embedding portion are integrally formed of elastic material.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic material is rubber, silicone or natural rubber.

[0031] As a second aspect of the utility model, a vehicle driver safety airbag module comprises an airbag bracket assembly, an airbag cover assembly arranged on the airbag bracket assembly, and a gas generator and a bag assembly arranged in the airbag bracket assembly;

[0032] The airbag bracket assembly includes an airbag bracket, a plurality of airbag hooks, a plurality of elastic bushings and a contact wire, wherein the plurality of airbag hooks are circumferentially spaced on the airbag bracket and are mounted on the steering wheel frame through corresponding elastic bushings, and the contact wire is installed in the airbag bracket and contacts the airbag hook when the airbag cover assembly is pressed;

[0033] The elastic bushing is the novel elastic bushing mentioned above.

[0034] As a third aspect of the present invention, a steering wheel comprises a steering wheel frame and an airbag module mounted on the steering wheel frame;

[0035] The safety airbag module is the above-mentioned automobile driver safety airbag module.

[0036] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of the utility model are:

[0037] 1. The utility model has a larger elastic element and a larger counterweight, which can better absorb the vibration energy from the vehicle chassis and steering system, so that the steering wheel has good operating comfort and reduces the risk of structural failure due to vibration fatigue;

[0038] 2. The elastic bushing of the utility model adopts pre-tightening fit, which reduces the instability problem caused by the installation gap between the airbag hook, the steering wheel frame and the retaining spring, so that the driver's airbag and the steering wheel have better quiet performance;

[0039] 3. The utility model significantly reduces the number of components in the system, improves system integration, reduces the complexity of system installation and debugging, and has better economic benefits. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the utility model. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0041] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram disclosed in Chinese invention patent application CN112739931A.

[0042] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram disclosed by Chinese invention patent CN105073507B.

[0043] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram disclosed in Chinese invention patent application CN103029741A.

[0044] Figure 4 The utility model is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle driver's airbag module.

[0045] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the elastic bushing of the utility model.

[0046] Figure 6 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the elastic bushing of the utility model.

[0047] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the installation of the elastic bushing and the airbag bracket of the utility model.

[0048] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of step 1 of installing the airbag hook to the elastic bushing of the utility model.

[0049] Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of step 2 of installing the airbag hook to the elastic bushing of the utility model.

[0050] Fig.10 It is a schematic diagram of step 3 of installing the airbag hook to the elastic bushing of the utility model.

[0051] Fig.11 It is a schematic diagram of the driver's airbag assembly of the utility model being installed on a steering wheel.

[0052] Fig.12 It is a schematic diagram of the driver's airbag assembly realizing the horn switch function of the utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] In order to make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects achieved by the present invention easy to understand, the present invention is further described below with reference to specific illustrations.

[0054] The steering wheel of the utility model comprises a steering wheel frame and a vehicle driver safety airbag module which is mounted on the steering wheel frame.

[0055] See also Figure 4 The figure shows a vehicle driver airbag module of the utility model, including an airbag bracket assembly 100, an airbag cover assembly 200 arranged on the airbag bracket assembly 100, and a gas generator 300 and a bag assembly (not shown in the figure) arranged in the airbag bracket assembly 100.

[0056] The airbag support assembly 100 includes an airbag support 110, three airbag hooks 120, three elastic bushings 130 and a contact wire 140. The three airbag hooks 120 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction on the mounting holes 111 opened in the airbag support 110 and are mounted on the steering wheel frame 10 through the corresponding elastic bushings 130. The contact wire 140 is installed in the airbag support 110 and contacts the airbag hook 120 when the airbag cover assembly 200 is pressed, so that the horn is powered on and sounds. Of course, the number of airbag hooks 120 and elastic bushings 130 is not limited to that in this embodiment, and should be set according to the design requirements of the safety airbag module.

[0057] The elastic bushing 130 of the utility model adopts the new elastic bushing introduced below, which is mounted on the airbag hook 120 of the airbag bracket assembly 100 of the driver's airbag module of the automobile. Figures 5 to 7 Combined with Figures 8 to 12 The novel elastic bushing includes an elastic nesting portion 131 , an elastic embedding portion 132 and an elastic deformation portion 133 .

[0058] The elastic nesting part 131 is sleeved on the airbag hook 120 and nested in the mounting hole 111 opened in the airbag bracket 110 of the airbag bracket assembly 100. Specifically, the elastic nesting part 131 includes a nesting cylinder 1311 and radial limiting flanges 1312 and 1313. The outer cylinder surface of the nesting cylinder 1311 is formed with a conical surface 1311a and a cylindrical surface 1311b, and an elastic interference fit is formed between the inner hole surface of the mounting hole 111 opened in the airbag bracket 110, and a clearance fit is formed between the inner cylinder surface and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook 120. Among them, the main function of the conical surface 1311a and the cylindrical surface 1311b is to improve the installation strength. The two do not have to exist at the same time, and only one of them can be retained. In this embodiment, the gap between the inner cylinder surface of the nesting cylinder 1311 and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook 120 is 0.5mm to 2mm, so that there is a reasonable movement space during operation, and the movement is not too large to cause collision with surrounding parts. The radial limiting flange 1312 is formed at the upper end of the nested cylinder 1311 and extends radially outward. The radial limiting flange 1313 is formed at the lower end of the nested cylinder 1311 and extends radially outward. The outer diameter of the radial limiting flanges 1312 and 1313 is greater than the maximum inner diameter of the mounting hole 111 opened by the airbag bracket 110. The limiting of the radial limiting flanges 1312 and 1313 ensures that the new elastic bushing 130 is firmly nested in the mounting hole 111 opened by the airbag bracket 110.

[0059] The elastic embedding portion 132 is sleeved on the airbag hook 120 and embedded in the mounting hole 11 provided in the steering wheel frame 10. Specifically, the elastic embedding portion 132 includes an embedding cylinder 1321 and a radial limiting flange 1322. The outer cylinder surface of the embedding cylinder 1321 is a cylindrical surface, and an elastic interference fit is formed between the inner hole surface of the mounting hole 11 of the steering wheel frame 10, and the inner cylinder surface thereof is elastically interfered with the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook 120, so as to ensure that the airbag hook 120 can maintain a stable vertical posture after being installed in the mounting hole 11 of the steering wheel frame 10, thereby reducing the swaying and up and down movement of the airbag hook 120 during operation. The radial limiting flange 1322 is formed at the lower end of the embedding cylinder 1321 and extends radially inward and cooperates with the annular groove portion 121 of the airbag hook 120. A conical guide surface 1321a is formed at the lower end of the outer cylinder surface of the embedding cylinder 1321, which improves the convenience of installation.

[0060] The elastic deformation part 133 is sleeved on the airbag hook 120 and is located between the elastic nesting part 131 and the elastic embedding part 132, and connects the elastic nesting part 131 with the elastic embedding part 132. Specifically, the elastic deformation part 133 includes a deformed conical cylinder 1331, a deformed circular cylinder 1332 and a radial limit flange 1333. A clearance fit is formed between the inner cylinder surface of the deformed conical cylinder 1331 and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook 120. The clearance between the inner cylinder surface of the deformed conical cylinder 1331 and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook 120 is 0.5mm to 2mm, so that there is a reasonable movement space during operation, and the movement is not too large to cause collision with surrounding parts. The deformed circular cylinder 1332 is arranged at the upper end of the deformed conical cylinder 1331, and a clearance fit is formed between the inner cylinder surface of the deformed circular cylinder 1332 and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook 120. The clearance between the inner cylinder surface of the deformed circular cylinder 1332 and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook 120 is 0.5mm to 2mm, so that there is a reasonable movement space during operation, and the movement is not too large to cause collision with surrounding parts. The radial limiting flange 1333 is formed at the lower end of the deformed conical cylinder 1331 and extends radially inward, and is connected to the upper end of the embedded cylinder 1321 of the elastic embedded part 132. The outer diameter of the radial limiting flange 1333 is larger than the maximum inner diameter of the mounting hole 11 of the steering wheel frame 10. The radial limiting flange 1333 mainly plays an axial support role to prevent the elastic bushing 130 from moving downward as a whole, and ensure that the axial elastic deformation mainly occurs on the deformed conical cylinder 1331 when pressing downward. The axial deformation of the deformed conical cylinder 1331 provides space for the airbag module to move downward, and at the same time, its axial deformation provides a reset force for the horn switch. The deformed conical cylinder 1331 and the deformed circular cylinder 1332 constitute an elastic damping component, and the damping generated by its radial elastic deformation is used to absorb the vibration energy from the automobile chassis and steering system.

[0061] The elastic embedding portion 131 , the elastic deformation portion 133 and the elastic embedding portion 132 in the elastic bushing 130 of the present invention are integrally formed with elastic material, and the elastic material can be elastic material such as rubber, silicone or natural rubber.

[0062] See also Figures 7 to 10 The figure shows the sequential installation process of the elastic bushing 130, the airbag hook 120 and the contact wire 140, which can be specifically divided into three steps:

[0063] Step 1: Align the radial limiting flange 1312 of the elastic bushing 130 with the lower edge of the mounting hole 111 of the airbag bracket 110, and push the elastic bushing 130 to make the radial limiting flange 1312 elastically deform and pass through the mounting hole 111 of the airbag bracket 110; when the radial limiting flange 1312 passes through the mounting hole 111, it returns to its original shape, and the radial limiting flanges 1312 and 1313 limit the axial position of the elastic bushing 130, and the conical surface 1311a and the cylindrical surface 1311b limit the radial position of the elastic bushing 130. The effect after installation is as follows: Figure 7 shown.

[0064] Step 2: insert the airbag hook 120 from the upper opening of the center hole 134 of the elastic bushing 130. Figure 8 As shown, the airbag hook 120 is pushed to allow the guide portion 122 to squeeze the radial limiting flange 1333 of the elastic bushing 130, the embedded cylinder 1321, and the radial limiting flange 1322 to expand and deform, as shown in FIG. Fig. 9 When the guide portion 122 passes through the lower opening of the center hole 134, the elastic bushing 130 restores its original shape, the radial limiting flange 1322 of the elastic bushing 130 catches the annular groove portion 121 of the airbag hook 120, such as Fig.10 shown.

[0065] Step 3: Set the contact wire 140 on the upper part of the airbag hook 120. The contact wire 140 and the top 123 of the airbag hook 120 form a clearance fit. The effect after installation is shown in FIG. Fig.10 .

[0066] See also Fig.11 , align the airbag hook 120 with the mounting hole 11 of the steering wheel frame 10, push the car driver safety airbag module downward, and the guide part 122 of the airbag hook 120 pushes the retaining spring 12 in the steering wheel frame 10. When the guide part 122 passes the retaining spring 12, the retaining spring 12 returns to the annular groove part 121 that clamps the airbag hook 120, thereby reliably connecting the car driver safety airbag module and the steering wheel frame together.

[0067] See also Fig.11 and Fig.12In the normal state, the automobile driver airbag module is suspended above the steering wheel frame 10 under the supporting force of the elastic bushing 130, and a clearance fit is formed between the contact wire 140 and the top 123 of the airbag hook 120. When the automobile driver airbag module is pressed downward, the deformed conical cylinder 1331 of the elastic bushing 130 undergoes radial deformation to provide space for the driver airbag to move downward, and the contact wire 140 moves downward with the automobile driver airbag module until the contact wire 140 contacts the top 123 of the airbag hook 120. At this time, the horn switch is closed, and the horn sounds, preventing the automobile driver airbag module and the contact wire 140 from moving further downward.

[0068] The above shows and describes the basic principle and main features of the utility model and the advantages of the utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that the utility model is not limited by the above embodiments. The above embodiments and descriptions are only for explaining the principle of the utility model. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the utility model, the utility model may have various changes and improvements, which fall within the scope of the utility model to be protected. The scope of protection claimed by the utility model is defined by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A novel elastic bushing, which is mounted on the airbag hook of the airbag bracket assembly of the driver's airbag module of an automobile; characterized in that: The novel elastic bushing comprises: An elastic nesting portion, which is sleeved on the airbag hook and nested in a mounting hole provided in the airbag bracket assembly; An elastic embedding portion, wherein the elastic embedding portion is sleeved on the airbag hook and embedded in a mounting hole provided in the steering wheel frame; and The elastic deformation part is sleeved on the airbag hook and is located between the elastic nesting part and the elastic embedding part.

2. The novel elastic bushing according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The elastic nesting portion comprises: A nested cylinder, wherein the outer cylinder surface of the nested cylinder is formed with a first conical surface and / or a first cylindrical surface, and forms an elastic interference fit with the inner hole surface of the mounting hole of the airbag bracket assembly, and forms a clearance fit with the inner cylinder surface of the nested cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook; A first radial limiting flange formed at the upper end of the nested cylinder and extending radially outward; and A second radial limiting flange is formed at the lower end of the nested cylinder and extends radially outward.

3. The novel elastic bushing according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The gap between the inner cylinder surface of the nested cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook is 0.5mm to 2mm; the outer diameters of the first radial limiting flange and the second radial limiting flange are larger than the maximum inner diameter of the mounting hole of the airbag bracket assembly.

4. The novel elastic bushing according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The elastic embedding portion comprises: An embedded cylinder, the outer cylinder surface of which is a cylindrical surface and forms an elastic interference fit with the inner hole surface of the mounting hole of the steering wheel frame, and the inner cylinder surface of which forms an elastic interference fit with the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook; and A third radial limiting flange is formed at the lower end of the embedded cylinder, extends radially inward, and cooperates with the annular groove of the airbag hook.

5. The novel elastic bushing according to claim 4 is characterized in that: A conical guide surface is formed at the lower end of the outer cylinder surface of the embedded cylinder.

6. The novel elastic bushing according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The elastic deformation portion comprises: A deformed conical cylinder, wherein a clearance fit is formed between the inner cylinder surface of the deformed conical cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook; A deformed circular cylinder disposed at the upper end of the deformed conical cylinder, wherein a clearance fit is formed between the inner cylinder surface of the deformed circular cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook; and A fourth radial limiting flange is formed at the lower end of the deformed conical cylinder and extends radially inward.

7. The novel elastic bushing according to claim 6 is characterized in that: The gaps between the inner cylinder surface of the deformed conical cylinder, the inner cylinder surface of the deformed circular cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the airbag hook are 0.5mm to 2mm; the outer diameter of the fourth radial limiting flange is larger than the maximum inner diameter of the mounting hole of the steering wheel frame.

8. The novel elastic bushing according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The elastic nesting portion, the elastic deformation portion and the elastic embedding portion are integrally formed with elastic material.

9. The novel elastic bushing according to claim 8 is characterized in that: The elastic material is rubber, silica gel or natural rubber.

10. An automobile driver airbag module, characterized in that: It includes an airbag support assembly, an airbag cover assembly arranged on the airbag support assembly, and a gas generator and a bag assembly arranged in the airbag support assembly; The airbag bracket assembly includes an airbag bracket, a plurality of airbag hooks, a plurality of elastic bushings and a contact wire, wherein the plurality of airbag hooks are circumferentially spaced on the airbag bracket and are mounted on the steering wheel frame through corresponding elastic bushings, and the contact wire is installed in the airbag bracket and contacts the airbag hook when the airbag cover assembly is pressed; The elastic bushing is a new elastic bushing as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A steering wheel, characterized in that: It includes a steering wheel frame and an airbag module installed on the steering wheel frame; The airbag module is the automobile driver airbag module as claimed in claim 10.

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