Vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle which can easily spread a side airbag even when collision speed of lateral collision is high.SOLUTION: A vehicle comprises: a seat; a seat part air-bag; and a control device. The seat part air-bag arranged below a seating face of the seat includes: a first inflation part; a second inflation part; and an inflator. The first inflation part is arranged outside in a vehicle width direction relative to the second inflation part. The control device controls, when a head-on collision is detected, the inflator to inflate the first inflation part and the second inflation part, and inflate, when a lateral collision is detected, only the first inflation part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle that protects an occupant with an airbag. [Background technology]

[0002] Various airbags have been put into practical use to protect occupants in the event of a collision. In addition to front airbags installed in front of the occupant, such as in the steering wheel, various airbags have been developed with the aim of achieving zero traffic accident fatalities in the future, including seat airbags that lift the occupant's legs from under the seat, as described in Patent Document 1, and side airbags that deploy to the sides of the occupant. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-160414 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Front airbags deploy between the occupant and the steering wheel, etc., to cushion the impact of a frontal collision. Side airbags deploy between the occupant and the door to cushion the impact of a side collision. In the event of a frontal collision, the front of the vehicle deforms to act as a cushion. Therefore, the front of the vehicle will not intrude into the interior space unless the collision occurs at a high speed. However, because the side doors are thinner than the front of the vehicle, if the impact speed against the side of the vehicle is relatively high, the door will intrude into the interior space to a greater extent. As the door intrusion increases, the gap between the occupant and the door where the side airbag would deploy becomes narrower, which may prevent the side airbag from deploying as intended.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle in which a side airbag is easily deployed even when the impact speed in a side collision is high. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vehicle in one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle equipped with a seat, a seat airbag, and a control device, wherein the seat airbag is positioned below the seat surface of the seat and has a first expansion section, a second expansion section, and an inflator, wherein the first expansion section is positioned outboard in the vehicle width direction than the second expansion section, and wherein, under the control of the control device, when a frontal collision is detected, the inflator inflates the first expansion section and the second expansion section, and when a side collision is detected, only the first expansion section is inflated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the occupant can be separated from the door during a side collision, and the side airbag can be easily deployed even if the door intrusion amount is large. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 2 shows an airbag deployment mechanism in the vehicle of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a top view of the seat airbag in the vehicle according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat of the first embodiment in a frontal collision. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the interior of the vehicle of the first embodiment when viewed from the front during a side collision. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a top view of a seat airbag in a vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a top view of a seat airbag in a vehicle according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Example]

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the deployment mechanism of each airbag in a vehicle A of the first embodiment. A control device 1 that controls the deployment of the airbags is an ECU, and has a control circuit 11, which is a CPU, a memory 12, and interfaces including an input unit 13 and an output unit 14. The input unit 13 is connected to a sensor 15. The sensor 15 is an acceleration sensor, and includes a front collision sensor 151 that detects forward acceleration and a side collision sensor 152 that detects lateral acceleration. The output unit 14 is connected to the inflators of the airbags. In addition to the inflators of the front airbags FA and the side airbags SA, the output unit 14 is also connected to the first inflator 35 and the second inflator 36 of the seat airbag 3 in the first embodiment. The inflators are ignited by the output from the output unit 14, causing the airbags to inflate.

[0010] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the seat 2 of Example 1. The vehicle A in Example 1 is a left-hand drive vehicle, and the seat 2 is installed in the driver's seat on the left side. The seat 2 includes a substructure 21, a seat cushion 22, a back cushion 23, a headrest 24, and a seat airbag 3. The seat cover is not shown. The seat 2 has the seat cushion 22 installed on the substructure 21 with the seat airbag 3 in between. The seat cushion 22 is made of urethane and is covered with a cloth cover (not shown). The seat airbag 3 is located below the seat surface of the seat 2, and is located below and slightly forward of the seat cushion 22. The back cushion 23 is rotatably fixed to the substructure 21.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a top view of the seat airbag 3 of vehicle A in the first embodiment. The seat airbag 3 is made by folding back and sewing two layers of airtight fabric. The upper layer of fabric is not shown in FIG. 3 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the seat airbag 3 is made by sewing two pieces of fabric together with a perimeter seam 31 that forms a bag on the inside and a center seam 32 that divides the inside of the bag into two. This sewing creates two bags: a first inflation section 33 and a second inflation section 34. The first inflation section 33 and the second inflation section 34 are formed by dividing the inflation section formed by the perimeter seam 31 into two sections by connecting two overlapping pieces of fabric at the center seam 32 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. In FIG. 3 , the direction indicated by arrow F corresponds to the front of vehicle A. Since the seat airbag 3 in the first embodiment is installed on the left seat, the first inflation section 33 is positioned outward in the vehicle width direction from the second inflation section 34. The fabric of the seat airbag 3 is folded back at the front of the vehicle A.

[0012] A first inflator 35 and a second inflator 36 are provided inside the first inflation section 33 and the second inflation section 34. In the seat airbag 3 shown in FIG. 3, the direction of the tip of the arrow F where the first inflator 35 and the second inflator 36 are provided corresponds to the front direction of the vehicle A. The center seam 32 extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle A. Note that the wiring from the output section 14 shown in FIG. 1 to the first inflator 35 and the second inflator 36 is omitted in FIG. 3.

[0013] <In the event of a frontal collision> When a collision occurs from the front of the vehicle A shown in Figure 1, the front collision sensor 151 detects rearward acceleration of the vehicle. When this occurs, the control device 1 supplies power to the inflator of the front airbag FA and also supplies power to the first inflator 35 and the second inflator 36 of the seat airbag 3. This causes the front airbag FA to inflate, and the first inflation portion 33 and the second inflation portion 34 of the seat airbag 3 to inflate.

[0014] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the seat 2 of Example 1 during a frontal collision. When the seat airbag 3 inflates, the front of the seat cushion 22 rises, lifting the thighs of occupant D. During a frontal collision, the seat belt B applies strong pressure to the chest of occupant D, which could result in damage to the chest. However, during a frontal collision, as shown in FIG. 4, the thighs of occupant D rise and the inflated seat airbag 3 receives the waist of occupant D, making it difficult for the waist of occupant D to slip forward. The force that attempts to move occupant D forward is received by the seat belt B and the inflated seat airbag 3, thereby reducing damage to the chest of occupant D.

[0015] <When a vehicle is hit from the side> On the other hand, when a collision occurs from the side of the vehicle A shown in FIG. 1, the side collision sensor 152 detects lateral acceleration. In the first embodiment, the vehicle A is a left-hand drive vehicle, and the seat 2 is installed in the driver's seat on the left side. The side collision sensor 152 detects a collision from the left side of the vehicle A by detecting acceleration to the right. When this happens, the control device 1 supplies power to the first inflator 35 located on the left side of the seat airbag 3 via the output unit 14. Power is also supplied to the inflator of the left side airbag SA. As a result, in the seat airbag 3, only the first inflator 35 is ignited, and only the first inflation section 33 located on the left side of the seat airbag 3 is inflated.

[0016] FIG. 5 shows the interior of vehicle A of the first embodiment in a side collision, as seen from the front. As seen from the front, the steering wheel H is on the right side, and vehicle A is a left-hand drive vehicle. When a side collision SC, indicated by the thick arrow, occurs on the left side, the side collision sensor 152 detects the collision from the left based on acceleration. Then, only the first inflation section 33, located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and equipped with the first inflator 35, inflates, lifting the left side and tilting the seat cushion 22 toward the inside of vehicle A. As a result, the left thigh of occupant D is lifted and moves in the occupant movement direction MD, indicated by the arrow, to the position shown in FIG. 5. This widens the door side, which is on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, as seen from occupant D, allowing the side airbag SA to fully deploy, as shown in FIG. 5. [Example]

[0017] Next, a vehicle A of the second embodiment will be described. The deployment mechanism of the vehicle A of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the deployment mechanism of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The seat of the second embodiment is the same as the seat 2 shown in a side view in FIG. 2. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the seat airbag 4 is different from that of the seat airbag 3 of the first embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a top view of the seat airbag 4 of vehicle A in Example 2. The direction indicated by the arrow F corresponds to the front of vehicle A. Like the seat airbag 3 in Example 1, the seat airbag 4 is made by folding back and sewing two layers of airtight fabric. In FIG. 6, the upper layer of the fabric is omitted. The third inflatable section 45, which is a small bag, is also shown with its upper layer omitted. Furthermore, the first gas hole member 451 and the second gas hole member 452 are also shown in cross section. As shown in FIG. 6, the seat airbag 4 is made by sewing two overlapping pieces of fabric together at a peripheral seam 41 that forms a bag on the inside and a center seam 42 that divides the inside of the bag into two. The first inflatable section 43 and the second inflatable section 44 are divided into two pieces by connecting the overlapping pieces of fabric in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle at the center seam 42 in the inflatable section formed by the peripheral seam 41. By this sewing, two bags, a first inflatable portion 43 and a second inflatable portion 44, are formed.

[0019] A third inflation section 45, which is a small bag, is provided inside the seat airbag 4, spanning from the first inflation section 43 to the second inflation section 44, and an inflator 46 is provided inside the third inflation section 45. A gas discharge port 461 of the inflator 46 is disposed facing the left side of the seat airbag 4, which is downward in Figure 6. The third inflation section 45 is disposed in the seat airbag 4 at the front of the vehicle A.

[0020] The upper surface of the third inflation section 45 is sewn to the upper fabric at an upper center seam 42, and the lower surface is sewn to the lower fabric at a lower center seam 42. Therefore, the seat airbag 4 has three bags: the first inflation section 43, the second inflation section 44, and the third inflation section 45. There is no direct connection between the first inflation section 43 and the second inflation section 44.

[0021] The third inflation section 45 includes a first gas hole member 451 having a first gas hole 451a and a second gas hole member 452 having a second gas hole 452a. The first gas hole 451a connects the interior of the third inflation section 45 to the interior of the first inflation section 43, and the second gas hole 452a connects the interior of the third inflation section 45 to the interior of the second inflation section 44. The first gas hole 451a is always open, and the second gas hole 452a is openable and closable. The second gas hole member 452 is connected to the output section 14 of the control device 1 by wiring (not shown), and the opening and closing of the second gas hole 452a is controlled by the control device 1.

[0022] <In the event of a frontal collision> When a collision occurs from the front of the vehicle, the front collision sensor 151 detects acceleration toward the rear of the vehicle. The control device 1 then supplies power to the inflator of the front airbag FA, as well as to the inflator 46 and the second gas hole member 452 of the seat airbag 4. In the seat airbag 4, the inflator 46 located in the third inflation section 45 releases gas from the gas discharge port 461 facing left, and the second gas hole 452a of the second gas hole member 452 is opened under the control of the control device 1. The first gas hole 451a of the first gas hole member 451 is always open. Therefore, the gas released from the inflator 46 passes through the first gas hole 451a and the second gas hole 452a to inflate the first inflation section 43 and the second inflation section 44, placing the occupant D, the seat airbag 4, and the like in the same state as shown in FIG. 4. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the first inflation portion 43 and the second inflation portion 44 of the seat airbag 4 are inflated, and the front airbag FA is also inflated.

[0023] <When a vehicle is hit from the side> On the other hand, when a collision occurs from the side of the vehicle, the side collision sensor 152 detects lateral acceleration. Vehicle A in Example 2 is a left-hand drive vehicle, and seat 2 is installed in the driver's seat on the left side. The side collision sensor 152 detects a collision from the left of vehicle A by detecting rightward acceleration. When this occurs, the control device 1 supplies power to the inflator 46 of the seat airbag 4 via the output unit 14, but does not supply power to the second gas hole member 452. It also supplies power to the inflator of the left side airbag SA. As a result, gas released from 461 of the inflator 46 passes through the first gas hole 451a and reaches the inside of the first inflation portion 43, inflating the first inflation portion 43. On the other hand, because the second gas hole 452a of the second gas hole member 452 is not opened, the second inflation portion 44 does not inflate. As a result, as in Figure 5 of the first embodiment, the left thigh of the occupant D is raised and moves in the occupant movement direction MD indicated by the arrow, and the upper body of the occupant D leans inward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the door side, which is the outer side in the vehicle width direction as seen from the occupant D, becomes wider, and the side airbag SA can be sufficiently deployed as shown in Figure 5. [Example]

[0024] Next, a vehicle A of a third embodiment will be described. The deployment mechanism of the vehicle A of the third embodiment has the same configuration as that of the deployment mechanism of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. However, in the third embodiment, the side collision sensor 152 is a proximity sensor that uses ultrasonic waves. Also, the seat of the third embodiment is the same as the seat 2 shown in a side view in FIG. 2. In the third embodiment, the configuration of the seat airbag 5 is different from that of the seat airbag 3 of the first embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a top view of the seat airbag 5 of vehicle A in Example 3. The direction indicated by the arrow F corresponds to the front of vehicle A. Like the seat airbags 3 and 4 in Examples 1 and 2, the seat airbag 5 is made by folding back and sewing two layers of airtight fabric. In FIG. 7, the upper layer of the fabric is omitted. The third inflatable section 55, which is a small bag, is also shown with its upper layer omitted. Furthermore, the first gas hole member 551 and the second gas hole member 552 are also shown in cross section. As shown in FIG. 7, the seat airbag 5 is made by sewing two pieces of fabric together with a peripheral seam 51 that forms a bag on the inside and a center seam 52 that divides the inside of the bag into two. The first inflatable section 53 and the second inflatable section 54 are formed by dividing the two overlapping pieces of fabric into two pieces by connecting the two overlapping pieces of fabric at the center seam 52 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle in the inflatable section formed by the peripheral seam 51. By this sewing, two bags, a first inflatable portion 53 and a second inflatable portion 54, are formed.

[0026] A third inflation section 55, which is a small bag, is provided inside the seat airbag 5, spanning from the first inflation section 53 to the second inflation section 54, and an inflator 56 is provided inside the third inflation section 55. A gas discharge port 561 of the inflator 56 is disposed facing the left side of the seat airbag 5, which is the lower part in Figure 7. The third inflation section 55 is disposed in the seat airbag 5 at the front of the vehicle A.

[0027] The upper surface of the third inflation section 55 is sewn to the upper fabric at an upper center seam 52, and the lower surface is sewn to the lower fabric at a lower center seam 52. Therefore, the seat airbag 5 has three bags: a first inflation section 53, a second inflation section 54, and a third inflation section 55. There is no direct connection between the first inflation section 53 and the second inflation section 54.

[0028] The third inflation section 55 includes a first gas hole member 551 having a first gas hole 551a and a second gas hole member 552 having a second gas hole 552a. The first gas hole 551a connects the interior of the third inflation section 55 to the interior of the first inflation section 53. The second gas hole 552a connects the interior of the third inflation section 55 to the interior of the second inflation section 54. A check valve is provided in the first gas hole 551a, and gas only moves from the interior of the third inflation section 55 to the interior of the first inflation section 53. The second gas hole 552a is always open.

[0029] The seat airbag 5 of the third embodiment has an air cylinder 57 in which compressed air is sealed. The air cylinder 57 is connected to the inside of the first inflation section 53 via a solenoid valve 58 and a communication pipe 59. The solenoid valve 58 is connected to the output section 14 of the control device 1 by wiring (not shown), and can send the compressed air inside the air cylinder 57 to the first inflation section 53 under the control of the control device 1.

[0030] <In the event of a frontal collision> When a collision occurs from the front of the vehicle, the front collision sensor 151 detects rearward acceleration of the vehicle. The control device 1 then supplies power to the inflator of the front airbag FA and also to the inflator 56 of the seat airbag 5. In the seat airbag 5, gas is released from a gas release port 561 facing the left side of the inflator 56 in the third inflation section 55. A check valve is provided in the first gas hole 551a of the first gas hole member 551, but gas can move from the third inflation section 55 to the first inflation section 53. The second gas hole 552a of the second gas hole member 552 is always open. Therefore, the gas released from the inflator 56 passes through the first gas hole 551a and the second gas hole 552a, inflating the first inflation section 53 and the second inflation section 54, resulting in a state similar to that shown in FIG. 4. In the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, the first inflation portion 53 and the second inflation portion 54 of the seat airbag 5 are inflated and the front airbag FA is also inflated.

[0031] <When a vehicle is hit from the side> In the case of a frontal collision, there is ample time to detect acceleration and inflate the seat airbag due to deformation of the front part of the vehicle. However, doors and other structures on the side of the vehicle are thinner than the front of the vehicle. Therefore, if the first inflation section of the seat airbag is inflated after detecting the acceleration caused by deformation of the door or other structure in a side collision SC, and the side airbag SA is deployed after moving occupant D in the occupant movement direction MD indicated by the arrow in Figure 5, if the side collision speed is high, the impact of the side collision SC may be transmitted to occupant D before the side airbag SA is deployed.

[0032] Therefore, in the third embodiment, the side collision sensor 152 is used as a proximity sensor to predict a collision and inflate the first inflation portion 53 of the seat airbag 5 before a collision from the side of the vehicle. Although the side collision sensor 152 in the third embodiment is an ultrasonic sensor, other proximity sensors may be used. In the third embodiment, the vehicle A has a left-hand drive, and the seat 2 is located on the left side of the driver's seat. The side collision sensor 152 detects an approaching object from the left, and the control device 1 predicts a left-side collision of the vehicle A. When a left-side collision is predicted, the control device 1 supplies power to the solenoid valve 58 of the seat airbag 5, causing compressed air in the air cylinder 57 to be released into the first inflation portion 53. This allows the compressed air gas to reach the inside of the first inflation portion 53 and inflate the first inflation portion 53. The check valve in the first gas hole 551a of the first gas hole member 551 prevents the gas in the first inflation portion 53 from moving into the third inflation portion 55, preventing the second inflation portion 54 from inflating. As a result, at an early stage, the occupant D moves in the occupant movement direction MD indicated by the arrow, as shown in Figure 5. As a result, even if the side collision speed is high, the area of ​​the occupant D on the door side, which is the outer side in the vehicle width direction, becomes wider at an early stage, and the side airbag SA can be sufficiently deployed.

[0033] In the third embodiment, the first inflation section 53 is inflated when a collision from the side of the vehicle is predicted. However, since this is a prediction, there are cases where the collision can actually be avoided. The inflator is disposable, and if an inflator is used when a side collision SC is predicted, the inflator must be replaced even if the collision is avoided, which is costly. In the third embodiment, the compressed air inside the air cylinder 57 is used when a side collision SC is predicted. Therefore, the air cylinder 57 can be refilled with gas and used again. Furthermore, in the event of a frontal collision, compared to the inflator 56 which inflates both the first inflation section 53 and the second inflation section 54, it is possible to supply an amount of gas that inflates only the first inflation section 53.

[0034] <Modification> In the first embodiment, the central seam 32 may be formed by directly sewing the two overlapping pieces of fabric of the seat airbag 3 together. However, it may also be a seam that connects the gas-impermeable fabric to connect the two overlapping pieces of fabric with the gas-impermeable fabric. If the centers of the two overlapping pieces of fabric of the seat airbag 3 are connected with the gas-impermeable fabric, the first inflation section 33 and the second inflation section 34 can inflate to a large extent when both are inflated. This is also true for the other embodiments.

[0035] In the first to third embodiments, the seat airbags 3 to 5 are provided in the driver's seat of a left-hand drive vehicle. However, they may also be provided in the driver's seat, passenger seat, or rear seat of a right-hand drive vehicle. The seat airbags 3 to 5 in the first to third embodiments may also be provided above the seat cushion 22 by being provided between the seat cover and the seat cushion 22 below the seat surface.

[0036] Furthermore, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments, and the present invention includes design changes within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-mentioned examples and modifications can be combined by utilizing each other's technology as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in the purpose, configuration, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] Vehicle A D Crew B. Seat belt H Handle FA Front airbag SA Side airbag SC side collision MD Occupant movement direction 1. Control device 11 Control circuit 12 Memory 13 Input section 14 Output section 15 sensors 151 Front collision sensor 152 Side collision sensor 2 seats 21 Substructure 22 Seat cushion 23 Back cushion 24 Headrest 3 Seat airbag 31 Periphery seam 32 Center seam 33 First expansion section 34 Second expansion section 35 First Inflator 36 Second inflator 4 Seat airbags 41 Periphery seam 42 Center seam 43 First expansion section 44 Second expansion section 45 Third expansion section 451 First gas port member 451a First gas hole 452 Second gas port member 452a Second gas hole 46 Inflator 461 Gas outlet 5 Seat airbag 51 Periphery seam 52 Center seam 53 First expansion section 54 Second expansion section 55 Third expansion section 551 first gas hole member 551a First gas hole 552 second gas hole member 552a Second gas hole 56 Inflator 561 Gas outlet 57 Air Cylinder 58 Solenoid valve 59 Communication pipe

Claims

1. A vehicle equipped with a seat, a seat airbag, and a control device, The seat airbag is disposed below a seat surface of the seat and has a first inflation portion, a second inflation portion, and an inflator, the first inflation portion is disposed outward in the vehicle width direction than the second inflation portion, By the control of the control device, When a frontal collision is detected, the first inflation portion and the second inflation portion are inflated by the inflator, When a side collision is detected, only the first inflation section is inflated. A vehicle characterized by:

2. The first inflation portion and the second inflation portion are formed by dividing two overlapping pieces of fabric into two parts by connecting them in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1.

3. The seat airbag has a third inflatable portion disposed in the front of the vehicle, the third inflation section has a first gas hole that releases gas to the first inflation section and a second gas hole that releases gas to the second inflation section, the inflator is disposed inside the third inflation section, and a gas discharge port is disposed at a position closer to the first gas hole than the second gas hole; the first gas hole is open, and the second gas hole is openable and closable; When a frontal collision is detected, the second gas hole is opened to inflate the first inflation section and the second inflation section by the inflator; When a side collision is detected, the second gas hole is not opened and only the first inflation portion is inflated by the inflator.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1.

4. an air cylinder filled with compressed air; When a side collision is predicted, the control device inflates only the first inflation section with compressed air from the air cylinder.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1.

5. 5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the seat airbag is installed under a seat cushion.

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