Airbag device and saddle riding-type vehicle with airbag device

Abstract

The present invention reduces the movement amount of an occupant at the time of collision of a saddle riding-type vehicle and obtains a desired occupant-restraining force. An airbag device 10 comprises: an airbag 40; an inflator 14 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 40; and a diffuser 30 that regulates the direction of gas flow from the inflator 14. The airbag device is disposed at the center of a handlebar 4 of a saddle riding-type vehicle. A front-end portion, a left-end portion, and a right-end portion of the diffuser 30 are closed. The front-end portion of the diffuser 30 is fixed to the front portion of the airbag 40.

Description

Airbag device and saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag device

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device mounted on a saddle-type vehicle such as a motorcycle and a saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag device.

[0002] There is known a technique of mounting an airbag device on a motorcycle, which contacts the upper body of a passenger when inflated and deployed, and suppresses the forward movement of the passenger with respect to the vehicle body. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an airbag device having an airbag that inflates and deploys in a passenger protection region formed on the front side of a passenger, and a rectifying cloth capable of adjusting the flow pattern of inflation gas supplied from an inflater into the airbag.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-53275

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device and a saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag device that reduce the amount of movement of a passenger during a collision of a saddle-type vehicle and obtain a desired passenger restraint force.

[0005] The airbag device of the present invention includes an airbag, an inflater that supplies inflation gas to the airbag, and a diffuser that regulates the gas flow direction from the inflater, and is an airbag device disposed at the center of the handle of a saddle-type vehicle. The diffuser has a gas outlet with a closed front end, left end, and right end and an open rear end, and the front end is fixed to the front portion of the airbag.

[0006] The saddle-type vehicle equipped with the airbag device of the present invention is equipped with such an airbag device of the present invention, and the lower surface of the front region of the inflated and deployed airbag contacts the meter panel.

[0007] According to the present invention, the amount of movement of a passenger can be reduced, and a desired passenger restraint force can be obtained.

[0008] This is a side view of a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a rear view of the part on which the airbag device is mounted. This is a diagram showing an example of airbag device installation. This is a rear view of the inflated and deployed airbag. This is a schematic diagram of the airbag. This is a diagram showing the panel configuration of the diffuser. This is a plan view of the diffuser. This is a schematic diagram showing an inflating and deploying airbag. This is a schematic diagram showing an inflating and deploying airbag. This is a diagram illustrating the method of assembling the airbag. Figure 12A is a plan view of a modified diffuser, and Figure 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIIB-XIIB of Figure 12A. Figure 13A is a plan view of a modified diffuser, and Figure 13B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIIIB-XIIIB of Figure 13A. This is a diagram illustrating the diffuser mounting location.

[0009] The airbag device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, front and rear and left and right refer to the front and rear and left and right of a motorcycle unless otherwise specified.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the motorcycle 1 is a scooter type, equipped with a front wheel 2 and a rear wheel 3 in front of and behind the engine (not shown), and a seat 5 on which the rider P sits is positioned above the engine. If the motorcycle 1 is an electric vehicle, a power unit is provided instead of an engine. The motorcycle 1 is covered by an exterior cover 8 made of resin material. At the lower center in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, there are left and right footrests 7 positioned spaced apart from the center in the width direction of the vehicle. The footrests 7 have a constant width in the width direction of the vehicle, and the rider P rests their feet on their upper surface.

[0011] The front wheel 2 is rotatably supported at the bottom of a pair of left and right front forks 6. A bridge (not shown) is installed on top of the pair of left and right front forks 6, and a handle stem 18 (see Figure 8, also called the steering shaft), which is the steering axis, is erected in the center of the bridge in the vehicle width direction. A handle bar 4 (hereinafter referred to as handle 4) is attached to the top of the handle stem 18. A meter panel M is provided in front of the handle 4. The meter panel M has an inclined surface that becomes higher towards the front. A meter visor V is provided in front of the meter panel M.

[0012] As shown in Figure 2, the steering wheel 4 is made of a single pipe material extending in the vehicle width direction, and is bent downwards in the center in the vehicle width direction, forming a recess, giving it a Y-shape (U-shape) when viewed from the front. The airbag device 10 is positioned in the central recess of this steering wheel 4. The airbag device 10 is fixed at three points: the left and right steering wheels and the steering stem. The steering wheel 4 is covered with a resin steering wheel cover 9.

[0013] The airbag device 10 includes an airbag 40 (see Figure 4), a disc-shaped inflator 14 (see Figure 8) that supplies gas to inflate the airbag 40, a substantially flat retainer 52 (see Figure 11), a bag ring 50 (see Figure 11) for fixing the airbag 40 to the retainer, and the like. The airbag module, including the airbag 40, inflator 14, retainer 52, and bag ring 50, is housed in a resin box-shaped module cover 12.

[0014] As shown in Figure 3, the module cover 12 is fitted and secured into the central recess of the handle cover 9. Tear lines are formed on the module cover 12. For example, a pair of vertical tear lines T1 are formed on both the left and right ends of the module cover 12, extending across the front, top, and rear surfaces of the module cover 12, and a horizontal tear line T2 is formed on the top surface of the module cover 12, extending in the left-right direction and connecting to the pair of vertical tear lines.

[0015] As shown in Figure 4, when the airbag 40 inside the module cover 12 inflates and deploys, the module cover 12 tears along the tear lines T1 and T2. When the module cover 12 tears along these tear lines T1 and T2, the portion of the module cover 12 between the pair of vertical tear lines T1 and in front of the horizontal tear line T2 opens forward as a flap-shaped first door portion 12a. The portion between the pair of vertical tear lines T1 and behind the horizontal tear line T2 opens backward and downward as a flap-shaped second door portion 12b.

[0016] The base ends of the first door section 12a and the second door section 12b are provided with hinge sections (not shown) consisting of grooves that guide and facilitate bending when they are opened. The hinge sections extend in the left-right direction so as to connect the ends of the pair of tearlines T1.

[0017] As shown in Figure 5, the airbag 40 is composed of a rectangular center panel 41 that forms the front portion 40a (occupant-facing surface), the upper portion 40b, and the lower portion 40c, and a pair of left and right side panels 42 that are sewn to both sides of the center panel 41 and form the side portion 40d.

[0018] The center panel 41 has an inflator opening 43 for inserting the inflator 14. In addition, a number of bolt insertion holes 44 are formed around the inflator opening 43.

[0019] The airbag 40 is constructed by sewing the long side of the center panel 41 to the periphery of the side panel 42, and sewing the short sides of the center panel 41 together.

[0020] A diffuser is positioned inside the airbag 40 to regulate the flow direction of the inflation gas from the inflator 14. This diffuser consists of two rectangular panels 31 and 32, as shown in Figure 6. Panel 31 (the upper panel) has a pair of long sides 31a and 31c and a pair of short sides 31b and 31d. Panel 31 has openings 33 and 34 for gas outflow.

[0021] Panel 32 (lower panel) has a pair of long sides 32a, 32c and a pair of short sides 32b, 32d. Panel 32 has an inflator opening 37 for inserting the inflator 14. In addition, a plurality of bolt insertion holes 35 are formed around the inflator opening 37.

[0022] As shown in Figure 7, the diffuser 30 is fabricated by overlapping panels 31 and 32 and suturing the long sides 31a, 32a, short sides 31b, 32b, and long sides 31c, 32c with the seam 36. The front end 30b, which is closed by suturing the short sides 31b, 32b, is attached to the front end of the airbag 40. Since the long sides 31d, 32d are not sutured, the rear end of the diffuser 30 becomes an opening 30d.

[0023] For example, after sewing the long side of the center panel 41 to the periphery of the side panel 42, the airbag 40 is obtained by inverting it through the unsewn front end opening, and then sewing the front end 30b of the diffuser 30 together with the short sides of the center panel 41, thereby obtaining an airbag 40 in which the diffuser 30 is positioned and fixed inside. The diffuser 30 has a gas outlet with the front end, left end and right end closed and the rear end open.

[0024] As shown in Figure 11, a buck ring 50 is placed inside the diffuser 30, and bolts 51 erected from the buck ring 50 are inserted through bolt insertion holes 35 and 44. The airbag 40 with the buck ring 50 attached is mounted on the upper surface of the retainer 52. The retainer 52 has an inflator opening 53 and bolt insertion holes 54, and the bolts 51 of the buck ring 50 are inserted through the bolt insertion holes 54. The inflator 14 is inserted from the lower side of the retainer 52. The inflator 14 is inserted through the inflator opening 43 of the airbag 40 and the inflator opening 37 of the lower panel 32 of the diffuser 30. By inserting the bolt 51 of the buck ring 50 into the bolt insertion hole 16 formed in the flange 15 of the inflator 14, and screwing the nut 17 onto the bolt 51 and tightening it, an airbag module can be manufactured in which the airbag 40, diffuser 30, inflator 14, and buck ring 50 are attached to the retainer 52. The airbag module with the airbag 40 folded is housed in the module cover 12 and attached to the handle 4.

[0025] Motorcycle 1 is equipped with an acceleration sensor (not shown) for detecting impacts. The acceleration sensor is electrically connected to a control unit (not shown), and the control unit is electrically connected to an inflator 14. When a collision occurs, impact acceleration data detected by the acceleration sensor is transmitted to the control unit, and the control unit instantly determines whether the airbag 40 will activate or not based on the impact acceleration data. If it determines that the airbag should activate, it sends an ignition current to the inflator 14, activating the inflator 14. The inflator 14 supplies gas into the airbag 40, inflating the airbag 40. The inflated airbag 40 pushes open the first door portion 12a and the second door portion 12b of the module cover 12 and expands toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0026] As described above, the front end of the diffuser 30 is fixed to the front end of the airbag 40. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8, when gas is supplied from the inflator 14 into the diffuser 30 and the internal pressure rises, causing the diffuser 30 to inflate, the first region C1 on the front side of the airbag 40 is rapidly deployed above the meter panel M.

[0027] The gas supplied from the inflator 14 is ejected downward and rearward from the airbag 40 through the opening 30d of the diffuser 30. The gas supplied from the inflator 14 is also ejected upward and forward from the airbag 40 through the opening 33 of the diffuser 30. The gas supplied from the inflator 14 is also ejected upward and rearward from the airbag 40 through the opening 34 of the diffuser 30.

[0028] As shown in Figure 9, gas is diffused into the airbag 40 via the diffuser 30. Since the opening 30d has a larger opening diameter than the openings 33 and 34, the second region C2 at the rear and lower part of the airbag 40 deploys after the first region C1, and then the third region C3 at the rear and upper part of the airbag 40 deploys. Furthermore, the larger opening diameter of opening 33 than opening 34 allows for a more optimal deployment of the airbag 40. As shown in Figure 10, once the inflation and deployment of the airbag 40 is complete, the second region C2 restrains the chest and abdomen of the occupant P, and the third region C3 restrains the head, thereby reducing the amount of movement of the occupant P.

[0029] The lower surface of the first region C1 of the airbag 40 contacts the meter panel M and receives a reaction force. The airbag 40 also receives reaction forces from the inside of the steering wheel and the airbag module mounting area. By receiving these reaction forces, the airbag 40 can achieve the desired occupant restraint force.

[0030] Although the above embodiment described an example of attaching an airbag system to a motorcycle, it is not limited to two-wheeled vehicles and can be applied to various saddle-type vehicles such as three-wheeled vehicles and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles).

[0031] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the front end portion 30b of the diffuser 30 is sewn together with the short sides of the center panel 41. However, the joining location of the front end portion 30b is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if it is joined to the front of the airbag 40.

[0032] Here, the front part of the airbag refers to the area in front of the vertical line L passing through the center of the inflator 14, as shown in Figure 14. Multiple gas outlets are provided on the side surface of the inflator 14 at regular intervals on the same circumference or approximately the same circumference, and the center of this circumference is defined as the center of the inflator 14.

[0033] The position and diameter of the opening 33 of the diffuser 30 are preferably determined considering the deployment speed of the third region C3 of the airbag 40. Furthermore, the position and diameter of the opening 34 are preferably determined considering the deployment speed of the second region C2 of the airbag 40.

[0034] In the above embodiment, a configuration in which the rear end of the diffuser 30 is left open was described, but as shown in Figures 12A and 12B, the rear end may be closed by stitching and an opening 38 may be formed near the rear end of the panel 31.

[0035] Alternatively, as shown in Figures 13A and 13B, the rear end of the diffuser 30 may be sewn shut, and openings 38 and 39 may be formed near the rear ends of the panels 31 and 32.

[0036] The number of gas outlet openings formed in panel 31 is not limited; there may be one or multiple openings. Alternatively, no gas outlet openings may be formed in panel 31 at all.

[0037] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which two panels 31 and 32 are overlapped and the edges (three sides) are sewn together to create a diffuser 30. However, a diffuser 30 may also be created by folding a single panel and sewing the edges (two sides) together. For example, one half of a single panel has an opening for an inflator and bolt insertion holes, and the other half has an opening for gas passage. A single panel is folded and overlapped, with the half having the opening for the inflator and bolt insertion holes as the lower panel and the other half having the opening for gas passage as the upper panel.

[0038] The above embodiment is just one example of the present invention, and the present invention may be in embodiments other than those shown.

[0039] 1 Motorcycle 4 Handlebars 10 Airbag System 12 Module Cover 14 Inflator 30 Diffuser 40 Airbag

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising an airbag, an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag, and a diffuser that restricts the direction of gas flow from the inflator, the airbag device being positioned in the center of the steering wheel of a saddle-type vehicle, wherein the diffuser has a front end, a left end and a right end that are closed, and the front end is fixed to the front of the airbag.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser has an overlapping upper panel and a lower panel, the lower panel has an inflator opening through which the inflator is inserted, and the upper panel has an opening for gas outlet.

3. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises a center panel that constitutes a front portion, a bottom portion, and a top portion, and a pair of side panels that are sewn to both sides of the center panel and constitute a side portion, and the front end of the diffuser is sewn to the center panel.

4. A saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag device, wherein the airbag device described in any one of claims 1 to 3 is installed, and the lower surface of the front region of the inflated and deployed airbag contacts the instrument panel.

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