JP3702697B2 - Airbag processing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an airbag processing method and apparatus that are preferable for use in disposal of an in-vehicle airbag apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a car is disposed of as a scrap car, a recoverable metal material or the like is collected and regenerated after an airbag device attached to the car is operated. Conventionally, this type of airbag processing method includes a method of forcibly deploying and processing the airbag while it is mounted on the vehicle, or an old tire that has been stacked by removing the airbag module from the vehicle. A method of forcibly unfolding and processing a bag is known. There has also been proposed a method in which an unactuated airbag module is put into a melting furnace and treated (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-132015).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional airbag processing method described above has the following problems. That is, the method of forcibly deploying the airbag while it is mounted on a scrapped vehicle cannot be used when the inflator squib is damaged by disconnection or the like.
[0004]
In addition, in the method in which an inactive air bag module is put into a melting furnace and forcedly deployed, the air bag will burst, so there is a large and strong melting furnace that can withstand the blast and sound during deployment. Necessary and costly unrealistic.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and provides an air bag processing method and apparatus that can be processed even if the electric system of the squib is damaged and has excellent processing workability. For the purpose.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) To achieve the above object, the processing method of the airbag according to the first aspect of the present invention is the processing method of the airbag to be processed by operating the inflator of the air bag device that has become unnecessary, the By heating only the back of the housing, which is the opposite surface of the housing where the squib is provided, and transferring this heat to the gas generating agent, the gas generating agent is heated above its ignition temperature via the housing. Thus, the inflator is operated.
[0009]
In the airbag processing method of the present invention , since the inflator is operated by heating the gas generating agent to the ignition temperature or higher through the housing without using the inflator squib, the squib ignition electric system is Even if it does not operate, the inflator can be easily operated and processed. Therefore, a large and strong melting furnace is not required, which is advantageous in terms of cost.
[0010]
In addition, since the heating part is the back surface of the inflator, the gas when the inflator is operated does not directly hit the means for heating (an arc rod, a plasma spraying torch, a glow plug, etc., which will be described later), and means for heating them. Will not be damaged every cycle.
[0011]
In the above invention, means for actuating the inflator is not particularly limited, example how to operate by heating the inflator by arc discharge, and the like method of operating by heating the inflator by plasmas spraying Can do.
[0012]
In the method of operating the inflator by arc discharge or plasma spraying, heat energy from the arc discharge or plasma spraying is applied from the outside of the inflator, and the gas generating agent is heated and reacted above its ignition temperature. There is no need to open the door.
[0014]
(2) To achieve the above object, the processing unit of the airbag by the second aspect of the present invention, in the processing apparatus of the airbag to be processed by operating the inflator of the air bag device that has become unnecessary, the A base on which an inflator is placed, an arc bar arranged so as to face the rear surface of the housing opposite to the housing surface on which the squib is provided, and the base and the arc bar are relative to each other. And a mechanism for contacting and separating.
[0015]
It is an airbag processing apparatus using the heating of the inflator housing by the arc discharge described above, and in generating the arc discharge, the housing and thus the gas generating agent are automatically removed by relatively contacting and separating the inflator and the arc rod. It can be ignited by heating, and safety is also significantly improved.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention , since the inflator is activated and processed by heating the gas generating agent to the ignition temperature or higher through the housing, the inflator can be easily operated even if the ignition electric system of the squib is not activated. Can be processed.
[0017]
Furthermore, according to the present invention , since the heated portion is the back surface of the inflator, the gas during the operation of the inflator does not directly hit the means for heating (an arc rod, a plasma spraying torch, etc., which will be described later). The means for performing the process is not damaged every cycle.
[0018]
In addition, according to the present invention , since heat energy is applied from the outside of the inflator by arc discharge or plasma spraying and the gas generating agent is heated and reacted, there is no need to make a hole in the inflator housing in advance.
[0020]
In addition, according to the present invention , when the arc discharge is generated, the housing and thus the gas generating agent can be automatically heated and ignited by relatively contacting and separating the inflator and the arc bar. Is also significantly improved.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the structure of the airbag device to be processed according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a steering wheel showing an example of an air bag device for a driver's seat, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the inflator, and FIG. 3 is an air bag device for a passenger seat (including a side air bag device and a rear seat air bag device). 4 is a sectional view showing the inflator. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the inflator.
[0022]
The driver seat airbag device 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the passenger seat airbag device 50 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 have the same basic structure as long as they are electric airbags. And an inflator 52 for inflating the airbag 51.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the airbag 51 is folded and accommodated in the steering STR and the instrument panel IST, and is mounted so as to wrap a through hole 522 of the housing 521 of the inflator 52 described later. Thus, the gas generated in the inflator 52 is introduced into the airbag 51 and inflated.
[0024]
The inflator 52 transmits an impact detected by a deceleration sensor at the time of a car collision as an electric signal, and thereby an squib (igniter) 523 that ignites, and an enhancer (transfer agent) 524 that ignites and burns with a flame generated by the squib 523. And a gas generating agent 525 that generates gas by being ignited and combusted by the flame and heat generated by the enhancer 524.
[0025]
For example, in the inflator 52 of the driver airbag device 50 shown in FIG. 2, a squib 523 and an enhancer 524 are provided in the center of a cylindrical housing 521, and a gas generating agent 525 is filled in the surrounding combustion chamber 526. Further, a screen 527 is provided around the periphery. When an impact signal is input from the lead wire 528 shown in the figure, the squib 523 is ignited, and the enhancer 524 is ignited and combusted by this flame. Further, this flame and heat are transferred to the combustion chamber 526 through the through hole 529. The gas generating agent 525 is ignited and burned. The gas generated by the ignition combustion of the gas generating agent 525 passes through the screen 527 and flows out from the plurality of through holes 522 provided around the housing 521, and inflates the airbag 51 shown in FIG. .
[0026]
In the inflator 52 of the passenger airbag device 50 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a squib 523 is provided at the center end of the long cylindrical housing 521, and an enhancer 524 is provided over the entire center of the cylindrical housing 521. It has been. A combustion chamber 526 around the enhancer 524 is filled with a gas generating agent 525, and a screen 527 is provided around the gas generating agent 525.
[0027]
In the passenger seat inflator 52 as well, when an impact signal is input from the lead wire 528 shown in the figure, the squib 523 is ignited, and the enhancer 524 is ignited and burned by this flame, and the flame and heat pass through the through hole 529. And enters the combustion chamber 526 to ignite and burn the gas generating agent 525. The gas generated by the ignition combustion of the gas generating agent 525 passes through the screen 527 and flows out from the plurality of through holes 522 provided around the housing 521, and inflates the airbag 51 shown in FIG. .
[0028]
Next, the airbag processing apparatus 1 for processing the airbag apparatus 50 as described above will be described.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing an embodiment of the airbag processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 5, the airbag processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a base 11 for fixing a target inflator 52, and the base 11 is centered on a fulcrum 13 with respect to a stand 12. It is supported so that it can swing. A cam mechanism 14 that is rotated by an air motor (not shown) is provided in contact with the bottom surface of the base 11. The rotation of the cam mechanism 14 moves the base 11 up and down by the unevenness of the cam surface.
[0030]
Above the base 11, the arc bar 16 is held by the clamp 15, and the lower end of the arc bar 16 comes into contact with the back surface of the housing 521 of the inflator 52. In addition, the back surface of the housing 521 of the inflator 52 here refers mainly to a portion A shown in FIGS. The clamp 15 is supported on the stand 12 by a stay not shown.
[0031]
The support rod 15 of the arc bar 16 is provided with a rod of the air cylinder 17 so as to be able to advance and retreat. When the arc rod 16 is shortened by performing arc discharge, the rod of the air cylinder 17 is advanced and moved by the clamp 15. The gripping of the arc bar 16 is temporarily released. By doing so, the arc bar 16 is lowered by its own weight until the lower end comes into contact with the inflator 52.
[0032]
Incidentally, although detailed illustration is omitted, these processing devices are provided in a housing 18 formed of a soundproof wall. Further, it is desirable to provide an exhaust device and a filter device in the casing 18.
[0033]
In order to process the inflator 52 using such an air bag processing apparatus 1, first, the target inflator 52 is set on the base 11, and is gripped by the clamp 15 so that the lower end of the arc bar 16 contacts the lower end of the inflator 52. Let Then, the cam mechanism 13 is rotated while a predetermined voltage is applied between the arc bar 16 and the inflator 52 (base 11 side).
[0034]
As a result, the base 11 moves up and down around the fulcrum 13 according to the cam surface of the cam mechanism 13, and arc discharge occurs between the arc bar 16 and the housing back surface of the inflator 52. The arc discharge heats the housing 521 of the inflator 52, and the heat is transmitted to the gas generating agent 525 through the enhancer 524 or directly, and is heated to the ignition temperature of the gas generating agent or higher. The gas generated by the ignition combustion of the gas generating agent 525 passes through the screen 527 and flows out from the plurality of through holes 522 provided around the housing 521, so that the inflator 52 has been activated. At this time, the gas is ejected to the opposite side of the arc bar 16 and does not hit the arc bar 16 and damage it.
[0035]
In the airbag apparatus of the present invention, instead of the heating system by the arc discharge as described above, it is also possible to have use of the plasma spraying apparatus.
[0036]
The embodiment described above is described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a steering cross-sectional view showing an example of an airbag apparatus to be processed according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the inflator shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an instrument panel showing another example of an airbag apparatus to be processed according to the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing the inflator shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing an embodiment of the airbag processing apparatus of the present invention.
6 is a view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Airbag processing apparatus 11 ... Base 12 ... Stand 13 ... Supporting point 14 ... Cam mechanism 15 ... Clamp 16 ... Arc bar 52 ... Inflator

Claims (6)

In an air bag processing method in which an inflator of an air bag apparatus that is no longer needed is operated, only the rear surface of the inflator opposite to the housing surface provided with the squib is heated, and this heat is generated as a gas. A method for processing an airbag , wherein the inflator is activated by heating the gas generating agent to a temperature equal to or higher than an ignition temperature through the housing . The airbag processing method according to claim 1, wherein the inflator is operated by arc discharge. The airbag processing method according to claim 1, wherein the inflator is operated by plasma spraying. The airbag processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the operation of the inflator is performed in a housing made of a soundproof wall. In an airbag processing apparatus that operates by inactivating an inflator of an airbag apparatus that is no longer needed, a base on which the inflator is mounted, and a rear surface of the housing that is the opposite surface of the housing surface on which the squib is provided. An air bag processing apparatus comprising: an arc bar disposed so as to face the base; and a mechanism for relatively contacting and separating the base and the arc bar. 6. The airbag processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the airbag processing apparatus is provided in a casing made of a soundproof wall.

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