JP6927085B2 - Pedestrian airbag - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pedestrian airbag used in a pedestrian airbag device mounted under the rear end of a vehicle hood panel.

Conventionally, an airbag of a pedestrian airbag device has a main body portion (cowl cover portion) that covers the upper surface side of the cowl near the rear end of the hood panel of the vehicle when expansion is completed, and an upper surface side of the front pillar that extends from the main body portion. The outer peripheral wall is configured by connecting the outer peripheral edges of the upper surface side panel on the upper surface side and the lower surface side panel on the lower surface side to each other (for example, Patent Document). 1). A partition wall along the front-rear direction is arranged in the pillar cover portion, and the pillar cover portion is formed into an inner chamber on the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle and an outer chamber on the outer side in the left-right direction of the vehicle by the partition wall. In addition to being partitioned, the expansion gas was configured to flow from the inner chamber into the outer champer so that fluttering during expansion could be suppressed. Further, the lower joint portion to be connected to the lower surface side panel on the lower edge side of the partition wall is above (front) the front pillar so that the pillar cover portion when expansion is completed is stably supported on the upper surface side of the front pillar. Arranged so as to coincide with the protruding position to, the parts of the inner chamber and the outer chamber on both the left and right sides of the lower edge joint portion of the pillar cover portion are supported on both sides of the protruding position of the front pillar, and are supported on the left and right sides. It was configured to complete the expansion while being restrained from shifting in the direction.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-134566

However, in the conventional pedestrian airbag, when the expansion is completed, the pillar cover portion supports both sides of the lower edge joint portion of the partition wall in the pillar cover portion on both sides of the protruding position of the front pillar, that is, , The inner chamber and the outer chamber of the pillar cover portion are in contact with the left and right upper surface sides of the pillar cover portion in the vicinity of the partition wall, and the pillar cover portion is already in front before receiving a pedestrian. Improved in that the distance that is in contact with the upper surface of the pillar and approaches the front pillar by receiving the pedestrian, that is, the receiving stroke of the pedestrian, tends to be shortened, and the amount of pedestrian's exercise energy absorbed is increased. There was room for. In this case, it is possible to take measures such as using an inflator having a large output so as to increase the internal pressure of the airbag, or increasing the volume of the pillar cover portion so as to make the pillar cover portion thicker when the expansion is completed. However, both of them increase the weight and volume of the pedestrian airbag device, which is not preferable.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pedestrian airbag capable of increasing the absorption amount of kinetic energy of a pedestrian in a pillar cover portion by a simple configuration. ..

In the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, the main body portion that covers the upper surface side of the cowl near the rear end of the hood panel of the vehicle when the expansion is completed, and the upper surface of the front pillar that extends from the left and right end sides of the main body portion. It is configured with a pillar cover that covers the side, and
A pedestrian airbag in which the outer peripheral wall is formed by connecting the outer peripheral edges of the upper surface side panel on the upper surface side and the lower surface side panel on the lower surface side to each other.
When the expansion is completed, the pillar cover portion is arranged along the substantially front-rear direction, so that the inner chamber located on the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle and the outer chamber located on the outer side in the left-right direction of the vehicle are formed. As well as being partitioned into
Each of the partition walls is in a state in which the upper surface side panel and the lower surface side panel are overlapped and developed flatly, and the upper edge connecting portion bonded to the upper surface side panel on the upper edge side is formed on the lower surface side panel on the lower edge side. It is characterized in that it is arranged at a position shifted to the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the lower edge joint portion connected to.

In the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, when the expansion is completed, the partition wall that separates the inner chamber and the outer chamber of the pillar cover portion is coupled to the lower surface side panel from the upper edge coupling portion that is coupled to the upper surface side panel. The lower edge joint is arranged so as to be inclined to the outside of the vehicle. That is, the outer chamber has a structure arranged on the upper side of the inclined partition wall, and protrudes diagonally upward from the inner chamber in a direction substantially orthogonal to the partition wall. Therefore, the outer chamber can receive the pedestrian earlier by the dimension of protrusion from the inner chamber and can secure a long receiving stroke, so that the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian can be increased. Then, such a configuration can be easily dealt with by simply arranging the partition wall in an inclined manner.

Therefore, in the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian in the pillar cover portion can be increased by a simple configuration.

Then, in the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, the partition wall allows the expansion gas from the inner chamber to flow into the outer chamber, and the backflow from the outer chamber to the inner chamber is suppressed. It is desirable that preventive measures are provided.

In such a configuration, if the expansion gas from the inner chamber completes the expansion of the outer chamber, the flow of the expansion gas from the outer chamber to the inner chamber is restricted, and the outer chamber is high at the completion of expansion. Internal pressure can be maintained. Therefore, when the outer chamber receives the pedestrian, a high internal pressure can be maintained, and the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian, which is substantially proportional to the receiving stroke, can be further increased. In addition, even if a pedestrian is received near the outer edge of the outer chamber where the thickness of the pillar cover tends to be thin, a high internal pressure is maintained and a sufficient reaction force can be secured, so that the pedestrian can be accurately seated. Can be received and protected. Therefore, for example, it is possible to accurately receive and protect pedestrians without using an inflator having a large output that increases the internal pressure or increasing the thickness (volume) of the pillar cover portion.

Further, in the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, the partition wall may be extended to the front edge side of the main body portion.

In such a configuration, if the outer chamber extends to the front edge side of the airbag body, the vicinity of the front edge is above the left and right edges on the rear end side of the hood panel and the fender panel in the vicinity thereof. Can be arranged, and even if a pedestrian moves in the vicinity thereof, the outer chamber can quickly catch and protect the pedestrian.

Then, in the pedestrian airbag according to the present invention, the pillar cover portions are arranged so as to extend from the left and right sides of one main body portion so as to cover the upper surface side of the front pillars on the left and right sides of the vehicle, respectively. It may be installed and arranged one on the vehicle, or a total of two on the left and right sides of the vehicle so as to cover the upper surface side of the cowl and the front pillar on each side in the left-right direction of the vehicle. It may be arranged.

It is a schematic partial plan view of the vehicle equipped with the pedestrian airbag device in which the pedestrian airbag according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used, and also the pedestrian airbag when expansion is completed. It is indicated by a two-dot chain line. It is a schematic vertical sectional view at the time of operation of the pedestrian airbag device of 1st Embodiment, and corresponds to the part II-II of FIG. It is a schematic enlarged vertical sectional view of the vicinity of an inflator at the time of operation of the pedestrian airbag device of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic partial cross-sectional view explaining operation of the backflow prevention means in the pedestrian airbag of 1st Embodiment, and corresponds to the IV-IV part of FIG. It is a schematic partial perspective view explaining operation of the backflow prevention means in the pedestrian airbag of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic partial cross-sectional view explaining the expansion time of the front edge side of the pedestrian airbag of 1st Embodiment, and corresponds to the VI-VI part of FIG. It is a top view of the pedestrian airbag of the first embodiment in a state where the inflator is inserted. It is a top view which shows the constituent members of the pedestrian airbag of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view of the pedestrian airbag of the second embodiment in a state where the inflator is inserted. It is a schematic partial perspective view explaining operation of the backflow prevention means in the pedestrian airbag of the 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic partial cross-sectional view explaining operation of the backflow prevention means in the pedestrian airbag of the 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view of the pedestrian airbag of the third embodiment in a state where the inflator is inserted. It is a schematic partial perspective view explaining operation of the backflow prevention means in the pedestrian airbag of the 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic partial cross-sectional view explaining operation of the backflow prevention means in the pedestrian airbag of the 3rd Embodiment. It is a top view of the pedestrian airbag of the fourth embodiment in a state where the inflator is inserted. It is a top view which shows the constituent members of the pedestrian airbag of 4th Embodiment. It is a schematic partial cross-sectional view explaining operation of the backflow prevention means in the pedestrian airbag of 4th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The pedestrian airbag (hereinafter, appropriately abbreviated as “airbag”) 23 of the first embodiment walks as shown in FIGS. It is used for a pedestrian airbag device (hereinafter, appropriately abbreviated as "airbag device") M. The airbag device M is mounted on the lower engine room ER side near the rear end 9a of the hood panel 9 of the vehicle V, and is folded together with the airbag 23, the inflator 15 that supplies the expansion gas to the airbag 23, and the airbag 23. However, it is configured to include a case 10 for storing the airbag 23.

In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions are described in accordance with the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of the vehicle V, respectively.

The case 10 of the airbag device M is made of metal (made of sheet metal), and has bolts of the mounting bracket 18 of the inflator 15 with respect to the mounting portion 2 composed of a flange extending from the hood ridge rein hose on the body 1 side of the vehicle V. Using 19, the nut 20 is fixed and fixed. The case 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape having an opening 13 for projecting the airbag 23 during expansion upward, and has a rectangular parallelepiped bottom wall portion 11 extending along the left-right direction of the vehicle V. It is configured to include a substantially square tubular peripheral wall portion 12 extending upward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 11. The case 10 is mounted at an upper position on the front side of the cowl 6 extending forward from the lower side of the front end 4a side of the front windshield (also referred to as a windshield; hereinafter, simply referred to as a windshield) 4. The member of reference numeral 7 shown in FIG. 1 is a wiper. The cowl 6 is composed of a highly rigid metal cowl panel 6a and a synthetic resin cowl louver 6b having a lower rigidity than the cowl panel 6a.

As shown in FIG. 7, the inflator 15 is formed as a columnar shape in which the axial direction is arranged along the left-right direction of the vehicle V, and a gas discharge portion 16 for discharging expansion gas is arranged at the tip thereof. ing. The inflator 15 is held by a plurality of (three in the embodiment) mounting brackets 18, inserted into the airbag 23 while being wrapped in the inner tube 39, and the case 10 is used by using the bolts 19 of the mounting brackets 18. It is fixed to the bottom wall portion 11 of the (see FIGS. 2 and 3). As described above, the bolt 19 of the mounting bracket 18 penetrates the bottom wall portion 11 and is fixed to the mounting portion 2 on the body 1 side of the vehicle V with a nut 20, and together with the inflator 15, the case 10 is attached to the mounting portion 2. It is fixed, and further, the inflator 15 is inserted into the airbag 23, and the airbag 23 is also attached and fixed to the bottom wall portion 11 of the case 10.

In the case of the embodiment, the front bumper 3 of the vehicle V is provided with a sensor 3a capable of detecting a collision with a pedestrian, and an operating circuit (not shown) for inputting a signal from the sensor 3a is provided. When the collision of the vehicle V with a pedestrian is detected based on the signal from the sensor 3a, the inflator 15 of the airbag device M is operated.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the airbag 23 has a main body 24 that covers the cowl 6 and the front edge 4a of the windshield 4 from the rear end 9a of the hood panel 9 and the left and right sides of the main body 24 when the expansion is completed. It is configured to include pillar cover portions 28 (L, R) extending rearward from both ends 24a side and covering above the left and right front pillars 5 (5L, 5R). The outer peripheral wall 30 of the airbag 23 includes an upper surface side panel 31 for receiving pedestrians on the upper surface side, a hood panel 9 on the lower surface side, a windshield 4, and a lower surface side panel 32 supported by the front pillar 5. It is configured to prepare. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 are composed of the airbag base cloths 70 and 71 having the same outer shape, and the outer peripheral wall 30 of the airbag 23. Is formed by stacking airbag base cloths 70 and 71 and suturing the outer peripheral edges 70a and 71a to each other.

Further, the airbag 23 is a front tether 34 arranged in the front and rear near the center of the main body 24 so as to regulate the separation distance between the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 of the main body 24 when the expansion is completed. And the rear tether 35, the left tether 36 and the right tether 37 arranged near the left and right ends of the main body 24, and the rear ends 28a of the left and right pillar cover portions 28L and 28R, respectively, near the left and right ends 24a of the main body 24. It is configured to include a partition wall 40 (L, R) arranged so as to extend to the vicinity of the leading edge 24b of the above.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the front tether 34 is configured by mutually coupling tether base cloths 72 and 73 which are separately bonded to the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the rear tether 35 is configured by mutually coupling tether base cloths 74 and 75 that are separately bonded to the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32. The left and right tethers 36 and 37 are configured by mutually coupling tether base cloths 76 and 77 that are separately bonded to the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32. The partition wall 40 has the entire circumference of the outer peripheral edge 40a coupled to the inner peripheral surfaces 31a and 32a of the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32, except for a part (non-bonding portion) 50.

The inflator 15 is housed between the front tether 34 and the rear tether 35 in the airbag 23. The front tether 34 and the rear tether 35 allow the expansion gas from the inflator 15 to flow forward and backward from both the left and right ends, and the width dimension in the left-right direction is shorter than the total length in the left-right direction of the main body 24. It is arranged.

The left and right partition walls 40L and 40R are located at positions shifted outward from the left and right tethers 36 and 37 in the left-right direction, respectively, from the rear end 28a side of the pillar cover portion 28 of the airbag 23 to the left and right ends of the main body portion 24. The region up to the front edge 24b near 24a is arranged so as to be divided into left and right so as to be linear and substantially along the front-rear direction. The left and right partition walls 40L and 40R have pillar cover portions 28L and 28R, respectively, an inner chamber 44 located on the central side in the left-right direction of the vehicle V and an outer chamber located on the outer side in the left-right direction of the vehicle V, respectively. It is divided into only two rooms , 45 (L, R). The inner chamber 44 is composed of a central portion 24c excluding the vicinity of the left and right ends 24a and 24a of the main body portion 24, and an inner portion 28b on the left and right pillar cover portions 28L and 28R which is the central side in the left-right direction of the vehicle V. The outer chamber 45 is composed of left and right ends 24a of the main body 24 and outer portions 28c that are outside of the vehicle V in the left and right pillar cover portions 28L and 28R in the left-right direction. Since the inflator 15 is arranged in the inner chamber 44, it becomes an upstream side chamber of the expansion gas, and the outer chamber 45 becomes a downstream side chamber of the expansion gas.

Further, the left and right partition walls 40L and 40R are connected to the upper surface side panel 31 on the upper edge 40aa side in a state where the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 are overlapped and developed flat, respectively. Is arranged at a position shifted to the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle V from the lower edge coupling portion 42 coupled to the lower surface side panel 32 on the lower edge 40ab side.

The partition walls 40L and 40R are provided with backflow prevention means 47 that allow the expansion gas from the inner chamber 44 to flow into the outer chamber 45 and suppress the backflow from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44. ing. In the backflow prevention means 47 of the embodiment, the partition wall 40 that separates the outer chamber 45 and the inner chamber 44 covers the entire circumference of the outer peripheral edge 40a, and the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel that form the outer peripheral wall 30 of the airbag 23. Instead of connecting to the inner peripheral surfaces 31a and 32a with 32, the seam allowance 40d extending from the sewn portion 40c of the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40 is connected to the inner peripheral surface side of the outer chamber 45 (lower surface side in the case of the figure). A fin portion 51 to be extended by a length dimension that allows long contact with the inner peripheral surface 32a side of the panel 32) is provided, that is, between the joint portions 49 with the lower surface side panel 32 on the lower edge 40ab side of the outer peripheral edge 40a. Partially, a non-coupling portion 50 is provided, the seam allowance portion 40d is used as a fin portion 51 constituting a check valve, and the seam allowance portion 40d is extended outward in the left-right direction so as to be able to contact the inner peripheral surface 32a of the lower surface side panel 32. Is formed.

In the backflow prevention means 47, when the inflator 15 is operated and the inner chamber 44 expands by increasing the internal pressure, the fin portion 51 of the non-coupling portion 50 is used for expansion as shown in A and 5A of FIG. Due to the pressure of the gas G, it rises from the inner peripheral surface 32a side of the lower surface side panel 32, and the supply port 52 for flowing the expansion gas G from the inner chamber 44 to the outer chamber 45 is opened, and the expansion from the inner chamber 44. The gas G causes the outer chamber 45 to complete its expansion. After that, even if the expansion gas G tries to flow back from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44, as shown in B and B of FIG. 4, the fin portion 51 constituting the check valve is inside the lower surface side panel 32. Since the supply port 52 is closed by being pressed against the peripheral surface 32a, the expansion gas G of the outer chamber 45 does not flow back to the inner chamber 44, and the outer chamber 45 can maintain the internal pressure at the completion of expansion. Therefore, as compared with the inner chamber 44, the outer chamber 45 can suppress the decrease in the internal pressure, exert a good cushioning action, and receive and protect the pedestrian PD.

Further, the lower surface side panel 32 between the front and rear tethers 34 and 35 of the main body 24 is provided with slits 25 extending in the left-right direction and mounting holes 26 through which bolts 19 of the mounting brackets 18 pass. There is. The slit 25 is for inserting the inflator 15 wrapped in the inner tube 39 into the airbag 23, and a cover cloth 33 covering the slit 25 is arranged on the outer surface side of the slit 25. ..

The trailing edge 33a side of the cover cloth 33 is sewn to the lower surface side panel 32 on the rear side of the slit 25, and a mounting hole 33b is formed through which the bolt 19 of each mounting bracket 18 penetrates.

The inner tube 39 extends from the insertion cylinder portion 39c into which the inflator 15 to which the mounting bracket 18 is mounted is inserted and the arrangement portion of the gas discharge portion 16 to both sides, and the outlets 39a and 39b from which the expansion gas flows out to the tips thereof. It is configured as a three-pronged tubular shape with and. The insertion cylinder portion 39c is formed with a mounting hole 39d through which the bolt 19 of each mounting bracket 18 is passed. As shown in FIG. 8, the inner tube 39 is formed of a tube base cloth 79, and the tube base cloth 79 is folded in half with a crease 79a, and the predetermined outer peripheral edges overlapped with each other. By suturing, the inner tube 39 can be formed.

It should be noted that the air bag base cloths 70 and 71 constituting the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32, the tether base cloths 72, 73, 74, 75, 75, 76, 77, and the partition wall base cloths constituting the partition wall 40. The 78, the base cloth 79 for the tube, and the cover cloth 33 are formed of a woven cloth such as a flexible sheet-shaped polyester thread or a polyamide thread.

In the airbag 23 of the first embodiment, the suture thread 81 (see FIG. 7) is used to sew the tether base cloths 72, 74, and 76 to the airbag base cloth 70, and the tether base cloths 72, 74, and 76 are sewn to the airbag base cloth 71. The tether base cloths 73, 75, 77 are sewn together, and the tether base cloths 72, 73 are sewn together, the tether base cloths 74, 75 are sewn together, and the tether base cloths 76, 77 are sewn together. Then, the airbag base cloths 70 and 71 are stacked and flattened, and while the outer peripheral edges 70a and 71a are sewn together, a predetermined portion (bonding) of the outer peripheral edge 78a of the partition wall base cloth 78 is provided at the partition wall 40 arrangement portion. The airbag 23 can be formed by stitching the portion 49) to the airbag base cloths 70 and 71 to form the partition wall 40 and then stitching the remaining outer peripheral edges 70a and 71a to each other. A slit 25 and a mounting hole 26 are formed in advance in the airbag base cloth 71 constituting the lower surface side panel 32, and the cover cloth 33 is sewn at a predetermined position.

After that, the airbag 23 is folded so that it can be stored in the case 10, and the inflator 15 with the mounting bracket 18 inserted in the inner tube 39 is inserted into the airbag 23 using the slit 25. Then, the bolt 19 of each mounting bracket 18 is projected from the mounting hole 39d of the inner tube 39 and the mounting hole 26 of the airbag 23, and further, the cover cloth 33 covers the slit 25 so that the cover cloth 33 can cover the slit 25. The mounting holes 33b are fitted into the bolts 19 to form an airbag assembly, and the airbag cover 14 is housed in the case 10 and then the airbag cover 14 is assembled to the case 10 so as to cover the opening 13 of the case 10. Then, the case 10 is arranged at a predetermined position of the vehicle V, the bolt 19 protruding from the case 10 is fixed to the mounting portion 2 with a nut 20, and the operating signal line extending from the inflator 15 is connected to the predetermined operating circuit. Then, the airbag device M can be mounted on the vehicle V.

After that, when an operation signal is input to the inflator 15, the expansion gas G is discharged from the gas discharge unit 16, the folded airbag 23 expands and expands, the airbag cover 14 is pushed open, and the airbag is opened. The main body 24 of the 23 covers the upper surface 9b of the rear end 9a of the hood panel 9 and the upper surface of the front end 4a of the cowl 6 and the windshield 4, and the pillar cover 28 (L, R) covers the front pillar 5 (L, R). Will cover the upper surface 5a of the.

In the airbag 23 of the first embodiment, when the expansion is completed, the partition wall 40 that separates the inner chamber 44 and the outer chamber 45 of the pillar cover portion 28 (L, R) is coupled to the upper surface side panel 31. The lower edge connecting portion 42, which is coupled to the lower surface side panel 32 from the portion 41, is arranged so as to be inclined toward the outside of the vehicle. That is, as shown in A and B of FIG. 4 and A and B of FIG. 6, the outer chamber 45 has the expansion gas G flowing in from the inner chamber 44 through the supply port 52 formed by raising the fin portion 51. As a result, when the expansion is completed, the structure is arranged on the upper side of the inclined partition wall 40, and is formed to project diagonally upward from the inner chamber 44 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the partition wall 40. Therefore, as shown in B of FIG. 4, the outer chamber 45 protrudes from the inner chamber 44 toward the upper side (it can be said that the front pillar 5 is inclined backward) by the protruding dimension H. Therefore, the pedestrian PD can be received earlier by the protruding dimension H, and the receiving stroke can be secured for a long time, so that the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian PD can be increased. Then, such a configuration can be easily dealt with by simply arranging the partition wall 40 in an inclined manner.

Therefore, in the pedestrian airbag 23 of the first embodiment, the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian PD in the pillar cover portion 28 can be increased by a simple configuration.

In the case of the embodiment, the lateral displacement dimension S0 (see FIG. 7) between the upper edge coupling portion 41 and the lower edge coupling portion 42 is set to about 180 mm within the range of 150 to 220 mm. If the deviation dimension S0 is too small, it is difficult to secure the protrusion dimension H from the inner chamber 44, and if it is too large, it becomes difficult to dispose the outer chamber 45 on the outside of the inner chamber 44, so that the front pillar 5 is formed. It becomes difficult to secure the area of the pillar cover portion 28 to cover. Further, since the inclination of the partition wall 40 also changes depending on the substantial width dimension B0 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) of the partition wall base cloth 78 that determines the thickness dimension of the pillar cover portion 28 when expanded, the upper edge connection is formed. The lateral displacement dimension S0 between the portion 41 and the lower edge connecting portion 42 is approximately the same as the substantial width dimension B0 of the partition wall base cloth 78 , that is, the width dimension B0 of the partition wall 40 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Is desirable. Incidentally, the substantial width dimension B0 of the partition wall base cloth 78 of the embodiment is set to about 180 mm, which is equivalent to the deviation dimension S0.

Then, in the pedestrian airbag 23 of the first embodiment, the partition wall 40 is allowed to flow the expansion gas G from the inner chamber 44 into the outer chamber 45, and the backflow from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44 is allowed. A backflow prevention means 47 for suppressing is arranged.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the outer chamber 45 completes the expansion by the expansion gas G from the inner chamber 44, the fin portion 51 as a check valve that has opened the supply port 52 becomes the lower surface side panel. Pressed against the inner peripheral surface 32a of 32 to block the supply port 52, the flow of the expansion gas G from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44 is restricted, and the outer chamber 45 exerts a high internal pressure at the completion of expansion. Can be maintained. As a result, when the outer chamber 45 receives the pedestrian PD, a high internal pressure can be maintained, and the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian PD, which is substantially proportional to the receiving stroke, can be further increased. That is, even if the pedestrian PD has the same kinetic energy when receiving the pedestrian PD, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the pedestrian PD is received by the outer chamber 45, it can be received as a small receiving stroke SS. Since the internal pressure drops in the inner chamber 44, the inner chamber 44 is received as a large receiving stroke SL.

Further, even if the pedestrian PD is received near the outer edge 28ca of the outer chamber 45 where the thickness of the pillar cover portion 28 tends to be thin, a high internal pressure is maintained even in the vicinity of the outer edge 28ca, which is sufficient. Since the force can be secured, the pedestrian PD can be accurately received and protected.

Therefore, for example, it is possible to accurately receive and protect pedestrians without using an inflator having a large output that increases the internal pressure or increasing the thickness (volume) of the pillar cover portion.

In order to accelerate the completion of expansion of the outer chamber 45, a plurality of check flow preventing means 47 having fin portions 51 forming a check valve may be provided on the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40.

Further, in the pedestrian airbag 23 of the first embodiment, the partition wall 40 extends to the leading edge 24b side of the main body portion 24.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, since the outer chamber 45 extends to the leading edge 24b side of the main body 24 of the airbag 23, the vicinity of the leading edge 24b is behind the hood panel 9 as shown in FIG. The outer chamber 45 can be arranged above the left and right edges 9d on the end 9a side and the fender panel 8 in the vicinity thereof, and even if the pedestrian PD moves in the vicinity thereof, the front end 45a of the outer chamber 45 ( (See FIGS. 1 and 7) can quickly receive and protect the pedestrian PD.

Further, in the pedestrian airbag 23 of the first embodiment, when the expansion is completed, as shown in B of FIG. 4, the partition wall 40 is arranged so as to be inclined so that the upper surface 40b side faces diagonally outward. At the same time, a linear lower edge connecting portion 42 to be coupled to the lower surface side panel 32 is arranged near the top portion 5b protruding upward of the front pillar 5, and the inner chamber 44 is arranged inward in the left-right direction from the top portion 5b. Is arranged, and the outer chamber 45 is arranged on the outside in the left-right direction from the top portion 5b. Therefore, when the outer chamber 45 completes the expansion, the outer chamber 45 completes the expansion so as to project in the orthogonal direction from the partition wall 40 whose upper surface 40b side is inclined obliquely outward. As a result, as shown in B of FIG. 4, when the expansion is completed, the pillar cover portion 28 does not cover the portion 32c of the lower surface side panel 32 on the outer chamber 45 side with respect to the front shield 4 and the front pillar 5 on the vehicle body side. The contact state is set, and the portion 32b of the lower surface side panel 32 on the inner chamber 44 side is placed in the contact state.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the expansion of the pillar cover portion 28 is completed, the outer chamber 45 is lifted from the vehicle body side members of the front pillar 5 and the windshield 4 on the vehicle body side by the amount h, which is higher than that of the inner chamber 44. Since it floats and expands, it is further lifted and arranged from the upper surface 5a side of the front pillar 5, so that the moving pedestrian PD can be received more quickly.

As the backflow preventing means, in addition to the backflow preventing means 47 of the first embodiment, the backflow preventing means 47A and 47B shown in FIGS. 9 to 14 can be exemplified.

The backflow prevention means 47A used in the pedestrian airbag 23A of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is on the rear end 28a side of the pillar cover portion 28 in the partition wall 40A that separates the inner chamber 44 and the outer chamber 45. The trailing edge 40ad in the above, that is, the trailing edge 40ad arranged at the boundary between the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 serves as the non-coupling portion 55, and the trailing edge 40ad is used as the inner circumference of the outer chamber 45. A fin portion 56 to be extended by a length dimension that allows long contact with the surface side (in the case of the figure, the inner peripheral surfaces 31a and 32a side near the boundary portion between the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32) is provided. It is configured. In other words, the fin portion 56 of the backflow prevention means 47A has upper and lower edges 40aa, 40ab and a leading edge 40ac of the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40A, and the inner peripheral surfaces 31a, 32a of the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32. A non-coupling portion 55 is partially provided on the trailing edge 40ad between the upper and lower joint portions 54 and 54, and the non-coupling portion 55 is used as a fin portion constituting a check valve. It is set to 56. Therefore, the fin portion 56 is arranged so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surfaces 31a and 32a of the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 so as to extend outward in the left-right direction.

In the backflow prevention means 47A, when the inflator 15 is operated and the inner chamber 44 expands by increasing the internal pressure, as shown in A and 11A of FIG. 10, the fin portion 56 of the non-coupling portion 55 is used for expansion. Due to the pressure of the gas G, the expansion gas G flows from the inner chamber 44 into the outer chamber 45 away from the inner peripheral surfaces 31a and 32a side of the boundary portion between the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 to the inward side. The supply port 57 is opened, and the expansion gas G from the inner chamber 44 completes the expansion of the outer chamber 45. Then, in the outer chamber 45 in which the expansion is completed, even if the expansion gas G tries to flow toward the inner chamber 44, the fin portion 56 constituting the check valve is formed on the upper surface as shown in B of FIGS. Since the supply port 57 is closed by being pressed against the inner peripheral surfaces 31a and 32a of the side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32, the expansion gas G of the outer chamber 45 does not flow back into the inner chamber 44, and the outer chamber 45 , The internal pressure at the completion of expansion can be maintained, a good cushioning action can be exerted, the pedestrian PD can be received and protected, and the same action / effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Also in the pedestrian airbag 23A of the second embodiment, in order to accelerate the completion of expansion of the outer chamber 45, the check flow preventing means 47A having the fin portion 56 forming the check valve is a partition wall. It may be configured to be provided on the front edge 40ac side of the 40.

The backflow prevention means 47B of the pedestrian airbag 23B of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 forms a supply port 59 provided in the partition wall 40B in the left-right direction and a check valve covering the supply port 59. It is composed of a valve panel 60 and a valve panel 60. The supply port 59 is arranged in the partition wall 40B as a circular opening. In the third embodiment, the valve panel 60 is arranged on the outer surface (upper surface) 40b side of the partition wall 40B on the outer chamber 45 side so as to cover the supply port 59, and both upper and lower edges sandwiching the supply port 59. The 60a is provided with coupling portions 61, 61 to be coupled to the partition wall 40B, and both front and rear edges 60b in the direction orthogonal to the coupling portions 61, 61 are arranged as non-coupling portions 62 not to be coupled to the partition wall 40B. In other words, the valve panel 60 has a flexible rectangular sheet shape, in which the upper and lower edges 60a and 60a are sewn to the partition wall 40B and connected, and the front and rear edges 60b and 60b are not sewn to the partition wall 40B. Is arranged as.

In the backflow prevention means 47B, if the inner chamber 44 allows the expansion gas G from the inflator 15 to flow in to increase the internal pressure, the valve panel 60 on the outer side of the supply port 59, as shown in A of A and 14 of FIG. The part of the valve panel 60 moves outward, passes through the front and rear edges 60b and 60b which are the non-coupling portions 62 of the valve panel 60, and the expansion gas G flows into the outer chamber 45, and the outer chamber 45 completes the expansion. Let me. After that, when the expansion gas G tries to flow back from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44, the valve panel 60 coupled to the partition wall 40B by the coupling portions 61 and 61 is formed as shown in B and 14B of FIG. , The valve portion 60c in the substantially circular area of the valve panel 60 facing the supply port 59, which is pressed against the partition wall 40B side (inward side) so as to close the supply port 59, closes the supply port 59. The backflow of the expansion gas G from the supply port 59 to the inner chamber 44 is prevented, and the outer chamber 45 maintains the internal pressure at the completion of expansion and exerts a good cushioning action, so that the pedestrian PD It can be received and protected, and the same actions and effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

The pedestrian airbag 23B of the third embodiment also has a supply port 59 and a valve panel 60 forming a check valve in order to accelerate the completion of expansion of the outer chamber 45 to prevent backflow. A plurality of means 47B may be provided on the partition wall 40B.

Further, in the pedestrian airbags 23, 23A, 23B of each embodiment, the partition walls 40, 40A, 40B are arranged on the left and right pillar cover portions 28 in substantially the front-rear direction, and the leading edge 40ac side thereof is used as the partition walls 40, 40A, 40B. , The main body 24 is arranged so as to extend to the leading edge 24b near both left and right ends 24a. However, as shown in the pedestrian airbag 23C of the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, the partition wall 40C may be arranged along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. That is, in this partition wall 40C, the leading edge 40ac extending straight forward from the trailing edge 40ad coupled to the trailing end 28a of the pillar cover portion 28 is displaced outward from the leading edge 24b in the vicinity of the left and right both ends 24a of the main body portion 24. It is arranged at a vertical position, that is, near the side edge 28e on the front edge 28d side of the pillar cover portion 28.

In the airbag 23C, as shown in FIG. 16, the airbag 23 of the first embodiment is provided, except that the partition wall 40C made of the partition wall base cloth 78C is arranged along the front-rear direction. The same members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The backflow prevention means 47C provided on the partition wall 40C is also configured by providing a fin portion 67 in the same manner as the backflow prevention means 47 of the first embodiment. That is, the partition wall 40C that separates the outer chamber 45 and the inner chamber 44 covers the entire circumference of the outer peripheral edge 40a, and the inner peripheral surface 31a of the upper surface side panel 31 and the lower surface side panel 32 that form the outer peripheral wall 30 of the airbag 23. , 32a, but instead connecting the seam allowance 40d extending from the sewn portion 40c of the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40C to the inner peripheral surface side of the outer chamber 45 (in the case of the figure, the inner peripheral surface 32a of the lower surface side panel 32). A fin portion 67 is provided to extend the fin portion 67 by a length dimension that allows long contact with the side), and the backflow preventing means 47C is configured from the fin portion 67. In other words, a non-coupling portion 66 is partially provided between the joint portion 65 and the lower surface side panel 32 on the lower edge 40ab side of the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40C, and the non-coupling portion 66 is used as a seam allowance. The fin portion 67 forming the check valve is formed in the portion 40d. The fin portion 67 is arranged so as to be able to come into contact with the inner peripheral surface 32a of the lower surface side panel 32 and extend outward in the left-right direction.

In the backflow prevention means 47C as well, as in the backflow prevention means 47 of the first embodiment, when the inflator 15 is operated and the inner chamber 44 increases the internal pressure and expands, as shown in A of FIG. 17, the non-coupling portion The fin portion 67 of 66 is lifted from the inner peripheral surface 32a side of the lower surface side panel 32 by the pressure of the expansion gas G, and opens a supply port 68 for flowing the expansion gas G from the inner chamber 44 to the outer chamber 45. Therefore, the expansion gas G from the inner chamber 44 completes the expansion of the outer chamber 45. After that, when the expansion gas G tries to flow back from the outer chamber 45 to the inner chamber 44, as shown in B of FIG. 17, the fin portion 67 constituting the check valve is formed on the inner peripheral surface 32a of the lower surface side panel 32. Since the supply port 68 is closed by pressure contact, the expansion gas G of the outer chamber 45 does not flow back to the inner chamber 44, and the outer chamber 45 maintains the internal pressure at the completion of expansion and has a good cushioning action. As a result, the pedestrian PD can be received and protected.

Also in this airbag 23C, in order to accelerate the completion of expansion of the outer chamber 45, a plurality of check flow preventing means 47C having fin portions 67 forming a check valve are provided on the outer peripheral edge 40a of the partition wall 40C. It may be provided.

Further, also in the airbag 23C of the fourth embodiment, when the expansion is completed, the partition wall 40C that separates the inner chamber 44 and the outer chamber 45 of the pillar cover portion 28 (L, R) is coupled to the upper surface side panel 31. The lower edge coupling portion 42, which is coupled to the lower surface side panel 32 from the upper edge coupling portion 41, is arranged so as to be inclined toward the outside of the vehicle. That is, as shown in A and B of FIG. 17, the outer chamber 45 is expanded by the expansion gas G flowing in from the inner chamber 44 through the supply port 68 formed by the fin portion 67 floating. At this time, the structure is arranged on the upper side of the inclined partition wall 40C, and the structure is such that the partition wall 40C projects diagonally upward from the inner chamber 44 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the partition wall 40C. Therefore, as shown in B of FIG. 17, the outer chamber 45 protrudes upward (forward side) by the protruding dimension H from the inner chamber 44, and the pedestrian PD is quickly received by the protruding dimension H. Therefore, since the receiving stroke can be secured for a long time, the amount of kinetic energy absorbed by the pedestrian PD can be increased.

Further, also in the airbag 23C of the fourth embodiment, when the expansion is completed, the partition wall 40C is arranged so as to be inclined outward so that the upper surface 40b side faces diagonally outward, and is coupled to the lower surface side panel 32. A linear lower edge connecting portion 42 is arranged near the top portion 5b protruding upward of the front pillar 5, an inner chamber 44 is arranged inside in the left-right direction from the top portion 5b, and the inside chamber 44 is arranged in the left-right direction from the top portion 5b. The outer chamber 45 is arranged on the outer side of the wall. Therefore, when the outer chamber 45 completes the expansion, the outer chamber 45 completes the expansion so as to project in the orthogonal direction from the partition wall 40 whose upper surface 40b side is inclined obliquely outward. As a result, as shown in B of FIG. 17, when the expansion is completed, the pillar cover portion 28 does not have the portion 32c of the lower surface side panel 32 on the outer chamber 45 side with respect to the front shield 4 and the front pillar 5 on the vehicle body side. The contact state is set, and the portion 32b of the lower surface side panel 32 on the inner chamber 44 side is placed in the contact state.

Therefore, also in the airbag 23C of the fourth embodiment, when the expansion of the pillar cover portion 28 is completed, the outer chamber 45 is removed from the front pillar 5 on the vehicle body side and the vehicle body side member of the windshield 4 as in the first embodiment. Compared to the inner chamber 44, the pedestrian PD is lifted and expanded by the lift dimension h, so that the moving pedestrian PD is further lifted and arranged from the upper surface 5a side of the front pillar 5. , Can be taken quickly.

In the airbags 23, 23A, 23B, and 23C of each embodiment, the pillar cover portions 28L and 28R are arranged on both the left and right sides so as to cover the left and right front pillars 5L and 5R. A pedestrian airbag may be configured so as to cover the front pillar 5 and the cowl 6 on each side in the left-right direction, and in that case, the main body portion that covers the upper part of the cowl 6 on one side in the left-right direction. 24 and a pillar cover portion 28 extending rearward from the left-right end portion of the main body portion and covering the upper part of the front pillar 5 are provided, and partition walls 40, 40A, 40B, 40C are arranged on the pillar cover portion 28. The inflator may be arranged in the inner chamber 44 on the main body 24 side.

Further, in the pedestrian airbags 23, 23A, 23B, and 23C of each embodiment, an inflator 15 for supplying the expansion gas G is provided inside the inner chamber 44, but the pedestrian airbag is illustrated. As a bag, a tubular connection port is projected from the inner chamber to the outside of the airbag, an inflator is connected to the connection port, and the connection port is used from the inflator arranged on the outside of the airbag. Therefore, the inner chamber may be configured to allow the expansion gas to flow in.

Further, as the pedestrian airbag device M in which the pedestrian airbag 23 is used, one mounted on the front side of the cowl 6 below the rear end 9a of the hood panel 9 has been illustrated. The airbag may be used for a pedestrian airbag device mounted on the lower surface side of the rear end 9a itself of the hood panel 9.

5 (5L, 5R) ... front pillar, 5a ... top surface, 5b ... top, 6 ... cowl, 15 ... inflator, 16 ... gas discharge part, 23, 23A, 23B, 23C ... (for pedestrians) airbag, 24 ... Main body, 28 (L, R) ... Pillar cover, 30 ... Outer wall, 31 ... Top panel, 32 ... Bottom panel, 40, 40A, 40B, 40C ... Partition, 41 ... Upper edge joint, 42 ... Lower edge joint, 44 ... inner chamber, 45 ... outer chamber, 47, 47A, 47B, 47C ... backflow prevention means, 51, 56, 67 ... (check valve) fins, 52, 57, 59, 68 ... supply Mouth, 60 ... (check valve) valve panel, PD ... pedestrian, G ... expansion gas.

Claims (6)

A main body portion that covers the upper surface side of the cowl near the rear end of the hood panel of the vehicle when expansion is completed, and a pillar cover portion that extends from the left and right end side of the main body portion and covers the upper surface side of the front pillar. As well as being composed
A pedestrian airbag in which the outer peripheral wall is formed by connecting the outer peripheral edges of the upper surface side panel on the upper surface side and the lower surface side panel on the lower surface side to each other.
When the expansion is completed, the pillar cover portion is arranged along the substantially front-rear direction, so that the inner chamber located on the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle and the outer chamber located on the outer side in the left-right direction of the vehicle are formed. It is divided into only two rooms, and
Each of the partition walls is in a state in which the upper surface side panel and the lower surface side panel are overlapped and developed flatly, and the upper edge connecting portion bonded to the upper surface side panel on the upper edge side is formed on the lower surface side panel on the lower edge side. A pedestrian airbag characterized in that it is arranged at a position shifted to the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the lower edge joint portion connected to. A main body portion that covers the upper surface side of the cowl near the rear end of the hood panel of the vehicle when expansion is completed, and a pillar cover portion that extends from the left and right end side of the main body portion and covers the upper surface side of the front pillar. As well as being composed
A pedestrian airbag in which the outer peripheral wall is formed by connecting the outer peripheral edges of the upper surface side panel on the upper surface side and the lower surface side panel on the lower surface side to each other.
When the expansion is completed, the pillar cover portion is arranged along the substantially front-rear direction, so that the inner chamber located on the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle and the outer chamber located on the outer side in the left-right direction of the vehicle are formed. It is divided into only two rooms, and
Each of the partition walls is in a state in which the upper surface side panel and the lower surface side panel are overlapped and developed flatly, and the upper edge connecting portion bonded to the upper surface side panel on the upper edge side is formed on the lower surface side panel on the lower edge side. lower edge coupling portion coupled to, and is disposed at a position shifted toward the center in the lateral direction of the vehicle, arranged to Rutotomoni,
The lower edge joint portion to be connected to the lower surface side panel is arranged in a straight line near the top portion protruding upward of the front pillar.
The inner chamber is arranged inside from the top in the left-right direction.
A pedestrian airbag characterized in that the outer chamber is arranged on the outer side in the left-right direction from the top. A main body portion that covers the upper surface side of the cowl near the rear end of the hood panel of the vehicle when expansion is completed, and a pillar cover portion that extends from the left and right end side of the main body portion and covers the upper surface side of the front pillar. As well as being composed
A pedestrian airbag in which the outer peripheral wall is formed by connecting the outer peripheral edges of the upper surface side panel on the upper surface side and the lower surface side panel on the lower surface side to each other.
When the expansion is completed, the pillar cover portion is arranged along the substantially front-rear direction, so that the inner chamber located on the center side in the left-right direction of the vehicle and the outer chamber located on the outer side in the left-right direction of the vehicle are formed. It is divided into only two rooms, and
Each of the partition walls is in a state in which the upper surface side panel and the lower surface side panel are overlapped and developed flatly, and the upper edge connecting portion bonded to the upper surface side panel on the upper edge side is formed on the lower surface side panel on the lower edge side. lower edge coupling portion coupled to, and is disposed at a position shifted toward the center in the lateral direction of the vehicle, arranged to Rutotomoni,
When the upper surface side panel and the lower surface side panel are overlapped and developed flat, the lateral displacement dimension of the upper edge joint portion and the lower edge joint portion is equal to the width dimension of the partition wall . A pedestrian airbag that features that. The partition wall is provided with a backflow prevention means that allows expansion gas from the inner chamber to flow into the outer chamber and suppresses backflow from the outer chamber to the inner chamber. The pedestrian airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The pedestrian airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the partition wall extends to the front edge side of the main body portion. The pillar covering part, respectively, so as Ooeru the upper surface side of the front pillar of the right and left of the vehicle, to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged so as to extend from the left and right sides of one of said main body portion The pedestrian airbag according to any one of claims 5.

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