JP6945065B2 - Airbag device for saddle-riding vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an airbag device for a saddle-riding vehicle.

Conventionally, in an airbag device of a saddle-type vehicle, it is known that an airbag is easily deployed upward by discharging gas upward from an inflator provided at the bottom of the airbag device (for example,). Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-145151

By the way, in the airbag device of a saddle-riding vehicle, it is desired that the airbag device is compactly arranged and the airbag is deployed vertically upward as much as possible for proper protection of the occupants.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in the airbag device of a saddle-mounted vehicle, the airbag device can be arranged compactly and the airbag can be deployed vertically upward. The purpose.

The present invention includes an airbag (52a), a retainer (52) for accommodating the airbag (52a), and an inflator (51) for generating gas for deploying the airbag (52a). It is fixed to the frame (30) of the above and is arranged on a stem pipe (31) inserted into a handle base (42) connecting the handlebars (41) to the left and right.

Further, in the above invention, it may be arranged between the meter (60) mounted on the handlebar (41) and the stem pipe (31) when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

Further, in the above invention, the handlebar (41) may be arranged in front of the left and right end portions (45a) when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

Further, in the above invention, it may be arranged between the handle cover (23) covering the upper part of the handlebar (41) and the inner cover (22) covering the lower part of the handlebar (41) from the rear.

According to the airbag device for a saddle-mounted vehicle according to the present invention, the airbag has an airbag, a retainer for accommodating the airbag, and an inflator for generating gas for deploying the airbag, and is fixed to the frame of the vehicle. Placed on a stem pipe that is inserted into the base of the handlebars that connect the handlebars to the left and right.
According to this configuration, the airbag module can be placed near the handlebar, and the airbag module can be placed near the upper body from the occupant's head to the chest. Therefore, the airbag can be compactly configured, and the time required for deploying the airbag can be shortened.
Further, since the handlebar is arranged on the outside of the stem pipe in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the airbag can be deployed vertically upward by utilizing the space above the stem pipe and between the handlebars.

Further, in the above invention, the airbag device of the saddle-riding vehicle may be arranged between the meter mounted on the handlebar and the stem pipe in the side view of the vehicle.
According to this configuration, the airbag can be arranged while maintaining the layout of the handlebar and the meter. In addition, the airbag module can be placed near the upper body from the occupant's head to the chest, and the airbag can be configured compactly.

Further, in the above invention, the handlebar may be arranged in front of the left and right ends of the handlebar when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
According to this configuration, the airbag module can be arranged in front of the occupant and at a position close to the upper body from the head to the chest.

Further, in the above invention, it may be arranged between the handle cover that covers the upper part of the handlebar and the inner cover that covers the lower part of the handlebar from the rear.
According to this configuration, the airbag module can be arranged without changing the appearance layout of the motorcycle.

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle having an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the left side surface showing the steering wheel assembly and the airbag module of the motorcycle. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing the stem pipe and the airbag module. FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view showing the handle assembly.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the explanation, the directions such as front / rear / left / right and up / down are the same as the directions with respect to the vehicle body unless otherwise specified. Further, the reference numeral FR shown in each figure indicates the front of the vehicle body, and the reference numeral UP indicates the upper portion of the vehicle body.

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle having an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The motorcycle 1 (saddle-riding vehicle) is a scooter-type vehicle having a low-floor step floor 24 on which a driver (occupant) seated on a seat 10 rests his / her feet. The motorcycle 1 has a front wheel 2 in front of the vehicle body frame F, and the rear wheel 3 which is a driving wheel is pivotally supported by a unit swing engine U (unit swing power unit) connected to the rear portion of the vehicle body frame F. .. The vehicle body frame F is covered with a resin vehicle body cover C (vehicle body).

The vehicle body frame F includes a main frame 30 extending downward from the front portion of the vehicle body, a seat rail (not shown) extending below the seat 10 in the front-rear direction, and the like.
The unit swing engine U is a unit swing type in which an engine (not shown) and a transmission case M accommodating a belt-type continuously variable transmission mechanism (not shown) are integrated, and is a swing that supports the rear wheels 3. It also has a function as an arm. A rear cushion 17 is hung between the rear portion of the unit swing engine U and the rear portion of the vehicle body frame F.

The vehicle body cover C has a front cover 20 that covers the lower part of the handlebar 41, and a pair of left and right front side covers 21 that are connected to the lower edge of the side portion of the front cover 20 and extend downward. The vehicle body cover C further includes an inner cover 22 that is connected to the left and right edges of the front cover 20 and the front side cover 21 and covers the lower part of the handlebar 41 from the rear, and a handle that partially covers the upper part of the handlebar 41. It has a cover 23. The steering wheel cover 23 is the upper part of the steering wheel bar 41 and covers the center in the vehicle width direction. The front cover 20, the front side cover 21, and the inner cover 22 are fixed to the main frame 30.

The grip portion 45 provided on the upper part of the handlebar 41 projects laterally and rearward from the handlebar 23 to the left and right of the vehicle, and the handlebar 23 can rotate with respect to the main frame 30 together with the handlebar 41. It has become. The rearmost portion of the handlebar 41 in the vehicle front-rear direction is the end portion 45a of the grip portion 45.
Further, the step floor 24 that continuously extends rearward to the lower edge of the inner cover 22, the floor cover 25 that covers the step floor 24 from the left and right sides, and the body side cover 26 that covers the lower part of the seat 10 are also body covers C. include.

A headlight 27 is provided on the front surface of the handle cover 23. A meter 60 for displaying the speed of the motorcycle 1 and the like is provided at the center of the upper part of the steering wheel cover 23 in the vehicle width direction. The headlight 27 and the meter 60 are attached to the handlebar 41 together with the handle cover 23, and are steered integrally with the grip portion 45 as the grip portion 45 of the handlebar 41 is operated. A rearview mirror 29 is attached to the grip portion 45.

The handle base 42 to which the lower end of the handlebar 41 is connected is rotatably supported at the front end of the main frame 30. A pair of left and right front forks 16 are attached to the lower end of the handle base 42 via a bridge 46. The front wheel 2 is pivotally supported at the lower end of the front fork 16 and is steered by operation by the grip portion 45 of the handle assembly 40.
An airbag module 50 (airbag device) is provided above the handle base 42.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the left side surface showing the handle assembly and the airbag module of the motorcycle, and FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing the stem pipe and the airbag module. FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view showing the handle assembly.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the handle assembly 40 is composed of left and right handle bars 41, a handle base 42, and a bridge 46. The handle base 42 has a cylindrical shape, and handle bars 41 are attached to side portions in the left-right direction of the vehicle. Further, at the lower end of the steering wheel base 42, a bridge 46 extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle is fixedly installed. Inner tubes 16a are held at both left and right ends of the bridge 46. Then, the stem pipe 31 is inserted into the handle base 42 and the bridge 46. As a result, the handlebar 41 can be steered, and the steering of the handlebar 41 steers the front wheels 2 held by the front fork 16.

The handlebar 41 has a connection portion 43 extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the handle base 42, a rise portion 44 extending upward from the connection portion 43, and a grip portion 45 extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the upper end of the rise portion 44. Consists of.
The handle base 42 has a stem pipe 31 erected on the upper surface of the front end of the main frame 30 inserted therein.
Then, as shown in FIG. 3, a steering head 32 is attached to the upper end of the stem pipe 31. The steering head 32 and bearings (not shown) mounted below the bridge 46 rotatably support the steering wheel base 42 between the mainframes 30.

The upper end of the stem pipe 31 is provided with a mounting portion 33 for mounting the airbag module 50. The mounting portion 33 is configured by bending a plate-shaped member so as to have a ∪ shape when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The mounting portion 33 is provided so as to project upward from the steering head 32 with the steering head 32 mounted on the stem pipe 31. The upper left and right ends of the mounting portion 33 are mounted on the lower surface of the retainer 52, and the mounting portion 33 fixes the airbag module 50 to the steering head 32 while avoiding the inflator 51 protruding downward from the lower surface of the retainer 52. There is.
As a result, the airbag module 50 can be attached to the attachment portion 33 with the steering wheel base 42 attached to the stem pipe 31 and the steering head 32 attached. The airbag module 50 is integrally fixed to the stem pipe 31 by the mounting portion 33.

The airbag module 50 is located between the rise portions 44 of the handlebar 41 by being attached to the attachment portion 33. The rise portion 44 is configured to extend outward in the left-right direction of the motorcycle 1 while extending upward from the connection portion 43. A sufficient distance is provided between the rise portions 44 so that the airbag module 50 and the rise portions 44 do not come into contact with each other when the handlebar 41 rotates.

The airbag module 50 is composed of an inflator 51 provided at the lower part of the airbag module 50, a retainer 52 provided on the inflator 51, and an airbag 52a folded and held in the retainer 52.
An opening 52b is provided in the lower part of the rear surface of the retainer 52 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

The airbag module 50 is held in the front cover 20 and in the handle cover 23 in a state of being attached to the stem pipe 31. The front cover 20 is supported by the main frame 30. The handle cover 23 is supported by the handle bar 41, and is configured to be rotatable integrally with the grip portion 45 of the handle bar 41.
A sufficient clearance is provided between the inner peripheral portion of the steering wheel cover 23 and the airbag module 50 for the steering wheel cover 23 to rotate.

Further, a meter 60 is arranged above the airbag module 50 and between the grip portions 45. As a result, the airbag module 50 is arranged between the stem pipe 31 and the meter 60 when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
The airbag module 50 is arranged in front of the end portion 45a of the grip portion 45 in the vehicle front-rear direction.
Further, the meter 60 is attached to the handle cover 23, and rotates together with the handle cover 23 by steering the grip portion 45.
Then, the airbag module 50 is arranged between the handle cover 23 and the inner cover 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner cover 22 covers the steering wheel base 42 and the airbag module 50 from the rear in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The handle cover 23 positions the stem pipe 31 on the rotation axis and covers the upper portion of the airbag module 50 from above in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Therefore, even when the handle cover 23 is rotated by the rotation of the handle bar 41, the airbag module 50 is located between the handle cover 23 and the inner cover 22.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
When the grip portion 45 of the handlebar 41 is rotated, the handle base 42 connected to the handlebar 41 rotates around the stem pipe 31 as a rotation axis. Then, the front fork 16 rotates together with the bridge 46 connected to the steering wheel base 42, and the front wheel 2 is steered.
That is, the handle base 42 mounted on the outside of the stem pipe 31 rotates integrally with the handlebar 41 without the stem pipe 31 rotating, and the front wheels 2 are steered.

Since the airbag module 50 is arranged on the stem pipe 31 via the mounting portion 33, the position and orientation of the airbag module 50 with respect to the main frame 30 are adjusted regardless of the rotation of the handlebar 41. It is fixed. Therefore, the inner cover 22 is provided with an opening that opens when the airbag 52a is deployed in accordance with the position of the opening 52b of the retainer 52, so that the airbag 52a can be deployed. It is also possible to expose the opening 52b of the retainer 52 from the inner cover 22.

The handlebar 41 extends outward from the handle base 42 in the left-right direction of the vehicle. Therefore, a space for arranging the airbag module 50 is formed above the stem pipe 31 on which the handle base 42 is mounted.
The airbag module 50 is supported by the main frame 30 via the stem pipe 31. As a result, the load of the airbag module 50 is supported by the main frame 30. The operation of the handlebar 41 is not affected by the weight of the airbag module 50.
The airbag module 50 is arranged between the handlebars 41, and the rise portion 44 of the handlebar 41 passes around the airbag module 50 and does not come into contact with the airbag module 50 even if the handlebar 41 is rotated left and right. ..
As a result, the airbag module 50 can be arranged in the vicinity of the handlebar 41 without affecting the operation of the handlebar 41.

Next, the operation of the airbag module 50 will be described.
When the acceleration sensor (not shown) of the motorcycle 1 detects an acceleration equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the control unit (not shown) activates the inflator 51 of the airbag module 50. As a result, the inflator 51 generates gas.
The gas generated by the inflator 51 is supplied to the airbag 52a in the retainer 52.
The gas flowing into the airbag 52a expands the airbag 52a.
The inflatable airbag 52a opens the opening 52b of the retainer 52 and is deployed toward the rear of the vehicle, and the opening of the inner cover 22 is split open and deployed rearward. The airbag 52a deployed rearward by a certain distance is subsequently deployed upward as shown in FIG.

Since the airbag 52a is deployed rearward, protrudes from the inner cover 22, and then deployed upward, the retainer 52 and the inner cover 22 are split open from the inflator 51 while the gas pressure is high, which is efficient. The airbag 52a can be deployed rearward. Then, it deploys upward to protect the occupants.
Since the airbag 52a is deployed in this way, the airbag module 50 can be arranged in a limited space in front of the occupant and near the upper body of the occupant. Then, the airbag 52a can be deployed in front of the driver's upper body to protect the upper body from the head to the chest.

As described above, according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, the airbag module 50 (airbag device) deploys the airbag 52a, the retainer 52 for accommodating the airbag 52a, and the airbag 52a. It has an inflator 51 for generating gas. The airbag module 50 is fixed to the main frame 30 of the motorcycle 1 (vehicle) and is arranged on the stem pipe 31 inserted into the handle base 42 connecting the handlebars 41 to the left and right.
According to this configuration, the airbag module 50 can be arranged in the restricted space on the stem pipe 31. Further, the airbag module 50 can be arranged without changing the appearance layout. Further, the impact during operation of the airbag module 50 can be received by the main frame 30 via the stem pipe 31. As a result, it is possible to reduce the change in the posture of the airbag module 50 when the airbag 52a is deployed.
Then, the airbag module 50 can be arranged at a position close to the upper body portion from the head to the chest of the occupant in the vertical direction. As a result, the airbag 52a can be compactly configured, and the time required for deployment can be shortened.

Further, the airbag module 50 is arranged between the meter 60 mounted on the handlebar 41 and the stem pipe 31.
With this configuration, the airbag module 50 can be arranged while maintaining the positional relationship between the handlebar 41 and the meter 60.

Further, the airbag module 50 is arranged in front of the left and right end portions 45a of the handlebar 41 in the side view of the motorcycle 1 (vehicle).
With this configuration, the airbag module 50 can be arranged in front of the occupant and at a position close to the upper body from the head to the chest.

Further, the airbag module 50 is arranged between the handle cover 23 that covers the upper part of the handlebar 41 and the inner cover 22 that covers the lower part of the handlebar 41 from the rear.
With this configuration, the airbag module 50 can be arranged without changing the appearance layout of the motorcycle 1.

Further, in the above embodiment, the motorcycle 1 as an example of a saddle-riding vehicle has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention includes two front wheels or two rear wheels 3. It is applicable to saddle-riding vehicles with wheels and saddle-riding vehicles with four or more wheels.

10 Seat 16a Inner tube 20 Front cover 21 Front side cover 22 Inner cover 30 Main frame 31 Stem pipe 32 Steering head 33 Mounting part 40 Handle assembly 41 Handlebar 42 Handle base 43 Connection part 44 Rise part 45 Grip part 45a End part 46 Bridge 50 Airbag Module 51 Inflator 52 Retainer 52a Airbag 60 Meter

Claims (4)

It has an airbag (52a), a retainer (52) for accommodating the airbag (52a), and an inflator (51) for generating a gas for deploying the airbag (52a).
Air in a saddle-riding vehicle, characterized in that it is fixed to the frame (30) of the vehicle and is placed on a stem pipe (31) that is inserted into a handle base (42) that connects the handlebars (41) to the left and right. Bag device. The airbag of a saddle-riding vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is arranged between the meter (60) mounted on the handlebar (41) and the stem pipe (31) in a vehicle side view. Device. The airbag device for a saddle-riding vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the handlebar (41) is arranged in front of the left and right ends (45a) when viewed from the side of the vehicle. A third aspect of the present invention, wherein the handle cover (23) covers the upper portion of the handle bar (41) and the inner cover (22) covers the lower portion of the handle bar (41) from the rear. The airbag device for a saddle-riding vehicle according to any one of the items.

Images