JP2003306101A - External air bag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ease shock given to an obstacle when a conventional external air bag device for a vehicle is in a non-operating state. <P>SOLUTION: An external air bag device 18 for a vehicle according to this invention is adapted for inflating and developing the air bag 71 along the outside of a windshield 13 and its periphery of the vehicle 10. The air bag 71 is positioned in a folded state at the rear edge 15a of a hood 15. An inflator 81 for generating gas to inflate the air bag 71 is separated from the air bag 71, positioned in a vehicle body inner space 52, such as around a dashboard 33 which divides an engine room 31 from a vehicle interior 32. The inflator 81 is connected to the air bag 71 by a flexible tube 91 for supplying gas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted airbag device that expands and deploys a mounted airbag when a vehicle collides with an obstacle. 2. Description of the Related Art An external airbag device is a device that covers a front pillar or a windshield by inflating and deploying an external airbag when a vehicle collides with an obstacle. By providing this device, it is possible to alleviate the impact when the obstacle makes a secondary collision with the front pillar or the windshield. As a technique related to this type of airbag device placed outside a vehicle, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-277
The 966 publication “Pedestrian airbag device” (hereinafter referred to as “prior art”) is known. In the above prior art, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the same publication, the rear end of a hood 3 (the numbers are quoted in the publication; the same applies hereinafter) and the front end of a windshield 6 are used. A case 9 and a holder 12 are provided in the gap 9, and the airbag 15 is folded and stored in the case 11, and the inflator 13 is stored in the holder 12. Airbag 15
Is composed of a rear development part 15a and a vertical development part 15b. When the pedestrian collision detecting means (not shown) detects that the vehicle has collided with the pedestrian, the inflator 13
Generates high-pressure gas, which causes the vertical
5b is opened, and then the rear deployment part 15a is opened, so that the front surface of the windshield 6 and the front pillar 8 can be covered. Generally, a collision detecting means such as a pedestrian collision detecting means detects an impact force when a vehicle collides with an obstacle such as a pedestrian. When the force reaches a preset “threshold value”, a detection signal is issued to the airbag device placed outside the vehicle.
With a small impact force that does not reach the threshold value, the airbag device placed outside the vehicle does not operate. On the other hand, in order to always operate the airbag device placed outside the vehicle, the threshold value may be set to an extremely small value. However, if the threshold value is too small, the airbag device placed outside the vehicle may be activated even when it is not necessary, which is not practical. An appropriate threshold is naturally determined. In addition, when the vehicle collides with an obstacle with a small impact force that does not reach the threshold value, the collision energy is small, so that the obstacle does not collide with the front surface of the windshield 6 or the front pillar 8, but instead of the hood 3. Often collides with the rear end. Therefore, it is preferable that the impact on the obstacle can be further reduced even when the airbag device placed outside the vehicle is in the inoperative state. To this end, there is room for improvement in the arrangement relationship and overall configuration of the hood 3, the windshield 6, the front pillar 8, the inflator 13, and the airbag 15 in the above-described conventional technology. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of further reducing the impact on an obstacle when the airbag device placed outside the vehicle is in an inactive state. [0007] In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a vehicle-installed air for inflating and deploying an airbag along an outer surface of a windshield of a vehicle and a peripheral portion thereof. In the bag device, the airbag is disposed at the rear end of the hood in a folded state, and an inflator that generates gas for inflating the airbag is separated from the airbag and separates an engine room from a vehicle compartment. The inflator and the airbag are disposed in a space inside the vehicle body such as around a dashboard, and the inflator and the airbag are connected by a flexible tube for gas supply. An airbag which is easily deformed by an impact force is arranged at the rear end of the hood, and an inflator which is hardly deformed by the impact force is separated from the airbag and around a dashboard at a position away from the hood. Etc., and the inflator and the airbag are connected by a flexible tube for gas supply, so that the airbag device placed outside the vehicle is in an inactive state, Even when an obstacle collides with the rear end of the arrangement, the deformation of the hood is not suppressed by the inflator. Therefore, when an obstacle collides with the rear end of the hood, the rear end of the hood can be greatly deformed to sufficiently absorb impact energy. The impact on the obstacle can be further reduced. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that "before", "after",
“Left”, “right”, “up”, and “down” follow directions seen from the driver. Also, the drawings should be viewed in the direction of reference numerals. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front half of a vehicle according to the present invention. In this vehicle 10, a windshield 13 is provided between left and right front pillars 12, 12 of a vehicle body 11, and from below the windshield 13. This is an automobile in which a cowl top panel 14 is extended forward and a hood 15 is arranged in front of the cowl top panel 14. The hood 15 is a front-opening member that can be attached to the vehicle body 11 so that the right and left rear ends thereof can be opened and closed, and the front part can be locked to the vehicle body 11 by a hood lock (not shown). Further, FIG. 1 shows that an obstacle collision detection sensor 17 is disposed at a front portion of the vehicle body 11, for example, at a front bumper 16, and an airbag device 18 placed outside the vehicle is disposed below a rear portion of the hood 15. The obstacle collision detection sensor 17 is, for example, an acceleration sensor. The airbag device 18 placed outside the vehicle is provided with three airbags (airbags for the windshield at the center of the vehicle width) along the outer surfaces of the windshield 13 and the left and right front pillars 12, which are peripheral portions thereof. 71 and the left and right pillar airbags 72, 73) are inflated and deployed, and three inflators (the inflator 81 of the windshield airbag 71 and the inflators 82, 83 of the pillar airbags 72, 73) are used. Prepare. These airbags 71 to 73 are collectively stored in one bag storage section 60 extending in the vehicle width direction. Since the three airbags 71 to 73 are collectively stored in one bag storage section 60, the configuration of the bag storage section 60 can be simplified and the number of airbag storage steps can be reduced. Bag storage section 6
Reference numeral 0 denotes an elongated storage box having substantially the same length as the length between the left and right front pillars 12, 12. In the figure, 21 is a roof, 22, 22 are front side cowls, 23 is a door,
24 is a front wheel. Next, of the airbag device 18 placed outside the vehicle, the configuration around the airbag 71 for the windshield and the inflator 81 of the airbag 71 for the windshield,
The operation will be described in detail. In addition, the airbag 7 for pillars
The inflators 82 and 83 of the pillar airbags 72 and 73 have the same configuration and operation as those of the windshield airbag 71 and the inflator 81, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and shows a dashboard 3 for partitioning an engine room 31 and a vehicle room 32.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a configuration in which a cowl top panel 14 is disposed on the vehicle 3 as viewed from the left side of the vehicle. The dashboard 33 includes a dashboard lower 34 in a vertical plate shape, and a dashboard upper 35 in a horizontal plate joined to an upper portion of the dashboard lower 34. The dashboard upper 35 includes a flange 36 extending from the upper end of the front part to the engine room 31 side,
It is a member formed integrally. The cowl top panel 14 includes a plate-like outside air intake grille 41 extending forward and downward from the lower end of the windshield 13, a plate-like seal mounting portion 42 extending forward and upward from the lower end of the grille 41, and a grille 41. This is a member in which a plate-shaped panel lower portion 43 extending rearward and downward from the lower end and a plate-shaped flange 44 extending forward from the panel lower portion 43 are integrally formed. The seal mounting portion 42 is a portion where the seal material 45 is mounted. Flange 44 of cowl top panel 14
Is overlapped on the flange 36 of the dashboard upper 35 and joined. Further, in this figure, the wind seal lower panel 51 extends from the lower part of the windshield 13 to the rear lower part,
This shows that the lower part of the wind seal lower panel 51 is overlapped and joined to the joint part between the upper part of the dashboard lower 34 and the rear part of the dashboard upper 35. In this manner, a vehicle interior space 52 around the dashboard 33 surrounded by the cowl top panel 14, the dashboard upper 35, and the wind seal lower panel 51 can be formed. 53 and 54 are sealing materials for sealing the lower part of the windshield 13. The present invention relates to a folded airbag 7.
1 is disposed at the rear end 15a of the hood 15, the inflator 81 is separated from the airbag 71, and is disposed in the vehicle interior space 52. Specifically, by disposing the rear end 15a of the hood 15 ahead of the seal mounting portion 42 at the front end of the cowl top panel 14, the rear end 15a of the hood 15 and the front end of the cowl top panel 14 are separated. An empty space 55 in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided therebetween,
The bag storage section 60 was disposed in the empty space 55, and the airbag 71 was stored in the bag storage section 60 in a folded state. The bag storage section 60 is a container integrally attached to the rear end 15a of the hood 15 by bolting or the like, or formed integrally with the rear end 15a of the hood 15. Therefore, the bag storage unit 60 can swing up and down together with the hood 15. Furthermore, this bag storage section 60
Is a rectangular cross-section having substantially the same inclination with respect to the inclination of the windshield 13 and the front pillar 12 (see FIG. 1), and the upper opening is closed by a lid 62 having a substantially mountain-shaped cross section. The top of the chevron is a breakable part. The bag storage section 60 is a resin molded product in which the lid 62 is integrally formed. More specifically, the front upper end 61 of the bag storage section 60 is located at substantially the same position as the upper surface of the hood at the rear end 15a of the hood 15. The lid 62 extends from the front upper end 61 of the bag storage section 60 to the rear upper side.
3 and a second lid portion 66 extending downward from the rear end 64 of the first lid portion 63 and connected to the rear upper end 65 of the bag storage portion 60. The first lid portion 63 extends substantially along an extension of the upper surface of the hood 15. The rear end 64 of the first lid part 63 is a breakable part that can be broken with respect to the front end of the second lid part 66. The rear end face of the bag storage section 60 can be sealed with the sealing material 45. Reference numeral 67 denotes a storage portion mounting seat. On the other hand, the dashboard upper 35 is provided with brackets 56 and 57 provided inside the vehicle body internal space 52, and an inflator 81 is attached by bolts or the like via the brackets 56 and 57. Inflator 8
Reference numeral 1 denotes an ignition device (not shown) that ignites a gas generating agent to generate a large amount of high-pressure gas for inflating the airbag 71. The gas supply port 85 of the inflator 81 disposed in the vehicle interior space 52 and the rear end 15a of the hood 15
The gas generated by the inflator 81 can be supplied to the airbag 71 by connecting the airbag 71 with the gas inlet 75 of the airbag 71 via a gas supply flexible tube 91. The gas supply flexible tube 91 is a long connecting tube penetrating the cowl top panel 14 and is, for example, a rubber tube reinforced with a wire. Next, the operation of the airbag device 18 having the above-described configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is an operation diagram (part 1) of the airbag device placed outside the vehicle according to the present invention, showing a state in which the hood 15 is opened. Rear end 15 of hood 15
a, the folded airbag 71 is stored in the bag storage section 60, so that the rear end 1
5a, the airbag 71 is disposed.
Can be opened and closed together with the hood 15. Moreover, since the airbag 71 and the inflator 81 are connected by the flexible gas supply flexible tube 91 having flexibility and sufficient followability, the opening and closing of the hood 15 is not restricted.
Therefore, the hood 15 can be opened and closed very smoothly and easily. FIG. 4 is a diagram (part 2) of the operation of the airbag device placed outside the vehicle according to the present invention. The obstacle collision detection sensor 17 detects that the running vehicle 10 has collided with an obstacle (not shown). Indicates that the airbags 71 to 73 have expanded and deployed. The lower front surface of the windshield 13 is covered with a windshield airbag 71, and the front surfaces of the left and right front pillars 12, 12 are pillar airbags 72, 7.
3 can be covered. As described above, when the vehicle 10 collides with an obstacle, the external airbag is inflated and deployed to cover the front pillars 12, 12 and the windshield 13, so that the obstacle is covered by the front pillars 12, 12 and the windshield. 13 can be mitigated when the secondary collision occurs. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4. When the vehicle 10 collides with an obstacle (not shown), the inflator 81 receives a control signal from a control unit (not shown), and the high pressure gas And supplies the high-pressure gas to the airbag 71 via the gas supply flexible tube 91. As a result,
This indicates that the airbag 71 has expanded and deployed. The rear end 64 of the first lid portion 63 is broken by the inflated airbag 71, and the first lid portion 63 and the second lid portion 6 are further broken.
6 is pushed outward. Therefore, the airbag 71 can be smoothly expanded and deployed. Then, the lower front surface of the windshield 13 can be quickly covered. Further, the airbag device 18 placed outside the vehicle is
The direction in which the airbag 71 inflates and deploys, that is, the direction of the upper opening of the bag storage portion 60 is inclined rearward and upward toward the front surface of the windshield 13 and the front surface of the front pillar 12 (see FIG. 1). I do. For this reason, the airbag 71 is used for the front of the windshield 13 and the front pillar 12.
Swiftly expands toward the front surface of the vehicle and can be covered. Therefore, very quickly compared to the above-mentioned conventional technology,
Since the airbag 71 can cover the front glass 13 and the front pillar 12 to prepare for a secondary collision, the airbag 71 is more effective. Moreover, the rear end 15 of the hood 15
Since the airbag 71 arranged in a is expanded and deployed toward the front surface of the windshield 13 and the front surface of the front pillar 12, the airbag 71 can be deployed while avoiding protrusions such as wipers. FIG. 6 is a diagram (part 3) of the operation of the airbag device placed outside the vehicle according to the present invention. In the state where the airbag device placed outside the vehicle 18 is not operated, the airbag 71 of the hood 15 is arranged. This indicates that the obstacle Ma has collided with the rear end 15a. As described above, the airbag device 18 placed outside the vehicle has the airbag 7 easily deformable by the impact force Fr.
1 is disposed at the rear end 15a of the hood 15, and the inflator 81, which is unlikely to be deformed by the impact force Fr, is separated from the airbag 71 and the vehicle interior space around the dashboard 33 at a position away from the hood 15. 52, the inflator 81 and the airbag 71 are connected by a gas supply flexible tube 91. When the airbag device 18 placed outside the vehicle is in a non-operating state, an obstacle Ma collides with the rear end 15a (including the periphery of the rear end 15a) of the hood 15 where the airbag 71 is disposed. Even at this time, the deformation of the hood 15 is not suppressed by the inflator 81. Furthermore, since the flexible tube 91 having flexibility is employed, the deformation of the hood 15 is not suppressed by the tube 91. Therefore, when the obstacle Ma collides with the rear end 15a of the hood 15, the rear end 15a
Can be greatly deformed to sufficiently absorb impact energy. Therefore, the impact on the obstacle Ma can be further reduced. In the above embodiment of the present invention,
The vehicle interior space 52 is not limited to the space around the dashboard 33, but may be any space as long as the space is away from the hood 15. In addition, airbag 7 for pillar
Regarding the arrangement, connection and attachment relationship between the inflators 82 and 83 and the inflators 82 and 83, the airbag 71 for windshield is also used.
And the inflator 81. According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited by the above configuration. According to the first aspect, an airbag which is easily deformed by an impact force is disposed at a rear end of the hood, and an inflator which is hardly deformed by an impact force is separated from the airbag and the dash is located at a position away from the hood. Since the airbag device was placed in the vehicle interior space such as around the board and the inflator and the airbag were connected by a flexible tube for supplying gas, the airbag device placed outside the vehicle was inactive and the Even when an obstacle collides with the rear end of the bag, the deformation of the hood is not suppressed by the inflator. Therefore, when an obstacle collides with the rear end of the hood, the rear end of the hood can be greatly deformed to sufficiently absorb impact energy. The impact on the obstacle can be further reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front half of a vehicle according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. FIG. Action diagram (No. 1) FIG. 4 Action diagram (No. 2) of the airbag device placed outside the vehicle according to the present invention FIG. 5 FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. Action diagram of the storage airbag device (No. 3) [Description of symbols] 10 ... Vehicle, 12 ... Front pillar, 13 ... Wind glass, 15 ... Hood, 15a ... Hood rear end, 18 ...
Airbag device placed outside the vehicle, 31 ... Engine room, 3
2 ... cabin, 33 ... dashboard, 52 ... body interior space, 55 ... empty space, 60 ... bag storage section, 71,
72, 73 ... airbag, 81, 82, 83 ... inflator, 91 ... flexible tube for gas supply.

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Takuji Ohara             1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama Stock Association             Inside the Honda Research Laboratory F term (reference) 3D054 AA12 BB30 DD13 FF20

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An airbag device outside a vehicle for inflating and deploying an airbag along an outer surface of a windshield of a vehicle and a peripheral portion thereof, wherein the airbag is folded. The inflator that generates gas for inflating the airbag is disposed at the rear end of the hood, and is separated from the airbag, and is disposed in a vehicle interior space such as around a dashboard that separates an engine room and a vehicle compartment. An airbag device placed outside a vehicle, wherein an inflator and an airbag are connected by a flexible tube for gas supply.