JP2018172006A - Airbag device for pedestrian - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device for a pedestrian, which is able to deform a case accurately during contact with a pedestrian when expansion of an air bag is completed.SOLUTION: An airbag device for a pedestrian comprises: a case 80 mounted near a rear end 15c of a hood panel 15 of a vehicle and disposed substantially right below a rear end of the hood panel; an air bag 45 folded and accommodated in the case; and an inflator 35 that supplies the air bag with gas for expansion. The case is mounted and disposed on a vehicle-body side and comprises: a bottom wall part 81 on which the inflator is mounted and which is arranged so as to support the underside of the inflator; and a front wall part 83 formed so as to extend upward from the front edge side of the bottom wall part. The front wall part comprises, as an area extending in a vehicle width direction: a general part; and a deformable part 83C that can be deformed by making lower than the general part in terms of flexural rigidity in a vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 33

Description

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

  Conventionally, as a pedestrian airbag apparatus, a folded airbag and an inflator are provided in a case that is disposed at a position substantially directly below the rear end of the hood panel and is elongated along the vehicle width direction. (For example, see Patent Document 1). In this conventional pedestrian airbag device, a protruding portion formed by bending so as to protrude forward or backward is continuously formed on the front wall disposed on the front side in the side wall portion of the case. By disposing it, the strength of the front wall is improved, and deformation of the case when the airbag is inflated by flowing inflating gas into the interior is suppressed.

JP, 2006-88466, A

  However, in this conventional pedestrian airbag device, the overhanging portion is formed over the entire region along the vehicle width direction of the front wall, and the front wall is set to have high rigidity over the entire region in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, when the pedestrian presses the airbag that has been inflated from above, and the bottom of the airbag occurs, the upper end side of the front wall does not deform when it interferes with the pedestrian and presses the pedestrian. There is fear.

  This invention solves the above-mentioned subject, and it aims at providing the airbag apparatus for pedestrians which can deform | transform a case exactly at the time of contact with the pedestrian at the time of completion | finish of inflation of an airbag. And

The airbag device for a pedestrian according to the present invention is mounted near the rear end of the hood panel of the vehicle,
A case disposed at a position substantially directly below the rear end of the hood panel;
An airbag that is folded and stored in a case, inflated so that the inflation gas flows in and protrudes toward the rear side, and
An inflator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag;
A pedestrian airbag device comprising:
The airbag is configured to be able to cover the upper part of the cowl below the rear edge of the hood panel over substantially the entire region in the vehicle width direction when the inflation is completed,
A bottom wall portion in which the case has a long shape arranged substantially along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, is attached to the vehicle body side, and is arranged so as to attach the inflator and support the lower surface side of the inflator And a front wall portion formed so as to rise from the front edge side of the bottom wall portion, and the front wall portion as a region along the vehicle width direction, the general portion, and the bending rigidity in the vertical direction from the general portion And a deformable portion that can be deformed at a low height.

  In the pedestrian airbag device of the present invention, the front wall portion disposed on the front side of the case attached to the vehicle body includes a deformable portion that can be deformed with lower bending rigidity in the vertical direction than the general portion. Therefore, even if the configuration is arranged immediately below the rear end side of the hood panel, when the airbag receives the pedestrian after the completion of the inflation of the airbag, Even if the region near the deformable portion of the hood panel interferes with pressing downward, the case is in a state of being supported by a member on the vehicle body side under such a pressing force. The deformable portion can be smoothly deformed so that the upper end side is directed downward, and the pedestrian can be accurately protected by suppressing the pedestrian from being strongly pressed.

  Therefore, in the pedestrian airbag device of the present invention, the case can be accurately deformed when contacting the pedestrian when the airbag is completely inflated.

  Further, in the pedestrian airbag device of the present invention, the general portion is disposed on both ends of the front wall portion in the vehicle width direction, and the deformable portion is on the center side of the front wall portion in the vehicle width direction. If it is set as the structure to arrange | position, the bending rigidity of the area | region of the center side of the vehicle width direction in a front wall part can be made low. Since the hood panel is scheduled to receive and deform the pedestrian, if the deforming hood panel is supported by interference with the front wall near the center in the vehicle width direction, the hood panel Therefore, it is preferable to dispose the deformable portion on the center side of the front wall portion in the vehicle width direction.

  Then, if the deformable portion is arranged in a region where the airbag is interposed between the hood panel and the case when the inflation of the airbag is completed, the deformable portion is a region where the airbag is interposed less. However, it is preferable that the pedestrian can be protected accurately by deforming the deformable portion.

  Further, in the pedestrian airbag device having the above-described configuration, if the deformable portion and the general portion are formed from materials having different rigidity, respectively, the case including the deformable portion and the general portion is made of a material having different rigidity. It can be formed simply by bonding, and the case can be easily manufactured, which is preferable.

  Specifically, the general part can be configured to have an appropriate strength by disposing a reinforcing part for increasing the bending rigidity.

Furthermore, in the pedestrian airbag apparatus having the above-described configuration, the inflator is a cylinder type in which a gas discharge port portion capable of discharging inflation gas is disposed on one end side in the axial direction, and the axial direction is the vehicle vehicle. The gas outlet is arranged so as to be substantially along the width direction, and the gas discharge port portion is arranged at two locations on the vehicle width direction side so as to be arranged at the end portions separated from each other.
It is preferable that the deformable portion is configured to be continuously formed along the vehicle width direction at one location on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the case.

  With such a configuration, by disposing two inflators, the airbag can be inflated quickly even if the airbag has an inflated shape substantially elongated along the vehicle width direction. be able to. In addition, by disposing each inflator in a state where the gas discharge port portions are separated from each other, the gas discharge port portion side can be disposed in the region of the general portion where rigidity is secured in the case, and deformation It becomes possible to set the rigidity of a possible part relatively low. In each inflator, a lead wire extending from the operating circuit is connected to the end side away from the gas discharge port portion, and each inflator is mutually connected to the end side away from the gas discharge port portion. Since it is stored in the case in a separated state, in other words, each inflator can be attached to the case with a space for deformation of the deformable portion in between. Then, the deformable part is continuously arranged at one place on the center side in the vehicle width direction, and the inflator is attached to the case so as to be separated from each other. Even in a configuration in which two inflators are arranged side by side, the deformable portion can be accurately deformed, and the pedestrian can be accurately prevented from interfering with the inflator.

It is a top view of the vehicle carrying the airbag apparatus for pedestrians which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the airbag device for pedestrians of an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a portion of a hood flip-up device in a vehicle on which the pedestrian airbag device of the embodiment is mounted, and corresponds to a III-III portion in FIG. 1. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the IV-IV site | part of FIG. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the VV site | part of FIG. It is a schematic exploded perspective view which shows the case, airbag, inflator, and attachment bracket which comprise the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of embodiment. It is a top view of the state where the airbag used with the airbag device for pedestrians of an embodiment was developed flat. It is a bottom view of the state which unfolded the air bag of Drawing 7 flat. It is sectional drawing of the state which expanded the airbag of FIG. 7 alone, and respond | corresponds to the IX-IX site | part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the state which expanded the airbag of FIG. 7 alone, and respond | corresponds to the XX site | part of FIG. It is the top view which arranged the base material which comprises the airbag of FIG. It is a perspective view of the case used with the airbag device for pedestrians of an embodiment. It is a top view of the case of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the case of FIG. 12, and respond | corresponds to the XIV-XIV site | part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the case of FIG. 12, and respond | corresponds to the XV-XV site | part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the case of FIG. 12, and respond | corresponds to the XVI-XVI site | part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the case of FIG. 12, and respond | corresponds to the XVII-XVII site | part of FIG. It is a top view of the attachment bracket used with the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of embodiment. It is a front view of the left mounting bracket. In the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of embodiment, it is the elements on larger scale of the state which made the mounting bracket mount in the bottom wall part of a case. In the airbag device for pedestrians of an embodiment, it is a partial expanded sectional view along the horizontal direction of the state where the airbag and the inflator were attached to the case using the attachment bracket. It is sectional drawing of the state which attached the airbag and the inflator to the case using the attachment bracket, and respond | corresponds to the XXII-XXII site | part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the state which attached the airbag and the inflator to the case using the attachment bracket, and respond | corresponds to the XXIII-XXIII site | part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the state which attached the airbag and the inflator to the case using the attachment bracket, and respond | corresponds to the XXIV-XXIV site | part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the state which attached the airbag and the inflator to the case using the attachment bracket, and respond | corresponds to the XXV-XXV site | part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the state which attached the airbag and the inflator to the case using the attachment bracket, and respond | corresponds to the XXVI-XXVI site | part of FIG. It is the schematic explaining the folding process of an airbag in the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of embodiment. In the pedestrian airbag apparatus of the embodiment, it is a schematic diagram for explaining a folding process of the airbag, and shows a process subsequent to FIG. In the pedestrian airbag device of the embodiment, it is a schematic diagram for explaining a folding process of the airbag, and shows a process subsequent to FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows the state which the airbag completed the expansion | swelling in the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which the airbag in the site | part of an inflator completed the expansion | swelling in the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which the airbag in the site | part of an inflow port part completed expansion | swelling in the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of embodiment. In the pedestrian airbag device according to the embodiment, when the airbag is completely inflated, the deformable portion of the case is deformed in response to the deformation of the hood panel. It is a partial expansion perspective view which shows the modification of a case. It is a partial expansion perspective view which shows the further modification of a case.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The pedestrian airbag device (hereinafter abbreviated as “airbag device”) M according to the embodiment is located near the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15 of the vehicle V, as shown in FIGS. Has been placed. In detail, the airbag apparatus M is a position that is substantially directly below the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15, and is the center in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) of the vehicle V between the left and right front pillars 5L, 5R. It is arranged at the position that becomes the side. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag device M is operated together with the hood flip-up device 25 that raises the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15. In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions will be described in accordance with the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of the vehicle V, respectively.

  In the case of the embodiment, the front bumper 6 (see FIG. 1) of the vehicle V is provided with a sensor (not shown) that can detect a collision with a pedestrian, and a signal from the sensor is not shown. The operation circuit is configured to operate the inflator 35 of the airbag apparatus M when detecting a collision between the vehicle V and a pedestrian based on a signal from the sensor. An actuator 28, which will be described later, of the hood flip-up device 25 is also actuated when a collision with the pedestrian of the vehicle V is detected by the actuation circuit, and pushes up the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15 (see FIGS. 31 and 32). An air bag protruding gap is formed between the rear end 15 c of the 15 and the cowl 7.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hood panel 15 is disposed so as to cover the upper part of the engine room in the vehicle V, and is disposed near the rear end 15 c on the left edge 15 d side and the right edge 15 e side. The part 18 is connected to the body 1 side of the vehicle V so that it can be opened and closed with a front opening. In the case of the embodiment, the hood panel 15 is made of a steel plate or a plate material such as aluminum (aluminum alloy). As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the hood panel 15 is positioned on the upper surface side and on the lower surface side from the outer panel 15 a. And an inner panel 15b with improved strength. As shown in FIG. 1, the hood panel 15 is arranged in the left-right direction so that the rear end 15c is positioned forward in the center in the left-right direction and both left and right ends are positioned in the rear, as shown in FIG. It is made to be curved with respect to.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear edge (rear) of the hood panel 15 includes a highly rigid cowl panel 7 a on the body 1 side and a synthetic resin cowl louver 7 b above the cowl panel 7 a. A cowl 7 is provided. The cowl louver 7b is disposed so that the rear end side is connected to the lower portion 4a side of the front windshield 4. The cowl 7 is also configured to bend in the left-right direction so that the center of the left and right is positioned forward and the left and right ends are positioned rearward in accordance with the curved shape of the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15. (See FIG. 1). Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a wiper 8 is disposed at the cowl 7. As shown in FIG. 1, front pillars 5 </ b> L and 5 </ b> R are disposed outside the left and right sides of the front windshield 4. The hood panel 15 is pushed up the rear end 15c when the hood flip-up device 25 is operated (see FIGS. 31 and 32). When the rear end 15c is moved up, the front end 15f side of the hood panel 15 is The latch mechanism that locks the hood lock striker (not shown) for normal closing disposed on the front end 15f side does not come off from the body 1 side.

  The wiper 8 is disposed close to the rear side of the airbag device M (case 80), and extends in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the cowl louver 7b so that the pivot shaft 10a protrudes upward from the cowl louver 7b. The wiper body 10 (10L, 10R) disposed at two locations and a drive mechanism 9 having a drive motor (not shown) disposed on the lower side of the cowl louver 7b and driving the wiper body 10 are provided. (See FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5). In the case of the embodiment, the drive mechanism 9 is disposed close to the rear side of the general portion 89L disposed on the left side of the case 80, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. Each wiper body 10 (10L, 10R) includes a rotation shaft 10a connected to the drive mechanism 9, and a long arm portion 10b extending rightward from the rotation shaft 10a. Yes. Specifically, the rotation shaft 10a of the left wiper body 10L is disposed at a position near the left end of the cowl 7 that is to the left of the left end of the case 80, and the rotation shaft 10a of the right wiper body 10R is In the case 80, it is arranged close to the rear side in the vicinity of the boundary between the deformable portion 88 described later and the left general portion 89L (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2).

  The hinge portion 18 is disposed on the left edge 15d and the right edge 15e on the rear end 15c side of the hood panel 15 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and is connected to the hood ridge reinhose 2 that is a member on the body 1 side. The hinge base 19 is fixed to the mounting flange 3 and the hinge arm 21 is fixed to the hood panel 15 (see FIGS. 1 to 3). As shown in FIG. 3, each hinge arm 21 is formed in a shape that is bent in a substantially semicircular arc shape so that an angle member made of sheet metal protrudes downward, and a base end 21a on the hinge base 19 side is supported. The shaft 20 is pivotally connected to the hinge base 19. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, each hinge arm 21 includes a connecting plate portion 22 that extends from the distal end 21 b so as to be substantially along the lower surface of the hood panel 15 on the distal end 21 b side away from the base end 21 a. The connecting plate portion 22 is coupled to the lower surface side of the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15 using welding or the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a notch recess 21c is formed in the vicinity of the distal end 21b of the hinge arm 21 so as to cut out the lower edge into a substantially circular shape, and around the notch recess 21c. Although the detailed illustration of the portion is omitted, when the actuator 28 in the hood flip-up device 25 is operated, the piston rod 30 is the plastic deformation portion 21d that is plastically deformed when the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15 is pushed up. 31 and 32, the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15 is allowed to rise. The support shafts 20 are arranged so that their axial directions are along the left-right direction of the vehicle V as shown in FIGS. When the hood panel 15 is opened, if the front end 15f side (see FIG. 1) of the hood panel 15 is lifted forward, the hood panel 15 can be opened forward with the support shafts 20 as rotational centers. (Refer to the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the hood flip-up device 25 is a hinge portion 18 on both the left and right sides of the airbag device M and below the left edge 15 d and the right edge 15 e on the rear end 15 c side of the hood panel 15. It is arrange | positioned below. As shown in FIG. 3, each hood flip-up device 25 includes an actuator 28 and a mounting bracket 26 for attaching the actuator 28 to the hood ridge reinhose 2 on the body 1 side. The mounting bracket 26 has a substantially U-shaped cross section that can hold the actuator 28, and is bolted to the mounting flange 2 a connected to the hood ridge reinhose 2. The actuator 28 uses a gas generator (not shown) as a drive source, and includes a cylinder 29 held by the mounting bracket 26 and a piston rod 30 disposed so as to protrude upward from the cylinder 29. ing. The actuator 28 pushes up a piston (not shown) of a piston rod 30 housed in the cylinder 29 by a working gas generated by operating a gas generator (not shown) built in the lower end side of the cylinder 29, Is configured to move up. When the actuator 28 is actuated, the upper end 30a of the piston rod 30 that moves upward comes into contact with the lower surface of the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15, and the upper end 30a of the piston rod 30 that moves upward is used in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15 is pushed upward, and a gap for projecting the inflating airbag 45 is formed between the cowl 7 and the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15. It becomes.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the airbag device M includes an airbag 45, an inflator 35 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 45, a case 80 that houses the airbag 45 and the inflator 35, An airbag cover 110 that covers the folded airbag 45 and a mounting bracket 115 that attaches the inflator 35 and the airbag 45 to the case 80 side are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the inflator 35 (35L, 35R) is disposed at two places on the vehicle width direction side (left and right direction side), and the axial direction is set to the left and right direction (vehicle width direction). ) And a cylinder type whose outer shape is substantially cylindrical. Each inflator 35 is configured by disposing a gas discharge port portion 36 capable of discharging an inflating gas on one end side (tip 35a side) in the axial direction, and the other end side (original portion 35b) in the axial direction. It is electrically connected to the operating circuit via a lead wire (not shown) extending from the side. The inflators 35L and 35R are provided on the vehicle V so that the front end 35a side including the gas discharge port portion 36 is separated from each other, and the base portion 35b side is close to each other while a gap is provided between the base portions 35b and 35b. It is mounted (see FIG. 2). Each inflator 35 (35L, 35R) is inserted into an inlet portion 51 (51L, 51R), which will be described later, of the airbag 45, and two clamps disposed on the outer peripheral side of the inlet portion 51. It is the structure connected with respect to the airbag 45 using 39,130 (refer FIGS. 21-23). Further, in the case of the embodiment, each inflator 35 (35L, 35R) has a tip 35a (gas) in a region of a general part 89 (89L, 89R) to be described later in the case 80 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The discharge port portion 36) is inserted into the case 80 so as to straddle a deformable portion 88 and a general portion 89 (89L, 89R) described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the airbag 45 has a bag-like bag body 46 that is inflated by inflating an inflating gas, and attachment belts 62, 63, 64, 65 for attaching the bag body 46 to a case 80. It is set as the structure provided with these.

  The bag main body 46 has a substantially U-shape that is wide left and right when viewed from the front side when viewed from the front side, and extends laterally to cover the upper surface side of the cowl 7 (cowl louver 7b). 48 and vertical expansion portions 56L and 56R that extend rearward from the left and right end portions of the lateral expansion portion 48 and cover the lower portion 5a side of the front surfaces of the left and right front pillars 5L and 5R, respectively. In the case of the embodiment, the bag main body 46 includes a pedestrian side wall portion 46b positioned on the upper surface side when the inflation is completed, and a vehicle body side wall portion 46a positioned on the lower surface side so as to face the pedestrian side wall portion 46b. The outer peripheral edges of the pedestrian side wall portion 46b and the vehicle body side wall portion 46a are joined (sewn) except for the front end side of the inflow port portion 51 (51L, 51R) to form a bag.

  The lateral inflating portion 48 is configured to be able to cover the upper portion of the cowl 7 over substantially the entire region in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) when the inflation is completed. As shown, the front edge 48a is configured to cover the upper surface side of the region from the cowl 7 toward the lower portion 4a side of the front windshield 4 while bringing the front edge 48a close to the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15. The left and right inflators 35L and 35R are inserted on the front edge 48a side of the lateral inflating portion 48, and the inlet portions 51L and 51R (51) through which the inflating gas flows are arranged opposite to each other in the left and right direction. It is installed. Specifically, each inlet 51L, 51R is formed in the lateral expansion portion 48 at a position on the inner side on the left and right sides of the vertical expansion portions 56L, 56R, and forward from the lateral expansion portion 48. While projecting, the distal end side opening 51a into which the inflator 35 is inserted is bent so as to face inwardly on the left and right.

  Specifically, the inflow port portion 51 has a width dimension on the left and right direction side on the base portion side that is about 1/3 of a length dimension on the left and right direction side of the region between the vertical expansion portions 56L and 56R in the horizontal expansion portion 48. Are formed so as to protrude forward from the front edge 48a of the region adjacent to the vertical expansion portions 56L and 56R inside the vertical expansion portions 56L and 56R in the lateral expansion portion 48 (see FIG. 8), corresponding to each inflator 35, it is substantially symmetrical. The inflow port portions 51L and 51R project the base portion side portion 52 (52L and 52R) on the side of the lateral inflating portion 48 from the projecting opening 80a of the case 80 when the airbag 45 is completely inflated. And the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15 (see FIG. 32). Then, on the left and right central sides of the lateral inflating portion 48, the central portion 49 where the inflow port portions 51L and 51R are not arranged on the front side is, as shown in FIG. It is not arranged below 15, but is arranged behind the hood panel 15. In the case of the embodiment, inside the inlet portions 51L and 51R, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, an inner tube 54 (for increasing the heat resistance and branching the expanding gas flowing into the left and right sides) 54L, 54R) are provided. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, each inner tube 54 is formed in a trifurcated shape on the left and right end sides in the opening 54 a formed on the opening 51 a side of the inlet 51 and the region disposed in the lateral expansion portion 48. It is set as the structure provided with opening 54b, 54c formed.

  Further, in the bag body 46, a central tether 58 that connects the pedestrian side wall 46b and the vehicle body side wall 46a so as to be able to regulate the separation distance between the pedestrian side wall 46b and the vehicle body side wall 46a when the inflation is completed. And end tethers 59 (59L, 59R) are disposed (see FIGS. 7 to 10). The center-side tether 58 is disposed from the lateral inflating portion 48 to the left and right vertical inflating portions 56L and 56R. It is arranged as a gentle curve over the entire length so as to substantially follow the rear edge of the main body 46. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the center-side tether 58 includes a vehicle body side portion 73a arranged on the vehicle body side wall portion 46a side and a pedestrian side portion 73b arranged on the pedestrian side wall portion 46b side. A sheet of tether base fabric 73 is formed. The end-side tethers 59 (59L, 59R) are disposed in the vicinity of the front edge 48a of the lateral expansion portion 48 and at positions behind the inflow port portions 51L, 51R, respectively. Each end-side tether 59 (59L, 59R) is inclined with respect to the left-right direction so that the inner side in the left-right direction is located on the front side and the outer side in the left-right direction is located on the rear side substantially along the center-side tether 58. It is formed as a substantially symmetrical shape. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the end side tether 59 is also composed of a vehicle body side portion 74a arranged on the vehicle body side wall portion 46a side and a pedestrian side portion 74b arranged on the pedestrian side wall portion 46b side. A sheet of tether base fabric 74 is formed.

  The attachment belts 62 (62L, 62R), 63 (63L, 63R), 64 (64L, 64R), 65 are respectively arranged at substantially symmetrical positions, and are on the front edge 48a side of the lateral expansion portion 48. And extending from the rear edge 48b side. The attachment belts 62 (62L, 62R), 63 (63L, 63R), 64 (64L, 64R), 65 are airbags 45 (folding completion body 145) in which the ends 62a, 63a, 64a, 65a are folded. And the inflator 35 are attached to the case 80 side using mounting brackets 115 (115L, 115R) for attaching the case 80 to the case 80 (see FIGS. 23, 25, and 26). Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the attachment belt 62 (62 </ b> L, 62 </ b> R) is located at the end in the left-right direction at the front edge 48 a of the lateral expansion portion 48 (in front of the vertical expansion portions 56 </ b> L, 56 </ b> R). The mounting holes 62b through which the mounting bolts 125E protruding from the mounting brackets 115 can be inserted are provided on the front end 62a side. (See FIG. 26). As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the attachment belt 63 (63L, 63R) is disposed so as to extend forward from the vicinity of the boundary portion of the rear edge 48b of the lateral expansion portion 48 with the vertical expansion portions 56L, 56R. Thus, the front end 63a has a mounting hole 63b through which the mounting bolt 125E protruding from each mounting bracket 115 can be inserted (see FIG. 26). These attachment belts 62 and 63 are configured to allow the same attachment bolts 125E of the attachment bracket 115 to be inserted into the attachment holes 62b and 63b, and the attachment positions to the case 80 are made coincident with each other. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the attachment belt 64 (64L, 64R) is arranged to extend forward from the vicinity of the inner side in the left-right direction of the inlet 51 (51L, 51R) at the front edge 48a of the lateral expansion portion 48. The mounting hole 64b into which the mounting bolt 125C protruding from each mounting bracket 115 can be inserted is provided on the tip 64a side (see FIG. 23). As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the attachment belt 65 is disposed so as to extend forward from the substantially right and left center of the front edge 48a of the lateral expansion portion 48, and protrudes from the attachment bracket 115L toward the tip 65a. It has a mounting hole 65b through which the mounting bolt 125A can be inserted (see FIG. 25).

  As shown in FIG. 11, the airbag 45 includes a vehicle body side base fabric 70 constituting the vehicle body side wall portion 46a and a pedestrian side base fabric 71 constituting the pedestrian side wall portion 46b and an inner tube 54 in the bag main body 46. An inner tube base fabric 72, a tether base fabric 73 constituting a central tether 58, a tether base fabric 74 constituting an end tether 59, and belts constituting mounting belts 62, 63, 64, 65. The base fabrics 75, 76, 77, and 78 are used. In addition, these base fabrics (materials) are cut into a predetermined shape a coated fabric in which a coating agent for preventing gas leakage is applied to the surface of a woven fabric formed by weaving polyamide yarn or polyester yarn, Is formed.

  The case 80 is disposed at a position substantially directly below the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15, and is configured as a long shape disposed substantially along the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) of the vehicle V. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 17, the case 80 includes a bottom wall portion 81, a peripheral wall portion 82 configured to rise from the periphery of the bottom wall portion 81 and having an upper end side opened. Are formed in a substantially box shape with the upper end side opened. The bottom wall portion 81 is configured to attach the inflator 35 and support the lower surface side of the inflator 35. In the case of the embodiment, the mounting wall 81 can be attached by inserting the attachment bolts 125 of the attachment bracket 115. It has. As shown in FIG. 20, the mounting hole 81a is formed in addition to the portion through which the mounting bolt 125 is inserted. However, the mounting hole 81a is not for insertion of the mounting bolt 125. It is formed to be discharged. In the peripheral wall portion 82, the front wall portion 83 formed so as to rise from the front edge side of the bottom wall portion 81 has regions on both the left and right sides as shown by two-dot chain lines in FIGS. 12, 14 to 16 and FIG. 17. Except for this, the width dimension on the vertical direction side is set to be larger than the rear wall portion 84 arranged to face the front wall portion 83 in the front-rear direction side, and the upper end 83a is set higher than the upper end 84a of the rear wall portion 84. It is configured to be positioned on the upper side. In other words, the rear wall portion 84 is configured such that the upper end 84a is positioned below the front wall portion 83. This is because the rearward upper side of the airbag 45 can be easily projected. is there. Specifically, the front wall portion 83 has a width dimension on the vertical direction side set to about twice that of the rear wall portion 84. The front wall portion 83 is configured such that the upper edge is inclined so as to gradually decrease toward the left and right end sides in the left and right end portions, which are regions of a general portion 89 (89L, 89R) to be described later. 82, the end wall portions 83b and 83c connected to the left wall portion 85 and the right wall portion 86, which are arranged so as to face each other in the left and right direction side, have a width dimension in the up and down direction side. , And the right wall portion 86 are configured to substantially coincide with each other.

  In the case of the embodiment, the case 80 is made of sheet metal. The case 80 includes a general portion 89 (89L, 89R) and a deformable portion 88 whose rigidity is set lower than that of the general portion 89 as regions along the vehicle width direction. The deformable part 88 is a part where the bending rigidity in the vertical direction is made lower than that of the general part 89 and the front wall part 83C can be deformed. Specifically, in the case 80 of the embodiment, the general portion 89 (89L, 89R) is disposed on both ends (left and right ends) in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle width direction is between the general portions 89 (89L, 89R). The intermediate portion (left and right direction) is a deformable portion 88. That is, the deformable portion 88 is continuously formed along the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) at one location on the center side of the case 80 in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction). In the embodiment, the deformable portion 88 is made of a sheet metal material having a different composition from that of the sheet metal material constituting the general portion 89 and having a low rigidity and a small sheet thickness. Also, the bending rigidity in the vertical direction is set low. In the embodiment, the deformable portion 88 is configured integrally with a rear wall portion 84C and a bottom wall portion 81C, together with the front wall portion 83C, from a sheet metal material different from the general portion 89. That is, the deformable portion 88 of the embodiment is configured with low rigidity over the entire front and rear.

  Further, in the case 80 of the embodiment, the deformable portion 88 has a width dimension on the front-rear direction side set to be smaller than that of the general portion 89. Specifically, the width dimension D1 on the front-rear direction side is set to the general portion 89. Is set to about ½ of the width dimension D2 on the front-rear direction side (see FIG. 13). As shown in FIG. 13, the deformable portion 88 has a different position on the front and rear direction side of the rear wall portion 84C (by disposing it in front of the rear wall portions 84L and 84R in the general portions 89L and 89R). The width is smaller than that of the general portion 89. That is, in the case 80 of the embodiment, the front wall portion 83 (83L, 83C, 83R) is formed so as to be continuous along the left-right direction from the general portion 89 to the deformable portion 88. Specifically, the front wall portion 83 (83L, 83C, 83R) is a hood that is curved with respect to the left-right direction so that the center in the left-right direction is positioned on the front side when mounted on the vehicle over the entire left-right region. It is arranged at a position on the front side of the rear end 15c of the panel 15. The central rear wall portion 84 </ b> C constituting the deformable portion 88 is disposed on the rear side of the rear end 15 c with respect to the hood panel 15 over the entire region, and the rear wall portion 84 </ b> L constituting the general portion 89. , 84R are arranged on the rear side of the rear end 15c so that only the region on the edge side in the left-right direction is positioned on the front side of the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15 (see FIG. 13). In other words, the central portion 15ca at the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15 is arranged behind the front wall portion 83C constituting the deformable portion 88 and arranged in front of the rear wall portion 84C. (See FIG. 4).

  Further, the deformable portion 88 has a length dimension on the left and right direction side set to about ½ of a length dimension on the left and right direction side of the entire case 80. Each of the general parts 89 (89L, 89R) is connected to the deformable part 88 by gradually reducing the width dimension of the front and rear direction side through the deformable part 88 on the center side in the left-right direction which is the deformable part 88 side. It is comprised as the connection part 90 (90L, 90R). Each general portion 89 is formed with a reinforcing plate portion 92 and reinforcing ribs 93F and 93B for strength reinforcement.

  Reinforcing plate portion 92 is rearwardly passed from front wall portions 83L and 83R through bottom wall portions 81L and 81R to the positions at which the respective general portions 89 (89L and 89R) are substantially in the center in the left-right direction (see FIG. 13). It is arranged continuously over the walls 84L and 84R, and is composed of a separate U-shaped plate material. In the case of the embodiment, the reinforcing plate portion 92 is disposed at a position to be a connecting portion of an inner portion 98 and an outer portion 99, which will be described later, constituting the general portion 89 (see FIG. 15).

  As shown in FIG. 13, the reinforcing ribs 93F and 93B partially protrude outward in the front-rear direction at the front wall portion 83 and the rear wall portion 84 of the respective general portions (89L, 89R). So that it is formed. Specifically, the reinforcing ribs 93F and 93R are formed at positions on the left and right sides of the reinforcing plate portion 92, and the outer shape viewed from the left and right direction side is widened downward. It has a substantially triangular plate shape (see FIGS. 12 and 16). The reinforcing ribs 93F and 93B are appropriately formed by fixing a separate plate material by welding or the like, or bending a surrounding member. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the reinforcing ribs 93F and 93B are welded to separate plate materials.

  The case 80 according to the embodiment is made of a sheet metal material, and the general part material 97 (97L, 97R) constituting the general part 89 (89L, 89R) and the deformable part material constituting the deformable part 88. 96 is welded at a predetermined location to form a box shape. The deformable portion material 96 has a substantially U-shaped cross section so as to constitute the front wall portion 83C, the rear wall portion 84C, and the bottom wall portion 81C of the deformable portion 88 (see FIG. 14). The general part material 97 (97L, 97R) has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and has front wall parts 83L, 83R, rear wall parts 84L, 84L in the region from the connecting part 90 to the center side (inner side) in the left-right direction. 84R, inner portions 98 (98L, 98R) constituting the bottom wall portions 81L, 81R, and front wall portions 83L, 83R, rear wall portions 84L, 84R, which are substantially U-shaped in cross section and are located in the outer region in the left-right direction. The outer side part 99 (99L, 99R) which comprises bottom wall part 81L, 81R and the side wall side part 100 (100L, 100R) which comprises the left wall part 85 or the right wall part 86 as a substantially flat plate shape are provided. (See FIGS. 12, 15, and 16). As described above, the deformable portion material 96 is made of a sheet metal material which is formed of a material having lower rigidity than the sheet metal material constituting the general portion material 97 (97L, 97R) and whose thickness is set to be small. It is configured. In addition, a plurality of bracket portions 102 for attaching the case 80 to the cowl panel 7a on the body 1 side are formed in the case 80 so as to extend outward from the vicinity of the lower end (see FIGS. 12 and 13). More specifically, in the bracket portion 102, the bracket portion 102F disposed on the front side (front wall portion 83 side) of the case 80 is separated from the deformable portion 88 in the left-right direction side, and the general portions 89L and 89R. In the region, the bracket portion 102 </ b> R disposed at a position that is substantially symmetric in the left and right sides and disposed on the rear side (rear wall portion 84 side) of the case 80 is disposed at a position that is substantially symmetric in the region of the deformable portion 88. Has been.

  In the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the case 80 (airbag device M) has a rear wall portion 84 disposed on the rear side of the peripheral wall portion 82 slightly behind the rear end 15 c of the hood panel 15. It is arrange | positioned between the food panel 15 and the cowl 7 (cowl louver 7b) so that it may be located in the side. Moreover, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the case 80 has a left-right direction length dimension smaller than a left-right direction width dimension of the hood panel 15 as shown in FIGS. Thus, the vehicle is mounted on the vehicle V so that a gap is provided between the left and right hinge portions 18 while the center is substantially coincident with the left and right centers of the hood panel 15. More specifically, as described above, the case 80 is located near the front side of the rotation shaft 10a of the right wiper body 10R while the left general portion 89L is positioned near the front side of the drive mechanism 9 of the wiper 8. The vehicle is mounted on the vehicle V so that the vicinity of the boundary portion between the general portion 89L and the deformable portion 88 is located. That is, the case 80 is mounted on the vehicle V so that the left general portion 89L is disposed in the region between the rotation shafts 10a and 10a of the wiper bodies 10L and 10R. Further, the general portions 89L and 89R in the case 80 are wider in the front and rear direction than the deformable portion 88, and the bellows folding portions 146L and 146R (see C in FIGS. 6 and 29) in the folding completion body 145 in the vehicle mounted state. (See) is a part for storing. Further, when the inflation of the airbag 45 in the vehicle-mounted state is completed, the original portion side portions 52L and 52R in the inflow port portions 51L and 51R are located on the rear upper side of the general portions 89L and 89R when the vehicle V is viewed from above. It will be arranged (see FIG. 32).

  The airbag cover 110 is made of a soft synthetic resin such as a polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPO), and is disposed so as to cover the protruding opening 80a on the upper end side of the case 80, so that the airbag 45 is expanded and inflated. The door portion 111 is sometimes configured to be opened by being pushed by the airbag 45 (see FIGS. 4, 5, 31, and 32). The airbag cover 110 is attached to the case 80 at a predetermined location using attachment means (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 18, two mounting brackets 115 (115L, 115R) for attaching the inflator 35 (35L, 35R) and the airbag 45 to the case 80 side are disposed in a substantially symmetrical manner. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the mounting brackets 115 </ b> L and 115 </ b> R are each made of a belt-like sheet metal that extends substantially along the left-right direction so as to support the lower surfaces of the inflators 35 </ b> L and 35 </ b> R and the folded airbag 45. The supporting portion 117 (117L, 117R) and a plurality of mounting bolts 125 (125A, 125B, 125C, 125D, 125E) projecting downward from the supporting portion 117 are provided. Each support portion 117 extends substantially along the left-right direction, and the outer end portion 119 side is inclined so that the outer end portion 119 (119L, 119R) which is the outer side in the left-right direction is positioned on the rear side. Yes. Moreover, in each support part 117, in the area | region which supports the inflator 35 of the state inserted in the inflow port part 51 of the airbag 45, as shown in FIG. A holding piece 120 (120A, 120B, 120C) that is formed to be inclined so as to extend upward and to hold the inflator 35 is formed. The holding piece portions 120 (120A, 120B, 120C) are intermittently formed at three positions on the left and right direction sides in the inner region in the left and right direction of the support portion 117. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 18, the right mounting bracket 115 </ b> R and the left mounting bracket 115 </ b> L have the same configuration except for the inner end portions 118 </ b> L and 118 </ b> R located on the left and right center sides when mounted on the vehicle. The left mounting bracket 115L is configured to include five mounting bolts 125A, 125B, 125C, 125D, and 125E. Specifically, the mounting bolts 125A, 125B, 125C, 125D, and 125E have outer end portions 119L. Near, near the inner end 118L, inside the holding piece 120A arranged inside in the left-right direction, outside of the holding piece part 120C arranged outside in the left-right direction, and holding piece part arranged in the middle Between 120B and the holding piece 120C, it is formed so as to protrude downward. The right mounting bracket 115R is configured such that mounting bolts 125B, 125C, 125D, and 125E are disposed at the same positions as the left mounting bracket 115L except for the vicinity of the inner end 118R. A mounting hole 118a through which a mounting bolt 125A formed on the inner end 118L of the left mounting bracket 115L can be inserted is provided. In addition, stopper pieces 118b and 118b that restrict the front and rear movement of the inner end portion 118L of the left mounting bracket 115L when the mounting bolt 125A is inserted into the mounting hole 118a at the inner end portion 118R of the right mounting bracket 115R. Are formed so as to protrude upward from the front and rear edges (see FIGS. 6, 21, and 25).

  Each mounting bracket 115 is disposed on the lower surface side of the folding completion body 145 in a state where the inflator 35 is assembled to a folding completion body 145 (an inlet portion 51 of the airbag 45), which will be described later, and between the holding pieces 120A and 120B. In this region, by winding the clamp 130 from the outer peripheral side of the inlet portion 51, the inlet portion 51 and the inflator 35 of the airbag 45 are connected to the support portion 117 using the clamp 130, and the airbag 45 and the inflator 35 are attached (see FIGS. 21 and 22). In the case of the embodiment, a breakable tape material (not shown) is supplementarily wound around the other portions from the outer peripheral side of a predetermined portion of the folding completion body 145 to the support portion 117. Further, in each mounting bracket 115, the mounting bolt 125E disposed on the outer end portion 119 side is formed on the front ends 62a and 63a of the mounting belts 62 and 63 in the airbag 45 as shown in FIG. The mounting bolt 125C inserted between the holes 62b and 63b and disposed between the holding pieces 120B and 120C is inserted into the mounting hole 64b formed on the tip 64a side of the mounting belt 64 as shown in FIG. It is a configuration. Further, in the mounting bracket 115L, the mounting bolt 125A disposed on the inner end 118L side is inserted into a mounting hole 65b formed on the tip 65a side of the mounting belt 65 as shown in FIG. Further, each mounting bracket 115 projects each mounting bolt 125 from the bottom wall portion 81 of the case 80 in a state where the airbag 45 and the inflator 35 are mounted, and a nut 126 on the mounting bolt 125 projecting from the bottom wall portion 81. As a result, the airbag 45 and the inflator 35 are attached to the case 80. At this time, the attachment belts 62, 63, 64, and 65 of the airbag 45 are also connected to the case 80 side at the ends 62a, 63a, 64a, and 65a, respectively.

  Next, the mounting of the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment on the vehicle V will be described. First, the airbag 45 is folded so as to be housed in the case 80. The airbag 45 is folded flat so that the vehicle body side wall portion 46a and the pedestrian side wall portion 46b are overlapped with each other, and then the front and rear reduced folding for reducing the width dimension on the front and rear direction side, and the left and right reduction for reducing the width dimension on the left and right direction side. It will be folded through folding. Specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28A, in the airbag 45 in a state where the vehicle body side wall portion 46a and the pedestrian side wall portion 46b are flatly deployed so as to overlap each other, The region of 56R is roll-folded over the vicinity of the rear edge 48b of the lateral expansion portion 48, so that the attachment belt 63 is also wound from the front end (rear edge) side toward the vehicle body side wall portion 46a side. Form. Next, as shown in B of FIG. 28 and A of 29, the lateral expansion portion 48 is folded into a bellows along the left-right direction over the base portion side portion 52 of the inflow port portion 51, and the bellows-folding is performed. Site 142 is formed. At this time, in the embodiment, the base portion side portion 52 of the inflow port portion 51 is folded with a folding width larger than the region of the lateral expansion portion 48, and the base portion side portion 52 of the inflow port portion 51 is folded. The wide folding part 143 is folded back and arranged so as to cover the lower surface side of the bellows folding part 142 when mounted on the vehicle, and the front and rear reduction folding is completed (see FIGS. 29A and B). Next, as shown in FIGS. 29B and 29C, the front-rear reduced folding bag 140 is folded along the front-rear direction so that the left end 140a side and the right end 140b side approach the left and right center sides, respectively. The bellows fold portions 146L and 146R are formed, and the left and right reduced folds are completed to form a folding completion body 145 that can be stored in the case 80. In the embodiment, as described above, the bellows folding portions 146L and 146R are stored in the general portions 89L and 89R of the case 80 in a state where the folding is laid down so that the folding is overlapped in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. Will be.

  After the folding of the airbag 45 is completed, a breakable tape material 160 (wrapping material) for preventing collapse is wound around the folded body 145 (see FIG. 6). At this time, the opening 51a on the front end side of the inflow port portion 51 and the front ends 62a, 63a, 64a, 65a side of the mounting belts 62, 63, 64, 65 are projected from the folding completion body 145. Then, each inflator 35 is inserted into the inflow port portion 51 from the opening 51 a on the gas discharge port portion 36 side, and is connected to the inflow port portion 51 using the clamp 39. Thereafter, each mounting bracket 115 is disposed on the lower surface side of the folding completion body 145, and each inflator 35 and the folding completion body 145 (airbag 45) are connected to each mounting bracket 115 using the clamp 130. Further, a breakable tape material (not shown) is supplementarily wound around a predetermined portion of the folding completion body 145 and the support portion 117 of the mounting bracket 115. At this time, the left and right mounting brackets 115L and 115R insert the mounting bolts 125A formed at the inner end 118L of the left mounting bracket 115L into the mounting holes 118a formed at the inner end 118R of the right mounting bracket 115R. To make them connected. Further, the mounting bolts 125A, 125C, and 125E are inserted through the mounting holes 62b, 63b, 64b, and 65b formed on the front ends 62a, 63a, 64a, and 65a of the mounting belts 62, 63, 64, and 65, An airbag assembly is manufactured. Thereafter, the airbag assembly is accommodated in the case 80 so that each mounting bolt 125 protrudes from the bottom wall portion 81, and a nut 126 is fastened to each mounting bolt 125 protruding from the bottom wall portion 81. By doing so, the airbag 45 and the inflator 35 can be attached to the case 80, and the attachment belts 62, 63, 64, 65 of the airbag 45 can be connected to the case 80. After that, the airbag cover 110 is attached to the case 80, the bracket portion 102 extending from the case 80 is attached to the cowl panel 7a, and the inflator 35 is connected to an operating circuit (not shown) so that the airbag device M is mounted on the vehicle V. can do.

  And in the airbag apparatus M of embodiment, when the operation circuit which is not illustrated detects the collision with the pedestrian of the vehicle V based on the signal from the sensor which is not illustrated arrange | positioned at the front bumper 6, hood jumping The actuator 28 of the raising device 25 is actuated so as to push up the rear end 15 c of the hood panel 15 by the piston rod 30, so that a gap for protruding the airbag is formed between the rear end 15 c of the hood panel 15 and the cowl 7. Will be. At substantially the same time, the inflator 35 is actuated to inflate the inflation gas into the airbag 45 and the airbag 45 is inflated. The airbag 45 inflates pushes and opens the door portion 111 of the airbag cover 110, and the door portion 111. The expansion is completed so as to cover the upper surface of the cowl 7 and the front surfaces of the front pillars 5L and 5R by projecting from the opening 80a of the case 80 formed by pushing open to expand rearward and inflating. (See FIGS. 30 to 32).

  In the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the case 80 attached to the cowl panel 7a on the body 1 (vehicle body) side includes the general portions 89L and 89R and the deformable portion 88. In the front wall portion 83 arranged on the side, the front wall portion 83C constituting the deformable portion 88 has a bending rigidity in the vertical direction higher than the front wall portions 83L and 83R constituting the general portions 89L and 89R. It is configured to be deformable by lowering. Therefore, even if the configuration is arranged immediately below the rear end 15c side of the hood panel 15, when the airbag 45 receives the pedestrian after the inflation of the airbag 45 is completed, the pedestrian P is temporarily Even if the region near the deformable portion 88 in the hood panel 15 interferes so as to be pressed rearward and downward, it receives such a pressing force F and is supported by the cowl panel 7a. The front wall portion 83C constituting the deformable portion 88 in the case 80 can be smoothly deformed so that the upper end 83a side is directed downward (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 33), and the pedestrian is strongly pressed. It is possible to prevent the pedestrian from being protected accurately.

  Therefore, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the case 80 can be accurately deformed when contacting the pedestrian when the airbag 45 is completely inflated, and the pedestrian protection performance is not hindered.

  Further, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the general portions 89L and 89R are disposed on both end sides in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction), and the deformable portion 88 is disposed on the center side in the left-right direction. Therefore, the bending rigidity of the center side region (front wall portion 83C) in the vehicle width direction of the front wall portion 83 can be reduced. When the hood panel 15 receives the pedestrian P as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 33, the hood panel 15 is deformed so as to move downward. And in embodiment, it can suppress that the food | hood panel 15 to deform | transform interferes with the front wall part 83C, and is supported by the front wall part 83C, and receives and changes a pedestrian P, as shown to the dashed-two dotted line of FIG. However, the hood panel 15 and the front wall portion 83C absorb the energy smoothly by receiving the hood panel 15 moving downward and deforming the front wall portion 83C so that the upper end 83a is directed downward. Can do.

  In the airbag device M according to the embodiment, in the region of the deformable portion 88, when the airbag 45 is completely inflated, the laterally inflatable portion 48 has a central portion where the inlet portions 51L and 51R are not disposed on the front side. Reference numeral 49 denotes the arrangement (see FIGS. 30, 31, and 33). The central portion 49 is disposed behind the hood panel 15 when the airbag 45 is completely inflated, and is not interposed between the hood panel 15 and the case 80. However, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, since the deformable portion 88 is disposed in such a region, as described above, the pedestrian P temporarily interferes with no airbag interposed. Even if it becomes, by changing the deformable part 88 (front wall part 83C), a pedestrian can be protected appropriately. In the airbag apparatus M according to the embodiment, in the region of the general portion 89 (89L, 89R), the inflow port portion 51 (51L, 51R, which is connected to the inflator 35 (35L, 35R) when the airbag 45 is completely inflated. 51R) is provided between the case 80 and the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15. The base portion 52 (52L, 52R) is disposed between the case 80 and the rear end 15c of the hood panel 15. Thus, they are arranged (see FIG. 32). Therefore, in the arrangement area of the general portions 89L and 89R, as shown in FIG. 32, the pedestrian is caused by the airbag 45 (the portion extending from the base portion side portions 52L and 52R to the lateral inflating portion 48) as shown in FIG. It can be protected accurately.

  Further, in the airbag device M of the embodiment, the deformable portion 88 and the general portions 89L and 89R are formed from materials having different rigidity, respectively, so that the deformable portion 88 and the general portions 89L and 89R are formed. The case 80 provided can be formed simply by bonding materials having different rigidity, and the case 80 can be easily manufactured. In the embodiment, the case 80 is made of sheet metal, and the deformable portion material 96 constituting the deformable portion 88 is made of a material having lower rigidity than the general portion materials 97L and 97R constituting the general portions 89L and 89R, and The bending thickness of the front wall portion 83 </ b> C of the deformable portion 88 is configured to be low from a material whose thickness is set to be small. The difference in rigidity between the deformable portion 88 and the general portions 89L and 89R may be set by changing only the plate thickness or overlapping a plurality of the same plate materials made of the same material. The deformable portion 88 and the general portions 89L and 89R may be set by forming them from different materials (for example, only the general portions 89L and 89R are made of sheet metal and the deformable portion 88 is made of a hard synthetic resin). .

  In the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the general portions 89L and 89R are provided with reinforcing ribs 93F and 93B as reinforcing portions that increase bending rigidity, and a reinforcing plate portion 92, and the general portions 89L and 89R are provided. 89R is configured to have an appropriate strength. In the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, each of the inflators 35L and 35R is a cylinder type, and the distal end 35a side having the gas discharge port portion 36 for discharging the inflating gas is disposed in the region of the general portions 89L and 89R. In addition, the general portions 89L and 89R are configured to be improved in strength by the reinforcing plate portion 92 and the reinforcing ribs 93F and 93B as described above. In this case, it is formed wider than the deformable portion 88 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the inflation gas is discharged from the gas discharge port 36 when the inflators 35L and 35R are operated, the case 80 can be prevented from being greatly deformed, and the deformation can be partially set to be low in rigidity. Even with the configuration provided with the portion 88, when the airbag 45 is deployed and inflated, the deformation of the deformable portion 88 is suppressed, and the airbag 45 is quickly projected from the projecting opening 80a of the case 80 to be inflated. Can be completed.

  In the embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 93F and 93B are formed on the front wall portion 83 and the rear wall portion 84 of the case 80, but the reinforcing ribs 93F and 93B are formed on the front wall portion 83 or the rear wall portion. It is good also as a structure formed in either one of 84. If the reinforcing rib 93F is arranged on the front wall portion 83, the bag body 46 that inflates by inflating the inflow gas into the interior projects from the projecting opening 80a of the case 80 toward the rear upper side. When doing so, the bag body can be stably supported by the front wall portion 83F with increased rigidity, and the bag body 46 can be smoothly deployed rearward and upward. If the reinforcing rib 93B is arranged on the rear wall portion 84, for example, the driving mechanism of the wiper is arranged adjacently by increasing the bending rigidity of the rear wall portion 84 and making it difficult to deform. Moreover, it can suppress that it interferes with such a rigid member.

  In addition, the arrangement | positioning method of the reinforcement part which can raise the bending rigidity provided in the area | region of the general part in a case is not restricted to embodiment, For example, general part 89A is comprised like case 80A shown in FIG. Reinforcing beads 165F and 165R formed by partially curving the front wall portion 83A and the rear wall portion 84A may be disposed, and a case 80B shown in FIG. The bracket portion 102B for attaching to the cowl panel on the body 1 side may be disposed on the front wall portion 83B constituting the general portion 89B, and the bracket portion 102B may be used as a reinforcing portion. In FIG. 34, two reinforcing beads 165F and 165R are arranged side by side in the left-right direction so as to protrude to the front side and the rear side (so as to provide unevenness). The number of arrangements is not limited to two, but may be one or three or more. Moreover, you may comprise the reinforcement part which can raise such bending rigidity by making a material different from the other area | region of a general part, or changing plate | board thickness.

  Furthermore, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, since the two inflators 35L and 35R are arranged on the vehicle width direction side, the airbag 45 has a long shape substantially extending along the vehicle width direction. Even if it is made into the shape, the airbag 45 can be rapidly inflated. Further, by disposing each inflator 35 in a state where the gas discharge port portions 36 are separated from each other, as described above, the gas discharge port portion 36 side of the general portion 89 in which rigidity is secured in the case 80 is secured. It can be arranged in the region, and the rigidity of the deformable portion 88 can be set relatively low. In each inflator 35, a lead wire (not shown) extending from the operating circuit is connected to the base portion 36b side away from the gas discharge port portion 36, and each inflator 35 is mutually connected to the base portion 35b side. Since it is stored in the case 80 in a separated state (with a gap between them), in other words, each inflator 35 is placed in the case with a space for deformation of the deformable portion 88 secured therebetween. 80 can be attached. Then, the deformable portion 88 is continuously disposed at one place on the center side of the case 80 in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction), and the inflator 35 is separated from each other and attached to the case 80, Even in a configuration in which two inflators 35L and 35R are arranged side by side in the central region of the case 80, it is possible to accurately suppress a pedestrian from interfering with the inflators 35L and 35R. In addition, if such a point is not considered, it is good also as a structure which uses only one inflator, and when setting it as such a structure, a deformable part is made into the left-right direction side in the center side of the left-right direction of a case. You may comprise so that it may be divided.

  In the embodiment, the deformable part and the general part in the case are each composed of a part extending from the bottom wall part including the front wall part to the rear wall part, but only the front wall part is rigid. The deformable part and the general part may be configured by making different.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Body (car body), 7 ... Cowl, 7a ... Cowl panel, 15 ... Hood panel, 15c ... Rear end, 35 (35L, 35R) ... Inflator, 35a ... Front end, 36 ... Gas discharge port part, 45 ... Air bag , 80, 80A, 80B ... case, 81, (81C, 81L, 81R) ... bottom wall part, 82 ... peripheral wall part, 83 (83C, 83L, 83R), 83A, 83B ... front wall part, 88 ... deformable part 89 (89L, 89R) ... general part, 92 ... reinforcing plate part, 93F, 93B ... reinforcing rib, 96 ... material for deforming part, 97 (97L, 97R) ... material for general part, 110 ... airbag cover, 165F, 165B ... Reinforcing beads, 120B ... Mounting bracket (reinforcing part), V ... Vehicle, M ... Air bag device for pedestrians.

Claims (6)

It is mounted near the rear edge of the vehicle hood panel,
A case disposed at a position substantially directly below the rear end of the hood panel;
An airbag that is folded and housed in the case, inflated so that the inflation gas flows into the case and protrudes toward the rear side;
An inflator for supplying inflation gas to the airbag;
A pedestrian airbag device comprising:
The airbag is configured to be able to cover the upper part of the cowl below the rear edge of the hood panel over substantially the entire region in the vehicle width direction when the inflation is completed,
The case has a long shape arranged substantially along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, and is arranged to be attached to the vehicle body side so as to attach the inflator and support the lower surface side of the inflator. And a front wall portion formed so as to rise from the front edge side of the bottom wall portion,
The front wall portion is configured to include a general portion and a deformable portion that can be deformed with lower bending rigidity in the vertical direction than the general portion as a region along the vehicle width direction. A pedestrian airbag device. The general portion is disposed at both ends of the front wall portion in the vehicle width direction,
The pedestrian airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deformable portion is disposed on a center side in the vehicle width direction of the front wall portion.   2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the deformable portion is arranged in a region where a small amount of the airbag is interposed between the hood panel and the case when the airbag is completely inflated. The airbag device for pedestrians according to 2.   The pedestrian airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the deformable portion and the general portion are formed of materials having different rigidity.   The pedestrian airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a reinforcing portion for increasing bending rigidity is disposed in the general portion. The inflator is arranged as a cylinder type in which a gas discharge port capable of discharging the expansion gas is provided on one end side in the axial direction so that the axial direction is substantially along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle. In addition, the gas discharge port portions are arranged at two locations on the vehicle width direction side so as to be arranged on the end portions side separated from each other,
The deformable portion is formed continuously along the vehicle width direction at one location on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the case. Pedestrian airbag device.

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