JP3314091B2 - Vehicle airbag installation structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle having a driver seat, a passenger seat and a central seat located between the two seats at the front of the vehicle interior.
The present invention relates to a structure for arranging an airbag of an automobile having seats capable of being seated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is conventionally known to provide an airbag device for protecting the occupant in the event of an automobile collision. Airbag devices are generally airbags,
It consists of an airbag unit equipped with a gas generator and the like. At the time of an automobile collision, the gas generator operates to inflate and deploy the airbag toward the passenger compartment, thereby trying to move forward at the time of the automobile collision. The head and chest of the occupant are protected by an airbag.

Specifically, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-1986
As described in Japanese Patent No. 47, there is known an airbag device that inflates and deploys an airbag toward a passenger in a passenger seat at the time of a collision of an automobile.

By the way, it is conceivable to provide a central seat between a driver's seat and a passenger seat so that three people can be seated in the front seat. In this case, the center seat occupant may be provided with a center seat occupant airbag unit for the center seat occupant in order to protect the vehicle from collision due to a collision in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0005] However, when the airbag unit for the center seat occupant is provided, the center seat occupant has a high possibility of putting the leg on the upper portion of the so-called tunnel portion. As in the case described above, if the airbag unit for the center seat occupant is provided on the instrument panel in front of the center seat occupant, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the legs of the center seat occupant obstruct the airbag inflation. The deployment has been hindered and the protection of the central seat occupants is not sufficient. In addition, since an airbag unit is specially provided for the occupant in the center seat, the number of airbag units increases, which is disadvantageous in terms of the number of parts and cost.

[0006] Therefore, not only the driver's occupant or the passenger's seat occupant but also the center seat occupant is protected by one of the driver's seat airbag unit and the passenger's seat occupant airbag unit. A separate application has been filed for a vehicle airbag installation structure that can protect a center seat occupant without providing a special airbag unit for the seat occupant.

[0007]

However, in such a case, although the number of occupants to be protected is different,
Since the gas of the same pressure is supplied to the airbag of each airbag unit, each airbag is deployed at the same pressure and it is difficult to protect the airbag in an optimum state.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 48-50437, there is known an airbag in which a partition is provided and a communication hole is provided in the partition to adjust the pressure. Even in a simple structure, the pressure in the airbag during inflation and deployment cannot be changed significantly according to the number of occupants to be protected.

According to the present invention, when a front seat is a seat that can be seated by three people, the center seat occupant can be protected in the event of a vehicle collision without providing an airbag unit specially for the center seat occupant. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile airbag arranging structure capable of inflating and deploying an airbag in an optimal state according to the number of occupants to be protected.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a driver seat, a front passenger seat, and a central seat located between the two seats are arranged at the front of the passenger compartment. It is assumed that the vehicle has an airbag arrangement structure in which a seat is arranged and an airbag unit for protecting an occupant is arranged in an instrument panel in front of the passenger seat.

[0011] The passengers in the passenger seat and the center seat wear the same.
Comprising a seating sensor for detecting the presence of the seat, the air bag
The unit contains gas for inflating and deploying the airbag.
And the center seat side to blow air into the airbag.
An air outlet is provided side by side in the vehicle width direction, and the air bag unit blows out the gas when the vehicle collides.
Be configured to the airbag is inflated and deployed toward both passenger passenger and center seat by the tooth, the wear
When only the above passenger seat is detected by the seat sensor
The gas from the passenger side outlet
If only the central seat is detected, the central seat
The gas is blown out from the side outlet, and the passenger seat and the center
If both seats are detected, the passenger side
The above gas is blown out from both the outlet and the outlet on the center seat side
Thus, a configuration is provided in which pressure adjusting means for controlling the pressure in the airbag is provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a seat capable of being seated by three persons having a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a central seat located between the two seats is disposed at the front of the vehicle cabin. ,
Assuming an airbag arrangement structure of an automobile in which an airbag unit for protecting an occupant is arranged in a steering device provided in front of the driver seat, the driver seat and the center seat are provided.
Comprising a seating sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the sitting posture of the occupant, the e
The airbag unit is used to inflate and deploy the airbag.
A driver-side air outlet that blows gas into the airbag.
The central seat side outlet is provided side by side in the vehicle width direction,
The airbag unit is designed to be
The airbag is configured to be inflated and deployed toward both the driver's seat occupant and the center seat occupant by blowing out the air, and the seating sensor detects that only the driver's seat is seated.
The gas from the driver side outlet
If the seating of the center seat only is detected,
The above gas is blown out from the center seat side outlet and the above operation
If both the seat and the central seat are detected,
The above gas is supplied from both the driver seat side outlet and the center seat side outlet.
And a pressure adjusting means for controlling the pressure in the airbag by blowing air.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a seat capable of being seated by three persons having a driver seat, a front passenger seat, and a central seat located between the two seats is disposed at a front portion of the passenger compartment. This is based on the premise that an airbag unit is installed in an automobile with an airbag unit that protects the occupant in the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat. The airbag unit is configured such that when the vehicle collides, the airbag is inflated and deployed toward both the passenger and the center seat occupant, and the airbag is provided with a partition. The wall portion is divided into a passenger side bag portion and a center seat side bag portion in the vehicle width direction. The air bag is separately supplied with gas to each of the bag portions, and the seat detection means is provided. Detection by Gas supply means for controlling the gas supply amount to the respective bag portion is configured to be linked in accordance with the result.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a seat capable of being seated by three persons having a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a central seat located between the two seats is arranged at the front of the vehicle interior. ,
Assuming an airbag arrangement structure of an automobile in which an airbag unit for protecting an occupant is disposed in a steering device provided in front of the driver's seat, a seat where an occupant is seated is selected from the driver's seat and the center seat. It is provided with seat detection means for detecting, and the airbag unit, at the time of a car collision,
The airbag is configured to be inflated and deployed toward both the driver's seat occupant and the center seat occupant, and the airbag is divided into a driver's seat side bag portion and a center seat side bag portion by a partition wall in the vehicle width direction. The airbag has gas supply means for separately supplying gas to each of the bag portions and controlling the gas supply amount to each of the bag portions in accordance with the detection result by the seating detection means. It shall be linked.

In the invention of claim 5 , claim 1 or
In 3 , it is assumed that an airbag unit for protecting the driver's seat occupant is provided in a steering device provided in front of the driver's seat.

In the invention of claim 6 , claim 2 or
In 4 , it is assumed that an airbag unit for protecting an occupant in the passenger seat is disposed in an instrument panel in front of the passenger seat.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the airbag of the airbag unit is inflated and deployed toward the passengers in the passenger seat and the passengers in the center at the time of collision of the vehicle, and the passengers and the passengers in the central seat are restrained and protected. I do. Then, the airbag unit is controlled by the pressure adjusting means so that the occupants in the passenger seat and the central seat are
The pressure in the airbag is variably controlled according to the number of the airbags. Ma
The seat where the occupant is seated is the passenger seat or the center seat.
If only one of them is present,
Gas is supplied to the airbag only from the outlet on the near side.
You.

According to the invention of claim 2, the airbag of the airbag unit is inflated and deployed toward the driver's occupant and the center seat occupant in the event of a collision of the vehicle, and the driver's occupant and the center seat occupant are restrained and protected. I do. Then, the airbag unit is controlled by the pressure adjusting means to the driver's seat and the central seat.
The pressure in the airbag is variably controlled according to the number of occupants . The seats where the occupants are seated are the driver's seat and the center seat.
If either of the above is detected, a seat was detected.
Gas is supplied to the airbag only from the outlet close to the seat
Is done.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the airbag of the airbag unit is divided into a passenger side bag portion and a central seat side bag portion corresponding to the number of occupants to be protected. The gas supply means supplies the gas separately, and controls the gas supply amount to each bag portion according to the detection result by the seating detection means for detecting the seat in which the occupant is seated among the passenger seat and the center seat.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the airbag of the airbag unit is divided into a driver side bag portion and a center seat side bag portion, and the gas supply means separately supplies gas to each bag portion. At the same time, the amount of gas supplied to each bag portion is controlled in accordance with the detection result of the seat detection means for detecting the seat in which the occupant is sitting, of the driver seat and the center seat.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, not only the occupant in the front passenger seat and the occupant in the center seat, but also the occupant in the driver's seat is protected by the airbag unit disposed in the steering device provided in front of the driver's seat.

According to the invention of claim 6 , not only the driver's seat occupant and the center seat occupant but also the passenger's seat occupant are protected by the airbag unit disposed in the instrument panel in front of the passenger's seat.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the front part of the cabin of an automobile.
, 1 is a seat that can be seated by three people, a driver's seat 1A,
It has a passenger seat 1B and a central seat 1C located between the two seats 1A, 1B, and is disposed at the front of the passenger compartment.

In the instrument panel 3 substantially at the center of the steering wheel 2 and in front of the passenger seat 1B, the first and second seats are opposed to the driver seat 1A and the passenger seat 1B.
Airbag units 4 and 5 are provided.

The first airbag unit 4 is provided to the driver's seat occupant A when the vehicle collides.
a is configured to expand and deploy.

On the other hand, the second airbag unit 5 is configured so that the airbag 5a is inflated and deployed not only toward the occupant B in the passenger seat but also toward the occupant C in the center seat when the vehicle collides. . That is, the airbag 5a has a first portion for protecting the passenger B on the passenger seat and a second portion for protecting the occupant C in the center seat.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the driver's seat occupant A is controlled by the airbag 4a of the first airbag unit 4.
However, the passenger B in the passenger seat and the passenger C in the center seat are each restrained and protected by the second airbag unit 5.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first airbag unit 4 includes a folded airbag 4a, an inflator 4b (gas generator) for supplying gas into the airbag 4a and inflating the same. An igniter 4c (ignition device) for reacting a gas generating agent in the inflator 4b,
And a bag cover 4f that covers the occupant side of the airbag 4a so as to be deployable, and is disposed substantially at the center of the steering wheel 2. The main components of the airbag device, such as the airbag 4a, the inflator 4b, and the igniter 4c, are fixed to the base plate 4e, and the occupant side is covered with a back plate 4f to form one assembly unit. Note that the airbag unit 4 is conventionally known, and a detailed description of its internal structure and operation will be omitted. As is well known, the direction of inflation and deployment of the airbag 4a is determined by devising the shape of the airbag 4a itself, the direction in which gas is blown from the inflator 4b, and the like.

The steering wheel 2 is of a three-spoke type in which a wheel ring 12 is supported by three steering spokes 11 arranged on both the left and right sides and the lower center in a steering neutral state. The wheel hub 13 includes a wheel ring 12 and a wheel hub 13 having a substantially flat plate shape. The wheel hub 13 is fastened and fixed to a head of a steering shaft 15 extending through a lower cover 14 that covers a rear surface thereof.

When the airbag unit 4 is operated and gas is supplied into the airbag 4a at the time of a collision of the automobile, the airbag 4a is inflated to expand the bag cover 4f.
The airbag 4a is opened while breaking along the groove 4g provided on the back surface side, and the airbag 4a is inflated and deployed toward the front driver's seat 1A side. Therefore, the airbag 4a restrains the driver's seat occupant A, thereby protecting the driver's seat occupant A in the event of a collision of the vehicle (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 5, the second airbag unit 5 includes an airbag 5a, a housing 5b for storing the airbag 5a in a folded state, and air generated by generating gas in the housing 5b upon collision of an automobile. A gas generator (inflator) 5c for inflating and deploying the bag 5a; and a lid 5f for vertically dividing the fragile portion 5e by contacting the airbag 5a deployed from the airbag deployment port 5d of the housing 5b. Housing 5b
Is fixed to a pipe-shaped steering support member 22 extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle body via a bracket 21.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a glove box, 24 denotes a shelf-shaped overhang, 25 denotes an air conditioning unit, and 26 denotes a front window.

Then, at the time of the collision of the automobile, when the airbag device is activated and gas is supplied into the airbag 5a,
Due to the inflation of the airbag 5a, the lid 5f becomes weaker 5e.
At the top and bottom, and the airbag 5a is
And it expands and deploys toward the central seat 1C side. Therefore, the passenger B and the passenger C, who have moved forward, can be restrained and protected by the airbag 5a.

As shown in FIG. 2, seating sensors 31, 32 (pressure sensors) are provided on the passenger seat 1B and the center seat 1C.
Is disposed, and the airbag 5 of the second airbag unit 5 is provided.
a detects the presence or absence of an occupant that needs to be protected, and thereby detects the number of occupants protected by the airbag 5a. The detection signal is sent to the control unit 33, and the pressure in the airbag 5a is adjusted by adjusting the amount of air blown into the airbag 5a from the outlet of the second airbag unit 5 according to the signal. (Pressure adjusting means). That is, the inflators 4c and 5c are controlled by the control unit 33.
Is exploded. In this case, in the event of a collision of the vehicle, the first airbag unit 4 is always activated to protect the driver's seat occupant A, but the second airbag unit 5 is not occupied by the center seat occupant. Passenger seat occupant B without seat C
When only the passenger is seated, the outlet 34a on the passenger seat 1B side
Therefore, when only the center seat occupant C is seated without the passenger seat occupant B, the gas is supplied from the outlet 34b on the center seat 1C side, and the pressure in the airbag 5a protects the driver seat occupant A. When the passenger B and the center passenger C are both seated, gas is supplied from both outlets 34a and 34b, and the inside of the airbag 5a is approximately doubled. It is configured to have a gas pressure. When neither the passenger seat 1B nor the center seat 1C is seated, gas is not supplied from the outlets 34a and 34b, and the airbag 5a is not inflated and deployed.

The seat sensors 31, 32 determine whether or not a load greater than a predetermined value is applied to the seat cushions of the seats 1B, 1C in the downward direction. The detection is performed by a contact using a spring member having a force, or by a load measurement using a signal from a strain gauge type pressure-electric signal converter.

With the above structure, at the time of a collision of an automobile, as shown in FIG. 2, the airbag 4a of the first airbag unit 4 moves toward the driver's seat occupant A and the second airbag unit 5 The airbags 5a are inflated and deployed toward the passenger B and the passenger C, respectively, and the airbags 4a, 5a restrain and protect the passengers A, B, C. At this time, as for the second airbag unit 5, the gas pressure in the airbag 5a is changed by the number of occupants to be restrained, and the direction of gas blowing is also changed. Accordingly, optimal protection by the airbag 5a can be obtained. Further, the second airbag unit 5 for protecting the passenger seat occupant B is used to restrict and protect not only the passenger seat occupant B but also the center seat occupant C, so that three people can be seated. In the case of a seat, there is no need to provide an airbag unit for the center seat occupant C, and the center seat occupant C can be protected in the same manner as the driver occupant A and the passenger seat occupant B.

Although different from the present invention, it is described as a reference example.
When loaded, the gas pressure to be supplied to the airbag 5a of the second airbag unit 5, as shown in FIGS.
There is a method of adjusting by controlling the amount of gas released through a gas vent hole formed in an airbag. That is, the openings 41, 41 are formed in the airbag 5a 'of the airbag unit 5A.
A variable valve 42, 42 whose opening area changes in inverse proportion to the pressure is provided in each of the openings 41, 41 so as to adjust the amount of outgassing. In this way, when the airbag 5a 'restrains the occupant, when the number of occupants to be protected is two, the pressure (reaction force) is substantially twice as large as when the occupant is one. Of the airbag 5a ', the pressure inside the airbag 5a' increases, and the restraining force increases.

In the above embodiment, the internal pressure of one airbag is adjusted according to the number of restrained occupants. However, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to divide the bag into bag portions and to independently protect the passenger in the passenger seat and the passenger in the center seat in each bag portion.

That is, the airbag 5a '' is divided into the passenger seat side and the center seat side back portions 52, 53 in the vehicle lateral direction (vehicle width direction) by the partition sheet 51 extending in the vertical direction when deployed. I have. And passenger seat passenger B
In the case of only the passenger seat side bag portion 52, in the case of the center seat occupant C only, only in the center seat side bag portion 53, and further, in the case where the passenger seat occupant B and the center seat occupant C are present, the passenger seat side and By supplying gas at a predetermined pressure to the center seat side bag portions 52 and 53, protection by the airbag 5a '' can be performed in an optimum state according to the occupant sitting.

Therefore, the airbag unit is configured as follows.

As shown in FIG. 10, the airbag unit 5B has a rectangular parallelepiped casing
The casing 54 has an opening 55 facing the seat. The inside of the casing 54 is equally divided in the left-right direction by a wall portion 56 extending vertically, and a right chamber 57 and a left chamber 58 are formed. The right-side chamber 57 and the left-side chamber 58 are provided on the passenger seat side and the center seat side bag portions 52, 5 of the airbag 5a ''.
It communicates with 3.

An opening 59 extending in the vertical direction is formed in the wall portion 56, and a gas generator 60 is housed in the opening 59. In a normal state, the airbag 5a ″ is, as shown in FIG.
It is stored folded in front of the. As shown in FIG. 12, the gas generator 60 contains a chemical substance that ignites and generates gas inside a cylindrical case 61, and has a front surface provided with a large number of chemical substances for discharging the generated gas. An opening 62 is formed. The large number of apertures 62 are arranged as first to fourth aperture rows 62a to 62d along the vertical axis. The case 61 is disposed so as to be rotatable around its longitudinal center axis. In a normal state, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the second opening row 62b and the third opening row 62c The wall portion 56 is located between them. Thus, in the normal state, the gas generators 6 are evenly distributed to the left and right chambers 57, 58 of the case 54, and thus to the passenger side and the central seat side bag portions 52, 53.
Gas from 0 is introduced. In addition, one end of the case 54 is connected to a motor 64 via a drive plate 63 and the like as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, the motor 64 is connected to a control unit 65, which is configured by a microcomputer or the like and controls the rotation direction and operation / non-operation of the motor 64. The control unit 65 includes a passenger seat and Seating sensors 31 and 32 for detecting a seat where an occupant is seated among the central seats (here, the seating sensors 31 and 32 constitute seating detecting means for detecting a seat where an occupant is seated) Is connected). In addition, 66 is a cover.

When the control unit 65 receives signals from the seat sensors 31 and 32 and detects, for example, that the occupant B is seated only in the passenger seat 1B,
By rotating the motor 64 in the counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 14, the first to third aperture rows 62 a to 62 c of the case 61 of the gas generator 60 are located on the right side of the wall portion 56,
Only the fourth aperture row 62d is located on the left side of the wall 56. In this state, when the gas generator 60 operates and gas is generated, the passenger side bag portion 52 of the airbag 5a "
Since the gas is introduced into the center seat side bag portion 53 through the fourth opening line 62d through the third opening line 62a to 62c, the speed of inflation of the passenger seat side bag portion 52 that restrains the passenger B on the front seat side is increased. The force is higher than that of the central seat side bag portion 53.

When the occupant is seated only in the center seat C, the first opening row 6 of the case 61 of the gas generator 60 is
While only 2a is located on the right side of the wall portion 56,
Only the fourth aperture rows 62b to 62d are located on the left side of the wall 56. In this state, when the gas generator 60 is operated to generate gas, the passenger side bag portion 52 of the airbag 5a ''
Since the gas is introduced through the first opening row 62a and the central seat side bag section 53 through the second to fourth opening rows 62b to 62d, the central seat side bag section 5 for restraining the occupant C of the central seat is provided.
The inflating speed and the force of the inflating member 3 are higher than those of the passenger side bag portion 52.

Further, when the occupant is seated in the passenger seat B and the center seat C, the first and second aperture rows 62 a and 62 b of the case 61 of the gas generator 60 are located on the right side of the wall 56. On the other hand, the third and fourth aperture rows 62c and 62d are positioned on the left side of the wall 56. In this state, the gas generator 60
Is activated, and gas is generated, the passenger side bag portion 52 of the airbag 5a '' is connected to the first and second aperture rows 62a, 62a.
Since the gas is introduced into the central seat side bag portion 53 through the third and fourth aperture rows 62c and 62d through 2b, the speed and force of the inflation of the passenger seat side bag 52 that restrains the passenger B are reduced. Central-seat-side bag section 53 that restrains seat occupant C
Is approximately equal to the speed and force of the expansion. In these cases,
The pressure in the passenger seat side and the central seat side bag portions 52 and 53 is
The pressure is adjusted by the vent holes formed in the bag portions 52 and 53, etc., so that the pressure in the airbag 4a 'is substantially the same.

In the above example, the gas generator 60 supplies gas to each of the bag sections 52 and 53 separately, and responds to the detection results by the seating sensors 31 and 32 as seating detecting means. This constitutes gas supply means for controlling the gas supply amount to the parts 52 and 53.

In the above embodiment, the airbag of the second airbag unit also protects the occupant C in the center seat. However, as shown in FIG.
The airbag 4a ″ of the airbag unit 4 can also protect the occupant C in the center seat. In that case, the airbag 5a ″ ″ of the second airbag unit
Only protects passenger B.

[0049]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the airbag of the airbag unit is inflated and deployed toward the front passenger and the middle passenger when the automobile crashes. Each airbag unit is constrained and protected, and the pressure in the airbag unit is variably controlled by the pressure adjusting means in accordance with the number of occupants to be protected. Rutotomoni can be optimized bag condition, seats the occupant is seated passenger in accordance with the
If you are in one of the seats and the central seat , sit down
Gas from the outlet only on the side near the seat where
Since the airbag is supplied to the bag, the occupant can be reliably protected without providing an airbag unit specially for the occupant in the center seat.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the airbag of the airbag unit is inflated and deployed toward the driver's seat occupant and the center seat occupant in the event of a collision of the vehicle, and restrains and protects the driver's occupant and the center seat occupant. In each airbag unit, the pressure in the airbag is variably controlled by the pressure adjusting means according to the number of occupants to be protected , and the occupant sits down.
Seat is either driver's seat or center seat
In this case, only the outlet on the side near the seat where seating was detected
Since the gas is supplied to the airbag from above, the same operation and effect as the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the airbag for protecting the occupant in the front passenger seat and the occupant in the middle seat is divided into a passenger side bag portion and a center seat side bag portion corresponding to the number of occupants. The gas supply means supplies the gas separately, and controls the gas supply amount to each bag portion according to the detection result by the seat detection means for detecting the seat where the occupant is sitting in the front passenger seat and the center seat. Therefore, it is possible to make the optimal bag state according to the occupant to be protected, without providing an airbag unit specially for the center seat occupant,
The occupant can be protected reliably.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the airbag for protecting the driver's seat occupant and the center seat occupant is divided into a driver's seat side bag portion and a central seat side bag portion corresponding to the number of occupants. The gas supply means supplies the gas separately to each of the bag sections, and the gas supply amount to each bag section according to the detection result by the seating detection means for detecting the seat where the occupant is seated among the driver's seat and the center seat Is controlled, the same operation and effect as the third aspect of the invention can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front portion of a cabin of an automobile.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a deployed state of each airbag.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first airbag unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a deployed state of the airbag of the first airbag unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a second airbag unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an airbag unit in which an airbag is deployed according to a reference example.

[7] put to the air bag of the air bag unit of FIG. 6
That is a cross-sectional view of a provided portion of the variable valve.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the variable valve of FIG . 7 ;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a deployed state of the airbag.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag unit.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a gas generator used in the airbag unit.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a gas generator.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a gas generator.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a rotation drive system of a casing of a gas generator.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Seat 1A Driver's seat 1B Passenger's seat 1C Center seat 2 Steering wheel (steering device) 3 Instrument panel 4 First airbag unit 4a Airbag 5 Second airbag unit 5a Airbag 31 Seating sensor (seating detection means) 32 Seating sensor (seating detection means) 34a Passenger seat side outlet 34b Central seat side outlet

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-56-67649 (JP, A) JP-A-4-244453 (JP, A) JP-A-2-60858 (JP, A) JP-A-2- 286448 (JP, A) JP-A-2-38163 (JP, A) JP-A-62-198647 (JP, A) JP-A-5-72601 (JP, U) JP-A-3-110966 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60R 21/16-21/32

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A driver's seat lined up in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle interior;
A vehicle air having a passenger seat and a seat capable of being seated by three persons having a central seat located between the two seats, and an airbag unit for protecting an occupant in an instrument panel in front of the passenger seat. In the bag arrangement structure, a seating for detecting presence / absence of occupants of the passenger seat and the center seat is provided.
The airbag unit is equipped with a seat sensor.
Blows the gas to the airbag into the passenger side.
The outlet and the central seat side outlet are provided side by side in the vehicle width direction.
Cage, the air bag unit is, at the time of vehicle collision, the moth
The airbag is configured to be inflated and deployed toward both the front passenger and the center passenger by blowing out the air, and the above-mentioned seat sensor detects the seating of only the front passenger seat.
Gas is blown from the passenger side outlet
If the seating of the center seat only is detected,
The above-mentioned assistant blows out the above-mentioned gas from the above-mentioned center seat side outlet.
If both the seat and the central seat are detected,
The above gas is supplied from both the passenger seat side outlet and the center seat side outlet.
And a pressure adjusting means for controlling the pressure in the airbag by blowing the airbag. 2. A driver's seat lined up in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle interior;
An automobile having a passenger seat and a seat capable of being seated by three persons having a central seat located between the two seats, and an airbag unit for protecting an occupant provided in a steering device provided in front of the driver's seat. In the airbag arrangement structure of the above, the seat for detecting the presence or absence of the occupants of the driver seat and the center seat is provided.
The airbag unit is equipped with a seat sensor.
Driver side blows out the gas to blow into the airbag.
The outlet and the central seat side outlet are provided side by side in the vehicle width direction.
Cage, the air bag unit is, at the time of vehicle collision, the moth
The airbag is configured to be inflated and deployed toward both the driver's seat occupant and the center seat occupant by blowing out the air, and the seating sensor detects that only the driver's seat is seated.
The gas from the driver side outlet
If the seating of the center seat only is detected,
The above gas is blown out from the center seat side outlet and the above operation
If both the seat and the central seat are detected,
The above gas is supplied from both the driver seat side outlet and the center seat side outlet.
And a pressure adjusting means for controlling the pressure in the airbag by blowing the airbag. 3. A driver's seat lined up in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle interior;
A vehicle air having a passenger seat and a seat capable of being seated by three persons having a central seat located between the two seats, and an airbag unit for protecting an occupant in an instrument panel in front of the passenger seat. In the bag arrangement structure, the passenger seat and the center seat are provided with seat detection means for detecting a seat in which an occupant is seated. The airbag is configured to be inflated and deployed toward both sides of the seat occupant. The airbag is divided into a passenger side bag portion and a central seat side bag portion in a vehicle width direction by a partition wall portion. A gas supply means for separately supplying gas to each of the bag portions and controlling a gas supply amount to each of the bag portions in accordance with a detection result by the seating detection means; An airbag arrangement structure for an automobile, characterized in that: 4. A driver's seat arranged in a vehicle width direction at a front portion of a vehicle interior;
An automobile having a passenger seat and a seat capable of being seated by three persons having a central seat located between the two seats, and an airbag unit for protecting an occupant provided in a steering device provided in front of the driver's seat. In the airbag arrangement structure of (1), the airbag unit further comprises seat detection means for detecting a seat where an occupant is seated among the driver's seat and the center seat. The airbag is configured to be inflated and deployed toward both the occupant and the center seat occupant, and the airbag is divided into a driver side bag portion and a center seat side bag portion by a partition wall in the vehicle width direction. The bag is provided with gas supply means for separately supplying gas to each of the bag portions and controlling a gas supply amount to each of the bag portions in accordance with a detection result by the seating detection means. An airbag disposing structure for an automobile, wherein the airbag is disposed. 5. A within a steering device provided in front of the driver's seat, according to claim 1 or 3 automotive airbag arranged according to, characterized in that the airbag unit to protect the driver seat occupant are disposed Construction. 6. The vehicle airbag installation structure according to claim 2 , wherein an airbag unit for protecting an occupant in the front passenger seat is provided in an instrument panel in front of the front passenger seat.