Air bag device

• US 6,241,279 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ochiai, Fumiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US09/318,750
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/739, 280/736, 280/741, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01508 detecting forces or pressure in bags or modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

In a retainer 19 which supports an inflator 20 and an air bag 21 of an air bag device Rd, disposed are a control valve 30 configured by bonding a plate-like piezoelectric element 31 to a protector 21 made of a metal, vent holes 29 which are opened and closed by the control valve 30, and internal-pressure detecting means 35d for detecting the internal pressure of the air bag 21. The piezoelectric element 31, which, when not energized, closes the vent holes 29, is caused to bend by energization, so as to open the vent holes 29, thereby allowing a gas in the air bag 21 to be discharged to the outside. The opening degree of the vent holes 29 is feedback controlled in accordance with the air bag internal pressure detected by the internal-pressure detecting means 35d, so that the change of the air bag internal pressure with respect to the elapse of time coincides with a preset internal-pressure pattern. Accordingly, the internal pressure of an air bag is correctly controlled by changing the amount of a gas which is discharged through a vent hole when the air bag develops.

Claims

1. An air bag device comprising:

a folded air bag;

a retainer to which a periphery of an opening of a folded air bag is fixed;

an inflator housed in said retainer for generating a gas to develop said air bag when a vehicle is subject to a predetermined acceleration or more;

an actuating member for opening and closing a vent hole formed in said retainer; and

a controller for controlling said actuating member so as to adjust an opening degree of said vent hole, wherein said actuating member comprises a piezoelectric element.

2. An air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric element has a cantilever plate shape for opening and closing said vent hole and has one end fixed to said retainer.

3. An air bag device according to claim 2, wherein a protector made of metal is stacked on said piezoelectric element.

4. An air bag device comprising:

a folded air bag;

a retainer to which a periphery of an opening of a folded air bag is fixed;

an inflator housed in said retainer for generating a gas to develop said air bag when a vehicle is subject to a predetermined acceleration or more;

an actuating member for opening and closing a vent hole formed in said retainer;

a controller for controlling said actuating member so as to adjust an opening degree of said vent hole; and

internal-pressure detecting means for detecting an internal pressure of said air bag,

wherein said actuating member comprises an actuator and a control valve which is operated by said actuator to open and close said vent hole, and said controller comprises a controlling means for feedback controlling said opening degree of said vent hole so that the air bag internal pressure detected by said internal-pressure detecting means coincides with a preset internal-pressure pattern.

5. An air bag device according to claim 4, further comprising:

occupant state detecting means for detecting a state of the occupant,

wherein said controlling means changes the internal-pressure pattern in accordance with the state of the occupant detected by said occupant state detecting means.

6. An air bag device according to claim 4, further comprising:

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a speed of a vehicle,

wherein said controlling means changes the internal-pressure pattern in accordance with the speed of the vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means.

7. An air bag device according to claim 4, wherein said actuator is a piezoelectric element.

8. An air bag device according to claim 7, wherein said piezoelectric element has a plate shape which is placed so as to cover said vent hole, and in which one end is fixed to said retainer.

9. An air bag device according to claim 4, wherein said vent hole has plural vent holes formed in said retainer, a valve plate having plural openings respectively corresponding to said vent holes is slidably supported on said retainer, and said valve plate is slid by said actuating member, thereby adjusting a total opening degree of said vent holes.

10. An air bag device according to claim 4, wherein said vent hole has plural vent holes formed in said retainer;

and said actuating member comprises, a valve plate in which plural openings respectively corresponding to said plural vent holes are formed, and an actuator for sliding said valve plate along said retainer to cause said plural openings to oppose said plural vent holes.

11. An air bag device according to claim 10, wherein said plural vent holes are arranged in a circumferential direction, and said valve plate is rotated by said actuator so as to make the plural vent holes coincide with said plural openings respectively.

12. An air bag device according to claim 10, wherein said plural vent holes are arranged in a linear direction, and said valve plate is linearly moved by said actuator.

13. An air bag device according to claim 4, wherein said retainer comprises plural vent holes, a valve plate in which plural openings respectively corresponding to said plural vent holes are formed is provided, and said actuator slides said valve plate along said retainer to cause said plural openings to oppose said plural vent holes.

14. An air bag device according to claim 13, wherein said plural vent holes are arranged in a circumferential direction, and said valve plate is reciprocally rotated by said actuator.

15. An air bag device according to claim 13, wherein said plural vent holes are arranged in a linear direction, and said valve plate is reciprocally linearly moved by said actuator.

16. An air bag device in which an inflator is housed in a retainer to which a periphery of an opening of a folded air bag is fixed, and said air bag is inflated to develop by a gas which is generated by said inflator when a vehicle collides, thereby restraining an occupant, wherein

said device comprises:

a vent hole formed in said retainer;

a control valve which is operated by an actuator to open and close said vent hole;

internal-pressure detecting means for detecting an internal pressure of said air bag; and

controlling means for feedback controlling an opening degree of said vent hole so that the air bag internal pressure detected by said internal-pressure detecting means coincides with a preset internal-pressure pattern.