Method for controlling an electric belt retractor, and an electric belt retractor

• US 20060231663A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burkart, Rainer, Busch, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,091,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/374
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/3416 Unlocking devices for retractors B60R22/3405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/46 Reels with means to tension the belt in an emergency by forced winding upelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01 ; tensioners using reels only guiding the belt during normal use, e.g. splitted reels B60R22/195

Abstract

A method for controlling an electric belt retractor (16) which has an electric motor (20) which can drive a belt spool (18) in a belt band retraction direction and/or in a belt band withdrawal direction, and a blocking catch which is able to be guided into blocking teeth in order to block a rotation of the belt spool (18) in the belt band withdrawal direction, comprises the following steps:

• • Operating the electric motor (20) in belt band retraction direction for tensioning the belt band (26); Detecting a possible belt band withdrawal; Determining a stable vehicle state; and
  • Re-operating the electric motor (20) in belt band retraction direction only when a belt band withdrawal is detected.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electric belt retractor, the belt retractor having an electric motor, which can drive a belt spool in a belt band retraction direction and/or in a belt band withdrawal direction, and a blocking catch which is able to be guided into blocking teeth in order to block a rotation of the belt spool in the belt band withdrawal direction, the method comprising the following steps:

Operating the electric motor in the belt band retraction direction to tension the belt band;

Detecting a possible belt band withdrawal;

Determining a stable vehicle state; and

Re-operating the electric motor in the belt band retraction direction only when a belt band withdrawal is detected.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the belt band withdrawal is determined quantitatively.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein with re-operating the electric motor in the belt band retraction direction, a belt band retraction takes place, the amount of which is at least as great as the amount of the previously determined belt band withdrawal.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the amount of the belt band retraction is not greater than a predetermined maximum amount.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the amount of the belt band retraction exceeds the amount of the belt band withdrawal by a predetermined tolerance amount.

6. An electric belt retractor with a control arrangement to carry out the method of claim 1.

7. The electric belt retractor according to claim 6, further comprising an electronic control unit for the electric motor and a belt band withdrawal sensor, to detect a belt band withdrawal, the sensor being connected with the electronic control unit.

8. The electric belt retractor according to claim 7, wherein the belt band withdrawal sensor permits a quantitative determining of the belt band withdrawal.

9. The electric belt retractor according to claim 7, wherein the belt band withdrawal sensor detects a movement of the belt band.

10. The electric belt retractor according to claim 7, wherein the belt band withdrawal sensor detects a rotation of the belt spool or of a component coupled to the belt spool.

11. The electric belt retractor according to claim 7, wherein the electric motor is coupled to the belt spool via a gear, the belt band withdrawal sensor detecting a rotation of a component of the gear or of a member coupled to a component of the gear.

12. The electric belt retractor according to claim 7, wherein the belt band withdrawal sensor is an optical sensor.

13. The electric belt retractor according to claim 7, wherein the belt band withdrawal sensor is a magnetic sensor.