LOAD DETECTION DEVICE

• US 20090126500A1
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Inayoshi, Muneto, Fujii, Hiroyuki, ITO, Koji, Ichihara, Kan, Kawabata, Hideki, Asano, Yoshimasa, Kawajiri, Naoka
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/781
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2231 the supports being disc- or ring-shaped, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction

Abstract

A load detection device includes a strain generating body having first and second holes at first and second ends of the strain generating body, a strain gauge attached on the strain generating body, first and second fixing members having first and second middle shaft portion press-fitted into the first and second holes, respectively, and having first and second end shaft portions protruding from the first and second middle shaft portions, respectively, a bracket member having first fixing portion including a first fixing hole into which the first end shaft portion is press-fitted, and a second fixing portion, integrally connected to the first fixing portion and including a second fixing hole into which the second end shaft portion is inserted with a clearance therebetween, a press-fit fixing member press-fitted onto the second end shaft portion, and a connecting shaft integrally connected to the strain generating body.

Claims

1. A load detection device adapted to a seat for a vehicle, interposed between a seat supporting member for supporting the seat and a mounting member for mounting the seat supporting member on a floor of the vehicle and measuring a load applied by an occupant seated on the seat for the vehicle, the load detection device comprising:

a strain generating body having a first hole at a first end of the strain generating body and a second hole at a second end of the strain generating body;

a strain gauge attached on the strain generating body;

a first fixing member having a first middle shaft portion, which is press-fitted into the first hole, and a first end shaft portion, which protrudes from the first middle shaft portion, the first fixing member adapted to be connected to one of the seat supporting member and the mounting member;

a second fixing member having a second middle shaft portion, which is press-fitted into the second hole, and a second end shaft portion, which protrudes from the second middle shaft portion, the second fixing member adapted to be connected to the one of the seat supporting member and the mounting member;

a bracket member having a first fixing portion, including a first fixing hole, at a first end of the bracket member and a second fixing portion, integrally connected to the first fixing portion and including a second fixing hole, at a second end of the bracket member, the first end shaft portion of the first fixing member being press-fitted into the first fixing hole of the bracket member and the second end shaft portion of the second fixing member being inserted into the second fixing hole of the bracket member with a clearance between the second end shaft portion and the second fixing hole;

a press-fit fixing member press-fitted onto the second end shaft portion of the second fixing member for holding the second fixing portion of the bracket member between the press-fit fixing member and the second fixing member; and

a connecting shaft integrally connected to the strain generating body between the first hole and the second hole of the strain generating body and adapted to be connected to the other of the seat supporting member and the mounting member.

2. The load detection device according to claim 1, wherein the press-fit fixing member does not contact the strain generating body.

3. The load detection device according to claim 1, wherein the press-fit fixing member includes a cylindrical portion, which is press-fitted onto the second end shaft portion of the second fixing member and a flange portion formed at one end of the cylindrical portion and contacting the second fixing portion of the bracket member.

4. The load detection device according to claim 1, wherein the first fixing member and the second fixing member are formed to have the same shape.

5. The load detection device according to claim 1 further including a signal processing unit for processing a detection output of the strain gauge, wherein the bracket member further includes an attachment portion for integrally connecting the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion and for attaching the bracket member at the signal processing unit.

6. The load detection device according to claim 5, wherein the signal processing unit includes an amplifier for amplifying the detection output of the strain gauge.

7. The load detection device according to claim 3, wherein the cylindrical portion of the press-fit fixing member is press-fitted onto the second fixing member without contacting the strain generating body.

8. The load detection device according to claim 3, wherein an outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the press-fit fixing member is set to be smaller than a diameter of the second fixing hole of the bracket member.

9. The load detection device according to claim 4, wherein the second fixing hole of the bracket member is formed to have a larger diameter than a diameter of the first fixing hole.

10. The load detection device according to claim 1, wherein the press-fit fixing member includes a ring portion, which is press-fitted onto the second end shaft portion of the second fixing member, the ring portion contacts the second fixing portion of the bracket member and holds the second fixing portion between the ring portion and the second fixing member.

11. The load detection device according to claim 1, wherein the seat supporting member includes a seat frame for supporting a seat cushion of the seat for the vehicle, the mounting member includes a lower rail, which is fixed on the floor of the vehicle and extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and an upper rail, which is movably supported by the lower rail, the first fixing member and the second fixing member are fixed on either one of the seat frame and the upper rail, and the connecting shaft is fixed on the other one of the seat frame and the upper rail.

12. A load detection device, comprising:

a strain generating body having a first hole at a first end of the strain generating body and a second hole at a second end of the strain generating body;

a strain gauge attached on the strain generating body;

a first fixing member having a first middle shaft portion, which is press-fitted into the first hole, and a first end shaft portion, which protrudes from the first middle shaft portion;

a second fixing member having a second middle shaft portion, which is press-fitted into the second hole, and a second end shaft portion, which protrudes from the second middle shaft portion;

a bracket member having a first fixing portion, including a first fixing hole, at a first end of the bracket member and a second fixing portion, integrally connected to the first fixing portion and including a second fixing hole, at a second end of the bracket member, the first end shaft portion of the first fixing member being press-fitted into the first fixing hole of the bracket member and the second end shaft portion of the second fixing member being inserted into the second fixing hole of the bracket member with a clearance between the second end shaft portion and the second fixing hole;

a press-fit fixing member press-fitted onto the second end shaft portion of the second fixing member for holding the second fixing portion of the bracket member between the press-fit fixing member and the second fixing member; and

a connecting shaft integrally connected to the strain generating body between the first hole and the second hole of the strain generating body.

13. The load detection device according to claim 12 further including a signal processing unit for processing a detection output of the strain gauge, wherein the bracket member further includes an attachment portion for integrally connecting the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion and for attaching the bracket member at the signal processing unit.