Adaptive seat belt load limiter and method

• US 20090326765A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Dong, Ke
• Granted Patent: US 8,091,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/286 using deformation of material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/288 with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676

Abstract

Method and apparatus for limiting the load on a seat belt buckle, includes providing an adjustable energy absorbing device mounting the seat belt buckle on the vehicle, sensing vehicle and occupant conditions to determine the optimal adjustment of the adjustable energy absorbing device for restraint of the occupant under the sensed conditions, and adjusting the adjustable energy absorbing device in response to the sensed conditions to thereby adapt the restraint of the occupant to the sensed conditions. The adjustable energy absorbing device is an extendable strut having an end connected to the buckle and an end connected to the vehicle, said strut having metal deforming elements therein being deformed upon the load reaching a certain magnitude, and said strut having an adjusting mechanism adjusting the metal deforming elements to adjust the degree of metal deformation and thereby adjust the energy absorbing capacity of the strut.

Claims

1. A method of limiting the load on a seat belt buckle, comprising:

providing an adjustable energy absorbing device mounting the seat belt buckle on the vehicle;

sensing vehicle and occupant conditions to determine the optimal adjustment of the adjustable energy absorbing device for restraint of the occupant under the sensed conditions;

and adjusting the adjustable energy absorbing device in response to the sensed conditions to thereby adapt the restraint of the occupant to the sensed conditions.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the adjustable energy absorbing device being an extendable strut having an end connected to the buckle and an end connected to the vehicle, said strut having metal deforming elements therein being deformed upon the occupant restraining load reaching a certain magnitude, and said strut having an adjusting mechanism adjusting the metal deforming elements to adjust the degree of metal deformation and thereby adjust the energy absorbing capacity of the strut.

3. A load limiter for mounting a seat belt buckle comprising:

an extendible strut having a first end connected to the buckle and a second end connected to the vehicle;

said extendible strut having therein metal deforming elements by which energy is absorbed by metal deformation as the extendible strut is extended in length by the occupant restraining force disposed upon the buckle;

and mechanism associated with the metal deforming elements for adjusting the extent of metal deformation that will occur during the lengthwise extension of the strut in response to sensed conditions indicative of the extent of energy absorption needed by the occupant under the vehicle operating conditions.

4. The load limiter of claim 3 further comprising the extendible strut including a buckle tube connected to the buckle and a vehicle tube connected to the vehicle, said tubes being concentrically arranged with one tube inside the other tube;

at least one plow shoe captured between the tubes and upon imposition of an occupant restraint load the buckle tube moves axially relative the vehicle tube so that the plow shoe deforms at least one of the tubes; and

an adjuster mechanism adjusting the position of the plow shoe to thereby establish the extent of the deformation of the at least one tube and thereby selectively increase or decrease the energy absorbing capacity of the load limiting device.

5. The load limiter of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of plow shoes captured between the tubes.

6. The load limiter of claim 4 further comprising the plow shoes being a plurality of round balls.

7. The load limiter of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of sensors for sensing conditions, a controller, and an electric actuator cooperating to operate the adjuster mechanism.

8. A load limiter for mounting a seat belt buckle comprising:

a vehicle tube connected to the vehicle and a buckle tube connected to the buckle, said tubes being concentrically arranged with one tube inside the other tube;

at least one plow shoe captured between the tubes and upon imposition of an occupant restraint load, the buckle tube moves axially relative the vehicle tube so that the plow shoe deforms at least one of the tubes;

and an adjuster mechanism adjusting the position of the plow shoe to thereby establish the extent of the deformation of the at least one tube and thereby selectively increase or decrease the energy absorbing capacity of the load limiting device.

9. The load limiter of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of plow shoes captured between the tubes.

10. The load limiter of claim 9 further comprising the plow shoes being a plurality of round balls.

11. The load limiter of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of sensors for sensing conditions, a controller, and an electric actuator cooperating to operate the adjuster mechanism.

12. The load limiter of claim 8 further comprising said adjusting mechanism including an actuator plate for moving the plow shoes into a position of greater or lesser degree of interference with the travel of the buckle tube.

13. The load limiter of claim 12 further comprising an electric actuator for actuating the actuator plate and said electric actuator being operated by a controller in response to sensed conditions indicative of the need for adjustment for the restraint of the occupant under the sensed conditions.

14. The load limiter of claim 13 further comprising said electric actuator being an electric motor and a gear mechanism is operated by the motor to actuating the actuator plate.

15. A load limiter for mounting a seat belt buckle comprising:

a first tube connected to the vehicle;

a second tube connected to the buckle;

at least one ball captured between the tubes and upon imposition of an occupant restraint load, the second tube moves axially relative the first tube so that the balls deform the second tube;

and an adjuster mechanism adjusting the position of the balls to thereby establish the extent of the deformation of the second tube and thereby selectively increase or decrease the energy absorbing capacity of the load limiting device.

an electric actuator for operating the adjuster mechanism;

a plurality of sensors sensing conditions from which can be determined the need for increasing or decreasing the energy absorbing capacity of the load limiting device;

and a controller for controlling the electric actuator in response to the sensed conditions.

16. The load limiter of claim 15 further comprising the electric actuator being an electric motor.

17. The load limiter of claim 16 further comprising said adjuster mechanism including a gear plate rotated by the motor, and an actuator plate for moving the balls relative the second tubular member to thereby establish the degree of deformation of the second tubular member.