Energy converter for a safety belt

• US 5,340,046 A
• Filed: 10/19/1992
• Issued: 08/23/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl F. Schroth GmbH
• Original Assignee: Carl F. Schroth GmbH
• Inventors: Meier-Armdt, Stefan, Jeche, Rolf, Schroth, Karl-Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DARLING, JOHN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US07/962,760
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 242/55, 242/107.2, 242/107.3, 242/107.4 R, 242/107.4 A, 280/805, 280/806, 280/807, 280/808, 188/65.1, 188/65.2, 188/65.3, 188/65.4, 188/65.5
• US Class Current: 242/407
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/3427 Seat belt connection on reels
• 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

An energy converter comprises a sleeve with a sleeve channel. A longitudinal groove is configured in the wall of the sleeve channel. A shank of a bolt is introduced into the sleeve channel. An L-shaped deformation member having an arresting leg is introduced into a lateral bore of the bolt shank, wherein then the sleeve leg comes to rest in the longitudinal groove of the sleeve and at the outer surface of the bolt shank. The sleeve and the bolt are thus secured against rotation. The bolt has a hexagonal bolt head, which can be positionally fixed in a matchingly configured aperture in the cheek of the belt fitting. If a predetermined force F acts upon the belt band, the sleeve and the bolt turn relative to one another and the deformation member pulls out of the longitudinal groove while rolling around the bolt shank.

Claims

1. An energy converter for a safety belt, the energy converter comprising a sleeve having an interior defined by an interior surface, a belt band of the safety belt being attached to the sleeve, a bolt having a bolt shank extending into the interior of the sleeve, the bolt having an end mounted so as to be non-rotatable in a stationarily attached belt fitting, at least one deformation member comprising a wire section having a sleeve leg and an arresting leg, the sleeve leg and the arresting leg extending at angle relative to each other, the sleeve having an end face, the arresting leg being fixedly attached to the bolt shank at the end face of the sleeve, the bolt shank having an axis, the interior surface of the sleeve defining a groove extending in an axial direction, the sleeve leg extending in the axial direction and being slidably supported in the groove of the sleeve, wherein the groove has a cross-section which coincides with the cross-section of the sleeve leg, and wherein the arresting leg contacts the bolt shank.

2. The energy converter of claim 1, wherein at least two deformation members having sleeve legs, which are offset from each other through 180°

, are provided on a circumference of said bolt shank and are fixed in position with their arresting legs respectively in said bolt shank at said end face of said sleeve.

3. The energy converter of claim 2, wherein said bolt further comprises:

a plurality of longitudinal segments which are non-rotationally pinned together, wherein each arresting leg of said deformation members is fixed in position in each of said longitudinal segments.

4. The energy converter of claim 2, wherein said arresting leg of said deformation member, which has a rectangular cross-section, is bent in an S-shaped manner and is fixed in position in a recess in said belt fitting on a circumference of a receiving bore of said bolt.

5. The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said arresting leg of said deformation member is fitted into a radially lateral bore of said bolt shank.

6. The energy converter of claim 1, wherein a transition of said groove, in regions of an end face of said sleeve which adjoins a mouth of said sleeve interior, is rounded to match a cross-section of said deformation member.

7. The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has a recess in said end face, in a plane of said arresting leg which extends laterally to said axis of said bolt.

8. The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said arresting leg secures a closure piece having a positioning disk and a leg to an end face of said bolt, wherein said leg is inserted into said end face of said bolt.

9. The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said arresting leg of said deformation member, which has a rectangular cross-section, is bent in an S-shaped manner and is fixed in position in a recess in said belt fitting on a circumference of a receiving bore of said bolt.

10. The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said bolt has a longitudinal channel.

11. The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has an annular collar on each end face.

12. The energy converter of claim 11, further comprising:

a driver around which said belt band the driver wrapped, is being fixed in said annular collars.

13. The energy converter of claim 12, wherein said driver has a convex end face extending between said annular collars in a direction perpendicular to the sleeve axis.

14. The energy converter of claim 12, wherein said sleeve is flattened beneath said driver.

15. The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has longitudinal grooves at an external circumference.

16. The energy converter of claim 1, further comprising:

an automatic belt roll-up device, wherein said bolt is a component of said device and wherein said bolt is connected at least on one end face with a toothed blocking wheel which cooperates with a locking pawl.