Device for tightening a safety belt of a motor vehicle

• US 5,519,997 A
• Filed: 09/22/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: HS Technik Und Design Technische Entwicklungen GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Specht, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gromada, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Basichas, Alfred
• Application Number:
  US08/310,445
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 60/632, 60/635, 60/256, 280/806, 297/480, 242/374
• US Class Current: 60/632
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor

Abstract

A drive mechanism has a guide pipe, a piston which is guided in the guide pipe and is driven by a propellant that is generated by a gas generator, and a traction mechanism which connects the piston to the component to be driven.

Claims

1. A drive mechanism comprises a guide pipe, a piston which is guided inside the guide pipe and can be driven by means of a propellant that is generated by a gas generator and a traction mechanism which connects the piston with a part to be driven and with a pressure chamber that is formed in the guide pipe whereby the propellant which is generated in the interior of the piston is discharged from the pressure chamber via at least one outlet opening in the piston, wherein:

the traction mechanism (15) comprises a traction cable and is rigidly connected with the piston (2) via a cable pressing (17) which has a larger diameter than the traction cable,

the gas generator (1) which is arranged in the piston (2) has a propellant outlet side (3) which is directed towards an interior space (4) of the piston and opened by propellant ignited in the gas generator,

the interior space (4) of the piston is constructed as a combustion chamber for the propellant which is discharged from the gas generator and is provided with at least one outlet opening (5), and

the interior space (4) of the piston simultaneously serves for accommodating the cable pressing (17), said cable pressing (17) comprising a support ring which is rigidly braced on a base of the piston in the interior space of the piston.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure chamber (6) is closed at an end of the guide pipe (7) by a closure element (8) which is constructed as a filter for combustion residues.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein a return lock (9) is arranged on the piston and can be engaged with the inner wall of the guide pipe (7) to prevent movement of the piston in a direction opposite to the driving direction.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the return lock (9) is arranged at an end of the piston in the driving direction.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein the return lock (9) is provided with a locking element (10) which can be expanded radially with respect to the axis of the guide pipe (7), the locking element being guided on a conical projection (11) of the piston (2) wherein the locking element (10) can be moved freely on the inner wall of the guide pipe (7) in the driving direction, and wherein the locking element can, if the piston moves opposite to the driving direction, be expanded by the conical projection (11) to engage with the inner wall of the guide pipe (7) and lock the movement of the piston.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the inner wall of the guide pipe (7) is provided with at least one peripheral groove (12), with which the locking element (10) can be engaged when expanded radially.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the locking element (10) has a pointed tip (13) which engages with the inner wall of the guide pipe (7) during expansion of the locking element.

8. A device according to claim 5, wherein that the locking element (10) is attached to the conical projection (11) under a prestress.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the gas generator (1) comprises an electric ignition device (14).

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the traction mechanism (15) comprises a traction cable and is rigidly connected with the piston (2) via a cable pressing (17) which has a larger diameter than the traction cable.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the piston (2) is braced on the closure element (8) during normal operation.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guide pipe (7) is braced in a stationary fashion.

13. A device according to claim 5, wherein the conical projection (11) is formed on the exterior of a base (18) of the piston.

14. A device according to claims 1, wherein the traction mechanism (15) on the piston is guided in the driving direction and decelerated at the end of the driving movement of the piston (2).

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein a brake (16) which decelerates movement of the traction mechanism (15) relative to the piston (2) in stopped position is provided between the piston (2) and the cable pressing (17).

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the traction cable is connected to a seat belt lock (31) of a seat belt in a motor vehicle.

17. A drive mechanism comprises a guide pipe, a piston which is guided inside the guide pipe and can be driven by means of a propellant that is generated by a gas generator and a traction mechanism which connects the piston with a part to be driven and with a pressure chamber that is formed in the guide pipe, whereby the propellant which is generated in the interior of the piston is discharged from the pressure chamber via at least one outlet opening in the piston, wherein:

the gas generator (1) which is arranged in the piston (2) has a propellant outlet side (3) which is directed towards an interior space (4) of the piston and opened by propellant ignited in the gas generator,

the interior space (4) of the piston is constructed as a combustion chamber for the propellant which is discharged from the gas generator and is provided with at least one outlet opening (5),

a return lock (9) is provided with at least one locking element (10,27) which can be moved radially with respect to the axis of the guide pipe (7), the at least one locking element being guided on a conical projection (11) of the piston (2) wherein the at least one locking element (10,27) can be moved freely on the inner wall of the guide pipe (7) in the driving direction, and wherein the at least one locking element can, if the piston moves opposite to the driving direction, be moved by the conical projection (11) to engage with the inner wall of the guide pipe (7) and lock in the movement of the piston, and

the conical projection (11) is hollow and comprises the at least one outlet opening (5).

18. A drive mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the locking element (27) comprises roller bodies (27) which are retained in an annular space which surrounds the piston.

19. A drive mechanism according to claim 18, wherein the annular space is tapered.

20. A device according to claim 18, wherein the annular space has an inner-slanted surface formed by hard shells (29) along which the roller bodies (27) can be displaced.

21. A drive mechanism comprises a guide pipe, a piston which is guided inside the guide pipe and can be driven by means of a propellant that is generated by a gas generator and a traction mechanism which connects the piston with a part to be driven and with a pressure chamber that is formed in the guide pipe, whereby the propellant which is generated in the interior of the piston is discharged from the pressure chamber via at least one outlet opening in the piston, wherein:

the gas generator (1) which is arranged in the piston (2) has a propellant outlet side (3) which is directed towards an interior space (4) of the piston and opened by propellant ignite in the gas generator,

the interior space (4) of the piston is constructed as a combustion chamber for the propellant which is discharged from the gas generator and is provided with at least one outlet opening (5),

the traction mechanism (15) comprises a traction cable and is rigidly connected with the piston (2) via a cable pressing (17) which has a larger diameter than the traction cable, and

the at least one outlet opening (5) is formed by a recess between a support ring (19) that is arranged on the cable pressing (17) and the inner wall of the piston, whereby said support ring is rigidly braced on a base of the piston in the interior space of the piston.