Belt retractor system

• US 6,447,012 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Peter, Cornelius, Dürrstein, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/726,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 280/806, 280/807, 180/268, 242/390.8, 242/390.9, 310/67.R
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01311 monitoring the braking system, e.g. ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/3421 with means for locking the belt reel in a non-use position, e.g. for seat mounted retractor when the seat is in a non-locked condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device combined with a spring B60R2022/444, B60R2022/4466
• 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 21/0155 sensing belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/343 with electrically actuated locking means B60R22/3405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/415 with additional means allowing a permanent locking of the retractor during the wearing of the belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/44 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions not included in the retractor B60R22/19; 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
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/18 Crossing conveyors

Abstract

A belt retractor for an occupant restraint system comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, an electric motor drive coupled to the belt reel, a locking mechanism for selectively blocking the belt reel, and a vehicle-sensitive sensor. The locking mechanism is actuated by an actuator. An electronic control unit is provided with an input interface and an output interface. The vehicle-sensitive sensor is connected to the input interface, and the actuator and the electric motor drive are connected to the output interface.

Claims

1. A belt retractor for an occupant restraint system, comprising:

a frame,

a belt reel rotatably mounted in said frame,

a locking mechanism for selectively blocking said belt reel,

a vehicle-sensitive sensor,

an actuator for actuating said locking mechanism,

an electric motor by which said belt reel is drivable,

an electronic control unit including an input interface and an output interface,

said vehicle-sensitive sensor being connected to said input interface, and said actuator and said electric motor being connected to said output interface.

said control unit signaling said electric motor to provide a belt tensioning when the signal constellation of a plurality of sensors connected to said input interface indicates an imminent vehicle collision,

said electric motor comprising a 14-pole outside rotor,

said electric motor being coupled by a toothed belt to said belt reel,

said toother belt coupling a drive pinion of said electric motor to a gearwheel side-mounted on said belt reel, said gearwheel having a diameter larger than that of said drive pinion,

said electric motor being supported on a support plate side-mounted to a leg of said frame so as to be capable of pivoting to a limited extent and, by pivoting of said support plate, said toothed belt being pressed in a section between said gearwheel and said drive pinion against a tensioning pulley mounted on said leg of said frame.

2. The belt retractor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support plate is biased by a spring into a pivoted position in which said tensioning pulley is spaced away from said toothed belt and, with the tensile stress occurring in said toothed belt when loaded, said support plate is moved automatically and to an extent which depends on the load into an opposed pivoted position in which said tensioning pulley presses against said toothed belt.

3. Th ebelt reatractor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electric motor is grouped together with a printed circuit board into an assembly unit, said printed circuit board being mounted on an electronic signaling circuit and comprising power semiconductor components.

4. The belt retractor as set forth in claim 3, comprising sensors assigned to said electric motor, said sensors providing signals from which an absolute angle of rotation of said belt reel corresponding to the withdrawn belt webbing length can be determined by said control unit.

5. The belt retractor as set forth in claim 4, wherein said control unit for signaling said electric motor takes into account at least one of the following sensor signals;

ABS signal, braking pressure signal, acceleration signal, vehicle speed signal, engine speed signal, belt force signal, absolute belt reel angle of rotation.

6. The belt retractor as set forth in 4, wherein said control unit loads aid belt reel via said electric motor with a permanent retraction moment, the value of which can be varied across said absolute angle of which can be reel.

7. The belt retractor as set forth in claim 6, wherein said control unit loads said belt reel via siad electric motor with a permanent retraction moment, the value of which can be varied across said absolute angle of rotation of said belt reel.

8. An occupant restraint system for vehicles comprising a plurality of belt retractors, each belt retractors of said plurality of belt retractors comprising:

a frame,

a belt reel rotatably mounted in said frame,

a locking mechanism for selectively blocking said belt reel,

a vehicle-sensitive sensor,

an actuator for actuating said locking mechanism,

an electric motor by which said belt reel is drivable,

an electronic control unit including an input interface and an output interface,

said vehicle-sensitive sensor being connected to said input interface, and said actuator and said electric motor being connected to said output interface,

said control unit signaling said electric motor to provide a belt tensioning when the signal constellation of a plurality of sensors connected to said input interface indicates an imminent vehicle collision,

said electric motor comprising a 14-pole outside rotor,

said electric motor being coupled by a toothed belt to said belt reel,

said toothed belt coupling a drive pinion of said electric motor to a gearwheel side-mounted on said belt reel, said gearwheel having a diameter larger than that of said drive pinion,

said electric motor being supported on a support plate side-mounted to a leg of said frame so as to be capable of pivoting to a limited extent and, by pivoting of said support plate, said toothed being pressed in a section between said gearwheel and said drive pinion against a tensioning pulley mounted on said leg of said frame.