Seat belt retractor

• US 6,550,810 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1998
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Bauer, Barney J., Garrell, Roger H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIDLEY, RICHARD W L
• Application Number:
  US09/044,527
• Time in Patent Office: 1,860 Days
• Field of Search: 286/803, 286/806, 297/477, 297/476, 242/384.2, 242/384, 242/382
• US Class Current: 280/803
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01325 Vertical acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/343 with electrically actuated locking means B60R22/3405 takes precedence

Abstract

A seat belt retractor (12) comprises a frame (40), a seat belt webbing spool (42) rotatably mounted in the frame (40), and an actuator (70) for locking the seat belt webbing spool (42) against rotation in at least one direction (B) in the frame (40). The actuator (70) is mounted to the frame (40). An accelerometer (82) provides an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration. The accelerometer (82) is mounted on the frame (40). A controller (84) monitors the electrical output signal and causes the actuator (70) to lock the seat belt webbing spool (42) against rotation in the at least one direction (B) upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration. The controller (84) is mounted on the frame (40).

Claims

1. A seat belt retractor comprising:

a frame;

a seat belt webbing spool rotatably mounted in said frame;

actuator means for locking said seat belt webbing spool against rotation in at least one direction in said frame, said actuator means being mounted to said frame;

accelerometer means for providing an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration, said accelerometer means being mounted on said frame; and

controller means for monitoring said electrical output signal and for causing said actuator to lock said seat belt webbing spool against rotation in said at least one direction upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration, said controller means being mounted on said frame.

2. The seat belt retractor of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer means comprises a three-axis accelerometer which senses deceleration in three perpendicular planes.

3. The seat belt retractor of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer means comprises three accelerometer chips mounted in three perpendicular planes, respectively.

4. The seat belt retractor of claim 1 wherein said controller means comprises a programmable control chip.

5. The seat belt retractor of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer means and said controller means are physically separate components which are mounted in an enclosure spaced from said actuator means.

6. The seat belt retractor of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer means and said controller means are physically separate components which are mounted to said actuator means.

7. The seat belt retractor of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer means and said controller means are integrated into a single component.

8. The seat belt retractor of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer means, said controller means and said actuator means are integrated into a single component.

9. An apparatus for use in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a first seat belt retractor mounted in a first location in the vehicle, said first seat belt retractor having a first frame and a first seat belt webbing spool rotatably mounted in said first frame;

a first actuator mounted on said first frame, said first actuator being movable between a plurality of positions in one of which said first actuator causes said first seat belt webbing spool to be locked against rotation in at least one direction in said first frame;

first electronic accelerometer means for providing an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration, said first electronic accelerometer means being mounted to said first frame;

a first controller mounted on said first frame for monitoring said electrical output signal from said first electronic accelerometer means and for causing said first actuator to move to said one position to lock said first seat belt webbing spool against rotation in said at least one direction upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration;

an actuatable inflatable vehicle occupant protection device module mounted in the vehicle and spaced from said first seat belt retractor;

sensor means for sensing vehicle deceleration and for providing an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration, said sensor means being mounted in a second location in the vehicle spaced from said first location; and

a second controller operatively coupled to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and to said sensor means, said second controller monitoring said electrical output signal from said sensor means and actuating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a second seat belt retractor mounted in a third location spaced from said first and second locations, said second seat belt retractor having a second frame and a second seat belt webbing spool rotatably mounted in said second frame;

a second actuator mounted on said second frame, said second actuator being movable between a plurality of positions in one of which said second actuator causes said second seat belt webbing spool to be locked against rotation in said at least one direction in said second frame;

second electronic accelerometer means for providing an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration, said second electronic accelerometer means being mounted on said second frame; and

a third controller mounted on said second frame for monitoring said electrical output signal from said third electronic accelerometer means and for causing said second actuator to move to said one position to lock said second seat belt webbing spool against rotation in said at least one direction upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said each of first and second electronic accelerometer means comprises a three-axis accelerometer which senses deceleration in three perpendicular planes.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said each of first and second electronic accelerometer means comprises three accelerometer chips mounted in three perpendicular planes, respectively.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first and second controllers comprise programmable control chips.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first electronic accelerometer means and said first controller are physically separate components which are mounted in an enclosure spaced from said first actuator.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first electronic accelerometer means and said first controller are physically separate components which are mounted to said first actuator.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first electronic accelerometer means and said first controller are integrated into a single component.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first electronic accelerometer means, said first controller and said first actuator are integrated into a single component.

18. An apparatus for use in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a first seat belt retractor mounted in a first location in the vehicle, said first seat belt retractor having a first frame and a first seat belt webbing spool rotatably mounted in said first frame;

a first actuator mounted on said first frame, said first actuator being movable between a plurality of positions in one of which said first actuator causes said first seat belt webbing spool to be locked against rotation in at least one direction in said first frame;

first electronic accelerometer means for providing an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration, said first accelerometer means being mounted on said first frame;

a first controller mounted on said first frame for monitoring said electrical output signal and for causing said first actuator to move to said one position to lock said first seat belt webbing spool against rotation in said at least one direction upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration;

a second seat belt retractor mounted in a second location spaced from said first location, said second seat belt retractor having a second frame and a second seat belt webbing spool rotatably mounted in said second frame;

a second actuator mounted on said second frame, said second actuator being movable between a plurality of positions in one of which said second actuator causes said second seat belt webbing spool to be locked against rotation in said at least one direction in said second frame;

second electronic accelerometer means for providing an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration, said second electronic accelerometer means being mounted on said second frame; and

a second controller mounted on said second frame for monitoring said electrical output signal and for causing said second actuator to move to said one position to lock said second seat belt webbing spool against rotation in said at least one direction upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration.