Safety belt system with pre-tensioning device for secondary collision

• US 6,749,225 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clute, Günter, Juchem, Alois
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y
• Application Number:
  US09/485,055
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 280/806, 280/807, 280/808, 297/480, 297/476, 242/374, 242/379.1
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/165 reusable, e.g. in case of multiple collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1958 characterised by spring actuators B60R22/1953 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/341 comprising energy-absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4671 characterised by spring actuators B60R22/4623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4676 comprising energy-absorbing means operating between belt reel and retractor frame

Abstract

A safety belt arrangement is provided that has a belt retractor that includes a force-limiting device. When triggered in a collision, the belt retractor is associated with limited belt release therefrom. Associated with the belt retractor is a tensioning device that is actuated subsequent to the primary collision and that eliminates slack in a belt that occurs when the force-limiting device is triggered during the primary collision.

Claims

1. A safety belt arrangement having a belt retractor that includes a torsion bar as a force-limiting device, said safety belt arrangement further comprising:

a tensioning device that is also associated with said belt retractor and that is actuated subsequent to a primary collision, wherein said tensioning device eliminates the slack in a safety belt that occurs when said torsion bar is triggered during a primary collision.

2. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said belt retractor comprises a belt winding shaft, and wherein said tensioning device is an energy accumulator that can be loaded by rotation of said belt winding shaft in a belt release direction during triggering of said force-limiting device.

3. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said energy accumulator is formed by a spring that can be tensioned.

4. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said spring in a non-tensioned state, is connected to said belt winding shaft, wherein when said force-limiting device is triggered, a free end of said spring is adapted to engage a stop of a housing so that said spring is tensioned by rotation of said belt winding shaft in a belt release direction, said rotation occurring during force limitation.

5. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said force-limiting device is a torsion bar that at one end is adapted to be blocked and that at another end is connected to said belt winding shaft, which is rotatable relative to tensioning of said torsion bar while said force-limiting device is being triggered, and wherein engagement of said spring with said housing stop is adapted to be induced by relative movement between said winding shaft and said tensioning of said torsion bar.

6. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 5, wherein a lever arrangement is provided that is disposed between an axis of said belt winding shaft and said free spring end, wherein in a neutral position said lever arrangement holds said spring end free, and wherein said lever arrangement, by relative movement between said belt winding shaft and said tensioning of said torsion bar, can be moved into an extended position that effects engagement of said spring end with said housing stop.

7. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a shaft casing is disposed in an interior of a shaft body of said belt winding shaft, wherein one side of said shaft casing is connected to said torsion bar and can be fixed in position via a blocking system of said belt retractor, wherein said shaft casing surrounds said torsion bar, wherein said lever arrangement comprises a first lever disposed on said shaft axis and fixed to said shaft casing via a shearing pin, wherein said lever arrangement comprises a second lever that guides said spring end and is connected to said first lever, and wherein said second lever is deflectably disposed by means of a slotted guide means that is formed between said shaft body and said second lever such that said second lever is deflectable radially outwardly until engagement of said spring end, which is held by said second lever, at said housing stop.

8. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said force-limiting device comprises a torsion bar that is connected at one end to said belt winding shaft and that is connected at another end to a profiled head that serves as a carrier for a blocking member, wherein said belt winding shaft is rotatable relative to said profiled head while said force-limiting device is being triggered, wherein a toothed member is provided on a housing, wherein a gearwheel is movably disposed via a control guide such that due to relative movement between a shaft body of said belt winding shaft and said profiled head said gearwheel engages said toothed member, wherein an end of said spring is held at said gearwheel, and wherein rotation of said shaft body in a belt release direction during a force-limiting process tensions said spring via rolling of said gearwheel on said toothed member.

9. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 1, which includes a slide member that is moveable on a track of a vehicle, wherein said belt retractor is secured to said slide member, and wherein said tensioning device is embodied as a drive apparatus that acts on said slide member and eliminates slack in a belt when said slide member is displaced with said belt retractor by said drive apparatus, and wherein said drive apparatus is adapted to be triggered after said primary collision.

10. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said drive apparatus is embodied as a pre-tensioned compression spring that drives said slide member when triggered.

11. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 9, wherein a pyrotechnic drive apparatus is provided that acts on said slide member with said belt retractor.

12. A safety belt arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said belt retractor is provided with a further tensioning device that is adapted to be coupled with said belt winding shaft and that is actuated prior to said primary collision.