Method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner

• US 7,029,032 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Bullinger, Wilfried, Eberle, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEDMAN, LAURA
• Application Number:
  US10/433,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 280/806, 280/807, 297/480, 242382-3847
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/469 reusable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/3416 Unlocking devices for retractors B60R22/3405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/343 with electrically actuated locking means 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner for pretensioning a belt webbing, wound around a belt reel, of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, the belt pretensioner having a drive which acts on the belt reel. The seat belt has a locking device, acting on the belt reel in the unwinding direction, as a belt extraction lock. After the triggering of the belt pretensioner and when a predefinable condition is met, the belt pretensioner is actuated in such a way that the belt reel rotates at least to such an extent in the winding-up direction that the locking device of the belt reel opens and releases the belt webbing for unwinding.

Claims

1. A method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner for pretensioning a belt webbing wound around a belt reel of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, the belt pretensioner having a drive which acts on the belt reel and the seat belt having, as a belt extraction lock, a locking device which acts on the belt reel in an unwinding direction and is released only if the belt reel is turned about an angular element in a winding-on direction, comprising the steps of:

triggering the belt pretensioner;

satisfying a pre-defined condition;

actuating the belt pretensioner after the triggering and satisfying steps such that the belt reel turns

at least so far in the winding-on direction that the locking device of the belt reel opens and releases the belt webbing for unwinding;

wherein a variable which is indicative of the opening of the locking device is registered and wherein the belt pretensioner is actuated in such a way that the belt reel rotates just to such an extent that the locking device of the belt reel opens and releases the belt webbing for unwinding.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the locking device of the belt reel has a rotatably attached locking latch with a toothing which interacts with a complementary toothing on the belt reel, the two toothings engaging in one another when the locking device is active.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the opening of the locking device, through a release of the locking latch from the toothing located on the belt reel, is registered by a switch.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein an angle of rotation of the belt reel is registered by an angle-of-rotation sensor and wherein the angle of rotation is used to determine the opening of the locking device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the belt pretensioner has an electromotive drive and wherein a value of an electrical operating variable of the electromotive drive is registered during the actuation of the belt pretensioner and further wherein the value is used to determine whether the locking device is active.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the belt pretensioner has an electromotive drive and wherein an angle of rotation of the electromotive drive is registered and further wherein the belt pretensioner is actuated in such a way that a torque of the drive is increased until a predefined angle of rotation is reached.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the belt pretensioner is actuated in such a way that when the belt webbing is pretensioned and after the locking device is opened, the belt webbing is unwound from the belt reel in such a way that a belt-webbing-sensitive sensor does not bring about a triggering of the locking device.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a drive for a seat adjustment mechanism, and wherein the seat adjustment mechanism is actuated in such a way that the locking device can be opened by the belt pretensioner drive.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a drive for an adjustment device of a belt deflection roller and wherein the adjustment device is actuated in such a way that the locking device can be opened by the belt pretensioner drive.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a disappearance of a signal which brings about the triggering of the belt pretensioner is predefined as a predefinable condition for the actuation of the belt pretensioner in order to open the locking device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a disappearance of an actuation signal for a brake booster system or a vehicle-movement dynamics control system is predefined as a predefinable condition for the actuation of the belt pretensioner in order to open the locking device.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein a waiting time T₀ after a disappearance of a signal which brings about the triggering of the belt pretensioner is predefined as a predefinable condition of the actuation of the belt pretensioner in order to open the locking device, and wherein after an expiry of the waiting time T₀ the belt pretensioner is actuated in order to open the locking device.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the belt pretensioner is actuated in order to open the locking device, a regulation of a motor current in order to hold the belt reel in a predefinable position is carried out until a detection that the locking device has opened.

14. A method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner for pretensioning a belt webbing wound around a belt reel of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, the belt pretensioner having a drive which acts on the belt reel and the seat belt having, as a belt extraction lock, a locking device which acts on the belt reel in an unwinding direction and is released only if the belt reel is turned about an angular element in a winding-on direction, comprising the steps of:

triggering the belt pretensioner;

satisfying a pre-defined condition;

actuating the belt pretensioner after the triggering and satisfying steps such that the belt reel turns an amount in the winding-on direction; and

opening the locking device of the belt reel in response to the actuating step to release the belt webbing for unwinding;

wherein an angle of rotation of the belt reel is registered by an angle-of-rotation sensor and wherein the angle of rotation is used to determine the opening of the locking device.

15. A method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner for pretensioning a belt webbing wound around a belt reel of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, the belt pretensioner having a drive which acts on the belt reel and the seat belt having, as a belt extraction lock, a locking device which acts on the belt reel in an unwinding direction and is released only if the belt reel is turned about an angular element in a winding-on direction, comprising the steps of:

triggering the belt pretensioner;

satisfying a pre-defined condition;

actuating the belt pretensioner after the triggering and satisfying steps such that the belt reel turns an amount in the winding-on direction; and

opening the locking device of the belt reel in response to the actuating step to release the belt webbing for unwinding;

wherein the belt pretensioner has an electromotive drive and wherein an angle of rotation of the electromotive drive is registered and further wherein the belt pretensioner is actuated in such a way that a torque of the drive is increased until a predefined angle of rotation is reached.

16. A method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner for pretensioning a belt webbing wound around a belt reel of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, the belt pretensioner having a drive which acts on the belt reel and the seat belt having, as a belt extraction lock, a locking device which acts on the belt reel in an unwinding direction and is released only if the belt reel is turned about an angular element in a winding-on direction, comprising the steps of:

triggering the belt pretensioner;

satisfying a pre-defined condition;

actuating the belt pretensioner after the triggering and satisfying steps such that the belt reel turns an amount in the winding-on direction; and

opening the locking device of the belt reel in response to the actuating step to release the belt webbing for unwinding;

wherein the belt pretensioner is actuated in such a way that when the belt webbing is pretensioned and after the locking device is opened, the belt webbing is unwound from the belt reel in such a way that a belt-webbing-sensitive sensor does not bring about a triggering of the locking device.

17. A method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner for pretensioning a belt webbing wound around a belt reel of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, the belt pretensioner having a drive which acts on the belt reel and the seat belt having, as a belt extraction lock, a locking device which acts on the belt reel in an unwinding direction and is released only if the belt reel is turned about an angular element in a winding-on direction, comprising the steps of:

triggering the belt pretensioner;

satisfying a pre-defined condition;

actuating the belt pretensioner after the triggering and satisfying steps such that the belt reel turns an amount in the winding-on direction; and

opening the locking device of the belt reel in response to the actuating step to release the belt webbing for unwinding;

further comprising a drive for a seat adjustment mechanism, and wherein the seat adjustment mechanism is actuated in such a way that the locking device can be opened by the belt pretensioner drive.

18. A method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner for pretensioning a belt webbing wound around a belt reel of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, the belt pretensioner having a drive which acts on the belt reel and the seat belt having, as a belt extraction lock, a locking device which acts on the belt reel in an unwinding direction and is released only if the belt reel is turned about an angular element in a winding-on direction, comprising the steps of:

triggering the belt pretensioner;

satisfying a pre-defined condition;

actuating the belt pretensioner after the triggering and satisfying steps such that the belt reel turns an amount in the winding-on direction; and

opening the locking device of the belt reel in response to the actuating step to release the belt webbing for unwinding;

further comprising a drive for an adjustment device of a belt deflection roller and wherein the adjustment device is actuated in such a way that the locking device can be opened by the belt pretensioner drive.