Method of establishing belt pullout in an occupant restraint system for vehicles and an occupant restraint system for vehicles

• US 7,823,923 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Thomas Dramlitsch
• Inventors: Dramlitsch, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US11/632,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 280/801.1, 280805-807, 297/470, 297/471, 297/479, 297/475, 297/477, 297/480, 242/379.1, 242/382.4, 242/384
• US Class Current: 280/805
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/288 with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/322 using automatic actuating means B60R22/321 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/3413 operating between belt reel and retractor frame B60R22/4676 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of establishing belt pullout in an occupant restraint system for vehicles with a safety belt includes the steps: detecting the vehicle acceleration, and establishing the belt pullout in dependence on the detected vehicle acceleration.

Claims

1. A method of limiting an acceleration transmitted to an occupant by an occupant restraint system of a vehicle in case of an accident where the occupant restraint system comprises a safety belt that allows belt pullout, a blocking device for blocking the belt pullout and a release device for acting on the blocking device to enable a defined length of the belt to be pulled out, the method comprising in case of an accident the steps of:

detecting the vehicle acceleration;

defining a length of the belt greater than zero that is allowed to be pulled out based on the detected vehicle acceleration; and

operating the release device and causing the release device to act on the blocking device for enabling the defined length of the belt to be pulled out;

wherein the defined length of the belt allowed to be pulled out is independent of the mass of the occupant.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the defined length of the belt allowed to be pulled out is defined by an algebraic relation between the length and the detected vehicle acceleration.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the vehicle acceleration comprises detecting the vehicle acceleration during selecting time intervals and wherein the step of defining a length of the belt greater than zero that is allowed to be pulled out comprises increasing the length of the belt allowed to be pulled out in response to a detected increase of the vehicle acceleration during the selected time interval.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the length of the belt to be pulled out corresponds to a displacement of a reference body of known mass that is exposed to the same vehicle acceleration and is restrained by a known force.

5. An occupant restraint system for vehicles that provides, during an accident, forward displacement for an occupant within the occupant restraint system, comprising:

at least one safety belt allowing a belt pullout greater than zero,

a blocking device for blocking the belt pullout, and

a release device acting on the blocking device for definedly enabling the belt pullout greater than zero,

characterised by

an acceleration detection unit which, in case of an accident, detects the vehicle acceleration and which, in dependence on the detected vehicle acceleration, determines a defined length of the belt greater than zero that is allowed to be pulled out and acts on the release device for enabling the determined length of the belt to be pulled out;

wherein the defined length of the belt allowed to be pulled out is independent of the mass of the occupant.

6. An occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 5 characterised in that the acceleration detection unit has a reference mass (m) which is movable relative to the vehicle and which is displaceable out of its position against a predetermined force (F) and which upon a change in position against the predetermined force acts on the blocking unit as a release unit for enabling belt pullout.

7. An occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 6 characterised in that the reference mass (m) is adapted to act mechanically on the blocking device.

8. An occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 6 characterised in that the force (F) against which the reference mass (m) is displaceable is established by the formula F=B m g, wherein g is the acceleration due to gravity, m is the mass of the reference mass (m) and B is a freely selectable parameter.

9. An occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 8 characterised in that the parameter B is of the dimensionless value 60.

10. The occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the predetermined force (F) is achieved by a spring.

11. The occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the blocking unit device and the release device are defined by a rack engageable with a gear, the rack and gear combination enabling belt pullout.

12. The occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the blocking device includes a rack, at least one gear coupled to a retraction reel, and a plurality of abutment pins having beveled surfaces blocking movement of the rack in a given direction, and the release device is defined by a reference body having a front end with an inclined surface, the inclined surface being beveled to cooperate with the beveled surfaces of the abutment pins.

13. The occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the acceleration of the reference mass transmits a force to the bevelled surface of one of the abutment pins when the vehicle acceleration exceeds a predetermined acceleration, thereby displacing the abutment pins and causing belt pullout.