Operator restraint system

• US 8,195,365 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Bernhagen, James Robert, Elliott, Robert Quincy, Hadank, John Martin, Edwards, David James
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich, George
• Application Number:
  US12/289,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 280/801.1, 280/808, 297/468.4, 297/474, 297/475, 297/483, 242/383.1, 242/384.1, 340/457.1
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4825 for sensing amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

An operator restraint system is provided. The operator restraint system includes a seatbelt payout sensor and a seatbelt buckle assembly. The seatbelt buckle assembly includes a housing and an alarm assembly. The alarm assembly includes at least one of a light source configured to generate a visible signal and an annunciator configured to generate an audible signal. A controller is associated with at least one of the seatbelt payout sensor and the alarm assembly. The controller is configured to receive from the seatbelt payout sensor a signal indicative of a length of a seatbelt that has been withdrawn, determine whether the length of the seatbelt that has been withdrawn is within a predetermined range, and control the alarm assembly to selectively generate at least one of the visible signal and the audible signal to remind an operator regarding employment of the seatbelt based on the determination.

Claims

1. An operator restraint system, comprising:

a seatbelt payout sensor located adjacent a seatbelt spool and configured to measure a length of a seatbelt that has been withdrawn, and generate a signal indicative of the withdrawn length;

a seatbelt buckle assembly, including;

a housing; and

an alarm assembly including at least one of a light source and an annunciator; and

a controller associated with at least one of the seatbelt payout sensor and the alarm assembly, and configured to;

receive the signal generated by the seatbelt payout sensor;

determine whether the withdrawn length of the seatbelt is within a predetermined range; and

control the alarm assembly to selectively generate at least one of a visible signal and an audible signal to remind an operator regarding employment of the seatbelt based on the determination.

2. The operator restraint system of claim 1, wherein the seatbelt payout sensor includes a rotation counter associated with the seatbelt spool and configured to measure the withdrawn length of the seatbelt.

3. The operator restraint system of claim 1, wherein the seatbelt payout sensor includes a magnetic element embedded at a predetermined location in the seatbelt, and a magnetic switch disposed adjacent the seatbelt spool and configured to detect the magnetic element embedded in the seatbelt.

4. The operator restraint system of claim 1, further including a timer associated with the controller and configured to set a duration of time associated with at least one of the light source and the annunciator for selectively generating the at least one of the visible signal and the audible signal.

5. The operator restraint system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the withdrawn length of the seatbelt is within the predetermined range after determining that the seatbelt is secured with the seatbelt buckle assembly, and to control the alarm assembly to selectively generate the at least one of the visible signal and the audible signal based on the determination.

6. The operator restraint system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the light source is disposed within the housing, and the annunciator is associated with the housing.

7. The operator restraint system of claim 1, further including an engagement detection device configured to detect whether the seatbelt is secured with the seatbelt buckle assembly.

8. An operator restraint system, comprising:

a seatbelt payout sensor located adjacent a seatbelt spool and configured to measure a length of a seatbelt that has been withdrawn, and generate a signal indicative of the withdrawn length;

a seatbelt buckle assembly, including;

a housing; and

an alarm assembly including a light source configured to generate a visible signal and an annunciator configured to generate an audible signal, the light source and the annunciator being associated with the housing; and

a controller associated with at least one of the seatbelt payout sensor, and at least one component of the alarm assembly, and configured to;

receive the signal indicative of the withdrawn length of the seatbelt generated by the seatbelt payout sensor;

determine whether the withdrawn length of the seatbelt is within a predetermined range; and

control at least one component of the alarm assembly to selectively generate an alarm to remind an operator regarding employment of the seatbelt based on the determination.

9. The operator restraint system of claim 8, wherein the seatbelt payout sensor includes a rotation counter associated with the seatbelt spool and configured to measure the withdrawn length of the seatbelt.

10. The operator restraint system of claim 8, wherein the seatbelt payout sensor includes a magnetic element embedded at a predetermined location in the seatbelt, and a magnetic switch disposed adjacent the seatbelt spool and configured to detect the magnetic element embedded in the seatbelt.

11. The operator restraint system of claim 8, further including a timer associated with the controller and configured to set a duration of time associated with at least one of the light source and the annunciator for selectively generating the alarm.

12. The operator restraint system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the withdrawn length of the seatbelt is within the predetermined range after determining that the seatbelt is secured with the seatbelt buckle assembly, and to control at least one component of the alarm assembly to selectively generate the alarm based on the determination.