Tensioning apparatuses for occupant restraint systems and associated systems and methods

• US 8,303,043 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Humbert, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US12/569,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 297/477, 297/216.1, 297/479, 280/807
• US Class Current: 297/477
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/40 responsive only to vehicle movement
• 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

Tensioning apparatuses for occupant restraint systems and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, an occupant restraint system for a vehicle can include a flexible web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle and an electrically actuated web retractor operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the web. The web retractor is configured to automatically wind and unwind the web. The system also includes an acceleration sensor operably coupled to the electrically actuated web retractor. The acceleration sensor is configured to send an electrical signal to the web retractor in response to a vehicle acceleration above a preset magnitude. In response to the signal, the web retractor is configured to (a) retract the web, and/or (b) at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly.

Claims

1. An occupant restraint system for use in a vehicle, the occupant restraint system comprising:

a flexible and elongate web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle;

an electrically actuated web retractor operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the web, wherein the electrically actuated web retractor includes;

a spool configured to wind and unwind the elongate web during operation; and

an electrical actuator operably coupled to the spool and configured to rotatably move the spool;

a gear assembly operably coupled to the spool, wherein the gear assembly comprises one or more gears positioned to provide a pear reduction for increased torque between the electrical actuator and the spool; and

a solenoid operably coupled to the spool; and

an acceleration sensor operably coupled to the electrically actuated web retractor, wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to send an electrical signal to the web retractor in response to a vehicle acceleration above a preset magnitude, wherein, in response to receiving the electrical signal from the acceleration sensor, the electrical actuator is configured to retract the web, and further wherein, in response to receiving the electrical signal from the acceleration sensor, the solenoid is configured to prevent the spool from paying out the web.

2. The occupant restraint system of claim 1 wherein the electrically actuated web retractor comprises:

a base;

wherein the spool is rotatably mounted to the base.

3. An occupant restraint system for use in a vehicle, the occupant restraint system comprising:

a flexible and elongate web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle;

an electrically actuated web retractor operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the web, wherein the web retractor is configured to automatically wind and unwind the elongate web, and wherein the electrically actuated web retractor comprises;

a base;

a spool rotatably mounted to the base, wherein the spool is configured to wind and unwind the elongate web during operation and at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly, and wherein the spool is fixedly attached to a rotating shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;

an electrical actuator operably coupled to the spool and configured to rotatably move the spool; and

a gear assembly operably coupled to the first end of the rotating shaft, wherein the gear assembly comprises one or more gears positioned to provide a gear reduction for increased torque between the electrical actuator and the shaft;

a locking wheel operably coupled to the second end of the rotating shaft, wherein the locking wheel comprises a plurality of teeth spaced about a perimeter thereof; and

a solenoid operably coupled to the spool; and

an acceleration sensor operably coupled to the electrically actuated web retractor;

wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to send an electrical signal to the web retractor in response to a vehicle acceleration above a preset magnitude, wherein, in response to receiving the electrical signal from the acceleration sensor, the web retractor is configured to (a) retract the web, and/or (b) at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly; and

wherein the solenoid is configured to lock and unlock the spool in response to signals from the acceleration sensor.

4. The occupant restraint system of claim 3 wherein the electrical actuator comprises a DC motor.

5. The occupant restraint system of claim 3 wherein:

the gear assembly is positioned in a first housing;

the solenoid is positioned in a second housing different than first housing; and

the locking wheel is positioned in a third housing different than the first and second housings.

6. The occupant restraint system of claim 3 wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to sense vehicle accelerations in a vertical direction along a Z-axis.

7. The occupant restraint system of claim 3 wherein the acceleration sensor is a first acceleration sensor, and wherein the occupant restraint system further comprises a second acceleration sensor and a third acceleration sensor, and wherein:

the first acceleration sensor is configured to sense vehicle accelerations in a vertical direction along a Z-axis;

the second acceleration sensor is configured to sense vehicle accelerations in a forward and/or aft direction along an X-axis; and

the third acceleration sensor is configured to sense vehicle accelerations in a lateral direction along a Y-axis.

8. The occupant restraint system of claim 3, further comprising a seat for use in the vehicle and configured to hold the occupant, and wherein:

the electrically actuated web retractor is fixedly attached to a frame of the seat; and

the acceleration sensor is coupled to the frame of the seat.

9. The occupant restraint system of claim 3 wherein the web retractor is further configured to extend the web and/or allow the web to move inwardly or outwardly after the forces associated with the increased vehicle acceleration have decreased and the vehicle acceleration is below the preset magnitude.

10. The occupant restraint system of claim 3 wherein the web retractor is configured to modulate tension in the web a plurality of different times without requiring external maintenance or input from an operator.

11. The occupant restraint system of claim 3 wherein the vehicle comprises an automobile.

12. An occupant restraint system for use in a vehicle, the occupant restraint system comprising:

a flexible and elongate web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle;

means for automatically winding and unwinding the web, wherein the means for automatically winding and unwinding the web is operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the elongate web, and wherein the means for automatically winding and unwinding the web include;

a spool configured to wind and unwind the elongate web during operation;

an electrical actuator operably coupled to the spool and configured to rotatably move the spool;

a gear assembly having one or more gears positioned to provide increased torque between the electrical actuator and the spool;

a locking wheel operably coupled to the spool; and

means for locking the locking wheel; and

means for sensing a vehicle acceleration and sending an electrical signal to the means for automatically winding and unwinding the web in response to a vehicle acceleration above a predetermined threshold value,

wherein, in response to receiving the electrical signal, the means for automatically winding and unwinding the web is configured to (a) retractably wind the web around the spool, and/or (b) at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly; and

wherein, in response to receiving the electrical signal, the means for locking the locking wheel is configured to prevent the spool from paving out web.

13. The occupant restraint system of claim 12 wherein the web, the means for automatically winding and unwinding the web, and the means for sensing the vehicle acceleration are operably coupled to and carried by a seat for use in the vehicle.