Machine for testing occupant restraint system

• US 20040118178A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Don, Nathan, John, Kremer, Glenn, Deuchler, Troy, Sapielak, John, Marentic, Mark, Thomas, Derek, Debusk, Matt, Krom, Greg, Monk, Roland, Rock, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 6,832,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/01 Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/001 Testing of furniture, e.g. seats or mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/80 Parts, attachments, accessories and adjuncts

Abstract

The present invention relates to a weight-drop machine for calibrating and verifying the calibration of an occupant detection system in a vehicle. The machine comprises a lift frame that is adapted to support and lift a seat pallet toward a keeper plate to cause the pallet to engage the keeper plate so that the pallet is prevented from movement. Another weight-drop machine a weight supported for movement relative to a frame, which, in turn, is supported for movement in a direction having both a horizontal component and a vertical component of movement in a single motion. Yet another weight-drop machine comprises one or more sensors that are adapted to sense the position of a vehicle seat. Still another weight-drop machine comprises a sensor for measuring displacement of the drop weight. A towel bar lift may be provided for lifting a towel bar for operating a manual seat lock mechanism.

Claims

1. A weight-drop machine for performing calibration and verification of occupant detection systems, comprising:

a base;

a lift frame supported for movement relative to the base;

a keeper plate supported in a fixed position relative to the base; and

a displacement element supported in a fixed position relative to the base and the lift frame, the displacement element being adapted to move the lift frame relative to the base, the lift frame being adapted to support and lift a pallet toward the keeper plate to cause the pallet to engage the keeper plate so that the pallet is prevented from further movement.

2. The weight-drop machine of claim 1, wherein the lift frame is supported for movement relative to the base by a linear bearing.

3. The weight-drop machine of claim 1, wherein the lift frame is supported for movement relative to the base by a plurality of spaced apart linear bearings.

4. The weight-drop machine of claim 1, wherein the lift frame is supported for movement relative to the base by a bearing supported relative to the base and a guide shaft supported relative to the lift frame, the guide shaft being supported for movement relative to the bearing.

5. The weight-drop machine of claim 1, wherein the displacement element is a pneumatic actuator.

6. The weight-drop machine of claim 1, further including at least one pallet-locating member supported relative to the lift frame.

7. A towel bar lift for lifting a towel bar for operating a manual seat lock mechanism, comprising:

a base; and

a lift frame supported for vertical and pivotal movement relative to the base, the lift frame having a cantilevered portion that is adapted to extend over the base and under a towel bar and further move upward away from the base and into engagement with the towel bar to move the towel bar upward.

8. The towel bar lift of claim 7, wherein the lift frame is supported for pivotal movement relative to a plate, which is supported for vertical movement relative to the base.

9. The towel bar lift of claim 8, wherein the plate is supported for vertical movement by a linear bearing.

10. The towel bar lift of claim 8, further including a displacement element that is supported in a fixed position relative to the base and the plate, the displacement element being adapted to move the plate vertically relative to the base.

11. The towel bar lift of claim 8, further including an actuator having a first portion that is fixed relative to the base and a second portion that is fixed relative to the plate, the actuator being adapted to move the plate relative to the base.

12. The towel bar lift of claim 11, wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuator.

13. The towel bar lift of claim 7, further including a spring biased against the lift frame to pivot the lift frame to extend the cantilevered portion over the base.

14. The towel bar lift of claim 7, further including a bearing member supported relative to the base, the cantilevered portion engaging the bearing member throughout pivotal movement of the cantilevered portion and then disengaging the bearing member as the cantilevered portion is raised upward away from the base.

15. A weight-drop machine for performing calibration and verification of occupant detection systems, comprising:

a bridge;

a frame; and

a weight supported for movement relative to the frame, the frame being supported for movement relative to the bridge in a direction having both a horizontal component and a vertical component of movement in a single motion.

16. The weight-drop machine of claim 15, further including a linear race supported at an incline relative to the bridge, the frame being connected to the linear race by a pivot block.

17. The weight-drop machine of claim 15, further including spaced linear races each supported at an incline relative to the bridge, the frame having spaced sides each connected to a corresponding one of the linear races by one or more pivot blocks.

18. The weight-drop machine of claim 16, further including spaced guide shaft bases supported at an incline relative to the bridge, a support rail supported relative to each one of the guide shaft bases, and a linear race supported relative to each one of the support rails, the frame being connected to each one of the linear races by one or more pivot blocks.

19. The weight-drop machine of claim 15, further including a displacement element supported in a fixed position relative to the bridge and the frame, the displacement element being adapted to move the frame relative to the bridge.

20. The weight-drop machine of claim 19, wherein a bracket is fixed to the bridge and the displacement element is connected between the bracket and the frame.

21. The weight-drop machine of claim 19, wherein the displacement element is a pneumatic actuator.

22. A weight-drop machine for performing calibration and verification of occupant detection systems, comprising:

a base;

a sensor bracket supported for movement relative to the base; and

one or more sensors supported relative to the sensor bracket, the one or more sensors being adapted to sense the position of a vehicle seat supported by the base frame.

23. The weight-drop machine of claim 22, wherein the one or more sensors include two sensors spaced so that one of the sensors is adapted to sense a vehicle seat supported by the base while the other one of the sensors does not sense the vehicle seat, thus establishing a window between the sensors where an edge of the vehicle seat is adapted to be positioned.

24. The weight-drop machine of claim 22, wherein the one or more sensors include two sensors spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of a vehicle seat supported by the base.

25. The weight-drop machine of claim 22, wherein the one or more sensors includes two front sensors and two side sensors, the front sensors being spaced so that one of the sensors is adapted to sense a vehicle seat supported by the base while the other one of the sensors does not sense the vehicle seat, thus establishing a window between the sensors where an edge of the vehicle seat is adapted to be positioned, the side sensors being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of a vehicle seat supported by the base frame.

26. The weight-drop machine of claim 22, wherein the sensor bracket is a generally U-shaped member having rearward extending legs and an intermediate member therebetween and the one or more sensors includes two front sensors and two side sensors, the intermediate member supporting the two front sensors so that one of the sensors is adapted to sense a vehicle seat supported by the base frame while the other one of the sensors does not sense the vehicle seat, each leg supporting a side sensor so that the side sensors are adapted to be spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of a vehicle seat supported by the base frame

27. The weight-drop machine of claim 22, wherein the sensors are photoelectric sensors.

28. The weight-drop machine of claim 22, further including a weight supported for movement relative to the sensor bracket, wherein the one or more sensors are adapted to position the weight and a vehicle seat supported by the base at a desired position relative to one another.

29. A weight-drop machine for performing calibration and verification of occupant detection systems, comprising:

a drop weight including a guide shaft;

a bearing supporting the guide shaft for movement; and

a sensor connected between the guide shaft and the bearing for measuring displacement of the guide shaft relative to the bearing.

30. The weight-drop machine of claim 29, further including a base adapted to support a vehicle seat, the weight being supported for movement relative to the machine base.

31. The weight-drop machine of claim 29, wherein the sensor is a linear-voltage displacement transformer.