Tension sensing assembly

• US 20040245761A1
• Filed: 04/22/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Webber, James L., Moury, Michael T., Maloney, David L., Hlavaty, David G., Wojtanek, Guy A., Greib, Gary R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1806 for buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0155 sensing belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/18 Anchoring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/103 using sensors fixed at one end of the flexible member

Abstract

A tension sensing assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes at least one anchor for operative connection to vehicle structure. The tension sensing assembly also includes a movable mechanism for operative connection to a buckle assembly of the seat restraint system. The tension sensing assembly includes at least one magnet operatively supported by the movable mechanism and a Hall effect sensor operatively supported by the at least one anchor and cooperable with the at least one magnet. The tension sensing assembly further includes at least one tension spring extending between the at least one anchor and the movable mechanism. The movable mechanism moves the at least one magnet relative to the Hall effect sensor to change an output of the Hall effect sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system when the at least one tension spring is stretched.

Claims

1. A tension sensing assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle comprising:

at least one anchor for operative connection to vehicle structure;

a movable mechanism for operative connection to a buckle assembly of the seat restraint system;

at least one magnet operatively supported by said movable mechanism;

a Hall effect sensor operatively supported by said at least one anchor and cooperable with said at least one magnet; and

at least one tension spring extending between said at least one anchor and said movable mechanism, said movable mechanism moving said at least one magnet relative to said Hall effect sensor to change an output of said Hall effect sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system when said at least one tension spring is stretched.

2. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a fastener to connect said at least one anchor and said movable mechanism together and allow relative motion therebetween.

3. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable mechanism comprises a buckle frame of the buckle assembly for the seat restraint system.

4. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable mechanism comprises at least one anchor member.

5. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable mechanism includes at least one aperture extending therethrough.

6. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said aperture comprises an elongated slot.

7. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one anchor has an anchor portion and an aperture extending through said anchor portion.

8. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said at least anchor has a tongue portion extending longitudinally from said anchor portion.

9. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said tongue portion has an aperture extending therethrough.

10. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said aperture comprises an elongated slot.

11. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable mechanism and said at least one anchor include at least one spring mount.

12. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 11 including a plurality of spring crimps, one of said spring crimps connecting one end of said at least one spring to one of said spring mounts.

13. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a cover disposed over a portion of said movable mechanism and said at least one anchor.

14. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a housing connected to said movable mechanism.

15. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing is a die-cast material.

16. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said at least one magnet is a single magnet operatively supported by said housing.

17. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a cable operatively supported by said at least one anchor for attachment to vehicle structure.

18. A seat restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

a lower anchor for operative connection to vehicle structure;

an upper anchor for operative connection to belt webbing of the seat restraint system;

a fastener interconnecting said upper anchor and said lower anchor to allow relative movement therebetween;

at least one magnet operatively supported by said upper anchor;

a Hall effect sensor operatively supported by said lower anchor and cooperable with said at least one magnet; and

a plurality of tension springs extending between said lower anchor and said upper anchor, said upper anchor moving said at least one magnet relative to said Hall effect sensor to change an output of said Hall effect sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system when said tension springs are stretched.

19. A seat restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

a seat belt buckle frame;

an anchor for operative connection to vehicle structure;

a housing disposed over a portion of said buckle frame;

a fastener interconnecting said housing, said buckle frame, and said anchor to allow relative movement therebetween;

a single magnet operatively supported by said housing;

a Hall effect sensor operatively supported by said anchor and cooperable with said magnet; and

a plurality of tension springs extending between said anchor and said buckle frame, said buckle frame moving said magnet relative to said Hall effect sensor to change an output of said Hall effect sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system when said tension springs are stretched.

20. A seat restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

a seat belt buckle frame;

an anchor;

a cable operatively supported by said anchor for attachment to vehicle structure;

a fastener interconnecting said buckle frame and said anchor to allow relative movement therebetween;

a plurality of magnets operatively supported by said anchor;

a Hall effect sensor operatively supported by said buckle frame and cooperable with said magnets; and

a plurality of tension spring extending between said anchor and said buckle frame, said buckle frame moving said Hall effect sensor relative to said magnets to change an output of said Hall effect sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system when said tension springs are stretched.

21. A seat restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

a seat belt buckle frame;

an anchor for operative connection to belt webbing;

a fastener interconnecting said buckle frame and said anchor to allow relative movement therebetween;

a plurality of magnets operatively supported by said anchor;

a Hall effect sensor operatively supported by said buckle frame and cooperable with said magnets; and

a plurality of tension springs extending between said anchor and said buckle frame, said buckle frame moving said Hall effect sensor relative to said magnets to change an output of said Hall effect sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system when said tension springs are stretched.