Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1991-02-08
1991-12-31
Rice, Kenneth R.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
280807, 280805, B60R 2236
Patent
active
050766104
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a vehicle sensitive inertia sensor for the vehicle sensitive actuation of a locking device of a safety belt arrangement, especially in motor vehicles, having an inertia component, the deviation of which from its resting position acts via a tensile component that is movable in a transverse direction onto a respective movable lever of a locking device thus initiating the locking function, whereby the tensile component is connected with one end to the movable lever and with the other end to the housing of the locking device.
A vehicle sensitive inertia sensor of the aforementioned kind has been described in DE 36 24 569 A1; in this known device, the inertia sensor in the form of a pendulum mass is suspended between two connecting rods such that it is movable in a transverse direction, whereby one of the connecting rods is positioned between a suspension fixed at the housing and the pendulum mass and the other connecting rod is positioned between the pendulum mass and a transmission component connected to the moveable lever of the locking device. When accelerations or decelerations occur, the inertia element is shifted and thus shortens, via the deflection of the connecting rods, the distance between their suspension points, so that, via the actuation of the transmission component, the locking function of the movable lever of the locking device is initiated.
The known inertia sensor has the disadvantage, that the pendulum mass is disposed in a free floating manner between the connecting rods, requiring a secure connection between their connecting rods and the pendulum mass. Also, in various places, movable connections between the suspension points and the connecting rods as well as the connecting rods and the pendulum masses must be provided, and for this reason it is difficult to produce the known inertia sensor as well as to adjust it properly during assembly.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inertia sensor of the aforementioned kind, the production and mounting of which is simplified and the function and operation of which is improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The solution to this object, including advantageous embodiments, is given in the claims attached to the description.
The invention is based on the idea, that the inertia element, with its own weight, is resting on the movable lever of the locking device and that the tensile component is embodied as a flexible guide and retaining member, which is guided through a central bore of the inertia element.
The invention is advantageous in that a special housing, respectively elaborate suspension means, for the inertia element is eliminated and a direct connection of the inertia element to the respective movable levers of the locking device that are to be actuated is provided.
According to the embodiments of the invention, the flexible guide and retaining member may comprise a spring suspended between the housing and the moveable lever or a flexible wire.
When, according to an embodiment of the invention, a thread is provided as the guide and retaining member, it is advantageous to form the thread as an injection molded plastic part provided at its ends with fastening elements for positioning the thread at the housing of the locking device, on the one hand, and the moveable lever that is to be actuated, on the other hand. It is also possible to embody the thread as an integral part of the plastic housing cover or as an integral part of the moveable lever arrangement which may also be formed from plastic. In this embodiment, the thread is only provided at its free end with a fastening element for connecting it to the respective other component. In this context, it is advantageous to produce the lever arrangement of the locking device in a manufacturing process which allows to form the thread as an integral part of the lever arrangement or at least allows for the provision of receiving elements for the thread, such manufacturing processes including, for example, injection mo
REFERENCES:
patent: 4120466 (1978-10-01), Adomeit
patent: 4412691 (1983-11-01), Murphy et al.
Autoflug GmbH & Co. Fahrzeugtechnik
Rice Kenneth R.
Shaughnessy M.
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