Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With spring motor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-17
2001-02-13
Nguyen, John Q. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With spring motor
C280S806000, C280S807000, C297S475000, C297S478000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186431
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a belt retractor for a vehicular seat belt system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A belt retractor as is known for example from European patent application 0 456 853 comprises a belt reel taking up the seat belt, a belt tensioning mechanism capable of biasing the belt reel in the winding direction of the seat belt, and a sensor capable of triggering the belt tensioning mechanism and is provided with a safety device translatable by installation of the belt retractor in a vehicle from a secured condition, in which the sensor is blocked, into a released condition in which the sensor is ready to trigger, the safety device including a sensor blocking element which is movable between a blocking position in which the sensor is blocked and a release position in which the sensor is ready to trigger.
A belt tensioning mechanism being triggered by a sensor when required serves to eliminate belt slack from the seat belt system by rotating the belt reel in the winding direction of the seat belt so that a vehicle occupant is involved in the deceleration of the vehicle as early as possible. To prevent triggering of the belt tensioning mechanism during transport of the belt retractor prior to it being mounted in the vehicle, a sensor blocking element is provided which in its blocking position blocks an inertial mass of the sensor. The sensor blocking element is shifted into its release position when the belt retractor is installed in the vehicle. This may be done, for example, by means of a sensing pin which on installation of the belt retractor comes into contact with a part of the vehicle and is urged into the housing of the belt retractor.
The disadvantage in this known belt retractor is that no possibility is provided to prevent an activation of the belt tensioning mechanism when the seat belt is not in use at all. So if the vehicle is involved in an accident, the belt tensioning mechanism is actuated even when, for example, the belt retractor concerned is provided for the front-passenger seat and the front-passenger seat is unoccupied.
The object of the invention is to provide a belt retractor of the aforementioned kind in which a transport safeguarding device, preventing activation of the belt tensioning mechanism when the belt retractor is not incorporated in a vehicle, is combined in a simple way with an occupancy sensor, preventing a triggering of the belt tensioning mechanism when the seat belt of the belt retractor is not in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides belt retractor for a vehicular seat belt system, comprising a belt reel taking up a seat belt, a belt tensioning mechanism capable of biasing the belt reel in a winding direction of the seat-belt, and a sensor capable of triggering the belt tensioning mechanism and provided with a safety device translatable by installation of the belt retractor in a vehicle from a secured condition in which the sensor is blocked, into a released condition in which the sensor is ready to trigger. The safety device includes a sensor blocking element which is movable between a blocking position in which the sensor is blocked, and a release position in which the sensor is ready to trigger, and includes a transport locking element and a sensing element. The sensing element senses a diameter of a coil of the seat belt on the belt reel and allows a movement of the sensor blocking element into the release position only when the diameter is below a predetermined value. The transport locking element is movable between a locked position and a release position. A spring is provided which biases the transport locking element into the release position, and a further spring is provided which biases the sensor blocking element into the release position. The transport locking element comprises a retaining section which in the locked position engages an arresting section of the sensor blocking element and maintains it in the blocking position.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the transport locking element and the sensor blocking element are configured as sliders. In this way the necessary reliable mounting of these two parts can be configured in a relative simple way. A translatory mounting arrangement ensures that all components will still function as desired, even after a working life of up to 15 years, so that the sensor is automatically secured when the belt retractor is removed from the vehicle.
According to this preferred embodiment it is further provided that the springs are compression springs, this offering more safety than the leaf springs employed usually in prior art. During the long time in which the belt retractor may be installed in the vehicle, leaf springs in fact tend to setting more than compression springs so that employing compression springs ensures added assurance that the sensor will be secured again when the belt retractor is removed.
Advantageous aspects of the invention read from the sub-claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5967440 (1999-10-01), Marchall
Biller Joachim
Holbein Wolfgang
Nguyen John Q.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
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