Tightening device for a seat belt component

Abstract

This invention relates to a tightening device for a seatbelt component, the tightening device comprising a gas generator for generating compressed gas; a piston that can be driven by the compressed gas; a pull cord (4) connected to the piston, the pull cord being connectable to a seatbelt component that is displaced during tightening; a tightening tube (5) for receiving and guiding the piston; and a guide block (1) forming a cord guide portion, wherein the guide block is designed with a receiving portion (2) for receiving the gas generator and a pressure chamber fluidly connected to the receiving portion (2). (3), wherein the guide block (1) is connected to the tightener tube (5), and the pull rope (4) extends in a straight line from the tightener tube (5) through the pressure chamber (3) in the piston movement direction (6), characterized in that the guide block (1) forms a linear guide (7) connected to the pressure chamber (3), the linear guide being constructed such that the pull rope (4) can be led out from the guide block (1) on the side opposite to the tightener tube (5) parallel to the piston movement direction (6).

Description

[0001] manual

[0002] The present invention relates to a tightening device for a seat belt component, the tightening device having a gas generator for generating compressed gas; a piston that can be driven by the compressed gas; a pull cord connected to the piston, the pull cord being connectable to a seat belt component that is displaced during tightening movement; a tightener for receiving and guiding the piston; and a guide block forming a cord guide portion, wherein the guide block is designed with a housing portion for receiving the gas generator and a pressure chamber fluidly connected to the housing portion, wherein the guide block is connected to a tightener tube, and the pull cord extends linearly from the tightener tube through the pressure chamber in the direction of piston movement.

[0003] Such tightening devices are known, for example, from DE 10 2015 111 083B4, in which a guide block forms a rope steering section, causing the pull rope to be turned from the pressure chamber in the direction of the seatbelt component to be tightened by a steering guide in the guide block to a direction transverse to the piston movement direction. This steering of the pull rope by the guide block was necessary in the past because the tightening device was mounted laterally next to the vehicle seat, and the piston movement direction was oriented parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, where the seatbelt buckle or end fitting was typically tightened via the pull rope. Now there is a need to install the tightening device in a different orientation in motor vehicles.

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a tightening device that can be installed in a motor vehicle in different orientations, and / or to make the configuration of the tightening device more flexible.

[0005] This objective is achieved by a tightening device having the features of the independent claim. Advantageous improvements to the tightening device are given in the dependent claims and the specification, wherein the features of the advantageous improvements can be combined with each other in a technically reasonable manner.

[0006] Specifically, this objective is achieved by a tightening device having the features mentioned at the beginning, wherein a guide block forms a linear guide portion in contact with the pressure chamber, the linear guide portion being constructed such that the pull rope can be led out from the guide block on a side opposite to the tightener tube, parallel to the direction of piston movement.

[0007] Therefore, the basic idea of ​​this invention is that the integrated guide block is designed such that the pull cord extends from the guide block parallel to or offset from the direction of piston movement, thus allowing the pretensioner tube in the predetermined direction of piston movement to be oriented parallel to or offset from the pretensioning movement of the seatbelt component. Alternatively, it is feasible to use further means to deflect the pull cord outside the guide block. This allows the pretensioning device to be placed in a different location in the vehicle than before.

[0008] To prevent unintentional movement of the pull cord after the tightening device is assembled and before or after its installation in the vehicle, and consequently to prevent the piston in the tightener tube from being in an undesirable position, the linear guide may be configured to have at least one resistance element specifically arranged within the linear guide, which resists unintentional movement of the pull cord. Alternatively, a protrusion or narrowing portion protruding into the linear guide may be designed in the guide block outside the pressure chamber, preventing relative movement of the pull cord and, consequently, of the piston relative to the tightener tube before or after its installation in the vehicle.

[0009] In principle, it is feasible to design the resistance element as a single unit at the guide block. However, it is preferable that the resistance element be designed as a separate component and inserted into the linear guide formed by the guide block. This separate component is made of a different material than the guide block.

[0010] The inserted component is preferably made of plastic, wherein at least one resistance element formed by this component shrinks at the start of the tightening process due to friction between the pull cord and the at least one resistance element. For example, the plastic component may initially be designed with protrusions that contact the pull cord to prevent unintentional movement of the pull cord, but at the start of the tightening process, these protrusions decrease in height due to friction with the pull cord, thereby reducing their resistance. Such a separate component is particularly useful if the pull cord is led out from the guide block parallel to the direction of piston movement.

[0011] However, this can also be used to form a resistance element that creates an obstacle for the draw rope through the guide block itself or through a component inserted into the guide block. In particular, the resistance element can form an S-shaped guide for the draw rope through the guide block or its linear guide portion, so that the draw rope extends from the guide block in a direction offset parallel to the piston movement direction.

[0012] To enable this guide block to be used not only in novel arrangements of tightening devices but also in known tightening devices, it can be configured to include a steering guide in addition to the linear guide. This steering guide is constructed such that the pull rope can be inclined out of the guide block in the direction of piston movement. That is, the guide block incorporates both a linear guide and a steering guide, allowing for flexible application. Specifically, the guide block can be designed such that the steering guide extends from the linear guide, and particularly, it is possible for the rope to turn by more than 20°, preferably more than 45°, and particularly preferably more than 90°.

[0013] If the resistance element is formed at a separate component, the separate component can be configured such that it is arranged in both the linear guide and the steering guide. In this way, the position of the component in the guide block is reliably predetermined, and movement of the separate component is prevented. In particular, the separate component is designed such that the portion of the separate component that forms the resistance element extends along the linear guide, while its retaining portion extends into the steering guide.

[0014] The invention and its technical environment are explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings schematically illustrate:

[0015] Figure 1 For tightening device,

[0016] Figure 2 As an independent component, this independent component is used to form according to Figure 1 The resistance element of the tightening device, and

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the tightening device.

[0018] exist Figure 1 and Figure 3 Each of the tightening devices shown includes a guide block 1, in which a receiving portion 2 for a gas generator (not shown) is designed. The receiving portion 2 is fluidly connected to a pressure chamber 3 formed in the guide block 1.

[0019] The pull rope 4 is guided in a straight line through the pressure chamber 3 and into the tightener tube 5. Inside the tightener tube 5, the pull rope 4 is connected to a piston (not shown). The arrangement of the piston at the pull rope and in the tightener tube has been mentioned in DE 10 2015 111 083B4 mentioned at the beginning, and this part is referred to in that document. However, the arrangement of the piston is not important to this invention.

[0020] When triggered, compressed gas is generated by the gas generator, which is transmitted through the pressure chamber 3 to the tightener tube 5, where it drives the piston in the piston movement direction 6 and in turn drives the pull rope 4.

[0021] On the side facing away from the tightener tube 5, the guide block 1 is designed so that the pull rope 4 is parallel and aligned. Figure 1 ) or parallel offset ( Figure 3 The cable 4 is led out from the guide block 1. That is, the guide block 1 has a linear guide 7. Additionally, the guide block 1 also has a steering guide 10, so the cable 4 can also be led out from the guide block 1 in a direction transverse to the piston movement direction 6 (not shown in the figure).

[0022] To prevent the pull rope 4 from being moved unintentionally before the tightening process, and consequently the piston from being moved unintentionally, a resistance element 8 is provided.

[0023] according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the resistance element 8 is formed by a protrusion at an individual member 9. The individual member 9 is shaped such that its holding portion is arranged in the steering guide 10, and its portion having the resistance element 8 is arranged in the linear guide 7. At the start of the tightening process triggered by the gas generator, the height of the protrusion at the individual member 9 decreases due to friction with the pull rope 4, thereby reducing the friction or resistance.

[0024] according to Figure 3 In one implementation, the resistance element 8 is formed by a type of obstacle, which causes the pull rope 4 to turn in an S-shape, thereby providing resistance.

[0025] List of icon symbols

[0026] 1 guide block

[0027] 2. Reception area

[0028] 3 pressure chambers

[0029] 4. Pull rope

[0030] 5. Tightener tube

[0031] 6. Direction of piston movement

[0032] 7. Linear Guide Section

[0033] 8. Resistance element

[0034] 9 components

[0035] 10 Steering Guidance Unit

Claims

1. A tightening device for a seatbelt component, the tightening device having - A gas generator used to produce compressed gas; - A piston that can be driven by the compressed gas; -A pull rope (4) connected to the piston, the pull rope being able to be connected to a seat belt component that is displaced during the tightening motion; -A tightening tube (5) for receiving and guiding the piston and - A guide block (1) forming a rope guide section, wherein a receiving section (2) for accommodating the gas generator and a pressure chamber (3) fluidly connected to the receiving section (2) are designed in the guide block, wherein The guide block (1) is connected to the tightener tube (5), and the pull rope (4) extends in a straight line from the tightener tube (5) through the pressure chamber (3) in the piston movement direction (6). Its features are, The guide block (1) forms a linear guide (7) connected to the pressure chamber (3). The linear guide is constructed such that the pull rope (4) can be led out from the guide block (1) on a side opposite to the tightener tube (5) parallel to the piston movement direction (6). At least one resistance element (8) is arranged in the linear guide (7) to resist unintentional movement of the pull rope (4). The resistance element (8) is formed by a protrusion at a separate member (9). The portion of the member (9) with the resistance element (8) is arranged in the linear guide (7). At the start of the tightening process triggered by the gas generator, the height of the protrusion at the member (9) decreases due to friction with the pull rope (4), thereby reducing the friction or resistance.

2. The tightening device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one resistance element (8) is formed by the member (9) inserted into the linear guide (7).

3. The tightening device according to claim 2, wherein the inserted member (9) is made of plastic, and the resistance element (8) formed by the member (9) shrinks due to friction at the start of the tightening process.

4. The tightening device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resistance element (8) causes an S-shaped guide of the pull rope (4) and thereby causes a parallel bias of the pull rope (4).

5. The tightening arrangement of claim 1, wherein, In addition to the linear guide (7), a steering guide (10) is also designed in the guide block (1), which is constructed such that the pull rope (4) can be led out from the guide block (1) at an angle to the piston movement direction (6).

6. The tightening device according to claim 5, wherein the member (9) forming the resistance element (8) is arranged in both the linear guide (7) and the steering guide (10).

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