Vehicle inductive sensor for self-inflating safety belt retractor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle sensing sensor for a self-locking seat belt retractor, the vehicle sensing sensor comprising: - a support member (1), - a sensor mass unit (2) vertically disposed on a contact surface (1.1) of the support member (1) and tiltable relative to the support member (1), and - a locking lever (3) coupled to the sensor mass unit (2) and having an engagement tip (3.1), wherein the locking lever (2) has at least two rotating elements (3.2a, 3.2b) for forming a rotation axis of the locking lever (3), and wherein each rotating element (3.2a, 3.2b) rests on an associated contact point (1.2a, 1.2b) of the support member (4).

Description

[0001] manual

[0002] This invention relates to a vehicle sensing sensor for a self-locking seatbelt retractor, the vehicle sensing sensor comprising a support member, a sensor mass unit vertically disposed on a contact surface of the support member and tiltable relative to the support member, and a locking lever coupled to the sensor mass unit and having an engaging tip, wherein the locking lever has at least two rotating elements for forming a rotation axis of the locking lever, and wherein each rotating element rests on an associated contact point of the support member. The invention also relates to a self-locking seatbelt retractor having a vehicle sensing sensor.

[0003] Sensors with the aforementioned characteristics are known, for example, from EP 3459797 B1. Such sensors are used in seatbelt winding shaft locking systems, wherein when triggered, the vehicle sensing sensor mass unit moves the locking lever so that its engaging tip engages with the teeth of the control disc, thereby stopping the rotational movement of the control disc shared with the seatbelt winding shaft and activating the locking system.

[0004] It has now been found that, despite known countermeasures, in the event of a collision, the locking lever releases from its retainer, allowing for rotational movement. In particular, at high temperatures, it has been observed that the locking lever releases from its intended position and / or is inhibited during its rotational movement, thus failing to ensure activation of the locking system.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to at least partially address the shortcomings described with reference to the prior art, and specifically, to provide a vehicle sensing sensor that has increased robustness to faults.

[0006] The vehicle sensing sensor having the features of independent claim 1 indicates a possible solution for this purpose. Further possible solutions and advantageous further developments of the sensor are indicated in the dependent claims and the specification, wherein the various features in the dependent claims and the specification can be combined with each other in a technically meaningful manner.

[0007] Vehicle sensing sensors specifically include support components, sensor mass units, and locking levers.

[0008] Under normal conditions, when installed as intended, the sensor mass unit is specifically positioned vertically on the contact surface of the support member and can be tilted relative to the support member.

[0009] The locking lever is specifically connected to the sensor mass unit by passing through a single-piece, two-piece, or multi-piece sensor mass unit, wherein the contact point between the portion of the locking lever passing through the sensor mass unit and the sensor mass unit is preferably achieved by at least one protrusion.

[0010] The locking lever also has an engaging tip, which specifically faces the portion through which the sensor mass unit passes. The locking lever and the sensor mass unit (if applicable) can be specifically designed in the contact area such that the locking lever performs a rotational motion when the sensor mass unit tilts. However, in addition to the rotational motion, the axis of rotation defined by the rotational motion can also be linearly shifted.

[0011] To form the axis of rotation, the locking lever may have at least two, preferably exactly two, rotating elements. The rotating elements are specifically formed at the two lateral ends of the locking lever.

[0012] In normal conditions, when installed as intended, the rotating elements are located at contact points formed by the support components. Preferably, the rotating elements have a circular outer periphery design on their bottom surface, during which the locking lever rolls from the contact points on the bottom surface during rotational movement triggered by the tilt sensor mass unit.

[0013] In one embodiment, the support member has a recess for each rotating element, and the base of the recess forms a contact point for the rotating element. Furthermore, the base is at least partially, preferably completely, covered by the cover of the corresponding recess, and therefore, in the normal assembled state, at least the rotating element is also at least partially, preferably completely, covered by the cover of the corresponding recess. This ensures that even in the event of a collision, the rotating element will not rise an indeterminate distance from the base. Instead, it ensures that the rotating element abuts against the cover of the recess during its lifting movement away from the base and thus remains in its intended position.

[0014] Preferably, exactly two recesses are formed in the lateral region of the support member for exactly two rotating elements of the locking lever. Thus, each recess accommodating the rotating element has a base and a cap that covers the base at least in the region of the rotating element.

[0015] The recess may also have an opening through which a corresponding rotating element can be inserted / pushed. Such openings are particularly located on the front side of the support member, i.e., on the side opposite to the contact surface and the sensor mass unit. Therefore, during assembly, on the one hand, the corresponding part of the locking lever can be inserted into the sensor mass unit, and in this case, the rotating element of the locking lever can be inserted into the recess through the opening.

[0016] To prevent the locking lever from falling out of the recess through the opening during the corresponding orientation of the sensor, the cover of the recess may have a downwardly projecting protrusion. The protrusion may be specifically designed so that rotating elements with a cross-section that is particularly non-circular cannot be inserted into the recess through the opening in any desired orientation.

[0017] Alternatively, the protrusion and the rotating element can be configured to match each other in such a way that the locking lever with the rotating element can only be inserted into the recess through the opening with a certain pressure, so that the rotating element cannot simply fall out of the recess. During insertion, the protrusion / support component can, for example, elastically deform.

[0018] However, the protrusion may also have additional or alternative functions. Therefore, the protrusion can be designed and configured such that the (rotational) movement of the rotating element is limited by the contact between the rotating element and the protrusion during its movement triggered by the sensor mass unit. However, correspondingly, the maximum deflection angle of the engaging tip of the locking lever is also predetermined by the protrusion.

[0019] To simplify the process of inserting the locking lever into the support component, the opening can be designed to gradually narrow towards the bottom of the recess. Therefore, when the bottom of the recess is horizontally oriented in the expected normal state, the opening descends forward from the end of the base.

[0020] In conjunction with the protrusion on the cover of the recess, the transition from the tapered opening to the bottom of the recess can be positioned behind the protrusion along the introduction direction of the rotating element. Specifically, when the rotating element has a non-circular outer periphery design, this allows the rotating element to be inserted into the recess through the opening in an assembly orientation and to enter the desired normal state by rotating within the recess, wherein the protrusion prevents the rotating element from disengaging from the recess by linear movement, and wherein the protrusion simultaneously restricts the rotational movement of the locking lever. The connection with the sensor mass unit also prevents the locking lever from returning to the assembly orientation position, and thus prevents the rotating element from accidentally disengaging from the recess.

[0021] To additionally or alternatively restrict the rotational movement of the locking lever, a forward-projecting stop element may be provided for each recess. In each case, the stop element is formed on the front side of the bearing element (and thus extends in the direction of the engaging tip of the locking lever). Specifically, the stop element is configured to be offset inward relative to the recess. The stop element may also be positioned directly below the tapered opening.

[0022] In this configuration, it can be specified that the locking lever preferably has downwardly projecting protrusions in the region between the rotating element and the engagement tip, with each protrusion assigned to a stop element. During the rotational movement of the locking lever, triggered by the tilting motion of the sensor mass unit, the protrusions on the locking lever thus contact the stop elements on the support member. Starting from the rotating element located on the outer side of the locking lever, the protrusions are specifically located on the inner side and face the engagement tip.

[0023] To achieve a non-circular outer periphery design, the outer periphery of the rotating element can be elliptical. Therefore, the rotating element has convex arcs on both the top and bottom surfaces in its normal orientation, as expected, while the lateral edges between them extend in straight lines and vertically.

[0024] To allow the locking lever to roll during its rotational movement, the rotating element can have a symmetrical (partially circular) arc design on its bottom surface. However, in a preferred embodiment, the rotating element can also be specified to have an asymmetrical arc on its bottom surface. In this case, the arc starting from the contact point in the normal position in the forward direction, and therefore in the direction of the locking lever's rolling movement from the normal position, differs from the arc in the rearward direction. Such different arcs can also be configured such that the locking lever with the rotating element is inserted into the recess through the opening in an assembly orientation and pivots therein to the normal position, thereby preventing the locking lever from accidentally dislodging.

[0025] The invention and technical environment are explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following are schematically shown:

[0026] Figure 1 Perspective view of vehicle sensor.

[0027] Figure 2 : Exploded view of the sensor

[0028] Figure 3 Side view of the sensor's support components.

[0029] Figure 4 Side view of the sensor's locking lever.

[0030] Figure 5 Side view of the sensor in its normal position.

[0031] Figure 6 : A side view showing the locking lever rotated.

[0032] Figure 7 Cross-sectional view through the support component and the locking rod in a rotating state.

[0033] Figure 8 : Figure 7 Detailed view;

[0034] Figure 9 A detailed view of the side view of the sensor in its normal position, and

[0035] Figure 10 The locking lever has been rotated according to Figure 9 Detailed view.

[0036] The vehicle sensing sensor shown in the attached figure includes a support component 1, a sensor mass unit 2, and a locking lever 3.

[0037] Support component 1 includes contact surface 1.1 (see...) Figure 2 The sensor mass unit 2 stands on the contact surface and is arranged to be inclined relative to the contact surface.

[0038] The locking lever 3 includes an engaging tip 3.1 and a portion located on the opposite side of the engaging tip 3.1, which extends through the sensor mass unit 2 in the assembled state (see...). Figure 1 The locking lever 3 includes rotating elements 3.2a and 3.2b at its lateral edges. Furthermore, the locking lever includes protrusions 3.3a and 3.3b on its bottom surface adjacent to the rotating elements 3.2a and 3.2b.

[0039] The support member 1 has recesses 1.3a and 1.3b in its lateral region, which respectively form contact points 1.2a and 1.2b between the rotating elements 3.2a and 3.2b of the locking lever 3 and its base. Specifically from... Figure 3 As can be seen, the recess 1.3a, in addition to the base 1.3ai, also has a cover 1.3a.ii that covers the base 1.3ai. The recess 1.3a also has an opening 1.3a.iii on its front side. The opening 1.3a.iii is designed to gradually narrow from the front side toward the recess 1.3a. Furthermore, the recess 1.3a has a downwardly protruding protrusion 1.3a.iv on its cover 1.3a.ii.

[0040] Two stop elements 1.4a and 1.4b are also provided on the front side of the support member 1, and are disposed on the front side offset inward relative to the recesses 1.3a and 1.3b.

[0041] The openings 1.3a.iii and the protrusions 1.3a.iv are designed such that the associated rotating element 3.2a of the locking lever 3 can only be inserted into the recess 1.3 in a specific orientation. The locking lever 3 is then oriented such that it is located in... Figure 5 In the normal position shown. From Figure 5 It can also be seen that locking lever 3 cannot be moved forward (i.e., towards the side). Figure 5 The simple linear movement of the right side of the middle part away from the concave part 1.3a, as it will abut against the protrusion 1.3a.iv.

[0042] exist Figure 9 The normal position is also shown in detail. It can be seen here that the base 1.3ai of the recess 1.3a is covered by the cover 1.3a.ii, and the protrusion 1.3a.iv protrudes downwards enough to overlap with the rotating element 3.2a, whose outer peripheral design is not circular.

[0043] Figure 6 and Figure 10 The locking lever 3 in the rotated position is shown. It can be seen that the rotating element 3.2a contacts the protrusions 1.3a and 1.iv at its upper part, thereby restricting the rotational movement of the locking lever 3. Figure 9 and Figure 10 It can also be seen that the arc of the lower part of the rotating element 3.2a (through which the rotating element 3.2a rests on the base 1.3ai) is asymmetrical about the contact point.

[0044] from Figure 7 and Figure 8 As can also be seen in the cross-sectional view shown, in the rotational position of the locking lever 3, the locking lever 3 abuts against the stop element 1.4b formed on the support member 1 via the protrusion 3.3b, and as a result, the rotational movement of the locking lever 3 is also restricted.

[0045] List of reference numerals

[0046] 1 Supporting components

[0047] 1.1 Contact Surface

[0048] 1.2a Support Point

[0049] 1.2b support point

[0050] 1.3a concave part

[0051] 1.3b Recess

[0052] 1.3ai base

[0053] 1.3a.ii Cover

[0054] 1.3a.iii Opening

[0055] 1.3a.iv Protrusion

[0056] 1.4a Stop element

[0057] 1.4b Stop element

[0058] 2 Sensor Mass Unit

[0059] 3. Locking lever

[0060] 3.1 Joining tip

[0061] 3.2a Rotating element

[0062] 3.2b Rotating element

[0063] 3.3a ​​protrusion

[0064] 3.3b protrusion

Claims

1. A vehicle sensing sensor for a self-locking seatbelt retractor, the vehicle sensing sensor comprising: - Support component (1) - Sensor mass unit (2), which is vertically disposed on the contact surface (1.1) of the support member (1) and is tiltable relative to the support member (1), and - Locking rod (3), the locking rod being coupled to the sensor mass unit (2) and having an engaging tip (3.1), wherein the locking rod (3) has at least two rotating elements (3.2a, 3.2b) for forming the rotation axis of the locking rod (3), and wherein Each rotating element (3.2a, 3.2b) rests on its associated contact point (1.2a, 1.2b) of the support member (1). Its features are: The support member (1) has a recess (1.3a, 1.3b) for each rotating element (3.2a, 3.2b), and the base (1.3ai) of the recess (1.3a) forms a contact point (1.2a), wherein the base (1.3ai) is covered by a cover (1.3a.ii) of the corresponding recess (1.3a), and, Each recess (1.3a, 1.3b) is a front opening (1.3a.iii) through which a rotating element (3.2a) can be introduced into the recess (1.3a), and the front opening (1.3a.iii) narrows toward the base (1.3ai) of the recess (1.3a).

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the cover (1.3a.ii) of the recess (1.3a) has a downwardly projecting protrusion (1.3a.iv) that restricts the rotational movement of the rotating element (3.2a).

3. The sensor according to claim 2, wherein the transition portion from the tapered front opening (1.3a.iii) to the base (1.3ai) of the recess (1.3a) is disposed behind the protrusion (1.3a.iv) along the introduction direction of the rotating element (3.2a).

4. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein forward-protruding stop elements (1.4a, 1.4b) are assigned to each recess (1.3a, 1.3b), the stop elements restricting the rotational movement of the locking lever (3).

5. The sensor according to claim 4, wherein the locking lever (3) has protrusions (3.3a, 3.3b) that are assigned to the stop element (1.4a, 1.4b) in the connection portion between the rotating element and the engaging tip (3.1).

6. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein each rotating element (3.2a, 3.2b) has an asymmetrical arc on its bottom surface starting from the lowest point defined by the normal position.

7. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the height of the rotating element (3.2a, 3.2b) is greater than its depth and has an elliptical outer peripheral shape.

8. A seat belt retractor having a sensor according to any one of the preceding claims.

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