Vehicle sensor device and seat belt retractor using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle sensor device and a seat belt retractor employing the same. The vehicle sensor device includes a weight housing installed in a main body so as to be rotatable about a shaft coupled to the main body according to an installation angle and inclination of the main body, a weight installed in the weight housing, a ball assembly for sensing a change in inclination of a vehicle, a sensor housing in which the ball assembly is movably installed, and a sensor rod installed in the sensor housing and rotated by movement of the ball assembly. The sensor rod is configured to make a linear reciprocating motion of a guide rod provided in a locking device by rotation. The sensor rod is installed in the sensor housing coupled to the ball assembly. The sensor rod is rotated about a hinge shaft by movement of the ball assembly according to a change in inclination of the vehicle to make a linear reciprocating motion of a guide rod connected to the sensor rod, thereby coupling or decoupling the guide rod to or from the locking device. Accordingly, a range in which the guide rod can be normally controlled can be expanded.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat belt retractor, and more specifically, to a vehicle sensor device for detecting changes in the tilt of a vehicle and preventing the seat belt from being pulled out, and a seat belt retractor using the vehicle sensor device. Background Technology

[0002] Generally speaking, vehicles are equipped with seat belts to ensure the safety of the occupants.

[0003] The seat belt safety device includes a retractor and a buckle. The retractor is configured to wind or pull out the webbing of the seat belt to restrain the occupant, and a tongue fixed at one end of the webbing is detachably inserted into the buckle.

[0004] When a vehicle comes to a sudden stop or accelerates rapidly due to a vehicle accident, the retractor prevents seatbelt-wearing occupants from being thrown forward or off their seats due to inertia. Such a retractor may include a device that allows the webbing to be pulled out in its normal state when the occupant is wearing a seatbelt, but prevents the webbing from being pulled out further when a pull-out acceleration of the webbing is detected due to a vehicle collision or a change in the vehicle's tilt, as well as an emergency tensioning device and a pretensioning device to reduce webbing slack or suspension (i.e., webbing looseness).

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose a retractor technology for controlling the winding and unwinding operations of seat belt webbing.

[0006] At the same time, when an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the retractor in the horizontal direction or when the vehicle tilt changes, such as in the event of a vehicle collision, vehicle sensors that detect acceleration or tilt are applied to the retractor to prevent the seat belt from being pulled out by operating the seat belt locking device.

[0007] Vehicle sensors that use a ball as an inertial component or use an independent inertial component are well known in the art.

[0008] For example, a vehicle sensor includes an inertial member and a sensor rod. The inertial member moves under dangerous conditions where a deceleration or tilt greater than the normal deceleration of the webbing is applied to the vehicle, and the sensor rod is moved by the inertial member and interacts with the external teeth of a control disc that rotates together with the reel of the seatbelt retractor.

[0009] These seatbelt retractors can be installed on the vehicle body, such as the center pillar, seat back, and rear pillar. Therefore, the installation posture of the seatbelt retractor can vary depending on the structure of the center pillar, seat back, and rear pillar. In other words, the seatbelt retractor is not always installed horizontally, but can be installed at a predetermined angle from the horizontal in either the lateral or longitudinal directions.

[0010] In particular, when the seat belt retractor is installed in the seat back, the tilt angle of the seat belt retractor can be changed according to the rotation of the seat back.

[0011] If the posture of the existing seat belt retractor changes within a certain range, it cannot accurately detect acceleration and tilt.

[0012] For example, when the seatbelt retractor with the vehicle sensor is tilted at a certain angle from a horizontal position, the distance between the control panel and the sensor rod of the vehicle sensor becomes too close, causing the sensor rod to operate sensitively and thus fail to perform the locking operation correctly.

[0013] Additionally, when the seatbelt retractor with vehicle sensors is installed in the seat back and the seat back is tilted towards the front of the vehicle, the sensor rod of the vehicle sensor is locked by the external teeth of the control disc, thereby limiting the rotation of the retractor.

[0014] Therefore, when occupants want to fasten their seat belts, they may be unable to do so because the rotation of the reel is restricted.

[0015] To address the aforementioned problems, the applicant of this invention has filed a patent application disclosing a seatbelt retractor that includes a vehicle sensor having the improved fixing structure described in Patent Document 3, which is now registered below.

[0016] Meanwhile, with the recent development of autonomous vehicles, technologies are being developed to minimize the size of seat and seatbelt retractors used in vehicles.

[0017] Alternatively, an integrated seat belt (BIS) can be used, which is integrated into the seat.

[0018] Existing seatbelt retractors use vehicle sensors that employ a gimbal containing weight to measure the vehicle's tilt.

[0019] Even if the angle of the seat back changes, this vehicle sensor can still measure the vehicle's tilt.

[0020] However, when the rotation angle of a seat equipped with a prior art seatbelt retractor (e.g., the rotation of the backrest) exceeds a predetermined angle range, the sensor rod connected to the universal joint may not properly control the guide rod, resulting in a problem where normal operation cannot be performed.

[0021] Therefore, there is a need to develop a seatbelt retractor that incorporates vehicle sensors, which can extend the range of angles that allow for normal operation by minimizing the abnormal operating range caused by the rotation of the seat back.

[0022] (Patent Document 1) U.S. Patent No. 6,499,554 (registered on December 31, 2002)

[0023] (Patent Document 2) U.S. Patent No. 6,443,382 (registered on September 3, 2002)

[0024] (Patent Document 3) Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1766844 (Published on August 9, 2017) Summary of the Invention

[0025] Technical issues

[0026] The purpose of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a vehicle sensor device for detecting changes in the tilt of a vehicle and a seat belt retractor using the vehicle sensor device.

[0027] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle sensor device and a seat belt retractor using the vehicle sensor device, which can expand the range of angles in which normal operation can be performed by controlling the guide rod, regardless of the rotation angle and installation angle of the backrest.

[0028] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle sensor device and a seat belt retractor using the vehicle sensor device, the vehicle sensor device being able to detect the vehicle's tilt and the angle of the seat back by applying a ball.

[0029] Solution to the problem

[0030] To achieve the above objectives, a vehicle sensor device according to this disclosure may include: a body forming the exterior; a cover coupled to an open surface of the body; a counterweight housing mounted in the body to be rotatable about an axis coupled to the body according to the mounting angle and tilt of the body, the counterweight housing having a counterweight mounted therein; a ball assembly configured to detect changes in the vehicle's tilt; a sensor housing mounted to allow movement of the ball assembly therein; and a sensor rod mounted in the sensor housing and rotated by the movement of the ball assembly, and the sensor rod may cause a guide rod disposed in a locking device to perform linear reciprocating motion by rotation.

[0031] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, a vehicle sensor device according to this disclosure may include: a body forming the exterior; a cover coupled to an open surface of the body; a sensor housing mounted in the body to be rotatable about an axis coupled to the body according to the mounting angle and tilt of the body; a ball mounted in the sensor housing to detect changes in vehicle tilt; a rod guide mounted on the upper portion of the ball; and a sensor rod rotatably mounted in the sensor housing, and the sensor rod may cause a guide rod disposed in a locking device to perform linear reciprocating motion by rotation caused by the movement of the ball.

[0032] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, a seatbelt retractor employing a vehicle sensor device according to the present disclosure may include: a vehicle sensor device configured to detect changes in vehicle tilt; a spindle device including a spindle on which seatbelt webbing is wound; and a locking device configured to perform a locking operation to prevent the seatbelt webbing from being pulled out during a vehicle collision, and the vehicle sensor device may cause a guide rod to be coupled to or detached from the locking device to perform linear reciprocating motion based on the detected changes in vehicle tilt.

[0033] Advantages of the present invention

[0034] According to the vehicle sensor device and seat belt retractor using the vehicle sensor device disclosed above, the sensor rod is installed in the sensor housing connected to the ball assembly, and the guide rod connected to the sensor rod can be reciprocated by rotating the sensor rod around the hinge axis according to the movement of the ball assembly caused by the change in the vehicle's tilt.

[0035] In particular, according to the present invention, a locking portion is provided on the guide rod, and a locking recess provided at the upper end of the sensor rod is connected to the locking portion, so that the guide rod can be normally controlled to perform linear reciprocating motion regardless of the installation angle of the vehicle sensor device.

[0036] That is, according to the present invention, the following effect is achieved: the guide rod is normally controlled within the range of ±90°, i.e., 180°, of the installation angle of the sensor device relative to the reference position.

[0037] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the counterweight and counterweight housing used for detecting the backrest tilt can be omitted, and the change in vehicle tilt can be detected by using a ball and a sensor housing, and the guide rod can be controlled by rotating the sensor rod. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 This is a view illustrating an embodiment of a prior art seatbelt retractor;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a seatbelt retractor employing a vehicle sensor device according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0040] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partial exploded perspective view of the seatbelt retractor shown;

[0041] Figure 4 A perspective view of a vehicle sensor device according to a preferred embodiment of this disclosure;

[0042] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An exploded perspective view of the vehicle sensor device shown.

[0043] Figure 6 This is an operational status view of vehicle sensor devices installed at various angles;

[0044] Figure 7 and Figure 8 These are views illustrating the operation of the counterweight housing, sensor rod, and guide rod installed in the sensor device.

[0045] Figure 9 This is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle sensor device according to another embodiment of this disclosure; and

[0046] Figure 10 It is used for explanation Figure 9 A view showing the operation method of the vehicle sensor device.

[0047] Best way to carry out the invention

[0048] In the following, a preferred embodiment of a seatbelt retractor with a vehicle sensor device according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] Before describing the construction of the seatbelt retractor according to a preferred embodiment of this disclosure, reference will be made to... Figure 1 This section provides a general description of the construction of seatbelt retractors based on existing technology.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a view illustrating an embodiment of a prior art seatbelt retractor.

[0051] In the following description, the direction in which the steering wheel is mounted relative to the seat is referred to as the "forward direction," and the opposite direction is referred to as the "rearward direction." Additionally, terms indicating directions such as "left," "right," "up," and "down" are defined as indicating the corresponding direction relative to the aforementioned forward and rearward directions.

[0052] like Figure 1 As shown, a prior art seat belt retractor 1 may include: a spindle 3 on which seat belt webbing (hereinafter referred to as "webbing") 2 is wound; a sensor unit 4 for detecting the tilt of the vehicle; an emergency tensioning unit 5 for reducing slack by winding the webbing 2 during a vehicle collision; and a pretensioning unit 6 for smoothly pulling out the webbing 2 during normal vehicle operation and reducing slack by winding the webbing 2 just before a vehicle collision.

[0053] Sensor unit 4 detects changes in the pull-out acceleration of the webbing caused by a vehicle collision or changes in the vehicle's tilt angle.

[0054] The emergency tensioning unit 5 can operate a gas pump (not shown) containing gunpowder based on a detection signal indicating a vehicle collision, and can wind the webbing 2 onto the mandrel 3 using the pressure of the generated gas. Therefore, the emergency tensioning unit 5 can reduce the slack of the webbing 2 by winding it up during a vehicle collision, thereby reducing the injury level to the occupants.

[0055] When a vehicle collision is predicted by sensors applied to the vehicle, the pretensioning unit 6 can wind the webbing 2 onto a spindle by operating a motor capable of rotating in both directions. That is, when the vehicle is in normal operation, the pretensioning unit 6 can maintain the tension of the worn webbing 2 and prevent the webbing 2 from slackening and causing an accident until the vehicle experiences stronger acceleration or deceleration. Furthermore, it can reduce the slackening of the webbing 2 by winding it up just before a collision, thereby reducing the injury level to the occupants.

[0056] Here, the spindle 3 is installed inside the fixed frame 7, and the sensor unit 4, the emergency tensioning unit 5 and the pretensioning unit 6 are arranged on both sides of the fixed frame 7, and the left housing 8 and the right housing 9 are connected to the outside of each unit.

[0057] That is, each unit 4, 5, and 6 is arranged on both sides of the mandrel 2 along the horizontal direction.

[0058] In the aforementioned prior art seat belt retractor 1, the spindle is mounted in the seat back along the width direction (i.e., the left-right direction). Therefore, as the length of the webbing 2 wound on the spindle increases, the thickness in the front-back direction (hereinafter referred to as "thickness") also increases, thus presenting a problem that makes it difficult to apply the seat belt retractor to the back of a slender seat.

[0059] To address this issue, this disclosure minimizes the thickness of the seatbelt retractor by rotating the mounting orientation of the mandrel on which the webbing is wound, thereby enabling the seatbelt retractor to be applied to slender seats.

[0060] Therefore, this disclosure can solve the problem of the loose connection between the sensor rod and the guide rod, which occurs depending on the rotation angle of the universal joint, by enhancing the structure of the vehicle sensor device.

[0061] The following will refer to Figures 2 to 3 A brief description is provided of the construction of a seatbelt retractor employing a preferred embodiment of the vehicle sensor device according to this disclosure.

[0062] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a seatbelt retractor employing a vehicle sensor device according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partial exploded perspective view of the seatbelt retractor shown.

[0063] In this embodiment, the construction of a seat belt retractor used in an integrated seat belt (BIS) is described.

[0064] Of course, this disclosure is not limited thereto, and it should be noted that seat belt retractors of various structures and shapes can be configured not only for integrated seat belts but also for conventional vehicles or autonomous vehicles.

[0065] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the seat belt retractor 10 employing a vehicle sensor device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention may include a spindle assembly 20, a vehicle sensor device (hereinafter referred to as "sensor device") 30, and a locking device 40.

[0066] Meanwhile, the seatbelt retractor 10 may also include a pretensioning device that reduces slack by winding the webbing 21 before a vehicle collision.

[0067] The spindle assembly 20 and the sensor assembly 30 are the basic modules constituting the seat belt retractor 10, and can be manufactured as separate modules and assembled, or can be integrated into a module and provided.

[0068] The spindle device 20 is provided with a spindle 22, and the webbing 21 is wound on the spindle. The spindle device and the sensor device can be installed in the housing 23.

[0069] The sensor device 30 may include an acceleration sensor that detects changes in the pulling acceleration of the webbing 21, or a tilt sensor that detects changes in the vehicle's tilt.

[0070] In this implementation plan, reference will be made to Figures 4 to 5 The structure of the sensor device 30, which employs a tilt sensor for detecting vehicle tilt, is described in detail.

[0071] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 An enlarged view of the sensor device shown. Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An exploded perspective view of the sensor device shown.

[0072] In this implementation scheme, for applications Figures 2 to 3 The structure of the sensor device in the structure of the seat belt retractor shown will be explained.

[0073] Of course, this disclosure is not limited to the above-described construction, and it should be noted that this disclosure can be modified to be applied to seat belt retractors with various constructions, such as Figure 1 The seatbelt retractor shown is an example.

[0074] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the vehicle sensor device 30 used in the seat belt retractor according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a body 31 forming the exterior; a cover 32 coupled to an open surface of the body 31; a counterweight housing 34 mounted in the body 31 to be rotatable about an axis 33 coupled to the body 31 according to the mounting angle of the body 31, and having a counterweight 341 mounted therein; a ball assembly 35 for detecting changes in the tilt of the vehicle to which the sensor device 30 is mounted; a sensor housing 36 in which the ball assembly 35 is movably mounted; and a sensor rod 37 mounted in the sensor housing 36 and rotated by the movement of the ball assembly 35 to move a guide rod 41.

[0075] The main body 31 may have an open surface and may be formed into a semi-cylindrical shape with a generally semi-circular cross-section when viewed from the side.

[0076] One or more locking protrusions 311 may be formed on the upper and lower ends of the body 31, respectively, and one or more locking recesses 321 may be formed on the upper and lower ends of the cover 32 to allow the locking protrusions 311 to lock therein.

[0077] The main body 31 and the cover 32 can be arranged along the mounting direction of the spindle 22 (i.e., along the X-axis direction) and connected to each other.

[0078] Shaft 33 can be mounted in the body 31 along the Y-axis direction, perpendicular to the spindle 22.

[0079] The counterweight housing 34 is used to rotate according to the angle at which the sensor device is installed in the back of the seat and the rotation angle of the back of the seat.

[0080] To achieve this, the rotating shaft 332 is mounted on the upper end of the counterweight housing 34 along the Y-axis direction to connect to the shaft hole 312 formed on the inner surface of the body 31 and to the shaft 33, and the shaft hole 312 can be formed in the body 31 so that the rotating shaft 332 is connected thereto.

[0081] Additionally, the shaft 33 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape to have a connecting space 331 formed at its center, allowing the rotating shaft 332 to be connected thereto, and the guide rod 41 can be connected to one end of the connecting space 331 formed in the shaft 33, that is, when in Figure 9 The right end is positioned for observation from above, allowing it to move along the Y-axis.

[0082] A pair of mounting ribs 333 may be formed parallel to each other in the left-right direction on the front and rear surfaces of the upper end of the shaft 33 to connect to the upper end of the body 31, and a mounting recess 313 may be formed on the upper end of the body 31 to allow the upper end of the shaft 33 to be mounted thereon.

[0083] Therefore, the shaft 33 is connected to the upper end of the body 31 by using a pair of mounting ribs 333 and performs the function of a central shaft to allow the counterweight housing 34 to rotate around it.

[0084] Meanwhile, as the sensor rod 37 rotates, the guide rod 41 reciprocates linearly along the Y-axis within the connecting space 331 formed on the shaft 33.

[0085] That is, when guide rod 41 is as Figure 8When the guide rod 41 moves to the right, the right end of the guide rod 41 engages with any one of the protrusions formed on the outer periphery of the steering wheel (not shown) in the locking device 40, so that the locking device 40 performs a locking operation to prevent the webbing 21 from being pulled out.

[0086] On the other hand, when the guide rod 41 moves to the left, the guide rod 41 and the locking device 40 separate from each other, so that the webbing 21 can be pulled out freely.

[0087] To achieve this, a through hole 322 can be formed in the cover 32 to allow the guide rod 41 to move along the Y-axis and protrude to the right.

[0088] When installed in the sensor housing 36, the ball assembly 35 is used to detect changes in the tilt of the vehicle on which the sensor device 30 is installed.

[0089] That is, the ball assembly 35 may include a ball 351 having weight and a mounting member 352 on which the ball 351 is mounted.

[0090] An installation space may be formed at the center of the mounting member 352 to allow the ball 351 to be installed therein, and a connecting protrusion 353 protrudes from the lower end of the mounting member 352 to connect to the sensor housing 36 so that it can move freely.

[0091] Additionally, an insertion space 354 may be formed on the mounting member 352, located between the mounting space and the connecting protrusion 353, to allow the horizontal portion 371 of the sensor rod 37 (described below) to be inserted therein.

[0092] Preferably, the insertion space 354 may be formed to be wider and thicker than the horizontal portion 371 to allow the sensor rod 37 connected to the interior to rotate smoothly.

[0093] The sensor housing 36 has an open upper surface, and the connecting protrusion 353 of the ball assembly 35 can be mounted at the center of the sensor housing 36.

[0094] A pair of shaft connection holes 362 may be formed on the front and rear sidewalls of the sensor housing 36 to allow a pair of hinge shafts 373 formed at the front and rear ends of the sensor rod 37 to be connected thereto, respectively.

[0095] When viewed from the front, the cross-section of the sensor rod 37 can be formed in an approximate "┛" shape.

[0096] That is, the sensor rod 37 may include a horizontally arranged horizontal portion 371 and a vertical portion 372 arranged at the right end of the horizontal portion 371 and extending vertically in the upward direction.

[0097] Additionally, the hinge shaft 373 can protrude from the front and rear surfaces of the right end of the horizontal portion 37 to connect to the shaft connection holes 362 formed on the front and rear sidewalls of the sensor housing 36, respectively.

[0098] The horizontal portion 371 can be inserted into the insertion space 354 formed on the mounting member 352 of the ball assembly 35, and the support protrusion 374 can be formed on the lower surface of the horizontal portion 371.

[0099] Before the vehicle's tilt changes, the support protrusion 374 is supported by the weight applied by the ball assembly 35, so that the horizontal portion 371 remains horizontal.

[0100] On the other hand, when the vehicle's tilt is changed and the ball assembly 35 moves, the horizontal portion 37 loses the supporting force of the supporting protrusion 374 due to the change in the center of gravity, and therefore cannot maintain a horizontal state.

[0101] Therefore, the sensor rod 37 rotates clockwise around the hinge axis 373, thereby moving the guide rod 41 to the right.

[0102] To achieve this, a locking recess 375 may be formed on the upper end of the vertical portion 372 to allow the locking portion 411 formed on the center of the guide rod 41 to be rotatably locked therein.

[0103] The locking recess 375 may have a locking recess formed at its center, such that its cross-section is generally "U" shaped.

[0104] Here, the left side portion of the guide rod 41 can be formed into a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the connecting space 331 formed in the shaft 33, for example, into a generally rectangular shape.

[0105] The right side portion of the guide rod 41 can be formed into a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 322 formed on the cover 32.

[0106] Additionally, a locking portion 411, which is formed with a diameter smaller than the left and right portions of the guide rod 41, is provided at the center of the guide rod 41 to lock in the locking recess 375 of the sensor rod 37.

[0107] Therefore, with the locking portion 441 locked into the locking recess 375 of the sensor rod 37, the guide rod 41 reciprocates linearly between the shaft 33 and the cover 32 by the rotation of the sensor rod 37 about a pair of hinge axes 373.

[0108] The following will refer to Figures 6 to 8 The operation method of the vehicle sensor device according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail.

[0109] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing the operational status of sensor devices installed at various angles. Figure 7 and Figure 8 These are views illustrating the operation methods of the counterweight housing, sensor rod, and guide rod installed in the sensor device.

[0110] Figure 6 View (b) shows the sensor device mounted at a reference position with reference to the axis, and Figure 6 Views (a) and (c) show the sensor device rotated 90° around the axis in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions, respectively.

[0111] Figure 7 The image shows the state of the sensor rod before it rotates, and Figure 8 This shows the sensor rod rotating clockwise around the hinge axis.

[0112] Sensor device 30 can be installed at various rotation angles depending on the environment in which the sensor device is installed in the vehicle, such as... Figure 6 As shown.

[0113] In this case, regardless of the mounting angle of the main body 31 and cover 32 in the backrest and the tilt angle (i.e., rotation angle) of the backrest, the counterweight housing 34 always maintains its vertical arrangement due to the weight of the counterweight 341.

[0114] like Figure 7 As shown, the sensor rod 37 is configured such that the horizontal portion 371 is in a horizontal state due to the weight applied from the ball assembly 35.

[0115] Thus, the locking portion 411 is locked in the locking recess 375 formed at the upper end of the vertical portion 372, and the guide rod 41 is held in the state where the guide rod is moved into the inside of the cover 32, that is, moved to the left.

[0116] When the guide rod 41 moves to the left as described above, the guide rod 41 and the locking device 40 separate from each other, allowing the webbing 21 to be pulled out freely.

[0117] At the same time, the vehicle's tilt angle can be continuously changed while the vehicle is in motion, and the tilt angle of the backrest, i.e., the rotation angle, can also be changed.

[0118] Therefore, when the vehicle's tilt changes, the ball assembly 35 moves on the sensor housing 36.

[0119] As described above, when the ball assembly 35 moves, due to... Figure 8 As shown by the change in the center of mass, the sensor rod 37 rotates clockwise around the hinge axis 373.

[0120] Therefore, the guide rod 41 connected to the sensor rod 37 passes through the through hole 322 formed on the cover 32 and moves to the outside of the cover 32, that is, to the right, and protrudes from the cover 32.

[0121] As described above, when the guide rod 41 protrudes to the outside of the cover, the right end of the guide rod 41 is locked into the locking device 40, so that the locking device 40 performs a locking operation to prevent the webbing 21 from being pulled out.

[0122] According to the above disclosure, the sensor rod is installed in the sensor housing connected to the ball assembly, and the sensor rod rotates around the hinge axis through the movement of the ball assembly according to the change of vehicle tilt, so that the guide rod connected to the sensor rod performs linear reciprocating motion.

[0123] Therefore, this disclosure enables control over the ability to pull out the webbing by protruding the guide rod to the outside of the cover and by engaging or disengaging the guide rod to or from the locking device.

[0124] Specifically, the locking part is located on the guide rod, and the locking recess located on the upper end of the sensor rod is connected to the locking part, so that the guide rod can be normally controlled to perform linear reciprocating motion, regardless of the angle at which the sensor device rotates and is positioned due to the adjustment of the seat back angle.

[0125] That is, this disclosure can normally control the guide rod within a range of ±90°, or 180°, relative to the reference position, where the arrangement angle of the sensor device changes by adjusting the angle of the seat back.

[0126] Although the above embodiments show the application of a counterweight housing with a counterweight installed therein, this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0127] Reference Figure 9 and Figure 10 The construction of a sensor device used in a seatbelt retractor according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail.

[0128] Figure 9 This is an exploded perspective view of a sensor device used in a seatbelt retractor according to another embodiment of this disclosure, and Figure 10 This is a view used to illustrate the operation of the ball assembly, sensor rod, and guide rod installed in the sensor device.

[0129] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the construction and reference of the sensor device 30 used in the seat belt retractor 10 according to another embodiment of this disclosure are as follows. Figures 4 to 8 The sensor device 30 described in the above embodiments is similar.

[0130] However, the sensor device 30 according to this embodiment can omit the counterweight 341 and counterweight housing 34 used to detect the installation angle and tilt of the backrest, and can detect the changes in vehicle tilt and backrest angle by using ball 351 and sensor housing 36, and can control guide rod 41 by rotating sensor rod 37.

[0131] Specifically, such as Figure 9 As shown, the sensor device 30 may include: a body 31 forming the exterior; a cover 32 coupled to an open surface of the body 31; a sensor housing 36 mounted in the body 31 and rotatable about an axis 33 coupled to the body 31 depending on the mounting angle of the body 31 and the tilt of the backrest; a ball 351 mounted in the sensor housing 36 to detect changes in the tilt of the vehicle on which the sensor device 30 is mounted; a rod guide 38 mounted on the upper portion of the ball 351; and a sensor rod 37 rotatably mounted in the sensor housing 36 and rotated by the movement of the ball 351 to move a guide rod 41.

[0132] The construction of the main body 31, cover 32 and shaft 33 is the same as that described in the above embodiments, therefore a detailed description of the construction of the main body 31, cover 32 and shaft 33 is omitted.

[0133] The sensor housing 36 is formed into a roughly hexahedral shape by connecting a rectangular frame, and the rotation shaft 332 can be mounted on the left wall extending upward from the left end of the sensor housing 36 through the shaft 33 and the body 31.

[0134] The mounting shape 361 can be provided in the sensor housing 36 to mount the ball therein, and the bottom surface of the sensor housing 36 can be a downwardly convex curved surface to allow the ball 351 to be placed thereon.

[0135] The ball 351 can be installed in the mounting space 361 of the sensor housing 36, and its diameter and weight can be set to be larger than the diameter and weight of the ball 351 described in the above embodiments.

[0136] The rod guide 38 can be formed into a generally tapered shape with an upwardly convex curved surface, allowing the rod guide 38 to be positioned on the upper surface of the ball 351. Therefore, the upper surface of the rod guide 38 can have an inclined surface that slopes downward from the center toward the outer portion.

[0137] Mounting protrusion 381 can protrude from the upper surface of rod guide 38 to be mounted on the horizontal portion 371 of sensor rod 37.

[0138] When viewed from the front, the cross-section of the sensor rod 37 can be formed in an approximate "┛" shape.

[0139] That is, the sensor rod 37 may include a horizontally arranged horizontal portion 371 and a vertical portion 372 arranged at the right end of the horizontal portion 371 and extending vertically in the upward direction.

[0140] Additionally, the hinge shaft 373 can protrude from the front and rear surfaces of the right end of the horizontal portion 371 to connect to the shaft connection holes 362 formed on the front and rear sidewalls of the sensor housing 36, respectively.

[0141] The horizontal portion 371 may be disposed on the upper portion of the rod guide 38 which is placed on the upper portion of the ball 351, and the support protrusion 374 may be formed on the lower surface of the horizontal portion 371 to support the upper surface of the rod guide 38.

[0142] Mounting hole 376 may be formed in horizontal portion 371 so that mounting protrusion 381 of rod guide 38 is mounted therein.

[0143] The mounting hole 376 can be formed into an elongated hole shape, allowing the mounting protrusion 381 to move along the X-axis.

[0144] In the sensor device 30 constructed as described above, such as Figure 10 As shown, even when the mounting angles of the main body 31 and the cover 32 and the tilt of the backrest change, the sensor housing 36 and the ball 351 installed therein, as well as the rod guide 38 and the sensor rod 37 rotate around the axis 33 and the rotation axis 332, thus always maintaining a constant horizontal state.

[0145] Meanwhile, the horizontal portion 371 remains horizontal before the vehicle's tilt changes, because the support protrusion 374 is supported to contact the upper surface of the rod guide 38 mounted on the upper portion of the ball 351.

[0146] Thus, the guide rod 41, which has a locking portion 411 locked in the locking recess 375 formed at the upper end of the vertical portion 372, is held in a state where the guide rod moves into the inside of the cover 32, i.e., moves to the left.

[0147] When the guide rod 41 moves to the left as described above, the guide rod 41 and the emergency tensioning device 40 separate from each other, allowing the webbing 21 to be pulled out freely.

[0148] On the other hand, when the vehicle tilt changes and the ball 351 moves to one side, for example to the left, the horizontal portion 37 rotates clockwise as the support protrusion 374 moves along the inclined upper surface of the rod guide 38.

[0149] Therefore, the sensor rod 37 rotates clockwise around the hinge axis 373, thereby moving the guide rod 41 to the right.

[0150] Therefore, the guide rod 41 connected to the sensor rod 37 passes through the through hole 322 formed on the cover 32 and moves to the outside of the cover 32, that is, to the right, and protrudes from the cover 32.

[0151] As described above, when the guide rod 41 protrudes to the outside of the cover 32, the right end of the guide rod 41 is locked into the locking device 40, so that the locking device 40 performs a locking operation to prevent the webbing 21 from being pulled out.

[0152] As described above, the present invention can omit the counterweight and counterweight housing, and can detect changes in the vehicle's tilt and backrest tilt by using a ball and sensor housing, and can control the guide rod by rotating the sensor rod.

[0153] Although the invention manufactured by the inventors of this application has been specifically described according to the above embodiments, this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the technical essence of this disclosure.

[0154] That is, in the above implementation plan, referring to Figures 2 to 3 The construction of a seatbelt retractor has been described, but this disclosure is not limited to the above construction and can be applied to seatbelt retractors of various constructions, such as... Figure 1 The seatbelt retractor shown.

[0155] Industrial applicability

[0156] This disclosure applies to seat belt retractor technology, which mounts a sensor rod in a sensor device for detecting changes in vehicle tilt, and moves a guide rod connected to the sensor rod by rotating the sensor rod about a hinge axis according to the movement of a ball assembly based on changes in vehicle tilt.

Claims

1. A vehicle sensor device for detecting changes in the tilt angle of a vehicle, the vehicle sensor device comprising: The main body, which forms the exterior; A cover, which is attached to an open surface of the body; A counterweight housing, the counterweight housing being installed in the main body to be rotatable about an axis connected to the main body according to the installation angle and tilt of the main body, the counterweight housing having a counterweight installed therein; A ball assembly configured to detect changes in the vehicle's tilt angle; A sensor housing, the sensor housing being mounted to allow the ball assembly to move therein; and A sensor rod, which is mounted in the sensor housing and rotates via the movement of the ball assembly. The sensor rod is configured to rotate to cause a horizontally positioned guide rod, which is located within the locking device, to perform a linear reciprocating motion. The sensor rod includes a horizontally positioned portion and a vertical portion located at one end of the horizontal portion and extending vertically upwards. The upper end of the vertical portion is locked in the guide rod.

2. The vehicle sensor device according to claim 1, in, A pair of hinge shafts are disposed at both ends of the horizontal portion to be rotatably connected to the two side walls of the sensor housing. The support protrusion is disposed on the lower surface of the horizontal portion to be supported by the weight transmitted from the ball assembly, and When the ball assembly moves to one side due to the change in the vehicle's tilt, the horizontal portion rotates due to the change in its center of mass, thereby causing the guide rod to move outward from the cover.

3. A vehicle sensor device for detecting changes in the tilt angle of a vehicle, the vehicle sensor device comprising: The main body, which forms the exterior; A cover, which is attached to an open surface of the body; A sensor housing, which is mounted in the body and is capable of rotating about an axis connected to the body depending on the mounting angle and tilt of the body; A ball, which is installed in the sensor housing, to detect the change in the vehicle's tilt. A rod guide, the rod guide being mounted on the upper portion of the ball; and a sensor rod, the sensor rod being rotatably mounted in the sensor housing. The sensor rod is configured to cause a horizontally positioned guide rod, which is located in the locking device, to reciprocate linearly through rotation caused by the movement of the ball. The sensor rod includes a horizontally positioned portion and a vertical portion located at one end of the horizontal portion and extending vertically upwards. The upper end of the vertical portion is locked in the guide rod.

4. The vehicle sensor device according to claim 3, in, Hinge shafts protrude from both ends of the horizontal portion to be rotatably connected to the two side walls of the sensor housing. The horizontal portion is disposed on the upper portion of the rod guide, and the rod guide is disposed on the upper portion of the ball. The support protrusion is formed on the lower surface of the horizontal portion to be supported on the upper surface of the rod guide. When the ball moves to one side due to the change in the vehicle's tilt, the horizontal portion rotates due to the change in its center of mass, thereby causing the guide rod to move outward from the cover.

5. The vehicle sensor device according to claim 4, in, The rod guide is formed into a tapered shape with an upwardly convex curved surface so as to be positioned on the upper surface of the ball. The upper surface of the rod guide has an inclined surface that slopes downward from its center outward. The mounting protrusion protrudes from the upper surface of the rod guide to be mounted on the horizontal portion of the sensor rod. The mounting hole is formed in the horizontal portion of the sensor rod to allow the mounting protrusion to be movably mounted therein.

6. The vehicle sensor device according to any one of claims 2, 4, and 5, in, The guide rod is provided with a locking portion whose diameter is smaller than the diameters of its two ends, and The locking recess is formed on the upper end of the vertical portion of the sensor rod to allow the locking portion to be rotatably locked therein.

7. The vehicle sensor device according to claim 6, in, Even when the sensor housing rotates about the axis connected to the body in relation to changes in the tilt of the seat back, the vehicle sensor device maintains the connection between the locking portion of the guide rod and the locking recess of the sensor rod, allowing the vehicle sensor device to operate normally across all angles of the seat back.

8. A seatbelt retractor employing a vehicle sensor device, the seatbelt retractor comprising: The vehicle sensor device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the vehicle sensor device is configured to detect changes in the tilt of the vehicle; A mandrel assembly, the mandrel assembly comprising a mandrel wound with seat belt webbing; and A locking device configured to perform a locking operation to prevent the seatbelt webbing from being pulled out during a vehicle collision. The vehicle sensor device causes a guide rod connected to or separated from the locking device to perform a linear reciprocating motion based on the detected change in the vehicle's tilt.

9. The seatbelt retractor according to claim 8, further comprising: A pretensioning device configured to reduce slack by winding the webbing just before a vehicle collision.

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