A tape cartridge assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reeling drum assembly for a seat belt retractor, in which a reeling drum for winding a seat belt extends in an axial direction and is rotatably supported in a frame of the seat belt retractor, a gear mechanism is installed on one side of the reeling drum through a force limiter mechanism and includes a stopper wheel fixedly coupled in the axial direction and a ball gear, the stopper wheel is rotatably installed in the frame, the ball gear has a shaft hole passing therethrough, the force limiter mechanism is installed in the axial direction by being inserted into the shaft hole, and both ends of the force limiter mechanism are connected to the reeling drum and the gear mechanism, respectively, to avoid over-restraint of an occupant by implementing a force limiter function. According to the reeling drum assembly of the present invention, the gear mechanism and the force limiter mechanism are directly assembled to the reeling drum, so that a simple procedure is possible with fewer independent parts, and in addition, the force limiter mechanism is installed in the axial direction by being inserted into the shaft hole of the ball gear, so that the force limiter mechanism and the gear mechanism have a large portion of overlap in the axial direction, and thus, the overall size of the reeling drum assembly can be smaller.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to vehicle safety, and more specifically to a tape reel assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Seat belts are an important component of a vehicle's occupant restraint system, especially in traffic accidents, where they provide protection for occupants, preventing injury or minimizing injury.

[0003] The seatbelt device includes a retractor whose retractor drum assembly can sense the state of the vehicle, such as vehicle acceleration and / or vehicle tilt angle, to limit the seatbelt from being pulled out under predetermined conditions and to retract the seatbelt in an active state to ensure occupant safety.

[0004] Existing tape reel assemblies typically have many individual parts and are large in size, resulting in an overly large overall package for the reel. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problems of existing tape reel assemblies typically having numerous components and large dimensions, this invention provides a tape reel assembly.

[0006] According to the present invention, a tape reel assembly comprises a tape reel, a gear mechanism, and a force limiting mechanism, wherein the tape reel for winding the seat belt extends axially and is rotatably supported in a retractor frame; the gear mechanism is mounted on one side of the tape reel via the force limiting mechanism and includes a stop wheel and a ball gear riveted together axially; the stop wheel for locking the tape reel in the direction of pulling out the seat belt to limit the seat belt from being pulled out under a predetermined condition is rotatably mounted on the frame; the ball gear for driving the tape reel in the direction of retracting the seat belt to retract the seat belt and restrain the occupant in an active state has a through shaft hole; the force limiting mechanism is inserted axially into the shaft hole and mounted therein, with its two ends respectively connected to the tape reel and the gear mechanism to prevent the occupant from being over-restrained by realizing the force limiting function.

[0007] Preferably, the stop wheel has an integrally formed chassis and several protrusions. The chassis has a flat disc structure. The protrusions, which are discretely distributed, protrude axially from the outer peripheral edge of the chassis and define at least two notches. The ball gear has at least two tabs. Each tab is inserted into the notch defined by the adjacent protrusion and riveted to achieve anti-torsional assembly of the stop wheel and the ball gear.

[0008] Preferably, the ball gear has a recessed platform and a periphery integrally formed with the protrusions, wherein the recessed platform is formed by the recess of the ball gear facing the stop wheel, the periphery extends around the outer peripheral edge of the recessed platform, and the protrusions distributed discretely to each other extend axially from the periphery toward the stop wheel, and the chassis of the stop wheel is inserted into the recessed platform of the ball gear and installed and surrounded by the periphery.

[0009] Preferably, the chassis of the stop wheel has a smoothly transitioning wave profile to define the flower shape, and the radially inner side of the periphery of the ball gear has a corresponding complementary wave profile to match the flower shape to assist in the anti-torsional assembly of the stop wheel and the ball gear.

[0010] Preferably, the tape reel assembly further includes a locking mechanism mounted on the stop wheel, the locking mechanism including a locking pawl, the tape reel being locked to the frame of the take-up unit by the locking pawl.

[0011] Preferably, after the chassis of the stop wheel is inserted into the sinker of the ball gear, the outer surface of the chassis and the outer surface of the periphery are flush to facilitate the installation of the locking mechanism.

[0012] Preferably, a locking plate is fixed on the frame, and the locking mechanism further includes a return spring. The locking pawl is kept disengaged from the locking plate under the spring force of the return spring, and engages with the locking plate to achieve the locking function when the spring force of the return spring is overcome.

[0013] Preferably, the end of the protrusion of the stop wheel extends radially outward from the chassis to press against the periphery of the ball gear to assist in the axial positioning of the stop wheel and the ball gear.

[0014] Preferably, the axial length of the chassis accounts for 1 / 10 to 1 / 6 of the overall axial length of the stop wheel.

[0015] Preferably, the ball gear includes a first half and a second half that are fixedly connected. One end of the first half is fixedly connected to the stop wheel, and the other end of the first half is inserted into the tape reel. The second half is sleeved on the outside of the tape reel and fixed to the first half.

[0016] Preferably, the shaft hole of the ball gear is provided by the first half, and the axial end of the shaft hole adjacent to the stop wheel is formed as a spline hole for anti-torsional mounting of the force limiting mechanism.

[0017] Preferably, the force limiting mechanism includes a first force limiting rod, a second force limiting rod, and a force limiting rod sleeve that are fixedly connected. The first force limiting rod and the second force limiting rod are respectively inserted into the force limiting rod sleeve and fixedly connected by their splines to form a compact force limiting mechanism to transmit torque.

[0018] Preferably, the axial length of the overlap between the tape reel and the gear mechanism accounts for 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of the overall axial length of the ball gear.

[0019] Preferably, the axial length of the overlap between the gear mechanism and the force limiting mechanism accounts for 1 / 6 to 1 / 3 of the overall axial length of the force limiting mechanism.

[0020] According to the tape reel assembly of the present invention, the stop wheel and the ball gear form an integral gear mechanism, and the first force limiting rod, the second force limiting rod and the force limiting rod sleeve are fixedly connected to form an integral force limiting mechanism. These two mechanisms are directly assembled to the tape reel, the steps are simple and there are few independent parts. In addition, the force limiting mechanism is installed in the shaft hole of the ball gear along the axial direction so that the force limiting mechanism and the gear mechanism have a large overlap in the axial direction. Therefore, the overall tape reel assembly can be smaller. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is an overall cross-sectional view of a tape reel assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Assembly diagram of the gear mechanism of the tape reel assembly;

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the force limiting mechanism of the tape reel assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are given below with reference to the accompanying drawings and described in detail.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, a preferred embodiment of the tape reel assembly according to the present invention includes a tape reel 1, a gear mechanism 2, and a force limiting mechanism 3. The tape reel 1, used for winding a seatbelt, extends axially (x) and is rotatably supported in the frame of the retractor (not shown). The gear mechanism 2 is mounted on one side of the tape reel 1 via the force limiting mechanism 3 to limit the seatbelt from being pulled out under a predetermined condition and to retract the seatbelt to restrain the occupant in an active state. The force limiting mechanism 3 extends axially (x) and is mounted inside the tape reel 1, with its two ends connected to the tape reel 1 and the gear mechanism 2 respectively, to prevent over-restraint of the occupant by implementing the force limiting function. Additionally, the tape reel assembly according to this embodiment also includes a locking mechanism 4 mounted on the gear mechanism 2, which includes a locking pawl 41 and a return spring 42. The tape reel 1 can be locked to the frame of the retractor via the locking pawl 41. Specifically, a locking plate is fixed on the frame, and the locking pawl 41 is kept disengaged from the locking plate under the spring force of the return spring 42. When the spring force of the return spring 42 is overcome, it engages with the locking plate to achieve the locking function.

[0026] The structure of gear mechanism 2 is described below.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, the gear mechanism 2 includes a stop wheel 21 and a ball gear 22 mounted along the axial direction x, wherein the locking mechanism 4 (see...) Figure 1The stop wheel 21 is mounted on the stop wheel 21. The stop wheel 21 is used to lock the tape drum 1 to rotate in the direction of pulling out the seat belt so as to limit the seat belt from being pulled out under a predetermined condition. The ball gear 22 is used to drive the tape drum 1 to rotate in the direction of retracting the seat belt so as to retract the seat belt and restrain the occupant in the active state. The stop wheel 21 and the ball gear 22 are fixedly connected by riveting to form a whole.

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, the stop wheel 21 has an integrally formed chassis 211, protrusions 212, and journal 213. The chassis 211 has a flat disc structure. Six protrusions 212, which are discretely distributed, protrude along the axial direction x near the outer peripheral edge of the chassis 211 and define five notches. The journal 213 protrudes axially from the center of the chassis 211 to support the stop wheel 21 on the frame of the retractor. In a preferred embodiment, the axial length of the chassis 211 accounts for only 1 / 10 to 1 / 6 of the overall axial length of the stop wheel 21.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the ball gear 22 includes a first half 221 and a second half 222 that are fixedly connected, and are combined with... Figure 1 One end of the first half 221 is fixedly connected to the stop wheel 21, and the other end of the first half 221 is inserted into the tape reel 1 for installation. The second half 222 is sleeved and fixed on the outside of the tape reel 1 onto the first half 221. The first half 221 is rotatably installed by inserting it into the tape reel 1, and the tape reel 1 and the gear mechanism 2 at least partially overlap in the axial x direction, thereby making the overall axial dimension of the tape reel assembly in this embodiment smaller. Furthermore, the first half 221 has a through shaft hole 221a, and the axial end of the shaft hole 221a adjacent to the stop wheel 21 is formed as a spline hole 221b (see...). Figure 2 This allows for the anti-torsional installation of the force limiting mechanism 3. By setting the spline hole 221b at the axial end of the stop wheel 21 adjacent to the first half 221, the gear mechanism 2 and the force limiting mechanism 3 have a large overlap in the axial x direction, thereby making the overall axial dimension of the tape reel assembly in this embodiment smaller.

[0030] like Figure 2As shown, the first half 221 has an integrally formed recess 2211, a periphery 2212, and protrusions 2213. The recess 2211 is formed by the recess of the surface of the first half 221 facing the stop wheel 21. The periphery 2212 extends around the outer peripheral edge of the recess 2211. Five protrusions 2213, discretely distributed from the periphery 2212 toward the stop wheel 21, extend along the axial direction x. The tape reel assembly according to this embodiment also includes a steel ball launching device capable of launching multiple steel balls when activated. These steel balls drive the ball gear 22 in the seatbelt rewinding direction, thereby driving the stop wheel 21 and subsequently rotating the tape reel 1 in the direction of retrieving the seatbelt. Therefore, the other specific structures of the ball gear 22 are constructed in conjunction with the steel ball launching device and will not be described further here.

[0031] The following details the axial (x) mounting of the stop wheel 21 and the ball gear 22.

[0032] The five tabs 2213 of the first half 221 are inserted into the five notches defined by the adjacent tabs 212 of the stop wheel 21 and riveted together to achieve anti-torsional assembly of the stop wheel 21 and the ball gear 22. It should be understood that the number of tabs 2213 here is only an example and not a limitation.

[0033] The base 211 of the stop wheel 21 is inserted into the recess 2211 of the first half 221 and is surrounded by the periphery 2212 of the first half 221. In fact, the base 211 of the stop wheel 21 has a smoothly transitioned wave profile to define the pattern, and the radially inner side of the periphery 2212 of the first half 221 has a corresponding complementary wave profile to match the pattern to assist in the anti-torsional assembly of the stop wheel 21 and the ball gear 22.

[0034] After the base 211 of the stop wheel 21 is inserted into the recess 2211 of the first half 221, the outer surface of the base 211 is flush with the outer surface of the periphery 2212, so as to facilitate the locking mechanism 4 (see Figure 1 Installation of ).

[0035] The end of the protrusion 212 of the stop wheel 21 extends radially outward from the chassis 211 to press against the periphery 2212 of the first half 221 to assist in the axial positioning of the stop wheel 21 and the ball gear 22.

[0036] The structure of force limiting mechanism 3 is described below.

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, the force limiting mechanism 3 includes a first force limiting rod 31, a second force limiting rod 32, and a force limiting rod sleeve 33 that are fixedly connected. The first force limiting rod 31 and the second force limiting rod 32 are respectively inserted into the force limiting rod sleeve 33 and fixedly connected by its spline to form a compact force limiting mechanism 3 to transmit torque.

[0038] In this embodiment, the force limiting mechanism 3 uses two connected torsion bars to achieve multi-level force limiting. These torsion bars can undergo plastic deformation when exceeding a predetermined torsional load, thereby limiting the torque transmitted between the reel 1 and the gear mechanism 2, stabilizing the restraint force on the occupant at a set value. This multi-level force limiting can be achieved by switching the restraint force value, thus minimizing the injury caused by the seatbelt to the occupant based on their body shape. It should be understood that the force limiting mechanism 3 described here is merely an example and not a limitation.

[0039] Specifically, both the first force limiting rod 31 and the second force limiting rod 32 are metal torsion rods with splines at both ends. The force limiting rod sleeve 33 has two different sizes of splines. One end 31a of the first force limiting rod 31 is inserted into the spline hole 221b of the first half 221 of the ball gear 22 (see...). Figure 2 The first force limiting rod 31 is fixedly connected to the large spline of the force limiting rod sleeve 33, and the second force limiting rod 32 is fixedly connected to the small spline of the force limiting rod sleeve 33. The other end 32b of the second force limiting rod 32 is fixedly connected to the winding drum 1.

[0040] Thus, the tape reel 1 and gear mechanism 2 of the present invention partially overlap in the axial direction, and the gear mechanism 2 and force limiting mechanism 3 partially overlap in the axial direction, forming a compact structure. In a preferred embodiment, the axial length of the overlap between the tape reel 1 and gear mechanism 2 accounts for 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of the overall axial length of the ball gear 22; the axial length of the overlap between the gear mechanism 2 and force limiting mechanism 3 accounts for 1 / 6 to 1 / 3 of the overall axial length of the force limiting mechanism 3.

[0041] In this invention, the stop wheel 21 and ball gear 22 of the tape reel assembly are fixedly connected to form an integral gear mechanism 2, and the first force limiting rod 31, the second force limiting rod 32, and the force limiting rod sleeve 33 are fixedly connected to form an integral force limiting mechanism 3. These two mechanisms are directly assembled to the tape reel 1, giving the tape reel assembly of this invention a very compact and stable structure with few independent parts. In summary, compared with the prior art, the tape reel assembly of this invention has a more compact, simple, and stable structure, and can achieve a smaller overall size while meeting functional requirements.

[0042] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various variations can be made to the above embodiments of the present invention. That is, all simple and equivalent changes and modifications made based on the claims and description of this invention fall within the protection scope of the claims of this patent. All aspects not described in detail in this invention are conventional technical content.

Claims

1. A tape reel assembly, characterized in that, The tape reel assembly includes a tape reel, a gear mechanism, and a force limiting mechanism. The tape reel for winding the seatbelt extends axially and is rotatably supported within the retractor frame. The gear mechanism is mounted on one side of the tape reel via the force limiting mechanism and includes a stop wheel and a ball gear riveted together axially. The stop wheel, rotatably mounted on the frame, is used to lock the tape reel in the direction of pulling out the seatbelt to limit its pull-out under predetermined conditions. It drives the tape reel in the direction of retracting the seatbelt to retract approximately [amount missing] in the active state. The spherical gear for restraining the occupants has a through shaft hole. A force-limiting mechanism is inserted into the shaft hole along the axial direction and installed. Its two ends are respectively connected to a tape reel and a gear mechanism to prevent the occupants from being over-restrained by realizing the force-limiting function. The stop wheel has an integrally formed chassis and several protrusions. The chassis has a flat disc structure. The protrusions, which are distributed discretely, protrude axially near the outer peripheral edge of the chassis and define at least two notches. The spherical gear has at least two protrusions. Each protrusion is inserted into the notch defined by the adjacent protrusion and riveted to achieve anti-torsional assembly of the stop wheel and the spherical gear.

2. The tape reel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ball gear has a recessed platform and a periphery integrally formed with the protrusions. The recessed platform is formed by the recessed surface of the ball gear facing the stop wheel. The periphery extends around the outer peripheral edge of the recessed platform. The protrusions, which are distributed discretely from each other, extend axially from the periphery toward the stop wheel. The chassis of the stop wheel is inserted into the recessed platform of the ball gear and is surrounded by the periphery.

3. The tape reel assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The base of the stop wheel has a smoothly transitioning wave profile to define the flower shape, and the radially inner side of the spherical gear has a corresponding complementary wave profile to match the flower shape to assist in the anti-torsional assembly of the stop wheel and the spherical gear.

4. The tape reel assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The tape reel assembly also includes a locking mechanism mounted on the stop wheel, the locking mechanism including a locking pawl, by which the tape reel is locked to the frame of the take-up unit.

5. The tape reel assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, After the base of the stop wheel is inserted into the sinker of the ball gear, the outer surface of the base and the outer surface of the periphery are flush to facilitate the installation of the locking mechanism.

6. The tape reel assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, A locking plate is fixed to the frame. The locking mechanism also includes a return spring. The locking pawl is kept disengaged from the locking plate by the spring force of the return spring, and engages with the locking plate to achieve the locking function when the spring force of the return spring is overcome.

7. The tape reel assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The end of the protrusion of the stop wheel extends radially outward from the chassis to press against the periphery of the ball gear to assist in axial positioning of the stop wheel and the ball gear.

8. The tape reel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axial length of the chassis accounts for 1 / 10 to 1 / 6 of the overall axial length of the stop wheel.

9. The tape reel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ball gear includes a first half and a second half that are fixedly connected. One end of the first half is fixedly connected to the stop wheel, and the other end of the first half is inserted into the tape reel. The second half is sleeved on the outside of the tape reel and fixed to the first half.

10. The tape reel assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The spherical gear shaft hole is provided by the first half, and the axial end of the shaft hole adjacent to the stop wheel is formed as a spline hole for the force limiting mechanism to be installed against torsion.

11. The tape reel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The force limiting mechanism includes a first force limiting rod, a second force limiting rod, and a force limiting rod sleeve that are fixedly connected. The first force limiting rod and the second force limiting rod are respectively inserted into the force limiting rod sleeve and fixedly connected by their splines to form a compact force limiting mechanism to transmit torque.

12. The tape reel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The overlapping axial length of the tape drum and gear mechanism accounts for 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of the overall axial length of the ball gear.

13. The tape reel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axial length of the overlap between the gear mechanism and the force limiting mechanism accounts for 1 / 6 to 1 / 3 of the overall axial length of the force limiting mechanism.

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