Belt retractor with load-transmitting latch

Abstract

The belt retractor comprises a frame, a belt reel (12) which is rotatably arranged in the frame, a locking mechanism by means of which the belt reel (12) can be locked in the frame, and a force limiter which is detachably coupled to the belt reel (12). According to the invention, at least one load-transmitting locking bolt (20) is provided for coupling the force limiter, which locking bolt is arranged on the belt reel (12) and is held in a coupling position by a support ring (24) which can be moved from a support position into a release position by means of an actuator. According to the invention, the support ring (24) has a contact projection (26) which is associated with the load-transmitting lock bolt (20) and on which the load-transmitting lock bolt (20) rests laterally by means of the contact surface (56), and the contact projection (26) has an extension in the axial direction which corresponds at least to the extension of the contact surface (56) in the axial direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a belt retractor, which comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably arranged in the frame, a locking mechanism and a force limiter. The belt reel can be locked in the frame by means of the locking mechanism. Background Art

[0002] Such a belt retractor is known from WO 2017 / 174641 A1. It is used to provide a vehicle occupant with a seat belt for a vehicle. In normal operation, the vehicle occupant can freely pull the seat belt from the belt reel against the action of the winding spring, and when the vehicle occupant, for example, unfastens the seat belt, the belt reel rewinds the seat belt. Depending on external parameters, such as the deceleration of the vehicle or the rotational acceleration of the belt reel when the belt webbing is pulled out, a locking mechanism is activated, with which the belt reel can be locked in the frame.

[0003] If the belt reel is locked in the frame, the seat belt cannot be pulled further from the belt reel until a predetermined force level is reached in the seat belt; the belt reel does not twist relative to the frame of the belt retractor, ignoring the slight yielding attributable to the inherent elasticity of all components located in the force flow.

[0004] When a predetermined force level is reached, the force limiter comes into play. It enables the belt reel to twist relative to the frame under the effect of the belt tension. This releases a certain amount of belt, which serves as an additional path for the vehicle occupants to slow down.

[0005] WO 2017 / 174641 A1 discloses a belt retractor in which the connection between the force limiter and the belt reel of the belt retractor is established via at least one load-transmitting locking bolt. For this purpose, the locking bolt is held in an initial position by a supporting ring, which can be transferred by means of an actuator into a release position in which the locking bolt is released and thus the contact between the force limiter and the belt reel is released. However, it has been shown that under certain load conditions, the locking bolt can tilt when released from the force limiter, which limits the type of force limiter used and the torque that can be used. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to further develop the known belt retractor in such a way that the required installation space is further reduced and the operation of the belt retractor is designed to be even more reliable.

[0007] The object is achieved according to the invention by a belt retractor having a frame, a belt reel rotatably arranged in the frame, a locking mechanism by means of which the belt reel can be locked in the frame, and a force limiter, which is releasably coupled to the belt reel. For coupling the force limiter, at least one load-transmitting locking bolt is provided, which is arranged on the belt reel and is held in a coupled position by a supporting ring, which can be moved from the supporting position into a released position by means of an actuator. The supporting ring has a contact projection that matches the load-transmitting locking bolt, against which the load-transmitting locking bolt laterally rests with a contact surface, and the contact projection has an extension in the axial direction that is at least equivalent to the extension of the contact surface in the axial direction.

[0008] Therefore, according to the invention, it is provided that the size of the abutment projection of the support ring is matched to the size of the contact surface of the associated load-transmitting locking bolt. In this way, tilting of the load-transmitting locking bolt is effectively suppressed, since sufficient contact is ensured at all times between the abutment projection and the load-transmitting locking bolt. As a result, the coupling between the force limiter and the belt reel can be released even more reliably.

[0009] Furthermore, it is possible to use a force limiter that transmits a greater torque without having to worry that this would excessively increase the tilting of the load-transmitting locking bolt. At the same time, it is achieved that the rotational movement of the force limiter can be transmitted laterally via the load-transmitting locking bolt to the contact projection of the support ring, and vice versa.

[0010] In order to optimize the contact between the load-transmitting locking bolt and the supporting ring even further, the entire contact surface of the load-transmitting locking bolt can rest against the associated contact projection.

[0011] Preferably, the contact projection has an extension in the axial direction which is at least the sum of the extension of the contact surface of the load-transmitting locking bolt and the release distance, wherein the release distance represents the distance resulting from the position difference of the support ring in the axial direction in the release position and the support position. In this way, it can be ensured that the load-transmitting locking bolt completely rests with its contact surface on the associated contact projection both in its coupled position and in the decoupled position of the load-transmitting locking bolt after reaching the release position of the support ring.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the load-transmitting locking bolt and the matching contact projection of the supporting ring are arranged in a recess on the belt reel. In this way, the load-transmitting locking bolt and the contact projection can be driven by the belt reel with little effort and without further measures, while at the same time both the load-transmitting locking bolt and the contact projection remain adjustable in the axial direction.

[0013] In particular, the belt retractor is designed to radially displace the load-transmitting locking bolt within the recess by means of the force limiter as soon as the support ring moves from the support position toward the release position. In other words, as soon as the support ring begins to move into the release position, the rotational movement caused by the belt retractor or the force limiter serves to displace the load-transmitting locking bolt toward the decoupling position and thus ensures precise control of the decoupling process.

[0014] In order to distribute the forces generated for transmitting the occurring torque more evenly, a plurality of load-transmitting locking bolts can be provided and the support ring can have, for each of the load-transmitting locking bolts, a contact projection which is matched to the respective load-transmitting locking bolt.

[0015] Accordingly, in this variant, each of the load-transmitting locking bolts has a contact surface which laterally abuts against a correspondingly associated abutment projection.

[0016] In particular, two, three or four load-transmitting locking bolts are provided. In this way, a sufficient force distribution is achieved without excessive manufacturing effort and a sturdy arrangement is obtained.

[0017] In particular, the plurality of load-transmitting locking bolts are symmetrically arranged.

[0018] Preferably, the load-transmitting locking bolts are arranged at an equal angular distance relative to each other, that is, for example, at an angular distance of 180° in the case of two load-transmitting locking bolts or at an angular distance of 120° in the case of three load-transmitting locking bolts.

[0019] In one embodiment, the support ring has at least one circumferential retaining section, with which the support ring is fixed in the support position to the projection of the belt reel. In this way, a secure connection is produced between the support ring and the belt reel, so that the torque generated by the belt reel can be transmitted to the support ring even better, while at the same time the installation effort is low.

[0020] In order to securely fix the support ring in the support position, a retaining ring can be provided which holds the support ring in the support position and has at least one retaining projection which engages in an associated retaining receptacle of the retaining ring.

[0021] The fixing projection is in particular a component of the contact projection of the support ring, so that the design of the support ring is further simplified.

[0022] If a plurality of retaining receptacles are present, these are distributed in particular symmetrically on the retaining ring, in particular at equal angular distances from one another.

[0023] In addition, the retaining ring can also have one or more retaining arms additionally, and the retaining arms fix the supporting ring in the axial direction. In particular, the retaining arms can be elastically elastic at this, so that the supporting ring and the retaining ring can be pushed on each other with little consumption, so that the supporting ring is fixed.

[0024] In particular, the support ring is designed to be symmetrical in order to further simplify the assembly of the belt retractor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Further features and characteristics of the invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the accompanying drawings, which, however, are not to be understood in a limiting sense. In these drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 A partial exploded view of a belt retractor according to the present invention is shown,

[0027] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 A perspective view of a belt reel with a belt retractor in FIG.

[0028] Figure 3 Show Figure 1 Perspective view of the support ring with retractor in

[0029] Figure 4 Show Figure 1 A longitudinal section of a selected part of the belt retractor in the supporting position of the supporting ring,

[0030] Figure 5 Show Figure 1 A longitudinal section view of a detail of the belt retractor,

[0031] Figure 6 Show Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the belt retractor in the supporting position of the supporting ring,

[0032] Figure 7 Show Figure 1 Another perspective view of a selected part of the belt retractor in the supporting position of the supporting ring,

[0033] Figure 8 Shown with Figure 7 akin Figure 1 Another perspective view of a selected portion of the belt retractor in the released position of the support ring,

[0034] Fig. 9 Show Figure 1 A longitudinal sectional view of a selected portion of the belt retractor during the transition of the support ring from the support position to the release position,

[0035] Fig.10 Show Figure 1Another sectional view of a selected part of the belt retractor in the supporting position of the supporting ring,

[0036] Fig.11 Shown along Fig.10 The cross-sectional view of plane BB in

[0037] Fig.12 Shown with Fig.10 Similar sectional view in the released position of the support ring,

[0038] Fig.13 Shown along Fig.12 The cross-sectional view of plane BB in

[0039] Fig.14 Show Fig.13 The detail view of the view in

[0040] Fig.15 Shown with Fig.14 Similar detail view with the load-transmitting latch in the decoupled position,

[0041] Fig.16 A perspective view showing the decoupled position of the load-transmitting bolt. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] exist Figure 1 1 is a partially exploded view of a belt retractor 10 according to the present invention. To facilitate understanding of the present invention, illustration of components that are not necessary for understanding the present invention and are generally known are basically omitted.

[0043] The belt retractor 10 comprises a belt reel 12 which is arranged in a frame (not shown). The frame serves as a carrying member for the belt reel 12.

[0044] A torsion bar 14 extends through the belt reel 12 and is a core component of the force limiter 16 of the belt retractor 10. The torsion bar 14 is Figure 1 ) is matched with the belt reel 12 and at the other end (at Figure 1 The wheel hub is also connected to a drive wheel 18 in a rotationally fixed manner, on which a so-called pretensioner (e.g. an electric motor) or a main tensioner (e.g. a main tensioner based on pyrotechnic ammunition) can act.

[0045] A locking mechanism (not shown) is again mounted on the drive wheel 18 and thus also on the wheel hub, which serves to lock the wheel hub relative to the frame if necessary.

[0046] The mode of operation and effect of the pretensioner and the locking mechanism are generally known and reference is made in this regard, for example, to the description in WO 2017 / 174641 A1.

[0047] The belt retractor 10 comprises a plurality of load-transmitting locking bolts 20 which are arranged in the belt reel 12 such that the load-transmitting locking bolts 20 engage with their respective tips 22 in the entraining toothing 23 of the torsion bar 14 (see Figure 6 ).

[0048] This position of the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 is also referred to below as the “coupled position”.

[0049] When the support ring 24 is in the support position, the locking bolt 20 is held in the coupling position by the support ring 24. The functioning of the support ring will be discussed in more detail below.

[0050] The supporting ring has a plurality of contact projections 26 , and a corresponding contact projection 26 is provided for each of the load-transmitting locking bolts 20 .

[0051] Furthermore, the support ring 24 has a circumferential retaining section 28, wherein the retaining section 28 has a radial inner diameter that is greater than the diameter of the projection 30 of the belt reel 12 (see Figure 2 ), so that the support ring 24 can be pushed onto the projection 30 of the belt reel 12 with the retaining section 28.

[0052] The belt retractor 10 also has a retaining ring 32 which holds the support ring 24, wherein the retaining ring 32 has a plurality of retaining receptacles 34 which are designed to be complementary to the abutment projections 26 of the support ring 24, wherein each of the retaining receptacles 34 matches one of the abutment projections 26. In this way, the correct relative orientation of the support ring 24 and the retaining ring 32 to one another is ensured by the cooperation of the abutment projections 26 and the retaining receptacles 34. In other words, the part of the abutment projections 26 which points toward the retaining ring 32 forms a fixing projection 35 for the retaining ring 32.

[0053] Furthermore, the retaining ring 32 has a plurality of retaining arms 36 which axially secure the supporting ring 24 .

[0054] Furthermore, the belt retractor 10 has a toothed element 37 which is connected to the belt reel 12 and onto which the support ring 24 and the retaining ring 32 are pushed.

[0055] As in Figure 1 It can be seen in FIG. 1 that all components of the belt retractor 10 are designed in such a way that they can be slid onto one another along the central axis A for assembly, which minimizes the manufacturing complexity of the belt retractor 10 and allows a particularly compact design.

[0056] Furthermore, the central axis A defines the axial direction of the belt retractor 10 .

[0057] Figure 2 A perspective view of the tape reel 12 is shown.

[0058] It can be seen in this view that a plurality of recesses 38 are provided on the end of the projection 30 of the belt reel 12 that is directed toward the supporting ring 24 .

[0059] One of the load-transmitting locking pins 20 and the contact projection 26 of the support ring 24 assigned to the respective load-transmitting locking pin 20 are accommodated in each of the recesses 38 .

[0060] Accordingly, the number of recesses 38 is matched to the number of load-transmitting locking bolts 20 .

[0061] Of course, fewer or more locking bolts 20 may also be present, wherein a plurality of locking bolts 20 , in particular two, three or four locking bolts 20 , are particularly advantageous in order to achieve a particularly uniform force distribution during operation of the belt retractor 10 .

[0062] In each of the recesses 38 there is also provided a depression 40 in which the underside 42 of the contact projection 26 received in the respective recess 38 engages in the initial position of the support ring 24 , also referred to as the support position.

[0063] Each of the recesses 38 extends in the direction of rotation R (see Fig.11 ) is defined by a first side wall 43 and a second side wall 44.

[0064] In addition, between the recessed portions 40, a directional recessed portion 46 is provided along the circumference of the protruding portion 30 of the belt reel 12. In other words, each of the directional recessed portions 46 is arranged on the angular bisector between the two recessed portions 40.

[0065] Furthermore, the belt reel 12 has a mounting projection 48 , onto which the toothed element 37 is pushed and fixed in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0066] Figure 3 The support ring 24 is shown in a perspective view, wherein the view of the underside 50 of the support ring 24 is selected, ie, the view on the side which is directed toward the belt reel 12 in the installed position.

[0067] It can be seen in this view that the abutment protrusions 26 protrude on both sides in the axial direction, wherein on the side facing the belt reel 12 a lower side 42 projects, which engages in a recess 40 of the belt reel 12, and on the side facing the retaining ring 32 a fixing protrusion 35 projects so as to be able to cooperate with the retaining receptacle 34.

[0068] from Figure 3It can also be seen that a depression 52 is created by the circumferential holding section 28 , by which contact is produced between the support ring 24 and the projection 30 after the support ring 24 has been pushed onto the projection 30 of the belt reel 12 .

[0069] Furthermore, the support ring 24 has alignment elements 54 which, in the embodiment shown, are each arranged at half the angular distance between two of the contact projections 26 and engage in the alignment recesses 46 of the projections 30 in the support position of the support ring 24 .

[0070] exist Figure 4 1 shows a sectional view of a selected part of the belt retractor 10 , wherein the supporting ring 24 is in its supporting position.

[0071] This view shows how the circumferential retaining section 28 surrounds the projection 30 of the engagement belt reel 12 , so that the projection 30 is received in the depression 52 .

[0072] It can also be seen that the contact projection 26 extends so far into the recess 38 that the underside of the contact projection 26 lies in the recess 40, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 This becomes even clearer in the view in , which shows in detail a further sectional view at the height of one of the recesses 40 .

[0073] In addition, the cooperation between the support ring 24 and the retaining ring 32 is Figure 4 Thus, the retaining arms 36 cooperate with both the support ring 24 and the recesses 55 of the mounting projections 48 in order to fix the support ring 24 in the axial direction.

[0074] exist Figure 6 , a further section is shown transversely through the projection 30 at the height of the recess 38 at a time when the supporting ring 24 is in its supporting position and thus the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 is in its coupling position.

[0075] In this configuration, each load-transmitting locking bolt 20 bears with its contact surface 56 laterally against the respectively associated contact projection 26 and, on the side opposite the contact surface 56 , against the first side wall 43 of the respective recess 38 .

[0076] The tip 22 of the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 cooperates with the entraining toothing 23 of the torsion bar 14. In this way, the rotational movement of the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 can be transmitted to the torsion bar 14, just as the rotational movement of the torsion bar 14 can be transmitted to the load-transmitting locking bolt 20.

[0077] exist Figure 6It can also be seen in FIG. 2 that the orientation elements 54 of the support ring 24 are arranged in the respectively associated orientation recesses 46 of the projections 30 .

[0078] Figure 7 A further perspective view of the belt retractor 10 is shown in the supporting position of the supporting ring 24 , wherein selected components of the belt retractor 10 are shown transparently.

[0079] It can be seen in this figure that the contact projection 26 has such an extension in the axial direction that the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 rests completely with its respective contact surface 56 against the contact projection 26 .

[0080] Figure 8 The belt retractor 10 is shown Figure 7 Same perspective view, but after the support ring 24 has been transferred into the release position, in which the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 is no longer in contact with the entraining toothing 23 of the torsion bar 14 , ie in their decoupled position.

[0081] exist Figure 8 It can be seen that the contact projections 26 have such an extension in the axial direction that it is ensured that the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 rests completely with its contact surface 56 on the respectively associated contact projection 26 even in the released position of the supporting ring 24 .

[0082] To this end, the abutment protrusion 26 has, in particular, an axial extension which is at least the sum of the axial extension of the respective contact surface 56 of the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 and a release distance, wherein the release distance represents the distance resulting from the position difference of the support ring 24 in the axial direction in the release position and the support position.

[0083] This ensures that the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 cannot tilt during the switching process between the supporting position and the release position of the supporting ring 24. This allows particularly reliable operation of the belt retractor 10 and the use of a torsion bar 14 with a larger diameter.

[0084] exist Fig. 9 Shown in Figure 4 Similar cross-sectional view, but during the transition of the support ring 24 from the support position to the release position.

[0085] It can be seen that the support ring 24 is arranged along the Fig. 9 The movement indicated by the arrow P is driven by an actuator (not shown) which axially displaces the support ring 24, for example by means of a lifting eye.

[0086] Such an actuator is generally known and reference is made to an exemplary embodiment according to WO 2017 / 174641 A1.

[0087] The mode of operation of the belt retractor 10 according to the invention is explained in more detail below.

[0088] exist Fig.10 2 shows a further sectional view of the belt retractor 10 according to the invention, in which the supporting ring 24 is located in its supporting position and the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 is located in its coupled position.

[0089] Fig.11 Shown along Fig.10 A cross-sectional view of the plane BB in FIG. 1 is provided to illustrate the relative positions of the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 and the abutment projection 26 within the respective recess 38 .

[0090] If the belt webbing 58 of the belt retractor 10 is now pulled out, the torque can be transmitted via the contact between the belt reel 12, in particular the protrusion 30 of the belt reel 12 and the retaining section 28 of the support ring 24, the contact between the support ring 24 and the load-transmitting locking bolt 20, and the contact between the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 and the force limiter 16.

[0091] If an actuator (not shown) is triggered, the supporting ring 24 is moved by the actuator from the supporting position to the release position over the release distance in the axial direction away from the belt reel 12 .

[0092] Fig.12 Shown during this process with Fig.10 Similar cross-sectional view.

[0093] It can be seen that the support ring 24 is lifted to such an extent that there is no longer any contact between the projection 30 and the circumferential retaining section 28 of the support ring 24 .

[0094] At the same time, the locking bolt 20 and the associated contact projection 26 that triggers the load transmission are moved along the respective recess 38. Fig.11 The rotational movement in the rotational direction R shown in FIG. 1 , whereby the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 moves away from the first side wall 43 of the respective recess 38 , occurs.

[0095] As soon as the locking bolts 20 have been rotated to such an extent that their surface, which was previously located on the first side wall 43, reaches the widened region 60 of the recess 38, which has a radial extension greater than the area of ​​the receptacle in which the load-transmitting locking bolts 20 are received in their coupled position, the load-transmitting locking bolts 20 are moved radially outwards, so that the tip 22 of the respective load-transmitting locking bolt 20 no longer contacts the entraining toothing 23 of the torsion bar 14. The load-transmitting locking bolts 20 thus reach their decoupled position.

[0096] The transition Fig.14 and Fig.15 Detailed view of FIG.

[0097] In addition, Fig.16 The resulting end position of the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 within the recess 38 is shown in the perspective view in FIG, without the contact projection 26 being shown for the sake of clarity.

[0098] When the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 moves radially, the axial extension of the contact projection 26 of the supporting ring 24 prevents the load-transmitting locking bolt 20 from tilting according to the invention, thereby producing a particularly reliable mechanism that also allows the use of larger torsion bars 14 or force limiters 16 that generate particularly large torques.

Claims

1. A belt retractor comprising a frame, a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged in the frame, a locking mechanism and a force limiter, by means of which the belt reel (12) can be locked in the frame, and the force limiter is releasably coupled to the belt reel (12), At least one load-transmitting locking bolt (20) is provided for coupling a force limiter, the locking bolt being arranged on the belt reel (12) and being held in a coupled position by a supporting ring (24), the supporting ring (24) being movable from the supporting position into a released position by means of an actuator, characterized in that The support ring (24) has a contact projection (26) matched with the load-transmitting locking bolt (20), on which the load-transmitting locking bolt (20) laterally contacts with a contact surface (56), and the contact projection (26) has an extension in the axial direction that is at least equivalent to the extension of the contact surface (56) in the axial direction.

2. The belt retractor according to claim 1, wherein: The entire contact surface (56) of the load-transmitting locking bolt (20) rests on the corresponding contact projection (26).

3. The belt retractor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The load-transmitting locking bolt (20) and the matching contact projection (26) of the supporting ring (24) are arranged in a recess (38) on the belt reel (12).

4. The belt retractor according to claim 3, wherein: The belt retractor (10) is designed to radially displace a load-transmitting locking bolt (20) within a recess (38) by means of a force limiter as soon as the supporting ring (24) moves from a supporting position toward a release position.

5. A belt retractor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: A plurality of load-transmitting locking bolts (20) are provided, and the support ring (24) has, for each of the load-transmitting locking bolts (20), a contact protrusion (26) matched to the respective load-transmitting locking bolt (20).

6. The belt retractor according to claim 5, wherein: The plurality of load-transmitting lock bolts (20) are symmetrically arranged.

7. A belt retractor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The support ring (24) has at least one circumferential retaining section (28), with which the support ring (24) is fixed to a projection (30) of the belt reel (12) in the supporting position.

8. A belt retractor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: A retaining ring (32) is provided for retaining the support ring (24) in a supporting position, the support ring (24) having at least one securing projection (35) which engages in a corresponding retaining receptacle (34) of the retaining ring (32).

9. A belt retractor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: In the supporting position of the supporting ring (24), the force limiter is connected to the belt reel (12) via the load-transmitting locking bolt (20) in a torque-transmitting manner, while in the released position of the supporting ring (24), it has no contact with the load-transmitting locking bolt (20).

10. A belt retractor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The support ring (24) is designed to be symmetrical.

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