Safety belt device

Abstract

A safety belt device (1) comprising - a webbing strap (2), - a belt tongue (3) with a tongue body (4), wherein the webbing (3) passes through a slot (5) of the tongue body (4), and - a belt buckle (6) in which the belt tongue (3) can be received and locked, wherein - the safety belt device (1) comprises an energy collector (8) with a movement element (9) which can be actuated against a spring force of at least one spring element (10), wherein - the energy collector (8) is designed to convert the kinetic energy of the moving element (9) into electrical energy, wherein - a movement (11) occurring during the use of the safety belt device (1) is used to actuate the movement element (9) against the spring force of the at least one spring element (10), characterized in that - the energy collector (8) comprises a transmission arranged on a force line between the moving element (9) and the spring element (10) and / or between the moving element (9) and another component of the safety belt device (1), which serves to actuate the moving element (9) against the spring force of the at least one spring element (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a safety belt device comprising a belt webbing, a belt tongue with a tongue body, wherein the belt webbing runs through a slot of the tongue body, and a belt buckle in which the belt tongue can be received and locked.

[0002] Such seat belt devices are known in the prior art in a variety of designs. It is also known to equip seat belt devices with electrical components, for example, to check whether the seat belt is buckled or unbuckled. Since such components require an electrical power supply, it can be advantageous to operate them independently of an external power source.

[0003] DE 10 2015 119 198 A1 discloses a seat assembly with a seat belt assembly. The seat belt assembly comprises a retractor mechanism, a belt webbing, and a buckle tongue having a buckle tongue light source. The buckle tongue can be configured to transfer the frictional energy generated when the buckle tongue is displaced along the belt webbing and convert it into electrical energy to power the buckle tongue light source.

[0004] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a safety belt device which makes it possible to recover energy.

[0005] This object is solved by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims, in the figures and in the associated description.

[0006] According to the invention, a safety belt device is proposed, comprising a belt webbing, a belt tongue with a tongue body, wherein the belt webbing runs through a slot in the tongue body, and a belt buckle in which the belt tongue can be received and locked, wherein the safety belt device comprises an energy collector with a movement element that can be actuated against a spring force of at least one spring element, wherein the energy collector is designed to convert the kinetic energy of the movement element into electrical energy, wherein a movement occurring during use of the safety belt device is used to actuate the movement element against the spring force of the at least one spring element.

[0007] By actuating the movement element against the spring element of the energy collector, energy can be generated by the energy collector, and the kinetic energy of the movement element is converted into stress energy through elastic deformation of the spring element. In this way, any movement that occurs during use of the seat belt device can be efficiently utilized for energy generation.

[0008] Preferably, the safety belt device further comprises a retractor with a spool rotatably mounted in a frame for winding the belt webbing. The movement element can be configured to be actuated by the rotating spool or by the belt tongue inserted into the belt buckle.

[0009] The seat belt device may also comprise an energy storage device, such as a battery. The energy collector can be used to power the energy storage device. The energy generated by the energy collector can be used to power a transmitting / receiving unit or a transmitting unit that transmits a wireless signal, e.g. using a Bluetooth Low Energy standard. The seat belt device may also comprise a detection unit configured to detect whether the belt tongue is locked in the belt buckle or not, i.e. whether it is in the buckled or unbelted state. The seat belt device may also comprise a control unit that generates a signal that can be sent, e.g. wirelessly, via a transmitting / receiving unit or a transmitting unit when the detection unit has determined that the belt tongue is in the buckled or unbelted state.Due to the energy collector, the control unit, the transmitter / receiver unit or transmission unit and the battery do not require an external power supply and can therefore be called an autonomous system.

[0010] The energy collector preferably uses electromagnetic induction (also called Faraday induction) to generate an electric current and thus electrical energy.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the energy collector is configured such that the movement element is released when the at least one spring element is preloaded to a predetermined level. This provides a predefined amount of energy. The advantage is that the energy collector can generate a predefined amount of electrical energy.

[0012] Preferably, the moving element is accelerated by the spring force of the at least one spring element when the moving element is released. The acceleration of the moving element converts the stress energy of the spring force into kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of the moving element can then be used by the energy harvester to generate electrical energy. A key advantage of this embodiment is that two types of movements can contribute to the generation of electrical energy: first, the movement of the seat belt device, which actuates the moving element against the spring force of the spring element, and second, the movement of the moving element induced by the spring force of the spring element. This dual energy harvesting functionality increases the energy generated by the energy harvester.Since the moving element is released when the at least one spring element is preloaded to the predetermined amount, the speed of the moving element is also predetermined when it is pressed by the spring element.

[0013] Preferably, the energy collector is configured to allow free movement of the moving element in at least one spatial direction when released. This free movement allows the moving element to be accelerated to a relatively high speed. The invention recognizes that a relatively high speed of the moving element is an important factor for efficient energy generation.

[0014] Preferably, the energy collector comprises a switch, preferably a mechanical switch, that allows the movement element to be released when the spring element is preloaded to a predetermined level. The switch enables reliable release of the movement element.

[0015] The moving element can comprise at least one magnet, preferably at least one permanent magnet. Furthermore, the energy collector can comprise at least one coil, wherein the moving element is arranged to be movable such that the coil is supplied with an electric current by the movement of the moving element. It has been shown that electrical energy can be generated efficiently using this arrangement. The movement of the magnet relative to the coil causes a change in the magnetic flux, which in turn causes an electric current in the coil. However, it is also possible for the moving element to comprise a coil that moves relative to a stationary magnet, preferably a stationary permanent magnet.

[0016] According to the invention, the energy collector comprises a gear mechanism arranged on a line of force between the moving element and the spring element and / or between the moving element and another component of the seat belt device. The gear mechanism can comprise a rack and a gear. The speed and / or range of motion of the moving element can be adjusted as appropriate.

[0017] The movement element can be installed so that it can perform a rotary movement or a linear movement.

[0018] Preferably, the belt buckle includes the energy collector, with the belt tongue serving to actuate the movement element against the spring force of the at least one spring element. It has been shown that inserting the belt tongue into the belt buckle is sufficient to generate a usable amount of energy.

[0019] The energy collector can be housed in a housing of the seat belt buckle. This protects the energy collector from environmental influences, and its placement within the housing does not adversely affect the passenger.

[0020] In the following, the invention is explained using preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a seat belt device in an unbuckled state; Fig. 2 shows a seat belt device in the buckled state; Fig. 3 shows a seat belt device in a state after it has been released from the buckled state; Fig. 4 shows a buckle of a safety belt device without a housing; Fig. 5 shows a coil of an energy collector; Fig. 6 shows a belt buckle with a housing; Fig. 7 shows a belt buckle without a belt tongue in the unbuckled state; Fig. 8 shows a belt buckle without a belt tongue in the buckled state; Fig. 9 shows a first embodiment of an energy collector; Fig. 10 shows a second embodiment of an energy collector; and Fig. 11 shows a third embodiment of an energy collector.

[0021] The Fig. 1 to 3 show a safety belt device 1 comprising a belt tongue 3, a belt webbing 2 connected to the belt tongue 3, and a rectangle representing a buckle 6 with a housing 7, wherein the buckle 6 includes an energy collector 8. The belt tongue 3 comprises a tongue body 4 with a slot 5, wherein the belt webbing 2 is guided through the slot 5 so that the belt webbing 2 is connected to the belt tongue 3.

[0022] The energy collector 8 is in the Fig. 1 to 3 is shown only schematically; it comprises a coil 14, a spring element 10, and a moving element 9 in the form of a magnet 13. According to this embodiment, the magnet 13 is a permanent magnet 13 with a south pole S and a north pole N. The orientation of the poles of the magnet 13 can, of course, be reversed.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows the safety belt device 1 in an unfastened state. By the movement 11 (see Fig. 2) the belt tongue 3 during the buckling process, the movement element 9 is actuated by the belt tongue 3 against the spring force of the spring element 10, which is also part of the energy collector 9.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 shows the safety belt device 1 in a buckled state, in which the movement element 9 has reached an end position due to the movement 11 of the belt tongue 3. In this position, the spring element 10 is compressed by the movement element 9 to a predetermined extent. When the spring element 10 is pretensioned to a predetermined extent, the movement element 9 is released by a mechanical switch 12 (see Fig. 9 and Fig. 10). This enables a repeatable movement of the moving element 9 after its release and thus the generation of the same amount of energy through the release movement.

[0025] Fig. Figure 3 shows the seat belt device 1 in a state after release. In this state, the moving element 9 can move freely, so that the tension energy of the spring element 10 can be efficiently converted into a movement at a relatively high speed. Although the moving element 9 returns to its original position, the belt tongue 3 remains in the buckled state. After the belt tongue 3 is released, the moving element 9 can be pressed against the spring element 10 again during a subsequent buckling process.

[0026] The movement of magnet 13 relative to the stationary coil 14 can generate electric current and thus electrical energy through electromagnetic induction (also called Faraday induction). The electrical energy is generated both when the moving element 9 is actuated against the spring element 10 and when the moving element 9 is moved in the opposite direction by the spring element 10.

[0027] Fig. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the buckle 6 of the safety belt device 1. The buckle 6 comprises a latch 15 which is arranged to press the moving element 9, which comprises three rows of magnets 13, against the Fig. 1 to 3. In this way, the moving element 9 passes the coil 14.

[0028] Fig. Figure 5 shows the coil 14 in a perspective view. It also includes a ferromagnetic protrusion 16 protruding from a center of the coil 14. Since the moving element 9, which comprises three rows of magnets 13, passes through a gap 19 formed by the ferromagnetic protrusion 16, the effect of electromagnetic induction can be enhanced.

[0029] Fig. 6 shows the belt buckle 6 with the housing 7. The energy collector 8 is located inside the housing 7; therefore, the shape of the housing 7 is adapted to shape the energy collector 8.

[0030] Fig. Figure 7 shows the belt buckle 6 without the belt tongue 3 in an unbuckled state. In this state, the movement element 9 has not yet been moved relative to the coil 14.

[0031] Fig. Figure 8 shows the belt buckle 6 without the belt tongue 3 in the buckled state. It can be seen that the movement element 9 is in comparison to the Fig. 7 shown position of the moving element 9 relative to the coil 14.

[0032] The Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show two different arrangements of six magnets 13 arranged in three rows. An arrow indicates the direction of movement 17 of the movement element 9 caused by the belt tongue 3. When the movement element 9 is actuated by the spring element 10 (see Fig. 1 to 3), the moving element 9 is naturally moved in the opposite direction. In Fig. 9, the north-south axes of the magnets 13, which are defined by the position of the north pole N and the south pole S of the magnets 13, are orthogonal to the direction of movement 17, while in Fig. 10 the north-south axes of the magnets 13 run parallel to the direction of movement 17.

[0033] In addition, the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 the switch 12, which has two states. In the first state, the pawl 15 is in contact with the moving element 9, so that the moving element 9 can be moved by the belt tongue 3 against the spring force of the spring element 10 (see Fig. 1 to 3). In a second state, the pawl 15 releases the moving element 9 so that it can be accelerated by the spring force of the spring element 10 without being hindered by the pawl 15.

[0034] The one in the Fig. The energy collector 8 shown in Figures 1 to 10 comprises a movement element 9 which is moved translationally.

[0035] Fig. Figure 11 shows an embodiment of an energy collector 8 comprising a moving element 9 that rotates about a rotation axis 18. The moving element 9 has a cylindrical shape with inserted magnets 13 that are arranged equidistant from each other about the rotation axis 18. However, the basic functionality is the same as in the Fig. 1 to 10: When inserting the belt tongue 3 into the belt buckle 6, the movement element 9 is rotated in a first direction, whereby a torque is exerted on the spring element 10. This moves the magnets 13 past the coil 14, whereby electrical energy is generated. After the spring element 10 has been pretensioned to a predetermined level by this movement, the movement element 9 is deactivated by a switch 12 (see Fig. 9 and Fig. 10) is released, so that it is accelerated in the opposite direction by the preloaded spring element 10. In this way, the magnets 13 are moved past the coil 14 again; thus, electrical energy is generated again.

[0036] Regardless of whether the movement element 9 is rotational (see Fig. 11) or translationally (see Fig. 1 to 10), a gear (not shown) can be provided with which, for example, the range of motion, the speed and / or the acceleration of the moving element 9 can be adjusted and adapted, for example, to the design of the energy collector 8. In this way, a predefined and efficient energy generation can be ensured.

[0037] Furthermore, the safety belt device 1 can comprise a battery (not shown) that can be charged by the energy collector 8. This battery can be used, for example, to supply power to a detection unit (not shown). Such a detection unit can be set up, for example, to check whether the belt tongue 3 is in the buckled or unbuckled state. This state information can then be processed by a control unit (not shown). The control unit can then generate and transmit a corresponding signal, for example by means of a wireless transmitting unit (not shown), which is received by an external receiving unit (not shown).

[0038] It is clear that the Fig. 1 to 11 can also be used together with other movable components of the safety belt device 1. For example, the energy collector 8 shown in Fig. 11 shown energy collector 8 are moved by a coil of a belt retractor (not shown) against the force of the spring element 10.

Claims

[1] A safety belt device (1) comprising - a belt strap (2), - a belt tongue (3) with a tongue body (4), wherein the belt strap (3) runs through a slot (5) of the tongue body (4), and - a belt buckle (6) in which the belt tongue (3) can be received and locked, whereby - the safety belt device (1) comprises an energy collector (8) with a movement element (9) which can be actuated against a spring force of at least one spring element (10), wherein - the energy collector (8) is designed to convert the kinetic energy of the moving element (9) into electrical energy, wherein - a movement (11) occurring during use of the safety belt device (1) is used to actuate the movement element (9) against the spring force of the at least one spring element (10), characterized by , that - the energy collector (8) comprises a gear which is arranged on a line of force between the movement element (9) and the spring element (10) and / or between the movement element (9) and another component of the safety belt device (1), which serves to actuate the movement element (9) against the spring force of the at least one spring element (10). [2] The seat belt device (1) according to claim 1, wherein - the belt buckle (6) comprises the energy collector (8), wherein - the belt tongue (3) serves to actuate the movement element (9) against the spring force of the at least one spring element (10), wherein - the energy collector (8) is arranged so that the movement element (9) is released when the at least one spring element (10) is pretensioned to a predetermined level, wherein - the movement element (9) can move freely in a state after release, so that the tension energy of the spring element (10) can be converted into a movement. [3] The seat belt device (1) according to claim 2, wherein - the movement element (9) is accelerated by the spring force of the at least one spring element (10) when the movement element (9) is released. [4] The seat belt device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein - the energy collector (8) is designed to allow free movement of the movement element (9) in at least one spatial direction when it is released. [5] The safety belt device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein - the energy collector (8) comprises a switch (12) which enables the movement element (9) to be released when the spring element (10) is pretensioned to a predetermined level. [6] The safety belt device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein - the movement element (9) comprises at least one magnet (13). [7] The seat belt device (1) according to claim 6, wherein - the energy collector (8) comprises at least one coil (14), wherein - the moving element (9) is mounted so as to be movable that the coil (14) is supplied with an electric current by the movement of the moving element (9). [8] The safety belt device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein - the movement element (9) is installed in such a way that it can perform a rotational or a linear movement. [9] The safety belt device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the energy collector (8) is arranged within a housing of the belt buckle (6).

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