End fitting tensioner

Abstract

The invention relates to an end fitting tensioner (1) for a safety belt (2) with a tensioning device (10), a hollow belt shaft (20) which can be driven by the tensioning device (10) in the winding direction, and a locking device (30) which can lock a fitting element (40) which is fastened to one end (2a) of the safety belt (20) in a tension-resistant manner within the belt shaft (20), wherein the hollow belt shaft (20) comprises an insertion slot (21) through which the fitting element (40) attached to the safety belt (2) can be inserted radially into the interior of the hollow belt shaft (20), wherein upon insertion of the fitting element (40) into the hollow belt shaft (20), the locking device (30) is triggered and a movable locking element (31) of the locking device (30) moves from an unlocking position into a position in which the fitting element (40) is locked in the belt shaft (20). locking locking position is adjusted,and wherein the locking position can be secured with a securing element (32). According to the invention, the securing element (32) is attached to the locking element (31) and is moved with it when the locking element (31) is adjusted from the unlocked position of the locking element (31) to the locked position of the locking element (31).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an end fitting tensioner for a safety belt with a tensioning device, a hollow belt shaft which can be driven by the tensioning device in the winding direction and a locking device which can lock a fitting element which is fastened to one end of the safety belt in a tension-resistant manner within the belt shaft, wherein the hollow belt shaft comprises an insertion slot through which the fitting element attached to the safety belt can be inserted radially into the interior of the hollow belt shaft, wherein upon insertion of the fitting element into the hollow belt shaft the locking device is triggered and a movable locking element of the locking device is adjusted from an unlocking position into a locking position which locks the fitting element in the belt shaft, and wherein the locking position can be secured with a securing element.

[0002] Such an end fitting tensioner is known from the German patent DE 10 2012 204 810 B3.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing an end fitting tensioner in which faulty assembly can be particularly reliably avoided.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by an end fitting tensioner having the features according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the end fitting tensioner according to the invention are specified in subclaims.

[0005] According to the invention, the securing element is attached to the locking element and is moved with it when the locking element is adjusted from the unlocking position of the locking element into the locking position of the locking element.

[0006] A key advantage of the end fitting tensioner according to the invention is that, during installation, the position of the locking element can be determined based on the position of the securing element. Thus, an installer can determine from the position of the securing element whether the locking element is already in the locked position or not and can delay the securing of the securing element until the locking element has actually reached the locked position, which the installer can determine based on the position of the securing element.

[0007] It is advantageous if the securing element is covered from the outside in the unlocked position of the locking element and is inaccessible from the assembly side, and is only exposed to the outside and accessible from the assembly side in the locked position of the locking element. This design particularly reliably prevents incorrect assembly.

[0008] It saves space if the locking element is arranged inside the belt shaft so that it can pivot about a pivot axis and is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position by pivoting about the pivot axis.

[0009] It is particularly space-saving if the securing element is arranged entirely or at least partially inside the belt shaft and when the locking element is pivoted about the pivot axis, the securing element inside the belt shaft is also pivoted about the pivot axis.

[0010] The pivot axis and the rotation axis of the belt shaft are preferably coaxial or are preferably formed by the same axis.

[0011] In a first embodiment variant considered to be particularly advantageous, it is provided that the securing element is covered outwards by a wall section of a tubular belt shaft wall of the belt shaft in the unlocking position of the locking element and is released outwards through a through hole in the belt shaft wall and is accessible on the assembly side in the locking position of the locking element.

[0012] It is advantageous if the securing element can be moved radially outwards in the locking position of the locking element, at least to the extent that it projects into a radially outer through hole in the belt shaft wall of the belt shaft and subsequent pivoting of the securing element and thus of the locking element is blocked by a hole edge of the belt shaft wall delimiting the through hole.

[0013] The securing element is preferably a grub screw screwed into the locking element, which in the unlocking position of the locking element is arranged completely inside the belt shaft and in the locking position of the locking element can be unscrewed radially outwards by partially unscrewing it from the locking element so far that an end of the grub screw facing away from the locking element is blocked with respect to a pivoting movement by a hole edge of the belt shaft wall delimiting the through hole.

[0014] In another variant considered to be particularly advantageous, or in addition, it can be provided that the securing element or a further securing element is arranged in sections outside the belt shaft and projects radially into the interior of the belt shaft through a tangentially extending slot in the belt shaft wall and is connected to the locking element by the projecting section.

[0015] In the latter embodiment, the securing element (or the further securing element) is preferably a screw screwed into the locking element, the screw head of which lies outside the belt shaft and, in the locking position of the locking element, secures the locking element in the locking position by screwing further into the locking element or through it.

[0016] The elongated hole is preferably designed such that it prevents further screwing into the locking element in the unlocked position of the locking element and allows further screwing into the locking element in the locked position of the locking element.

[0017] The elongated hole is preferably narrower in the region in which the securing element passes through the elongated hole in the unlocked position of the locking element than in the region in which the securing element passes through the elongated hole in the locked position of the locking element. For example, the elongated hole is preferably narrower than the screw head in the region in which a screw as a securing element passes through the elongated hole in the unlocked position of the locking element, and preferably larger than the screw head in the region in which the screw passes through the elongated hole in the locked position of the locking element.

[0018] Irrespective of the specific design of the securing element, it is considered advantageous if the end of the securing element, in particular the screw or grub screw, facing the locking element (i.e. radially inward), is provided with an end section which prevents the securing element, in particular the screw or grub screw, from being moved out of the locking element beyond a predetermined extent.

[0019] With regard to the design of the locking device, it is considered advantageous if the locking device comprises a spring mechanism which spring-loads the locking element in the direction of the locking position, and the locking element is adjusted from the unlocking position into the locking position by the spring force of the spring mechanism when the spring mechanism is released upon insertion of the fitting element into the hollow belt shaft.

[0020] The spring mechanism is preferably formed by only a single spring or the locking device preferably comprises only a single spring as a spring mechanism.

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments, which show, for example: Fig. 1 Components of a first embodiment of an end fitting tensioner equipped with a securing element, Fig. 2-5 a first advantageous embodiment of the securing element, wherein the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 the unlocking position and the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show the locking position, Fig. 6-7 an advantageous embodiment of an end section of the securing element in the case of a grub screw as a securing element, Fig. 8-9 a further advantageous embodiment of the end section of the securing element in the case of a grub screw as a securing element, Fig. 10-12 a second preferred embodiment of the securing element, Fig. 13-16 Components of a second embodiment of an end fitting tensioner equipped with a securing element, and Fig. 17-23 various advantageous embodiments of the securing element in connection with the second embodiment according to the Fig. 13 to 16.

[0022] For the sake of clarity, the same reference symbols are always used in the figures for identical or comparable components.

[0023] The Fig. 1 shows components of an embodiment of an end fitting tensioner 1 according to the invention for a safety belt 2 in a three-dimensional representation.

[0024] The end fitting tensioner 1 comprises a tensioning device 10, a hollow belt shaft 20 driven by the tensioning device 10 in the winding direction, and a locking device 30 that can lock a fitting element 40, which is attached to one end 2a of the safety belt 20 in a tension-resistant manner, within the belt shaft 20. When the fitting element 40 is inserted through an insertion slot 21 in the tubular belt shaft wall 22 into the hollow belt shaft 20, the locking device 30 is triggered and locks the fitting element 40.

[0025] The Fig. 2 shows a first preferred embodiment of the locking device 30 in more detail, depicting a state prior to locking, in which a locking element 31 of the locking device 30 is still in its unlocked position, i.e., before the inserted fitting element 40 has unlocked an unlocking lever 350 of the locking device 30, which can pivot about an axis 351, and a spring mechanism 33 of the locking device 30 (not shown further for reasons of clarity) has moved the locking element 31 into the locked position. The axis 351 and the pivotable unlocking lever 350 can, for example, be components of a film hinge.

[0026] The locking element 31 is pivotable inside the belt shaft 20 about a pivot axis S, which is preferably arranged coaxially to the axis of rotation of the belt shaft 20, and is brought from the unlocking position into the locking position by pivoting about the pivot axis S.

[0027] The locking device 30 is also equipped with a securing element 32, which can be used to secure the locking position of the locking element 31 so that the locking element 31 can no longer leave the locking position. The securing element 32 is attached to the locking element 31 and is rotated when the locking element 31 is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position.

[0028] In a first preferred embodiment, the securing element 32 is formed by a grub screw 310 screwed into the locking element 31, which in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, is screwed so far or so deeply through the locking element 31 that it lies completely inside the belt shaft 20 and is covered radially outwards by the tubular belt shaft wall 22.

[0029] The Fig. 3 shows the belt shaft 22 in a three-dimensional representation, also in the unlocking position of the locking element 31. It can be seen that a through hole 23 provided in the tubular belt shaft wall 22 is offset tangentially with respect to the grub screw 310 by a pivot angle and that access on the assembly side radially from the outside through the through hole 23 into the interior of the belt shaft does not allow any influence on the grub screw 310.

[0030] The Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show, for comparison, the locking position of the locking element 31, i.e. its position after it has been moved from the position shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 has been pivoted about the pivot axis S. The pivot angle of this rotational pivoting movement is dimensioned such that the grub screw 310 is pivoted into the area of the through hole 23 and thus becomes radially accessible from the outside. Thus, after the locking element 31 has reached its locking position and the fitting element 40 has locked, the grub screw 310 can be accessed from the assembly side and the position of the locking element 31 can be secured.

[0031] In the Fig. 2 to 5, the locking element 31 is secured by partially, i.e. not completely, unscrewing the grub screw 310 radially out of the locking element 31 to such an extent that a radially outer end 310a of the grub screw 310, i.e. the end facing away from the locking element 31, projects into or through the through hole 23, so that the grub screw 310 is blocked by a hole edge 22a of the belt shaft wall 22 delimiting the through hole 23 and a further pivoting movement is prevented.

[0032] In order to prevent the grub screw 310 from being unscrewed from the locking element 31 beyond a predetermined extent and, for example, to make it impossible for the grub screw 310 to fall out of the belt shaft 20, the radially inner end 310b of the grub screw 310, i.e. the end facing the locking element 31, is provided with an end section which prevents the grub screw 310 from being unscrewed too far from the locking element 31. Such an end section is shown, for example, in the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 and is formed there by a thread-free area.

[0033] The thread-free end section of the grub screw 310 results in the external thread of the grub screw 310 being mechanically clamped to the internal thread of the locking element 31 when the grub screw 310 is unscrewed in such a way that a secured end position of the grub screw 310 is ensured by generating a predetermined minimum torque when unscrewing the grub screw 310; the application of the minimum torque during assembly when unscrewing the grub screw 310 from the locking element 31 can be monitored and documented in a predetermined manner.

[0034] The Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 show a further advantageous embodiment of the grub screw 310, which prevents the grub screw 310 from being unscrewed too far from the locking element 31. In the embodiment according to the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the radially inner end 310b of the grub screw 310, i.e. the end facing the locking element 31, is formed by a screw head (for example in the form of a hammer head) which forms a stop limiting the unscrewing.

[0035] Furthermore, the above statements apply in connection with the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 described design of the end 310b of the grub screw 310 for the design with screw head according to the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 accordingly.

[0036] In a second preferred embodiment, as exemplified in the Fig. 10 to 12, the securing element 32 is formed by a screw 320 screwed into the locking element 31, the screw head 321 of which lies outside the belt shaft 20 in both the unlocked position and the locked position. Fig. 10 and Fig. 12 show the second embodiment in the unlocking position, in cross-section and in a three-dimensional representation; the Fig. 11 shows the locking position in cross section.

[0037] The screw 320 projects radially into the interior of the belt shaft 20 through a tangentially extending elongated hole 24 in the belt shaft wall 22 and is screwed with the projecting portion into and / or through the locking element 31, so that the screw 320 is firmly connected to the locking element 31.

[0038] In the unlocked position of the locking element 31, the elongated hole 24 prevents further screwing into the locking element 31, in particular further screwing through the locking element 31. In the locked position of the locking element 31, however, the elongated hole 24 allows further screwing into the locking element 31 or further screwing through the locking element 31, so that the securing element 31 can be transferred from a non-securing position to a securing position.

[0039] To achieve this, the Fig. 10 to 12, the elongated hole 24 is narrower than the screw head 321 in the region in which the securing element 32 passes through the elongated hole 24 in the unlocked position of the locking element 31, and larger than the screw head 321 in the region in which the securing element 32 passes through the elongated hole 24 in the locked position of the locking element 31.

[0040] If the screw 320 is tightened in the locking position of the locking element 31, it is mechanically clamped with the cooperation of the belt shaft wall 22 with an internal thread of the locking element 31 in such a way that a secured end position of the screw 320 is ensured by generating a predetermined minimum torque; the application of the minimum torque during assembly when screwing the screw 320 into or through the locking element 31 can be monitored and documented in a predetermined manner.

[0041] In order to prevent access to the securing element 32 before the fitting element 40 is locked, a cover 400 is preferably provided which conceals the securing element 32 as long as the locking element 31 is in the unlocked position.

[0042] The Fig. 13-16 show components of a second embodiment of an end fitting tensioner 1, which is equipped with a securing element 32 attached to a locking element 31. The second embodiment according to the Fig. 13 to 16 differs from the first embodiment described above in the design of the locking device 30, in particular the design of the spring mechanism 33, which is preferably formed by a single spring, and the design of the unlocking mechanism. Fig. 13-14 show the second embodiment in the unlocking position and the Fig. 15-16 the second embodiment in the locking position.

[0043] In the Fig. 13-16, it can be seen that the locking device 30 in the second embodiment has, instead of the unlocking lever 350, an elastically displaceable or deflectable stop 360, which can be pressed downwards by the fitting element 40 (i.e., along the insertion direction of the fitting element 40), whereby the spring mechanism 33 of the locking device 30 is released and the locking element 31 is moved into the locking position. Furthermore, the above statements in connection with the first embodiment and the Fig. 1 to 12 accordingly.

[0044] The Fig. 17 shows a configuration of the second embodiment with a grub screw 310 as a securing element, in the locking position; in this regard, the above statements in connection with the Fig. 2 to 5 accordingly.

[0045] The Fig. 18 and Fig. 19 show a configuration of the second embodiment with a grub screw 310, the radially inner end 310b of which is designed to be thread-free, thereby preventing the grub screw 310 from being unscrewed too far from the locking element 31. The Fig. 18 and Fig. 19 show this design in cross section in the unlocking position (see Fig. 18) and in the locking position (see Fig. 19); in this regard, the above statements in connection with the Fig. 6 to 7 accordingly.

[0046] The Fig. 20 and Fig. 21 show a configuration of the second embodiment with a grub screw 310, the radially inner end 310b of which is provided with a radially widened screw head, which prevents the grub screw from being unscrewed too far from the locking element 31. Fig. 20 and Fig. 21 show this design in cross section in the unlocking position (see Fig. 20) and in the locking position (see Fig. 21); in this regard, the above statements in connection with the Fig. 8 to 9 accordingly.

[0047] The Fig. 22 and Fig. 23 show a configuration of the second embodiment with a screw 320, the screw head 321 of which is located radially outward. Fig. 22 and Fig. 23 show this design in cross section in the unlocking position (see Fig. 22) and in the locking position (see Fig. 23); in this regard, the above statements in connection with the Fig. 10 to 12 accordingly.

[0048] Finally, it should be mentioned that the features of all embodiments described above can be combined with each other in any way to form further other embodiments of the invention.

[0049] All features of subclaims can also be combined individually with each of the subordinate claims, either individually or in any combination with one or more other subclaims, in order to obtain further embodiments. List of reference symbols 1 end fitting tensioner 2 seat belts 2a End 10 Penalty device 20 Belt shaft 21 Insertion slot 22 Belt shaft wall 22a hole edge 23 through hole 24 slot 30 Locking device 31 Locking element 32 securing element 33 Spring mechanism 40 fitting element 310 grub screw 310a radial outer end 310b radial inner end 320 screw 321 screw head 350 release lever 351 Axis 360 stop 400 aperture S swivel axis

Claims

[1] End fitting tensioner (1) for a safety belt (2) with - a penalizing device (10), - a hollow belt shaft (20) driven in the winding direction by the tensioning device (10) and - a locking device (30) which can lock a fitting element (40) attached to one end (2a) of the safety belt (2) in a tension-resistant manner within the belt shaft (20), - wherein the hollow belt shaft (20) comprises an insertion slot (21) through which the fitting element (40) attached to the safety belt (2) can be inserted radially into the interior of the hollow belt shaft (20), - wherein upon insertion of the fitting element (40) into the hollow belt shaft (20), the locking device (30) is triggered and a movable locking element (31) of the locking device (30) is moved from an unlocking position into a locking position locking the fitting element (40) in the belt shaft (20), and - wherein the locking position can be secured with a securing element (32), characterized by that the securing element (32) is attached to the locking element (31) and is moved therewith when the locking element (31) is adjusted from the unlocking position of the locking element (31) into the locking position of the locking element (31). [2] End fitting tensioner (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the securing element (32) is covered to the outside in the unlocking position of the locking element (31) and is inaccessible from the assembly side, and is released to the outside in the locking position of the locking element (31) and is accessible from the assembly side. [3] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the locking element (31) is arranged inside the belt shaft (20) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (S) and is brought from the unlocking position into the locking position by pivoting about the pivot axis (S). [4] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the securing element (32) is arranged entirely or at least in sections inside the belt shaft (20) and when the locking element (31) is pivoted about the pivot axis (S), the securing element (32) inside the belt shaft (20) is also pivoted about the pivot axis (S). [5] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pivot axis (S) and the rotation axis of the belt shaft (20) are coaxial or are formed by the same axis. [6] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the securing element (32) is covered outwards by a wall section of a tubular belt shaft wall (22) of the belt shaft (20) in the unlocked position of the locking element (31) and is released outwards through a through hole (23) in the belt shaft wall (22) and is accessible on the assembly side. [7] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the securing element (32) is movable radially outwards in the locking position of the locking element (31), at least to such an extent that it projects into a radially outer through-hole (23) in the belt shaft wall (22) of the belt shaft (20) and subsequent pivoting of the securing element (32) and thus of the locking element (31) is blocked by a hole edge (22a) of the belt shaft wall (22) delimiting the through-hole (23). [8] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the securing element (32) is a grub screw (310) screwed into the locking element (31), which in the unlocking position of the locking element (31) is arranged completely inside the belt shaft (20) and in the locking position of the locking element (31) can be unscrewed radially outwards by partially unscrewing it from the locking element (31) to such an extent that an end (310a) of the grub screw (310) facing away from the locking element (31) is blocked with respect to a pivoting movement by a hole edge (22a) of the belt shaft wall (22) delimiting the through hole (23). [9] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the securing element (32) or a further securing element is arranged in sections outside the belt shaft (20) and projects radially into the interior of the belt shaft (20) through a tangentially extending slot (24) in the belt shaft wall (22) and is connected to the locking element (31) by means of the projecting section. [10] End fitting tensioner (1) according to claim 9, characterized by that the or the further securing element (32) is a screw (320) screwed into the locking element (31), the screw head (321) of which lies outside the belt shaft (20) and, in the locking position of the locking element (31), secures the locking element (31) in the locking position by screwing further into the locking element (31) or through it. [11] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 10, characterized bythat the elongated hole (24) prevents further screwing into the locking element (31) in the unlocked position of the locking element (31) and allows further screwing into the locking element (31) in the locked position. [12] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 11, characterized by that the elongated hole (24) is narrower in the area in which the securing element (32) passes through the elongated hole (24) in the unlocked position of the locking element (31) than in the area in which the securing element (32) passes through the elongated hole (24) in the locked position of the locking element (31). [13] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the end (310b) of the securing element (32), in particular of the screw (320) or grub screw (310), facing the locking element (31) is provided with an end section which prevents the securing element (32), in particular unscrewing of the screw (320) or grub screw (310), from moving out of the locking element (31) beyond a predetermined amount. [14] End fitting tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the locking device (30) comprises a spring mechanism (33) which spring-loads the locking element (31) towards the locking position, and - the locking element (31) is moved from the unlocking position to the locking position by the spring force of the spring mechanism (33) when the spring mechanism (33) is released when the fitting element (40) is inserted into the hollow belt shaft (20). [15] End fitting tensioner (1) according to claim 14, characterized by that the locking device (30) comprises a single spring which forms the entire spring mechanism (33).

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