Vehicle sensor device and seat belt retractor using same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sensor device for a vehicle and a seat belt retractor using the same. The sensor device for a vehicle includes a weight body housing installed on a body so as to be rotatable around a shaft connected to the body depending on the installation angle and inclination of the body, the weight body housing includes a weight body housing in which a weight body is installed, a ball assembly for detecting a change in the inclination of the vehicle, a sensor housing installed so that the ball assembly can move, and a sensor lever installed on the sensor housing and rotated by the movement of the ball assembly. The sensor lever is configured to perform linear reciprocating motion by rotating a pilot lever provided on a locking device. The sensor lever is installed on the sensor housing to which the ball assembly is connected. The sensor lever rotates around the hinge shaft due to the movement of the ball assembly in response to a change in the inclination of the vehicle, and the pilot lever connected to the sensor lever performs linear reciprocating motion, thereby connecting or disconnecting the pilot lever to or from the locking device. This makes it possible to expand the range in which the pilot lever can be normally controlled.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seat belt retractor, and more specifically to a vehicle sensor device that detects changes in the inclination of a vehicle and prevents a seat belt from coming loose, and a seat belt retractor that uses the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, vehicles are equipped with seat belt safety devices in their seats to ensure the safety of occupants.

[0003] The seat belt safety device includes a retractor configured to wind a belt-shaped seat belt webbing (hereinafter referred to as webbing) on ​​a spool or unwind the webbing to restrain an occupant, and a buckle into which a tongue fixed to one end of the webbing is removably inserted.

[0004] A retractor prevents a seatbelt-fastened occupant from being thrown forward or pulled out of the seat due to driving inertia when the vehicle suddenly stops or accelerates due to a vehicle accident. Such retractors may include devices that allow the webbing to unspool under normal conditions when the occupant is wearing the seatbelt, but prevent further webbing unspooling when a change in acceleration or vehicle inclination that would cause the webbing to unspool due to a vehicle collision is detected, as well as emergency tensioning devices and pretensioning devices that reduce slack or sagging of the webbing, i.e., webbing slack.

[0005] For example, the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose retractor technology for controlling the winding and unwinding operation of seat belt webbing.

[0006] On the other hand, when a vehicle collision occurs, for example, if acceleration exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the retractor in the horizontal direction, or if the vehicle's inclination changes, a vehicle sensor that detects the acceleration or inclination is applied to the retractor to activate the seat belt locking device, thereby preventing the seat belt from coming loose.

[0007] Vehicle sensors that use balls as inertia members or independent inertia members are generally known in the art.

[0008] For example, the vehicle sensor includes an inertia member that moves in a dangerous situation when a deceleration or tilt higher than the normal deceleration of the webbing is applied to the vehicle, and a sensor lever that is moved by the inertia member and interacts with the external teeth of a control disc that rotates together with the spool of the seat belt retractor.

[0009] Such seat belt retractors can be attached to the vehicle body, for example, to the center pillar, seat back, rear pillar, etc. Therefore, the installation position of the seat belt retractor can be changed in various ways to suit the structure of the center pillar, seat back, rear pillar, etc. In other words, the seat belt retractor is not necessarily installed in a horizontal position, but may also be worn in a position tilted at a certain angle in the left / right or front / rear direction from the horizontal position.

[0010] In particular, when the seat belt retractor is installed on the backrest of the seat, the inclination of the seat belt retractor can be changed according to the rotation of the backrest.

[0011] However, if the position of the seat belt retractor of the related art changes beyond a certain range, the acceleration and tilt cannot be detected properly.

[0012] For example, if a seat belt retractor equipped with a vehicle sensor is tilted beyond a certain range from a horizontal position, the distance between the control disc and the sensor lever of the vehicle sensor becomes too close, causing the sensor lever to operate too sensitively and preventing it from performing the locking operation properly.

[0013] Furthermore, when a seat belt retractor having a vehicle sensor is attached to the seat back and the seat back is tilted forward in the vehicle, the sensor lever of the vehicle sensor gets caught on the external teeth of the control disc, restricting the rotation of the spool.

[0014] Therefore, even if an occupant tries to fasten the seat belt, the rotation of the spool is restricted, and the occupant may not be able to fasten the seat belt.

[0015] In order to solve the above problems, the applicant of the present invention has filed a patent application, which is hereby granted, disclosing a seat belt retractor having a vehicle sensor with an improved fixing structure, as shown in the following Patent Document 3.

[0016] Meanwhile, with the recent development of autonomous vehicles, technologies have been developed to minimize the volume of seats and seat belt retractors used in vehicles.

[0017] Furthermore, integrated seat belts (Belt-in-Seat (BIS)) may also be applied.

[0018] In a related art vehicle sensor for a seat belt retractor, a gimbal having a weight inside is used to measure the tilt of the vehicle.

[0019] Such a vehicle sensor can measure the inclination of the vehicle even if the angle of the backrest provided on the seat changes.

[0020] However, if the rotation angle of the seat on which the seat belt retractor of the related technology is installed, for example, the rotation of the backrest, exceeds a predetermined angle range, the sensor lever connected to the gimbal may not be able to properly control the pilot lever, which may cause a problem in that the seat will not function properly.

[0021] Therefore, there is a need to develop a seat belt retractor that uses a vehicle sensor that can expand the range of angles in which it can operate normally by minimizing the abnormal range of motion caused by rotation of the seat back.

[0022] (Patent Document 1) U.S. Patent No. 6,499,554 (issued December 31, 2002) (Patent Document 2) U.S. Patent No. 6,443,382 (issued September 3, 2002) (Patent Document 3) Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1766844 (issued on August 9, 2017) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0023] An object of the present disclosure is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a sensor device for a vehicle that detects changes in the inclination of a vehicle, as well as a seat belt retractor that uses the same.

[0024] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle sensor device that can expand the angle range in which it can operate normally by controlling a pilot lever regardless of the rotation angle and installation angle of the backrest, and a seat belt retractor that uses the same.

[0025] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle sensor device capable of detecting the inclination of a vehicle and the angle of a seat back by applying a single ball, and a seat belt retractor using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0026] In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle sensor device of the present disclosure may include a main body forming an exterior, a cover connected to one open surface of the main body, a weight housing installed on the main body so as to be rotatable around a shaft connected to the main body depending on the installation angle and inclination of the main body, the weight housing having a weight installed therein, a ball assembly configured to detect changes in the inclination of the vehicle, a sensor housing installed so that the ball assembly can move inside, and a sensor lever installed in the sensor housing and rotated by the movement of the ball assembly, and the sensor lever can cause a pilot lever provided on a locking device to move back and forth linearly by rotating.

[0027] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vehicle sensor device according to the present disclosure may include a main body forming the exterior, a cover coupled to one open surface of the main body, a sensor housing installed on the main body so as to be rotatable around a shaft coupled to the main body depending on the installation angle and inclination of the main body, a ball installed on the sensor housing to detect changes in the inclination of the vehicle, a lever guide installed on top of the ball, and a sensor lever installed rotatably within the sensor housing, and the sensor lever can cause a pilot lever provided on a locking device to move back and forth linearly by the rotation caused by the movement of the ball.

[0028] Furthermore, to achieve the above object, a seat belt retractor using the vehicle sensor device of the present disclosure can include a vehicle sensor device configured to detect changes in vehicle inclination, a spindle device including a spindle around which seat belt webbing is wound, and a locking device configured to perform a locking operation to prevent the seat belt webbing from slipping out during a vehicle collision, and the vehicle sensor device can linearly reciprocate a pilot lever to engage or disengage with the locking device based on the detected change in vehicle inclination.

[0029] Effect of the invention According to the vehicle sensor device and the seat belt retractor using the same disclosed above, the sensor lever is installed in a sensor housing to which a ball assembly is coupled, and the pilot lever connected to the sensor lever can move back and forth by rotating the sensor lever around the hinge shaft in response to movement of the ball assembly caused by changes in the inclination of the vehicle.

[0030] In particular, according to the present disclosure, the pilot lever is provided with a locking portion, and a locking recess provided at the upper end of the sensor lever is coupled to the locking portion, thereby allowing the pilot lever to be normally controlled so that it moves back and forth in a linear manner regardless of the installation angle of the vehicle sensor device.

[0031] In other words, according to the present disclosure, the pilot lever can be controlled normally within a range in which the installation angle of the sensor device relative to the reference position is ±90°, i.e., 180°.

[0032] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the weight body and weight body housing for detecting the tilt of the seat back can be omitted, and a ball and a sensor housing can be used to detect changes in the tilt of the vehicle, and the pilot lever can be controlled by rotating the sensor lever. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a seat belt retractor according to the related art. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seat belt retractor using a vehicle sensor device according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the seat belt retractor shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sensor device for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle sensor device shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation of a vehicle sensor device installed at various angles. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation methods of the weight body housing, the sensor lever, and the pilot lever provided in the sensor device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation methods of the weight body housing, the sensor lever, and the pilot lever provided in the sensor device. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a sensor device for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation method of the vehicle sensor device shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Hereinafter, a seat belt retractor having a sensor device for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Before describing the configuration of a seat belt retractor according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the configuration of a seat belt retractor according to the related art will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a seat belt retractor according to the related art.

[0037] In the following description, the direction in which the steering wheel is installed relative to the seat will be referred to as the “forward direction,” and the opposite direction will be referred to as the “rearward direction.” Furthermore, terms indicating directions such as “left side,” “right side,” “upward direction,” and “downward direction” will be defined to indicate the respective directions relative to the above-mentioned forward direction and rearward direction.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1 , a seat belt retractor 1 of the related art can include a spindle 3 around which seat belt webbing (hereinafter referred to as "webbing") 2 is wound, a sensor unit 4 that detects the inclination of the vehicle, an emergency tensioning unit 5 that winds up the webbing 2 in the event of a vehicle collision to reduce slack, and a pretensioning unit 6 that smoothly unwinds the webbing 2 during normal vehicle operation and winds up the webbing 2 immediately before a vehicle collision to reduce slack.

[0039] The sensor unit 4 detects a change in acceleration that causes the webbing to come off or a change in the inclination of the vehicle, which occurs due to a vehicle collision.

[0040] The emergency tensioning unit 5 activates an inflator (not shown) with explosives embedded therein in response to a detection signal that detects a vehicle collision, and by using the pressure of the generated gas, can wind the webbing 2 around the spindle 3. Therefore, by winding the webbing 2 in the event of a vehicle collision, the emergency tensioning unit 5 can reduce slack in the webbing 2 and limit the extent of injury to the occupant.

[0041] When a vehicle collision is predicted through a sensor applied to the vehicle, the pretensioning unit 6 operates a motor corresponding to rotation and reverse rotation to wind the webbing 2 around the spindle. In other words, when the vehicle is running normally, the pretensioning unit 6 maintains the tension of the worn webbing 2 and can prevent slack in the webbing 2 without causing an accident until the vehicle accelerates or decelerates strongly, and further, by winding the webbing 2 just before a vehicle collision, the slack in the webbing 2 can be reduced, thereby limiting the degree of injury to the occupants.

[0042] Here, the spindle 3 is installed inside the fixed frame 7, the sensor unit 4, the emergency tensioning unit 5, and the pretensioning unit 6 are arranged on both sides of the fixed frame 7, and further, left and right housings 8 and 9 are connected to the outside of each unit.

[0043] That is, the units 4, 5, and 6 are arranged on both sides of the spindle 2 in the lateral direction.

[0044] In the seat belt retractor 1 of the related art described above, the spindle is installed along the width direction, i.e., the left-right direction, of the seat back. Therefore, as the length of the webbing 2 wound on the spool increases, the thickness in the front-to-rear direction (hereinafter referred to as "thickness") also increases, which creates a problem in that it becomes difficult to apply the seat belt retractor to the back of a slim seat.

[0045] To solve this problem, the present disclosure minimizes the thickness of the seat belt retractor by rotating the installation direction of the spindle around which the webbing is wound, thereby applying the seat belt retractor to a slim seat.

[0046] In line with this, the present disclosure can solve the problem of the connection between the sensor lever and the pilot lever becoming unstable depending on the rotation angle of the gimbal by strengthening the structure of the vehicle sensor device.

[0047] Now, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a brief description will be given of the configuration of a seat belt retractor using a vehicle sensor device according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seat belt retractor using a sensor device for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the seat belt retractor shown in FIG.

[0049] In this embodiment, a configuration of a seat belt retractor that is applied to an integrated seat belt (BIS) that is integrally attached to a seat will be described.

[0050] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited in this respect, and that seat belt retractors of various configurations and shapes may be provided for application in conventional or autonomous vehicles, in addition to integrated seat belts.

[0051] As seen in Figures 2 and 3, a seat belt retractor 10 using a vehicle sensor device according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure may include a spindle device 20, a vehicle sensor device (hereinafter referred to as the "sensor device") 30, and a locking device 40.

[0052] In addition, the seat belt retractor 10 may further include a pretensioning device that winds the webbing 21 just prior to a vehicle collision, thereby reducing slack.

[0053] The spindle device 20 and the sensor device 30 are basic modules that make up the seat belt retractor 10, and can be manufactured and assembled as separate modules, or can be integrated into one module.

[0054] A spindle device 20 is provided with a spindle 22 on which a webbing 21 is wound, and the spindle device and the sensor device may be installed in a housing 23 .

[0055] The sensor device 30 may include an acceleration sensor that detects a change in acceleration at which the webbing 21 comes off, or an inclination sensor that detects a change in the inclination of the vehicle.

[0056] In this embodiment, the configuration of the sensor device 30 to which the tilt sensor that detects the tilt of the vehicle is applied will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0057] 4 is an enlarged view of the sensor device shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor device shown in FIG.

[0058] In this embodiment, the configuration of a sensor device applied to the configuration of the seat belt retractor shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described.

[0059] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above configuration, and that the present disclosure can be modified to apply to seat belt retractors having various configurations, such as the seat belt retractor shown in FIG. 1.

[0060] As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, a vehicle sensor device 30 used in a seat belt retractor according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main body 31 forming the exterior, a cover 32 coupled to one open surface of the main body 31, a weight housing 34 installed on the main body 31 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 33 coupled to the main body 31 depending on the installation angle of the main body 31, the weight housing 34 having a weight 341 installed therein, a ball assembly 35 that detects changes in the inclination of the vehicle in which the sensor device 30 is installed, a sensor housing 36 installed so that the ball assembly 35 can move, and a sensor lever 37 installed on the sensor housing 36, which rotates with the movement of the ball assembly 35 and moves a pilot lever 41.

[0061] The body 31 may be formed in a semi-cylindrical shape having one open surface and a substantially semi-circular cross section when viewed from one side.

[0062] The main body 31 may have one or more locking protrusions 311 formed at the upper and lower ends thereof, and the cover 32 may have one or more locking recesses 321 formed at the upper and lower ends thereof, so that the locking protrusions 311 can be locked inward.

[0063] The main body 31 and the cover 32 can be arranged along the installation direction of the spindle 22, that is, along the X-axis direction, while remaining coupled to each other.

[0064] The shaft 33 can be installed in the body 31 along the Y-axis direction so as to be perpendicular to the spindle 22 .

[0065] The weight body housing 34 functions to rotate depending on the angle at which the sensor device is installed on the seat back and the rotation angle of the seat back.

[0066] To achieve this, a shaft hole 312 formed on the inner surface of the main body 31 and a rotating shaft 332 to be connected to the shaft 33 are installed at the upper end of the weight housing 34 along the Y-axis direction, and further, a shaft hole 312 can be formed in the main body 31 to connect the rotating shaft 332 thereto.

[0067] Furthermore, the shaft 33 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a coupling space 331 is formed in the center to allow coupling with the rotating shaft 332, and the pilot lever 41 may be coupled to one end of the coupling space 331 formed in the shaft 33, i.e., the right end as viewed in Figure 9, so that it can move along the Y-axis direction.

[0068] A pair of mounting ribs 333 are formed parallel to each other in the left-right direction on the front and rear surfaces of the upper end of the shaft 33 so as to be connected to the upper end of the main body 31, and furthermore, a mounting recess 313 can be formed on the upper end of the main body 31 to allow the upper end of the shaft 33 to be attached.

[0069] Therefore, the shaft 33 is connected to the upper end of the main body 31 by a pair of mounting ribs 333 and functions as a central shaft that can rotate around the weight body housing 34.

[0070] On the other hand, the pilot lever 41 reciprocates linearly along the Y-axis direction within a coupling space 331 formed within the shaft 33 in response to the rotation of the sensor lever 37 .

[0071] In other words, when the pilot lever 41 moves to the right as viewed in Figure 8, the right end of the pilot lever 41 engages with one of the multiple protrusions formed on the outer periphery of a steering disc (not shown) provided on the locking device 40, causing the locking device 40 to perform a locking operation to prevent the webbing 21 from slipping out.

[0072] On the other hand, when the pilot lever 41 moves to the left, the pilot lever 41 and the locking device 40 separate from each other, allowing the webbing 21 to be freely unwound.

[0073] To achieve this, a through hole 322 may be formed on the cover 32 so that the pilot lever 41 moves along the Y-axis direction and protrudes to the right.

[0074] The ball assembly 35 functions to detect changes in the tilt of the vehicle in which the sensor device 30 is installed while the device is installed in the sensor housing 36 .

[0075] That is, the ball assembly 35 can include a ball 351 having a weight and a mounting member 352 on which the ball 351 is mounted.

[0076] An installation space is formed in the center of the installation member 352 so that the ball 351 can be installed inside, and furthermore, a connecting protrusion 353 protrudes from the lower end of the installation member 352, thereby connecting it to the sensor housing 36 so that it can move freely.

[0077] Furthermore, an insertion space 354 may be formed in the installation member 352 between the installation space and the coupling protrusion 353 so that a horizontal portion 371 of the sensor lever 37 described below can be inserted.

[0078] It is preferable that the width and thickness of the horizontal portion 371 be greater than those of the horizontal portion 371 so that the insertion space 354 can be formed so that the sensor lever 37 coupled to the inside can rotate smoothly.

[0079] The sensor housing 36 has an open top surface so that the coupling protrusion 353 of the ball assembly 35 can be attached to the center of the sensor housing 36 .

[0080] A pair of shaft coupling holes 362 can be formed in the front side wall and the rear side wall of the sensor housing 36 so that a pair of hinge shafts 373 formed at the front end and the rear end of the sensor lever 37 can be coupled, respectively.

[0081] The cross section of the sensor lever 37 when viewed from the front can be formed in a substantially "┛" shape.

[0082] That is, the sensor lever 37 can include a horizontal portion 371 disposed horizontally, and a vertical portion 372 disposed at the right end of the horizontal portion 371 and extending vertically upward.

[0083] Furthermore, the hinge shaft 373 can protrude from the front and rear surfaces of the right end of the horizontal portion 37 and be coupled to the shaft coupling holes 362 formed on the front and rear side walls of the sensor housing 36, respectively.

[0084] The horizontal portion 371 may be inserted into the insertion space 354 formed on the installation member 352 of the ball assembly 35 , and further, a support protrusion 374 may be formed on the lower surface of the horizontal portion 371 .

[0085] The support protrusion 374 is supported by the weight applied from the ball assembly 35 before the inclination of the vehicle changes, thereby keeping the horizontal portion 371 horizontal.

[0086] On the other hand, when the tilt of the vehicle changes and the ball assembly 35 moves, the horizontal portion 37 loses the supporting force of the support protrusion 374 due to a change in the center of gravity, and may no longer be able to maintain horizontality.

[0087] As a result, the sensor lever 37 rotates clockwise around the hinge shaft 373, thereby moving the pilot lever 41 to the right.

[0088] To achieve this, a locking recess 375 may be formed at the upper end of the vertical portion 372 so that the locking portion 411 formed in the center of the pilot lever 41 can be rotatably locked.

[0089] The locking recess 375 may comprise a central locking recess shaped to form a substantially "U" shape in cross section.

[0090] Here, the left side of the pilot lever 41 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the coupling space 331 formed in the shaft 33, for example, in a substantially rectangular shape.

[0091] The right side of the pilot lever 41 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole 322 formed on the cover 32 .

[0092] Furthermore, a locking portion 411 formed to have a diameter shorter than the left and right portions of the pilot lever 41 is provided in the center of the pilot lever 41 so as to be locked into the locking recess 375 of the sensor lever 37.

[0093] Therefore, with the locking portion 441 locked in the locking recess 375 of the sensor lever 37, the pilot lever 41 moves back and forth linearly between the shaft 33 and the cover 32 due to the rotation of the sensor lever 37 around the pair of hinge shafts 373.

[0094] Now, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, a method of operating the sensor device for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0095] FIG. 6 is an operational state diagram of a vehicle sensor device installed at various angles, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams explaining the operation methods of the weight body housing, sensor lever, and pilot lever provided in the sensor device, respectively.

[0096] Figure 6(b) shows the sensor device installed at a reference position based on the shaft, and Figures 6(a) and 6(c) show the sensor device rotated 90° counterclockwise and clockwise around the shaft, respectively.

[0097] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state before the sensor lever rotates, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state after the sensor lever has rotated clockwise around the hinge shaft.

[0098] As can be seen in FIG. 6, the sensor device 30 can be installed at various rotation angles depending on the environment in which the sensor device is installed in the vehicle.

[0099] In this case, the weight body housing 34 always maintains a vertical position due to the weight of the weight body 341, regardless of the installation angle at which the main body 31 and cover 32 are installed on the backrest and the tilt of the backrest, i.e., the rotation angle.

[0100] As shown in FIG. 7, the sensor lever 37 is arranged so that the weight applied from the ball assembly 35 causes the horizontal portion 371 to be in a horizontal position.

[0101] Therefore, the pilot lever 41, whose locking portion 411 is locked in the locking recess 375 formed at the upper end of the vertical portion 372, is kept inside the cover 32, that is, moved to the left side.

[0102] As described above, when the pilot lever 41 is moved to the left, the pilot lever 41 and the locking device 40 separate from each other, allowing the webbing 21 to be freely unwound.

[0103] On the other hand, while the vehicle is traveling, the inclination of the vehicle changes continuously, and the inclination of the seat back, that is, the rotation angle, may also change.

[0104] Thus, as the vehicle's pitch changes, the ball assembly 35 moves across the sensor housing 36 .

[0105] As described above, as can be seen in FIG. 8, when the ball assembly 35 moves, the sensor lever 37 rotates clockwise around the hinge shaft 373 due to a change in the center of gravity.

[0106] Therefore, the pilot lever 41 connected to the sensor lever 37 passes through the through hole 322 formed on the cover 32 and moves to the outside of the cover 32, that is, to the right side, and protrudes therefrom.

[0107] As described above, when the pilot lever 41 protrudes to the outside of the cover, the right end of the pilot lever 41 is locked by the locking device 40, and the locking device 40 thereby performs a locking operation to prevent the webbing 21 from slipping out.

[0108] According to the above disclosure, the sensor lever is installed in a sensor housing to which a ball assembly is coupled, and the sensor lever rotates around the hinge shaft due to movement of the ball assembly in response to changes in the vehicle's inclination, thereby causing the pilot lever connected to the sensor lever to move back and forth linearly.

[0109] Therefore, in the present disclosure, the ease with which the webbing comes off can be controlled by having the pilot lever protrude outside the cover and connecting or disconnecting the pilot lever from the locking device.

[0110] In particular, the pilot lever is provided with a locking portion, and the locking recess provided at the upper end of the sensor lever is coupled to the locking portion, so that the pilot lever can be normally controlled to move back and forth linearly regardless of the angle at which the sensor device is rotated and positioned due to the angle adjustment of the seat backrest.

[0111] In other words, in the present disclosure, the pilot lever can be controlled normally when the placement angle of the sensor device, which changes due to the angle adjustment of the seat backrest, is within a range of ±90°, i.e., 180°, based on the reference position.

[0112] In the above-described embodiment, the weight housing in which the weight is installed is applied as an example, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0113] 9 and 10, the configuration of a sensor device used in a seat belt retractor according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0114] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a sensor device used in a seat belt retractor according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a ball assembly, a sensor lever, and a pilot lever provided in the sensor device.

[0115] As can be seen in Figures 9 and 10, the sensor device 30 used in the seat belt retractor 10 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is similar in configuration to the sensor device 30 described in the above embodiment with reference to Figures 4 to 8.

[0116] However, the sensor device 30 of this embodiment may omit the weight body 341 and weight body housing 34 for detecting the installation angle of the backrest and the tilt of the backrest, and further may use the ball 351 and sensor housing 36 to detect changes in the tilt of the vehicle and the angle of the backrest, and control the pilot lever 41 by rotating the sensor lever 37.

[0117] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the sensor device 30 may include a main body 31 forming the exterior, a cover 32 connected to one open surface of the main body 31, a sensor housing 36 installed on the main body 31 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 33 connected to the main body 31 depending on the installation angle of the main body 31 and the tilt of the seat back, a ball 351 installed on the sensor housing 36 and detecting changes in the tilt of the vehicle in which the sensor device 30 is installed, a lever guide 38 installed on top of the ball 351, and a sensor lever 37 installed rotatably within the sensor housing 36, which rotates with the movement of the ball 351 and moves the pilot lever 41.

[0118] The configurations of the main body 31, the cover 32 and the shaft 33 are the same as those described in the above embodiment, and therefore detailed description of the configurations of the main body 31, the cover 32 and the shaft 33 will be omitted.

[0119] The sensor housing 36 is formed as a substantially six-sided body shape made up of joined rectangular frames, and a rotating shaft 332 can be installed on the left wall that extends upward from the left end of the sensor housing 36, passing through the shaft 33 and the body 31.

[0120] A mounting shape 361 may be provided on the sensor housing 36 to mount the ball thereon, and the bottom surface of the sensor housing 36 may be curved and convex downward so that the ball 351 can be seated thereon.

[0121] A ball 351 is installed in the mounting space 361 of the sensor housing 36, and this ball 351 may have a larger diameter and be heavier than the ball 351 described in the above embodiment.

[0122] Forming the lever guide 38 as a substantially conical shape with an upwardly convex curved surface allows the lever guide 38 to seat on the upper surface of the ball 351. Therefore, the upper surface of the lever guide 38 may have an inclined surface that slopes from the center to the outer lower portion.

[0123] By making the attachment protrusion 381 protrude from the upper surface of the lever guide 38 , it can be attached to the horizontal part 371 of the sensor lever 37 .

[0124] The cross section of the sensor lever 37 when viewed from the front can be formed in a substantially "┛" shape.

[0125] That is, the sensor lever 37 can include a horizontal portion 371 disposed horizontally, and a vertical portion 372 disposed at the right end of the horizontal portion 371 and extending vertically upward.

[0126] Furthermore, the hinge shaft 373 protrudes from the front and rear surfaces of the right end of the horizontal portion 371 and can be coupled to shaft coupling holes 362 formed in the front and rear side walls of the sensor housing 36, respectively.

[0127] The horizontal portion 371 may be disposed on the upper portion of the lever guide 38 to seat on the upper portion of the ball 351, and a support protrusion 374 to be supported on the upper surface of the lever guide 38 may be formed on the lower surface of the horizontal portion 371.

[0128] The horizontal portion 371 may have a mounting hole 376 formed therein for mounting the mounting projection 381 of the lever guide 38 .

[0129] The mounting hole 376 can be formed in an elongated shape so that the mounting protrusion 381 can move along the X-axis direction.

[0130] As can be seen in Figure 10, in the sensor device 30 configured as described above, even if the installation angle of the main body 31 and cover 32 and the tilt of the backrest change, the sensor housing 36, the ball 351 installed therein, the lever guide 38 and the sensor lever 37 rotate around the shaft 33 and the rotating shaft 332, so that the horizontal position is always maintained.

[0131] On the other hand, before the tilt of the vehicle changes, the support protrusion 374 is in contact with and supported by the upper surface of the lever guide 38 seated on the top of the ball 351, so that the horizontal portion 371 remains horizontal.

[0132] Therefore, the pilot lever 41, whose locking portion 411 is locked in the locking recess 375 formed at the upper end of the vertical portion 372, is kept in a state in which the pilot lever moves inside the cover 32, that is, to the left.

[0133] As described above, when the pilot lever 41 moves to the left, the pilot lever 41 and the emergency tensioning device 40 separate, thereby allowing the webbing 21 to be freely unwound.

[0134] On the other hand, when the vehicle tilt changes and the ball 351 moves to one side, for example, to the left, the horizontal portion 37 rotates clockwise as the support protrusion 374 moves along the inclined upper surface of the lever guide 38.

[0135] Therefore, the sensor lever 37 rotates clockwise around the hinge shaft 373, thereby moving the pilot lever 41 to the right.

[0136] Therefore, the pilot lever 41 connected to the sensor lever 37 passes through the through hole 322 formed on the cover 32 and moves to the outside of the cover 32, that is, to the right side, and protrudes therefrom.

[0137] As described above, when the pilot lever 41 protrudes outside the cover 32, the right end of the pilot lever 41 is locked by the locking device 40, and the locking device 40 thereby performs a locking operation to prevent the webbing 21 from slipping out.

[0138] As described above, the present disclosure may omit the weight body and weight body housing, and may further use a ball and sensor housing to detect the tilt of the vehicle and the tilt of the seat back, and control the pilot lever by rotating the sensor lever.

[0139] The invention made by the inventors of the present application has been specifically described above based on the above embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical essence of the present disclosure.

[0140] That is, in the embodiment described above with reference to Figures 2 and 3, the configuration of the seat belt retractor has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described configuration, and may be modified so as to be applicable to seat belt retractors having various configurations, such as the seat belt retractor shown in Figure 1, for example.

[0141] Industrial Applicability The present disclosure is applicable to a technology for a seat belt retractor in which a sensor lever is installed on a sensor device that detects changes in vehicle inclination, and a pilot lever connected to the sensor lever is moved by rotating the sensor lever around a hinge shaft due to movement of a ball assembly in response to changes in vehicle inclination.

Claims

1. A sensor device for a vehicle that detects a change in inclination of a vehicle, the sensor device for a vehicle comprising: a body forming an exterior; a cover coupled to one open surface of the body; a weight body housing installed on the main body so as to be rotatable around a shaft coupled to the main body in accordance with an installation angle and inclination of the main body, the weight body housing having a weight body installed therein; a ball assembly configured to detect the change in the tilt of the vehicle; a sensor housing within which the ball assembly is movably mounted; a sensor lever disposed on the sensor housing and rotated by movement of the ball assembly; the sensor lever includes a horizontal portion disposed horizontally and a vertical portion disposed at one end of the horizontal portion and extending vertically upward, an upper end of the vertical portion being locked to the pilot lever; A sensor device for a vehicle, wherein the sensor lever is provided on a locking device and configured to move linearly back and forth by rotating the pilot lever, which is arranged horizontally.

2. a pair of hinge shafts are disposed at opposite ends of the horizontal portion so as to be pivotally coupled to opposite side walls of the sensor housing; a support protrusion is disposed on the lower surface of the horizontal portion so as to be supported by the weight transmitted from the ball assembly; 2. The vehicle sensor device of claim 1, wherein when the change in the inclination of the vehicle causes the ball assembly to move to one side, the horizontal portion rotates due to a change in the center of gravity, thereby moving the pilot lever outward from the cover.

3. A sensor device for a vehicle that detects a change in inclination of a vehicle, the sensor device for a vehicle comprising: a body forming an exterior; a cover coupled to one open surface of the body; a sensor housing mounted on the main body so as to be rotatable around a shaft coupled to the main body in accordance with an installation angle and tilt of the main body; a ball mounted on the sensor housing for detecting the change in the tilt of the vehicle; a lever guide disposed on an upper portion of the ball; and a sensor lever rotatably disposed within the sensor housing, the sensor lever includes a horizontal portion disposed horizontally and a vertical portion disposed at one end of the horizontal portion and extending vertically upward, an upper end of the vertical portion being locked to the pilot lever; The sensor lever is provided on a locking device and is configured to cause the horizontally arranged pilot lever to move linearly back and forth by rotation caused by movement of the ball.

4. a hinge shaft protruding from each end of the horizontal portion to be pivotally coupled to each side wall of the sensor housing; the horizontal portion is disposed on the top of the lever guide, seated on the top of the ball; A support protrusion is formed on the lower surface of the horizontal portion to be supported by the upper surface of the lever guide.

4. The vehicle sensor device of claim 3, wherein when the ball moves to one side due to the change in the inclination of the vehicle, the horizontal portion rotates due to a change in the center of gravity, thereby moving the pilot lever outside the cover.

5. The lever guide is formed in a conical shape having an upwardly convex curved surface so that it can be seated on the upper surface of the ball, The upper surface of the lever guide has an inclined surface that slopes downward from the center to the outside, a mounting projection protruding from the upper surface of the lever guide so as to be mounted on the horizontal portion of the sensor lever; The vehicle sensor device according to claim 4 , wherein a mounting hole is formed in the horizontal portion of the sensor lever for movably mounting the mounting protrusion.

6. The pilot lever is provided with a locking portion having a diameter smaller than both ends thereof, 6. The sensor device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a locking recess is formed at an upper end of the vertical portion of the sensor lever so that the locking portion is rotatably locked.

7. As the seat back tilt changes, 7. The vehicle sensor device of claim 6, wherein even when the sensor housing rotates around the shaft coupled to the main body, the vehicle sensor device maintains a connection between the locking portion of the pilot lever and the locking recess of the sensor lever, thereby allowing the vehicle sensor device to operate normally within the entire angle range of the seat back.

8. A seat belt retractor using a vehicle sensor device, the seat belt retractor comprising: a vehicle sensor device including the configuration according to claim 1 or 3 and configured to detect a change in the inclination of a vehicle; a spindle device including a spindle on which the seat belt webbing is wound; a locking device configured to perform a locking action to prevent the seat belt webbing from unwinding during a vehicle collision; The vehicle sensor device is configured to linearly reciprocate a pilot lever to engage or disengage the locking device based on the detected change in the inclination of the vehicle.

9. By winding the webbing just before a vehicle collision, 10. The seat belt retractor of claim 8, further comprising a pretensioning device configured to reduce slack.

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