Deflection device for deflecting a motor vehicle safety belt

Abstract

The invention relates to a deflection device (10) for deflecting a motor vehicle safety belt, having a frame part (11) which can be fixedly secured to the vehicle, a deflecting element (14) rotatably mounted relative to the frame part (11) and having a belt opening (21), wherein the deflecting element (14) is configured to deflect a safety belt (83) which can be guided through the belt opening, and a sensor device (13) which is fixed to the frame and is arranged in a measuring relationship to a safety belt (83) guided through the belt opening (21), characterised in that the deflecting element (14) has at least one covering region (37), which is configured to cover at least one part of the sensitive surface of the sensor device (13) toward the belt (83), wherein at least one window (38, 39) is provided in the covering region (37), which is arranged and formed in such a way that, depending on the rotational position of the deflecting element (14), different regions of the sensitive surface of the sensor device (13) are exposed toward the belt (83).

Description

[0001] Deflection device for deflecting a

[0002] Motor vehicle seat belt

[0003] The present invention relates to a deflection device for deflecting a motor vehicle safety belt, comprising a frame part which can be fixedly fastened to the vehicle, a deflection element which is rotatably mounted relative to the frame part and has a belt opening, wherein the deflection element is designed to deflect a safety belt which can be guided through the belt opening, and a sensor device which is fixed to the frame and is arranged in a measuring relationship with a safety belt guided through the belt opening.

[0004] DE 10 2022 107 264 A1 discloses a deflection device for deflecting a seat belt of a motor vehicle seat belt system, comprising a frame that can be fixedly attached to the vehicle, a deflection bar held on the frame, on which the seat belt is deflected, and a sensor device directed toward the deflected seat belt. The sensor device has at least two transmitter-receiver units that are arranged at a distance from one another in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the deflection bar and are aligned with their transmitter and receiver surfaces toward the surface of the deflected seat belt.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a deflection device which enables precise measurement of the belt webbing exit angle, can be designed to be particularly small and provides the desired occupant comfort.

[0006] The invention solves this problem with the features of claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, the deflection element has at least one covering region designed to cover at least part of the sensitive surface of the sensor device facing the belt webbing, wherein at least one window is provided in the covering region, which window is arranged and shaped such that, depending on the rotational position of the deflection element, different regions of the sensitive surface of the sensor device are exposed toward the belt webbing. By selectively covering and exposing different parts of the sensitive surface of the sensor device, a high degree of accuracy of the belt webbing exit angle can be achieved for each rotational position of the deflection part. The rotatably mounted, i.e., not stationary, deflection part ensures a high level of occupant comfort. Multiple windows or one continuous window are possible.

[0008] The sensor device preferably has a plurality of sensors, with different sensors being exposed towards the belt webbing depending on the rotational position of the deflection element. The sensors are preferably optical sensors, preferably in the infrared range, for example based on photodiodes. The use of a plurality of optical sensors represents a cost-effective way of implementing the sensor device. The use of an area sensor instead of a plurality of discrete sensors is possible. The use of non-optical sensors is also conceivable. The sensor device preferably has at least one optical transmitter, for example in the form of an infrared LED, which forms an optical transceiver unit with one or more sensors.In this embodiment, the optical sensors receive the radiation directed by the transmitter onto the webbing and reflected by the webbing, with varying intensities depending on the webbing's exit angle. Preferably, each transmitter is assigned a plurality of optical sensors, for example, two, as receivers, thereby reducing the number of transmitters.

[0009] The sensor device preferably has sensors that are exposed in a first stop position of the deflection element towards the webbing and are covered in a second stop position of the deflection element towards the webbing, as well as sensors that are covered in the first stop position of the deflection element towards the webbing and exposed in the second stop position of the deflection element towards the webbing. The sensor device preferably has sensors that are exposed in a zero position of the deflection element towards the webbing. These features of the sensor device enable a differentiated measurement of the webbing exit angle for each rotational position of the deflection part across the entire pivoting range. The sensor device preferably has sensors that are arranged along at least one straight line.Further preferably, the sensor device has sensors which are arranged along at least two straight lines which enclose an angle ß in the range between 100° and 170°, preferably in the range between 110° and 160°, even more preferably in the range between 120° and 150°. At least one of the two rows of sensors is free at all times, i.e. in the region of the at least one window. In other words, the at least one window allows at least one row of sensors to see through to the belt webbing at all times. Two separate rows of sensors ensure the necessary comfort during normal belt webbing movement when the belt is being used in the buckled-up state. This means that the deflection device can be made particularly small and can, for example, fit directly onto the frame plate of a belt retractor.Both sensor rows can have the same function and are preferably controlled / not controlled depending on the angular position of the deflection part.

[0010] The deflection device preferably comprises a housing part attached to the frame part, which has a housing opening that leaves the deflection part at least partially exposed to the outside. In this embodiment, the housing part and the deflection part can easily form rotation stops for the deflection element in order to adjust the rotation or pivoting range of the deflection part as desired. The pivoting range of the deflection part defined by the stops is preferably in the range between 10° and 80°, more preferably in the range between 20° and 70°, and even more preferably in the range between 30° and 60°. A pivoting range of ±20° from the zero position of the deflection part is particularly preferred.The previously described swivel ranges have proven particularly preferable with regard to occupant comfort and functional reliability of the deflection device, as the swivel range of the deflection device should not be too small for occupant comfort and not too large for functional reliability. Preferably, the housing part overlaps the deflection part at least along part of its outer circumference to provide a guide or securing means for the deflection part.

[0011] In a preferred practical embodiment, the frame part is bow-shaped with a base section and at least one fastening section. Preferably, the deflection element is essentially plate-shaped with an outer circumferential collar and an inner part forming the belt opening. Preferably, the frame part has a belt opening shaped to allow the belt to pass through in all rotational positions of the deflection part.

[0012] The invention further relates to a safety belt device for a motor vehicle, comprising a deflection device as described above and a safety belt guided through the belt opening of the deflection device. In a preferred embodiment, the safety belt device comprises a belt retractor, wherein the frame part of the deflection device is attached to a frame of the belt retractor. However, the deflection device can also be used separately or remotely from the belt retractor.

[0013] The invention will be explained below using preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle seat with an integrated deflection device;

[0015] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a deflection device, wherein the deflection element is in a first stop position;

[0016] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a deflection device without a deflection element;

[0017] Fig. 4 is a plan view of a sensor device;

[0018] Fig. 5-7 a front view of a deflection device in different rotational positions of the deflection element;

[0019] Fig. 8 is a side view of a deflection device with a schematically shown

[0020] Belt webbing; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a belt retractor with a deflection device attached thereto.

[0021] The motor vehicle seat 90 according to Fig. 1 has a backrest 91, a seat surface 92, and a headrest 93. A deflection device 10, which is shown enlarged in Figs. 2-9, is arranged in an upper lateral section of the backrest 91.

[0022] The deflection device 10 has a frame part 11 that is or can be fixedly attached to the vehicle, a deflection element 14 and a sensor device 13.

[0023] In the preferred embodiment according to Figure 9, the deflection device is part of an electrically controllable belt retractor 80. The belt reel 82, which is rotatably mounted on a belt shaft in the belt retractor 80, and the safety belt 83 are shown schematically in Figure 8. In this embodiment, the frame part 11 is advantageously fastened to a frame 81 of the belt retractor 80 and, for this purpose, preferably has corresponding fastening sections 15, 16 with fastening elements 17, for example fastening openings for the passage of screws (not shown). It is understood that the fastening section 16 can also have a fastening element 17. The frame part 11 is preferably bow-shaped, with two legs as fastening sections 15, 16 and a base section 18, for example a plate-shaped base section, arranged between them. The frame part 11 and the frame 81 can alternatively also be manufactured in one piece.

[0024] The frame 81 of the belt retractor 80 is fastened or can be fastened to a supporting frame (not shown) of the motor vehicle seat 90, and thus fixed to the body, whereby the frame part 11 is also fastened or can be fastened to the body. Alternatively, embodiments are possible in which the deflection device is not part of a belt retractor 80 and in which the frame part 11 is fastened or can be fastened directly, i.e., bypassing the frame 81 of the belt retractor 80, to the supporting frame of the motor vehicle seat 90 or the vehicle body. The deflection element 14 is rotatably mounted in the deflection device 10 relative to the frame part 11. For this purpose, the deflection device 10 has a pivot bearing 19, which can be formed by the frame part 11 or by a component fastened to the frame part 11, for example the housing part 12, which will be described later.The deflection element 14 has, on its rear side (not visible in the figures), an axis, for example a pin, that interacts with the pivot bearing 19. The arrangement can also be reversed, i.e., the pivot bearing 19 can be formed on the deflection element and the bearing axis on the frame part 11.

[0025] The deflection element 14 has a belt opening 21 that corresponds to a belt opening 20 of the frame part 11, best seen in Figure 3. In the assembled state, the belt webbing 83 is guided outwardly from the belt reel 82 through the two belt openings 20, 21, see Figure 8. The deflection element 14 is, for example, essentially plate-shaped with an outer circumferential collar 23 and the inner part 24 forming the belt opening 21, which can be raised above the collar 23. The axis of rotation of the deflection element 14 is, for example, oriented perpendicular to the plane of the plate-shaped deflection element 14.

[0026] The deflection device 10 preferably has a housing part 12, which is fastened to the frame part 11 and has fastening elements 22 for this purpose. The housing part 12 has a ring part 25, which engages around the deflection part 14, in particular the collar 23, on its outer circumference and thus provides guidance and / or a release lock for the deflection part 14. The deflection part 14, in particular the inner part 24, has on its outer circumference a circular arc section 31 and a stop section 32 with two straight stops 33, 34. It is sufficient if the collar 23 is formed in the circumferential region of the circular arc section 31. However, the collar 23 can also be formed over the entire circumference of the deflection part 14 or the inner part 24.

[0027] The housing part 12 has a housing opening 30, which is preferably formed by the annular opening of the annular part 25. The deflection part 14, in particular the inner part 24, is at least partially received in the housing opening 30. The housing part 12, in particular the annular part 25, preferably has a circular arc section 26 that corresponds to the circular arc section 31 of the deflection part 14. This means that the radius of the circular arc section 26 corresponds, with play, to the radius of the circular arc section 31, so that the housing part 12 forms a guide for the deflection part 14 during its rotational movement.

[0028] The housing part 12, in particular the ring part 25, preferably has a stop section 27 with a straight stop 28, which interacts with the stop section 32 of the deflection part 14. In a first stop position, shown in Figures 2 and 6, a first stop 34 of the deflection element 14 abuts a corresponding stop 28 of the housing part 12. Starting from the first stop position, the deflection part 14 can be rotated by the action of forces caused by movement of the seat belt 83 by the occupant into a second stop position, which is shown in Figure 7 and in which a second stop 33 of the deflection element 14 abuts a corresponding stop 28 of the housing part 12. A middle zero position of the deflection part 14, located between the two stop positions, is shown in Figures 5 and 9.

[0029] The pivoting range y (see Figure 6) of the deflecting part 14 defined by the stops 28, 33, 34 is preferably in the range between 10° and 80°, more preferably in the range between 20° and 70°, and even more preferably in the range between 30° and 60°. In the present embodiment, for this purpose, the stops 33, 34 enclose an angle α in the range between 100° and 170°, see Fig. 5. Other embodiments of the stops 28, 33, 34 are possible. For example, instead of the continuous stop 28, the housing part 12 can have two stops enclosing an angle in the range between 100° and 170°. The belt opening 20 of the frame part 11 is shaped such that it allows the belt webbing 83 to pass through in all rotational positions of the deflecting part 14. For this purpose, the belt opening 20 may, for example, have a butterfly shape, see Figure 3.

[0030] The sensor device 13 is shown in detail in Figure 4. The sensor device 13 comprises a circuit board 35 and a plurality of optical sensors 40a, 40c, 42a, 42c arranged thereon. Each pair of optical sensors 40a, 40c and 42a, 42c is assigned an optical transmitter 40b or 42b, for example, infrared LEDs, which emits light, for example, in the IR range, toward the belt strap 83. The light reflected by the belt strap 83 is measured by the respective optical sensors 40a, 40c and 42a, 42c. The optical sensors 40a, 40c and the optical transmitter 40b thus form a transceiver unit 40a, 40b, 40c, and the optical sensors 42a, 42c and the optical transmitter 42b thus form another transceiver unit 42a, 42b, 42c. Further electrical components 41, 43, for example, resistors, can be arranged on the circuit board.

[0031] The sensor device 13 is secured to the frame part 11 or a component secured to the frame part 11, for example, the housing part 12, at one or more fastening positions 36, which can be formed, for example, by holes in the circuit board 35, and is thus fixed to the vehicle. The sensor device 13 can be accommodated in a receptacle 44 of the frame part 11 or a component secured to the frame part 11, for example, the housing part 12.

[0032] The deflection part 14 has a cover area 37, which, in the assembled state, is arranged to cover different sensors 40a, 40c, 42a, 42c depending on the rotational position of the deflection part 14. One or more windows 38, 39, here two, are provided in the cover area 37, which are arranged and shaped such that, depending on the rotational position of the deflection element 14, different sensors 40a, 40c, 42a, 42c are exposed to the belt webbing 83. This is explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 4-7; however, for the sake of clarity, the sensors 40a, 40c, 42a, 42c are only designated in Figure 4.

[0033] The sensor device 13 has sensors 40a, 40c, which are exposed to the belt webbing 83 in the first stop position of the deflection element 14 (see Figures 2, 6) (due to the window 38) and are covered by the cover element 37 in the second stop position of the deflection element 14 (see Figure 7) toward the belt webbing 83. These sensors 40a, 40c are exposed to the belt webbing 83 in the zero position (see Figure 5).

[0034] The sensor device 13 has other sensors 42a, 42c, which are arranged conversely in the first

[0035] The first stop position of the deflection element 14 is covered towards the webbing 83 and the second stop position of the deflection element 14 is exposed towards the webbing 83 (due to the window 39). These sensors 42a, 42c are also exposed towards the webbing 83 in the zero position. The zero position of the deflection element 14 can be detected by means of the sensors 40a, 40c, 42a, 42c, see Figure 5.

[0036] The optical sensors 40a, 40c, 42a, 42c are connected to a data processing device 45, shown only schematically in Fig. 8, for example, an ECU, which can be part of the safety belt device 79 or arranged remotely therefrom. The data processing device 45 is configured to determine the exit angle of the belt webbing 83 (see Fig. 8, in which four different exit angles are schematically shown) from the signals of the sensors 40a, 40c, 42a, 42c. By arranging two different sensor groups (40a, 40c: in the first stop position and free in the zero position; 42a, 42c: in the second stop position and free in the zero position), the rotational position of the deflection part can also be precisely determined, which enables a more precise determination of the belt webbing exit angle because these two variables are interdependent.

[0037] In this application, "exposed" means that a sensor 40a, 40c, 42a, 42c is located in the region of one of the windows 38, 39 in the cover area 37, and "covered" means that a sensor 40a, 40c, 42a, 42c is concealed by the cover area 37 from the outside or from the belt webbing 83. When reference is made in this application to the belt webbing 83, this means the belt webbing 83 guided through the belt opening 21 of the deflection part 14 in the assembled safety belt device 79.

[0038] Instead of two windows 38, 39, one continuous window or more than two windows may be provided.

[0039] The sensors 40a, 40c and 42a, 42c are each arranged along straight lines 46, 47. The lines 46, 47 advantageously enclose an angle ß in the range between 100° and 170°, more preferably in the range between 110° and 160°, even more preferably in the range between 120° and 150°. The angle ß can be identical to the previously described angle α or deviate from it. The transmitters 40b, 42b are preferably also arranged on the line 46; 47 of the respectively assigned sensors 40a, 40c; 42a, 42c. This means that the transmitter 40b is preferably also arranged on the line 46 and the transmitter 42b is preferably also arranged on the line 47. The transmitters 40b, 42b are advantageously arranged between the respectively assigned sensors 40a, 40c; 42a, 42c. This means that the transmitter 40b is preferably arranged between the sensors 40a, 40c, and the transmitter 42b is preferably arranged between the sensors 42a, 42c.

[0040] List of reference symbols:

[0041] 10 Deflection device

[0042] 11 Frame part

[0043] 12 Housing part

[0044] 13 Sensor device

[0045] 14 Deflection part

[0046] 15, 16 fastening section

[0047] 17 Mounting hole

[0048] 18 Basic section

[0049] 19 pivot bearings

[0050] 20, 21 Belt opening

[0051] 22 Fastening element

[0052] 23 collars

[0053] 24 Inside

[0054] 25 ring part

[0055] 26 circular arc section

[0056] 27 stop section

[0057] 28 stop

[0058] 30 Housing opening

[0059] 31 circular arc section

[0060] 32 stop section

[0061] 33, 34 stop

[0062] 35 circuit board

[0063] 36 Mounting position

[0064] 37 Coverage area

[0065] 38, 39 windows

[0066] 40a, 40c, 42a, 42c sensors

[0067] 40b, 42b transmitter

[0068] 41, 43 resistors

[0069] 44 Recording 45 Data processing device

[0070] 46, 47 straight line

[0071] 79 Seat belt device

[0072] 80 Belt retractor 81 Frame

[0073] 82 belt wraps

[0074] 83 webbing

[0075] 90 Motor vehicle seat

[0076] 91 Backrest 92 Seat

[0077] 93 Headrest

Claims

Claims:

1. Deflection device (10) for deflecting a motor vehicle safety belt with - a frame part (11) that can be fixed to the vehicle, - a deflection element (14) rotatably mounted relative to the frame part (11) and having a belt opening (21), wherein the deflection element (14) is designed to deflect a safety belt (83) which can be guided through the belt opening, and - a frame-fixed sensor device (13) which is arranged in a measuring relationship to a safety belt (83) guided through the belt opening (21), characterized in that the deflection element (14) has at least one covering region (37) which is designed to cover at least part of the sensitive surface of the sensor device (13) towards the belt webbing (83), wherein at least one window (38, 39) is provided in the covering region (37), which window is arranged and shaped such that, depending on the rotational position of the deflection element (14), different regions of the sensitive surface of the sensor device (13) are exposed towards the belt webbing (83).

2. Deflection device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device (13) has a plurality of sensors (40a, 40c, 42a, 42c), characterized in that depending on the rotational position of the deflection element (14), different sensors (40a, 40c, 42a, 42c) are exposed towards the belt webbing (83).

3. Deflection device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor device (13) has sensors (40a, 40c) which are exposed in a first stop position of the deflection element (14) towards the belt webbing (83) and are covered in a second stop position of the deflection element (14) towards the belt webbing (83), and sensors (42a, 42c) which are covered in the first stop position of the deflection element (14) towards the belt webbing (83) and are exposed in the second stop position of the deflection element (14) towards the belt webbing (83).

4. Deflection device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (13) has sensors (40a, 40c, 42a, 42c) which are exposed towards the belt webbing (83) in a zero position of the deflection element (14).

5. Deflection device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (13) has sensors (40a, 40c, 42a, 42c) which are arranged along at least one straight line (46, 47).

6. Deflection device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the sensor device (13) has sensors (40a, 40c; 42a, 42c) which are arranged along at least two straight lines (46, 47) which enclose an angle ß in the range between 100° and 170° with one another.

7. Deflection device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing part (12) attached to the frame part (11) and having a housing opening (30) which leaves the deflection part (14) at least partially exposed to the outside.

8. Deflection device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the housing part (12) and the deflection part form rotation stops (28, 33, 34) for the deflection element (14).

9. Deflection device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the pivoting range y of the deflection part (14) defined by the stops (28, 33, 34) lies in the range between 10° and 80°.

10. Deflection device (10) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the housing part (12) engages over the deflection part (14) at least on a part of its outer circumference in order to form a guide or securing means for the deflection part (14).

11. Deflection device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (13) has at least one optical transmitter (40b; 42b) which forms a transmitting-receiving unit with one or more sensors (40a, 40c; 42a, 42c).

12. Deflection device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deflection element (14) is substantially plate-shaped with an outer circumferential collar (23) and an inner part (24) forming the belt opening (21).

13. Deflection device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame part (11) has a belt opening (20) which is shaped such that it allows the belt strap (83) to pass through in all rotational positions of the deflection part (14).

14. Safety belt device (79) for a motor vehicle, comprising a deflection device (10) according to one of the preceding claims and a safety belt (83) guided through the belt opening (21) of the deflection device (10).

15. Safety belt device (79) according to claim 14, with a belt retractor (80), characterized in that the frame part (11) of the deflection device (10) is fastened to a frame (81) of the belt retractor (80).

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