Seatbelt system having a pretensioner and a locking mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11858456-B2
Application number	US-202217688484-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2022
Priority date	Mar 7, 2022
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A system for providing occupant restraint includes a seatbelt, a tensioning mechanism, and a locking mechanism. The seatbelt may include an upper portion and a lower portion, or just a single span. The tensioning mechanism is configured to remove slack in one or more portions of the seatbelt in response to an event such as an impact event. The locking mechanism is configured to lock an end of the seatbelt after the tensioning mechanism removes the slack, to prevent the seatbelt from extending. A connector may be included that defines an upper portion of the seatbelt and a lower portion of the seatbelt. The tensioning mechanism may include a load limiter to lessen a force transmitted to the seatbelt during tensioning. The load limiter may include an energy absorption element. The tensioning mechanism and the locking mechanism may be coupled to either span.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for providing occupant restraint, the system comprising:
a seatbelt having an end;
a load limiting tensioning mechanism configured to apply a first force to a force limiting mechanism, which transmits a second limited force to the end of the seatbelt to remove slack from the end of the seatbelt in response to an event;
a locking mechanism configured to lock the end of the seatbelt after the load limiting tensioning mechanism removes the slack; and
control circuitry configured to:
detect the event; and
in response to the event, at least one of:
transmit a control signal to the load limiting tensioning mechanism that causes the load limiting tensioning mechanism to apply the first force; or
transmit a control signal to the locking mechanism that causes the locking mechanism to lock the end of the seatbelt.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the load limiting tensioning mechanism comprises:
a structure affixed to the end of the seatbelt, wherein the force limiting mechanism is coupled to the structure;
a cable engaged with the force limiting mechanism; and
a mechanism configured to apply the first force to the cable, wherein the force limiting mechanism allows the second limited force, less than the first force, to be applied to the structure.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the load limiting tensioning mechanism comprises a wire formed in a double-u shape.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connector that defines an upper portion of the seatbelt and a lower portion of the seatbelt, wherein the lower portion comprises the end and wherein the load limiting tensioning mechanism is configured to remove the slack in the lower portion of the seatbelt from the end.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the load limiting tensioning mechanism comprises:
a piston and a cylinder, wherein the piston is configured to translate along the cylinder;
a cable comprising a first end and a second end, the cable coupled to the seatbelt at the first end and coupled to the piston at the second end;
a squib charge configured to cause the piston to translate along the cylinder to apply tension to the seatbelt; and
a limit switch arranged at a position along the cylinder and configured to provide a signal when the piston reaches the position along the cylinder.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
a structure affixed to the end of the seatbelt, the structure comprising at least one detent; and
a latch affixed to a vehicle and configured to engage with the detent to lock the end of the seatbelt after the tensioning mechanism removes the slack.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
a first element configured to move with the end of the seatbelt;
a second element configured to engage with the first element; and
a latch configured to engage the second element with the first element to prevent the first element from moving, thereby locking the end of the seatbelt after the load limiting tensioning mechanism removes the slack.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the force limiting mechanism applies the first force to the end of the seatbelt up to a force limit, beyond which the force limiting mechanism reduces an amount of the first force transmitted to the end of the seatbelt.

9. A system for providing occupant restraint, the system comprising:
a seatbelt having an end;
a tensioning mechanism configured to apply a first force to a force limiting mechanism, which transmits a second limited force to the end of the seatbelt to remove slack in the seatbelt;
a locking mechanism configured to lock the end of the seatbelt after the tensioning mechanism removes the slack to prevent lengthening of the seatbelt; and
control circuitry configured to:
detect an event; and
in response to the event, at least one of:
transmit a control signal to the load limiting tensioning mechanism that causes the load limiting tensioning mechanism to apply the first force; or
transmit a control signal to the locking mechanism that causes the locking mechanism to lock the end of the seatbelt.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the seatbelt comprises an upper portion and a lower portion and wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to remove the slack in the lower portion of the seatbelt.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises:
a piston and a cylinder, wherein the piston is configured to translate along the cylinder;
a cable comprising a first end and a second end, the cable coupled to the seatbelt at the first end and coupled to the piston at the second end;
a squib charge configured to cause the piston to translate along the cylinder to apply tension to the seatbelt; and
a limit switch arranged at a position along the cylinder and configured to provide a signal when the piston reaches the position.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises:
a structure affixed to the end of the seatbelt, wherein
the force limiting mechanism coupled to the structure;
a cable engaged with the force limiting mechanism; and
a mechanism configured to apply the first force to the cable, wherein the force limiting mechanism allows the second limited force, less than the first force, to be applied to the structure.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
a structure affixed to the end of the seatbelt, the structure comprising at least one detent; and
a latch affixed to a vehicle and configured to engage with the detent to lock the end of the seatbelt after the tensioning mechanism removes the slack.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises a wire formed configured to limit a load transmitted to the seatbelt.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the force limiting mechanism applies the first force to the end of the seatbelt up to a force limit, beyond which the force limiting mechanism reduces an amount of the first force transmitted to the end of the seatbelt.

16. A method of tightening a seatbelt, wherein the seatbelt comprises an end, the method comprising:
detecting, using control circuitry, a vehicle event corresponding to impact;
transmitting, using the control circuitry, a control signal to a tensioning mechanism that causes the tensioning mechanism to apply a first force to a force limiting mechanism, wherein the force limiting mechanism is configured to apply a second limited force to the end of the seatbelt to remove slack; and
transmitting a control signal to a locking mechanism to lock the end to prevent displacement of the seatbelt after the slack has been removed.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the seatbelt comprises an upper portion and a lower portion and wherein the second limited force to the end of the seatbelt removes slack in the lower portion.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
achieving a first state prior to detecting the vehicle event, wherein the seatbelt comprises no tension; and
achieving a second state after the slack has been removed, wherein the seatbelt comprises a tension greater than zero.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the force limiting mechanism applies the first force to the end of the seatbelt up to a force limit, beyond which the force limiting mechanism reduces an amount of the first force transmitted to the end of the seatbelt.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Wigger Henning

Classifications

• B60R22/1954 Primary

  characterised by fluid actuators, e.g. pyrotechnic gas generators (actuating a cable B60R22/1952) · CPC title

• B60R22/28

  incorporating energy-absorbing devices {(belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676)} · CPC title

• B60R22/4604 Primary

  characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt · CPC title

• B60R22/4628

  characterised by fluid actuators, e.g. pyrotechnic gas generators (actuating a cable B60R22/4619) · CPC title

• B60R22/4633

  Linear actuators, e.g. comprising a piston moving along reel axis and rotating along its own axis · CPC title