Belt tension and energy absorbing apparatus
US6076856A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 12, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 20, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R22/28
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A belt tension and energy absorbing apparatus for a motor vehicle seat belt including a stationary tube attached to a body of the motor vehicle, a piston slidable in the stationary tube, a connecting member between the seat belt and the piston, a source of gas at elevated pressure, and an energy absorber. A bulkhead in the stationary tube between the ends thereof cooperates with the piston in defining a pressure chamber in the stationary tube. When sensors on the motor vehicle detect rapid deceleration, gas from the source of gas at elevated pressure is introduced into the pressure chamber and propels the piston through a tension stroke in a first direction. After the tension stoke, the thrust of an occupant on the seat belt propels the piston in a second direction through an energy absorbing stroke during which the piston displaces the bulkhead a fraction of the occupant's kinetic energy is converted into work. Because the volume of the pressure chamber can be made relatively small without compromising the length of the energy absorbing stroke of the piston, the required volume of gas at elevated pressure and the expense attributable to producing that volume of gas are reduced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.