KR102496242B1 - Seat belt retractor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seat belt retractor. The seat belt retractor includes: a spindle module including a seat belt webbing and a spindle on which the webbing is wound; an emergency tensioning module reducing a slack by winding the webbing when an emergency of a vehicle occurs; and a pre-tensioning module drawing the webbing out when the vehicle normally drives and reducing the slack by winding the webbing just before the emergency occurs. The emergency tensioning module and the pre-tensioning module are connected to a fixing end on the opposite side of a rotation end of a load limiter installed in the spindle. When a clutch releasing function transferring a rotation force of the pre-tensioning module to the spindle or blocking the rotation force is abnormal, the seat belt retractor blocks an overload applied to the spindle to rotate the rotation end of the load limiter installed in the spindle is transferred to the pre-tensioning module. Therefore, the seat belt retractor can prevent damage to the pre-tensioning module caused by the overload of the spindle and accurately perform a normal function of the seat belt retractor and a load-limiting function.

Description

Seat belt retractor {SEAT BELT RETRACTOR}

The present invention relates to a seat belt retractor, and more particularly, to a seat belt retractor that effectively restrains and safely protects occupants by suppressing the withdrawal of seat belt webbing in the event of a vehicle collision.

In general, a seat belt safety device is provided in a seat to ensure the safety of an occupant in a vehicle.

The seat belt safety device is a retractor that operates to wind or withdraw a belt-shaped seat belt webbing (hereinafter referred to as 'webbing') that fixes the occupant on a spool and a tongue fixed to one end of the webbing to be detachable It consists of an inserted buckle.

The retractor prevents an occupant wearing a seat belt from being thrown forward or separated from the seat due to driving inertia when the vehicle suddenly stops or accelerates due to an accident or the like. Such a retractor allows the webbing to be drawn out in a normal state when the seat belt is worn, but when a webbing pulling out acceleration or a change in the inclination of the vehicle is detected due to a vehicle collision, a device that suppresses further pulling out of the webbing, and the loosening or loosening of the webbing It may include an emergency tensioning device and a pre-tensioning device that reduce sagging, that is, slack.

For example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 below disclose a retractor technology for controlling unwinding and retracting operations of seat belt webbing.

On the other hand, when an acceleration greater than a predetermined value acts on the seat belt retractor in the horizontal direction or the inclination of the vehicle changes, as in the case of a car collision, the seat belt locking device is operated to prevent the webbing from being pulled out. Vehicle sensors that detect acceleration or inclination are applied.

As an inertial body used in the vehicle sensor, it is known to use a ball or a self-supporting inertial body.

For example, a vehicle sensor may be used to detect an inertial body that moves in critical situations where a higher than normal deceleration rate or tilt of the webbing is applied to the vehicle, and a control disk that is moved by the inertial body and rotates with the spool of the seat belt retractor. It includes a sensor lever that interacts with the outer teeth.

Such a seat belt retractor may be mounted on a vehicle body, for example, a center pillar of a vehicle, a backrest of a seat, a rear pillar, or the like. Accordingly, the mounting posture of the seat belt retractor may be variously changed according to structures such as the center pillar, the backrest of the seat, and the rear pillar. That is, the seat belt retractor is not always mounted in a horizontal state, and may be mounted in an inclined state at a certain angle in the left-right direction or the front-back direction from the horizontal state.

In particular, when the seat belt retractor is installed on the backrest of the seat, the inclination of the seat belt retractor changes according to the rotation of the backrest.

However, if the posture of the seat belt retractor according to the prior art is changed beyond a certain range, acceleration and inclination cannot be properly detected.

For example, when a retractor having a vehicle sensor has an attitude tilted over a certain range from a horizontal state, the distance between the control disk and the sensor lever provided on the vehicle sensor is too close, and the sensor lever operates sensitively, so proper locking is performed. The action cannot be performed.

Further, when a retractor having a vehicle sensor is mounted on the backrest of the seat and the seat backrest is tilted toward the front of the vehicle, the sensor lever of the vehicle sensor is caught on the outer teeth of the control disk and restricts the rotation of the spool.

Due to this, when an occupant wants to wear a seat belt, rotation of the spool is restricted, making it impossible to wear the seat belt.

In order to solve this problem, the present applicant discloses a seat belt retractor configuration having a vehicle sensor in which the fixing structure of the vehicle sensor is improved in Patent Document 3 below, and has applied for and registered a patent.

US Patent No. 6,499,554 (registered on December 31, 2002) US Patent No. 6,443,382 (registered on September 3, 2002) Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1766844 (Announced on August 9, 2017)

Meanwhile, with the recent development of self-driving cars, technologies for minimizing the volume of seats and seat belt retractors applied to vehicles have been developed. In particular, the seat has been slimmed down by designing the thickness of the backrest thin.

In the seat belt retractor according to the prior art, as the rotational axis of the spindle on which the webbing is wound is disposed in the same direction as the rotational axis of the backrest, the overall volume increases according to the amount of webbing wound on the spindle, and the seat belt retractor corresponding to the backrest There was a limit to reducing the front-to-back direction width of .

In addition, in the pre-tensioner of the seat belt retractor according to the prior art, the rotational force generated by the driving motor is transmitted to the spindle so that the webbing can be wound or drawn out, and when the pre-tensioner is not operating, the rotational force of the driving motor is applied so that the webbing can be smoothly drawn out. A power transmission unit that functions as an on/off clutch is applied.

In the power transmission unit, as the pre-tensioner and the spindle are directly connected, the rotating part of the torsion bar for limiting the load and the clutch fixing part are the same.

Therefore, in the seat belt retractor according to the prior art, the pre-tensioner may not be released due to various reasons such as a low-speed collision of a vehicle or a failure of a clutch release function of a power transmission unit.

For this reason, the seat belt retractor according to the prior art has a problem in that the pre-tensioner is damaged as the spindle is overloaded, and the load limiting function and the retractor function cannot be accurately performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to provide a seat belt retractor that secures and safely protects occupants in an emergency situation such as a car crash.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a seat belt retractor that can be applied to a seat that is made slim by reducing the thickness of the backrest.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent damage to the pre-tensioner due to overload acting on the spindle when the clutch release function of the pre-tensioner does not operate normally, and to perform the load limiting function and the retractor function normally. to provide tractors.

In order to achieve the above object, the seat belt retractor according to the present invention includes a seat belt webbing (hereinafter referred to as 'webbing') and a spindle module including a spindle on which the webbing is wound on an outer surface, and a webbing in case of a vehicle emergency. An emergency tensioning module that reduces slack by winding the webbing and a pre-tensioning module that reduces the slack by winding the webbing right before an emergency occurs and withdraws the webbing during normal driving of the vehicle, wherein the emergency tensioning module and the pre-tensioning module When the clutch release function that transmits or blocks the rotational force of the pre-tensioning module to the spindle is abnormal, the overload acting on the spindle is prevented from being transferred to the pre-tensioning module in order to rotate the rotation end of the load limiter installed on the spindle It is characterized in that it is connected to the fixed end on the opposite side of the rotation end of the load limiter.

As described above, according to the seat belt retractor according to the present invention, by rotating the direction in which the spindle on which the webbing is wound is installed, the front-back width mounted on the backrest of the seat can be minimized and slimmed down.

That is, according to the present invention, by changing the arrangement direction of the spindle on which the webbing is wound, an effect of minimizing the mounting space required when applying to a slim seat by designing the thickness of the backrest to be thin is obtained.

And according to the present invention, as the clutch function part that transmits or blocks the rotational force of the drive motor depending on whether the pre-tensioning module is operating is connected to the fixed end of the load limiter installed on the spindle, low-speed collision of the vehicle or power transmission unit When the clutch-off state of the pre-tensioning module is not released due to various reasons, such as a failure of the clutch release function of the controller, an overload acting on the spindle can be blocked from being transferred to the pre-tensioning module.

Due to this, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent damage to the pre-tensioning module due to overload of the spindle, and to accurately perform the load limiting function and the normal function of the seat belt retractor.

1 is a perspective view of a seat belt retractor to which a pre-tensioning module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied;
2 is a view showing a state in which the seat belt retractor shown in FIG. 1 is installed on a seat of a vehicle;
3 to 5 are perspective views of the seat belt retractor shown in FIG. 1 from different angles;
6 is a perspective view of a pre-tensioning module;
7 is an exploded perspective view of the pre-tensioning module shown in FIG. 6;
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C′ shown in FIG. 6;
9 is a view showing an operating state of a pre-tensioning module;

Hereinafter, a pre-tensioning module and a seat belt retractor to which the pre-tensioning module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the configuration of a seat belt retractor to which a pre-tensioning module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 .

1 is a perspective view of a seat belt retractor to which a pre-tensioning module is applied according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the seat belt retractor shown in FIG. 1 is installed on a seat of a vehicle. 2(a) shows a front view of the sheet, and FIG. 2(b) shows a rear view of the sheet.

Hereinafter, the direction toward the steering wheel based on the seat of the vehicle is referred to as 'front (F)', and the opposite direction is referred to as 'rearward (B)'. In addition, terms indicating directions such as 'left (L)', 'right (R)', 'upper (U)' and 'downward (D)' are based on the aforementioned front (F) and rear (B) It is defined as pointing in each direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the seat belt retractor 10 to which the pre-tensioning module is applied according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the seat belt webbing (hereinafter referred to as 'webbing') 21 is wound. A spindle module 20, a sensor module 30 that detects changes in the vehicle's inclination and withdrawal acceleration of the webbing 21, an emergency tensioning module 40 that reduces slack by winding the webbing 21 in the event of a vehicle collision, and a vehicle It may include a pre-tensioning module 50 that smoothly withdraws the webbing 21 during normal driving and reduces slack by winding the webbing 21 immediately before an emergency occurs.

In this embodiment, each component applied to the seat belt retractor 10 is modularized for each functional block and manufactured by selectively combining each modularized component.

For example, the seat belt retractor 10 can be assembled by selectively combining the spindle module 20, the sensor module 30, the emergency tensioning module 40, the pre-tensioning module 50, and additional function modules. can

The spindle module 20 and the sensor module 30 are basic modules constituting the seat belt retractor 10, and as shown in FIG. 2, they may be manufactured and assembled as individual modules or integrated into one module. may be

The sensor module 30 may include an acceleration sensor that detects a change in the pulling out acceleration of the webbing 21 or a tilt sensor that detects a change in inclination of the vehicle.

The spindle module 20 is provided with a spindle 22 around which the webbing 21 is wound.

The spindle module 20 may operate to wind the webbing 21 when a change in the pulling out acceleration of the webbing 21 or a change in the inclination of the vehicle occurs due to a vehicle emergency.

The spindle module 20 may further provide a function of only retracting the webbing in a certain section to fix the child seat.

Hereinafter, the direction in which the webbing 21 is pulled out is set to the upper direction (U), and the direction in which the spindle 22 is mounted is set to the forward and backward directions (F, B).

In this embodiment, the thickness of the seat belt retractor 10, that is, the width in the front and rear direction, is minimized in order to be mounted on a slim seat.

An emergency tensioning module 40 and a pre-tensioning module 50 are coupled to the top of the spindle module 20 .

Each module is disposed on the side of the spindle module 20, that is, on the left or right side, or on the top or bottom of the spindle module 20, with the spindle module 20 as the center.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the sensor module 30, the emergency tensioning module 40, and the pre-tensioning module 50 may be respectively disposed above the spindle module 20. .

Each module combined in this way is installed side by side or at a right angle so that the axis provided in each module faces the same direction as the direction in which the spindle 22 is installed, and transmits power or transmits power through a power transmission unit such as a gear. configured to receive

The emergency tensioning module 40 operates an inflator (not shown) containing gunpowder in response to a detection signal that detects the occurrence of an emergency in the vehicle, and uses the pressure of gas generated to move the webbing 21 to the spindle 22. wrap it in Accordingly, the emergency tensioning module 40 reduces the slack of the webbing 21 by winding the webbing 21 when a vehicle emergency occurs, thereby reducing injury to passengers.

The pre-tensioning module 50 winds the webbing 21 around the spindle 22 by driving a motor capable of normal and reverse rotation when an emergency situation of the vehicle is predicted through a sensor applied to the vehicle. That is, the pre-tensioning module 50 keeps the worn webbing 2 taut and the webbing 21 loosened until a stronger acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle occurs even without an emergency situation in a normal driving situation. Injury to passengers can be reduced by preventing the possibility of falling and reducing the slack of the webbing 21 by winding the webbing 21 immediately before an emergency occurs in the vehicle.

Meanwhile, first and second brackets 27 and 28 may be coupled to the front and rear sides of the spindle module 20 to function as the housing 23 by being coupled to each other.

That is, the first bracket 27 is disposed on the front side of the spindle module 20, and the second bracket 28 is disposed on the rear side of the spindle module 20. In addition, coupling members coupled to each other are provided on both sides of the first bracket 27 and the second bracket 28, and installation members installed on the backrest 12 are provided at the lower ends of the first and second brackets 27 and 28. can be provided.

In addition, a drawing-out space 25 through which the webbing 21 is drawn may be provided at one side of the first and second brackets 27 and 28, at the lower left side as seen in FIG. 2 . A guide member 29 may be installed in the lead-out space 25 along the front-rear direction in the same manner as the spindle 22 .

The guide member 29 serves to guide the webbing 21 to be drawn upward. The guide member 29 is a roller whose front and rear ends are rotatably coupled to the first and second brackets 27 and 28 so that the webbing 21 can be smoothly wound or drawn out from the spindle 22. can be provided with

Therefore, the width of the entire seat belt retractor 10 in the front and rear direction may be limited to the width of the first and second brackets 27 and 28 in the front and rear direction.

In FIG. 2 , a mounting space 13 in which the seat belt retractor 10 is mounted may be provided in the backrest 12 of the seat 11 .

The mounting space 13 is provided inside the backrest 12, and a webbing guide 14 for guiding the webbing drawn out from the spindle module 20 to the outside of the backrest 12 is installed on one side of the mounting space 13. It can be.

The mounting space 13 may be provided on the rear upper part of the backrest 12 .

On the other hand, in FIG. 2, the mounting space 13 is shown in the center of the upper end of the backrest 12, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and is formed at a position spaced downward by a predetermined interval from the upper end of the backrest 12 Or, it may be formed biased to the left or right from the center of the isotropic (12).

A space in which the webbing 21 is disposed toward the webbing guide 14 may communicate with one side of the mounting space 13 .

The webbing guide 14 may be provided to partially cover the upper left side of the backrest 12 and the edge of the upper right side of the upper side of the backrest 12 when applied to the driver's seat 11, for example.

Here, the webbing 21 is drawn out of the backrest 12 through the mounting space 13 and the placement space 15 in a state in which both ends are wound around the spindle 22 in the forward and backward directions, and the webbing guide 14 As a result, the drawing direction may be changed so that both ends are approximately directed in the left and right directions.

That is, the pull-out direction of the webbing 21 is changed so that both ends disposed along the front-back direction between the spindle 22 and the webbing guide 14, that is, within the arrangement space 15, face the left-right direction.

At the same time, the webbing 21 may have a drawing angle adjusted according to the position of the webbing guide 14 .

For example, the webbing 21 is disposed so as to face the upper left side or upward when viewed from one side of the backrest 12, FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 2, when the passenger on the driver's seat 11 is an adult. do. That is, one end of the webbing 21 is wound around the outer surface of the spindle 22, and the other end of the webbing 21 is pulled out of the seat belt retractor 10, and then the webbing guide 14 installed on the backrest 12 is drawn upward toward

On the other hand, when the occupant on the seat 11 is a woman, teenager, or infant who has a smaller physique than an adult, the withdrawal angle may be adjusted so that the seat 11 is pulled out from a position moved downward from the upper left corner of the backrest 12.

For example, when the occupant adjusts the angle of the backrest by rotating the backrest backward, the webbing may be caught on the occupant's neck or shoulder, causing inconvenience.

In addition, it is necessary to adjust the drawing angle of the webbing 21 according to the physical condition of the occupant, that is, the occupant's body shape or purpose of use, such as when adults, teenagers, or infants board or when a child seat is installed.

Thus, an adjusting member (not shown) is installed in the webbing guide 14 so as to be movable within a predetermined range from the upper surface of the backrest 12 to the upper left side of the backrest 12, and the webbing 21 is guided according to the position of the adjusting member. The drawing angle is adjusted by rotating the member 29 as a rotating shaft.

As described above, according to the present invention, the webbing wound around the spindle is drawn out through one side of the first and second brackets, and the webbing drawn out angle can be freely adjusted inside the mounting space of the backrest.

Accordingly, the present invention can improve safety by adjusting the pulling direction and angle of the webbing according to the physical condition of the occupant or the purpose of use.

At this time, when the webbing 21 is pulled out of the spindle module 20, both ends are arranged to face the front and rear directions, and when pulled out through the placement space 15 and the webbing guide 14, the webbing 21 rotates in one direction so that both ends It is pulled out in a state in which it is arranged so as to face the left-right direction.

In this way, the present invention can minimize the width in the front-back direction when the webbing is mounted on the backrest of the seat by changing the arrangement direction of the spindle around which the webbing is wound.

In addition, the present invention reduces and minimizes the width of the webbing together with the thickness of the spindle module, so that the spindle module and the seat belt retractor to which it is applied can be manufactured slim by minimizing the width mounted on the seat.

In addition, the present invention can freely adjust the drawing direction and angle of the webbing drawn out from the spindle module.

Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the configuration of the seat belt retractor to which the pre-tensioning module is applied has been described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and is applied to variously changed seat belt retractors It may be changed to make it possible.

Particularly, according to the present invention, a clutch function part that transmits or blocks rotational force of a driving motor depending on whether a pre-tensioning module is operated is connected to a fixed end of a load limiter applied to a spindle module.

Accordingly, in the present invention, when the clutch off state of the emergency tensioning module is not released due to various reasons such as a low-speed collision of a vehicle or a failure of the clutch release function of the power transmission unit, the overload acting on the spindle is transmitted to the pre-tensioning module block from becoming

Due to this, the present invention can prevent damage to the pre-tensioning module due to overload of the spindle, and accurately perform the load limiting function and the normal function of the seat belt retractor.

Next, the configuration of the emergency tensioning module will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

3 to 5 are perspective views of the seat belt retractor shown in FIG. 1 from different angles. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the second bracket, casing, etc. disposed on the rear and front sides of the seat belt retractor in FIG. 1 are removed, and FIG. 4 shows the seat belt retractor in FIG. 1 shows a state in which the bracket and casing are removed, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the sensor module, webbing, and switching unit in FIG. 4 are removed.

The emergency tensioning module 40 is installed parallel to the spindle 22 on a different axis and is mechanically connected to the tread head 41, and the operation of the sensor module 30 in the event of an emergency such as a car crash. The locking unit 42 locks the rotational motion of the treadhead 41 so that the rotation of the spindle 22 is impossible, and the treadhead reduces slack by winding the webbing 21 based on a control signal from the control unit after an emergency occurs. and a rotation unit 43 that rotates 41.

In addition, the emergency tensioning module 40 includes a cover 44 in which the tread head 41, the locking unit 42, and the rotation unit 43 are accommodated and the guide plate 45 disposed inside the cover 44 may further include.

Here, a locking gear 46 is installed at the rear end of the rotating shaft of the trat head 41, and the locking gear 46 is engaged with the connection gear 47 meshed with the spindle gear 221 connected to the spindle 22 to rotate the spindle ( 22) and can be mechanically interlocked and operated.

In addition, the emergency tensioning module 40 includes a first limiter 48 installed on the axis of the spindle 22 and a second limiter providing a lower load smaller than the load provided by the first limiter 48 ( 49) may further include a switching unit 60 for switching to limit a load that unwinds the webbing by selectively using the webbing.

The switching unit 60 includes a first limiter 48 installed on the spindle 22 and a second limiter 49 installed on an axis different from the first limiter 48, so that the occupants can be protected after an emergency of the vehicle. Switching is performed to limit the load for unwinding the webbing using one of the first limiter 48 and the second limiter 49 based on the body weight of the user.

The first limiter 48 may be provided as a high-level load limiter that provides a relatively high load to the spindle 22 when the occupant sitting in the corresponding seat is a relatively heavy male adult.

The second limiter 49 may be provided as a low-level load limiter that applies a relatively small load to the spindle when the occupant is a woman or a child with a relatively light weight.

In detail, the first limiter 48 may be provided as a torsion bar having a substantially circular cross section. At the front and rear ends of the first limiter 48, a first gear unit 481 having a plurality of teeth formed so as to be inserted into a plurality of first guide grooves formed inside the spindle 22 and engaged with each other, and a spindle gear 221 and A meshing second gear unit 482 may be formed.

The second gear unit 482 may be coupled to the spindle cover 222 coupled to the open rear surface of the spindle 22 , and the spindle cover 222 may be coupled to the spindle gear 221 .

The second limiter 49 is provided as a torsion bar having a substantially circular cross section, and may have a smaller diameter than that of the first limiter 48 and have smaller torsion than the torsion of the first limiter 48 .

This second limiter 49 may be inserted into an inner tube provided in the switch unit 60 .

At the front and rear ends of the second limiter 49, a third gear part 491 having a plurality of teeth formed so as to be inserted into a plurality of locking grooves formed inside the outer tube of the switch unit 60 and engaged with each other, and A fourth gear unit 492 having a plurality of teeth may be formed so as to be inserted into a plurality of locking grooves formed therein and engaged with each other.

The first limiter 48 and the second limiter 49 are installed side by side along the front and rear directions in the same manner as the spindle 22, respectively.

After the switch unit 60 winds the webbing by rotating the spindle 22 by the tensioning unit 43, the webbing 21 is selectively used by torsion of the first limiter 48 and the second limiter 49. ) can be switched to regulate the load that releases it. Accordingly, the switch unit 60 can adjust the amount of movement of the webbing 21 and the load acting on the passenger's shoulder by the webbing 21 .

As described above, the present invention uses the emergency tensioning module to smoothly withdraw the webbing during normal driving of the vehicle, and in the event of an emergency of the vehicle, the webbing is wound using the emergency tensioning module to reduce the slack, and then the webbing is released again so that the occupants It can reduce the load acting on the shoulder part of the

In addition, according to the present invention, the first and second limiters can be selectively used according to the weight of the occupant to adjust the load acting on the shoulder of the occupant and the movement amount of the webbing.

That is, according to the present invention, in the case of a woman or a child occupant having a smaller weight than an adult male, the load acting on the shoulder portion of the occupant can be reduced and the movement amount of the webbing can be increased by switching to use the second limiter.

In addition, according to the present invention, the front and rear width of the seat belt retractor can be minimized by installing the first and second limiters side by side on different axes.

Next, the configuration of the pre-tensioning module will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 .

6 is a perspective view of the pre-tensioning module, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the pre-tensioning module shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C′ shown in FIG. And Figure 9 is a view showing the operating state of the pre-tensioning module.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 , the pre-tensioning module 50 includes a drive motor 51 that generates rotational force to wind or unwind the webbing 21 and a drive motor depending on whether or not the webbing 21 is wound ( and a power transmission unit 52 for selectively transmitting or blocking the rotational force generated in 51) to the spindle 22.

The driving motor 51 and the power transmission unit 52 may be installed inside separate casings.

The drive motor 51 may rotate in a forward or reverse direction according to a control signal from a control unit provided in the vehicle.

For example, the control unit generates a control signal to rotate the drive motor 51 in one direction in order to smoothly withdraw the webbing 21 during normal driving of the vehicle, and to wind the webbing 21 immediately before an emergency occurs. A control signal may be generated to rotate the driving motor 51 in the opposite direction.

The drive motor 51 may be disposed perpendicular to the direction in which the spindle 22 is disposed above the spindle 22 , that is, along the left and right directions, perpendicular to the spindle 22 .

As described above, as the present invention arranges the drive motor along the left and right directions orthogonal to the spindle, even if the diameter or length of the drive motor increases to increase the capacity of the drive motor, the effect on the width of the seat belt retractor in the front and rear direction can be removed.

An output shaft of the driving motor 51 and a driving gear 511 installed on the output shaft may be disposed at a left end of the driving motor 51 .

The power transmission unit 52 transmits the rotational force generated by the drive motor 51 to the spindle 22 so that the webbing 21 can be wound or drawn out, and when the pre-tensioning module 50 is not operating, the webbing 21 It performs a clutch on/off function to block the rotational force of the drive motor 51 so that it can be drawn out smoothly.

In detail, the power transmission unit 52 is disposed parallel to the top of the spindle 22 along the same direction as the spindle 22 and transmits or blocks rotational force according to the rotation direction of the drive motor 51. (53) and a transmission gear (54) for transmitting rotational force transmitted from the clutch unit (53) to the spindle (22).

The clutch unit 53 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with an open front and includes a housing 81 rotated by the rotational force of the driving motor 51, a shaft 82 disposed inside the housing 81, and a shaft 82. It may include a travel gear 83 linearly reciprocating by a rotational motion and a head 84 engaged with the travel gear 83 to receive rotational force.

In addition, the power transmission unit 52 is engaged with the driving gear 511 and the head gear 841 installed at the rear end of the first connection gear 55 and the head 84 that transmits rotational force to the housing 81 and A meshing second connection gear 56 may be further included.

A space in which the shaft 82, the travel gear 83, and the head 84 are installed is formed inside the housing 81, and a cover 85 may be coupled to the front surface of the open housing 81.

The cover 85 may be formed in a substantially disk shape and coupled to the front end of the housing 81 using one or more coupling protrusions.

To this end, one or more coupling grooves to which one or more coupling protrusions are coupled may be formed at the front end of the housing 81 .

A housing gear 811 having a plurality of teeth may be provided on an outer circumferential surface of the housing 81 to receive rotational force from the first connection gear 55 . Thus, the housing 81 may rotate by receiving rotational force generated from the drive motor 51 through the first connection gear 55 .

In addition, a plurality of ribs 812 on the inner circumferential surface of the housing 81 are engaged with a plurality of locking portions 833 of the travel gear 83 to be described below so that the rotational force of the housing 81 can be transmitted to the travel gear 83 may protrude.

The plurality of ribs 812 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of the housing 81, that is, in the front-back direction, and may be formed side by side.

The shaft 82 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and may be coupled through the inside of the housing 81 in the forward and backward directions. That is, the front end of the shaft 82 is coupled to the cover 85, and the head 84 is rotatably coupled to the rear end of the shaft 82.

A plurality of threads 821 are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 82 to be screwed with the travel gear 83, and the head 83 is prevented from moving forward on the rear side of the plurality of threads 821. A step 822 for fixing the position of may be formed.

The travel gear 83 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with front and rear openings so that the shaft can be coupled therein, and a plurality of threads 821 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 82 on the inner circumferential surface of the travel gear 83 A plurality of screw threads 831 corresponding to may be formed. So, as shown in FIG. 8 , the travel gear 83 rectilinearly reciprocates along the forward and backward directions according to the rotational direction of the shaft 82 inside the housing 81 .

The travel gear 83 is engaged with the head 84 by linear reciprocating motion to transmit the rotational force of the housing 81 to the head 84, and is separated from the head 84 to block the rotational force transmitted to the head 84. function to

To this end, a first connection portion 832 and a second connection portion 842 formed with a plurality of teeth may be provided at the rear end of the travel gear 83 and the front end of the head 84 to engage with each other, respectively.

A plurality of protruding protrusions 833 caught on a plurality of ribs 812 formed on an inner circumferential surface of the housing 81 may protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the travel gear 83 .

The head 84 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with an open front, and the rear end of the head 84 transfers the rotational force transmitted while engaged with the travel gear 83 through the second connection gear 56 to the transmission gear 54. ), the shaft on which the headgear 841 is mounted may protrude toward the rear.

Here, an elastic member 86 providing elastic force to the travel gear 83 and the head 84 may be installed in the inner space of the travel gear 83 and the head 84 .

The elastic member 86 may be installed in a space formed inside by coupling the travel gear 83 and the head 84 . The front end of the elastic member 86 may be supported by the screw thread 831 of the travel gear 83, and the rear end of the elastic member 86 may be supported by the front end wall of the head 84.

The elastic member 86 may be fixed so that the travel gear 83 and the head 84 do not move or flow backward and forward, respectively, by using elastic force in normal times.

In addition, the elastic member 86 is elastically deformed to shorten the length when the travel gear 83 moves backward, and provides elastic force when the travel gear 83 moves forward due to the rotation of the housing 81 and the shaft 82, so that the travel The gear 83 can be moved forward toward the initial position.

The first connection gear 55 includes a first gear 551 engaged with the drive gear 511 and a housing gear 811 installed on the same axis as the first gear 551 and formed on the outer circumferential surface of the housing 81 It may include a second gear 552 meshed with.

Here, the drive gear 511 and the first gear 551 may be provided with a worm and a worm gear so as to transmit rotational force in a right angle direction.

The second connection gear 56 includes a third gear 561 having a plurality of teeth meshing with the head gear 841 formed on the outer circumferential surface and a fourth gear 562 having a plurality of teeth meshing with the transmission gear 54 formed on the outer circumferential surface. ) may be included.

The transmission gear 54 is installed on the spindle 22 through the fourth gear unit 562 of the second connection gear 56 and the locking gear 46 and connection gear 47 of the emergency tensioning module 40 Rotational force transmitted through the clutch unit 53 by being engaged with the spindle gear 221 may be transmitted to the spindle 22 .

8 and 9, when the drive motor 51 rotates to one side and the housing 81 of the clutch unit 53 provided in the power transmission unit 52 rotates clockwise (CW) shown in FIG. 9, The travel gear 83 screwed to the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 82 moves backward and engages with the head 84.

In this way, when the housing 81 continuously rotates clockwise in a state in which the travel gear 83 and the head 84 are engaged, the rotational force of the housing 81 and the shaft 82 is applied to the head gear of the head 84 ( 841) and the second connection gear 56 to rotate the transmission gear 54 clockwise.

Through this process, the clutch unit 53 may provide a clutch-on function of transmitting rotational force generated from the drive motor 51 to the spindle 22 .

Meanwhile, when the driving motor 51 rotates in the opposite direction and the housing 81 rotates counterclockwise (CCW), the travel gear 83 moves forward and is separated from the head 84.

When the travel gear 83 and the head 84 are separated in this way, even if the housing 81 continuously rotates counterclockwise, the rotational force of the housing 81 and the shaft 82 is not transmitted to the transmission gear 54 and Blocked.

Through this process, the clutch unit 53 may provide a clutch off function that blocks rotational force generated from the driving motor 51 from being transmitted to the spindle 22 .

Therefore, according to the present invention, a clutch on/off function may be implemented to transfer or block rotational force generated from a driving motor provided in a pre-tensioning module to a spindle.

That is, the present invention may provide a clutch function to transmit or block rotational force generated from a driving motor to the spindle by using a clutch unit disposed along the same direction as the spindle.

Therefore, the present invention can be applied even when the size of the pre-tensioner module in the radial direction is small.

In addition, the present invention can linearly reciprocate the travel gear along the axial direction of the shaft by using a screw thread formed on the shaft.

Meanwhile, the emergency tensioning module 40 is connected to the second gear unit 482 of the first limiter 48 installed on the spindle 22 through a connection gear 47.

Here, when the clutch off state of the pre-tensioning module 50 is not released due to various reasons such as a low-speed collision of a vehicle or a failure of the clutch release function of the power transmission unit 52, the first gear of the first limiter 48 The part 481 is a rotating end that rotates to withdraw the webbing 21 while the spindle 22 rotates as the first limiter 48 is twisted by the operating force caused by the occupant pulling the webbing 21, and , The second gear unit 482 becomes a fixed end that maintains a fixed state regardless of the operating force.

In this way, the present invention connects the clutch function part that transmits or blocks the rotational force of the driving motor depending on whether the pre-tensioning module is operating to the fixed end of the load limiter installed on the spindle, so that the overload acting on the spindle It is possible to block transmission to the shunning module.

Due to this, the present invention can prevent damage to the pre-tensioning module due to overload of the spindle, and accurately perform the load limiting function and the normal function of the seat belt retractor.

Although the invention made by the present inventors has been specifically described according to the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

That is, in the above embodiment, the seat belt retractor has been described as being manufactured by selectively combining a spindle module, a sensor module, an emergency tensioning module, and a pre-tensioning module, but the present invention has additional functions in addition to the above modules. It can also be manufactured by combining modules more selectively.

In the above embodiment, it has been described that the spindle arrangement direction and the webbing withdrawal direction are orthogonal, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and the spindle arrangement direction and the webbing withdrawal direction may vary depending on the surrounding conditions in which the spindle is installed. It may be altered to form a non-rectangular direction, for example an acute or obtuse angle.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the configuration of the seat belt retractor to which the pre-tensioning module is applied has been described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, but the configuration of the seat belt retractor is not necessarily limited thereto, and may be variously changed. may be

The present invention connects the clutch function part, which transmits or blocks the rotational force of the driving motor depending on whether the pre-tensioning module is operating, to the fixed end of the load limiter installed on the spindle. , It is applied to the seat belt retractor technology that blocks the transmission of overload generated in the spindle to the pre-tensioning module.

10: seat belt retractor
11: seat 12: backrest
13: mounting space 14: webbing guide
15: Layout space
20: spindle module 21: webbing
22: spindle 221: spindle gear
222: spindle cover 23: housing
25: withdrawal space 27,28: first and second brackets
29: guide member
30: sensor module
40: emergency tensioning module
41: trad head 42: locking unit
43: rotation unit 44: cover
45: guide plate
46: locking gear 47: connecting gear
48: first limiter 481,482: first and second gear units
49: second limiter
50: pre-tensioning module
51: drive motor 511: drive gear
52: power transmission unit 53: clutch unit
54: transmission gear
55: first connecting gear 551,552: first and second gears
56: second connecting gear 561,562: third and fourth gears
60: switching unit
81: housing 811: housing gear
812: rib
82: shaft 821: thread
822: step
83: travel gear 831: screw thread
832: first connection part 833: obstacle part
84: Head 841: Headgear
842: second connection
85: cover 86: elastic member

Claims (7)

A spindle module including a seat belt webbing (hereinafter referred to as 'webbing') and a spindle on which the webbing is wound on an outer surface,
An emergency tensioning module that reduces slack by winding webbing in the event of a vehicle emergency, and
Includes a pre-tensioning module that reduces slack by withdrawing the webbing during normal driving of the vehicle and winding the webbing right before an emergency occurs,
The emergency tensioning module and the pre-tensioning module are overload acting on the spindle to rotate the rotating end of the load limiter installed on the spindle when the clutch release function that transmits or blocks the rotational force of the pre-tensioning module to the spindle is abnormal is connected to a fixed end opposite to the rotating end of the load limiter so as to block transmission of to the pre-tensioning module;
The pre-tensioning module includes a drive motor generating rotational force to wind or unwind the webbing on the spindle;
And a power transmission unit for selectively transmitting or blocking the rotational force generated by the driving motor to the spindle depending on whether the webbing is wound,
The power transmission unit is arranged side by side along the same direction as the spindle and transmits or blocks rotational force according to the rotational direction of the drive motor; and
Including a transmission gear for transmitting the rotational force transmitted from the clutch unit to the spindle
Transmission of the rotational force generated by the driving motor to the spindle so that the webbing can be wound or drawn out, and a clutch on/off function of blocking the rotational force of the driving motor,
The clutch unit is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open front and rotates by the rotational force of the driving motor;
A shaft disposed inside the housing,
A travel gear that linearly reciprocates by the rotational motion of the shaft, and
A seat belt retractor comprising a head engaged with the travel gear to receive rotational force. According to claim 1
The spindle is disposed along the front-back direction of the vehicle corresponding to the thickness direction of the backrest in the mounting space formed on the backrest of the seat installed in the vehicle,
The seat belt retractor includes the spindle module, the emergency tensioning module, and the pre-tensioning module.
A sensor module that detects the tilt of the vehicle and the acceleration with which the webbing is pulled out is modularized and manufactured for each functional block,
Seat belt retractor, characterized in that each module is selectively combined with the spindle module. delete According to claim 1,
The power transmission unit meshes with a driving gear installed on the output shaft of the driving motor and transmits rotational force to the housing; and
Further comprising a head gear installed at one end of the head and a second connection gear engaged with the transmission gear to transmit rotational force,
The first connection gear is a third gear meshed with the drive gear and
A seat belt retractor comprising a fourth gear installed on the same axis as the third gear and engaged with a housing gear formed on an outer circumferential surface of the housing. delete According to claim 4,
A first connection part and a second connection part having a plurality of teeth engaged with each other are provided at one end of the travel gear and one end of the head that are coupled to each other,
An elastic member providing an elastic force is installed between the travel gear and the head.
The elastic member fixes the travel gear and the head at an initial position spaced apart from each other, and provides an elastic force so that the travel gear returns to the initial position when the travel gear and the head are separated. . According to claim 4,
A plurality of ribs are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the housing,
A seat belt retractor, characterized in that a plurality of locking portions caught on the plurality of ribs are formed on the inner surface of the travel gear.

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