A webbing retractor is provided with a first variable resistor detecting a moving amount of an inner end of a spiral spring biasing a webbing takeup shaft in a direction of webbing winding, a second variable resistor detecting a moving amount of an outer end of the spiral spring and a drive control
A webbing retractor is provided with a first variable resistor detecting a moving amount of an inner end of a spiral spring biasing a webbing takeup shaft in a direction of webbing winding, a second variable resistor detecting a moving amount of an outer end of the spiral spring and a drive control unit controlling a motor to move the outer end of the spiral spring in the direction of webbing winding or in a direction of webbing unwinding in response to signals outputted from the first and the second variable resistors. Accordingly, a tension of a webbing can be made comfortable for an occupant of a vehicle.
대표청구항▼
1. A webbing retractor adapted for use in a seatbelt system for restraining an occupant of a vehicle by an occupant restraining webbing, which comprises: (a) a resilient member, one end thereof being secured to a webbing takeup shaft secured with one end of the webbing, for biasing the takeup sha
1. A webbing retractor adapted for use in a seatbelt system for restraining an occupant of a vehicle by an occupant restraining webbing, which comprises: (a) a resilient member, one end thereof being secured to a webbing takeup shaft secured with one end of the webbing, for biasing the takeup shaft in a direction of webbing winding; (b) an actuator for moving the other end of the resilient member in the direction of webbing winding or in the direction of webbing unwinding; (c) a first moving amount detector for detecting a moving amount of the one end of the resilient member; (d) a second moving amount detector for detecting a moving amount of the other end of the resilient member; and (e) drive control means connected to the actuator, for controlling the actuator to move the other end of the resilient member in the direction of webbing winding or webbing unwinding in response to a first detected value detected by the first moving amount detector and a second detected value detected by the second moving amount detector, whereby a tension of the webbing can be made proper when the occupant wears the webbing. 2. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first moving amount detector is a first variable resistor having a shaft connected to the takeup shaft to be rotated therewith so that a resistance value of the first variable resistor is changed and the change of the resistance value is transmitted to the drive control means as a first signal. 3. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second moving amount detector is a second variable resistor having a shaft connected to the other end of the resilient member to be rotated therewith so that a resistance value of the variable resistor is changed and the change of the resistance value is transmitted to the drive control means as a second signal. 4. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises a motor and a case for covering the resilient member rotatably supported on the takeup shaft and secured with the other end of the resilient member, a rotation of the motor being transmitted to the case through a worm gear so that the other end of the resilient member is moved in the directions of webbing winding and webbing unwinding. 5. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 4, wherein the shaft of the first variable resistor is fixed at its distal end portion with a first gear wheel which is engaged with a second gear wheel fixed to a distal end portion of the takeup shaft coaxially therewith, whereby the shaft of the first variable resistor is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the takeup shaft. 6. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 5, wherein the shaft of the second variable resistor is fixed at its distal end portion with a third gear wheel which is engaged with a fourth gear wheel provided on an outer periphery of the case, whereby the shaft of the second variable resistor is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the case. 7. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 6, wherein the drive control means comprises a microcomputer receiving the first signal and the second signal and circuit means receiving a third signal in response to the first and second signal from the microcomputer to rotate the motor in the direction of webbing winding or unwinding, whereby when the occupant is restrained by the webbing the tension of the webbing can be kept low so that the occupant can be put in a comfortable situation and when the webbing is stored completely in the webbing retractor the tension of the webbing can be made substantially zero so that the webbing can be unwound from the webbing retractor with a small unwinding force of the occupant. 8. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 7, which further comprises a buckle switch outputting a fourth signal to the microcomputer in accordance with a latching operation of a tongue plate secured to the other end of the webbing to a buckle device mounted on a vehicle body, the microcomputer controlling the motor to rotate the other end of the resilient means through the circuit means in the direction of webbing unwinding when the tongue plate is released from the buckle device, whereby the biasing force of the resilient means is strengthened so that the webbing is wound in the webbing retractor rapidly. 9. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises an inertia locking mechanism for preventing the takeup shaft from rotation in the direction of the webbing unwinding when the vehicle is in an emergency situation. 10. A webbing retractor adapted for use in a seatbelt system for restraining an occupant of a vehicle by an occupant restraining webbing, which comprises: (a) a spiral spring, an inner end thereof being secured to a webbing takeup shaft secured with one end of the webbing, for biasing the takeup shaft in a direction of a webbing winding; (b) a case for covering the spiral spring, supported rotatably on the takeup shaft and secured with an outer end of the spiral spring; (c) a motor connected to the case, for rotating the case in the direction of webbing winding or in a direction of webbing unwinding; (d) a first moving amount detector for detecting a moving amount of the inner end of the spiral spring; (e) a second moving amount detector for detecting a moving amount of the outer end of the spiral spring; and (f) a drive control unit connected to the motor, for controlling the motor to move the outer end of the spiral spring in the directions of webbing winding or webbing unwinding in response to a first output signal of the first moving amount detector and a second output signal of the second moving amount detector, whereby a tension of the webbing can be made proper when the occupant wears the webbing. 11. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first moving amount detector is a first variable resistor having a shaft connected to the takeup shaft to be rotated therewith so that a resistance value of the first variable resistor is changed and the change of the resistance value is outputted to the drive control unit as the first output signal. 12. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second moving amount detector is a second variable resistor having a shaft connected to the cover to be rotated in accordance with a rotation of the cover so that a resistance value of the variable resistor is changed and the change of the resistance value is outputted to the drive control unit as the second output signal. 13. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 12, wherein the shaft of the first variable resistor is fixed at its distal end, coaxially with the case, with a first gear wheel which is engaged with a second gear wheel fixed to a distal end of the takeup shaft, whereby a rotation of the takeup shaft is transmitted to the first variable resistor. 14. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 13, wherein the shaft of the second variable resistor is fixed at its distal end with a third gear wheel which is engaged with a fourth gear wheel provided on an outer periphery of the case, whereby a rotation of the case is transmitted to the shaft of the second variable resistor. 15. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 14, wherein the motor is connected at its drive shaft to a worm engaged with a worm wheel provided on an outer periphery of the case, whereby a rotation of the drive shaft of the motor is transmitted to the case so that the outer end of the spiral spring is moved in the direction of webbing winding or webbing unwinding. 16. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 15, wherein the drive control unit comprises a microcomputer receiving the first output signal and the second output signal and circuit means receiving a third output signal outputted from the microcomputer in response to the first and the second output signals to rotate the drive shaft of the motor in the direction of webbing winding or webbing unwinding, whereby when the occupant is restrained by the webbing the tension of the webbing can be kept low so that the occupant can be put in a comfortable situation, and when the webbing is stored completely in the webbing retractor the tension of the webbing can be made substantially zero so that the webbing can be unwound from the webbing retractor with a small unwinding force of the occupant. 17. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises a buckle switch outputting a fourth output signal to the microcomputer in accordance with a latching operation of a tongue plate secured to the other end of the webbing to a buckle device mounted on a vehicle body, the microcomputer controlling the drive shaft of the motor to rotate the case through the circuit means in the direction of webbing winding when the tongue plate is released from the buckle device, whereby the biasing force of the spiral spring is strengthened so that the webbing is wound in the webbing retractor rapidly. 18. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 17, which further comprises an inertia locking mechanism for preventing the takeup shaft from rotation in the direction of webbing unwinding when the vehicle is in an emergency situation. 19. A webbing retractor retracting an occupant restraining webbing therein, adapted for use in a seatbelt system for restraining an occupant of a vehicle by the webbing, which comprises: (a) a frame fixed to a vehicle body; (b) a webbing takeup shaft rotatably supported at both its end portions to the frame for winding the webbing thereon; (c) a spiral spring, an inner end thereof being secured to the takeup shaft, for biasing the takeup shaft in a direction of webbing winding; (d) a case for covering the spiral spring, supported rotatably to the takeup shaft and secured with an outer end of the spiral spring; (e) a motor connected to the case, for rotating the case in the direction of webbing winding or in a direction of webbing unwinding; (f) a first variable resistor having a shaft connected to the takeup shaft to be rotated therewith for outputting a first signal showing a change of a resistance value of the first variable resistor due to the rotation of the second variable resistor; (g) a second variable resistor having a shaft connected to the cover to be rotated in accordance with a rotation thereof, for outputting a second signal showing a change of a resistance value of the second variable resistor due to the rotation of the first variable resistor; and (f) a drive control unit connected to the motor, for controlling the motor to move the case in the direction of webbing winding or webbing unwinding in response to the first signal and the second signal, whereby a tension of the webbing can be made proper when the occupant wears the webbing. 20. A webbing retractor as set forth in claim 19, which further comprises an inertial locking mechanism for preventing the takeup shaft from rotation in the direction of webbing unwinding when the vehicle is in an emergency situation.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Steinmann Helmut (Baden-Baden DT), Automatic safety belt system, particularly for vehicular, especially automotive use.
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