Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive GmbH
  • LOCKING MECHANISM
    Publication number: 20150298648
    Abstract: A locking mechanism (18) for a belt reel (10) of a belt retractor in a vehicle, including a carrier (22) coupled to the belt reel (10) of the belt retractor, an inertia mass (24) which is pivoting to a limited extent relative to the carrier (22) and a tea spring (28) applying the inertia mass (24) in a home position, includes at each of the carrier (22) and the inertia mass (24) a seat (34, 38) for the spring ends (30, 32) of the leaf spring (28) in which the spring ends (30, 32) of the leaf spring (28) are pivoted to a limited extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Elmar Koch
  • BELT-RETRACTOR HOUSING SHELL
    Publication number: 20150239428
    Abstract: A belt retractor casing shell having a cup-shaped configuration comprises a front wall (14) as well as a circumferential wall (16) extending from the front wall (14), the front wall (14) including an annular zone (44) weakened vis-à-vis the radially inside and/or outside adjacent portion around a center (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Blum, Kai Ulrich Machens, Jens Scholz, Jens Neumann
  • FLUID CONTAINER IN PARTICULAR HYDRAULIC TANK FOR A MOTOR PUMP UNIT
    Publication number: 20150239497
    Abstract: A fluid container, in particular a hydraulic tank for a motor pump unit, has an equalizing chamber that is adapted to contain a supply of fluid and air, and at least one return chamber into which a return flow of the fluid can flow, a fluid communication being provided between the return chamber and the equalizing chamber. The return chamber is provided with a suction port for a pump, in particular of the motor pump unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Moczala, Gilbert Hesmer
  • Ball Joint and Method for Manufacturing a Ball Joint
    Publication number: 20150240865
    Abstract: In a ball joint with a housing, a ball stud which includes a ball head mounted in the housing, and with a sealing bellows which includes a ring-shaped housing-side connecting region, it is provided that at the housing a ring-shaped channel is provided, in which the housing-side connecting region is accommodated, wherein the outer radius of the channel at the channel bottom is greater than the outer radius at the free edge of the channel, and on the housing-side connecting region of the sealing bellows at least one holding element made of a rigid material is provided, which in particular in a top view in longitudinal direction of the ball stud is at least partly covered by the free edge of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Walter, Markus Ortmann, Uwe Forthaus
  • Air bag module comprising an air bag, in particular a side head air bag
    Patent number: 9114774
    Abstract: An air bag module (10) comprises an air bag (12) including a folded package portion (18) and a mounting portion (20). The package portion (18) has a front side (26) and a rear side (28). The rear side (28) is that side which faces a vehicle part on which the air bag (12) is mounted. Additionally provided are a mounting unit (14) which, with an insertion end (46) thereof, extends through the mounting portion (20) and a protective cover (24) partly enclosing the folded package portion (18). In the mounted state, the mounting portion (20) is located on the rear side (28) of the package portion (18). With its insertion end (46), the mounting unit (14) extends away from the package portion (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Heigl, Birnbaum Rolan, Waldemar Schmiss
  • Sensor assembly for motor vehicle steering systems
    Patent number: 9114833
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for motor vehicle steering systems, having a torque sensor for magnetically determining a steering torque, and a rotational angle sensor for magnetically determining an absolute steering angle, precisely one carrier member being provided which has a magnetic coding for determining the steering torque and the absolute steering angle and which is shared by the torque sensor and the rotational angle sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Becker, Bernd Krueger
  • Belt tensioner for a safety belt system
    Patent number: 9096191
    Abstract: The invention relates a belt tensioner (10) for a seat belt system comprising a tensioner tube (42) for receiving and guiding a pressurizing element (44) as well as a separate generator housing (46) for receiving a gas generator (48), wherein a coupling element (50) tightly connecting the generator housing (46) to the tensioner tube (42) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Betz, Dominik Seitzer, Karl Ruediger
  • Tensioner for a seatbelt
    Patent number: 9079564
    Abstract: A tensioner (10) for a seat belt includes a cylinder tube (12), a piston (14) that is movably arranged in the cylinder tube (12), a tension transmission means (24) connected to the piston (14) at a connecting portion (26) for transmitting the movement of the piston (14) to the seat belt, as well as a drive (18) which is adapted to exert a driving force in a tensioning direction A on the piston (14) so as to tension the seat belt. The tensioner (10) moreover includes a return stop which counteracts a displacement of the piston (14) in a direction B opposite to the tensioning direction A. The connecting portion (26) is arranged in the tensioning direction A ahead of the return stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Betz
  • Apparatus for Pressing a Rack Against a Pinion of a Steering Gear Assembly
    Publication number: 20150191197
    Abstract: An apparatus for pressing a rack against a pinion of a steering gear assembly includes a housing, a support yoke slidably guided in the housing along an axis, a bearing element that is fixed to the housing in an axial direction, a first elastic element providing an axial load acting upon the support yoke and the bearing element to urge the support yoke against the rack, a wear-compensating abutment member coacting with the bearing element such that a relative rotation about the axis generates an axial displacement of the abutment member relative to the bearing element, and a separate, second elastic element providing a load acting upon the abutment member in a circumferential direction to urge the abutment member against the support yoke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Lucchi, Luca Tabaglio, Enrico Sarioli
  • Sealing assembly of a ball joint and ball joint
    Patent number: 9068591
    Abstract: A sealing assembly of a ball joint, in particular for a vehicle, comprises a retaining ring which includes a ring axis and a radial ring flange having a flange upper side and an opposed flange lower side, and a sealing element which rests against the flange upper side and against the flange lower side and is exclusively connected to the retaining ring with an interlocking fit, the interlocking fit being configured such that the retaining ring and the sealing element are fixed to each other free of play in the axial and in the radial direction, and the flange upper side having an exposed contact surface for a sealing bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Bernhardt, Andreas Maier, Ulrich Mette, Cengiz Erdogan
  • Vehicle occupant system having an adaptive knee airbag
    Patent number: 9061646
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an inflatable knee airbag (10). The knee airbag (10) includes an airbag sheath (12) and at least one vent hole (18) formed therein. The vent hole (18) is arranged in the upper half of the knee airbag (10) and is provided on a side of the knee airbag (10) facing away from the vehicle occupant which in the operating position of the knee airbag (10) is directly opposed to a fixed component (28) in the vehicle interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Timo Abele, Werner Freisler
  • Diffuser
    Patent number: 9061652
    Abstract: In a diffusor (14) for an inflator (10) of an airbag module including an outer wall (16) that encloses the inflator (10) at least in a discharge area (12) in the circumferential direction, wherein the outer wall (16) has a gap edge (18) extending substantially in the longitudinal direction (L) and is bent open along said gap edge (18) upon activation of the inflator (10) and a discharge direction for the gas is defined, it is provided that gas deflecting elements (24, 26) which influence the discharge direction of the gas discharged from the inflator (10) in the bent-open state of the diffusor (14) are provided at the outer wall (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dominique Acker, Gerd Zischka, Stojan Bogdanovic, Andreas Loos, Jurgen Scherr
  • Device for Pressing a Gear Rack Against a Pinion
    Publication number: 20150166097
    Abstract: A device for pressing a rack against a pinion comprises a housing, a thrust piece which is shiftably guided in the housing along a pressing axis, a bearing element which can axially be fixed at the housing, and radially pressurized wedge members which each rest on the thrust piece and on the bearing element and axially urge the thrust piece away from the bearing element. A truncated coned is formed at least on one of the thrust piece on a side facing the bearing element and the bearing element on a side facing the thrust piece. At least three wedge members are provided which are uniformly distributed in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Device for Pressing a Gear Rack Against a Pinion
    Publication number: 20150166098
    Abstract: A device for pressing a rack against a pinion, comprises a housing, a thrust piece which is shiftably guided in the housing along a pressing axis, a bearing element which can axially be fixed at the housing, an axially pressurized force introduction member, and wedge members which each support on the thrust piece, on the bearing element and on the force introduction member, wherein at least three wedge members uniformly distributed in circumferential direction are provided, and wherein the force introduction member urges the wedge members radially to the outside and the thrust piece axially away from the bearing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Seat belt buckle
    Patent number: 9038250
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat belt buckle (10) comprising a locking mechanism for a plug-in latch and a casing (12) that encloses the locking mechanism and includes an inserting opening (14) for inserting the plug-in latch as well as a release opening (16) in which a release element (20) for releasing the locking mechanism is disposed. There is provided a sealing device (22) for sealing the inserting opening (14), when the plug-in latch is not inserted, and/or the release opening (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Betz, Peter Haas, Andrea Schuech
  • ADAPTIVE KNEE AIRBAG FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT DEVICE
    Publication number: 20150123385
    Abstract: A knee airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint device can adopt a deployed position of use between a fixed vehicle component (12) and the legs (14; 16) of a vehicle occupant. The knee airbag (10) comprises an airbag sheath (18), at least one exhaust orifice (20) formed therein and a control means for selectively releasing the exhaust orifice (20). The control means is disposed inside the knee airbag (10) and is arranged so as to release or block the exhaust orifice (20) depending on the expansion of the knee airbag (10) in a particular direction of expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Timo Abele, Werner Frelsler, Sven Oliver Tamme
  • ASSEMBLY FOR A BELT RETRACTOR
    Publication number: 20150115090
    Abstract: An assembly for a belt retractor includes a vehicle-sensitive sensor and a holding fixture (10) for the sensor. The sensor and the holding fixture (10) have geometric designs that interact and are adjusted to each other so that the sensor can be mounted at various spatial orientations in the holding fixture (10). In a belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprising such assembly the holding fixture (10) is coupled with the sensor at a fixed position to the frame of the belt retractor in which a belt reel of the belt retractor is rotatably supported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Siebeck, Demal Sehic, Julius Adomeit
  • BELT RETRACTOR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY BELT
    Publication number: 20150107924
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt includes a rotatably supported belt reel (12) from which webbing can be unwound, a force limiting means which in a force limiting phase permits controlled webbing extension in the webbing extension direction when the belt reel (12) is blocked and a particular force threshold is exceeded, and a change-over device for carrying out a change-over operation before and/or during the force limiting phase in which it is changed from a first force level to a second force level. The change-over device includes a control means adapted to trigger or inhibit the change-over operation at least in response to the recognition of an installed child safety seat (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Stegmeier
  • Belt retractor
    Patent number: 9010672
    Abstract: A belt retractor has a frame (10), a belt spool (12) that is rotatably mounted in the frame (10), and a force limiter (22) that is adapted to reach a force limiting position. A guide-in mechanism (26) is provided which causes the force limiter (22) to reach the force limiting position as a function of the length of belt webbing withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Nizam Bedak, Oliver Gross, Joachim Biller, Bernd Gentner, Andreas Henning
  • METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR OF A POWER STEERING SYSTEM, AND POWER STEERING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20150096826
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor of a power steering system having at least three windings is described, wherein a control unit applies a current to the windings of the electric motor to generate a total torque having a value which is ascertained by the control unit from a set-point torque for steering assistance and a set-point torque for damping. A damping set-point circuit ascertains the set-point torque for damping and a steering assist set-point circuit ascertains the set-point torque for steering assistance. A monitoring circuit monitors the function of the windings of the electric motor. In the event of a malfunction of any of the windings, the monitoring circuit outputs an error signal, upon which the set-point torque for steering assistance is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Eden, Keiwan Kashi, Timothy Sworn, Chris Mantjios