Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive GmbH
  • Belt retractor for a safety belt system and method of determining the belt webbing unwinding in a belt retractor
    Patent number: 7992817
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a safety belt system includes a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, a force limiter, a locking mechanism which couples the belt reel in a restraint case to the frame via the force limiter, and a belt webbing unwinding measuring means which includes a signal transmitter and at least one sensor. The sensor is associated with the signal transmitter and detects a change in a magnetic field. At least upon activation of the locking mechanism the signal transmitter is coupled to the belt reel such that it generates a signal upon rotation of the belt reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Artur Klein, Michael Stuetz
  • METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A BALL JOINT, AND A BALL JOINT
    Publication number: 20110170944
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a ball joint, in which a cover is electrically welded to a housing, the cover or the housing having at least one spacer which keeps the cover at an excessively great distance from the housing before welding, and in which then the current flowing during welding is controlled or regulated in such a way that the at least one spacer melts by a predetermined amount so that the cover is mounted in a prestressed manner on the housing. The invention further relates to a ball joint with a housing, a link pin, a bearing box and a cover which braces the bearing box in the housing, the cover being provided with at least one spacer which is welded electrically to the housing so that its height has reduced to a predetermined extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Hans-Gerd Oellers
  • Power steering system hydraulic pump
    Patent number: 7972126
    Abstract: A power steering system hydraulic pump has a pump component which is to be sealed and a first pump cover. A flat sealing element is provided between the pump component which is to be sealed and the first pump cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Jordan
  • Belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt
    Patent number: 7963474
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt has a frame, a belt spool for the safety belt which is rotatably arranged in the frame, a locking disc which is arranged on the belt spool and is connected therewith through an energy absorption element, and a blocking mechanism which allows to block the locking disc against a rotation in the unwinding direction of the safety belt in the frame. A detent is provided which is movably arranged in the belt spool and can prevent a rotation of the locking disc relative to the belt spool as a function of its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Blum, Bernd Gentner, Thomas Kielwein
  • Air bag module including a gas distributing member
    Patent number: 7963556
    Abstract: An air bag module (10) comprises an air bag (12), an inflator (14) and a gas distributing member (16) for distributing the gas escaping from the inflator (14) into different directions of flow. The gas distributing member (16) is configured so that it is deformed by the pressure exerted by the escaping gas such that thereby the distribution of the gas to the different directions of flow is influenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignees: TRW Automotive GmbH, Dalphimetal Espana S.A.
    Inventors: Andreas Loos, Dominique Acker, René Del Valle Alonso
  • Vehicle occupant protection device
    Patent number: 7926841
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device has a large-area, inflatable gas bag which includes a gas bag wall having an impact surface for the occupant and which has a non-inflatable portion. The non-inflatable portion is provided with at least one elongated opening which can expand and therefore permits a movement of the impact surface upon impact of the occupant and prevents the latter from slipping off from the gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Heigl, Steffen Rothweiler, Marco Stix, Steffen Wanner
  • Occupant protection device on the passenger side
    Patent number: 7914041
    Abstract: An occupant protection device on a passenger side of a vehicle includes a gas bag (16) having a front wall (18) facing an interior of the vehicle. The occupant protection device further includes a tether strap (26) arranged inside the gas bag (16). The tether strap (26) has a first fastening section (32) and an elongated second fastening section (40). The first and second fastening sections (32, 40) are fastened to the front wall (18) of the gas bag (16). The second fastening section (40) extends substantially vertically in an unfolded state of the gas bag (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Bernd Issler
  • Belt retractor for a safety belt system and method to determine a belt webbing withdrawal in a belt retractor
    Patent number: 7891596
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a safety belt system has a belt spool and a belt webbing withdrawal measurement arrangement, which has a control disk, a magnetic sensor element and a magnetic cogwheel driven by the control disk and constructed as a separate part. In addition, a method is described to determine the belt webbing withdrawal in a belt retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Michael Stuetz, Marc Arndt
  • Belt tensioner for a seatbelt system
    Patent number: 7887095
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a safety belt system includes a pinion (16) rotatably mounted in a housing (12), a drive unit (26), and a toothed rack (18) whose toothing (20) is directly engaged or enters into direct engagement with the pinion (16) and which can be driven by means of the drive unit (26). The toothed rack (18) has the shape of a circular arc and moves on a circular path (K) upon activation of the drive unit (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Bieg, Michael Vogeltanz, Wolf-Dieter Hönl, Thomas Mödinger, Tanja Rau
  • Sliding carriage for a height adjuster of a safety belt system
    Patent number: 7866701
    Abstract: A sliding carriage for a height adjuster of a safety belt system has a carrier plate and an attachment structure for a deflector fitting, the attachment structure being made in one piece with the carrier plate. The carrier plate includes a bending portion in which the carrier plate becomes bent when a predetermined force acting on the deflector fitting is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Hersacher, Frank Ramsak
  • Belt retractor
    Patent number: 7850112
    Abstract: A belt retractor (10) includes a frame (12), a belt spool (14) being rotatably supported in the frame (12), a locking disc (16) being rotatably mounted on the belt spool (14), a load limiting element (18) being effective between the belt spool (14) and the locking disc (16), a holding element (20) being able to hold the locking disc (16) relative to the belt spool (14) so as to be locked against relative rotation, and a drive element (22) for the belt spool (14), the drive element (22) being rotatable to a limited extent relative to the belt spool (14) between an initial position in which the drive element (22) ensures that the holding element (20) holds the locking disc (16) relative to the belt spool (14) so as to be locked against relative rotation, and a release position in which the drive element (22) ensures that the holding element (20) frees the locking disc (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Braun, Volker Holzapfel
  • Belt retractor for a safety belt system
    Patent number: 7850111
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a safety belt system has a frame (2), a belt reel (4) rotatably mounted in the frame (2) for receiving a belt webbing, a reversible belt tensioning unit with a motor (8), an irreversible belt tensioning unit, and a coupling mechanism, by means of which the reversible belt tensioning unit can be coupled to the belt reel (4) and which can be deactivated and reactivated, the coupling mechanism being deactivated when the irreversible belt tensioning unit is activated and the coupling mechanism being reactivated after termination of the irreversible belt tensioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Prokscha, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Torque sensor for a steering wheel
    Patent number: 7793556
    Abstract: A torque sensor for a steering wheel with a center axis has an input member, an output member, the input and output members being rotatable about the common center axis, and a spring member that is arranged in a flow of force between the input member and the output member, the spring member is configured as a flat spring member extending in a plane perpendicular to the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Engel, Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Gas bag module
    Patent number: 7789421
    Abstract: A gas bag module includes a module housing (18), a gas bag (24) having a gas bag wall (26), a discharge opening (20) which can be closed by a closure device (22), and a limiting strap (28), the limiting strap (28) being coupled with the gas bag wall (26) and the closure device (22). The limiting strap (28) is tensioned in case of an unimpeded unfolding of the gas bag (24) such that the closure device (22) closes the discharge opening (20), and the limiting strap (28) is guided along the gas bag wall (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Issler, Daniele Aranzulla, Juergen Schmid
  • Vehicle occupant restraint system
    Patent number: 7784823
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system has a side gas bag which is arranged folded along a roof frame of a vehicle. The side gas bag is configured such that in an inflated condition a front inflatable section at a front end of the side gas bag projects further into the vehicle interior than an inflatable portion adjoining the front inflatable section in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Heigl, Anton Fischer
  • Ball joint
    Patent number: 7785029
    Abstract: A ball joint, particularly an axial joint, having a housing, a bearing shell which is arranged in the housing, and a ball pin with a ball head which is arranged in the bearing shell, is characterized in that the bearing shell is bent open elastically by the ball head so that the restoring force resulting from its deformation applies a prestress onto the ball head which attempts to press the latter out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Schaumann
  • Steering gear
    Patent number: 7784804
    Abstract: A steering gear for a rack and pinion steering system, including a housing in which a steering rack is guided for displacement along its axis, has an auxiliary support which is located at an axial end of the housing, the auxiliary support limiting a bending of the steering rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Markus Beiss, Thomas Klein
  • Gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system
    Patent number: 7784826
    Abstract: A gas bag module (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a housing with a gas generator support (17) and a covering (26). The housing consists at least partly of a thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer is foamed using a physical or chemical foaming agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Haertel, Klaus Bernhard, Bernd Issler, Uli Vielhuber, Winfried Grauer
  • Vehicle occupant restraint device comprising a gas bag
    Patent number: 7766374
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device has a gas bag module with a housing and a gas bag having a free exit end, the gas bag moving into its fully deployed position with the free exit end first. At least one control element is provided which engages the gas bag and forces the gas bag to extend generally in an arc shape from the housing up to the free exit end in the deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Timo Abele, Werner Freisler
  • Insert tongue for a safety belt buckle
    Patent number: 7761960
    Abstract: An insert tongue (10) for a safety belt buckle includes an insert section (12) which is intended to be inserted into the belt buckle and a safety belt section (14) which has a slot for receiving the safety belt (5). The safety belt section (14) generally extends in the extension of the insert section (12) and the slot extends at an angle of less than 25° relative to a plane defined by the insert section (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Herbert Feile