Patents by Inventor Martin Röhrle

Martin Röhrle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11027695
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged within the frame, a blocking mechanism (18) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10), and a load limiter (14) which is detachably coupled to the belt reel (12), characterized in that for coupling the load limiter (14) at least one load-transmitting bar (28) is used which is arranged at the belt reel (12) and is retained in a coupling position by a support ring (32), wherein the support ring (32) can be moved from a supporting position to a release position by means of an actor (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Daeuber, Stefan Eisele, Martin Roehrle
  • Patent number: 10940827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged within the frame (10), a blocking mechanism (18) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10), and a load limiter which comprises a corrugated disk (36), characterized in that the corrugated disk (36) is disposed between the belt reel (12) and a cover (38) which is laterally attached to the belt reel (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Daeuber, Stefan Eisele, Michael Sautter, Ralph Stegmaier, Martin Roehrle
  • Patent number: 10919487
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (70) for releasing a load limiter (14) of a belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt, comprising a case (72) which is adapted to be attached to a frame (10) of the belt retractor and includes a seat (82) in which a pyrotechnical actor (80) is arranged, characterized in that a retaining clip (90) for locking the actor (80) within the seat (82) is attached to the case (72). The invention further relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably supported in the frame, a load limiter (14) which is detachably connected to the belt reel (12) and an actuator (70) of the afore-mentioned type, characterized in that the retaining clip (90) bears on the frame (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Daeuber, Stefan Eisele, Martin Roehrle
  • Publication number: 20190118763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged within the frame (10), a blocking mechanism (18) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10), and a load limiter which comprises a corrugated disk (36), characterized in that the corrugated disk (36) is disposed between the belt reel (12) and a cover (38) which is laterally attached to the belt reel (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Markus Daeuber, Stefan Eisele, Michael Sautter, Ralph Stegmaier, Martin Roehrle
  • Publication number: 20190111888
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged within the frame, a blocking mechanism (18) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10), and a load limiter (14) which is detachably coupled to the belt reel (12), characterized in that for coupling the load limiter (14) at least one load-transmitting bar (28) is used which is arranged at the belt reel (12) and is retained in a coupling position by a support ring (32), wherein the support ring (32) can be moved from a supporting position to a release position by means of an actor (70).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Markus Daeuber, Stefan Eisele, Martin Roehrle
  • Publication number: 20190054894
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (70) for releasing a load limiter (14) of a belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt, comprising a case (72) which is adapted to be attached to a frame (10) of the belt retractor and includes a seat (82) in which a pyrotechnical actor (80) is arranged, characterized in that a retaining clip (90) for locking the actor (80) within the seat (82) is attached to the case (72). The invention further relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably supported in the frame, a load limiter (14) which is detachably connected to the belt reel (12) and an actuator (70) of the afore-mentioned type, characterized in that the retaining clip (90) bears on the frame (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Markus Daeuber, Stefan Eisele, Martin Roehrle
  • Patent number: 9751494
    Abstract: A force limiting device for a belt retractor is reversible from a higher restraining force level to a lower restraining force level by means of a reversing means during a force limiting phase, wherein the second restraining force level is largely determined by a performance of at least one force limiting element. The reversing means is arranged so that it accomplishes a significant work share upon reversing which is added to the performance of the force limiting element and thus temporarily increases the restraining force of the force limiting device. In this manner undershooting of the characteristic line of the force limiting device upon reversing to the lower restraining force level is compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Roehrle
  • Patent number: 8814074
    Abstract: A belt retractor (10) comprising a frame, a belt reel, a first force limiting means (30) coupled to the belt reel and a second force limiting means (32), wherein the second force limiting means (32) can be locked and the first force limiting means (30) is arranged functionally in series with the second force limiting means (32), is characterized in that the second force limiting means (32) includes a deformation element (52) and at least one deforming member (26, 54) fixed to the frame, the deformation element (52) being adapted to be rotated relative to the deforming member (26, 54) when the second force limiting means (32) is activated, whereby the deformation element (52) is deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Moedinger, Martin Roehrle, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Publication number: 20130248633
    Abstract: A force limiting device for a belt retractor is reversible from a higher restraining force level to a lower restraining force level by means of a reversing means during a force limiting phase, wherein the second restraining force level is largely determined by a performance of at least one force limiting element. The reversing means is arranged so that it accomplishes a significant work share upon reversing which is added to the performance of the force limiting element and thus temporarily increases the restraining force of the force limiting device. In this manner undershooting of the characteristic line of the force limiting device upon reversing to the lower restraining force level is compensated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Roehrle
  • Publication number: 20100155519
    Abstract: A belt retractor (10) comprising a frame, a belt reel, a first force limiting means (30) coupled to the belt reel and a second force limiting means (32), wherein the second force limiting means (32) can be locked and the first force limiting means (30) is arranged functionally in series with the second force limiting means (32), is characterized in that the second force limiting means (32) includes a deformation element (52) and at least one deforming member (26, 54) fixed to the frame, the deformation element (52) being adapted to be rotated relative to the deforming member (26, 54) when the second force limiting means (32) is activated, whereby the deformation element (52) is deformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Moedinger, Martin Roehrle, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Patent number: 7651136
    Abstract: A force limiter for a vehicle safety belt includes a shaft and at least one metal strap, one end of which is attached to the shaft and which supports on a strap accommodation ring radially outside of the shaft. The distance between the strap accommodation ring and the shaft is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Martin Roehrle
  • Publication number: 20060279076
    Abstract: A force limiter for a vehicle safety belt includes a shaft and at least one metal strap, one end of which is attached to the shaft and which supports on a strap accommodation ring radially outside of the shaft. The distance between the strap accommodation ring and the shaft is variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Kielwein, Martin Roehrle
  • Patent number: 6926221
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, and an energy converter coil having at least one metal strip. The energy converter coil has a plurality of metal strips which are disposed symmetrically with respect to the middle axis of the belt reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Röhrle, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Publication number: 20050127228
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a frame, a belt reel, a locking pawl which can be caused to engage in a locking toothing to block the belt reel from rotating in the frame, and a control mechanism by which the locking pawl in a vehicle-sensitive and/or belt-sensitive manner can be caused to engage in the locking toothing. The control mechanism has an inertial disk and a cam disk which are coupled to the locking pawl independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Martin Roehrle
  • Patent number: 6550112
    Abstract: A closure for a seat belt comprises a release button shiftably mounted on a frame and cooperating with a latch which can be swiveled between a locking position and an opening position around a swiveling axis, and a blocking element that can assume a blocking position in which it blocks the latch in the locking position. The blocking element is mounted on the frame so as to pivot around an axis that passes through a center of gravity of the blocking element, so that it can be swiveled by the release button out of the blocking position into a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignees: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG, TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Röhrle, Bob McFalls
  • Patent number: 6216972
    Abstract: A device for force limitation with an annular housing in which a guide path is formed, comprises a carrier arranged inside the housing concentrically therewith, which is rotatable relative to the housing, and a traction means which is secured on the carrier, extends along a part of its length in the guide path and can be withdrawn from the guide path by rotation of the carrier relative to the housing and can be wound onto the the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Röhrle