Gerald W Keller

US Patent:

6902227, Jun 7, 2005

Filed:

Mar 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/390086

Inventors:

Gerald J. Keller - Shelby Township MI, US

Assignee:

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT

International Classification:

B60R021/02
B62D025/04
B62D027/00

US Classification:

29618705, 29620303, 29619306

Abstract:

An energy absorber for protecting the occupants of a vehicle. The energy absorber includes an interior portion and a first contact surface at least partially surrounding the interior portion. The first contact surface is attachable to a structural member of the vehicle. The energy absorber also includes at least one hollow cavity extending through the interior portion in a direction substantially parallel to the first contact surface. During a vehicle collision, the first contact surface absorbs energy from occupant impact with an interior trim piece by deforming into the hollow cavity.

US Patent:

6916045, Jul 12, 2005

Filed:

Aug 20, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/643865

Inventors:

Gerald J. Keller - Shelby Township MI, US
Brian Blackburn - Rochester MI, US

Assignee:

Key Safety Systems, Inc. - Sterling Heights MI

International Classification:

B60R022/28

US Classification:

280805, 280807, 2423791

Abstract:

A seat belt load limiter employs a magnetostrictive sensor to detect the elastic loading and plastic deformation of a torsion rod forming part of a seat belt retractor. A magnet and a coil are placed about or adjacent to the torsion rod. When the torsion rod undergoes elastic or plastic strain, an electrical voltage is induced in the coil which is used to detect elastic or plastic strain of the torsion rod. A vehicle safety system uses the output of the magnetostrictive sensor to inform the vehicle operator when the seat belt load limiter is in need of replacement. The output of the magnetostrictive sensor as processed by the vehicle safety system can also be used to detect a situation where the seat occupant is not restrained by the seat belt and to make an airbag deployment decision.

US Patent:

7410113, Aug 12, 2008

Filed:

Dec 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/008307

Inventors:

Gerald Keller - Shelby Township MI, US
Lloyd Snyder - Oxford MI, US

Assignee:

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT

International Classification:

B60R 22/28
B65H 75/48

US Classification:

2423791, 242382, 2423825, 280805, 297470, 297471, 297472, 267273, 267154

Abstract:

A seatbelt retractor is disclosed. The seatbelt retractor has a frame, a spindle, a seatbelt webbing and torsion bar. The frame is attached to a structure of a road vehicle. The spindle is rotatably supported by the frame. The seatbelt webbing is wound about the spindle for retraction there to and protraction there from. The torsion bar is fixedly coupled to the spindle for rotation therewith, the torsion bar has a first torsion portion mechanically coupled or press-fitted into a second torsion portion.

US Patent:

7954854, Jun 7, 2011

Filed:

Jul 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/173608

Inventors:

Gerald J. Keller - Shelby Township MI, US
Kurt W. Schulz - Romeo MI, US

Assignee:

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT

International Classification:

B65H 75/48

US Classification:

280807, 2423791

Abstract:

A torsion bar, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an elongated bar has a first end, a second end, and a mid-section between the first and second ends. The first end of the elongated bar has a material void. The first end preferably has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the mid-section. In one design, the material void is a slot extending longitudinally, and the first end may also define a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots extending longitudinally. In another design, the material void is a bore extending longitudinally, and the first end may also define a plurality of slots extending longitudinally and extending from the bore through an exterior surface of the elongated bar to leave a plurality of fingers at the first end. In these designs and other, the torsion bar and the material void may be cold forged, thereby eliminating a second forming step. The torsion bar may also include a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end.

US Patent:

59246413, Jul 20, 1999

Filed:

Aug 4, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/129325

Inventors:

Gerald Keller - Shelby Township MI
H. John Miller - Macomb Township MI
Jon E. Burrow - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. - Lakeland FL

International Classification:

B60R 2228

US Classification:

2423791

Abstract:

An energy absorbing seat belt retractor having a frame; a spool on which the seat belt is wound, the spool rotationally supported relative to the frame; a first locking mechanism for initially stopping the spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction; a bias or rewind spring to retract the seat belt, and a first energy absorbing or dissipating member, associated with the first locking mechanism, for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protracting direction subsequent to activation of the first locking mechanism for generating a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates; wherein the first locking mechanism includes a mechanical inertial sensor for initiating the locking up of the first locking mechanism and wherein the retractor further includes a first non-inertial sensor (100, 200) for preventing the initiation caused by the inertial sensor.

US Patent:

57881774, Aug 4, 1998

Filed:

Feb 21, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/803967

Inventors:

Gerald Keller - Shelby Township MI
H. John Miller - Macomb Township MI
Jon E. Burrow - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

AlliedSignal Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

B60R 2228

US Classification:

2423791

Abstract:

An energy absorbing seat belt retractor having a frame, a locking mechanism to initially stop a spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction, the spool rotationally supported relative to the frame, a seat belt wound about the spool, and bias means to retract the seat belt, a mechanism means for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protraction direction subsequent to being locked including a wire pulling device which pulls a formed wire member through a tortuous path and in so doing generates a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates.

US Patent:

57998930, Sep 1, 1998

Filed:

Feb 19, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/801234

Inventors:

H. John Miller - Macomb Township MI
Gerald Keller - Shelby Township MI

Assignee:

AlliedSignal Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

B60R 2228

US Classification:

2423791

Abstract:

An energy absorbing retractor having a frame, locking mechanisms to initially stop a spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction, the spool rotationally supported relative to the frame, a seat belt wound about the spool, and bias means to retract the seat belt, a two sided torsion bar for generating at least a first level of reaction torque on the spool permitting the spool to rotate in a controlled manner in a belt protracting direction including a torsion bar having a middle portion fixedly coupled to the spool to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a first torsion rod extending therefrom, the first torsion rod including a first end coupled to a first locking mechanism to prevent the first end from rotating upon such coupling, whereby upon locking of the first end, and the loading of the spool, the first torsion rod is twisted to generate a first level of control force.

US Patent:

20180222440, Aug 9, 2018

Filed:

Jul 8, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/742990

Inventors:

- Sterling Heights MI, US
David R. Arnold - Macomb MI, US
Gerald Keller - Shelby Township MI, US
Besi Rrumbullaku - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Key Safety Systems, Inc. - Sterling Heights MI

International Classification:

B60R 22/46
B60R 22/405

Abstract:

A 3-point seat belt system having a seat belt retractor () with a spool (), the spool () having a locked mode of operation and a freewheeling mode of operation; a seat belt () characterized as having a known elongation rate under stress; a collapsible member () wrapped about a center portion of the spool () of the retractor (), the member () having an initial diameter dl when unstressed and collapsible to a lesser diameter of d under stress. The method having the step of generating a retarding force on the occupant () in proportion to the degree by which the collapsible member () collapses.