METHOD FOR PRODUCING A BELT STRAP, AND A BELT STRAP

Abstract

The invention describes a method of manufacturing a webbing (11) for a safety system of an automotive vehicle, wherein, in one method step, a webbing body (12) is woven, wherein at least one electric conductor (16) is woven into the webbing body (12), and wherein, in a further method step, the webbing body (12) is passed through a calender (24), with the webbing body (12) being compressed in the calender (24) by a maximum of 5%. Furthermore, the invention indicates a webbing (11).

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A method of manufacturing a webbing (11) for a safety system of an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of: weaving a webbing body (12), wherein at least one electric conductor (16) is woven as a warp thread into the webbing body (12), passing the webbing body (12) through a calender (24), wherein the webbing body (12) is compressed in the calender (24) by a maximum of 5%.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the webbing body (12) is not compressed in the calender (24).

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the webbing body (12) is heated before it enters the calender (24).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the webbing body (12) is heated to a temperature ranging from 185? C. to 240? C.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one electric conductor (16) includes plural single wires (17).

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the electric conductor (16) is a heating conductor or a sensor.

15. A webbing (11) comprising a webbing body (12) and at least one electric conductor (16) woven into the webbing body (12) which was manufactured by a method according to claim 9.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Further advantages and features of the invention will be evident from the following description and from the attached drawings which are referred to, and wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 schematically shows an apparatus for manufacturing a webbing according to the invention,

[0027] FIG. 2 schematically shows a webbing body of a webbing according to the invention, and

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of an electric conductor.

DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a device 10 for manufacturing a webbing 11 for a safety system of an automotive vehicle.

[0030] Initially, a webbing body 12 is woven in a loom known per se and not shown in detail here and then passes on to a feeding device 14.

[0031] The thickness of the webbing body 12 can be influenced by the number of warp threads and the weft threads density. The higher the number of warp threads and the weft thread density, the thicker the webbing body 12 becomes and the higher the breaking strength of the webbing body 12 is.

[0032] The weft and warp threads are preferably made of PET.

[0033] The thickness of the webbing body 12 after weaving ranges from 1 mm to 2 mm, for example.

[0034] Plural electric conductors 16 are woven into the webbing body 12, as is shown in FIG. 2 illustrating a section of a webbing body 12.

[0035] In the embodiment, the electric conductors 16 are woven as warp threads into the webbing body 12.

[0036] Alternatively, the electric conductors 16 may be woven as weft threads into webbing body.

[0037] For example, the electric conductors 16 are heating conductors or sensors.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a section across an exemplary electric conductor 16. The shown electric conductor 16 has plural single wires 17. However, other types of electric conductors 16 are also conceivable.

[0039] After weaving, the webbing body 12 is dyed in a dying device 18. The dying device 18 shall not be discussed in detail here, as this method step is sufficiently known from prior art.

[0040] After that, the webbing body 12 enters a fixing device 20 where the webbing body 12 is heated.

[0041] The webbing body 12 is specifically heated to 185? C. to 240? C., preferably to 190? C. to 210? C.

[0042] Depending on the difference between the entering and the leaving velocity in the fixing unit, the webbing body 12 can be stretched or upset. Accordingly, the elongation of the webbing is adjusted depending on the technical parameters of the yarn used.

[0043] Subsequently, the webbing body 12 passes through a calender 24.

[0044] The calender 24 comprises two metal rollers 26, 28 between which the webbing body 12 is passed through.

[0045] The webbing body 12 is compressed in the calender 24, according to the invention by a maximum of 5%, however, based on its thickness before it enters the calender 24.

[0046] It is also conceivable that the webbing body 12 is not compressed at all in the calender 24.

[0047] In this way, smoothing of the webbing body 12 is obtained without compressing and/or deforming the electric conductors 16 in the webbing body 12.

[0048] The webbing body 12 is usually manufactured as an endless body.

[0049] For finishing a webbing 11, the webbing body 12 only has to be cut to length.