Multi-level load limiting retractor
First Claim
1. An energy absorbing seat belt retractor havinga frame,a spool having a central portion about which the seat belt is wound, the central portion having an outer surface, a first tortuous path is provided in the central portion bellow the outer surfaced;
- a wire member fitted into the first tortuous path,a locking mechanism to initially stop a spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction, the spool rotationally supported relative to the frame,bias means to retract the seat belt, andfirst means for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protraction direction subsequent to being locked including a wire pulling means for pulling the wire member through the first tortuous path and in so doing generating a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
34 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An energy absorbing seat belt retractor having
a frame, a spool having a central portion about which the seat belt is wound, the central portion having an outer surface, a first tortuous path is provided in the central portion bellow the outer surfaced; -
a wire member fitted into the first tortuous path, a locking mechanism to initially stop a spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction, the spool rotationally supported relative to the frame, bias means to retract the seat belt, and first means for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protraction direction subsequent to being locked including a wire pulling means for pulling the wire member through the first tortuous path and in so doing generating a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An energy absorbing seat belt retractor having
a frame, a spool on which the seat belt is wound, a first locking mechanism to initially stop a spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction, the spool rotationally supported relative to the frame, bias means to retract the seat belt, and first means for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protracting direction subsequent to being locked, including a wire pulling means for a flexible member through a tortuous path and in so doing generating a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates; -
second means for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protracting direction subsequent to being locked including a second wire pulling means for pulling a second flexible member through a tortuous path and in so doing generating a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates and a second a locking mechanism to initially stop a spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction, the spool rotationally supported relative to the frame; wherein one of the first or second locking mechanisms includes a mechanical inertial sensor means for initiating the locking up of an end of a torsion mechanism and wherein the retractor includes lock-out means (100,
200) for preventing the sensor means from locking the torsion mechanism.
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11. 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 means for initially stopping the spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction; bias means to retract the seat belt, and a first energy absorbing or dissipating means, associated with the first locking means, for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protracting direction subsequent to activation of the first locking means for generating a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates; a second locking means for initially stopping the spool front rotating in a belt protraction direction; second energy absorbing or dissipating means, associated with the second locking means, for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protracting direction subsequent to the activation of the second locking means for generating a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates; wherein the first locking means includes a mechanical inertial sensor means for initiating the locking up of the first locking means and wherein the retractor further includes a first non-inertial sensing means (100,
200) for preventing the such initiation caused by the inertial sensor means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An energy absorbing seat belt retractor having
a frame; -
a spool on which the seat belt is wound bias means to retract the seat belt; a torsion mechanism for generating one or more levels of reaction force to control the protraction of the seat belt from the spool; a locking mechanism to initially stop a spool from rotating in a belt protraction direction, the spool rotationally supported relative to the frame, and first energy dissipating for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protracting direction subsequent to being locked, and for generating a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates; second energy dissipating for permitting the spool to rotate in the belt protracting direction subsequent to being locked, and for generating a reaction force to control the manner in which the spool rotates; wherein one of the first or second locking mechanisms includes a mechanical inertial sensor means for initiating the locking up of an end of the torsion mechanism and wherein the retractor includes lock-out means (100,
200) for preventing the sensor means from locking the torsion mechanism.
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Specification