Load-limiting seatbelt retractor
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJeffrey Tien Vo, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seatbelt retractor includes a housing and a spool rotatably supported by the housing. A torsion bar has a first end and a second end. The first end of the torsion bar is fixed to the spool, and the second end of the torsion bar is fixable relative to the housing. The seatbelt retractor includes a magnet and a rotor disposed adjacent the magnet. One of the magnet and the rotor being fixed relative to the spool and the other of the magnet and the rotor being rotatable relative to the spool. The rotor includes a conductive material.
Claims18
A seatbelt retractor comprising:
- a housing;
- a spool rotatably supported by the housing;
- a torsion bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed to the spool, and the second end being fixable relative to the housing;
- a plurality of magnets spaced from each other circumferentially about the torsion bar;
- a rotor disposed adjacent the magnets, one of the magnets and the rotor being fixed relative to the spool and the other of the magnets and the rotor being rotatable relative to the spool, the rotor including a conductive material;
- wherein the rotor extends around the magnets about the torsion bar;
- and
- a plate including a plurality of notches spaced from each other circumferentially about the torsion bar, one magnet disposed in each notch.
A seatbelt retractor comprising:
- a housing;
- a spool rotatably supported by the housing;
- a torsion bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed to the spool, and the second end being fixable relative to the housing;
- a plurality of magnets spaced from each other along the torsion bar, each magnet disposed on the torsion bar;
- a rotor on the torsion bar and disposed adjacent the magnets, one of the magnets and the rotor being fixed relative to the spool and the other of the magnets and the rotor being rotatable relative to the spool, the rotor including a conductive material.
A seatbelt retractor comprising:
- a housing;
- a spool rotatably supported by the housing;
- a torsion bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being fixed to the spool, and the second end being fixable relative to the housing;
- a plurality of magnets spaced from each other along the torsion bar;
- a rotor on the torsion bar and disposed adjacent the magnets, one of the magnets and the rotor being fixed relative to the spool and the other of the magnets and the rotor being rotatable relative to the spool, the rotor including a conductive material;
- wherein the spool defines a cavity extending circumferentially about an axis;
- and
- wherein the magnets are disposed in the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.