Emergency locking means for dual spool safety belt retractor

An improved dual locking pawl emergency locking means for a dual spool safety belt retractor having first and second belt storage spools, said spools having first and second ratchet means respectively for preventing spool rotation when engaged by the locking means comprising the provision of:

• an action pawl means for engaging only said first ratchet means of said first spool;
• inertia sensing means for moving said action pawl means into engagement with said first ratchet wheel in response to changes in vehicle inertia of more than a predetermined amount;
• reaction pawl means separate from said action pawl means and so provided as to react in response to movement of said action pawl means to engage said second ratchet wheel of said second spool in response to spool locking action of said action pawl means;
• and
• resilient connecting means interposed between said action pawl means and said reaction pawl means for resiliently urging said reaction pawl means into engagement with said second ratchet wheel whereby spool locking movement of said action pawl means resiliently urges said reaction pawl means into locking engagement with said second ratchet wheel in a continuing manner capable of overcoming a false locking condition between said reaction pawl and said second ratchet wheel.

An improved dual locking pawl emergency locking means for a dual spool safety belt retractor having first and second belt storage spools, said spools having first and second ratchet means respectively for preventing spool rotation when engaged by the locking means comprising the provision of:

• an action pawl means for engaging only said first ratchet means of said first spool;
• inertia sensing means for moving said action pawl means into engagement with said first ratchet wheel in response to changes in vehicle inertia of more than a predetermined amount;
• and
• reaction pawl means separate from said action pawl means and so provided as to react in response to movement of said action pawl means to engage said second ratchet wheel of said second spool in response to spool locking action of said action pawl means, wherein said action pawl means and said reaction pawl means are provided in engaging nested relation whereby first ratchet wheel rotation when engaging said action pawl means drives said action pawl means against said reaction pawl means to move the latter into engagement with said second ratchet wheel.

A programmed action and reaction pawl emergency locking means for an automatic locking safety belt retractor having first and second belt storage spools, each spool having at least one locking ratchet wheel means for preventing spool rotation when engaged by an associated pawl, said locking means comprising:

• an action pawl means for engaging a first locking ratchet wheel associated with the first spool to prevent rotation thereof;
• pawl programming means including a program ratchet on said first spool and a program pawl associated with said action pawl means whereby engagement of said program pawl with said program ratchet when said spool is rotating causes movement of said program pawl which causes movement of said action pawl into engagement with said first locking ratchet wheel in a predetermined manner to prevent further spool rotation;
• vehicle inertia sensing means for moving said program pawl into engagement with said program ratchet in response to vehicle acceleration or deceleration of more than a predetermined amount;
• a reaction pawl means for engaging a second locking ratchet wheel associated with the second spool;
• and
• connecting means connected between said action pawl means and said reaction pawl means and responsive to said movement of said program pawl in response to spool rotation for moving said reaction pawl into engagement with said second locking ratchet wheel associated with said second spool in reaction to engagement of said program pawl with said first ratchet wheel.

A programmed action and reaction pawl emergency locking means for an automatic locking safety belt retractor having first and second belt storage spools, each spool having at least one locking ratchet wheel means for preventing spool rotation when engaged by an associated pawl, said locking means comprising:

• an action pawl means for engaging a first locking ratchet wheel associated with the first spool to prevent rotation thereof;
• pawl programming means including a program ratchet on said first spool and a program pawl associated with said action pawl means whereby engagement of said program pawl with said program ratchet when said spool is rotating causes movement of said program pawl which causes movement of said action pawl into engagement with said first locking ratchet wheel in a predetermined manner to prevent further spool rotation;
• vehicle inertia sensing means for moving said program pawl into engagement with said program ratchet in response to vehicle acceleration or deceleration of more than a predetermined amount;
• a reaction pawl means for engaging a second locking ratchet wheel associated with the second spool;
• a second program ratchet on said second spool and a second program pawl which is connected to said reaction pawl;
• and
• resilient connection means for resiliently connecting said second program pawl to said first program pawl whereby said reaction pawl is moved into a programmed engagement with said second locking ratchet wheel by movement of said second program pawl responsive to rotation of said second spool when said second program pawl is engaged with said second ratchet wheel in reaction to engagement of said first program pawl with said first ratchet wheel.

A programmed action and reaction pawl emergency locking means for an automatic locking safety belt retractor having first and second belt storage spools, each spool having at least one locking ratchet wheel means for preventing spool rotation when engaged by an associated pawl, said locking means comprising:

• an action pawl means for engaging a first locking ratchet wheel associated with the first spool to prevent rotation thereof;
• pawl programming means including a program ratchet on said first spool and a program pawl associated with said action pawl means whereby engagement of said program pawl with said program ratchet when said spool is rotating causes movement of said program pawl which causes movement of said action pawl into engagement with said first locking ratchet wheel in a predetermined manner to prevent further spool rotation;
• vehicle inertia sensing means for moving said program pawl into engagement with said program ratchet in response to vehicle acceleration or deceleration of more than a predetermined amount;
• a reaction pawl means for engaging a second locking ratchet wheel associated with the second spool;
• means for providing a resilient connection between said action pawl means and said reaction pawl means whereby spool locking movement of said action pawl means when engaging said first ratchet wheel resiliently urges said reaction pawl means into locking engagement with said second ratchet wheel in a continuing manner capable of overcoming a false locking condition in the event said reaction pawl means were to initially engage a tip of a tooth of said second ratchet wheel.