Webbing retractor
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
InventorYuji Nishimura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a webbing retractor retracting an occupant restraining webbing therein, one end portion of resilient means giving a webbing retracting force to a webbing takeup shaft retracting the webbing thereon is driven by drive means, so that the retracting force of the takeup shaft is made changeable, and the drive of the drive means is controlled by a control device in accordance with detected signals from position detecting switch means for detecting a drive position of the end portion of the resilient means and from direction detecting switch means for detecting a drive direction thereof. Accordingly, not only the drive position but also the drive direction are reliably detected by the detecting switches, so that the webbing retracting force of the takeup shaft can be reduced securely.
Claims17
A webbing retractor for retracting an occupant restraining webbing which is adapted for use in a seatbelt system for a vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a webbing takeup shaft for retracting one end portion of the webbing thereon;
- (b) a resilient means having first and second end portions wherein said resilient means is secured at said first end portion to the takeup shaft for biasing the takeup shaft in a direction of a webbing retraction;
- (c) a drive means connected to the second end portion of the resilient means for driving the second end portion of the resilient means in order to change the biasing force of the resilient means acting upon the takeup shaft;
- (d) position detecting switch means for detecting the position of the second end portion of the resilient means driven by the drive means;
- (e) a direction detecting switch means for detecting the direction that the second end portion of the resilient means is driven by the drive means which is switched on and off through a lost motion mechanism when said second end portion of the resilient means is initially driven;
- and
- (f) a control means for controlling the drive means in response to detected signals outputted from the position detecting switch means and from the direction detecting switch means,
- whereby a sense of oppression felt by the occupant restrained by the webbing can be prevented.
A webbing retractor for retracting an occupant restraining webbing which is adapted for use in a seatbelt system for a vehicle, which comprises:
- (a) a webbing takeup shaft rotatably supported on a frame mounted on a vehicle body for retracting one end portion of the webbing thereon;
- (b) a spiral spring secured at its inner end portion to the takeup shaft for biasing the takeup shaft in a direction of a webbing retraction;
- (c) a motor connected to an outer end portion of the spiral spring for rotating the outer end portion of the spiral spring to change the biasing force of the spiral spring acting upon the takeup shaft;
- (d) a pair of position detecting switches for detecting the position of the outer end portion of the spiral spring rotated by the motor;
- (e) a direction detecting switch for detecting the direction of the outer end portion of the spiral spring rotated by the motor which is switched on or off through a lost motion mechanism during the initial rotation of the outer end portion of the spiral spring by said motor;
- and
- (f) an electric control unit for controlling the motor in response to detected signals outputted from the position detecting switches and from the direction detecting switch,
- whereby a sense of oppression felt by the occupant restrained by the webbing can be prevented.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.