Mechanical shifting of multi-load retractor
AssigneeKey Safety Systems, Inc.
InventorsRichard W. Koning, Michael J. Moore, Kenneth H. Kohlndorfer, Mark F. Gray
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Abstract
A seat belt retractor comprising: a first and a second energy absorption mechanism each of which is selectively activatable and respectively configured to generate first and second levels of energy absorption and when activated define an output characteristic of the retractor; a switch mechanism for operatively selecting one or the other energy level and a mode shifter for shifting between the first energy absorption level and the second energy absorption level as a function of the rotation of a spool of the retractor.
Claims21
A seat belt retractor system comprising:
- a first and a second energy absorption mechanism each of which is selectively actuatable and respectively configured to generate first and second levels of energy absorption and when activated define an output characteristic of the retractor wherein one of the energy absorption mechanisms is a torsion bar;
- first means for operatively selecting one or the other energy level and
- mode shifting means for shifting between the first energy absorption level and the second energy absorption level as a function of the rotation of a spool of the retractor;
- and
- a deactivation mechanism for deactivating the torsion bar when the retractor is used by a small sized vehicle occupant.
A seat belt retractor comprising:
- a primary and second looking mechanism, each of the primary and secondary locking mechanisms including a lock pawl engageable with a corresponding lock wheel, each lock pawl including a pivot configured to react against the reaction surface when the pawl is under load from its lock wheel and
- deactivation means for operationally removing one of the reaction surfaces associated with a first of the lock pawls thereby permitting its lock wheel to push the first lock pawl to a position in which the first lock pawl is incapable of locking with the lock wheel when the retractor is used by occupants not in a designated class;
- the refractor including at least two load-limiting mechanisms that are selectively employed depending on the size of the occupant.
A seat belt retractor comprising:
- a primary and secondary looking mechanism each having a corresponding lock wheel and lock pawl;
- each lock pawl being rotatable about an axis into locking engagement with its corresponding lock wheel, each of the primary and secondary locking mechanisms being associated with a corresponding load limiting mechanism;
- one of the lock pawl configured such that its axis is translatably movable to a new position in direct response to the motion of its lock wheel wherein in this new position the lock pawl is incapable of lockingly engaging with its lock wheel.
A seat belt retractor system comprising:
- a first and a second energy absorption mechanism each of which is selectively actuatable and respectively configured to generate first and second levels of energy absorption and when activated define an output characteristic of the retractor wherein one of the energy absorption mechanisms is a torsion bar;
- first means for operatively selecting one or the other energy level and
- mode shifting means for shifting between the first energy absorption level and the second energy absorption level as a function of the rotation of a spool of the retractor;
- and
- a deactivation mechanism for deactivating the torsion bar when the retractor is used by a small sized vehicle occupant, wherein the mode shifting means reactivates the torsion bar subsequent to a determinable amount of spool rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.