Seat belt arrangement
AssigneeAutoliv Development AB
InventorAnders Lenning
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seat-belt arrangement including an energy-absorbing force limiter. A first component, for example in the form of a retractor reel spool is movable relative to a second component, for example the frame-work of the retractor. The spool carries with it elements presenting friction faces which co-operate with further elements carried by the frame. A stack of Piezo-electric elements apply a compressional force driving together the elements having the friction faces to provide a controlled frictional energy-absorbing effect.
Claims17
A seat-belt arrangement incorporating a seat-belt and an energy-absorbing force limiter, the force limiter comprising a first component and a second component, the first component presenting at least one friction surface, the second component presenting at least one co-operating surface, the friction surface and the co-operating surface lying immediately adjacent each other to allow a predetermined relative movement of the first component relative to the second component, the force limiter incorporating a force applying mechanism to apply a force to urge said surfaces against each other, the force applying mechanism comprising at least one element of an electro-deformable material, and means to apply a potential to the said at least one element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.