Webbing retractor

A webbing retractor comprising:

• a spool on which a webbing for restraining a vehicle occupant is taken-up, the spool being able to rotate in a take-up direction and in a pull-out direction that is opposite to the take-up direction, and
• a spool braking mechanism that, when an angular velocity of the spool rotating in the take-up direction reaches a predetermined upper limit angular velocity, applies resistance to rotation of the spool and decelerates a rotational speed of the spool in the take-up direction, the spool braking mechanism including a braking shaft disposed coaxially with the spool, and a decelerating member applying rotation resistance to an outer peripheral surface of the braking shaft,
• wherein the spool braking mechanism further comprises:
• a rotating body disposed coaxially and connected with the spool;
• a braking gear disposed coaxially with the spool, and able to rotate relative to the spool;
• a braking pawl disposed at the rotating body, and causing the braking gear to rotate integrally with the rotating body in the take-up direction;
• and
• a pawl driving mechanism that, when the spool is rotating in the take-up direction at less than the predetermined upper limit angular velocity, holds the braking pawl at a separated position at which the braking pawl is separated from the braking gear, and that, when the spool rotates in the take-up direction at greater than or equal to the predetermined angular velocity, operates the braking pawl to an engaging position at which the braking pawl engages with the braking gear, and
• the decelerating member comprises an elastic member that applies rotation resistance to the outer peripheral surface of the braking shaft when the braking gear rotates integrally with the rotating body.