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US 9,463,771 B2Granted
Restraint system pretensioners
AssigneeAmSafe, Inc.
InventorsTodd J. Humbert, Michael J. Walton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments of restraint system pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to sudden movement. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Sudden movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a pretensioning assembly to automatically pretension the seat harness.
Claims20
A restraint system pretensioner assembly comprising:
- a loading mechanism having a movable arm and a pulley;
- a retractor having a spool configured to receive a strap of a restraint harness;
- and
- a cable operably coupling the loading mechanism to the retractor, wherein the cable is operably engaged with the pulley, and wherein movement of the arm rotates the pulley to retract the cable and rotate the spool to retract the strap.
1 more element
A restraint system pretensioner assembly comprising:
- a loading mechanism having a movable arm;
- a retractor having a spool configured to receive a strap of a restraint harness;
- a pretensioning cable operably coupling the loading mechanism to the retractor, wherein movement of the arm retracts the pretensioning cable and rotates the spool to retract the strap;
- and
- a locking cable operably coupling the loading mechanism to the retractor, wherein movement of the arm operates the locking cable to prevent payout of the strap.
2 more elements
A restraint system pretensioner assembly comprising:
- a loading mechanism having a movable arm;
- a retractor having:
- a spool configured to receive a strap of a restraint harness;
- a shaft, wherein the spool is fixedly attached to the shaft;
- a gear operably coupled to the shaft;
- a hub rotatably coupled to the shaft;
- and
- a plurality of ratchets operably coupled to the hub;
- and
- a cable operably coupling the loading mechanism to the hub, wherein movement of the arm retracts the cable, and wherein retraction of the cable rotates the hub to engage the ratchets with the gear and rotates the spool to retract the strap.
7 more elements
A pretensioning retractor comprising:
- a shaft extending along an axis through at least a portion of the retractor;
- a gear operably coupled to the shaft;
- a spool coupled to the shaft and configured to receive a strap of a restraint harness;
- a hub rotatably coupled to the shaft and having a ratchet pocket;
- a ratchet having a pin and a ratchet tooth, wherein the ratchet is positionable at least partially within the ratchet pocket with the pin extending at least generally parallel to the axis and the ratchet tooth positioned to selectively engage the gear;
- a cable coupled to the hub and operable to rotate the hub, wherein rotation of the hub engages the ratchet tooth with the gear to rotate the shaft and the spool and retrieve at least a portion of the strap;
- and
- a locking plate having an opening defined by a sidewall, wherein the shaft extends through the opening to define a track between the shaft and the sidewall, and wherein the pin extends into the track.
5 more elements
A pretensioning retractor comprising:
- a shaft extending along an axis through at least a portion of the retractor;
- a gear operably coupled to the shaft;
- a spool coupled to the shaft and configured to receive a strap of a restraint harness;
- a hub rotatably coupled to the shaft and having a ratchet pocket;
- a ratchet having a pin and a ratchet tooth, wherein the ratchet is positionable at least partially within the ratchet pocket with the pin extending at least generally parallel to the axis and the ratchet tooth positioned to selectively engage the gear;
- a cable coupled to the hub and operable to rotate the hub, wherein rotation of the hub engages the ratchet tooth with the gear to rotate the shaft and the spool and retrieve at least a portion of the strap;
- and
- a tab having a cable opening, wherein the cable extends from the hub through the cable opening.
5 more elements
A pretensioning retractor comprising:
- a shaft extending along an axis through at least a portion of the retractor;
- a gear operably coupled to the shaft;
- a spool coupled to the shaft and configured to receive a strap of a restraint harness;
- a hub rotatably coupled to the shaft and having a ratchet pocket;
- a ratchet having a pin and a ratchet tooth, wherein the ratchet is positionable at least partially within the ratchet pocket with the pin extending at least generally parallel to the axis and the ratchet tooth positioned to selectively engage the gear, wherein the ratchet includes a detent, wherein the hub includes a set screw, and wherein the set screw engages the detent to maintain a rotational position of the ratchet in relation to the ratchet pocket;
- and
- a cable coupled to the hub and operable to rotate the hub, wherein rotation of the hub engages the ratchet tooth with the gear to rotate the shaft and the spool and retrieve at least a portion of the strap.
4 more elements
A restraint system pretensioner assembly comprising:
- a seat positionable within a vehicle and having a stroking device configured to enable vertical motion of the seat;
- a retractor associated with the seat and having a spool configured to be operably coupled to a harness;
- a loading mechanism associated with the seat and having a pivotable arm;
- and
- a pretensioning cable assembly having a pretensioning cable operably coupling the loading mechanism to the retractor, wherein the pivotable arm is configured to rotate in response to downward motion of the seat relative to the vehicle and retract the pretensioning cable, thereby rotating the spool and retracting at least a portion of the harness.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.