Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With spring motor
Patent
1998-07-20
1999-11-02
Jillions, John M.
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With spring motor
2423826, B60R 2242
Patent
active
059754524
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a web locking retractor for a vehicle safety restraint system.
According to the present invention there is provided a web locking retractor for a vehicle safety restraint system, comprising a spool assembly constrained and mounted for linear sliding movement with respect to a wedge housing such that linear movement of the spool assembly slides one or more seat belt clamping wedges in a linear motion relative to the wedge housing for clamping and unclamping a seat belt therebetween, characterised in that the spool assembly is directly operatively coupled to at least one clamping wedge so as to slide with the wedge in clamping and unclamping directions and the spool assembly is biased to a seat belt unclamped condition by a resilient means arranged to act between the spool assembly and at least one part fixed with respect to the wedge housing.
In one embodiment the spool assembly alone moves, and in another embodiment the spool assembly is mounted within a retractor frame which is also linearly movable with the spool assembly to activate the wedges.
Such a direct link between the clamping wedge and the spool assembly provides for faster, more effective release of the clamping wedge from the belt when the loading on the belt diminishes below the spring bias force.
For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a right-hand view of a first embodiment of an assembled retractor;
FIG. 2 is a left-hand view of the retractor of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the retractor of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the retractor of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an assembly view showing many of the major components of this first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of this invention; and
FIG. 7 is an assembly view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 which show a retractor 20 having a U-shaped wedge housing frame 22. The frame includes a rear 24a, and two sides 24b and c. Each side includes two legs 26a and b. The inner edges of the legs define an opening 28 therebetween. The opening includes straight walls 30a,b and a somewhat oval top contour 32. A boss 34a and 34b extends down into a respective opening 28 on either side of the retractor. A return spring 36a,b extends down from a respective boss to bias a slider mechanism assembly 90. The frame 22 also includes an opening 38 near its top. Situated within this opening is a wedge housing assembly 40 which includes a wedge housing 42 having two sloping, facing walls 44a,b and two movable wedges 46a,b therebetween. As is known in the art these wedges can be separate or as shown linked by pins 49 and outwardly movable by bias springs. The front faces of each of these wedges may support a plurality of teeth which enter into a seat belt that passes therebetween. As discussed below as the wedges are moved upwardly the sloping wall assists in moving the wedges closer to and against the seat belt positioned therebetween to clamp the seat belt 47. In this embodiment one of each of the frame legs 26a includes an oval slot 48.
Rotatably mounted in the wedge housing frame 22 is a spool assembly 60 comprising a spool 62 upon which the seat belt 47 (also called webbing) is wound. The spool includes flanges 64a,b to provide a boundary for the wound webbing. The spool includes on its left side a recessed cylindrical wall 66 defining a cavity 68 therein and pin openings 70a,b for receipt of a ratchet gear 72 having outer ratchet teeth 74 and locating pins 76 (received in the openings 70a,b) and a stem 80 received in mating splines 81 within the cavity 68 linkng the ratchet gear 72 so that it rotates with the spool 62. While not shown an inertial mass of known variety is positioned in the cavity 82 of the ratchet gear and forms part of a web sensor which when activated will initiate lockup of the retractor when the webbing is pulled out faster than a predeter
REFERENCES:
patent: 4949995 (1990-08-01), Haland et al.
patent: 4997140 (1991-03-01), Doty
patent: 5044575 (1991-09-01), Knabel et al.
patent: 5511741 (1996-04-01), Zolkower et al.
patent: 5647553 (1997-07-01), Smithson et al.
Breed Automative Technology, Inc.
Jillions John M.
Seitzman Markell
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