Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With spring motor
Patent
1998-02-09
2000-04-18
Jillions, John M.
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With spring motor
2423826, B60R 2242
Patent
active
060505168
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a retractor for use with vehicle safety restraint belts and particularly to a weblocking retractor in which one or more clamps grip the belt webbing to prevent payout of the belt in the event of a crash or emergency situation.
Retractors and weblocking retractors are well known. Generally they comprise a cyclindrical spool rotatably mounted in a frame with a return bias so that the belt can be protracted but is biased to the rewind position. One or more sensing mechanism are included and cause the spool to lock-up during an emergency, such as when excessive acceleration or deceleration forces are detected. In a weblocking retractor, belt payout is further restrained by one or more wedges which grip the belt directly. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,770.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved weblocking retractor.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a weblocking retractor comprising: mounted in a frame; crash to cause the spool to lock to prevent further protraction of the seat belt webbing; spool relative to the frame, to clamp the seat belt webbing against further protraction of the belt; to locking of the spool and directly activates the clamping mechanism to clamp the webbing, and comprising one arm of a U-shaped needle which is mounted in slots in the frame to move with the spool in a sliding linear movement.
The other arm of the U-shaped needle is received in another slot in the frame.
According to a preferred embodiment the spool and the sensing mechanism are moved vertically in response to occupant loading of the belt after spool locking. A carrier element supported in fixed relation to the spool and also a rewind spring for the spool are also preferably moved vertically.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a frame;
FIG. 2 is an assembly view showing many of the major features of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of a reel assembly;
FIG. 4 is a sensor mechanism in a preblocking condition;
FIG. 5 shows the reel assembly in a vertically raised position;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a retractor according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the stationary frame 12 and comprises sides 12a and 12b and a back 12c. The upper portion of the frame includes a plurality of openings 100 to receive a web clamping mechanism 46. This web clamping mechanism 46 comprises a wedge housing 47 and two movable wedges 46a,b. The wedge housing 47 is held within the opening 100 by a spacer bar 47a which includes a web (seat belt) guide slot 47b. The lower portion 102 of the frame 12 includes a mounting hole 104 and anti-rotation projections 106 which are known in the art. The center or back portion 12c of the frame 12 includes a plurality of bosses 108 which slidingly engage and secure complementary member 107 in the back part 22c of a mounting member 22 of a reel assembly 14 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) to enable the reel assembly to slide on the frame 12. The lower end 109 of the side 12b of the frame includes an elongated slot 110 through which a peg 180 of the reel assembly is received, thereby providing another means for slidably securing the mounting member 22 to the stationary frame 12.
Extending from each of the sides is a stationary panel or bushing which can be viewed as an extension of the frame sides 12a,h. Situated on the left hand frame side 12a is a mechanism bushing 164. This bushing 164 is attached to frame side 12a. The mechanism bushing includes an oval slot 160b which overlays slot 160" in frame side 12a. The bushing mechanism also includes an opening 174a in its middle through which a stub axle 170a of the spool 16 extends. Located at the lower end of the bushing 164 is an open cavity 211 to slidingly received the walled housing 210 of the sensor mechanism.
Situated on the right ha
REFERENCES:
patent: 4394034 (1983-07-01), Murphy et al.
patent: 5029770 (1991-07-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 5174604 (1992-12-01), Numazawa et al.
patent: 5647553 (1997-07-01), Smithson et al.
Research Disclosure, No. 336404, Aug. 1994, Emsworth, G.B., p. 404, "Energy Absorbing Webgrabber-Concept C".
Aiston Brian Edward
Harte Joseph Patrick
Smithson Alan George
Williamson Kenneth
Breed Automotive Technology Inc.
Jillions John M.
Seitzman Markell
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