Patent · US Expired

Belt retractor with adjustable force-limiting device

US6241172A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 3, 1999
Grant dateJun 5, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 3, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2022/288
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A self-locking belt retractor has a belt reeling shaft having a belt connected thereto. A locking device, activatable in a vehicle sensitive and/or belt-sensitive manner for preventing belt removal from the belt reeling shaft is provided. The locking device has a locking member and a profiled head connected to the belt reeling shaft. The belt reeling shaft is locked when the locking member engages the profiled head. At least two force-limiting elements are arranged in parallel or in series to one another, wherein one of the force-limiting elements is a torsion bar allowing a limited belt removal when the locking device locks the belt reeling shaft. A switching device for selectively engaging at least one of the force-limiting elements is provided to thereby connect the belt reeling shaft and the profiled head. The switching device is switched between the force-limiting elements and the belt reeling shaft for adjusting the energy absorption of the belt retractor and adapting the belt retractor to pre-adjustable incidents of loading.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.