Patent · US Expired

Pretensioner device

US6505790B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
20References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 2001
Grant dateJan 14, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 5, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2022/468
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A pretensioner 10 for a seat belt 12 employs a strap 30 fixed about a pulley 34 and also fixed at an opposite end 36 to a housing 18. Upon pretensioner activation, an actuator 20 is propelled across a rectangular passage 72 thereby impelling a portion 31 of the strap 30 extending across the passage 72. Torque created by the strap 30 about the pulley 34 effects rotary advancement of the geared pulley 34 with a geared clutch 37 engaged therewith. The geared clutch 37 co-axially and rotatably communicates with a seat belt retractor spool 46 wherein a seat belt retractor spool shaft 40 axially extends through the clutch 37 and spool 46. Activation of the pretensioner 10 therefore results in ignition of a gas generant 16 that produces sufficient gas pressure to drive the actuator 20 through a linear passage 72, thereby effecting rotary movement of the pulley 34, the clutch 37, the shaft 40, and the spool 46. A seat belt 12 wound about the spool 46 is thereby pretensioned.

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