Repco Inc.

Ewen P Kilpatrick

An emergency locking reel for a safety belt and being of the kind having a frame which is securable to a support, a spool rotatably mounted on that frame, and locking means operable to prevent rotation of that spool in a belt unwinding direction. The locking means comprises a toothed ring secured to the frame and a pawl rotatable with the spool and movable relative thereto to engage the ring. According to the invention, an inertia plate is provided separate from the pawl and is mounted on the spool spindle for limited relative rotation. A ratchet wheel is connected to the pawl for rotation therewith and carries a detent which responds to relative rotation between the wheel and inertia plate to stop rotation of the wheel and thereby cause the pawl to engage the ring. A spring resists that relative rotation between the wheel and inertia plate. The housing for the locking means is symmetrical about a plane which contains the spindle axis and a sensor responsive to vehicle deceleration is also located on that plane. The sensor is securable to the housing in any of a plurality of positions without disturbing the aforementioned symmetry. Furthermore, each tooth of the locking ring is symmetrical about a plane containing the spindle axis. An end plate of the housing has, as integral parts, a bearing for the spindle and locating means for the locking ring and sensor respectively, thereby simplifying assembly of the reel. A wedge-type retainer secures an end of the belt to the reel by locating in a slot of the spool and clamping the belt in three separate zones.

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Eltham, Australia

Ewen P Kilpatrick