American Safety Equipment Corporation

Hughes Aircraft Company

Joseph Sugar

The body of the disclosed fuse includes connective portions having surface-metalization to which corresponding connective portions of the fusible element are respectively bonded. A metalization-conducive ceramic may be more-specifically utilized for the fuse body, while those portions of the body which interface with the fusible element may additionally be contoured so as to lessen the severity of element-severance forces otherwise experienced. When the fuse's connective portions yet-more-specifically comprise the opposite ends of a fuse body which is elongated, end caps may be electrically joined to the surface-metalized fuse ends. An enhanced degree of mechanical stability may also be achieved by further providing stabilizing geometrical expedients for the fuse/cap interface.

Surface-metalized, bonded fuse with mechanically-stabilized end caps

A dual sensitive retractor prevents protraction of webbing when either a predetermined vehicle acceleration or webbing acceleration occurs. The reel includes a shaft which is rotatably mounted on a frame. Locking means, in the form of a lock cup, on the frame moves locking pawls into and out of the path of ratchet teeth on the reel. An inertia mass is mounted on the shaft for rotation with respect to the shaft, and an inertia weight is provided which is responsive to changes in the inertia of the vehicle. The invention includes the improvement of providing a latch and means for mounting the latch for engaging the locking means to prevent webbing protraction. Drive means, which in one embodiment is a cam fixed to the shaft contacting the latch generally is driven by the shaft and is connected to the latch to impart rotation from the shaft to the inertia mass and to move the latch into engagement with the locking means when the webbing acceleration rotates the shaft faster than the inertia mass. A gear and means mounting the gear on the shaft for rotation with respect to the shaft are provided. The gear is engageable by the inertia weight to prevent its rotation with the shaft. A gear connecting member is connected to the gear to impart rotary motion from the drive to the gear and operates the drive means to move the latch into engagement with the locking means when the inertia weight prevents rotation of the gear to lock the reel against further protraction. In one embodiment, the gear connecting member connects the gear to the latch to move the latch into engagement with the locking mens. Programming means initiates rotation of the lock cup when the vehicle or webbing acceleration is sensed when the locking pawl is in a predetermined position relative to any one of the ratchet teeth so that the locking pawls engage the ratchet teeth at a predetermined location on the tooth so the rotation of the lock cup drives the locking pawl. Alignment means may also be provided to align the pawl bounce prevention means during manufacture.

Dual sensitive retractor

The improved locking pawl mounting is for use in an emergency locking safety belt retractor mechanism wherein a locking pawl is pivotally mounted between a pair of spaced retractor frame sidewalls in position to engage a ratchet wheel locking member provided on the retractor wheel upon being pivoted by emergency responsive means associated with the retractor. The locking pawl mounting comprises a pair of circular bearing surfaces in the retractor frame in axially spaced relation. A pair of circular journal members, each being of a low coefficient friction material, are mounted to the locking pawl and are journaled in the bearing surfaces. Tab means are provided at each end of the locking pawl, and an aperture extends into each of the journal members for mating with the tabs so that rotation of the locking pawl causes corresponding rotation of the journal members. The locking pawl mounting further includes an axial thrust plate mounted on each of the journal members which extends between the frame sidewalls and the locking pawl to prevent axial displacement of the locking pawl relative to the frame sidewalls and to maintain a constant spaced relation therebetween. The axial thrust plate and the journal members are integral and rotate together so that the axial thrust plate pivots with rotation of the locking pawl. A slot is provided at each end of the locking pawl adjacent the sidewall for receiving the axial thrust plate therein.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Joseph Sugar