Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Kevin Storck

Robert J Rumpf

Ronald A Willey

A vehicle seat belt retractor includes a spool on which seat belt webbing is wound. The spool is rotatable in belt withdrawal and belt retraction directions. A lock bar is movable into engagement with a spool locking ratchet to lock the spool against rotation in the belt withdrawal direction. A first member is rotatable with the spool. A lock bar actuator is supported for rotation on the first member. Rotation of the lock bar actuator moves the lock bar into engagement with the spool locking ratchet. A flywheel is rotatable relative to the spool. The flywheel lags rotation of the spool upon acceleration of the spool in the belt withdrawal direction at a rate above a predetermined rate. In response to lagging rotation of the flywheel relative to the spool, the control pawl moves in an opening in the first member. The pawl engages the lock bar actuator and transmits rotational force from the first member to the lock bar actuator to move the lock bar actuator. A vehicle deceleration sensitive member carried by the lock bar actuator is movable in response to deceleration of the vehicle at a rate above a predetermined rate into engagement with the first member. The lock bar actuator is then rotated due to the vehicle deceleration sensitive member transmitting rotational force to the actuator from the first member.

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Mt. Clemens, MI, United States of America

Kevin Storck