Federal-mogul Corporation

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Phillip D Yee

Patrick J Gorman

Kenneth Herbert Kohlndorfer

Mark Francis Gray

Mark F Gray

Bryce W Babcock

Daniel F Kiblawi

Douglas A Drewes

John J Thomas

A safety belt retractor (10) comprised of a spool (28), a belt (40) wound on the spool (28), a ratchet wheel (48), and a torsion bar (44) interconnecting the spool (28) to the ratchet wheel (48) and capable of yielding in response to loading exerted on the belt (40) when the ratchet wheel (48) is locked against rotation. The safety belt retractor (10) also includes a holdout mechanism (18) which is normally operable in an ELR mode to permit operation of an emergency locking mechanism (16) and which can be selectively shifted into an ALR mode for locking the ratchet wheel (48) against rotation to prevent further payout of the belt (40) after a predetermined length of the belt (40) has been withdrawn from the spool (28). A timing assembly (124) functions to determine when the predetermined length of the belt (40) has been withdrawn or retracted for controlling engagement and disengagement of a latch mechanism (110). A timing clutch mechanism (20) interconnects the torsion bar (44) to the timing assembly (124) and is normally operable for driving the timing assembly (124) in response to withdrawal and retraction of the belt (40). The timing clutch mechanism (20) is further operable to permit relative movement between the torsion bar (44) and the timing assembly (124) for resetting the timing assembly (124) to a predefined set position in response to full retraction of the belt (40) after the torsion bar (44) has yielded. As such, the timing clutch mechanism (20) functions to maintain the predetermined length of the belt (40) required for selective actuation of the holdout mechanism (18) in a manner which is independent of yielding of the torsion bar (44).

Automatic locking retractor with timing clutch mechanism

A buckle (20) for a vehicle seat belt system (22) comprises a base (102) at least partially defining a cavity (100) for receiving first and second tongues (64, 66) of the seat belt system along respective first and second insertion paths (P1, P2). A first latch plate (106) supported by the base (102) is movable between a latched position connecting the first tongue (64) with the base when the first tongue moves a fully inserted distance into the cavity (100) and a release position in which the first tongue is disconnected from the base. A second latch plate (128) supported by the base (102) is movable between a latched position connecting the second tongue (66) with the base when the second tongue moves a fully inserted distance into the cavity (100) and a release position in which the second tongue is disconnected from the base. A first blocking member (162) has a portion (166) located in the second insertion path (P2) for blocking movement of the second tongue (66) the fully inserted distance into the cavity (100) until the first tongue (64) moves a predetermined first distance. A second blocking member (172) has a portion (176) located in the first insertion path (P1) for blocking movement of the first tongue (64) the fully inserted distance into the cavity (100) until the second tongue (66) moves a predetermined second distance.

Buckle for vehicle seat belt system

A clutch release mechanism includes an annular piston arranged to move an anti-friction bearing axially for operating a friction clutch between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The outer diametrical dimension of the anti-friction bearing is less than the internal profile dimension of the annular cylinder, whereby the bearing is movable into the space circumscribed by the cylinder when the piston is in its retracted position.

Hydraulically actuated clutch release mechanism

A clutch release mechanism for absorbing misalignments might occur between an annular driven member such as a bearing carrier and a stationary guide element such as a quill over which the driven member axially slides. A resilient spacer member is arranged between inner and outer tubular sleeves forming parts of the driven member such that the outer sleeve can be misaligned with respect to the inner sleeve without adverse effect on performance of the driven member. By absorbing misalignment between the bearing carrier and quill, wear between these members is significantly reduced.

Self-aligning bearing carrier

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Phillip D Yee