Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Russell E Hamann

Carl M Petersen, Iii

John B Sparhawk

Daniel F Handman

Christopher S Koprowicz

An apparatus (10) provides electrical power between a seat-mounted appliance (14) in a vehicle and a source of electrical energy in the vehicle without the use of electrical connectors. A vehicle seat (28) is mounted in a vehicle (26). A transformer (12) for transmitting electrical energy to the electrical appliance (14) includes a first portion (18) mounted to the vehicle (26) and a second portion (20) mounted to the vehicle seat (28). The second portion (20) is electrically connected to the electrical appliance (14). A drive circuit (32) for energizing the transformer (12) is electrically connected to the first portion (18) and has an oscillator. Preferably, the first portion (18) of the transformer (12) comprises a primary winding and the second portion (20) of the transformer (12) comprises a secondary winding.

Apparatus for supplying power to the seat of a vehicle

A seat belt retractor (10) comprises a rotatable spool (16) with seat belt webbing (18) wound around the spool. The spool (16) has a longitudinal central axis and is rotatable in a belt unwinding direction (20) about its longitudinal central axis to enable the seat belt webbing (18) to be extended about a vehicle occupant. An actuatable locking mechanism (60), when actuated, prevents the spool (16) from rotating in the belt unwinding direction (20). A toothed wheel (24) is rotatable with the spool (16) about the longitudinal central axis of the spool. The toothed wheel (24) includes at least one coded tooth (26') comprising magnetic material. A pair of magnetic sensors (30, 35) cooperates to sense rotation of the coded tooth (26') about the longitudinal central axis of the spool (16). The locking mechanism (60) actuates to prevent the spool (16) from rotating in the belt unwinding direction (20) when the magnetic sensors (30, 35) provide signals indicating that the coded tooth (26') and the spool have rotated a predetermined number of revolutions in the belt unwinding direction.

Seat belt retractor with a cinch mechanism

A seat belt retractor (10) includes a seat belt storage spool (14) on which a seat belt (16) is wound. The spool 14 is rotatable in belt retraction and belt withdrawal directions (A, B). First and second springs (50, 52) act in series and bias the spool (14) to rotate in the belt retraction direction. A ratchet wheel (54) is connected between the first and second springs (50, 52) and blocks the spring force of the first spring (50) from biasing the spool (14) in the belt retraction direction. The ratchet wheel (54) has a plurality of teeth (78). The ratchet wheel (54) is rotatable when blocking of the spring force of the first spring (50) does not occur and is stationary when blocking does occur. A pawl (56) is movable by an actuator (60) for selectively engaging a tooth (78) of said ratchet wheel (54) to prevent rotation of said ratchet wheel (54). An inertia mass member (81) is mounted on the ratchet wheel (54) to increase the overall rotational inertia of the ratchet wheel (54) and thereby retard the rotational velocity of the ratchet wheel (54) upon release of the pawl (56) from the ratchet wheel (54).

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Russell E Hamann