Nsk Corporation

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Sadanori Osumi

Kiyoshi Ogawa

Toshifumi Taguchi

Mutsumu Haraoka

A retractor having a clamp is provided for use in a seat belt system. The retractor comprises a base, a take-up spindle rotatably supported on the base, a webbing wound on the take-up spindle, a clamp movement limiting member, a holding mechanism for holding the clamp movement limiting member on a base via a plastically deformable member, the clamp movable between a first position where the clamp holds the webbing between itself and the clamp movement limiting member and a second position wherein the clamp permits free passing of the webbing, a transmitting member for bringing the clamp from the second position to the first position in response to rotation of the take-up spindle in a webbing releasing direction, and a connecting member for releasably connecting the transmitting member to the take-up spindle. When the clamp is brought to the first position by the transmitting member and a pulling force of at least a predetermined value is then applied to the webbing, the plastically deformable member undergoes deformation while maintaining a webbing clamping force, thereby permitting movement of the clamp movement limiting member in the webbing releasing direction.

Retractor having a clamp

In a retractor with a clamping mechanism, when a tension exceeding a predetermined value acting on a webbing in a vehicle emergency, a guide member moves in the webbing draw-out direction while plastically deforming a holding device, with the movement of a clamp member in the webbing draw-out direction. After the removal of the guide member, the guide member moves in the webbing draw-out direction while plastically deforming the holding device for preventing its movement. At the same time, the webbing is tightened on the winding shaft. Further, in an initial stage of holding the webbing by the clamping mechanism, the clamp member holds the webbing with all of clamp teeth formed on the clamp member, thereby preventing the draw-out of the webbing. When a tension acting on the webbing after the webbing is held exceeds a predetermined value, plastic deformation of the guide member for guiding the clamp member starts. The clamp member which holds the webbing moves along the webbing. Through the movement of these member, kinetic energy transferred from the occupant to the webbing is absorbed to thereby hold back an increase of the tensile force acting on the webbing.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Sadanori Osumi