The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 19, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 20, 2001
Ronald G. Smith, Jr., New Carlisle, OH (US);
Michael L. Oliver, Xenia, OH (US);
William C. Kruckemeyer, Beavercreek, OH (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A seatbelt retractor is operably coupled to a belt dereeling retarder mechanism which utilizes a magnetorheological fluid and a coil for imposing a magnetic field on the fluid to selectively change the fluid properties and a braking or retarding effect imposed on the belt retractor during dereeling or payout of the belt. The retarder may include a piston coupled to a rotatable shaft coupled to the belt retractor reel and displacing fluid through the magnetic field in response to actuation of the belt. Alternate embodiments include a multiple disc brake coupled to the retractor reel through a gear drive speed increaser or a cylindrical housing and core member defining an annular space occupied by the magnetorheological fluid and connected to the belt retractor reel through a speed increasing gear drive.