Electrically actuatable locking mechanism for a seat belt retractor

摘要

A seat belt retractor comprises a spindle having seat belt webbing wound thereon. The spindle is supported for rotation in belt withdrawal and belt retraction directions. A member is movable between a first position in which the spindle is free to rotate in the belt withdrawal direction and a second position in which the spindle is blocked from rotating in the belt withdrawal direction. A permanent magnet is fixed to the member. An energizable electromagnet includes a core located adjacent the permanent magnet for attracting the permanent magnet to thereby move the member to one of its first and second positions when the electromagnet is de-energized. The core repels the permanent magnet to thereby move the member to the other one of its first and second positions upon energization of said electromagnet.