Sea-belt retractor assembly - has control mechanism changing torque on spool depending on whether belt is in use or is taken off

摘要

The design proposes a retractor assembly which acts on the seat-belt spool with a varying amount of torque depending on whether the belt is in use or whether it is taken off. The mechanism consists of a frame (1) in which a shaft (2) is fitted for the oncoiling of the seat-belt (4). The mechanism is fitted with a spring assembly consisting of a spring (8) with its end (8a) anchored on the frame and a further spring (6) with its end (6c) connected with the shaft. The two springs are arranged in series. The mechanism is fitted with a control device controlling the amount of torque acting onto the shaft according to the functional state of the seat-belt. The control device comprises a ratchet wheel (7) seated rotatingly on the shaft (2) accommodating the ends (8b, 6a) of springs (8) and (6) further catch (13) which selectively engages with one of the teeth on ratchet wheel (7) and causes the spring assembly to act with a reduced torque on the shaft.