摘要 |
A seatbelt pretensioner mechanism (10) for use with a seatbelt retractor (11). The retractor (11) has a spool (16) configured for winding a seatbelt webbing thereon. The pretensioner mechanism (10) includes a movable actuator member (22) slidably coupled to the retractor spool (16), a stationary member (20) secured to the retractor (11) along a path of slidable movement of the movable member (22), and a base member (50) slidably coupled to the actuator (22) and to the stationary member (20). Helical splines (23) extend along a portion of the spool (16), and one or more complementary pins (25) extend along a first portion of the movable member (22) for slidingly engaging the splines (23) on the spool (16). Pins (28) also extend along a second portion of the movable member (22), and complementary helical splines (29) extend along a portion of the base member (50) for slidingly engaging the pins (28) on the second portion of the movable member (22). Activation of the pretensioner mechanism (10) produces a sliding movement of the movable member (22), thereby producing simultaneous sliding engagement between the groups of pins and helical splines. A coupling mechanism (80) restricts rotation of the base member (50) during sliding engagement between the splines and pins. Simultaneous sliding engagement between the complementary groups of helical splines produces a rotation of the spool (16) with respect to the stationary member (20), thereby pretensioning a seatbelt webbing wound on the spool (16). |