Safety belt retractor

Claim 2

An automatic locking retractor comprising a spring biased retractor reel including a shaft rotatable therewith, a first ratchet wheel rotatable with said reel, a brake first pawl member rockable between positions engaging and disengaging said first ratchet wheel, an internally toothed second ratchet wheel journalled on said shaft, means coupling said second ratchet wheel to said first pawl member to rock said pawl member to first ratchet wheel engage position with a predetermined rotation of said second ratchet reel, a fly wheel freely rotatable on said shaft, a second pawl member mounted on said fly wheel and rockable between positions engaging and disengaging said second ratchet wheel and spring biased to a ratchet disengage position and including a follower portion and a cam member mounted on and rotatable by said shaft in engagement with said follower portion to shift said second pawl member into engagement with said second ratchet wheel upon said fly wheel lagging the rotation of said cam member whereby to rock said second ratchet wheel and advance said first pawl member into engagement with said first ratchet wheel.

Claim 3

The retrator of claim 1 wherein said second ratchet wheel is cap shaped, including an end wall having a central bearing defining opening engaging said shaft.

Claim 4

The retractor of claim 2 wherein said second ratchet wheel end wall has a radially extending slot formed therein and said coupling means comprises an arm extending transversely from said first pawl member and being rockable therewith and a pin mounted on said arm spaced from said first pawl member and slideably engaging said slot.

Claim 5

The retractor of claim 1 wherein said fly wheel and second pawl are surrounded by and located within said second ratchet wheel.

Claim 6

The retractor of claim 1, including a friction drive means coupling said cam to said shaft and comprising a pressure plate mounted on said shaft and an undulate annular spring coaxial with said shaft and entrapped between and compressed by confronting faces of said cam wheel and pressure plate.

Claim 7

The retractor of claim 5 wherein said cam member comprises a cam wheel having a circular well formed in the face thereof confronting said pressure plate, said annular spring nesting in and projecting beyond said well.

Claim 8

The retractor of claim 1 comprising a U-shaped bracket including opposite side legs, said retractor reel and shaft being journalled between and said shaft projecting beyond said side legs and said second ratchet wheel, fly wheel, second pawl member, cam wheel and coupling means being positioned along an outside face of one of said bracket side legs.

Claim 9

An emergency locking belt take-up device comprising a U-shaped frame, a pawl lever provided on the outside of one leg of said U-shaped frame, an internal gear latch wheel, an inertia wheel, a cam wheel, a corrugated coil spring, a pressure plate, a catch provided on said inertia wheel, a pair of ratchets mounted within and proximate the inside of both legs of said frame and a pawl across between said frame legs and adjacent to said ratchets, and characterized in that: on the emergent rapid speed changes of vehicle experienced, said catch supported, by said inertia wheel engages securely said internal gear latch wheel without excessive resistance to have said internal gear latch wheel rotationally driven by said catch with the cause of slower operational revolving inertia wheel than said cam wheel revolution and said can wheel rotation frictionally braked by said pressure plate and said corrugated coil spring to result in having said internal gear latch wheel turned by said catch for making said pawl engaging ratchet through said pawl lever and said pawl itself and finally to prevent withdrawing of said safety belt for protecting the seat occupant by said restraining, but one the other normal running of vehicle, said safety belt being taken up and withdrawn without resistance.

Claim 10

An emergency locking belt take-up device comprising a U-shaped frame, a pawl lever provided on the outside of one leg of said U-shaped frame, an internal gear latch wheel, an inertia wheel, a cam wheel, a corrugated coil spring, a pressure plate, a catch provided on said inertia wheel, a pair of ratchets mounted within and proximate the inside of both legs of said frame and a pawl across between said frame legs and adjacent to said ratchets, and characterized in that: on the emergent rapid speed changes of vehicle experienced, said catch supported, by said inertia wheel engages securely said internal gear latch wheel without excessive resistance to have said internal gear latch wheel rotationally driven by said catch with the cause of slower operational revolving inertia wheel than said cam wheel revolution and said can wheel rotation frictionally braked by said pressure plate and said corrugated coil spring to result in having said internal gear latch wheel turned by said catch for making said pawl engaging ratchet through said pawl lever and said pawl itself and finally to prevent withdrawing of said safety belt for protecting the seat occupant by said restraining, but one the other normal running of vehicle, said safety belt being taken up and withdrawn without resistance.