Patent ID: 9555768
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: B60R

Claim:
1. A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a passenger vehicle, the system comprising: a housing adapted for being mounted to a vehicle structure; a tube having an arcuate and curved shape having a first end in fluid communication with a gas generator and a second end in fluid communication with an interior cavity of the housing; a sprocket rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle adapted for taking up seatbelt webbing during pretensioning, the sprocket having a plurality of vanes; at least one driving element disposed within the tube and translatable through the tube in a first direction toward the sprocket in response to an actuation by the generator; a seal member disposed between the generator and the at least one driving element; wherein the tube includes a constriction portion having an opening smaller than the width of adjacent portions of the tube and disposed adjacent the exit, the constriction portion sized to permit the driving element to pass therethrough and to prevent the seal member from passing therethrough.