Patent ID: 6024383
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: B60R,F16F

Abstract:
An energy converter in a restraining system for vehicle occupants, comprising:a tubular converter body made of plastically deformable material, said converter body having a wall defining a cylindrical bore with a circular cross-section and a longitudinal axis;a piston member slidably received within said converter body;a cable connected to said piston member; anda pair of cylindrical rollers on diametrically opposed sides of said piston member, said piston member having surface means for defining a respective recess for each roller, said surface means including a ramp surface for each recess, each roller being located within said respective recess, each of said rollers having a longitudinal axis which extends perpendicular to the axis of said converter body, each of said rollers being supported on its side which is remote from said wall of said converter body by said respective ramp surface on said piston member, upon movement of said piston member in a first direction said rollers move from a rest position toward an engagement position and engage said wall of said converter body to plastically deform said wall for converting energy, each of said rollers have axial ends, each of said rollers have rounded peripheral edges on each axial end, a radius of curvation of said rounded edges is between about 0.5 to 1.0 mm.