Patent ID: 6360980
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A seat belt webbing retractor comprising:a spool member on which seat belt webbing is wound, said spool member being supported for rotation in a belt retraction direction and an opposite belt withdrawal direction; a plastically deformable torsion bar member having a first portion and a second portion, said second portion of said torsion bar member being rotatable relative to said first portion, said torsion bar member twisting upon rotation of said second portion relative to said first portion; an actuatable spool locking mechanism for when actuated blocking rotation of said spool member in the belt withdrawal direction, said spool locking mechanism including a ratchet member and a pawl movable into locking engagement with said ratchet member to block rotation of said ratchet; one of said spool member and said torsion bar member and said ratchet member having a cutter portion; said spool member being fixed for rotation with said first portion of said torsion bar member and said ratchet member being fixed for rotation with said second portion of said torsion bar member, said torsion bar member thereby resisting rotation of said spool member relative to said ratchet member; said torsion bar member twisting and said spool member rotating in the belt withdrawal direction relative to said ratchet member and said cutter portion of said one of said members cutting into another one of said members to increase the resistance to rotation of said spool member relative to said ratchet member when said spool locking mechanism is actuated and upon the application of tensile force from the seat belt webbing to said spool member in an amount exceeding a predetermined amount; said cutter portion moving into material of said another one of said members to separate some of the material of said another one of said members from said another one of said members; said torsion bar member twisting and said cutter portion cutting at the same time.