Patent ID: 6216973
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A seat belt retractor comprising:a seat belt webbing spool supported for rotation in a belt withdrawal direction and an opposite belt retraction direction;a member supported for rotation relative to said spool;means for blocking rotation of said spool in the belt withdrawal direction in response to relative rotation of said member and said spool;an electrically actuatable clamp movable upon application of an electric current between a first condition not clamping said member and a second condition clamping said member and thereby restraining rotation of said member; means for mounting said clamp; andtwo actuator pads separated by said member and mounted on said clamp, said actuator pads each changing thickness in response to the flow of electric current through said actuator pads to abut opposite sides of said member and to apply damping force against each of said opposite sides of said member,said clamp being adapted to move axially and compensate for non-uniform changes in thickness of said actuator pads.