Patent ID: 6722600
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: B60R,Y10S

Abstract:
A seat belt retractor including a pretensioner, the retractor comprising:a pipe; a gas generator disposed on one end of the pipe; a piston arranged in the pipe; and a plurality of balls arranged in the pipe; wherein the balls are configured to be moved by the piston as a result of gas pressure produced by the gas generator; wherein the balls are configured to be discharged through an outlet disposed at the other end of the pipe; a guide block fitted to the other end of said pipe to guide the balls to be discharged; a plate held by a pretensioner cover wherein said pipe and said guide block are secured to said plate by a fastening member; and wherein a pretensioner gear and a gear connected to a spool are configured to mesh together when the balls are discharged from the pipe and to rotate in response to the balls being discharged thereby pretensioning a seat belt.