Patent ID: 6209916
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B60R,C08L

Abstract:
A load limiting device for use with a vehicle safety restraint having seat belt webbing attached to a structural part of a vehicle, the load limiting device comprising a container that is a cylinder defining a flow path for a fluid, an actuator that is a piston arranged within the container and operable to act on the fluid, and a restriction in the flow path of the fluid, either the piston or cylinder is attached to an end of the belt webbing and the other is attached to the structural part of the vehicle, wherein the actuator is movable within the container under the action of a load transmitted to the webbing from a vehicle occupant, to move the fluid through the restriction in the flow path to dissipate a portion of the load on the webbing, and a feedback pipe external to the cylinder to feed fluid under pressure from a high pressure side of the piston to a low pressure side of the piston.