Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a spool, a single spring adapted to impart a rotational force to the spool to wind the seat belt onto the spool, and a mechanism to cause the spring to apply to the spool a first force, which is a relatively high force, only during the initial stages of extraction of the seat belt from the spool and during the final stages of retraction of seat belt onto the spool, and to apply a second lower force to the spool during the remaining part of the cycle of operation of the spool.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cold-gas pyrotechnic generator of the type having a casing including a base and a cover with an internal chamber accessed by a central opening for the reception of pyrotechnic elements includes the steps of placing the cover on the base with filtering material inserted, rotating the casing while introducing the pyrotechnic elements through the central opening and then inserting an ignition device in the central opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cold-gas pyrotechnic generator, in particular intended for automobile safety, as well as a method for manufacturing this generator.The generator according to the invention comprises a casing (2) of revolution consisting of a base (10) and a cover (20) establishing:a central channel (80) in which an ignition device is placed,an annular intermediate chamber (70) containing elements (40) of a gas-generating pyrotechnic composition,a peripheral annular chamber (60) containing a filter.A continuous lateral opening (71) is provided between the central channel (80) and the intermediate chamber (70).The method for manufacturing a generator of this type consists in assembling the cover (20) with the base (10) containing the filter by friction welding, in placing the casing (2) thus formed onto a lathe and in introducing, after setting in rotation, the pyrotechnic elements (40) into the chamber (70) through the opening (71) and, lastly, in installing the ignition device.

Abstract: A braking device for braking the saw chain of a portable motor-driven chain saw having a safety device which has a mass member, a locking lever being provided which is pivotably mounted on the hand guard lever and bears the mass member at its free, sprung end, co-operating by its other end with a control cam which bears against the brake lever and via which the braking operation of the rotating saw chain is controlled, in such a way that the braking operation of the rotating saw chain is automatically initiated, if an uncontrolled acceleration takes place, by the saw rolling down the timber trunk to be sawn at the moment when the saw becomes jammed, with the consequence that the resulting braking force counteracts the accelerating force, so that the recoil angle of the saw is reduced.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch having an internal drum surface on a driven member with friction shoe members displaceable on a driving member to and from said drum surface but normally drawn away therefrom by resilient means and each having an opening with a cam shaft extending therethrough, each cam shaft being rotatable in elongated openings in said driving member and having a lever extending towards said drum surface and another lever pivotally mounted on said clutch and positioned for engaging said first levers when desired to pivot said first levers from said drum surface and allow said resilient means to move said shoe members from said drum surface even when said driving member is rotating at a speed that normally would cause said shoe members, due to centrifugal force, to engage said drum surface.