Abstract: An automatic braking safety belt retractor includes a shaft journalled to a bracket and spring biased in a belt retraction rotating direction. Affixed to the shaft is a take-up reel, and first and second ratchet wheels with the same number of teeth. A first spring retracted pawl is movable into engagement with the first ratchet wheel and a tooth carrying actuating member is slidable along a path tangent to the second ratchet wheel between a retracted first position with the tooth disengaged from the second ratchet wheel, a second position with the tooth engaging the second ratchet wheel, and a ratchet wheel advanced third position. A bracket mounted acceleration sensing pendulum upon actuation shifts the actuating member to its ratchet wheel engaging second position, the belt extraction rotation of the second ratchet wheel advances the actuating member which is coupled to the first pawl to advance the first pawl into engagement with the first ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor reel which is automatically locked against belt extraction in response to certain conditions or manipulation is provided with a mechanism for releasably locking the reel against belt retraction in response to a predetermined manipulation of the belt. The mechanism includes a ratchet wheel rotatable with the reel and a pawl spring biased into engagement with the ratchet wheel to lock the reel against retraction rotation. The pawl has a locking shoulder and a cam edge. An actuator member is slip drive coupled to the reel and has a radial arm carrying a transversely projecting follower which engages the cam surface to retract the pawl with the reel belt extraction rotation. A locking member is slip drive coupled to the reel and has a radial arm carrying a transversely projecting locking element movable out of and into engagement with the locking shoulder with the extraction and retraction rotation of the reel.

Abstract: An automatic braking safety belt retractor reel includes a reel provided with a first ratchet reel rotatable with a shaft and spring biased in a belt retracting direction. A braking pawl is movable into engagement with the ratchet reel by a rockable second ratchet wheel which is advanced by a second pawl pivoted on an inertial wheel and urged into engagement with the ratchet wheel by a cam on the shaft when the inertial wheel lags the rotation of the cam as a result of the rapid shaft acceleration. An armature of magnetic material is mounted on a second pawl and an electromagnet having an annular core, when excited, attracts the armature to prevent the engagement of the second ratchet wheel by the second pawl and the braking of the reel. The electromagnet is excited upon occupation of the seat or closing of the vehicle door and is de-excited upon buckling of the belt.

Abstract: An automatic locking safety belt rewind reel includes a U-shaped bracket supporting a shaft to which is affixed a spring rewound reel having a ratchet wheel end plate and a rockable ratchet wheel locking first pawl is spring biased out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. An internally toothed second ratchet wheel rockably mounted on the shaft is coupled to the first pawl. Carried by the shaft within the internal ratchet wheel is an inertia wheel carrying a second pawl and a cam wheel so related that rapid acceleration of the shaft causes a lag in the inertia wheel rotation, actuation of the two pawls and locking of the reel. In order to permit free unwinding of the reel, a frustoconical annular retractor member is axially movable toward and away from the path of a follower on the second pawl to respectively free and restrain the pawl in its disengaged position and the retractor member is spring biased to its retracted position and solenoid actuated to its advanced pawl retracting position.

Abstract: An automatic locking safety belt retractor includes a bracket supporting a belt retracting reel provided with end first ratchet wheels and a first pawl member swingable into locking engagement with the ratchet wheel and spring biased out of engagement. A second ratchet wheel is rockable relative to the reel and is connected to the first pawl to advance it with advance of the second ratchet wheel. A cam rotates with the reel shaft and a second pawl carrying inertia wheel is rotatable on the shaft, the second pawl engaging the second ratchet wheel when the inertia wheel lags the cam to thereby advance the second ratchet wheel and lock the reel. A third ratchet wheel is rotatable with the inertia wheel and an inertia sensing pendulum, when actuated, advances a locking pawl into locking engagement with the third ratchet wheel to lock the reel. The acceleration required to actuate the pendulum sensor is less than that required to lock the reel, due to the inertia lag of the inertia wheel.

Abstract: A unitary woven composite tube and web includes a tubular section and an interwoven web section which may be formed as a tube, and which is useful for inflatable safety belts and other uses. The composite article is woven wherein the filling runs are successively interwoven with the longitudinal warps along an upper forward first run, a lower return second run below the first run, a third forward run extending to and interweaving the second run at a point intermediate its ends and a return fourth run and the cycle is repeated. Various warp filling weaves may be employed. The tubular section may house a longitudinally extending cable. The filling and warp may be interwoven in any desired pattern.

Abstract: An inflatable hollow belt which is longitudinally self shapeable, includes a woven body having warps on one side of lesser length and greater overall strength than the warps on the other side, and an interwoven weft so that the deflated belt can be compactly collapsed and the inflated belt curves along its length. The belt is produced by weaving the hollow belt with the warps along one side having a relatively high heat shrinkage, and then applying heat to the belt to shrink such warps. The wefts and the longer warps are of sufficient strength to withstand the inflation pressure.