Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a belt spool, at least one locking member which at least largely prevents a belt spool rotation in the case of restraint, and a force limiter. The force limiter opposes a defined force to a rotation of the belt spool on unwinding of the safety belt. Furthermore, a blocking mechanism and an adjusting element for the blocking mechanism are provided. The blocking mechanism is able to be moved by the adjusting element at least partially toward a blocking position. In the blocking position, the blocking mechanism deactivates the force limiter. After a primary impact, a non-used force limiter is force transmitting, or the force limiter or force limiters are deactivated.

Abstract: A compact belt tensioner for use in an occupant restraint system near an end of the webbing fixed to the vehicle body is disclosed. A piston/cylinder linear drive has a pair of opposed pistons and an expansion chamber with a pyrotechnic charge between the pistons. Each piston has an outer end shaped as a webbing engagement member. The belt webbing is looped around the engagement members between the fixed end of the belt and a deflector element mounted on the vehicle body. When the pyrotechnic charge is activated the pistons are driven outwardly, forming a belt loop the length of which is four times the piston stroke.

Abstract: A restraining system for vehicle occupants, the vehicle occupant moving forwardly in case of a head-on impact and, subsequently, rebounds and moves backwardly, comprises a vehicle seat with a seat area and a squab, each of the seat area and the squab being slanted at an angle with respect to the horizontal plane. The restraining system further includes a restraining belt, a belt buckle anchored to the vehicle seat by which the restraining belt is coupled with the vehicle seat so that tension load exerted by the forward movement of the occupant to the restraining belt is transferred to the vehicle seat via the belt buckle in a restraining situation, and a setting device. The setting device is adapted to convert the tension load into a displacing movement of at least a portion of at least one of the seat area and the squab to amend its angle of slant.

Abstract: A force limiting device for use in a safety belt retractor. The retractor has a hollow belt spool. A shaft axially extends through the belt spool. A pair of ratchet wheels are each connected to one axial end of the shaft. An internally threaded nut is coaxially accommodated within and connected to the belt spool for joint rotation and relative axial displacement. The shaft is externally threaded and engaged with the nut. The shaft has an axial abutment, and an energy dissipating sleeve of plastically deformable material is engaged axially between the nut and the axial abutment.

Abstract: An inertial sensor for activating a vehicular passenger restraining system comprises a housing and a sensor body supported in the housing for a sliding translational movement under the action of inertial forces from a rest position to an activating position. A return spring bearing with one end at the sensor body and with the other end at the housing preloads the sensor body towards the rest position. A first one of a pair of electrical contacts is stationary and fixed in the housing. A second one of the pair of electrical contacts is a strip-shaped contact spring closely spaced from the stationary contact and mounted in the housing to be deflectable by the sensor body into contact with the stationary contact.

Abstract: An inertial sensor for activating a vehicular passenger restraining system has a sensor body which is slidably guided translationally in a housing and preloaded in a rest position by a return spring. The sensor body includes an actuating pin for actuating a contact pair which is located in the current circuit of an electric igniter. The preloading force of the return spring is overcome by an acceleration as low as approx. 2 g. Following an initial stroke of approx. 2 mm the movement of the sensor body is counteracted by an additional spring, the spring force of which is several times that of the return spring. The subsequent actuating stroke amounts to only approx. 0.5 mm. With good reliability in preventing malactivation a fast response is achieved.

Abstract: A trip device for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a vehicle responsive inertial mass (12) able to be moved in translation in a housing (10) against a return spring (14) between a neutral position and a trip position. An activating pin (22) is provided for activation of an impact fuse (24).

Abstract: In a restraining system with a safety belt and an inflatable restraining device the restraining force exerted by the belt on the occupant is limited by a force limiter to a level, which is adjustable and can be adapted to the body size and weight of the vehicle occupant. The adjustment of the force level is performed in such a manner that a characteristic of force versus forward displacement of the vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle impact has a section of a falling tendency from a point at which contact between the belt webbing and the inflated restraining device is expected to occur.

Abstract: An inertial sensor for activating a vehicular passenger restraining system comprises a housing, a sensor body supported in the housing for a sliding translational movement under the action of inertial forces from a rest position to an activating position and a return spring preloading the sensor body towards the rest position. A striking pin is displaceably mounted in the housing for activation of an impact igniter. An additional spring is provided which preloads the striking pin towards the impact igniter in a direction transverse to translational movement of the sensor body. A ramp surface is provided on the housing which rises in a direction of sensor body movement towards the activating position. The striking pin has a lateral shoulder resting on the ramp surface and holding the striking pin in a rest position as long as the sensor body has not reached the activating position. The preloading force of the return spring is overcome by an acceleration as low as approximately 2 g.

Abstract: A gas generator for a vehicle occupant restraining system is provided with an ignitor with a propelling charge container containing two charges with different speeds of combustion. The container has a bottom with an aperture, which is normally closed by a blow-out diaphragm. The propelling charge with the lower speed of combustion is arranged in a first chamber exposed to the ignitor. A second chamber containing the propelling charge with the higher speed of combustion is partitioned off by an internal tubular blow-out wall, adapted to be consumed as combustion of the first charge progresses.