Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for selectively adjusting the maximum payout of a tether from a reel assembly. The maximum payout can be selected by the user via a dial indicator on the end of the apparatus. By rotating the dial, an internal pawl is positioned relative to an associated ring gear. The ring gear includes a cut-out about its peripheral edge. The shaft of the reel assembly is rotatably interconnected to the ring gear via a series of gear reductions. After a predetermined about of tether has been paid out, the pawl encounters the cut-out about the ring gear. This, in turn, causes the pawl to engage the reel shaft to prevent further rotation. The maximum payout is determined by the initial spacing between the pawl and the cut-out.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a restraint system is described for restraining a standing occupant in a vehicle such as a plane or helicopter. The restraint system includes a webbing strap that winds and unwinds from a spool assembly. The spool assembly includes a trigger assembly that locks a spool from rotation, a manual release assembly for manually releasing the trigger assembly and lock, and an adjustable payout assembly that determines the maximum length that the webbing strap can be pulled out before stopping (i.e., the number of rotations of the spool). The trigger assembly can trigger the lock assembly from one or more sensors. Further, the trigger assembly can be arranged to automatically unlock after a triggering event, manually unlocked after a triggering event or a combination of the two for different sensors.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for selectively adjusting the maximum payout of a tether from a reel assembly. The maximum payout can be selected by the user via a dial indicator on the end of the apparatus. By rotating the dial, an internal pawl is positioned relative to an associated ring gear. The ring gear includes a cut-out about its peripheral edge. The shaft of the reel assembly is rotatably interconnected to the ring gear via a series of gear reductions. After a predetermined about of tether has been paid out, the pawl encounters the cut-out about the ring gear. This, in turn, causes the pawl to engage the reel shaft to prevent further rotation. The maximum payout is determined by the initial spacing between the pawl and the cut-out.

Abstract: A belt retractor for a safety belt system includes a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, a force limiter, a locking mechanism which couples the belt reel in a restraint case to the frame via the force limiter, and a belt webbing unwinding measuring means which includes a signal transmitter and at least one sensor. The sensor is associated with the signal transmitter and detects a change in a magnetic field. At least upon activation of the locking mechanism the signal transmitter is coupled to the belt reel such that it generates a signal upon rotation of the belt reel.

Abstract: A belt retractor for a safety belt system has a belt spool and a belt webbing withdrawal measurement arrangement, which has a control disk, a magnetic sensor element and a magnetic cogwheel driven by the control disk and constructed as a separate part. In addition, a method is described to determine the belt webbing withdrawal in a belt retractor.

Abstract: A safety belt roll-up mechanism is provided, and includes a force limitation device that operates in a multi-stage manner and has a two-stage torque rod and a pyrotechnically operating switching device that couples the torque rod, in various clamping lengths, with a belt shaft. The extent of the belt strap unwound from the belt shaft is utilized for actuation of the force limitation device. A ratchet wheel is connected to the belt shaft via a reduction gear mechanism. A portion of the periphery of the ratchet wheel has a toothing for engaging the reduction gear mechanism. A further portion of the periphery of the ratchet wheel has a switching contour that rests against a contact pin of an electric switch. The switching contour has a profile that effects the connection or disconnection of the switching device for the torque rod.

Abstract: A security device comprising a retaining member forming an adjustable loop, including a cable; a ratchet member connected to the cable, operable to narrow the loop and to prevent widening of the loop, including a first main part comprising a gear ring extending in a first plane with a saw tooth profile raised from the plane, a second main part, rotatable relative to the first main part, including a latch member biased towards the first plane to engage the gear ring, and a drum for winding up of the cable.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a restraint system is described for restraining a standing occupant in a vehicle such as a plane or helicopter. The restraint system includes a webbing strap that winds and unwinds from a spool assembly. The spool assembly includes a trigger assembly that locks a spool from rotation, a manual release assembly for manually releasing the trigger assembly and lock, and an adjustable payout assembly that determines the maximum length that the webbing strap can be pulled out before stopping (i.e., the number of rotations of the spool). The trigger assembly can trigger the lock assembly from one or more sensors. Further, the trigger assembly can be arranged to automatically unlock after a triggering event, manually unlocked after a triggering event or a combination of the two for different sensors.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a spool for carrying seat belt webbing rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axle and biased in a seat belt webbing rewinding direction. A toothed ratchet wheel is mounted to rotate with the spool. A sensor is provided for detecting an emergency condition, and a vehicle acceleration sensor lever is responsive to the sensor to engage the ratchet wheel in an emergency. The retractor can operate in a first, emergency locking mode in which the spool is not locked and can rotate to pay-out and to rewind seat belt webbing. In a second, automatic locking mode the spool is locked against pay-out of the seat belt webbing. A switching means has a subassembly attached to an end of the seat belt retractors. The subassembly has an axially directed spring to reduce axial spacing between the housing, an eccentric cam and axially adjacent disks.

Abstract: A leash assembly for an animal leash that can be wound up and unwound is provided. The leash assembly features a housing (11) and a roll (12) that is rotatably supported in the housing, and the leash (13) can be unwound from this roll against the force of a spring and wound up on the roll with the aid of this spring force. The roll cooperates with a gear mechanism that drives a plate cam. The plate cam releases a pawl that can be engaged with the roll and stops the rotation of the roll in the unwinding direction once a predetermined length of the leash is unwound.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of installing a barrier device at a passageway. The method includes attaching a barrier housing containing a retractable barrier to a structural element on one side of the passageway, extending the barrier a desired distance from the barrier housing, with the barrier so extended, setting an extension limit of the barrier to prevent subsequent extension of the barrier beyond the desired distance from the barrier housing and, with the extension limit set, retracting the barrier into the housing. The set extension limit can permit subsequent retraction and re-extension of the barrier up to the set extension limit.

Abstract: In a belt retractor the absolute angle of rotation of the belt reel is sensed by an incremental counter. The incremental counter is calibrated by sensing the angle of rotation of a control disc coupled to the belt reel by a reduction gear unit. The count of the incremental counter represents the absolute angle of rotation of the belt reel with high accuracy. Various components of a restraint system are controlled as a function of the thus measured absolute angle of rotation of the belt reel.

Abstract: A belt retractor has a frame (1; 101), a belt reel rotatably mounted about an axis in the frame, a control disc (10; 110) coaxial with the belt reel and a reduction gear unit (7, 15, 16) which translates rotation the belt reel into a reduced rotation of the control disc. The control disc has a cutout window (11; 111) between a pair of detector elements. The first (8; 108) of these detector elements is connected to the belt reel for joint rotation and the second (12; 112, 113, 114, 115, 116) is arranged as fixed relative to the frame. The window is located on the same radius as said detector elements relative to the axis. The arrangement provides a precise measurement of the absolute angle of rotation of the belt reel.