An energy absorbing device, a seat belt retractor, and a seat belt device, that can change an energy absorption characteristic continuously, and improve durability. A base plate that is connected to a spool and has a corrugated groove annularly formed, a cover plate that is opposingly connected to the base plate and has a corrugated groove synchronized with the corrugated groove of the base plate, a plurality of driving pins with a first end inserted into the corrugated groove of the base plate and a second end inserted into the corrugated groove of the cover plate, a plurality of mass bodies that are arranged in respective intermediate portions of the driving pins, and intermediate plates that are inserted with the driving pins, arranged on both sides of the mass bodies, and connected to a locking base.

A seat belt retractor includes a belt shaft pivot-mounted in a retractor frame, wherein the belt shaft shows an at least two-part design with a first and a second part. A load limiting device includes at least two parts, which can be moved relative to each other and have teeth, with which they alternately engage and disengage. Each of the parts of the load limiting device is allocated to a different part of the belt shaft. A tensioning device is located on the second part of the belt shaft and, upon activation, abruptly drives the belt shaft in the winding direction. One of the parts of the load limiting device, via a transmission device, is connected in a rotationally-fixed manner to the second part of the belt shaft through the first part, which is a hollow shaft.

An energy absorbing seat belt retractor used with a seat belt assembly of a motor vehicle. The seat belt retractor includes a reel for winding and unwinding the seat belt and an elongated shaft, with the reel attached to the shaft. In one example, a movable disc is connected to and moves longitudinally along the shaft. At least one of the reel or movable disc includes a friction layer providing a friction surface such that when the movable disc is driven axially toward the real there is frictional engagement between the reel and movable disc that absorbs impact energy on the occupant and limits the load applied to the seat belt.

To provide an energy absorption apparatus, a seatbelt retractor, and a seatbelt apparatus that are capable of changing the energy absorption amount according to increases and decreases in the rotation speed between objects that rotate relative to each other and capable of improving endurance. The energy absorption apparatus includes a first plate connected to one of the objects and having a wave-shaped groove formed in an annular shape, a second plate connected to another one of the objects, disposed so as to be adjacent to the first plate, and having a plurality of radial grooves formed at locations that face the wave-shaped groove, a plurality of driving pins that are inserted, at one end, in the wave-shaped groove and inserted, at another end, in the radial grooves, and a plurality of follower bodies that are housed in the wave-shaped groove or the radial grooves and that slide along the wave-shaped groove as the driving pins move.

A tongue for a motor vehicle seat belt restraint system providing high friction restraining belt webbing transfer through the tongue in an impact condition. The tongue incorporates a deformable element which maintains the webbing away from contact with high friction elements in the normal use of the belt system. In a crash condition in which significant tension loads are applied to the belt webbing, the deformable element yields to provide contact between the belt webbing and a high friction surface which restricts the transfer of the webbing from the shoulder belt portion of the webbing to the let belt portion of the webbing which is normally more highly loaded in an impact condition. Several embodiments of deformable elements are described.

A webbing take-up device includes a spool, a lock base that restricts pull-out direction rotation of the spool in a vehicle emergency, and a linear energy absorbing wire that deforms so as to permit pull-out direction rotation of the spool at or above a force limiter load when the lock base has restricted pull-out direction rotation of the spool. The webbing take-up device further includes a housing with which the energy absorbing wire engages along a radial direction inside face of the housing, and a winder section provided at a radial direction inside of the housing. The winder section is capable of rotating together as a unit with the spool, and takes up the energy absorbing wire by being rotated. Moreover, a wire guide and a lever are provided between the winder section and the housing. The wire guide and the lever pinch and deform the energy absorbing wire.

A seat belt retractor includes a belt shaft pivot-mounted in a retractor frame, wherein the belt shaft shows an at least two-part design with a first and a second part. A load limiting device includes at least two parts, which can be moved relative to each other and have teeth, with which they alternately engage and disengage. Each of the parts of the load limiting device is allocated to a different part of the belt shaft. A tensioning device is located on the second part of the belt shaft and, upon activation, abruptly drives the belt shaft in the winding direction. One of the parts of the load limiting device, via a transmission device, is connected in a rotationally-fixed manner to the second part of the belt shaft through the first part, which is a hollow shaft.

A tongue for a motor vehicle seat belt restraint system providing high friction restraining belt webbing transfer through the tongue in an impact condition. The tongue incorporates a deformable element which maintains the webbing away from contact with high friction elements in the normal use of the belt system. In a crash condition in which significant tension loads are applied to the belt webbing, the deformable element yields to provide contact between the belt webbing and a high friction surface which restricts the transfer of the webbing from the shoulder belt portion of the webbing to the let belt portion of the webbing which is normally more highly loaded in an impact condition. Several embodiments of deformable elements are described.

A belt retractor comprising a safety belt reel (1) rotatably mounted on a frame (7) and a load limiter (2) which acts on a rotational movement of the belt reel (1) and has a switchable energy consumption, said load limiter having a granulate (3), which is enclosed in a closed load limiter chamber (8) and consists of dry, granular solid, and at least one rotating member (4) which can be rotated relative to the granulate (3), the energy consumption resulting from shear forces acts between the grains of granulate.

Provided are a seat belt retractor and a seat belt device with which it is possible to improve energy absorption characteristics and a restraining property. The seat belt retractor includes a spool that performs winding of a webbing for restraining an occupant, a shaft inserted through an axial center of the spool, and a locking base connected to the shaft and capable of switching between a rotating state and a non-rotating state. The seat belt retractor further includes a load adjustment member disposed between the shaft and the locking base and that blocks or reduces load transmission in a case where a load equal to or greater than a threshold is applied to the shaft, and an energy absorption device disposed between the spool and the locking base and capable of changing an energy absorption amount according to a relative rotation speed between the spool and the locking base. The energy absorption device is connected in parallel with the load adjustment member.