An adaptive load-limiting seatbelt assembly for a passenger vehicle includes a rotatable spool drum storing a length of seatbelt fabric and a piezoelectric device including a controller that can dynamically control torque applied to the spool drum resisting pay-out of the seatbelt from the spool drum during a dynamic event such as a vehicle crash.

A mechanism that limits pulling out of a webbing from a spool is electrically activated. A webbing take-up device is provided with the spool, a pawl, magnets, and a coil. In a case in which displaced to a locking position, the pawl locks rotation of the spool in the pull-out direction. The magnets are fixed to the pawl. The coil is formed by winding of a conductive wire and is disposed in close proximity with the magnets. The pawl is displaced or urged by electric current being applied to the coil.

A mechanism that limits pulling out of a webbing from a spool is electrically activated. A webbing take-up device is provided with the spool, a pawl, magnets, and a coil. In a case in which displaced to a locking position, the pawl locks rotation of the spool in the pull-out direction. The magnets are fixed to the pawl. The coil is formed by winding of a conductive wire and is disposed in close proximity with the magnets. The pawl is displaced or urged by electric current being applied to the coil.

A vehicle seatbelt device includes a ratchet wheel rotatable together with a spool in an integrated manner, and an engagingly locking portion. When the spool is rotated in a drawing direction at an angular acceleration larger than a predetermined angular acceleration, the engagingly locking portion is displaced radially outwardly so as to be engagingly locked by an engagingly locked portion. Hereby, rotation of the spool in the drawing direction is locked. Here, a control rod is placed axially outward of the engagingly locking portion. The control rod is displaced in the radial direction along with movement of the locking-inhibition movable portion. Along with the displacement of the control rod, a collar member is displaced axially to a restriction position. At the restriction position, the collar member enters a rotation raceway of the engagingly locking portion so as to restrict the engagingly locking portion from being displaced radially outwardly.

A vehicle seatbelt device includes a ratchet wheel rotatable together with a spool in an integrated manner, and an engagingly locking portion. When the spool is rotated in a drawing direction at an angular acceleration larger than a predetermined angular acceleration, the engagingly locking portion is displaced radially outwardly so as to be engagingly locked by an engagingly locked portion. Hereby, rotation of the spool in the drawing direction is locked. Here, a control rod is placed axially outward of the engagingly locking portion. The control rod is displaced in the radial direction along with movement of the locking-inhibition movable portion. Along with the displacement of the control rod, a collar member is displaced axially to a restriction position. At the restriction position, the collar member enters a rotation raceway of the engagingly locking portion so as to restrict the engagingly locking portion from being displaced radially outwardly.

Unnecessary locking of rotation of a spool is suppressed. A webbing take-up device is provided with a spool, a pawl and a small pawl. The pawl is displaceable between an allowing position and a locking position. When a rotation speed of the spool in a pull-out direction exceeds a predetermined speed, the pawl displaces from the allowing position to the locking position and locks rotation of the spool in the pull-out direction. The small pawl is displaceable between a pawl limiting position and a lock position. In a state in which the small pawl is disposed at the pawl limiting position, the small pawl limits displacement of the pawl to a locking position side thereof. In a state in which the small pawl is disposed at the lock position, the small pawl locks rotation of the spool in the pull-out direction.

Unnecessary locking of rotation of a spool is suppressed. A webbing take-up device is provided with a spool, a pawl and a small pawl. The pawl is displaceable between an allowing position and a locking position. When a rotation speed of the spool in a pull-out direction exceeds a predetermined speed, the pawl displaces from the allowing position to the locking position and locks rotation of the spool in the pull-out direction. The small pawl is displaceable between a pawl limiting position and a lock position. In a state in which the small pawl is disposed at the pawl limiting position, the small pawl limits displacement of the pawl to a locking position side thereof. In a state in which the small pawl is disposed at the lock position, the small pawl locks rotation of the spool in the pull-out direction.

Described herein is a device comprising members in a kinematic relationship. The kinematic relationship is at least partially governed by at least one magnetic flux interaction that, in effect, may provide a tunable resistance to movement, changing the rate of relative movement between the members. In one embodiment, the device comprises a first member in a kinematic relationship with at least one further member to form a system. The system moves within a limited range of motion and the system interacts when an external energizing force is imposed on the system causing the members to respond due to their kinematic and dynamic characteristics and thereby creating relative motion between the members. The trigger member is coupled to the at least the first member and moves in response to a pre-determined system movement. When the trigger member moves, the trigger member imposes a braking action on the system or a member or members thereof. The speed and/or intensity of the braking action imposed by the trigger member on the system or a member or members thereof is controlled by the trigger member rate of movement. This rate of movement is in turn governed by a magnetic flux interaction between the trigger member and the at least one first member causing formation of a magnetically induced eddy current force between the parts.

Described herein is a device comprising members in a kinematic relationship. The kinematic relationship is at least partially governed by at least one magnetic flux interaction that, in effect, may provide a tunable resistance to movement, changing the rate of relative movement between the members. In one embodiment, the device comprises a first member in a kinematic relationship with at least one further member to form a system. The system moves within a limited range of motion and the system interacts when an external energizing force is imposed on the system causing the members to respond due to their kinematic and dynamic characteristics and thereby creating relative motion between the members. The trigger member is coupled to the at least the first member and moves in response to a pre-determined system movement. When the trigger member moves, the trigger member imposes a braking action on the system or a member or members thereof. The speed and/or intensity of the braking action imposed by the trigger member on the system or a member or members thereof is controlled by the trigger member rate of movement. This rate of movement is in turn governed by a magnetic flux interaction between the trigger member and the at least one first member causing formation of a magnetically induced eddy current force between the parts.

Described herein is a device comprising members in a kinematic relationship. The kinematic relationship is at least partially governed by at least one magnetically induced force that introduces a force threshold that, in effect, provides a threshold to part movement and confers a degree of hysteresis, preventing movement until a sufficiently large energizing force is applied. The effect may be further altered by use of an additional magnetically induced force interaction with at least one further member to urge or slow movement once started and/or to prevent movement once a new position is reached.