GB2364518A

GB2364518A - Seatbelt retractor pawl device

Info

Publication number: GB2364518A
Application number: GB0122456A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ki-Young Bae
Original assignee: Delphi Automotive Systems Sungwoo Corp
Current assignee: Delphi Automotive Systems Sungwoo Corp
Priority date: 1999-12-09
Filing date: 2000-01-10
Publication date: 2002-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-10
Also published as: GB2364518B; GB0122456D0

Abstract

A vehicle seatbelt retractor comprises a frame (10, Fig 1), a spool (20, fig 1) and a webbing control device including a locking element (40, Fig 1), a clutch wheel (60, Fig 1), and a pawl device (200, Fig 1). The pawl device comprises a mounting 110, a standing weight 120 with a lower portion 123 having a smaller diameter than an upper portion 121 such that the weight rocks from side to side from a normal upright position, a first permanent magnet 130 on an upper surface of the weight and a pawl lever 140 pivotally mounted in the mounting. The pawl lever has a second permanent magnet 150 opposed to the first permanent magnet, such that when the vehicle is in an abnormal state the standing weight is slanted from the normal upright position and the repelling force between the first and second magnets causes the pawl lever to move into engagement with a tooted portion (64, Fig 4) of the clutch wheel.

Description

2364518 VEHICULAR SEATBELT RETRACTOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicular seatbelt and, more particularly, to a retractor for such a seatbelt, in which prevention of the winding and release of a seatbelt about a retractor spool can be performed during an abnormal driving state (e.g., collision, or roll-over) of a vehicle.

Discussion of the Related Art It is a well-known technology in this field that a seatbelt retractor provides the webbing to facilitate wearing of the seatbelt by an occupant and prevents drawing-out of the webbing in an emergency or abnormal state of the vehicle. However, a problem in this technical field is the timely detection of the abnormal state of the vehicle. To do so, a webbing sensor for detecting accelerated pulling-out of the webbing and a motion (inertia) sensor for detecting the abnormal state of the vehicle during driving due to any sudden and/or severe disruption in travelling speed, for example due to the impact of a collision, have been developed to supplement their relative disadvantages. The detection of accelerated pulling-out of the webbing, including the response tirne, must comply with the various regulations of any given state. The vehicle also must function despite abrupt cornering during running or in a slanted street or off-road conditions.

Typical is US-A-3,819,126. This discloses a seatbelt retractor with a gear wheel actuated locking means, which comprises a supporter, a reel means rotatably mounted on the side wall of the supporter, an elongated flexible seatbelt connected to the reel means, a bias means pressing the reel means in a winding direction and a locking member mounted on the reel means to be pivoted between a locking position for preventing the rotation of the reel in the unwinding direction and a pair of release positions for allowing the reel to be rotated in the unwinding direction.

Additionally, a clutch plate is slidably mounted between the side wall of the support and a ratchet and includes a conical spring mounted on the reel between the clutch plate and the support sidewall to urge the clutch plate toward frictional engagement with the ratchet. The clutch plate includes a first stop mounted on the reel to be arranged on the path of motion of the locking member. The first stop disables the locking member as the belt is being unwound from a fully w ound position.

A disabling member is rotatably mounted on a pin carried on the end of the reel and includes a finger received in a slot in the support for limiting the rotational displacement, a resilient arm connected to the support to bias it in the winding direction, an arm having an enlargement connected through an opening of the locking member and ridges forming a cam of three protrusions spaced equidistantly about its center, so that it rotates through the reel as the first stop is being moved out of the path of motion of the locking member.

A wheel is rotatably mounted on the pin adjacent the disabling member and includes an annular series of regularly spaced teeth formed concentrically about the axis of rotation of the pins, a second stop constituted as a radial enlargement for engaging the locking member in its intermediate release position, a planar surface facing the disabling member, three rounded conical projections engaging the ridges and a resilient arm having a finger formed at its one end and received in an opening in the support to bias the wheel both toward the disabling member. The other end of the wheel has a foot for engaging a shoulder carried by the wheel to position the second stop to abut the locking member in its intermediate release position. The second stop disables the reel-locking device when the belt is rapidly released or unwounded from the retractor or the vehicle is in the abnormal state.

An actuator is mounted with a press fit on a pin adjacent the wheel and includes three resilient elongated pawls which are radially movable between inner and outer positions and a cylindrical shoulder rotatably supporting an inertia wheel. The inertia wheel carries three pins engaging the free ends of the pawls and has a mass selected such that it normally rotates with the actuator.

An inertia operated means is mounted adjacent the inertia wheel and includes a housing mounted on the support and a metal ball disposed in the housing to be movable on a conical base. A lever is pivotally mounted on a pin and includes a flag disposed in the opening in contact with the ball and a permanent magnet disposed adjacent the inertia wheel. The arrangement is such that when the reel is rotated in the unwinding direction by a pulling effort on the belt the inertia wheel rotates slightly with respect to the actuator to cause the pin to cam pawls radially outwardly to mate with the teeth. At that time, the wheel is connected to the reel so as to be rotated in the unwinding direction, and a Therefore, as the reel rotates rapidly in the unwinding direction by the pulling out the belt, the inertia wheel rotates slightly with respect to the actuator to cause the pins to cam the pawls radially outwardly to mate with the teeth. The wheel is then connected to the reel so as to be rotated in the unwinding direction. A relatively small rotation of the second stop permits the locking member to be moved by the spring toward the ratchets and a locking position that prevents further unwinding of the belt.

In the abnormal state of the vehicle, the ball becomes unseated from the opening to permit the magnet of the lever to engage the inertia wheel and thereby actuate the pawls. At that time, the reel rotates in the unwinding direction so that the pawl is engaged with the wheel, and the locking member engages the ratchets, thereby withholding further webbing of the belt.

In order to release the locking member from the ratchets, a small amount of the belt is wound on the reel to rotate the second stop in the winding direction so as to return the locking member to its immediate position. This motion of the reel in the winding direction also rotates the actuator with respect to the inertia wheel to return the pawls to their normal inner position.

However, the seatbelt retracting device has a disadvantage in that the clutch plate, the disabling member and the wheel are required so that the locking member engaged with the ratchets of the reel should be fixed on the normal position. For example, the clutch plate is mounted between the reel ratchet and the support to be biassed by the spring so that the first stop supports the locking member in a pushing direction. The resilient arm of the disabling member is connected to the support in the winding direction and the enlargement of the arm is fitted into the opening of the locking member to support the locking member in the unwinding direction. The wheel includes the resilient arm and the second stop, in which the resilient arm has a finger at the outer end to be supported in the opening of the support to bias the, wheel toward the disabling member and has a foot for positioning the second stop to abut the locking member in its intermediate release position.

Therefore, in order to control the retraction and release of the webbing, the first stop of the clutch plate determines the position of the locking member, and the second stop of the wheel disables the locking member.

Such a seatbelt retracting device has a rapid response speed in detecting the webbing and a superior restraint force of an occupant during driving in an off-road environment. However, the inertia operated means of the vehicle motion sensor has a complex operation of the reel or ratchets, cooperating with the inertia wheel. There is a risk that the rotation restraining of the reel may be retarded.

Another technology that resolves this advantage and prevents release of the webbing at a rapid speed per international standards is US-A-5,507, 448.

A seatbelt retractor comprises a ratchet wheel rotatable with respect to a spool, a pawl member for selectively braking the spool with respect to one rotation direction and a device for detecting the rotation amount of the spool and braking the ratchet wheel at over a predetermined amount of rotation, thereby preventing the excessive release of the webbing. One pawl engages the ratchet wheel in response to the operation of the webbing senor, and as a locking ring with a slot is rotated during the operating of that the webbing releasing preventing device, the pawl stops the ratchet wheel to prevent further release of the webbing.

The seatbelt retractor has a disadvantage in that it cannot meet with the rollover phenomena of a vehicle in an off-road environment, etc., because the webbing sensor is adjusted to have a predetermined response time to an abnormal state of the vehicle. In other words, the webbing restraint can be performed only after a predetermined delay time has elapsed. This means that the seatbelt retractor allows some amount of webbing release.

In view of these points, it is preferable to respond to the operation of the webbing sensor simultaneously and to provide the advantages of a webbing sensor that overcomes the rollover phenomena in an off-road condition and an inertia sensor which is reliable in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular seatbelt retractor for simultaneously or selectively performing the operations of detecting the release acceleration of the webbing and an abnormal state such as collision.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular seatbelt retractor for preventing release of the webbing directly in response to detection of webbing acceleration. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular seatbelt retractor for preventing release of the webbing directly in response to the detection of an abnormal state of the vehicle. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular seatbelt retractor for preventing the releasing of the webbing in response to detectio n at the same time or separately of webbing acceleration and an abnormal state of the vehicle. According to the present invention, vehicle seat belt retractor for winding and releasing web from a spool comprises: a frame; a spool; a webbing control device including a locking element and a clutch wheel; the webbing control device further comprising: a pawl device comprising: a mounting; a standing weight; a first permanent magnet on an upper surface of the weight; a lower portion of the weight having a smaller diameter and having a neck portion engaged in a seating hole in the mounting to allow the standing weights to rock from side to side from a normal upright position, a pawl lever pivotally mounted in the mounting and having a balancing weight and an operating lever adapted to engage a toothed portion of the clutch wheel the operating level having a second permanent magnet opposed to the first permanent magnet with the opposing surfaces having the same magnetic polarity wherein in an abnormal state the standing weight is slanted from the normal position to generate a repelling force to move the second magnet upwardly causing the pawl lever to engage the toothed portion of the clutched wheel. The vehicular seatbelt retractor may further comprise a webbing control device including the locking element cooperating with the sprocket of the spool, the retainer enabling the locking element to perform the movement of a pendulum, the mass member received in the retainer to enable at least one its latch to transfer its rotational force to the retainer and the clutch wheel enabling the wing latch to be contacted with the first tooth portion when coupled with the mass member and to be passed over the saw top of the first tooth portion at the time of webbing acceleration.

The vehicular seatbelt retractor may further comprises the pawl device for generating the repulsive force between the first permanent magnet on the upper portion of the standing weight and the second permanent magnet on the pawl lever according to the slanting ingredient of the standing weight and coupling the pawl lever with the second tooth portion, thereby enabling the detection of the abnormal state of the vehicle, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification in order to illustrate embodiments of the invention, and which, together with the following detailed description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view of a vehicular seatbelt retractor according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of a spool and a locking element mounted on a frame, in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a clutch wheel, in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A, taken after assembling the clutch wheel of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the state of assembling a webbing control device on the spool with a retainer, in accordance with the present invention; FIG, 6 is an exploded perspective view of a pawl device assembled as a vehicle motion sensor with a cover, in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the pawl device, in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the operating principle of the ZD pawl device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a frame 10, having a fundamentally channel-shaped configuration, includes a rear wall I I to be fixed to a vehicle's chassis and a pair of left and right foot portions 12 and 13 integrally extended toward the front surface from both ends of the rear wall. The left foot portion 12 includes an opening 14 formed at the center and a frictional tooth portion 15 formed in a predetermined arc at the upper portion of the opening 14. The right foot portion 13 includes an opening 17 with a frictional tooth portion 18 being formed in a predetermined arc at its upper portion, corresponding to the configuration of the left foot portion 12, and a groove portion 16 immersed inward with the opening 17 and extended in part at a predetermined direction therefrom to form a groove. The right foot portion 13 further includes a mounting hole 19 formed adjacent to and below the groove portion 16 to position a vehicle motion sensor. Also, a fixing bar I V is mounted between the foot portions 12 and 13 to fix their interval.

A spool 20 comprises a winding portion 21 for winding a webbing, left and right flanges 22 and 23'integrally formed on either side thereof to be positioned and rotated facing the openings 14 and 17, a mounting block 24 projected in a circular arc shape from the left flange 22, a first sprocket 25 integrally formed on the right flange 23 to have a smaller diameter than that of the flange 23, and a shaft 26 integrally projected from the center of both end surfaces of the spool 20. When the spool 20 is inserted into and positioned on the openings of the foot portions, the circumferential surface of the flange 22 faces the frictional tooth portion 15, the circumferential surface of the flange 23 faces the frictional tooth portion 17, and the sprocket 25 is positioned in the groove portion 16 of the right foot portion to be flush with the foot portion 13 (see FIG. 2).

Normally, a retractor forces the spool 20 to wind the webbing. For this, a receptacle 30 comprises a first case 31 covering the mounting block 24 of the spool 20, a spring 35 biased in the direction that the spool 20 winds the webbing, and a second case 36 mounted on the left foot portion 12 with the first case 31 and the spring 35 being received therein. The first case 31 includes a rotational support 32 projected from its center by the thickness of the mounting block 24, to enable the shaft 26 to be passed through the first case and be rotatably supported, and a cylindrical portion 33 formed around its circumference to wrap around the mounting block 24, in which a plurality of ribs 34 are formed in a constant interval around the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion 33 to help the movement of the spool 20, so that the spool flange 22 positively causes the friction with the opening tooth portion 15 as described below. The second case 36 includes a mounting portion 37 on its opening portion, the diameter of which is larger than its body receiving the spring 36 to enable the second case 36 to be fitted thereto. A plurality of fixing means 38 are inserted into and fixed to fixing portions extended from the circumference thereof.

A webbing control device 100 serves to prevent the release of the webbing in response to detection of webbing acceleration and freely allows release of the webbing in a normal condition of a vehicle. The webbing control device 100 comprises a locking element 40 positioned on the enlargement of the groove portion 16, a retainer 50 mounted adjacent the first sprocket 25 with the shaft 26 being passed through its center and for enabling the locking element 40 to swing as a pendulum, and a clutch wheel 60 coupled with the retainer 50 to enable the retainer 50 to be rotated.

The locking element 40 includes a latch 41 formed at the upper portion to engage with the first sprocket 25 by its pendulum movement, a guide pin 42 fixed to one surface thereof to guide its pendulum movement, and a pin hole 43 formed at the lower portion to receive a fixing pin 44 and thereby enable the locking element 40 to be pivoted. The fixing pin 44 is inserted into a hole formed in the groove portion 16 and fixed to the inner surface of the right foot portion 13. Therefore, the locking element 40 is positioned in the groove portion 16 by the fixing pin 44 and is biased in the opposite direction of the first sprocket 25 by means of a spring 46, the end of which is connected to the guide pin 42 and the other end of which is inserted into and fixed to a hole 47 formed on the predetermined position of the right foot portion 13 as shown in FIG. 2.

The retainer 50 includes a retainer ring 51 formed around the inner circumference on one side surface thereof. A second sprocket 52 is formed in a tooth shape, having a top of a predetermined height, on the inner wall of the retainer ring 5 1. Also, a hook ring 53 is formed in a triangle shape at a predetermined position around the circumference of the retainer 50, to enable the pendulum movement of the locking element 40. When the retainer 50 is assembled as shown in FIG. 5, the hook ring 53 receives the guide pin 42 to be positioned at its apex. Therefore, as the retainer 50 is moved in the direction of an arrow F, the guide pin 42 moves the locking element 40 in the direction of an arrow B to engage the latch 41 with the first sprocket 25.

The clutch wheel 60 further comprises a mass member 70. The mass member 70 includes a rectangular shaft support 72, to which the rotational force of the spool shaft 26 is transferred, and a circular body 71 integral with the rectangular shaft support 72. The circular body 71 is provided with wings 73 and 74 extending from the lower portion along the semi- circular arc of the circumference thereof. Latches 75 and 76 are forined at each end of the wings 73 and 74. Also, the mass member 71 includes a plurality of hooks 77 projected from the front surface of the circumference, as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clutch wheel 60 comprises an opening portion 61 formed at the center. The opening portion 61 includes a first tooth portion 62 having a predetermined width on the inner circumference thereof and a coupling surface 63 formed around the outer circumference to be coupled with the hooks 77. Also, the clutch wheel 60 includes a second tooth portion 64 formed around the outer circumference thereof to be concentric with the first tooth portion 62. Therefore, when the mass member 70 is assembled into the clutch wheel 60, the circular body 7 1, except for the wings 73 and 74, is inserted into and positioned in the opening portion 61, the latches 75 and 76 are contacted with the first tooth portion 62, and the hooks 77 are hung on the coupled surface 63.

The webbing control device 100 is assembled as follows. The spool 20 is mounted on the frame 10, and the locking element 40 is mounted in the groove portion 14 as shown in FIG. 2. Then, the retainer 50 is inserted onto the shaft 26 to be mounted adjacent the sprocket 25 with the guide pin 42 being positioned at the apex of the hook ring 53. The clutch wheel 60 is inserted onto the shaft 26 with the mass member 70 coupled therewith, so that the first tooth portion 5 1 of the retainer ring 50 receives the mass member 70, and the latches 75 and 76 of wings 73 and 74 are placed adjacent the second sprocket 52 on the inner circumference of the retainer ring 5 1. This configuration is shown in FIG. 5.

Therefore, the webbing control device 100 detects the acceleration of the webbing. As shown in FIG. 4, the mass member 70 is inserted onto the opening portion 61 formed by a body of the first tooth portion 62 to engage the latches 75 and 76 with the first tooth portion 62. A normal state is one in which the mass member 70 and the clutch wheel 60 are simultaneously rotated in the unwinding (releasing) direction C or the winding direction D. However, at time of the webbing acceleration the mass member 70 is instantly rotated in the webbing releasing direction C, while the clutch wheel 60 is also rotated by its inertia force. The latches 75 and 76 pass over the tops of the teeth of the first tooth portion 62, so its ends are hung on the second sprocket 52 of the retainer ring 5 1. At that time, the rotational force of the shaft 26 rotates the retainer 50 in the direction of arrow F, as shown in FIG. 5. At the same time, the hook ring 52 of the retainer 50 forces the latch 41 of the locking element 40 to be engaged with the first sprocket 25 so as to stop the further rotation of the spool 20 and prevent the releasing of the webbing.

Simultaneously, as the releasing force of the webbing pulls the rotating stopped spool 20 in a webbing direction (to a frame or opening upper portion), the frictional tooth portions 15 and 18 respectively formed on the opening portions 14 and 17 become engaged with the flanges 22 and 23 to assure the prevention of the further rotation of the spool 20.

Therefore, the webbing control device 100 has a dual configuration in that, as the latches 75 and 76 cooperate with the first tooth portion 62 of the clutch wheel 60, the retainer 50 is rotated, so the locking element 40 simply stops the rotation of the spool 20 and the frictional tooth portions 15 and 18 prevent the further rotation of the spool 20.

In addition, according to the present invention, the vehicular seatbelt retractor further comprises a pawl device 200. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pawl device 200 is mounted in the inner portion of a cover 90 and positioned in the mounting hole 19 of the frame 10 after the webbing control device 100 is assembled on the shaft 26 of the spool 20.

The cover 90 has a mounting space 91 for setting up the pawl device 200. Mount rails 92 are fixed at the same height on both sides of the mounting space 9 1, for example, an inner wall of the cover 90 (not shown) and a stepped shoulder, to be positioned against each other.

The pawl device 100 comprises a housing I 10 and mounting blocks 113 and 114, each integrated to the longitudinal sides of front and rear walls 111 and 112, to be inserted into the rail 93. The rear wall 112 is connected at both side surfaces to side walls 115 extended inward in a predetermined distance from the housing I 10. Holes 115' are formed on the side walls 115, to be coupled with a pawl lever 140 as described below. A stopping piece 116 is mounted between the side walls 115 in the housing I 10 to adjust the rotating of the pawl lever 140. A seating portion 118 is formed in a stepped shape on a base 117 with a seating hole 119 on which a standing weight 120 is placed.

The standing weight 120 includes an upper cylindrical mass 121 providing the center of gravity, a projection 122 formed to locate a first permanent magnet 130 thereon, an extension 123 extending from the lower portion of the upper cylindrical mass 121 to have a smaller diameter than that of the mass 121, and an enlarged end portion 125 having a neck portion 124 formed to catch on the seating hole 119. The first permanent magnet 130 of a ring shape is attached to the circumference of the projector 122 by means of an adhesive agent.

The pawl lever 140 comprises a pivoting portion 141 inserted into the coupling hole 115' of the housing 10, an operating lever 142 to be engaged with the second tooth portion 164 of the clutch wheel 60, a balancing weight 143 for keeping the balanced state with the operating lever 142, and a rotational support 144 for adjusting the rotating angle of the pawl lever 140 cooperating with the stop piece 116 of the housing I 10. The operating lever 142 includes a fixing hole 145 formed at the center, to receive a second permanent magnet, and a pawl end 146 to be engaged with the second tooth portion 146 of the clutch wheel 160.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the standing weight 120 is positioned in the housing 110 so that the neck portion 124 is inserted into the 5eating hole 119, and the enlarged end portion 125 is positioned on the lower surface of the base 117 to allow the upper cylindrical mass 121 to rock from side to side. The pawl lever 140 is mounted on the side walls so that the rotational portion 141 is rotatably fitted into the holes 115'. After assembling the pawl lever 140 in the housing 110, the projection 122 on the upper center portion of the standing weight 120 is caused to be in position against a second permanent magnet 150 fitted into the fixing hole 145. The first and second permanent magnets 130 and 150 are mounted so that the opposing surfaces have the same polarity to create a repelling force. Also, the pawl device 200 is mounted on the inner low portion of the cover 9 adjacent to the clutch wheel 60.

If the vehicle is in an abnormal state due to being rapidly accelerated or driven in an off-road situation, the standing weight 120 is slanted in any direction from the normal position due to the vehicle's counteraction. At that time, the first and second permanent magnets 130 and 150 correspond to each other to generate a repelling force and move the second permanent magnet 150 upwardly, The upward movement causes the pawl end 146 to be engaged with the second tooth portion 64 of the clutch wheel 60. At the same time, webbing release occurs, while the shaft 126 rotates the mass member 70, and the clutch wheel 60 has a momentary inertia force caused by the rotational force of the shaft 126. Thereafter, the latches 75 and 76 pass over the tops of the teeth the first tooth portion 62 to be engaged with the second sprocket 52 of the retainer ring 51 and then to rotate the retainer 50 in the unwinding direction C of the webbing. Then, the locking element 40 is moved in the direction of arrow B, as shown in FIG. 5. At the same time, the latch 41 is engaged with the first sprocket 25 to stop the further rotation of the spool 20 and prevent the releasing of the webbing.

Simultaneously, as the releasing force of the webbing pulls the stationary rotating spool 20 in the unwinding direction (to a frame or opening upper portion), the flanges 22 and 23 are respectively engaged with the frictional tooth portions 15 and 18 on the opening portions 14 and 17, to assure the prevention of the farther rotation of the spool 20. This configuration can respond to abrupt acceleration of the vehicle as well as to an abnormal state such as a roll over in an off-road condition.

As described above, the present invention reduces the webbing sensing and vehicle sensing procedures, to enhance the sensing speed as well as toprovide immediate restraint to an occupant in the vehicle in response to the sensing operation.

Since the present invention may be embodied in various forms, without departing from the essential characteristics thereof, it should be understood that the above-described embodiment is not to be limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but should be construed only as defined in the appended claims. Thus, all modifications that fall within the scope of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced thereby.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat belt retractor for winding and releasing web from a spool comprising:

a frame; a spool; a webbing control device including a locking element and a clutch wheel; the webbing control device further comprising:

a pawl device comprising:

a mounting; a standing weight; a first permanent magnet on an upper surface of the weight; a lower portion of the weight having a smaller diameter and having a neck portion engaged in a seating hole in the mounting to allow the standing weight to rock from side to side from a normal upright position, a pawl lever pivotally mounted in the mounting and having a balancing weight and an operating lever adapted to engage a toothed portion of the clutch wheel, the operating level having a second permanent magnet opposed to the first permanent magnet with the opposing surfaces having the same magnetic polarity, wherein in an abnormal state the standing weight is slanted from the normal position to generate a repelling force to move the second magnet upwardly causing the pawl lever to engage the toothed portion of the clutched wheel.

2. A vehicle seat belt retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first permanent magnet is ring-shaped.

3. A vehicle seat belt retractor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first permanent magnet is coaxial with the second permanent magnet in the normal state.

4. A vehicle seat belt retractor as claimed in any preceding claim. wherein the neck portion is inserted into a seating hole in the base of the mounting and having an enlarged end portion below the base.

J6

5. A vehicle seat belt retractor substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

4. A vehicle seat belt retractor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the neck portion is inserted into a seating hole in the base of the mounting and having an enlarged end portion below the base.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows I. A vehicle seat belt retractor for winding and releasing web from a spool comprising:

a pawl device comprising:

a mounting; a standing weight; a first permanent magnet on an upper surface of the weight; a lower portion of the weight having a smaller diameter than an upper portion of the weight and having a neck portion engaged in a seating hole in the mounting to allow the standing weight to rock from side to side from a normal upright position, a pawl lever pivotally mounted in the mounting and having a balancing weight and an operating lever adapted to engage a toothed portion of the clutch wheel, the operating lever having a second permanent magnet opposed to the first pen-nanent magnet with the opposing surfaces having the same magnetic polarity, wherein in an abnormal state the standing weight is slanted from the normal position to generate a repelling force to move the second magnet upwardly causing the operating lever to engage the toothed portion of the clutch wheel.

1) A vehicle seat belt retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first permanent magnet is ring-shaped.

A vehicle seat belt retractor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first permanent magnet is coaxial with the second permanent magnet in the normal state.