| abstract |
A pretensioner (6) for tightening an occupant restraint, such as a seatbelt (16), against an occupant on a vehicle. The pretensioner has a locking reel (8) which is activated when a signal is sent by a crash sensing device (2). When such signal is sent, the pretensioner causes a rack (36) to turn a pinion (40), which is attached to a reel which tightens the occupant restraint. The pinion is allowed to turn freely by holding the rack out of its sphere of movement until the piston (28), which controls the position of the rack, is caused to extend. The pinion turns a shaft (62) which is connected to a locking reel through a connector (44) which is movable between a connected configuration and a disconnected configuration. |