CARRETE ENROLLADOR DE UN CINTURON DE SEGURIDAD PARA SISTEMA DE RETENCION DEL MISMO EN UN AUTOMOVIL

The webbing rectractor for seat belt locking mechanisms in automotive vehicles is equipped with a comfort function. Connected functionally in series between belt reel (12) and housing (10), via a ratchet wheel (24), are a retracting spring (38) and an auxiliary spring (22) designed to be weaker than the latter. The rotation of this ratchet wheel (24) can be locked selectively by a pawl. The transition between reduced and unreduced tension in the belt webbing is gentle, jerk-free and quiet since the rotation of the ratchet wheel (24) is inhibited by a braking device for as long as the auxiliary spring (22) is not fully tensioned or is at least almost fully tensioned. This braking device comprises lever-like engagement elements (40) which are swivellably mounted on the ratchet wheel and are displaced in the axial direction by the pressure exerted by the outer periphery of the auxiliary spring (22) in order to activate a friction brake.