Seat Belt Systems: Description and Operation

A: ADJUSTABLE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR

1. FRONT SEAT BELTS
Each front seat belt system has an adjustable shoulder belt anchor which allows the occupant to select the most appropriate anchor height from among the four positions in a 75 mm (2.95 in) range.

2. SEAT BELTS FOR OUTER SEATING POSITIONS OF REAR SEAT
The seat belts for the left and right seating positions of the rear seat have each an adjustable shoulder belt anchor which allows the occupant to select the most appropriate anchor height from among the four positions in a 75 mm (2.95 in) range.






B: REAR CENTER THREE-POINT TYPE SEAT BELT (WAGON)
A three-point type seat belt is available for the center seating position of the rear seat. The retractor for the seat belt is installed on the ceiling at the rear right of the cabin.






C: SEAT ANCHORED INNER BELT
The front inner belt (buckle stalk) is attached to the front seat rather than to the floor. This keeps the position of the occupant relative to the front inner belt always constant even when the front seat is moved for adjustment.

When an impact is applied to the occupant in a collision, the inner belt is pulled together with the upper hook in the direction of the arrow to engage the upper hook with the lower hook. As a result, the impact load is transmitted to the vehicle body and dispersed.






D: AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR
When each of the rear seat belts (for right, left and center seating positions) are drawn out completely, its retractor is placed in the automatic locking mode which is used when installing a child restraint system. In this mode, the belt can be retracted but cannot be extended. When the belt is retracted to a certain length, this mode is canceled and normal operation is restored.



E: ENERGY ABSORBING EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR

1. MECHANISM
The energy absorbing retractor consists of a plate, lower plate, slide plate, torsion bar and clamp.

The energy absorbing retractor releases part of the tension in the belt when a load exceeding the predetermined level is applied to the belt in a collision. If the vehicle is involved in a collision, the retractor assembly must always be replaced with a new one regardless of its severity, since the internal parts may be deformed.






2. OPERATION
If the belt is pulled by a force exceeding the predetermined level, the retractor mechanism locks and prevents the belt from being unwound. If a force exceeding the preset level continues being applied further, the slide plate in the retractor moves along with the belt locking clamp and the belt, causing itself to be deformed gradually. The tension in the belt is eased through this process and, after this, a controlled restraint is assured by means of a torsion bar located at the center of the roller.