Self Adaptive Load Limiter (SALL)

The SALL automatically adapts the occupant restraint system in response to different passenger sizes.  It operates without the use of sensors, wiring or electronic controls making it a cost effective solution for rear seat occupants.  The SALL can identify the size of the occupant by the amount of webbing used to buckle up.

Progressive Load Limiter

The system uses two load limiting devices.  The basic load is due to the torsion bar, and the progressive load comes from a cutter within the spool assembly.  The cutter shears off material from a spiral ridge within the spool assembly.  The cross-sectional shape of the spiral defines shear area, and thus the progressive behavior of the load limiter. The progressive range goes up to 3kN and a 340° rotation of the spool. This limiter is used for rear-seat applications and fulfills elongation requirements in FMVSS 209 and ECE R16.

Declining Load Limiter

Similar in layout and operation to the Progressive Load Limiter, basic limiting load is due to the torsion bar, and the declining load is due to the spiral.  The range is 3kN and 340° rotation of the spool.

The declining load limiter can be used in some vehicles to help achieve five-star performance using the new US NCAP test.

Switchable Load Limiter

The Switchable Load Limiter consists of two independent energy-absorbing mechanisms. In high load level, both interact in parallel, but in low load level, a pyrotechnical device can switch off one mechanism. The device uses both torsion bar and band-wrapper technology, which works in parallel until the switching process takes place. At this point, the torsion bar works on its own. In low load level, the torsion bar takes a maximum load of 4kN, while in high load level, the bandwrapper has a maximum load of 2kN. The limiter offers the ability to tune restraint performance for different- sized occupants ranging from 5th  to 95th percentile. The switchable load limiter maintains a stable load level during switching and can also be used to help meet the latest FMVSS 208 requirements.