Vehicle Seat Belt Retract Frame Deformation Element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat belt retractor frames require thick sheet metal to ensure stability, leading to increased weight and material usage, and existing designs fail to efficiently absorb load peaks during restraint operations.
Innovation Solution
A frame design featuring a back part and side legs with a retaining bracket and deformable deformation element that absorbs initial load peaks through deformation, allowing the frame to transfer loads to the vehicle body only after deformation, thereby reducing sheet thickness and weight while maintaining stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If large sheet thicknesses are used to ensure sufficient stability of the frame, then the stability and strength of the frame are improved, but the weight and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the frame by introducing a deformation element that allows controlled deformation during restraint operations. This enables the frame to absorb load peaks through deformation rather than requiring increased thickness for stiffness, thus reducing weight while maintaining stability under normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation element acts as a pre-designed cushioning mechanism that absorbs the initial impact loads during restraint operations. By providing this beforehand cushioning capability, the frame structure can be optimized with thinner sheet metal since the deformation element handles the peak loads that would otherwise require excessive thickness for protection.
2Strength
If the frame is designed to be very stiff to absorb forces during restraint operations, then the strength and reliability are improved, but the sheet thickness and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into a rigid structural portion and a deformable mounting structure portion. The rigid portion maintains strength for overall frame integrity, while the deformable portion with the deformation element absorbs impact forces. This segmentation allows thin-sheet metal construction while maintaining necessary strength through functional differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation element serves as an intermediary between the frame structure and the vehicle body mounting points. It mediates the force transmission by deforming under load to absorb peak forces, protecting the thin-sheet frame from excessive stress concentrations that would require thicker material for direct force bearing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional lands are added between side legs to ensure frame stability, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stability function is extracted from the frame structure itself and transferred to the deformation element in the mounting structure. By taking out the load-absorbing function from the main frame body, the frame can maintain stability with simpler geometry and fewer additional lands, reducing manufacturing complexity while preserving structural integrity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves reduced sheet thickness and weight while maintaining necessary stability by using a deformable mounting structure to absorb load peaks, allowing for a more efficient and material-saving manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
absorb the load peaks at the beginning of the restraining operation by a deformation of the mounting structure
Data Source
AI summary
A frame (10) for a vehicle seat belt retractor comprises a back part (12), two side legs (16) extending in parallel to each other starting from the back part (12), with a retaining aperture (18) for a belt reel being provided in each side leg (16), and a mounting structure for mounting the frame (10) fixed to the vehicle, wherein the mounting structure includes a retaining bracket (22) having a mounting hole (36) for a retaining means (50) and at least one deformable deformation element (46). Furthermore, in accordance with the invention a vehicle structure for mounting a belt retractor in a vehicle is provided comprising a body part (52) and a frame (10) according to the invention. Moreover, a sheet metal blank for such frame is provided.