Coaxial Belt Retractor Assembly for Tight Seat Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing belt retractors with electric motors and gearing mechanisms require significant installation space, making them unsuitable for narrow spaces in vehicle seats or small vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A slender belt retractor design where the electric motor and gearing mechanism are arranged coaxially with the belt reel, and a transfer rod connects the belt reel to the gearing mechanism, allowing for a compact series arrangement and efficient use of space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the electric motor and gearing mechanism are arranged laterally to the belt shaft, then the motor can be compact with high rotational speed, but the overall installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the motor shaft and belt shaft into a single common rotational axis. The motor is positioned coaxially with the belt reel, and the gearing mechanism is integrated around this common axis, eliminating the need for lateral arrangement and reducing the overall footprint of the assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a lateral (planar) arrangement of motor and belt shaft to a coaxial (axial) arrangement. This dimensional change allows the components to be stacked along the same axis rather than spread out in the lateral direction, significantly reducing the installation space requirement.
2Power
If a gearing mechanism is provided between the belt shaft and electric motor, then the motor can be more compact with high rotational speed, but the installation space requirement is further increased
Solution Approach 1:
The gearing mechanism is nested within the coaxial arrangement of the motor and belt reel. The gears are positioned concentrically around the common rotational axis, with the motor shaft extending through the gearing mechanism to connect with the belt reel. This nesting allows all components to occupy the same radial space rather than requiring additional lateral space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the belt retractor is equipped with additional subassemblies for backrest installation, then it can be integrated into vehicle seat backrests, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the belt retractor with universal mounting features that allow it to be installed in multiple locations (vehicle structure, seat backrests, etc.). The housing includes standardized fastening elements and mounting interfaces that can accommodate different installation scenarios without requiring additional specialized components for each application.
Data Source
AI summary
A belt retractor comprising a belt reel rotatably mounted in a frame securable to a vehicle and on which a seatbelt can be wound, and a blocking device arranged on a mechanical side of the belt reel and which blocks the belt reel when a specified seatbelt pull-out acceleration and/or a vehicle deceleration is exceeded, activating the blocking device in the pull-out direction of the seatbelt, and an electric motor for rotating the belt reel, and a gearing mechanism which transmits the rotational movement from the electric motor to the belt reel, wherein the electric motor and gearing mechanism are arranged coaxial to the rotational axis of the belt reel and in series relative to the belt reel; and a transfer rod is provided arranged coaxial to the rotational axis of the belt reel and in series with the belt reel.