Quick-Action Closure Safety Element with Counterweight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick-action closures for safety belts require strong springs to ensure reliable locking and unlocking, but this design is not shockproof and complicates easy insertion and removal of the insertion tongue.
Innovation Solution
A safety element is introduced that rotates about its center of gravity, held in place by a spring, allowing for easy locking and unlocking without active movement during acceleration, and an actuating stop facilitates release without overcoming spring tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strong springs are used to ensure reliable locking, then locking reliability is improved, but the device becomes sensitive to shock and acceleration forces
Solution Approach 1:
The safety element is designed with asymmetric mass distribution relative to its rotation axis, creating a counterweight that generates a stabilizing moment opposing acceleration forces. This asymmetric design allows the locking mechanism to remain stable during shock events without requiring stronger springs, thus resolving the contradiction between locking reliability and shock sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
A counterweight element is integrated into the safety element structure, positioned to generate a restoring moment that counteracts the destabilizing effect of acceleration forces on the locking element. This counterweight mechanism maintains locking reliability while making the device resistant to shock and acceleration, eliminating the need for overly strong springs.
2Reliability
If strong springs are used to ensure reliable locking, then locking reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to increased force required for insertion and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric mass distribution in the safety element creates a mechanical advantage during the unlocking operation. When the locking element is pushed in the insertion direction, the counterweight generates a moment that assists in rotating the safety element to its second position, thereby reducing the force required for operation while maintaining strong locking during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety element is designed to dynamically change its functional state based on operational phase: during normal locking it provides stable retention, but during unlocking it leverages the rotation motion to convert the counterweight moment into assistance for the operator, thereby reducing required operating force while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If symmetric tong elements are used for locking, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but shockproof performance deteriorates due to lack of acceleration compensation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the safety element with a counterweight function by integrating the mass distribution design directly into the safety element structure. This combination allows the simple symmetric tong elements to remain unchanged for manufacturing simplicity, while the integrated counterweight in the safety element provides the necessary shock resistance and acceleration compensation.
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 solution enables easy insertion and removal while providing shockproofing, ensuring reliable locking and unlocking without the need for strong springs, maintaining the closure in a locked state during acceleration.
Implementation Method 1
the safety element is held in its safety position by the action of a spring
Implementation Method 2
the safety element is provided which is rotatable about an axis of rotation corresponding to its center of gravity. The safety element is not therefore subject to any turning moments when linear acceleration forces occur
Data Source
AI summary
A quick-action closure for the end fitting of a safety belt, whereby the quick-action closure includes an insertion tongue which can be inserted into a closure housing and which can be locked therein by means of a locking element disposed in a mobile manner between a locking position and a release position, and whereby the locking element can be transferred from its locking position into its release position by means of an actuating element which can be inserted into the closure housing. A safety element (21) is disposed in the closure housing (11) mounted at its center of gravity (35) rotatable between a safety position and a rest position, the safety element in its safety position fixing the locking element (20) in its locking position and, in its rest position, releasing the locking element (20), whereby the safety element (21) is held in its safety position by the action of a spring (25).