Plate-Type Load Limiter for Five-Point Safety Belts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load limiters are not suitable for five-point safety belts, which are increasingly used in baby vehicle seats and vehicle seats, as they are designed for two-point safety belts and cannot effectively manage the structural differences, particularly the direct fixation of webbing to the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A plate-type load limiter is developed that includes a load limiter body with a webbing body and shoulder strap body, each with a rod support portion, which absorbs energy by deformation to limit downward and upward pulling forces in a multi-stage manner, integrating the webbing and shoulder strap systems to manage peak loads effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a webbing-wound load limiter is used for two-point safety belts, then the load can be limited effectively, but it cannot be applied to five-point safety belts due to structural differences
Solution Approach 1:
The load limiter body is divided into separate functional modules: a webbing body for the webbing rod, a shoulder strap body for the shoulder strap rod, and a connecting body integrating them. Each module can independently limit loads in a multi-stage manner, allowing the device to adapt to the five-point safety belt structure where webbing and shoulder straps are fixed directly to the vehicle rather than wound on a spool.
2Reliability
If the load limiter is designed with a belt support structure for two-point safety belts, then it can limit load effectively, but it cannot be applied to five-point safety belts
Solution Approach 1:
The load limiter body is designed with dual functionality: it can limit downward pulling forces on the webbing rod and upward pulling forces on the shoulder strap rod simultaneously. The rod support portions with rod holders and load breakers are provided in both the webbing body and shoulder strap body, enabling the single device to serve both the webbing and shoulder strap systems of the five-point safety belt.
3Strength
If a single-stage load limiter is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot prevent damage when loads exceed NCAP collision loads
Solution Approach 1:
The load limiter employs a multi-stage load limiting mechanism where the rod holder provides a first load limit and the load breaker provides a second load limit. During collision, the load breaker deforms and breaks at a predetermined load, allowing the webbing rod to move further and engage the rod holder, which provides a second stage of load limitation. This dynamic, progressive deformation and breaking mechanism enables the device to handle loads exceeding NCAP collision loads while maintaining 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 plate-type load limiter effectively reduces peak loads applied to the safety belt during collisions, preventing damage and injury by limiting forces in a multi-stage manner, even when loads exceed those specified by the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), and is suitable for five-point safety belts.
Implementation Method 1
the load limiter absorbs energy by deformation to limit the downward pulling force in a multi-stage manner and simultaneously absorbs energy by deformation to limit the upward pulling force in a multi-stage manner
Data Source
AI summary
A load limiter may include a load limiter body to which a downward pulling force and an upward pulling force are applied together in opposite directions, wherein the load limiter absorbs energy by deformation to limit the downward pulling force in a multi-stage manner and simultaneously absorbs energy by deformation to limit the upward pulling force in a multi-stage manner.