Race Car Safety Belt Buckle Anti-Unlock Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety belt buckles for race cars can be easily unlocked by external forces, posing a safety risk due to the direct rotation of the rotary drive member, which can lead to unintentional release of the latch plate.
Innovation Solution
A safety belt buckle design incorporating a base unit, a cover with a torsion spring, and a driving unit, where the latch plate is locked by elastic modules and a conical spring, requiring a determined force to release, preventing accidental unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rotary drive member is directly connected to the post to enable easy rotation and unlocking, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because the latch plate can be unlocked easily by external forces
Solution Approach 1:
A driving mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the rotary drive member and the post. The driving mechanism includes a driving member with a driving thread that engages with a driven thread on the post, requiring a winding action to rotate the post. This intermediary mechanism prevents direct rotation while maintaining controlled unlocking capability, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static direct connection to a dynamic winding mechanism. The driving member must be rotated multiple times to wind the belt and rotate the post, creating a dynamic operation process that requires intentional action rather than simple rotation. This dynamic approach ensures reliable locking while maintaining operational capability
2Ease of operation
If the rotary drive member is rotated freely to unlock the latch plate, then the ease of operation is improved, but the harmful factors increase due to accidental unlocking from external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The driving mechanism with winding requirement serves as a preliminary anti-action against accidental unlocking. By requiring a deliberate winding motion to rotate the post and release the latch, the system preemptively prevents harmful accidental unlocking while maintaining ease of intentional release
Solution Approach 2:
The driving mechanism acts as an intermediary that filters out accidental forces. Small external forces or unintentional touches cannot overcome the winding mechanism, while intentional operation can. This intermediary protects against harmful factors while preserving operational ease
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 ensures that the latch plate can only be released by applying a specific force, preventing unintentional unlocking and enhancing user safety by resisting external forces.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion spring mounted on the cover
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of elastic modules mounted in the slideways
Implementation Method 3
a conical spring mounted in the receiving space of the cover
Data Source
AI summary
A safety belt buckle includes a base unit, a cover covering and combined with the base unit, a locking device mounted in the cover, a torsion spring mounted on the cover, and a driving unit mounted on the cover. When in use, a latch plate of a safety belt is inserted into one of the insertion slots of the base unit. Thus, the user has to apply a determined force to overcome the elastic force of the torsion spring and to drive the driving unit so as to release the latch plate of the safety belt, thereby preventing the driving unit from being driven freely by an external force due to an unintentional touch or hit, and thereby preventing the latch plate of the safety belt from being unlatched easily.