Seatbelt Retractor Sensor Lever Mounting for Heat-Stable Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The locking lever in vehicle-sensitive sensors for self-locking seatbelt retractors detaches from its mounting at high temperatures, compromising the activation of the locking system, particularly in impact situations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-sensitive sensor design with a locking lever coupled to a sensor mass, featuring rotating elements that rest on support points with recesses and projections, ensuring the lever remains in position during tilting and impact, limiting rotational and linear movements to prevent detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking lever is designed to rotate freely on support points, then the sensor can detect impacts through tilting movement, but the locking lever detaches from its mounting at high temperatures and in impact situations
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into multiple recesses, each containing a rotating element. This segmentation allows the locking lever to be divided into segments that can rotate independently within controlled boundaries, preventing complete detachment while maintaining impact detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds a vertical dimension constraint by introducing recesses with ceilings. The rotating elements can move horizontally for rotation but are constrained vertically by the recess ceilings, preventing detachment in the vertical direction while maintaining rotational freedom for impact detection
2Stability of the object's composition
If the rotating elements are completely enclosed in recesses, then the locking lever position is stabilized, but the sensor mass cannot tilt sufficiently to activate the locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The recesses provide partial enclosure - enough to prevent detachment but not so much as to restrict operational tilting. The opening in each recess allows the sensor mass to tilt and the locking lever to rotate through the necessary angle for activation, while the ceiling prevents excessive movement
3Measurement precision
If the locking lever has minimal constraint on rotational movement, then impact detection is sensitive, but the lever detaches during high-temperature conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The recess structure provides beforehand cushioning by pre-defining the boundaries of rotational movement. The ceiling of the recess acts as a protective constraint that prevents detachment before it can occur during high-temperature or high-impact conditions, while still allowing sufficient movement for sensitive impact detection
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
Enhances the robustness of the locking system by maintaining the locking lever's position during impacts and high temperatures, ensuring reliable activation of the self-locking mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor mass arranged standing on a contact surface of the carrier part and tiltable relative to the carrier part
Implementation Method 2
each rotational element rests on a corresponding support point of the carrier part
Implementation Method 3
the rotating elements have a rounded outer circumference on their underside, over which the locking lever rolls from the support point during the rotational movement
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vehicle-sensitive sensor for a self-locking belt retractor, comprising - a support part (1), - a sensor mass (2) which is disposed vertically on a contact surface (1.1) of the support part (1) and can tilt relative to the support part (1) and - a locking lever (3) which is coupled to the sensor mass (2) and has an engagement tip (3.1), wherein the locking lever (2) has at least two rotation elements (3.2a, 3.2b) for forming an axis of rotation for the locking lever (3), and wherein each rotation element (3.2a, 3.2b) rests on an associated contact point (1.2a, 1.2b) of the support part (4).