Sealed Web Retractor Shaft Coupler Seal Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat belt web retractors are prone to moisture, fluid, and debris ingress, which can interfere with and foul the locking components, leading to potential failure during critical events.
Innovation Solution
A sealed web retractor design featuring a frame with a sidewall and a locking assembly, utilizing a shaft coupler and seals to prevent the ingress of moisture, fluids, and debris, ensuring the integrity of the locking components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional web retractors are used with open locking assembly, then the locking components are accessible for maintenance and inspection, but moisture, fluids, and debris can ingress and foul the locking components
Solution Approach 1:
A seal is positioned within the locking assembly housing to create a barrier that prevents moisture, fluids, and debris from entering the interior space where locking components are located. The seal acts as a flexible barrier film that maintains protection while allowing for thermal expansion and manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft coupler serves as an intermediary component that connects the spool shaft to the locking assembly while incorporating a seal to block contaminant pathways. This intermediary element transfers mechanical motion while preventing the transmission of harmful contaminants into the protected space.
2Reliability
If the locking assembly is sealed to prevent contaminant ingress, then the locking components are protected from fouling, but the seal may interfere with component movement or assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed as a flexible element that can deform elastically to accommodate the movement of locking components during normal operation. This flexibility ensures that the seal maintains its barrier function while allowing necessary component motion without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal's physical parameters such as cross-sectional shape, material hardness, and mounting position are optimized to balance protection and movement requirements. By adjusting these parameters, the seal provides effective contaminant blocking while minimizing resistance to component movement.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
Sealed web retractors and associated systems and methods for retracting a web, such as seat belt web, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a web retractor includes a frame having a sidewall with a first opening, a locking assembly attached to the frame and having a housing with a second opening adjacent to the first opening, and a shaft coupler rotatably and sealably carried by the sidewall. The shaft coupler operably couples a spool shaft to the locking assembly through the first and second openings. At least one seal is operably positioned in the first opening between the shaft coupler and the sidewall.