Vehicle Seat Belt Anchor Adjustment Against Submarining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat devices fail to adequately restrain occupants from slipping under the seat belt during frontal collisions, particularly when the seat back is tilted backward, a phenomenon known as the 'submarine phenomenon', which is exacerbated by autonomous driving scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat device with a seat belt system that includes a lap belt, a belt anchor, and an anchor moving device capable of adjusting the belt anchor's position in the seat's front-to-back direction, responsive to the occupant's seating posture and the seat back's tilt, to prevent forward slipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional seat structure is used, then the structure is simple, but the seat cannot effectively prevent lateral movement or rotation of the pelvis during side impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The seat structure is divided into multiple functional components: a seat cushion, a seat backrest, and a side impact protection device with independent positioning mechanisms. The side impact device includes a positioning member with first and second positioning portions that can independently adjust to accommodate different pelvic shapes and sizes, allowing the system to address complex protection requirements through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The side impact protection device incorporates movable positioning members that can dynamically adjust their positions along guide rails or slots. The first positioning portion moves in a first direction while the second positioning portion moves in a second direction, enabling the structure to adapt dynamically to different impact scenarios and pelvic geometries, thereby improving protection reliability without requiring a completely complex fixed structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed positioning structure is used, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but it cannot adapt to different pelvic shapes and sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning members are designed to move along guide rails or slots in specific directions, allowing them to adapt to different pelvic shapes and sizes. This dynamic adjustment capability is achieved through relatively simple mechanical guidance structures that constrain movement to predetermined paths, maintaining ease of manufacture while gaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the positioning device have different adjustment characteristics: the first positioning portion adjusts in a first direction to accommodate variations in one dimension of the pelvis, while the second positioning portion adjusts in a second direction to accommodate variations in another dimension. This localized differentiation of adjustment properties enables comprehensive adaptability without requiring complete redesign of the entire structure.
3Reliability
If the side impact protection device is positioned far from the pelvis, then installation is easier, but the protective effect is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The side impact protection device incorporates positioning members that can be adjusted along guide rails or slots to achieve optimal positioning close to the pelvis. The movable design allows the device to be positioned as close as necessary for effective protection while maintaining ease of installation through simple adjustment mechanisms rather than complex precision mounting requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning members are designed to automatically or easily locate themselves in the correct position through guide rails or slots that provide mechanical guidance. This self-positioning capability reduces the skill and effort required for installation while ensuring the device is positioned optimally close to the pelvis for maximum protective effect.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a vehicle seat device capable of suitably restraining an occupant by means of a seat belt device. A vehicle seat device S1 includes a seat main body having a seat cushion 1 and a seat back 2, a reclining device 30 connecting the seat back 2 to the seat cushion 1 so as to be pivotable and capable of locking a pivoting motion of the seat back 2, and a seat belt device 40 for restraining an occupant seated on the seat main body. The seat belt device 40 includes a lap belt 41b restraining the occupant's lumbar or thighs, a belt anchor 44 attached at a position beside the seat main body and having a belt engaging portion 44d engaging with an engaged portion provided in a tip portion of the lap belt 41b, and an anchor moving device 50 capable of moving the belt engaging portion 44d of the belt anchor 44 in a seat front to back direction with respect to the seat main body.