Vehicle Seat Belt System Bodyshell Force Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat systems for motor vehicles, particularly in passenger cars, face challenges in balancing weight, complexity, and production costs when designed to absorb high force pulses during accidents, especially when the seat is positioned counter to the forward direction of travel, as they require stiff and solid construction to accommodate safety belt forces.
Innovation Solution
A seat system with two separate belt systems, one for each position (forward and counter to the forward direction of travel), securely attached to the vehicle bodyshell, allowing for a lightweight and less complex vehicle seat design, with the option to use a single belt system that changes configuration based on the seat position, and incorporating a detachable belt deflector and end fitting for non-disruptive placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle seat is designed to be stiff and solid to absorb safety belt forces during accidents, then the safety and reliability are improved, but the weight and complexity of the vehicle seat increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the force-absorbing function from the vehicle seat structure and relocates it to the vehicle bodyshell. The seat is designed with reduced stiffness while the bodyshell structures (A-pillar, B-pillar, floor) absorb the safety belt forces during accidents, thereby reducing seat weight while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the vehicle bodyshell as an intermediary structure that mediates the force transmission between the safety belt and the vehicle structure. Instead of the seat directly absorbing forces, the bodyshell acts as an intermediate load-bearing structure.
2Reliability
If the vehicle seat is designed to be stiff and solid to absorb safety belt forces during accidents, then the safety and reliability are improved, but the complexity and production costs of the vehicle seat increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the force-absorbing function from the vehicle seat structure and relocates it to the vehicle bodyshell. This simplifies the seat design by removing the need for complex reinforcement structures, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the seat stiff to absorb forces, the patent inverts the approach by making the seat more compliant and relying on the vehicle bodyshell's inherent structural strength to absorb the forces.
3Device complexity
If a single belt system is used that changes configuration based on seat position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different seat positions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic elements in the belt system including retractable belts that can extend and retract, and movable deflectors that can change position. This allows a single belt system to adapt to different seat orientations (forward and rearward facing) without requiring completely separate belt systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt system is designed with universal components that can serve multiple functions and positions. The retractable belt mechanism and movable deflector allow the same belt system to provide safe restraint for both forward-facing and rearward-facing seat configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat system for a motor vehicle has at least one vehicle seat, which can be adjusted between a first position in the forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle, and a second position counter to the forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle. A safety belt device is provided to secure an occupant seated in the vehicle seat in the first and second position. An optimized system in terms of weight, complexity and manufacturing costs, has the safety belt device include a respective belt system, held on corresponding holding points on the motor vehicle body-in-white side, for the first and for the second position of the vehicle seat.