Seat Belt Webbing Guide Assembly Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing guide assemblies for seat belt webbing in vehicles experience 'dumping' during rapid deceleration, where the webbing bunches and causes the guide to pivot, leading to uneven force distribution and potential interference with smooth retraction, due to the inability to maintain perpendicular positioning of the webbing slot relative to the resultant force.
Innovation Solution
A guide assembly with a support member and a locking member that engages when a predetermined force is exerted, preventing the support member from pivoting relative to the vehicle, thus maintaining the perpendicular orientation of the webbing slot through the use of locking projections and a bushing that allows the support member to pivot under normal conditions but locks in place during high forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the guide is made pivotable to maintain perpendicular positioning of the webbing slot relative to the resultant force, then the guide can adapt to varying force directions, but the guide may experience dumping during rapid deceleration where the webbing bunches and causes uncontrolled pivoting
Solution Approach 1:
The guide assembly employs a dynamic locking mechanism that transitions between a locked state (preventing dumping during rapid deceleration) and an unlocked state (allowing pivoting to maintain perpendicular positioning during normal operation). The support member can pivot relative to the locking member when not locked, enabling adaptation to varying force directions, while the locking mechanism engages to prevent uncontrolled pivoting during high-force events
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its mechanical state parameter from movable to fixed based on the force magnitude. The locking member engages with the support member when a predetermined force threshold is exceeded, transforming the guide from a pivoting configuration to a locked configuration, thereby preventing dumping while maintaining adaptability during normal operation
2Reliability
If the support member is prevented from pivoting to prevent dumping, then the webbing slot maintains perpendicular positioning, but the guide cannot adapt to varying force directions during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The guide assembly employs a dynamic locking mechanism that transitions between a locked state (preventing dumping during rapid deceleration) and an unlocked state (allowing pivoting to maintain perpendicular positioning during normal operation). The support member can pivot relative to the locking member when not locked, enabling adaptation to varying force directions, while the locking mechanism engages to prevent uncontrolled pivoting during high-force events
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its mechanical state parameter from movable to fixed based on the force magnitude. The locking member engages with the support member when a predetermined force threshold is exceeded, transforming the guide from a pivoting configuration to a locked configuration, thereby preventing dumping while maintaining adaptability during normal operation
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a guide assembly for seat belt webbing in a vehicle includes a support member and a locking member extending through the support member. The support member engages the locking member when a predetermined force is exerted by the seat belt webbing onto the support member. The locking member prevents the support member from pivoting relative to the vehicle when the support member engages the locking member. In another aspect, a guide assembly for seat belt webbing in a vehicle includes a support member having a first locking projection, a locking member having a second locking projection, and a bushing positioned radially between the locking member and the support member. The first locking projection penetrates into and/or through the bushing to engage the second locking projection when a predetermined force is exerted by the seat belt webbing onto the support member.