Web Grabber for Pre-Impact Seat Belt Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pre-impact braking systems in vehicles can cause occupants to move forward, potentially entering the airbag deployment zone, and existing solutions like motorized belt pretensioners are large, power-intensive, and lack control for activation and deactivation.

Innovation Solution

An electrically activated, electronically controlled web grabber that locks the seat belt webbing to prevent forward movement of occupants during pre-impact braking, activated by the collision warning system and deactivated post-impact or upon collision avoidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If motorized belt pretensioners are used to prevent forward movement of occupants, then occupant safety is improved, but the device size and power consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant safetyVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the motorized mechanical system with a pyrotechnic initiation system. The web grabber uses a pyrotechnic charge to rapidly clamp onto the seat belt webbing, substituting the motorized winding mechanism with a chemical energy-based actuation system that is smaller and more powerful for the same function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the activation mechanism from electrical motor control to pyrotechnic initiation. This parameter change allows for a more compact device with higher force output, as pyrotechnic charges can generate rapid mechanical action with smaller physical dimensions compared to motorized systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If motorized belt pretensioners are used to restrict seat belt payout, then occupant containment is improved, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant containmentVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the electrical motor power system with a pyrotechnic charge system. The pyrotechnic initiation requires minimal electrical energy to trigger a chemical reaction that produces the mechanical clamping action, dramatically reducing power consumption compared to continuously operating motors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The web grabber operates in a periodic manner - activated only when needed through the pyrotechnic initiation system, rather than requiring continuous power input. This on-demand activation significantly reduces overall power consumption while maintaining occupant containment when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Force

If mechanically activated web grabbers are used to hold seat belts, then forward movement prevention is effective, but control for activation and deactivation is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforward movement preventionVSAvoidactivation control

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical collision-activation system with an electronically controlled pyrotechnic initiation system. This allows the web grabber to be activated by electrical signals from safety systems, enabling precise control timing and integration with vehicle safety networks while maintaining the strong mechanical clamping force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback control through electronic sensors and control modules that monitor collision conditions and trigger the pyrotechnic initiation accordingly. This feedback mechanism provides intelligent activation control based on actual safety needs, allowing for both activation and deactivation control that purely mechanical systems cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8165760B2Method and system for electronically operating a vehicle occupant seat safety restraint system

Publication Date: 2012.04.24 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

An electrically activated, electronically controlled web grabber in conjunction with a pre-impact braking system that holds the vehicle safety belt from the moment of activation, restricting forward movement of the occupant and can be activated prior to the impact to ensure occupant containment and deactivated upon command in order to release after an accident is avoided, or once the impact has started to allow other safety devices to take over control of the belts, for example, by load limiters.