Items of an Engineering Program on an Advanced Web-Clamp Device

The objective of this paper is to introduce a web-clamp concept which can be adapted to emergency locking retractors (ELR's) or entirely replace these current seat belt locking devices in order to enhance the safety of car passengers in collision-accidents.

Different types of web-clamp systems which demonstrate the discussed clamping concept are demonstrated and evaluated in comparison with the current ELR, as well as the pyrotechnically pre-loaded ELR system.

The theory of the clamping concept as developed here, as well as different designs with correlating performance data (safety, comfort), will be discussed.

It will be shown that a well-adjusted restraint system based on this web-clamp concept can reach a safety and comfort level close to pyrotechnically pre-loaded ELR systems.