TEST LABORATORY
Buckles, webbings, adjusters, brackets and seams are stressed with an axial load applied at 100mm/1' speed (according to FIA 8853-54/98 regulation) until their breaking or up to a fixed value they should resist without deforming.
Measurement of webbing micro slip in adjusters.
The adjuster is subjected to 1000 cycles of lifting and lowering with a 5 daN weight hooked on it (par. 7.3.1 8853-54/98 FIA regulation). At the end of the test, webbing slip should not be higher than 25mm.
Buckle resistance to oblique load.
Harness Lap strap is subjected to 24kN load (par 6.2.4.5 of 8853-54/98 FIA Regulation) applied at 100mm/1’ speed. At the end of this test there must be no breakings and the same buckle will be tested for the opening under preloaded load.
Measurement of Buckle opening torque under load.
After having been subjected to a dynamic or oblique load test the buckle is opened while loaded with 60daN applied to the tongues (par. 7.2.4 8853-54/98 FIA regulation). The torque necessary to open is measured and its value shall be within 1 and 3,5 Nm.
Metallic parts resistance to corrosion (salt spray test).
Every metallic part of the harness mast resist to corrosion caused by 50 hours exposure to a nebulized mixture of water and sodium chloride.
DYNAMIC TEST
This test, required by ECE and FIA norms verifies the strength and effectiveness of competition harnesses. The dynamic test consists of a trolley that, moving on a rail, is launched against a fixed barrier, thus simulating the car involved in a serious crash. The harness on TN10 one leg dummy seated on the test trolley which is launched by means of elastic bands at 50kn/h speed against the fixed barrier. The stopping is obtained through the contact between polyurethane tubes and steel ogives. Two kind of seats are used in dynamic tests: vertical seat to test 3-4 points harnesses and horizontal one for the 5-6 points models. An electronic system logs and processes the data from the accelerometer situated on the test trolley and provides the diagram related to deceleration vs time.
ROTARY BUCKLE
In Sabelt competition harnesses
we use rotary quick
release buckles made with
die-casted aluminium alloy
components, steel and titanium in the ultra light versions.
Buckle mechanism (picture 1), tested by the World top drivers over the last 30
years, has the following characteristics:
• opening/closing lever positions are clear and distinct;
• lever structure to allow easy opening operation even in emergency situations;
• absence of plastic parts in opening mechanism;
• static traction resistance 40% higher than FIA standard 8853-54/98 requirement.
The ultra light version with upwards bent mini lever, several times F1
World champion, weights only 170 grams.
The mini lever version with lever protection cover, developed together
with J.P. Montoya, thanks to its lower protection and small profile lever shape,
avoids the accidental contact with driver legs or arms.
Epo, USA and Japan patented.
PRODUCT LIGHTNESS
The outstanding lightness, combined with extraordinary mechanical resistance,
characterizes all Sabelt harnesses. Years of reasearch and development enabled
Sabelt to reduce competition harnesses weight and reach, in case of some F1 models,
a total weight of 800 gr.
One of the materials which made this weight reduction possible is titanium. The 5
gr purity level used by Sabelt (and derived from the aeronautical industry) weights
58% compared to steel but has much higher mechanical characteristics.
Most of the components of the ultra-light harnesses are made of titanium (picture
1,2,3,4). Besides that, Sabelt is also using aluminium, which weights 27% compared
to steel and thanks to its workability is the best choice for buckle and adjuster
components.
Thanks to the engeneering of extra-small size components such as the mini-tangs,
new anatomical T-bars (picture 5) and Steel Pro adjusters, an important weight
reduction has been achieved with steel, too. Steel is also used for other specific applications,
such as the “carabiner” hooks (picture 6).
Another important plus of Sabelt harnesses is the special polyester webbing, obtained
through a premium choice of threads as well through to the special construction
of warp and weft and the number of yarns. With a weight of just 85 gr/m.
(in the 3” width), it has mechanical properties 70% higher than Fia Standard
8853-54/98 requirements and extremely high resistance to abrasion.
ADJUSTERS
Aluminium adjuster for 3” webbing (picture n1):
it is made in hot pressed aluminium alloy and it has a lever (in aluminium) for
the quick harness release. It weights around 100 gr. and its static traction resistance
reading is 100% higher than FIA 8853-54/98 requirements.
Steel+ aluminium adjuster for 3” webbing (picture 2):
steel body with pivoting bar in extruded aluminium alloy. It weights around 90gr.
and its characterized by the smooth rounded shape and by reduced width, thanks
to which its protrusion is minimum, to make the contact with driver’s body imperceptible.
Also this adjuster has a static traction resistance reading considerably
higher than FIA 8853-54/98 requirements.
Steel Version for 2” webbing(picture 3):
body and bar in steel, it has a parts containment plastic carter. It weights about
60gr. and its static traction resistance reading is 100% higher than FIA 8853-
54/98 requirements.