Paul D Roper

Title: Paul D. Roper and the Hydraulic Seat Belt Load Anchor

Introduction

Paul D. Roper is an inventor associated with Rochester, Michigan, and General Motors Global Technology Operations, Inc. His patent work includes a vehicle safety invention designed to help secure an occupant during a collision while accommodating ordinary seat adjustments.

Latest Patents

Roper is credited with 1 patent: “Hydraulic Seat Belt Load Anchor.” The invention describes a vehicle seat mounted on an adjuster, allowing the occupant to move the seat to a preferred position. Because the seat belt is anchored to the seat, an extensible cylinder connects the belt anchor to the vehicle floor and adjusts its length as the seat moves.

The cylinder contains a fluid-filled chamber and a piston with a flow-responsive valve. During normal seat adjustment, the valve allows fluid to pass through the piston, enabling the cylinder to extend or retract. When a restraint load is applied to the seat belt, the resulting higher fluid flow causes the valve to block passage through the piston. This locks the piston in place and transfers the restraint load from the seat belt to the vehicle floor.

Career Highlights

Roper’s patent reflects an engineering approach to vehicle safety that accounts for both occupant comfort and crash-load management. The hydraulic anchor is designed to follow seat movement during adjustment while providing a locked load path when the seat belt is subjected to a strong restraint force.

Collaborations

Roper’s listed coworkers include Hans J. Borlinghaus and Manfred A. Plechaty. His company affiliation is General Motors Global Technology Operations, Inc.

Conclusion

Paul D. Roper’s patented hydraulic seat belt load anchor combines seat-adjustment flexibility with a mechanism intended to secure the restraint system under load.