Locking device, in particular parking lock of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking device, in particular a parking lock (10) of a vehicle. This comprises a housing (12) in which a parking lock gear (18) is mounted on an axle (20) in a rotationally fixed manner. The parking lock gear (18) has at least one recess (22) on its circumference (24) into which a locking element (26) can be moved. The locking element (26) is mandrel-shaped and is capable of performing an axial movement (28) by means of a switching body (30) acting on the locking element (26). Furthermore, the locking element (26) is acted upon by spring elements (38, 40) which are connected either in series or in parallel. The invention further relates to the use of the locking device as a parking lock 10 in a vehicle, in particular an electrically powered vehicle.

Description

Technical FieldThe invention relates to a locking device, in particular a parking lock of a vehicle having a housing in which a parking lock wheel which is held in a rotationally fixed manner on an axle is accommodated and which has at least one recess on its circumference, into which a locking element can be moved. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the locking device, in particular parking lock, in a vehicle, in particular an electrically driven vehicle, in addition to its transmission or in addition to its electric drive.Prior ArtWO 2021 244 913 A1 relates to a utility vehicle having a rigid axle which has an axle transmission and at least one wheel drive shaft, and a parking brake. In order to increase the braking force of the parking brake force or in order to be able to dimension the parking brake in a structurally smaller manner, a parking lock is provided here, by means of which a rotation of the rigid axle of the commercial vehicle can be mechanically blocked in order to support the parking brake action of the parking brake.DE 10 2019,131 781 A1 relates to a drive system of a motor vehicle comprising a drive unit, such as an electric motor and / or an internal combustion engine, a transmission, in the transmission housing of which a planetary transmission with at least one planetary gear set is arranged. The planetary transmission comprises a parking lock for selectively fixing at least one drive shaft, wherein the parking lock is designed as a clutch acting in a force-fit and form-fit manner in the form of a synchronization unit implemented in the planetary gear set. In an activated state, the synchronization unit locks at least individual components of the planetary gear set with respect to one another.DE 10 2019 200 681 A1 relates to a method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle. The drive train comprises a differential gear with at least one drive shaft, at least two output shafts, a planetary gear carrier and a differential gear housing. The motor vehicle has an operating system and a parking brake system supported on the differential gear housing, wherein at least the following steps are carried out in this method: a) Initiation of an emergency braking operation or a parking process b) Actuation of the parking brake device in order to bring it from an open position into a closed position, wherein the parking brake device remains in the closed position until a further actuation and blocks a rotational movement of at least one of the two output shafts in the closed position, and c) Support of a torque acting from the outside on the blocked output shaft via the parking brake system on the differential gear housing.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA locking device is proposed, in particular a parking lock of a vehicle, having a housing in which a parking lock wheel which is held on an axle in a rotationally fixed manner and has at least one recess on its circumference, in which a locking element can be moved. The blocking element is designed in the form of a spike, is capable of performing an axial movement by means of a switching body acting on the blocking element, and is acted upon by spring elements which are connected either in series or parallel to one another. Due to the solution proposed according to the invention, a particularly compactly constructed parking lock can be provided on account of the axial movement of the locking element, which parking lock can be mounted, for example, in a space-saving manner, in particular in addition to the transmission or the electric machine of an electric drive.In an advantageous embodiment of the locking device proposed according to the invention, it is arranged on an end face of the housing, in particular next to a housing of a transmission or next to an electric drive of a vehicle.In an advantageous development of the locking device proposed according to the invention, a housing extension is formed on the end face of the housing, in which extension a bell-shaped or disk-shaped switching body is accommodated in an axially movable manner.In an advantageous development of the fixing device proposed according to the invention, the disk-shaped switching body is alternatively accommodated in the housing so as to be axially movable.In a first embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention, the bell-shaped switching body has a collar on its circumference, on which the first spring element is supported.In an advantageous development of the first embodiment variant of the fixing device according to the invention, the blocking element is guided in the bell-shaped switching body by means of the second spring element. This embodiment results in a very space-saving design possibility of the locking device proposed according to the invention in its first embodiment variant.In an advantageous development of the first embodiment variant of the fixing device proposed according to the invention, a guide ring is received on the housing extension, which guide ring encloses the bell-shaped switching body and forms a stop for the collar on the circumference of the bell-shaped switching body.In a further, second embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention, the spike-shaped locking element has a contact surface, the first side of which is acted upon by the first spring element and the second side of which is acted upon by the second spring element.In a further advantageous embodiment of the second embodiment variant of the inventive securement device, the second spring element is supported on the disk-shaped circuit carrier, wherein its axial movement in the housing extension is limited by an annular stop surface.In a further third embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention, the locking element, which is in particular designed in the form of a pin, has a first and a second shaft section, on which the first or the second spring element is respectively accommodated.In an advantageous development of the third embodiment variant of the locking device according to the invention, the locking element has at least one locking projection, the geometry of which / its projection is designed to be complementary to a geometry of the recess on the circumference of the parking lock wheel or in the parking lock wheel.The locking device proposed according to the invention is distinguished in that, in a release position, the locking element is reset from or out of the recess of the parking lock gear by the first spring element in the axial direction.In contrast, in a locking position of the locking device proposed according to the invention, the locking element is moved into the recess on the circumference of the parking lock gear by the second spring element in the axial direction.Finally, in the case of the locking device proposed according to the invention, a set-down position is given in which the locking element is set axially on an end face of the parking ratchet wheel facing the locking element.The invention furthermore relates to the use of the locking device in a vehicle, in particular an electrically driven vehicle, in addition to its transmission or in addition to its electric drive or housing.Advantages of the InventionAll variant embodiments of the locking device proposed according to the invention, which serves as a parking lock of a vehicle, for example an electrically driven vehicle, are distinguished by a very small installation space. The implementation of the axial movement makes it possible to save installation space in the circumferential direction with respect to the parking lock gear, since no pivoting movement but rather merely an axial sliding movement, which is substantially more advantageous kinematically with respect to the required installation space, is formed.All the embodiments of the locking device proposed according to the invention have in common a switching body by means of which the axial movement is transmitted to a pin-shaped locking element.In the embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention, in which the two spring elements used are connected in parallel to one another and consequently a locking device of very compact construction can be obtained, the spring elements are arranged opposite one another with respect to a stop surface. As a result, a cavity present within the housing attachment can be fully utilized. A quick response of the mandrel-shaped locking element movable in the axial direction can be achieved. Both in the first and in the second variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention, a stop of one of the spring elements is represented by a disk-shaped switching body.In the third embodiment variant of the fixing device proposed according to the invention, the disk-shaped switching body is displaced into the housing and acts on one of the opposite spring elements. In this third embodiment variant of the fixing device proposed according to the invention, the switching body has two shaft sections which each serve as centring means for the two mutually opposite spring elements. Furthermore, in the third embodiment variant, the shifting body is designed such that it comprises at least one locking projection, the geometry of which is designed to be complementary to at least one recess on the circumference of the parking lock gear to be blocked.Brief Description of the DrawingsEmbodiments of the invention are explained in more detail on the basis of the drawings and the following description.The following are shown: FIGS. 1.1 to 1.3 show a first embodiment variant of the locking device according to the invention in a release position of a locking position and in a set position FIGS. 2.1 to 2.3 show a second embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention, in the release position, the locking position and the set-down position, and FIGS. 3.1 to 3.3 show a third embodiment variant of the locking device according to the invention in the release position, the locking position and the set-down position.Embodiments of the InventionIn the following description of the embodiments of the invention, identical or similar elements are denoted by identical reference symbols, wherein a repeated description of these elements is omitted in individual cases. The figures only schematically represent the subject matter of the invention.The sequence of figures in FIGS. 1.1 to 1.3 reveals a first variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention, designed as a parking lock 10 of a vehicle. In the sequence of the figures of FIGS. 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, the locking device proposed according to the invention is shown as a parking lock 10 of a vehicle in each case in a release position 42, a locking position 44 and a parking position 46.FIG. 1.1 shows an embodiment variant of the locking device as a parking lock 10 of a vehicle. The locking device comprises a housing 12 which has an end face 14, beyond which a housing extension 16 extends. In the housing 12 there is a parking lock wheel 18, which is held on an axle 20 in a rotationally fixed manner. The axle 20 may be a component of a transmission or an electric drive of a vehicle. When the parking lock gear 18 is blocked, a movement of the axle 20 is also impossible, so that a locking effect can be achieved when the parking lock gear 18 is locked in its locking position 44.The parking lock wheel 18 comprises at least one recess 22 on its circumference 24. the parking lock wheel 18 interacts with a locking element 26, which is in particular designed in the form of a pin and carries out an axial movement 28. This is actuated via a switching body 30, which can be bell-shaped, disk-shaped or else wave-shaped. The switching body 30 is also axially movable with respect to the housing 12.In the situation shown in FIG. 1.1, the locking device proposed according to the invention is in its release position 42 in its first variant embodiment.It can be seen from FIG. 1.1 that in the first embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention shown here, in particular as a parking lock 10, the locking element 26 is guided in the second spring element 40. This is in turn surrounded by a bell-shaped switching body 30. On its circumference 32 there is a circumferential collar 34. The first spring element 38 is supported on the collar 34 on the circumference 32 of the switching body 30. In the first embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention according to FIGS. 1.1 to 1.3, the first and the second spring element 38, 40 are arranged in parallel connection to one another.In the illustration according to FIG. 1.2, the locking device is in its locking position 44 as a parking lock 10 of a vehicle. An actuation of the shifting body 30 according to all variant embodiments thereof, whether it is bell-shaped, wave-shaped or disk-shaped, can take place, for example, by means of an electric actuator, i.e. an electric motor, or else by means of a magnetic coil.According to FIG. 1.2, the bell-shaped switching body 30 in the first embodiment variant of the locking device according to the invention is moved in the axial direction in comparison to FIG. 1.1, so that the first spring element 38 is compressed by the collar 34. The locking element 26, which is in particular configured in the form of a pin, carries out said axial movement 28 and enters the oppositely positioned recess 22 on the periphery 24 of the parking lock wheel 18. The rotation of the parking lock gear 18 about its axis 20 is thus prevented and a transmission connected thereto is blocked in rotation, so that a locking effect, in particular of a vehicle, is provided in the locking position 44 shown in FIG. 1.2. FIG. 1.3 shows a set-down position 46. In the set-down position 46 according to FIG. 1.3, the parking lock wheel 18 or its at least one recess 22 is in a rotational position in which it is not possible for the spike-shaped locking element 26 to be moved into the at least one recess 22. As can be seen from FIG. 1.3, the second spring element 40 is likewise prestressed, a retraction movement of the pin-shaped locking element 26 into the at least one recess 22, which is offset by 180° in the direction of rotation, is not possible, with the result that the end face of the pin-shaped locking element 26 is set against the side of the parking lock wheel 18 opposite the latter. If, starting from the illustration according to FIG. 1.3, the parking lock wheel 18 were to continue rotating, the pin-shaped locking element 26 has moved into the recess 22 of the parking lock wheel 18 as soon as said parking lock wheel, assuming a corresponding rotation about the axis 20, is opposite the tip of the pin-shaped locking element 26, and said axial movement 28 is able to be carried out.The sequence of figures in FIGS. 2.1 to 2.3 shows a second embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention as a parking lock 10 of a vehicle, in particular of an electrically driven vehicle. FIG. 2.1 shows the release position 42, FIG. 2.2 shows the locking position 44 and FIG. 2.3 shows the setting position 46 of the locking device according to the invention in its second embodiment variant.In the second variant embodiment of the locking device according to FIGS. 2.1 to 2.3, the spike-shaped locking element 26 executing the axial movement 28 has a contact surface 50, which is configured, for example, in the form of a disk. The first spring element 38 is supported on its first side 52, while the second spring element 40 is supported on a second side 54 of the disk-shaped contact surface 50. The contact surface 50 is therefore acted upon by both spring elements 38, 40. The second spring element 40 is furthermore supported on the switching body 30, which is here disk-shaped.In the second embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention, the housing extension 16 is closed by means of an annular stop surface 56, which serves as a stop for the disk-shaped switching body 30 which is configured to be movable in the axial direction. The illustration according to FIG. 2.2 shows the locking position 44 of the locking device in its second variant embodiment according to FIG. 2.1.By actuating the switching body 30 in the axial direction, the first spring element 38 is compressed and the second spring element 40 is correspondingly expanded. In the event that the recess 22 on the circumference of the parking lock wheel 18 is opposite the locking element 26 of spike-shaped design, it reaches the locking position 44 according to FIG. 2.2. In this locking position 44, a rotation of the parking lock gear 18 about the axis 20 is impossible, so that a transmission connected to the axis 20 of the parking lock gear 18, whether it be the transmission of an electric drive, a differential transmission or the like, is rotationally fixed, i.e. no rotational movements can be carried out.FIG. 2.3 shows the setting position 46 of the locking device according to the invention in its second embodiment variant. By retracting the switching body 30, which is here embodied in the form of a disk, the second spring element 40 is compressed and exerts a force on the contact surface 50, which force brings the locking element 26, which is embodied in particular in the form of a pin and carries out the axial movement 28, into contact with one of the end faces of the parking lock wheel 18. In the position shown in FIG. 2.3, however, analogously to the representation according to FIG. 1.3, the parking lock wheel 18 is in a position in which the at least one recess 22 on the parking lock wheel 18 does not lie opposite the tip of the pin-shaped locking element 26. Instead, this is located, for example, in a position offset by 180° with respect to the locking element 26 of spike-shaped design. This only occurs when the at least one recess 22 is rotated into a position in which it is opposite the prestressed, spike-shaped blocking element 26.The illustration according to FIGS. 3.1 to 3.3 reveals a third variant embodiment of the locking device proposed according to the invention. In the third embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention, FIG. 3.1 shows its release position 42, FIG. 3.2 shows its locking position 44 and FIG. 3.3 shows its setting position 46.FIG. 3.1 shows that in this embodiment variant the parking lock wheel 18 comprises, for example, the at least one recess 22 on its circumference. The parking lock gear 18 is received on the axle 20 in a rotationally fixed manner, analogously to the first and second variant embodiments of the locking device proposed according to the invention which have been illustrated above. This in turn is in connection with rotatable components of a differential gear, a transmission or components of an electric machine.In the release position 42 illustrated in FIG. 3.1, the switching body 30 is in a central position. The switching body 30 of the third embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention comprises a first shaft section 70 and a second shaft section 72. Said shaft sections 70, 72 are partially surrounded by the windings of the first spring element 38 and the windings of the second spring element 40.The two spring elements 38, 40 are supported on an end face of the housing extension 16 or on a movable, disk-shaped switching body 30 accommodated in the housing 12 in the third embodiment variant.FIG. 3.1 shows that both spring elements 38 and 40 lying opposite one another hold the shifting body 30 in the middle, so that locking projections 74 formed on the shifting body 30 in the release position 42 are exposed and do not engage in the at least one recess 22 lying opposite them on the circumference 24 of the parking lock gear 18.In the locking position 44 shown in FIG. 3.2, on the other hand, at least one of the locking projections 74 on the shifting body 30 engages in the at least one recess 22, which is located on the circumference 24 of the parking lock gear 18. The parking lock gear 18, which is held on the axle 20 in a rotationally fixed manner, is thus blocked with respect to its rotation. It can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 3.2 that the switching body 30, which is here disk-shaped, is moved in the axial direction in the housing 12, so that the switching body 30 here likewise carries out the axial movement 28, and at least one of the locking projections 74 has been moved into the recess 22. In this case, the second spring element 40 opposite the first spring element 38 is compressed.In the locking position 44 according to the illustration in FIG. 3.2, the parking lock gear 18 is accordingly blocked.FIG. 3.3 shows, analogously to FIGS. 1.3 and 2.3, a setting position 46 of the third embodiment variant of the locking device proposed according to the invention.In the illustration according to FIG. 3.3, the at least one recess 22, which is formed on the periphery 24 of the parking lock wheel 18, is located outside the range of action of the locking element 26 which carries out the axial movement 28. While the first spring element 38 is shown in the compressed state, the second spring element 40 is shown in a slightly expanded state. In the set-down position 46 shown in FIG. 3.3, no blocking of the parking ratchet wheel 18 can take place via an axial movement of the shifting body 30, since the recess 22 is situated opposite the shifting body 30 offset by 180° and therefore the locking projections 74 cannot retract into a rotation of the parking ratchet wheel 18 in a blocking manner.The locking device proposed according to the invention in its variants outlined above is suitable in particular for use in electrically driven vehicles. Due to the small size of the locking device proposed according to the invention, it can be used in an extremely space-saving manner in addition to housing components of a transmission, an electric machine or a differential transmission or the electric machine itself. A pivoting device requiring comparatively much installation space, such as a pawl, is not required in the solution proposed according to the invention; rather, the locking device according to the invention acting as a parking lock 10 can execute an axial movement 28 in order to effectively block the parking lock wheel 18 with respect to its rotation about the axis with respect to its rotation.The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described here and the aspects emphasized therein. Rather, within the scope of the claims, a variety of modifications are possible, which are within the scope of specialist activity.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedWO 2021 244 913 A1

[0002] DE 10 2019,131 781 A1

[0003] DE 10 2019 200 681 A1

[0004]

Claims

Locking device, in particular parking lock (10) of a vehicle, having a housing (12) in which a parking lock wheel (18), which is held in a rotationally fixed manner on an axle (20) and has at least one recess (22) on its circumference (24), into which a locking element (26) can be moved, characterized in that the locking element (26) is designed in the form of a pin, is capable of carrying out an axial movement (28) by means of a switching body (30) acting on the locking element (26), and is acted upon by spring elements (38, 40) which are connected either in series or in parallel.Locking device according to claim 1, characterised in that it is arranged on an end face (14) of the housing (12), in particular next to a housing (12) of a transmission or an electric drive.Locking device according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that on the end face (14) of the housing (12) a housing extension (16) is formed, in which a bell-shaped or disc-shaped switching body (30) is accommodated so as to be axially movable.Locking device according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the disc-shaped switching body (30) is accommodated in the housing (12) in an axially movable manner.Locking device according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the bell-shaped switching body (30) has on its periphery (32) a collar (34) on which the first spring element (38) is supported.Locking device according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the locking element 26 is guided by means of the second spring element (40) in the bell-shaped switching body (30).Locking device according to claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a guide ring (36) is received on the housing extension (16), which guide ring encloses the bell-shaped switching body (30) and forms a collar (34) on the periphery (32) of the bell-shaped switching body (30).Locking device according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the spike-shaped switching element (26) has a contact surface (50), the first side (52) of which is acted upon by the first spring element (38) and the second side (54) of which is acted upon by the second spring element (40).Locking device according to claim 8, characterised in that the second spring element (40) is supported on the disc-shaped switching body (30), the axial movement (28) of which in the housing extension (16) is limited by an annular stop surface (56).Locking device according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the locking element (26) comprises a first and a second shaft section (70, 72), on which the first and the second spring element (38, 40) are received.Locking device according to claim 10, characterised in that the locking element (26) has at least one locking projection (74), the geometry of which / is designed to be complementary to the geometry of the recess (22) of the parking lock wheel (18).Locking device according to claims 1 to 11, characterised in that in a release position (42) the locking element (26) is reset from or out of the recess (22) of the parking lock wheel (18) by the first spring element (38) in the axial direction.Locking device according to claims 1 to 11, characterised in that in a locking position (44) the locking element (26) is moved into the recess (22) of the parking lock wheel (18) by the second spring element (40) in the axial direction.Locking device according to claims 1 to 11, characterised in that in a set-down position (46) the locking element (26) is set axially on an end face of the parking lock wheel (18) facing the locking element (26).Use of the locking device according to one of Claims 1 to 14 in a vehicle, in particular an electrically driven vehicle, in addition to its transmission, its differential transmission or in addition to its electric drive.

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