Brake Pad Holder Latch Tool That Prevents Accidental Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brake pad holders for rail vehicles require complex and unsafe mechanisms for releasing and locking the locking latch, making brake pad changes difficult and prone to accidental release.

Innovation Solution

A tool and brake pad holder design that ensures the locking latch can only be released when in the locked position, featuring a guide element and actuating pin that prevent accidental release, allowing both hands to be free during pad replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple rod tool is used to release the locking latch, then the tool structure is simple, but the tool can be accidentally removed at any time causing unsafe operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool structureVSAvoidaccidental release prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tool incorporates a lever handle that must be actively operated to pivot the locking latch from locked to released position. The dynamic lever mechanism ensures the tool remains engaged during operation and cannot be accidentally removed, while still allowing intentional release when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary lever handle mechanism between the operator and the locking latch release function. This lever acts as a mediator that requires deliberate action to transfer the release function, preventing direct and accidental removal while maintaining controlled access to the release function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the tool must be held in the released position to prevent accidental locking, then safety is improved, but both hands cannot be free for pad removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe operationVSAvoidhands-free operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tool automatically returns to and holds itself in the locked position after use through its mechanical design. The lever handle and guide element arrangement ensures that after releasing the brake pad holder, the tool naturally returns to its locked position, eliminating the need for the operator to continuously hold it in the released position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tool is designed to self-lock and self-hold in the locked position through its mechanical structure. The guide element and lever handle create a self-sustaining locked state that requires no continuous operator input to maintain, allowing hands-free operation during pad removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a camshaft with eccentric is used to push away the locking latch nose, then the locking latch can be released, but the mechanism becomes complex and prone to accidental release

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking latch releaseVSAvoidrelease mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex camshaft with eccentric mechanism from the design. Instead, it uses a simpler lever handle and guide element arrangement that achieves the same locking latch release function without the complexity and accidental release problems of the camshaft mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than using a camshaft to push the locking latch nose away, the patent inverts the approach by using a lever handle that pivots the entire locking latch assembly. This reverses the mechanical action from pushing a nose to pivoting the latch body, simplifying the mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables safe and ergonomic brake pad changes by ensuring the tool can only be removed when the locking latch is locked, preventing accidental release and allowing hands-free pad insertion or removal.

Implementation Method 1

The guide element is positioned relative to the actuating pin in such a way that the tool can only be released from the pad holder when the locking latch is in a locking position.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical constraint:

Data Source

PatentEP3830443B1Tool for operating a latch locking a brake pad to a pad holder
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 KNORR BREMSE SYST FUR SCHIENENFAHRZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3830443B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3830443B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3830443B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a brake pad holder for a rail vehicle, comprising a pad holder (2), a brake pad (7) held on the pad holder (2) in a locked manner, wherein the pad holder (2) comprises a guide channel (22) extending in the longitudinal direction of the pad holder (2), in which the brake pad (7) can be movably held, wherein, in order to lock the brake pad (7) in the longitudinal direction of the pad holder (2), a locking latch (4) is pivotably held on the pad holder (2), which protrudes into the guide channel (22) in a locking position in which the brake pad (7) is fixed in a functional position, and is removed from the guide channel (22) in a release position, wherein a bracket (5) is arranged on an end of the locking latch (4), at a distance from a pivoting axle (44) of the locking latch (4), said bracket being pivotably mounted on the pad holder (2) and allowing the locking latch (4) to be pivoted between the locking position and the release position, and a tool (8) for pivoting the closing latch (4), wherein the closing latch (4) comprises a tool opening (42) in which the tool (8) can be inserted in order to pivot the locking latch (4), wherein the tool (8) has a lever grip (81), an actuating journal (84) that can be inserted into the tool opening (42), a guide element (82) that can be guided along a contour (28) of the pad holder (2), and a pivoting axle (83) that can be inserted in the pad holder (2) and is arranged between the actuating journal (84) and the guide element (82), wherein the guide element (82) is positioned in relation to the actuating journal (84) in such a way that the tool (8) can only be detached from the pad holder (2) in a locking position of the locking latch (4). The invention also relates to a tool.