Electromechanical Brake Release via External Shaft Unlocking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromechanical brake systems lack a reliable method for emergency release when the vehicle is out of power, making it difficult to make the vehicle towable in case of a failure.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical brake system with a power transmission mechanism and tool elements that allow manual actuation of the brake pad, including a rotatable shaft, coupling means with a locking element, and receptacles for tool engagement, enabling external release through a first and second tool element to disengage or engage the locking element from the shaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electromechanical brake actuators are used with complex coupling means and locking elements, then the reliability and safety of the brake system are improved, but the device complexity increases making emergency release difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A shaft is introduced as an intermediary element that connects the locking mechanism to the external environment. The shaft serves as a mediator that allows external tools to interact with internal components (locking element or rotatable shaft) without requiring disassembly of the brake actuator housing, thus maintaining system reliability while enabling emergency release despite the complex internal structure
Solution Approach 2:
The brake actuator is segmented into distinct functional components with separate access points: the locking element can be accessed through a first opening and the rotatable shaft through a second opening. This segmentation allows independent access to different parts of the complex mechanism, enabling emergency release operations without needing to understand or access the entire complex system at once
2Stability of the object's composition
If the locking element is designed to firmly engage with the rotatable shaft to prevent unintended movement, then the brake holding capability is improved, but the ease of operation for emergency release deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed with dynamic characteristics where the locking element can be in different states (locked or unlocked) and can be transitioned between these states. The spring mechanism provides dynamic force to maintain the locked state, while external force applied through the tool can overcome this spring force to transition to the unlocked state, enabling emergency release while maintaining stable locking during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is pre-loaded to automatically engage the locking element with the rotatable shaft, establishing a stable locked state before any emergency release is attempted. This preliminary engagement ensures the brake is securely held during normal operation, while the pre-positioned shaft with access opening allows quick emergency release when needed by simply applying external force with a tool
Data Source
AI summary
An electromechanical brake system has a brake actuator with a power transmission for transmitting an actuating force to a brake pad. The power transmission includes a rotatable shaft, a coupler with a locking element, wherein the coupler can be controlled so that the locking element is engaged with the rotatable shaft and blocks its rotation or so that the locking element is disengaged from the rotatable shaft so that the rotatable shaft can be rotated. The brake system has a first receptacle into which a first tool can be inserted so that it engages with the rotatable shaft and transmits a rotation on the rotatable shaft.