Compact Park Lock Assembly With Lateral Guide Plate Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing park lock assemblies for vehicle transmissions are inefficient due to the need for a rod to be pushed longitudinally to engage the pawl, which can lead to stress and packaging issues, and lack a compact design for improved manufacturing and operation.
Innovation Solution
A park lock assembly that uses a pivotable locking lever actuated by a roller assembly, where the guide plate is slidably supported and driven by an actuator gear pinion, allowing the locking lever to pivot between unlocked and locked positions, with a spring section for retention and alignment features for precise movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rod is pushed longitudinally to engage the pawl member, then the park lock mechanism can be actuated, but stress and packaging issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pushing the rod longitudinally towards the pawl member, the invention inverts the approach by having the guide plate pulled laterally, which then pivots the locking lever to engage the pawl. This lateral pulling motion reduces stress on the components and improves packaging while achieving the same locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from one-dimensional longitudinal pushing to a combination of lateral pulling and rotational pivoting. The guide plate moves laterally in one dimension while the locking lever pivots in another dimension, creating a more efficient stress distribution and compact arrangement.
2Ease of operation
If a rod is pushed longitudinally to engage the pawl member, then the park lock mechanism can be actuated, but packaging requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional actuation approach by pulling the guide plate laterally instead of pushing the rod longitudinally. This inversion allows for a more compact arrangement of components, reducing the overall packaging volume while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate combines multiple functions: it guides the lateral movement, supports the roller assembly, and transmits force to pivot the locking lever. This merging of functions into a single component reduces the number of separate parts and decreases overall assembly volume.
3Ease of manufacture
If the park lock assembly uses a compact design with integrated components, then manufacturing and installation are improved, but component complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate is designed as a single-piece component that integrates multiple functions: guiding lateral movement, supporting the roller assembly, providing alignment features, and transmitting force to pivot the locking lever. This merging reduces the number of separate parts, simplifying manufacturing and installation while the modular functional integration manages complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate serves multiple purposes within the assembly: it acts as a guide for lateral movement, a support structure for rollers, a force transmission element, and a positioning component with alignment features. This multi-functionality reduces part count and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining operational effectiveness.
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
The solution provides a compact, robust, and efficient park lock assembly that reduces stress and improves packaging, enabling easier manufacturing and operation by allowing lateral actuation of the roller to pivot the locking lever, enhancing the strength and compactness of the assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The abutment plate member includes a spring section for retaining the guide plate in the locking position and the unlocking position
Implementation Method 2
a rack comprising a plurality of gear teeth that is engagable with and drivable by an actuator gear pinion to displace the guide plate in the movement direction
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A compact park lock assembly may be configured to be pulled towards a ramped section of a locking lever during actuation between unlocked and locked positions to unlock and lock a park lock gear. The park lock assembly may include a guide plate configured to perform multiple functions including aligning the park lock assembly during assembly, receiving input loads directly from a pinion drive gear arrangement to improve torque transmission, position and restrain movement of the guide plate between the locked and unlocked positions, and provide for sensing of the position of the locking lever during operation. The compact park lock assembly also may include an abutment plate member which comprises an abutment plate section to facilitate mounting of the compact park lock assembly, a spring section to restrain the guide plate, a clip section to force and retain the abutment plate section to a housing, and fastener features to secure the abutment plate member to a housing. The guide plate and/or the abutment plate member may be formed as a single -piece, integrated component or may comprise a multi-piece component.