Automotive Locking Actuator With Manual Emergency Gearwheel Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking actuators for automotive applications face challenges in emergency operation when the electrical power supply fails, making it difficult to unlock or lock components such as charging connectors.
Innovation Solution
A manually actuatable emergency actuation element engages the gearwheel, allowing manual operation of the locking actuator even without electrical power, comprising a disk with a flexible connecting means, such as a Bowden cable, and guides to ensure secure and durable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electromotive drive with electric motor is used to actuate the locking element, then the locking actuator can be operated automatically and reliably under normal conditions, but the system becomes unable to operate when electrical power supply fails or is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation system is segmented into two independent parts: an electromotive drive for normal operation and a manual emergency actuation element for emergency operation. The emergency actuation element includes a disk with a pin that can engage with a pin receptacle on the gearwheel, allowing manual rotation of the gearwheel independent of the electric motor. This segmentation ensures that failure of one system does not prevent the other from functioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The emergency actuation element is pre-positioned and ready for use within the housing. The disk with flexible connecting means is arranged in advance to engage the gearwheel when needed. The guide for the flexible connecting means is pre-configured to ensure proper engagement geometry, allowing immediate emergency operation without requiring assembly or complex setup during critical situations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a manual emergency actuation element is added to enable operation during power failure, then emergency operation capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency actuation element is merged with the existing electromotive drive components. The disk's pin engages with the gearwheel's pin receptacle, directly integrating the manual actuation mechanism with the existing gear-driven locking system. The flexible connecting means (cable) connects the disk to the actuation interface, merging the emergency manual interface with the internal gearwheel mechanism without requiring a completely separate system.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible connecting means (cable) acts as an intermediary between the manual disk interface and the gearwheel. The guide serves as an intermediary structure to constrain and direct the cable's movement, ensuring proper force transmission from the manual user input through the cable to the disk and ultimately to the gearwheel. This intermediary approach allows complex force transmission through simple, well-defined components.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking actuator for automotive applications which is equipped with a housing, further equipped with an electromotive drive arranged in the housing, and equipped with a locking element guided outward through an opening in the housing. The electromotive drive has at least one electric motor, an output element, an output gear meshing with the output element, and a gearwheel meshing with the output gear in order to act upon the locking element. According to the invention, a manually actuable emergency actuation element engaging the gearwheel is provided.