Park Brake Pawl with Pivot Slot for Enhanced Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking brake systems lack an enhanced locking function and often require a large number of components, making them costly and difficult to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A park brake assembly with a pivotal base, linked to a pawl and sector, where the pawl includes an angle of engagement that changes when subjected to force, allowing for improved locking through translation between first and second pivot axes, and a pivot slot that enables the pawl to adjust its angle relative to the sector for enhanced locking without a half lock condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional components are added to enhance locking function, then reliability improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot slot is integrated directly into the pawl component, merging the pivot mechanism and the pawl body into a single piece. This eliminates the need for separate pivot pins, slots, or adjustment mechanisms that would otherwise be required to achieve the same dynamic engagement adjustment, thereby reducing component count while maintaining the enhanced locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The pawl component performs multiple functions: it provides the locking engagement, contains the integrated pivot slot mechanism for dynamic adjustment, and automatically adapts its engagement angle based on applied forces. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate adjustment mechanisms or multiple pawl components.
2Device complexity
If the pawl uses a fixed pivot axis, then the structure is simple, but the engagement angle cannot be adjusted to prevent half-lock conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The pawl transitions from a fixed pivot axis design to a dynamic pivot system where the pivot axis can translate between a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis. This is achieved through an integrated pivot slot that allows the pawl to automatically adjust its rotation center based on the direction and magnitude of applied forces, ensuring optimal engagement angle without complex control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A park brake assembly includes a base. A park brake lever is pivotal about the base. A pawl is pivotal about a pawl pivot. The pawl is linked to the brake lever. A sector is attached to the base and the pawl releasably locks and unlocks relative to the sector. The pawl includes a pivot slot that receives the pawl pivot and wherein the pawl translates about the pawl pivot changing an angle of engagement of the pawl relative to the sector when subjected to a force.