Parking Brake Actuator Locking Mechanism for Roll-Back Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional parking brake actuators struggle to maintain a stable parking braking state, especially when subjected to external shocks or parked on slopes, leading to potential vehicle roll back and strain on drivers.
Innovation Solution
An actuator for a parking brake that includes a motor, a reduction gear portion, a locking portion, and a housing. The locking portion features a lock gear, a lever, an elastic member, and an electromagnet member, which work together to maintain the locked state without power application, reducing current consumption and providing a fail-safe function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional parking brake lever is used requiring manual operation, then the parking brake function is achieved, but the driver experiences back injury and arm strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical lever operation with an electromechanical actuator system. A motor-driven mechanism automatically applies and releases the parking brake based on electrical signals, eliminating the need for manual lever pulling and thereby preventing driver back injury and arm strain.
2Reliability
If a separate locking gear is provided in the actuator, then the fixed state is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the locking gear functionality directly into the reduction gear portion of the actuator. The locking gear is formed as part of the existing gear mechanism rather than being a completely separate component, thereby maintaining the parking brake stability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reduction gear portion serves multiple functions: it transmits motor power to the parking brake mechanism and simultaneously provides the locking function through its integrated locking gear. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components and simplifies the overall actuator structure.
3Reliability
If power is continuously applied to maintain the locked state, then the parking brake remains stable, but the vehicle current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the locking mechanism to be self-locking once engaged. The locking gear and lever create a mechanical interlock that maintains the locked state passively without requiring continuous power application. The elastic member provides the necessary force to engage the locking lever, and once engaged, the mechanical structure maintains itself, thereby reducing vehicle current consumption.
4Reliability
If an electromagnet member is added to separate the lever from lock gear, then the fail-safe function is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a purely mechanical locking release mechanism with an electromagnet-driven system. The electromagnet member can actively separate the locking lever from the lock gear when energized, providing a fail-safe function that allows reliable release of the parking brake while maintaining a compact and integrated structure within the existing actuator housing.
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 actuator effectively suppresses vehicle roll back during parking braking, improves responsiveness and stability, enhances vehicle mountability, and reduces current consumption by maintaining a locked state without power.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnet member that generates electromagnetic force when the power is applied to separate the lever from the lock gear
Implementation Method 2
an elastic member elastically supporting the lever toward the lock gear
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an actuator for a parking brake. In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure an actuator for a parking brake includes a motor generating power; a reduction gear portion configured to transmit the power of the motor to a parking portion implementing the parking braking of a vehicle; a locking portion configured to limit rotation of the reduction gear portion; and a housing in which the motor, the reduction gear portion, and the locking portion are accommodated; wherein the locking portion is configured to a lock gear coupled to the reduction gear portion to rotate together, a lever provided to be engaged with the lock gear through a hinge motion, an elastic member elastically supporting the lever toward the lock gear, and an electromagnet member that generates electromagnetic force when the power is applied to separate the lever from the lock gear.