Parking Brake Locking Unit With Magnetic Status Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking units for automatic transmission parking brakes lack a reliable method to verify the locking status, as they depend on mechanical states and do not provide a straightforward way to confirm whether the locking has been successfully executed.
Innovation Solution
A locking unit incorporating an electromagnet, catch elements, a guiding element, and a magnetic field sensor, where the magnetic element is connected to the guiding element, allowing the magnetic field sensor to detect the position and magnetic field strength, thereby confirming the locking status through changes in magnetic field sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical locking system is used without additional sensing components, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to verify locking status is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pure mechanical status detection with a magnetic field-based sensing system. A magnetic element is integrated into the guiding element, and a magnetic field sensor detects its position to determine locking status. This substitution enables reliable verification of locking status while maintaining relatively simple device architecture, as the magnetic sensing system adds minimal complexity compared to mechanical verification mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic element serves as an intermediary between the mechanical guiding element and the magnetic field sensor. It translates the mechanical position of the guiding element into a detectable magnetic field signal, enabling indirect but reliable verification of locking status without requiring direct mechanical contact or complex mechanical sensing mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If the magnetic element is positioned close to the magnetic field sensor for better detection, then the measurement precision improves, but the electromagnet's magnetic field interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the magnetic element at a specific location on the guiding element where it can effectively indicate locking status while minimizing exposure to the electromagnet's magnetic field. The magnetic element is placed in a region where the electromagnet's field influence is reduced, allowing the magnetic field sensor to detect position changes with good precision without excessive interference from the electromagnet's magnetic field.
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
Enables reliable verification of the locking status by detecting changes in magnetic field strength, ensuring accurate locking and unlocking operations, while minimizing interference from the piston material and optimizing sensor placement for improved accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic field sensor for detecting a magnetic field of the magnetic element to be arranged in the locking unit
Implementation Method 2
The locking unit has an electromagnet
Data Source
AI summary
A locking unit for the parking brake of an automatic transmission, for locking the movement of a piston which can be moved by a drive, wherein a guiding element presses catch elements radially outward and a magnetic element for sensing the position of the guiding element is connected to the guiding element. A locking device for the parking brake of an automatic transmission, wherein a piston is locked with catch elements which are guided by a guiding element which in two end positions presses different catch elements radially outwardly in each case for locking.