Electric Parking Brake Spindle Inversion for Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric parking brakes require a long spindle to accommodate the stopper member at one end linked with the parking cable, leading to increased space occupation and manufacturing costs due to excessive spindle length.
Innovation Solution
The stopper member is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the opposite end of the spindle, allowing the parking cable to be pulled into the screw nut during braking, thereby reducing the spindle's length and space occupancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stopper member is fixed to the end of the spindle linked with the parking cable, then the spindle can prevent excessive rotation when the brake is released, but the spindle length increases and occupies excessive space
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fixing the stopper member to the end of the spindle linked with the parking cable (conventional approach), the invention inverts the arrangement by fixing the stopper member to the other end of the spindle opposite to the cable connection end. This inversion allows the parking cable to be pulled into the screw nut during braking while keeping the spindle length short, thereby preventing excessive rotation without occupying excessive space.
2Reliability
If the stopper member is fixed to the end of the spindle linked with the parking cable, then the spindle can prevent excessive rotation, but the manufacturing cost increases due to excessive spindle length
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional arrangement by fixing the stopper member to the end of the spindle opposite to where the parking cable is connected. This inversion enables the parking cable to be pulled into the screw nut during braking operation, achieving the necessary rotational limitation while significantly reducing the required spindle length and associated manufacturing costs.
3Reliability
If the spindle is made long to accommodate the stopper member at the cable-linked end, then the stopper can prevent excessive rotation, but the space utility in the vehicle is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than extending the spindle length to place the stopper member at the cable-linked end, the invention inverts the configuration by positioning the stopper member at the opposite end of the spindle. This allows the parking cable to be pulled into the screw nut during braking, achieving reliable rotational control while minimizing the space occupied by the spindle assembly in the vehicle.
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
This configuration reduces the spindle's length and space occupancy, lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining effective brake operation.
Implementation Method 1
a screw nut 4, a spindle 5... The screw nut 4 has a hollow structure, and is integrally formed with an inner circumferential surface of the gear wheel 3. The spindle 5 is geared with the inner circumferential surface of the screw nut 4 to move in a shaft direction according to the rotation of the gear wheel 3.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an electric parking brake. The electric parking brake includes a motor which forms torque through an electric device, multi-stage gears coupled with the motor, a gear wheel which is mechanically linked with the multi-stage gears, a screw nut which has a hollow structure, and is integrally formed with an inner circumferential surface of the gear wheel, a spindle geared with an inner circumferential surface of the screw nut to move in a shaft direction according to rotation of the gear wheel, a parking cable linked with the spindle at an outlet side of the spindle remote from the gear wheel, a stopper member fixed to an outer circumferential surface of a second end opposite to a first end of the spindle linked with the parking cable to prevent the spindle from excessively rotating when breaking is released. In the electric parking brake, the stopper member is fixed on the outer circumferential surface of an end opposite to one end of the spindle linked with the parking cable. In braking, the spindle moves in a direction to pull the parking cable such that the parking cable is pulled to the inner part of the screw nut. The length of the spindle and the space occupied by the spindle are reduced, so that the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced.