Electromechanical Parking Brake Locking With Strut-Notch Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric brake systems lack a built-in locking mechanism for the parking brake, necessitating a separate mechanism to prevent vehicle movement when parked.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical parking brake system incorporating a strut mechanism with a strut that can be selectively engaged with notches on a rotatable part connected to the brake actuator, and a parking lock actuator with a pin that moves the strut between engaged and disengaged positions to lock or release the parking brake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate locking mechanism is added to the electric brake system, then the parking brake reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the parking brake locking mechanism with the existing electric brake actuator by integrating a strut with notch engagement features directly into the actuator structure. This merging approach adds locking functionality without requiring a completely separate mechanism, thus improving reliability while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The strut acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the electric motor and the brake caliper. It provides the locking function through notch engagement while allowing the motor to remain simple and focused on its primary function of generating braking force, thereby improving reliability without significantly complicating the motor control system.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the strut is engaged with notches to prevent rotation, then the parking brake stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The strut is designed with dynamic engagement characteristics where it can be easily pushed into notch positions during normal operation but provides strong mechanical locking when engaged. The strut's ability to move freely during braking operations but lock firmly during parking maintains both stability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The strut automatically engages with notches based on the rotational position of the brake actuator, providing self-locking functionality without requiring additional control mechanisms. This self-service approach ensures stable parking brake engagement while maintaining simple operation through the existing motor control system.
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 system effectively maintains the service brake clamp force without motor torque, allowing the parking brake to be securely engaged and released, enhancing vehicle safety when parked.
Implementation Method 1
The parking lock actuator may comprise a solenoid configured to move the pin in response to a current supplied to the solenoid.
Implementation Method 2
a spring configured to exert an elastic force moving the movable element away from the movable element's actuated position in a direction opposite to the direction in which the movable element moves from the movable element's unactuated position to the movable element's actuated position
Data Source
AI summary
During an operation of applying a parking brake, when sufficient brake clamping force is applied by a brake actuator, a parking lock actuator having a pin is energized to cause the pin to be moved toward a strut so that the strut is engaged with one of notches of a rotatable part operably connected with the brake actuator in order to prevent rotation of the rotatable part in one direction of releasing the brake and to allow rotation of the rotatable part in the other direction of applying the brake, and then the parking lock actuator is de-energized and the pin is moved away from the strut. During an operation of releasing the parking brake, the brake actuator rotates the rotatable part in the brake apply direction to disengage the strut from the notch, and then releases the brake.