Electric Parking Brake Cable Twist Alignment for Quiet Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electric parking brake device generates a slapping sound and increased wear due to the clearance between the projection portion and groove in the rotation restricting means, leading to high sliding resistance and operating noise during switching between parking brake states.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a brake cable formed by twisting wires, with the twisting force acting in the same direction as the nut's rotational direction, and uses rotation restricting projection portions on the screw shaft and grooves in the actuator case to minimize collisions and sliding resistance, reducing operating noise and wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rotation restricting means with projection portion and groove is used to restrict screw shaft rotation, then rotational motion is restricted, but clearance between projection portion and groove causes slapping sound and increased wear during rotational direction changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational restriction stabilityVSAvoidslapping sound and wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A rotation restricting plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the screw shaft and actuator case. The plate includes rotation restricting protrusions that engage with grooves, mediating the rotational restriction function while reducing direct contact and collision between the screw shaft projection portions and the actuator case grooves, thereby suppressing slapping sounds and wear

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation restricting plate is designed to engage with the screw shaft before significant rotational deviation occurs. The protrusion-groove engagement on the plate provides preliminary rotational constraint, cushioning against unintended rotation and preventing the screw shaft projection portions from colliding with the actuator case grooves

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Stability of the object's composition

If projection portion is pressed strongly against groove side surface during axial movement, then rotational motion is effectively restricted, but sliding resistance increases causing high wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational restriction effectivenessVSAvoidcomponent wear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation restricting plate serves as a mediator that bears the sliding contact between the screw shaft and the actuator case. The protrusions on the plate engage with grooves to provide rotational restriction while reducing direct sliding contact, thereby lowering sliding resistance and wear on critical components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The design changes the contact parameters by introducing the rotation restricting plate with optimized protrusion geometry and groove configuration. This alters the friction and wear characteristics of the rotation restricting interface, reducing sliding resistance while maintaining rotational constraint effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design effectively suppresses slapping sounds and reduces wear by aligning the twisting force with the nut's rotation, minimizing collisions and sliding resistance, thereby enhancing the operational silence and longevity of the brake device.

Implementation Method 1

the brake cable is formed by twisting a plurality of wires so as to generate a twisting force in a fixed direction when the brake cable is pulled

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTwisting force: Torsion Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3779230B1Electric parking brake device
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP3779230B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3779230B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3779230B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an electric parking brake device configured in such a way that a parking brake state resulting from pulling of a brake cable is released by loosening the brake cable, the brake cable (37) is formed by twisting together a plurality of wires (92) in such a way as to generate a twisting force in a fixed direction when pulled, and the direction in which the twisting force generated by the brake cable (37) in a pulled state acts on a screw shaft (38) is set to be the same direction as the direction in which a nut (61) is rotated to loosen the brake cable (37). This makes it possible to reduce an operating sound and to reduce wear of members constituting a rotation restricting means.