Parking Brake Valve Sensor for Latch Engagement Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking brake devices face challenges in ensuring secure engagement of the locking mechanism, leading to potential unintentional release of the brake system, especially under rough operation conditions, and require complex mechanical components that increase costs and operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic-mechanical parking brake valve with a sensor device that generates electrical signals indicating the full engagement of the latching body, coupled with an electronic evaluation device that provides visual and auditory warnings or automatically applies the parking brake if the engagement is unstable, ensuring secure operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical latching mechanism is used to secure the parking brake position, then the brake system can be locked in place, but the mechanism may fail to engage fully under rough operation conditions, leading to unintentional release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a sensor device that detects the engagement status of the latching body with the gate opening and provides feedback signals to an evaluation device. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor whether the latching mechanism has fully engaged, enabling corrective actions if engagement is incomplete, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable engagement and operational sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical engagement detection with an electronic sensing system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical indicators of latching status, the system uses sensors to detect the position and engagement state, converting mechanical status into electrical signals for more precise and reliable monitoring of the latching mechanism's engagement state.
2Reliability
If complex mechanical components are added to ensure complete engagement detection, then the reliability of brake engagement can be improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes complex mechanical detection mechanisms with simpler electronic sensors and evaluation circuits. The sensor device and evaluation device provide reliable engagement detection through electrical signals rather than requiring complex mechanical interlocks or indicators, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing mechanical complexity and manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electronic intermediary system (sensor device and evaluation device) that mediates between the mechanical latching mechanism and the control system. This intermediary translates mechanical engagement status into electrical signals, simplifying the overall system architecture while improving detection reliability compared to purely mechanical solutions.
3Extent of automation
If the detent body is connected to the shift handle, then the automatic immersion mechanism can be activated, but unintentional pulling on the handle can disrupt the immersion process, causing incomplete engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device provides real-time feedback on the detent body's position and engagement status, allowing the evaluation device to detect incomplete engagement caused by disrupted automatic immersion. This feedback enables the system to identify and correct engagement issues, maintaining reliability despite the vulnerability of the automatic immersion mechanism to operator input.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a parking brake device of a vehicle, comprising a pneumatic parking brake valve, which has a tilt lever (1) which is pivotably guided on a shift gate (3) of a valve housing into different pivot positions (A-D) and connected to a control body (5) for actuating a parking brake valve mechanism, and comprising a mechanism for engaging and releasing a locking body (13) in relation to a gate opening (37) of the shift gate (3) at least in a pivot position (C) of the tilt lever (1) representing the "parking" operating state. According to the invention, a first sensor device (63) that interacts with the locking body (13) is provided. The first sensor device is designed in such a way that the first sensor device produces a first electrical signal for an electronic evaluating device (65) in dependence on a complete or incomplete, or rather unperformed, engagement of the locking body (13) into the gate opening (37) of the shift gate (3).