Parking Lock Actuator with Speed-Blocked Pawl
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Solution Overview
Problem
The risk of damage to the parking lock mechanism in motor vehicles, particularly agricultural tractors, due to incorrect operation of the parking lock actuation device, leading to sudden stops, damage, or destruction, is not adequately addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A parking lock actuation device with a pawl that can be moved between a release and locked position, utilizing an electric current-actuated blocking element to prevent the actuation lever from being moved from the driving position to the parking position unless the vehicle is stationary, combined with a control device that monitors vehicle speed and shift position to ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the parking lock actuation device allows free movement of the actuating lever between driving and parking positions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of damage to the parking lock mechanism increases due to incorrect operation while the vehicle is moving
Solution Approach 1:
A pawl is introduced as an intermediary blocking element between the actuating lever and the parking lock mechanism. The pawl can be positioned to block the actuating lever in the driving position, preventing unintended movement to the parking position while the vehicle is moving. This intermediary component allows free operation when needed but blocks operation when dangerous, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and prevention of damage.
2Reliability
If a blocking mechanism is added to prevent incorrect operation of the parking lock, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The parking lock system utilizes the existing actuating lever's movement to automatically engage and disengage the pawl blocking element. When the actuating lever is moved to the driving position, it automatically triggers the pawl to block further movement. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate control systems or additional actuators, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic control systems with a purely mechanical blocking mechanism using the pawl and actuating lever interaction. The mechanical design allows the lever's own movement to control the blocking function, substituting what could have been a complex electronic sensor-actuator system with a simple mechanical solution, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If an automatic control system is implemented to detect vehicle speed and control the blocking element, then the protection against damage is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing vehicle speed signal (already available in the vehicle's electronic systems) to automatically control the blocking element through a simple control unit. The control unit receives the speed signal and automatically actuates the blocking element without requiring additional sensors or complex control algorithms. This approach provides automatic protection while minimizing the increase in device complexity by leveraging existing vehicle systems.
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 solution effectively prevents incorrect operation of the parking lock mechanism, reducing the risk of damage by ensuring the actuation lever can only be moved into the parking position when the vehicle is stationary, thus protecting the mechanism from damage and ensuring safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
an electric current acted upon actuator is provided with a movable blocking element
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention comprises a parking lock actuating device (1) exclusively for actuating a parking lock mechanism of a motor vehicle, with a manually operated actuating lever (2) which is movably guided in a cam (6) between a driving position and a parking position, wherein a locking pawl (19) is provided which is movable between a release position, in which it does not impede the movement of the actuating lever (2), and a locking position, in which it projects into the range of movement of the actuating lever (2) between its driving and parking positions, and wherein an actuator (11) which can be actuated with an electric current is provided with a movable locking element (23) which can be brought into a locking mode, in which the locking element (23) blocks the locking pawl (19) when the locking pawl (19) is in its locking position, and which can be brought into a non-locking mode.in which the locking pawl (19) is released by the actuator (11).