Parking Lock Latch Mechanism With Spring Buffer Against Ratcheting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current parking lock systems for motor vehicle gearboxes or reduction units are prone to premature deterioration due to the 'ratcheting' phenomenon, where the latch hits and bounces against the wheel when the vehicle is moving, causing early wear on the wheel and latch components.
Innovation Solution
A parking lock system design featuring a first lever connected to a guide rod, a second lever actuated by an actuator, and a second spring that acts as a buffer to absorb and store energy, allowing the latch to engage with the wheel only when it is stationary, reducing the impact of 'ratcheting' by pivoting the levers to control the latch's engagement and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the carriage pushes the latch into the locking position during vehicle movement, then the locking system can be actuated, but the latch hits and bounces against the rotating wheel causing premature deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
A compression spring is positioned around the guide rod between the rear wall of the casing and the carriage. This spring acts as a cushioning element that absorbs the impacts when the latch hits the rotating wheel during ratcheting phenomenon, preventing premature deterioration of the latch and wheel components while maintaining the ability to actuate the locking system.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression spring serves as an intermediary element between the carriage and the rear wall of the casing. It mediates the force transmission during ratcheting by providing a compliant connection that absorbs impact energy, reducing the direct transmission of harmful forces to the latch and wheel while still allowing the locking mechanism to function.
2Reliability
If a compression spring is positioned around the rod to push the carriage into the locking position, then the risk of deterioration is decreased, but the design can be further improved in terms of resistance to ratcheting phenomena
Solution Approach 1:
The compression spring is pre-positioned around the guide rod to provide cushioning before impacts occur. This beforehand cushioning mechanism is already in place to absorb the energy of ratcheting impacts, and the patent further improves this by optimizing the spring characteristics and positioning to maximize its protective effect while maintaining design simplicity.
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 reduces the risk of premature deterioration by absorbing and managing the energy from 'ratcheting' impacts, allowing the latch to engage securely with the wheel, thereby increasing the resistance to wear and tear on the locking system components.
Implementation Method 1
a second spring positioned between the first lever and the second lever, the return force of the second spring being less than the force necessary to make the second lever pivot
Implementation Method 2
the second spring acts as a buffer, and accumulates the pivoting energy from the first lever, awaiting to be able to return it to the second lever
Data Source
AI summary
A parking lock system for a motor vehicle transmission includes a latch pivotingly movable from a locking position engaged in a cavity of a locking wheel rotatably linked to an output of the transmission, to an unlocking position disengaged from the cavity. A carriage is mounted at the end of a rod and slides to a locking position. The carriage forces the pivoting of the latch in the locking, or the unlocking position. A first lever is connected to the rod, and pivots to push or pull the rod. A second lever pivots via an actuator. A spring positioned between the levers has a return force being less than the force to make the second lever pivot, such that the pivoting of the first lever leads to either: pivoting of the second lever and engagement of the latch when it is facing a cavity, or compression of the spring.