Vehicle Parking Mechanism Locking Lever Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking mechanisms in vehicles are prone to unintentional range shifts due to hydraulic mechanism malfunctions, and they require a complex structure with increased installation space.
Innovation Solution
A simplified parking mechanism that includes a parking gear, piston, pawl, and locking lever, where the locking lever selectively engages with the piston to lock it in either the parking or non-parking position, preventing unintended shifts by using a single locking groove for both engagement portions, reducing the need for separate grooves and simplifying the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional parking mechanism with separate locking grooves for parking and non-parking positions is used, then the reliability of preventing unintentional range shifts is improved, but the device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the locking grooves for both parking and non-parking positions into a single integrated locking lever. The locking lever includes a first engagement portion that engages with a first locking groove when the parking piston is in the parking position, and a second engagement portion that engages with a second locking groove when the parking piston is in the non-parking position. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components while maintaining the dual-position locking function, thereby reducing device complexity and installation space without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking lever serves multiple functions: it locks the parking piston in both the parking position and the non-parking position, and it provides engagement portions for both locking grooves. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate locking mechanisms for each position, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable prevention of unintentional range shifts.
2Reliability
If a conventional parking mechanism with multiple separate locking grooves is used, then the reliability of locking the parking piston in both positions is improved, but the installation space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking functions for both parking and non-parking positions into a single locking lever structure. The locking lever integrates the first engagement portion and second engagement portion, along with their respective locking grooves, into one compact component. This merging reduces the overall installation space required while maintaining reliable locking in both positions through the coordinated engagement of the engagement portions with their corresponding grooves.
3Device complexity
If a simplified parking mechanism with a single locking lever is used, then the device complexity and installation space are reduced, but the reliability of preventing unintentional range shifts may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lever is segmented into distinct functional portions: a first engagement portion for engaging the first locking groove in the parking position, and a second engagement portion for engaging the second locking groove in the non-parking position. This segmentation within the unified locking lever structure ensures that each locking function is clearly defined and reliable, while the overall integrated design maintains low complexity and compact installation space.
Data Source
AI summary
A parking mechanism in a vehicle includes a parking gear, a parking piston, a parking rod, a parking pawl, and a locking lever. The parking gear is coupled to a drive shaft. The parking piston is moved between parking and non-parking position. The parking piston has a locking groove. The parking rod is moved in conjunction with movement of the parking piston. The parking pawl engages with and stops engaging with the parking gear in accordance with a move position of the parking rod. The locking lever includes first and second engagement portions. The first engagement portion engages with the locking groove when the parking piston is moved to the parking position. The second engagement portion engages with the locking groove when the parking piston is moved to the non-parking position. The locking lever selectively locks the parking piston in the parking and non-parking position.