Cabin-Operated Mechanical Parking Unlocking With Pull-Cord Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic parking mechanisms in new energy vehicles lack structural flexibility, have short service life, and require drivers to manually unlock the mechanical mechanism under the vehicle when the parking motor is powered off, posing safety and comfort concerns.

Innovation Solution

A gearbox with a mechanical unlocking mechanism incorporating a parking cam assembly, pawl assembly, pull cord assembly, and actuating assembly, allowing for flexible rotation and axial translation to enable manual unlocking from the vehicle cabin without power, and a torsion spring failure prevention assembly to maintain functionality in case of spring failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the mechanical unlocking mechanism is located under the vehicle and requires manual operation, then the structure is simple, but the safety and comfort are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunlocking operationVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a pull cord as an intermediary element that transmits the unlocking force from the driver's operation inside the cabin to the parking mechanism. The pull cord assembly includes a pull cord, guide holes, and connection points that enable force transmission through the vehicle body without requiring direct access to the mechanical components under the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent relocates the unlocking operation from the vertical dimension (under the vehicle) to the horizontal dimension (inside the cabin through the pull cord). The actuating assembly with its guide holes and pull cord routing creates a new operational pathway that changes the spatial dimension of the unlocking action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the parking cam is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the service life is short due to insufficient structural flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecam structureVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the fixed parking cam into a dynamic component that can rotate around the parking guide shaft. The parking cam assembly includes a rotating mechanism with guide holes that allow the cam to move angularly, providing structural flexibility and adapting to operational variations, thereby extending service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the parking cam into independent functional elements: the parking cam body, the parking guide shaft, and the rotating mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while accommodating movement and wear independently, improving overall durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the parking mechanism uses only electronic control, then the operation is convenient, but the reliability is insufficient when power is off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol operationVSAvoidunlocking function
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal parking mechanism that functions in both electronic and mechanical modes. The actuating assembly serves dual purposes: it can be actuated electronically through the control system or manually through the pull cord mechanism. This multi-functionality ensures reliability regardless of power availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical pull cord system provides self-service capability for unlocking when electronic systems fail. The mechanism uses the vehicle's existing structural elements (guide holes, pull cord routing) to create an autonomous mechanical unlocking pathway that does not depend on external power sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 provides a safe and comfortable mechanical unlocking process without the need to exit the vehicle, ensuring high safety and operational ease while preventing pawl misalignment due to torsion spring failure.

Implementation Method 1

the pull cord assembly is configured to drive the parking guide shaft to translate in an axial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical translation: Displacement

Implementation Method 2

a torsion spring failure prevention assembly to maintain functionality in case of spring failure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorsion spring: Torsion Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4086485B1Mechanical unlocking mechanism for electronic parking
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 JING JIN ELECTRIC TECH CO LTD
  • EP4086485B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4086485B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4086485B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A mechanical unlocking mechanism for electronic parking is provided, which comprises a parking cam assembly, a pawl assembly, a parking gear (17), a pull cord assembly (5) and an actuating assembly. The parking cam assembly comprises a parking guide shaft (11) and a parking cam (13). The parking cam (13) is sleeved on the parking guide shaft (11). The outer side of the parking cam (13) is provided with an arc protrusion along a circumferential direction, so that with the rotation of the parking cam (13), the pawl assembly is in a first position where the parking gear (17) parks in and a second position where the parking gear (17) parks out. One end of the pull cord assembly (5) is connected with the actuating assembly, and the other end of the pull cord assembly (5) is connected with the parking guide shaft (11). The actuating assembly drives, via the pull cord assembly (5), the parking guide shaft (11) to translate, thereby driving the pawl (16) to move from the first position to the second position. The mechanical unlocking mechanism according to the present disclosure provides an emergent mechanical unlocking function when the parking motor is powered off, and the driver can perform manual mechanical unlocking in the cab without getting off the vehicle, so it has high safety and good operation comfort.