Pipe-Guided Parking Lock Unit for Smooth Piston Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking units for automatic transmission parking locks face challenges in providing a lightweight, cost-effective, and dynamically efficient design that ensures smooth piston movement and reliable locking mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A locking unit featuring a piston guided by a metal pipe section within a plastic housing, utilizing an electromagnet and locking elements with a center piece that supports the pipe section and piston, allowing for fluid-tight operation and multiple locking positions, and manufactured using advanced processes like 3D printing or selective laser sintering for reduced weight and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the housing is made entirely of plastic, then weight is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but structural strength and durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking unit combines plastic housing material with metal components (piston, pipe section, locking elements) to create a composite structure that leverages the weight advantages of plastic while maintaining the strength and durability required for critical locking functions through metal reinforcement at key load-bearing points
2Ease of operation
If an internal tube piece is added as a guide for the piston, then piston guidance and movement smoothness are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The internal tube piece serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a guide for the piston to ensure smooth movement, provides structural support within the housing, and defines the pressure line channel for hydraulic fluid flow, thereby reducing overall device complexity despite adding a component
3Strength
If the pipe section is made of metal, then durability and pressure resistance are improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Metal material is applied selectively only to the pipe section where high pressure resistance is critically needed, while the housing remains plastic, creating a localized strength enhancement that minimizes overall weight increase compared to making the entire locking unit metal
4Ease of manufacture
If advanced manufacturing processes like 3D printing are used, then production complexity and costs are reduced, but manufacturing precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The locking unit is divided into separable components (housing, piston, pipe section, locking elements) that can be manufactured using different processes optimized for each part's requirements, allowing advanced processes like 3D printing for complex geometries while maintaining precision for critical mating surfaces through traditional machining
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 enables a lightweight, cost-effective locking unit with improved piston guidance and multiple locking positions, enhancing the dynamic performance and reliability of the locking mechanism while reducing production complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
the locking unit has an electromagnet and at least one locking element and the locking element interacts with the armature or the armature rod of the electromagnet
Implementation Method 2
a piston which is movable by a drive, in particular acted upon by pressure or hydraulic pressure
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
The invention relates to a locking unit, in particular for the parking lock of an automatic transmission, for locking the movement of a piston that can be moved by a drive, in particular one that can be subjected to pressure or hydraulic pressure, wherein the locking unit has an internal tube section which is designed as a guide for the piston.