Planetary Parking Actuation Mechanism to Prevent Back Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional parking mechanisms in vehicles are prone to back driving, are unreliable, and lack accurate engagement determination, diagnostic capabilities, and manual operation functionalities.
Innovation Solution
An actuation mechanism with a sun gear connected to planetary gears, a carrier, and a fixed non-rotating ring gear, which includes a cam system for engaging and disengaging a parking pawl, along with sensor members for diagnostic data collection and manual operation, preventing back driving and enhancing reliability and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional parking mechanisms are used, then the structure is simple, but the mechanism is easily back driven and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical parking mechanisms with an electric motor-driven actuation system. The motor (204) converts electrical energy to mechanical rotation, which is then transmitted through a planetary gear system (208, 212, 216) to provide reliable, controllable actuation of the parking pawl (220), eliminating back-driving issues inherent in purely mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a planetary gear arrangement where planetary gears (212) are nested around a sun gear (208) and mesh with both the sun gear and a ring gear (216). This nested configuration provides compact, high-ratio mechanical advantage while maintaining reliability and preventing back-driving through the fixed ring gear constraint.
2Measurement precision
If conventional parking mechanisms are used, then the device is simple, but accurate engagement determination is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensor members (224) that detect the position and engagement state of the parking pawl (220) and provide feedback signals to the control system. This enables accurate determination of whether the parking pawl is properly engaged with the parking gear (228), allowing the system to confirm parking status and prevent incomplete engagement.
3Reliability
If conventional parking mechanisms are used, then the structure is simple, but diagnostic capabilities are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor members (224) provide continuous feedback not only on engagement status but also on operational parameters that can indicate diagnostic information about the parking mechanism's condition, enabling monitoring and early detection of potential failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis through the sensor feedback mechanism, automatically monitoring its own operational status and engagement conditions without requiring external inspection, thereby maintaining reliability through continuous self-verification.
4Ease of operation
If conventional parking mechanisms are used, then the mechanism is simple, but manual operation functionalities are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation mechanism is designed with multi-functionality, capable of both automatic electric motor-driven operation and manual operation modes. The system can switch between these modes as needed, providing versatility in operational methods while maintaining a unified mechanical structure that supports both actuation approaches.
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 mechanism prevents back driving, ensures reliable operation across various conditions, provides accurate parking pawl engagement, offers diagnostic capabilities, and allows for manual operation, enhancing the overall reliability and functionality of the parking mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
At least a portion of the sun gear (208) is drivingly connected to at least a portion of one or more planetary gears (212). The one or more planetary gears (212) are drivingly connected to at least a portion of a carrier (214), a fixed non-rotating ring gear (216) and an output gear (222).
Data Source
AI summary
An actuation mechanism for use in a vehicle. The actuation mechanism includes one or more motors having an output shaft with a sun gear. At least a portion of the sun gear is drivingly connected to at least a portion of one or more planetary gears. The one or more planetary gears are drivingly connected to at least a portion of a carrier, a fixed non-rotating ring gear and an output gear. The disclosure further relates to a method of operating an actuation mechanism that is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a vehicle parking mechanism. The method includes providing an actuation mechanism, providing a parking mechanism and one or more sensors that are operably configured to collect an amount of data to be analyzed. Based on the data analyzed, one or more failures within the parking mechanism may be determined and an alert may be sent.