Vehicle Park Lock Assembly Dynamic Engagement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle park lock systems fail to effectively prevent vehicle movement when parked on hills or grades due to insufficient holding force against gravitational loads.
Innovation Solution
A park lock assembly featuring a lock body with voids, a movable lock member, an actuator, and a biasing member that provides force to engage the lock member with the lock body, utilizing a drive coupling and spring mechanism to ensure secure engagement and disengagement based on vehicle speed and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the park lock system uses a simple engagement mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the holding force against gravitational loads becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic park lock system where the lock member can move between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the lock body. The biasing member continuously applies force to maintain engagement, and the system dynamically responds to gravitational loads by maintaining constant pressure on the engagement surfaces, ensuring adequate holding force without requiring an overly complex mechanical structure
Solution Approach 2:
The park lock system is divided into distinct functional components: a lock body with engagement surfaces, a movable lock member with corresponding engagement portions, and a biasing member. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the lock body provides structural support, the lock member provides the engagement interface, and the biasing member provides the necessary holding force, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and effectiveness
2Reliability
If the lock member is constantly engaged with the lock body, then the holding force is maximized, but the lock cannot disengage when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a dynamic engagement mechanism where the lock member can transition between engaged and disengaged states. The biasing member maintains constant force during engagement for reliability, while an actuator can override this force to disengage the lock when needed, ensuring both reliable holding and easy operation
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member acts as an intermediary that continuously applies force to maintain engagement between the lock member and lock body. This intermediary force ensures reliable holding during normal operation, while the actuator can intervene to disengage the lock when required, balancing reliability and ease of operation
3Force
If the park lock engages at all speeds, then the holding force is always present, but the vehicle cannot move when speed exceeds threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The park lock system dynamically adjusts its engagement state based on vehicle speed. At low speeds or when stationary, the biasing member maintains engagement between the lock member and lock body to provide holding force. When vehicle speed exceeds a threshold, the system disengages the lock to allow movement, resolving the contradiction between maintaining holding force and enabling vehicle motion
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates speed-based feedback control where the engagement state of the park lock is determined by vehicle speed conditions. When speed exceeds the threshold, the lock disengages; when speed is below the threshold, the lock engages under biasing member force. This feedback mechanism ensures the holding force is applied only when appropriate, preventing conflict between holding force and vehicle speed requirements
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 locks and unlocks the vehicle's output shaft to prevent rotation, maintaining engagement even under large gravitational forces, while avoiding engagement during vehicle motion above a certain speed threshold, ensuring safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member received between the actuator and the lock member to permit the lock member to move relative to the actuator. The biasing member providing a force on the lock member tending to move the lock member toward the lock body
Data Source
AI summary
In at least some implementations, a park lock assembly for a rotary component of a vehicle includes a lock body having at least one void, a lock member having an engagement portion selectively received within one of said at least one void, an actuator that drives the lock member to a position wherein the engagement portion may be received within one of said at least one void, and a biasing member received between the actuator and the lock member to permit the lock member to move relative to the actuator. The biasing member providing a force on the lock member tending to move the lock member toward the lock body.