LOCKING DEVICE OF A PARKING BRAKE AND A PARKING BRAKE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking device (1) of a parking brake, comprising a ratchet wheel (10) movable about an axis of rotation (X), at least two pawls (20) which can engage in the ratchet wheel (10) to fix it, an actuating device (50) and a coupling element (30), wherein the coupling element (30) couples the at least two pawls (20) to the actuating device (50), and wherein the coupling element (30) is movable by the actuating device (50) into a first position (A), in which the at least two pawls (20) allow rotation of the ratchet wheel (10) in a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation, and a second position (B), in which the at least two pawls (20) can engage in the ratchet wheel (10) and allow rotation in only the first direction of rotation. The present invention also relates to a parking brake with a locking device (1).

Claims

1. A locking device (1) of a parking brake, comprising: a ratchet wheel (10), which is movable about an axis of rotation (X) and has toothing (12), at least two pawls (20) that can engage in the ratchet wheel (10), an actuating device (50), and a coupling element (30), wherein the coupling element (30) couples the at least two pawls (20) to the actuating device (50), and wherein the coupling element (30) is movable by the actuating device (50) into a first position (A), in which the at least two pawls (20) allow rotation of the ratchet wheel (10) in a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation, and a second position (B), in which the at least two pawls (20) can engage in the ratchet wheel (10) and allow rotation in only the first direction of rotation.

2. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two pawls (20) are each arranged at different pitch angles (τ) relative to one tooth (14) of the ratchet wheel (10).

3. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the second position (B), when the ratchet wheel (10) is rotated in the first direction of rotation, the at least two pawls (20) alternately engage in the ratchet wheel (10).

4. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two pawls (20) are arranged circumferentially distributed around the axis of rotation (X).

5. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two pawls (20) can each be pivoted about a pivot axis (X2), which are preferably arranged parallel to the axis of rotation (X).

6. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one preload is provided by which at least one of the at least two pawls (20) can be pressed against the ratchet wheel (10).

7. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two pawls (20) and the coupling element (30) are coupled by means of a guide lug (25) guided in a link guide (35).

8. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the at least two pawls (20) has a guide lug (25) which is arranged at a distance from the axis (X2), that the coupling element (30) has a link guide (35), and that the guide lug (25) engages in the link guide (35).

9. The locking device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the link guide (35) is L-shaped with a first section (36) and a second section (37), and that the first section (36) is directed in the circumferential direction and the second portion (37) in a radial direction.

10. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the at least two pawls (20) has a bearing pin (24) on a first side (21) and has the guide lug (25) or the link guide (35) on the opposite, second side (22).

11. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling element (30) can be rotated about the axis of rotation (X).

12. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling element (30) is ring-shaped.

13. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating device (50) is a linear actuator.

14. The locking device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the linear actuator is a lifting magnet (55) with two stable end positions, and/or that the lifting magnet (55) is connected to the coupling element (30) in such a way that the lifting magnet (55) is in one of the stable end positions both in the first position (A) as well as in the second position (B) of the coupling element (30).

15. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one sensor (70) is provided, which can detect whether the ratchet wheel (10) is released or not.

16. The locking device (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the at least one sensor (70) detects the position of the actuating device (50) and/or the position of the coupling element (30).

17. The locking device (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the at least one sensor (70) detects whether at least one of the at least two pawls (20) is engaging in the ratchet wheel (10).

18. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a housing (40) is provided, and that the at least two pawls (20) and/or the coupling element (30) are mounted on the housing (40).

19. The locking device (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that the housing (40) is a hybrid component made of a metal and a plastic.

20. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one sensor (70) and/or a controller of the actuating device (50) is arranged on the housing (40).

21. A parking brake, having an electric motor which actuates a brake and having a locking device (1) according to claim 1.

22. The parking brake according to claim 21, characterized in that a temperature detection of the brake is provided.

Description

[0031] An exemplary embodiment of a locking device according to the invention for a parking brake is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0032] FIG. 1: a greatly simplified and schematic exploded view of a locking device according to the invention with a ratchet wheel, two pawls, a coupling element, and an actuating device;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a greatly simplified and partially transparent illustration of the locking device according to FIG. 1 in a first position, the pawls allowing the ratchet wheel to rotate in a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation; and

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a greatly simplified and partially transparent illustration of the locking device according to FIG. 2 in a second position, the pawls allowing the ratchet wheel to rotate exclusively in the first direction of rotation;

[0035] FIG. 4 is a simplified and schematic plan view of the coupling element;

[0036] FIG. 5a is a plan view of one of the at least two pawls;

[0037] FIG. 5b is a side view of the pawl according to FIG. 5a;

[0038] FIG. 6a shows a simplified plan view of a first housing half of the housing; and

[0039] FIG. 6b shows a simplified plan view of a second housing half of the housing.

[0040] In the following, identical or functionally identical components in the one exemplary embodiment are identified by the same reference symbols. For the sake of clarity, not all parts that are the same or functionally the same are provided with a reference number in the individual figures.

[0041] The greatly simplified exploded view according to FIG. 1 shows a locking device 1 according to the invention. The locking device 1 is part of a (not fully illustrated) parking brake of a motor vehicle, which is set up to apply or release a brake of a wheel or an axle.

[0042] The electric parking brake can have an electric motor (not shown) that is connected to the brake via a drive shaft 5, the drive shaft 5 being able to be rotated about an axis of rotation X in a first direction of rotation φ1 to apply the brake and in a second direction of rotation φ2 to release the brake. Each direction of rotation φ1 and φ2 is indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 by means of an arrow line.

[0043] The locking device 1 comprises a ratchet wheel 10 that is movable about the axis of rotation X and at least two pawls 20, which can engage the ratchet wheel 10 to fix or lock the ratchet wheel 10. The locking device 1 furthermore comprises a coupling element 30 and an actuating device 50, the coupling element 30 coupling the at least two pawls 20 to the actuating device 50.

[0044] The at least two pawls 20 and the coupling element 30 can be arranged in a housing 40, the housing 40 having a through opening 41 through which the drive shaft 5 is guided coaxially.

[0045] The ratchet wheel 10 is equipped in the manner of a pinion with toothing 12 comprising a number i of teeth 14, the number i in the exemplary embodiment shown being an odd number, i=27. The teeth 14 are sawtooth-shaped, the teeth 14 preferably being arranged in the direction of rotation around the axis of rotation X at a constant angle, the so-called pitch angle T. Each tooth 14 has a tooth face and a tooth back, which meet in a tooth tip. The so-called tooth gap is formed between two adjacent tooth tips. The tooth back points in the first direction of rotation φ1 and the tooth face in the second direction of rotation φ2, which means that the toothing 12 can be referred to as having a “strong on impact” toothing type in analogy to a saw tooth, and the cutting angle is less than 90°. In other words, the tooth face forms an undercut.

[0046] The ratchet wheel 10 is coupled to the drive shaft 5 for conjoint rotation.

[0047] In the present case, two preferably structurally identical pawls 20 are arranged around the ratchet wheel 10 or around the axis of rotation X, each of which pawls can pivot about a pivot axis X2. Each pivot axis X2 is preferably arranged parallel to and at a distance from the axis of rotation X.

[0048] The pawl 20, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 5a and 5b, has a first side 21 and a second side 22, and can be made of a metallic material, in particular in a screen printing process. On the first side 21 a bearing pin 24 protrudes from the pawl 20 and on the second side 22 a guide lug 25, wherein both the bearing pin 24 and the guide lug 25 can be cylindrical. The diameter of the bearing pin 24 is a multiple of the diameter of the guide lug 25.

[0049] As will be described in detail below, each pawl 20 is rotatably supported on the housing 40 about the pivot axis X2, the pawl 20 being rocker-shaped with a first end region and a second end region, which are arranged radially diametrically from the pivot axis X2. In the first end region, the previously mentioned guide lug 25 is arranged on the second side 22 as well as one or more ratchet teeth 26. The ratchet teeth 26 protrude in a direction of rotation about the pivot axis X2 and are adapted to the shape of the teeth 14 of the toothing 12 of the ratchet wheel 10.

[0050] Both in the first end region and in the second end region, pockets 28 can be formed—shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b with dotted lines—which can be designed to accommodate, for example, a sensor system or magnet 39, which will be described in detail later.

[0051] The coupling element 30, shown in detail in FIG. 4, has a substantially annular section in the manner of a synchronizer ring. L-shaped link guides 35 with a first section 36 and a second section 37 are arranged in the annular section on diametrically arranged sides. The link guide 35 can be incorporated or molded into the coupling element 30 as a groove, the link guide 35 being adapted to the guide lug 25 of the relevant pawl 20 such that the guide lug 25 can be positively guided in the link guide 35.

[0052] A connecting means 34 protrudes in the form of a rod from the annular section of the coupling element 30. In a region of a free end of the connecting means 34, an elongated hole breaking through the connecting means 34 can be formed.

[0053] Furthermore, the coupling element 30 can have a pocket 28 which can be designed to accommodate a sensor system, which will be described in detail later. The coupling element 30 can also have a notch 33 into which a locking bracket 65 of a position securing device 60, which will be described in detail later, can engage in the radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation X.

[0054] The housing 40 can be produced in one piece or from multiple housing halves 40a, 40b as a hybrid component, a first housing half 40a being shown in FIG. 6A and the second housing half 40b in FIG. 6B. Both housing halves 40a, 40b have in common that they have a through opening 41, and each have at least one recess 44, 46 on an inner side. In the first housing half 40a according to FIG. 6a, bearing pin receptacles 42, which are adapted to the size of the bearing pins 24 of the pawls 20, are arranged on diametrical sides around the axis of rotation X2. Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 6A that the first recess 44 is formed around the bearing pin receptacle 42, the first recess 44 being configured to receive the pawls 20. The recess 44 can be dimensioned such that the guide lug 25 of the relevant pawl 20 protrudes. The shape and size of the first recess 44 take into account that the pawl 20 can be pivoted about the pivot axis X2 formed by the bearing pin receptacle 42 and the bearing pin 24. Furthermore, spring mounts 47 can be provided, to each of which a return spring 27 can be attached.

[0055] The second housing half 40b according to FIG. 6b has the second recess 46, which is formed approximately coaxially to the through opening 41 and is adapted to the annular section of the coupling element 30. In the second recess 46, the ring-shaped section of the coupling element 30 can be mounted coaxially to the axis of rotation X, whereby the coupling element 30 is held in the housing 40 so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation X.

[0056] The housing 40 can have one or more sensor pockets 48 on one side, which can accommodate a sensor 70. The sensor pockets 48 can be arranged both in the first housing half 40a and/or in the second housing half 40b and are indicated with dotted lines in FIGS. 6a and 6b.

[0057] Furthermore, the position securing device 60 is shown in FIG. 6b, which comprises a spring-loaded locking bracket 65 which is set up to grip into the notch 33 of the coupling element 30 in the first position A and/or in the second position B and to lock it.

[0058] The actuating device 50 can be any drive by means of which the coupling element 30 can be adjusted about the axis of rotation X from a first position A to a second position B. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating device 50 comprises a lifting magnet with two stable end positions, which is characterized in that a plunger 52 can be permanent-magnetically held by the actuating device 50 in a first end position, shown in FIG. 3, in a second end position, shown in FIG. 2. At a free end, the plunger 52 has connecting means 54, by means of which an advancing movement can be transmitted to the coupling element 30. When the actuating device 50 is energized, the permanent-magnetic holding force is released in the relevant end position and the plunger is moved into the other end position. The lifting magnet enables a particularly rapid advancement of the actuating device 50.

[0059] With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the actuating device 50 can rotate the coupling element 30 from a first position A to a second position B about the axis of rotation X via the connecting means 34, 54 and vice versa. In the assembled state of the locking device 1 shown there, the guide lug 25 of each pawl 20 engages the link guide 35 of the coupling element 30.

[0060] In the first position A according to FIG. 2, the guide lug 25 of the pawl 20 is arranged in the first section 36 of the link guide 35. The return spring 27 preloads the pawl 20 in the direction of the ratchet wheel 10. The guide lug 25 rests against the link guide 35 and the pawl 20 is pushed out of the ratchet wheel 10 against the preload of the return spring 27, which is why the ratchet teeth 26 cannot engage the ratchet wheel 10. In this first position A of the coupling element 30, the at least two pawls 20 release a rotation of the ratchet wheel 10 both in the first direction of rotation φ1 and in the second direction of rotation φ2.

[0061] In the second position B according to FIG. 3, the guide lug 25 of each pawl 20 is arranged in the second section 37 of the link guide 35. The guide lug 25 is movable in the second section 37 of the link guide 35 in the radial direction—or around the pivot axis X2—and each pawl 20 can be pressed into the ratchet wheel 10 by a corresponding spring force of the return spring 27 or, when rotated in the first direction of rotation (pi, can be pushed out at the tooth back. In the second position B, only rotation in the first direction of rotation φ1 is possible, which is why, in the second position B, freewheeling, for example tightening the parking brake, is possible. It may always be necessary to tighten the parking brake if the components involved in braking cool down after a journey and thermal expansion decreases. A release of the parking brake by turning in the second direction of rotation φ2 is blocked.

[0062] In particular, it can be seen from FIG. 3 that the at least two pawls 20 are arranged in the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation X in such a way that they are alternately pressed in and out when the ratchet wheel 10 rotates in the first direction of rotation φ1. For this purpose, the pawls 20 are not arranged symmetrically to the toothing 12 with respect to the toothing 12 of the ratchet wheel 10, but are arranged offset by half a pitch angle T. This arrangement of the pawls 20 can ensure that in the second position B of the coupling element 30 one of the pawls 20 is always in engagement.

[0063] In order to detect the position of the coupling element 30, a magnet 39 can be inserted into the pocket 38, which magnet interacts with a sensor 70, whereby it can be detected whether the coupling element 30 is in the first position A or the second position B. Furthermore, magnets 29 can be inserted into the pockets 28 of the pawls 20. It can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 that the magnet 29 is inserted into the pocket 28 of the pawl 20 on the left in the picture in the first end region. On the right in the picture the magnet 29 is inserted into the pocket 28 in the second end region of the pawl. The magnets 29 of the two pawls thus point in the same spatial direction.

[0064] The magnets 29 can interact with further sensors 70 to detect whether a pawl 20 is engaging the ratchet wheel 10 or not. The sensors 70 can be Hall sensors, for example, which can detect a change in the magnetic field generated by the corresponding magnet 29, 39.

[0065] In order to implement a simple and compact design, it is preferred if the sensors 70 are arranged on one side of the housing. On this side of the housing, the sensors 70 can be arranged on a circuit board or the like. A controller can be provided on this circuit board, the controller being able to control both the actuating device 50 and the data from the sensors 70.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0066] 1 Locking device [0067] 5 Drive shaft [0068] 10 Ratchet wheel [0069] 12 Toothing [0070] 14 Tooth [0071] 20 Pawls [0072] 20 Pawl [0073] 21 First side [0074] 22 Second side [0075] 24 Bearing pin [0076] 25 Guide lug [0077] 26 Ratchet tooth [0078] 27 Return spring [0079] 28 Pocket [0080] 29 Magnet [0081] 30 Coupling element [0082] 31 First side [0083] 32 Second side [0084] 33 Notch [0085] 34 Connecting means [0086] 35 Link guide [0087] 36 First section [0088] 37 Second section [0089] 38 Pocket [0090] 39 Magnet [0091] 40 Housing [0092] 41 Through opening [0093] 42 Bearing pin receptacle [0094] 44 First recess [0095] 46 Second recess [0096] 47 Spring mounts [0097] 48 Sensor pocket [0098] 50 Actuating device [0099] 52 Plunger [0100] 54 Connecting means [0101] 55 Lifting magnet [0102] 60 Position securing device [0103] 65 Locking bracket [0104] 70 Sensor [0105] A First position [0106] B Second position [0107] X Axis of rotation [0108] X2 Pivot axis [0109] τ Pitch angle [0110] φ First direction of rotation [0111] φ2 Second direction of rotation