Parking lock arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11052880-B2
Application number	US-201716621319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2017
Priority date	Jun 14, 2017
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A parking lock arrangement for a drive train of a motor vehicle includes a controllable locking mechanism and an unlocking mechanism. The controllable locking mechanism includes a spindle drive with a spindle shaft rotationally drivable about a spindle axis, an actuator for rotating the spindle shaft and a positioning element movable by rotating the spindle shaft for actuating a blocking element. The blocking element acts at least indirectly on a drive element in a blocking or releasing manner. The unlocking mechanism includes an unlocking element and a manually operable control element. The unlocking element is movable via the control element from a normal position, in which the unlocking element is spaced apart from the spindle shaft, into an engagement position, in which the unlocking element is coupled in torque-transmitting manner to the spindle shaft for forced releasing of the locking mechanism.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A parking lock arrangement for a drive train of a motor vehicle, wherein the parking lock arrangement comprises:
a controllable locking mechanism for blocking a rotational movement of a drive element in the drive train of the motor vehicle, wherein the locking mechanism includes a spindle drive with a spindle shaft rotationally drivable about a spindle axis, an actuator for rotatingly driving the spindle shaft and a positioning element movable by rotating the spindle shaft for actuating a blocking element, which acts at least indirectly on the drive element in a blocking or releasing manner, and
an unlocking mechanism for forced releasing of the locking mechanism, the unlocking mechanism including an unlocking element for rotating the spindle shaft and a manually operable control element for operating the unlocking element,
wherein the unlocking element is movable via the control element from a normal position, in which the unlocking element is spaced apart from the spindle shaft, into an engagement position, in which the unlocking element is coupled in torque-transmitting manner to the spindle shaft for forced releasing of the locking mechanism;
wherein the unlocking element is arranged rotatably about the spindle axis and is guided movably in the direction of the spindle axis.

2. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the unlocking element is rotatably fixedly connected to the control element.

3. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the control element is a control shaft.

4. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the unlocking mechanism includes spring means resiliently biasing the unlocking element towards the normal position.

5. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the unlocking element includes a sleeve-shaped connecting portion, the control element extends into the connecting portion.

6. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the unlocking element includes a first positive-locking element, and wherein the locking mechanism includes a second positive-locking element, which is configured correspondingly to the first positive-locking element and is coupled in torque-transmitting manner to the spindle shaft.

7. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the first positive-locking element includes an inner profile or an outer profile, and wherein the second positive-locking element includes an oppositely shaped profile.

8. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the first positive-locking element is rotatably fixedly connected to the control element.

9. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the second positive-locking element is arranged at a longitudinal end of the spindle shaft remote from the actuator.

10. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning element is transferable into an open position, in which the blocking element is in a releasing position, in which the drive element can be rotated, and wherein the control element is transferable into a closed position, in which the blocking element is in a blocking position, in which the blocking element blocks the rotary movement of the drive element.

11. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a return spring resiliently biasing the positioning element towards the closed position.

12. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the return spring is arranged radially outside the unlocking element.

13. The parking lock arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the spindle drive includes a spindle nut, which is held rotationally fixed on the spindle shaft, wherein the positioning element is supported with a first outer surface facing the actuator on the spindle nut, and wherein the return spring is supported on a second outer surface of the positioning element being opposite the first outer surface.

14. A drive unit for driving a motor vehicle, comprising:
a drive element of the motor vehicle,
a housing, in which the drive element is rotatably mounted, and
a parking lock arrangement for blocking a rotational movement of the drive element, wherein the parking lock arrangement is arranged in the housing, and wherein the parking lock arrangement includes:
a controllable locking mechanism for blocking a rotational movement of a drive element in the drive train of the motor vehicle, wherein the locking mechanism includes a spindle drive with a spindle shaft rotationally drivable about a spindle axis, an actuator for rotatingly driving the spindle shaft and a positioning element movable by rotating the spindle shaft for actuating a blocking element, which acts at least indirectly on the drive element in a blocking or releasing manner, and
an unlocking mechanism for forced releasing of the locking mechanism, the unlocking mechanism including an unlocking element for rotating the spindle shaft and a manually operable control element for operating the unlocking element,
wherein the unlocking element is movable via the control element from a normal position, in which the unlocking element is spaced apart from the spindle shaft, into an engagement position, in which the unlocking element is coupled in torque-transmitting manner to the spindle shaft for forced releasing of the locking mechanism;
wherein the unlocking element is arranged rotatably about the spindle axis and is guided movably in the direction of the spindle axis.

15. A parking lock arrangement for a drive train of a motor vehicle, wherein the parking lock arrangement comprises:
a controllable locking mechanism for blocking a rotational movement of a drive element in the drive train of the motor vehicle, wherein the locking mechanism includes a spindle drive with a spindle shaft rotationally drivable about a spindle axis, an actuator for rotatingly driving the spindle shaft and a positioning element movable by rotating the spindle shaft for actuating a blocking element, which acts at least indirectly on the drive element in a blocking or releasing manner, and
an unlocking mechanism for forced releasing of the locking mechanism, the unlocking mechanism including an unlocking element for rotating the spindle shaft and a manually operable control element for operating the unlocking element,
wherein the unlocking element is movable via the control element from a normal position, in which the unlocking element is spaced apart from the spindle shaft, into an engagement position, in which the unlocking element is coupled in torque-transmitting manner to the spindle shaft for forced releasing of the locking mechanism;
wherein the locking mechanism includes a return spring resiliently biasing the positioning element towards the closed position;
wherein the return spring is arranged radially outside the unlocking element.

Assignees

• Gkn Automotive Ltd

Inventors

• Schmidt Mark
• Broicher Simon

Classifications

• F16H63/3491 Primary

  Emergency release or engagement of parking locks or brakes · CPC title

• B60T13/743

  with a spring accumulator · CPC title

• F16H63/3441

  Parking locks engaging axially · CPC title

• B60T1/005 Primary

  by locking of wheel or transmission rotation · CPC title

• F16H63/3433

  Details of latch mechanisms, e.g. for keeping pawls out of engagement · CPC title