POSITION DETERMINING METHOD FOR A PARKING LOCK

• US 20170088111A1
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Siemens Eautomotive Germany GmbH
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: KIRCHNER, Eckhard
• Granted Patent: US 10,668,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/005 by locking of wheel or transmission rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/062 acting on transmission parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/746 and mechanical transmission of the braking action
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/003 Position, angle or speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/006 without direct measurement of the quantity monitored, e.g. wear or temperature calculated form force and duration of braking
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/40 Screw-and-nut
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 63/006 Positive locking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/00 Arrangements for monitoring working conditions, e.g. wear, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2342/00 Calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/3466 using electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/48 Signals to a parking brake or parking lock; Control of parking locks or brakes being part of the transmission

Abstract

A method for determining the position of a first actuating element of an electrical parking lock device of a motor vehicle, wherein the first actuating element is mounted on a spindle in an axially mobile manner, where the method includes a step in which the first actuating element is moved in an opening direction to a stop, the spindle is then rotated to move the first actuating element in a closing direction, the current input and the energy consumption of a driver are captured at this point, provision is then made for identifying a first reference point if the current input of the spindle drive increases or decreases by at least a first threshold value, the first reference point is assigned to the energy consumption that has been captured, where the first reference point corresponds to the first actuating element coming into contact with an actuating pawl:

Claims

1. A method for determining a position of a first actuating element of an electrical parking lock device of a motor vehicle, the first actuating element being mounted on a spindle in an axially mobile manner, the method comprising:

a) moving the first actuating element in an opening direction to a stop;

b) rotating the spindle in order to move the first actuating element in a closing direction, and capturing a current input and an energy consumption of a driver; and

c) identifying a first reference point if the captured current input of the driver increases or decreases by at least a first threshold value;

wherein the first reference point is assigned to the energy consumption captured in step b) and the first reference point corresponds to the first actuating element coming into contact with an actuating pawl.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

d) identifying a second reference point if the energy consumption exceeds a second threshold value after the first reference point has been reached.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a released position of a second actuating element is identified if the current input between the first and second reference point exhibits a positive temporal gradient which substantially corresponds to an elastic deformation.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identifying comprising identifying a gap position of a parking brake wheel and the actuating pawl if the current input of the driver remains above a no-load value immediately after the first reference point is reached.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identifying comprises identifying an opposition position of a parking brake wheel and the actuating pawl if the current input decreases to a no-load value immediately after the first reference point is reached.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the actuating pawl is initially interlocked by the second actuating element.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

moving the first actuating element in an opening direction while measuring the current input and the energy consumption of the driving means to determine a state of at least one of (i) the first and second reference point.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

identifying an unretained state of the second actuating element during said steps a) to c) and when determining the state if the respective current inputs substantially correspond to each other and the respective current inputs substantially exhibit a continuous increase or decrease during said steps a) to c) and when determining the state.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

identifying a retained state of the second actuating element during said steps a) to c) and when determining the state if the current inputs substantially correspond to each other and both current inputs exhibit a substantially stepped increase or decrease in a region of the second reference point during said steps a) to c) and when determining the state.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

identifying an unretained state of the second actuating element during said steps a) to c) and identifying a retained state of the second actuating element when determining the state if the energy consumption is lower when determining the state than during said steps a) to c).

13. The method (100) as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

identifying a retained state of the second actuating element during said steps a) to c) and identifying an unretained state of the second actuating element when determining the state if the energy consumption is higher when determining the state than during steps a) to c).

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a first rotor position of the spindle is captured during said step a), a second rotor position of the spindle is captured at an end point after said determining the state, and a warning is output if a difference between the first and second rotor position exceeds a tolerance value.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a movement of at least one of (i) the first and second actuating element is effected at a substantially constant rotational speed of the driver.

2. A method for determining a position of a first actuating element of an electrical parking lock device of a motor vehicle, the first actuating element being axially moveable via a linear actuator, the method comprising:

a) moving the first actuating element in an opening direction to a stop;

b) activating the linear actuator to move the first actuating element in a closing direction, and capturing a current input and an energy consumption of a driver; and

c) identifying a first reference point if the captured current input of the driver increases or decreases by at least a first threshold value;

wherein the first reference point is assigned to the energy consumption captured in step b) and the first reference point corresponds to the first actuating element coming into contact with an actuating pawl.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

d) identifying a second reference point if the energy consumption exceeds a second threshold value after the first reference point has been reached.

16. A computer program stored on a controller connected to a driver of a parking lock device which, when executed by the controller causes controller to determine a position of a first actuating element of an electrical parking lock device of a motor vehicle, the first actuating element being mounted on a spindle in an axially mobile manner, the computer program comprising:

a) program code for moving the first actuating element in an opening direction to a stop;

b) program code for rotating the spindle in order to move the first actuating element in a closing direction, and capturing a current input and an energy consumption of a driver; and

c) program code for identifying a first reference point if the captured current input of the driver increases or decreases by at least a first threshold value;

wherein the first reference point is assigned to the energy consumption captured in step b) and the first reference point corresponds to the first actuating element coming into contact with an actuating pawl.

17. A controller for controlling a driver of a parking lock device, comprising a memory and a computing unit for storing and executing the program as claimed in claim 16.

18. A parking lock device, comprising a first actuating element arranged on a spindle and can be axially moveable via a driver, wherein the driver is connectable to the controller as claimed in claim 17.