How can parking locks effectively prevent rainwater from entering the mechanism and causing it to become stuck during long-term outdoor use?
Publish Time: 2025-08-27
As a crucial piece of equipment for parking management, parking locks' performance and reliability directly impact parking efficiency and user experience. Especially in outdoor environments, parking locks are subject to the elements, including rain and dust.
1. Fully Sealed Design: Waterproof Ratings of IP65 or Higher
To prevent rainwater from seeping into the mechanism, parking locks typically utilize a fully sealed design, ensuring a waterproof rating of IP65 or higher. This means they are not only dustproof but also withstand low-pressure water jets from all directions, even short periods of immersion. This high level of protection is primarily achieved through the following measures:
Sealing O-rings and Gaskets: High-quality rubber sealing rings or silicone gaskets are installed at key interfaces (such as the cover, base, and moving parts) to create a tight physical barrier to prevent water intrusion.
Seamless Welding: Seamless welding is used for the metal casing to eliminate any potential gaps that could become channels for water intrusion.
Waterproof Connectors: Waterproof connectors are used on electrical connections to ensure excellent insulation and sealing, even in inclement weather.
2. Drainage Holes and Sloped Design: Quickly Drain Accumulated Water
Although the sealing design effectively blocks most rainwater, there is still a risk of some water seepage during extreme downpours. To this end, parking locks typically incorporate drainage holes and a sloped design to ensure that accumulated water can drain quickly and prevent accumulation and mechanical jamming.
Bottom Drainage Holes: Multiple small holes are designed on the bottom of the parking lock. These holes are finely sized to effectively drain water while preventing the entry of external impurities.
Tilt Angle: The overall structure is designed with a slight forward or side tilt, using gravity to guide water to the lowest point and drain through the drainage holes.
3. Corrosion-Resistant Material Selection: Extending Service Life
In addition to preventing water from directly penetrating the mechanical structure, selecting corrosion-resistant materials is also a key measure to enhance the rain resistance of parking locks. Common corrosion-resistant materials include stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and engineering plastics, which offer both excellent mechanical strength and excellent rust resistance.
Stainless Steel: Offers excellent weather and corrosion resistance, making it suitable for use in coastal areas and other high-humidity environments.
Anodizing: Anodizing the aluminum alloy surface creates a hard, dense oxide film, significantly improving corrosion resistance.
Powder Coating: Applying a uniform powder coating to the metal surface enhances wear resistance and rust resistance.
4. Low Power Consumption and Dual-Mode Power Supply: Reduces the risk of failure.
Parking locks operate at a low frequency, but to ensure long-term, stable operation outdoors, the energy supply method must be considered. Modern smart parking locks often use a dual-mode solar and battery power system, which is both environmentally friendly and requires no maintenance for extended periods.
Solar Supplemental Power: Equipped with high-efficiency solar panels, these locks require only approximately four hours of sunlight per day to maintain normal operation, significantly reducing reliance on external power sources.
Built-in Rechargeable Battery: Typically uses a 6V/7AH lead-acid or lithium battery. A full charge provides continuous operation for three to six months, with some optimized models offering up to one year. The parking lock also features a low-battery alarm, which emits a beep or flashes an LED when the battery is low, prompting the user to recharge immediately.
5. Temperature Adaptability and Low-Temperature Protection: Coping with Extreme Climates
Performing properly in extremely cold or rainy conditions is crucial. High-quality parking locks operate stably over a wide temperature range; for example, some models can operate between -40°C and +55°C.
Low-Temperature Start Mechanism: For use in cold regions, parking locks are equipped with internal heating elements or low-temperature start mechanisms to ensure smooth motor start and lift/lowering in low-temperature environments.
Freeze-Proof Design: The outer shell utilizes special materials or coatings to prevent surface icing and operational degradation, while the internal lubricant is carefully selected for excellent low-temperature fluidity.
6. Remote Control and Emergency Operation: Ensuring Ready-to-Use
Smart parking locks often come with a remote control for convenient remote control. However, manual emergency operation is particularly important in the event of signal interference or remote control failure.
Adaptive learning function: If the remote control is lost or damaged, users can re-pair it with a new one by pressing a specific button on the mainboard or following the instructions in the manual, eliminating the need for factory repairs.
Manual release mechanism: In the event of a power outage or malfunction, the housing can be opened by turning a key, the rocker arm can be manually raised or lowered by pulling a mechanical wrench, or the lock can be unlocked by rotating the emergency hole using a dedicated emergency tool.
The key to preventing rainwater from entering the mechanical structure and causing it to jam during long-term outdoor use lies in a fully sealed design, strategically placed drainage holes, corrosion-resistant materials, an optimized power supply system, and enhanced low-temperature adaptability. Furthermore, a comprehensive emergency operation mechanism provides additional user safety. These comprehensive measures ensure that the parking lock not only operates reliably in all weather conditions but also significantly extends its service life, providing reliable support for parking management.
