Adjustable pedal assembly with step-over control

• US 20050166702A1
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide Holding Corporation (Sun Capital Partners Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bortolon, Christopher A., Rixon, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,270,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/36 Mounting units comprising an assembly of two or more pedals, e.g. for facilitating mounting
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/38 comprising means to continuously detect pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

An adjustable pedal assembly for controlling step-over between pedal levers (16, 24) is provided. A first pedal lever (16) is supported for rotation about an operational axis. A first adjustment mechanism (20) adjusts the first pedal lever (16) between a first plurality of adjusted positions. A second pedal lever (24) is supported for rotation about a second operational axis. A second adjustment mechanism (32) adjusts the second pedal lever (24) between a second plurality of adjusted positions. First and second drives (40) simultaneously move the pedal levers (16, 24) between the adjusted positions. Linear potentiometers (56), each having a wiper (66) fixed to nut assemblies (44) of the adjustment mechanisms (20, 32), generate control signals that indicate a position of each of the pedal levers (16, 24). A controller (78) is programmed to detect a stall of either of the adjustment mechanisms (20, 32) based on the control signals to prevent step-over between the pedal levers (16, 24).

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising;

a first support (12),

a first pedal lever (16) supported by said first support (12) for rotation about an operational axis (A) relative to said first support (12),

a first adjustment mechanism (20) including a first drive (40) and a first follower (38) movably responsive to said first drive (40) and coupled to said first pedal lever (16) for adjusting said first pedal lever (16) between a first plurality of adjusted positions relative to said first support (12) upon movement of said first drive (40),

a first sensor (56) including a first sensing member (58) for generating a first control signal that varies in magnitude as said first pedal lever (16) moves between the first plurality of adjusted positions,

a second support (14) adjacent said first support (12),

a second pedal lever (24) supported by said second support (14) for rotation about a second operational axis (B) relative to said second support (14),

a second adjustment mechanism (32) including a second drive (40) and a second follower (38) movably responsive to said second drive (40) and coupled to said second pedal lever (24) for adjusting said second pedal lever (24) between a second plurality of adjusted positions relative to said second support (14) upon movement of said second drive (40),

a second sensor (56) including a second sensing member (58) for generating a second control signal that varies in magnitude as said second pedal lever (24) moves between the second plurality of adjusted positions, and

a controller (78) programmed for detecting a stall of either of said adjustment mechanisms (20, 32) based on the control signals generated by said sensors (56) to maintain a predetermined relationship between said pedal levers (16, 24),

said assembly characterized by said first sensor (56) including a first sliding member (60) fixed to said first follower (38) and movable with said first pedal lever (16) between the first plurality of adjusted positions and relative to said first sensing member (58) to vary the magnitude of the first control signal.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second sensor (56) includes a second sliding member (60) fixed to said second follower (38) and movable with said second pedal lever (24) between the second plurality of adjusted positions and relative to said second sensing member (58) to vary the magnitude of the second control signal.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said sensing members (58) includes a resistive track (62) and a conductive track (64) parallel to said resistive track (62) and each of said sliding members (60) is further defined as a wiper (66) in contact with both of said tracks (62, 64) and longitudinally slidable along both of said tracks (62, 64) to generate the control signals.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said wipers (66) include a pair of contacts (68) in contact with each of said tracks (62, 64).

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said drives (40) includes a drive screw (46) and each of said followers (38) are further defined as nut assemblies (44) movable along said drive screws (46) to adjust said pedal levers (16, 24).

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said drives (40) further includes a transmission (52) coupled to each of said drive screws (46) and a single motor (50) operatively connected to both of said transmissions (52) for rotating said drive screws (46).

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said sensors (56) further comprises a carrier plate (70) spaced from each of said drive screws (46) and extending longitudinally along each of said drive screws (46) with said tracks (62, 64) being fixed to said carrier plate (70).

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 further including a pair of retainers (72) spaced from one another along each of said drive screws (46) with each of said retainers (72) supporting said carrier plate (70) to maintain spacing between said carrier plates (70) and said drive screws (46).

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said adjustment mechanisms (20, 32) further includes a guide rod (36) surrounding each of said drive screws (46) and said carrier plates (70) wherein said pedal levers (16, 24) slide along said guide rods (36) as said pedal levers (16, 24) move between the adjusted positions.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said controller (78) includes a comparator (80) for receiving the control signals from said sensors (56) and comparing the control signals whereby said controller (78) discontinues movement of said drives (40) in response to the control signals being outside a predetermined variance from one another.