Adjustable pedal device

• US 20050241431A1
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Jakobi, Ralf, Haber, Michael, Sellinger, Thomas, Schonlau, Jurgen, Kramer, Horst, Kranlich, Holger
• Application Number:
  US10/528,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20050241431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjustable pedal device including at least two pedals whose initial position is variable. A pedal device is disclosed wherein a control member is rotatably articulated at the pedal lever for the brake, while the lever is rotatable about a third axis. It is disadvantageous in the prior art construction that a second pedal, particularly an accelerator pedal, cannot be simultaneously adjusted according to said principle because the forces acting upon the individual pedals are not effective in the same direction. The invention relates to a pedal device which has a simple design and in which the initial position of the mentioned two pedals can be adjusted in a substantially uniform manner, the two pedals being mounted in a twistable mounting support while being rotated about axes that are offset one relative to the other.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. An adjustable pedal device for a motor vehicle, with a holder being fixed to a vehicle body, with a mounting support in the holder being pivoted about a first axis, with at least one first pedal lever at the mounting support being pivoted about a second axis, and with the first pedal lever when actuated acting by way of a point of application upon a control member by rotating about the second axis so that the point of application displaces by a displacement travel,

wherein a second pedal lever is mounted in the mounting support, in particular at an extension of the mounting support, so as to be rotatable about a fourth axis.

21. The pedal device as claimed in claim 20,

wherein the control member with its first end is mounted in the pedal lever so as to be rotatable about a third axis, and wherein a second end of the control member is tiltably mounted on a brake booster or a master cylinder.

22. The pedal device as claimed in claim 20,

wherein the second axis and the fourth axis are offset in relation to each other, and wherein the fourth axis is arranged below the first axis, and wherein the first axis is arranged below the second axis.

23. The pedal device as claimed in claim 22,

wherein the first pedal lever is used for the actuation of a brake booster or a master cylinder of a brake system, and wherein the second pedal lever serves for the engine speed control, with the lower free ends of the pedal levers being furnished with pedal plates.

24. The pedal device as claimed in claim 23,

wherein a separate guide rod and a swiveling lever are provided between the first pedal lever for the brake actuation and a piston rod, with said guide rod being articulated at the pedal lever and the piston rod in order to allow a higher degree of freedom in the range of adjustability.

25. The pedal device as claimed in claim 20,

wherein the holder is fastened to a splashboard of the vehicle.

26. The pedal device as claimed in claim 20,

wherein the protrusion is optionally provided with a projection that encompasses the steering column in such a fashion that the steering column can be arranged optionally on the right or on the left of the pedal device.

27. The pedal device as claimed in claim 20,

wherein the mounting support is swiveled by means of an electric drive, said drive being configured as an electric motor equipped with a gear and being rotatably anchored at the holder.

28. The pedal device as claimed in claim 20,

wherein the first axis lies on the point of intersection of the mid-verticals of two distances, with the first distance being defined by the displacement of the second axis during the adjustment and the second distance being defined by the displacement of the fourth axis during the adjustment.

29. The pedal device as claimed in claim 20,

wherein a pedal lever of a clutch device is additionally pivoted in the mounting support.

30. The pedal device as claimed in claim 23,

wherein a second end of the second pedal lever acts on a carburetor control for the engine speed control.

31. The pedal device as claimed in claim 20, with the first pedal lever being used for the actuation of the booster or master cylinder of a braking system, and the second pedal lever being used for the engine speed control, and with the lower free ends of the pedal lever being furnished with pedal plates,

wherein a free, second end of the second pedal lever is captivated relative to the holder, and wherein the second pedal lever is furnished with a lower pedal attachment that is rotatably articulated at the second pedal lever for engine speed control, with the point of support being arranged in the area between the fourth axis and the pedal plate of the accelerator pedal, and with a transducer being active for sensing a swiveling movement between the lower pedal attachment and the second pedal lever.

32. The pedal device as claimed in claim 31,

wherein the transducer is designed as an E-gas generator whose housing is stationarily arranged at the second pedal lever on the one hand, and with a movable control member of the E-gas generator acting on the lower pedal attachment, or vice-versa.

33. The pedal device as claimed in claim 31,

wherein an axis of rotation of the pedal attachment is in alignment with the fourth axis.

34. The pedal device as claimed in claim 31,

wherein the second end of the second pedal lever in relation to the holder is captivated in such a fashion that it is swivellable by a predetermined maximum angle in relation to a defined fastening point on the holder.

35. The pedal device as claimed in claim 34,

wherein the second end is captivated in relation to the holder by means of a swiveling lever or a rope.

36. The pedal device as claimed in claim 31,

wherein a stop is provided which limits a rotation of the pedal attachment in relation to the second pedal lever.

37. The pedal device as claimed in claim 36,

wherein a spring is provided which biases the pedal attachment in relation to the second pedal lever towards the stop.

38. The pedal device as claimed in claim 37,

wherein the spring is integrated into the housing of the E-gas generator.