Pedal assembly having a hysteresis generating structure

• US 20060230875A1
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wabash Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Wabash Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Inventors: Ouyang, Jiyuan
• Application Number:
  US11/107,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20060230875A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/560
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

A pedal assembly includes a housing (20) presenting two spaced apart inner surfaces (22) and pivotally supports a pedal arm (24). A hysteresis mechanism (30) is mounted on the pedal arm (24) and includes first and second brake elements (32, 34) to provide a resistance force to the pivotal movement of the pedal arm (24) relative to the housing (20). Each of the brake elements (32, 34) includes coacting ramps (46) along the braking axis (B) such that the brake elements (32, 34) move relative to one another along the braking axis (B) in response to the pivotal movement of the pedal arm. The coacting ramps (46) of one brake element (32, 34) is in sliding and wedging engagement with the coacting ramps (46) of the other brake element (32, 34) to move said brake elements (32, 34) relative to one another along said braking axis (B) thereby applying a resistance force equally on opposing sides of the pedal arm (24).

Claims

1. A pedal assembly for a vehicle comprising;

a housing (20) presenting two spaced apart inner surfaces (22), a pedal arm (24) having a first end (26) and a second end (28) and pivotally connected to said housing (20) for movement between and parallel to said inner surfaces (22),

a hysteresis mechanism (30) responsive to reaction forces between said pedal arm (24) and said inner surfaces (22) of said housing (20) for providing resistance to pivotal movement of said pedal arm (24) relative to said housing (20),

said mechanism including a first brake element (32) and a second brake element (34) each presenting a brake shoe (36) with said brake shoes (36) frictionally engaging said inner surfaces (22) of said housing (20) and movable relative to one another along a braking axis (B) extending between said inner surfaces (22),

characterized by each of said brake elements (32, 34) including a pair of parallel ramps (46) spaced from one another along said braking axis (B) and offset from one another laterally in a direction transverse to said braking axis (B) with said pair of ramps (46) of one brake element (32, 34) in sliding engagement with said pair of ramps (46) of the other brake element (32, 34) to move said brake elements (32, 34) relative to one another along said braking axis (B) in response to said reaction forces causing said sliding movement between said ramps (46).

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pair of ramps (46) of each of said brake elements (32) includes a root ramp (48) and a distal ramp (50).

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said brake elements (32) includes a finger extending from said root ramp (48) and parallel to said braking axis (B) with said distal ramp (50) disposed on an end of said finger of said braking element (32, 34), said fingers of said brake elements (32) being disposed in side-by-side relationship in said transverse direction for sliding relative to one another along said braking axis (B) as said root ramp (48) engages said distal ramp (50) of the respective brake elements (32).

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said finger of said first brake element (32) is further defined as a first finger (52) and said first brake element further includes a second finger (54) spaced and parallel to said first finger (52).

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said finger of said second brake element is further defined as a single finger (56) being disposed between said first and second fingers (52, 54) of said first brake element (32).

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second brake element (34) includes a root ramp (48) on each side of said single finger (56) with said distal ramps (50) on said first (52) and second (54) finger of said first brake element (32) engage said root ramps (48) on either side of said single finger (56) of said second brake element (34) and said distal ramp (50) on said single finger (56) of said second brake element (34) engaging said root ramp (48) between said first (52) and second (54) finger of said first brake element (32).

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first brake element (32) includes a flange (58) extending from said brake shoe (36) and underlying said first finger (52) and said second finger (54).

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first brake element (32) includes a spring seat (60) on said flange (58).

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said hysteresis mechanism (30) includes a coil spring (38) engaging said spring seat (60).

10. An assembly a set forth in claim 8 wherein said hysteresis mechanism (30) includes a pair of coil springs (38) engaging said spring seat (60).

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said housing (20) includes a cover (40) extending between said inner surfaces (22) with said spring (38) reacting between said cover (40) and said first brake element (32).

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a slide guide interconnecting said pedal arm (24) and said second brake element (34) for supporting and allowing said second brake element (34) to move relative to said pedal arm (24) parallel to said braking axis (B).

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said slide guide includes a post (64) extending from said second brake element (34) and an elongated slot (66) in said pedal arm (24) with said post (64) slidably disposed in said slot (66).

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said post (64) is substantially axially aligned with said coil spring (38) on a reaction axis (R).

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said ramps (46) are spaced along said braking axis (B) from said reaction axis (R).

16. A pedal assembly for a vehicle comprising;

a housing (20) presenting two spaced apart inner surfaces (22), a pedal arm (24) having a first end (26) and a second end (28) and pivotally connected to said housing (20) for movement between and parallel to said inner surfaces (22), a hysteresis mechanism (30) responsive to reaction forces between said pedal arm (24) and said inner surfaces (22) of said housing (20) for providing resistance to pivotal movement of said pedal arm (24) relative to said housing (20),

said mechanism including a first brake element (32) and a second brake element (34) each presenting a brake shoe (36) with said brake shoes (36) frictionally engaging said inner surfaces (22) of said housing (20) and movable relative to one another along a braking axis (B) extending between said inner surfaces (22),

characterized by said brake elements (32, 34) including coacting ramps (46) in sliding engagement to move said brake elements (32, 34) relative to one another along said braking axis (B) in response to said reaction forces causing said sliding movement along said ramps (46) with one of said brake elements (32, 34) including a pair of fingers (52, 54) flanking one of said ramps (46) for nesting and guiding said other brake element (32, 34).

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first brake element (32) further includes said pair of fingers (52, 54) parallel with said braking axis (B) and spaced in a transverse direction from said braking axis (B) with one of said ramps (46) being disposed between said pair of fingers (52, 54).

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second brake element (34) includes a single finger (56) that is nestled between said pair of fingers (52, 54) of said first brake element (32).

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said single finger (56) of said second brake element (34) further defines one of said ramps (46) on said single finger (56) to engage with one of said ramps (46) of said first brake element (32) in a sliding movement in response to said reaction force.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein one of said brake elements (32, 34) includes a spring seat (60).