Accelerator pedal for a vehicle

• US 20070137400A1
• Filed: 01/24/2007
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Original Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Inventors: Campbell, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,042,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/513
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/38 comprising means to continuously detect pedal position
• 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 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

A pedal assembly that provides a hysteresis in pedal force-response upon actuation is provided. The pedal assembly includes a housing and a pedal arm that has an end. The end has a rotatable drum that defines a braking surface. The pedal arm is rotatably mounted to the housing. A lever extends from the second end. A brake pad is retained by the housing and has a contact surface that is substantially complementary to the braking surface. The brake pad is adapted to be engaged with the braking surface. A bias spring device is situated between the lever and the brake pad for urging the contact surface of the brake pad into frictional engagement with the braking surface of the drum. A sensor is coupled to the pedal arm to sense the position of the pedal arm.

Claims

1. A pedal assembly comprising:

a housing;

a pedal arm having a first end and a second end, the first end having a rotatable drum that defines a braking surface, the pedal arm being rotatably mounted to the housing;

a lever extending from the second end;

a brake pad retained by the housing and having a contact surface that is substantially complementary to the braking surface, the brake pad being adapted to be engaged with the braking surface; and

a bias spring device operably situated between the lever and the brake pad for urging the contact surface of the brake pad into frictional engagement with the braking surface of the drum.

2. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the contact surface is substantially w-shaped.

3. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the braking surface is substantially w-shaped.

4. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein a sensor is connected to the pedal arm.

5. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein the housing has a first section and a second section.

6. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein the sensor is mounted in the first section and the brake pad is mounted in the second section.

7. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the brake pad is provided with opposed posts that define a primary pivot axis.

8. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the housing has a pair of opposed slots, the posts being supported in the slots.

9. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the brake pad can move toward and away from the drum.

10. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the brake pad has at least one spring post.

11. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein the brake pad has a first and second spring post.

12. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein a position sensor is secured to the housing and responsive to the movement of the pedal arm for providing an electrical signal representative of pedal displacement.

13. A pedal assembly comprising:

a housing having a first section and a second section;

a pedal arm having a first end that can be moved and a second end that is rotatably fixed to the housing in the first section;

a friction generating device located in the first section for changing the amount of force required to move the first end; and

a sensor mounted in the second section and coupled to the second end of the pedal arm, the sensor being adapted to sense the position of the pedal arm and provide an electrical signal that is indicative of the position of the pedal arm.

14. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein the friction generating device further comprises:

a rotatable drum affixed to the second end of the pedal arm and defining a braking surface;

a lever coupled to and extending from the second end of the pedal arm;

a brake pad retained by the housing and having a contact surface that is juxtaposed to the braking surface, the brake pad adapted to be engaged with the braking surface; and

a bias spring device operably situated between the lever and the brake pad for urging the contact surface of the brake pad into frictional engagement with the braking surface of the drum.

15. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein the sensor comprises:

a rotor coupled to the pedal arm;

a contactor mounted to the rotor;

a resistor supported by the housing and juxtaposed to the contactor.

16. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein the resistor is mounted to a film.

17. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein the rotor is coupled to the pedal arm through a shaft.

18. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein the brake pad is provided with opposed posts that define a primary pivot axis.

19. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 18 wherein the housing has a pair of opposed slots, the posts being supported in the slots.

20. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 18 wherein the brake pad is provided with at least one spring post.

21. A pedal assembly comprising

a housing provided with spaced slots;

a pedal arm rotatably coupled to the housing;

a rotatable drum integral with the pedal arm and defining a braking surface;

a brake pad defining a contact surface juxtaposed to the braking surface and mounted for frictional engagement with the braking surface, the brake pad having opposed posts that define a pivot axis, the posts being supported in the spaced slots; and

a bias spring device operably mounted between the drum and the brake pad for urging the contact surface of the brake pad in increasing frictional engagement with the braking surface of the drum as the pedal arm is depressed and for returning the pedal lever to a rest position when the pedal arm is not depressed.

22. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 21 wherein a lever extends from the drum, the bias spring device mounted between the lever and the brake pad.

23. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 21 wherein a sensor is coupled to the pedal arm.

24. The pedal assembly in accordance with claim 21 wherein the braking surface and the contact surface are substantially w-shaped.