ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WITH HYSTERESIS AND KICKDOWN

• US 20070234842A1
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: KSR International Company
• Inventors: ELLIOTT, RYAN W.
• Application Number:
  US11/697,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20070234842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/513
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/20 Kickdown
• 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 74/20534 Accelerator

Abstract

An electronically controlled pedal with hysteresis and kickdown includes a housing having a friction wall with a first frictional surface having a first radius of curvature, a second frictional surface having a second radius of curvature, and a step transitioning between the two. A hysteresis and kickdown generating means is pivotally attached to the upper pedal arm. A spring biases the generating means against the housing. Application of a first pedal load to the pedal arm generates a first hysteresis force between the hysteresis and kickdown generating means and the first frictional surface. Application of a second pedal load to the pedal arm generates a frictional kickdown force between the generating means and the step, and application of a third pedal load generates a second hysteresis force between the generating means and the second frictional surface. The first hysteresis force, kickdown force and second hysteresis force are transmitted back to the operator.

Claims

1. An electronically controlled pedal assembly with hysteresis and kickdown comprising:

a housing having a mounting wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls, and an end wall, wherein the end wall includes a friction wall and the friction wall includes a first frictional surface having a first radius of curvature centered on a pedal arm pivot point and a second frictional surface having a second radius of curvature centered on the pedal arm pivot point, such that the second radius of curvature is less than the first radius of curvature, and a step transitions between the first frictional surface and the second frictional surface;

a pedal arm having an upper arm and a lower arm, and the pedal arm is rotatably supported at the pedal arm pivot point by a mounting means operatively connected to said housing;

a hysteresis and kickdown generating means pivotally attached to the upper pedal arm by a pivot pin; and

a spring positioned between the housing and the hysteresis and kickdown generating means, wherein the spring biases the hysteresis and kickdown generating means against the housing, such that rotation of the pedal arm by application of a first pedal load to the pedal arm compresses the spring to generate a first frictional hysteresis force between the hysteresis and kickdown generating means and the first frictional surface of the friction wall, rotation of the pedal arm by application of a second pedal load to the pedal arm generates a frictional kickdown force between the hysteresis and kickdown generating means and the step portion of the friction wall, and rotation of the pedal arm by application of a third pedal load to the pedal arm generates a second frictional hysteresis force between the hysteresis and kickdown generating means and the second frictional surface of the friction wall, and the first frictional hysteresis force, kickdown force and second frictional hysteresis force are translated back through said pedal arm.

2. The pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the step is an angled wall extending between the first frictional surface and the second frictional surface.

3. The pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the frictional wall is arcuate in shape.

4. The pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the first frictional surface of the friction wall has a first wall thickness and the second frictional surface of the friction wall has a second wall thickness, and the first wall thickness is less than the second wall thickness.

5. The pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the hysteresis and kickdown generating means is a friction lever pivotally connected to an outer end of the upper pedal arm by the pivot pin at a friction lever pivot point.

6. The pedal assembly of claim 5 wherein the friction lever includes an integrally formed main member and an upper arcuate member extending forwardly from an upper end of the main member, and an upper surface of the friction lever upper arcuate member is abraded to frictionally engage the friction wall.

7. The pedal assembly of claim 5 wherein said friction lever includes:

a friction lever pivotally connected to the upper pedal arm by a pivot pin at a friction lever pivot point;

a push arm pivotally mounted to the pedal arm at a push arm pivot point that is radially inward from the friction lever pivot point, wherein the push arm is in contact with the friction lever, such that the spring pushes the push arm against the friction lever.

8. The pedal assembly of claim 5 wherein the friction wall extends radially from the housing side wall between a rear wall of the housing and the pedal arm, and includes an arcuate frictional surface, and the friction lever includes a first portion pivotally mounted to the pedal arm and a second portion in frictional contact with the friction wall.

9. An electronically controlled pedal assembly with hysteresis and kickdown comprising:

a housing having a mounting wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls, and an end wail, wherein the end wall includes an arcuate friction wall and the friction wall includes a first frictional surface having a first radius of curvature centered on a pedal arm pivot point and a second frictional surface having a second radius of curvature centered on the pedal arm pivot point, such that the second radius of curvature is less than the first radius of curvature, and a step transitions between the first frictional surface and the second frictional surface;

a pedal arm having an upper arm and a lower arm, and the pedal arm is rotatably supported at the pedal arm pivot point by a mounting means operatively connected to said housing;

a hysteresis and kickdown generating means pivotally attached to said upper pedal arm that includes a friction lever pivotally attached to an outer end of the upper pedal arm by a pivot pin at a friction lever pivot point; and

a spring positioned between the housing and the hysteresis and kickdown generating means, wherein the spring biases the hysteresis and kickdown generating means against the housing, such that rotation of the pedal arm by application of a first pedal load to the pedal arm compresses the spring to generate a first frictional hysteresis force between the hysteresis and kickdown generating means and the first frictional surface of the friction wall, rotation of the pedal arm by application of a second pedal load to the pedal arm generates a frictional kickdown force between the hysteresis and kickdown generating means and the step portion of the friction wall, and rotation of the pedal arm by rotation of the pedal arm by application of a third pedal load to the pedal arm generates a second frictional hysteresis force between the hysteresis and kickdown generating means and the second frictional surface of the friction wall, and the first frictional force, kickdown force and second frictional force are translated back through said pedal arm.

10. The pedal assembly of claim 9 wherein the step is an angled wall extending between the first frictional surface and the second frictional surface.

11. The pedal assembly of claim 9 wherein the first frictional surface of the friction wall has a first wall thickness and the second frictional surface of the friction wall has a second wall thickness, and the first wall thickness is less than the second wall thickness.

12. The pedal assembly of claim 9 wherein the friction lever includes an integrally formed main member and an upper arcuate member extending forwardly from an upper end of the main member, and an upper surface of the friction lever upper arcuate member is abraded to frictionally engage the friction wall.

13. The pedal assembly of claim 9 wherein said friction lever includes:

a friction lever pivotally connected to the upper pedal arm by a pivot pin at a friction lever pivot point;

a push arm pivotally mounted to the pedal arm at a push arm pivot point that is radially inward from the friction lever pivot point, wherein the push arm is in contact with the friction lever, such that the spring pushes the push arm against the friction lever.

14. The pedal assembly of claim 9 wherein the friction wall extends radially from the housing side wall between a rear wall of the housing and the pedal arm, and includes an arcuate frictional surface, and the friction lever includes a first portion pivotally mounted to the pedal arm and a second portion in frictional contact with the friction wall.

15. An electronically controlled pedal assembly with hysteresis and kickdown comprising:

a housing having a mounting wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls, and an end wall, wherein the end wall includes an arcuate friction wall and the friction wall includes a first frictional surface having a first radius of curvature centered on a pedal arm pivot point and a first wall thickness, and a second frictional surface having a second radius of curvature centered on the pedal arm pivot point and a second wall thickness, such that the second radius of curvature is less than the first radius of curvature and the second frictional surface of the friction wall has a second wall thickness, and the first wall thickness is less than the second wall thickness, and a step transitions between the first frictional surface and the second frictional surface;

a pedal arm having an upper arm and a lower arm, and the pedal arm is rotatably supported at the pedal arm pivot point by a mounting means operatively connected to said housing;

a hysteresis and kickdown generating means pivotally attached to said upper pedal arm that includes a friction lever pivotally attached to an outer end of the upper pedal arm by a pivot pin at a friction lever pivot point; and

a spring positioned between the housing and the hysteresis and kickdown generating means, wherein the spring biases the hysteresis and kickdown generating means against the housing, such that rotation of the pedal arm by application of a first pedal load to the pedal arm compresses the spring to generate a first frictional hysteresis force between the hysteresis and kickdown generating means and the first frictional surface of the friction wall, rotation of the pedal arm by application of a second pedal load to the pedal arm generates a frictional kickdown force between the hysteresis and kickdown generating means and the step portion of the friction wall, and rotation of the pedal arm by application of a third load to the pedal arm generates a second frictional hysteresis force between the hysteresis and kickdown generating means and the second frictional surface of the friction wall, and the first frictional force, kickdown force and second frictional force are translated back through said pedal arm.

16. The pedal assembly of claim 15 wherein the step is an angled wall extending between the first frictional surface and the second frictional surface.

17. The pedal assembly of claim 15 wherein the friction lever includes an integrally formed main member and an upper arcuate member extending forwardly from an upper end of the main member, and an upper surface of the friction lever upper arcuate member is abraded to frictionally engage the friction wall.

18. The pedal assembly of claim 15 wherein said friction lever includes:

a friction lever pivotally connected to the upper pedal arm by a pivot pin at a friction lever pivot point;

a push arm pivotally mounted to the pedal arm at a push arm pivot point that is radially inward from the friction lever pivot point, wherein the push arm is in contact with the friction lever, such that the spring pushes the push arm against the friction lever.

19. The pedal assembly of claim 15 wherein the friction wall extends radially from the housing side wall between a rear wall of the housing and the pedal arm, and includes an arcuate frictional surface, and the friction lever includes a first portion pivotally mounted to the pedal arm and a second portion in frictional contact with the friction wall.