BRAKE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT TOOL HAVING A MECHANISM FOR SETTING DIFFERENT PEDAL RATIOS

• US 20090241724A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Hilger, Joseph H., Wright, Christopher F., Mann, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,788,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/560
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 7/04 altering the ratio of motion or force between controlling member and controlled member as a function of the position of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

A brake system development tool (10) providing adjustment of pedal ratio in a brake pedal mechanism without having to disassemble the mechanism and replace parts. A positioning mechanism carried by the pedal arm (20) positions the pedal arm and the brake pedal pivot shaft (16) relative to the pushrod shaft (18) to set the distance between the axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft and the axis of the pushrod shaft.

Claims

1. A foot pedal mechanism comprising:

a bracket;

a first shaft supported on the bracket;

a pedal arm supported on the first shaft for swinging about an axis of the first shaft; and

a second shaft a) that has an axis parallel to the axis of the first shaft, b) that is operatively related to the pedal arm for swinging with the pedal arm by a connection with a positioning mechanism carried by the pedal ann for positioning the pedal arm and the first shaft relative to the second shaft to set the distance between the axis of the first shaft and the axis of the second shaft, and c) that is constrained by association with structure defining an arcuate track that provides guided constraint of the second shaft about the axis of the first shaft when the second shaft is swinging with the pedal ann.

2. A foot pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pedal arm comprises a tube through which the first shaft passes to support the pedal arm on the first shaft for swinging about the axis of the first shaft, the bracket comprises sides containing aligned slots, and end segments of the first shaft pass through, and are constrained by, the aligned slots for travel along the aligned slots as the positioning mechanism operates to position the pedal arm and the first shaft relative to the second shaft.

3. A foot pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein fasteners are disposed on the end segments of the first shaft to allow the end segments to travel along the aligned slots when the fasteners are loosened and to hold the end segments fast against the bracket sides when the fasteners are tightened.

4. A foot pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein the structure defining the arcuate track comprises additional aligned slots in the bracket sides.

5. A foot pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a rod whose length is radial to the axis of the first shaft, wherein the rod passes through, and has threaded engagement with, a threaded through-hole in the second shaft, and wherein the pedal arm and the rod are operatively related for movement in unison to change the distance between the axis of the first shaft and the axis of the second shaft when the rod turns about its own axis.

6. A foot pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein the pedal arm and the rod are operatively related for movement in unison by a clip that fits in a slot in the pedal arm and passes through a groove in the rod without impairing the ability of the rod to turn.

7. A foot pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 6 further including a pedal arm extension that comprises a pedal pad and is arranged for travel on the pedal arm radial to the axis of the first shaft, and wherein the rod has an operative connection with the pedal arm extension for causing the pedal arm extension to travel on the pedal arm radial to the first axis the same distance as the change in distance between the axis of the first shaft and the axis of the second shaft to cause the distance between the pedal pad and the second shaft to remain substantially unchanged.

8. A brake pedal mechanism comprising:

a vertical wall on which a brake pedal mounting bracket is mounted;

a brake pedal pivot shaft supported on the bracket;

a pedal arm supported on the brake pedal pivot shaft for swinging about an axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft; and

a pushrod shaft a) that has an axis parallel to the axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft, b) that is operatively related to the pedal arm for swinging with the pedal arm by a connection with a positioning mechanism carried by the pedal arm for positioning the pedal arm and the brake pedal pivot shaft relative to the pushrod shaft to set the distance between the axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft and the axis of the pushrod shaft, and c) that is constrained by association with structure defining an arcuate track that provides guided constraint of the pushrod shaft about the axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft when the pushrod shaft is swinging with the pedal arm.

9. A brake pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein the pedal arm comprises a tube through which the brake pedal pivot shaft passes to support the pedal arm on the brake pedal pivot shaft for swinging about the axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft, the bracket comprises sides containing aligned slots, and end segments of the brake pedal pivot shaft pass through, and are constrained by the aligned slots for travel along the aligned slots as the positioning mechanism operates to position the pedal arm and the brake pedal pivot shaft relative to the pushrod shaft.

10. A brake pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein fasteners are disposed on the end segments of the brake pedal pivot shaft to allow the end segments to travel along the aligned slots when the fasteners are loosened and to hold the end segments fast against the bracket sides when the fasteners are tightened.

11. A brake pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 10 wherein the structure defining the arcuate track comprises additional aligned slots in the bracket sides.

12. A brake pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a rod whose length is radial to the axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft, wherein the rod passes through, and has threaded engagement with, a threaded through-hole in the pushrod shaft, and wherein the pedal arm and the rod are operatively related for movement in unison to change the distance between the axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft and the axis of the pushrod shaft when the rod turns about its own axis.

13. A brake pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein the pedal arm and the rod are operatively related for movement in unison by a clip that fits in a slot in the pedal arm and passes through a groove in the rod without impairing the ability of the rod to turn.

14. A brake pedal mechanism as set forth in claim 13 further including a pedal arm extension that comprises a pedal pad and is arranged for travel on the pedal arm radial to the axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft, and wherein the rod has an operative connection with the pedal arm extension for causing the pedal arm extension to travel on the pedal arm radial to the axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft the same distance as the change in distance between the axis of the brake pedal pivot shaft and the axis of the pushrod shaft to cause the distance between the pedal pad and a floor below the pushrod shaft to remain substantially unchanged.