TEST APPARATUS FOR DEPRESSING VEHICLE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS

• US 3,662,593 A
• Filed: 11/23/1970
• Issued: 05/16/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Antonio Pirrello, Robert Campbell
• Original Assignee: Antonio Pirrello, Robert Campbell
• Inventors: Pirrello, Antonio, Campbell, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Queisser, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smollar, Marvin
• Application Number:
  US05/091,893
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 73/132,116,117,117.2,117.3 254/DIG.5 74/2,59,482,481
• US Class Current: 73/132
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/223 Devices for pressurising brake systems acting on pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/225 to foot actuated controls, e.g. brake pedals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 254/05 Means for depressing foot brake when adjusting same
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/11 Tripping mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20226 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20666 Lever engaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2133 Pawls and ratchets

Abstract

Apparatus for depressing the accelerator and brake pedals of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a test stand that is rigidly secured in the vehicle at a position proximate the accelerator and brake pedals for supporting accelerator and brake pedal actuators. The accelerator actuator includes a threaded shaft that is rotatably driven by a motor and engaged by a pawl so as to move axially as it is rotated, the threaded shaft being drivably coupled to the accelerator pedal so as to depress and release the accelerator pedal in accordance with the rotation of the threaded shaft. A solenoid is provided for disengaging the pawl from the threaded shaft and the threaded shaft is spring biased so as to release the accelerator pedal when the pawl is disengaged from the threaded shaft by the solenoid. The brake pedal actuator includes a pneumatic cylinder containing a piston that is drivably coupled to the brake pedal of the vehicle so as to depress and release the brake pedal of the vehicle in accordance with the introduction of a pressurized fluid to the pneumatic cylinder.

Claims

1. Apparatus for depressing The accelerator pedal of a vehicle comprising, in combination, a test stand, means for rigidly securing the test stand relative to the vehicle and proximate the accelerator pedal, and accelerator actuator means supported by the test stand for depressing the accelerator pedal, the actuator means including a housing, a threaded shaft positioned for axial movement within the housing, means drivably coupling the shaft to the accelerator pedal effective to depress the accelerator pedal when the shaft is moved in a first axial direction and to release the accelerator pedal when the shaft is moved in a second axial direction that is opposite the first axial direction, pawl means for selectively engaging the threaded portion of the shaft so as to effect axial movement of the shaft when the shaft is rotated, a reversible motor having a rotatable armature drivably coupled to the shaft whereby rotation of the motor armature effects rotation of the shaft, and means for biasing the shaft in the second axial direction so that when the pawl means disengages the threaded portion of the shaft the shaft is rapidly moved in the second axial direction by the biasing means effective to release the accelerator pedal.

2. Apparatus for depressing the accelerator pedal of a vehicle comprising, in combination, a test stand, means for rigidly securing the test stand relative to the vehicle and proximate the accelerator pedal, and an accelerator pedal actuator supported by the test stand for depressing the accelerator pedal, the actuator including a housing, a threaded shaft having external threads and internal splines positioned for axial movement within the housing, means coupling the threaded shaft to the accelerator pedal effective to depress the accelerator pedal when the threaded shaft is moved in a first axial direction and to release the accelerator pedal when the threaded shaft is moved in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction, a splined shaft positioned in the housing and having external splines that are positioned so as to engage the internal splines of the threaded shaft whereby rotation of the splined shaft imparts rotation to the threaded shaft, means for preventing axial movement of the splined shaft, a reversible motor having a rotatable armature that is drivably coupled to the splined shaft for rotating both the splined shaft and the threaded shaft, a pawl for selectively engaging the threads on the threaded shaft effective to impart axial movement to the threaded shaft when the threaded shaft is rotated by the motor, rotation of the motor in a first angular direction when the pawl engages the threaded shaft causing the threaded shaft to move in the first axial direction so as to depress the accelerator pedal and rotation of the motor in a second angular direction opposite the first angular direction when the pawl engages the threaded shaft causing the threaded shaft to move in the second axial direction so as to release the accelerator pedal, biasing means for biasing the threaded shaft in the second axial direction, and control means for controlling the engagement of the threaded shaft by the pawl, the control means including a solenoid that is effective when energized to bias the pawl into engagement with the threaded shaft and spring means for biasing the pawl out of engagement with the threaded shaft when the solenoid is deenergized whereby rotation of the motor when the solenoid is energized effects axial movement of the threaded shaft so as to depress and release the accelerator pedal, the biasing means moving the threaded shaft in the second axial direction so as to release the accelerator pedal when the pawl is out of engagement with the threaded shaft regardless of whether the motor is driving the threaded shaft.

3. Apparatus for depressing the brake and accelerator pedals of a vehicle comprising, in combination, a test stand, means for rigidly securing the test stand relative to the vehicle and proximate the brake and accelerator pedals, an acceleRator pedal actuator pivotally supported by the test stand for depressing the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal actuator including a housing, a threaded shaft positioned for axial movement within the housing, a pawl for selectively engaging the threaded shaft, a solenoid for controlling the engagement of the threaded shaft by the pawl, means coupling the solenoid to the pawl effective to move the pawl into engagement with the threaded portion of the shaft when the solenoid is energized, thereby causing rotation of the threaded shaft to move the threaded shaft axially when the shaft is engaged by the pawl, means for biasing the pawl out of engagement with the threaded shaft when the solenoid is deenergized so as to prevent the pawl from causing the shaft to move axially when the shaft is rotated and the solenoid is deenergized, a reversible motor having an armature, coupling means for drivably coupling the motor armature to the shaft, the coupling means including splined shaft means rotatably driven by the motor and slidably coupled to the threaded shaft whereby rotation of the motor effects a corresponding rotation of the threaded shaft, means for drivably coupling the threaded shaft to the accelerator pedal effective to depress the accelerator pedal when the threaded shaft is moved in a first axial direction and to release the accelerator pedal when the threaded shaft is moved in a second axial direction that is opposite the first axial direction, and biasing means for biasing the threaded shaft in the second axial direction so as to prevent depressing of the accelerator pedal until the threaded shaft is engaged by the pawl and the threaded shaft is rotated in a direction which effects axial movement of the threaded shaft in the first axial direction, and a brake pedal actuator that is pivotally supported by the test stand for depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal actuator including a pneumatic cylinder, a piston slidably positioned in the cylinder, means coupling the piston to the brake pedal effective to depress the brake pedal when the piston is moved in a first direction and to release the brake pedal when the piston is moved in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction, means for connecting the cylinder to a source of pressurized fluid whereby pressurized fluid may be introduced to the cylinder adjacent the piston effective to move the piston in the first direction so as to depress the brake pedal, and means for biasing the piston in the second direction effective to prevent the brake pedal actuator from depressing the brake pedal until pressurized fluid is introdueced into the cylinder.